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Pokémon Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: The Phantasmagoria

Chapter 1: Personality Test

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Disclaimer: This story is rated T for teens or older. There is depiction of realistic violence, swearing, use of weapons, crude humor, suicide, and use of drugs and alcohol.


Summary: Paint a picture of a long-sought after paradise that is so fantastical, it is as if you're dreaming. Enter Liam, a human turned Pokémon dropped into the Celestic Continent. Here he will be thrust into the crux of a future thousands of years in the waiting, as the threat of the ever-expanding Mystery Dungeon looms over the continent.

Requiem...

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Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: The Phantasmagoria

Chapter 1

Personality Test

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"I've been waiting... 10,000 years to show you, Liam."

.

It was a chilly day in Charleston.

Orange autumn leaves scraped against the sidewalk, whipped wind carrying them to new destinations. A blanket of white clouds blocked out the sun as only small pockets of heavenly light escaped. It rained, a light drizzle splattering across the city's buildings and fogging up the clammy glass windows adorning the jungle of concrete.

Vehicles whizzed past each other, sloshing through collections of water on the roads. Street lamps stood tall on the sidewalks, glowing a bright yellow among the downpour and casting blurry reflections across the shiny wet surface of the streets. Few people roamed in this weather, wearing large overcoats that protected them. Some lucky ones carried umbrellas, shielding away the elements.

Despite this dreary day, the Charleston Counseling Office was open for business to its troubled visitors.

Rain hammered the sides of the tall, grey concrete building as a single car drove into its parking lot, taking up a spot amidst the rest.

The sole occupant, a young man, didn't get out. Instead, he closed his eyes and leaned forward to rest his head on the steering wheel. Many thoughts swarmed in his head, the heart in his chest sinking lower and lower. His foot pressed up and down on the car's brake, debating whether or not to stay.

After a few moments, he unbuckled his seat belt with a sigh, opening the car door and letting it fly open to greet the crying world.

The occupant took a step onto the wet concrete, slamming the car door closed, and slogging through the rain toward the entrance. The automatic doors to the building slid open, a crack of distant thunder rumbling the sky as he entered.

It was not his first time here, and possibly not his last.


A room was shrouded in darkness. Curtains blocked pale light and drops of rain from the outside world entering, with only a light wind sneaking its way in. A sound of a metal handle jingling resounded through the room, the door to the room opening slightly, revealing a tan aged hand.

The hand then flicked the light switch beside the door.

The room became illuminated, casting assorted beige furniture in subdued yellow light. Various oak shelves littered the surroundings, filled with books and magazines for mental and personal health. A clock was positioned on the wall above the doorway, its hands slowly moving and quietly ticking away. The door would finally swing open, exposing two very different individuals. The first person to enter was a middle-aged man with frizzled black hair, who swept a hand across the many plain-looking sets of furniture in the room.

"This session won't take long, Liam, but have a seat, please," the man spoke with earnestness.

The second individual was a younger man with brown hair and a modest crew cut. His unkempt features, pale skin, and the drained look in his eyes varied drastically from the older man. He stood by the doorway, looking into the room and observing it in its entirety with a glassy look.

It was a familiar but dreaded sight.

Sighing, the young man spoke in an expected tired voice, mixed in with a bit of Southern drawl. "Yeah, right… Y'all know I have errands to do after this, Dr. Thompson." Lumbering into the room, he flopped onto one of the couches and panned his face to meet the older man, his eyes boring into the man's drastically happier face.

Clapping, the older man happily spoke. "Hah! Don't worry, Liam. I know you've been under a bit of stress lately, and poking you won't benefit either of us." The man made his way to a chair opposite of Liam and sat down. He then reached into his pocket, pulling out a pen and a small notepad. "How are you doing today, Liam? It's been a while since our last session."

"I'm doing fine," Liam said flatly. "I'm just..." He shook his head. "Look, you know I don't want to be here, so can we just get this over with already?"

The eyebrows of Dr. Thompson were raised. "I get it, Liam, but please remember these sessions are required by the state, and they are only concerned with your well-being." He began scribbling in the notepad, pausing momentarily to glance at the young man. "I know it's been just a year, but you still live with your aunt, correct?"

"I've been living with her since... you already know what; I don't think I'll be leaving yet."

'Or ever,' Liam repeated in his mind, bringing his head to meet the floor.

Dr. Thompson analyzed Liam's perturbed state briefly, before returning to write in his notepad. "And…" He finished his writing. "Have you stuck to your goal of finding work in the city? I know you've mentioned your interest in becoming a forest ranger, but were you successful with the local parks and forests around Charleston?"

Liam slumped into the couch, staring vacantly at the opaque ceiling. "All of them except one denied my application, despite my experience with being a volunteer in the past." He returned to eye the drab carpeted floor, scowling at it. "Not like it matters anymore."

Dr. Thompson twirled his pen in one hand. "And how did the one who didn't go? Did you take the opportunity?" the man questioned, frowning. "You don't exactly have many options, I'm afraid to say."

Liam gave a pained laugh, "I was accepted in, under great scrutiny, of course. The time I was there was… nice. In that small period, I was doing the very thing I wish I would've become." He brought a hand to his mouth, clasping it around the semblance of a smile that was forming.

'Or rather... What was your dream in life?'

Liam winced at the gruff voice that invaded his mind once again. "And then..." He took the hand away from his mouth and clenched it shut. "They fired me! Over the smallest of mistakes, one that was out of my control!" He placed his hands on the couch and pushed into it to reposition himself. "I know that I never did anything that would warrant that action, but everyone's eyes were on me. Just waiting for me to screw up…" Heaving, he tried calming himself with deep breaths. "I know that I'm... not who they think - they're wrong." Liam's face quickly morphed into anger. "I... I just can't get these fucking memories out of my head. All their faces. Especially one in particular."

'The same.'

There it was again; that constant reminder in his head. It was always there, always lingering in the back of his thoughts.

"I don't want to deal with it anymore."

Dr. Thompson seemed to digest this information, tapping his chin with his pen. "I know we've told you this before, Liam, but after your initial arrest, the state of South Carolina wanted to arrest you again under suspicion of... well, you know what." He locked eyes with Liam, displaying his arms. "That's why we've doing all of this for so many years. The state might see you differently, but not us." The older man swallowed, "... Especially after that incident in your old home."

Liam ground his teeth at the mention of his old family home. The home where his family once thrived in the thick of the natural American South. Safe, content, and happy in the middle of nature - just how he liked it. The day it burned down was the day all of his dreams of a life worth living were smothered in those same flames.

The evils of this world wanted to take everything from him, and they succeeded - just like Mrs. Lachaise said they would.

'But you'd do it too, right?' the gruff voice in his mind echoed, causing his teeth to grind further.

Dr. Thompson shook his head. "They didn't want you to live a life outside of their control. But this place fought for you, Liam - to reintroduce you to a more healthy society. We've been doing this to give you a chance to start a new life."

Liam chuckled bitterly at that. The constant voice in his head said otherwise. If he had so much a chance against these groups in the city back then, he would've taken up arms as well - to get that revenge his father couldn't. But his burning anger was long gone, with only the ashes of his resentment remaining.

'The same, the same...' he repeated ad nauseam in his head.

Dr. Thompson glanced at a clock on the wall. "What do you think about exploring job options outside of that industry? We're here to help with that, Liam."

The young man looked somewhat distraught. "No, just... no. I don't think... think I could handle giving up everything to just toil away in some dead-end job." His restless look soon led to a more defeated one as slumped back into the couch again. "That's not me. It never was and it never will."

Dr. Thompson slowly shook his head. "We've been at this for years, Liam." He waved his notepad. "Surely this all has to be doing something for you."

The silence that followed was telling.

Dr. Thompson leaned back in his chair, placing a hand below his chin and adopting a thinking pose as he looked around the room in thought. The room was quiet for those few moments, only the near-silent ticking of a clock heard. It wasn't until the older man's features lit up, a smile appearing on his visage.

"Ah! I think I have something that can benefit both parties!" he exclaimed, setting down his notebook and pen.

Standing up, he made his way over to a more intricate desk in the corner of the room. Opening up on the drawers, he shuffled through countless papers, analyzing each one. Liam sat looking at him with the same tired look mixed with bemusement, his eyes narrowing.

"Aha! One of the last copies." He looked at the paper one final time, before making his way over to Liam.

"You... I'm not taking any more medication than I already have." Liam snarled, a scowl remaining on his face. "The constant headaches I have prove that."

Dr. Thompson formed a more embarrassed look, holding up his hands in defense. "No, no! This is something different. Something a bit more..." He shook his hands. "Thought-provoking! You can assess your character to future employers, your true self." He smiled at the young man. "Through this, we can also send this to future employers to show what kind of a person you are!" He gazed into Liam's eyes hard, trying to send a message. "What person you aren't."

Liam was not phased by the man's spiel, continuing to glare at him.

Dr. Thompson, expecting him to interject, cleared his throat and looked down at the paper again. "The ADEPT test will see the tester answer a multitude of questions to assess the tester's cognitive senses, reactions, character, and define themselves to complete the assessment." Dr. Thompson smiled again, "In other words, a personality test!"

Liam's eyes grew wide, looking almost offended. "What? How is that going to help me get anywhere? What kind of bullshit are you trying to pull? Why do you think this will help me in anything?!"

The older man placed a hand on Liam's shoulder. "Don't overthink it! This little - let's say - test is simply a mental exercise for you, and possibly a ticket to great success in the future."

He handed the paper over to Liam, who hesitated for a moment but grabbed it. "Fine. I'll do the stupid test, but I don't see how this would ever help me... now that is." The young man stood up, breathing a sigh. "If that's all you wanted to show me, then I think this session is over."

Dr. Thompson looked at the clock on the wall and nodded. "For now, but I want you to return next week - same day, so we can review the results together." He raised his hand to invite Liam into a handshake, who begrudgingly accepted.

"Don't worry, I don't have much going on," Liam replied, breaking the handshake and ambling toward the doorway, finally being able to leave with his thoughts semi-intact.

"Liam!"

The young man gritted his teeth, turning around to see the cheesy smile the man wore.

"You've gone through a lot, and the burdens of someone's past sins shouldn't reflect the person that was left in its wake. I know that your father... while he wasn't a good man, tried his best with you."

There was no response.

"The ADEPT test has been taken by many others - many much like you! Some of these people created new lives, and achieved their own... paradise, haha!" Dr. Thompson finished with notable conviction.

Liam's mouth parted a bit as his eyes studied the man up and down. Doubt flooded every fiber of his being.

The door clicked shut as the young man made his exit, with only the ticking sound of the omnipresent clock left echoing throughout the room.


A front door swung open as the howling from an angry storm outside was heard.

Liam stepped into his aunt's home, his eyes bloodshot, and the stains of past tears still visible on his cheeks. The pants and shoes he wore were caked in mud from his kneeling. In his right hand was a plastic bag full of various medicines; some for his aunt, and the rest for himself.

He stopped to visit them on his way home. Every time he did so, it was like entering a portal into the past, where his future was undetermined but hopeful in that forest - the place where his pains and sorrows wouldn't exist. Then he reached where she rested, and the crushing realization of reality came tenfold.

In his left hand, he clutched a white wallflower, nearly crushing it in his iron grip. Liam blinked, bringing a hand to wipe a lone tear that was escaping and trailing down his cheek. He wiped the rest of his face, freeing it from any wetness - be it rain or tears.

'Is she asleep?'

He looked around for the sight of his aunt, on the couch for her sleeping form, or in the kitchen. 'It's not like she cares. Probably out with a friend.' Liam told himself, trudging up the stairs, one agonizing step at a time.

The door to his room flew open, the smell of musk and old stale air made his nose twitch in response. He could hear the pitter-patter of harsh rain on the roof, seeing flashes of lightning through his window. Out of everything, his eyes caught the banjo that was leaning against the wall, dust covering its unused form.

The room was a mess to any eye who caught it. Clothes and other items littered the floor, and white sheets ripped off the sole bed.


"Remember, Liam!"

Here the youthful boy stood, cleaning up his room for possibly the fifth time this month. He watched his mother crouch upon on the floor as best she could, plucking a shirt of his off the ground, muddled with dirt and other stains from constant playing outside. The young boy listened intently as he also began tidying everything up, placing his belongings back into his room's closet.

But of course, he knew deep down it would all get messy again.

"A cluttered room is a cluttered mind," she said, smiling.

The boy flinched at the invasion of his mother's hand, which drifted across his hair.

"And soon," She rested a hand on her belly. "You can tell her, too."


He scowled at the distant memory.

Liam dropped the bag of medicine and cast the wallflower to the ground, promptly collapsing on his messy bed. His head hit the pillow like a sack of potatoes as he tried to melt into the soft cushion of the bed. But his mind continued to race. Through all the thoughts of today, yesterday, the past, and so on.

Thunder clapped outside his home, scattering his thoughts and shaking his room with its might.

He closed his eyes, hoping to rest and begin anew tomorrow. However, it never came, with his thoughts never ceasing at the boom of thunder. Sleeping soon became an afterthought of his as he rolled over. His head was pounding, his perception blurring, and he wasn't sure why.

'Can I ever just forget and let go?'

Liam grit his teeth, his hands reaching behind him to clutch the pillow as he stared at the ceiling. The pounding got worse, flashes of vibrant and fluctuating orange shooting across his vision. Blinking was enough to return his sights to normal, but the strange feeling inside was seemingly just beginning.

'No. No, I cannot forget. No one could ever forget what happened. No one.'

Slamming a fist into the cushiony bed, he forced himself up, his visage enraged. He desperately wanted to be like his young self again, angry and passionate enough to take action against those who wronged him, but now he was defeated and alone, utterly powerless.

'I can't sleep, I can't think right, I can't-' Then he remembered the paper he brought in from his session earlier. 'If I can't sleep, I might as well finish it.'

Anything to distract himself.

Sighing, he crawled out of bed and grabbed the paper out of the plastic bag, walking over to his personal desk in the corner of the room. He flicked on a lamp, shining white light across the various objects on the desk. Liam's eye caught one in particular - a painted statue.

He picked it up. It was a model of a green, healthy pine tree that stood proudly on what appeared to be a mound of dirt. Liam knew it was painted with care, despite some scuffs or overlapping paint. The rush of memories that accompanied this relic soon overtook him and his pain.


A door swung open as the dead of the night became visible from the eager occupant inside. From the darkness, a chorus of muffled boot stomps got louder and louder as a figure entered.

A young Liam's eyes popped up from behind the couch, the boy sprinting toward the front door. His father was home from his long day of duty to the law, and the boy was waiting all night for him to get back. He got up and close with the now befuddled man, looking up, and clutching something in his hands.

"Dad, dad!" Liam tugged on the pant leg of his father, earning a sigh in response.

"Liam! You're supposed to be in bed. God knows what your mother would say..." He quickly closed the door before the chill of the night could come in. "Get to bed - now. You're lucky it's the weekend."

The boy, however, didn't relent and excitedly pulled more on his father's jeans. "No, no, you don't get it! Mom helped me! I spent all day making it!"

The man started to unbutton his uniform, unhooking his badge and speaking in an amused tone. "Make what?"

The boy shoved a painted statue in front of the father's eyes. "It's a tree, don't you see?"

Liam's mother had always made these kinds of ceramic statues in her free time, organizing them on tall shelves and letting them shine and glisten in the daylight. They always fascinated the curious little boy. With a little persuasion, he was able to convince her to teach him exactly how she does it.

His father stared at the statue for a while. "Yeah, I see that."

Chuckling, the father bent down to his son's height and grabbed the 'tree' from the boy. He observed it as a smile stained his features.

"Looks like your affinity for the outside world carries to your creative side too, huh?" The man looked down at his son, who was grinning ear to ear. Still kneeling, he brought him into a hug. "I want you to show me what you'll do with your passion - what you'll make in this life, okay son?"

"Don't worry, dad, I know what I was meant to do." The father ruffled his hair and chuckled again.

"Great, now go to bed before your mother kills me."


The statue was launched into a wall, breaking into various pieces and ushering in a loud noise that reverberated across the room. The cracking of thunder came afterward, stirring him out of his rage. His eyes widened as he realized just what he did, slamming both hands on his sides and letting out short rapid breaths to calm himself.

It was not fair.

He flattened the paper on the desk and focused the lamp's light on it. Picking up a nearby pencil, deep breaths were taken once again before he began to read and plan out his answers to the questions. His frustrations manifested into a blooming headache, along with the flashes of orange shooting across his vision that seemed to worsen over time.

'You are sending a postcard to a school friend. What exciting news do you have to share?'

The juvenile nature of the questions stuck out to him, but he would answer them nonetheless.

I discovered a new trail to school today. Do you want to take it?

'You have a musical talent you want to show off; which instrument do you choose?'

I would choose a banjo.


But every time he thought about or tried playing his favorite instrument, it would always stir memories of a time when he once could enjoy life at its finest moments. Realizing he was slipping, he decided to move on to the next question.

'What do you value most?'


"Jesus, Liam, you know I told you not to go beyond the house's fence," the man scolded, eyeing the child in the doorway caked with mud and small twigs that clung to his shirt.

The boy simply stared at his father with a wide smile that refused to go away.

"Christ, it's like the leeches all over again," the father said as he plucked a branch off the boy's shoulder.

Liam laughed at his comment, remembering that exact moment. One day, at a typical family outing near Lake Moultrie, he spent most of his time swimming, only to emerge later from the water covered in blood-sucking leeches. To say he was shocked that day was an understatement.

"Do you think containing him is going to work, honey?" a woman with long, auburn hair spoke, reaching into the sink to grab a dirty plate.

The young boy grew an awry frown. "Sorry, dad. Playing in the backyard just got really boring. I saw this family of deer past the fence, and I wanted to see them up close!" The boy's eyes gleamed, before drooping. "Then I fell into a ditch trying to catch up with 'em..."

His father bit his tongue, listening intently, looking toward the woman nimbly working beside him.

"Well, Angel? What do you think? Does he deserve a second chance?"

The woman wiped away the grime her hands had collected on a towel, before turning around and rubbing the cheek of Liam with it, scrubbing any remnants of nature that clung to him. He shook his head, trying to free himself from her grasp. She smiled, satisfied with her work.

The two parents stared at each other for a moment, letting their mutual feelings combine before ushering the boy inside.


Liam grunted, placing a hand on his face and slowly rubbing his forehead to stabilize his thoughts from wandering as he wrote down his answer.

An adventurous spirit.

'Do you think that lying to a friend is sometimes necessary?'

Sometimes it can be in your best nature. Sometimes it may come back to haunt you and the ones you love.

'You are told to wait in an empty room. What do you do?'

I would get bored and try to wander outside.

He answered each and every mundane question the test threw at him. Soon enough, each of them were answered, and the final portion was one last question, which truly shook him to his core.

'Who are you?'

Liam's breath hitched as he stared blankly at the paper, his relaxed breaths running short. Memories he tried to lock away for so long began to break free, spiraling him deeper and deeper.


"Now that you know who I am..."

Liam thrashed against his binds, searching for any possible way to get loose, scraping his body across the cold concrete floor. He gasped, his face contorting into a murderous scowl.

A man loomed over him - ragged torn clothing - open wounds dotting his body as he crouched, looking to meet the boy's gaze. Liam's shoulder was then latched onto by a hand as the man towered above him. The boy could only stare into his sharpened hazel eyes.

"Who are you?"


"SHUT UP!"

Liam blinked, brought back into reality by his own shouting. He swallowed down the bile that built up in his throat, rereading the paper's final question.

'Who are you? What kind of person are you? What is your dream in life?'

He sighed, readying his pencil to begin writing just as he did moments before.

My name is Liam Shaw. I am nineteen years old, and I dream of one day becoming a forest ranger.


"I wonder what kind of person are you?" the man's gruff voice echoed throughout the room.

The man leaned back and removed his hand from the boy's shoulder, who continued to fight against his binds, drool leaking out of his mouth like an enraged animal as his body smacked the concrete wall against him. The man looked around, not giving the boy any thought. His own thoughts after everything that had transpired kept him from thinking straight.

"What were you before this all... happened." He looked back to the struggling boy, feelings of resemblance stirring within him. "What will you become now that it has?"


Liam's mind seared in pain as he gritted his teeth. His hands clenched together, his grip on his pencil beginning to tighten, and tighten until he almost shattered it in his mindless anger. Still, he pressed on answering.

I was- He shook his head and erased his sentence. I am an adventurous spirit. I live to explore the unexplored, to find a paradise to call a true home.

He looked at the final part of the question, trying to ignore the flashes of oscillating orange and the resurfacing of old memories.

'What is your dream in life?'


"What is your dream in life, kid?" the gruff voice questioned. "Or rather." The man laughed, "What was your dream in life?"

The young boy, after giving up on escaping his confinement, heaved and cried, hunkering down in his chains to shut out the outside world as best he could.

The man leaned in again. "Because we both have nothing left; no dream in life, no purpose to exist, no rock to hold us down anymore. We're free for all the wrong reasons…"

The boy wanted it all to stop, to wake up after this awful nightmare ceased to be. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth, wanting to wake up somewhere far from here.

"Will you quit and 'sunder into dust' like she wanted?" He laughed bitterly at the last part. "Or rot for eternity, wondering why. Why do we live in a world without our paradise?" The man growled, "Grim reminder, kid. Because..." His face seemed to falter into a rage, his words trailing off.

Liam's expression morphed into confusion at the man's hesitance, having no chance to respond as the man took hold of him, rocking him back and forth violently. He cringed in pain as the man started shouting once more.

"BECAUSE WE ARE THE SAME, AND WILL BE THE SAME FOREVER!" the man yelled, tears welling up in his eyes. "Your old man thought he could change! Before, he almost got away, but reality came knocking..."

The tone in his voice relaxed, releasing Liam from his hold, who promptly fell back and slid against the wall - defeated. "Family is everything we have, kid. Without them by our side, how do we continue through this painful world alone? How do we let go? Your father... he only understood that before it was too late."

The whimpering boy shivered in anguish and fresh rage at the mention of his father, his eyes glued to the floor and never daring to look at the body that was lying beside his kidnapper.

"You and I? We're weapons - weapons that will soon gain a new target... ourselves."


Liam clutched his head, his pencil rolling off the table. It felt like a raging fire was burning in his brain, mixed in with the constant flurry of orange invading his vision.

'Why can't I just forget. My head... it hurts so much.'

He weakly got out of his chair, a deep-seated sickness claiming him as he lurched into the bag on the ground, pulling out a bottle of painkillers before running out of his room and into the bathroom beside it. He heaved over the sink, attempting to cough out the ugly feelings swelling within him. He felt sick, both physically and mentally in his head.

Just like many times before, the gruff voice of that man echoed without warning.

'BECAUSE WE ARE THE SAME, AND WILL BE THE SAME FOREVER!'

Popping the cap open, he downed the bottle of painkillers, rinsing the contents down with a cup of water he poured. He grounded his teeth together as dark thoughts crept up in his mind.

'Or rot for eternity, wondering why. Why do we live in a world without our paradise?'

His head throbbed in anguish as he slammed a fist into the side of it, closing his eyes.

'I'm sorry.'

The poem his mother would once sing to him long ago was the only thing he wanted to hear now. He wanted to go into that forest Mrs. Lachaise described, the forest where all his anger, strife, and pain would disappear in. He was going home - to paradise.

'I just want to sleep…'

The walk back to his room disoriented him, causing him to stumble around in his dizziness, knocking into various walls and furniture. His mouth felt dry. Looking around the room, he could barely tell where he was before he tripped on something and fell back, feeling the soft but fading warmth of his bed. The countless booms of thunder outside began to crash constantly in his head as the room around him began to spin and spin until he couldn't recognize it in its motions.

The unthinkable then happened.

His room began to shake as bright, glowing orange columns shot out his floor, piercing the ceiling above. Bits of wooden debris showered down, but none hit Liam as he lay still, transfixed with the oddity occurring before him.

'What…'

Liam hesitantly moved an arm forward to try and touch the glowing columns. Once his hand touched one, he felt nothing, but could hear a faint silky giggle pierce through the swirling chaotic mess of sound in his head.

Around him, the room's walls began to crack and crumble apart. Pieces of drywall began to peel off and fall onto the ground. The walls in his room collapsed into nothingness, exposing an endless sea of black void beyond them. The crashing in Liam's head began to whittle away into nothing but soft echoes and chimes, with the light notes of a piano accompanying it.

'So peaceful.'

The floor and furniture in his room vaporized, as if erased from existence - just for the void of black to consume the rest of his surroundings. Soon, the feeling in his limbs were lost to Liam as he laid in his incapacitated state, with only the vast sea of black to accompany him. Black spots invaded his eyesight, drifting him further and further into unconsciousness.

'Why I... Where am I?'

Those same shining columns of bright orange light shot out of the darkness, twisting and bending around his body. They coiled around him, wrapping him up like chains. He could not struggle or call out for help as the ribbons of light continued to envelop his form. The glowing orange lines pulled on his body, dragging him further into the inky blackness. In this illusionary state, his mind lulled him into a sense of sleep, where nothing could hurt him anymore.

However, before he could complete his descent, a familiar silky female voice emanated throughout his mind.

"I see - you have finally left that realm and sundered into dust. It has been far too long. Please, allow me to introduce you to this soon-to-be paradise, Liam..."

'Liam.'

He closed his eyes.


The sun hovered over the Sunshine Forest.

Fluffy wisps of clouds stood almost alone in the expanse of the blue sky. The chirping and flaps of bird-like creatures could be heard across the forest, through the clearings, and into colorful meadows that separated the wide expanse of tall oak trees. White petals floated gently in the summer breeze, brought by a clearing within the forest which bloomed white wallflowers - the trees of it creating a natural canopy as rays of light shuttered across the greenery.

A lone tree rooted itself in the middle of that clearing on top of a big hill. Near the base of the tree, a blue creature was resting gently under it, its chest slowly rising and falling to the tune of whistling grass and flowers. The petals carried across the clearing reached the tree.

Some landed on the grass, while one landed on the creature's muzzle.

'Liam...'

The creature's snout wrinkled, twitching, until its eyelids fluttered open. On instinct, it lifted its paw to swat away the invading petal in its sleep-induced state. But as it became accustomed to reality, the creature's eyes widened, and the features of a blue paw clarified in its vision.

"W-what?" a young male voice blurted out, a hint of country lurking within.

The creature lifted both of his paws, staring hard at them. He tore his judging eyes away to look at his lower body, only to see more blue and black fur aligning his stomach and hind paws.

"No, no, no, am I dreaming?"

The creature frantically looked around his surroundings, through the trees, down the hill, before focusing on a small stream leading into the inner part of the forest.

He shook away any amount of sleepiness in him and got up on shaky hind paws. He took no further time to question things as he sprinted down the hill toward the see-through stream. A misstep caused him to stumble on his paws. He slipped and tumbled the remaining length down, almost dunking himself into the clear blue water of the stream.

The creature hastily pulled himself up, then hesitantly peered into the water. The pupil in his eyes turned into pinpricks at the sight that greeted him.

A mirror of a canine-like face stared back with its shining cardinal red eyes. Blue and black fur adorned its body, along with its pointy ears. Oval-shaped tendrils drooped down his sides, and touching one of them too hard would send a feeling of electricity coursing through his body.

The creature stared into the water for a solid minute, taking in his features as the reflection rippled and distorted them.

His paws held onto his face as the shock of his appearance began to settle in. As much to where he couldn't register the pitter-patter of footsteps behind him. He began to hyperventilate, placing a paw on the beating heart in his chest as it pounded faster and faster.

"This... just can't be happening. "

'Hey.'

"Where am I? And what am I?" He stopped momentarily to breathe in. "And who exactly am I?" The creature looked back toward the hill and at the tree resting atop of it. "I woke up right there..." He confirmed to himself.

'Hey.'

"But that's it." He raised a paw to rest under his chin, contemplating the unknown. "I do remember hearing something echoing. It sounded like it was-"

"HEY!"

A soft, feminine voice erupted through his self-monologue. His ears twitched as he spun around to meet the origin of the voice.

It was a white-furred, quadruped vulpine just a few inches shorter than him. A tuft of fluffy cream-ish fur sat on top of her head, rustling in the forest's wind. Behind her, he could see a plume of wispy tails with the same cream coloration fluttering in the breeze. On her back was an empty woven brown basket.

The vulpine's muzzle contorted in embarrassment as she quickly added a reply. "U-Uh, sorry. You were talking to yourself and just seemed lost in your little world. I wanted to see if you were okay."

The shock for the blue creature slightly wore off, allowing him to address the vixen before him. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little... confused." He shook his head, inquiring again. "Can you tell me where I am... and also what am I?"

The white fox looked a little overwhelmed, her gaze wandering through the trees. "Well, you're in the Sunshine Forest. At least... not the Mystery Dungeon part," she grumbled the last part under her breath. "As for the second part… you're, um, a Riolu?"

The supposed Riolu's dazed look only seemed to intensify. "Sunshine Forest, Riolu, Pokémon? I have no clue what any of that means!"

It was now the vulpine's turn to act confused. "How would you not know about being a Pokémon? You seem way too old to be a hatchling. Is this a prank or something?" she said with suspicion, scrutinizing the Riolu more.

He stepped back, holding his paws up. "No, no! I'm not joking, there's nothing I can recall, except a name... maybe."

"You can't remember anything? Are you sure you didn't just bump your head too hard?"

The Riolu shook his head. "I'm not supposed to be a Riolu. At least I think I'm not." He scratched his chin. "I just can't remember what I was in the first place!"

A sigh came from the vulpine. "Well, we're getting nowhere with this back-and-forth. My name is Vulpix, but it's also my species name, like yours is Riolu. And Pokémon are... well, they're you and me." She shuffled her paws together. "Um... Pokémon also don't really pick up names. But I do prefer to be called Gloria. It's nice to meet you, I guess?" A warm greeting smile stretched across her muzzle, with a tinge of red embarrassment accompanying it.

The Riolu stared at her for a moment, slowly adopting a small smile of his own. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Gloria, I wish I could tell you who I really am, but..." He droned on until a giggle came from the Vulpix.

"You don't have to call me Miss Gloria, as you're probably not much older than I am." She lost her embarrassment, flashing a hint of recognition. "Wait, you said you could remember just a name, right? Could you maybe tell me it?" She leaned in a tiny bit, eager for his response.

The Riolu searched the clear sky above for an answer. He racked his brain for that name that repeated over and over in his mind. Then it struck him.

'Yes. What I heard. Could that be mine?'

He raised a paw toward the Vulpix, inviting her to a paw shake. She hesitantly reached out and put her own paw into it, the both of them shaking it. It wasn't long after that the resolute and confident red eyes of the befuddled Riolu soon met hers.

"Liam."


Liam pointed a paw at himself. "So I'm a Fighting-type?" He then pointed at Gloria, who was humming to herself as she trotted. ".And you're an Ice-type, correct?"

Gloria nodded with a smile. "Yep! There are a ton more kinds of types, though. I have a book at home on all of them, and... maybe even a small book on the Riolu family." She said the last part as fast as she could.

The two of them had been walking on a paved path through the forest for a while. On the way, Liam questioned what exactly were 'Pokémon', and what kind of Pokémon was he, giving Gloria the leeway to explain just about everything she knew on the subject. 'Evolution' was a topic that came up, which devolved into a discussion on typing and certain abilities Pokemon had.

"I know that Riolu, while not as strong as a Lucario, has great aura-sensing abilities!" Gloria chimed in.

"Is that part of my typing?" The Riolu furrowed his brow in confusion.

Gloria giggled. "No, you have feelers." She stopped to point a paw at the two tear-shaped objects on Liam's head. "Those can allow you to sense incoming attacks. If you trained well of course."

Liam touched his 'feelers', now understanding that electric sense he felt before. "Incoming attacks? If I learn how that is?"

"Sort of," Gloria began. "Most Riolu are taught by their parents, which you lack knowledge of. So, um, you'll need to be taught by another aura user, or teach yourself."

Liam processed this information. 'So, Pokémon can have unique abilities. Gloria told me she was an Ice-type and can utilize ice powers. I'm a Fighting-type, which she said is more physically capable than other Pokémon.' He looked at Gloria, who went back to humming and walking along the path. 'But still need to know why.'

"Why did you decide to bring me along, and where are we heading off to?"

Gloria paused, forming an embarrassed smile. "Well, I couldn't just leave you there, all alone; especially when you most likely don't remember what a Mystery Dungeon is."

Liam gave her a bewildered look. "I think you said that before, right? What is a Mystery Dungeon?"

Gloria looked conflicted. "It's uh, difficult to explain. You kind of need to see it for yourself to understand. But where we're going is at the end of this Mystery Dungeon!"

"What's at the end of it?" he inquired, mind tingling with wonder.

"Apples," she replied curtly, gesturing to the empty woven basket on her back.

"Apples," Liam repeated, somewhat disappointed.

She giggled again, "Apples - I came here to collect dinner, but I wasn't expecting a lost 'mon in the middle of the forest."

They continued their walk, finding themselves in the thick of the shady forest now, with sparse gaps between the trees that allowed sunlight to pour in. To ease the Fighting-type's curiosity, Gloria spoke up once more.

"While what lies ahead in this dungeon may just be apples, there are countless Mystery Dungeons that could hold undiscovered secrets behind them. Some Pokémon like to explore them to find lost relics, or just for the thrill of adventuring through them."

Liam didn't know why, but his heart thumped at her words, a weird feeling of excitement fluttering inside his stomach. Before he could interject with his own curious comment, she motioned for him to look ahead with a furry paw.

"Look over there. You see that darker area with the trees beside it? That's the entrance to a Mystery Dungeon."

After a brief walk over to the spot, the two stood near the entrance to the Mystery Dungeon. The 'darker area' was a medium-sized, almost pitch-black shadow in the middle of the forest's paved path. The few trees bordering it were blocking the impervious darkness from expanding beyond. It seemed almost out of place in the naturally colorful and vibrant forest.

Gloria looked more than fine, while Liam was disoriented at the abnormality of it, his eyes darting back and forth between the Vulpix and the shadow.

"This is the entrance?! It doesn't look like any hole, cave, or building to me." He hesitantly stepped forward to take a closer look at the anomaly.

Gloria went in front of Liam. "That's part of the mystery of them. The entrances aren't so cut and dry, and it feels like they pierce through reality themselves sometimes!" Looking at a shocked Riolu, she continued. "But what happens next is going to shock you. Let's enter it now." She told him, brazenly making her way toward the shadowed area.

Liam followed close behind, very skeptical and a bit anxious about what would occur in such a place called a Mystery Dungeon. As they stepped into this mysterious shadow, the Riolu noticed that the world around them seemed to almost disappear, the both of them being consumed by the expanding shadowy void.


Sunshine Forest

BF 1

When the darkness in their eyes faded, the world around them began to shift and contort.

Liam watched in awe as green trees buckled, groaning and bending against their will, snapping and straightening up to form a makeshift wall around the newly formed earthy floor. Leaves shuttered as they started stretching above the sky, forming a natural canopy and a ceiling over the terrain, which blocked the majority of the newly formed artificial sunlight from passing through. A great rumbling shook the floor as mounds of dirt with grass tufts suddenly erupted out of the ground, creating natural rooms and corridors, all in a maze-like pattern.

The Riolu stood still out of shock, his mouth half open. Meanwhile, Gloria, taking in his expression, snickered into a paw.

"That was my same reaction when I entered my first dungeon, but..." She took a moment to look at her surroundings. "It never does get old."

Liam finally found his voice. "How is this even possible?! How does this exist, how did this... even happen?!" he demanded no one in particular.

It was utterly surreal and dreamlike to him, that this was a reality he was in now.

Gloria gave her equivalent of a shrug. "I, um, couldn't tell you; no Pokémon could tell you, really. Every room is random - traps and other stuff lying around, and even Pokémon that are created!"

"P-pokemon created? You're joking, right? They're not real like you or me?" he asked incredulously.

"You'd be correct, sadly. They exist in these places only to attack Pokémon who enter, using just my experience." She answered, a frown adorning her short muzzle.

It took Liam a while to respond, as he took in all this information. "All right, Gloria, walk me through this. I'm a bit fascinated, but also terrified at what you said."

"Right, just follow me. We need to find the stairs to go to the dungeon's next room, as they'll lead us to the end of the dungeon." Gloria began walking ahead of him, down one of the room's many corridors. "Hopefully, we don't run into any Pokémon, but that shouldn't be an issue." An embarrassed look then crossed her face. "I'm afraid I don't know more about the dungeons than any other Pokémon. Most of the information comes from books and personal experience. I still believe there has to be some Pokémon that know the truth," she rambled on as they walked forward.

Liam pressed on, right behind her. 'So, not even the Pokémon know why they exist, or how they work other than basic stuff. That's-'

"Hey, I found the stairs!" Gloria uttered delightfully, breaking his thoughts.

There would be a time and a place for everything. This would all make sense to him later - he knew it.

Sunshine Forest

BF 2

He was just as shocked to know that she was literal in terms of finding the 'stairs'. It was made out of earthy materials, like tree roots, dirt, and grass. Walking up the stairs seemed to alter their perception, the room around them vanishing as they appeared in another maze-like room, only leaning further into the surreal nature of everything.

As they went deeper into the dungeon, Liam tried to understand the Mystery Dungeon, going piece by piece on how these worked with his awareness and the knowledge Gloria bestowed him along the way. She had warned him about traps, but he was far too absorbed in looking around that he didn't notice he had stepped right into one, the sound of a clicking noise filling the air.

The natural dirt floor beneath him shifted into a plate of metal with spiked chestnuts engraved on them. He didn't know it was a trap until a barrage of those same spiked chestnuts pictured below showered on him from above. Doing the only thing he could do, he rose his arms over his head in defense as the small chestnuts started to pelt his fur. They didn't actually hurt as much, most bouncing off with no real inflictions on his form.

Gloria was going to warn the distracted Fighting-type, but stopped to giggle into a paw, as she knew it was too late. It was only after Liam's confused and frantic head snapping after the attack ceased that she addressed the surprise.

"You walked into a Chestnut Trap; they're mostly harmless. Still, there are some annoying ones, and some really dangerous ones."

The Riolu slowly nodded, not wanting to question it as he brushed leftover flakes of chestnut spikes off of him. Luckily, just up ahead was another set up stairs; they took them.

Sunshine Forest

BF 3

"Ah! There's some enemy Pokémon!" Gloria exclaimed, dodging a shot of silky string.

At the other side of the room's corridor were a pair of Bug-types. Apparently a Scatterbug and a Weedle according to Gloria. No sign of life or intelligence was visible in their eyes. They slowly wormed their bodies toward the pair, eager to attack the dungeon's intruders.

"This will be some good training. This Scatterbug here isn't too tough, so you can use a move on it and take it out. I'll take the Weedle!" She explained to him, before grabbing the attention of the other Bug-type Pokémon, which entered the room at a snail's pace.

Meanwhile, the Scatterbug inched along as fast as its measly legs could muster, trying to ram the Riolu. Liam backed up each time, thinking to himself. 'Am I really going to lay the beatdown on this random Pokémon and... use a move? What is a 'move'?'

He looked toward Gloria for answers, who inhaled and opened her mouth to spew out tiny snowflakes that coated the Weedle, freezing it into an icy-encased shell. As her foe was defeated, she noticed the Riolu staring dumbfounded and motioned for him to go on with a paw.

"Just concentrate, Liam! Every Pokémon knows how to use a move," she responded, the Weedle she froze in ice vanishing in a flash of bright, orange light.

The vagueness of her statement only added more questions. 'Can I really, though? If I wasn't a Pokémon before, or at least know how to be like one?'

The Scatterbug then closed its distance while he was in thought, ramming its tiny body directly into Liam's stomach. Almost on instinct, he brought his paw down and smacked the bug, sending it careening into a nearby mound-like wall. It crumpled to the floor, glowed a bright orange, and disappeared into nothingness.

Gloria looked astonished. "Wow! Was that Force Palm, maybe?" she theorized, grinning at the Riolu's results.

Liam stared at his paw, almost mesmerized by what he just happened to do. 'It glowed purple when I struck it! And at that moment I knew exactly what to do.' His thoughts were interrupted by Gloria's soft voice echoing from beyond the room.

"I found the next staircase!"

Nodding, he took a deep breath before following her.


After what appeared to be the final set of staircases, the reality of the dungeon around them began to collapse into darkness yet again, the pair finding themselves in another clearing in their regular reality, like the Mystery Dungeon never happened. A quick glance at Liam's behind revealed the familiar lingering shadow of the dungeon's entrance, showing that they somehow were warped to another side of it.

"Are we out of it? Is this the end of the Mystery Dungeon?" he asked the Vulpix.

"Yup! And now the apples I need should be here." Gloria scanned the area until she looked upwards and exclaimed, "There they are! But... oh. Now I'm kind of glad I met you."

The apples she sought to collect were just a few feet higher than she expected, suspended on a tall tree in the middle of the clearing.

Liam didn't understand, observing the apples as he asked. "How so? It's just apples, right?"

Gloria dug a paw into the ground, her muzzle burning a bit. "I'm, um, a bit too short to reach them, and I'm not exactly a good climber" she admitted, reaching her neck around and grabbing the empty basket on her back. "Shhooo?" she spoke with the basket in her mouth.

He understood completely.

Reaching down, he wrapped his arms around the barrel of the Vulpix. Gloria gave a muffled squeak as he rose her as high as he could into the air. With her height problem now solved, she began to pluck the bright red apples as best as she could with her free paw, with Liam diligently trying to keep his hold and not get hit by the occasional falling fruit. Once she was satisfied with the amount, Liam released his hold on her as she gracefully fell back to the earth.

"Eheh. Let's continue onward," Gloria spoke with exasperation.

Liam wordlessly agreed.

After collecting the many felled apples on the ground, Liam bent down and scooped up the now quite heavy basket of apples, the two of them picking up the trail through the reticent forest once more.

The Vulpix broke the silence. "Don't worry, Liam. I won't just leave you out here all alone. If you were shocked over the Mystery Dungeon, then you're going to be amazed by my hometown," She explained, tails wagging slightly.

Liam scrutinized her excitement. 'Surely her home isn't as nonsensical as that Mystery Dungeon was, could it?'

Gloria noticed his lingering stare and huffed, flicking her plume of tails. "I hope you're not thinking that I live in a forest."

He did, just for a moment.

The Vulpix shook her head, "Come on, I'll show you!"

She picked up the pace and passed him to look at what lie beyond the forested path. Not quick to fall behind, he ran ahead and stopped in his tracks as he saw exactly what the Vulpix was eager to see. His eyes widened as he stared forward, mind enamored. A sprawling city that stretched miles across the plains greeted the both of them. But the sight that caught Liam's attention the most was the sleek black tower soaring high above every other building, nearly piercing the clouds with its imposing presence.

Gloria saw his adoration and giggled once more. "That's my home... Empyrean City."


The horrors that boy experienced, but does not remember... yet.


Author's Notes: This is a story - one that's been waiting ten thousand years to be told.


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time: Roark
 
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Chapter 2: Roark

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 2

Roark

The paved path led out of the shady forest and into a massive open field where the sun made its shining presence known. The vast landscape was a bright green grassland mixed with the occasional pocket of sparse trees and flowers. A light breeze was more noticeable as it traveled across the fields, indenting the grass and bristling the fur of the two Pokémon on the trail. The pair met a crossroad, where the road diverged into multiple paths that either led to faraway buildings as dictated by wooden signs, or more sprawling wilderness beyond the forest and fields. However, the path that interested the two Pokémon was a much larger flat cobblestone-paved road.

Liam and Gloria found themselves on this road.

The freshly awakened Riolu walked tensely, his breath a bit shallow. His eyes still wandered, particularly interested in the looming city and the huge swathes of figures ahead; more Pokémon of unique appearance. The much more knowledgeable Vulpix walked carefree, happy to not carry the basket on her back anymore, and being more familiar with her city and home.

As they made their way, they could hear the distant noises of various wagons and wooden carts with decals of faces of Pokémon that had the same idea of entering the city. Equine-like Pokémon pulled the wooden vehicles ahead at a modest pace, along with a few other Pokemon of various sizes.

Once they caught up to the noise, only the sound of clopping hooves on rocky terrain could be heard.

Liam took note of all the different shapes, sizes, and features of them. He was curious as to how many different Pokémon there were, seeing as how much they varied in size, shape, and almost everything else from the way he saw it. Noticing the Riolu's constant eyeing of almost everything that went past, Gloria smiled and spoke loudly through the noise.

"Empyrean City is the biggest and the most populated city on the Celestic Continent!" She peered towards the massive city before them. "It's, um, really the heart of this region, and many Pokémon from the other continents come just to see it!"

Liam absorbed this information. 'I guess I should learn more about this city, considering I might be in here a while, depending on what Gloria wants to do with me. And maybe there are answers here...' He strode forward feeling a bit more determined in his goal.

"I was stunned and intimidated when I first saw this place too, y'know," she said, tilting her head upwards and smiling. "Before moving here, I spent my whole life in the Glacier Peak Mountains. That was my whole worldview and all my experience. It was nothing like this."

Liam was going to inquire more about the Vulpix herself, seeing as they just met. However, that feeling faded once the two of them had at last officially 'entered' the city, and into a plaza where dozens, perhaps hundreds of Pokémon were located from the looks of it. Both of them stopped to take everything in.

The cobblestone road transformed into a more smooth and clean concrete one. Square patterns were neatly designed into it as it stretched across the entire city in its winding form.

Rows of multicolored buildings, both short and tall stretched up and down the city, creating blocks and alleyways that crossed through them. They were made out of concrete, wood, or both of the materials combined. Features of different Pokémon, such as color, shape, and ears adorned many of those buildings. Alongside the rows of buildings were chock-full of shopkeepers alike. The passing wooden wagons and carts rolled into the plaza, taking their place in the line of shops. Heaps of Pokémon either stood in lines browsing through various vendors or walked around the area, chatting with others. Balloons were tethered around the various shops or became lost and drifted through the air. Scraps of what appeared to be confetti danced in the wind, blending in with the vibrant colors of the plaza.

Liam's head snapped back and forth, looking at all the new and exciting sights of the city, trying to gather his thoughts over the commotion of the rumbling of carts and talking Pokémon.

'This looks like a festival, but it must be the shopping district, right? There must be a hundred Pokémon here alone! And…'

Craning his neck, he looked at the most prominent building he saw from the forest. It was a sleek, black, obsidian-looking building with countless dark stained windows to look out of. Bright blue neon lights lined the building's sides, pulsing vibrantly even in daylight

The building looked almost out of place in the city of old wood and stone.

A purple banner with gold trim was spread out near the top of the building. Liam squinted his eyes to make out the text, but couldn't from his angle. He opened his mouth to inquire Gloria about it but was stopped by a white paw pushing him lightly on his shoulder.

"Come on, Liam, I can show you around later," she said before strolling further.

Liam nodded, readjusting his grip on the basket of apples and following her. 'Right. Food first… answers later.'

They carefully meandered through the densely packed marketplace, occasionally bumping into some unamused Pokémon. Gloria led Liam into one of the narrow alleyways connected to the square, the adjacent building walls creating sharp shadows along its sides.

"It's just right through this alley. Watch your step, though!"

They proceeded through the dark corridor, making sure not to step on any piles of trash that happened their way. Once out, they emerged into a more clean suburban district of the city. The volume of this area was noticeably smaller, with only a token amount of Pokémon wandering the quiet streets.

Liam took note of the more smaller and colorful round houses with the faces of Pokémon plastered on them. Green vegetation was more abundant around here as lone trees, bushes, and bundles of assorted flowers appeared in the lawns of the many homes.

Then out of nowhere, he sensed the oddly shaped feelers hanging off his head twitch, a spark going through his nerves as his eyes stopped scanning the area and snapped straight ahead.

'What was that?! I felt something... like a warning?' He brought a paw to caress one of his feelers, wincing at the feeling.

Gloria exhaled. "Whew, at least we made it before the sun could set." She nudged Liam out of his stupor, pointing at a house to their right. "See right there? That's my hom-"

"Halt!" a gruff voice commanded.

Both of them spun around, startled by the loud interruption. In the shadows of the alleyway, a mysterious figure leaning against the wall uncrossed its arms with a snort, before stepping into the light. The creature was imposing and towered over the two with ease. The Pokémon was a barn-red color, with black stripes reaching its white belly. Its face was a long snout, with pitch-black eyes.

"Don'tcha ya know there's a toll for passing through?" it snidely added. "The Krookodile tax, eh?"

Liam tensed up, his eyes narrowing. 'Already? We haven't gone that far and we're being harassed?' He scanned the surrounding area. 'Are there more of them? If we need to fight... or run.' Seeing no one else showing up to back up the Krookodile, he knew they had to fight back.

Setting down the basket, the Riolu adopted a fighting stance, ready for any sudden movement by the nefarious Pokémon.

The Krookodile chuckled darkly at this. "Isn't that cute! You wanna tussle, little man?"

Liam gulped, almost losing his composure. 'Shoot. Could we even take this guy? I've only been in one fight, but Gloria might…' He took a breath and steeled himself, turning to face Gloria. His hardened expression faded once he got a good look at her face.

'She seems... annoyed?'

Krookodile took a step forward. "Hehe, if you're so confident, then I think I'll need to beat it outta yo-"

"You're not going to fool me a second time, Roark!" Gloria interrupted.

Liam did a double take, losing his stance. 'Roark? Does she know this guy?'

The Krookodile stopped in his tracks, a wide smile traveling across his snout as a roar of laughter came out. Suddenly, a flash of bright white light enveloped the Pokemon, its appearance vanishing in the light. Liam shielded his eyes from the glow, wearing an absolutely bewildered look on his face. Gloria looked onward with a smile on her face and a wag in her tails.

The light receded as a new figure stood in the place of the once nefarious Krookodile. It was a dark and red fox-like Pokémon that stood a few feet taller than the pair. It stood on its hind paws, blood-red claws sticking out of them. Its mane of red fur was big and long, with black spike-like fur protruding out of it, and a blue braid that separated the rest into a ponytail.

Its muzzle then grew a grin as a suave yet rugged voice snickered.

"Hehehe... And that was a very funny first time wasn't it?" the fox responded, placing his claws on his hip, walking towards Gloria. He then bent down and hefted Gloria up in his arms. The Vulpix squeaked a bit before melting into the hug. 'Roark' then spoke to her. "Thanks for going out to get dinner, sis. I have qui-"

"What?! How did you do that?!" Liam blurted out, before shoving a paw into his mouth, realizing what he said.

The two vulpines stopped their brief moment, staring at Liam.

The dark fox chuckled, keeping his curious eye on the Riolu. "Now, Gloria, you never told me you were bringing a friend over for dinner…" he joked, poking the Vulpix lightly on her snout with a red claw. "And hey - he's just as small as you are!"

Gloria's muzzle scrunched up as she wiggled her way out of his arms and onto the ground. "He's not a... well, I found him in the Sunshine Forest."

Roark's eyes widened, but he still kept a toothy grin. "You know what I told you about bringing over homeless 'mons. I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm not made of cash."

Gloria sputtered, "No, no, he's not a homeless 'mon! He just lost his, uh..." she trailed off noticing Roark's bemused stare. "AARGH! Can we just explain inside... please?" she squeaked out, pouting and digging a paw into the ground.

"Right and…" He gazed at Liam, who took the paw of his mouth. "If you're clueless, I'm a Zoroark. We're not something you regularly see, as we can create illusions of other Pokémon to blend in. Helped me get out of a few binds back in the day."

Liam found his tongue, "You can just do that? That's… actually really cool." He shook his head. "Hey, but why'd you have to scare us like that?"

The Zoroark started chuckling again. "How else am I supposed to get my sick kicks after my guild work is done?" His grin then turned into a knowing smile as he faced Gloria. "I'm guessing you want to hear what I did today?" He splayed both his claws to incite more thrill. "This one ended in a shocking plot twist!"

Gloria's eyes gleamed, forgetting her previous frustration. "You've got to tell me as I make dinner!"

Roark laughed yet again, ruffling Gloria's tuft of fur atop her head, much to her dismay. "Sure, sure."

The crafty vulpine made a beeline past them, walking to a house by their right. It was a simple round-shaped home with two windows beside the front door. Liam noticed the structure held a significant resemblance to Gloria's muzzle, with its baby blue eyes, fluffy white ears, and a tuft of fur on the top of the house.

"Hey, kid!" Roark called out. "Let's talk - you and me, over some nice grub." A wink was sent toward the Riolu before the door was swung open, and the fox was gone.

Liam racked his brain for a response that never came. 'He wants to talk?' He placed a paw over his stomach. 'Although, I am pretty hungry. But who is this guy? And why does Gloria know him?''

He needed to know.

"Wait, Gloria!" Liam shouted, the Vulpix in question turning around with a curious hum and tilt of her head. "You know who this guy is?" He asked, picking up the neglected basket full of apples and walking into the home with her.

"He's my big brother!"


When Liam entered, he naturally began to observe his surroundings. Gloria nudged the door closed as she took the basket of apples with her mouth from Liam, entering a kitchen-like area to the room's right.

Light spilled from the windows into the room they were in, which appeared to be a cozy living room. A plush white carpet covered the floor, the light making it glow. Shelves covered the walls filled with books, paintings, and numerous lanterns.

"On my way to the guild, I happened to bump right into a little youngster - a Pancham - who was carrying a hefty bag, and in quite a hurry from the looks of it," Roark explained, beginning his story.

In the middle of the living room was a dining table with an assortment of wooden chairs placed around it. Other furniture included a plain gray couch with colorful cushions beside it. Books were scattered around them, along with a lantern, indicating someone in the house was an avid reader. A hallway was just ahead of the living room, leading to three different doors.

"Well, after doing some other errands at the guild, Scizor obviously wanted me to get straight to my jobs, as an outlaw request for Soaring Falls was issued just now, and all other teams were busy. I asked Charizard to accompany me, but he blew me off saying that it 'was a lame job'." Roark used his claws to quote and imitate the Pokémon's grizzled voice as he moved toward the dining table.

Gloria giggled, dumping half of the basket's apples, along with handfuls of what appeared to be cinnamon dust onto a tray. It then was placed into the insides of a strange red device sitting on the wooden counter. Liam noticed the device resembled a face with large yellow eyebrows. It also had three yellow ovals on its chest, four appendages sprouting out of its sides, and round eyes with a wide smile in between them.

'Is that some kind of machine? Everything in this land is made to look like a Pokémon,' Liam remarked in his mind, following Roark to the table and taking a seat.

Roark sat down across from Liam, resting his head on an elbow. "Went out all the way to Soaring Falls - you remember that place? Well, I even went into the Mystery Dungeon portion of it. The Pokémon there were no match - like always - so I reached the end of the dungeon fairly quickly."

"Did you find the outlaw? Or did you find something better?" Gloria asked, a little excited. She chopped up the remaining apples into slices, placing them into wooden bowls with an assortment of multicolored berries in them.

Roark waved a claw. "Well, guess what. Remember that little Pancham from the shops? He was at the end of the dungeon and got his little paw stuck into one of the crevices. He was my outlaw."

Gloria gasped. "How old was he? He must've been just a little kid..." She appeared a little downtrodden after he said that.

Liam noticed the Pokémon-like machine start to shake, vibrate, and glow a hot, crimson red as puffs of steam were jettisoned out of the machine's 'nostrils'. Liam's attention rapidly switched between Roark, Gloria, and the fuming device.

'Uh, is that thing going to explode? Should I tell them?'

His worry was alleviated when the machine seemingly cooled instantly; its steam dissipating and constant shaking stopping as it went back to its neutral state. Gloria noticed, and popped open a flap on the machine's 'stomach', revealing a tray with its contents much liquified. Gusts of steam from the cooked mush showed its lava-like temperature.

Gloria carefully lifted the tray out with tiny mitts suited for her paws and poured its contents into three separate wooden bowls.

"He was a little one - about the same age when I met you, and I wasn't gonna lay the smack-down on a kid because of a job. Turns out he stole some medicine instead of any Poké, so I got him out of the mess - out of the dungeon and back to Empyrean."

"I hope you didn't turn him into the guild," Gloria responded, a little worry on her face as she started adding the finishing touches to her dishes.

Roark smiled, "Hehehe, nah... He was acting like a brat on the way back, but he opened up along the way and told me why he did it." He looked towards Gloria who was peering back. "Told me he was going to give the medicine to his mother, a Pangoro who was deathly sick. He didn't have enough money, so... he just took it. The little thief and hero went all the way through Soaring Falls to reach his mom."

"Roark you…" Gloria said, her face now more heartfelt.

He steered his gaze to the nearby window, before looking back at Gloria and smiling a bit wider.

"Sound familiar?"

Gloria gave a small nod before speaking. "Did you do what I think you do?"

"You'd be right. We went all the way back through Soaring Falls and into a little grove where his mom got the fix she needed. 'Course I needed to foot the bill back home with the Meowstics', but..." His eyes glinted with some amusement. "Scizor was just happy to see everything go smoothly when I told him, which is a win in my book."

It was perfect timing as Gloria proclaimed from the kitchen. "Done!"

Roark stood up to assist the tiny quadruped in grabbing the multiple bowls. Meanwhile, Liam was deep in thought, soaking up Roark's story, a little curious.

'So, is that what guild members do? Help Pokémon, or...' He considered the alternative in his head. 'Or maybe Roark made that decision on his own.'

Either way, he wouldn't be able to think now that his stomach was growling. One by one, wooden bowls plus a singular spoon were placed at their respective spots on the table.

Gloria's careful gaze would prevent the hungry Riolu from eating. "Now, don't eat the applesauce just yet. The Darumaker cooks food to an extreme temperature. Roark would know..." She threw a glance Roark's way, who 'tched' in response.

"Please don't slander my name, sis, you knew I needed that coffee before Indeedee marked me down. I'm just glad she's a kind spirit."

Gloria took the opportunity to tuck her chest in and blow over the applesauce. Chilling white particles blew over the bowls, cooling it down, but not freezing it. Liam didn't bother questioning this use of her power, as it was useful, but made a mental note of it as he scrutinized the two bowls.

One bowl was the aforementioned applesauce, still very warm. He could smell the strong cinnamon emanating from it as his mouth began to water a bit. The other bowl held pieces of sliced apple mixed in with an assortment of different kinds of berries.

'I have no idea the last time I ate, but I'm starving!' Liam thought, hearing his stomach groan in pain.

Once Roark and Gloria were finished setting up, they seated themselves and began to chow down. Liam nearly inhaled his portion. His attempts to be polite and slow down were tossed once he took a taste. Not long into their meal, Roark would speak.

"Hey, kid, now that you're getting your free fill. Do you mind telling me about yourself now?"

Liam paused his ravenous eating to stare at the Zoroark in question. He gulped, trying to rack his brain for an answer he knew he couldn't wholeheartedly give.

'How do I tell him that I'm practically a ghost?'

The Riolu looked over at Gloria, who was watching him with a confident smile, and a nod for him to speak.

"Well, I... my name is Liam. At least I think so," he carefully worded, flinching a bit when Roark's expression morphed into real shock, then bemusement.

"You have a name?" Roark scoffed at that. "And... you think it is?" He shot a look at Gloria, who was about ready to interject herself. "Did, uh, you know about our guest's oddity?"

"Liam…" She tapped her chin with a paw. "He has amnesia - no memory of who he was. I found him while out collecting apples in the Sunshine Forest."

Roark exhaled, biting his tongue and containing his urge to ask for more as he shifted his gaze back to the nervous Riolu. "Is this true... Liam?"

The Riolu gulped once more, "Y-Yeah. All I could remember is waking up on a hill, in a clearing, and a name engraved in my mind. That's when I met her." He indicated to Gloria with a paw.

"Just one name, right?" A quick nod reassured Roark. "Huh..." The Zoroark looked deep in thought, his eyes never leaving Liam's.

The Riolu almost broke out into a sweat from the stare-down the two were having. 'Does he think that I'm lying or something?' He broke the stare, glancing at Gloria for some assistance - she obliged.

"You believe him, right?"

Twirling his spoon in one claw, the ruse fox sharply inhaled. "Yeah... I do. This means you're a blank slate. Whatever you were previously is irrelevant." He threw a couple of berries into his mouth to enunciate this fact.

"Wait! Can't we first find out if he has any family or connections? We can take him to the Empyrean Archives! They have a list of almost every Pokémon in Celestic!"

Roark looked like he was going to shut her question down, but responded with a cheeky grin. "Okay, my little egghead, we can do that first. If nothing appears, then we'll go with my option." His sharp gaze found Liam once again, digging a spoon into his applesauce. "You offer to join the guild."

Gloria went wide-eyed. "Roark! He just woke up today, and you want to throw him into the guild?"

Liam, too, was shocked. 'I don't even know what the guild is, and now he wants me in it?'

Gulping down the rest of his applesauce, Roark moved in to explain himself. "Yeah, and I'll tell you why - this is the best opportunity for the both of you." He glanced at Gloria, who went silent. "This is your time - aren't you happy?" He didn't get a response, but still continued, "And no offense, Liam, but I believe if you're that 'blank-slate' you say you are, then this is not only hers but your opportunity as well."

Liam blinked. 'Gloria wants to get into the guild? If what Roark said is true, then he'd want the both of us to join together.' He anticipated Gloria's response as she squirmed a bit under the spotlight.

"Well, sure I've wanted to join, but..." She poked her spoon with a paw. "Are you sure I'm even ready? E-especially with Liam! He just got here today!" she squeaked.

Roark rolled his eyes, scarfing down his remaining berries. "Why do you think I've been telling you about my exploits every day for years?" He snorted and continued. "Didja think I would've kept you around as a cook? Knowing what the guild does is just one part, and knowing what the right thing to do is the second part."

Gloria sighed, appearing to be mulling it over in her head. Still, that overruling worried part inside her brain seemed to be winning against her determined side. She never gave back an answer.

"And Liam…" The Riolu focused his gaze back on Roark, hesitant about what he would say to him next. "Obviously I don't know you much, and neither does Gloria here. But..." He inhaled again. "I know you're not lying." Roark scratched his neck, deep in thought, conflicted on what to say next. "Let's just say I have a hunch!"

Liam frowned. 'What's this guy's angle? Surely he wouldn't trust a stranger he met the previous hour, or maybe he knows something?' He shook his head to clear those kinds of thoughts, before glancing towards Gloria. 'Maybe this can work if she is willing to put up with me for now. And possibly, I could find answers with this guild.'

Gloria noticed Liam's stare. "Okay, Roark, but… please don't rush me?" she asked with a nervous smile.

Roark rattled his claws on the cloth table, looking pleased with that answer. "Great, because I've got a meeting with a few guild members soon, and I'd like to put in a good word."

"Aren't you already in the guild, Roark? Can't we just join your team or something?" Liam rebutted.

"Yeah, I'm with the guild, but think of it as freelance work; I only help around with errands and do the occasional job. Thank the Guildmaster for that... Bastard," he grumbled the last part, receiving a white forepaw into his shoulder from an unamused Vulpix. "You two - I hope - will become fully-fledged guild members. Besides, I don't think you'll be too keen on joining 'Team HandyGuys'." He laughed hard as Gloria's face burned with embarrassment.

Liam crossed his arms and thought it out. 'He's going to put in a good word for us, but how else will we prove ourselves? Gloria might be known, but me?'

"In fact…" Roark glanced at an oddly shaped clock on the wall, standing up out of his chair. "I believe it starts about now. Thanks for the dinner, sis." Reaching over, he lightly noogied Gloria's head tuft, much to her dismay.

The Zoroark gathered his empty bowls and placed them into the kitchen area, before striding over to the front door, stopping midway through. "Right!" Chuckling again, Roark turned around, looking at Gloria. "I thought I'd offer a gift to your sweet tooth, so I also ordered a little dessert."

The Vulpix's eyes lit up as she snapped out of her funk and rose out of her chair. "At Sylveon's Sweets, right? She makes the best Pokepuffs!"

Roark swung the door open as he stood in the doorway, facing the two of them. "Ahuh. Now, why don't you go pick it up once you're finished? Take Liam with you - it'd be good to show him around, get him familiar, and all that jazz. Once you get back, we can discuss your options with the guild."

Then he was gone.

Gloria sat down, "We can go when we're finished eating, okay?" Her words were soaked in impatience.

Liam laughed. "Don't worry, I'll be quick."

He resumed his devouring, a thump in his heart appearing - keen on exploring more of the vast city.


The door to the outside swung open as two occupants exited the Vulpix-shaped home. Liam adjusted the cream-colored saddlebag that Gloria had given him around his shoulder.

"If I recall correctly…" Gloria stopped walking. "It should only be a few blocks, so follow me!" she hollered, a bit more excited than usual.

The Vulpix took a right, leading further down the neighborhood with a wag in her tails. Liam followed, observing the small suburban neighborhood transform again into a more densely packed street. Tall houses with orange tiled roofs and wooden lumber supports overtook the smaller decorated homes. Gloria then cut off into another alleyway, entering the 'shopping district' of the city again.

There were fewer Pokémon here than before, but it was still packed. She was about to leave the district and head down another sector but stopped suddenly.

"Oh! You should know some of the shops if we're going to get a chance of getting into the guild" She explained to Liam, before running over to one stand - he followed.

They happened themselves in front of a quite large light purplish tent with 'spikes' that jutted out from various sides of the tent, making a belt of faux protrusions. In the middle, one flap was open, revealing a Pokémon with a striking resemblance to the tent.

Gloria cleared her throat. "This is Toxapex's Bunker. He stores anything that you can give him. It's, uh, very useful for long trips." She was going to give an example, but there was already a Pokémon handing a bag of items to the Toxapex.

Liam watched the Toxapex as he grabbed the bag with one of his flaps, giving a sinister smile to his customer in return.

Gloria noticed his worried look. "Don't worry, he doesn't tamper with your stuff… At least I hope." Despite the Riolu's perturbed expression expanding, she continued. "There's one other shop I need to show you! I hope they're still open." She whirled around, weaving through Pokémon and running towards the market's center.

Once Liam caught up, she thrust a paw over to a more decorative stand. It was painted white, with royal blue stripes and cloth draped over the front. Above it were carved images of what appeared to be feline Pokémon. While looking to be the same species, their colors were inverted.

"This is the Meowstic Market. It's run by-"

"Gloria!"

The Vulpix closed her mouth upon seeing one of the feline owners behind the shop wave a paw. "Oh, that must be them. Come on, Liam!" She quickly ran over towards the stand, the Riolu following behind like many times before. Once they reached the stand, the cleanly groomed Meowstic who called to them, smiled.

"Roark's little sister!" an elegant female voice came out. "We've seen you on the streets often, but never got the chance to meet, have we? We were just speaking to your brother earlier."

"Um, yeah! That's me, all right. Did he get in trouble?" Gloria asked, a bit worried.

The other feline spoke with a more posh male voice. "No, no, we talk to Roark a lot before he heads off to the guild. However, after he repaid us today for the theft." He exchanged looks with the other Meowstic. "We couldn't help but think... well, we should give the money back."

Liam found his sights staring beyond the two felines and at all the things that lay behind them. Almost a mountain of berries in chests, bottles with yellow liquid on them lined shelves, and round technicolor disks. Along with circular orbs that gleamed in the daylight, each having a slightly different coloration.

The female Meowstic nodded. "Ah yes, we can't help but be bleeding hearts. Knowing that the little guy was doing it for his mom touched us."

"I'm sure Roark wouldn't need the Poké back. He makes quite a lot through working with the guild!" Gloria exclaimed.

"Poké?" Liam questioned, arching a brow.

The Meowstic siblings immediately gave him a look as if he was crazy, causing the Riolu to quickly shut his mouth.

Gloria thankfully covered for him. "Eheh, sorry! He just woke up very early today!" She changed the subject. "Anyway, um, are you sure that Roark would want it back?"

The Meowstic sister responded with a sharp nod. "We know he wouldn't. That's why we wanted to give something back as payment." After saying this, her brother turned around to take one of the disks in the back that Liam saw. He plucked an icy blue-colored one off the shelves and presented it to Gloria, who kept a poker face, despite her giddiness inside.

"Roark always told us that you trained on the Pokémon in the Sunshine Forest, so we thought we would give you this TM. It's Frost Breath - a direct upgrade from your Powder Snow," the brother said with a smile, handing the disk over to Gloria.

She hesitantly accepted the TM. "Are you sure?"

The siblings nodded in synchrony, with the sister responding. "Roark also tells us how much you want to get into the guild, and we think being a little more powerful helps."

"And with power comes great responsibility - what all guild members should know about!" the brother added.

Gloria held the TM to her chest, which was warming up. "Thank you, Miss and Mister Meowstic! "But, um, Liam and I need to go pick up something at Sylveon's Sweets." She handed the TM over to Liam, who after inspecting it for a second, popped open a pouch of the saddlebag and placed it in gently.

"Ooo, at Sylveon's Place? She'll be closing soon, so you two should hurry," the Meowstic sister asserted, before adding with an amusing tone. "Roark also told us how much you liked her goods."

Gloria grit her teeth in annoyance. "Can you please tell him to be more quiet next time? Soon the whole city will know everything about me," she grumbled before peering over at Liam. "Come on, we should get there before the sun sets."

The two of them were off again, only stopping to turn around and wave to the kind-hearted Meowstics'

They followed a road into a sector where more unique-looking buildings dotted the sides - exquisite-looking details etched onto the walls of many of them. Clothed tables and wooden chairs packed with Pokémon sat outside them, dining on various types of food Liam couldn't put his paw on what were.

"We're here!"

Liam snapped out of his trance and ran over, stopping to look at the building Gloria was eager to go into.

It was a round, medium-sized pink and white building with large glass panes and curved pink ears shooting off its top sides. Near the top rested a sign with elegant writing that spelled out 'Sylveon's Sweet's'. Tendrils of pink, blue, and white were carved into it along with a bow of the same coloring.

The two of them then entered without any further questions.

As they entered, a chorus of tiny ringing bells echoed throughout the building, presumably from the entrance door. A few Pokémon were inside, seated at tables and idly munching on their confections.


Liam quickly identified that the tiled floor, the wallpaper, the ceiling, and all the décor and imagery, were a vibrant pink. He felt his eyes strain as he looked around, finding out that he did not like the color pink - not at all. Gloria, however, didn't mind as she sauntered toward the front of the establishment.

There was a glass casing that covered various sweets like candies, frosted cakes, and other baked goods. Two Pokémon were chatting near the counter, one behind the casing, and another by the counter.

The one behind the casing was a quadruped with white fur, a pink tail, and pink ears. Ribbons touched with blue flowed out of the two bows on its ear and neck. Baby blue eyes, just like Gloria's, twinkled. The other Pokemon present was a brown and tan-colored bipedal lagomorph, with long ears that stretched all the way down to its hips. Gloria would identify them as both Sylveon and Lopunny respectively.

"Sylvie! It's been a while!"

The two Pokémon talking halted their conversation to watch the Vulpix, who stopped in her tracks at the looks she was getting.

"Um, i-is this a bad time?"

A gleeful smile found itself on Sylveon's face. "No, no! It's very good to see you again, Glory!" a high-pitched feminine voice shouted.

Liam saw one of the 'ribbons' from Sylveon's bow begin to float its way over to Gloria, who put her paw into it as the ribbon-like feeler wrapped around it.

Gloria giggled at the strange but tender feeling. "Usually Roark orders and picks up, but I'm showing someone around the city." She scratched the back of her head with her free paw. "Also, I've been having your sister teach me, um, how to cook just a bit better."

Sylveon's smile widened at her words. "Heehee, whenever Leafeon and I are free from our duties, we like to have a cook-off. I even remember when you and I had a little challenge together!"

Suddenly, a motherly voice came from the Lopunny. "Gloria? I... You're the Vulpix that came to the orphanage with that Zoroark, correct?"

Gloria gave an absolutely floored look in response, pulling her paw out of Sylveon's ribbon and planting it firmly on the ground. "Mrs. Lopunny! I'm sorry I didn't notice you… It's been too long!"

Lopunny spoke slowly, as if remembering locked away memories. "Ten years… my goodness! I still remember what you told me and my little Buneary."

Liam was unsure what was going on but did not intend on blurting out like he did before to avoid ruining a moment.

Gloria looked disheartened. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Lopunny, but I can't remember what I said back then."

The Lopunny raised a paw to her mouth. "Oh, no, it's fine! You were so young back then that I..." She waved that same paw. "It's something that I thought about. My little Buneary there took it quite to heart as well."

Sylveon hearing all of this interrupted. "Well, I think it's very nice that you two met before, but speaking of meeting before." She turned her gaze to the distant Fighting-type. "Have I seen you before?"

Liam, feeling the spotlight and eyes on him, spoke. "Uh, no. I'm Liam! At least, uh, that's what I'd like to be called." He decided to not add anything else, hoping to duck any further questions.

The Sylveon glowed with happiness, "Wow! Another Pokemon with a name! That's so strange and exotic! Maybe if I get to know you more, I can give you a cute nickname as well!" she finished with a wink.

Liam could see the same ribbon-like feeler Gloria grabbed wandering over to him. He hesitantly put his paw in it as it wrapped around him, a jolting wave of relaxation washing over him, as if his limbs were jelly, his mind turning to mush. He quickly broke out of the bond so as to not fall over due to his comfort.

Sylveon giggled at this. "Heehee, many Pokémon are overwhelmed at first, but it's a great relaxer!"

Liam never felt sicker.

"So... is the dessert Roark ordered ready?" Gloria asked, her impatience breaking through.

Sylveon giggled again. "Oh, of course! He already paid for it, so it's ready!" Her feelers extended behind her as they picked up a pink bag with her face imprinted onto it.

'How does she even do that?' Liam thought, just as the feeler came back around the counter and toward the still weary-looking Riolu. He carefully grabbed the bag from the ribbon, trying to not touch it and suffer the same effects as before. He then placed it into the same flap where the TM was stored.

"Thanks a bunch, Sylvie! I'll come back later!" Gloria called out as she ran towards the entrance, Liam following just like before.

"If you and my sister continue to work together, then you'll need to include me sometime, Glory!" Sylveon quickly added.

Gloria looked back towards the high-pitched Pokémon with a gleam in her eyes and a wide smile on her muzzle.

"It's a promise."


The sun was setting as the pair found themselves on the road back home. An orange glow-ish hue spread across the horizon, casting it across the city. Darkness would creep in through places that didn't witness the sky. Liam caught himself staring at it as they walked the road. While the daylight and breeze felt nice on his fur, the beauty of the sunset captured his eyes.

His mind was such a blank that he didn't even know if he had seen one before, but he still could imagine himself witnessing many in his unknown lifetime. The thought of just not existing and experiencing something that he was now was a scary thought.

But the feeling of being here reassured him.

Gloria broke the silence of the trip. "Liam? I... I just wanted to say something." She took a deep breath. "Thanks for coming with me, for helping me get dinner, and..." She did not know what else to say, so she paused but spoke again. "Look, just thank you for being here right now. I know you don't really know much, but it's good to have someone beside you, right?" She winced. "Does that, um, make sense?"

Liam squinted his eyes at the sun. "You don't have to thank me, Gloria. I think anyone in my position would've gone with you."

'And it's not like I had a choice in the matter. Where would I go, what could I do?' He pondered this, but she pressed on.

"Roark... He has always been there for me, and I know he wants me to go places - places I want to go, too. At times I feel totally confident, but then step down..."

The Riolu was about to cook up a response, but failed, a scowl forming on his face. He did want to say something, but his mind was too clouded with thoughts of himself to give any kind of advice to the troubled Vulpix. And it wasn't like he had known her for more than a day.

'Maybe she's quick to confide in me, but I can't tell now if she is truly correct about herself.'

The conversation would come to a close as they got further toward home, the sun slowly sinking further in the sky behind them. Liam could make out a dark figure resting with its arms behind its back on the door. It was undoubtedly Roark, who was silently eyeing the two of them with a smirk - the smirk only widening as they got closer.

"Hey, don'tcha know there's a toll?" he snidely told them.

"Come on, Roark... my paws are tired.." Gloria moaned in a singsong manner, trying to push past, with him rebuffing his guarding of the door.

"Let me see the goods first. I know that tired act will go away and you'll devour it as soon as we go in," he said matter-of-factly.

Gloria blushed. "Liam, show him!"

The Riolu quickly dug into the saddlebag, retrieving the pink bag and then tossing it over to the Zoroark, who effortlessly caught it.

He peered into the bag before quickly closing it shut. "Great! And now..." He got off the door and swung it open as he ran in. "Time to eat it before she does!"

"ROARK!"

Gloria snapped out of her sluggish state and bolted inside, the sounds of chaos within the home very audible.

Liam could feel laughter bubble out of his chest. It was a strange thing, but like before, he knew he had experienced it one time. With one last look at the retreating sun, he unhooked the saddlebag around his shoulder and headed inside to assess the escalating situation, and also enjoy some much-needed dessert.


The moon was out, and the stars that came with it were difficult to see with the city still alive and bright during the night. Liam lay on the couch of the living room, staring out of the window, watching those few almost invisible stars glow endlessly.

Gloria had offered to let him sleep in her room, considering she had a second bed. However, he declined, not wanting to intrude on her privacy. This is what he told her, but the truth was that he wanted to be alone for the time being. The day had been a drain on him, both emotionally and physically.

Still, he was restless, for reasons he didn't know.

After an hour of tossing and turning, he simply accepted his insomniac behavior, choosing to stare out into the far beyond the atmosphere.

'... I don't feel like one of them, like I'm part of something much, much different.'

Gazing at the tiny stars in the sky, he tried to snuggle deeper into his small blanket.

Roark had given him it to stay warmer on the couch. He said it was something Gloria used to not be able to sleep without, which Gloria tried to refute. Liam chuckled at the memory of Roark trying to tell more embarrassing stories over dessert, but Gloria shooting him down every time he tried.

It was strange. He felt like he was at home in this bizarre land, but something was missing. That alien-like part of him was tearing him up inside. He didn't know what a Pokémon was, how to be one, to fit in-as much as he'd like to.

That Pokémon part of himself he must've lost, that personality he once had. Would it return? His head was too foggy, his senses too dry - bland - like a husk, and without proper control, but surely there would be some way to regain himself, his true self. He could only wonder what that true part of him was, either bad or good.

The Riolu rolled over as best as he could on the tiny couch. Perhaps he would never find out, and he was going to live a life of never knowing. Not wanting to dwell on uncertainties anymore, he shifted his thoughts back to what Roark told him earlier during the day.

'And then he said that two representatives from the guild would be coming by tomorrow. Are they going to test us immediately?'

He sighed, quickly thinking it was best not to dwell on something yet to happen. With a shake of his head, he shut off his thoughts, lulling himself to sleep in the city that never sleeps.


What is it you want to remember? What is it you want to forget? Do you realize both are inescapable?


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time: Just Like You
 
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Chapter 3: Just Like You

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 3

Just Like You

Liam's eyes flicked open and shut, his mind battling with his body. A breath of life came out of his mouth as his eyes cracked open, closing them slightly due to the intake of sudden skylight. As he stared up, a clear blue sky greeted him. Remnants of white clouds drifted slowly.

As if a switch was flicked on in his brain, he became conscious. The feelings in his limbs awakened as they twitched in response. He could feel his back propped up against something as he was in an upright position. He could feel something grind against him, something tough and scratchy on his fur.

On instinct, his paws gripped the thing closest to him - tufts of green pasture. He could feel it around his paw, along with its collected moisture.

'Grass. I'm outside?' His train of thought caught up as well, now fully aware of where he was.

Liam forced his body to move, closing his eyes as he took his back off the 'wall' and got onto shaky hind paws. When he opened his eyes, they quickly expanded in astonishment at what he was seeing. He was in a place he had never seen before - again. He brought a paw to wipe his red orbs, still thinking he was asleep.

Fields of grass stretched far for miles, and bundles of healthy wallflowers bloomed relentlessly among the swathes of empty fertile land. What lies beyond the fields were distant short mountain ranges, coated in mossy greenery. Behind the ranges were walls of obscuring fog-like clouds that blocked further sight to even beyond the mountains.

It was uncharted territory, ripe for exploration.

This invigorated a part of him - that burning curiosity he was missing. However, that feeling was crushed by the weight forming in his chest.

'Was I dreaming of yesterday? Or...' He looked around, noting he was resting against the base of a tree, just like he awoke yesterday. A lush forest behind him spread out as far as the naked eye could see. Flora, especially more white wallflowers were taking the shade under the trees.

'Maybe I'm still dreaming?'

But he could feel everything. The cool breeze that flowed through the plains, grazing the fields in its path and coursing through his fur. He could smell the freshly wet grass and the clean mountainous air carried out through the wind. In his ears, he could hear singing and soft breathing at once. It provided a cooling and relaxing solution across his core, like angels were in his head, calling to him.

His senses became more heightened, almost sensitive to everything, vulnerable in this state. Even with his worry in mind, and confusion written on his face, he felt something else.

He felt bliss.

It was like his senses had overridden his rational thoughts. This was paradise. His confusion converted to fascination of the scenery, and he did not know why.

"Liam…"

'That voice…'

The faintly familiar silky voice pierced through the choir of angels in his head. It repeated in his head and echoed across the breathtaking landscape. His entrancement led him to hesitantly take a step forward, scared of the possibility of the view shuttering away, but still, his curiosity overcame that thought.

"Liam…?"

The voice spoke again, this time more soft and young. He didn't know how to respond, not like he could, with his mouth permanently gaped. He took another step, more confident now. He wanted to press on, to create an adventure here, to explore this paradise.

"Liam."

Suddenly, his vision faltered as he stumbled to make another step. Regaining his bearings, he noticed the landscape appeared frozen in time. Nothing moved - not the leaves of trees, the swishing grass, the fluffy clouds, or even the swaying wallflowers.

The Riolu shook his head, trying to take another step forward int-


"LIAM!"

"GAH!"

He felt a paw flick his feeler, sending a jolt of electricity through his body and making him faceplant onto the plush white carpet below. A tiny giggle escaped from Gloria before her natural worry at his state came in.

"Are you alright, Liam?" she asked, poking him in the back.

He grunted in return.

"Do you want me to whack him with a pillow?" Liam heard the humor-induced suave voice come from a distance, presumably Roark's.

He was disoriented, unsure how to process what just happened, laying there for a while until he could no longer take Gloria's paw pushing into him. With a groan, he propped his paws onto the carpet and forced himself up as he got on shaky legs, still unadjusted. Once he stood up, Gloria got a good look at his recently smooshed face.

"Why are you crying?"

Liam blinked in confusion. 'Crying?'

He reached a paw to touch his cheek and felt dampness, a lone tear slid down and he felt that as well. He grimaced, bringing his whole arm to wipe his eyes clear of the tears. Only stains of it remained on his face.

"You were sleepwalking," Gloria muttered.

Liam sputtered. "Sleepwalking? No, that was… I was there, it was re-'' He stopped himself before he could freak out Gloria more.

He felt everything there; he could remember it clearly. The fields of rippling grass, the distant wall of white clouds, the sound. Everything. It felt like he was deposited into a separate world, a perfect world, where his feelings swamped his thoughts. Despair crossed his face for a moment until Gloria replied.

"Yeah, you just got up from the couch and stood there. I tried calling your name, but then I needed to resort to desperate measures."

Roark's voice emanated from the kitchen, "I told you, Gloria; that blanket has special powers. I remember whenever I wrapped you in it, you were-" He clicked his tongue and waved a claw across his throat. "-Out."

Gloria frowned in exasperation, shooting the Zoroark a glare.

Liam regained his manner, holding his feelers gently. "Yeah, please, don't do it again."

She gave a sad smile in return. "Well, I had to! You looked... possessed! Especially with that look you had in your eyes."

"I thought he just smelled what you were making for breakfast; I know I did," Roark called out, flipping something disk-shaped in a metal pan.

Liam wiped the tiredness from his eyes as he finally became more aware of his surroundings. It was early morning, yellowish rays filtering into the living room through the open curtains. His nose twitched as noticed the second thing - a pleasant fried smell drifting through the house, coming from the kitchen where Roark was, who uttered out again.

"Hey, Gloria, your potatoes seem to be done." He flipped the disk in the pan again before reaching down and turning a knob.

Gloria ran back to the kitchen and began fiddling with another pan on the stovetop.

"Don't worry, sis, I got it." He grinned, taking both pans away from the stove. He walked over to an opposite counter, where intricate ceramic plates were placed.

One plate already held the flat-looking cakes on which he stacked another one. On the other plate he dumped what appeared to be a hefty amount of thinly sliced potato strips cooked to golden perfection with diced-up peppers mixed in. Gloria was right behind him and placed a glass bottle of some kind of seasoning on the counter. He nodded and picked it up, sprinkling it lightly over the potatoes.

From the kitchen, Liam could also hear the sputtering and shaking of that red device he saw the previous day. From what he heard, Gloria called it a Darumaker. Once the machine stopped its outburst of steam, Roark opened the tray and received a black mug from the inside carefully with his crimson claws.

"What - this another one of Leafeon's recipes?" Roark inquired the Vulpix behind him.

"Mhmm, with my own little twist!" Gloria replied.

"And how did you manage to get potatoes and these kinds of peppers? This stuff isn't grown in Celestic from what I'm aware of." He took the two plates along with his mug and headed toward the living room dining table.

"She let me use a few from the guild's personal garden," she said with a smile on her face.

Roark laughed. "Oh? She's allowing you to vandalize her personal heaven? The only Pokémon I know that has that privilege is Shaymin. And she gets on everyone's nerves. " He placed the two plates of food in the middle of the table.

Noticing that breakfast had arrived, Liam quickly took a seat at the table as his hunger crept in. The other two would swiftly follow. "Pancakes and hash browns?" he asked.

"Yup, this time I didn't burn the pancakes. They never let me near the stoves at the Rescue Society," Roark remarked, sending a wink Gloria's way.

Liam obviously could not remember having them before, but an odd feeling of happiness arose within him as his stomach churned with delight.

'At least it's not berries again.'

Gloria, upon taking her seat, noticed the rather large amount of pancakes on the plate. "Roark, why did you make almost double the amount?"

A devious grin grew on the Zoroark's face as he reached for his nearby mug of coffee. "Oh, no particular reason. I…" He trailed off noticing the deadpan glare from Gloria, laughing. "Now, wait a minute, it's no joke at your expense. I have guests coming over, it would be rude for them to not dine as well, right?" Gloria's unamused look turned into a shocked expression.

"No way... you actually got guild members to come over?"

"Well…" Roark waved a claw, "They're in the city to confirm a job request, and to go over the details with the client." He took a swig from his coffee. "Seeing as the Guildmaster or even Scizor haven't been looking for new recruits, I told them to come over."

"And?" Gloria leaned in further, her eyes a bit wider.

"Let's just say we can hopefully convince them to start training you two." he finished with a smirk.

She slumped back, staring down at the carpet until she spoke again, a little worry in her voice. "R-right now? Roark, I don't want to waste their tim-"

She was interrupted by Roark tapping his claw on the table. "Ohohoho, remember I told you I'd get a word in?" Gloria looked down again, grumbling under her breath. "Besides…" The Zoroark reached over the table and picked up what appeared to be a newspaper with bold letters that read 'Celestic Cognizance' on the back as he flipped it open. "I think they'll need a few extra paws going around before the festival kicks in."

Gloria's pouting faded into eagerness. "The festival is happening? When does it open?"

"Festival? And, uh, what's opening?" Liam questioned.

"The Eden Theater is set to open this week. Pokémon from all over the continent, even the world are coming to see its premiere. Especially every rich 'mon the mayor could get his flippers on," Roark replied, scanning his eyes up and down the paper.

Liam's confusion didn't go away. "Why is it so popular? Isn't it just a regular theater?"

Roark tore his gaze from the newspaper and gave Liam a look as if he lived under a rock his entire life, quickly realizing that he was still dealing with an amnesiac.

"The giant black building, did you see it coming into Empyrean?"

Liam racked his brain. 'Ah, I remember seeing that. It was the tallest thing I've seen in the city.'

"Yeah, I saw it. Is that the theater?"

Roark nodded. "Bingo. But it's not just any theater." He pointed a claw at himself. "But if I'd ever get in? I'd go straight to the bar it has."

Gloria chimed in, with a gleam in her eyes. "It's also the tallest Pokémon-made structure in the world standing at over one thousand feet tall! Even the technology involved in it is almost... futuristic! The dazzling electric lights, the aesthetic, everything!" she chittered with glee at reciting everything.

"Oookay, no need to go all egghead on him, sis. The boy just wanted an answer." Roark chuckled, trying to reach over and ruffle the Vulpix's tuft, getting a swipe of a paw in return.

Before Liam could respond to the barrage of information, a rapid series of knocks were heard at the front door.

"Roooooark! Let us in, man! It just started raining!" a muffled male-ish almost surly voice called from the outside, followed by more banging on the door.

"Please, Mony, perhaps they are still asleep?" a stoic female voice responded.

"Roark said he would be waiting for us at breakfast time, Braix. I'm starving and it's raining," the male voice complained more.

Back inside the house, Liam could only imagine the eye roll from the female as they listened intently to the chatter. Roark pushed himself out of his chair and rose to his paws as he gave a wide smile.

"Allow me to greet my guests so Monferno doesn't burn the door down trying to get in." He strode toward the door as the voices behind it chatted relentlessly.

"See I told you he was there." The male voice remarked as Roark gripped the door handle and threw the door wide open. The sound of rain against the concrete outside echoed through the house.

"Hey, Mony. Would you like to come inside? Away from the wet and cold?"

A cheeky smile found its way on the Monferno's face. "Just move, you asshole."

Roark snorted in amusement, turning to the other Pokémon, and offering her a warm smile instead. "And Miss Braixen, please, come inside so your illustrious fur doesn't get soaked." He turned to look at Monferno with his own cheeky look, who grumbled before sliding past Roark and into the house.

Braixen did a tiny bow, speaking in a jokingly stoic manner. "Thank you, Mister Roark, for inviting us over." She entered after the Monferno.

Once inside, Liam got a good look at the two. The Monferno appeared to be an orange-furred primate with a flaming tail behind him. Around his shoulder rest a large saddlebag, colored a dark purple with what appeared to be stars embezzled onto it. The other Pokémon, a Braixen, looked like another vulpine. This time, a bipedal like Roark, and with lighter orange colored fur. Tufts of red fur came out of her ears, a bushy tail sprouting out of her back, and a wooden stick embedded into it.

It was not the only non-organic part of her, though, as around her thin arms was an armband, colored white with a crimson cross etched onto it.

Roark then closed the door behind him. "Well, let's not jibber jabber and eat before everything gets cold, eh?"

The rest could only agree.


The sound of eating soon filled the room, everyone's appetites clearly getting the best of them.

Monfero gulped a morsel down and gave a short laugh. "Wow, Vulpix, you said Leafeon is teaching you?" He stabbed another piece of thin potato with a fork. "Because I think you give Leafeon a good run for her money with all the additions." He then took notice of all the stares he was getting. "Seriously!"

Braixen took a napkin and wiped her mouth, smiling as she spoke. "I have to agree, Miss Vulpix, it's quite delicious. However, I think I prefer Leafeon's craft a tad bit more. No offense."

A blush overcame Gloria's face. "Please, um, just call me Gloria! And thanks for the compliments. Now…" She looked at Roark, who was busy stuffing his face. She made a gesture with her head for him to interject. It took him a moment, but he finally realized it and cleared his throat.

"You two were going to Empyrean to confirm a job request, right?"

Monferno spoke. "Yup, the Guildmaster still wanted members out doing jobs, as most of the others are out helping with the festival. This one we took had an error in its request, and usually, we toss it, but since it's so close…"

Braixen continued for him, "So after we went and sorted the details, we headed straight here. We'll be leaving shortly."

"And what would you say if I had two different Pokémon fulfill that request?" Roark said, a toothy smile filling his face.

Liam's eyes sharpened at this. 'Ah, now I see what his plan is. The thing is, will it work?'

Monferno did not seem to mind and went straight back to eating. "Hey, if you want to pull some other 'mons to work in the rain, by all means, you've got my word."

Braixen, however, seemed a bit miffed at his response. "Why do you want us to hand down the job? It's not too harsh for us - a simple trip to the Sunshine Grove."

"Come on, Braix."

Roark gave a quick wink toward Liam and Gloria. "May I see the job request?"

Braixen looked toward Monferno, who begrudgingly stopped eating to flip open his saddlebag and retrieve a piece of paper, handing it over.

With the paper in his claws, Roark read out. "Rescue Request for Buneary at Sunshine Grove. Uh, one-thousand Poké award… from the client, Mrs. Lopunny."

Gloria's eyes widened at that. "Wait, wait! This job request is from Mrs. Lopunny? The one who runs the orphanage?"

Braixen gave a curt nod, "Yes. Monferno and I went to the orphanage to correct some errors." She winced a bit as she continued, "Mrs. Lopunny was a bit... dramatic to say the least."

Gloria bit her lip as Roark noticed her state and quickly followed up. "What would you say about handing that request to those two." He emphasized by pointing his claws at Liam and Gloria.

Monferno laughed. "You know, we don't usually send newbies off to jobs, right?" Both Liam and Gloria sunk into their chairs a bit after hearing this.

"Yes, the Guildmaster made it so every recruit needs to have a modicum of training in them before they take jobs," Braixen added.

Roark clasped his claws together. "What would you say if I had these two take the mission, and they return back with that mission complete? I know the Guildmaster isn't looking for new recruits during the festival, however..." He honed his gaze on the two guild members. "Surely you don't want to miss on two new shining stars joining the guild, right?"

You could hear a pin drop as the two guild members thought of how they should approach this. But Monferno would be quick on the draw.

"Why are you so confident these two will succeed? I can see Gloria being able to, but Mr. Personality over there?" Liam blinked, almost not noticing him actually being mentioned. "What kind of strength are you packing? Do you think you have what it takes?"

'Can I really say that when I've only been in one Mystery Dungeon?' the Riolu thought.

The Monferno gained a conceited smirk, "Because from what I see, maybe you two can't do an easy job like this. "

Liam narrowed his eyes, standing up. "Of course, we can do this job! Right, Gloria?" He spared her a look, hoping she wasn't as defeated as before.

The Vulpix sputtered a bit before declaring, "R-Right! Besides, I know Mrs. Lopunny! I know we can do this, it's easy like you said, right?"

Braixen tapped her chin with a paw. "The Sunshine Grove has been explored extensively, so yes it is easy, I suppose. Are you prepared, though? And can the two of you put up a good fight?"

Gloria gave a hesitant nod - she wanted to express her confidence in her abilities, and not call to attention Liam's condition. Braixen appeared to ponder it a bit, knowing were two Pokémon she had little connection with, and unaware of their potential skills. Normally, she would flat-out deny to avoid blame on the guild, but a scoffing Monferno would break her inner debate.

"Ah, just give them the job, Braix. We have plenty more important ones to be doing. Or else Scizor will stick us on festival duty."

The fire fox sighed; she knew it was a battle she was not going to win. "Okay, we'll let you two do the job, but we expect you to finish the mission completely, and bring back the Buneary back to her mother."

Roark grinned. "And if they do well, maybe you can put in a good word to Scizor, or the Guildmaster?"

Monferno snorted. "Yeah, sure, just don't expect anything to come out of it. Both of them are far more interested in their research rather than new recruits."

"But new recruits always mean more Pokémon to do such research, so if you do well, don't worry," Braixen tried to correct the blunt Pokémon.

Gloria gulped, "So we can go now? I don't want Mrs. Lopunny to worry so much and-" A red claw interrupted her.

"How about we finish eating first? Don't want to go out on an empty stomach, right?" Roark proclaimed.

Liam and Gloria shared a look, before nodding and resuming their eating. Liam's thoughts of their mission kept swirling in his head.

'This will be our first official exploration then. Hope we don't screw it up.' He stole a glance at Gloria. 'For her sake mostly...'


9rbW6Sh.jpg


Just like Monferno said earlier, it was indeed raining as Gloria and Liam exited the house. A few hours had passed, the sun shrouded by an overcast, ushering a grayish coloration of the city.

Around Liam's shoulder was the same saddlebag he carried yesterday, this time looking a bit more full than before. Braixen had taken the opportunity to give the Pokémon their own items for the mission, explaining that her job as the guild's nurse in training means she must protect them as well.

He did not know what most of the item's uses were, but he trusted her judgment.

The two traveled the soaked road, taking them to the same market they had entered before. Many of the shops were shuttered, and few Pokemon trudged the streets and endured the elements.

Something caught Liam's eye as they walked through - Pokémon wearing armbands around their arms or other limbs. They walked more stiffly and uniformly, quickly fading back into the rest of the smallish crowd present. He stopped and looked back to see if he could get a better look.

'Are those guards, or something else?'

"Come on, Liam!"

Whoever they were, the answers would need to wait. They had a job to do.

After exiting the city proper, they found themselves on the same paved pathway that led to the crossroads, splintering off into different directions. Taking one of the paths at the crossroads led straight into the heart of the forest, with wind and rain whipping the leaves of trees and bushes around them.

"Sunshine Forest again, huh?" he asked, squinting at the forest which had significantly less sunshine than before.

"Yep! There's an area that was abandoned long ago - a garden. Nowadays, it's a Mystery Dungeon."

"Nowadays?"

"Well…" She dug a paw into the wet ground, "I don't know all the specifics, but I read a book where it says one time this was a sprawling garden in the forests. Then one day it turned into a Mystery Dungeon."

"How long ago?" Liam could never have imagined a place becoming a Mystery Dungeon.

She shrugged as best she could. "It's been around longer than Empyrean City, but it's not as dangerous as all the other dungeons in the regions, so it's pretty much left open for anyone." She walked forward. "Come on, I think I can remember the entrance to it in the forest."

Her walk turned into a light sprint as she went down the path that led into the Sunshine Forest, the same one they came out of yesterday. Gloria left Liam in thought, pondering just what she had told him.

'Mystery Dungeons can just appear?' The information Gloria casually relayed to him was unsettling, to say the least. 'Maybe it was already there, and they just discovered it. Still...'

He could hear the distant shouts from Gloria disrupting his thoughts, and quickly ran into the wet forest to play catch up. It was just as he had remembered it, although much gloomier.

She giggled as he came into view. "You really need to stop daydreaming so much, Liam."

He smiled in return, "Why should I? You Pokémon say the most bizarre things. I think I would appreciate a good sit down on everything, y'know?"

Gloria tapped her chin in thought before excitement took over her face. "I could take you to the library in Empyrean! They have all kinds of books on the continents, Pokémon, theories…" She trailed off as Liam scratched an ear.

"Sounds good." He looked around. "Do you remember where this grove was?"

"I, um, know for sure it's maybe this way." She pointed north with a paw. "If we keep going, we'll run into it."

And so they went down the trail again, spotting more Pokémon-made terrain like cracked polished stone. After walking a while, something caught Gloria's eye.

"Right there! That's the entrance!"

They jogged over to a fenced-off area on the side of the path. In the middle was an open doorway, a gate. Green moss wrapped itself around the stone fence perimeter, cracks on its surface, and almost entire pieces of broken stone littered the ground, showing the age of the structure in its tormented state.

Liam noticed something peculiar, though. He took a step closer and saw an indentation in the rock, realizing it was a sign, with actual words. He could barely make out two lines of faded text etched into the stone.

"Lurantis'… Garden." He transcribed the first line before squinting his eyes to read the one below it. "Lurantis and X…" The rest of it was too faded to even read. However, he soon discovered there was a ghost of an image also embedded into the stone.

Two Pokémon, from what he could infer. One bipedal, and one quadruped with slender legs. He couldn't make out any distinguishable features. Gloria moved in closer to take a peak once hearing him read the ancient text.

"Ah, the book did mention this was once a Pokemon's garden! That must've been ages ago!"

Liam tore his gaze from the sign and into the gate. It appeared as if light never went beyond this way. A wall of impenetrable darkness seemed to be blocking it. He felt like he's seen this before, with the group of clustered trees that lead into the Sunshine Forest's Mystery Dungeon.

"That's the entrance, right?"

She stepped past him and peered into the gate. "Yep! This is it, the Sunshine Grove. Are you ready?"

He popped open the saddlebag to check if everything was still in there. "Yeah, let's find Buneary!" he said with a smile.

The two of them then stepped forward into the gate of darkness. Despite doing this before, a lump formed in Liam's stomach. It was the fear of the unknown, but a thrill of it too.


Sunshine Grove

BF1

And just like before, it happened again.

The trees bent against their will, snapping to the sides of the two Pokémon's visions. Broken stone walls burst out of the ground, moss, vine and other kinds of tangled greenery spiraling around them as a maze-like pattern was formed around the room. Tree leaves formed a natural canopy where artificial light could pass through and reach the ground.

Wallflowers sprouted from the ground, littering the terrain and bringing a bright white to the otherwise grey and green vibe of the ruins.

Liam stared in wonder as this happened. "I don't think I'll ever get used to this…" He somewhat lamented not being able to see it again.

Gloria giggled. "It's fascinating, right? Buneary shouldn't be far ahead, so let's go!"

He gave a quick nod as he steeled himself for anything that lie ahead.

Sunshine Grove

BF2

"Behind you, Liam!" Gloria shouted.

He barely got out of the way before the Ratatta could slam into his side again. Again, on instinct, his paw glowed as he brought it back and then made contact with the purple rodent's back before it could recover from its wild tackle. It flew back, slamming into the dungeon walls and bursting into orange light.

"That Force Palm of yours is powerful. Although, you could be a lot less reckless," Gloria said, pointing a paw at a bruise on his hip.

He grimaced in response. "Hey, I'm new to this, y'know."

She giggled.

Sunshine Grove

BF3

Crystallized flakes of vapor spewed out of Gloria's mouth at a hovering Fletchling. It was just out of Liam's reach and where he couldn't touch it with a Force Palm. The Fletchling tried to peck at him while it hovered above. He dodged most of the attacks, only suffering a few weak pecks into his fur.

He prioritized moving his paws in a fast rhythm, matching the pecks of the bird Pokémon. Without him knowing, his movement became a blur as he instinctively zoomed to the opposite side of the room, leaving a small trail of dust in his path.

Gloria closed her eyes as tiny sharp shards of ice began to form around her. Once the shards were fully formed, they were launched at the Fletchling, lodging themselves in the Pokémon's feathers. The Flying-type cawed in pain, falling to the floor encased in an orange glow.

Gloria took a breather and turned to Liam, still in shock at what he just did. "That was Quick Attack I think! I've never seen it before."

Liam regained his breath. He knew he still had a lot to learn moving forward.

Sunshine Grove Midway

The stairs that led downward soon revealed a narrow passage bathed in blue-green light. They could hear the sound of running water as two rivers flowed along the sides of the hallway.

Liam noted he couldn't see past the trees, as a void of black blocked his vision. "Did we reach the end of the dungeon?"

Gloria looked around, a skeptical look on her face. "Mmmm, no. I think we're at a halfway point or something." She pointed a paw ahead, "I think up ahead will lead us to the next…" She trailed off as she noticed something in the distance, a Pokémon.

Liam saw it too once her talking stopped. 'Another enemy Pokémon?' A white paw pushed him lightly, making him wince.

"I think that's Buneary! Come on!" She sped off toward the Pokémon, Liam's eyes widened as he quickly followed. As he got closer, he noticed the Buneary had a striking similarity to the Lopunny they had met at Sylveon's Sweets.

It was shorter, had brown fur and tan-colored fluff on its lower end. Its one ear shot upright, while the other ear was folded in on itself. It also carried a brown saddlebag strapped around its shoulder. The Pokémon was looking around the room, in the rivers, through the trees. Whatever it was looking for, it was totally oblivious to the two behind it.

"Buneary! We're here to rescue you!" Gloria shouted.

The Buneary's folded ear shot up in surprise as it turned around and stared at the two in horror.

"You came to rescue me? You must be guild members, right?" A female voice with a hint of country came out, her stare unwavering.

"We had a request issued to rescue you. You need to come with us," Liam quickly answered.

"Mrs. Lopunny is worried about you!" Gloria quickly added

The Buneary's look of horror widened. "Ma sen-" She stopped herself as recognition of Gloria's voice flooded her mind. "Miss Vulpix? Is that... really you? From the orphanage?"

Gloria was a bit taken back but slowly gave a nod. "Yes! We can go back to it now."

Buneary's eyes strained further as she clutched the grip of her saddlebag further. "I... I can't go home now, I haven't found the secret entrance yet!"

"Secret entrance?" Liam gave a puzzled look at the bunny, who squirmed.

"Yes! There's an entrance that's hidden, but I haven't made it there yet. I just need to go further!"

Gloria took a step forward, worry on her face. "Come on Buneary, let's just go home, your mom must be worried sick."

Liam also started to encroach on the Normal-type, but she quickly took a defensive hop backward.

"I can't go home yet! I don't need rescuing, either. Please tell my mom I'll be back soon!" She immediately took off further into the dungeon, leaving the pair a bit bewildered.

"Wait!... Ugh." Gloria sighed.

"Have you heard of any secret entrance here?" Liam asked the Vulpix.

She shook her head, still a bit peeved at the Buneary's behavior. "No, this dungeon has been gone through extensively."

He shrugged in return. "Well let's catch up on her before she gets hurt, or worse… Braixen and Monferno trust us."

One determined nod from the Vulpix sent the two of them further into the grove, not knowing just what the Buneary was looking for.


"And after he said all of that, I told him…" Braixen and Monferno leaned in further to hear Roark's conclusion.

"'By the way, Joltik's on your back.'"

Monferno slammed a palm onto the table as did Roark with a claw, the both of them roaring with laughter. Braixen offered a reserved chuckle, holding a paw over her mouth.

"Oh, how-" Monferno attempted to speak through his laughter. "How- how long was he on him?"

"A good two minutes, I think everyone saw it, too, but they knew better not to say it right away," Roark explained through his snickering.

Monferno placed a hand on his head as his breathing relaxed. "Man, I miss a lot of great moments when I'm out doing jobs…" He looked over toward Braixen, who was daintily sipping from her mug of coffee. "I envy you sometimes, you know."

"You know I have to stay sometimes, when Hatterene isn't always present, then I'm acting nurse for the guild," she said.

"Ah, so Roark doesn't need to worry when he and Charizard get into an argument," Monferno remarked with amusement. Braixen snickered as Roark waved a claw.

"Let's get down to business, Mony." Monferno grumbled at the use of his nickname, but let him continue. "I know the Guildmaster got you three passes; one for you, Braixen, and whomever else of your choosing."

Monferno put his arms behind his head. "Yeah, what's it to you? I never planned on going myself. Theaters are boring and stuff."

Roark leaned across the table. "Well, I want those passes."

"What makes you think I'm going to hand off those passes when I'm better off making tons of Poké for selling them?"

Roark leaned further in, his smirk growing wider. "Because I know you can't resist a bet.

Monferno sucked his teeth in. "Depends if it's a bet that I know for sure I'm going to win."

"Liam and Gloria come back with Buneary in tow..." Roark pointed a claw at the two of them. "You report this to the guild, and if they get accepted in…" He stopped to take a sip from his coffee. "Then I get those passes."

Another round of rapturous laughter came from Monferno as he slammed the table with a fist. "Those two? They look as green as can be, especially the Riolu with his staring into space."

"This is going to bite you, Mony," Braixen warned.

He waved her off, "Ah, come on Braix, it'll be fun. The Guildmaster and Scizor are in no hurry to have new recruits now."

A claw-ridden paw soon reached Monferno's vision, who promptly looked at its owner.

"Deal?" Roark asked, the glint in his eyes challenging his foe. Monferno snorted and put his own hand into Roark's.

"Deal."


Sunshine Grove

BF4

'Shoot, this Pokémon is way bigger than the others we've faced,' Liam thought as the large Raticate made its appearance known.

It snarled at him with its gnarly teeth before leaping forward, intending to bite Liam. He quickly dashed out of the way, using his newly learned Quick Attack. The Raticate was persistent however, recovering fast and nearly tackling Liam if it weren't for the sharp shards of ice sent by Gloria smashing into its sides.

Both of them made a mental agreement of their roles in this fight. Gloria went into a support role as she attacked from a distance with Ice Shard. Meanwhile, Liam got up close and personal with the Pokémon. He utilized the Raticate's falter from Gloria's attack to unleash a series of Force Palms into the stomach and face of the Pokémon.

He could feel himself getting better at using his arsenal of moves.

Through the pummeling, the weakened Raticate saw an opening and took it. It latched its long teeth around Liam's left arm and bit down - hard.

Liam grunted in pain as his other arm charged another Force Palm, this time with more force put into it. Gloria saw his predicament and launched a barrage of Ice Shards at the Raticate. The teeth around his arm were taken out as Raticate succumbed to the attacks, falling to the floor and bursting into bright orange light.

Once the light receded, Liam kneeled down on the floor and nursed his arm. Gloria quickly rushed to his side, worried.

"Are you okay? It's not bleeding, is it?" She leaned in to check on it.

He took a deep breath, "Hah... no. But it does hurt very badly."

"Let me see the bag; there's something you can use."

Liam used his good arm to unhook the saddlebag before handing it over to her. She set it the ground and opened the flap containing several kinds of berries that Braixen gave them. She fumbled a bit, but pulled out a blue kind of berry with black speckles on it.

"This is an Oran Berry, it provides a temporary alleviation for pain. It's great for exploring Mystery Dungeons, but you should still see someone for greater injuries."

Liam didn't question it, seeing the pain he was in, he was sure it would do the trick. "Alright, give it here."

He grabbed the berry from her outstretched paw and tossed it into his mouth, grinding it up. Right then and there he felt a powerful burst of energy pulse through his body, specifically his left arm. He stared at it for a while, flexing it like it was never hurt at all.

Gloria giggled and closed the bag, pushing it over toward him. "This should be the last floor. Buneary is most likely up ahead as well."

He looked at her from his position with a smile, grabbing the saddlebag.

"Then lead the way."


As they exited the final staircase, they found themselves in a silent area. A cracked stone brick pathway covered with greenery led to another structure. A fountain that still poured water out of its numerous holes. In the middle of the room, a Buneary wandered around aimlessly, pushing over pieces of rock and pressing down on brick slabs.

Liam and Gloria shared a look before interrupting the bunny.

"Buneary! Stop running off, we need to take you back home!" Gloria yelled as the both of them started to close in.

Buneary stopped what she was doing and backed up, shocked that they were back. "W-why did y'all follow me again! I told you that I was fine, remember?"

"But your mother issued this request! Don't you respect her wishes?" Gloria retorted.

The Buneary tightened her hold on her saddlebag. "I'm doing this for her."

"What could you be doing that is for her benefit?"

Buneary let out a deep breath. "Do you remember what you said to us all in the orphanage, all that time ago?"

A look of shock came on Gloria's face as she collected her thoughts of when that happened.

"... No," She responded, ashamed.

"I remember. You told me that your brother had made a promise to you, and that you had made a promise as well."

Through the silence, Buneary continued. "You... said that you promised to keep moving forward, despite the hardships that you and everyone in the orphanage had suffered. That you dreamt of getting into the guild. While I was so little at the time, those words struck me deeply. I promised to my mom that I would also join the guild." She smiled. "I snuck out of the orphanage all the time to explore the Sunshine Forest. In a way… I wanted to be just like you," she finished wistfully.

A wave of silence ushered throughout the room. Gloria grit her teeth. She wanted to say yes, that they were one of the same. But a part of her told herself that they were not. She had forgotten she said those words, the ones that inspired this young explorer. She did not know how to respond. Thankfully, Liam would soon save her.

"If you truly mean all of that, then why are you here, in this dungeon."

Buneary addressed this, "Well, the rumor goes that there's an entrance to a hidden dungeon that leads to ancient treasure. In this room. Right here." She pointed a paw toward the many stone panels that littered the floor and walls. Various faded images were engraved onto each one. "I think the entrance lies in one of those panels activating." She flashed a confident grin.

Gloria, snapping out of her thoughts replied. "If we search for a while, can you please then come back to your mother?" she almost pleaded.

Buneary placed her paws on her hip.

"Of course!"

The three of them spent an agonizing amount of time individually pressing each panel. It was some sort of puzzle, they thought. While Liam and Gloria were already getting tired of mindlessly pushing panels, Buneary didn't seem to mind as she pushed on each one with a fiery determination. Liam could feel his eyes drooping, sleep almost overcoming him at this point due to boredom. Until he noticed one of the next panel's images. It was the same faded image of a spindly quadruped he saw from the gate outside.

He pressed the panel with that image.

A rumbling shook the room, scaring Gloria and Buneary out of their repetitive task. Near the front of the broken fountain, the stone brick flooring slid open, revealing a staircase.

Buneary turned around and looked on in amazement as she hopped up and down, over and over again, practically becoming a blur.

"I knew it! I knew it! I KNEW IT!"

"Calm down, we don't know if it's a trap or anything," Liam spoke, trying to calm down the hyper bunny. She did not listen as she laughed and ran past the stunned pair.

"Come on! I know you want to see it, too!" The Buneary gleefully said, hopping down the stairwell and disappearing from their view, not a single word was heard from the hyperactive bunny. Liam and Gloria exchanged looks, before hesitantly heading over to the stairwell Buneary vanished into. What greeted them was a black void, a symbol of a Mystery Dungeon entrance.

"Wow... The rumor was correct, and this is an actual dungeon entrance," Gloria said, a bit dumbfounded. Liam peered into the darkness before placing a paw on Gloria's side, getting her attention.

"We should probably head on in, Buneary could get hurt, or lost."

She let out a sigh, and a quick nod from the both of them sealed their resolve. They took their steps down the stairs, into the dungeon that no one had seen before.

Sunshine Grove Lost Chamber

BF 1

It did not take long for them to find the spunky Buneary, already fending off a Linoone by herself. Before the enemy Pokémon could lash its claws at her, she tucked her head close to her chest and pointed her ears toward her target. Buneary's folded ear then sprang up, slamming straight into the chest of the unsuspecting Linoone.

Gloria rushed in to quickly deter a hovering Starly as it homed in on the recovering Buneary. With an icy exhale of Powder Snow, the Starly was no match to the Ice-type's unmatched skill in freezing. The Starly's snow-coated body fell down to the ground with a burst of orange light.

"Buneary! Don't forget about us! We didn't take this job for nothing!" Gloria exclaimed with a forceful breath.

The Buneary chuckled as she ran down an opposite mossy corridor, further into the depths of the dungeon. "If ya can keep up with me, sure! Besides... aren't y'all part of the guild?"

"Well, we're no-"

The Vulpix couldn't explain further, biting her lip. However, it was not like Buneary would hear, with the bunny speeding off further into the dungeon.

Sunshine Grove Lost Chamber

BF 4

Floor after floor they descended deeper into the dungeon, the opposition seemingly growing. But so did their ferocity in dealing with those threats. A Raticate lunged at the trio with outstretched claws, looking to shred them apart.

Liam slammed it in the face with a Force Palm before it could, then quickly followed up with a Quick Attack barrage to disorientate it as it fell to the ground, turning to orange ashes.

Buneary rapidly hopped up and down, kicking a Poochyena multiple times with her own Double Kick, the mangey dog-like Pokémon tried to bite the bunny with its jaws, only getting jabs in return.

Gloria hurled shard after shard of ice crystals at flying bird Pokémon. It proved effective each time as they nosedived toward the earth into their glowing fate.

They knew they were getting closer, and closer to what lie ahead. Liam was tense, ready for anything to happen their way. Gloria was a bit clammy, her nerves wrecked with entering a dungeon no one had explored yet. Buneary was all smiles. though, as they entered what appeared to be the final section of the Mystery Dungeon.

The final staircase they took led them to a large, chamber-like room entirely carved into the ground. Smooth walls adorned by characters and images untouched by the elements stood without a single scratch on them. Wallflowers were found blooming all over the earth, like a mini meadow of white. An unnatural light seemed to bathe the room in an enchanting green and blue calming glow.

It appeared that this was their destination, the end of the dungeon. To Liam, this view was worthy of being a reward in itself.

In the center of the room, however, was the biggest treasure of all, which sat on a plaque. Buneary stepped forward and gazed at it, mesmerized. It was an orange-gold colored necklace. In the middle of it was an encrusted gem, tiny antler-like metal sprouting from it. She picked it up gently, examining it, noticing a text was written on the plaque.

'For X.' The rest was too faded to read.

She clutched it into her paw and she turned to face the two bedazzled Pokémon.

"Do you think my ma will forgive me if I give this to her?"


The sun held high in the sky, the drizzle and grey clouds from earlier now gone. Only puddles of leftover rainwater remained, quickly being evaporated by the sun's heavenly rays. Gloria, Liam, and Buneary entered the city, exhausted after the fighting and exploring they had gone through.

They decided they would drop off Buneary, finish the job, and head straight home for much-needed rest.

The two girls guided Liam through the market, past the maze of restaurants and diners, and into the view of a big brown building. The ears of a Lopunny sprouted out of its sides, Liam noting it a staple of a Pokémon designed building.

"It's been so long since I've come here..." Gloria reminisced, taking in the sight of the familiar building.

Buneary stepped forward closer to the entrance, the necklace still in her grip. "Mom! Are you in there?"

Not long after, the sound of a scuffle inside was heard as the door swung wide open, revealing the figure of a distressed Lopunny.

"B-Buneary? You're back?" She soon swiftly stumbled forward and held the Buneary in a deathly hug.

Buneary grunted from the lack of air. "Y-yeah, those two helped me." She pointed a paw toward Liam and Gloria, hoping she'll be spared from her mother's affection.

Lopunny broke through her moment as she looked at the two Pokémon behind Buneary. "Oh! Gloria!" She quickly hopped over and also enveloped the astonished Vulpix in the same tight hug.

"H-hello, Mrs. Lop-punny! Please... I can't... breathe," Gloria raggedly squeaked out.

At this moment, Liam was glad he was always on the sidelines when these sorts of things happened. That quickly faded away when he too was rushed by the emotional mother, who wrapped him up into a bone-crushing grasp.

"And what's your name, darling?" Lopunny stopped her assault to rack her brain until she squeezed him tighter with glee. "It's Liam!" she happily proclaimed.

The Riolu in question could almost feel his bones snapping but prevented any sound of pain from escaping him. "Yup, that's... me, all right." The grip tightened, much to his chagrin.

Lopunny swung him around in her murderous grip. "Thank you, thank you, thank you…"

Liam tuned out her voice more and more as he enjoyed his 'hug'.

'So maybe this is what Roark said about being a guild member…'


Just like you, a soul that desires any ounce of heroism or glory that crosses her path.


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time: History Lesson
 

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Chapter 4: History Lesson

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 4

History Lesson

After everything was all said and done, they bid the loving mother and her daughter farewell. Lopunny and Buneary returned to the orphanage to the cacophony of the smaller Pokémon inside of it. They jumped around and patted the sides of the two bunny Pokémon as they made their way in.

The two took a much-needed sigh of relief, stretching their backs to release any tension brought by Lopunny. After checking for any 'injuries', Liam tightly closed a flap that was bulging open in the saddle bag he was carrying. When the many thanks and hugs of the Lopunny stopped, she handed over the one-thousand Poké as promised in the job request.

Gloria initially refused, stating her personal involvement along with taking a guild member's request. Liam was indifferent to it; he thought they should at least be compensated for a request. However, he was fine with just seeing Lopunny this happy. The motherly bunny insisted, shoving a sack of gold coin-like objects their way.

After this ordeal was sorted, they were back on the road home. Liam was staring at the orange sunset in thought as it cascaded an orange hue and glow around the city. Just like yesterday.

'Nothing new, but we've made at least one step towards progress,' he thought, trying not to stumble in his steps as he became entranced with the skyline. The purple of the night sky creeped in, blending with the warm sunset. Unbeknownst to him, a conflicted Gloria would speak as they walked.

"Look, I know…" She huffed. "We're not friends yet... maybe." She shook her head. "But I just wanted to confide with someone, someone that's not Roark."

"Is this about Buneary? Or something Roark said?" Liam took a shot in the dark.

They hopped down each step of a staircase, sticking to the railing and continuing their walk.

"Um, the first one. I... I don't think I can- I forgot." She hesitated a moment. "She got me all wrong, I'm not-" Gloria inhaled, growling as an unexpected outburst came out. "I'm not who she says I am!" The Vulpix realized what she said, quickly placing a paw in her mouth - Both of them stopped in their tracks.

"Who cares?" Liam asked, shrugging.

Gloria did a double take. "Huh?"

"You influenced her, right? To follow her dreams?" He waved a paw. "Doesn't matter to me if someone lied or forgot about what they said. If they helped me get where I got today, why does it matter? Trust me, having amnesia makes you realize how important it is to think about the now, not the past."

Gloria held a paw to her chest. "I just don't feel good knowing that... that I'm some fraud."

"Aren't you going through it now? The both of you?" He scratched an ear. "I don't know Roark that much, but I think he'd tell you the same, right? That means you've still got something to prove!" He never quite found himself to be a motivational speaker, his words shocking him as much as the Vulpix.

"But... I'm not sure if I can go through-"

"Just forget about it, okay?" He did not want to seem rude but also did not want to see her continue to beat herself up again.

She never gave a response back, most likely still thinking it over. Liam decided to keep walking, Gloria reluctant to follow.

"Besides, didn't you say you'd take me to the library?" he questioned, changing the subject. He was curious to learn more about 'Celestic' instead of just Empyrean City.

A coy smile grew on Gloria's face, her previous feelings fleeting. "Yeah... I did." She looked at him as he stopped to meet her gaze also. "We can go tomorrow - there's a lot you need to know!" Her tails began to wag slightly, pleasing Liam.

"Yeah? Tell me all about it then."

They chatted relentlessly on the way home, through winding alleys, busy markets, and streets, until they finally arrived at their destination.

Liam placed three hard knocks on the wooden door to Gloria's home, anticipating any movement behind it. Muffled voices beyond the door voiced their surprise until steps towards the door could be heard. The door swung open as the visage of Roark appeared, a wicked grin forming on his muzzle.

"Hey, Look who's back! Tell me, is it good news?" He placed a claw on his hip, awaiting their reply.

Liam smiled. "Yeah, we-" He stopped himself as he nudged Gloria with a paw. "Here, you tell him."

She gulped a bit, being put into the spotlight. "Buneary is safe; we finished the job," she said softly.

Roark's grin turned into a full-blown smile as he laughed. "Hey, Monferno! You're gonna get a kick out of this!"

The aforementioned Monferno was hunched over the table, playing cards in his grasp from his previous match with the Zoroark. He placed them down and picked up a nearby cup of coffee, engaging the three of them with a smug grin. "The newbies are back, I see. How many times did you loop around the first floor?"

Liam moved past Roark, into the home, and toward the mocking primate as Gloria followed. "We made it through the entire dungeon."

Monferno snorted. "Okay, still, finding Buneary is the objective. Pokémon have explored the Sunshine Grove over and over."

"And we found Buneary…"

Another snort came from Monferno. "Great! It was an easy job. I expected more face-planting and friendly fire, but I still don't think the Guildmaster would care so much." He took a long drink of his coffee.

"And we found a secret dungeon, along with an undiscovered treasure."

"PFFT-" Coffee spilt from Monferno's lips.

'That felt good,' the Riolu thought.

Monferno began hacking up the liquid back into his cup. "What? How did you two... You're lying," he stammered, eyeing the duo.

A ring of laughter came from the entrance soon after as Roark strode up to the bewildered Pokemon.

"Oh, Mony, now you're going to have to report it to the Guildmaster. What do you think he'd say about a team discovering secret dungeons? You know he'll get that look in his eye..."

"How would you even prove to me that those two found something within that dungeon?"

"Ask Mrs. Lopunny. She's got a pretty new necklace now," Liam teased - it was too much fun.

Monferno wiped his face with a sigh. "Fine. I'll report it to the Guildmaster like I said."

Roark clasped his claws together. "Splendid. Now, don't go about forgetting our deal, okay?"

Liam raised a brow. 'Deal?'

"Okay, Roark, but don't worry, I don't forget, I'm not old," he said, shooting a grin the Zoroark's way as he placed the almost empty mug on the table and stood up. "So... Gloria and Riolu-"

"Liam," the Riolu corrected, his irritated gaze piercing through the Monferno.

"Whatever you say, Mr Personality." Monferno stepped towards the door, stretching any loose muscles in both arms. "Braixen left earlier to check on her patients. I'm heading back now, so today or tomorrow the Guildmaster will be notified." He gave one final look at the pair. "Don't get your hopes up; the Guildmaster can be very selective." With the click of the handle, the door flew open as Monferno made his exit into the setting sun.

Roark swiftly closed the door and placed his back on it, his arms crossed behind him. "Since it's becoming late, how about we have a little dinner to celebrate your success? I think I can remember one recipe from my days at the Rescue Society!"


Light spilled from the windows of the home, straight into the sunken lids of Liam's eyes. He stirred in his sleep, clutching his blanket, trying to escape the wrath of the bright daylight. However, he could not fight it any longer as his eyelids cracked open, revealing his tired red orbs to the world.

It was morning, and after everything from the previous day had settled, he and Gloria collapsed into sleep from exhaustion.

With his limbs also reawakening from their slumber, he pulled the small blanket off of him, positioning himself upright on the couch. It appeared today he did not dream of 'that place' as he began to call it. The fields of rolling grass and distant mountains. He was somewhat disappointed, but he did not know quite why. That part of him wanted to return there, to explore it, and take it all in again - the experience.

Not wanting to dote on it, he placed a paw on his stomach and squinted at the memory of last night's unfortunate dinner.

'Cooking is not really Roark's strong suit.'

He nursed his stomach a bit as he surveyed around, his ears perking up as he registered a sound of a door turning across the hall - Gloria's room. The door swung open gently as the white Vulpix stepped out, putting a paw over her mouth as she yawned into it, her tiny fangs poking out. Liam noticed she had her cream-colored saddlebag wrapped around her neck, laying across her side.

The Vulpix's gaze wandered until she caught Liam's stare, to which he blinked in response.

"Hey," she said coyly.

"Hey."

"..."

The brief silence that followed was cut short as she stepped into the living room.

"Roark must have left for the guild not long ago... seeing how quiet it is here," Gloria mused, fiddling with her saddlebag.

"Are we still doing it?" Liam asked.

A smile found its way onto Gloria's face. "Yeah, but I forgot we needed to take you to the archives first and see if you have any relatives."

That sent a wave of thought through Liam; he didn't wonder a lot about who his family and friends were, if he had any at all. As odd as it was, he felt more alien than Pokémon, and not just from the amnesia.

Liam planted his hind paws on the carpet as he stood up, stretching. "And right after, the library, correct?"

Some excitement flashed on Gloria's face. "Yup! Everything about the Celestic Continent and even the entire world is displayed there! If you're accepted into the guild, you obviously need to know about the world."

"Then let's get prepared," he said.


The trip to the Empyrean Archives was largely uneventful and disappointing. They stepped down the massive white marble stairs of the building, stopping at the bottom where great columns supported the large structure.

Gloria huffed. "I can't believe it... You're a total ghost."

Once they were in there, they combed through the written files of Riolu and Lucario, Liam's evolution. Other than data on a 'Shiny' Lucario entering the city long ago, everything was a dead end with next to no Riolu or Lucario having a connection, especially with a name like Liam attached to it.

Liam could not say he was too disappointed - he might've been if he could remember anything. Nonetheless, it still brought up more questions than answers. "Are you so sure that this goes for all of Riolu and Lucario in the region?"

"The archives get information from almost all over Celestic. I don't think it would exclude all population centers."

The Riolu tapped his chin with a paw. "If that's true, then I have nothing to my name, right?" Like she said, he was a ghost, practically nonexistent, but now a new Pokémon so to speak.

"Um, true, but think about it like this - you have no hang-ups about joining the guild, correct?" she gave a hopeful reminder.

Sighing, he leaned on one of the nearby pillars. "Yeah... I guess you're right."

He wanted to add that he might have had no choice but kept that to himself. This was something he wanted to do, not out of need. Answers of his past would come in due time, he hoped, possibly through exploring this alien world to him and finding pieces of what kind of Pokémon he truly was.

Gloria smiled. "Great! Now, we can go to the library!" she buzzed with excitement

"Lead the way then."


The path they took to the library took Liam for a spin. Here the buildings seemed much older than the previous ones he's encountered. Wooden buildings with creaky lumber supports replaced the cement and marble-made ones.

"And here we are!"

The Riolu snapped to attention, his mouth widening once he stared at what was in front of him.

It was a large building, larger than the archives and possibly the largest he'd seen since the odd black tower. Old planks of wood seemed to hold the structure carefully, with little cracks or splinters visible. Tiny windows dotted the large exterior, of overgrowth everywhere as moss, vines, and other greenery concealed the wood near the bottom of the building. However, the mess of tangled flora transitioned into bundles of blooming flowers near the entrance.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Gloria questioned.

Liam slowly nodded, taking in its size. "And you're saying this holds all the information of the world here?"

"For the most part. It's the largest library in Celestic, maybe the entire world. And it's been here since Empyrean was founded." She smiled. "I've been here a lot, almost every week! There's nonfiction, fiction, history, plays, journals from famous Pokémon, and so much other stuff!"

He laughed at her giddiness. "I won't stall you any longer, then."

Entering through the large double doors, Liam was shocked at its appearance. He expected narrow rows of bookshelves with dust and grime covering them. He even instinctively tried to plug his nose of the incoming scent of old books and earth.

But what greeted him was a vast open space that stretched the entire building. Bookshelves so high they reached the ceiling were neatly lined up against the walls of the room, with nearby ladders and stepladders for any Pokémon to grab what they needed. Natural lighting came from the cracks of the many windows, with hanging chandeliers most of the chamber lit, creating an orange glow from its burning wicks.

In the middle of the room was a large intricate circular staircase. It spiraled all the way through the ceiling to an upper level, but also drove into the floor, opening a basement level. Wooden pillars were built into the flooring and stretched to the ceiling, balancing out the large interior.

Despite it being a library, it was also fairly loud, mostly due to the open nature of the room's reverberating sound, and how many Pokémon seemed to be present. Liam relaxed more seeing this, finding how much he preferred open and clear spaces rather than confined ones.

"It's nice, right?" he heard Gloria say.

"Yeah. Better than some stuffy place I thought you were taking me," answered back.

Gloria giggled, "We can come back here later." She lifted her head, looking towards the stairs. "On the top floor is where information of Celestic is found, mostly for Empyrean tourists."

He gave a brief nod in return as they walked towards the spiral staircase. They glided along the smooth railing, climbing up until they reached the top. Reaching the final floor, walls were erected splitting off into sections with wide entrances. It was much dimmer, as no windows nor grand chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

Gloria hopped up from the steps and took a gander around the room. "Hmmm, I think it's…" Her gaze wandered until her eye caught an entrance from across the room. "Right there, come on, Liam!"

The both of them took off towards this section of the room, a gold plate displayed beside its entrance - 'Celestic'.

When Liam entered this new area, a new feeling washed over him. He felt serene. The constant whispers of noise and voices seemed to halt in here. Replaced by a quiet shuffling of leaves, and the quiet creaks of wood beneath them.

Just like before, books lined the walls neatly, teeming with knowledge over the ages of Celestic's existence. Above them were richly detailed paintings of Pokémon of all kinds. Liam did not know what Pokémon they were, or who they were. Still, he knew they must've carried some importance to be seen so proudly. Multicolored flags of possibly different groups hung from the walls, showcasing the identities that many Pokémon wear proudly, or wore proudly in the past.

"Come here, there's a big map of the whole continent that you can see." Gloria trotted across the room to the west end.

He slowly followed her, still analyzing everything in the room as he came upon what she wanted to show him - his eyes widened.

R1Zq0O5.png


Across the wooden walls was indeed a map, a very large and tattered one. It depicted a large piece of land surrounded by a body of water, with a smaller island to the south. From the coloration of the map, Liam could see distinct 'zones' in the larger land mass. Aside from the colored sections, there were scribbles of icons representing mountain ranges, plains, caves, and lakes etched on all the different regions on the map.

Gloria cleared her throat, interrupting Liam's staredown with the map. "This is the Celestic Continent. It's in the middle of the world, and there are five major regions within the continent and its surroundings." She walked in front of Liam and used her paw to point at the bottom left portion of the map.

"This is the Meadow Region, the region we're in right now." She moved her paw further to the region's middle. "Empyrean City is smack-dab in the middle of it."

She moved to the top left. "This is the Grit Region. It's known for its arid temperature, plains of sand, and the occasional oasis. But that's not all it offers from what I've read about it." She moved to the top right. "The Frost Region... it's pretty much a bunch of snow and not much else." She moved her paw further north. "Um, a lot of my kind come here, from the Glacier Peak Mountains." She moved to the bottom right. "Right here is the Mountain Region, and as you guessed, it's full of mountain ranges, ravines, volcanoes, and more rugged terrain. Dragon-type Pokémon seem to like it, though."

Liam almost paled at what she said. 'Dragon Pokémon exist?' He did not want to think that giant fire-breathing beasts existed, but anything seemed possible in a world like this.

Gloria dragged her paw off the mainland and towards the southern island.

"And right here is the Shore Region - it's cut off from the continent, but is still included into Celestic. It's a pretty big tourist hub, and Pokémon usually go here to Empyrean or off to the Shore Region. It's a very pretty island, with tame beaches, thriving jungles, and friendly locals."

Liam scratched his chin in thought. 'Well, awfully convenient to have almost all types of elements here.'

His thoughts trailed off as he noticed Gloria didn't mention what was in the middle of the mainland. He couldn't quite pinpoint what it was based on color, but the symbols of mountains, cliffs, and ravines gave him a clue.

"What is that region in the middle?"

She gasped. "I forgot to tell you about Celestial Mountain!"

"And what exactly is it? A giant mountain?"

"Sort of - it's a collection of mountain ranges that form the tallest mountain in the world! And it's not just that - there are theories about the start of this world's creation stemming from Celestial Mountain!"

Liam blinked, raising his paws in defense. "Woah, slow down... world's creation? How would you prove something like that?"

"Uh," she mumbled, looking around the room. "I remember reading something about this, in this room here."

She scrambled to the bookshelves on the wall, scanning each book carefully. She flipped a few out of their idleness before shaking her head and putting them back. Not long after the fox's search, her ears perked up as she tore off a book from the shelf with her teeth.

"Thhmis is thwe one, riwght here!" Gloria cried through a full mouth, walking back. She sat down on her hindquarters and placed the book down, popping it open and flipping pages. Her eyes rhythmically analyzed each page, until she stopped at one page in particular. "Here's a good summary," she said, clearing her throat again.

Liam leaned further in, eager to hear about the so-called foundation of creation.

She read off of the book like a script. "'And from scattered light, debris, and glowing orange lines, the thousand arms of Arceus molded a celestial peak, piercing the heavens. From this mountain of gods, the lands below formed into Arceus' perfect world - a paradise.'"

"That's very strange. I never thought a world could just be formed unnaturally by a Pokémon," Liam mused.

Gloria continued, flipping through the pages like a madman. "There's more, though! Even the Mystery Dungeons have a connection."

Now Liam was more curious - possibly some clue towards those bizarre areas of this reality. She continued flipping until she found the right page, stopping to speak again.

"This is from research by various independent explorers and guilds over the years. 'While Celestic has the most Mystery Dungeons out of all other continents, Celestial Mountain has the biggest allocation of them within Celestic, and the world,'" she finished, closing the book shut with a paw. "What do you think?"

Liam in his mind slowly tried fitting together the pieces of the puzzle given to him. With as mysterious as the dungeons were, along with the theories of creation at Celestial Mountain, he couldn't quite give an accurate answer.

"Maybe the foundation of the world and the Mystery Dungeons are connected? If the two are closely connected as theorized," he took a shot in the dark.

Gloria clapped her paws together, "Exactly my thoughts! Um, the guild near Empyrean City was specifically made for researching the Mystery Dungeons. And... I've always wondered if the dungeons could've been taken out of the equation to better everyone's lives. But Pokemon don't really think about them much."

Liam pondered what she said for a while, before popping a question.

"Is that what you want? To better Pokemon's lives?"

Gloria was thrown off by the personal question. "I... I do want to make the world a better place for Pokémon to live." She rubbed a paw on the wood floor. "I've always wanted to be... y'know, a hero! And one day, when the world showed that it could be so cruel, I was told to keep going." She formed a nervous smile. "I know, I know... it sounds cheesy when I think about it now, but... I want to give back and show the kindness I was given. Joining the guild lets you help Pokémon in need as Roark does. I feel like that's what stuck out to me at most - the feeling of being a hero to some Pokémon. But that feeling of worry always prevents me from…" She trailed off until she noticed the massive rambling she gave and started to fidget. "S-Sorry! I didn't want to be too sappy. Roark says I do that a lot."

Liam didn't agree with that thought. She had already proven herself to him that much. "Don't worry, I didn't mind. I think that's pretty noble, wanting to help Pokémon. Besides, what we pulled off yesterday tells me you know what to do, more so than I. So... don't sell yourself short."

An embarrassed blush appeared on the Vulpix's face. "Well, what's your reason for joining the guild? You know you don't have to follow Roark's suggestions."

Liam sighed in thought. He could really give two answers to that question. Firstly, he was a nobody with nothing to his name, meaning he needed some place to be. Secondly, he had a burning curiosity about the guild.

While he was not too keen on just being a savior to some Pokémon like Lopunny, he still was moved by it, and wanted more. His true desire came forward with the exploration they would undergo. And while the Sunshine Grove wasn't an unknown location by any measure, it still held a hidden secret only discovered by them.

After that, his thoughts began to wander about the countless other possibilities found through Mystery Dungeons. What they could do, what they led to. His heart would race as fast as his mind when he thought about it.

'And then… the possibility of learning about my past life.'

He wanted to take a gamble in seeing if he could find answers in his travels.

After collecting his thoughts, he spoke, placing a paw over his heart. "I want to explore Celestic, learn about the Mystery Dungeons, and maybe find out who I am, or was."

Gloria smiled. "Then we both have things we want to achieve. Think we could ever do both... together?"

He smiled, "Yeah! You and Roark have helped me, and still are helping me accustom to this... strange world. I'm still learning, and I want to keep doing that. So, I want you to help me along the way, as I help you." Before she could respond, he interjected. "And speaking of learning, in the book about Celestial Mountain, you mentioned an 'Arceus'. Is, uh, that a Pokémon? Or some sort of alien?"

Gloria blinked, giggling. "Arceus? We're gonna be here a while." She jumped to her paws and walked back to the bookshelves.

They had spent hours combing over various books on the fabled Arceus and the Legendaries. Liam would soon get tired of endless knowledge and make an attempt to leave, much to Gloria's dismay. However, they did not leave the library just yet, as Gloria told Liam she noticed him staring down a lot of Pokémon through the city, so she suggested they'd pick up a book on all the different kinds of Pokémon for him to study.

After exiting the library with the book in question, she told him of a spot in the city where she always went to read, free from the noise of the library.

Where she led him was a square where a large fountain was erected in the middle. From the way Liam saw it, it was a blue seahorse-like Pokémon spewing glistening water from its mouth, pouring into an enclosed pond.

Flat bench-like protrusions circled the fountain, allowing anyone to sit by the pond. Here, Liam and Gloria rested their aching paws. They sat in peace - Liam was Pokémon-watching, trying to catch the appearance of everyone that walked by, while Gloria was muzzle-deep in a book she had picked out while they were browsing.

Around them, the appearance of a festival was beginning to take shape. Pokémon gathered around placing strings of bright colors that wrapped around the streets. Movement of larger wagons and shops had become more noticeable as well. They were not exactly in the festival grounds, but Liam could tell it was not long until the celebration reached the entire city. He looked up at the blue sky, searching for the black tower.

He stared at it for a while. "Do you ever think we'll see what it's like inside?"

A few moments passed until he noticed no response came from Gloria. The Riolu raised a brow, looking to his side where she should be reading. There he saw the unmistakable appearance of Gloria dozing off, her face almost smashing into the book. Chuckling, he carefully grabbed the book before she could start drooling over it. He flipped open the pouch of her saddlebag and threw it in.

Before he closed it, his eye caught the book on all types of Pokémon they had gotten for him. He picked it up, right then and there deciding that now would be a good time to start learning. Under the shining sun and sparkling fountain waters, he flicked it open to the first page and began reading.

'Bulbasaur. The seed on its back is filled with nutrients. The seed grows steadily larger…'


siTnJUH.jpg


Weavile smiled.

It appeared the Pokémon she was just looking for at the nick of time, the client entering the correct establishment. She kept her kneeling position, her eyes still glued into her binoculars and watching the Pokémon sit at the correct table.

"Hey, Bishy, I think our 'mon of the hour has finally arrived," she spoke, a snide and cynical voice coming out.

Behind her, a figure of a Bisharp came into her peripherals. "How are you so sure that this is our 'mon? This isn't the first time you screwed up," a cold and almost bored male voice mentioned.

She laughed, tearing her gaze from her binoculars. "Have you seen any other Sceptile here recently? And this one decides to enter?" She rolled her eyes and tossed the binoculars to the Bisharp, who caught it, giving a glare towards the Weavile. "If you want to take your own look go ahead, all you're gonna see is an empty seat and that hideous black building."

Bisharp scoffed, reaching down and throwing the binoculars into a black saddlebag with an image of a light gray claw engraved onto it. "I trust your judgment, Weavs, and…" He paused for a second. "Hideous black building? I didn't take you for one of those old timer 'mon's now, right? Gonna start shaking your claws at some street kids?"

Weavile ran a claw through her plume of red feathers as she smirked. "I ain't old yet. Still, I think this city should get some actual taste for once."

Bisharp 'tched' in response. "Have you seen what home base looks like? It's like a bunch of drunk Timburr built it."

Weavile's smirk widened. "Well good thing we're always out so much. Out cute lackeys on the other hand…" She got up from her position, a dark gray cape attached to her fluttering in the warm wind, the same light gray claw imprinted on it.

"You probably want to take the cape off. I doubt the guards or restaurant staff would be pleased seeing you walking around with it," Bisharp warned.

She unhooked the cape, tossing it to Bisharp as he stuffed it into the same black saddlebag.

"Then it's a good thing Sceptile will know exactly who we are."

Bisharp strapped the saddlebag around his shoulder. "Just remember, he's one of the only members in recent years who have chosen to assist us. Especially the only one with close enough knowledge to our target."

Weavile flexed a claw as she took a step above the concrete railing, looking down at the buildings, lights, and Pokémon below. "Let's go then; we're burning time."

Through the rooftops, they hopped down the building's roof as they made their undetected descent toward the ground. Once at ground level, they entered the establishment and shooed away an Audino waitress.

It was relatively empty, seeing it was still daytime. However, the lighting of the restaurant was still moody and dim. Burning candles placed on windowsills glowed a yellow-orange against blood-red drapes. The clanging of glasses onto tables and the occasional chatter of guests filled the room.

The two of them marched towards the booth they were looking for, finally coming into view with a sweating Sceptile that sat on the opposite end, nervously wringing its claws together before catching the stare from Weavile and Bisharp and stopping its motions entirely, going stiff. The three stared for a while, Weavile noticing the lack of a proper armband on the Pokémon before closing the distance.

"I think you know who we are, so let's cut to the chase."

She went to sit across from the Sceptile, Bisharp doing the same. Soon, they were all seated and still staring each other down.

"I... I wasn't expecting the Razor Claws to send their only two captains," the Sceptile said.

Weavile smiled. "We like to be active in our duties. Besides, I don't think you bothered to entrap us, right?" She leaned in over the table.

Sceptile rapidly shook his head. "No, no, no! I came here of my own volition - you promised me, correct?"

Bisharp nodded. "Once you give us the specific details of the target, you can come under our protection for a while."

Sceptile shifted in his seat, trying to get more comfortable. "Then I can trust you, right? You won't throw me out once I tell you?"

"We put our trust into you meeting us here, so return the favor please?" Weavile said, adopting a toothy grin.

"Yes, everything will be fine. Tell us, and there won't be any issue with relocating you out of the city and away from your comrades," Bisharp added.

Sceptile gulped. "Fine, I'll tell. But it's not going to be so easy to reach him. They're bringing him to a private theater."

"A private theater, eh? How many strings did he or the Allfather pluck to get that to happen?"

"I wouldn't know. We were supposed to just go in as his bodyguards for a few hours, then we'd leave."

A sneer appeared on Weavile's face, "Oh? Another Grass-type? That wouldn't be very wise with you there."

The Sceptile tilted his head, about the inquiry further until Bisharp's gauntlet stopped him. "Weavs, chill. Now, can you tell us the specific seating arrangement? Where he sits, what guards are next to him."

"He will be sitting in the front middle seat - reservations are placed on those chairs. The bodyguards may be in chairs next to him or around the room. I... I don't exactly know. These were the orders I was given - to protect the ambassador from any crazy Pokémon, not a full-blown attack," Sceptile admitted, only to realize something. "By the Allmother, you're... not going to kill him, correct?"

Before anyone could respond, the same Audino waitress came around with an assortment of ice water, placing it around the table before leaving. A bead of sweat traveled across Sceptile's face as a grinning Weavile stared at him, twirling her cup's straw in circles with a claw.

"Killing him isn't part of the plan. That's just the afterthought if he becomes a little... too crispy," she teased, shooting Sceptile another amused look.

"What Weavile means is we're not here to kill him, only to send a message - a very clear one to the Allfather," Bisharp stated.

"To send a message? You're mercenaries - what would you want? Money? Infamy?"

Weavile chortled. "Oh, trust me, money isn't an issue at all I'm afraid. A client who'll stay anonymous handles almost all our payments just fine."

"Then... what?" Sceptile questioned.

"Well, that's…" Weavile stopped to share a look with Bisharp. "A little secret between me and Bishy. But we're looking for someone, a very special Pokémon from your side."

Sceptile scoffed. "You're going to risk getting innocent Pokémon getting hurt, maybe worse... and ruining the whole premiere just to send a message?"

A chorus of rattling claws on a cloth table was heard as Weavile rested her head on a free claw. "We may be mercenaries, but we don't target random Pokémon all the time. Unless they intervene. Once we make our message clear, we're out."

Sceptile thought for a moment, ultimately sighing. "Fine, like I said - middle of the top row. He'd want to see it front and center, prime for whatever you wish to unleash onto him. But tell me, how are you going to send a message? This will be seen as some random unprovoked attack!"

Weavile clacked her claws against the glass of water. "That's where you also come in. You're going to tell the Allfather exactly who attacked."

Sceptile's eyes widened. "Are you mad?! The Allfather will be furious! He will no doubt try tracking you two down."

"He may be furious, but he's going to reason in time. And that's exactly what we want him to do," Bisharp interjected.

"Once the heat dies down, you'll tell the Allfather you were captured by us, but escaped," Weavile added with a smirk.

"... All right, but when can I expect a pickup? The festival is starting tomorrow, and the premiere is just two days from now. They'll know I'm gone and start looking for me."

Weavile and Bisharp shared a look before sliding across the booth, both standing up.

"We'll send one of our 'mon's here very soon to pick you up. Remember, you're our guy on the inside for now. If the Allfather found out, he'd have your job, or worse," Weavile remarked, making a mock slashing motion over her throat with a claw.

Sceptile gulped.

The two mercenaries bid the Pokémon farewell and left the restaurant. As soon they were outside and out of earshot of any passerby Pokémon, Weavile stopped, a peal of almost maniacal laughter beginning to bubble out of her as she laughed to the heavens.

"Arceus, Weav's, mind toning down the crazy? I don't want Pokémon to hear," Bisharp bemoaned, checking his surroundings for onlookers.

Once her laughter faded, she waved a claw toward him. "Why shouldn't I be happy? Shouldn't you? We're finally making progress towards making a dent in them."

"Your personal matters are noted, but don't let them consume you. Keep your craziness on our enemies."

"I know you want to know what they know, Bisharp. The guild around here does, everyone does. However, we're going to be the ones to crack it. But I need to settle this... for them." She raised a claw in front of her and tightened it. Pure malice enveloped her features as her claws almost dug into her paw. "These bastards are going to pay for what they did to me, to them, and everyone else on this continent."

Bisharp huffed, stepping forward and placing a gauntlet on her shoulder. "Then what's your plan? We're going to need to think outside the box."

She smiled sinisterly, "Send a 'mon to pick up our dear friend Sceptile. Then get Magmortar; he's got a show to attend, and a match to light."


This premiere... will end up in flames!


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time: All Fun And Games
 
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Chapter 5: All Fun And Games

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 5

All Fun And Games

"And then he fell into a Pitfall Trap!" Roark finished abruptly as he slammed his mug back onto the table, roaring with laughter.

Gloria started to giggle, but that soon turned into full-blown laughter as the entirety of Roark's story sink in. A tired Liam, on the other hand, just seemed confused thinking it over.

"How would you even get out of a pitfall in a Mystery Dungeon?" Liam asked.

Roark waved a claw. "Well, let's say you aren't issued rope at the guild for nothing."

The previous day of surveying the archives and libraries had taken a toll on the two Pokémon, mostly Gloria. After their last stop at a quiet fountain plaza, the sun began to set across the city, signaling the end of their ventures. Liam, being the only one awake, scooped up the napping Vulpix and headed off home. To which he would hand off her to the recently arrived and amused Roark.

She was quite heavy. Although, he would never tell that straight to her face.

Afterward, he stayed up the majority of the night still muzzle-deep in the book about all the Pokémon in the world. The average word-heavy novel wouldn't suffice his appetite for knowledge, but the descriptions of certain Pokémon fascinated him to no end. Goliaths of rock and steel, fire-breathing beasts, and even sentient piles of grime.

The Riolu would admit, accompanied by some shame, that he had lost a lot of sleep that night. Now, in the morning of a new day, they were sitting and eating breakfast, listening to another one of Roark's tales of the guild. Liam was still blinking away remnants of a bad night's rest.

"Anyway, I-"

A rapid series of knocks on the front door cut through Roark's story as a muffled yet familiar surly voice came from outside.

"Roark! Open up, the guild's got some news."

Roark's open mouth transformed into a grin as he ejected himself from his seat. He spared a look towards the two Pokémon still seating, who were looking at him in anticipation. Gloria's eyes shrunk a little as she bit her lip, a nervous sweat almost beginning to form around her brow. Liam would blink away any notion of sleep in him as he heard those words.

'The guild is here to determine if we enter or not?'

A bit of excitement crept into him as his heart started to thump slowly into his chest. If he was correct in his assumption, then this would decide if they would get in or not. He gulped, trying to alleviate any worry forming in him.

'We totally got this then. I know it.'

"Moment of truth, eh?" Roark suddenly asked them.

They both gave quick nods, the Zoroark snorting and walking towards the door before any more knocks could come out of it.

The door swung open to reveal a rather bored Monferno, who took the opportunity to lean on the now vacant door frame. Liam noticed in one of his hands an envelope in a curiously cosmic-themed layer. That same thump in his heart began to beat and beat.

Monferno raised a free hand over his mouth as he yawned into it. "Well, the Guildmaster has made his decision," he said, a bit more monotone than usual.

Liam hopped out of his chair after hearing that, making his way near the door. Gloria stayed seated, waiting for the dreaded words to come out of Monferno's mouth - Roark's came instead.

"Well? Don't leave us hanging then, 'Mony'." He emphasized this by pointing a red claw toward the dazzling envelope.

Monferno grunted in response, handing over the envelope. "Just know the Guildmaster's word is final, for now at least. I don't want to be sent out as their errand boy any longer."

Roark held the envelope in both claws, chuckling as he looked it over. "Ah, did the Guildmaster or Scizor find you a worthy position now?"

A sharp laugh came from Monferno, breaking him out of his disinterested state, sending a playful glare Roark's way - who returned. "Yeah, yeah. Well, after I put in the report of what those two did, the Guildmaster wanted any new recruit requests out of the way. With no jobs for me or Braixen?" He gave a shrug. "I had to be the bearer of good or bad news."

Roark scoffed. "Well, I hope Braix-"

"Please!"

A loud outburst from a rather soft voice at the table interrupted Roark and Monferno's conversation. Gloria was stiff as a board as she realized all eyes were on her, quickly following up with another request.

"... Sorry, but can you please just open it? The wait is killing me!" she squeaked.

Liam was caught off guard when the envelope was shoved in front of him, waiting for him to take it. A quick glance upwards to the holder's owner was a smiling Roark.

"I would give the honors to Gloria, but she looks like she's about to pass out any moment from the wait." He gave the envelope another enticing push the Riolu's way.

Liam hesitantly grabbed it, looking behind him towards the sweating and visibly nervous Vulpix, who offered him quick eager nods to continue - he gave one back.

He slid his paw over the enveloped slits, taking each side and pulling it open. Peering inside was a medium-sized slip of paper, and at the bottom sat a few plastic-card-like objects. He chose to take the paper out first.

It was colored a dark blue, similar to the background of the star-embezzled envelope. Sharp yellow handwriting was etched into the paper, giving it more officiality. Noticing everyone was waiting on him, he cleared his throat before reading straight from the top.

"'This is the official new recruit list managed by the Guildmaster of the Cosmic Quilt Guild. The names listed below will be mentioned as either accepted or declined. It goes as follows:"

His eyes shifted towards the bottom to read the names written. You could almost hear a pin drop in the home from the silence of the foreboding list. It was lost on a yawning Monferno, however, who already knew the names.

"'Machop - Declined.'"

"'Vullaby - Declined.'"

"'Pinsir - Declined.'"

"'Vigoroth - Declined.'"

"'Rockruff - Accepted.'"

"'Bagon - Declined.'"

Liam wet his lips as he began to read the last few names, a seed of unusual doubt beginning to form in his stomach.

"'Grotle - Declined.'"

His breath in his throat hitched as his eyes glazed over the last two names - their names. The beat in his chest seemed to return as he began to read.

"'Riolu (Liam) - Accepted.'"

"'Vulpix (Gloria) - Accepted.'"

A collective sigh of relief washed over Liam and Gloria, her more so. This calm moment was soon shattered by Roark's outburst of celebration as he rose his claws into the air and clenched them shut.

"YES!"

In almost a blink of an eye, he was right behind a now bewildered Gloria as he latched his claws around her stomach and lifted her into the air, above his head. A surprised squeak came out of her as the now airborne Vulpix was at the whims of a positively giddy Zoroark.

"You're in the guild! You're in the guild!" He thrust her up and down in the air, much to the dismay of Gloria.

"Roark! Put me down!" she screeched in protest to the deaf ears of Roark, who continued his celebration chant. "Okay! Okay! I think I'm getting a bit dizzy!" she quickly added.

The unusual outburst from Roark was being witnessed by a shocked Liam, mouth agape.

Monfero shrugged. "I'm not sure why you're so surprised, Roark. I could see this a mile away. What these two found was no laughing matter to the Guildmaster - seeing as how he was looking for exactly those types of Pokémon."

Roark was still preoccupied with his mission to embarrass and shower Gloria in much praise as possible to hear the Pokémon's words.

"Please, Roark! Ahahah yo- ha! Tickling... me!" Gloria resisted his claws.

There was no stoppage.

"We haven't finished your victory lap yet!" Roark proclaimed, attempting to make a circle around the living room, firmly holding the squirming Vulpix.

Monferno turned towards Liam, who was still gaping at the sight before him, slightly entertained. He received a light fist into the shoulder from the primate Pokémon, knocking him out of his trance.

"You should've seen the look of the Guildmaster when I told him what you two did, Mr. Personality. The moment he caught wind of your names, his eyes went so wide. I don't think I've seen him that caught off guard. Even asked me if Roark was involved, which…" He turned to look at the vulpine duo again. "Obviously he was - anything for the little sister, I guess."

Liam's brow furrowed. "Wait, does the Guildmaster know Gloria? Or is he just close with Roark?"

Monferno shrugged. "Roark says they met when they first entered Empyrean City. He's been with the guild for a strong amount of years. However, they seem a bit… I don't know, cold to each other?"

Liam found that pretty odd, for them to have roots in the past but still be so cold. 'Maybe Roark did something? The guy seems pretty harmless, though…' he mused in his mind as Monferno snorted.

"Bastard can be a bit irritating, but the Guildmaster can be pretty strange himself. Besides, I think maybe he was more freaked out by your name."

"Is he not used to seeing a Pokémon with a name before? Or…" He trailed off as his thoughts resurfaced.

'Maybe, he recognizes me from somewhere?' The thought sparked some curiosity within him, the need for answers.

Monferno shrugged again. "I mean, yeah, that is a pretty weird thing around here. I wouldn't worry about him giving you the cold shoulder too much, seeing how he and Scizor need Pokémon like you and Gloria."

"Pokémon like me or Gloria?"

"Pokémon that can find hidden things - new dungeons, new discoveries. Any 'mon can walk into a Mystery Dungeon and come out with the same experience. But it's 'mons that can find things; things that lead to the guild's goal."

"The guild's goal? Isn't it just to rescue Pokémon and explore Mystery Dungeons?"

A palm reached behind Monferno's head as he scratched it. "Weeell, that may be the case for other guilds, but the Guildmaster founded his own guild for a reason, and I should leave that for him to tell you, considering he gave that long boring spiel to me a few years back."

Liam soaked in this information. He never gave much thought to any greater purpose of the guild. He wanted to explore this world, find new discoveries, and see more amazing things like he had seen before. Gloria seemed a bit more noble in her pursuits, so he wondered if both of them could meet the same goal together.

A palm from Monferno was then clamped on his shoulder.

"Just don't be an irritating asshole like Roark is; I don't need a younger rival."

Liam huffed, brushing the palm off his shoulder as a bit of snark traveled into his voice. "I don't think you could be classified as my rival… Mony." He added the dreaded nickname of Monferno near the end, who 'tched' and ground his teeth.

"I told Braixen not to call me that. Anyway…" His gaze wandered back to Roark and Gloria, who now were finishing their fourth victory lap around the living room. "ROARK!"

Laughter bubbled out of the Zoroark as he carefully placed a flustered Gloria back onto the carpet, the Vulpix trying to regain her bearings. Roark strode over back to his original place near the door, facing Liam and Monferno.

The Zoroark cleared his throat. "Ahem, sorry for the little display. I just needed to blow off some much-needed steam with the cutest little sister in the world over there."

Monferno nodded. "Right, now… I don't forget deals, even if-" he sighed, -Even if I lose them… They're in the bag."

A knowing smile crossed Roark's features. "Thanks. Perchance will we see you today at the festival?"

Liam blinked. 'I remember seeing the festival being prepared yesterday. They must've gotten it done fast.'

"Of course, I will be. First off, we helped build the damn thing. Second off…" Monferno scoffed, "There's food there! Not the same stuff the guild feeds you. No offense to Leafeon, of course, " he quickly added, waving his hands, "Anyway, you should probably come back to the guild, Roark. I imagine the Guildmaster wants to have a word with you."

Roark's brow raised upon hearing that. "I hope you're insinuating a good kind of word, seeing that I gifted him two promising recruits." He then nabbed the envelope from Liam's grasp, giving him and Gloria behind him a look before swinging open the door. "You two will hold the fort - later we're heading off to the festival, so don't keep me waiting if you run off."

A final wave of the ruse fox's claw was sent their way before he made his exit.

Monferno remained to tell them the rest of the details. "You two should probably head to the guild the day after tomorrow's premiere of Eden Theater, considering the majority of the guild will be gone. I'll see you at the festival later. Congratulations, newbies."

With a brief wave of his own, he took after Roark, closing the door on his way out.

Liam let out a vacant sigh, finally exiting the rollercoaster of emotions they had both been taken on. Everything had appeared to have worked out fine though in the end, and now only came the hard part. He turned around to check on Gloria, who was just taking her first step again, clearly disorientated.

"You okay? Don't need to lie down or anything?" he asked, closing in on her.

She let out a breath of much-needed air. "Y-Yeah, just a bit dizzy. Roark goes a bit overboard sometimes." She took another step, finding her back to her seat at the table. Liam hopped up back on his seat, too.

Another gasp of breath came from her as she opened her mouth, trying to find words. "Right now, I'm having a difficult time seeing this as reality." She placed her paws on the table and stared deep into the wood. "I feel so happy right now, but also so very sick, and, um, not just from the spinning around - it's like my stomach is fluttering, but is also knotted." She shook her head. "You know what I mean, right?"

Liam could never fully understand what was happening in the Vulpix's mind. However, he still could grasp the gist of it.

"I think you just need to accept it, y'know? You're in now. We're in now. We shouldn't squander what we got."

She slowly nodded, trying to digest his words. "I feel so confident sometimes then… so helpless other times." She gulped. "I don't want to disappoint Roark, Leafeon, Buneary, you, or even myself. And now that this great opportunity is upon me, I feel so... pressured."

He could understand. Guild work seemed to be so professional, even if some of its members weren't so professional. However, to him, the riches beyond that blockade of pressure seemed immense in wealth. Perhaps it was just his amnesiac mind building off things he'd already seen, but it felt like it was right in front of them.

He was determined, but he needed to also give some of that determination to Gloria, who sorely needed it.

"Remember what you told me yesterday in the library? About wanting to help Pokémon?" She nodded, giving him the floor to continue. "You've already proven yourself by helping a Pokémon like me, and the same with Buneary. I want this to continue, and I'm sure you do, too. If Buneary knew, she'd want you to continue as well." He made sure to lock eyes with her as he said the next part. "We just have to keep moving forward into the unknown. Hold onto your dream, and fight for it."

"... If you think I'm going to back out, don't worry. I... made a promise, to Roark, to my parents, and to myself that I would go through with this." She bit her lip as she continued, "Even if, even if it's difficult for me to. I want to help Pokémon, I want to help you, even. I also need to help myself."

He smiled at her conviction. The Riolu knew past all the layers of doubt there was something that he also shared. Will. They would need it more than ever if they were to join the guild. If they lost it, then there would be no hope to move forward.

Since it was still morning, and Liam knew they had plenty of time to burn until the festival, he wanted to alleviate some of the fears in the future.

"Now that we have a lot of time to ourselves, what do you think about heading back to the library? I know there's a section we missed last time." He poked at her addiction to literature.

A genuine, warm smile found its way on Gloria's face as a wag in her tails appeared.

"Yeah, I'd like that..."


The door to the white Vulpix home swung open to meet night as two occupants exited the home. The festival had started around sunset and was now raging on. Even from this distance, they could hear the booming of music and other noises of festivity. So many lights were on in the city that the stars were hidden by shining yellow beacons, with only a blanket of black seen above.

Liam patted the saddlebag wrapped around his shoulder, making sure all of its contents were there and secure. They had decided to take along the one thousand Poké given by Miss Lopunny for the job request. Considering they were going to a festival, they did not expect everything would exactly be cheap.

Roark stretched his arms out to the heavens. "I know you two aren't children, but don't go spending all of it now. I mean, that's a job's pay without the ludicrous guild tax," he grumbled, before staring at Gloria, who had just come out of the house after freshening up. "Now, I don't need to keep you on a chain, right? There are tons of sweets they're selling, and you might go a little cra- oof" his teasing was interrupted by a white paw being thrust into his rib.

"I can control myself," Gloria steamed. "You should probably control how much alcohol you consume, though."

Roark laughed, reaching down to ruffle the Vulpix's tuft. "Trust me, I'm not going to. It's only once every while I can indulge in killing my liver."

She rolled her eyes, trotting down the neighborhood road, further toward the huge bundle of orange-yellow lights in the distance. Liam believed that must be where the main festival took place, with all its attractions. Both he and Roark exchanged looks, before following down the same road Gloria was taking. The further they got, the more Pokémon they could see in the distance. It wasn't until when they finally reached the true entrance of the festival did everything come into perspective.

Strings of multicolored streamers stretched across stands, walls, across rooftops, bringing a vibrant amalgamation of colors across the usually dull wooden and concrete structures. Tiny flakes of confetti fluttered in the wind amongst the flapping streamers. Liam thought of when he first entered Empyrean City and its bustling market district, except times tenfold here.

Glowing orange lanterns hung underneath the stands everywhere, basking the entire area in a warm hue. Banners ran across the front of the stands of shops advertising games, food, knickknacks, whatever. Mask-like objects with Pokémon faces were plastered around all the faces of the stands and shops. An array of instruments claimed Liam's ears. The smacking of tambourines, the hum of wind instruments, and the beating of large drums echoed throughout the air, mixing in with the large amounts of talking Pokemon.

A pair of red claws would snap him out of his analysis by digging into a section of the saddlebag he wore. From there, Roark dug out a decent amount of the gold coins, clutching it in one claw as he smiled sneakily.

"You two go enjoy yourselves. I'll be off doing 'business'..." He snickered as he went down the road, further into the sea of the crowd. "Don't be out too late! I know I will!" he shouted with a wave, merging into the crowd of Pokémon.

Liam tucked away and sealed the pouch to the Poké that Roark had made. At the same time, a white paw tapped him on his shoulder.

"Let's go deeper in; there's probably some fun things we can attend!"

He wholeheartedly agreed.


From what he could see from his spot in the crowd of Pokémon, were a pair of Escavalier; Bug-type Pokemon covered in a grey armored shell, like knights of old. Attached to their body seemed to be two long lance-like objects, ready to jab into an enemy Pokémon. They also seemed content in simply floating above the ground, defying any logic and confusing Liam even more.

From what Gloria told him, this was 'Escavalier Joust', where two opposing Escavalier on opposite sides would charge at each other with their lances, aiming to slash the other in their run. This would go on until one Pokémon was knocked out.

As it were, it was about to begin now. With a loud blurt from a trumpet and wave of a flag, the Escavalier were off, traveling at blistering fast speeds Liam didn't think was possible with that heavy armor. When the two Pokémon met, each of them exchanged a devastating jab into the armor from one of their lances, still moving in the same direction. As they connected, a 'woo' from the crowd would come out, eager to see more.

Each time the two Escavalier reached their opposite end, they'd turn around and get ready for another charge. After a while of exchanging blows, the Escavalier closest to the crowd simply could not take the beating any longer, collapsing as the final lance stab pierced its armor. With a cry from a trumpet and a wave of a flag, it was over. The cheers of the crowd signaled their entertainment and the end of the event.

The next event they attended seemed to be more straightforward. 'Diving Contest'. There was a large pool of water before the stands. Here, different kinds of Water-type would show off their form in their most suited environment. Much like any other diving contest, they initially would dive off a platform held over the pool into the sparkling water below. However, once they were in the water, they would perform a series of moves and tricks to the audience.

Liam would see many types of Pokemon, such as a Vaporeon who would create a mystifying veil over the pool with Aqua Ring, whipping and rippling water around itself - or a Primarina who used Sparkling Aria and shocked the audience with bursts of water into the air like fireworks, accompanied by its amazing singing ability.

Near the end, each contestant would stand at a podium and be judged by the audience. As each stood forward, the cheers of the crowd would gauge their effectiveness in swaying them over to their side. Unsurprisingly, Primarina stole the competition with its amazing technique. As the crowd boomed, it gave a bow as thanks. The contest was over.

The last event they happened to go to was much like the 'Diving Contest'. But instead of moves and flowing form, this one was all about raw power - a 'Strength Contest'. Pokémon would test their strength on various objects. Certain Pokemon would pull actual boulders across the terrain in harnesses. Others would smash towers of brick, rock, and concrete to test their physical strength.

As each round continued, the weakest Pokemon would be purged as the tasks provided would get much tougher. Soon, it was all down to two Pokémon - a Machamp and a Conkeldurr. A solid square of concrete was put in front of them and a time limit for them to smash it to pieces. The crowd waited with bated breath as each swing of their fists connected with their respective blocks, sending bits and pieces of it crumbling to the floor. Near the end, it was a decisive victory for Machamp, as its entire concrete cube was nothing but dust and rubble.

With a clear winner, the show was over.


After the thrill of seeing all the events and features, the two were back wandering through the festival, weaving through countless other Pokémon in their way. Their appetite had also been building up, so they decided on heading to where the food stands were.

As usual for the city, tons of food was in the likeness of other Pokémon. Liam could swear he saw an ice cream cone looking almost identical to a Vanilite he had previously seen floating around. Yet, it never bugged Gloria as she continued, looking at each stand, wondering where they should stop. It was not until she looked at one stand in particular and noticed an amassing crowd, her eyes widening once she realized who was behind the stand.

"It's Leafeon! And... a few other members from the guild, I think!" she told Liam, who followed her gaze.

It was indeed a Leafeon, along with a Sylveon. He wondered if that was the same one who ran Sylveon's Sweets, shuddering at that thought. Across the stand were two stools that sat a Monferno and a Braixen, happily chatting away with the two stand owners.

'That has to be them.'

Gloria ran over to the stand, Liam swiftly following, just happy he could finally put his aching stomach to rest.

The Leafeon's ears perked up, looking up to see the white Vulpix sprinting its way over. "Gloria?" a honey-like female voice flowed out of the Pokemon.

"Leafeon! Did you hear? I'm going to-"

Gloria was interrupted by a sheepish smile and nod from Leafeon. "Join the guild, right? Monferno already spilled the Pokebeans."

A palm from the counter shot upright as Monferno lifted his face from his meal. "Guilty as charged," he admitted, quickly bringing his head back down to continue eating.

Braixen gave Gloria a warm and professional smile to greet her. "It's very nice to see you again, Gloria. I look forward to working with you in the guild."

The Sylveon, who occupied a space next to Leafeon, gasped, a ribbon-like feeler extending over its mouth in shock. "Gloria? You're in the guild now?!"

Liam could sadly confirm it was the same Sylveon from the shop.

The Vulpix nodded. "Yep! We just got news of it today! I'm a bit nervous and all, but I still want to try my best."

Sylveon smiled, extending her feelers over the stand and wrapping around an accepting paw of Gloria, who giggled with glee at the sensation. "Oh! And the Pokémon next to you is… Liam? The Riolu, correct?"

Liam wanted to say 'no' to avoid what was coming, but had already accepted it. The white and pink feeler extended his way as he hesitantly put his paw into it, wrapping it around the rest of his arm. "Yeah, that's…" He shuddered at the feelings of raw positive emotions coursing through him. He stumbled a bit, regaining his footing as he let go of the feeler - it went back to its owner. "Me," he finished, a bit woozy from the exchange.

Sylveon went into a giggling fit. "And where is Roark? Did he not come to the festival?"

Gloria shook her head, "No, he was here, but went off to the more... adult section, I think." A chorus of laughter came from Monferno at the counter.

"Of course, the bastard can't help himself. I think I'll go join him, since Scizor doesn't allow us stuff like that anymore," he brooded. "I'll be on my way. Thanks for the grub, Leafeon." Monferno scooted out of his stool, standing up to stretch and taking his leave.

"Wait, you're going to miss out on the mayor's speech? It doesn't start long from now," Leafeon said

"Bah, it's nothing we don't know already. See you at the guild, newbies!" And with one wave of a hand, he was gone, in search of what alcohol Roark sought.

Liam was confused. "Speech? When is that happening?"

"Not long from now," Leafeon replied, leaning over the counter and pointing to a large stadium across the festival grounds. "The mayor will give a speech about the premier of the Eden Theater there. Me, Sylveon, and Braixen were going to catch it before it starts in about an hour. You two care to join us?" she propositioned.

Liam gave Gloria a look of wondering as well; she returned a 'yes' in the form of a nod. "Yeah, we'll attend it. But we're pretty hungry, so what do you have to offer?"

The Grass-type clapped her front paws together. "I'll be glad to show you! Gloria, you should take notes. My sister here and I have got a new recipe for Persim Berry scones!"


The stadium itself was massive, obviously built for large-scale tournaments of some sort, Liam theorized. Massive colored concrete walls stretched upward, leaving the roof exposed to the open sky. The interior seemed to be refitted for the festival, with a wooden plateau built in the middle of the stadium, and a wooden podium on top of it. Surrounding the plateau were rows and rows of seats, allowing Pokémon a good view of what was to come.

Once they had gotten there, it was still quiet. There were not many Pokémon present yet, giving them a chance to score some good seats. Over time though, swathes of multicolored attendants entered, quickly filling any vacant seat, and ushering the entire stadium in a cacophony of chatter and other noises.

Liam observed the crowd, trying to spot any Pokémon he'd recognize. Corphish, Beedrill, Bouffalant, Braviary, Bisharp, Weavile. He made a game out of it while they waited.

But after quite a bit of tedious mind exercises, Liam noticed a large door opening across the stadium. First came out a row of what appeared to be guards, who had something strapped to their backs or sides - a kind of metal tube. From how far away he was, he could not exactly tell what it was but knew it must have been some sort of weapon.

The Pokemon that came out next he had seen before in the book. It was an Empoleon, a simple black bowtie nestled beneath its neck. Liam guessed that he was pretty important, possibly the mayor himself, seeing how much the crowd went wild when he showed up.

All of them moved in a unified group across the stadium grounds, reaching the wooden plateau. The 'guards' then took their positions around the plateau, keeping their firm stance. The Empoleon climbed the stairs up to the podium, waving a flipper to the chorus of the audience's bombastic cheers. Once near the podium, it tapped the mic setup with a flipper, sending a popping noise across the stadium.

The stadium fell quiet, giving Empoleon the floor to talk.

"ATTENTION ALL! THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THIS PREMIERE FESTIVAL!" an authoritative male boomed over the microphone. "THIS IS A HISTORIC MOMENT, NOT JUST IN EMPYREAN CITY, BUT THE ENTIRE POKEMON WORLD!"

The crowd roared in agreement, their excitement bubbling.

"THE EDEN THEATER IS A TECHNOLOGICAL MILESTONE THAT WILL SET A PRECEDENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. TOMORROW WILL GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE INTO THAT FUTURE!"

Again the crowd hollered, with whistles, whoops, and applause that could be heard reverberating off the stadium walls.

"I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE BRILLIANT MINDS BEHIND ALL OF THIS. THE ARCHITECTS OF THE FUTURE, AND DESIGNERS OF THIS GREAT FEAT!"

Liam noticed three new Pokémon stepping up the stairs to the podium, waving to the excited crowd. Along the limbs of those Pokémon, he could see an armband on them. The Riolu racked his brain, swearing he saw those same Pokémon with armbands before. However, he quickly brushed the thought aside, given how many Pokémon there were in the city wearing strange apparel.

"BY LENDING US THEIR TECHNOLOGICAL AID, WE HAVE SPENT THE PAST FEW YEARS BUILDING UP THE TALLEST STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD - THE EDEN THEATER! OUR WORK TOGETHER WILL BUILD A NEW FOUNDATION, NOT JUST FOR EMPYREAN CITY, BUT FOR ALL POKEMON ACROSS THE WORLD! TO THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, GIVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF APPLAUSE TO THE ALIGNMENT!"

Empoleon motioned a flipper to the nearby Pokémon on stage, a Simisage. The crowd rose in applause, clearly very thankful for the efforts provided.

Liam paused to stare up into the sky, directly at the giant, sleek black building towering over everything else. 'The... Alignment? Did they help make the Eden Theater? If so, are they the ones with the armbands that I saw the other day?' His thoughts were interrupted as Empoleon continued his speech.

"I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE ALL OF YOU, THE POKEMON GIFTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THIS AMAZING PREMIERE TOMORROW! WE HOPE IT WILL BE AS AMAZING AND LIFE-CHANGING AS WE THINK IT WILL BE."

Liam grimaced - it was a shame that they wouldn't be able to witness the premiere themselves. If the outside looked as alien, he wondered what the inside looked like.

"AND TO THOSE WHO WERE NOT CHOSEN, I APOLOGIZE, BUT DO NOT WORRY! THIS IS BUT A GLIMPSE! EVERYONE WILL EXPERIENCE A NEW FUTURE, A BRIGHTER FUTURE AHEAD! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE FESTIVAL!

And with perfect timing - multiple plumes of firework trails shot up into the open sky above the stadium.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

The sky lit up with spectacular color; crackles and pops filled the air, with streams of multicolored fire that shot across the sky. The crowd cheered as hard as they could, their outcries fading as the colorful pyrotechnics began to fizzle out into nothing in the night.


r1rAvIj.jpg



The audience of the stands began to disperse, getting up out of their seats, content with the speech, and ready to leave.

Weavile laughed hard - she expected nothing and was delivered nothing. "Don't stare at me, Bishy, let's just leave already."

He did not bother offering a response, feeling the same as her, like he was robbed of his time. They stood out of their seats and followed the traffic of the exiting crowd out of the stadium. Once they were outside, they quickly made their way out into the nearest alleyway, away from the loud music and attendees, and free from prying eyes and ears.

Weavile cackled yet again. "Man, I can't believe Empoleon actually brought those scumbags out for the Pokémon to see."

Bisharp scoffed. "Still think we can trust Sceptile then? He is one of them, y'know."

"I saw that Simisage with my own eyes - it's him, our target. That measly Sceptile wasn't lying, which is good because we'll need him still for our message to the Allfather," she explained, flexing a claw. "The Alignment has their claws so far up Empoleon's ass, he's already more of a puppet than he was before."

They kept walking through the dark and dingy alleyway, away from the bustling festival behind them.

"You think it's just money? Empyrean lining up its pockets, or…" Bisharp wondered.

"They're getting more cocky, the Alignment, which is why we still need to show them that little thorn in their side is going to soon become a very large spike up their ass."

"And do you think our anonymous client is one of them? His tactics of wanting information seem to be the same if I'm basing it off past experiences."

"Well, if he is, he's stuffing us with so much cash it doesn't matter. Enough where we could find the answers ourselves without his help."

"Anyway, Magmortar is in position for tomorrow, right? Does he know that place is swarming with Empyrean and Alignment guards? It's a suicide mission."

"Of course, it's a suicide mission - the guy is a pyromaniac and a psychopath. He'll be with the staff at the private theater, where that Simisage will go after the main show. There he'll strike."

"And where do you want us to be?"

"The bar up top, away from the inevitable flames of trouble." She sighed. "I think I'll need a stiff drink afterward."


Celebrations today... showtime tomorrow.


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time: Curtain Call
 
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Chapter 6: Curtain Call

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 6

Curtain Call

The remaining explosions, cracks, and pops of the fireworks into the atmosphere signaled the end of Empoleon's speech as he waved a flipper toward the booming crowd. Liam, Gloria, Leafeon, and Braixen, were finally able to exit the stadium. A mountain of other Pokémon followed them on the way out.

Once they were outside the massive open doors, Leafeon yawned, stretching her body and hind legs. "You know, I think Monferno had the right idea. This was a whole lot of nothing."

Gloria frowned. "I thought it was great! This is an important moment in Celestic history!"

Braixen nodded to this. "I agree with Gloria. Tomorrow must be a very special day for any Pokémon lucky enough to get in." The fiery fox sighed. "A shame that Mony is susceptible to any form of betting..."

Liam, on the other hand, was pleased, if not a bit disappointed like Braixen was that he wouldn't be able to attend. That once-in-a-lifetime event is something you shouldn't pass up on.

"I should really be checking on Monferno now," Braixen said. "Him drinking with Roark is bound for trouble." She sighed, focusing her attention on Liam and Gloria. "I'll see you two at the guild after tomorrow - you'll probably be seeing me or Hatterene a lot, considering we're both nurses. I hope you two enjoy the premiere, so make sure to tell me and Mony all about it!"

With a wave of her furry paw, she walked away, disappearing into the crowd and leaving two confused Pokémon in her wake. Gloria tilted her head, adorning a quizzical look across her muzzle.

"Why did she think we're going?" she asked, causing Liam to shrug.

A knowing smile appeared across Leafeon's face as she finished stretching her unused limbs and strolled up toward the two.

"Seeing as you two are going to be the guild's new recruits, that means feeding the both of you is going to be my job." She pointed a brown furred paw at Gloria. "And that means I'm going to have a little assistant in the kitchen, from time to time."

A warm smile graced the Vulpix's face. "Seriously? I can cook for the guild?" she asked, a little touched at the gesture.

"You betcha! You wouldn't believe some of the ingredients the Guildmaster allows me to get away with!" She laughed into a paw before her eyes widened. "Oh! I need to introduce you to Shaymin! We're, like... the best of friends. Not that you aren't, either!" Leafeon said hastily as she turned to look at the Riolu, who was starting to seem like a third wheel. "And… Liam, right? You're new around Empyrean. Is working at the guild what you really want to do?"

Liam, noticing the spotlight was put on him, shifted his eyes around back and forth before replying. "Uh, yeah, I am. Roark told me I should form a team with Gloria, and well... yeah, I think this is something I wanna do."

"I trust you."

"Huh?"

"I know Gloria as a good friend. I know Roark as a part of the guild." Leafeon glanced at the Vulpix. "If she can trust you to be her teammate, and Roark enough to where he'd pop up the question, then why can't I trust you?" She scratched her chin with a paw. "The guild gets a lot of shady figures sometimes, but you don't look like the sort to involve much harm - no offense. So…" She thrust a paw forward. "I hope you got good taste buds, 'cause I'm going to blow them away!"

The Riolu smirked, offering his paw to hers in a friendly paw shake. "If it's anything like Gloria's, then I'm sure you will. It's nice to meet you, Leafeon."

"That's the spirit! Now…" Leafeon stepped over to a distracted Gloria and enveloped her in a sort of hug for quadrupeds - wrapping a paw around her side and resting her head on the Vulpix's neck, who melted into the surprise hug. "I'll see you two very soon, okay? You know I'm looking out for you right, Gloria?"

The Vulpix hummed. "Don't worry, I won't back out. I promised Roark, and everyone else I wouldn't."

"That's good, now…" Leafeon snickered as she unhooked herself from their embrace and trotted down a road opposite to them. "Enjoy the show!" She hollered before disappearing into the crowd just like Braixen.

Liam sighed. "Ready to go home now? Or… after picking up Roark?" he asked, a bit unsure how much liquor the dark fox intended on ingesting.

Gloria shook her head. "No, not yet. I, um, still need to show you one more place, preferably before they close." Liam's ears perked up at this.

"What, another ice cream stand?" He was a bit shocked and also a bit concerned at how much dairy confectionaries she seemed to consume at Leafeon's stand.

Gloria's face burned as she sputtered a response. "N-no! We're going to do what I forgot to show you at the Meowstic twins' shop, remember that?" She took a step forward.

He did, although he was not sure what she forgot to show him, considering she already ran over the basics. They continued to walk and talk down the still bustling festival.

"Sure do, what's so important about it right now?"

"Well you need to know about battle items, things you can in dungeons and outside of them. Guild members use it all the time, Roark told me they're extremely useful in heavy situations."

'Battle items? Like, weapons?' He snorted at the thought of Pokémon carrying swords into dungeons. Perhaps it was not like he thought.

"They should still be open, at the very least servicing their last few customers. So I hope they can serve us," Gloria added.

Among the luminous orange lights and the bombastic ensemble of music in the ubiquitous darkness of the night, they traveled through it all toward the marketplace.


In both of their sights, they could see it. The royal blue strips of blue on a painted white stand. Inside of it were the Meowstic twins, happily handing their customer a sack of Poké for the items it sold. A sole lantern kept the stand lit in the unnaturally quiet marketplace. Once their customer was gone, the pair grabbed any accessory or item nearest to them and started placing them in wooden boxes that lined the walls.

Gloria nudged Liam in his side with a paw as she blazed towards the shop. "Come on, I think they're about to close!" He took off in a similar pursuit.

"Mister and Miss Meowstic!"

A shout from Gloria pierced the feline ears of the shop owners as they stopped placing objects into boxes to stare at where the voice came from. The approaching footsteps and sight of a familiar white Vulpix soon met their gaze, along with the same Riolu from before.

The Meowstic sister stopped her packing to greet them. "... Gloria?"

Gloria huffed as she reached the counter of the stand, resting her forepaws on the wood. "Yeah… we... came from the... festival!"

"Oh? I heard it was winding down for today, not until the premier tomorrow," the sister spoke again.

"Did you use that TM?" her posh sounding brother chimed in.

Gloria winced. "Well... not yet, but that's also part of why we came here before you closed. I, uh, forgot to do something the last time I was here."

"Oh? And what was that?" the brother asked.

"Well, since I'm going into the guild with…" She pointed a paw towards the Riolu next to her. "Liam here, I thought I'd teach him about battle items like seeds and orbs."

The twins were confused at the prospect of a Pokémon knowing nothing about those items since they were so common. Luckily, the two prepared for such a response on the way here.

"I'm from a village far far away, we don't have Mystery Dungeons there so I don't know much about items." Liam smiled, hoping they would buy it.

The brother scoffed at this. "No Mystery Dungeons? On Celestic? Crazy talk…" The sister then interjected with a clasp of her paws.

"You're in the guild now? That's great! We're probably going to see you a lot more often now." She turned around and walked diligently towards their stock of various items and trinkets on the shelves. "You're just in luck, as another shipment came before the festival started. I can give you a few select pickings to choose from." She picked up an array of different colored seeds and cloudy orbs.

Returning to the counter, she laid them all out so Liam could get a good look at them. The most noticeable thing resting on the counter were the giant seeds - giant enough that they were as big as his paw. The orbs on the other hand seemed just the right size for a Pokémon to grip one.

"There are different types of seeds and orbs with different effects. Some of them inflict status conditions or damage to the opponent. While they're more effective inside Mystery Dungeons - they can be useful outside them but with less effect." The Meowstic sister explained, pointing at a red-hued seed. "This is a Blast Seed. Creating enough pressure on it by biting it or throwing it can cause it to explode on opponents, which is very useful for tough foes."

The feline then pointed at the yellow-hued seed next to it. "This is a Stun Seed. It can lock opponents up in their tracks, not giving them time to attack and leaving them vulnerable themselves. Just don't accidentally stun yourself! I remember Roark told me he did it before." She laughed as she moved on toward the orbs.

Her paw found its way on a white flushed orb. "These are Wonder Orbs. This one, a Luminous Orb, can create a quick flash of white light to disorientate enemies if you smash it. In a Mystery Dungeon, it's enough to flash the entire room you're in. Use it with caution."

Finally, she rested her paw on the last Wonder Orb. It held a deep purple coloration. "This here is a One-Hit-KO Orb. As the name suggests, it can be used to take down opponents in one fell swoop. Once crushing it, the holder can immense energy very briefly, just enough for an attack."

Her brother intruded after she finished. "Riveting stuff, right? In dicey situations, it can come out to who holds superiority through item usage. Even the weakest of Pokémon can stand a chance if they're well equipped!"

The sister nodded in agreement to her brother's words. "We showed you just a few, and yet there are many different kinds of items to use. We're always here for guild members to give them a selection of what's best for them."

Liam tapped his chin with a paw. 'This definitely leads to new combat possibilities. Being able to use items and moves in tandem seems to be the best way to approach things from now.' He was getting excited just thinking about the prospect.

Liam spared a glance towards Gloria. "Do you mind if we do a little... shopping?" he questioned, emphasizing by patting the saddlebag around his shoulder.

She appeared to be in thought for a moment before nodding curtly. He unhooked the saddlebag and placed it onto the counter, the Meowstic's smiling in synchrony as he did so.

"How many of those items could we get for five-hundred Poké?"


To them, the festival seemed to rage the entire night as they made the trip back home. The uproar of it echoed across the city, even into the neighborhoods. They decided to not go to the adult section of the festival to look for Roark. Gloria knew but mostly hoped that the ruse fox would've been responsible and headed home as he told them.

Once the duo was finally home, they cracked open the front door to a lantern now turned on in the living room. At the dining table, Roark was seated in a chair leaning over the table with his arm resting on it-his paw supporting his head. He did not seem to appear fully drunk from the way Liam saw it - just a little tipsy.

The Zororark noticed their presence as they walked it. He turned and waved a red claw toward them. "Hey! How was the festival?"

"It was fun, you missed the events and the mayor's speech you know…" Gloria told him, which sparked a grin from Roark.

"Nah, I already had the time of life somewhere else!" He ended with sudden spontaneous laughter.

"... Are you drunk?" Gloria asked, a bit curious about his state.

He nodded. "A bit - the swill they served wasn't really up to par. Eh, still better than nothing, I suppose. Nothing like the stuff I'll get tomorrow..."

Confusion spread across Gloria's face. "Tomorrow? Where are you going exactly."

Her words caused Roark's eyes to snap out of their relaxed state and become alert. "Ha! I forgot to give you guys your true celebration gift!" Roark reached across the table to grab an envelope. It was the same one that Monferno had come earlier with - yellow shining stars dotted on a black background.

He opened the slit of the envelope and reached inside with his claws, coming out with three card-like objects. They seemed to twinkle in the light of the lantern, giving them their own flair. Roark faced the confused Pokémon and offered another fang-bearing smile.

"We're all going to the Eden Theater premiere tomorrow! Now, don't get all too exc- oof!" He was cut off short as a white blur collided with him into a hug.

"How did you get passes for the premiere?! They only gave them out to a selected bunch!" Gloria exclaimed as she rocked the dark fox back-and-forth with surprising strength.

Roark chuckled and slightly pushed Gloria off of him. "Let's just say Monferno couldn't resist a good bet, and I happened to be the victor." Gloria continued to voice her excitement as he tried to calm her down.

Liam simply watched the two talk, his heart beginning to race as he thought of it over it over. That they were going to this once-in-a-lifetime opening. He placed a paw over his chest to ease himself, lest he act out like a certain Vulpix. But it was exciting, to say the least.

Once the enthusiastic Vulpix was settled, Roark clamped his paws together, claws intertwining. "Now, to finish off a great day of festivities... " He detached a paw as it reached back into his huge mane of dark fur, pulling out a bottle with brown liquid that swished around in its containment. "Monferno also bet on him drinking me under the table." He slammed it onto the wooden counter as he flashed a grin. "Why don't you two have a little drink to celebrate as well?"

"Roark…" Gloria grumbled, a bit apprehensive to the idea.

"Aw, come on, sis, you're old enough - it's okay." He shook the bottle a little, hoping to entice her.

Gloria frowned and shook her head. "I think I'll go to bed instead, but you two can have your fun." She yawned, tiredly shuffling past the table and into the hallway.

"Don't be such a prude, sis!" Roark called out as she walked into her room and shut the door. He huffed as he whirled around to a still-standing and very much awake Liam. "Well? Are you gonna leave me hanging as well?" He gave another shake of the bottle to the Riolu.

Liam smiled, nodding to his request. While he did not think it was quite wise to be drinking this late, he knew it probably was a while before he had any actual alcohol. Now was a time to celebrate their acceptance into the guild, and the premier tomorrow.

"Sure, give me a glass."

Roark slammed the bottle onto the table. "That's what I'm talking about!"

He laughed as he got out of his chair and went into the kitchen. Opening one of the cabinets, he pulled out two small shot glasses. The Zoroark waltzed back to the table to sit back down as Liam hopped on a chair opposite to him. Roark placed the glasses on the table before popping off the cap of the bottle of liquor and pouring the brown substance into each glass at full height.

The two of them latched onto their respective glass, raising them to their lips.

A smug grin was planted on the fox's muzzle before he took a sip of the burning liquid. "Let's hope you're not as much of a lightweight as Monferno was."


"Now, Liam! Crush it!"

Liam bit down hard on the seed in his mouth, the back of it positioned against his enemy, a Weedle. With a crunch of the outer shell of the seed, a buildup of the seed's backside began to bulge outward until it quite literally exploded. A spew of flames seemed to come out of Liam's mouth, and rocketed toward the Weedle. As it connected with the bug Pokémon, a series of bangs and cracks resounded through the dungeon floor. Once the flames receded, a flash of orange light consumed a well-charred and defeated Weedle.

Liam spat out the empty shell of the Blast Seed. Behind him, Gloria clapped with her paws, happy at his success.

"Great work, Liam! There's probably more enemy Pokémon if we look hard enough." She set down the saddlebag she was carrying to fish out another item, and threw it the Riolu's way.

After Liam and Roark drank away into the night, they went to bed, or rather, fell asleep at the table. In the morning they awoke to the taps of Gloria on their drained minds. She was fitted with their saddlebag of items as she explained to them about her heading off to the Sunshine Forest to collect apples and berries for breakfast.

Naturally, Liam accompanied her when his head stopped spinning. He must have been just as surprised as Monferno when Roark never seemed phased by the alcohol. He made a mental note to never challenge the seemingly master of that field again.

Along the way to the Sunshine Forest, he suggested they use the vast amount of items they bought from Meowstic Market on the Pokémon of the dungeon portion of the forest. Gloria was fine with it. In fact, she encouraged him to use them, thinking it was a good way to practice on some weaker Pokémon.

At the same time, she showed him her using the TM, Frost Breath, that she was given by the Meowstics'. She held the icy blue disk close to her chest with a paw and closed her eyes as she focused internally. Shocking Liam a bit, the disk turned from a light blue to a light grey, with her finally tossing it onto the ground.

Apparently, she had learned the move, explaining that he was supposed to focus on learning it while holding it close. He did not find a reasonable counter to that, so he just rolled with it.

Liam caught the Luminous Orb she had tossed him, rolling it between his two paws. "Actually, I think we're close to the end, where we found those apples, right?" He walked over to the saddlebag and placed the orb back inside its pouch.

"Yeah, uh, you're probably right. We've spent a while here fighting the Pokémon." She picked up the saddlebag and hoisted it around her neck, traveling down an opposing corridor. Liam followed, picking up the basket they had brought for the apples.

The steps they took afterward led them to the same clearing they had been before. Trees hung over the patchy terrain, teeming with fresh apples. Across the clearing were bushes where countless kinds of berries seemed to grow and thrive. It seemed to be. a great place to pick up food and ingredients without paying at markets, which Gloria gladly took advantage of.

"You're probably going to have to help me again with reaching the apples," she remarked with a bit of embarrassment, motioning him to come to assist.

Right above was a bundle of shiny red apples, easy pickings for Pokémon tall enough to reach them. Just like before, he dropped the basket and scooped the Vulpix up, positioning her to where she could pick the fruit off the tree branches with her paws. As she did so, he decided to pop up a question that had been lurking in his mind.

"For tomorrow, when we arrive at the guild, are you going to be okay?"

Gloria sighed as she plucked a few of the many apples that hit the ground with a 'thud'. "It's funny - whenever I don't think about it, I feel like it'll be alright. When I do, then it all fades, that confidence and my worry sets in."

"But you'll be okay, right? You can go through with this like you said, like we went over."

She toppled over the final few apples in her way before Liam set her down as they started picking up the apples off the ground and placing them into the basket.

"Yeah… I think I'll be good." She placed the final apple in the basket as she picked it up with her teeth and carried it toward the berry bushes.

Placing the basket down, she started to pick the oddly shaped and colored berries. "I've made so many promises, that I just need to fulfill them. Roark would never give me the time of the day if I backed out now."

Liam took a step forward. "Do you feel comfortable making another promise then?"

"Huh?"

"You promised me we'll make a team together, and do our very best in accomplishing our goals and the guild's goals."

Liam made his ultimatum clear, not to put pressure on her, but to tell her he would be there if she was. Just as Roark did with his actions, he wanted the best for her, as she had gotten them this far. Gloria brushed the remaining berries into the basket, turning around to see Liam's red eyes piercing hers with an outstretched arm. With a gulp, she handed him the basket, which he took without saying a word.

"I…" She stopped herself when his other free arm rose, while his eyes still bored into her.

"Let's shake on it," he proclaimed.

A white forepaw latched onto Liam's as they shook up and down, slowly. Gloria looked up at Liam with her own glint in her eye - pure confidence, no falters.

"I promise."


The cool air of the starry night sky was all too familiar to the trio that walked on the busy Empyrean street. It was showtime. Today, the Eden Theater would open to the select lucky few Pokémon given the ability to grace her premiere. The trio that walked the streets was a part of that same lucky few Pokémon.

"I wonder what they're going to show once everything's set up. Another play?" Roark inquired to no one in particular.

Gloria seemed extra giddy than before now that the time had finally arrived. "Probably not even a play! The Celestic Cognizance said many times that it'll showcase new kinds of devices and a machine that'll 'shoot' something!" Roark scoffed at her account.

"Shoot? Hopefully not at the audience." He laughed at his terrible joke.

Liam stopped in his tracks to look straight up. In his vision, he could clearly see the massive black building again, this time, upfront and close. The purple banner with gold trim he could see up close now - it read 'Grand Opening'.

Unlike any other building in Empyrean City, this seemed to be made of some new material that wasn't wood or concrete. It formed a grid-like pattern around the entire structure that bordered black tinted windows. However, what was most dazzling in Liam's eyes were the neon-like lights that lined the sides of the tower.

Unlike the flickering glow of a lit lantern, they pulsed a deep blue color, making a distinct colored outline of the tower. While they were on even in the daytime, they were a sight to see during nightfall. If it was in their intentions to gather the eyes of any Pokémon that wandered the streets of the night, then they had most certainly achieved their goal. Liam could only stare at it with awe, thinking of the previous night at the festival where the mayor gave his short passionate speech.

'If this is the future of design, then I can only wonder what awaits us on the inside.' He seemed to be just as excited as Gloria was, but not noticeable to the naked eye.

In his amazement at what lie before him, he failed to hear the rapid footsteps behind him until something collided in his back, snapping him out of his thoughts and sending him to the ground.

"Oh! I am so sorry, my dear Pokémon!" a feeble voice rang out from behind the Riolu.

Liam, still a bit winded after that sudden wake-up call, pushed himself up to his hind paws. He brushed himself off before turning around to see a Simisage, who was a bit panicked at his state.

Two other Pokémon then soon showed up, taking their place at each side of the Simisage. A Shiftry, and a Breloom from the looks of it. Across both of their limbs rested an armband. A flash of realization flew across Liam's face - he recognized those armbands.

The Shiftry faced the still apologizing Simisage. "Mr. Ambassador, please don't run off. We're here for a reason." He then faced Liam. "We're very sorry for the Ambassador's actions. He is a tad bit excited for the premiere."

A 'tad bit' was an understatement as the Simisage clapped his hands together. "Oh, yes! I cannot wait! Let us be off, my dear guard companions!" And with that, he was off towards the tower of light, his guards quickly taking their position at the green primate's sides.

Liam's mouth opened and closed - he hadn't uttered a word at what occurred, and neither did Gloria or Roark, who simply stared at the odd pair of Pokémon making their exit. Liam racked his brain, wondering why he thought that Simisage seemed familiar - then it hit him.

'That's the Pokémon that was on stage last night! Part of… the Alignment or something?'

He gazed at the ground in thought, something crossing his vision as he focused on it. It was an armband, similar to the ones he saw before, when they were heading to the Sunshine Grove and at the stadium. Orange lines came from the center, but this time it was on a purple background instead of a black one.

'Was this that Simisage's? He didn't appear to have one…' He looked ahead, they were still in view so he cupped his paws over his mouth and shouted.

"Hey! You dropped this!"

Simisage and his entourage of guards turned around, Liam was raising the purple armband so they could get a look at it. Simisage looked at his arm, seeing the lack of his armband around it. Shocked, he quickly ran over to Liam.

"Oh, why, thank you! They would need this to confirm I'm an ambassador, of course!" He took the armband from Liam before slipping it around his left arm. "Many thanks, my dear Pokémon! Now I must be off!" The Simisage then ran off back into formation with his guards, disappearing once more.

Liam could only shrug when Gloria and Roark's eyes came upon him.

It was not very long until they finally arrived at the proper entrance to Eden Theater. It was not hard to notice, considering the hundreds of Pokémon swarming its sides. A good look at them revealed most were wearing some kind of formal attire - be it a tie, a bow, or some suit or dress custom-made for that Pokémon to wear.

Liam could not help but feel a bit underdressed at this occasion. It seemed the premiere would be attended by mostly Pokémon of the upper class in the city. Nonetheless, Roark was there to reel his nerves back in.

"Tycoons and a bunch of other rich 'mons… Hopefully, some guild members will be here, though."

The crowd around the tower's entrance formed a natural barrier, so they had to squeeze past the rest to get a look at the actual entrance. Once they merged in with the rest, they could get a more clear sight.

A red carpet rolled off the smooth concrete of the streets of Empyrean, up a few stairs, and led to two giant detailed metal doors. At this point, Liam also realized the entire building was made out of this shiny metal-like material. It was smooth, and glossy when drenched in the light it created.

Blocking the stairs to the theater itself was a stream of red cloth wrapped around two posts, and next to it was none other than the mayor of Empyrean City himself, Emploeon. A simple blue tie hung from his neck as he moved to address the amassing crowd. He cleared his throat, his voice booming throughout the crowd, even without a microphone from before.

"CITIZENS OF EMPYREAN, THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME FOR THIS GREAT MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY TO COMMENCE!"

A cheer arose from the crowd - Empoleon waved off them to silence again with a flipper.

"THE SHOW YOU SEE TODAY WILL BE ONE OF MANY IN THE FUTURE! AFTER WE ALLOW ENTRY, IT WILL START VERY SHORTLY!"

He motioned for one of his companions from the crowd to come to his side - a Kingler.

"WITH THE CUTTING OF THIS CEREMONIAL RIBBON, ALL OF YOU WILL JOIN ME IN THIS HISTORICAL MOMENT! WE WON'T WAIT ANY LONGER NOW!"

He stepped out of the way as the Kingler scuttled on its long legs toward the red ribbon. It hovered its massive red pinchers towards the ribbon; with a single clenching motion, the stream of red snapped into two halves. This resounded another big cheer from the crowd as Empoleon regained his position and the crowd's attention.

"JOIN ME INSIDE AND TAKE YOUR SEAT SO THE SHOW CAN GO ON!" With a final wave of his flipper, he headed up the stairs of the theater-his guards and companions following him inside.

"Jeez, does the guy ever not speak in loud speeches?" Roark snorted out as Gloria set down the saddlebag she was carrying. Opening a pouch, she brought out the three passes from before, giving one to both Liam and Roark.

"They're probably going to check them at the door." She grabbed her own before closing the pouch and putting the saddlebag back around her side. The crowd was soon all over the crimson carpet, eager to finally enter the once-forbidden theater.

The trio found their place in a naturally forming line, most likely due to passes and identity being slowly authorized. As they got closer, the excitement contained within them started to bubble. Soon it was their time, flashing their passes to a pair of menacing guards until they gave them the okay to head on in.

And just like that, they were inside. The noise of the outside world becoming a lot more subdued in this new environment. A short hallway with pulsating blue lights on black steel walls funneled the newly arrived Pokémon into the next area. Once they reached the end of it, the 'ooo's and 'aaa's of the Pokémon in front of them only enticed them to see what was inside. What greeted them once they pushed passed the Pokémon in front was a sight to see.

A massive chamber of black steel greeted them. Each corner of the room held its own intricate ceramic fountain that gushed clear water into their individual pools. Just like on the outside of the tower, the cold steel walls blinked with blue lines of light, wrapping across the entire room. Countless Pokémon in uniforms, most likely staff members, buzzed around the room tidying everything up for the arrival of their guests. At the end of the room, a large white sheet covered the wall, some sort of device sat in front of it. The firm, black carpeted floor caved in slightly into the ground as rows of plush, purple chairs sat in rows behind the white paper-like screen.

However, what intrigued Liam the most were the six reinforced glass tubes on the sides of each wall that shot straight through the tall ceiling. Steel pillars supported the corners of the tubes. What was most confusing was that there were no stairs in sight, meaning no one could enter the above floors.

Before he could voice his confusion to the others, a tingling chime broke through everyone's chatter. Empoleon stood in the middle of the aisle between the rows of chairs, a spoon in one flipper, and a glass in the other.

"Once you're acquainted with everything, please find a seat of your choosing. The show will be beginning very soon!" he finished with a smile, handing off the glass and silverware to a passing custodian before heading to the front row.

Murmurs about the upcoming show filled the trio's ears as passing Pokémon traveled down the aisles to find a seat. Two claw-ridden paws latched on Liam and Gloria's back as they turned to their owner.

"Let's find a seat before any stuffy Pokémon take it." Roark freed them from his grasp, traversing down the slope of the room - Liam and Gloria right behind him.

Due to the influx of Pokémon rushing ahead to secure a seat in the front row, they had to make do with seats near the back. They weren't too miffed about it, just happy to actually get seats with so many Pokémon here.

Liam tapped his hind paw on the ground in impatience, resting his head on a forepaw. They had been seated for around ten minutes with nothing happening except staff handing out drinks and edibles to the audience. Roark had taken to teasing Gloria out of boredom.

But then, the fluctuating lights dimmed, until they were shut off completely. The prattling of the audience was reduced to whispers as the room shifted moods in the darkness. Liam could only theorize what kind of 'show' would take place.

According to Gloria this wasn't some kind of play with physical actors and set pieces on a stage. However, his thoughts on it were cut short as he observed a few staff members tinkering with the device in the middle. One Pokémon held some kind of tape-like object while another Pokémon fed it into one of the two disks present on the device.

It was a fairly long process, but the job appeared to be done as both began retreating out of the aisle. Suddenly, a ray of reflecting light came out of the device and onto the white screen in front of it. The device made soft shuttering noises, whirring silently. Liam tilted his head at the sight of such a thing until the screen flickered back and forth rapidly. It settled on what appeared to be a countdown.

His eyes widened as it actually started counting down, frame by frame, his excitement inside reaching a boiling point. This was something not just he would experience for the first time, but everyone. He settled into his seat just in the nick of time for the screen to display to reach zero. A blare of trumpets seemingly came from nowhere as the screen transitioned.

The show was about to start.


'Well… uh, that was something,' Liam thought, shifting in his seat. It was a long two hours of runtime, and he sat through all of it.

He could not necessarily give out a good enough critique, considering this would be his first time of seeing whatever was shown. Overall, he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The technical side of it sparked the most interest in him. Being able to see Pokémon, lands, and sights through some kind of third-person viewpoint. He wondered what kinds of shows like these would be made in the future, given if the audience enjoyed it as he did.

And enjoy it they did, if not more, as a ferocious clamor of clapping paws, hands, flippers, and more erupted throughout the crowd. It was an instant success and a crowd-pleaser for those that attended. Once the cheers of hoots and hollers died down, Empoleon stood up from his seat and waddled to the middle of the aisle again.

"I'm pleased to know you enjoy the work on our film! It has taken us a very long time to come to your eyes alone! But please! Don't leave just yet!" Empoleon pointed a flipper at one of the glass tubes they saw earlier.

"The theater staff will assist you in moving up and down the elevators! You can reach the other accommodations such as our suites and bar!" This ignited a buzz throughout the audience until Empoleon's next words came out. "Today will be on the house of course!" He finished with a guttural laughter to the cheers of the many in the room as they got out of their seats.

"We will continue to replay our film all night long, so do enjoy the Eden Theater, please!" Empoleon gave a final wave and bow of his own before returning back to his companions.

Liam got out of his seat as he stretched, along with Gloria and Roark, the latter of which speaking.

"Well?"

Liam shrugged in response. "I thought it was pretty decent - kinda dragged on a bit towards the end."

Roark waved him off with a claw. "I think my favorite part had to be when that Mr. Mime smashed the guy's face with a pie."

"Oh, I loved that part too!" Gloria chimed in.

They continued to talk about the movie as they slowly escaped from the aisle of chairs. Once they were out, there were several 'elevators' they could take that would reach the top floors. Liam was hesitant at what the mayor had said about them, and what their purpose was.

Teleportation was one thing, but he knew that only strong enough Psychic-type Pokémon could pull that off. Whatever it was, it did not stop audience members from entering the tubes. Only a few Pokémon were allowed in at a time it seemed, as one of the members of the staff went in as well. What happened next shocked the three of them. The staff member pushed something next to the door, causing it to close automatically. With another push, the platform the Pokémon were standing on suddenly started moving up. Their eyes followed the platform as it slowly but surely traveled up the tube, eventually disappearing into the ceiling.

Liam and Gloria's mouths hung open in stunned silence as Roark whistled. "Man, that isn't something you see every day!" He patted their backs before moving ahead. "C'mon! I don't want to get left with the cheap stuff!"

The two snapped out of their state and followed the Zoroark to a line for one of the elevators to the top. Once they were next in line, the glass door slid open for them to get aboard. Roark gave no second thoughts as he stepped in and told the staff member which floor to go to. Liam and Gloria were a bit more hesitant before getting in themselves.

With a push of a circular button on a panel of others - the platform rumbled a bit before slowly lifting off the ground. Liam's feelers twitched in response to the sensation of leaving the ground. They gazed upward as they ascended, admiring the verticality.

"This is… amazing," Liam muttered. It was somewhat of a familiar feeling to him.

It was not long until they apparently reached the fourth floor, an opening amongst the black steel walls was where their journey on the elevator stopped, the glass door sliding open for them to exit. They did so quickly, not wanting to intrude on the staff member's time. This new area they found themselves in was something entirely different from the main floor.

Pokémon waiters and waitresses held bundles of drinks as they shot past each other, placing them on tables and counters chock full of waiting customers. Directly in front was a bar counter topped with a white glass finish. Behind it hung countless bottles of different alcohol or clear drinking glasses. Bartenders ran back and forth, serving those that sat behind the counter. The room was bathed in bright light blue strobe-like lights, causing the three of them to squint their eyes from the change in lighting. Much more noticeable though was the clacking and slamming of drinks on tables and counters as Pokémon talked and laughed.

Roark smiled at what he saw. "Well, well, looks like the true party has just now begun..." He started to walk away before Gloria shouted among the chaos.

"Hey! Where are you going!"

He turned around briefly, raising both his arms. "What do you think? You're free to join me, though!" he suggested, to which Gloria grimaced.

"Uhh… erm, no." She squirmed under the pressure. "I, uh, don't think alcohol is suited for me."

Liam pondered it for a bit before deciding not to. While yesterday was fun chatting with the intoxicated Zoroark, he didn't just want to do that the entire night like Roark seemed to.

Roark rolled his eyes and waved them off with a claw. "Bah, buncha kids. If you need me, I'll be here."

Liam's eyes wandered again as the Zoroark left, particularly to a part of the room where a booth with flashy decals built into the steel walls. From the look of the tables surrounding it, it was a place for food instead of drinks. He softly elbowed Gloria and pointed in the direction of the booth.

"You hungry? We might be here a while because of Roark." He smirked at the thought.

She placed a paw against her stomach area, blushing and nodding. "Yeah, might as well… right?"

They made their way to a nearby booth, stopping to look at the menu written on a sign just beside it. Liam tapped his chin with a paw. Everything looked a lot healthier than the stuff they sold at the festival, which was a blessing for his palette.

But with his attention focused elsewhere, he neglected to see a green Pokémon carelessly smash right into him. He felt something cold splash his chest as he jerked out of the way, immediately looking down and noticing a purple stain splattered across his blue fur. Sighing, he stirred his gaze up again toward the Pokémon who bumped into him, his eyes narrowing as he did so.

'This Simisage again?!'

And indeed it was the same Simisage from outside the theater, like before. A panicked look spread across his face as he readjusted his grasp on his drink. "By the Allmother! I am so, so, so sorry about this my dear Pokémon! I guess I have gone a bit overboard today…" Not long after he said this, his two bodyguards from earlier quickly rolled in.

The Shiftry spoke, a bit annoyed. "Mr. Ambassador, please try to keep by our side at all costs! This isn't the first or second time this has happened."

'I can already tell it wasn't his first time or second time doing this,' Liam said in his mind as he was handed a few napkins from the Breloom guard.

Simisage sighed and dropped his head, ashamed of his actions. He stayed like that until he popped back up almost instantly with a wide smile gracing his features. "I know just how to repay you two! Quick, you must come with me, before it begins!" He reached forward and yanked Liam's paw away from wiping his chest.

"You don't need to repay me - just let bygones be bygones, and don't bump into me again," Liam grumbled the last part beneath his breath. Still, the Simisage didn't relent, keeping his grip on the Riolu's paw.

"Oh, I insist! Please! I'm sure you two would love it, a private show!" He yanked harder on Liam's paw. "Please, do come!"

'This guy isn't going to relent until I go… Well, if that's the case, we got plenty of time while Roark drinks the night away.'

He spared Gloria a glance while the Simisage shook his paw for a response. She offered the best shrug she could give. Her silence showed that not even she knew what to do with the eccentric Pokémon.

"Alright, alright! We'll go," Liam huffed.

The Simisage laughed, shaking the paw in his hold up and down. "Fantastic! It will be the best part of your night I assure you!"

Shiftry placed a leafy fan on Simisage's shoulder. "Mr. Ambassador, I... "

Simisage shoved the appendage off him. "Oh, don't worry! Nothing will go wrong. Now let's go!" He then snapped Liam's paw, forcing the Riolu to follow him.

"H-Hey! Woah!"

Liam protested as the Simisage happily dragged him near the elevator. Gloria closely followed, severing their connection with her paw. Once they were in the elevator, the two guards of Simisage then pushed for the doors to close, pressing the button for the eleventh floor.

The elevator buckled as it made its gradual ascent.


1ocY0xm.png


The platform of the elevator finally reached the eleventh floor, stopping at a gap in the steel walls. The glass door slid open as the occupants stepped out. They appeared to be in the same kind of narrow hallway from the entrance of the theater, except for the blood-red carpet instead of an obsidian black.

Simisage marched forward with a smile on his face, his guards in tow. He happened upon a chrome black door, to which he turned around and shared with both guards his smile. "Could you two perhaps wait outside? Just to make sure no one can disturb us?" he almost pleaded.

Shiftry and Breloom shared a look before shaking their head in agreement.

"Great!" Simisage looked behind him and motioned with a hand for them to follow him. He pulled a latch that was indented on the door to the right as it slid open - he went in along with Liam and Gloria.

"These rooms are almost entirely soundproof! The loudest volume couldn't get past these halls!" Simisage exclaimed as he hit some sort of locking mechanism on the door.

On this floor alone were black-tinted windows to look out of, Liam and Gloria did so briefly. That feeling of being on top of the world as they admired the almost tiny city below. Just like it seemed with every other place in the building, black walls with blinking blue lines of light. It was more modestly sized than the rest, and instead of plush chairs, there were wooden chairs placed in a grid-like pattern.

A projector screen like before was positioned in front of them. But there was no wall behind it, as it seemed to be placed over an already-built wooden stage. Red curtains hung around the screen's sides. A chrome black door next to the stage then swung open as a Cinccino entered. It was a bit shocked when it saw them, staring at Simisage's friendly face.

"Mr. A-ambassador, are you h-here for the screening?" the female questioned in a shaky voice.

Simisage nodded with a laugh. "Yes, bring it out! I have guests with me!"

With a quick nod, Cinccino slammed the door shut before returning moments later with a disk-shaped object. She walked over to a familiar device positioned near the screen and started feeding the reel into it.

"Ah, just like home. Except my projector was a bit better, haha!"

Liam blinked. 'They have their own personal 'projectors'? Or maybe he's just rich, being an ambassador.'

Cinccino finished unloading the reel, quickly rushing back to the door next the stage, slamming it shut behind her.

'She, uh, seemed to be in a rush…'

Simisage clapped his hands together, "It's been such a long time since I've seen 'The Price Of Paradise'! Such a short tear-jerker…" He made his way to the front row of the assortment of chairs, sitting on the middlemost chair, and waving Liam over. "Come, my dear Pokémon - centerstage with me!"

Liam frowned but did not want to be rude and deny the Pokémon his wishes. He trudged over and seated himself right next to the Simisage. Gloria, on the other hand, was lucky enough not to be the ambassador's target, opting to sit in the back row and enjoy the screening.

The projector in front of Liam and Simisage then whirred to life, a ray of light glazing over the white screen. The shuffling of images occurred before a familiar countdown appeared. Once it reached zero, the screen transitioned to a painted image of a vast field of sprawling hills and meadows of white flowers. The sky retained a wash of yellow-orange and pinkish color, stretching across the horizon.

The screen then focused on one grassy hill in particular, a lone tree resting at the top, along with a blue shadow of a small Pokémon resting beside it. Liam didn't know if it was intentional, but he couldn't tell what kind of Pokémon it was from the features. The shadow was crying, hunched as it wept. The view shifted toward the sight of an arriving Pokémon, this one also an incomprehensible green-colored shadow. It wandered past the other weeping shadow and towards a canvas that rested atop the hill, overlooking the expanse of massive fields, mountains, and forests.

"A woman dreams of a world free from strife and hatred," the voices of many small children echoing this statement reverberated across the hollow room.

The green shadow then procured a board of dotted colors and a paintbrush, dipping into the color of its choosing and wiping the blank canvas passionately with it.

"But if you wish to change the world, then it will surely come to ruin."

Another stroke of the brush sent a splash of color onto the canvas, the technique of the green shadow becoming more sloppy through each motion.

"In the end, what is truly the paradise you sought?"

With a furious swipe of the brush, the colors of the canvas formed a chaotic mess of different lines of color intersecting each other. The green shadow then collapsed and began heaving in distress.

"The guilty shadow of paradise weighs heavy on those traveling the road to a brighter tomorrow."

The blue shadow near the tree stopped its sobbing, noticing the green shadow's state. It slowly picked itself up and knelt down next to the green figure, who cried to the earth below.

"But if we don't stop now, then the same tragedies will keep repeating themselves."

The scene on the projector shifted to the blue shadow following the green one, who stoically walked down the hill. It gazed at the sights around it in, picking up the pace to follow. The both of them came across a fence, to which they opened the gate and continued their journey through the peaceful land.

"Though the world may be so beautiful, it could also be so cruel."

Another scene shift would bring the two into a small abode, filled with various paintings. The green shadow then hugged another shadow of the same color, then a smaller one, presumably its significant other and child.

"When dawn breaks, the paint will color the shadows below."

The blue shadow still continued to follow the green one as it entered another room and collapsed into a fit of sorrow. Hesitantly, it reached out a limb to touch the shadow. With a flash of light, the blue shadow appeared to conjure some sort of memory of the green one - a vision playing in the blue shadow's mind.

"Please, unfortunate souls, rest in peace!"

The memories of a green shadow unleashing a torrent of lines that engulfed and swallowed entire lands, villages, cities, and worlds flooded the blue one's mind. The horrific sight of its hometown swamped by lines and green shadows disappearing into nothing was burned into its mind.

"Stealing something to earn your paradise... What will the ones robbed do in return?"

With another flash, the blue shadow was back into the present. It shook in rage as it looked at the green shadow, responsible for slaughtering those it wept for all this time. It ran out of the room and out of the house.

"The paintbrush slides across the canvas and the world, creating new colors and places."

Liam tapped his hind paw against the carpet. His feelers were twitching, and he couldn't tell why. What he did know for sure was that the temperature of the room suddenly picked up a few degrees. A sweat began to build around his brow as he tried to focus back on the film.

The blue shadow stumbled through what remained of its hometown. The buildings, the memories, the beings it knew all wiped away - the slate clean. Only a beautiful lakebed remained, sparkling crystal clear. It stopped to stare for a while - fascinated.

"When paradise tempts the one who wanted it so bad for the ones who perished."

Something caught its attention, though; a spear that rested gently on the verdant grass. It remembered its hatred, its desire for revenge for those it and the world had lost. Thunder cracked in the distance, rain beginning to settle onto the beautiful lands. It grabbed the weapon, hastily turning around to rush back to where it found the green shadow once before.

"Requiem!"

The scene cut back to the hills of green, the yellow-pinkish glowing sky. The blue shadow rushed up the hill, clutching the spear as it searched for the green shadow. Then it found it, painting away like it always seemed to do. It stopped in its track to gaze at the green shadow - its sworn enemy.

"When dawn breaks above paradise, wish for once, that those unfortunate souls will be able to finally rest in peace. Requiem!"

Liam's attention to the film was interrupted as two loud stomps resounded from behind the projector screen. His feelers began to twitch more suddenly, and his heart began to race slowly but steadily, feeling the temperature of the room swell suddenly. He was becoming more and more uncomfortable in his chair, wobbling around in it.

'Dammit, why is my body going crazy all of a sudden?!'

The blue shadow then noticed more and more flowers blooming out of the ground - wallflowers. Each brushstroke from the green shadow sent more and more to arise from the ground.

"And if one day, her wish would come true, all of this pain and hatred would finally be put to an end."

The blue shadow turned around, witnessing the gravestones of the many that were sacrificed to create paradise. Pink cherry blossom leaves drifted in the breeze as the white wallflowers danced along with them. The shadow looked up towards the sky of yellow and pink, a blinding light now visible.

"Now let us meet again in a world we can truly call a paradise."

The blue shadow's limb that held the spear shook and shook until it let go, dropping the weapon into the flowery grave, the spear vanishing along with its hatred. It knew now and understood the green shadow. They had wanted the same thing after all - a paradise to call their own - the sins of the green shadow now its to endure as well.

It was becoming almost unbearable for Liam - the tapping of his hind paw increased as well as the erratic sensation in his feelers. The heat in the room was now almost sweltering. His eyes darted back and forth around the room as his body screamed at him to do something - anything.

The film reel slowed to a crawl, the projection petering off until it was gone entirely. Simisage was gleefully clapping at the emotional experience, tiny tears appearing in his eyes.

'Duck! Duck! Run! Run! Move! Move!' Liam gritted his teeth as his feelers spasmed uncontrollably. 'Just what, though?! Where is it?!'

And then it happened.

The white screen of the projector melted as a column of fiery, red-hot flames rocketed toward the two of them.

Liam's eyes widened as he put all his faith into his instincts, quickly turning to Simisage's side and slamming his right arm right into the torso of the clapping Pokémon. He pushed the two of them downward, both falling out of their chairs and straight onto their bellies. The pillar of scorching and screaming flames shot just right above them, blasting their now empty chairs to smithereens and illuminating the room into a deathly crimson glow, distorting and wavering the air around it. Gloria sprang out of her chair and narrowly missed the flames that grazed her fur.

It did not relent.

Liam could not see it as his eyes were closed shut, but he could feel the inferno around him. As if a Darumaker was placed right above him at the hottest temperature. Then, the heat vanished. Liam quickly scooted away as best as he could on the carpet, dragging Simisage with him. He then relinquished his grip and rolled the Pokémon over.

"Simisage! Are you all ri-"

The Pokémon was knocked out - cold. Liam assumed the shock of what just happened was too intense for the ambassador. He knew they could be in imminent danger, and so would Simisage in his incapacitated state.

'But just what attacked us?!'

He slowly steered his gaze away from the ambassador and toward the stage where the white screen once stood. Small orange and yellow flames licked the red curtains, burning it up; cinders from it fell down to the wooden stage below.

He looked dead into a yellow cannon-like arm with a black brace around it. Connected to the arm was a large torso with a red and orange flame pattern defined in it. The red shoulder blades of the figure flickered like a flame in a candle. And from what he could see of its legs - two long spike-like protrusions shot out of its feet.

Liam gulped. He had seen a Pokémon like this, in the book from the library. 'That's a… This is a Magmortar!'

He knew the situation was not going to get better from there. First, he needed to get Simisage out of the way. Luckily, Gloria was quick to his aide, grabbing hold of Simisage's shoulder with her teeth as Liam grabbed his other shoulder with a paw. Together, they dragged him through the sea of overturned chairs, Liam staring down the still and silent Magmortar the entire time. The flaming head of it finally peeked from the side of its massive arm, surveying the damage it created.

A deep male bass voice boomed from his defined lips. "Huh, it appears I missed." He lowered his arm before staring down the two Pokémon dragging away Simisage to a wall opposite of it.

The Magmortar chuckled deeply at this. "What do we have here... kids? You're making a big mistake taking my match away." The Fire-type then jumped off the stage and right onto the red carpet below with a 'thud' that echoed across the room.

"Liam! He's here to hurt Simisage!" Gloria whispered harshly.

Unbeknownst to them, a chorus of bangs was being placed on the door by Simisage's guard unit, being able to hear the chaos inside. But Liam and Gloria had much more to worry about.

The Riolu knew that much, as this obviously wasn't some random attack, not in a place like this. But right now they didn't have many options. They couldn't flee with Simisage in time and risk him getting hurt, or worse. And the possibility of a fight didn't look promising, especially with Gloria being an Ice-type.

The Magmortar, however, didn't seem to care about their conundrum as he took slow heavy steps towards them. "You have five seconds to move out of my way, or you will be incinerated!"

Liam tore his gaze over to Gloria, and the look she gave him in return said it all. She was deathly afraid, but something also lurked in her eyes, something that told him they needed to fight, fight for their lives as well as Simisage's. He gave a sharp nod. He made her promise before, promising to not back down when the time came for them to enter the guild. This here would be their final trial to test that. Liam gave out deep breaths as he steeled himself to step forward.

"No."

That one word gave Magmortar the all-clear. "So be it." He casually lifted his arm cannon right in front of Liam's face, summoning a rush of flames that spewed towards the Riolu blocking his way.

"LIAM!"

Liam swiftly sprinted to the right with a Quick Attack, expecting this exact action. Magmortar swept his cannon around his right as Liam ran around the Pokémon, creating a ring of fire as the scorching flames tried to reach the Riolu.

The Riolu was thankful this Magmortar seemed to be a one-trick sort of a deal - the arm cannon being his main weapon, if his only one. But that made getting close all sorts of dangerous. Gloria knew her position in this battle would be nothing but afar as support.

If any flames reached her, she was done, or worse.

He spared himself the thought of that as he completed a full circle around the Magmortar, the Fire-type now disorientated by Liam's maneuvering. Closing in, the Riolu splayed his paws as purple energy gathered in them. With Magmortar being too slow to react, he slammed multiple Force Palms into the side of him. That seemed to get a reaction - if an angry one. The yellow arm cannon swung around, hitting Liam square in his chest and sending him back a few feet.

"What, you think that actually hurt?" The Pokémon cackled at the very thought. "Pathet-"

PING. PING. PING.

Magmortar's words were silenced as he felt multiple sharp ice crystals impact his back. Most of them melted on his fiery side before impact, but the ones that did land only seemed to fuel the Pokemon's growing temper.

"You little brat!"

Magmortar cocked his arm cannon at Gloria, stomping forward to blast her with a combustion of flames. Liam saw an opportunity again, sprinting forward with Quick Attack and ducking under the cocked arm cannon, trying to land blow after blow on Magmortar's stomach region. The Fire-type backed away a little from the pain. In a rage, he twisted his arm down, facing the still-attacking Liam. With his sights right on the Riolu, he let his flames explode out his arm to torch the Riolu right then and there - is what would've happened if it weren't for Gloria latching onto the side of his arm, pushing it out of Liam's way and firing harmlessly into the air.

'GRAH!"

Magmortar swung his arm forcefully, launching the Vulpix out of her grasp and careening into a wall, the saddlebag around her getting thrown across the room. While it did most certainly hurt, she was glad to not taste a single flame from the Pokémon. In his tantrum, he also sent Liam flying with a swing from the yellow arm, sending him skidding across the floor. As the two of them got up, they looked at each other. They needed a different plan; their method would only tire them out in the long run.

'Darn! We just need something to turn the tide, something that'll…'

That's when it hit him.

His gaze shot across the room, falling upon Gloria's saddlebag that lie behind a mess of knocked-over chairs. They could use the battle items inside. He gave Gloria a look that told her everything before he sped off in the direction of the bag, intent on utilizing this new strategy.


Weavile and Bisharp stepped out of the elevator, giving the place a good thorough lookover. A grin soon found its way on Weavile's face as she stretched her arms. The film they showed was long, and sitting still for her for that amount of time was something she never does.

"Man, I've been waiting for a good enough drink for ages…"

"You say that as if we don't already have that back at base," Bisharp noted, earning a roll of Weavile's eyes.

"Nah, a good ole rich 'mon drink. One that's on the house according to Mr. Penguin Puppet back there."

"Still harping on that, 'Weavs'? Need me to report this to the guards?" Bisharp teased.

Weavile placed a claw over her chest. "I simply see this city for what is - a bunch of no-good politicians, crooks, thieves, and liars."

"So… us then."

"Of course! But we're so much better than some average street thug. Now, you can accompany me to get drunk or dawdle off doing something I don't care about. And your choice is...?"

Bisharp snorted. "Fine, I just hope you're correct about this place. Too many 'mons passing their piss or whatever off as alcohol."

Weavile took a seat at one of the few unoccupied stools at the bar top, while Bisharp took a seat to the left of her. She rattled her claws on the glass counter, waving down a nearby bartender for them both.

"Don't bother getting a brandy," a suave voice chimed in from Weavile's left.

Turning to the voice, she noticed it was a Zoroark. "Excuse me?" she asked a bit haughtily. Not a lot of Pokémon randomly struck up a conversation with her.

The Zoroark's head turned fully towards her with a grin, nursing a drink of his own in his claws. "I said don't get a brandy. They give you the entire bottle and it's horrible."

"Really? Well, good thing I don't care for brandy types. I'm more of a whiskey gal…" She offered him a toothy sneer.

The Zoroark chuckled, placing a claw over his heart in mock pain. "You wound me, sister, but I'm way outta your age range."

Weavile rolled her eyes at this, amused enough to continue the conversation. "Let me guess... thirty?"

"Try forty," he said, taking a swig from his drink. "I think experiencing only twenty of those years can give me the excuse to act young, though."

"You a dad or something? Most fathers always end up here now or in the future," Weavile said, spurring a rise of laughter coming from the fox.

"Nah, just a brother... or uncle to some. The cool kind of uncle that gives you Blast Seeds and junk."

Bisharp suddenly interjected into the conversation, leaning his head over the table. "I think… I think I've heard of you before. My father was in the Rescue Society... You have a name, right? Roark, the Zoroark thief who couldn't produce illusions?" he took a shot in the dark.

The Zoroark scoffed to all of this, taking another swig and reminiscing. "Yeah... and Bisharp was your old man, eh? Was a good 'mon to me all those years back when I was a blank slate. But I left the Rescue Society around the time of the Glacier Peak Mountain Avalanche... A nasty little event that was. Now, I just do errands for the guild here." Roark cocked his head to eyeball the due. "But what are you two? Part of a team, workers, or..." He smirked. "You had to do something great to get a gig like this."

Weavile held a claw to interrupt Bisharp. "Yes, we're a team - Team Razor Claw. One of our members got us an invitation here." She noticed the deadpan look from Bisharp and shot him a glare.

"Well, shit, why don't you bring them around. Booze is on the house, y'know." Roark pointed a claw at Bisharp. "And I wanna hear more about you."

Weavile scraped the glass counter with a claw. "I think he is off doing something a bit more important. I just hope the poor guy doesn't get burnt out..."


Magmortar was having none of it.

He propped up his arm cannon, honing in on Liam as the Riolu bolted across the room towards the saddlebag. Multiple flaming orange bullet-like projectiles shot out of Magmortar's cannon, sailing across the room to his target.

Liam ducked and weaved between every shot that came near him. The flame balls splattered onto the wooden chairs in his path, causing fragments of blazing wood to burst everywhere. Using this to his advantage, he picked up chairs to block any that came too close, the chairs shattering on impact once absorbing the blow.

Magmortar attempted to send another volley but was pelted by Gloria's Ice Shard, stunning him briefly. He brought his second arm near his assailant and sprayed a wave of flames wildly toward her. She was lucky enough to just be in enough range for her to sidestep the wave of heat, the force of it nearly causing her to buckle.

Liam grabbed the saddlebag in the corner and sprinted back to the Fire-type. On the way over, he hastily opened the pouch to their battle items. A bunch of elemental seeds and Wonder Orbs. He knew this would do the trick, but just how many was a question he would have to put to the test.

Grabbing a red Blast Seed, he got to a good enough distance as he hurled it straight into the face of a distracted Magmortar.

BOOM.

The distinct cracking, popping, and mini-explosion of the Blast Seed bursting on impact with the Pokémon's face was clear. Magmortar stopped his assault on Gloria as he raised his arms to his face in pain.

"GRAH!"

BOOM.

Liam did not hold back as he tossed another seed straight into the Pokémon's face. It exploded on impact as expected with another cry of pain from the Fire-type.

BOOM.

The third seed would never reach its destination as Magmortar predicted another projectile and smacked it away from him with an arm, exploding on the black steel walls instead.

'Two out of three, that's better than nothing. Still…' Liam peered into the item pouch, trying to plan out his next approach, but the angry voice of Magmortar would interrupt his train of thought.

"ENOUGH!"

The seething Fire-type yet again held his arm cannon facing Liam. But this time, he appeared to be charging something, as blue flames licked at the edges of Magmortar's arm, his eyes seizing up.

'What is he…' Liam realized he only had seconds to react.

Something flaming blue and large shot out of Magmortar's arm, quickly swirling into the air and forming the shape of a strange symbol as it howled loudly and zoomed the Riolu's way. Liam barely managed to roll out of the way from the massive fire blast before it slammed into the steel wall behind him. He cringed in pain, feeling a few flames singe his tail.

Magmortar took full advantage of his dizzying state, aiming his cannon at the Riolu still belly-first on the ground.

"Burn."

The orange, fiery blaze erupted from his arm and consumed Liam. All the Riolu could feel was unrelenting burning heat. He wanted to scream in agony, but could occasionally feel an icy chill pierce through the pain.

He cracked an eye open to see Gloria spewing her Frost Breath on the flames from Magmortar's cannon, easing the burning just a bit. The worried stare she was sending him told him everything as he rolled his way out of the fire. She backed up as well before the Fire-type could give her a whiplash with his cannons.

Liam stood on wobbly legs, his fur blackened as he took deep breaths to calm himself down. If Gloria wasn't there to save him, he would've been toast. They needed to end this quickly before it got even uglier. Magmortar appeared winded as well, especially after that fire blast attack he did - so that meant it was now or never.

He dug into the saddlebag and retrieved one of the Wonder Orbs - a Luminous Orb. Magmortar grunted and tried to charge them again with front-facing cannons, ready to end this just like they were. Liam chucked the Luminous Orb at Magmortar's face - it was a direct hit.

The white orb shattered, materializing a bright white light that exploded in Magmortar's eyes, briefly blinding him in its brief intensity.

"GAH!"

Realizing he could not see, he started to blast twin Flamethrowers haphazardly from his cannons, desperate for any of them to torch the two Pokémon before him. Gloria started up her assault with Ice Shard again, but she knew she didn't have as much energy to spare, just as Liam did.

The Riolu pulled a Stun Seed out of the pouch. To stop Magmortar's random firing and land a hit, they would need to stop him from doing so in the first place. Like before, he hurled the seed at the flailing Fire-type. It shattered as a wave of yellow electricity shot across the Pokémon's body. Bolts and static electricity kept his body rigid, with no way to attack or prevent one from being used on him.

The pair knew this was their moment.

Liam pulled out the two deep purple orbs - the One-Hit-KO Orbs. He rolled one over to Gloria, who stomped it with a paw as he crushed his in an iron-like grasp. A purple flickering aura began to surround the two of them. Gloria charged up a final array of Ice Shards, aiming them straight into Magmortar's chest.

PING. PING. PING.

Each one of them landed and made their mark as the Fire-type thrashed in pain.

Liam closed the distance one last time, charging a glowing and pulsing Force Palm as he dove it into the Pokémon's stomach. A boom echoed throughout the room once it made contact. The static electricity sealing away Magmortar's movement was broken as the Pokémon stood still for a few moments, the pain settling in. In a dramatic fashion, Magmortar promptly smashed to the ground with a large 'thud'.

The battle was won.

Liam collapsed to his knees, heaving back and forth, the adrenaline wearing off as the pain began to set in. "We… did it."

Gloria quickly rushed over to Liam's side, opening up one of the pouches of the saddlebag and taking an Oran Berry out of it. She stuffed it into his mouth as he began to chew on it slowly, almost in a daze.

"Yeah, we did do it!" she said with encouragement, giving him a warm smile. "But we need to get you to a proper hospital!"

"Hey…" He took a breath. "What do we do about Magmortar here?"

As if on cue, the door to the room ruptured out of its hinges as Shiftry, Breloom, and other guard Pokémon entered. The new arrivals looked around, the remnants of wooden chair fragments, the charred remains of the film projector and screen, and the shadow of charcoal left where burn marks stained the floor.

It did not take them long to realize a battle had taken place here.

Shiftry stepped forward, "What..." He gazed at the unconscious forms of Simisage and Magmortar, "... Happened here?!"

"We can't explain! Just get him to the nearest hospital!" Gloria yelled, motioning towards a pained Liam.

The guards gave each other looks, before shrugging and immediately taking over control of the room from here on out.


Liam limped out of the elevator, a bit of a blur in his vision. Two of the guards held him by his shoulders, helping him walk. Behind him, the rest of the guards were carrying Magmortar out as well. He could feel the perturbed looks from the other Pokémon on the main floor give them once they made their way to the exit.

Empoleon seemed to notice and quickly stood up to damage control. "It appears some of our guests have been a little rowdy! Be safe, everyone!"

Liam could not blame him; no one could have expected something like this to happen - not even him. The Riolu's posture became more relaxed when his face hit the cool night air outside; it was a godsend after being in that scorching room. Outside, he bore witness to three Pokémon on the red carpet, a bunch of Pokémon crowding around the three of them, shooting whispers back and forth.

These Pokémon seemed much more different though than any regular Pokémon, as whispers of 'It's Team Drarosteel!' or 'Team Drarosteel!' filled his ears.

The Pokémon on the left was most definitely an Aggron from the size of its hulking frame, metal plates, and horns. The one on the right was a Tyranitar from its dark spots and solid rock body. It stood about the same height as the Aggron. However, the one in the middle was slightly taller than the other already imposing Pokémon.

He gulped at the sight of it - his subconscious fear of Dragon-types coming to fruition before him.

It was a Garchomp, with its iconic dark blue coloring and hammerhead-like face, and the long talons on its scythe-like arms. White spikes jutted out from its arms and legs, not to mention its mouth of razor-sharp teeth. Worst of all, it was staring directly at him, strutting forward.

"It appears we turned up late to the party, right, boys?"

Liam was all the more surprised at the deep velvety female voice that came out of it instead of something more menacing. The Aggron next to her swiveled its head to the dragon, letting out an accented male voice.

"Ah, lassie, don't go worryin' bout that. Look at the battle scars on this small one lad here! Just like home, I'd say!" He bellowed with laughter.

Garchomp's eyes narrowed at the Riolu, who shrank in her gaze. That was until she saw the unconscious body of Magmortar also being carried out by a few guards. With new context being provided, she understood completely, her eyes becoming more compassionate.

"I hope you two are guild members or will be. You did a fine job today the way I see it." Liam stared at her for a while before nodding his head rapidly. "We won't hold you guys any longer, so get the much-needed rest for the group of heroes here." She motioned with a white talon for the guards to walk past.

Once they were on the streets of Empyrean, he gave one final look behind him at the trio of Pokémon that were now entering the theater, the crowd following in with them.

'Just who are those guys…?'

He didn't have any energy left to think about it as he panned his tired face toward the glittering night sky.

Today had certainly been interesting. The Riolu would have chuckled at that thought if he had the strength. He contemplated what tomorrow would bring, and their subsequent days at the guild as he counted what little stars remained in the pitch-black blanket of the night.


A woman dreams of a world free from strife and hatred, but this is no mere fantasy...


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time:Cosmic Quilt Guild
 
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Chapter 7: Cosmic Quilt Guild

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 7

Cosmic Quilt Guild

'"Everyone! Attack with all your might!" he called to his loyal troops.

With a swish of his red-tattered cape, Gallade descended towards the battlefield. This would be their last confrontation with the wicked Steelix. Once he landed, he sent wave after wave of Psycho Cuts from his sword-like arms, the arcs of purple psychic energy slamming against the Steelix's hard exterior as it groaned in pain.

Following right after the attack was a myriad of multicolored blasts and beams from behind Gallade, soaring past him and smashing into the Steel-type. The Pokémon heeded their captain's words, not relenting in their final push forward to victory. The Steelix's groan soon evolved into a screech of defeat, its winding body of metal crashing down to the ground, scattering wooden and stone debris in its wake.

The battle was won. Team Syndicate had saved the town of Ereon once again.

Shouts of cheers and praise of their beloved captain came from the crowd of once attacking Pokémo, with Gallade waving them off. It seemed the Volbeat and Illumise were returning back to the town once again, buzzing across the crisp night sky.

Gardevoir slowly descended down with her psychic powers, her dress gently swaying in the wind once she reached the ground. She then enveloped the heroic Gallade into a loving embrace.

"My beloved, it is over," she said with a sweet, loving smile.

"Yes… for now," Gallade replied, holding her close with his own tender smile.

The couple held their hug throughout the celebration of the town's hardy citizens. The firefly Pokémon's abdomens flickered a bright golden light into the dusky night, floating through the sky with their worries of a dark day fading along with their glowing radiance.

The town of Ereon was safe, for now.

THE END.'

Gloria sighed contentedly, closing the book she had been reading. She didn't think it was quite as good as the others in the series and wondered why she even bothered picking it up in the first place. It definitely was not for the 'cheesy' romantic subplot that Roark suggested she got it for.

She snatched the book's closed form with her teeth as she hopped off her bed. Already she had exhausted any amount of wait in her by going through her collection again. Now was the time to get ready; today was the big day.

She strode over to a nearby, almost full bookshelf, and slid the book back into its rightful place. Her next destination was her personal mirror, opposite a white dresser. Picking up a pale bristled brush next to the reflective surface, she began combing it through her colorless fur, smoothing out any loose curls and locks that appeared in her coat.

Gloria stared into her reflection, her eyes drilling into her copy in the mirror as she continued her assault on her coat. Without any distraction in her way for what lies ahead, her mind began to swirl as an idle thump began to beat softly in her chest, a few shallow breaths escaping from her.

'Today… today is, um, the day.'

Gloria scolded her inner self for being so redundant, but couldn't help still thinking about it, now that she was finally here. She huffed as she switched the brush to her other paw, trying at the same time to switch up her mind. She thought of yesterday's events, gritting her teeth at recalling everything that had happened that day.

'We were attacked.'

Not some random attack either - a coordinated one - with them at the wrong place and wrong time. A shiver traveled across her spine - only adrenaline pumped through her veins at that time. The threat of life or death was very real to them, and they were quite lucky to have dealt with a not so much experienced Pokémon either. She knew even both of their combined strength would not have taken Magmortar down.

The item training they had done prior, along with Liam's quick thinking, really sealed their victory. A small smile graced Gloria's worried features as her brushing slowed.

hey had won. They had bested a foe much stronger than they were.

Past the fears and shock of it all, triumph reigned in her heart. Right then and there, they had proven themselves not to just be any other Pokémon. No, instead they had proven themselves to be worthy of joining the guild.

She switched the brush to her other paw, working on her other side again. At that time, when that Magmortar fell to the ground, she wanted to jump up and down in utter joy. Still, her natural worry came in as she assisted Liam with his condition.

She wanted to laugh at that moment, and even now she wanted to laugh.

A more pleasant and calm thump in her chest replaced her brisk one. Even if there were no Pokémon to see them do that, she had, and that was all she needed to know. Now would be their time to show that to the guild, in whatever task they needed of them.

'I should really stop doing all of this. All of this worrying.'

The brushing ceased, believing she was adequately well-kempt. While Gloria wasn't one of those types of Pokémon to go to a salon all the time to groom their fur, she at least knew to make her best appearance today. Placing the brush back onto the dresser, she gave one final look into the mirror, analyzing her now aptly prim form, but mostly looking deep into her soul. It seemed to only reassure herself, repeating the words in her mind over and over. But at that time, an idea crossed it.

Gloria shifted her gaze towards the white dresser she passed, thinking slowly. The beat in her chest seemed to return, promptly ignoring her previous sentiments.

'Is it time already?'

She slowly plodded towards the dresser, her heart rate increasing once she approached the one drawer in particular that she had avoided for so long. Placing her paw under the latch of it, she pulled it forward, revealing its fabled contents to be seen.

Inside were two items; a stone, and a necklace with something attached to it. The stone was icy blue, almost transparent, and an unmistakable snowflake pattern carved into its middle as it radiated a chilly aura.

'When the time is right. When the time is right.'

She repeated the same words told to her young self before in her mind, hesitantly reaching a paw towards the stone, carefully trying not to channel any of the stone's power as she rested her paw on it.

'Ten years. But…'

She removed her paw from the cold stone, placing it against her chest, feeling the beating of her heart quite clearly.

'I still don't feel ready for this.'

She had entrusted her with this Ice Stone long ago and was told to use it when the time was right. She bit her lip as she fought with her inner self, trying to decide.

'Is the time right, though?'

Going back and forth in her head, resurfacing past memories - she decided. It would come later for her to take the next step. It still saddened her a bit, neglecting it again just as she had neglected her dreams for just as long.

'Just some more time, please?' she asked almost desperately, knowing she wouldn't get an answer.

She was about to close the drawer when the necklace caught her eye, filling her chest with the same nostalgic warmth from before. The Never-Melt-Ice pierced through the middle with some string. A little sloppily done, but she knew that it was made out of passion. Gloria still could remember the words told to her after she was given it. She reached back into the drawer, took out the necklace, and balanced it in her paw, before holding it to her chest.

'I've already made so many promises.'

Gloria smiled, pushing the drawer back into its original place. There would be a time and place for this all - she knew it. She went back to her plush bed and grabbed the cream-colored saddlebag that rested next to it. She opened one of the empty pouches and gently placed the necklace inside.

Whenever she was worthy enough to wear it, she would.

The rest of the pouches were packed with whatever else they had before, along with anything else she had that was suited for their stay at the guild. She did not know how long they would stay at the guild. Whether it was months or years. Despite wanting to enter the guild a lot, this was a new experience for her and Liam alike.

'It's all just ahead of us.'

Gloria threw the saddlebag around her side. She mentally checked everything off her preparation list as she marched to the door, opening it with a 'click'.

She stepped out into the hall, peering into the living room - quiet as ever. Her gaze changed to the couch, where a dark figure was snoozing, clutching her old blanket. Just as she had expected, Roark passed out not long after yesterday, apparently too tired or too drunk to reach his own room.

Gloria giggled softly as she tiptoed over to the couch where the Zoroark rested, snoring loudly as he usually did. She did not want to disturb him but needed to know exactly where Liam went, seeing as there were multiple hospitals or clinics he could be at. She pushed a white paw into his sides, the Pokémon mumbling something in his sleep as he clung tightly to the small blanket.

"Roark, I need you to wake up... Roark!"

Gloria ducked her head as a pair of red claws nearly sliced her, trying to drive away the offender away in self-defense. Roark's eyes snapped open, finally returning to this realm. He appeared to be conscious enough, as he lowered his arm and smacked his lips.

"Mmm… Breakfast time already, sis?" he asked, yawning and placing a claw over his mouth. He grimaced in pain, placing another claw on his temple. "Shoot, think you could send some cool air my way?"

A wave of chilled frosty air met his face. He sighed in relief at the feeling of coldness consuming his heat.

"You're a lifesaver, sis. Now breakfast?"

Gloria frowned, "Not this time, Roark. How much did you drink last night? And you should know what day it is!" she scolded, not bothering to tell him it was the afternoon already.

Roark's eyes widened, before chuckling. "Well, enough to give me a tiny bit of a hangover, I'd say. That Team Razor Claw... " He tapped a claw on his head. "Shared a lot of stories, so I went a little overboard on the drink department."

Gloria rolled her eyes, "Where did they take Liam? I hope you didn't forget."

The Zoroark laughed, "What kind of brother would I be if I did? He told me to meet you at some fountain after he got out the, uh-" he snapped his claws together before realization overtook him, "The one the both of you went after your little library trip."

'Ah, I hope he's all right, and ready for today.'

Roark nestled himself further into the couch, still clutching the small blanket and offering an amused look the Vulpix's way. "Well? I think he'd hate waiting all on his lonesome for his best explorer partner, y'know?" He continued, despite Gloria's intention to interrupt. "He looks fine, except being on the bit of charred side. Should take him back to Arceus and tell him he messed up your order."

She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Thank you, Roark. I, um, should probably go get him now, and head off to the guild and all." The Vulpix moved in to offer him a small hug, which he slightly leaned into. Once they parted, Gloria moved towards the front door, extending a paw to open the door.

"Sis?"

"Huh?"

Gloria turned around to see an upright Roark, still nursing his aching head, despite the smirk on his face.

"Are you excited?"

Gloria fiddled with her saddlebag, looking down slightly as a blush consumed her muzzle. "Terrified, but you know me," she said, looking up again.

"Of course you are, but trust me, you're gonna love it. More than being some schmuck who does errands like me. Plus, you get to see me popping in every now and then!" The fox started another round of laughter before suddenly stopping. "Hey, are you carrying that necklace still?"

Gloria nodded, that familiar warmth in her chest rising again. "Of course, whenever I feel that I'm worthy," she spoke, patting the special pouch of the saddlebag.

Roark nodded slowly. "And the stone?"

"When the time is right."

"When the time is right," he retorted back. "Just know, you're making me… them, proud by doing this."

The warmth in Gloria's chest skyrocketed upon hearing those words. Just one little step at a time was all it took for her.

"Well then, sis, see you on the flip side." Roark gave her a brief salute with a free claw, summoning a giggle out of her.

"I'll see you later, Roark."

With a 'click', the front door was opened as Gloria bounded outside, quickly shutting the door closed behind her. Roark collapsed into the couch again, holding his pulsing and agonizing head.

"It pays off, but man... being a good brother is hard work."


The white door to the small clinic closed after the nurses bid Liam farewell, who offered a wave of his paw in return. The afternoon sun beamed on his face, causing him to squint his red eyes at it.

'What an ordeal.'

For the previous night, he was holed up, or rather, laid on a gurney as the medically trained Pokémon there laced his body with some sort of purple-pink psychic healing power that he couldn't quite put his paw on what exactly it was. But he was not complaining, as it healed whatever pain from the burns he was dealt with that night. He was expecting them to stick a bunch of needles into him, but after that treatment of energy, they told him to sleep the rest away. The next morning he was free - just like that.

The oddities of this world continued to fascinate him.

Even if his blue fur had edges of black on them, he felt great. Looking around his surroundings, he knew he was in an area of Empyrean City that he had never been to before. An emergency or care district from the looks of it, with Pokémon rushing in patients, or patients themselves wrapped up in gauze walking around with walking sticks.

Yesterday, when Roark escorted him to this clinic, he agreed on meeting either one of them at the fountain both he and Gloria had been to previously. After giving his side of the story, Roark was satisfied with his answer, softly slugging him on the shoulder for his success and then taking his leave. Liam assumed the fox was probably drunk, but knew he meant well enough.

With nothing more to say or do, he crossed the busy streets of chatting Pokémon, through winding dark alleyways and open markets. He had an idea of where to go, using the Eden Theater as a landmark to judge his distance.

It was not long before he found himself in that familiar plaza, the stone statue of a Seadra spewing water from its mouth into the mini pond below. With the small amount of Pokémon present, Gloria or Roark weren't here from the looks of it. Not like he could blame them - yesterday seemed exhausting for Gloria and well, exciting for Roark to say the least. Once he reached the protruding stone benches, he hunkered down on them, letting his hind paws rest from their trip.

A lot of time seemed to appear in his lap, enough to comb through his thoughts. He scowled a bit as he felt 'it' again. Ever since he woke up today, some kind of feeling was in his mind. Like something was trying to worm itself into his brain or break into it. Sometimes it flared up, but it was a constant hazy feeling in his brain.

He did not think it was some headache, but it eluded many of his descriptions, though. Whatever it was, he tried to push it out of his mind with a shake of his head.

'Maybe memories?'

He would have chuckled at a thought like that if it didn't hurt him a little bit. He had been here - this world - or felt like has for almost a week. Ever since his first day of reflection, he felt like a blank, like he never existed.

It frightened him at first, but the thought of joining the guild and having that chance of restoring them eased a bit of that scare within him. Truly, he was afraid of confronting the possibility of him never finding himself again. But, it did lead to something different. The chance of him carving out a new him, without past intervention. Whenever he thought back to that map of Celestic, he wondered about all the regions that existed on this continent.

Endless plains of green, seas of sand, frozen forests, jaw-dropping cliffs and caves. That is what got his heart pumping; what made him think less of what he lacked on the inside. He knew Gloria had dreams of her own, so why couldn't he? Not just to know who was in the past, but who he can be now.

This was a fresh start, for both of them. He never lied to her when he told her what he wanted to do, or when he made that promise to her. To explore what was around him - uncharted territory, the unexplored. But in the end, would he find his own paradise?

A place he could truly call home in this odd world.

To create some kind of new him, an actual Pokémon, and not just an entity or ghost-like he thought he was. Was that wrong? To create some kind of artificial personality? It was funny to him, that maybe he was always just like this, and only rediscovered his lost passion.

But if he was different from the Pokemon he was now, then would he want to return to that state, or reject it?

'...'

Liam stopped himself from thinking about something like that - he wouldn't be in the right mindset now to determine that. Now was the time to think about the present with the guild. Roark had dragged them into this thing, and by extension, Liam too, with Gloria.

'Yeah, this is-'

"Hey! Liam ain't it?"

The Riolu's ears perked up, hearing his name being called, and that voice who said it in particular. It was familiar, female, and had an unmistakable country accent attached to it. It was an accent he found close to home for some reason.

"Buneary?" His head swiveled toward the direction of the voice.

Indeed it was Buneary, a joyous smile on her face as the brown lagomorph hopped towards him. She jumped up onto the bench, sitting right next to him.

"Yeah, I thought I recognized ya! That blank ole look you always have," she stated with a grin.

Liam sighed, "Yup, that's me. Shouldn't you be at the orphanage?"

Buneary's cheeks puffed out as she put her paws on her sides. "You know I'm not a little kid like my ma thinks! I'm practically a grown-up now, just like you guys!"

"Okay, you did seem to handle yourself fine in the Sunshine Grove. I'll give you that."

Buneary smiled smugly. "In a few years, I'll be just like y'all with the guild and stuff. Helpin' Pokémon, explorin' the world; all that fun stuff."

Liam almost facepalmed; they never told her they were not part of the guild when they went to 'rescue' her.

"You know, we actually weren't-"

She stopped him in his tracks. "Part of the guild, right? I already know 'cause Ma told me. But… you two are still going to become members, right? Gloria at least of all Pokémon?"

He nodded. "Today is going to be our very first day."

Buneary's eyes lit up at that. "Really?! That's so amazing, I got rejected like a bazillion times."

Liam met her starry-eyed gaze. "Well, maybe I can put in a good word that you were involved when we discovered the hidden Mystery Dungeon."

He was caught off guard by a sudden hug from the affectionate bunny. She then removed herself to speak again.

"Thank you guys, seriously! Ma is a lot less restrictive now that she knows her lil' girl is grown up, and not a baby 'mon anymore. I hope you're excited - maybe as much as Gloria should be!"

Liam looked up towards the cloudless blue sky, searching for that excitement she hoped he had. A thump in his chest reminded him - he was excited. "Of course I am. We're both ready for this. We've all got dreams, y'know."

Buneary seemed satisfied with that answer as she hopped off the stone bench, her eye still trained onto Liam's. "Y'all will come back to the orphanage again, right? Show me all the cool stuff y'all are doing in the guild?"

"Oh, you betcha we will. We practically owe you our invitation to the guild."

"Great!" She started to hop away but turned around. "Ma loves the necklace by the way!"

And with that final remark, she was out of his sight. Now, he was back to waiting again, if it were not for the visage of a certain silhouette crossing his peripherals. Turning to view it came the familiar frame of a small white fox - Gloria. A cream-colored saddlebag swung across her side as a wide smile encompassed her muzzle.

She quickened up her pace as Liam came into her view, scanning his slightly blackened body. "Are, um, are you okay…?"

"Yeah, and are you here for what I think you're here for?"

"Yeah, I'm ready. Are you?"

Liam pushed himself off the bench, brushing his chest as he stood up. She seemed more amped up than the past times they had spoken. He was happy to see that.

"Ready."

"Then follow me."

She motioned for him to head straight down the northern road, which would lead them straight out of the city. Short enough of a trip where it seemed to not wear them out, but long enough to where they could strike up a conversation along the way.

"Are you hungry? Did they feed you anything before you left?" Gloria questioned.

"Yeah, fed me some of the clinic food. Not as good of the stuff you make, though, but better than Roark's."

She laughed softly as they strolled through the hectic streets of Empyrean, talking about the previous day and the things they saw, how lucky they were in that battle, and Liam showering her in much-needed praise for her multiple saves of him, much to her modest nature.


He could see it beyond the many bumps of grassy green hills in his way.

Once they were out of the city proper, they took to the trail they had taken the days before. This new trail they took seemed to lead them further into the endless stretch of meadow and lush plains. A pleasant breeze ran through them and the fields of grass before them.

Liam rushed forward, passing Gloria as he ran up what appeared to be the final hill in their path. Once at the top of the path, he got a good look at the peculiar structure below.

It was a large purplish-blue building - its exterior walls were dotted with star-like yellow blots, giving the building the look of a full night sky. The architecture was a bit strange, with circular and more curved rooms of various sizes connected to a much larger room near the entrance. A slanted roof climbed above to a light purple dome-like design above one of the rooms. An opening through the dome revealed a long metal object pointed straight towards the sky - a telescope.

To the left of the building, a huge stretch of garden and farmland chock full of trees, berry bushes, and other kinds of fruits and vegetables were in abundance. On the building's right was a rectangular patch of paved grass and dirt, much like the path they were on now. Points of impact and scorched marks into it gave him the idea it was some kind of training ground.

'So, this is the Cosmic Quilt Guild? Someone must've really liked the night while making this place,' Liam thought.

Gloria soon caught up with the excited Riolu, gazing down at the same structure. She had seen it before many times, but she couldn't help but still feel a bit nervous, especially now.

Flying-type Pokémon whizzed above them as they descended toward the guild's main entrance. Despite not being in the city anymore, there were still tons of Pokémon near the entrance, and possibly more on the inside. The doors were wide open, allowing any Pokémon to enter. The both of them disembarked down the trail again once they were done taking everything in. Liam would have seen the inside of the place if it were not for a Pokémon blocking his path as they exited.

"Out of our way!"

Liam was pushed to the side as a Toxtricity stormed past him, followed by a large Pidgeot and a lanky Vigoroth, both seemingly just as angry. Before Liam or Gloria could say anything, the trio was gone.

'Why do I always get bumped into,' he grumbled.

The two exchanged looks and shrugs. But with the entrance now clear for them to enter, they took their first few steps into the guild.

The hall they were in was tall and wide. Liam could only refer to the large theater they were in yesterday, but a bit smaller. A decorated ceiling dropped chandeliers above them, lighting much of the room up that wasn't consumed by the outside light through the windows. The walls, just like the outside, had a cosmic appearance. The porcelain tiled floor beneath their paws was a checkered white and black color. However, the centerpiece of the room was a stone statue in the middle - a Milotic. Just like the Seadra fountain in Empyrean, it spewed water from its open mouth into a small fountain.

What was more apparent though were the dozens of Pokémon in the large foyer, mostly crowding around erected signs with papers, notes, and images attached to them. Liam was confused, but Gloria was thankfully there to correct him.

"Uh, the Pokémon here are part of established teams and come here for the jobs listed. The actual members of the guild are in the other sectors. Now..." She looked to the opposite end of the hall, catching an Indeedee that sat behind a wooden counter, happily chatting away with a Scizor. "We should go check in with Indeedee; she'll get all our paperwork done."

Indeedee and the Scizor paused their conversation once Liam and Gloria quietly rolled in. Realization flashed in Indeedee's eyes as she bent down to retrieve a clipboard and a black pen from the lower sections of the counter. An extremely saccharine voice then spilled out of the Pokémon.

"You two! I saw that form the Guildmaster made! You're that Vulpix and Riolu duo, correct?"

Gloria winced but remembered her words. "U-Uh, yes! We were advised to come today to start off as recruits?"

Indeedee nodded. "Of course! Please put down your age, place of birth and other information. It's useful for us to know once you're an official member!"

The Pokémon placed the clipboard and the pen on the counter, signaling for the both of them to start signing. This would be fine for Gloria, who didn't have memory loss, but for Liam, it spelled something different.

Luckily, on the way there, they perfected his 'backstory' he had partially given the Meowstics the day of the festival. Liam did not want to arouse any suspicion or get him or potentially Gloria kicked out of the guild if this was found out. The Vulpix didn't like the idea, but he reassured her that this was the logical way, and he would take full responsibility if it bit him in the future.

He didn't know his actual age, so he put himself at the same age as Gloria - eighteen. She told him about a village she had been to in the Shore Region before, so he marked that as his place of birth.

With all of their information taken care of, the Indeedee took back the clipboard and handed it to the Scizor standing next to the counter. Said Pokémon was giving her, and the both of them a watchful eye. Once the clipboard was in the clutches of its red pincers, it squinted its eyes as it read carefully. Liam was positive he put everything down correctly, but couldn't help the slight sweat forming around his brow.

"Everything seems intact," a stark male voice belonging to Scizor confirmed. He took one last look at the clipboard before nodding. "I'll alert the Guildmaster. Please stay here."

The tiled floors resounded with a 'clack' noise as the Scizor left them at the counter, disappearing into one of the corridors beyond the hall. They couldn't hear much because of the constant chatter, but it was not long before the Scizor was back with another Pokémon in tow. The Pokémon that came with him made Liam's eyes grow wide like dinner plates.

It was a Lucario.

That was not the most shocking part, though. This one was colored way differently than any normal Lucario he had seen in his book. Its natural blue fur on its arms, muzzle, and 'trousers' were instead a shade of yellow-gold. Its chest fur retained its blue coloration, if not a bit lighter than usual. He swore he could remember being told of something like this by Gloria. When they were in the Empyrean Museum, she showed him stories of something called 'Shiny' Pokémon. Apparently, they were Pokémon born with some kind of color mutation - harmless, but strange and rare.

The sharp red eyes of that Shiny Lucario also enlarged once it saw Liam, the two of them having a tiny staredown from the looks of it. Thankfully, Scizor was there to put a stop to it.

"Guildmaster, these are the two other Pokémon. You should be free to assign the three of them now."

The Lucario blinked. "Right," a gruff voice came out. "Then that means…" He took a step forward, raising a paw at the Vulpix in front of him. "Roark's sister, Gloria, correct?" A quick nod from the entranced Vulpix was all he needed. The extended paw then came towards the Riolu as the Lucario tightened it. "And you're... Liam?" The Guildmaster's eyes bored into the Pokémon.

Liam gulped, slowly nodding his head. He knew this was a true veteran in front of him - from the stare in his eye, the grizzled look, and the rough voice.

The Riolu noticed also something odd wrapped around the Guildmate's paw though. It was an orange ring, almost glowing. In the middle, there was some sort of rainbow-colored orb carved into the orange band, a strange symbol etched into it. The orb seemed to be bursting with some kind of energy, as Liam's aura tassels twitched a little whenever he caught a glance at them.

The Lucario withdrew his paw, keeping his gaze on them both. "I'm glad you two are here. I am the Guildmaster of the Cosmic Quilt Guild, but my name is Jackson."

Liam's mind seared with pain as he held a paw against his head. His headache from earlier when he awoke was back had come back with a vengeance.

Gloria snapped out of her own stupor. "Are you okay, Liam?"

Then, just like that, the pain was gone. It dissipated like it had got what it wanted and left. Liam let out a sigh of relief, loosening the hold on his head.

"Yeah, I'm okay."

Jackson cleared his throat with a paw. "Now, I see there is no further need to dawdle around. You two will begin your training mission. You may have found something in the Sunshine Grove, but we will need to know if you can handle yourselves at all." He swept his paw towards the halls. "You two, along with another recruit, will head to Soaring Falls. Here you will navigate through the Mystery Dungeon there and retrieve the package at the end placed by one of our members."

It seemed easy enough for a training mission. Yet one detail seemed off to Liam, as well as Gloria.

"Another recruit? I thought we were the only ones."

"ROCKRUFF!" Jackson suddenly yelled, shocking the two of them.

A scurrying noise emitted from the hallway Scizor and Jackson came from as a dog-like Pokémon came bolting towards them, a wag in its gray tail. It took its place near Liam and Gloria, who were a bit perturbed. It was indeed a Rockruff as the Guildmaster yelled out.

"I'm here!" a young jubilant voice barked out of the Rockruff.

Jackson nodded. "Good. Rockruff will join you two on your mission at Soaring Falls. While he is not part of your team, he is a starting recruit just like you - meaning you all will go through the same amount of training."

Rockruff gave a toothy smile to the two now friendly-faced Pokémon. "We're gonna be such a good du- trio!" he exclaimed.

"Then I hope there will be no problems," Jackson said. "The three of you should depart right away while the day is present. Head east down the crossroads, past the Sunshine Forest, where you'll find the Soaring Falls. Once you retrieve the package's contents, you will return to officially establish your team."

Scizor handed the Lucario the clipboard as the two of them retreated back into the hallway. Jackson gave the two of them, especially Liam, a parting glance before disappearing.

As soon as they were gone, Rockruff jumped up and down on all four paws, getting in front of both Liam and Gloria with a determined expression, and wag in his tail.

"Let's go! We're wasting time!"


C8uy8MV.png


"Man, this is booooring!"

Liam could not agree with Rockruff's complaints. He felt sometimes it was nice to take a slower pace and smell the roses, or in this case, the wide expanse of rock and clay before them.

Heeding the Guildmaster's words, they headed east past the crossroads. According to Gloria, Soaring Falls was a public place, so there was a trail that connected from the Sunshine Forest to it. Despite the presence of a Mystery Dungeon , it was a popular tourist destination for many that came to Celestic.

"Hey, Rockruff, why'd you join the guild?" Liam asked, wanting to at least have a conversation the long way there.

Rockruff almost tripped, "I joined the guild to get stronger, real strong!" A cheesy grin was plastered on Rockruff's face. "Cause then, I can return to my pack and show them I'm worthy of returning, and… not a screw-up!"

Gloria frowned. "Were you kicked out?" And, I thought packs of Lycanroc stuck together, like a family unit."

Rockruff shook his head, "Kinda. Mine was, like, a collection of different Lycanroc families, all traveling through Celestic. This stuff has lasted, like… generations, I think." He scratched his neck tuft with a paw. "Anyway, the pack leader thought I was too, uh… 'unfit' for me to continue with them. And seeing as I was growing old enough, they told me I needed to fend for myself."

Gloria's frown deepened, "That's horrible!"

"I know, right? I'm gonna become strong and famous in the guild!" Rockruff puffed his chest out. "Then, I'm gonna return and shove it in that stupid Lycanroc's face... the leader one, I mean!"

Other than poking at a sensitive spot in the Pokémon, Rockruff seemed okay to Liam. Sure he had tripped on rocks maybe five times on the trail, and generally was pretty clumsy, but he knew the guild would straighten him out, and even straighten them out, too.

The end of the conversation seemed appropriate, as they reached the end of the road after what seemed like hours. They were here, at the Soaring Falls. Before them lie a large gash in the earth's crust, which seemed to extend to a large lakebed at the bottom. Limestone and clay jutted out from the cliffsides; pieces of it tumbling down into the depths below. However, the most fascinating part was the cascades of downpouring fresh water from rivers run over by the gigantic ravine. Underground water also seemed to well up and pour from openings in the cliffside. Both factors created a sight that was amazing to the eyes, as multiple waterfalls seemed to sprout all across the cliffside, flowing down into the open crevice.

Liam grinned as he stepped forward, peering into the cliff below. There was an outcropping below them, and just close enough to where he could slide down there himself without harm. He took the chance. Narrowing his eyes, he placed his paws on the edges of the cliff face and placed his body against it.

"Hey! What are you doing!" Gloria shouted.

"I don't know, but he's got the right idea!" Rockruff retorted, grinning wildly.

She never got an answer from Liam as he slid down the rock. It hurt a bit, with the stones grinding against his back, but it was worth it, as his destination was becoming closer and closer. Doing this, it became increasingly clear what that talk he gave himself earlier really meant.

'This is what I was born to do.'

His hind paws touched the ground as he distanced himself from the rock wall, cupping his paws over his mouth to shout at the two still above him.

"Jump down! There's no easier way!"

Rockruff did so without so much of a second thought. The excited Pokémon leaped off the cliffside, landing near Liam's side with a 'thud'. Next was Gloria's turn, who just watched each of her companions jump into a treacherous ravine. Both Liam and Rockruff shouted words of encouragement for her to join them below.

She gulped as she approached the edge, a little shake in her paws. The stretch of land where the two of them were was wide enough, but what was below it almost made her fur stand on end.

Gloria closed her eyes as she jumped, daintily falling to the outcropping below. Once she felt the rocky ground on her four paws, she then slowly opened her eyes, blushing uncontrollably at her embarrassing display. Nonetheless, the Vulpix was congratulated for her bravery by the two others.

The outcropping of rock extended around the cliffside, creating an easy path for them to follow around the falls. They made sure to stick to the walls of rock as the crashing of constant water resounded around them. They knew if one of them fell down, it wouldn't be pleasant. The little pathway in the cliffside led them to a much larger outcropping - a hole that led into the cliffside. It caught Liam's eye, a hint of familiarity as he looked into it.

Rockruff thrust a paw. "Right there! Mystery Dungeon - bingo!" He sprinted off toward the opening,

It was just like the other ones. Nothing could be seen in the cave as a shadowy abyss blocked any light from entering or exiting.

"I'll see you two on the inside!" Rockruff yelled as he bolted into the darkness, not giving either of them so much of a word to counter.

"Are you ready, Gloria?"

She tapped her saddlebag with a paw and nodded. "Ready, but… how exactly are we going to get out?"

Liam hadn't exactly thought of that, but he still wanted to reassure her. "We'll get out, don't worry. Now, the dungeon?"

"Um, right."

They stepped into the gaping darkness.


Soaring Falls

BF 1

And just like the other ones before, the new reality they were in expanded around them. Rocky, jagged limestone walls erupted into place, forming their atypical maze-like placement. Water flowed from nowhere above them, spilling onto the floor and creating mini ponds. Water-type Pokémon also appeared out of those newly created ponds, eager to attack the arrivals.

Rockruff took a deep breath as a large rock formed around him. Just like Gloria's Ice Shard, he launched it at his opposing foe - a Wooper. It smashed against the Water-type's head, exploding into orange light.

Liam knew he was a Rock-type, and was generally at a disadvantage when it came to Water-types, but Rockruff didn't seem to be bluffing about wanting to become stronger. He quickly formed a Force Palm, slamming it into the side of a Totodile trying to pounce and bite him.

Gloria was making good use of her new Frost Breath, keeping the waves of Water-types at bay. Most of them simply froze, literally - when it came into contact with them.

Soaring Falls

BF 3

Liam grunted as he was knocked back into one of the rocky dungeon walls. A Drednaw had tackled him.

His option to run to the sides with a Quick Attack was gone once the Pokémon closed its distance on him. Noticing the bind he was in, Gloria popped open a flap in the saddlebag, retrieving a red Blast Seed. She placed it on the ground and lightly kicked it towards Liam.

It slid underneath the belly of the huge Water-type and right next to Liam's hind paws. He quickly picked it up and tossed it into his mouth, making sure the positioning was just right. With a crunch, the backside of the seed exploded, sending a roar of yellow flames erupting from the seed and directly into the Drednaw's face.

BOOM.

PING PING PING.


Following the rush of flames, Gloria sent a volley of her Ice Shards into the bulky Pokémon. Rockruff also participated in the attack by launching his own Rock Throw, smashing into the Pokémon's armor-like shell. Roaring, it collapsed to the ground in a fit of glowing orange light.

Once the Drednaw was defeated, Liam stopped to take a breather.

'Never get tired of using those things…'

Soaring Falls

BF 7

There were way too many Pokémon in this room - far more than any Liam had seen before on a floor. Pokémon seemed to appear from any crack, any pool of water, sometimes out of thin air. They could never hope to get out of this unscathed without being swarmed. The three of them were being backed into a corner - literally. They needed to think of something quick, or else they wouldn't come out of this, alive even.

"Gloria, the orb! Remember!" Liam shouted, motioning to the saddlebag.

She nodded, opening up another flap and bringing out a pink orb. It was a Knockback Orb, capable of blowing away an entire room of Pokémon. She dropped it onto the ground and smashed it with her paw, releasing a sweeping wave of pink energy and sending the encroaching mob of Pokémon careening into the dungeon walls.

This was their chance.

The three of them sprinted down one of the corridors, Liam taking the time to voice his much-needed concern at the craziness they just witnessed.

"Why... why were there so many of them?! There were never this many before!"

Rockruff nervously laughed, "W-What? You new to dungeon crawling? Monster Houses are, like... the bane of every explorer's existence! Man, I hate them!"

They took a right turn down the hall. Liam was even more confused, but Gloria was there to set him straight.

"A, um, 'Monster House' is a floor in a dungeon with tons of Pokémon coming from everywhere. You're not in for a good time if you're unprepared for them."

Liam silently thanked that they had bought so many orbs and seeds. Clearly, they would need more of them if this were going to happen in the future. The next right in the rocky corridor led them to exactly what they wanted, the staircase further into the dungeon.


It seemed that the many floors of the dungeon were over. This dungeon was the toughest yet, and they did not think their future expeditions were going to relent any time soon.

Liam took a large bite into his Oran Berry. While he was not on his last legs, he had suffered some blows. Gloria took small bites out of hers as well. Rockruff declined a berry, saying he was tough enough to handle any pain, despite the two clearly seeing him whimper and limp a bit.

They took this small moment to rest and admire the massive chamber the trio appeared out of. The chamber was extremely tall, like they were in a hollowed-out mountain rather than the inside of a cave. Large openings in the ceiling allowed pillars of water to flow down into the cavern below, crashing into a larger flow of water. This sweeping current flowed all the way to the large mouth of the cave, where it met the blinding light of the outside world.

Their brief enchantment with the view was cut short as the voice of a distant Pokémon echoed throughout the chamber.

'Arceus. Now I gotta sit and wait here for Talonflame. Why didn't the Guildmaster leave the errand boy stuff to Roark.'

Liam blinked, stopping his chewing. He recognized that arrogant tone - Monferno. Gloria did as well as she set her berry down, curiously tilting her head. However, Rockruff didn't seem to know that same fact, his blue eyes widening in horror as he darted to where he heard the voice coming from.

"That thief is going to steal the package we need!"

Liam wasn't sure if Rockruff had either misheard those words or if they had misheard Monferno's. But it did not matter as the puppy Pokémon was already long gone, in pursuit of the supposed thief. Liam and Gloria ran after the Pokémon, shouts of him to stop came afterward as they crossed a bridge-like structure hanging above the rushing current.

Monferno was not having a good day, or at least, it was a boring day compared to the other things he had done previously. He set the wooden chest down on the spot where he was told to put it, setting the gold buckles of it just right. He sighed, for he would now have to find a hiding place and wait for the 'newbies' to arrive, or Talonflame. His thoughts on just where to hide were halted exactly when something barreled right into his backside. The chest was sent flying as he hit the ground with his unknown attacker.

"STOP, THIEF! This is the guild's property!" Rockruff growled, trying to wrestle Monferno into submission.

"Thief?! Get off of me, you mangy mutt!" Monferno backhanded the Rockruff, getting up and brushing any dust or grime that gathered on him.

"Monferno!"

Liam and Gloria caught up, albeit a bit late, the scuffle between the two already over. Monferno 'tched' once he caught sight of them.

"Well, you finally made it. I thought you guys would be going around in circles." He shot a look at the Rockruff he was just fighting with, the puppy Pokémon's ears drooping. "Anyway, at least now you can finally claim…" His words stopped as he stared at the spot where the chest used to be. "Oh… that's not good."

Liam stepped forward, a bit confused. "What's wrong?"

Monferno looked ahead, a laugh beginning to build within him as he pointed at something being carried away by the stream.

"That."

'That' was the chest carrying exactly what they needed in this mission, bobbing in the water. Liam's mouth parted; he knew exactly where it was going.

"Oh no…"

Monferno could not help but laugh. "So yeah, we might need to go back to the guild and- hey!"

Liam jumped into the water. They could not fail in their mission - this was something he would not take a chance on.

"Come on, Gloria! Rockruff, with me!"

Rockruff shrugged away current feelings as he bounded into the water with little thought. Gloria was more hesitant on doing so, obviously, but two determined sets of eyes gave her the courage necessary to jump in as well. The strength and force of the current sent them further down the chamber. None of them could move or attempt to fight the flood of water moving them forward.

Monferno happily sighed, well aware of what was going to happen. "Ah, the trial is always the best part. Now, for my ride down…"

As the three of them got closer and closer to the mouth of the cave, it became increasingly clear that this was no small drop. In fact, the current seemed to lead directly out of the cliffside and into the lakebed below.

Gloria shoved a paw into her mouth to prevent her from screaming. Liam was analyzing the drop, just trying to figure out if they would even survive a fall this long. Rockruff's eyes bulged out of their sockets as he got a good look at what was now their fate.

"Guys…"

No more words were able to be exchanged as they drifted helplessly to the edge of the mouth. The outside world greeted them once the water gave them one final push needed for them to be launched out, beginning their hurtle to the lake below.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

SPLASH.

Water flooded into Liam's open mouth - he was still conscious. He slowly flicked his eyes open, looking at his surroundings. He was underwater, or at least that's what he figured from the massive amounts of blue around him.

SPLASH. SPLASH.

Two muffled splashes confirmed that Gloria and Rockruff had also just landed in the same water as he had. Their flailing had confirmed to him they were just as conscious as him. Liam kicked his hind paws back in forth, pushing his arms back and forth as he swam to the surface. His head popped out from the water, coughing up any water that had entered him.

Two other Pokémon resurfaced as well, hacking out their lungs. All of them took deep ragged breaths, either trying to calm themselves or getting some well-needed oxygen into their system. It didn't take long for Liam to readjust and figure out exactly where they were.

'We... must've... got spat out over the lakebed... near the bottom of this ravine.'

He knew he was correct when he looked upward, seeing just how far down they were. The view from here was just as amazing if not more than the one above. Getting a good look at all the different waterfall openings over the cliff faces. Spontaneous laughter slowly bubbled within Rockruff, causing Liam to refocus his attention back on them. Rockruff kicked his paws in the water as he laughed, greatly shocking the two of them.

"W-What's… so funny?" Gloria managed, still a little shaken.

"That... that was so FUN! It was so scary at first, but then it got super fun at the end!" Rockruff kept his goofy grin.

Liam could not speak for Gloria, but he could admit that it was a bit of fun in retrospect. Mostly when the threat of their imminent death was out of the question. He narrowed his eyes, thinking back to what they were trying to do again.

'The chest! Where is it!'

He scoured the lake around him, looking for any hints of something wooden or gold colored amongst the sea of aqua blue. He stopped himself as he honed in on something floating in particular. There it was, what they were after. While Rockruff was still laughing his guts out, he paddled his way over to the chest and grabbed it. He held it firmly, not allowing for it to get past them any longer.

"Guys! I got it!"

Now he needed to find a place where he could get out of this lake. He scanned his surroundings, making a note of some slanted rock he could use as a landing shore. Rockruff finally stopped his manic laughter and followed the Riolu. A now much less shaken Gloria followed closely as well. Liam swam to the rocky shore, water gushing out of the chest as he trudged onto the land. He placed the chest down onto the ground with a 'thunk'. Both Gloria and Rockruff seemed to come ashore just as he did so, shaking their fur and sending water droplets everywhere.

When everyone was on the same page as him, Liam decided to open it. He released the golden buckle in the middle of the chest as the top of it flew back. He stepped a little closer to take a good look inside; what was inside, however, only confused him.

"Scarves…?"

Or at least, that's what he assumed the bundle of soaked cloth was. He fished one of them out of the tiny pool of water they resided in. It was a shade of purple-black, with specks of yellow dotting the background. It resembled the night sky and the guild's theme. There were three of them in total, one of each for them. He tried wringing the one in his grasp free of any wetness, but it was futile.

"Woah," Rockruff said flatly, a far cry from his previous mood.

The Pokémon dove into the chest, retrieving one of the other scarves present. Gloria did the same. They then spent the next few minutes attempting to dry their scarves. In the end, each one of them had it wrapped around their neck, flinching a bit at the cold, slimy feeling.

Gloria's eyes widened. "How exactly are we going to get out of here?"

As if on cue, a flap of a Pokémon's wings above them sounded out. Looking up, they could see the outstretched black and red wings of a Talonflame in the sky. Realizing it was going to land right on them, they moved out of the Flying-types way. A gust of wind blew through the area as the Talonflame landed on the smooth rock.

Monferno hopped off its back and dusted himself off. "Well, I see the trial was a success, seeing that you're not floating corpses in the water." He stopped to take a look at the necks of the still-stunned and motionless Pokémon. "Oh! And you got the scarves - excellent. Now, get on so we can go home." He patted the back of the Talonflame before springing himself aboard again.

Liam blinked. "Woah, woah, woah - what do you mean 'by trial'?!" He waved his arms angrily. "And you could just fly down here anytime?"

Monferno laughed, "Well, let's just say what you three did is common. So much so that it's a trial by fire to many members. Or, should I say, trial by massive freefall, ha!" That sent him deeper into laughter, wiping a tear that formed in his eye. "And didn't you guys know this was a public area? Free rides anytime."

The Talonflame chirped in agreement, splaying its wings out. Monferno patted the bird's back again with a palm, with silence encompassing the dripping wet Pokémon.

The Fire-type waved. "Come on, it's gonna get dark soon! And I got a comfy and dry bed to be resting in by now."


It was nighttime, and they were back at the guild waiting in the lobby, sitting on the Milotic fountain, still dripping excess water from their fur. The teams of Pokémon crowding the room evaporated, either content with the jobs they got, or forced out once it got dark enough. Either way, it was just Liam, Gloria, and the sweet Indeedee behind the counter from earlier.

Monferno and Rockruff checked in with her already, since they were part of an already established team. For Liam and Gloria, it was a different story. They still needed the Guildmaster to officially have them entered in as a newly formed team, according to Indeedee.

Gloria had brought up the idea of it, so the two of them spent quite a while of their wait brainstorming a name for their team together. But Liam could only picture one name in mind. Almost every one of them had a dream - Gloria, Rockruff, even him. The guild seemed to be a prime opportunity for many to fulfill that wish. If that was the case, then this was their way of remembering that wish. In their long wait for the Guildmaster, they both nodded in agreement as to what their name as a team together would be.

Soon after their finalized decision, they heard the 'clack' of the porcelain floor as Scizor appeared from down the hallway, clipboard in his grasp and the Guildmaster, Jackson, behind him. The two of them quickly hopped off the fountain, straightening themselves up into a formation for the Guildmaster to assess them. Jackson's steely red eyes sharpened once he caught a glance at the black scarves wrapped around their neck. But once he noticed the soaked and dripping state of them, a smirk tugged at his lips. It was snuffed out once he got in front of them, adopting a more professional stance as Scizor took to his side like before.

The Lucario crossed both arms behind his back. "This is good - you have returned with the essentials. I assume you know what is next in this process?"

Both Liam and Gloria nodded.

"If you're ready, tell me what your team shall be called."

They told him.

"... Requiem?" They nodded again. "Then Team Requiem will be the team you're known by." Scizor scribbled something down on the clipboard he was holding as Jackson looked to his left. "Scizor."

The Bug-type halted his writing. "Yes, Guildmaster?"

"Take them to their room. I think they deserve a good rest and... drying off after today." He focused his attention back on the newly established team. "Tomorrow, you will join us in the morning with the opening address. Then you will be given this guild's mission statement - one that you will adhere to your entire time in this guild."

Scizor motioned with a large red pincer towards the hallway. "Team Requiem, follow me to your dorm."

They kept a small pace as they traversed the remarkably large hallway. On each side of the walls was a wooden door, which Liam assumed led to the rooms of other guildmates. Along the way, some doors opened as Pokémon popped out to take a good look at the rookies who were joining them, some laughing and smiling once noticing their doused fur and scarves.

"Woah! Looks like they went through the trial, too!"

"Look, Mightyena, you're not the only one who went through the trial!"

"W-What? I wasn't?!" a voice barked out.

Scizor then stopped at one wooden door in particular. "This will be your residence at the guild for now. I hope you find it to your liking, and please make sure you attend the morning address. Goodnight, Team Requiem."

The Pokémon was already long gone before they could even give him a 'thank you'. So, without anything else stopping them, Liam pressed down on the handle as their room came into view, both of them stepping inside and closing the door behind them.

It was fairly small - understandable when housing lots of Pokémon. Instead of a porcelain floor, it was instead a shaggy carpet. It reminded him of Gloria's house, except less comfy. While the room was dark, the moonlight from a circular open window allowed them to get a good look. Bookshelves, dressers, and mirror-lined the night sky-themed walls, with posters and banners full of information or motivational messages hung above them. Near the window were two white bean bag-like beds, or at least that is what Liam assumed they were.

Gloria lumbered over to one of them like she was possessed, falling on top of one as she sighed in relief from the comfort. "I'm tired," she said, almost lifelessly.

Liam chuckled as he joined her in resting on the opposite beanbag. "Yeah, today was a crazy day, wasn't it?"

'Just like yesterday, too. Are things only to get more and more crazy?'

Thoughts like this melted in his mind as he melted into the warm embrace of the 'bed'.

No more words were exchanged as the two of them lulled themselves to an almost catatonic state before sleep won them over. The last thoughts swirling through their head weren't ones worrying about the future, but simply enjoying the moment they were in now.

The quiet night full of blinking stars kept a watchful eye over the Cosmic Quilt Guild, with someone else keeping their eyes on the skies as well. It enamored them, just like it had their previous life.


Starlight, star bright! With all your might, shine a light... on our child tonight.


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time: Ley Lines
 
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Chapter 8: Ley Lines

Z2H

Junior Trainer

Chapter 8

Ley Lines

The weather was absolutely perfect, a spotless clear blue sky without a single white cloud in sight. He could feel the cool grass swishing beneath his hind paws as he jogged through the grassland. The pleasant summer breeze blew through the fields of vibrant wallflowers, and coursed through his blue fur. He came upon a fence, to which he opened the gate to it and ran straight forward into the paradise beyond it.

He squinted his eyes as he spotted a nearby hill - it was just in sight, the top of it would be a perfect view of his surroundings. He grinned, the further he trekked towards it, the more sounds of nature he could hear. The rustling of leaves, the flow of water, and the chirping of bird-like Pokémon.

Liam is having a good dream.

At least, he was having a good dream, before the soothing chirps in his head soon transitioned into horrendous squawking with the sound of flapping wings invading his happily dreaming brain.

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

Liam forced his eyelids open as his red eyes twitched in agony. Regaining the movement in his arms, he thrashed them around the cushion, unconsciously hoping to find something to throw at the terrible noise that had entered the room.

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP!-"

Then it was gone. Most likely out through the door it came in with a flap of its wicked wings. Liam groaned, trying to close his eyes again. He forced himself through this desire, placing his paws on his 'bed' and placing himself upright on the beanbag.

The white light shining into the room from their open window told him one thing - it was morning. He gave a long drawn out yawn, stretching his arms and blinking the remnants of sleep still visible in his sunken orbs. This was way earlier than he'd usually awake, but if it was something they'd do everyday, then he'd just need to get accustomed to it.

Amidst his morning ritual, he heard a pair of soft groans on the beanbag next to him. Looking over, the twisting form of Gloria was spotted, clearly discontent with the chaos that had entered earlier.

He smiled, some sympathy travelling through him. The both of them were exhausted from their expedition yesterday, Gloria more so. He hated to prevent her some much needed rest, but he didn't want to risk them being late on their second day. Hopping off his beanbag bed, he silently stepped towards where she was tossing and turning.

A few light pushes into her side seemed to stop her squirming and mumbling. One of her eyelids cracked open, revealing her baby blue eyes to the world. She grumbled as she raised a white paw over them, almost trying to curl back into her sleep induced state.

"Mmm… is it morning already?" she bemoaned.

Liam laughed. "Yeah… we, uh, need to get ready now."

She removed the paw from her lids as both of her eyes were now wide open, slightly closing due the amount of light they took in. "I was having a good dream until..." she spoke listlessly. "I really need a good wash, my fur is still absolutely soaked."

"And so was I, but…" the Riolu trailed off as he touched his scarf, still wrapped around his neck. He smirked, recalling the thoughts of the 'trial' in his head. "No regrets, right?"

Gloria didn't quite realize what he meant at first, until she touched her own scarf, wincing at the still wet cloth. "No, even if it was a little crazy of you… We still got the job done."

Liam scratched the back of his head with a paw. "Hah… sorry about that, but it was the only thing I could think of at that moment."

Gloria slowly got off her beanbag, stretching her four limbs in tandem as she gave out a yawn. Her eyes wandered around the small room, trying to accustom themselves before landing on the Riolu in front of her.

"Do you have any? Regrets?"

Now it was his turn to be confused. "About what? The fall, or the…" He was interrupted by a shake of Gloria's head and the sound of her giggle.

"No, about everything. Going with Roark's plan, joining the guild with me. I know you told me you wanted to explore this world but… there's ways to do that without the, uh… oppressiveness of the guild."

This made him stop and think. It was true; he did want to do that. But then he also wanted something else. Maybe it was payment for the two of them assisting him, or the prospect of returning memories, but none of those really clicked within him anymore. The realization he made with himself yesterday really put everything into a new perspective.

Liam shook his head. "I think I finally figured it out... It just doesn't matter!"

She tilted her head in return. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Liam splayed a paw, staring at it. "I feel like a new Pokémon, and… just like you said - I'm a ghost, nothing to my name. I can be anyone, do anything! It's kind of a liberating feeling after all of this mental torment, y'know? This should be my second chance." He noticed the silence that came afterward and scratched his chin with a paw. "I, um… hope you didn't think my 'be anyone' comment was a little too crazy."

Gloria blinked. "No, it's just... you seem to have your bearings now and... you can do what you want without me or Roark getting in your way."

"Well, maybe I just wanted to join with you? Better two than one, you think?"

A tinge of red embarrassment found its way on her face as she extended a paw. "W-Well, does that mean we're… friends, now?"

He laughed. "We've known each other this long, joined the guild as a team, and now you're asking that question?"

Her cheeks seemed to puff out as she kept her paw outward. "It's been barely a week, and… I'd like to know whether or not this is a friendship rather than just a partnership."

The two locked eyes, him searching hers for an answer he already knew, and her searching his for that answer. He raised a paw and clasped hers in it, sealing a pawshake between the two of them.

"Of course we are."

A warm smile stretched across the white Vulpix's muzzle as she broke apart from the pawshake and looked behind her. Walking to the side of her beanbag, she pulled her cream saddlebag off the ground, slinging it around her side.

"Like you said, we should get ready."

As if on cue, the door to their tiny abode opened, a familiar Pokémon strutting on in. The large mane of dark fur and smirk on its muzzle told them exactly who it was.

"I see you two have finally become acquainted with the morning wake up ala-" he was cut off as a white blur smacked him into a hug, "Please, sis… you've gotta stop doing this! It's only been a day, y'know."

Gloria released him from her grasp. "I... I know, but it's good to see you."

Roark chuckled, "Well, you might see my mug around from time to time, being the errand boy of the guild means I move around a lot. But you two… you need to get ready for the morning address."

"Can I squeeze in a shower before that?" she almost pleaded.

Roark shook his head. "Nah, you can after breakfast. That's when guild members are given free reign to do their jobs and other stuff." He tapped his chin with a claw. "You two will need to learn this routine first, so maybe the Guildmaster has something planned for you today."

Liam butted in. "He said yesterday that he would tell us the guild's mission statement."

Roark snapped a claw. "Yeah, that's it! After breakfast, he'll step you aside and give you a long spiel about your job as guild members and all that jazz."

With the door wide open, Liam could see motions of figures walking past the door and down the hall towards the foyer. Roark had apparently also noticed it as he walked back to the door, resting on the frame, waving a claw at the pair still in the room.

"Well? Come on, there'll be enough time to chit-chat before the address."

With nothing more to say, the two of them followed Roark out of their quarters and into the hall. The short walk down the hall led them into the room from yesterday. The large crowds of Pokémon weren't present, but a dozen or so were centered around the Milotic fountain, all talking amongst themselves. Each wore their own cosmic-theme scarves, albeit more dry than the ones they currently wore.

Once Roark entered the lobby, he sidestepped and bowed, sweeping an arm in front of Liam and Gloria. "May I present... the newcomers!" he spoke dramatically.

Soon the eyes of all the Pokémon, presumably all the guild members, were on the two of them. Some lit up in excitement, some curious, some judging. Though one stare from a Pokémon Liam knew was a Hatterene sent shivers down his spine.

He could recognize a few familiar faces, both Monferno and Braixen, Leafeon, and Rockruff from yesterday, roughhousing with a Mightyena. However, the two stopped once Liam and Gloria's entry was announced. Rockruff came barreling towards the two, almost face planting on the way there.

"Fiiiinally, you two are here! Tell me, what name did you guys choose!?" Rockruff spat out with a giddy smile, his gray tail sweeping the floor behind him. "C'mon, c'mon, tell me!"

"Uh… Team Requiem," Gloria answered for the excited Pokémon.

"Nice! I'm part of Team Nightshade with Mightyena over there!"

The excited dog motioned over to the Pokémon, who appeared at Rockruff's side in a flash. The voice that came out of this Pokemon was almost as bubbly as Rockruff's, albeit more deep.

"Nice to meetcha! I'm the leader of Team Nightshade! The best team aro-" A feminine hissing sound cut him off as a Purrloin sauntered over.

"Mreow~ Please don't introduce yourself as the leader, Mightyena, because the real leader is right here!" She puffed our her chest.

"Hey! We talked about it, remember? I signed us up - that means I'm technically the leader!" Mightyena blustered, puffing his chest out as well.

Purrloin seemed to ignore his rant as she extended a purple paw towards a bewildered Liam and Gloria, fluttering her emerald green eyes. "Team Requiem, was it? Then I'm glad to greet you into the guild. I'm the leader of these two… dogs." The last part earned a 'hey' from the two canine Pokémon.

Liam hesitantly placed his paw over hers, forming a pawshake. "It's, uh… good to meet you as well, Miss Purrloin?"

Purrloin broke free, placing a paw over her mouth as she guffawed. "Mreow~ Purrloin will do, my dear. If you two find anything well… shiny and nice out in the field. Make sure to tell me or Mightyena," she ended with a wink.

Mightyena jumped in. "Yeah! We're excellent at ste- finding all sorts of things!" He nervously laughed towards the end.

Liam nodded in agreement just as a flurry of flapping wings hovered above him. Looking above, it was the Staravia from their rude awakening. Although, something a bit odd was on located its back. He never got a chance to ask about it, as an impossibly fast male voice erupted from the Flying-type.

"S-SORRY! SORRY! It's m-my job to wake up the guild, so please... uh, don't h-hate me?" It appeared Pokémon had a bit of a lisp.

Gloria, a bit dazed from his sporadic speaking, attempted to reassure him. "Don't worry, we don't hate you for doing that... even if it is obnoxious," She grumbled the last part under her breath.

Liam just had to find out. "Is there… something on your back?" He pointed a paw at some kind of yellow fuzz peeking out from Staravia's behind.

The Flying-type tilted his head in confusion, until abruptly turning around and showcasing what was there. It was a Pokémon, a very small yellow spider-like one with beady blue eyes, which blinked at the two bewildered Pokémon.

"This is Joltik! He's my partner! Tog-gether, we're T-Team Static!"

Liam locked eyes with the tiny Pokémon - not even a peep came out of Joltik as they continued to stare each other down.

Staravia noticed. "He's, uh… a bit shy. S-Say something Joltik!"

A barely audible chittering noise came from Joltik's mandibles, which was apparently good enough of a response for Staravia, as he turned back around.

"Well, hope you enjoy your s-stay. I'll see you every morning! B-Bye!" With a quick flap of his wings, the anxious Flying-type was back to his original and frantic position.

'Joy,' Liam thought.

Next up the greeting list seemed to be Leafeon, as well as Braixen and Monferno. Gloria and Leafeon shared a quick friendly embrace as the Grass-type spoke.

"It's great to see you here now, Gloria! As well you too, Liam. I wish Shaymin were here so you could meet her, but maybe another time. You're really going to like it here."

"Yeah, as long as no 'mons get in your way, or act like idiots all the timec" Monferno added, moving towards Liam's side and placing a palm on the his shoulder. "Hey, you still got some water leftover in your brain, Mr. Personality?"

Liam shrugged Monferno's hand off and smirked. "No, but I think yours is leaking out of your ears." Monferno rolled his eyes.

"Mony, please," Braixen chided, stepping forward and offering her paw to Gloria, who accepted. "It is always nice seeing new faces. Officially, me and Monferno are Team Blazingheart. Maybe someday I'll heal you two up, being a nurse in training."

"The name was all her idea, just so you know," Monferno quickly added, earning a chuckle out of Braixen.

A 'clack' from the halls halted any friendly chatter the Pokémon in the room were having. After a stint of silence, in came Scizor, clipboard in his grasp, along with the Guildmaster as well, hardened expression and all. However, there was another Pokémon with the two, one Liam hadn't seen yet in the guild.

A Charizard, a large one from the looks of it. He was shocked it could even fit through the narrow hallways with its wide berth, but it did, waving its flaming orange tail around once it entered the room. Looped around the Charizard's arm was some kind of metal bracelet. The rainbow colored stone he had seen yesterday on the Guildmaster was also implanted into it. Whatever those stones were, clearly they were meant for some kind of elite Pokémon in the guild to wear.

The trio took their positioning in front of all the present guild members, Scizor stepping up to announce something.

"Feel free to conversate for a brief moment. We will give out today's directions in a few minutes." Scizor already had his back turned once those words were said, the noise in the room picking back up.

Liam almost jumped out of his fur as a pair of red claws landed on his shoulder. Turning around to its owner gave him a good eyeful of Roark's toothy grin.

"Well, aren't we lucky! Now would be a good time to give you a quick rundown on who owns what in this guild. You too, Gloria, c'mere." He summoned her with a claw, holding them both by their shoulders.

Once they were huddled up, Roark pointed towards the trio in front of the room, who were seemingly going through their daily plans.

MacQmYF.png


"Team Moonlight - they founded this guild, and have led it since… forever I'm guessing. Now, where to start with them… Well." Roark pointed his claw towards the Charizard. "That big lug? He's essentially the spirit of the guild. Always wants to explore cool dungeons and loves battling. But other than that, not sure what else the guy does."

Roark then pointed at the Lucario in the middle. "Jackson's the leader of Team Moonlight, and the Guildmaster obviously. Since this place has been under his control for what... twenty years? It's safe to say he's a great leader to keep everyone together. Although, he's always giving me the cold shoulder and the occasional glare, so not sure what's his problem."

Finally, his claw ended on Scizor. "If Charizard is the spirit, Jackson the leader, then Scizor is the backbone and the glue that holds this whole house of cards together. Being the right hand 'mon of the Guildmaster, he sorts out all the policies, the financing, the complaining… everything! A good tip is that if he ever pulls you aside, it's most likely a reprimanding, at least in my case."

Roark then unhooked his claws from the both of their shoulders. "Whew… hope that clears everything up. I think the morning address is going to start, just follow my lead."

The trio up front all nodded as Scizor stamped a leg onto the floor, silencing all conversations taking place. Jackson emerged out of the group, taking his position and clearing his throat to speak.

"POSITIONS!"

A row and column was now being formed as the guild members and their respective teams took their positions next to and behind one another. Team Requiem trusted Roark's advice, following him and taking a position to his right. Once everyone had their spot chosen, Jackson spoke again.

"Morning address! One… two… three-"

"STARLIGHT, STAR BRIGHT! WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT, SHINE A LIGHT ON US TONIGHT!"

Liam's brow furrowed in confusion. 'That sounded more like a children's lullaby than a powerful chant.' Whatever it sounded like to him, he made a mental note in his head to repeat that for the morning address next time.

After the chant was over, Scizor stepped forward, taking a spot next to Jackson as he read off the clipboard.

"Team Blazingheart - Job listings. Team Static - Job listings. Team Nightshade - Cleaning duty." An 'awww' sounded out from the row before quickly being muffled. "Team Evergreen - Job listings once Shaymin returns." The Bug-type stopped his reading to sigh heavily. "Team... Handyguys... Roark - assisting Head Nurse Hatterene. Finally, Team Requiem - await further assignment after breakfast." Scizor then looked up from his clipboard. "You are all dismissed, please enjoy your meals."

Team Moonlight, as a trio, then departed from the foyer, heading off into the hallways and leaving the guild members to their own devices. Leafeon stepped out her formation with a wide smile, addressing everyone present.

"Now, who's ready for some grub?"

An assortment of loud agreements met her leafy ears as the guild Pokémon stormed into the halls, eager to finally get their fill of the morning.


Gloria sighed in relief, sliding open the shower glass door and stepping out. She thanked Arceus above that the guild offered some kind of way to cleanse oneself. She knew she seriously needed it after that plunge they took into the fall's water.

Once Liam was finished with his shower, it was her turn. And after they were finished, they were to report to Scizor's quarters. She quickly dryed the best she could of her fur, tossing the white towel into a basket near the doorway. Putting her starry night sky themed scarf back on, she opened the door to greet Liam, his back against the wall, arms crossed and waiting for her.

"You ready?"

She nodded. "Ready."

Past the mess hall was unsurprisingly another hallway. At the end were three doors - ones with the faces of Team Moonlight etched onto the wood. Liam placed a tiny knock on the door with Scizor's face, which was opened by Jackson, who gave them a brief lookover.

"Good, you're here. Come on in, this will be short."

Following the Guildmaster inside, their eyes inspected the room. At a swift glance, it seemed like an ordinary room. One with a bed, bookshelves, carpeting, and posters. However, taking a look at the wall to the left made both of their eyes grow wide.

Stretched across the wall was a massive map of Celestic. Various scraps of paper with different scribbles of information were pinned onto different locations across the continent. Lines of string connected bits of information to each other, ensuring a link was found. To some onlookers, it was either the work of a mad 'mon, or a dedicated researcher.

Jackson stepped past them and towards the map as Scizor continued to tinker with it. "While the information across this map may seem useless now. It is in fact very important and accurately detailed to what this guild's mission is. Scizor has kept this map updated for the past twenty years of this guild's existence."

Liam stepped forward as well as Gloria, taking in everything that was pinned onto the map. Like the Guildmaster said, all the information to Liam seemed arbitrary, or not worth noting.

"What… is the guild's goal?" he asked.

Jackson locked eyes with him. "Scizor is a researcher, a researcher of Mystery Dungeons. All the work the guild does and accomplishes is for this research. Our investigations into the Mystery Dungeon only led us further towards that goal. And to tell you what that goal is… you need to know what a Mystery Dungeon really is."

Liam frowned; while he was frustrated the Guildmaster wouldn't just tell him, it did make him think on what he was told. He thought no Pokémon knew exactly what a Mystery Dungeon was, so how could the guild know? He stopped to glance at Gloria. Even she was confused, despite being the one who told him about Mystery Dungeons in the first place.

Jackson marched past them again, this time towards the door they entered. "Team Requiem, you will accompany me on a mission to a Mystery Dungeon. We will take a carriage there to conserve our energy, as it is a long trip. There you will be given an explanation of the Mystery Dungeon, and this guild's goal. I assume there will be no issues with this?"

Both Liam and Gloria straightened up, giving Jackson a sharp nod. "No, Guildmaster!" they spoke in synchrony.

"Scizor?"

"Yes, Guildmaster?"

"With me."

"Of course."

Scizor stepped past them into the hallway along with Jackson, Liam and Gloria following closely behind. What awaited them outside were two Pokémon, Charizard from before, and a tail wagging Rockruff who leaped in front of Jackson.

"Reporting for duty, Guildmaster!" he shouted with a goofy grin on his muzzle.

"Yo, Jack, I got the kid." a baritone voice grumbled from Charizard.

"Good, take him to an easy dungeon," Jackson ordered. "I will be back later."

Charizard whipped the air with his flaming tail, gesturing for Rockruff to follow him. "Come on, little dude! You're gonna hear about something that'll blow your mind."

"Awesome!" Rockruff exclaimed in awe, excitedly following the fire breathing dragon down the hall.

Jackson turned towards Liam and Gloria, who were watching the two Pokémon depart. "I expect to see you two outside near the crossroads soon - our ride will be there. Take anything you think is necessary for exploration, because this dungeon is uncharted territory."

With a wave of his black and gold paw, Scizor followed him down the hallways, leaving Liam and Gloria standing around - dumbstruck.

"Gloria… do you know what a Mystery Dungeon really is?"

The Vulpix shook her head, "No, all the information I know is, uh… surface level to say the least." she said, a bit embarrassed.

It was making sense to Liam now. 'So, if the average Pokémon doesn't know what a Mystery Dungeon really is… then the guild really should know something after twenty years of searching.'

Now he just wondered what this was all truly for.


With a final wave to Indeedee, Liam and Gloria exited the building. Outside were crowds of Pokémon, most likely ones part of exploration teams waiting for the guild to finally 'open' so they could get their paws on the latest jobs listings. Brushing past these Pokémon, they went up the hill and down it towards the crossroads.

Like the Guildmaster said, a carriage was there. It was just like the ones that Liam saw when he first entered Empyrean - wooden, and pulled by equine-like Pokémon. Jackson, along with Scizor, seemed to be speaking with the two Mudsdale at the front of the carriage. Their conversation would stop once they caught wind of the two Pokémon they were waiting for hiking down the trail.

"We're ready, Guildmaster!" Liam shouted.

Jackson nodded. "Get in, the trip will take a few hours, even through carriage."

The Lucario marched to the carriage's back and climbed in, with Scizor fluttering up as well with his insect-like back wings. Liam hopped in, assisting a shorter Gloria in getting aboard. Once everyone was situated, Jackson gave his command for the Mudsdale to start moving. Liam almost lurched forward, not expecting for them to keep up a pace that fast.

From there on, the ride was mostly dead quiet. Scizor was looking over notes and writing things down. Gloria pulled out a book from her saddlebag to pass the time, and Liam relaxed his arms around the wooden railing, watching the shifting terrain, listening to the bumps from the carriage as it was pulled around.

It wasn't until he caught the piercing red eyes of the Guildmaster fixated on him that he checked back into reality.

"Liam."

"H-Huh?" The Riolu's ears perked up, tearing his gaze from the sea of plains to the Lucario sitting opposite from him.

"I've gone over the information you provided with us yesterday. I have never seen a Riolu from the Shore Region before..."

"Uh... " Liam felt like he was about to break into a nervous sweat, but the look Gloria was sending him was telling him not to do exactly that. "Yeah, my parents moved there not long before I was born."

"Really… then we are the same, I guess." Scizor momentarily glanced Jackson's way in confusion, before averting his gaze. "And are your parents... still around?" the Lucario inquired.

Liam shook his head, "I never really knew them, 'cause not long after I was born, they were gone." It was a half-truth, Liam thought. While his story was a fabrication, he didn't know of his parents regardless.

Jackson scratched his chin. "Ah, then that means you have little experience in using your aura… correct?"

"I, uh… don't really know how to use my aura." It was a bit embarrassing, but he imagined the Guildmaster would understand.

"Exactly, which is why it would be a good idea to teach you about it, seeing as it is a useful tool in a Lucario's arsenal. Being the only other Lucario around for miles, you will be taught by me in the future to utilize your aura efficiently. It would be imperative for you to handle your aura out in the field."

It did make sense. The Guildmaster was the only Lucario around from what he had seen. And him being the evolved version of himself only made it natural that he would know a lot more about using aura than he did.

"I'll be ready for my training anytime, Guildmaster," Liam confirmed.

Jackson seemed content with Liam's reply, as he changed topics. "Good, then we'll move on to the main reason we're on this little trip." He peeked over at Scizor, who handed him a scrap of paper. "To understand the concept of a Mystery Dungeon, you need to know about ley lines."

Liam blinked. "Ley… lines?" The concept was foreign to him, and looking over, the look on Gloria's face told him it was alien to her as well.

This paper was given a brief glance by Jackson before he extended it towards Liam, who grabbed it. Gloria scooted closer towards him to get a better look at what was inscribed.

It was a drawing, a basic and rough one. What was pictured were wide, orange colored lines crisscrossing one another. They formed no shape or design in particular, just bending and looping across one another, forming a maze-like bundle of lines.

"Are these the ley lines?"

"Yes," Jackson said. "What you see pictured there is the physical form of a ley line. The same form which manifests into a Mystery Dungeon."

Liam's eyes grew wide, as well as Gloria's. What the Guildmaster just told them, is that these ley lines somehow create a Mystery Dungeon on their own.

"But… how?"

Jackson took back the drawing from Liam, handing it back over to Scizor, who now finally spoke.

"There is no means as to a 'how' ley lines functionally operate. What is known, is that they exist, and the form they take creates what is known as a Mystery Dungeon."

"Form?" Gloria interjected. "What do you mean by that?"

"The ley lines twist and curve in different directions. A Mystery Dungeon is only formed once these ley lines cross or splinter into formation, which creates the layout of the Mystery Dungeon based on that form. Those maze-like rooms you see appear in every dungeon? That is the layout the ley lines form when they move, and they are constantly changing their form, twisting the lines into a new layout. The power these lines utilize is unmatched, stronger and more bizarre than anything a Pokémon could create," Scizor concluded his long speech.

Jackson then jumped back in, "And these ley lines, they cannot be destroyed, moved, or erased… at least from the knowledge we have collected. There is only one instance where ley lines could directly be manipulated, and that is through use of Entercards." The Lucario casted a glance at his Bug-type ally. "The way Mystery Dungeons operate, some kind of separate reality, where the boundaries of our own reality do not affect it. The layout of the dungeons only change once a Pokémon leaves, and a new one enters. Scizor believes in a theory that the ley lines have this power because they transcend both space and time, allowing such oddities to happen in the first place."

'Space and time?' Liam had heard of Legendaries that could bend them to their will, but Mystery Dungeons doing just that never crossed his mind.

The Lucario stopped to gaze out of the carriage, across the rolling green hills, fields, and flowing rivers. "Why? How? It isn't known. But it is the truth of this world that we live in. All across the world - Celestic, and the other continents, exist these... ley lines. They exist, and have perhaps existed since the creation of this world."

"But I don't understand," Gloria said. "If all this information about ley lines was known, then how come no Pokémon outside of the guild know about their existence?"

She posed a good question to Liam. If the Pokémon of this world were so acquainted with Mystery Dungeons, then how come the average Pokémon would know nothing about them?

Jackson leaned back against the railing, racking his thoughts on how to approach. "Do you two believe... in an absolute truth?"

Two slow nods came as they processed where Jackson was going with this. He continued. "Ley lines are the absolute truth of this world, and should be known to its inhabitants. However, this sentiment is not shared among certain... groups." He then locked eyes with the both of them. "What I'm saying is - plain ignorance of the Mystery Dungeons is not the main reason why information is scarce. Forces, ones beyond even the guild, seek to stifle any recent unearthings of the Mystery Dungeons, lest they cause massive unrest, or any other reason. The identity of these groups are just as mysterious as the dungeons themselves."

Jackson waved a paw. "But this is all hearsay and speculation. Fear mongering about shadowy organizations would get us nowhere. The guild is not scared of such threats or setbacks, as we have continued moving towards our goal for many, many years."

While he did say it was all speculation, the thought of groups of Pokémon stopping any new information of the Mystery Dungeons getting out to the public was intriguing, but also very worrying. Both Liam and Gloria didn't want to imagine what happened to Pokémon who 'leaked' some sort of truth.

Jackson's words ushered a wave of silence throughout the carriage, until he sighed, speaking again.

"Right now, we're heading off to a farm. Two days ago, a report was issued that a Mystery Dungeon had popped up seemingly out of nowhere in the farmer's wheat fields. He said a dark shadow had suddenly materialized over his field. Luckily, there were no Pokémon present around it when it appeared." He frowned. "Naturally, through history of a Mystery Dungeon appearing, a neighboring town, city, or village guard would first explore the dungeon to test how dangerous it is. In special cases, even the guards of the Council would come out to inspect for potential danger. But this time, I personally volunteered to explore the dungeon myself."

Liam remembered Gloria talking about something like that happening. Back when they explored the Sunshine Grove, she told him that the grove was once a sprawling garden ages and ages ago, but then turned into a Mystery Dungeon. The both of them never understood why it happened then, but now, a thought crossed through Liam's mind.

"Both of you said that the ley lines form the Mystery Dungeons, right? So does that mean they can expand, and form new dungeons?"

His question earned him a simple nod from Jackson as the Lucario broke his stare down with them, peering at the blue heavens above.

"You two are here with me not just to find out our mission statement, but to understand the threat that the Mystery Dungeons oppose to this world.


The Mudsdale pulling the cart braced themselves as they slid to a stop. This only meant one thing, they were at their destination. A large red stained wooden farmhouse rested atop a hill, with a wide fenced off area where wheat and other crops were held, swaying in the gentle wind.

Everyone aboard the carriage clambered out as a figure appeared from the red farmhouse, walking down the hill. It was a Diggersby from the looks of it. Once it hopped down towards them, it gave them a quick scan over.

"Oh, so yer the guild members who came for the dungeon, right?" he spoke with a heavy country accent - similar to Buneary's - but much more noticeable that Liam could not decipher.

Jackson apparently could understand his dialect. "You are correct, and I am glad you went to our guild instead of the Council. Take me to the site, then we will go over if it is safe for you and your family to stay here."

The Diggersby grumbled. "Mmm, sounds good enough to me. Had to keep my sons' from entering it before you arrived. I'll take ya to it."

Up the hill they went, past the large farmhouse and towards the fenced off area. Opening a gate, they wandered into the fields of wheat, careful not to step on any growing crops. After opening yet another gate, they were in a larger section of the farm right behind the red building. Although, instead of acres of rich farmland, only the visage of a shadow engulfing a huge area of the farm was witnessed. No light seemed to get past the impenetrable barrier of its inky blackness. Liam instantly recognized this as a trademark of a Mystery Dungeon.

Jackson nodded at the large bunny. "Thank you for guiding us here. We will take over matters now."

"It was no issue of mine. Y'all be safe now!" Diggersby said, happily hopping away.

"Now." Jackson took a step closer towards the dark shadow. "Look at it, this void of nothingness. There is no farmland here anymore; no crops, no realm to call ours anymore. It has been taken over by the ley lines." His gaze then shifted downward as he pointed a paw towards the ground. "Underneath all of this dirt, rock, and clay… there lies the ley lines, deep below the surface. They're active and alive, inching their way in the earth, moving in their own chaotic way to create... a literal lingering shadow over our domain - it's entropic."

"I…" Liam was halted from speaking by Jackson's paw.

"We're entering - follow me in once you're ready. Scizor."

With the Bug-type was by his side, they both stepped into the shadow, disappearing into it. Liam and Gloria exchanged looks of apprehension, before deciding on entering into the shadow as well. Liam couldn't help but feel a lump form in his chest after hearing the Guildmaster's words.


?

BF 1

The darkness that swirled within their vision faded as the terrain around them expanded, a field of freshly grown light yellow wheat greeting them. Wooden fence-like perimeter walls erupted out of the ground, forming a barrier around them as well as the dungeon's corridors.

Instead of cavern walls or forest canopies, a warm multicolored sky with hues of orange, yellows, and magenta could be witnessed. Wispy, dark grey clouds of a coming night stood motionless in the sky. Beyond the horizon was the vision of a faux setting sun with glimpses of distant stars, casting an orange glow across the dungeon.

Jackson walked over towards one of the fence-like walls and placed both his arms on top of it, admiring the fake scenery.

"Completely artificial. We're in a separate reality from our own, but the Mystery Dungeon attempts to hide itself as an imitation of ours." He ran his paw across the imitation wood. " Everything here is created by these ley lines, but it isn't real. This feels like a real fence, but it isn't. The sun is as impactful as it should be, but it's not really there."

The Lucario whirled around with an uncharacteristic smile, the orange ring around his paw flickering. "Amazing, right? The natural chaos of this all. Like a painter tries to depict the real world, the same applies to the Mystery Dungeons." He tore his gaze from the group, observing the strange 'room'.

"Let's find the stairs, it would be wise to know what kind of enemies lie ahead."

?

BF 4

From beyond the barriers of the wooden fence, and even the cover of the yellow wheat, came the figures of the Mystery Dungeon's Pokémon. Without any warning, they sprung into action against the invaders.

Liam held his ground as a Patrat entered his view, jerking his body accordingly to the timing of its ferocious Fury Swipes. When the time was ripe, he splayed a paw as it glowed with a purple energy. He smacked the Patrat away with his Force Palm, another taking its place, to which he did the same song and dance, again and again.

Gloria was satisfied with keeping the floating Cutiefly's at bay with her Ice Shard. The tiny shards of crystallized ice smashing into the Bug-types as they fell to the ground, one by one. Any that got close to her got a taste of her Frost Breath, freezing the majority of them solid.

Scizor didn't seem to break a sweat as he rapidly sucker punched any Pokémon in his path with his blinding Bullet Punch.

The hulking frame of an Ursaring would step into Jackson's view as the Lucario narrowed his eyes, hunching over slightly and holding his paws together to form a sphere of brilliant blue energy.

"Obtrusions," he hissed, the blue sphere expanding and expanding, until he knew the time was right, launching it from his hold and straight into the chest of the Ursaring. The force of the impact blew it straight into the wooden fence-like walls as it exploded into orange light.

Liam, who finished off the Patrats', gaped at the Guildmaster's strength. 'If I could ever evolve into a Lucario, would I attain his level of strength?' It was a tantalizing thought.

Jackson studied the room, noting the absence of any other enemies. "And just like the dungeon layouts imitate nature, the spawn from it also seems to imitate life." He turned his back on everyone. "But calling them Pokémon would be an insult to us. These creatures don't think, don't eat, don't sleep, don't dream like us. All they know how to do is to attack whoever is in their path - us, real Pokémon. They're all but obstacles in our path." The Lucario dusted himself off.

"Take a breather, then we'll find the stairs."

?

BF 7

"Gloria! Use the orb - now!" Liam shouted, kicking a Skwovet off of him before it could dig its teeth into him.

The room they happened to be in was a Monster House - unlucky of them, but they had experienced this yesterday at the falls, so this wasn't going to catch them off guard, especially with two veterans on their team.

Gloria skidded to a halt and tore open one of the pouches on her cream saddlebag, retrieving a Knockback Orb and promptly smashing it to bits on the floor. A wave of pink energy blew back all the enemy Pokémon crowding around the four of them and smashing into the fence-like walls. A furious flurry of Aura Spheres were hurled from the paws of Jackson, flying into many of the incapacitated Pokémon. Scizor slashed each Pokémon not hit from the spheres with an X-Scissor. It wasn't long until the room was clear of any enemy Pokémon.

Jackson gave Liam and Gloria a thankful nod as he strode forward towards a corridor. "Good teamwork - it is invaluable when faced in situations like-" he stopped in his tracks as a 'click' was heard underneath him.

"Guildmaster, trap!" Scizor yelled.

The floor beneath Jackson shifted from its original grassy terrain and slid open to reveal a metal-like plate, a symbol of an explosion onto it. He squinted his eyes and concentrated on using a move, Extreme Speed in particular. In almost a blink of an eye, the image of him disappeared in his location and reappeared next to Liam. It was perfect timing, as a series of fiery explosions detonated where Jackson was once located. The blasts were so powerful that it had actually warped the terrain of the floor, with bits of wood and scorched wheat that littered the room in the aftermath.

Luckily, neither of them were in the trap's radius.

Gloria voiced her natural worry, "Are you okay, Guildmaster?" She was about to grab an Oran Berry, but Jackson impeded her with a paw.

"Thank you for your concerns, Gloria, but take my experience as a cautionary tale. These dungeons, no matter how beautiful, or fantastical they are… will kill you without hesitation." The orange ring around his paw flickered again; he looked at the corridor he was heading to before, and walked again towards it again, offering them one last remark.

"I believe we are nearing the end of this dungeon. We've got much to discuss once we're out."


The staircase they took shrouded them in a perpetual darkness, until they were back in the real world for once, the blue open sky and the fields of swaying wheat awaiting them. A swivel of their heads showed them that they appeared around the opposite end of the shadow in which they entered.

"And now, we're back to where we were originally." Jackson began. "As the case for any other random dungeon, this leads us nowhere but beyond or back. All the potential this land could have offered - all the food it could provide is now void, now reduced to this enigma. It's eating us, this world, alive."

Liam blinked. "Guildmaster… what do you mean when you say that?"

"Guildmaster, I would advise telling them now," Scizor added.

Jackson looked up into the sky, as if pondering on where to begin. "Years and years ago, before even the Cosmic Quilt Guild was founded, there used to be a village in the Shore Continent called Areos. This village is where Charizard, Scizor and-" he stopped to turn around and look at Scizor, "... I came from. One day... everything was calm, fine, and ordinary... then it happened. A shadow enveloped the village - the ley lines had curled under it. The entire village was wiped out."

"What… do you mean by 'wiped' out?" Liam asked, feeling a lump forming in his throat.

"The buildings, the shops, the landscape, the Pokémon... vanished, gone, erased, dead. All of it was wiped out as the Mystery Dungeon formed. Anything, anyone, can be completely rewritten by the ley lines once they form underneath." The Lucario gave a tired sigh. "Today, that village, that… dungeon... is now known as Fabled Shores."

"But…" Gloria sputtered. "How... how come there was no panic over this! An entire village of Pokémon was killed!"

"The spread of the Mystery Dungeons is slow - slow enough to where typical Pokémon do not notice it. There is no warning, no signs of it starting to happen. Today, the Pokémon of the world simply accept the presence of the dungeons, not knowing of the slow poison that is killing this world."

There was no response.

The Lucario tightened a paw. "Which brings me to the reason why we're here in particular. This farm here provides sustenance for a populace, but the Mystery Dungeon here has taken that way, and cast it into the abyss of shadow. While today, this can be easily replaced, in the future, perhaps it can't be so easily done. They won't know until it is too late. The Pokémon of the future will only squabble over the remaining scraps of civilization untouched by the ley lines. And after that, there will be no world left for us anymore - we will be consumed by the ley lines."

Whether or not it was intentional or not, his words ushered a wave of silence through everyone. Liam's mind raced as he attempted to think of something, just anything he could say to counter the Guildmaster's words.

"But… there's still hope, right? You said we don't know everything about the ley lines. And that there are ways to manipulate them? So that means Pokémon could potentially manipulate ley lines to work in our favor, right? " Liam hoped any of what he said made sense, and didn't come off as hopelessly naïve.

Jackson simply stared at the Riolu, his orange ring flashing. "... Liam, who are you?"

"What?"

"What kind of Pokémon are you?… Why did you join this guild?"

Liam opened his mouth, trying to find the words to actually speak. He mustered any courage within him as he straightened himself. "Well, I joined this guild because... because I wanted to explore Celestic, this world. I want to go where no other Pokémon has gone before!"

"And what do you make of the Mystery Dungeons? When you think of this world, do you wish for one without such a thing existing?"

Liam nodded sharply. "Guildmaster, I have seen just the plains, forests, and cliffs of Celestic, but I would protect it all against the Mystery Dungeons if given the opportunity "

Jackson's stare bored into Liam, a scowl forming on the Lucario's face. Those were his exact same words before. His orange band flickered again as he shook his head, offering Liam a nod of acknowledgement. He focused his attention Gloria, who was ready to give her own little speech.

"And Gloria, why did you join this guild?"

She stared up at him with her own determined look. "Because this is my dream, and I've made so many promises I've yet to fulfill. I want to help the Pokémon of Celestic, and the world. Being a member of the guild to me is all about helping Pokémon who need it."

Jackson turned around, content with their answers. "Liam, you are correct about the manipulation of ley lines playing a factor. The use of Entercards by many explorers over the years proves this. Riding the connected ley lines to different dungeons... or instantaneous travel. This truth led to Scizor crafting another theory. If the ley lines are all connected to one another, then that means all those paths must cross at a single coordinate. That coordinate... would be the source of all ley lines if true. And since manipulation of them is possible, that means there could be a chance."

Liam's brow furrowed. "A chance... a chance at what exactly?" An idea was forming in the Riolu's brain.

The Lucario lowly chuckled, "You two... if your resolve is truly what you say it is, we can finally move on to this guild's mission statement. The whole reason we've been scouring this continent for decades for information, inviting in members, hiring teams, spanning expeditions into the unknown. All of that for one singular mission." The orange ring on his paw flashed yet again.

"My goal, Scizor's goal, our goal… is the total eradication of the Mystery Dungeon on this world."


jvExUuJ.png


"Welcome back!" Indeedee cheerfully exclaimed, waving the newly arrived Pokémon down with her paw.

Liam and Gloria gave her a brief wave back as they entered the foyer of the building. It seemed the guild was now open, seeing as there were crowds of Pokémon exploration teams around the public job bulletin board.

As soon as he was inside, Jackson spoke. "Scizor. Take charge of the guild. I will be absent for the rest of today." He immediately focused his attention on Liam and Gloria. "Team Requiem, you did good work today. But we're going to need this guild spotless, so you will join Team Nightshade in cleaning duty until dinnertime. Tomorrow, you will begin your official rotation, starting with job listings."

"Wait, wha-" Liam tried to speak, but the Lucario had already made his exit towards the hallway. "Cleaning duty? Seriously?!"

Gloria giggled tiredly. "It's okay, Liam, I'm sure they've already made good progress with it."

Scizor then spoke up, "If you need cleaning supplies, they're inside of the closet in the mess hell. Team Nightshade should be working on the floors of the hallway past the mess hall."

"Alright..." Liam grumbled. "I'll get the supplies, Gloria."

Brushing past the crowds of Pokémon teams, Liam entered the hallway and out into the mess hall. Sure enough, there was a doorway to a closet. Opening it gave him a wide selection of rags, brooms, mops. He decided on just taking a small selection of cleaning supplies as he picked through it all. What he didn't count on was a knock on the open wooden door almost making him jump out of his fur.

"I see you're back." The voice of Roark was instantly recognizable.

"Roark. Yeah, we're back now," Liam stated, still a bit apprehensive.

Roark then scratched the side of his neck with a claw. "I, uh, don't mean to be a big ole sap, but... I wanted to quickly thank you before you get back to working again."

Liam was shocked; rarely had he'd seen Roark actually be embarrassed before. "Thank me? For what?"

"For being there for her."

Liam's ears perked up. "...Gloria?"

Roark nodded, smirking. "I know taking part in my little plan to get her into the guild may have seemed like your only choice, but you could've left anytime you wanted, and you didn't. From what I heard happened at the theater, you two make a damn good pair."

Gloria had mentioned this to him earlier in the morning, which was true, he didn't need to follow exactly what Roark wanted of them. But he already settled that in his mind not long ago.

"You don't need to thank me, Roark. It's what friends do, right?"

The Zoroark chuckled. "That's the spirit!" His expression changed. "But seriously, there's going to be a time where I… won't ever be around for her. And you're the closest Pokémon she's got, other than Leafeon."

Liam's features softened. "What are you saying, Roark? Are you okay?"

Roark placed a claw on his hip. "I'm not going to keel over and die like an old 'mon, but all I'm saying is don't ever stop being there for her, you knucklehead. Those are words from her big brother himself." He punctuated this by jabbing himself in the chest. "She's, like the sweetest little girl I've ever met - a little feistiness in her, yeah, but once she latches on to you. she won't want you to let go, and that's what she still needs to learn." Roark then entwined his claws together.

"So! Can you make a promise?"

It clicked within Liam as he gave a firm nod. "Of course. I promise, I won't stray away from her. Now, is, uh, that all you needed?"

"Not exaaactly," the Zoroark said as he knelt down, pulling something from behind the door. He held the handle with a red claw as he extended it towards Liam. "Here's the bucket you'll need. Have lots of fun!"

Liam sighed, grabbing the plastic bucket. "Thank you, Roark."

The Zoroark waved a claw at the Riolu, before exiting the closet. "Any time! See you tomorrow, fresh meat!"

After Roark was gone, Liam went back to rummaging through the cleaning supplies. But with the door still wide open, he could hear the frustrations that the strange members of Team Nightshade were experiencing in the hallway quite clearly.

'Rockruff! You missed a spot!'

'Sorry! I'll get right on it!'

'Mreow~ Not that one dear, this one over her-'

SPLASH.

'Dangit, Rockruff! You spilled the soap... again!'

'S-sorry! I tripped! The floor is wet, y'know!'

Liam couldn't help but laugh on the inside as he heard the three bicker amongst each other. This was okay to him - the simple life within the guild, even if it wasn't action packed exploration that he seemed to crave all the time. He thought back to when the Guildmaster told them of the guild's mission.

He wondered when, if ever, would their efforts become fruitful. But he knew that he, along with Gloria, were here for the wild ride ahead, and neither of them planned on stopping anytime soon.


Something stirs beneath the ground... the truth of this world!


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time:Razor Claw
 
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Chapter 9: Razor Claw

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 9

Razor Claw

PLINK.

A sharpened dart sailed through the air and met its destination, smack-dab on the bullseye of the black and red dartboard. Soon came another dart, this one missing its mark, just slightly off-center.

PLINK.

Weavile narrowed her eyes - surely she could be a bit better with her accuracy. With a sigh, she rummaged through a bag on her side, pulling out another thin dart and taking aim. And after another snap of her claw, the dart went through the air, straight as an arrow towards its target.

PLINK.

She smiled. Bullseye. Again. It also seemed to be perfect timing, as the door to her quarters squeaked opened. In came Bisharp, who gave her an expressionless stare as she fished out another dart. He closed the door behind him.

Weavile narrowed her eyes again at the board. "Well? You're going to ruin my streak." She took aim.

PLINK.

Bisharp glanced at the dartboard. It was littered with darts, most of them on the outskirts. "Very… impressive, Weav's." He tore his gaze to absently look around the room.

The wooden walls were stained a dark purple, courtesy of Weavile's request to the painters. Other than random junk she had lying around, the room was mostly clean. But Bisharp knew that if she was left to her own devices, it wouldn't take long before it devolved back into chaos.

PLINK.

This throw didn't seem to quite make it, landing on the edges of the board. Weavile frowned, slowly panning her face towards Bisharp and giving him a playful glower.

"Now look what ya did."

Bisharp rolled his eyes. "I thought you would be all tuckered out after yesterday." He moved to step inside the room.

Weavile arched her back into a stretch as she sat upright on her bed, displaying a wicked grin. "Nah, that was a cakewalk. And I've got more important things to do."

He raised a brow, "Really? Cakewalk? Do I need to remind you how many times you almost got sliced by the tusks of that Haxorus?"

It was Weavile's turn to roll her eyes. "Yeah, because you couldn't keep that Simisear away. I should seriously demote you for that," she chided.

"Well, I have to applaud you for putting away your ego and realizing that those two were good - good enough for you to ask them to join."

"Normally I wouldn't even think about hiring… competition, but I think those two might be better in our pocket than anyone else's."

"I can agree to that, but you still haven't told me what 'important things' you're doing, other than-" he motioned towards the impaled dartboard, "This."

Weavile finished her stretching as she hopped off her bed. "Oh, Bishy, how could you forget my important little meeting with our helpful anonymous client?"

Bisharp's eyes expanded, "It's today? And… he has more leads?"

She grinned, "Today, and I can only assume he's got more work for us, considering the little message I was sent earlier."

Bisharp tilted his head, "Message? I didn't see any 'mons bring in mail."

A laugh came from Weavile as she knelt down, picking up the black bag resting beside her bed. She slung it around her shoulder and strolled towards the door, still grinning wickedly. "You're either gonna shit out a brick or call it magic once you see this." She tapped the side of her bag with a claw. "Instantaneous."

Bisharp snorted, "Are you blowing our money on random junk now?"

"Nah, this was a gift… from our little client." She placed a claw on the doorknob, opening the door to a wide, light purple stained hallway. "I'll show you in a bit. I think it would be appropriate to see our two newest recruits. Hopefully, I haven't misplaced my trust in them." She stepped into the halls.

Bisharp was close behind, "Oh? You're wondering if the mercs we fought with, then hired right after might betray us?" His sarcasm was noticeable even in his regular tone of voice.

"Not that, it's just I don't want slackers tearing down our reputat- err, infamy. Whatever. We just need to give them the same ole' Razor Claw introduction all our cute little members went through."

Bisharp scoffed, "You getting soft, Weav's? Need I remind you this isn't an actual guild with the whole family shtick?"

"Soft? Nah, if anything I'm becoming more jaded as my patience wears down. But speaking of family, let's go visit the ice queen." She walked down the hall, Bisharp following.

"Ah, the last time I saw her, she was still pissed about last time. Don't think she'll be too pleased to see your face," Bisharp warned.

Weavile nodded, "She can hold a grudge long, but she'll come to her senses with a quick chat, and some cash."

Their brief stroll through the purple stained wooden halls halted once Weavile came to a stop at a door on her right. She briefly glanced at Bisharp in amusement before turning the doorknob and swinging it open. Opening the door revealed a medium-sized room. Around the walls of the room were motivational posters from a typical guild, along with various plainly colored couches and cushions neatly positioned around the center of the room.

There, sitting cross legged on one of the furniture, was a Golisopod, eyes closed, seemingly meditating. Its movements were close to zero, with only the mandibles on its face twitching occasionally. Across from the Bug-type laid a Glaceon resting on an opposite couch. It didn't seem to acknowledge the new presence from the doorway as it coolly flipped through the pages of a magazine with a paw.

Weavile sauntered into the room, a smirk on her face as she briefly glanced at the meditating Golisopod, then honed her focus on the resting Glaceon.

"What's up, ice queen?"

Glaceon stopped her motions of page flipping, slowly panning her face to meet a smirking Weavile's. Her face displayed a mix of strained annoyance, contempt, disgust, and all things in between.

"Weavile," she hissed in an icy tone. "I told you to stop calling me that."

Weavile's smirk grew wider. "Why would I? Wouldn't want to disrespect royalty after all."

Glaceon scowled, "After you put on that… that horrid job?" she spat out. "With the Grimer's and Koffing's? Disgusting!" She dramatically whipped her icy bangs, returning to browse her magazine.

Weavile continued to push, her patience waning, but her smirk growing. "Come on, ice queen, I know you couldn't resist the paycheck of it. Especially you, a veteran should understand. Forgive me?"

The Ice-type 'hmphed' as she flipped through another page. "Just don't send me those types of jobs again."

Weavile nodded, her smirk growing dangerously large. "Of course, ice queen, I promise." She didn't. "Now, would you know the location of those two recruits we brought in yesterday?"

Another page was flipped as Glaceon responded. "In the Lounge, where everyone else is. Just me and Golispod here. I can't stand the rest of the Pokemon here."

'Who can she stand?' Weavile grumbled in her mind. "Thank you, Glaceon, you'll get your pay next week. Then Bisharp will find you a more... suitable job."

Glaceon 'hmphed' again, going right back into immersing herself into her magazine. Weavile then shifted her attention towards the still silent Golisopod.

"Hey, big guy. You're going on our next scouting mission. Can I trust you to not screw it up like some other 'mons around here?"

Golisopod's eyelids shifted, the black abyss background of his eyes and piercing red pupils now visible, his mandibles twitching erratically. Weavile took this as confirmation.

"Splendid."

"You done interrogating them, Weav's?" Bisharp questioned.

Weavile walked back towards the doorway. "Let's go get that Simisear and show him a thing or two." Bisharp followed. "Enjoy your time, my beloved lackeys!" she exclaimed, waving a claw to the Pokémon behind her. One disinterested in farewells, and the other perpetually still and silent.

After they closed the door behind them, they headed towards the Lounge, which was directly adjacent to the foyer located down the hallway. Once near the large doors of the Lounge, Weavile smiled. She could already hear the clinking of glasses and the shouts of laughter from beyond the door. Opening it revealed a much larger room than the previous one they were in - it was darkly tinted compared to the other rooms in the building. Plush, crimson red couches, chairs, and cushions strewn about with tables fixed with filled or empty bottles of different drinks - some alcoholic, some not.

A couple dozen Pokémon were all seated on the red furniture, happily drinking the day away and chatting with their fellow comrades. If Weavile were to admit she indeed had a heart, it would be pounding in admiration right now. The commotion soon faded as the mercenaries realized their captains had just entered, a hushed whisper replacing the once bombastic atmosphere.

Weavile attempted to correct this. "Just looking for Simisear, ladies and gentlemen. Send him my way." She analyzed the crowd, looking for the fiery Fire-type from yesterday.

A large Rhyperior sitting on a red cushion spoke up in a bellowing deep voice. "He's right here, Cap." He pointed to his left with his giant rock column of an arm.

Weavile followed his arm, and indeed it was Simisear, nursing a drink as he stared at Weavile. She smirked, his body was still battered a bit from the beat down they endured. But she knew she wouldn't regret this. At least, she hoped she wouldn't.

"Come on, Simisear, you can tell this to Haxorus once we're finished."

Simisear then hesitantly stood up to a small amount of cheers from the members, causing Rhyperior to perk back up again.

"Hey, Cap! When are you going to tell us what went down at that theater? Surely it had better sludge than what we have here." he said to the laughter of the other mercenaries.

"Yeah! You still haven't told us how he was taken down so fast, and who did it!" a nasally voice shouted from the crowd.

"And when are you gonna bust Magmortar out!" a female voice added as agreement resounded throughout the room.

Weavile stiffened, "Guys, please, your questions will all be answered once me and Bisharp finish up our business. Rest assured, it was a victory for us."

This seemed to settle the outbursts from the Pokémon, who they went back to their drinking and laughing. A pair of razor sharp claws found themselves on Simisear's shoulder, the Pokemon immediately turning to face its owner.

"Come out into the foyer once you're ready, and we'll discuss matters there."

Weavile quickly winked to Bisharp, who acknowledged as they turned and closed the doors to the Lounge, hearing the noise picking back up again with their exit.

"Didn't have the heart to tell them Magmortar got thrashed by some random twerps?" Bisharp quipped.

"Half-truth - of course I'm not gonna say who he got stomped by, but it's true that this was a victory for us. That ambassador was scared out of his wits when they rolled him outta there."

"Then you think Sceptile will do what he's been told, since he's gone back now."

"He will, or we'll find another way. Regardless, our message to the Allfather has been sent with flying colors."

"And you're so sure he'll want to negotiate rather than removing that thorn in his side?" Bisharp retorted.

"I think the Allfather is smart enough to realize he can't get rid of us so easily. We're not the top mercs in Celestic because we have nothing to show. No, we've got our claws sunken deep, and we're letting go til I…" She paused for a moment. "And you… get what you want." Bisharp could only silently agree.

"Still," he began. "Don't you think it'll come time to finally break the reality of our escapades to our members?"

"Most wouldn't care, and why should they? To them, it's just thrill, cash, and the occasional free drinks. I can't really blame them, but I think they'll follow their beloved captains anywhere..."

Bisharp pointed his gauntlet at her. "Ha, see? You are going soft." She rolled her eyes in response.

Once in the main foyer, they patiently waited for the doors of the Lounge to open across the hall. It wasn't long until they swung open and the bruised resemblance of Simisear came down the halls.

"How are you enjoying yourself? The booze good?" Weavile jokingly shouted.

"Horrible," Simisear responded.

Weavile responded with a fanged smile. "Well, get used to it. Welcome to the Razor Claw Clan-er… Guild, which is the legal term for this place, but don't go saying that to anyone… or else-" she made a slicing motion over her throat.

"Weav's, please," Bisharp interrupted. "This is the Razor Claw Clan. Only the toughest and most professional mercenaries get invited. We are simply the best Celestic has to offer, so you should feel honored. Now, I assume you understand your duties from now?"

Simisear nodded, "I know all of this introductory junk. I'm not new to this, but… say, you guys carry rifles? You do seem to be the most well equipped mercs I've seen, compared to the stuff I've used."

Weavile laughed, "Rifles? Here we all trust our natural strength. I've only seen city and Council guards carry rifles. Were you one before?"

"Err, sort of." Simisear changed the subject. "When do I start my first job?"

Bisharp began explaining, "Once you recover fully from your injuries, I will begin the process of assigning you to a squad. On some occasions, you will be led by teams under my or Weavile's command."

Weavile intervened. "Yeah, and if you become good enough, maybe you could replace a captain," she said, jabbing Bisharp in his side with a claw.

"Bite me, Weav's."

Bisharp thrusted a gauntlet towards the doors of the Lounge across the hallway. "Feel free to return or rest in the quarters. Your days here will begin shortly."

WIth one last nod, Simisear walked back down the halls and into the Lounge again. Weavile and Bisharp shared a look.

"Are you going to show me that thing he gave you now?" he asked.

"Let's go back to my room - you're gonna be in for the shock of your life."

Bisharp shrugged, "We'll see, Weav's."

The short trek back to Weavile's room ended as she stepped into her dark purple chambers.

Weavile unraveled the strap around her shoulder and threw her black bag onto her bed, pulling the zipper and revealing its contents. Inside were mostly common items she would carry - binoculars, seeds, orbs, her cape, her darts. But one item in particular stood out amongst the others, particularly to Bisharp.

It was subdued yellow in color, shaped like a rectangle with curved edges. Two thin 'ears' of a Pokémon sprouted from the top. There was even a pair of eyes near the top of the item. Perforations were made into it, below the eyes and on the 'cheeks' of it. Near the 'mouth', there was a clear glass display along with a round dial to turn. Around the left side of it was a switch, seemingly to turn the device on and off.

To say it was strange to Bisharp was an understatement.

"What… is that? You said he gave you this?"

Weavile picked up the device, twirling it around in her claw. "Yup, the last time we met, he handed me this. Didn't say what exactly it was, just told me it was already 'tuned' to his signal. From there we could instantly communicate." She gave it a tap. "Last thing he said was, he'd contact me on this day, around this time."

Bisharp blinked, "Wait, instant… communication? How does he have access to this? I don't think even the Council has something advanced as this."

Weavile shrugged, "Apparently the guild near Empyrean does - said one of his goons nabbed it there. But trust me, it's very real, and I can testify to that."

"But I've… never seen something like this before in the guild. This must be new." Bisharp shook his head. "Did he only give you one? This could revolutionize how we do operations, Weav's. Or we could tear it open, see how it works, make our own. Or…"

Weavile held up a claw to cease his ramblings. "Hold it, he only gave me one, and he also said to not tinker with it to possibly screw up our connection with him. Besides, I don't want to get on the bad side of the 'mon lining our pockets with Poké."

"Maybe we could bre-" His desperate counter was stopped by Weavile.

"Into the guild near Empyrean? No way, we're blind, and there's no telling how many connections they have now."

Bisharp frowned, being denied the possibility of exploring the wonder a new technology put a damper on his spirit. Still, his mind churned at just who their client was to get his hands on things like these.

"Anyway, let's wait around unt-"

Weavile was interrupted by a harsh crackling noise emitting from the device she held. The two of them stopped to stare at it. The perforations on the 'cheeks' of it seemed to work as a speaker for the harsh static to come out, and quite loudly at that. They winced at the sound of it until the volume of the static winded down a bit as an unmistakable gruff voice came through the speakers, piercing through the jumbled mess of noises and into their ears.

"... Can… you hear me? If so… click the side of the device and respond."

Bisharp stared in awe at what he was hearing - Weavile was telling the truth. She took a moment to act, but she did as instructed, holding the device close to her mouth and flipping the switch on its side before speaking into it.

"I can hear you… loud and clear. Can you?"

"... Yes. Then we can begin, I hope you are ready to leave. I want you here at midnight. Do you understand?"

Weavile responded, "Don't sweat it, I'll be there."

"Good, I will be expecting you then. Do not keep me waiting."

Then there was nothing but static, until that died out as the room fell quiet. Weavile clicked the switch again, assuming it was to cut her connection. She looked at Bisharp, who was still stunned and silent.

"Well, good thing that was so cut and dry. What time is it right now?"

Bisharp snapped out of his trance as he spoke slowly. "It's… the afternoon."

Her smirk grew, "Excellent. We'll need someone to fly us to our meeting spot again. Is Honchkrow available?"

"Yes, but it's going to rain heavily when night hits, he won't be able to resist the onslaught."

She threw the device back into her black bag, pulling out her dark cape, the symbol of a Razor Claw etched onto it. The bag was zipped tight as she threw it over her shoulder, just like many times before.

"Get Skarmory. She can withstand it. And get ready yourself, I want us airborne half an hour to our little meeting."


Both of their black capes whipped and billowed against the sharp wind of the pitch dark skies. Dark gray storm clouds were approaching their position, even if rain didn't come yet. They clung to the steely feathers of Skarmory as she soared through the cloudy night, further towards their destination.

Weavile narrowed her eyes towards the ground. While it wasn't raining just yet, visibility was still difficult when you're miles above in the sky on a Pokémon travelling at intense speeds.

But then she saw it - the familiar ruined structure of her meeting spot. She smiled amidst the chaos of the open skies - they were here, and with perfect timing, too. A small pat of her claw onto Skarmory's back told the Steel-type all she needed to know as she nodded in confirmation.

Soon enough, they were nosediving straight towards the earth below them. The Pokémon on board instinctively clutched the feathers of Skarmory more as she descended with haste. Once they were safely secure on their respective realm, the both of them hopped off Skarmory's back.

"Good work as always, Skarmory," Weavile commented.

"No problem, Cap'n. All in a day's work."

Bisharp planted himself near Skarmory's side. "I'll stay with Skarmory and keep watch. You do your thing, and don't screw up things with our best client."

Weavile laughed, "You say this every time, Bishy, but it never does happen. Perhaps I'm just too charming?" He grumbled in response.

The Ice-type took in the sight before her just as she had many times. It was a crumbling wreck of a building, faded beige stone columns were torn to shreds, leaving nothing but jagged stumps left. Nature took this place over, with green moss, vines, and other foliage that grew out of every crack, hole, and crevice of the ruins.

Weavile wasn't too sure on why her client seemed to choose this as a meeting spot every time, but it never bothered her much. It was secluded enough, and the sketchiness of the deals with her other clients were way worse than what she was dealing with now.

She moseyed on over towards the crumbling building and planted her back on the same wall she had rested against before, time and time again. She held an enclosed claw behind her as she rapped it against the stone surface. It was her signal to cue in that she was here and ready for their meeting to begin.

She could hear an audible shuffling sound from behind the wall of stone, perhaps footsteps she mused. They grew in volume as the noises came closer towards the wall until they stopped entirely. A gruff voice then spoke from beyond the stone wall, the same one from the device.

"Good, you're here. Let's get down to business."

Weavile crossed her arms. "Well? Let's hear it."

The voice spoke again, "My associates were able to witness a failed deal at the Cosmic Quilt Guild, thus allowing them to track down an exploration team exiting that were holding valuable knowledge. You will track down this exploration team, for they have… information of a place that I desire to find."

Weavile closed her eyes. 'This guy must have eyes everywhere.' Sometimes it warmed a mercenary's heart to work for someone with such cards to play, but it was mostly for the tons of cash they would offer.

"Price?"

"Ten thousand Poké. Obtain the information through your own means - stealthily, violent - as long as it's in my paws, I don't care."

Weavile frowned, "So, you made me go all the way out here for this? Couldn't you have just told me over that little device?"

"You're mercenaries…" the voice spat out. "You Pokémon have zero honor. You are not trustworthy, so I wish to keep track of you as you go through with my requests."

Weavile 'tched' - it seemed like such a cheap excuse. "You seem like you could handle yourself, why bother with us mercs?"

"Believe me, if there was an easier way to obtain the information I need, then there would be no need to deal with your type of Pokémon. It is simply convenient for me to use your services, being that your efficiency is well respected."

'Damn right,' Weavile thought.

Maybe mercenaries don't have honor or loyalty, but they're damn good at what they do, at least she is. But something about his words itched at her mind. They reminded of her early days, the ones she doesn't wish to speak of so much anymore.

"I haven't even seen as much as your face before, but you say we're not trustworthy?"

The voice seemed to laugh slightly at her comment, which only irritated the Ice-type even further.

"You will never see my face, or know who I am."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Because then I'd have to kill you."

Weavile had seen many different kinds of Pokémon in her travels. Scared ones, Angry ones, Brave ones. She was able to call out even the mightiest of bluffs from Pokémon, so she knew when the voice told her that he would kill her - that he was dead serious.

She smiled, "What makes you so sure you could do that?"

"Who said I don't have you surrounded right now?" the voice replied matter-of-factly.

'Touche.'

"Are you going to hand over the details now? We're burning the night away."

A slip of paper appeared through one of the missing chunks of brick wall next to Weavile. She grabbed with a claw as she flipped it over to read the messy text inscribed onto it.

Lush Garden

It wasn't too far away, and she was thankful that there was no Mystery Dungeon around this area. The best part was that it was secluded. No town or village for miles.

The voice spoke again, "In an hour, they should congregate around the large tree in the center, as they are there to also make a deal themselves. You will intervene, and strike before that deal carries on. Even if you must beat it out of them... this information cannot be lost."

Weavile was fine with this. "Yeah yeah, we'll get it down."

She gave a final thought. It should be very easy for her and Bisharp - exploration teams weren't usually full of muscle 'mons. Just inexperienced kids with dreams and that sort who wouldn't stand a chance. Especially against a pair of combat veterans trained to not hold back. She sighed slowly at that thought.

"Good," The voice answered. "I will await your return with the information. I expect you will not disappoint."

The shuffling returned as the voice seemed to walk away from the wall. Weavile took this as a sign to return back to Bisharp and Skarmory. She took her back off the crumbling wall and traversed through the ruins again. Once she was in viewing distance of Bisharp, she threw her arm up, displaying the sheet of paper wedged in between her claws.

"Let's saddle up, we've got a job to do."

5somCGX.png


While before, the night was dry and without a speck of water so much touching the ground - now it came, and when it rains, it pours. And pour it did - heavy sheets of water dropped from the heavens above, slamming into the ground below and onto a flying Skarmory, who didn't seem to budge. Flashes of lightning in the distance briefly lit up the dark sky before disappearing into the blackness, the crack of thunder accompanying it.

Weavile groaned, she would need a nice long shower after this job was said and done with. She scanned the ground below, knowing they were just above the area called the Lush Garden. But they would need to locate the center of it, where a large overgrown tree planted its roots into. It was difficult enough that they were flying at high speeds, way above the ground, but now that they seemed to be into some kind of hurricane of a storm, it was an even bigger pain to see.

"Circle this area! I need to get a better view!" Weavile commanded.

"Aye aye, Cap'n!" Skarmory screamed.

The Flying-type began her maneuvers in the sky, making sure the two on board could get a good look through the flurry of wind and cascading water. It was only a few moments of circling until Bisharp pointed something out with his gauntlet.

"Right there, the tree!"

Weavile looked to where he pointed. It was difficult, but she could make out a mass of dark shambling green leaves, along with three visible figures beside it.

'There it is.'

"Good eye, Bishy. Get us down close, near some tall bushes, Skarmory!" She enunciated this by tapping the Pokémon's back.

Skarmory nodded, "You got it, Cap'n!"

Lightning rolled throughout the sky as thunder echoed its call. The Flying-type shot through the dark gray storm clouds, slicing through the waves of rain and barreling towards the ground. The field of the now muddy and wet grassland became more and more visible as Skarmory glided towards the surface. She aimed for a pair of bushes just tall enough to conceal their location from any other Pokémon. Once her talons graced the ground, she implanted them firmly into the wet dirt, flexing her wings and whipping away the water collected onto them.

"We're... here, Cap'n!" Skarmory proclaimed, a bit tired from the trip.

Weavile patted her back. "Great, you stay here, and make sure you're not seen."

She bounded off Skarmory's back, along with Bisharp. They made sure all of them were hidden by the thick green bush in front of them. Here, they would conceive their plan of motion.

"Let's get a good look of this exploration team- see what we're dealing with here." Bisharp suggested.

Weavile agreed, zipping open her bag, procuring her binoculars and peering over the sides of the bush. She listed off each Pokemon she could visibly identify. "Toxtricity... Pidgeot... and a Vigoroth. I ain't too worried." While these weren't kids by no means, this didn't set off any alarms in her mind.

This would be easy.

Bisharp nodded, "Approach? I say we just barrel through them. No need for anything fancy."

"Agreed. This will be a walk in the park, so follow me, and make sure we're not seen."

Stealthily or violent? She could do both just fine.

Placing the binoculars back into her bag and zipping it back up, she crouched low to the ground, Bisharp replicating her form as well. From this position, they inched forward through the grass, going from bush to bush, closer towards the huge tree and closer to their targets. As they got near, it wasn't long until they got within earshot of the three Pokémon, who were all chatting amongst each other. The both of them listened carefully to their conversations, hoping to glean any juicy details from it.

"I'm telling you!" the yellow and purple Toxtricity spoke. "There's gotta be something of value in those ruins. Something we don't know about."

"I don't know," the Pidgeot responded, her skepticism showing. "We found nothing combing through it. I even flew around the whole place twice. Twice!"

The Vigoroth with a satchel around its waist jumped in. "Yeah I just don't see why mercenaries would want this, man, I just hope this isn't a setup…"

Weavile's smirk appeared from behind the blades of wet grass. 'Oh this is a setup alright, just not the kind of one you will expect.'

Toxtricity shook his head, obviously frustrated with the lack of faith given to him. "No! We saw something near those ruins. A mural, remember?"

Vigoroth visibly shrugged, "Uh… remind me again?"

Toxtricity growled, "It was a painting... of something like a metal skirt, or… a wheel!"

Pidgeot tilted her head, "A skirt of metal? Why would any mercenary care about it? Doesn't seem like it would sell much more than the average relic."

"That's beside the point!" Toxtricity countered. "And remember!" He held up a bulbous finger. " We saw a group of Pokémon wearing armbands near one of the entrances to the ruins! That means this is a place of interest to some 'mons."

Weavile's features softened. 'Armbands? There's no way...' The look Bisharp was sending her all but confirmed it in her mind. 'But why?'

She didn't know, but she didn't intend to sit around and ponder the possibilities. Weavile would take initiative. She glanced towards Bisharp, sending him a nod that solidified that she was going on the offensive now. Standing up, she stepped out of her hiding bush as she sprinted forward, her cape flapping in the wind. Using the veil of darkness, rain, and her opponents unawareness to her advantage, she stealthily bolted towards them with an outstretched arm, claws ready to slice.

The Ice-type focused her attention on the Vigoroth with the satchel, his back turned and ripe for an attack. Her claws effortlessly slid across the Pokémon's back, forming a nasty gash as she brought it across.

"GAH!"

The Vigoroth turned around immediately once he felt something razor sharp digging into his flesh. However, the culprit had already vanished from his sight, sprinting off to his left.

Toxtricity's eyes widened, "Vigoroth! Were you just attacke-"

He was cut off by his own yelp as a flash of pain resounded from his chest. A large gash, just like the one Vigoroth suffered from was now visible. The inflictor, a Bisharp, leapt past Toxtricity and towards the other culprit. There, the two regrouped and turned to face the trio they had just attacked.

Weavile flicked some blood off her claw - Bisharp did the same. The both of them took a fighting stance together, sizing themselves up against the attacked, who were regaining their bearings. Mercenaries may not have honor, but who said they couldn't enjoy a fight and want it to last a little while.

Toxtricity held a hand over the gash, shaking his body in a rage. It took him a moment to notice, but Pokémon wearing capes and looking this rugged meant only one thing. "You're mercenaries… and you decided to attack us?!" he screamed.

Weavile lunged forward with an outstretched claw. "Less talk, more fight." It narrowly missed Toxtricity as he leapt backward. But she never stopped her attack, forming an enclosed fist as a layer of ice quickly covered it. The Ice-type closed the distance between the two of them, slamming her newly made Ice Punch into the belly of the Toxtricity.

Shades of darkness enveloped both of Bisharp's bladed gauntlets as he charged towards the Vigoroth, who tried to put up a futile resistance with a rush of Fury Swipes. Bisharp was faster, allowing his duo of Night Slash's to land consecutive hit after hit onto the Pokémon's chest.

Pidgeot moved in to assist her two comrades, swooping into the air and beating her wings back and forth. She unleashed her Air Cutter, spawning waves of light blue energy curves from her wingspan. With another flap of her wings, the arcs of energy cut through the air and rushed towards the two attackers. Weavile pushed Toxtricity out her way as an array of Ice Shards formed around her body.

Each crystallized piece of ice was sent hurtling towards the impending arcs of energy, smashing into each other, sending chunks of ice everywhere and fizzling the waves of energy. This didn't seem to stop Pidgeot, as she once again started forming multiple arcs of light blue energy across her outstretched wings.

"Oh no you dont!" Weavile shouted. She quickly formed another Ice Punch around her enclosed fist, springing off the ground to reach her target hovering just above.

It was the perfect amount of force - the layer of hardened ice smashing into the feathery belly of Pidgeot. The Pokémon's eyes seemed to bulge out her sockets, being sent careening past the four of them, smacking into the wooden bark of the humongous tree.

Pidgeot was knocked clean out. Thunder howled in the distance. Two left.

While Vigoroth was still trying to endure the series of Night Slash's from Bisharp, Toxtricity recovered from his attack and started charging up an attack. He growled as tendrils of electricity pulsed around his form. His Discharge was surely going to repel these Pokémon.

Weavile hissed as sparks of burning yellow electricity hit her fur, she quickly turned around to assess the threat she neglected to take down Pidgeot. Waving her claws mockingly at Toxtricity, she decided she needed to run circles around him and try to find an entrance into his guard.

Bisharp was confused. Somehow this Vigoroth was taking all of his Night Slashes, but still standing. It wasn't even moving. Then suddenly, surprising Bisharp out his assault, came an upright jab from Vigoroth. Luckily, Bisharp wasn't mindless with his attacks, allowing him to study the Vigoroth for any sudden attacks and move when needed.

It then clicked - the move Revenge. He had the Pokémon all figured out now.

He forcefully grabbed a hold of Vigoroth's shoulder with both of his gauntlets as the Pokémon struggled to break free. A sheet of pure gray metallic iron formed across Bisharp's skull raised head, ultimately bringing his mettalic cranium crashing down onto Vigoroth's own - headbutting him with his old reliable Iron Head, at full force.

BAM!

The Pokémon stood no chance against such an attack, quickly crumpling to the muddy floor in defeat as Bisharp let him out of his grasp. Thunder continued to howl in the distance. One left.

Blobs of poisonous purple goo were lobbed at Weavile as she performed evasive maneuvers around Toxtricity. He may be able to keep Pokemon at a distance, but Weavile was the queen of getting close and personal with anyone. Toxtricity formed another Sludge Bomb, hurling it against the floor and forming pits of purple goo. Weavile found her opening, but he thought he was quicker than her - he wasn't.

The Electric-type hummed as arcs of electricity started to form around him. He was hoping another round of Discharge would dispel that Weavile from getting near him. But he didn't count on the Pokémon being straight in front of him, Ice Punch formed, mocking smirk and all.

"HURK!"

It wasn't just one Ice Punch, it was multiple - into his sides, chest, belly, face. The whirlwind of freezing jabs across his body was too much to bear. One final frosty punch sent him flat onto the ground as thunder roared. None left.

Weavile and Bisharp shared a look, an actual smile forming on Bisharp's features for once. They both nodded, enclosing in on a defeated and well battered Toxtricity, who was still on the floor pushing himself away from them.

He held up a bulbous hand, "Wait, wait! You're the mercs who came for the information about the ruins, right!? We thought we'd sell it to the guild, but you guys offered! Why'd you come here just to attack us! If you want it… just take it then!"

Weavile stopped her advancement. "It turns out we're not the mercenaries you were looking to deal with, but I'll gladly follow your other advice… where is it?"

Toxtricity gulped, "It's just a note… in the satchel, the one Vigoroth is carrying. Just… don't do anything else to us, please!"

Weavile marched over to the fallen Pokémon, kneeling down and tearing open the contents of the satchel for her to see. Other than some Oran Berries, seeds, orbs, and other junk, there wasn't anything that caught her eye, until a slip of paper was located. She grabbed with a claw, bringing it close to her eye to read the text inscribed onto it.

What she read was the name of a location. Her heart panged as she read the name in her mind, over and over. It was all too familiar, being burned into her mind for ages. She had been to this location before. Swallowing the growing lump in her throat, she addressed Bisharp, who walked up to see what the slip of paper contained.

"Bishy... This is the place that I and..." she stopped, but Bisharp already knew.

He turned towards the still bewildered Toxtricity. "Before, you said… Pokémon with armbands were there, correct?" A hasty nod from the Pokémon confirmed his suspicions.

"Weav's..." He looked straight into Weavile's eyes. "The pieces of the puzzle are finally clicking together."

Weavile clenched her teeth as fresh rage sprouted within her. But now was not the time for anger. She gave one final look at the slip of paper. They needed to return back to their client for payment.

Thunder rumbled the sky once again.


The raging storm from before seemed to fade into the night, the invading storm clouds dissipating along with the pounding of heavy rain.

"I assume nothing went wrong?" the gruff voice asked.

"Yeah, it was quick and easy. They were out like a light, and we've got what we needed from them," Weavile assured.

"Then slip it towards me - you will get your payment then."

Weavile did as instructed, grabbing the paper from her bag. She lingered briefly, staring at the name that was written on in it. Swallowing down her own disgust, she placed it onto the stone in front of her, sliding it into the darkness beyond. It was then grabbed.

"This seems to be correct... very well. I think you deserve your payment now." The voice seemed to disappear for a bit, a heavy sack being placed where Weavile originally put the slip of paper. "This should cover everything. I expect you will wait until I require your services again?"

Weavile grabbed the plain cloth bag, noting its heaviness. Opening it up, she definitely knew ten thousand Poké was in this tiny bag. The clinking of all the circular gold pieces inside it told her that much.

"Yeah, we'll be available."

"Good, do not damage that device or touch any of the dials on it. I will contact you again. This is goodbye... for now."

The voice was now gone again, leaving Weavile to mull over her thoughts alone. This little outing proved to be far more worthy of their time, other than the cash prize that came along with it. It would be just what they did with this new information that would decide their next action.

But a different feeling ate at her. The same one that long ago, she once had.


Weavile turned the handle to Bisharp's room as she stepped on in. It was a rare thing for her to be in his room. But this time, Bisharp requested her to join him inside. She knew something was up with him, considering he wasn't even trying to hide the grin planted on his face the trip home.

Surveying his room, she found him exactly where she thought he would be - fiddling with that large map of Celestic displayed across the entirety of the purple stained wall.

The information gathered right there was everything Bisharp gathered from their anonymous client. All the bits and pieces he found were useful towards a combined larger goal. He seemed to be too absorbed into tinkering with the map as Weavile waltzed past without him noticing.

She leaned against an adjacent wall. "Well? How are your developments? Sure must help knowing a big piece has just been uncovered."

Bisharp turned around, "What we just uncovered changes everything. I knew there was something fishy about our client. But now we have a lead."

"What… you think our helpful client is part of the Alignment?" Weavile sure hoped that wasn't the case.

Bisharp shook his head, "Maybe so, maybe not. What matters is that we know they're involved now. And the same place you've been to is now tied to multiple groups wanting to know its location. The Alignment, our client, and this other mercenary group - they're looking for something."

Weavile whistled, "We've got a lot on our plate then. Why not check out this other mercenary group?"

Bisharp shrugged, "That Toxtricity couldn't give us any helpful details on who they were, so I doubt we could pinpoint them right now, seeing that there's tons of other mercs in Celestic. Best thing we could do is wait for a possible confrontation."

"And the Alignment?" She grinded her teeth together. "We now know they're in on this. We should keep taking the fight to them. Maybe then-"

"Weavile… this is more than just your revenge. Or even mine. This is for answers."

"Answers? What could we possibly need to have answered other than the finding out who these Pokémon are, and taking them down."

It took Bisharp a moment to respond as he placed his gauntlets around his hip, gazing at the large map. "There's something about this world… something we don't understand." He sighed. "Maybe other Pokémon know the truth, even the truth of what lies just below us. Or maybe they don't, and no one knows."

"But…" He pointed his gauntlet at the map. "There has to be something, and maybe... it lies in what we're following right now."

She rolled her eyes, "You're starting to sound like that Bug-type from the guild. Did you forget that we're mercenaries, Bishy?"

"This is the future, Weav's".

'Oh brother...'

Whenever he was around this map, he never stopped spewing about his idealism. It was something that Weavile could both hate and appreciate of her co-captain and close friend.

"Don't you remember what I told you back then? Didn't you want to be more than just a street thug?"

"But we're mercenaries?"

He nodded, "Yes, and we're the same as a street thug. And I thought you wanted to be above just that."

She crossed her arms, "Thugs aren't as good as us - we're above them."

"We're organized thugs, Weav's. Ones who aren't afraid to take what they want. And… taking answers by force will seem to be the very thing we'll use to our advantage. Besides…"

Bisharp locked eyes with her. "You want to know why it all happened?" He pointed his gauntlet at the map again. "Then take a good look at it, Weav's. This is where the answer to that lies."

Weavile uncrossed her arms and left the wall she was leaning against as she walked towards the large map. Once it was directly in front of her, she took it all in. Scattered pieces of papers, clues, leads, were placed around different locations of Celestic. Red string connected all possible connections together, including the aspects of her much hated encounters.

To Bisharp, this was the future, and a means to the answers he had sought for so long. For Weavile, all she wanted was one thing - that one Pokémon she has been tracking down for these past ten years - the source of all her frustrations and anger.

Being a mercenary was powerful, more powerful than being a street thug or member of any guild. Was part of it for the thrill? Yes. The money, the infamy? All yes. But another part was the revenge she sought for being so wronged by this world. That last part of her, though, it was the one that wondered about those answers Bisharp spoke of - the truth of this world.

The road that Bisharp wanted to lead them down was the same one they had wanted to go down.

'And look where that got em.' But she wasn't afraid of things like that. They've persevered through much in the past. 'Is this something that's worth doing again? Will we lose it all just trying to get it?'

She sighed, as there was only one way they would find out if this wild Ducklett chase was going anywhere, and that was following it.


This road they will take is surely not to be one untraveled before...


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time: Fishing Trip
 
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Chapter 10: Fishing Trip

Z2H

Junior Trainer
EDcRpOc.png

Chapter 10

Fishing Trip

'Ugh, not again.'

Liam instantly recoiled, bringing a paw to his head and slowly rubbing his temple. It was back again, right after he thought he ditched it this morning, but now he guessed it never truly left. Just like many times before, a sharp pain shot across his mind. Thankfully it wasn't a lasting one, fading away just as quickly as it came. He groaned nonetheless, still holding his head with a paw.

Gloria seemed to notice, stopping her conversation with Leafeon. The white Vulpix tried to match her gaze with the squinting Riolu as worry traveled across her face.

"Liam… are you okay? Do you need to see Hatterene?" she asked in concern.

If Liam could, he would have smiled at her worriedness. It was a side of her he enjoyed very much. But he also wanted to shiver at the last part of her words.

Seeing the head nurse, Hatterene, was something he didn't want to do. Sure they were just rumors that his fellow guild members retorted, but the sinister glares he's seen her give to the unlucky Pokémon that entered her office were enough to convince him.

"I'm fine. It's just a little headache."

Ever since the day they had left the premiere, he had been experiencing these brief sudden headaches. When they had first entered the guild, and now a week later, they still remained. He only hoped they would just fade on their own and not affect his performance out in the field.

They were doing well so far, quite well, according to Scizor. The day after they were told about the ley lines and Mystery Dungeons, they were told to go straight to doing jobs from the bulletin boards. It was pretty tough for them to get adjusted to this; some jobs were easy, some were much harder. And it wasn't like they were getting paid tons, with the guild taking over ninety percent of their earnings.

Roark was always there to set them straight, as he was their 'guardian angel', to quote the Pokémon himself. It was much needed in their first few days, even if it meant the occasional teasing. Gloria was happy to just be able to help in some capacity. To give back to the Pokémon of Celestic.

Liam was happy to get out of the guild and see Celestic for what it was. Impossibly tall forests, jaw dropping cliffs, deep blue lakes and ponds. He wondered when he would be able to see more of the continent, and more than just this part of the Meadow Region.

His fellow guildmates also told him about expeditions the entire guild would take across Celestic, usually every year. While the goals of each trip varied, it definitely was no short hike through the woods. The thought excited him immensely, more than he'd like to admit. Roark already mentioned that he acted like Gloria sometimes with his tangents.

But in this brief period of time, he had already seen a lot. A lot of Mystery Dungeons, too. Every time he entered one to complete their mission, or just to get past it, the words of the Guildmaster always echoed throughout his mind.

'The Pokémon of the future will only squabble over the remaining scraps of civilization untouched by the ley lines. There will be no world left for us anymore, we will be consumed by the ley lines.'

If that was true, then he only wondered how long it would be until it happened. Like the Lucario said, the process was slow enough for the average Pokémon to not notice. But, what will happen when they do notice? The whole world would surely begin to unravel, Liam thought.

By then, it would already be too late.

A sting of electricity shot through his mind, interrupting the rush of spilling thoughts in his head. Liam didn't know why, but today it felt much worse than the previous headache filled ones. Breakfast always seemed to soothe that pain, though, even if just a tiny bit. He bit his tongue and fought through it as a hyper Rockruff began to talk to him.

"So, you guys went to the Eden Theater the night of the premiere? That's what Braixen and Monferno said... must've been really cool, huh?" The Rock-type then proceeded to chow down on his circular bowl of berries.

Liam prepared to cook up a response for the Pokémon, but the gray canine's dark furred teammate decided to jump into the conversation.

"Yeah! There's supposed to be new kinds of shiny junk in there, right? Did they let you take any home!?" Mightyena exclaimed. "Ooh! How much do you think they sell for?"

"Mreow~ That would be marvelous! A pity they didn't have enough taste to invite us!" Purrloin added with a whip of her head.

A flap of wings on Liam's right sounded out as Staravia anxiously spoke. "Y-Yeah, me and Joltik wanted to know what you guys saw. Roark was pretty tight lipped about it, b-but he said you guys went along with him."

Soon enough, all the eyes of the guild members sitting at the mess hall table were upon both Liam and Gloria, patiently waiting for an answer.

The Riolu gulped. "Yup, we weren't there long, but we saw a ton of stuff. The main theater, the bar, and we even got to use one of those elevators."

Gloria smiled, keen on explaining. "He's right, we even got to see a 'film'! It's like a play, but the actors are already recorded and in character, and the sets aren't done on a stage. Instead, they're outside and acting, everywhere, and it's all projected onto a white screen. It was mesmerizing!" she gushed. "And the elevators are like, a revolutionary way to move up and down! You don't even need to move!"

Everyone 'oohed' at Gloria's thrilling explanation. This fascination was cut off by a laugh from an illusion making fox, who appeared in the nick of time, taking a seat at the table with his tray of food.

"That's not even the best part, sis."

Leafeon snorted. "Oh, do tell us, Roark. What was indeed the best part? I think I already know what that is," she said matter-of-factly.

He blew her off with a wave of his red claw. "The atmosphere, Leafeon. It may have been a bunch of rich 'mons, but damn was it alive. Comparatively, every other joint in Empyrean is as dead as a Ghost-type."

The table grew silent as Roark's terrible joke settled in. He reached for the glass of water on his tray and took a sip.

"Drinks were okay too, I guess."

"Yeah we all knew you would say that, Roark!" an arrogant voice shouted. "I think you've got a problem, old buddy."

Liam could recognize that voice any time of the day as Monferno appeared in his peripherals wearing a smirk of his own. He took a seat next to the drinking Zoroark and slapped his tray on the table.

"Braix is still out doing nurse stuff for Hatterene." He tossed a red berry into his mouth. "That's pretty much all she's been doing the past week - helping."

"You should be more proud of her Monferno," Leafeon suggested. "I'd follow in her pawsteps and be more professional…" She pointed an earthy paw at the still drinking Roark. "Lest you become like a fox we all know and love."

"She's got you there, darling. Both you two share a striking resemblance in the mmm… improper department," Purrloin commented.

Monferno rolled his eyes as Gloria giggled.

Roark held up a single red claw, finishing off his glass of water and peeling it away from his lips. "I don't have a problem, Mony." He stopped to shoot the Monferno a mock glare, who sneered at the name. "Only on special occasions do I drink, and besides…" The fox extended his free arm over the wooden table and ruffled the cloud-like head tuft of Gloria, who pulled away immediately upon contact - he laughed at this. "I got to set a good example for my little sister, right?"

"You don't need to set a good example for me, Roark. I know not to do the things you do all the time," the miffed Vulpix responded.

"Maybe so, but there's some things that ole cook master Leafeon can't teach you."

Leafeon rested her head on two paws, a smug smile tugging at her features. "Oh, really? Name one."

The Zoroark pointed a claw at the sneering Monferno. "How to swindle a 'mon every time - tell em, Mony." Gloria giggled gleefully while Monferno 'tched'.

"I can be professional anytime I want, Leafeon." Monferno folded his arms behind his neck, closing his eyes and smiling. "I just choose not to."

Leafeon put on a mock pouting face. "Not even for dear Braixen? You're never gonna make it," she spoke in a sing-song voice.

The primate Pokemon sighed, tossing another berry in his mouth. "Yeah, yeah I've heard that all before from mom… and Roark of all Pokémon." He waved a hand. "If it's what Braix wants, I can't really stop her. It's what she was made for after all, unlike me. Big responsibility and all..."

Liam was jolted out of his painful stupor as Monferno's palm landed on his shoulder.

"Speaking of responsibility… how's it going in newbie town, Mr. Personality? Be honest, how many jobs did you two screw up?"

Liam silently despised that nickname Monferno gave him, the connotation it carried. Even if none of them knew the reason.

The Riolu found his tongue, and his bite. "Way better than you - that's for sure."

"Yeah! We're a great pair! Right... Liam?" Gloria sought validation for her defense.

Liam shoved off Monferno's hand. "Of course we are. We have finished every single job with flying colors. Can you say the same, Monferno?" he challenged smugly.

Staravia flapped his wings. "H-he's got you there! R-Remember the Div-vulged Path Incide-"

Monfero interrupted the Flying-type. "Ah, Ah! That's enough of that, Staravia. Been there, done that already." He crossed his arms in finality, stopping to yawn. "Hey, anyone else feeling more tired than usual?"

Roark bit into a green vegetable. "Probably because you haven't had your midday nap yet, eh, Mony?" He winked. "Don't worry, I never tell Scizor." Leafeon nodded her head to this.

"Hey… Monferno?" Rockruff started. "Did you start becoming fashionable like Purrloin? You had something fuzzy and yellow on your back coming over here."

"Wait. Wha-" Monferno shot out of his seat and flipped around.

Liam blinked, apparently his headaches weren't causing hallucinations. Sure enough, a furry and yellow arachnid Pokémon was glued to Monferno's back, its tiny beady blue eyes blinking after realizing it was caught.

"JOLTIK!" Monferno screamed out as he wiggled his body.

The entire table lit up in laughter at Monferno's torment. It was swiftly ended once the Fire-type reached behind his back and plucked the tiny spiderling off, extending it towards a sweating Staravia.

"Take back your little fuzzball partner! And keep a leash on him, please..." The tiny Bug-type leapt from Monferno's hand and onto Staravia's back.

"Awww c-come on Joltik, I told you to stop sapping our friends. Only enemies, okay?" the bird scolded, only getting a small chitter from Joltik, who latched onto Staravia's feathers.

Roark wiped away a tear. "Man, that never does get old. I think Joltik has a particular taste for hot-headed types of electricity."

"Yuck it up, Roark. I await the day it happens to you again." The Fire-type began walking away from the table. "Save my food for me, will ya, Leafeon?"

"But you barely tou-" Leafeon tried to say before he quickly disappeared into the hallway. "Well..." Her eyes sauntered over to a drooling Mightyena. "I saw you hounding those plates with your eyes, Mightyena - go nuts."

A fire seemed to ignite in the large dark furred canine's eyes as he nearly bounded out of his seat to scarf down Monferno's leftovers. Rockruff tried to halt the almost possessed Pokémon with his paws, pushing into the large dog's side. Purrloin just batted her eyelashes, watching her teammates go crazy.

"C'mon. Mightyena! Save a little!" Rockruff pleaded.

Liam couldn't keep his eyes off the scene. It was like watching a carriage wreck in slow motion. It wasn't until a red claw entered his vision, to which he looked at its owner.

"Boy genius is looking for you two. Said after breakfast he needed to give you guys something."

"Boy... genius?" Liam inquired with a tilt of his head.

Roark tossed another berry into his mouth. "The little Minun kid that runs around here with his doohickeys."

"Oh."

Despite them being here for over a week now, they hadn't exactly spoken with the Electric-type, like at all. Not that they were avoiding him, but the Pokémon seemed to always be cooped up in his personal quarters. All they knew was that he was good with technology, little there of.

Gloria hopped out of her seat, ambitious enough to get on with the day. "We'll go right to him! Ready, Liam?"

Said Riolu stared at his almost empty tray. He had his fill of Leafeon's grub, which was always great. But he enjoyed Gloria's cooking just a bit more. He pushed his tray into the middle of the table.

"Sure, let's go see him now." He got up. "Thanks for breakfast, Leafeon."

The Pokémon in question waved an earthy paw. "The pleasure is all mine, Liam." She turned her attention to Gloria, who was fiddling with her cream-colored saddlebag. "Still thinking about taking up my offer in the kitchen?"

Gloria stopped her motions and gulped. "S-Sure thing Leafeon, I'll be ready." This earned a wide warm smile from the Grass-type.

"That's my girl."

"Nope, my girl! Big brother clause." Roark interrupted, causing Leafon to roll her eyes.

"Big sister clause," she rebutted.

"Too late! Already invalidated."

Liam strode past the two arguing Pokémon, placing a paw on Gloria. "Let's go before things get, uh… ugly." He took the opportunity to take a quick look back.

She tore her bothered gaze of the events unfolding away. "Yeah… Lead the way!"

The two gave a short wave to the Pokémon left at the table and took to a hallway going out of the mess hall, now back to where everyone's quarters were held. But they were looking for Minun's specifically. Their key clue in finding out which door belonged to Minun was given by the picture of a Pokémon's ears carved into the wooden frame. Minun's was a dead giveaway with his pointy ears as Liam brought an enclosed paw against the door.

An array of loud muffled clanging noises from beyond the door greeted their ears. Eventually, the door opened to the curious face of Minun. Once he caught sight of both Liam and Gloria, his own face sprouted a joyful smile.

"Team Requiem! I see Roark passed down my message." His voice oozed childlike innocence which nearly stopped both of their hearts.

"Did you need us to do a job?" Liam questioned.

Minun shook his head. "Nope! I've been requested to give you two your own ELE." He pointed his tiny mitt of a paw into his room. "Come on inside, I'll show you it."

Once entering the small abode, it became abundantly clear how much Minun loved tinkering with stuff. Gears, springs, cogs, and other assortment of parts littered the floor, shelves, and even the desks. Along with other bits and pieces came an entire collection of tools just small enough to where the Pokémon could use them.

Minun walked over to his personal desk directly in front of the doorway. On the desk were two small devices, which he picked up and proudly presented it to the two estranged Pokémon.

"This is the ELE! The Electric Longitude Emitter!"

Both Liam and Gloria got a good look at the thing.

It was subdued yellow in color, and shaped like a rectangle. Two Minun-like ears protruded out of the top of the device. Even a distinguishable pair of Minun's eyes were huddled at the top. Going along with this theme, there were perforations along the 'cheeks', two minus symbols on its sides. Near the 'mouth' was a glass display and a round dial below it. Finally, the left side of the device was a switch, presumably to turn it off and on.

"What exactly does it do?" Gloria was fascinated, despite not seeing something like this before.

Minun cleared his throat, trying to adopt a more grown up voice. "Once the ELE turns on, it is able to register a Pokémon's voice and transmit it to another ELE." He shook the device a little. "The electricity inside acts as a link between all ELE, meaning that they can instantly communicate with each other. Seeing that one is connected to another of course!"

The both of their jaws almost dropped. What Minun just said was that this little thing allowed for them to talk to anyone at any time. Liam snapped out of his trance as Minun almost shoved the device near him - he grabbed it.

"Go ahead, try it out! The signal is already connected to the one I have on the table. Just flip the switch and talk. That's how you communicate."

"Yeah, do it, Liam!" Gloria encouraged, almost impatient.

The Riolu heeded their words and flicked the switch of the ELE. The glass display presented a number. Liam guessed it was for which other ELE the device was connected to. He cleared his throat and uttered a 'hello' to the gadget.

From the table behind Minun came a loud garbling of harsh static, the ELE on the wooden desk receiving its transmission from Liam as it regurgitated a copy of his voice.

"...Hello."

Liam swore he heard Gloria squeak as she did a little dance.

"That's so amazing!"

The Riolu could only agree with widened eyes.

Minun nodded, tapping the round dial on the device. "Fiddle with the dial and you can change which signal you're connected to. Everyone has their own number so you know who to contact. Yours is 626." He then pointed at the ELE on the table. "Take the other one as well. If you two are split up, these really come in handy."

Liam plodded over to the table and picked up the other ELE. "Thanks, Minun, these will really come in handy." It still baffled him, but this world had many surprises.

Minun rubbed the back of his neck with a paw. "Don't thank me, thank the Guildmaster. He told me to hand these off to you two - said there was a mission he needed done, and these would be helpful in your endeavors."

Gloria stood still as Liam popped open a pouch in the saddlebag on her side, throwing the other ELE in. The main one he decided to attach to the side of the saddlebag - ready whenever they would need it the most.

"We're going to head off now to start out jobs. Thanks again, Minun!" Gloria strolled over to the door, a bit of a bounce in her steps.

Minun watched the pair leave with a smile. "See you around, Team Requiem!"

Things were beginning to clear up in Liam's head, his pain from earlier but a distant memory. He placed a paw against his temple.

'I just hope it stays that way…'

Right now the Riolu just hoped some decent job listings were left for them.

A 'clack' noise was heard beyond the door as he swung it open. Beyond the door was the sturdy visage of Scizor staring down at them, his trusty clipboard clasped in a red pincer.

Liam almost jumped out of his fur.

Another Pokémon they haven't regularly talked to. Roark always told them to be wary of the 'always watching Scizor', as he appeared almost out of thin air to reprimand a given Pokémon. Liam would be lying if he said he never took the fox's words a bit seriously.

"Team Requiem," the stark voice of the Bug-type came out. "The Guildmaster wants to see you in his quarters. You will not be taking any job requests today, so follow me."

The 'clack' noise was back again as Scizor marched down the hallway, fully expecting them in tow. Liam and Gloria exchanged a worried look before hesitantly following the Pokémon. Their short journey through the hallway, into the mess hall, and into another hallway led them right into the closed door of the Guildmaster's quarters.

Scizor gave two brief knocks on the wooden door with a pincer. "Guildmaster, I have Team Requiem." A few seconds later, the gruff voice of the Guildmaster came through the door.

'... Come on in.'

The handle to the door was turned by Scizor's pincer as he advanced into the room, side stepping so Liam and Gloria could both enter the spacious office. Scizor closed the door behind them, placing his back against it.

To say it was exquisite would be an understatement. The carpeting was firm to the touch, and the white and black checkered pattern etched into it bore a resemblance to the porcelain tiled floor outside. Expensive looking wooden shelves and draws lined the walls, filled with maps, books, and notes. The swinging pendulum of a grandfather clock created a ticking noise that reverberated across the entire room.

A golden colored telescope was positioned near a single large window, which drew in sun's rays, bathing the room in a white light. In the middle of the windowsill was a potted plant protecting a blooming white flower that absorbed the sunlight - a white wallflower. However, something else in the room would catch Liam's eye.

'Is that… a banjo?'

The instrument rested against the windowsill. It was crafted with wood and metal strings, stretching from the circular base to the headstock. Scratches and other rough dents in the detailed wood were visible, clearly showing that it had been used a lot in the past.

He didn't know why, but seeing it struck a chord within him.

The obvious centerpiece of the office was the large ornate desk with a glossy finish positioned in the middle of the room. Binders containing diverse scraps of paper with messy ink writing were scattered around the desk. To Liam, they seemed more like personal notes rather than official documents.

'Maybe the Guildmaster is just a bit scatterbrained,' he thought.

The golden furred Lucario slowly looked up from his writing and took in the sight of the three Pokémon that entered. His gaze honed in on Gloria's saddlebag, specifically the yellow device that was clipped onto it. He set down both his paper and black pen.

"Good. I assume you two are ready for reassignment?"

Gloria stepped forward, her paws a bit wobbly. "Did we, um, do something wrong, Guildmaster?" she asked softly.

Liam remembered that Minun had said they were given both ELE's, per the Guildmaster's request, so Gloria's worry of them being punished seemed unlikely. His theory was confirmed as Jackson shook his head.

"No, in fact your efforts in the past week have told me that this mission I will send you two on should end well."

A thump appeared in Liam's heart. "Mission? What kind."

The Lucario locked eyes with him. "You two will be sent on a recon mission at Criss-Cross Creek. What you will be looking out for is a Mystery Dungeon somewhere along the riverbank."

Liam's brow furrowed. "Wait… we're looking for one?" Generally, they avoided a Mystery Dungeon unless their job request told them they needed to.

Jackson nodded." Yes, you will look for the entrance of a Mystery Dungeon that is located around Criss-Cross Creek. However, you will not enter the dungeon, as the location of it is the only information we desire. This intel is very important for the guild's cause."

Liam grimaced; the two of them understood exactly what that cause entailed. He just didn't want to disappoint the Guildmaster or anyone else in the guild if they messed this one up. They would never hear the end of it from Monferno or anyone else. The Riolu peered over at Gloria, who thankfully returned his look and nodded eagerly.

"Don't worry, Guildmaster, we got this."

The Lucario leaned over his desk and picked up a white envelope. He motioned Liam to come over and grab it, the Riolu following his command.

"Take the crossroads. Go north, past Soaring Falls, where there will be a lakebed. There's a shop there that allows Pokémon to rent out boats to use on the rivers. You two will use that boat to take a lap across one of the rivers where you'll keep an eye out for that Mystery Dungeon." He motioned to the envelope Liam now held. "Give that to the owner of the shop; it's proof that you two are here under my request. Once you two have either secured the location or failed to, then you will contact me through your ELE." He sat back into his chair. "Is this information sufficient?"

It was something totally different than the usual job request, but Liam appreciated the change of pace every now and then. He thought Gloria would too, even if she loved doing the work they did.

The white Vulpix perked up. "We'll get right to it, Guildmaster," she said, a nervous but hopeful smile etched on her face.

Jackson eyed Scizor, who took his back off the door and swung it wide open for them.

"Then I shall await the results - you are free to leave now."

He gave the two Pokémon before him one last glance before returning to his writing. Liam and Gloria walked towards the doorway, taking their exit as Scizor shut the door behind them. The two strolled through the halls, happier coming out of the Guildmaster's office than before they entered.

Gloria took the initiative to speak her mind. "I can't believe it! We're actually being trusted with a real mission, after only a week!"

Liam returned her enthusiasm. "I'm just glad we aren't out doing the same job requests everyday." He smiled. "Hey, do you think they'll stop taking ninety percent of our cut if we do well?"

Gloria squinted her eyes suspiciously. "You're starting to sound like Roark. How much has he influenced you?"

The Riolu laughed. "I thought you would be more happy for that."

She tilted her head. "Why would I?"

"Because then we could afford more sweets. Roark said you liked them a lot." His words caused Gloria to grow beet red.

"What?! N-No I… don't," she sputtered, fidgeting with her bag.

"Yeah…" He scratched his chin with a paw. "He said maybe you liked them a little too mu- oof!" His musings were cut off by a white paw jabbing him into his side. The culprit - a flustered Gloria.

"Stop listening to him!"

"I... won't!"

The Riolu's laugh picked up again as he sprinted down the hall to get away from her wrath, an irritated Vulpix running after him in hot pursuit.


LNjnzBG.png


It was now the afternoon, and they were finally at their destination.

Their long trip through the winding meadows and past the seas of rock and clay led them to an area dominated by tall, wet grasslands with some strands that were taller than the both of them. Droplets of see-through dew slid down them. Even the atmosphere confirmed that this was surely the place.

They were thankful that it wasn't a swampland at least, Gloria more so.

Liam scaled up a damp hill, surveying the land below once he reached the top. A large lake took up his vision, a few rivers splintering off into other directions. His eyes wandered left and right, until they snapped towards a large wooden shack with a porch built by the lakeside. It extended into a dock that hung over the lake with rowboats large enough for two Pokémon tethered to posts.

The shack itself was slightly run down, gift shop knick-knacks hung by string from the porch's ceiling like ornaments. A crudely painted sign that said 'BOAT RENTAL' was displayed near the top of the shack.

This was their place.

Liam faced a tired Vulpix. "Gloria, we're here now." He walked over and zipped open one of the pouches on her saddlebag. "You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, my paws are aching, though," she moaned, almost slumping over.

He put his paw on her side, keeping her steady as he pulled out the white envelope from the bag. Liam then shook her a little.

"Once we're on the boat you can rest." He took away his paw as he hiked down the hill. "But we need to go get it first!"

Gloria could only silently agree as she trudged behind her partner. Soon enough, the shack was right in front of them. On the porch, a Sandslash wearing a straw hat was sitting on a rocking chair, cross-legged, and seemingly conked out. The two couldn't blame the Pokémon for napping on the job, being that this shop to was in the middle of nowhere.

Liam stepped onto the porch and enclosed a paw, knocking on one of the wooden support beams.

"H-huh… whu…" The eyes of the male Sandslash opened repeatedly until he was wide awake. He quickly glanced at the two Pokémon that invaded his naptime. "Customers…? You folks looking fer a boat?" he questioned, eyeing the two scarves they wore.

Liam cleared his throat with a paw. "Yes, sir, we're representing the Cosmic Quilt Guild." He showed the white envelope to the Sandslash. "Our Guildmaster gave us this to confirm that we are, uh, truthful."

The Ground-type raised a brow, swiping up the envelope and tearing it open with a claw. Once he peeked inside, he started to snicker.

"Well, well, well, if it ain't ole Jack." The Sandslash returned his gaze. "Don't worry now, I know you two are legit." A claw was pointed at the docked boats. "Y'all go ahead and take one. I know Jack doesn't like his 'mons to dawdle." He tipped his hat. "Just bring it back, is all."

Gloria smiled. "Thank you, sir! We'll be sure to bring it back." She almost rushed to say, already tip-toeing off towards the boats.

Liam could only chuckle in response as he gave a wave to the Ground-type, receiving one back before the Pokémon went back to his nap. It appeared Gloria had already picked out their boat, as Liam found her form resting on one of the built in benches inside.

"Aren't you quick," the Riolu teased, hopping in as well.

She giggled. "You need to row. I'm physically incapable y'know."

"Yeah, yeah." He made sure to unravel the rope tied to the post, tossing it inside the boat.

Carefully, Liam placed himself in the middle where two long wooden paddles extended out into the water below. He grabbed both of them in his paws and took a look at his surroundings. When everything was all clear, he effortlessly pushed both paddles back and forth into the water with a rowing motion, causing the boat to start sailing into the sparkling lake.

'Being a Fighting-type sure has its perks.'

Gloria volunteered herself to be Liam's eyes as he paddled them towards one the creeks. They had to be extra attentive to their surroundings, as the stream and its sides were strewn with river rocks.

She pointed a paw at one of the flowing expanses of water. "This one, Liam! We can get a good eye around the whole area."

"Gotcha."

Switching up his rhythm, he swerved the boat around and took it straight towards the stream Gloria had pointed out. It was difficult, and a bit bumpy, but he managed to safely cross into it, not so much breaking a sweat. The current of the river was strong enough to pull them deeper into it as the boat gravitated towards the center. Liam let go of the paddles, giving his arms a rest.

The hard part was done, and now came the much slower but much easier part.

"This river goes north for a while, I think. We're going to be scouting here a while," she deduced, peering out towards their environment.

He took a deep breath, placing his arms along the sides of the boat as his eyes wandered upstairs to explore the ambience around them. The gentle rocking of the boat and the movement of the water filled his ears. A warm summer breeze blew through his fur, greatly relaxing him.

A forest of lush green trees grew besides the creek, the swaying leaves of them extending outward over the river, letting the daylight seep through the openings and down onto the two Pokémon.

Blue skies, all around.

It was a moment of calm for the Riolu he much deeply appreciated - just them and nature, nothing else. But he still remembered they had a job to do, so he kept his eyes glued around their vicinity for that unusual lurking shadow - the sign of the Mystery Dungeon.

For a brief few minutes, everything was fine. Then he felt it.

'Oh no.'

Like he was being stabbed with a dagger, his mind danced in sharp excruciating pain as electricity surged through him. He clenched his teeth, bringing both paws to cradle his head.

'This is…'

It was much worse than before, much worse than anytime he had experienced this in the past. Liam rapidly flicked both his eyes open and shut, swearing that he could see something forming within them. Blue and yellow colored tendrils swirled around the flickering spots in his eyes, the pain growing worse and worse.

'What is… even happening.'

Like molten magma was being poured into his veins, his agony reached a climax, almost making him feel like he was going to pass out. He could see flashes in his eyes, the blues and yellows in them mixing together. Then the pain was suddenly gone, but something else remained. The mix of churning colors in his view melted into an image - an image that became clearer and clearer as his mind shifted into overdrive.

Different sounds flooded his ears, sounds of water, crunching rock, and different but familiar voices - things that became mute as the image that was burned into his mind started to fluctuate and change forms.

A vision began to play.


Pieces of gravel on the paved road were spat out to the sides as the wheels of a deep blue pickup truck spun across them. The outlined image of a horse on its hind legs was emblazoned onto the back of it. The now dirty tires of the truck then rolled to a stop on the road, a grinding noise filling the air.

In the driver seat of the truck, a man, old enough to be in his thirties, shifted the vehicle into park and took his foot off the brake. He ripped the keys out of the ignition before pulling the handle to the car door, popping it open to meet the world. He stepped out of the truck and walked around the front, nearing the passenger seat side.

He banged his fist multiple times on the passenger door, swinging it open to also greet the outside.

"Liam. We're here. Time to wake up," an authoritative voice called.

The young boy strapped into his seat began to stir in his sleep, his eyes popping wide open at the sound of his father's voice. His vibrant orbs shot around as he released his seat belt in a hurry, eager to get out of the truck.

"Calm yourself, son."

The father's words of advice fell on deaf ears as the boy surged out of the vehicle and onto the gravel road. The young boy squinted his eyes, holding a hand over the top of his head to block the blinding sun as he soaked in everything around him.

Liam always loved the warm air of South Carolina, even if currently it was very humid. He could feel the wetness and heat of the atmosphere cling to his skin and shirt. Maybe it wasn't as enjoyable to others, but it was a feeling that made him feel so alive.

"Let's go, Liam, don't want to be wasting all of this daylight." The man smirked. "Or have the fishes get too confident."

The father walked over to the back of the pickup truck, picking up a large light blue cooler, along with two standard fishing rods. He acknowledged for Liam to follow him with a sudden head movement as he cut across the gravel road and into the tall grassland beyond. The two of them brushed through cattail and other wet plant life as they descended down a steep hill to a wooden dock connected to a old bait and tackle shop that extended over the lake.

"Hang tight while I have a chat with the owner's son."

The young boy nodded in confirmation as he huddled closer to his father, still eyeballing the scenery around him. The ground beneath them transitioned from moist grass to soaked wood as they traversed across the berth and towards the numerous types of boats clustered around each other.

A young man sitting on a red toolbox at the end of the dock adjusted his snapback and took a swig from his can of beer before engaging the encroaching pair.

"Hey, Robert! I see you made with it with yer boy. Nice truck - how old is that model? '78, 85?"

"Older than you, Bill, that's for damn sure."

'Bill' held up his free hand, "Woah, woah! Can a guy not 'preciate another guy's taste for automobiles?" He set down his beer can while looking at Liam. "Kid, follow in yer dad's footsteps and git a truck. Chicks. Dig. Trucks."

"Is the boat ready?" Robert changed topics as he lightly shook the cooler and rods in his grasp.

"Oh yeah, 'Is all ready for you!" Bill pointed at a nearby row boat that was painted white. "Got a new paint job for it. Ain't no speedboat, but it'll do ya good. At least, that's what Pa says. I aim for speed."

Robert gestured for Liam to follow. "Thanks, Bill, we'll return it safely."

The young man laughed. "Yeah, Pa would kill me." He shrugged. "Or you... Don't rightly know which."

The pair came to their fitted white rowboat as Robert carefully stepped in, with Liam jumping in right behind him, rocking the boat. There was already a bait bucket and a toolbox full of gear underneath the wooden benches set up for them. Once everything was settled, Robert severed the connection of rope the boat had to the dock's pillar, casting it back onto the dock.

"You folks have some gooood fishing!" Bill shouted, picking up his beer can again. "Easy pickings, I tell ya - they'll grab anything they can git!"

Liam was proud to admit to himself that deep down, he was just a country boy like Bill. He missed the accent that he had lost after they moved to the city. He was no city boy, that was for sure.

Robert planted himself in the middle of the boat, grabbing the paddle on the right, checking his surroundings.

"Take the other paddle, Liam."

"Gotcha."

The boy did as instructed, grabbing a hold of the left paddle and copying the movements of his father as they slowly drifted their way out from the dock. They waded through tall weeds, cattails, lily pads and other bits of green moss that grew on the water, going farther into the lake.

"We'll stop near the lakebed for a bit of training, then take the creek that goes into a forested area. There's a good spot past it that I want to show you."

"... Alright, dad," the boy heaved out as he paddled the boat further.

Soon the dock was but a distant memory as their efforts brought them to the center of the lake. Nothing but murky water all around them that teemed with the aquatic life they sought to catch. While they couldn't see their catch, the tiny ripples and splashes in the water told them all they needed.

Liam grabbed the sides of the boat as he peered off into the lake. When the morning light shined upon the lake, it became truly enchanting. A bevy of swans drifted through the water, like tiny white boats themselves, only stopping momentarily to dunk their long necks into the water below for a quick meal, creating trilling noises.

He somewhat wished he brought his banjo with him. It was a staple of the American South, and he loved playing it, even if he messed up. It was an instrument that evoked a time and a place for everything. The boy could just pour himself out with each 'twang' of it, feeling closer to his beautiful homeland.

Truly, moments like this reminded Liam of their old house. The perfectly maintained white house with the picket fence out on the open fields, in the thick of nature.

But then, 'that day' happened.

Where the reality of things flipped on its head for Liam. The two that remained left that house on the fields, never to return. His father told him it wasn't safe for him there, not at home, nor at school, as he was pulled out. It was either that, or the memories of being in that home that drove his father away.

He missed that home dearly. Even the wide fenced perimeter that blocked him from the outer wilds.

When his mind reflected on the events of 'that day', vitriolic hatred flooded his senses. He could sense his grip on the boat tighten immensely, feeling like he would crush the wood into sawdust. His eyes bored into the water, grinding his teeth together.

'It's not fair… it's just not fair,' he seethed.

It had only been a year, but he still could not imagine that their perfect life could've been destroyed like that. That someone would target them.

"Liam."

The voice broke through his hatred as he let go of his death grip on the boat. He turned to face his father as the man grabbed one of the fishing rods off the floor and handed it towards Liam, who took it in his hands.

Robert reached into the bait bucket. "Now, there's a few steps to fishing that you need to know. You're not just tossing your line in and winning your prize like that." He picked up a writhing worm and jabbed it onto a hook at the end of the line. "It's all about patience."

'Patience,' Liam repeated in his mind.

Another worm was taken out of the box and given to Liam, who copied his father's actions and placed it at the end of his hook.

"These rods have a larger sinker, so you're gonna throw your line farther out, okay?"

The boy nodded. "Got it."

"Great, now…"

The boat rocked slightly as Robert stood up, holding his own fishing rod. "These rods are already set up, so now all we need to do is cast them. Just watch me." He took a stance.

The young boy intently scrutinized his father as the man whipped his fishing rod, the long line flying into the drink with a splash. A small white and blue bobber floated on the water, waiting for any sudden movements from the hungry creatures below.

"Like that, Liam. It's easy."

The boy stood up himself. He went to the edge of the boat and imitated the stance his father held, bringing the fishing rod behind him and throwing the line into the water. It wasn't done as smoothly as his father's, but it plopped into the lake near a lily pad, the bobber hovering just above the water.

Robert looked over. "Make sure you're paying close attention to the movements of the bobber and the water." He went back to watching his line. "If that Bill wasn't lying, then there should be a good number of trout or bass waiting for us."

Minutes of tranquility consumed the two of them as they patiently awaited for their prey to swim forward and take the bait. Liam calmed himself with every inhale and exhale, the wait taking its toll on his mind.

Robert broke the silence, "I never had a father to teach me or do this sort of thing with…" He put a hand to his side. "So, I'm glad you agreed to do this with me… as there may not be a time in the future that would allow me. Maybe someday you'll do this with your own kids."

Liam racked his brain for a response. He was only twelve years old, but he wanted to be a grown up and have his own children just like his father - to teach them of the wonders he had once experienced, and maybe still is to this day.

'But most of all…'

His attention was stolen by the swans again, watching them as they worked as a unit and scooped up aquatic life together. The way siblings work together, as one, sharing their enjoyment. It created a pang within his heart, the feeling of hatred returning.

"I will, dad. But I wish I could've... done this with my sister."

Robert's still posture jerked a little as he deeply inhaled, letting out a heavy sigh. Liam winced, realizing the words that came out of his mouth.

"Liam… are you talking to Mrs. Lachaise again?"

He was.

When his father would drop him off at the Lachaise residence to do his jobs, she was the only one there to speak with. They confided in each other, sharing their stories, their dreams, and their suffering. She told him of her sister, and he told her of his. He even brought his banjo over sometimes to play along with her piano, even if she was not as well versed with it. The woman loved painting above all it seemed.

She said that the both of them were 'kindred spirits'. While he didn't know what that implied, it apparently meant that they shared interests that were one of the same - to find their paradise, and to share that with the family they desired to have returned to them. Their times together provided a relief the boy never knew he needed so much.

He stared at the swans again, who then spread their pristine white wings and took flight, content with their offerings. They flew away from the lake and into the horizon.

"... I don't want you speaking to that woman anymore."

Liam almost dropped his fishing rod. "What?! Why?"

Robert sighed again, "I know who that woman is, and her husband. We all grew up in that same orphanage." He adjusted the grip he had on his rod. "The things she says… yes, this world is cruel. But I don't want you caught up into that cruelty, lest you become it. Like…" He stopped himself. "That woman wants to bring you into that forest, but you need to leave it. When she says..."

Liam slowly nodded, it was hard sometimes understanding just what his father cryptically said sometimes, but he knew that he just wanted the best for him. However, the things Mrs. Lachaise wondered about simply pleased a part of him that he had wondered about his whole life after that day.

Robert peered into the sky, "That there's something beyond this hell - a fantastical place of heaven or perhaps an even greater suffering - anything to escape this... reality." He almost stumbled on his next words. "Liam... when I met your mother… Angelica, I was nothing. She was something. We had you, and sought out a perfect life out here."

The boy agreed with his sentiments. 'And it was…'

Robert swallowed, anger creeping into his voice. "And when she was… taken… from us. That was when I realized I could not escape my sins, that reality wouldn't let me." The man locked eyes with him. "It was my grim reminder, Liam. And it took you with it. There's little I can do to amend this now, except finding out who is responsible." He clenched a fist. "I may not be a cop anymore, but trust me when I tell you this, Liam. We will get our revenge and make it out of this."

The boy was going to respond, but the sight of his fishing rod line being pushed downward stole his thoughts, springing him into action. He snapped his eyes to his bobber as it dipped below the surface, the water billowing as something appeared beneath it.

Robert quickly reeled in his own rod as he immediately got behind Liam to coach him. "Start reeling in now. Fight the fish's movements."

Liam did as he was told, putting his hand on the handle and rapidly spinning it back and forth. The ripples in the water intensified as whatever had taken the bait was being taken along. The tricked occupant started thrashing about, causing Liam to falter a bit with his jerking behaviors.

"W-Woah!"

Liam pulled back the rod with all his strength as he kept reeling it towards the boat. This was a big one, he was sure of it.

A splash erupted out from the lake as a large fish with a hook in its mouth flopped around desperately in the air before returning to the waters.

"Keep fighting it, Liam! You almost have it."

Another rough yank of the rod brought the line closer to the boat, dragging the fish. A spray of water splashed the boat as a long trout with colorful rainbow scales was yanked out of the water and suspended into the air, much to the fish's dismay.

"I got it!" The boy shouted, grinning ear to ear.

"Yes... you did," Robert confirmed with a smile of his own.

The fish squirmed in the air, trying to breath as Liam brought it into their boat. Once it was inside, Robert firmly grabbed its slippery and slimy sides, ripping out the hook from its mouth. He then gave the fish a good weighing with both of his hands.

"Rainbow Trout. About… five pounds." He looked over at his son, who was in disbelief at his accuracy. "There's your first catch, the one of many. I remember my first catch - tiny little minnow. Not as impressive as yours, that's for sure." The man popped open the blue cooler and threw the trout in, promptly closing it. "We should go past the creek and find my favorite spot. It's on a ridge, so we can get out of the boat. And there's more than just trout there."

His words brought Liam back into reality. "... Right."

The pair placed their fishing rods down and picked up their respective paddles, beginning their next voyage. A creek which cut through a forest was their destination, and taking it would lead them into Robert's favorite fishing location. Liam gawked as they navigated out of the lake and into the narrow creek, where the strong current smashed into the rocks.

It was like entering a secret grove. Tall, dark evergreen trees, ferns, and other greenery flourished around the craggy river, blocking large amounts of light from reaching them. Only the river was graced by the sun's rays, making the water glisten and reflect onto their skin. Invisible motes became distinguishable in the shafts of light as they floated around them, glowing.

They steadily rowed further into the creek and into the forested grove, careful enough not to bump into any beached river rocks. More ripples in the water around them appeared as schools of fish swam underneath their boat. They took a left, the buzzing of insects and chirping of distant birds humming into their ears. Even the morning howl of an awakening wolf echoed through the trees.

A feeling of being alive, utterly in tune with mother nature.

Liam took in a deep breath as he slowed down his paddling, almost caught into a trance at his surroundings. It was enough to make Robert notice.

"Pick up the pace, Liam, we're almost there."

"Y-Yeah," the boy responded, hastening his progress.

A time like this made Liam think back to what Mrs. Lachaise told him - about imagining yourself in a forest, one just like this - to be freed of all that anger and strife that plagued this world. Dreaming that one day, being able to share this experience of exploration with others - an experience that the boy longed for the return of.

Utter bliss.


The blue and yellow coils in the Riolu's vision faded into nothingness, jolting Liam's body out of his sitting position. In his sights were signs of familiarity, now seemingly back into the present once more.

Gloria swiveled her head, "Did you doze off?" She giggled. "You told me I took naps too much, so now who's laughing."

"W-wha… I-" He shoved a paw into his mouth.

'Just what the hell was that?'

One moment he felt like he was dying, and the next moment was something totally bewildering. He saw something appear in his eyes, like it was one of the 'films' from the Eden Theater playing in his mind. A vision of three Pokémon that Liam had never seen or heard of before, if they were even Pokémon at all. The best thing he could describe them looking like was some distant cousin of Monferno or other primate Pokémon.

But it wasn't even the weirdest part to him. It was the fact that the boy in his vision had the same name as him. The same voice as him, albeit sounding way younger. Even the same joy they shared with the world around them.

An insane thought traversed through his mind. That perhaps that boy he saw was actually him. It challenged everything he once knew, but it did make somewhat sense. All it did was bring up more questions, and the answers to them were out of his reach.

"Liam, are you okay?" Gloria said with worry. "You've been, uh... staring at me and, um, munching on your paw?" An awkward blush traveled across her face.

The Riolu blinked, collecting his wits and removing the now saliva stained paw from his chops. "I… uh, yeah. I'm good. Did you... see anything?" He changed the topic.

Gloria swung her head back to the riverbank. "I haven't seen anything, but we're nearing our first turn."

Sure enough, the creek was bending around a curve to the right. Liam quickly took both paddles in his grasp and rowed their boat to match the current. The maneuver was a success, as they inclined to the median of this new strip of water.

Gloria yawned cutely. "Did you see anything?"

"Uh... no."

Liam felt a tad bit guilty that he was off envisioning illusions while she was actually attempting their mission, but It was an unpredictable event - one that he so wished didn't cause them to miss their chance of discovery. He would need to tell her everything he just saw. The how and when he didn't bother to answer now. He just knew that in the future, she would need to know this. Especially after the whole journey of self evaluation he went on before. The consequences of which he also did not explore.

Another place, another time - their gentle and quiet cruise through the stream seeming to last hours, never producing any sign of a Mystery Dungeon.

The sun began to set on their efforts, quite literally, painting the sky in orange and purples. This beauty also came at a price, as the area around them became much darker and less easier to point out things in. Trying to find one specific spot of shadow amongst the rest was like finding a needle in a haystack. The creek also began to merge with the lake, bringing them straight back into where they were before. The shop at the shore became more and more visible as their rowboat swam through the orange tinted water.

A harsh crackling noise from the side of Gloria's bag shocked the both of them out of their slump as they exchanged looks of worry. Liam dropped both paddles, plucking the ELE off the side of the bag.

"... Team Requiem. Are you there?" the voice of the Guildmaster came through the ELE's speakers.

Liam remembered the instructions Minun had told them, gulping as he flipped the switch of the device to speak.

"Yes, we hear you, Guildmaster." His voice tingled with worry.

"It is getting late. Have you two discovered the location of any Mystery Dungeons at Criss-Cross Creek?"

Liam wetted his lips. "No, Guildmaster. We did not see anything." Both him and Gloria flinched at the silence that came afterward.

However, the Guildmaster's voice was calm. "... That is fine Team Requiem. Return back to the guild. Leafeon volunteered to stay up and serve you two dinner, as you just missed it."

"T-thank you, Guildmaster." Gloria piped up. "We're, um, sorry to disappoint."

"Your efforts are appreciated, Gloria. Please get home safely. Goodbye." The voice of the Lucario faded along with the static.

The both of them let out a huge sigh of relief, glad that they weren't going to be chastised upon getting back.

"Well, looks like we're not going to get that raise," Liam joked, trying to lighten the mood.

She rolled her eyes as he picked up the paddles again and began to wade the boat towards the dock. With their mission sorted out, his mind began to race again about just what he saw in that vision.

It was an exciting feeling, but also a confusing one.


"A mission given by the Guildmaster, eh?" The Zoroark smirked. "Look at that… my little sister is a diamond in the rough." His eyes wandered over to a tired Riolu. "And who could forget, her sidekick in black and blue!"

"Thanks, Roark," Liam lazily offered.

Gloria put a paw over her mouth as she yawned. "We need to get some rest, Roark. Can we please?" she almost begged.

Roark held up his arms. "Ahh, okay. I'll see you runts another day. Hopefully, by then you two will own this guild."

The trio each gave their own wave as the ruse fox disappeared from the hallway. Liam sighed, shutting the door to their quarters. By the time he turned around, Gloria was already snuggled into her beanbag, happily nodding off. He chuckled at this.

Wandering over to his area, the Riolu swiftly fell backward onto the soft cushioning, his eyes staring into the walls illuminated by moonlight. So many theories he wanted to have about what he saw, but only the thoughts of a good night sleep were present in his mind. One day he would figure out this mystery of these visions, and how relevant they are.

'A time and a place for everything,' Liam drowsily repeated.

Then he closed his eyes.


The young boy jogged across the gravel road and jumped into the passenger seat of his father's blue pickup truck. He quickly strapped his seatbelt in as his father appeared from below the hill with their catchings.

Robert went to the back of the truck and dumped off the blue cooler and two fishing rods. They had quite a haul after a long day of fishing. He knew Liam didn't want it to end, but it was already midday; their time of enjoyment now over. He walked over to the passenger seat and slammed it shut before going over to open the driver side door, taking a step inside.

Great rumblings of the engine spurred to life once he placed his key into the ignition and turned it. The grime covered wheels of the car rotated across the gravel, bringing the automobile to a slow start.

The young boy absently gazed out of the car window at the lake they had previously boated and had fun across . The setting sun in the sky gave an amazing view of the orange shaded lake that gradually faded the further they got away from it. He was already missing it.

"Dad… do you think we'll ever return here?"

Robert adjusted his hands on the steering wheel, looking into the rear view mirror, inspecting the same body of water Liam was. He sighed deeply, returning his attention to the empty road.

"Someday, son."

The blue pickup truck drove past the lake of yesterday. A trip, one of many that they would embark upon in the expanse of the South.


Fond outings and painful truths obscured by these murky waters of distant memories...


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time:10,000 Years, A Message From The Future
 
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Chapter 11: 10,000 Years, A Message From The Future

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Paradise.png
Chapter 11

10,000 Years, A Message From The Future

"Now that you know who I am…"

The heavy stomps of the man's boots on the concrete floor echoed throughout the vacuous room. His brown orbs wandered over to the man he laid upon the ground - an old friend. They lingered for a brief few seconds before slowly facing what was directly in front of the man.

The rattling sounds of the rusty iron chains attached to the concrete walls replaced the stomps as the boy confined to the wall struggled to break free. To do whatever he could to smite the man before him, despite all his previous efforts being in vain.

A great raging fire burned in Liam's eyes, heavily contrasting with the imposing man's calm and judging gaze. They were touched with a hint of sympathy, the kind the boy hated so much. He blinked away angry tears that trailed down his cheeks, spittle spewing from his grinding teeth as he resisted against his iron binds, with little success.

Here stood a monument to everything he hated within this world, of all worlds even. The same thing Mrs. Lachaise told him about - unfiltered evil, and he was utterly powerless to stop it.

The man started kneeling, his knees cracking in response as the wounds that dotted his body flared up in pain, courtesy of the deceased. The man grimaced - he would not last long, but reconciliation was more important than living to him now. His eyes narrowed at the squirming and snarling boy.

Of all the things he wanted to say for so long, he could only say one thing to his young reflection.

"Who are you?"


"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

"G-huh?!"

Liam's red eyes shot open as he almost lunged out his beanbag in surprise, his paws clasped around his ears from the noise. The racket continued as he squinted his eyes at the Flying-type that invaded his rest.

Staravia flew circles around the room, chanting his well-known morning alarm. "WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE U- EEP!" His screeching was cut off by an array of jagged ice shards being hurled at the Flying-type, who dodged all of them and instantly flew out of the room.

A more spatially aware and amused Liam witnessed the shards of ice lodge themselves into the cosmic themed wallpaper, the fragments dispersing into nothing but cold vapor. His eyes snapped over to the beanbag beside his, seeing a very perturbed and very awake Gloria glaring at the tears in the paper caused by her actions.

The Riolu let out a tired chuckle. "This is the second time you've done this, y'know. Are you going to apologize again?"

His partner frowned, a look of worry overtaking her glare. "I hope he doesn't take it personally. It's just my, um… anti-Roark instinct?" An embarrassed blush consumed her muzzle as she yawned. "That's… all I can explain it as."

Liam rolled his eyes, hopping off his beanbag and taking a huge yawn as well. His thoughts then caught up with him, a flash of memory of his dream shooting through his mind, causing him to freeze up on the spot, his look now vacant and glossy.

'What I just saw… was that… a dream or…'

It was so vivid - like that one he had when they were sent scouting a while back. As if he was looking in on reality from a window, where he could hear things, feel things, and see them in accurate detail.

He could feel the chains wrapped around that boy, the tension in the room, the hatred that coursed through the boy. The events occurring seemed to contrast with his past vision, though, giving him very little, if anything to connect the two to some greater meaning.

Liam tightened a paw, looking down at it. He wanted to just write it all off as nothing more than dreams or hallucinations, but the visceral feeling of it all worried him, the headaches he endured when it happened. That perhaps the two were very much connected, and he was just left in the dark of it all.

Gloria sluggishly got out of her beanbag, stretching all four of her furry white paws. Her tired blue eyes stared at the blank looking Riolu clenching a paw.

"Are… you okay, Liam? Did you sleep well?" She let loose a tired giggle. "I think you're daydreaming again."

Liam slowly nodded. "Daydreaming… yeah."

His lifeless gaze contracted as his paw untightened. He flopped back onto his beanbag, admiring the simple wooden ceiling in his sprawled out form.

'Do I want it to be just that?'

Whenever he thought about it more, the more it made sense. He never felt like a Pokémon, like one of them. And the 'Pokémon' he saw in these visions don't look like any he or anyone has seen before.

Ever since he awoke that day, he always wondered about his past and somewhat longed for the return of his memories, to not be a blank or a ghost anymore. His eyes wandered downstairs to the smiling and ever curious Vulpix in front of him - he smiled in return.

'But ever since I've collaborated with her… maybe my memories returning didn't matter so much anymore.'

It was true when he told her that it just didn't matter if he never knew who he was, that he was happy to just be here and do the things he wanted to do, with her by his side of course. It was a choice he made very clear to both her and himself.

His stare returned to the ceiling. 'But then… this whole vision thing muddled that choice up.'

It was like an awful joke.

That not even a week after he said that he would experience these events. Now he was faced with making another choice, one that could decide his fate of working together with Gloria. To either shove these visions away as nothing more than dreams, or to believe in a past that was forgotten returning to him.

"Going back to bed, Liam? I thought you wanted to go visit the Meowstics' today?" Gloria asked softly.

Liam sighed deeply - he could not decide this alone; he needed her input, so he took a gamble.

"Gloria… what would you do if I regained my memories?"

Her smile flipped upside down as she shuffled her forepaws together, clearly caught off guard by the question. "Well… I'd, uh, see if we can contact your family… if you have any that is." She flinched slightly at his downcast look. "It would really be up to you. Me and Roark don't um, own you, y'know." Gloria started smiling again. "But I'll be supportive of whatever you choose to do, even if... it means that we can't be a team anymore. I guess it would be unlike me to stop you, considering I've helped you this far."

Liam sat upright, mulling over her response in his head. "Yeah… family, if I have any."

'That father in the vision…'

And there it was again, that feeling of there being something more for him to uncover. But he didn't just want to regain the past and abandon Gloria and her dreams for it. He made a promise to Roark to stay by her side.

"But don't worry, Gloria… probably won't happen," Liam assured.

He scolded himself inwardly for never telling her of what actually happened on their scouting mission. Even after almost a month passing, and he still hadn't summoned the courage, or rather, an actual explanation to give her. How could he explain to her if he didn't know himself? Would she call him crazy for thinking he's some non-Pokémon alien that uses drivable steel carriages to get around? Liam laughed at the thought, as she had already called him plenty of crazy for some of his 'leap of faith' actions during their job requests.

But this event was far more far-fetched than anything he could pull off in the field.

The conflicted Riolu sighed, deciding to keep the events of that day and possibly today to himself. He just wondered if there would come a time where he would need to tell her all of this, if that would ever hurt her, or him.

Gloria tilted her head. "Are you sure?" She giggled again. "You've gone through at least five different emotions in the span of a few seconds."

Liam stood up, sighing again. "Ain't that the truth…" He twisted his body, popping some unused joints. "Let's get this show on the road, shall we?"

"It's our day off, remember? No adventuring for you," she said matter-of-factly, bending down to pick up her saddlebag as Liam raised a brow.

"You act as if a day off means no adventuring. If anything, that means even more adeventuring." He smiled as the cream saddlebag was hoisted around Gloria's side.

"For me, it means relaxing. But first we need to go see the siblings, as you've drained a lot of our battle items... mostly our Blast Seeds." She shot him a knowing look as he scratched his neck in embarrassment.

What could he say? He just loved a good explosion.

Liam lumbered over to their slightly opened door. Already he could hear the eager steps of his fellow guildmates getting ready for breakfast. He smiled at the thought, turning to look at a still packing Gloria.

"What have you got planned for us, or… yourself?" he questioned. "I don't think I can stomach another trip to the library."

Gloria huffed. "I was going to relax and quietly read in the Sunshine Forest. You're free to join, but Roark wants us later to go, uh… see something."

'Of course he does,' Liam grumbled in his mind.

Every time they took the dark fox's offer, it was a gamble of what oddity he would take them to in Empyrean. It would either be something embarrassing for his sister, for Liam, both, or even something that was actually cool to the Riolu for once.

"I guess I'll have to tag along."

Gloria ambled over to the door. "Good, maybe then we can talk more about your memory if you feel like i-"

"Memory loss? Isn't that a familiar thing, huh, Gloria?" The honey-like voice of Leafeon, who was now in front of the doorway, almost sent the shocked Vulpix to the floor.

"L-Leafeon?! Did you… hear us?" Gloria squeaked out.

A nod came from the Grass-type as she finally entered the room. "I came to investigate what made Staravia bolt out so here fast, but I ended up hearing something else…" She pivoted her eyes towards the aghast looking Riolu, who took a step back at her entrance.

"So, you're the one with amnesia then, right?" Leafeon grew a victorious smile.

The Riolu in question froze in horror. 'Shoot... is she going to tell the Guildmaster?'

It was a worry they both he and Gloria shared, but sadly forgotten about until it suddenly came to fruition right now. Liam spared a look towards a still astonished Gloria, seemingly pleading for her assistance.

Gloria obliged, dread filling her heart. "Leafeon… are you going to tell the Guildmas-'' She was cut off by a sudden quadruped-like hug from the leafy Pokémon.

"Gloria! I would never!" Leafeon nuzzled her head further into Gloria's neck. "You're, like my little sister, y'know!"

A dazed Gloria exchanged looks with Liam, who let out a sigh of relief and thanked Arceus if he ever happened to exist. A cooling bead of sweat travelled down the Vulpix's face as her lips contorted into a shaky smile. "R-right… then, you'll keep this to yourself?" She moved her head away from Leafeon's and looked into the empty halls outside. "We didn't want you guys to know because… um." She winced as Leafeon broke off the hug.

The Grass-type adopted a bemused smirk. "Gloria… did you forget?"

Gloria gulped, feeling a bit stupid right now. "M-maybe? i'm not really sure what I'm supposed to remember..."

Leafeon giggled, pushing the Vulpix slightly with her earthy paw. "I think it was very sweet of you to look after Liam." Her gaze fell upon the Riolu, who was beginning to feel like a third wheel again. "Was it the same? Waking up in the middle of nowhere with just a name in your noggin?"

Liam's mouth parted. '... How would she?' He shook his head, "Yeah, just the name of... Liam. That was it."

Leafeon nodded, "I told you at the festival that I trusted you, and I still do." She giggled again.

The Riolu inferred that she was the source of Gloria's spouts of spontaneous giggling.

"I guess I should've called it beforehand, a 'mon with a name acting so confused and alien. The signs were there all along." Her visage was now mixed with sympathy. "It's a tough thing - one that I understand in keeping this information to yourselves very much."

Liam bit his tongue instead of asking for more information. It was good enough for him that she wasn't going to tattle on them to the Guildmaster, risking him or them both getting kicked out of the guild. He had a sudden new respect for Leafeon, even if they barely talked.

Gloria held a paw to her scarf. "... Do you think we should tell the others? Maybe they'll understand like you?"

Leafeon smiled, shaking her head. "I appreciate your optimism, Gloria, but that kind of talk would get him or the both of you branded as crazy, or worse. I'd keep it out of Team Moonlight's ears... especially Scizor's." Her smile then widened. "But you guys have done a good job hiding it so far!"

Liam frowned, 'So far, until now... ' He looked at Gloria, who was now recovering from her terror. 'And how long can I keep everything from her? Dreams… or memories.'

Time would tell it seemed.

A spark appeared in Leafeon's eyes. "Hey… how about after breakfast you two meet up with at Sylveon's Sweets!" She winked, looking at Gloria. "I can get her to make your favorite."

That same spark lit up in Gloria's orbs as her fluffy white tails started to wag. "R-Really? I'll definitely come right away then!" Her giddy glint spun around. "You'll come too right, Liam?"

"Oh, uh…"

He remembered the last time he was there - the pink colors, the overpowering sweet sugary smell in the air, and the touchy-feely owner behind the counter. A shudder ran through his body at the thought of returning now. He swallowed that fear and gave a small nod. "Sure, we'll meet you there, Leafeon."

"Great! Then…" Leafeon plodded happily to the door, turning her smiling face towards the two. "I'll see you there." The Grass-type then took her exit.

Liam let another relieving sigh, the mental rollercoaster of today seemed to finally stop, for now. Gloria also let out one, silently thanking her sister-like mentor. Her excitement then returned, along with the wag in her tails.

"We'll go straight there after we do our business with the Meowstics', okay?" she said with a more resounding tone.

He smirked. "Okay, your highness."

'Joy.'


The rumblings of the wooden carriage on the paved stone were now a memory of the past as it passed, allowing Liam and Gloria to finally cross the street. Today was relatively quiet in the usually bustling marketplace of Empyrean, with only a few Pokémon out shopping this early in the morning.

They had just taken a quick visit to Toxapex's Bunker to check out their stockpile that they had previously gave the Pokémon. With a sinister look, he all but confirmed that they needed to visit the Meowstics'.

Liam brushed past a few Pokémon, holding a paw over his head to block the sun's blinding rays. He squinted his eyes at the royal blue painted stand directly in front of them, the siblings behind the counter seemingly checking and replentishing their morning stock.

He jabbed Gloria in her side with an elbow. "Let's get there before anyone else does."

She gave a nod in response, the two speeding up their casual pace and arriving at the stand not long after. A knock on the countertop from Liam caused the siblings to stop their work and swiftly get to their usual positions.

"Team Requiem!" the posh brother spoke first. "Back for more battle items, one assumes?"

Gloria smiled. "Yep! Liam here used up all our Blast Seeds and Wonder Orbs." She stood still as the Riolu unhooked the saddlebag wrapped around her waist.

Liam placed the bag on the counter. "That may or may not have happened, but it's true that we came here for this reason." He gave the bag a pat, his gaze wandering over to the many colored disks that lined the stand's walls. "And… maybe another thing?"

He had spoken to Gloria to this before, about learning a new type of move. His Force Palm was deadly according to her, but he desired having a new trick up his sleeve for any tougher foe, such as that Magmortar they faced a while back.

Liam repositioned his eyes back to the siblings. "Do you think there's a TM I could use that would give me some sort of edge?"

The elegantly spoken sister chuckled into a paw. "Edge, you say? I think we have something that can fit your battle style, I assume." She sent a wink to the Fighting-type before whirling around. Her paw swept across all the rows of TM's before landing on a strikingly bright yellow one, her eyes narrowing to read the text as she plucked it off the shelf and turned back around. She held it towards Liam, who leaned across the counter to take a better look. "Thunder Punch," she read out. "This move will send out shocking amounts of power to your opponent!"

"Emphasis on 'shocking'," the brother added with a smirk. "I heard some Pokémon hit with this move can be stuck paralyzed; like they ate a Stun Seed."

Liam blinked, slowly reaching a paw over the counter to grab the still extended yellow TM from the sister's paw, his eyes boring into the disk.

"You think this is the one, Liam?" Gloria asked, breaking his concentration.

He expunged the pressure within him with an exhale, giving one final thought about doing this, smiling and looking up at the Meowstics' again.

"How much?"

"One-thousand Poké," the brother confirmed almost immediately, a victorious smile on his face. "Feel free to give a test while we do business with Gloria."

"Well… good thing we saved so much, even with the guild taking so much."

Liam stepped away from the counter, letting Gloria take over. Once he was a good distance away, he held the TM closely in his paws, remembering what Gloria told him to do.

The thoughts swirling in his head tuned into one thing only, learning this move. His eyes closed shut as his mind focused, the yellow coloration of the disk fading away. His body jerked a little, dropping the now colorless disk onto the ground. Slowly, he cracked open both eyes and looked down at the dropped disk.

'Did I… do it?'

He decided to test that thought, holding his arm out and enclosing a paw. Just like every time he used a move in battle, the idea of his paw being encased by electricity surged through his mind. He grunted, trying to get that hidden power to reveal itself. Then it happened - tiny yellow flickers of electricity jumped out of his fur, forming a field around his enclosed paw. Liam quickly withdrew his arm in shock, observing his now splayed paw and checking if his fur was singed or burnt by the wild sparks.

'I guess so…'

He would still need to train this new move, hoping that their meeting with Leafeon wouldn't take up too much of his time so he can thrash around some dungeon Pokémon with his new move.

Gloria shoveled in the freshly bought seeds and orbs into her saddlebag, handing off a handsome amount of Poké to the polite shop owners. Once the newly acquired items were secured in their respective pouches, she turned to see Liam walking back to the counter, waving his paw around and freeing it from any potential sparks.

She giggled. "Well? Are you happy now?"

Liam smiled. "Sure am," he lied somewhat, only truly being satisfied once he could pummel some Pokémon with it.

Gloria rolled her eyes, slinging the saddlebag around her side. "Thank you, Mister and Miss Meowstic. We'll be off to Sylveon's place now!"

The sister behind the counter chuckled into a paw again. "At Sylveon's? Why, we just handed a large supply of baking supplies to her just today. She was in a fantastic mood, even more excited than she typically is!"

Liam sighed, the sister's words not being good news for his sanity. However, Gloria smiled widely at her words.

"I think it's because Leafeon is going to be-"

"INCOMING!"

The shout of a scratchy female voice from the heavens caused Gloria to halt and head the voice's alert, hopping to her side. Liam also took a step back as something, or rather, someone landed right in front of him.

It was a small Pokémon about as tall as Gloria - white fur with lush green grass growing along its legs and atop its head, where two furry white wing-like protrusions sprouted out from. A red leaf hung from its nape. A green saddlebag was strapped to its side, and the same scarf Liam and Gloria wore was wrapped around its neck.

"Sorry 'bout that," the Pokémon flatly commented. "Scuse me, luv." She then brushed past a still flabbergasted Gloria to greet the equally shocked shopkeepers.

Her leafy paws were placed on the counter. "Here for my Energy Ball, which was already paid for. You lads kept it nice and safe for me, right?"

The brother behind the counter shook himself free from his trance. "Uh… of course! We'll get it right away, ma'am!" He swiftly flipped around to filter through the shelves stocked with TM's.

The gears in Liam's mind began to turn as he analyzed the Pokémon that had so rudely dive bombed on them. The shape and description of this Pokemon reminded of something he had seen in a book from the library.

'Why do I recognize… wait a minute.'

He took a gamble. "Hey, aren't you… a Shaymin?"

The Pokemon in question turned around, hearing Liam's voice. "Uhhh… yeah? What's it to ya?" She then got a good look at both of the starry themed scarves wrapped around the Pokémon's necks. "Crikey…" She muttered under breath. "The two of ya are part of the guild, aintcha?" Shaymin cracked a grin. "I've been gone too long, haven't I? We've got new dweebs!"

Liam blinked, 'Dweebs?'

"Though… I haven't seen a Riolu around Celestic in ages!" Shaymin inspected Liam's build. "Who are you? The Guildmaster's long lost son?"

"W-What?!" Liam stammered out. "No I'm not… his son, or whatever. I'm from the Shore Region, and the name's Liam."

Shaymin tilted her head, "Name too, eh? Sure you're not related? I heard the Guildmaster even came from the Shore Regi-"

"No."

Gloria took a step forward, clearing her throat and extending a paw towards Shaymin. "It's very nice to meet you, Shaymin. We're Team Requiem! We began working at the guild over a month ago. I'm Glor-

"Uhuh… I already know that, luv. Roark always speaks about you - some bookworm or nerd I take it?"

Gloria's outstretched paw was lightly swatted away by Shaymin's own, causing her to step back and shuffle her legs together in embarrassment.

"No need for formalities or anythin', just know that I'm part of Team Evergreen with that other sheila there - Leafeon." Her smirk developed a crack. "If the Guildmaster, the bugger that he is, didn't terminate me for being gone so long."

Liam found his tongue, "We're actually going to see Leafeon at Sylveon's Sweets right now." Gloria nodded to this.

"Ah! Now ain't that a surprise. Leafeon and that dang Sylveon cozying on up. Maybe she deserves a visit from her teammate…" Shaymin sighed. "Tell ya what. You seem like nice blokes… even if you look like a buncha dweebs."

Neither Liam nor Gloria knew how to exactly respond to that. Nonetheless, Shaymin continued.

"How about we all go together there? Once I'm done shoppin', of course."

The Riolu and Vulpix duo exchanged looks before shrugging and nodding simultaneously to her request.

As if on cue, the Meowstic brother thrusted a bright green TM over the counter. "Here is your Energy Ball, Shaymin. The last one in fact!"

"Tch. Took ya long enough!" She snatched the green disk from his paws and tossed into a now open pouch on her saddlebag and then closed it. "Lead the way then, dweebs. It's been a while since I had a sweet tooth."

The sister Meowstic blinked at her lack of gratitude before waving a paw. "P-please return next time!" Her bewildered brother nodded along to her words.

Gloria smiled, waving her paw back and forth. "Thank you again!"

Liam offered a brief wave as well, Shaymin already waltzing off.

They eventually grouped up and headed down the road leading out of the marketplace and towards another section of the city littered with fancy diners, cafes, and assorted family bakeries. It had been a while since Liam had walked down this street, being the day he woke up as a ghost, but he still remembered everything in their path, especially one rounded pink building that was now before them.

They all entered.

A chorus of tiny bells above the door's entrance rang out throughout the inside. A blinding wave of pink assaulted the Riolu's eyes, reminding him exactly what kind of territory he was in. The bakery was quiet, and it appeared no customers were here this early in the morning, except for one occupied table to the room's right.

There sat Leafeon, Sylveon, and even the motherly Lopunny they had done a job for previously. She was sipping away at a much expected pink tea cup, laughing and chatting with the others seated. Liam could even see the antler covered necklace they uncovered wrapped around her neck.

The sounds of the chiming bells above the entrance door stole the rabbit's gaze from her friends and towards the new arrivals. A smile graced her lips as she waved them down with a paw.

"Gloria! Liam! It's great to see you here! And…" She tilted her head. "Is that... Shaymin?"

The sound of her partner's name caused Leafeon to turn her attention as well, bounding out of her seat and towards the Pokémon.

"Shaymin?!"

Once Leafeon caught an eye of her partner, she sprinted forward to envelope the Pokémon into a friendly hug, who squirmed at her actions.

"Hey! You're back!" Leafeon removed her head from the hug. "For good, I assume?"

Shaymin broke away. "Yeah, things were about to get ugly with one of the elders. Left before it could."

Leafeon frowned at this. "Where did you even go?" Realization then hit her. "... Back to the village? You know I told you not to go there! Not yet… at least."

Shaymin winced at her scolding. "Nah, I know that. It's just..."

Leafeon smiled, leaning in. "Just…?"

"Y'know me, Leafy. Had to go see them after everything I've accomplished so far out in Celestic."

Sylveon popped up beside Leafeon, a big smile staining her features. "Oooh, It's very good to see you after so long, Shaymin!" Her long pink and white feelers protracted out of her bow and towards the Grass-type.

Shaymin blocked her attempts with a paw. "Woah, ribbons off the merchandise! I don't do that sugary, sweet kindness thing, luv."

Her standoffishness sent the Fairy-type into a giggling fit, with her refocusing her attention on the Vulpix and Riolu beside Shaymin now. "Well, then, It's good to see you as well, Glory and Li Li! It's been too long."

Liam's fur almost paled. 'Li Li? That was the nickname she chose?!'

The feelers of Sylveon soon floated their way, Liam taking a large step back away from them, remembering both experiences from before. Gloria, however, embraced the gesture, allowing the feelers to wrap around her outstretched paw and giggling at the positive feelings she was being given.

"It's good to see you too, 'Sylvie'!" Gloria tugged slightly on the ribbons, her tail starting to wag behind her. "Um… Leafeon said you would make my favorite, right?"

"Of course I did! On the house, for my two-" She stopped and laughed."-Three guests." She motioned with a feeler to the table where Lopunny was seated. "Please, have a seat while I get everyone's treat ready." The Fairy-type unraveled Gloria's constraints and skipped past the counter.

They obeyed her orders, walking over and taking a seat, Gloria nearly sprinting to her own chair in anticipation.

Lopunny took another sip of her tea. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" She directed her gaze on Liam and Gloria. "My, over a month so far into the guild! Time sure flies, doesn't it? How are you dears doing in your efforts? My little Buneary especially wants to know."

Gloria gladly took initiative. "We're doing great so far! The Guildmaster even said many times that we were one of the best teams he'd seen enter the guild!"

"It's true!" Leafeon concurred. "A little gossip with Indeedee every now and then gets me reports on everyone at the guild." She winked at Gloria. "Roark and I told you that it would work out, right?"

Shaymin whistled. "Sheesh, never seen that ice cube of a Guildmaster even say much a word of appraisal to anyone else." She smirked, shooting Liam a look. "Do I smell… nepotism from the dweebs?"

"Shaymin!" Leafeon chided.

"I'm not his son." Liam retorted, wearing a deadpan expression.

Shaymin started to laugh up a storm, "Nah, nah, I kid, mate! Impressive stuff though from two new rookies." She mockingly sighed. "When will he give the guild's best flyer that same treatment?"

Leafeon narrowed her eyes. "You know why, Shaymin." Her light brown orbs rolled in their sockets. "Arceus knows how many times you upped and left to who knows where. Scizor started keeping count, too!"

"Relaaax, Leafy," Shaymin said softly. "I'll have a talk with the old Lucario and everything will be fine; the bloke will understand. Besides, I give him a lot of information he needs for his work. He can't get rid of me that easily!"

This was perplexing to Liam. 'Give the Guildmaster information? Like what?'

As he thought about it, another realization hit him at exactly what kind of Pokémon Shaymin was. When his time came to speak, he would bring it to light.

"Um… excuse me, Shaymin?" Gloria interrupted, flinching a bit under Shaymin's gaze. "Where exactly did you go? Everyone said you've been gone for two months, and that you didn't say where you were going."

"Home, luv!" Shaymin happily shouted. "The Grass Continent, where the Shaymin Village is located. Open fields, rich farms, and clear blue skies without a cloud in sight for soaring along with your mates. It's also where the Gracidea flower also blooms." She pointed a paw at the red leaf hanging off her nape. "We Shaymin can change into this absolute beaut of a form you see now with the help of that flower. If not, we'd be stuck as ground dwellers."

"I heard the Shaymin there are very friendly, too!" Lopunny chimed in. "That they give those beautiful flowers away as some sort of souvenir for visiting them."

Shaymin nodded begrudgingly. "Uhuh… that comes with being the 'Gratitude Pokémon' - total joy and stuff. But other than being a tourist trap, the village also serves as a sort of message and farming outpost for the other Legends'."

The gears in Liam's mind began to turn. 'Other Legends'? Then my assumption might be true…' He would have to ask her and confirm his suspicions.

"Shaymin… aren't you a Legendary Pokémon"

"Yeah, how come you didn't know, dweeb?" she said casually. "Anyway, us Shaymin are on the lower totem pole of that status, seeing as we're not all powerful, govern over anything, or are the only ones in existence. The top dog Legendaries are essentially in charge of us lower 'mons."

Lopunny gave a motherly, reminiscing smile. "Yes... my little Buneary always wanted to meet the Legendaries of the world. It must be an honor, Shaymin - seeing gods and protectors of our time."

Shaymin scoffed loudly at her words.

Gloria seemed enthralled. "Wow… I had always wanted to visit the Shaymin Village one day. But… you said something about the Legendaries being in charge." She gasped. "Wait! Do you Shaymin seriously do work with some of them?"

The Grass-type nodded. "Sure do." Resentment crept into her scratchy voice. "We're practically their damn servants, farming their food or delivering messages of the outside world they choose to cut themselves out of. It's why I am such an amazing flyer, having been doing errands and playing suck-up my entire life for those bloody bludgers."

"Shay-" Leafeon attempted to stop her friend.

"Nah, nah, let me finish, Leafy. And then everyone, even the elder of the village just accepts it with a joyous little smile on their face. Because it's our bloody 'duty to Arceus' and… 'we need to be grateful'. None of the elders got any spine, and I wasn't gonna stick around for it!"

Liam was rightly shocked at her venting, as much as Gloria. While he was aware there was a divide between the Legendaries and normal Pokémon, they weren't aware of even Legendaries like Shaymin here being upset at the 'top dogs'.

Leafeon attempted to salvage the conversation. "Well… Shaymin, can you now tell me why you decided to return there?"

Shaymin sputtered. "What? Can't see my mum and dad and tell them how much of a better success I am? I wasn't there to cause trouble with the elders. Not worth my time duking it out with old 'mons."

"Don't you think you should listen to your friend there - Victini?" Leafeon countered, tilting her head.

Shaymin cackled. "Him? Friend? Nooope. He's the same as those other suck ups, just a lot more annoying and… by Arceus I hate his stupid little face." She shook her head, bounding out of her chair. "Y'know what, you lads got me too peeved to eat anythin'." Shaymin began angrily marching towards the bakery's entrance.

"What? C'mon, Shaymin!" Leafeon yelled. "I can... get Sylveon to make your favorite?"

Her efforts didn't sway Shaymin. "If you need me, I'll be taking a much needed nap at the guild after I sort out things with the Guildmaster." She looked back at the table for a split second. "But it's good to see we got new dweebs at the guild - cheers!"

The familiar chime of bells reverberated through the room after Shaymin took her exit. Liam stared out the window, watching her quickly take flight and disappearing into the sky. The noise of a door swinging open beyond the room's glass counter, however, stole his attention away as Sylveon emerged, balancing a platter of Pokepuffs with a single ribbon.

"Hey! Did someone show up? I got everyone's Pokepuffs!" The Fairy-type strolled over to the table, placing the platter down, only to notice one customer missing. "Huh? Where did Shaymin run off to?"

"She... decided to leave, Sylveon." Lopunny said delicately.

"Awwww…" The Fairy-type wilted at her words, ears and ribbons drooping as she seated herself on Shaymin's absent spot. "Why'd she go and run off? I don't bite!" she ended with a sad giggle.

"Sorry, Sylveon, it's not you." Leafeon huffed. "I'm going to be more tough on her when I return to the guild. Being gone for two months is bad enough," she grumbled.

Her words seemed to return Sylveon's jubilance, the Pokemon picking up a pink Pokepuff with her ribbon, not waiting for anyone to dig in herself. Gloria knew exactly which one was hers, a visible hunger in her eyes as she swiped the decorated white Pokepuff off the platter, fangs already sunken deep in the sweet confection.

To Liam, the two Pokemon seemed to have the same voracious appetite if anything sweet was in their vicinity. The Riolu reluctantly grabbed a blue puff off the tray, breaking his silence as well.

"No offense, Leafeon, but she didn't seem like the 'Gratitude Pokémon' to me." He took a bite out of his dessert. A horrific explosion of sweet and sour flooded his taste buds.

Gloria swallowed her bites down. "I… um, don't want to be rude too, Leafeon, but I'm going to agree with Liam here. She seemed the total opposite of any Shaymin I've heard of in my books."

Leafeon sighed, making circles around the platter with her paw. "Yeah, she can get like that sometimes. It's a miracle we even established a team together in the first place, seeing as I'm her sole friend."

Liam was taken aback. "Sole friend? I mean… it makes sense, but that's rough."

Sylveon spoke up, crumbs littering her face. "Maybe she just needs a party to make her stop being such a grump?"

Lopunny took another sip of her tea. "Maybe the dear just needs some space? It was probably a long trip to another continent, and having to say goodbye to her family again…"

Liam shrugged, taking another bite of his sickly puff. "She left her village because of the other Legendaries, right? Something about just being servants to them and their 'duty to Arceus'?"

Leafeon shook her head, "That's Shaymin's story, and she's not the one to lie about it, seeing at how mad she gets when she talks about it."

Liam decided to resume his eating, seeing as no one else had anything to add. He had hoped Shaymin would've been more friendly with her misgivings, but for now he decided to chalk it off as a standard rebellious teen phase, as she didn't seem much older than him. But all the talk about Legendaries sent his mind spiraling into remembrance of that time he and Gloria first entered the Empyrean Library to learn more about Celestic. They then spent hours scouring through books about Legendaries, and even Arceus himself.

While everyone at the table enjoyed their treat, he recalled the events of that day in his head.


Before Gloria could respond, he interjected. "Speaking of learning, in the book about Celestial Mountain. You mentioned an 'Arceus'. Is that a Pokémon, or some sort of alien?"

She noticed his confusion and giggled. "Arceus? We're gonna be here a while then." She jumped to her paws and walked towards the bookshelves again.

"First, you need to know about the Legendaries." Gloria found a small stepladder and hopped onto it. "They're Pokémon like us but… um, they're the closest you could get to a god-like figure like Arceus."

Liam's interest peaked. "So… are they gods or rulers themselves?"

Gloria shook her head, scouring the shelves. "Kind of. They're more like really powerful guardians, or ambassadors of such things like… space and time. But they're still mortal and can have children like us regular Pokemon"

"Space and time? Legendaries can just do that?"

Gloria found the book she wanted. "Sort of, one the Legendaries, Dialga, keeps the balance of time by just… existing. Palkia, his opposite, guards over his domain of space. Only Arceus can truly manipulate those boundaries. At least… that's what I've read." She then tried tugging on the wedged book to release it. It came loose, along with multiple other books. "Woah!"

They tumbled off the shelves, landing on the wooden floor. Liam chuckled, walking over to pick up the book she wanted, only to notice it was already open. He got a closer look at it, a picture was drawn of some sort of Pokemon with a caption above the drawing.

"'Dialga.' This is the Legendary you spoke of, right?"

"Yup!" Gloria leapt off the ladder and walked to where Liam was. "This book has illustrations of the majority of each Legendary. Here…" She flipped to another page, another drawing and caption.

"This is Palkia, and... " She turned another page, this Pokémon had two different forms apparently. "This is Giratina - said to inhabit a world opposite of ours. Together, they're all known as the Creation trio, one of many trios."

Liam absorbed this information. "I'm guessing the others work the same?"

Gloria nodded. "Here, I'll show you my favorite of them." The pages flew by in a blur until she stopped. "We'll start with Xerneas."

Liam got a good look at the picture. It was a black and blue deer-like Pokémon. Large multicolored antlers sprouting out of its head. Even if it was just a drawing, he felt a wave of regalness travel through him.

Gloria cleared her throat. "She is hailed as the Goddess of Life to some groups in Celestic. Her antlers contain the majority of the life bearing power within her, and it said that she could bring life back to a dying forest with just one shake of them." A page was flipped. "This is Yveltal."

Liam could definitely tell it was some avian-like creature, the long wings and tail of it forming a Y-shape. Its red coloration and splinters of black gave him the impression this wasn't as well intentioned as Xerneas.

"He's considered the God of Death to many, just like Xerneas. When his body lights up, it says he creates an attack that turns the Pokémon of his choosing to stone, banishing them to a world of suffering where he also exists."

Liam's eyes grew wide. "To stone? He can seriously do that?"

Gloria giggled. "Apparently."

She turned the next page, where the final member of the trio was pictured. It was large and serpentine in nature, hexagonal spotted scales covering its entire black and green body.

"This is Zygarde, supposedly the God of the Earth. Not much is known about him, but he is said to dwell deep below the surface, only emerging if the ecosystem of the world is being threatened, like some guardian." She looked up, "And that's the Aura Trio. Great stuff, isn't it!"

Liam exhaled; it was a lot to take in. "Sure is, but… how do you guys get all this information? Are they still around?"

Gloria frowned. "All this information is really old, from thousands and thousands of years ago. Few Pokémon over generations have even seen or spoken with any of them. Perhaps the Legendaries are still sore from that event long ago."

The Riolu's eyebrow raised. "Event? What happened?"

The Vulpix shrugged her shoulders in response. "No one knows anything specific, but there's countless tales of an event over ten thousand years ago - something occurred which caused a divide between normal Pokémon and the Legendaries."

"That's pretty strange... and you think the Legendaries are still mad about whatever happened?"

"I guess so…" She sighed sadly. "I know the Legendaries are Pokémon like us. They have feelings, dreams, goals, and duties like we do. I just wished they made more contact, and maybe even tell us more about them or Arceus."

There was that name again. 'Arceus'. He needed to know about this Pokémon.

"Hey, Gloria, think you can tell me who Arceus is now?"

She smiled, turning another page of the book. "We'll get to him eventually, let's continue with the other Legendaries." A giggle erupted from her again. "I've studied so much about them, so now would be a good time to show you."

'Oh brother…'

The Riolu got as comfortable as he could on the old wooden floor, lying supine and resting his head on his paws as he listened to Gloria talking about different Legendaries for what seemed like hours.

All of the descriptions greatly surprised him. Emissaries of both the sun and moon, a being that devours light itself, golems built out of ice, rock, and steel, a species built on gratitude to others, and even one that granted wishes. This world seemed to shock him every step out of the way, but it wasn't like he was complaining.

Gloria stopped at a final page. "And then… Arceus." Hearing her word, Liam immediately got up to take a peek.

The Legendary wasn't anything otherworldly or ethereal like he imagined, but something about his appearance told Liam that he was some sort of authority figure.

Gloria cleared her throat again. "The theory goes that there once existed an egg, an egg that contained Arceus. When it opened, he then created and shaped our universe and world with his thousands of arms and glowing lines from the wheel on his back. Then he created the Legendaries and by extension, us."

Liam blinked. "So, that makes Arceus… god? If he is the creator of everything?"

"That's what the vast majority of Pokémon believe in, even if no one has ever seen him outside of drawings or tales of the past. I don't know much about any churches, but some more religious Pokemon say that he will return someday."

Liam's face contorted in realization. "Is that why I hear some Pokémon on the streets muttering 'I swear to Arceus' or 'Arceus, why?'"

She laughed. "You've got it!"

It was a strange thing to him - that a Pokémon not only crafted the universe and world, but just vanished without a trace, no one knowing a single thing about him, along with the mythical Legendaries who are distant. The more he thought about it, the more the questions piled on, but he was just happy Gloria took the time to explain all of this to a very lost Riolu.

"Hey, Liam… what would you do if you had the power of Arceus?"

That caught him off guard. "What?"

Gloria rubbed the floor with a paw. "Sorry for the sudden weird question, but I've always wondered what I would do. I told you about my whole hero thing, and that I just want to be one. So, I could help a lot of Pokémon with that power, be someone to look up to and stuff." She shook her head, "Sorry for being cheesy, again. What would you do?"

Liam laid on his back again, staring at the ceiling in thought. 'The power of Arceus?' Theoretically, he could do practically anything, but what would he want specifically?

'Maybe create a paradise of endless exploration, or… return all my memories, or... '

He was stumped, but as he reflected on it more and more, the thought of being a god was akin to what Gloria had talked about. To be looked up to.

"I guess… I would protect this world. Just like the Legendaries do. That's what a god is supposed to do, y'know?"

She smiled at his response, closing the book with a paw. "Well put! We, um, should find you a book for regular Pokémon now, right?"


0T3LcEM.png


A crackling noise echoed throughout the dungeon as sparks of yellow electricity coursed through his blue fur. Once his paw was fully engulfed by the current, he clenched it shut, forming a fist and smashing it right into the face of a Scatterbug. A roar of booming thunder followed the impact.

The weak Bug-type collapsed instantly, bursting into an orange glow. Acting quickly, Liam pivoted to his left, grabbing a nearby Rattata trying to bite him by its purple tail. He began to swing it around, quickly becoming a blur as he picked up more and more momentum.

WOOSH. WOOSH. WOOSH.

He then let go.

The Rattata was sent careening into the wall of dirt, indenting itself into it and crumbling pieces of dirt off the wall. The rat fell over and disappeared into orange light. Liam cringed at the sight - while he would never do that to an actual Pokémon, the dungeon Pokémon were fair game, not being real and whatnot.

The Riolu checked his surroundings, a smile etched on his face. 'Either they fled at the sight of my strength, or I just wiped them out again.'

After the two of them left Sylveon's Sweet, he followed Gloria into the Sunshine Forest, voluntarily going into the Mystery Dungeon to test out his newly acquired Thunder Punch. He wasn't sure how long he had spent in here thrashing the Pokemon, but he decided that now seemed like a good time to make his exit. He navigated through the grassy corridors, locating the bizarre, earthy staircase and walking up it as darkness overtook his vision.

When it receded, the Riolu appeared near the trail again, the sounds of shuffling green trees and the bright sun in the blue sky greeting him.

'She should still be over on that hill.'

Liam lightly jogged on the paved road, running through the rows of trees that obscured his vision. When he heard the sound of running water, he slowed his pace, knowing that he arrived at his destination. A small stream of water ran through the path's side. After following it, he entered a large glade with a hill, white wallflowers blooming along its sides.

A lone tree was resting at the top, along with the outline of a stationary and familiar white Vulpix.

'There she is.'

Apparently the same clearing he awoke in was the same spot where she loved to quietly read when the Seadra fountain in Empyrean was busy with Pokemon.

Liam jogged over again and began his ascent up the hill, his incoming presence not known by the Vulpix. Gloria's legs were tucked in her sides, muzzle and both eyes glued to the book she was reading. Once he was near the base of the tree, he cupped his paws around his mouth to give her a dose of reality.

"BOO!"

"AH!"

Gloria whipped her head around in shock, her expression evaporating into annoyance. "Don't do that!" she pleaded in exasperation. "I don't like it when Roark does it, so I'm definitely not going to like it when you do it."

Liam chuckled, "Speaking of Roark, I remember you said we needed to go and meet him somewhere?"

Gloria returned her attention to the book resting on the grass. "I didn't forget. Once I'm finished with this chapter, we can go back to my house and get him... where he is almost certainly napping." She turned her head for a split second. "Please don't wander away now?"

Liam placed his paws on his hip. "No need to worry, I'll keep you safe. I already got it out of my system."

She rolled her eyes and giggled softly. "Good."

With nothing left for them to say, Gloria returned to reading while Liam stood around patiently waiting. He took a deep breath, placing his paw on the tough bark of the tree.

'I've been here more than a month… and still nothing on why I woke up-'he patted the bark, 'Here specifically.'

The Riolu turned around, trying to override his frustration with the amazing view from atop the grassy hill. Small white petals drifted in the cool summer breeze, floating up towards them and climbing above the verdant trees of the forest. His eyes caught a flock of Unfezant flying through the cloudless sky.

This kind of peace was something they needed. Even if Liam loved adventuring, moments like this seemed to shine most of all. Gloria seemed to notice this moment of tranquility, opening her mouth to speak her mind.

"Isn't life such an amazing thing?"

Liam kept his gaze on the heavens, staring down the flock of Flying-types as they faded away one by one into nothingness. His eyes began to shrink, mouth parting, awareness of his environment creeping in.

That wasn't Gloria's voice.

His attention immediately snapped to her prone form. "... What?!"

Gloria vanished.

A great rumbling shook the earth beneath his paws as the world around him began to change like in a dream. He took a step forward, mouth agape at what he was currently seeing. Plates of green grass erupted out of the ground, connecting with the elevation of the hill to form solid ground. White wallflowers sprouted out of this new terrain, dancing in an invisible wind.

The lone tree at the top of the hill remained in its place.

The forest in his front melted into a blur of dark green, seas of flat, fertile grass plains replacing it. Beyond the expansive fields, a distant lush mountain range shifted and grinded into place. Huge mist-like clouds rolled in behind it, hiding whatever lie yonder. To Liam, it was uncharted territory, untapped potential, ripe for exploring. He gave a quick look behind him, a forest different from the one he came out of taking its place instead. A chorus of soothing angels were singing faintly in his ears, mixing in with the natural ambience of swaying leaves and soft wind.

They greatly relaxed him, quickly making him forget about the surreal nature of everything happening at once. The damp smell of a now departed morning rain swamped his senses. Without a doubt in his mind, he knew where he was. He was here again.

'That place.'

"Hello."

That familiar silky female voice from before penetrated through the cooing whispers in Liam's head. The Riolu could only gawk at the ocean of a sky, seeking the identity of the voice. He swallowed a forming lump in his throat as he spoke.

"H-Hi?"

The voice responded back. "I've been watching you."

"Y-You have?" Liam stuttered back.

'She' laughed tenderly, "Not that closely, Liam. But I have seen much so far."

He didn't know how to respond to that, but the voice continued regardless.

"You seem… much happier than before. That makes me happy as well."

Liam took another step, almost stumbling on his shaky paws. "Who… exactly are you?"

The voice let out a dismal sigh. "There's a fence between us, Liam - one that is not so... easily crossed. You would not know, sadly, and might not for a while. It is already hard enough for me to see you this often…"

Just like before, Liam could feel and sense everything - the grass beneath his paws, the wind bristling his fur, the smell of dew. He needed to know.

"I... don't understand. Is this place real?"

"Sadly, no." The voice sighed, before hope appeared in her voice. "Do you wish that it was?"

"I… yeah."

"I am glad that you do, but don't worry, the future will show this to be a reality soon."

Her words pleased a part of Liam, but he still desired to know more. "What exactly is this place?"

"This…" The voice tried to find the correct words. "This is your ideal paradise, Liam. Where everything you may or may not know you desire, is right here."

Past the horizon, Liam could see a white house along with a wooden fence start to form in his vision. It was familiar to him, but he couldn't tell why. He shambled forward again, this time towards the house.

But would stop in his tracks as something grew out from beneath him, the green stalk of a young wallflower curling as the head bloomed its white petals before him. The Riolu knelt down, slowly bringing his paw over it and plucking it out of the ground. He stood up again and started dissecting the flower with his eyes, feeling how real it felt.

"I'll ask again… Don't you think life is amazing?"

"Huh?" Liam snapped out of his daze.

Living was at first very strange to him in this world, trapped between the thought of a preexisting life and the birth of a new, himself right here. But he had done so much with Gloria by his side, joining the guild and exploring Celestic. It was fun, and he loved doing it. No matter what was thrown at him the first day he woke up in this world, he was living a life he doesn't regret one bit.

"Yeah… it really is."

"But... life could be so much better, right? A world free from sorrow, anger, and evil. Like a painting, a dreamscape, but realized."

'Could it?' Sure there's been bumps, but everything seems fine.' Again, he didn't know how to respond.

"I'm… so sorry, Liam, but this is as long as I can currently project this fantasy. We must part ways again."

The vibrant landscape surrounding Liam began to spin and spin, until it was nothing more than a blur of colors. Black spots invaded his perception. The wallflower he once held was gone, along with the feeling of holding it. It was sad; a part of him didn't want to leave, not yet.

"But do not fret,Liam." The voice uttered again. "When this world falls into flames, and we sunder into dust, we will make it out. You and I will both awaken to our shared dream finally realized. A place we can truly call… paradise."

All Liam could visualize was darkness, his once acute senses of the dream lost. Her silky voice resounded across his mind in one last message.

"Farewell, for now."

"LIAM!"

"GAH"

The Riolu felt something bat one of his feelers, the familiar feeling of electricity shooting through his spine as he face planted into the earth.

Gloria hid her snicker behind a paw. "I'm… sorry I had to do that, but you were just… sleepwalking? And even saying some weird stuff, so I had to get your attention somehow."

Liam's groans were muffled as he lifted his face from the ground, spitting out some strands of grass. There, Gloria noticed something sliding down his cheeks.

"Why are you crying?"

"Huh?"

He stood up, wiping his tear stained face with a paw. "Thanks, Gloria. I, um, don't know what came over me."

Trademark worry traveled across her face. "Are you sure you got enough sleep?"

"I… uh, yeah I probably didn't get enough. Sorry."

She perked back up, "Great! I finished my chapter, so we should go back to Empyrean and get Roark for his… thing to show us."

"You go on ahead. I'll be there in a second."

Once she was down the hill, he collapsed into a seated position. The memory of his experience from before now just sinking in. His paws mindlessly took hold of the grass beneath him as his thoughts wandered.

'This is the second time I've had this happen, just randomly. But this time, someone, a woman, perhaps a Pokémon was speaking to me directly.'

He tightly squeezed the grass in his grip, ripping strands of them out of place as he grit his teeth, his breaths shallow and harsh.

'I can't make any sense of this?! Why does it all feel so real?!'

Perhaps Gloria was correct in her assumption that he was crazy, even if she meant it in joking fashion. How could he even tell her about this vision as well? That he heard a voice talking to him?

Liam closed his eyes, slowing down his breaths. 'It's so… frustrating. To not know any of this.' He stared at Gloria while she trotted down the path, only turning around to wave at him with an open smile before continuing on her merry way.

"..."

'I guess I have no choice but to take this in stride… again.'

He got back up, took a deep calm breath, and began trudging down the green hill.


Liam and Gloria entered the guild's mess hall, it seemed that everyone was already here for dinner, as ruckus was the room's current noise distribution, with constant chatter between guildmates chowing down at their respective tables. They had just gotten back from Roark's latest journey through the city right as the sun began to set.

This time out with the suave Zoroark was thankfully pretty decent for the both of them.

'How he managed to light it on fire, I will never know,' Liam drowsily mused. He was totally out of it today, and his body would agree.

Suddenly, a door in the hallway behind them opened, Hatterene shuffling away from the room with her nurse in training, Braixen following her. The fox was wearing a small red nurse cap, along with her usual white armband with a red cross wrapped around her shoulder.

"Team Requiem! It's great to see you back for dinner!" the fire fox called out with a modest wave.

"Same to you, Braixen." Gloria tiredly chirped back. "Glad to see you doing well in your training… I hope?" She was never sure of the head nurse's mood.

Once Hatterene turned her head and caught a glance of Liam's state, her glare sharpened, a striking gleam appearing in her eyes as she sped off towards the Riolu, grabbing and raising him up to her eye level. She started shaking him with her hat's 'hand'.

"Diaphoresis. Possible chills. Tiredness and muscle aches. You must have a fever."

Liam was stunned that her strictly monotone voice could carry such a menacing tone. "I… I… don't have a fever! I'm perfectly okay!" He was now visibly sweating.

"Y-Yeah, it's true, Miss Hatterene!" Gloria yelled. "We're totally fine!"

The Psychic-type narrowed her eyes. "Hm. Fine." She loosened her hold on him as he immediately scrambled to Gloria's side. "MIGHTYENA!" she roared.

The Dark-type in question audibly whimpered as he limped out of his seat and scampered towards them. A blood stained cloth was wrapped around his front paw. Liam wasn't sure if he was moaning because of the pain, or because Hatterene called him over.

"Y-Yes, nurse Hatterene?"

Hatterene bored her eyes into Pokémon. "In the room. Now."

Mightyena gave a faulty grin. "B-But, it doesn't hurt anymore."

"It was not a suggestion."

"Wait! I-"

He was cut off by Hatterene's 'hand' reaching over and picking him up with remarkable strength, flinging him like a sack of potatoes as he screamed.

A crashing noise boomed from the nursing room as Mightyena was thrown in. The door was then quickly slammed shut as Hatterene found her way inside at record speeds. The suppressed howls of Mightyena were heard through the door, causing everyone to wince.

Braixen bowed slightly, an irked look on her face. "I… am so sorry for head nurse Hatterene's actions, Team Requiem."

Liam dusted himself off. "Ah, it's nothing to worry about Braixen. However, I'm surprised you can even work with her… personality.

The orange fox sighed. "I know… but she's the only one here with better experience than me. Like my mom said, it's my only shot!"

A 'clack' noise from behind the three of them caused their backs to turn. There stood Scizor, his eyes glazing over the clipboard in his grasp before looking at those who stood blocking his way.

"Team Requiem. Braixen. Please, step aside, I have an announcement for everyone to hear."

The three of them hastily made their way further into the mess hell, allowing Scizor to step inside.

The Bug-type cleared his throat. "Attention! I hate to interrupt your meals, but there is an important notice issued to me, straight from the Guildmaster." There was noticeable uproar after his words, but it was all stifled by a wave of his large red pincer. "After some new revelations, we have decided that in one month's notice… we will be embarking on an expedition."

His words replaced the guild's bickering with cheers and applause. A smile graced Gloria's lips, a thump appearing in Liam's heart.

'We're actually going to go on an expedition?'

Scizor looked down at his clipboard. "We will have details on exactly where and what day when we get closer to the date. Until then, that is all. Please enjoy the rest of your day off." He brushed past the three still from shock, fading into the hallway with a 'clack'.

Liam placed a paw over his beating chest. Today was certainly an emotional rollercoaster, ups and downs included. With the future expedition, his visions, all of it. The future. That was what the voice spoke to him about.

Everyone in the mess hall was still celebrating the news. Purrloin was happily chatting away with Leafeon about it while Rockruff was jumping up and down in his seat. Staravia was flying around erratically, Monferno swatting at the Flying-type so Joltik didn't so happen to land on his face.

Liam managed a smile. The voice from before made him wonder if truly one day he would awaken in a place he could call paradise. Because right now, they might just make it there.


Ten thousand years… Always watching… Always waiting. Requiem.


Author's Notes: To you, a reader witnessing the final chapter of this story. This is a message... from the past.


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time:The Silent Warrior
 
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Chapter 12: The Silent Warrior

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 12

The Silent Warrior

The unmistakable noise of Scizor's careful and boisterous steps on the porcelain floor met the ears of everyone gathered in the foyer. He emerged from the hallway, stepping into the middle of the room, along with another Pokémon in tow, a golden furred Lucario. Jackson's steely look scrutinized every Pokémon present as he followed the Bug-type. Arriving at their destination, Scizor would hand off a scrap of paper to the Lucario, who gave it a passing glance before engaging in a conversation with his red advisor.

To everyone quietly standing around, this was an unspoken message to start freely congregating amongst each other. They all quickly converged by the stone Milotic fountain, Gloria taking the opportunity to make small peeks into the hallway, looking for a familiar figure to emerge.

"Where is Liam? He might miss the announcement!" she harshly whispered.

Monferno snorted. "I thought the guy went ballistic when hearing any news about the expedition?"

Staravia kept hovering in mid air. "M-Maybe I should go check?" He flapped his wings. "What if he f-fell asleep?"

The Fire-type shrugged. "He's probably just having his usual staring contest with the ceiling."

"Mony!" Braixen barked out. "Please try not to make more rude comments, lest you cause another fight with him."

Roark chuckled. "I'd listen to her, Monferno. Who knows how many patient beating methods Hatterene taught her?" He waved a crimson claw. "And how are you gonna teach your kids right from wrong when you're an asshole yourself?"

Rockruff laughed. "Ooh, burn!"

Monferno scoffed in retur. "Oh puhlease. As if you're one to talk, the guy with no family to his name."

"Ooh, double burn!" Mightyena yipped, slapping his paw on top of Rockruff's.

"~Mreow… I understand that kind of feeling, darling," Purrloin lamented.

"Awww, but you're like a sister to me!" Mightyena replied, nestling himself on the cat's side, much to her chagrin.

"Or mother…" Purrloin grumbled.

Roark leaned against the Milotic statue. "No family? What are you talking about, Mony?" He extended an arm down to pat Gloria's head tuft. "... I have the sweetest sister in the world right here!"

The Vulpix wiggled out his grasp. "Eheh, right." She dug a paw into the floor. "What about you, Leafeon? Don't you, um, have another sister besides Sylveon?" She hoped this would get Roark off her case.

The Grass-type in question adopted a smile. "If you consider all seven of my sisters - yup! Glaceon was the only one that actually came with me and Shaymin here to Celestic after leaving the Grass Continent. Right, Shaymin?" She looked around the room to find her partner still gliding around the room.

The aerial wonder touched down after hearing her name, stretching her freshly used joints and furry white 'wings'.

"Yeah, cause Leafy couldn't be a cook for ole mom and dad forever, so we went straight 'ere. But that Glaceon was super cold to everyone, sparing the irony. "

Leafeon sighed. "That's true. and she hasn't really written much about where she is or what she does now to me or the rest of our family." She started to smile, specifically towards a white Vulpix. "But… at least I have Sylveon. And another sister right here with me at the guild, which brings the total up to eight."

Gloria blushed. "Thanks… Leafeon."

"S-seven sisters?" Rockruff squeaked out, bewildered.

"That's Eevee families for you," Leafeon remarked.

Shaymin groaned, shaking her head. "You dweebs are such saps."

This earned a chuckle from Roark. "Get sappy with us, Shaymin! Tell us all about your cute widdle brothers and sisters back in the village."

A chorus of nodding heads and shouts of encouragement followed the fox's words.

Shaymin chuckled. "Nah, only child. But they do shove that whole 'everyone is family' junk in your face. Though, soaring the clear skies with my mates is good enough as family."

An excited Rockruff bounded in front of Shaymin's face, crouching down as if ready to pounce her.

"No way! That's like… the same thing the Lycanroc clan does! This other Rockruff I played with was, like my blood sister!" The Rock-type sighed. "I guess we're the same, huh? Because we both left… or well, I got kicked out in my case… hehe."

Shaymin rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Shaymin!" Monferno shouted. "Did you get yourself a new frie-" He was cut off by a swift jab in the ribs from Braixen.

Laughter from everyone crowding around the statue flooded the room, only to recede when the appearance of a yawning and stretching Riolu stumbled through the halls. One of his red eyes cracked open to view everyone huddled around each other, swiftly hastening his pace to join them.

"Morning," Liam said flatly, yawning again. "... I thought I was going to be late."

"You know I don't like you taking late night jobs by yourself," Gloria scolded. "You could get hurt, or… or worse!"

Roark grinned, placing both sets of claws on his hip. "Aww c'mon, sis. Let the boy have his heroic night adventures. I know you came to terms with my own late outings once I got you a little midnight snack," He teased.

"That's… different," Gloria sputtered, shaking her head. "Look, I just don't think you're getting enough sleep, Liam. So, can you stop for me…. please?" She looked deeply into Liam's tired orbs.

Roark gasped. "Ooh, she's giving you the 'look'. Fun time's over, Liam."

Rockruff was mesmerized. "Wicked. Gloria, do you know, like… Baby-Doll Eyes somehow?" A slap on the head from Purrloin was enough to awaken the Pokémon from his trance.

Liam sighed, a smirk worming its way on his face. "C'mon, Gloria. You know I can't say no. I'll stop going out by myself."

The Vulpix smiled warmly. "Good, because you almost missed out on the announcement today." She pointed a paw at Scizor and Jackson, who were still conversating.

"Announcement?" The Riolu was now spurred out of his morning fatigue, the tail behind him starting to wag. "Is it… about the expedition?"

"Yup," Roark confirmed, grinning madly. "They've just cancelled it, and now everyone is on cleaning duty for a week."

His words shook Liam to his core. "Wait a minute… WHA-" He shoved a paw into his mouth once he saw Gloria shaking her head and shooting daggers at Roark.

Leafeon giggled. "No, no, we're still going. And I heard from Indeedee that the Guildmaster has decided already."

Indeedee smiled. "That is correct, Leafeon." She laughed softly into a paw. "Charizard couldn't help but mention it in our daily talks."

Liam tilted his head. "Okay, but whe-"

"ATTENTION!" the gruff voice of the Guildmaster shouted. "POSITIONS!"

Everyone loitering around the statue scrambled to get into their daily arrangement, forming a singular row and column of eager Pokémon.

"MORNING ADDRESS! Three… two… one-"

"STARLIGHT! STAR BRIGHT! WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT, SHINE A LIGHT ON US TONIGHT!"

Scizor stuck to Jackson's side as the Lucario took a step forward, crossing both arms behind his back and viewing each individual present before speaking. "I'm fully versed in the rumor floating around. That is, the confirmation of our future expedition. And to that, I say you will all walk out today with more knowledge of this expedition."

Liam's chest tightened, a tiny drum beating in his heart and a permanent smile on his face. A few cheers from the small crowd arose, quickly stifled by Jackson's raised paw.

"Exactly two months from now, we will depart on a week-long journey out of the Meadow Region by carriage. We will arrive in Elysium City to stay for one day, before leaving for the main part of our expedition, which is..." The Lucario paused. "Celestial Mountain."

An even louder ensemble of cheers and clapping from almost everyone filled the room. The drum in Liam's chest began to beat louder, his contagious smile spreading to Gloria as they exchanged a silent look of excitement. Once the noise settled, Jackson continued.

"As you are all well aware, Celestial Mountain is a very important landmark on this continent and across the globe, being the tallest mountain in the world. However, its importance to us as a guild relies on its relationship between the birth of this world, and the Mystery Dungeons." He stopped and looked over to his side.

Scizor took the floor. "Various data collected throughout generations of research has concluded to the fact that Celestial Mountain is home to the biggest concentration of Mystery Dungeons in the world. This information correlates with another fact that Celestic has the most dungeons out of any other continent."

Jackson nodded to his words. "And the theory of Arceus' early actions on this earth; that he created Celestial Mountain first. It all connects back to the Mystery Dungeons. That perhaps, the creation of this mountain is tied to the origin of the dungeons."

Liam soaked in all this info. It made sense for the guild to be interested, and it even reminded him of the time in the Empyrean Library where Gloria shared almost the same theory.

'Maybe these two possibilities really are connected, and the truth of this world lies within Celestial Mountain.' He wanted to know more, with the Guildmaster obliging him.

"The guild is interested in this claim. We will scale this mountain and dissect its secrets and ruins. If this expedition succeeds, we will gain further insight on our mission of locating the source of all ley lines, and eliminating the Mystery Dungeon once and for all. But that is not all. Team Drarosteel, yes, the Team Drarosteel, will be accompanying us on this expedition as well. They will arrive here tomorrow for a quick check in, but will be staying in Empyrean City in the meantime."

'Team Drarosteel… why does that name seem familiar?' Liam thought. 'Have I met them before?' He was currently drawing a blank, mostly from how giddy he was feeling.

Another round of explosive ovation came, along with another lift of Jackson's paw.

"That is all the information I will give out right now. Please, do not let your excitement affect the quality of your work in the coming months up to this expedition. For today, take up your duties as given yesterday. Dismissed."

Everyone began to spill out into the hallway, now a lot more pep in their morning attitude. Liam and Gloria met up and began walking slowly towards the hallway. The Vulpix the first to spew out her delight.

"I can't believe it! That we're not just going to any place, but Celestial Mountain out of them all! And they even think the same thing that I do!"

"Yeah, but like the Guildmaster said, we shouldn't get too excited," Liam teased.

Gloria huffed. "As if you're one to talk. Aren't you finally happy to get out of this region for a bit?"

"Yup, I think I can die happily now. After we go of course." She giggled at this.

"Team Requiem! Please stay for a moment."

The voice of the Guildmaster halted their movements, the pair exchaning a look before walking straight towards the stiff Lucario, the three of them now the only Pokémon present in the foyer.

Jackson cleared his throat. "I hope the two of you remember almost two months back when I sent you on a mission to Criss-Cross Creek to locate a Mystery Dungeon, yes?"

"... Of course, Guildmaster," Gloria replied.

"Good, because you two are not taking job requests today, but instead are going on another mission. Specifically, a trip back to the creek to find that Mystery Dungeon there. Recent revelations still make this mission a main priority to our cause."

Liam frowned. "Orders are orders, but… last time we went, the boats didn't seem that effective in scouting the area." He avoided mentioning the fact that he was also ineffective at properly scouting that time.

"Exactly, which is why you will be using a different search method."

Gloria tilted her head. "What did you have in mind?"

"Flight. Charizard will fly over the creek with you two on his back. There you will get a bird's eye view of the entire area, which should be more effective."

Liam's eyes grew wide. "... No offense, but shouldn't we have done this instead of boats?"

Jackson sighed. "Yes, but Charizard has been… difficult the past few months. We would've gone with another flyer outside of the guild, but now Charizard has insisted he would take you."

That was a bit relieving and also surprising to them, even if they had rarely seen Charizard, a supposed founding member of the guild and Team Moonlight, ever inside the guild itself.

"After breakfast, head over to Leafeon's garden outside the guild. He should be there… sleeping, most likely."

"We'll get it done, Guildmaster. You can count on us," Gloria assured.

"Good, get prepared after breakfast and get this mission done. Hopefully, you will find what this guild is after." Jackson turned his back on them, marching into the hallways.

A small window of silence appeared after the Guildmaster's departure, only to be broken by Liam placing his paw on Gloria's shoulder and wearing a wide smile.

"Race ya to the table. Winner gets the other's cobbler!" He then took off into the corridor.

"Wait! I didn't agree… ugh!" Gloria sped off in hot pursuit of the Riolu.

Once the two arrived in the mess hell, they took a seat at one of the already occupied tables, where Rockruff, Mightyena, Monferno, and Braixen were all situated. The curious Rock-type at the table couldn't help but bring up something he noticed.

"Hey, did the Guildmaster reprimand you two or something?"

"Awww, I know how that feels," Mightyena sadly confided.

Liam shook his head, "Nah, he wants us to go on another mission, back to Criss-Cross Creek again." He shrugged. "Whatever there must be very important to the Guildmaster."

"Like… to the guild's cause of destroying the Mystery Dungeons or something?" Mightyena asked?

"Yeah."

Rockruff and Mightyena gave silent looks of apprehension to each other, with Mightyena pushing the Rock-type slightly.

"C'mon, tell them the story!"

"No, you do it!"

"You're the one who asked him, so you!"

"Uh... fine."

Rockruff looked around the room before leaning across the table and whispering. "Have you guys heard of the Team Hydra Incident?"

"Hmm?" Gloria inquired. "I've… never heard of that. What is it?"

Liam picked up the sounds of Monferno laughing slightly through his meal, along with Braixen narrowing her eyes at the hound duo. He couldn't tell exactly why.

Rockruff shifted his eyes. "Well, me and Mightyena ran into this one guild member near the Empyrean City markets that graduated over ten years ago! He told us about this incident that happened then which threw the entire guild into chaos - stir crazy!"

Mightyena took over. "Yeah, and that there was this team - Team Hydra. They went to this secret dungeon to investigate its connection to the guild's cause." He leaned in as well. "Guess what, they never returned because… they died!"

This was a surprise to the pair across the table, but they weren't quite sure on why this story was of importance to them.

"Oh," Gloria said with a bit of sadness. "That's sad, but... those sort of things can just happen. I know that all too well."

"No, no, no!" Rockruff countered. "They weren't just killed by an accident, or by the dungeon 'mons. They were killed… by other Pokémon!"

The silence that followed was palpable, shocking both Liam and Gloria. The much louder laughter of Monferno then broke the tense atmosphere.

Liam wasn't convinced. "How are you sure that they were… murdered? How would you even prove that it was what really happened to them?"

"Because they found the, uh… bodies of them." Mightyena gulped. "They were placed far away from the dungeon they entered, and that's not even the craziest part! They all had fragments of bullets within them, like someone shot them all!"

Liam couldn't believe that. "Bullets? Like from one of those rifle things the guards around Empyrean carry?"

Rockruff nodded. "Yup, and it was most certainly their cause of death then. No dungeon 'mon is capable of pulling a trigger… I hope."

"But I don't understand," Gloria said wistfully, tugging on her scarf. "Why would any Pokémon just… kill another for something as senseless as going into a dungeon?"

Liam couldn't figure that out either - perhaps a disagreement, or some other details and context they lacked. Regardless, he was skeptical at best. "I agree with Gloria; it doesn't make sense as to why this happened."

"Think about it, man!" Rockruff barked. "It's the sign of a total cover up! Team Hydra found something big, something that cost them their lives!"

The Riolu didn't budge. "That… sounds more like a conspiracy than anything."

"Tell em, Monferno!" Mightyena said.

The Fire-type seated next to the pair of dogs took a bite out of his apple, making loud crunching sounds as he finally gave his input. "Isch true," he spoke through a stuffed mouth. "Schomeone killed that team for what they schaw." He gulped down his food. "Thing is, nobody knows what Pokémon or group is responsible. Tell me this, Mr Personality..."

Liam growled lowly upon hearing his dreaded nickname.

"Maybe you can thrash a stupid dungeon 'mon around any time of the day, but what about a reeeal Pokémon? One that's smart enough to really kill you with just a pull of a trigger." Monferno smirked. "Can you dodge a bullet, Mr Personality?"

The Riolu in question sighed."No. No I can't."

As Monferno laughed at his response, Liam glanced over at Gloria as she continued to fiddle with her scarf, a downcast look on her face and clearly uncomfortable with the conversation.

"It's not funny, Monferno," Liam growled.

"Please don't spread rumors, Rockruff and Mightyena," Braixen piped up, a bit irritated. "And stop trying to scare Pokémon. We're supposed to be professionals, not kids at a campfire."

"Awww, I'm not trying to scare them. I just want my friends to be safe," Rockruff bemoaned, his ears flopping.

The fiery fox closed her eyes. "That's fine, I guess." She shifted her attention to Monferno. "You too... and don't talk with your mouth full."

"Okay, okay, I'll stop," Monferno relented, raising his hands. "Just be careful out there; you never know."

Liam didn't like those words - 'you never know.'

But it was too late to respond, the discussion already dead and gone. As he waited for Leafeon to finish their meals, he thought about it long and hard, stealing another look at Gloria, who was still visibly disturbed.

'Why would any Pokémon do that?'


Liam and Gloria strolled through the halls, content with their fill of today's breakfast. Once they were out of earshot of everyone remaining in the mess hall, the Riolu went to reassure a still startled and paler than usual Vulpix.

"Don't worry, Gloria. Braixen is right, it's just a stupid rumor meant to scare you."

She let out a sigh of relief. "Yeah, I just… it unnerves me, y'know?"

"Team Requiem."

The two spun around at the sound of a stark voice and the 'clack' of Scizor's steps on the ceramic floor. The Bug-type checked his surroundings to make sure no one else was present, before engaging the pair.

"I overheard something at breakfast. Something about this… incident?"

Gloria straightened up, brandishing a nervous smile. "Oh! Rockruff was telling us about it, but it was just a rum-"

"No. It is true," Scizor casually let out, albeit tinged with sadness. "This event did happen, and three out of the four members of Team Hydra were-" He stopped to sigh, "Murdered... by an unknown party by use of rifle fire."

Liam couldn't believe what he was hearing, that the rumor was true according to Scizor. It brought back memories of the exact words the Guildmaster had told them aboard the carriage ride their second day at the guild.

'Forces, ones beyond even the guild, seek to stifle any recent unearthing's of the Mystery Dungeons, lest they cause massive unrest, or any other reason. The identity of these groups are just as mysterious as the dungeons themselves.'

'But he said that it was all hearsay and speculation. However, it was very real apparently, if the Guildmaster wasn't lying to us.'

He did not like the sound of that reality, not one bit.

Gloria's chest tightened, her eyes tearing with emotion. "Why, why would anyone do such a thing?"

The Bug-type sighed again. "My memories of that horrible day are hazy at best, but the fourth member that we know lived, fled the guild and has never returned. And the location of where they were sent has been lost to time. Which means that our way of knowing what happened exactly is near impossible. But me and the Guildmaster have already drawn our conclusions."

Liam raised a brow, "What… conclusion?"

"That Team Hydra obtained information about the Mystery Dungeons that was never meant to be discovered, and this other Pokémon or group present made sure it was never to get out. Thus, sealing the team's fate."

'Huh, guess Mightyena's conspiracy theory is correct according to the Guildmaster himself,' Liam mused sadly.

"Team Requiem." Scizor's eyes sharpened. "When my home village of Areos was annihilated by the ley lines, I swore and dedicated myself to find the truth and do the world justice. And we've gone through many setbacks after twenty years of operations." A fire almost seemed to light in his orbs. "But I swore to those souls of that lost village that I wouldn't give up in the face of adversity, and that these groups that wish to stop us will realize that we will not."

It was an unusually confident declaration from the quiet and astute Pokémon, to Liam at least. The Riolu didn't want to give up either. The truth had to come out, eventually.

'But what about Gloria? Does she feel the same?'

"Team Requiem, I am ask- no… I am pleading with you to not cave to these threats against our cause. All our hard work will be for naught if we did what they wanted, which we won't." Scizor felt he said enough as he began to walk down the hallway, only to stop and turn around. "Please go and complete your mission with Charizard. Any discovery, big or small, helps us get closer and closer towards our goal."

Scizor was now gone, leaving a pair of conflicted Pokémon in his wake. Immediately, Liam faced the Vulpix beside him, who wasn't looking very well after the Bug-type's corrections, almost hyperventilating.

"Gloria, you alright?"

She swallowed a little, fidgeting with her scarf. "I-I just… sorry, I'm just…"

The Vulpix sorely needed a hug.

Liam stepped forward and embraced her. "Hey, hey, don't worry about it. You know what he said, right? We can't give up to these guys." He hoped he could help.

Gloria melted into the hug. "Yeah, I won't. I'm just so confused about the whole thing."

He let her loose. "About what?"

"Why would any Pokémon want to protect knowledge about the Mystery Dungeons? They do nothing but harm us! And to..." she paused, hating to say this word, "... Kill another Pokémon for it? I didn't think anyone was capable, really."

Liam knew she always saw the good side of Pokémon rather than the bad. It would've been her downfall if he or Roark wasn't there to provide her with that sense of edge she needed for situations like this.

"There's obviously something more to this, and we gotta find it and stop them, or help, I'm not sure. Though, I'll protect you from these guys if needed." He grinned, flexing an arm.

She softly giggled in response, her anguish disappearing in the face of humor. "... Okay, 'Mr Macho 'Mon'. We... should go get Charizard now for our mission."

He could only agree, the both of them picking up the trail once again. After pushing the wooden entrance doors open, they also pushed past many of the Pokémon stationed by the entrance just waiting for the guild to open.

A paved path to the right of the building led straight to the gardens, a haven for all things growable, be it hot peppers, colorful fruits, or green vegetables. The path ended at the gate of a wooden fence that stretched the entire perimeter of the garden. The gate swung open as they entered, the two scouring the wide grassland for any signs of Charizard.

Liam squinted his eyes. "See anything?"

"Nope, just crops and-" Gloria caught something, pointing at it with her paw. "There's a hammock over there with something orange and big on top of it."

This was their Pokémon for sure. They lightly jogged towards the hammock, which was suspended with rope by two trees. Once they arrived, Liam tiptoed near it to get a look at its occupant.

"Yup, that's Charizard alright."

The Fire-Flying-type's immobile body sunk deep into the cloth supporting it, his eyes closed and arms crossed behind his neck, the large flaming tail connected to him lazily drifting along the grass. Puffs of hot smoke and even cinders seemed to billow out of his nostrils as he snored loudly, clearly fast asleep.

Neither of them had any clue on how exactly to proceed.

Gloria plodded forward. "Should we wake him?" She hesitantly nudged her paw a few times into the dragon's big belly, hoping to stir him awake.

However, her efforts were in vain as the Pokémon just kept on snoring noisily.

"Maybe we should just wait for him to get up?" she suggested.

"Nah, I got this."

Liam bent down and searched for a big piece of grass. After finding the correct size, he plucked it from the ground and raised it over Charizard's nose, aiming the tip of the leaf into one of his enlarged circular nostrils.

Then he started tickling it.

As the Riolu did his magic, more gusts of steam and cinders shot out of Charizard's nose. Liam could even feel a new heat in the air as it intensified, but he kept at it. Soon enough, Charizard's nostrils flared up as his head started to shake, his blue eyes along with his gaping maw opening before the inevitable explosion could release.

Then it did.

"AAAAAACHOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

Liam instantly removed his appendage before the rocket of flames from Charizard's nose could envelope his paw. The leaf he held was blasted into nothing but ash, the long stretching blaze even burning some leaves of the tree connected to the hammock.

When the flames receded, Charizard yawned, stretching his arms and back as he sat upright in the hammock.

"Woah, that was some serious nasal firepower this time. Must've been the pollen," His baritone voice grumbled tiredly.

Gloria cleared her throat. "Charizard? Uh… the Guildmaster told us to come and wake you for our mission today."

Only now did the Fire-type realize that there were two others here, quickly hopping out of the hammock and facing the both of them.

"I didn't expect the two of ya to actually wait for a washed up 'mon like myself to fly you there! Guess I should thank Jack for his kindness," He said, whipping his flaming tail around.

Liam tossed the remaining bit of leaf in his grasp. "So… you'll take us?"

"Of course I will!" Charizard hollered. "I was the one who suggested it in the first place. This old but awesome explorer needs to stretch his wings and fly far from this boring place, ya feel me?"

Two adequately timed nods was all Charizard needed as he fired up his internal engines, the draconic wings across his back unfolding and spreading out as he stretched them.

"Great! Now go get prepared, 'cause I'm ready to take off at any moment. And I fly fast."


xoYXjou.png


A large orange figure wearing a brown saddlebag flew through the clear, blue skies at impossibly fast speeds, his impressive wingspan piercing through the air and creating streams of gale. Furious wind whipped against Liam's face as he held on to Charizard's warm scales for dear life. Gloria more so did the same, hunkering down to avoid the wrath of the hostile blasts of air.

"Charizard!" Liam screamed through the chaos. "Ease up a little! I think we're here!"

The Fire-type miraculously heard the Riolu as he swerved his head. "You got it, kid." With a flap of his leathery wings, their speed was adjusted to be more serene.

With their flight now more calm, Liam was able to get a better look at his surroundings, peering down at the terrain below. He could now see where the name Criss-Cross Creek came from, as multiple rivers ran through each other and created tiny islands of land in between. Their game plan was simple - hover above the area and locate the Mystery Dungeon or anything of interest located on the islands. This encirclement lasted for about a half hour, until Liam could make out some oddly shaped bits of grey stone-like objects on one of the green islands.

"Charizard! Right there, take us down!" The Riolu pointed right at his target.

A puff of smoke swelled out of Charizard's nose as he again flapped his wings, now descending towards the earth at alarming speeds. Luckily, he halted his momentum before they could barrel into the ground, landing softly on the grass and allowing his occupants to jump off.

Liam could now get a better look at what he saw, traversing the wet grassland to see exactly what it was. The pillars were indeed some sort of stone material, but they were mostly crumbled, only faint patterns visible in the cracked stone.

"Gloria, Charizard, I… think these are some ruins." He looked past the object, his eyes widening. "No, we definitely found some ruins."

What lie ahead were more decayed pillars and walls reduced to nothing more than debris from the passage of time. Overgrown mossy flora obscured the majority of the ruins and blended in with the greenery, almost invisible to an untrained eye. The only somewhat intact structure was a cracked grey stone brick wall, a large faded symbol was engraved into it, drawing Liam's attention most of all.

"Hey, check this out. There's something on this wall." He carefully inched toward it, trying to get a better view.

It was a strange drawing. A golden yellow skirt-like object was depicted, with four green objects seemingly encrusted into it. There was no text where Liam could decipher a clue to this mysterious painting.

"Gloria, have you ever seen this symbol before?" he asked the Vulpix who plodded over to his side.

She analyzed it, slowly shaking her head. "No, I don't recognize one like this. And I have a book on symbols!"

"Step aside, let me see it," Charizard grunted, stomping his way over. "... Well this brings back old memories, that's for sure."

"So, you do recognize it?" Liam inquired.

"Yup, even if faintly. Back when Scizor, Jack, and I explored the continent, we came across these strange ruins and symbols across the regions."

Gloria took a shot in the dark. "Does the Guildmaster think these places are related in some way to the Mystery Dungeons?"

Charizard shrugged, scratching his neck with a claw. "I don't know what goes on in Jack's head, but I assume that would be the case. Keep poking around, these places always have something more to 'em."

They heeded his advice, studying each part of the ruins they came across. Petrified shovels and other tools for digging were found, meaning some Pokémon were interested in the ruins even long ago. However, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, until Liam came upon a large mound of dirt and unearthed tree roots connected to the mess of stone.

He wasn't expecting much, simply walking around the edges for anything that looked interesting, when something got him to investigate further. It was a tablet around his height placed against the mound. The material was stone like the rest of the ruins, but in perfect condition, as if it was recently placed there. He placed his paw on it, then knocked on the stone.

It felt hollow.

Liam knocked the stone again, "I think… I think there's something behind this tablet." He tried pulling on its side to release it, but it was futile.

"Don't worry, I got this." Charizard lumbered over to the Riolu's position and grabbed the opposite side. "Pull!"

Together, with their strength combined, the tablet was forcefully ejected from its place. Gloria carefully peered into the gaping hole where the tablet once stood, her mood changing completely at what she saw within. Inside was a void of complete darkness, where light never seemed to get past.

Undoubtedly the telltale appearance of a Mystery Dungeon.

"It's a Mystery Dungeon! Inside the mound!"

Liam peeked his head in. "Wow… do you think it's the same one we're looking for?" He popped his head back out. "Charizard?"

The dragon took a gander as well. "Most likely, especially with that symbol you found. But... " Charizard frowned upon evaluating the frame of the tiny doorway inside. "Me and my big gut have no chance of fitting inside, so the job of exploring it is up to you two. Think you can handle it?"

Liam adjusted the cream saddlebag around his shoulder. "Sure can... Right, Gloria?"

The Vulpix took a deep breath, internally psyching herself up. "Mhmm, we totally got this, Charizard."

"Very well…" The Fire-type tapped his saddlebag with a claw. "If something happens and you need transport, just contact me through your ELE. My number is 6." He then flexed his leathery wings, smiling. "In the meantime, I'll stop by Sandslash's place here and catch up on old times. Until then, little explorers!"

WOOSH!

In less than a second, Charizard was airborne and flying far away from their location. Their mission was just now beginning.

"Alright, you ready?" Liam asked, cracking his joints and smirking away.

From the forest, Gloria swore she heard the rustling of a nearby bush, but she swallowed her fears and answered back.

"Lead the way…"

He did just that, stepping into the narrow passage and straight into the void. Gloria gave her surroundings one last scan before following her partner on into the unknown.


?

BF 1


The dirt floor beneath them expanded, cracked stone brick walls exploded out of the ground, paintings splashed across their eroded surface. Mossy vines appeared out of nowhere, coiling around the walls and digging into the floor. As usual with the surreal nature of these places, dungeon Pokémon appeared out of every crevice or corner they could, intent on attacking the invading pair.

Liam did what he does best.

BOOM.

The Blast Seed he threw exploded on impact with the Aipom's face with fiery success, the Pokémon quickly vanishing into orange light. The Riolu didn't relent, already cocking back his arm and forming a Force Palm to swat away a pesky Yanma that got in his range.

A sweeping chill of freezing vapor spewed out of Gloria's mouth at a group of encroaching Phanpy. She amped it up a little by creating pellets of her trademark Ice Shard to hurl at the Ground-types.

Once they wiped the floor with their foes, the two grouped back together to navigate through the winding corridors of the dungeon. However, Liam couldn't help but stare at the walls of each room they went past, the paintings on them intriguing him.

Mystery Dungeons always had the same variation in designs. Some grassy, some rugged. And that the ley lines copied whatever land it stole to reform it as a dungeon with its similar terrain. But this dungeon seemed to defy that claim of randomness. At first he thought the paintings were random gibberish spat out by the dungeon. But when he took a closer look, they all seemed unique and held an air of importance to him.

Then it struck him. The ley lines must've taken a piece of the murals from the land it dungeon-ized. And that what they were passing through right now was the possible history of this place.

He stopped at one in particular. "Gloria, are you seeing this?"

The Ice-type was brought out of her world. "Hmm? What is it?" She gazed upwards at what he was looking at. "Oh… that's… a mural of something? Those are Legendaries!"

The scene depicted two Pokemon, Zekrom and Reshiram respectively. In the middle of the drawing was the same symbol they had seen previously outside the ruins, shining as the two legends seemed to guard it.

"Do you have any idea?" he questioned, unconsciously already knowing the answer.

She studied the mural for a moment. "Maybe this place has something to do with the Legendaries? I can't infer much from one painting… but that would be fascinating if true!" she gushed.

Liam looked around the room, "Maybe if we go to another floor we can find another mural."

"I believe so, too. Let's continue!"

?

BF 2


Liam narrowly dodged another lightning fast Sucker Punch through use of Quick Attack. This Scrafty was giving him more trouble than the others. His paw glowed a bright magenta as he charged up a Force Palm, using Quick Attack again to rush his opponent. The Scrafty met him head on with its own Brick Break, their fists colliding against each other in a clash of purple and black energy.

What Liam didn't count on was a mystifying wave of harsh pink wind to start assaulting the two of them. He cringed in pain as the wind bristled his fur, almost like he was getting burned by it. With a little quick thinking, he grabbed the Scrafty by its shoulders and held it against the wind, shielding himself from the accursed pink current while his opponent suffered the full brunt of it.

It was successful, the Scrafty vanishing into glowing light as the wind also receded. Liam's eyes darted across the room for the culprit, until they landed on a horrified Vulpix.

"Gloria... did you do that?"

She stiffened, "I-I… I was trying to use Frost Breath. But then I had a thought and it, um… came out as Fairy Wind, I think." Her gaze met the floor. "I'm sorry if I hurt you or anything."

Liam laughed at her worry, popping open a pouch in his saddlebag. "I'm not mad, your new move is cool!" He brought out an Oran Berry and bit into it, enjoying the rejuvenation it provided. "Anyway, check out the new mural."

This time it was even stranger. There was a mountain drawn, with four of the symbols from before bursting out of the mountain's sides in different directions. Again, none of it made any sense to the two onlookers.

'If only the creators preferred text instead of cryptic wall drawings…' Liam muttered in his mind.

Gloria tapped her chin, "Maybe the symbol is some artifact?" She shrugged. "That's… all I can gather."

Liam could only silently agree. They needed to keep looking.

?

BF 4


Another floor, another mural. This time it seemed to be some random building, the symbol from many times before proudly displayed on top of the structure.

Liam was stumped. "I'm… not too sure about this one either. Thoughts?"

It took a second, but Gloria gasped in realization. "I got it! The symbol is an item that this building… or now dungeon is keeping inside to protect. And the Legendaries are involved somehow in this protection. That's my theory, anyway."

The Riolu smiled. "Wow, I'm surprised you could come to that conclusion. It does seem probable."

She blushed in response. "Uh, thanks."

"Maybe we can get some confirmation of your theory once we reach the end of the dungeon."


After taking the last flight of stairs, darkness enveloped their vision, only to diminish as they were released by the void. They quickly scrutinized their surroundings, a bit alarmed at the lack of light given to them. The end of the dungeon led them into a dank narrow hallway, a stone sliding door at the end.

Liam stumbled a bit through the dark. "I'm not sure where we got spat out." He walked towards the stone door and tried pulling it, only to realize that it didn't budge. "Oh… that's not good."

Gloria winced. "Uh… I'm not sure what we can do now."

"Wait a second. Stay here."

The Riolu spotted a tall shaft in the walls that was large enough for him to fit in. He jumped for it, hoisting himself up. "There's gotta be some way to enter. If I start screaming, you run," he joked, earning a giggle out of the Vulpix.

Liam crawled through the shaft, hoping to find any button or control switch for the door mechanism. He got his wish when the shaft ended near a dusty grate and peephole, a switch next to it. It took a little elbow grease to pull on it, but when he did, he was greeted with a muffled grinding noise.

'Liam! You did something to the door!' he heard Gloria shout.

The Riolu began worming his way out of the shaft, landing back onto the stone floor with a 'thud'. A quick analysis of the door told him that he must've unlocked it through the switch. He put both paws on its side, intent on trying again to open it.

"Moment of truth…" he groaned out as he pulled on it with all his might.

A grinding noise filled the air, his efforts succeeding at sliding the door into the wall. With the entrance now open, the two quickly piled into the new room, to be free from the claustrophobic hallway. Once they entered, the scale of the room immediately became clear as they gawked at their vicinity.

Large sheets of stained and broken multicolored glass cut into walls of cracked stone bricks that wrapped around the chamber's sides. Grand pillars were erected, reaching the crumbling ceiling, where a grand chandelier was suspended from, rusty and unlit. Massive underground roots, vines, and other foliage thrived here, snaking their way across anything in their path. Dirty water leaked out every crack possible, creating small streams and rivers on the floor.

And just like with the other ruins, various shovels and other excavation equipment were strewn everywhere, along with some other scattered objects they couldn't quite put their paw on.

"This must be the main hall of the place! Wow..." Liam spoke with awe.

Gloria wandered aimlessly, carefully avoiding any mud puddles. "Was this place built underground?"

The Riolu stared into one of the shattered windows. It gave the fantastic view of a solid dirt wall. "No, this place was buried… by time most likely. It's in complete disrepair." He effortlessly tore a piece of stone from one of the pillars.

She poked at a shovel still stuck in a dirt mound. "That must explain all the equipment we've seen. Someone must've tried to unbury it all."

He nodded, looking around. "There has to be something of importance here, then. Let's see what we can find."

They separated their work, each having a side of the room to scrounge around the floor and investigate further. All Gloria seemed to find were empty cylindrical shells, or broken tools and fragments of paper too heavily damaged by water to be deciphered. It was Liam's side that produced the most fruitful findings, with something already catching the Riolu's eye as he picked it up.

It was a thin, square shaped, metal card-like object. He wiped away the grime it collected, now able to see its glossy black finish as it gleamed in what little light there was in the room. A strange pattern was engraved into the metal, with lines crossing through other lines in a random maze-like fashion.

"Hey, Gloria! Check this out!"

The Vulpix stopped what she was doing to jog over to his location. "What is it?"

He displayed the small black item to her. "This thing, do you have any idea what it is?"

It took a moment before the gears in Gloria's head started to turn, letting out a gasp. "That's… that's an Entercard! I recognize it from one of the books I read about them, but… why is it here out of all places."

Liam shrugged. "I just found it lying on the floor." He popped open the saddlebag to throw the card inside. "I know the Guildmaster spoke about them before; do you have a clue what they do exactly?"

She flinched. "Er, I know they do something to Mystery Dungeons, but that would probably be better for him to explain. Did you find anything else, though?"

"Uhh, let me see."

The Riolu went back to surveying the floor for anything of value. It took a few more minutes, but it proved successful once when a slip of paper with actual comprehensible text on it was found. He brushed aside the black armband that was covering it, picking up the half damaged paper and cleaning up the muck with a paw.

"I can kind of interpret some of this. A lot is damaged, though... "

Gloria placed a paw over her chest. "Go ahead, read it."

He gave it his best shot.

"First digsite didn't lead to… and we'll need to find a new loc… markings for proper Entercard placement. Luckily, the Mystery Dungeon here… natural barrier against... Allfather is expecting results… I don't know… to find this thing so we can go home already."

Liam stopped reading. "That's all that could be salvaged. Does the name 'Allfather' ring any bells?"

She shook her head. "No clue, these messages must be very old and from long lost groups. But what I'm most interested about is what they were trying to excavate."

He wasn't sure either, but Gloria's theory came to mind. "Maybe they're looking for the symbol, if it's some artifact like you think it is."

Gloria smiled at her little success. "Right! But uhh… we don't really have much to work with." She glanced around the desolate room. "We should move on, maybe there's more ahead."

Liam stuffed the paper into the saddlebag. "There's a corridor to the right, I think I saw the shadow of a Mystery Dungeon in it."

Sure enough, there was another slender hallway for them to cram into. The shadow splotch of a Mystery Dungeon was at the end of the long hall.

"Either this is the next area, or the exit. Think we saw enough?" Liam suggested.

"Yeah… I think so." She shivered a little. "This place is starting to give me the creeps."

He laughed, "Alright, let's move on."


When they popped out of the darkness of yet another dungeon, they appeared in some confided dim and earthy room.

Gloria squinted her eyes. "It's really dark... Where are we exactly?"

Liam could see a few rays of white light shimmering off the dirt walls. "I think we're above ground again." He needed to be sure.

The Riolu found a rusty shovel wedged into the earth, picking it up and hacking away at the wall where the light was coming from. After a few minutes of intensive digging, the wall came crashing down. He immediately stepped back before he could be buried, cracking open an eye to look at his actions. Bright sunlight bathed the room, revealing a window to the outside world was formed. Liam grinned, already running into the opening to get some fresh air.

"Hey, wait up!" Gloria called out, dashing off as well.

Liam examined the wide grassy and forested environment they emerged from. It looked like they came right back out of the large dirt mound they entered, the mossy stone ruins still scattered everywhere. He stretched his arms, happy to just see the sky again. Once Gloria was by his side again, he unhooked the ELE from the saddlebag and started walking.

"I can't believe we actually found something for once; a hidden chamber nonetheless!" He started turning the dial to six, flipping the switch on the side to contact Charizard.

A rustling noise from the nearby bushes nearly distracted Gloria. "Hopefully, the Guildmaster will reward us for our efforts." She giggled. "Maybe then you'll get your wish and we won't get tax-"

SMACK!

A speeding white blur collided into the Vulpix, sending her careening and tumbling across the grass, only to smash her head against a tree - knocked clean out.

"GLORIA!"

Liam dropped the ELE and made a mad dash towards the incapacitated Pokémon. He had no time to think about the whereabouts of the aggression, if it weren't for the attacker now blocking his path. His aura tassels immediately flared up in response.

"What the-"

'DUCK!' his mind screamed at him.

He did just exactly that, instinctively bending forward before the rush of black claws above could slice into him. The attacker became a white blur again, bounding backwards as Liam staggered back to a full stance. The Riolu could now see who exactly was the culprit.

It was a bipedal arthropod-like Pokémon with a hunched over posture. Silver colored plates of armor covered the bug's purplish body. Its face mandibles twitched erratically, the beady black eyes of it boring straight into Liam's. Without a doubt in his mind, he knew this Pokémon.

It was a Golisopod.

A calm breeze blew through the grassy fields, bristling the fur of Liam as he engaged in a staredown between him and the Golisopod. None of them moved a muscle, content with examining their opponent. This stillness would eventually be broken by Liam, who slowly reached for his saddlebag.

Golisopod sprang into action, scurrying towards the Riolu with his sharpened black claws. Liam abandoned his idea, pivoting to the left before planning his counterplan.

'Shoot! This guy is giving no time to thin-'

His thoughts were cut off by a swipe propelled by bubbles of water from Golisopod's arm. Liam jumped back a bit too late, the bug's claws slicing a side of his stomach as he cringed in pain.

'Water… Water-type! Okay then.'

Liam needed to get back in the game and get on the offensive immediately. Coils of sparkling yellow electricity pulsed around both of his enclosed paws. He sprinted towards his target, slamming his electrified fists into Golisopod's armored white shell.

The Pokémon didn't even flinch.

'What?! How am I supposed to…' His gaze wandered over to its belly region. 'There!'

Liam ducked below Golisopod and charged up his double Thunder Punch combo again. This time, he hammered down on the bug's unarmored belly, beating and shocking the exposed flesh. Golisopod's mandibles twitched in pain, the Pokémon putting his massive clawed arm in between the Riolu's assault. With a massive amount of force, the arm flung Liam from his position, catapulting him a few yards away.

"G-AH!"

Liam grunted as his back smacked against a decayed stone pillar. He had little time to regain his bearings, as in his blurry sight, the vision of something fast and blue was barreling towards him.

'Move! Move!'

His aura feelers shot up, his body now acting faster than his brain. A well timed Quick Attack allowed him to flee his position.

BOOOOOOM!

The impending column of water smashed the pillar into smithereens, sending cascades of mossy stone everywhere. Liam scrambled to his hind paws, hastily opening a pouch in the saddlebag to retrieve a sorely needed item. Golisopod emerged from the monolith of water, intent on continuing his onslaught.

However, a Blast Seed lobbed directly at his face had other intentions.

BOOM!

Liam threw another seed, this time, a Stun Seed. Before it could even reach the disoriented Pokémon, the Bug-type swiftly sliced the seed in half while it was mid air.

'What the- how did he…?! Oh no.'

Golisopod summoned another Waterfall, wrapping himself in another column of water. He charged the Riolu at breakneck speeds, the Fighting-type failing to get away and getting launched backwards by the strong current. The two's journey ended up colliding with more pillars, sending bits of stone flying.

Liam spat some blood out. 'Now's my chance!' He got up as fast he could and fired up his twin Thunder Punch's again.

WOOSH!

Another pair of black claws aimed at Liam, another scream from his aura tassels to move. He tumbled out of way before Golisopod's attack could gut him like a fish, the claws smashing into a nearby pillar and sending pieces of rock everywhere. Getting back up, he skidded towards Golisopod with a Quick Attack. The Riolu closed in and unleashed his fury into the distracted Bug-type's belly, beating into it like a drum with the occasional uppercut. Golisopod thrashed in agony after each crackling paw landed their blows, his tiny legs almost buckling. In a rage, the bug threw him again with a swing of his monstrous arm.

Liam plummeted a few feet away, tiredly rolling his body out of the way before the Golisopod struck the ground where he once lay with a devastating Razor Shell. The Riolu stumbled onto shaky legs, heaving as he did so. He didn't have much left in him, and none of his attacks seemed to only make the Bug-type more ferocious. Worse yet, his saddlebag was knocked out of his grasp.

A two clawed swipe whipped his face, producing thin bloody streaks across his cheeks. It didn't stop, as Liam was pummeled by relentless jabs from Golisopod. Soon enough, the damage and his fatigue was too much, and the Riolu collapsed to his knees, shutting his eyes closed.

'I can't...'

Golisopod raised his arm once again, forming a deadly Razor Shell to seal in his opponent's fate. Liam braced for impact, but it never came. In fact, he felt warmth amongst the cool breeze. Then that warmth turned into an almost burning feeling. He peeked his eyes open to see a torrent of red hot flames being spewed from the mouth of a flying orange dragon, slamming into Golispod's back, who screeched in agony.

'Charizard?!'

Charizard closed his mouth and landed onto the earth with a 'thud'. "NO ONE messes with our rookies. Got that, little bug?" Flames licked the edges of his mouth, ready for any sudden movement. "What's it gonna be, huh?" Charizard growled, grinning viciously. "Charred, or squashed?"

The Bug-type took a step back from them both, accessing the situation. To Golisopod, a skilled and honorable warrior, he had only choice.

Emergency Exit.

He again turned into a white blur and vanished at insane speed, leaving just like the way he came.

Liam, still a bit winded, got back on his feet. "Charizard… how did you even-"

The Pokémon tapped the ELE on his saddlebag. "You must've turned it on, because I was able to hear the commotion. Sandslash was even talking about strange figures he saw lurking around, so I was on alert anyways."

Liam sighed. "Well thanks, I almost… I... "

"Don't sweat it, kid. Sometimes we all lose one, and sadly I've had a lot of losing recently. You gonna be alright?"

"Yeah, just peachy," Liam responded in deadpan, looking around for the lost saddlebag.

Charizard swerved his head around. "Say, where's the girl? What was her name again? Maria?"

"Gloria," Liam corrected, his eyes then expanding in awareness. "Gloria!" He ignored his exhaustion and sprinted towards the still motionless Vulpix beside the tree.

Once Liam was by her side, he held her head with a paw, checking for injuries. On the back of her skull was a nasty bruise and a cut, a small pile of blood soaking into the grass. But she was still breathing, which was all that mattered to him at this moment.

"Charizard!"

A flapping noise was heard as the Fire-type descended on Liam, who gingerly picked up the Vulpix and held her close.

"What happened to her, kid?"

"I don't know. We just got attacked out of nowhere," Liam said honestly. "We need to go see Hatterene right away!"

Charizard contracted his wings. "Why didn't ya say so? Let's fly!"


"And… after you exited this dungeon, you were randomly attacked by this Golisopod?" Scizor summarized.

Liam nodded, scratching his itchy bandages. "Yeah, and then Charizard swooped in to come pick us up."

When the three of them returned to the guild, Gloria was immediately handed off to Hatterene, who after a period of sharp glares, began to work her nursing magic. Luckily, the Vulpix just suffered a concussion, and would recover after some much needed rest. Afterwards, Liam was expected to present his findings to Scizor in the Bug-types personal quarters. Currently, he had gone through everything they had discovered, but he had yet to show the Pokémon the note and Entercard they had found within.

Scizor inhaled deeply. "I see... I must apologize to you and Gloria for putting you both in danger for this mission." His features softened. "But I must tell you that your findings are revolutionary for our cause. You mentioned taking some items found there?"

Liam placed Gloria's cream saddlebag on the table, opening one of the pouches and retrieving two things, a slip of paper, and a thin metal card-like object. Scizor grabbed the card-like object first, analyzing the strange patterns engraved into it.

"This... is an Entercard." He studied it again "But I've never seen patterns like this before. It's almost too well made... like it was manufactured. Interesting."

Scizor's curiosity got the better of him as he then snapped up the dirty note with a pincer. The researcher was immediately shocked to see actual text that was coherent, his mood changing completely as he began to read.

"Yes… yes!" Scizor stood up and marched over to the giant map of Celestic. "While the information is basic, it gives me exactly what I need to... " He took a pin and nailed the note to the map, swaddling some string to it. "Make some connections that make sense… uh."

Liam simply watched the Pokémon operate in a separate world from his own. Scizor only noticed after a few minutes of rambling to himself.

"... Apologies, Liam. You are free to take your leave. Thank you so much for your and Gloria's efforts. The Guildmaster and I will work hard to reward your team properly."

Liam picked up the saddlebag and turned the knob to the door. He swung the door wide open amd entered the pitch-black hallway. The Riolu then took a deep breath, leaning against the door as he was finally able to think in peace. They had discovered something amazing today, but the aftermath left a bad taste in his mouth, and he couldn't tell why.

"Hey!"

"AAH!"

Liam yelped in shock, before registering the suave voice of Roark, along with the snickering that came afterward. He shot a glare at the almost invisible ruse fox lurking in the dark.

"Ha, you… hahaha!" Roark tried to speak through his laughter. "You should've seen the look on your face!"

"Very funny, Roark. Why are you awake this late? I thought you were sleeping in the nurse's office last time I checked."

The fox shrugged, "I just wanted to check up on you. After all, you did fight that gnarly bug all by yourself. That had to be rough, right?" He laughed. "If I was there, then I'd have to activate 'Big Brother Mode'."

Liam sighed, "It sure was, and… if Charizard wasn't there we woul-" he shook his head, "I'm sorry... that I wasn't able to protect Gloria, but it was so sudden."

"Don't worry about it. Gloria's a big girl, and I know she will walk it off with one of her cute smiles. And don't forget your safety is important too. Even if I've only known you for two months, you're still good as family to me."

Liam smiled, "Thanks, Roark. I guess... I guess I needed to hear something like that."

"Great! 'Cause that's enough sap from me today." The Zoroark slinked into the dark halls again, waving a claw behind him. "Get some rest yourself! My sister needs her sidekick in prime condition!"

Liam was now alone, again. And he wasn't quite sure if liked that, being in an eerily quiet and now empty guild. But he sure wasn't tired with the thoughts swirling in his head; he was restless, and desired some time to think about things alone.

"Sorry, Gloria. Guess I'm staying up again, just this one time."

He decided on stargazing for a while, swinging open the wooden doors of the guild's entrance to greet the dusky and midnight blue world. Once outside, he promptly gazed upwards, his eyes glistening at the dazzling view. It was a totally different experience than viewing the night sky in a place like Empyrean City, where the city lights drowned out the nightlight. But here he could see every bright star, every splatter of cosmic light, debris, or dust.

"Wow..."

The Riolu stopped his unblinking stare to tread the sides of the purplish building. After one of his now defunct late night missions, he would come to this cliff at the back of the guild to get an amazing view of the night sky. It was his favorite spot, so getting a view right now was a must.

But as he got closer towards the cliff, he began to hear something, a distant voice.

'Starlight… star bright.'

'Huh?'

'With all your might…'

The voice was gruff, but was singing as softly as possible. And it was familiar to Liam, who carefully snuck forwards towards it. What he saw next was shocking, because hanging off the cliffside was none other than a golden furred Lucario, who was speaking to the flickering orange ring on his paw.

"Shine a light on our child tonight." He chuckled lowly. "That's what we'd sing... right?"

"... Guildmaster?"

As soon as that word came out of Liam's mouth, Jackson whipped his head back and lowered his paw, an angry scowl on his face. But that scowl quickly faded once he realized what exact Pokémon disturbed him.

"Liam… why are you still awake? It is already past midnight."

The Riolu gulped. "Uh, I couldn't sleep, and I sometimes come here to stargaze. Who… were you talking to?"

Jackson stared for a while. "No one... I was talking to myself."

"... I think I'll leave then, and not disturb you." Liam turned to leave, following the same path he took to enter.

"Liam."

"Huh?"

"You can stay; you just caught me off guard."

"... Okay."

Liam hesitantly made his way over as Jackson patted the dirt next to him. He took a seat, instinctively looking up at the sky and just soaking in everything.

Jackson joined him, "You know… Pokémon don't really wonder about the stars. They don't know what they hide, how large they can be, how powerful, how destructive. They're content with living simple lives that just see the stars as a backdrop."

"The stars? What about them?" Liam wasn't exactly well versed about space.

"Billions of years from now, our sun, a star itself, will start to die. It will enlarge itself and turn into a red giant, swallowing everything in its surroundings, until collapsing to start the process all over again, to begin new life. It is inevitable." Jackson smirked. "I always found it funny how much in common the ley lines and stars share. The ley lines will eventually consume the planet, wiping out all life and land. And Pokémon, just like the stars, don't know about it. Sometimes... I wonder if saving this world is pointless, and that the ley lines are inevitable. And maybe we'll just succumb to attrition."

"But that… can't happen!" Liam argued. "You swore to destroy the ley lines after your village was wiped out, right? That's what Scizor still dedicates himself to, and Charizard too, I imagine! We still have to protect everyone from a threat, even if they're not aware of it!"

Silence reigned after the Riolu's choice words, Jackson contemplating them before deeply exhaling and narrowing his eyes.

"Liam… I know you've been lying to me. You're not actually from the Shore Region, are you?"

Liam's blood ran cold. "You… knew?! Are you..." He urgently stood up.

"Sit," Jackson commanded. "You're not in trouble, if you let me finish."

It took Liam a second, but he slowly sat back down, clenching a paw.

"Liam, I've had many characters join and leave the guild in the past twenty years. Thieves, liars, or just plain criminals. You are not one of them."

The Riolu eased up, sighing deeply. "... How did you know?"

"Call it a hunch." Jackson faintly smiled. "I know about being a criminal, because I was one, a damn good one at that."

"... What?"

"Yup. I never told any of the others, so you're the only one to know this. But I did all sorts of the bad shit you see now on the bulletin boards. Robberies, extortion, gangs… murder. I didn't see meaning in life at all, only living to thrive in the chaos I caused."

Liam wasn't quite sure if he should be appalled, or fascinated by how different he is now. He would've never guessed that the professional leading the guild for so long was just another street criminal.

"How did you change?"

"I didn't, but I did meet someone that tried, and she was my everything." The Lucario's faint smile grew. "My little wallflower."

Liam huddled his legs together, eyes still fixated on the sky. "Was she your girlfriend? Or someone else?"

"Wife. I remember the time she told me she was pregnant, and that I was going to be a father. And she was so happy, to be with a scumbag like me that... I just didn't understand. That's when I realized I craved something more than chaos - fatherhood - the kind I never experienced." He attempted to smile. "I was... going to have a son of my own - something I didn't even know I wanted. Of course I was worried; maybe about money, or responsibility, but I-"

He stopped.

Jackson rubbed his eyes, shifting his legs and exhaling loudly. "I remember arriving and the doctor taking me into a room with this bundle of plastic tubes and wrapped cloth on a bed, and telling me... telling me my son didn't make it through birth. And... um… I." The Lucario slowly shook, overcome by this alien emotion. "I didn't know... how to even... react. I thought maybe... that this was my punishment, and it was never meant to be for someone like myself. There was never a chance for me to experience fatherhood, to bond, to give a good life, to give my son a good childhood, one I wish I had."

"But… what happened to your wife?" Liam questioned, wincing once he caught the immediate angry look Jackson gave off.

"... Revenge begets revenge, and past actions and past dues of your sins eventually catch up. I still loved every bit of her, and she reciprocated. But I couldn't protect her from my own sin, and I was now alone in a hateful world I helped create. My grim reminder."

There was another stretch of silence after his words, Liam not being able to piece together a sufficient response. It was heavy, out of nowhere, and he didn't want to say the wrong words.

"... Do you want to protect Gloria, Liam?"

"I… yeah, I do. But I'm just not strong enough to do that. I thought I could, but I can't."

"Charizard told me of what happened today. Do you think it's scary?"

Liam tilted his head. "What is scary?"

Jackson's eyes sharpened, "That you failed to protect someone, in this case, Gloria?" He looked over. "Do you think you failed to protect her?"

The Riolu's posture sagged. "I really do. Roark told me not to worry, but if the circumstances were different, me and her could've been… killed."

Even if in a joking manner, the words of Monferno seemed to ring out through his head at just how easy it would've been.

'Can you dodge a bullet, Mr Personality?'

A third spell of silence was cast over them, only to again be broken by Jackson.

"Tomorrow you will not work on job listings."

"Huh?"

"No, instead you will be personally trained by me on how to properly utilize your aura in combat situations." The Lucario's eyes flashed a bit of emotion. "Then you will learn how to fight and defend your loved ones if any harm comes to them, got it? Because we're the same."

Liam hastily nodded multiple times, his heart beating in his chest. "I'll be ready as soon as you are, Guildmaster. Should I... sleep now to get ready?"

Jackson shook his head. "No, stay here… stay and keep a bastard like me company for a while longer."

And Liam did just that. For what seemed like hours, they pointed and gaped at various oddities and constellations in the night sky. The Lucario sharing more insane facts about the cosmos and universe to an amazed Liam. Enjoyment replaced past sorrows.

Today, the night seemed to last much longer than usual.


Under the blanket of ten thousand blinking stars, share the view with someone the same as you.


Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord linked below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time:Audacious Aura Action
 
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Chapter 13: Audacious Aura Action

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 13

Audacious Aura Action

Liam's cardinal eyes gently fluttered open, the Pokemon smacking his lips as his vivid dreams faded into reality. His tired eyes wandered around their quiet quarters, noting the absence of a squawking Staravia in it. He chuckled, silently thanking the Guildmaster for letting him sleep in. With his brain also now aware of his surroundings, Liam recounted the events of his strange dream.

He was on this lightless planet infested with blight and other infectious materials. Crazy mind controlled Parasect were trying to tear him to pieces, but he always escaped, either through intense battles or sheer luck sometimes. It was such a crazy dream that he needed to tell Gloria all about it.

Liam smiled, pivoting his head over. "Hey, Gloria! You're never gonna bel- Oh... right."

The beanbag right next to his was empty, lacking the usual sleeping Vulpix. She was most likely still resting in the nurse's office. He sighed, now recalling the events of the 'fight' that went horrible for the both of them. But he also remembered that today was the start of his aura training with the Guildmaster.

'And I can't show weakness like before, time to get ready.'

Liam quickly got off his beanbag, stretching his unused muscles and psyching himself for the important day head. He tore open the doorknob to their quarters and bounded into the hallways, dodging any fellow guild members still rubbing away the remnants of sleep in their eyes.

Jackson had told Liam to head straight to his office after he woke up. The Riolu did just that, making his way over to the room across the mess hall with the symbol of a Lucario head etched into it. He gave the door a few brief knocks, awaiting a response. A few moments later, it came, a muffled gruff voice from inside reaching his ears.

'Come on in.'

Liam opened the door to Jackson's neatly decorated office, his gaze drifting towards the golden Lucario sitting near his desk and scribbling onto some documents.

"I'm ready for my training, Guildmaster."

Jackson looked up, "Good, go to the training grounds near the left side of the building. I will meet you there soon." He waved a paw to shoo the Riolu away, returning back to his writing.

Liam hastily nodded, shutting the door and tearing through the halls again. Once reaching the foyer, he opened the double wooden doors to the outside world and took the path to the left of the building. This area was a new sight to him, as he had no reason to enter before.

Lines of scuffed white paint were splattered onto the cratered dirt in a rectangular pattern. Training dummies' made out of thatch and cloth were designed as different Pokémon and spread out across the battered field. Targets,and even stone pillars were erected in rows for practicing ranged attacks.

Liam took in a deep breath, hopping up and down on the soles of his paws to prepare himself both mentally and physically. He wasn't sure what aura training entailed, but if the Guildmaster was behind it, then it was going to be rough. Sure enough, after around five minutes of standing idly around, a golden furred figure emerged from the purple building and began to make its way towards Liam.

Jackson looked around the field. "You didn't bring your saddlebag?"

'Shoot, was I supposed to bring it?' Liam gulped. "No, it's still in the nurse's office."

"Good."

"Huh?"

"Today you will be working without the assistance of items in battle. If you become too reliant on them, you will easily be overwhelmed when caught off guard."

Liam sighed, "Just like yesterday…"

Jackson stepped past the Riolu and into the white rectangle. "Before we begin our actual training, you must understand what aura actually is."

Liam tilted his head, following Jackson. "And just what is it? Like a move, or power within Pokémon?"

The Lucario shook his head, "No, aura is something that only two types of Pokémon inherit. The Lucario line, us, and certain Legendaries."

"But what does it do exactly?"

Jackson closed his eyes. "I want you to remove whatever bullshit about aura you might've heard from other Pokémon." He clenched a paw. "Aura is not an attacking force, or an omniscient tracking power. It's more of an instinct, or a sixth sense."

The Riolu absorbed this information. It made sense, and he thought back to all those times in the past where he felt his body move almost on instinct and scream at him.

"This hidden sense is the one that alerts you of imminent threats, such as a punch to the face, or even a point blank Hyper Beam."

Liam gasped, 'So that's why my body was acting so strange at the Eden Theater, and when that Golisopod charged at me. It was my aura acting up to get me out of danger.'

"Guildmaster, you said before that I could utilize my aura in battle?"

"Correct, knowing how to use your aura in battle can make the difference between life and death. However, it can only be used to protect your own life, and there is only one instance of aura being translated into an attacking move."

"Which is?" Liam asked with bated breath.

Jackson cracked his neck. "Observe."

The Lucario hunched over, holding his two paws together as his four tassels started to float upward in an invisible wind. A sphere of solid light blue energy began to form between his paws, expanding and expanding until Jackson released it, the sphere being hurled at a stone pillar a few meters away.

BOOM.

The tower was reduced to nothing more than bits and pieces after the collision, leaving a gaping Liam in the process.

"Aura Sphere," Jackson said calmly. "Once a Riolu is ready to evolve into a Lucario, they will harness their aura into a move - this move." He faced a still shocked Liam. "Now, are you ready to begin training?"


'Why… does my head hurt so much?'

Gloria's eyes opened, closing slightly as a wave of aching pain crashed in her mind. She tried lifting her head, only being able to bring it up enough to where she could take a look at her surroundings.

'... Where am I?'

An unfamiliar sterile, white room met her blurry vision. Clean wooden cabinets were positioned above a white countertop, with various beakers and vials of strange liquids neatly assorted on the counter. But what caught her eye the most was the tall, pink hairy figure shuffling across the floor.

She recognized this as Hatterene, the head nurse of the guild. The Fairy-type didn't seem to notice Gloria's state as she scribbled into her notebook.

"Um… Miss… Hatterene?" Gloria weakly managed to get out.

Hatterene slowly turned around, her emotionless gaze falling upon the Vulpix lying on a padded counter. The claw on her hat soon grew a mind of its own, grabbing a hold of a glass filled with a strange blue and purple liquid and thrusting it near Glora's face.

"Why… am I-"

"Do not talk. Drink."

"B-but-"

"Now."

Gloria flinched, hesitantly taking the bottle with both paws and deciding to just go through with it. She gulped down the glass's contents, raising an eyebrow at the sweet but chalky taste of it.

The Vulpix peeled the glass from her lips. "What is this stuff?"

Hatterene bored into the white fox. "Crushed Oran Berries mixed in with headache medicine. I prepared it in case you woke up."

Gloria observed her environment again, now knowing where exactly she was. "Why am I in the nurse's office? Did… something happen to me?"

Hatterene nodded, "Yesterday you suffered a concussion in the field which rendered you unconscious and unfit for duty - that is why you are here in my office."

The Vulpix's eyes slowly widened. "I was- but, I don't even remem-"

"Upon waking up, you will not remember the events of being put into a state of concussion." Hatterene said flatly.

Gloria squinted, trying to think of the last thing she did. 'We exited that ruin's Mystery Dungeon, went out into the field, and …' She sighed, struggling to recall anything beyond that point, but already knowing what most likely happened.

'I just hope Liam's alright...'

"Charizard and that Riolu boy brought you here - so I assume that they will give you the full details."

"Liam's okay!?" Gloria half shouted and questioned. "Where is he right now?"

"The boy's whereabouts are none of my current concerns. His injuries were briefly healed by me and he was sent on his way." Her hat claw pointed at the glass still clutched in Gloria's paws. "Finish that and you will be free to leave."

Gloria nodded, quickly swallowing the rest of the concoction and rising gently out of her cushioned confinement. She spotted her saddlebag resting by the doorframe of the room, picking it up with her teeth and swinging it around her side.

"Thank you so much, Miss Hatterene!" Gloria gratefully exclaimed, heading towards the room's exit.

"Leave."

And leave the Vulpix did, now strolling through the halls and feeling a lot better with her headache now a distant memory. While she continued to contemplate the events of yesterday, her ears picked up large amounts of chatter from the main foyer of the guild.

'Huh? What is that?'

She originally thought it was just the many teams creating a fuss over the job requests, but she could hear the familiar voices of her fellow guildmates beyond the halls. She put off finding Liam for now, deciding to investigate what was happening in the lobby. Once Gloria entered the lobby, she caught a glance of each member of the guild crowding around a trio of Pokémon - the trio in question causing her eyes to widen. It was a Garchomp, an Aggron, and a Tyranitar, all soaking up the attention being given to them.

'Team Drarosteel… they're here?'

Gloria knew full well that the Guildmaster told everyone of their arrival tomorrow, but tomorrow was already here it seemed. She began to panic internally, not knowing what her next action should be - to greet them if possible, or pretend to be invisible in the crowd. Sadly for her, Monferno would choose her fate, as he broke off from the crowd upon noticing her presence, and shouted.

"Hey, Gloria! C'mere! Team freaking Drarosteel is here!" The Fire-type was then hastily corralled back into the gathering by Braixen.

'Shoot - I guess I have no choice…'

Gloria knew all too well of Team Drarosteel, seeing that they are currently the most famous exploration team in Celestic by far - only mildly eclipsing the now defunct Team Moonlight. She read about their exploits all the time in each Celestic Cognizance that came in the mail. But reading about them was far different than seeing and talking to them in the flesh. And while she wouldn't tell anyone, she preferred exploration teams within the novels she read.

She inhaled then exhaled, moving forward to join the group, her paws feeling like jelly the more she got closer. Soon, she joined the jabbering as a starstruck Rockruff shot question after question to the illustrious trio.

"Ooh, ooh! What was your guys' most exciting adventure?"

Garchomp raised her shark-like head in thought, letting out a velvety hum. "There was that treacherous march through Crabominable territory. Still got one of the scars to prove it."

The Aggron behind her butted in. "Aye, but what about those double crossing mercenaries at the top of Mount Volcarona?"

The hulking Tyranitar beside him chuckled, also chiming in, his accent just as strong as Aggron's. "Ya call that exciting? What about that siege off the Shore Region's coasts from those Ice Continent pirates?"

Garchomp rolled her eyes, "Boys, those were all great times, but as this team's leader, I'll have to override this one bit."

Laughter spread through the crowd, while the Dragon-type's teammates grumbled under their breath. Gloria remained still - she felt like she had something to ask, but her lips remained sealed, and paws planted on the ground.

Purrloin giggled with mirth. "~Mreow! You three have been on dazzling adventures, right?" She purred. "What kinds of treasures and trinkets have you discovered, mmm?"

Monferno scoffed, "They're not treasure hunters, Purrloin, they've got more important stuff to do than find shiny rocks."

Garchomp nodded, "It's true that we don't go out seeking treasure, but this time around…" She struggled to find the words. "Things are a little different."

"W-What do you mean?" Staravia flapped his wings, careful not to send the Joltik on his back flying. "You're saying you're out to find something in Celestial M-Mountain?"

"Sort of." Garchomp sighed. "Our purpose in joining your expedition is to provide assistance, but also hopefully uncover details pertaining to this guild's mission."

Gloria was stunned. 'Team Drarosteel also knows about the ley lines?' She was sure they had explored the mountain before, so it only made sense as to why they would return again.

Aggron slapped his metal chest with a 'clang'. "That mountain is a dangerous place - that even us Aggron wouldn't make home in. But we'll be there to keep you lads and lassies' chin up."

Unfortunately, before another question could pop from the eager crowd, Scizor emerged from the hallway and immediately locked eyes with everyone present. "Team Drarosteel, I apologize for our… excited members." He waved a pincer. "You all have jobs to do, please do not bother them any longer." He then disappeared back into the hallway, like a ghost.

A collective sigh moved through the crowd, as each quickly broke off to get back to their duties. Gloria instinctively let out a sigh of relief, content on blending in with her leaving guildmates.

"Don't worry guys!" Garchomp yelled. "We'll be sticking around Empyrean, and-" She stopped, as one Pokémon leaving in particular caught her eye. "Wait a minute, is that… hey! You, Vulpix!"

Gloria stopped dead in her tracks, her heart beating loudly as she meekly turned around. "Y-Yes, Miss Garchomp?"

"Aren't you…" The sand shark's eyes narrowed. "No way, you're that same Vulpix from the Eden Theater, right? You're the 'mon who brought down that Magmortar merc!"

Aggron caught on quickly. "Aye, the lassie does look familiar - I think you might be right."

"Uh… yes! That was me, but…" She dug a paw into the floor. "My partner kinda did most of the work."

Garchomp closed in on Gloria, towering above the Vulpix. "I got to have a little chit-chat with Empoleon on what happened. Turns out you and that Riolu saved his blubbery hide from disaster!"

Tyranitar piped up. "Here's herself, the hero who stopped an assassin! If ya weren't there, then that Magmortar would've turned that ambassador to ashes."

"H-hero? We were just… caught in a bad place at a bad time, trying to save our own lives."

Garchomp grinned her sharp teeth. "Isn't that how heroes are made? And besides, you're in a guild that produces these kinds of 'mons."

"Well, my partner and I are pretty new to the guild." She tugged on her scarf "We joined a day after the, uh… incident happened. We're Team Requiem."

Aggron made a whistling noise. "Even got a team? Sounds like you have it figured out, lassie. But everyone has their own goal for joining a guild - so what is yours if ya mind me askin'?"

"I joined because… becau-"

"Hey, sleeping beauty! You're awake!"

Before Gloria could react, a swooshing noise interrupted her as a pair of red claws hoisted her to a dark furry chest. She attempted to wiggle her way out, already knowing who the culprit is. However, she was let go as Roark chuckled up a storm.

"And you've got an audience with Team Drarosteel? We'll have to add 'superstar' to your list of achievements, eh?"

Gloria lightly pushed him away, to little effect. "Not now, Roark!"

Garchomp tilted her head. "And this is your brother… Roark? I have heard about you, mostly from your Guildmaster."

Roark raised a brow. "Good things I hope. Roark, master of illusions and guild jockey at your service." He extended a claw, which Garchomp tapped with her own massive talon.

"A pleasure, we were just discussing your sister's little… or rather big victory at the Eden Theater. I was very impressed - you don't see feats like that from the average recruit."

The Zoroark crossed his arms. "Really now?" He looked down at the rightfully embarrassed Vulpix. "Think there's room for four on Team Drarosteel?"

"Roark!"

"Aw, c'mon, Liam will understand."

Garchomp laughed tenderly. "Maybe not now, but I see potential in you, Gloria. I just don't think you realize it."

Roak laughed with her. "Tell me about it, I've been egging her on forever to join the guild. She doesn't know she has what it takes."

"I do!" Gloria suddenly blurted out. "I just-"

"Need some confidence," Garchomp finished for her, a gleam appearing in her eye. "Y'know, I do have some spare time today…"

"Ah, I know that look in 'er eye!" Aggron guffawed. "Gloria was it? You're about to be mentored by the roughest and toughest gal this side of Celestic!"

Gloria did a double take. "Mentor? But I don't need-"

"Aww, c'mon sis. Would you rather me teach you battle tactics?"

The Vulpix sighed. 'He does make a good point.' She soon realized what she said, shaking her head. "Sorry, but I don't want to trouble you, Miss Garchomp."

The Dragon-type chuckled at her formality. "Just Garchomp, and I think you should reconsider. At this stage in your guild career, one miscalculation could mean life or death. At least, from my own experience of course."

Gloria instinctively remembered the events of yesterday, or rather, what she couldn't remember. A sudden weight formed in her stomach, as feelings of uselessness set in. Fortunately, a sudden nudge in her side by her brother made her eject such feelings and formulate a better response.

"Okay, I'll do it."

Roark raised an arm in victory. "Woohoo! I'm sure it'll be fine, sis." He began walking towards Aggron and Tyranitar, pointing a claw at them. "This sounds like a good excuse to celebrate. You two in?"

The two behemoths exchanged looks, Tyranitar already knew what was happening. "Haven't had a pint in a while - sound good, Aggron?"

The Steel-type nodded, "Aye, but what about your duties?"

Roark scanned his surroundings. "Scizor ain't around, is he?"

A brief shake of everyone's heads gave him all the information he needed.

"Great! You're paying," He said to the two, patting them on their backs and walking to the guild's exit.

Gloria sighed, "... Be careful!"

"Doesn't work like that with boys, Gloria, trust me," Garchomp remarked with a smirk. "Now, are you ready to begin your training?"

The Vulpix was taken aback. "Today?"

"Of course - no time like the present. Your partner won't mind, correct?"

"I… don't even know where he is."

"Perfect." Garchomp pointed her long talon at the guild's exit. "Your Guildmaster told me the training grounds would be occupied today, but I know a spot around here that works just fine. Follow me."

Gloria wanted to counter the dragoness' statement, but felt her words crumble as Garchomp stomped over to the exit.

'I've got a tough day ahead of me…'


"Turn around."

The Riolu blinked, wordlessly obeying his orders and turning his body. The Lucario crouched, raising a paw near one of Liam's aura tassels.

"This sensitive organ stores that instinct - your aura. When faced with immense harm, they will trigger a response in the body to move."

Liam recounted the many times he's experienced those sudden twitches in his feelers, now understanding their purpose in his arsenal.

"The first step in our training is testing your aura reflexes, how quickly you respond in time." Jackson cracked both of his paws, getting ready.

"Okay… how are we gonna-"

A feeling of electricity jolted through Liam's feelers, transferring to his body's instinctual response as he immediately jerked to his right before Jackson's paw could connect with him. He quickly spun around, with only one question on his mind.

"Hey! Why did you just-"

The Lucario chuckled at his bewilderment. "Turn back around. You're making good progress."

Liam begrudgingly did so, planting himself firmly on the ground. The feeling of electricity coursing through his body returned, narrowly escaping another jab from Jackson. The Guildmaster didn't seem to relent, throwing multiple fast punches at the Riolu, with Liam barely scraping by. But his luck eventually ran out as he failed to react in time and suffered a blinding punch to his side. He stumbled forward, his spiraling momentum causing him to faceplant into the dirt.

Jackson laughed hard at his misfortune as while Liam picked himself up, growling.

"What's…" he spat out some dirt, "... So funny?"

"Watching you eat the dirt, kid," the Lucario responded. "But don't worry, that's just part of the learning process."

Liam brushed off the dust coating his fur. "What am I supposed to even learn?"

"This is the first step in using your aura to its greatest potential. Trusting and harnessing that instinct will allow you to dance around your opponent." He grinned. "Come back. We've got a lot more to do."

Liam sighed.


Gloria stiffly treaded along, trying not to falter in her steps while her head stirred in thought. Here she was, a regular recruit at the guild about to be trained by a world famous explorer. Garchomp guided the Vulpix towards the back of the guild, keen on discovering her favorite sparring spot from the past. But something else plagued her thoughts, and caused her to speak her mind.

"What were you going to say back there?"

"H-huh? What do you mean?" Gloria stumbled both mentally with her words and physically with her steps.

"Before your brother interrupted you… about why you joined the guild."

The Vulpix recovered. "Because… I wanted to help the Pokémon of Celestic."

A moment of silence consumed two, as both continued to walk down the grassy path.

"I… see."

They arrived at their destination, the rather spacious cliff side at the back end of the guild.

Garchomp took a few heavy steps forward, memories already flooding back into her mind. "Ah, it's been so long, maybe since I was still a Gabite." She turned to face Gloria. "Me and your Guildmaster used to spar here from time to time while this place was still under construction."

Gloria was shocked, her fascinated side revealing itself. "That was over twenty years ago! You knew Team Moonlight all that time ago?"

Garchomp chuckled, "Uhuh, and thanks for reminding me how old I am." She looked around. "But being here again gives me an idea…"

"What kind?" Gloria inquired.

Garchomp pointed her talon at the Vulpix, a devious toothy grin growing on her face.

"A good ole spar - you and me."


A spark of electricity shot through Liam's thoughts as he dodged yet another punch from Jackson. He could feel himself getting faster and faster each punch.

'Hey… maybe I got th-'

A paw smashing into his shoulder broke his train of thought, sending him crashing to the ground. He slowly got back up on his hind paws, quietly grumbling at the Lucario's laughter behind him.

"Okay… we can stop your aura training for right now and start focusing on actual combat."

'Finally,' Liam bemoaned in his mind.

Jackson stood back up, walking across the scarred field towards a cluster of painted sacks. He rose a paw for Liam to follow him, stopping at one of the tall sacks. It was a Bibarel, or rather, was crudely painted like one.

"We'll start off simple - training dummy." He looked down at the Riolu. "Show me what you've got, kid."

Liam nodded without hesitation, already knowing what to do. A purplish glow manifested in his left paw, as he slammed that same paw into the smiling Bibarels face. He then followed up with an electrifying Thunder Punch from his right paw. With the amount of force being exerted on the sack, it promptly fell over with a 'thud'. Liam immediately looked back at the Guildmaster in anticipation

Jackson, however, didn't seem impressed. "You can punch alright." He picked up the sack, placing it upright again. "Now, show me how you disorientate your opponent and knock them off balance."

Liam absently blinked in response. His main battle tactics before were recklessly pummeling his enemies either with his paws or the occasional Blast Seed.

Jackson narrowed his eyes, taking the lack of a response as the answer he needed. "Step aside." Liam obeyed his orders, backing up.

Within a split second, the Lucario smashed his head into the sack's 'face' at lightning speeds. He followed the headbutt up with a sweeping hind paw of the sack's bottom. Before it could crumple to the ground, he pulled a paw back and slammed it into the 'chest' of the sack, sending it tumbling a few yards away.

Liam's mouth gaped with awe as Jackson locked eyes with him again.

"Before we leave today, I want to see you doing shit like that."


"W-What?!" Gloria sputtered. "Sparring?!" It was a near death sentence to her.

"Of course! You can't learn without some practice in you," Garchomp responded.

"But you would destroy me!" Gloria countered.

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you. But I don't expect you to do the same." She tapped her scaly chest with a talon. "Learning to fend off a big target like me is much needed out in the field, where anything can happen."

Gloria thought of yesterday, reeling in her thoughts. For the majority of her life, she avoided any fight she could, only battling the weaker Pokémon inside the Mystery Dungeons. Fighting that Magmortar was an unforgettable experience, and she could only compare that feeling of impossibility to now. But like Garchomp said, this was her prime opportunity to learn and eliminate that fear.

Gloria took a deep breath, taking up an offensive stance. "... Okay, we'll spar."

"That's what I like to hear!" The dragoness crouched down, a low amount of purple draconic energy building up around her talons. "Let's see if you handle this." She broke off into a modest sprint, straight at the Vulpix.

Gloria nearly yelped at the sight, but remembered to wrench her body out of the way before the dragon's talon impacted the earth. However, she didn't account for Garchomp's second talon slicing into the earth beside her and boxing her in. She began to panic, but Garchomp reassured her.

"Break free! This is your chance to strike back!"

Gloria recovered from her shock, opening her mouth to spew her frigid Icy Wind at Garchomp's face. She then used her spare time to dash out of her enclosed space, hearing a velvety chuckle from the dragoness.

"There's some bite in that move to a 'mon like me." She wiped off the frost sticking to her face, baring her teeth. "Let's see what else you got!"


Liam grunted in pain as he headbutted the sack for what seemed like the tenth time.

Jackson watched closely, "Now disrupt its balance."

The Riolu followed his attack with a sweep of the sack's bottom, quickly adding in a flurry of punches into its middle region. The sack fell to the ground as Liam let loose a drawn out exhale.

"Did I do-" a shake of the Lucario's head stopped him.

Much to Liam's dismay, Jackson knelt down and picked the sack up, slamming it onto the ground.

"Again."


Gloria decided to take up her usual ranged strategy in a battle. She stood firmly, closing her eyes in concentration as a collection of glistening ice crystals started forming above her.

CRACK!

A shower of broken ice cascaded onto the the Vulpix as she opened her eyes in horror. Garchomp stood towering above her, just previously slicing through Gloria's row of Ice Shard.

The Dragon-type grinned, "The pressure's on - no one will stop to give you the time of day in a battle!"

Gloria just barely dodged another swipe from Garchomp, feeling the talon graze her fur. She needed a new plan fast, as her old ones weren't working.


"What?!"

"You heard me. Punch me," Jackson explained, his back turned against the Riolu.

Liam slowly closed his open mouth, tightening a paw as he moved forward. The Lucario didn't move a muscle as he threw a fast punch aimed at his back.

The punch never landed.

"Try again."

A bit frustrated, Liam attempted punch after punch, which Jackson swiftly ducked or sidestepped. Being caught up in his pursuit of a move landing, Liam never foresaw his hind paws being swept out beneath him. Before he could fall, Jackson turned and slammed his paw on Liam's chest, sending him to the ground in a position of submission.

He released a second later. "Now, let's see if I can get you to do that to me."


Bright purple and yellowish flames packed with draconic energy smothered the area where Gloria once stood. Purplish flames licked Garchomp's mouth as she sent another weakened dose of Dragon Breath Gloria's time, the Vulpix knew she couldn't flee in time from the impending attack. A crazy idea that only Liam could've thought of popped in her brain. With zero time to think of any other action, she chose.

Gloria opened her mouth and released a wave of freezing cold Icy Wind at the encroaching Dragon Breath. The two opposite forces collided, exploding into a mist of multicolored dust, before fizzling into nothing.

Garchomp laughed at the sight. "Talk about fighting fire with fire!" More energy began to energy across her talons. "But I'm just getting warmed up, and I still need to see you at your greatest."


Adrenaline flooded Liam's senses as his aura tassels pulsated in response to a threat. He ducked the punch thrown at him, along with the second and third one. This was his best run yet, and just in time for him to enact the second part of the run that he was told to do.

After dodging the final punch, Liam quickly turned around and swung his leg right into Jackson's chest before he could send another punch.

A smirk wormed its way on the Lucario's face. "... You're getting there."


"New targets require a new strategy!"

Gloria now took Garchomp's mid battle advice to heart, ducking a swipe from the dragon. In her mind, she was cooking up a plan to turn the tides in this fight. One theory in particular cropped up, but she had to put it to the test first. They circled each other, Gloria waiting for an attack, and Garchomp looking for an opening.

Once she found it, she zoomed towards the Vulpix, her purplish hued talons ready to deliver a Dragon Claw.

'Now's my chance,' Gloria hissed in her mind, trying to squash the fear of it failing.

She opened her mouth and released the strongest Icy Wind she could muster at the talon headed her way. The mini storm of ice coated Garchomp's upper arm, encasing it in a layer of thin ice and stopping her attack in its tracks.

'It worked!'

Gloria used the Dragon-type's astonishment to her advantage, bolting under her legs to safety. Garchomp cackled at her predicament, scraping the chunks of ice off her talon.

"Impressive, let's see what else you have in store for me."


Tiny cracks in the small tower of stone soon splintered into huge crevices as Liam continued his thrashing of the rock. With one final punch, the tower crumbled to bits of debris.

"Next one, fast," Jackson commanded.

Liam did so with haste, using his newly acquainted knowledge to perform a devastating axe kick to the other tower of stone, quickly reducing it to a pile of rubble.

"Only four more to go - keep up the pace, kid."


'I hope this works,' Gloria recited in her mind, preparing to put her plan into action.

She waited for Garchomp to get closer and closer - only then could she begin. Once she saw her opportunity, she took it, sprinting towards one of the dragon's legs. A powerful Icy Wind was expelled out of her mouth, coating and freezing one of the dragon's leg solid.

The Vulpix nearly fell over after being swiped by Garchomp's talons, but remained on her paws and ran to the other leg with the help of the adrenaline pumping through her veins. Another wave of frigid wind encapsulated Garchomp's second leg, locking her in place momentarily. The dragon smiled, wondering what else the Vulpix planned for her.

Gloria narrowly dodged another swipe, darting to a safe distance. With Garchomp attempting to free herself from her icy constraints, Gloria attempted to use an experimental move that she had accidentally unleashed on Liam yesterday. The air around the concentrating Vulpix wavered; pink colored forceful currents of wind blew past the struggling Garchomp, colliding into her. After seeing it work, Gloria didn't relent, sending more and more Fairy Winds until she couldn't any longer.

After finally breaking through the ice, and withstanding the nonstop wall of Fairy energy, Garchomp staggered on her feet.

Gloria's eyes expanded, 'I made her stagger!' A victorious smile stretched across her face, her tails wagging.

It might not have been much to any other Pokémon, but to her, it was everything.

"Wow," Garchomp began. "Thinking outside the box really got you this far, didn't it?" She flexed her now unfrozen limbs, staring at Gloria. "But something tells me you're far from over, right?"

Gloria stared back, a passionate fire of a thousand suns burning behind her blue orbs.

Garchomp crouched low in response. "Ha, that's all I needed to see."


"Come on, hit me!"

Spheres of solid aura energy exploded near areas where Liam once stood, the Riolu making a desperate attempt to flee from the many Aura Spheres that Jackson was throwing at him. He skidded to a halt as his aura tassels flared up, letting the stray sphere fly past his projected path.

Jackson materialized another Aura Sphere. "What're you standing around for? Come fight me!"

Liam nodded, changing his path and sprinting at the Lucario, occasionally ducking as various Aura Spheres nearly connected with him. Once he got close enough, he did as told, attempting to land a punch on the Lucario. Jackson danced around his attempts, also throwing his own blows at the Riolu. But with his new training, Liam was able to sense most of the attacks coming with his aura, dodging and weaving through all of them.

For a few moments, they were both equals at their craft, until one of them got the upper hand.

Liam saw a flaw in Jackson's stance, quickly capitalizing on that fact and performing a sweep of the Lucario's legs with his hind paw. With him off balance, Liam knew this was his opportunity to land a hit, thrusting his paw smack-dab into Jackson's chest.

Caught off guard, the Lucario stumbled backwards, landing on his rear. After a few seconds of silence, he began to laugh.

"Heh… I think you've got it, kid."

Liam wordlessly approached him, holding out a paw for him to grab onto. Jackson accepted, pulling himself back up to his hind paws. He looked out towards the position of the sun in the sky, smirking.

"But why don't we seal this fact in with some more training?"


It seemed hours had passed as the two went at each other countless times. But once they were all tuckered out, they finally called it a draw and began to rest their weary bodies on a fallen log.

Gloria stared at the orange and purple sky, acknowledging the telltale sign of a beautiful sunset. She would've never believed that one day she would spend the day sparring with a Pokémon such as Garchomp - and even impressing her with battle tactics that she would have never used before.

But even despite her success, she still wanted to know one thing.

"Mis- Garchomp, why did you choose me out of everyone there?"

The dragoness took a while to respond, as she gazed at the shrinking sun. "Because… you reminded me of myself when I was young."

"... Oh."

Silence set in, and Gloria attempted to conjure up a reply. However, Garchomp beat her to the punch, swinging her head to face her.

"I guess if we're playing the question game… then I got a question. Why do you seem so averse to fighting? In a guild like this… you're not really given a choice to be a pacifist some times."

Gloria shuffled her front paws together. "I know that… but I just never liked to fight others, not even in my youth."

"Y'know... as a Gible growing up in the Dragon Village, I never liked exploring, nor did I want to be an explorer some day."

This information greatly shocked Gloria. "Wait, what?!" To think that one of the world's greatest explorers never dreamed to be one was an almost unthinkable statement.

"It's true. I just wanted to be like one of the normal Pokémon out there, but Arceus obviously had other plans for me..." She shook her head, clearing her thoughts. "Point is, one day you might have a new perspective on something, and that will change your entire life."

"Maybe, but I just don't see..."

Gloria's words began to trail off as she looked down at her saddlebag, an open zipper catching her attention. She knew that exact pouch, peering inside and panicking once she realized that there was nothing in there. She immediately got off the log, her eyes frantically analyzing her surroundings.

"Wait! My necklace - it's missing! Where-"

Garchom silenced her with a talon. "Calm down, it must've fallen out while we were sparring. Let's look around the area for it."


Liam let out a much needed exhale, stretching his sore arms and leaning against one of the undamaged pillars of stone. He stared at the sky, watching the retreating sun slowly sink in the horizon.

Right now he felt like he could take on the whole world.

The Lucario beside him, also resting on a stone pillar, peered up at the sky, gawking at the almost invisible stars of the night sky peeking their way in as the sun departed. He narrowed his eyes at it.

"I hope that today was a learning experience for you. Power can only be managed by true skill, and that will help you protect what you swore to."

"Thank you, Guildmaster… for teaching me."

Jackson grunted, "Utilizing your aura in dicey situations will save you from yesterday's ordeal, so don't thank me, thank yourself... But I want to know more about what you haven't told me."

Liam raised a brow, "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Before you joined this guild. Who are you?"

"I... "

The Riolu had difficulty continuing, not knowing whether to tell the Guildmaster about his memory issues. However, seeing as the Guildmaster saw through his previous lies, it seemed foolish to hide more from the sharp eyed Lucario. This was his chance to finally get some possible answers to this mystery that befuddled him.

"I… don't know. I remember waking up on a hill beside a tree, with just the memory of a name echoing in my mind."

There was zero response from the Lucario. Jackson seemed to absently absorb this information. "I see… and you don't remember a single thing from your… previous life?"

In his mind, Liam could only point to those bizarre events that plagued this mind before. To him, they didn't make any sense, but perhaps the Guildmaster would have foresight on them.


"Aha!" Garchomp held up a blue colored necklace, the middle piece of it glistening in the light. "I assume this is it."

Gloria nearly sprinted over, "Yes! That's it!" She grabbed it from Garchomp's outstretched talon, polishing any blemishes on the Never-Melt-Ice piece of it with a paw.

"You seem quite enamored with that necklace. Is there something special about it?"

Gloria held it to her chest. "I… yeah, it really is. I don't want to lose it." She sat back on the log, putting the necklace back into the saddlebag and zipping it up. "One day, I think I'll be worthy of wearing it."

Garchomp smiled, "Ah, so it's an heirloom of your family, then?"

"No, it's…" Gloria slowly began to smile as well. "Something more than that."

"Well, I'm sure there's a story behind that you'll tell someday. But, do you think after today, you feel a bit more worthy to wear that necklace one day?"

The Vulpix absorbed her words, looking up at the sky. "I've still got a lot to prove to them and myself."

Garchomp followed her gaze. "Sounds about right, but our little trip up Celestial Mountain might fix that, right?"

"... Yeah."


"I remember these flashes… One was of some sort of kid with the same name as me on a boat with his father. And this other time, I felt myself chained to a wall and… the rest is pretty fuzzy."

"That's… strange."

"That's not even the strangest part." Liam took in a deep breath, preparing to explain his other vision he was getting. "There's this… voice that speaks to me sometimes. And I cannot tell if she is very real, or I'm simply going crazy." Liam wanted to press a little. "It's a stretch, but... do you think it's related in any way to my past?" Being so unsure of it himself, he needed some guidance for this conundrum.

"Perhaps, or simply put…" A scowl formed on Jackson's face. "Someone out there is laying a path before you. And you have a choice to follow that path, or not."

Liam sighed, "You think? I haven't even told Gloria about these… happenings. I don't know how she'll react."

"There's lots of things we don't tell to the Pokémon around us - for better, or for worse. That choice is in your control." He pointed a paw at the guild's building. "You're dismissed for today. I'm sure Gloria is awake, and awaiting your return."

Liam nodded, removing his back from the stone tower. "Again, thank you Guildmaster. I won't mess up like yesterday again."

Jackson said nothing in response, watching the Riolu slowly withdraw back into the guild. He returned his sights to the sky above, searching for those invisible stars again.


After a while of searching and asking his fellow guild members, Liam was finally able to track down the whereabouts of Gloria. Just like yesterday, he stuck to the sides of the guild and wandered to its backside. When he arrived at the cliffside, he saw both Gloria and Roark already engaged in a conversation from the looks of it, both admiring the blazing orange, red, and purple sky. He stared at it for a while, before deciding to make his presence known.

"Hey!"

Gloria immediately swiveled around once hearing Liam's voice, a warm smile stretching across her face. They both met each at a close distance, exchanging a brief friendly hug.

Gloria broke away, "Roark told me everything that happened yesterday." She tilted her head in curiosity. "He said you did flips and tricks around that Golisopod?"

'... Thanks, Roark,' Liam grumbled in his mind.

"Er, no, that didn't happen. I… didn't bring my A game to that fight." He lightly batted an aura tassel, wincing at the feeling. "But the Guildmaster trained me today, and I feel like a new 'mon with new strength!"

Gloria's smile widened, her tails fanning behind her. "Me too! I feel... like I still have something to prove!"

Roark cracked a grin, raising an arm in celebration. "Oh yeah! Looks like the gang is back in fighting form, eh?" The two of them nodded as he pointed a claw at the large mountain formation in the distance. Celestial Mountain. "Now, let's save that zest for when we conquer that overgrown hill over there!"

Liam's heart began to swell in response, his mind beginning to think of the future again. Right now, he felt on top of the world, but he could only imagine what the view on top of Celestial Mountain looked like. His eyes instinctively wandered over to Gloria, his thoughts of the future mixing with her.

'I'll have to tell her… sooner or later.'


qFdCZil.png


Nightfall had already settled in hours ago, and Golisopod was late for the rendezvous.

The Bug-type spent the entire day trekking across the breadth of the Meadow Region. It wasn't bad enough that he was late, but the fact that he, an honorable warrior, was beaten by some members of a guild. Golisopod would've chittered in rage if it weren't for the fact that he had just arrived at home base.

It was an innocuous building that used to be a guild long, long ago. Now, it was the 'Razor Claw Guild'. The door to the building swung open as a Weavile and Bisharp came out, a smirk appearing on the former's face.

"Golisopod! I assume your scouting efforts were fruitful? What did ya see?"

A fidgeting noise came out of the Bug-type's mouth, only serving to confuse Weavile more.

She sighed, "Bisharp, do some translation magic."

The Steel-type nodded, walking over and letting Golispod's vocabulary spill into his ears. After a few seconds, he stepped away and went back to Weavile, a conceited smirk on his face.

"Well, what did he say? Spill it out, Bishy!" Weavile yelled, her impatience growing.

"Weav's, it's what I predicted. That place is important, and the guild near Empyrean is interested enough to send its members there to investigate."

Weavile was appalled, "Wait, no - they're… sending Pokémon back there again?!"

He shrugged, "That's what the big guy over there told me. He even fought a few of them looking for stuff they might've taken from the inside."

"... Go back in, Golisopod. Your efforts will be rewarded later."

Golisopod inclined his head, chittering in happiness as he stepped past the pair and lumbered into the building.

Weavile sighed, "I can't believe it."

Bisharp placed a gauntlet on her shoulder. "You know… we'll have to go there again on our own time. There's something there that everyone wants a piece of."

She brushed his gauntlet off her. "I know, Bishy. For now, we'll have to bide our time, and maybe see what our anonymous client has in store for us..."


Both paths to the truth are now on a collision course, but when will they eventually collide?


If you would like to check for news about the latest chapter progress, discuss the story as it goes on, give criticism on anything, point out mistakes, give your appreciation, ask questions, or simply chat about the story, then my DM's are open and I will respond to all meaningful messages. You can also add me on Discord and talk/send me things if you prefer that, for the same reasons. Discord = Z2H#7239

Please leave a review if you wish. All will be read and taken into consideration.

Next Time: A Little Chat Over Tea
 

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Chapter 14: A Little Chat Over Tea

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 14

A Little Chat Over Tea

CLINK!

The ice cubes rattled against the glass on their way down, piling at the bottom. For extra measure, she grabbed a couple more from the tray next to her and threw them in.

CLINK!

'That's probably good enough.'

Weavile's claw latched onto a big bottle of her favorite Nanab Berry whiskey, tilting it over her glass and letting its brown contents pour and swish into it. For any other Pokémon, it was cheap garbage, but to her, it was her comfort drink. She sighed, tapping the glass with a claw.

'Is it worth the hangover? Arceus knows this won't be my last tonight…'

Across the cherrywood table, Rhyperior slammed his own hefty glass down. "What are you looking so down for, Cap?" He chuckled deeply. "Don't tell us that you lost your taste for whiskey?"

The Simisear beside him laughed, shaking his head. "I haven't been here long, but I see the captain down here all the time."

A metallic squawking noise from a few tables away graced everyone's ears, as Skarmory raised her glass with a wing. "C'mon Cap'n! Drink!" She began to chant the last part.

Soon, everyone present in the room began to raise their full glasses of alcohol, chanting along to rally their leader.

"DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!"

Hearing the encouragement of her fellow mercenaries, Weavile abandoned her previous worries and grabbed her glass to the cheers of her comrades. She chugged it down, feeling the liquid burn her throat like so many times before. She wondered if she would regret this, but let go of that thought as she had many times before.

Weavile tore away the now empty glass from her lips, sighing at the taste. 'What kind of leader am I to put a damper on their happy hour?' Her listless gaze watched everyone return to their entertainment. 'Why am I still feeling like shit, though?'

Despite her best efforts, she could not squash the ever growing thoughts in her head - the thoughts of that place. She told herself that she would never return after what happened, but fate was a funny thing.

Weavile quietly chuckled, already hearing the voice of Bisharp in her head spouting out about how much importance that place held to the 'truth of this world'. She could only roll her eyes every time he went off on one of those tangents. Like there was even was a truth to uncover that wasn't greed at the heart of it all.

It was like he didn't realize that he was still a mercenary.

Weavile's claw latched onto the bottle of whiskey again, stealing a glance at the Pokémon around her. Some were playing card games, arm wrestling, or tentacle wresting in Octillary's case - or just drinking for fun.

'Why the hell couldn't I have just been a normal merc.'

To her, this place and her lifestyle was her calling above all. But something else resided within her that told her it wasn't just that.

Revenge. Justice. Fulfillment.

Weavile narrowed her eyes at the melting cubes in her glass. Of course, there was always a reason for something, and she definitely had her reasons of establishing the Razor Claw Clan. Reasons that she has never fully disclosed to her faithful comrades, besides Bisharp. For years, she had always brushed those thoughts of telling them away, as to her, they were nothing but criminals. But as time passed, she began to saw them more and more as comrades. She chuckled to herself again, pondering about all those times Bisharp took a jab at her.

'Heh, maybe I am growing a bit soft.'

"Captain!"

"Eh?" Weavile swerved her head towards the direction of the voice, which was Electivire. "What are ya bugging me for, plughead?"

The Electric-type laughed, "All week we've been wondering what was up with you." He grew a devious grin. "Is it that time of the mo-"

"Shut it," Weavile growled lowly.

"I wanted to know too, Cap'n!" Skarmory squawked from the back. "Ya haven't even shouted at anyone!"

Murmurs of agreement swept through the half drunk crowd of mercenaries. Weavile groaned, not even knowing the answer to that question herself.

'How would I… even begin to tell them? Would they even care?'

They were useful to her in accomplishing her feats, sure. But letting them all in on exactly they were chipping away at was something she refused to tell them. Keeping them ignorant and waving a bag of Poké in their eyes for now was seemingly the only feasible way to keep her operations going.

After all, they were just mercenaries.

Weavile coughed into a claw. "Don't worry, runts. I'm just a tad sick. I'll scream at ya lackeys later."

She sighed, 'Just a little longer - they'll understand…'

The creaking of the double doors to the Lounge broke her train of thought, as sounds of metallic steps on wood greeted everyone's ears.

"Captain Bisharp!" Rhyperior drunkenly shouted. "Come to have some fun with the boys, eh?"

Bisharp shot down his efforts with a wave of his gauntlet. "Not today, I have matters to discuss with Weavile here."

Upon hearing her name, Weavile faced the approaching Steel-type, a smirk expanding on her face.

"What's it this time, Bishy? More requests?"

He shook his head, wearing a grin of his own and pointing at the room's exit. "Something better - you're gonna get a kick out of this."

Weavile stared at the glass in her grip. "If you're interrupting me time…" She placed it on the table and stood up, mock glaring at Bisharp. "It better damn be."

"Oh, trust me - it is."

Surrounded by their drunk and happy criminal Pokémon in arms, they breached the double doors of the Lounge and entered the dark purple hallways of the 'guild'. Bisharp then escorted Weavile to his room, where a thin envelope was laying on his bed.

"So... you found a girlfriend to send you letters?" Weavile joked. "Am I supposed to be shocked that you managed to find someone?"

Bisharp strolled over to the bed, picking up the envelope and handing it over to her. "Not exactly, Weavs. Let's say that it's from the kind of 'mon you'd hate to see me date."

She rolled her eyes in response, snatching the paper away and tearing it open with a swipe of her claws. Once the letter inside was revealed, she took it out and began to read the angrily worded heading, her eyes widening.

"Oh no, not her."

Already she could feel the seed of a blistering headache forming. And Bisharp's now uproarious laugher wasn't helping her case.

"This must've appeared last night in our mailbox. I can't help but wonder what's on her mind," Bisharp sarcastically wondered.

"Clearly nothing at all. What a bitch," Weavile grumbled. "But hey, maybe she's turning over a new leaf."

"I doubt it, but give it a read anyways."

She obliged, clearing her throat and reading the neat cursive writing.

cL4g9bA.png


Weavile tore the letter into pieces, scattering them over the floor. "Fuck… she actually wants us to go to her little tea party." Her eyes squinted at the floor. "And that's today…"

Bisharp gazed down at the now shredded letter. "You know… we might just have to attend."

"What?!" Weavile was taken aback. "Why should we have an audience with that crazy bitch of a Pokémon?"

"Because…"

Bisharp walked over to wall where the map of Celestic was displayed. Various scraps of paper and colored string connecting across the different regions littered the map. "That mysterious mercenary group we stole that dungeon's information from? Hell… it just might be the Rose Clan for all we know."

Weavile approached him, questions already brewing in her mind. "Why would Serperior care about anything like that? For years, she's been after my position in this game, not answers."

Bisharp let out a drawn out sigh in response, ultimately shrugging. "Just got one of those feelings, Weavs." He looked to his side, feeling Weavile's smug features staring back. "... What?"

She playfully punched his shoulder. "You never just get 'feelings', Bishy. Tell me, what's got those gears in your mind turning?"

He approached the map, giving it one last look over. "I'll tell you, but… we'll have to go see her to confirm my suspicions."

Weavile sighed, already dreading the experience. "Fine, but you're getting us a flight to that city."

"Just treat this like a date, a date with your worst enemy."


"I hate this fucking city."

Bisharp shooed away the tiny Mienfoo trying to pass out newspapers to them. "Serperior picked a good time for a dinner date, didn't she?"

Weavile scolded herself and that Grass-type for flying all the way out to Empyrean City for this meeting. She preferred to stage meet ups in the shade of questionable street corners or abandoned ruins, not busy shopping districts. She adjusted the black bag around her shoulder, pushing past more Pokemon.

"If she picked it to piss me off… then I guess she succeeded," the Ice-type grumbled.

"If it's for reasons I suspect, then she might have a good reason to…"

That earned a laugh from Weavile. "Hah, as if that snake has a reason to be a bit-" she bumped straight into a Riolu, breaking her words, "Hey! Watch where you're walking, moron!"

The Riolu scowled, readjusting his scarf. "Moron? You bumped me into me!"

"Excuse me?"

The Fighting-type's Vulpix partner intervened. "We're so sorry for bumping into you, miss." The Vulpix tapped her partner's shoulder. "C'mon, Liam, we've already got everything. Let's just go."

Her words seemed to calm the Fighting-type down as the two walked away. Weavile angrily stomped ahead, freeing herself from the mob of Pokémon and forcing Bisharp to attempt to catch up with her.

"Jeez, Weavs. What's got you so riled up today? You're like a teenager again, yelling at guild kids and everything."

"You know why," she responded. "This situation isn't exactly where I want to be right now…"

It was a half truth. While having a sit down with her dreaded 'nemesis' out in the field was bad on its own, her thoughts from earlier still plagued her mind.

Bisharp chuckled, "Whatever, just don't blow your top at her. Trust me, she doesn't need more ammo to shoot at you in her angry letters."

"Thanks."

Thankfully for Weavile, they arrived at their destination after just a few trips through the winding streets of Empyrean. As mentioned in the letter, they took up a seat outside of a tea shop next to Sylveon's Sweets at a table draped in white cloth.

Bisharp gave a quick scan of their surroundings, noting the lack of Serperior around. "Hmm, either she's late or this is a new tactic of hers - pranking us."

Weavile rested her head on a claw, squinting her eyes at the sun shining on their faces. "Doubt it, she would never pass up on an opportunity like this."

"We're gonna be here a while it seems," he lamented.

After around twenty minutes of waiting, in which Weavile was ready to leave any second or stab someone with her darts. But before she could act on that, a familiar slithering noise and overly pompous female voice met their bored ears.

"My, my, the delinquents actually showed up!"

Weavile silently growled in her mind. 'Here we go…'

The slithering noise got louder as the pristine Serperior crept into view across the busy street. Along with her presence, a stout Aegislash in its Shield Form ominously floated behind her.

"And you even left a chair out for me! How thoughtful!"

A green vine extended out of Serperior's leafy neck, pulling out the wooden chair as her body coiled around it, soon resting her entire form on the chair. Once situated, Aegislash floated over and assumed its position her near side, glaring into the two Pokémon across from it.

The Grass-type sighed in relief. "Much better after a long carriage ride with noting but boring grizzled mercenaries to talk to, right, friends?"

Weavile scoffed, "Cut the act, what'd you call us here for anyways?"

Serperior scoffed back, "Oh yes, just a moment, dear. Right now I'm a bit… parched." One of her vines extended into the air, waving at a passing Lilligant in uniform. "Waitress!"

Weavile sighed, "This isn't nec-"

"Nonsense! Service here, please!"

'Keep calm, Weavile, keep calm…'

The Lilligant waitress teetered on over, notepad at the ready in her leafy grasp.

Serperior cleared her throat, "Yes, we'll have three Polteageist teas; piping hot, yes?" The waitress nodded, earning a smile from the evergreen serpent. "Marvelous, thank you!"

With the waitress now gone, Seperior adjusted her gaze back to Weavile, who seemed to barely contain her rage.

"Is there something on my face, my dear Weavile? You've been giving me a strange look this entire time."

Weavile murderously gripped the white cloth table. "I think you know why, snake."

Bisharp tapped Weavile's claws with his gauntlet, signaling for her to cool it. "Let's just get down to brass tacks. What is your purpose in staging this meeting?"

"Well, it's for a few reasons, good chum," Serperior hummed. "I witnessed your little charade at the premiere of the Eden Theater. Quite the preparation for that one, wasn't it?"

Weavile eased up, suspicion replacing anger. "How do you even know that was us? And I call bullshit on you even attending."

Serperior laughed - one filled with mirth and smugness. "I shared quite a laugh with Mayor Empoleon when your little Magmortar goon was carried out cold!" She sighed. "I wish that event wasn't swept under a rug - it would have been a magnificent newspaper to read. 'Razor Claw Mercenary Clan defeated by two random Pokémon.'"

'Guess the Meowth's out of the bag on this one…'

"Defeated? Our mission there was successful."

"Successful? Maybe successful in attempting to torch a little innocent ambassador to ashes." Serperior rose her snout. "I know your clan is full of barbarians, but please make an effort to not seem so proud of it."

"Innocent? Hah, as if. They may have got the Council and the rest of this continent fooled, but I'm more wise to them…"

This was a surprise to Serperior. "You… have a vendetta against the Alignment?" She guffawed loudly, various Pokémon around their table casting glances at them. "You two think yourself a hero of Celestic for attempting to thwart them, hmm?"

Bisharp raised a brow, "Heroes? No, more like… sending a message that we will not stop until we get what we want."

"And what is that, my dear Bisharp?"

Before he could respond, the Lilligant waitress from before appeared, balancing a platter of tea cups on a leafy appendage. She set it on the table, politely bowing before scurrying away.

"Thank you!" Serprior shouted, a vine of hers extending towards the tea cups. "Please, help yourselves, darlings."

Bisharp reluctantly grabbed his, but Weavile didn't budge.

Serperior daintily sipped from her teacup, raising a brow at the glaring Ice-type. "Are you not thirsty, Weavile? It might grow cold, darling, like your heart."

"I don't like tea..."

"A pity."

Bisharp took a sip as well, flinching at the taste after drinking nothing but alcohol for so long. "Our interests in the Alignment are none of your concern. Now, get back to why you're here."

"Well…" The Grass-type rested her cup back onto the platter. "I'd like to discuss the incident of a theft of an exploration team near the Lush Gardens."

'Does she…?'

Weavile leaned over the table, honing her glare at the Pokémon. "What do you exactly know about that, huh?"

"Oh, just that you two ruffians roughed those poor Pokémon up to acquire the information of a dungeon they had."

Bisharp smiled, his theory coming out on top. "I see… and you're here to discuss this with us because...?"

An irritated look crossed Serperior's features. "That team was supposed to relay that information to a mercenary group - my mercenary group."

Weavile smirked, "Oh, so that's how it is… you're upset your little delivery 'mons were robbed by us?"

"Robbed?" Serperior laughed haughtily. "Please… a little persuasion was enough to coax the information out of them. That is not why I called you here for a chat."

Weavile rose both arms in the air, completely dumbfounded. "So what the hell are we here for? You got what you wanted, snake!"

A vine extended Serperior's tea cup up as she took a hearty gulp, smiling. "I am here to send a message to the Razor Claw Clan… you, my dear Weavile."

The Ice-type leaned in again, a scowl forming. "Oh, really? What is your little message if I might ask?"

Another sip was taken. "Mmm, that you are not the only ones after the truth I'm afraid... "

Bisharp placed his teacup down, narrowing his eyes at her. "I do not follow. Do you assume our work is playing into some deeper meaning?"

Serperior scoffed, "No need to be so coy, Bisharp. Your attempts to outwit me are futile at best, as I am already aware of your... escapades in the past."

Weavile began to scratch the cloth table, attempting to contain her anger. "I am not after this 'truth' like you think I am. My business is with the Alignment only, and my clients don't dictate what I do."

"Does your hatred or lust for revenge solely motivate you, Weavile?" Serperior asked, her fangs glistening in the sunlight. "Surely you are not as simple minded as I think you are? That is no behavior fit for the 'Queen of the Mercenaries'."

"What?! You little-"

"Ladies, please," Bisharp interjected. "Serperior, this… 'truth' you're following. What makes you think it'll lead anywhere."

"Only the complete destabilization of Celestic and the world, my dear. And the Rose Clan will be the very first to unearth it! So it would be wise for you to, hmm… dawdle off to do your usual drunken antics instead."

Weavile suddenly grinned, everything making sense to her now. "So this is your little threat to us? I've heard worse."

Serperior closed her orbs. "It's not a threat, my dear." She opened them back up. "It is a promise that I will wipe your little clan of misfits out and reign as this continent's true mercenary queen!"

Weavile's claw nearly shredded the cloth as she stood out of her seat, leaning over. "Fat fucking chance, snake. You've tried before and you still won't win this time!" She wanted to jump across the table and slash at the Grass-type's throat.

Bisharp yanked Weavile back into her chair. "We won't be halting our missions any time soon, so this meeting of yours is a bust."

Serperior sighed, shaking her head. "I knew you two would be stubborn, but competition does not sway my efforts either, I'm afraid." Her vines picked up her teacup again, gulping down the remnants of the tea. "It was nice seeing you today, Weavile. The next time we meet, I hope you will be kneeling out of respect for your new mercenary queen."

"The next time we meet, your head will be the newest wall trophy," Weavile spat back.

Aegislash, who was originally still as a statue, moved out of way of a slithering Serperior. It dutifully followed behind its leader, the both of them soon exiting the area. But before she was truly gone, the serpent angled her back to the table for one last remark.

"And thank you dears for footing the bill! I'm afraid I forgot to bring my purse along!" The Grass-type threw her head back and cackled to the heavens as she and Aegislash departed, leaving a fuming Weavile behind.

"She really got under your skin this time, didn't she, Weavs?" Bisharp remarked.

"Shut up, Bishy." Weavile released her grip on the table, finally relaxing. "And aren't you happy your little theory about her got proven right?"

"Sure am, but this only complicates things further. With the Rose Clan even involved in this, who knows how many players we gotta take out to get to the center…"

"Yeah, but that shouldn't be too much of a pro-"

Muffled harsh static emanating from the bag around her shoulder broke her sentence. She immediately stopped to open the zipper to peer inside, finding the strange yellow device emitting such noise.

'No way… again?'

Soon, the rumbling of static faded, as an unmistakable and familiar gruff voice came out of the tiny device.

'Razor Claw… your services are needed.'

Weavile and Bisharp exchanged looks.


"The reason I have contacted you is because I need your assistance in another matter," the voice spoke through the hole in stone wall.

Weavile leaned against the broken mossy surface of the building. "Well, that's obvious, so just spill me the details and we'll discuss it."

"Of course. There is a tiny clearing located near the Soaring Falls. Here, there will be two… assets that I require captured and brought back."

"Kidnapping, huh?" She whistled. "Been a while since we've had one of these requests. So, who's it gonna be?"

"A Gallade and a Heliolisk. These are the Pokémon I want you to bring to me - is that clear?"

Weavile crossed her arms, "I'm gonna need a bit more than that. What are the details of this… capture."

"The two will be meeting up with another pair of Pokémon to establish a deal around midnight today. Once that deal is complete - you will act." The voice confirmed. "The price tag is your choice of anything below twenty-thousand Poké."

She whistled, "Below twenty-thousand? Sounds like a deal to me. Alright, we'll gather these 'mons and bring 'em back here."

"Perfect. Send me a message through that device when you have secured the assets."

A grinding noise filled the air, the square-shaped hole in the wall allowing their conversation now being sealed by a cracked cinder block sliding into place. Weavile released her back off the wall, walking back to where Bisharp and Honchkrow were currently stationed.

Bisharp saw her smirk first, raising a brow. "You seem to be in a better mode. What has our client got in store for us?"

"Kidnap job, Bishy. These always get me in a good mood."

He shook his head, jumping back on Honchkrow's back. "You've got issues, Weav's."

She cackled, joining him on Honchkrow's back, the crow Pokémon extending his wings and taking to the skies.

"Let's go back to base, and prepare for the harvest."


"Get down, get down!" Weavile harshly whispered.

Bisharp did as told, crouching behind her as they encased themselves in the nearby bushes, staring at the four Pokémon congregating ahead.

Their trip to the falls in the dead of the night was a dangerous one, with crashing waterfalls flowing out of cracks in the ravine nearly knocking them out of the sky. Luckily, they managed to land their crew safely around the cliffside. From there, it was only a matter of time until they found the small clearing, where their target was surely found. But finding the right time to strike was an entirely different matter.

"You got eyes on them, Weav's?"

"Sure do…"

Her eyes snapped to a Machoke and Toxicroak blocking her vision of the two other Pokémon in front. Strange, shiny metal plates covered their torsos, along with metal tubes strapped to their backs. Weavile's gaze hardened at this.

"Rifles. We're gonna need to be careful. Anyone of them can-"

"Shhh," Bisharp warned, placing a gauntlet over his mouth. "Don't want them to hear us and-" his eyes caught the two Pokémon in front move, whispering again, "Look, they're doing something."

With movement happening, they were able to confirm the two Pokémon's identity - a Gallade and Heliolisk, both wearing armbands.

Weavile growled under her breath. 'No fucking way… these guys are the assets?'

After a few words were exchanged between the four Pokémon in the clearing - none of which reached their ears - the Gallade tossed a card-like object onto the ground. Then, he and his Heliolisk companion stepped near it. An ominous flash of orange blossomed at their feet.

Weavile tried to get a better look, whispering. "What are they-"

An explosion of orange glowing light burst out of the object's expanding frame, enveloping the two Pokémon near it. Once the light receded, the Gallade and Heliolisk were gone. With their communication severed, the Machoke and Toxicroak gave each other a shrug and marched down the path they came.

Bisharp gaped at what he just saw. "They just-"

"Disappeared," Weavile finished for him, clenching a claw. "And these two are about to leave with our answers. We take them down, now."

He scowled, "Fine, I'll take the Machoke. You take the frog… and just watch out for those rifles. Don't want to bury you too early now."

Weavile emerged from the bush, a toothy grin on her face. "That all depends if they're quick on the draw..." She immediately splayed her claws, dashing towards the retreating Pokémon, with Bisharp hot on her trail as well.

Before the Toxicroak could even notice, an encased icy fist slammed into its side, sending it to the ground. Weavile immediately pounced on her foe, ripping the rifle off its back and tossing it aside - her claws then pressed against the bulbous throat of the Toxicroak.

"Move a muscle and you're history, got it?"

Unbeknownst to her, the Machoke beside her was already drawing its weapon at the sense of danger. It locked onto Weavile, squeezing the trigger.

BOOM!

With the sound of an explosion, and a shower of smoke and gunpowder, the bullet sailed harmlessly through the air, as Bisharp thankfully reached his target and knocked the rifle out of the Machoke's hands. The Steel-type narrowly dodged a lightning fast punch in response, ducking under the Pokemon and slamming his sharpened knee into the Machoke's chest.

The Fighting-type kneeled in pain, which gave Bisharp ample opportunity to strike. He summoned a Night Slash, dark purple energy surrounding his arm blades as he battered the kneeling Machoke into submission. The Machoke almost keeled, but attempted to stand up, only to receive a sudden and painful Iron Head to the face. It fell back into the dirt, shakily holding up its arms in an act of surrendering.

"Alright, Alright! Y-You won… what the hell do you want from us?!"

The Toxicroak on the floor grumbled. "Damnit, Machoke. I told you this would happen."

Weavile smiled, removing her claw from the Poison-type's throat. "Sorry, boys, but you're gonna need to tell us exactly what went down just now. Who were those two?"

"T-Those guys?" Machoke stumbled over his words. "We just came here to confirm the new delivery location with 'em! We swear!"

She scoffed at this. "Right, and you two are…" Her eyes wandered over to the metal chest plates they wore - her eyes expanding once she saw the flower symbol engraved into it - a rose.

'Arceus. Not her…'

Bisharp followed her gaze, realizing what she just did. "... Who gave you these orders, Serperior?"

Machoke nodded multiple times. "Y-Yes! Her highness did!"

Weavile scowled, rolling her eyes at the title. "What are the contents of this delivery? And what is the new location?"

"I… don't know what the deliveries contain, but… they said tomorrow in Elysium C-City, after the festival!" The Fighting-type flinched upon seeing her scowl deepening.

Weavile pointed a claw towards the clearing's exit. "Get outta here! You saw nothing, got it?"

The Machoke and Toxicroak heeded her words, scrambling to their feet and collecting their missing rifles. Weavile watched them as they urgently left the area, breathing a sigh. Like Bisharp stated before, things seemed to only get more complicated from here.

"Seems like that snake wasn't lying. She really is trying to one up us…"

Bisharp placed both gauntlets on his hip. "Yeah, but we now have the location of her next little shipment with them."

"It doesn't make sense, though. Why would the Alignment supply a mercenary group?"

He smirked, "Well, we can find out tomorrow if you're up for finding answers, Weav's"

She smirked back, wordlessly popping open her bag and retrieving the yellow device. She flicked the switch on its side and spoke into the speaker.

"Are you there?"

A few seconds later, the gruff voice responded. "Yes. Were you successful in capturing the assets?"

"... No. We found the two, but they disappeared in some orange light. The two other 'mons we beat down didn't provide any answers, either." She sent a wink Bisharp's way.

An audible sigh traveled through the speakers. "That is… troublesome to say the least. Until the next time I require your services, Razor Claw." The voice, along with the static vanished.

Bisharp chuckled, "...Well, I hope you're ready to pack your bags tonight. We have a lot to do tomorrow, apparently." In response, Weavile glowered at the sky, shaking her head.

"I hate that snake so much."


GiJOESX.png


Liam could hardly contain himself right now.

Today was the day the guild began the first step of the expedition to Celestial Mountain. Currently, everyone who could lift heavy objects was situated in the foyer of the guild, pulling along boxes of supplies needed for their week-long trip outside. Sometimes, Liam cursed that he was born a Fighting-type, as now he was subjected to intensive lifting.

Roark pulled his container alongside the Riolu, shooting him a look. "Hey, Liam. Have you seen Gloria anywhere?"

Liam dropped his box, stretching his back. "Nope. Is she still in our dorms?"

The Zoroark shrugged, getting back to pulling his load. "Dunno, but you'd better go check on her... "

Liam nodded, shifting his eyes around his surroundings for the signs of the clipboard holding Bug-type.

The coast was clear.

With one final glance, he bolted from his position and sprinted to their dorm. The door was slightly ajar, allowing him to crack it open with a paw and enter. His gaze snapped to Gloria, laying on her beanbag and holding some sort of blue necklace in her paws.

"Gloria? Are you okay?"

The Vulpix almost jumped out of her fur, quickly putting the necklace back into her cream saddlebag and facing Liam. "Oh… uh, yeah!" Her ears drooped. "Sorry if I got you in trouble by being late."

"Nah, Scizor isn't here yet. Are you… all ready?" He placed both paws on his hip. "This is the big day, y'know."

She nodded, standing up and looking vacantly out their window. "Don't worry, I was just thinking about things."

Liam came over to her, placing a paw on her side. "Well, we have plenty of time to think about things on the carriage ride there." He strolled over to the door. "Are you ready to go, then?"

She smiled, walking over as well. "Of course, I don't wanna spoil your most anticipated trip."

Going back to the main hall, they assisted the rest of the guild in transferring the boxes outside. There, three carriages led by Mudsdale were stationed. Over time, wooden containers from inside the guild were placed on board. Once the job was complete, and the carriages were full, Jackson and Scizor gathered everyone outside, the Shiny Lucario preparing a speech..

"Attention! Over the next few hours, we'll be riding these Mudsdale carriages to Elysium City, where the annual festival there will be in full swing. We will stay the night in a hotel already prepared for our arrival by the time we get there." He gave each and everyone a glance of his sharp red eyes. "Once a day passes, and we leave the city, we will travel directly to the nearby Celestial Mountain to begin our expedition - is that understood?" A chorus of 'YES, GUILDMASTER' met the Lucario's ears, pleasing him. "Very well, you are free to enter your carriages now."

As if a switch was flicked on, each guild member began to climb aboard the carriage of their choice. Liam found himself, Gloria, Roark, Monferno, and Rockruff in the same carriage together.

The puppy Pokémon bounced up and down. "I can't wait to see Primarina and her crew play at the festival there!" He got into a pouncing position. "Ooh! Do ya think I could get her autograph somehow?"

Monferno snorted, "Ha, get in line, pal. So many dudes out there think the same. It's not gonna happen…"

Rockruff tilted his head, "Why not?"

The Fire-type jabbed himself in his chest. "Because... I'm gonna get that autograph." He placed both arms behind his neck, leaning against the railing.

"Nuh-uh!" Rockruff retorted.

"Sure am."

Roark laughed at the two. "You're both wrong. I'm getting that autograph, and ones from the Oricorio Sisters, too!" He waved a claw. "Then sell them all to desperate 'mons of course."

Liam and Gloria rolled their eyes watching the three Pokémon bicker. A rocking motion rumbled the carriages, the Mudsdale starting to trot down the paved path.

The expedition was finally beginning.

As the hours rolled by, Liam gripped the wooden railing of the carriages, watching the rolling green hills and meadows of colorful flowers slowly fade into taller plains. The temperature also dropped - the cool mountain air becoming more apparent with time passing. The sun began to set too, and as dusk rolled in, he began to see distant lights and faraway buildings.

'That… must be Elysium City,' he thought.

With the carriages drawing closer to their destination, the Riolu was able to see more and more of the place. It was no Empyrean City, but it was a sight to see. Colorful Pokémon shaped buildings and grand feats of architecture were just one of the many things that took shape around them.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

'Ah… are those?'

Liam looked towards the sky, seeing the mystifying remnants of exploding fireworks illuminating the night sky in multicolored fire. It reminded him of the premier at the Eden Theater.

'Must be from the festival… I can't wait!'

Joy filled his heart at just the thought of this expedition - and now, he was finally going to be able to experience it all.

'This is gonna be so-'

His vision wavered, as if a flash of blur invaded his line of sight. He blinked, looking around in his state of confusion.

'What was that? Did someth-'

Immediate pain flooded his senses, his grip on the railing intensifying to keep him from tumbling to the ground. He gritted his teeth, feeling the pain getting worse and worse. Curls of blue and yellow wrapped around his eyesight, worsening his ability to see.

'N-no… it's hap-'

He lost the ability to speak and think coherently from his pain, slipping further and further into a state of unconsciousness. The colors in his vision melted away into mute blobs. Familiar voices, and the sound of soft instruments playing replaced his natural hearing. As everything collapsed around him, something began to play inside his mind - a vision.

It was happening again.


The past can never be forgotten… no matter how joyful or painful.


If you would like to check for news about the latest chapter progress, discuss the story as it goes on, give criticism on anything, point out mistakes, give your appreciation, ask questions, or simply chat about the story, then my DM's are open and I will respond to all meaningful messages. You can also add me on Discord and talk/send me things if you prefer that, for the same reasons. Discord = Z2H#7239

Please leave a review if you wish. All will be read and taken into consideration.

Next Time: The Tune Of Nature
 

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Chapter 15: The Tune Of Nature

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 15

The Tune Of Nature

It was almost midnight.

The noise of chirping crickets reverberated through the forest, carrying across the cool wind of the night. With the sound of shuffling branches, a white tailed deer emerged from the trees and plodded through the grass, checking its surroundings for potential predators. When safety was apparent, it bowed its head to feed on the moist vegetation below. But before it could get its fill, bright beams of white light shone across its face. Wide prey eyes stared at the radiance, which seemed to get closer and closer, spooking the deer into a panicking prance back into the forest.

A low rumbling noise traveled the road bordering the forest as a blue pickup truck flashing its high beams flew past. Two passengers were inside - one adult, and one child. Liam stared out his side's window, watching the motions of the dark world outside fly past. Sleep almost claimed him a while back, so he played games of spotting numerous critters to pass the time.

But the excitement of this trip prevented him from fully drifting away.

Robert adjusted his grip on the steering wheel, watching out for deer on the road. "I want you on your best behavior at this place, got it?"

"Mmhm," Liam mumbled back, staring out the window.

The man threw a look over at the boy, before returning his gaze back to the road. "And don't… mention anything about your mom, okay?"

"... I won't, dad."

"... Good, we're just about here."

The concrete road ended, transitioning into a paved dirt trail. At the end were visible sets of parked cars, where Robert slowly drove his truck into an open spot. He released his foot off the brake, taking his key out of the ignition and casting a glance at Liam, who was eager to leave.

"We're just staying here for your performance and the fireworks. After that, we'll be back on the road again."

The boy released his seatbelt, "Got it." He immediately opened the passenger side door, jumping out.

Robert silently chuckled at his display, popping his side's door too and stepping out. "Get your stuff out of the back and follow me."

Liam ran to the truck's backside, flipping over the tarp that covered their belongings and looking over its contents. All the supplies they required for their trip were here, strapped down with rope to keep it from tumbling away. But he was looking for one item in particular; after a few seconds of scanning, he located it.

'There it is!'

The instrument was resting against the trunk's side, a few scratches on its carved wooden frame showing its amount of usage. He pulled it out from the straps of rope, admiring the signature engraved on it. A pluck of its strings to test it out produced that wonderful homely sound he loved so much.

Banjos were always his favorite instrument.

"Come on, Liam!" Robert yelled. "It might start any minute now."

"Coming!"

Liam redid the straps, scurrying back to match the pace of his father, who was continuing his small trek through the tall cattails and grass to their destination. The boy looked forward, seeing what was taking place ahead.

Glowing orange lanterns on posts revealed a small wooden stage with sound equipment and sets of large instruments already set up. White clothed tables with plates and of fresh food were lined up in rows, getting a rise from a hungry Liam. From the looks of it, over a hundred people from around the area showed up for the celebration.

A young man in a casual t-shirt and jeans noticed the two enter, dropping his plate on one of the tables and nearly running over. An almost relieved smile graced his features as he extended a hand towards Robert.

"Rob! Man, it's good to see you after so long. Uh, thanks for coming - everyone at the station was wondering, y'know?"

Robert accepted the handshake, looking him firmly in the eye. "Liam's been practicing, so I decided we come here for the performance. We'll be gone shortly after."

The man blinked, bringing his gaze downstairs to the small boy beside Robert. "Liam… it's been a while since I've seen you, too." He pointed a finger at himself. "You remember this face?"

"Uh… yeah?"

He could faintly remember the man showing up at their old house from time to time. Apparently, he was a deputy at the local station, and once partnered with his father when he was still a police officer. The man then grew a solemn look, placing a hand on Robert's shoulder and leaning in to whisper something into his ear.

"Hey. I'm, uh..." The man stopped to sigh deeply. "... Really sorry what happened to your wife. We tried to find the car's model, or its license plate, but we couldn't-"

Robert brushed his hand off, eyes briefly flashing with emotion. "There's nothing that could've been done. Just drop it."

The man leaned back, breaking their connection. "Right… sorry, I'll, uh… leave you two." He gave Robert a parting look before slinking back to the tables.

Liam could only wonder what words were exchanged, but knew they weren't good ones from his father's features. Before he could think about it, his shoulder was jostled.

"I'm gonna have a chat with the organizer. Feel free to wander, but not too far."

Liam nodded, smiling. "I sure won't."

"Good."

Robert stomped ahead, leaving the boy to his own devices. Liam's gaze swept across the mini festival, taking in the familiar atmosphere of old parties he would attend. He even recognized faces from the local church that his family used to go to when they lived near this area.

'Wow… even the Sumter County Choir is here!'

Before he could reminisce some more, a growling noise coming from his stomach reminded him that he was still hungry from the long trip here. He diverted his attention to the tables of food propped up, looking at the banjo in his hold and back to the tables again.

'Guess I can eat before practicing a bit.'

He wandered over to one of the tables, aimlessly glazing over the many options he could choose from. Black-eyed peas, fried chicken, peach and apple cobblers, and a whole assortments of pies to choose from. A smile grew on his face just listing them all. It reminded him of past family gatherings when his mother would bake a whole array of wonderful things. But knowing he will never experience something like that again spiraled his stomach into a deep sickness.

Now he didn't even have the appetite to eat anymore.

His father told him time and time again not to dwell on it - to just let go. Liam knew his father also desired the same thing he did. It was just so hard to find it.

Revenge, or simply closure.

"... Liam?"

Time seemed to slow down, the quizzical silky voice with a hint of country in it registering in his mind. He turned, eyes scouring the festival grounds before he found her - the glint in her golden eyes and warm smile standing out. Her long blonde hair, pale, almost ethereal skin, and white sundress matched beautifully. Her dress and hair fluttered in the chilly breeze.

She always had such an enchanting aura to her - almost heavenly.

They wordlessly moved towards another, with the two staring at each other for a small moment. Liam's mouth parted, following up her greeting.

"H-Hello, Mrs. Lachaise." He scouted the grounds for his father, sighing in relief when he knew the coast was clear.

"Please, just call me Elena, Liam." Her yellow orbs danced around the scenery, sparkling in the light. "You don't need to be so formal in a place like this."

"Sure, Mrs- Elena." He scratched the back of his neck. "How come you're here? Err, not that you shouldn't be, but-"

She giggled softly, "It's been such a long time since I've seen celebrations as large as this. And…" She looked down at the banjo he clutched. "I wanted to see you play after all the practicing we did..."

He followed her gaze, "Will you be up there with me?" A hopeful look was cast her way.

"Of course - there's already a piano set up on the stage. It took a lot of convincing, but now we'll play together…"

The boy sighed in relief. "... Thank you, Elena. You don't know how much better I feel with you-"

"Liam!"

'Shoot.'

Instantly recognizing the voice of an angry father, Liam took a step back as Robert closed in, putting himself between Liam and Elena - a hand firmly placed on the boy's chest to keep him a good foot away from the woman.

"What are you doing here?!" Robert harshly whispered. "Is he also-"

Elena shook her head, "My husband could not make it, sadly." She looked past the man and at the boy behind him. "I came here to see the fireworks, and to pass along some confidence in your son. We've been practicing so hard and-"

"You can talk to him the next time he is at your home."

Robert narrowed his eyes at the woman, before the hand on Liam's chest now rocked the boy's shoulder, spurring him out of his daze. "You're set to begin shortly with the choir." He pointed to a group already near the stage. "Go to your spot. I'll be watching from the crowd. Good luck... son."

"R-Right."

Strung along by his father, Liam began the arduous trek over to the small stage, the heart in his chest beating like a drum in nervousness. But a quick glance back showed Elena treading over to the other side of the platform, where a piano rested.

It calmed him, slightly.

He gulped, taking weak steps up the wooden stairs over to a chair where he then sat. His clammy fingers ran across the strings of his banjo, lightly plucking them to produce that soothing sound he loved so much. The thrumming in his chest got louder once the rest of the band and members of the choir stepped on stage, getting ready to begin the performance. Never before had he played before a crowd as big as this, and it was more than apparent from the anxious look on his face.

"Liam!"

That voice calling to him reminded that she was there for him. He found her across the stage, on the piano and smiling at him.

"Remember, deep breaths…"

He nodded, closing his eyes - inhaling and exhaling. Before he knew it, the performance was beginning and the world around him didn't exist anymore. He was all alone in the neck of the woods, playing his song in peace.

When his time to play came, he took another deep breath, and let loose his spirit in musical form.


Reality came knocking as Liam took a deep breath once realization set in. He kneeled, almost crumpling to ground in his disoriented state, stumbling back to a standing position and looking around in a frantic state. He was back in the real world, and still on the Mudsdale wagon.

An orange palm clasping on his shoulder almost sent him reeling again - the cackle-like laughter from Monferno preventing him from doing just that.

"C'mon, Mr. Personality! Stop daydreaming already, we're in the thick of the festival now and about to get off."

A quick scan of the Riolu's surroundings proved the Fire-type's words. The carriages rumbled slightly, being pulled in a single file line across a cobblestone paved road. Many Pokémon wearing strange outfits spilled along the sides of the carriages, ambling through the busy streets - or in some cases, dancing their way through.

Glowing orange street lamps and lanterns that hung from strings of multicolored ribbons that stretched from building to building. It brought light and warmth to an otherwise chilly night. Street vendors were propped up around every street corner, selling food or various novelties. Scraps of confetti swayed in the wind, carrying across the streets.

Liam blinked, shaking his head and brushing the primate's hand off. "I wasn't daydreaming! I was…"

Monferno rolled his eyes, chuckling. "Whatever you say."

Their short journey through the streets ended when the carriages took a left turn and stopped in an open area with less Pokémon congregating around. A series of whinnying and muffled stomps from the Mudsdale told everyone on board everything - this was their stop.

Liam walked to the back of the carriage with a limp, his thoughts swirling in his head. Sweat pooled around his face, but he tried his hardest to not collapse while climbing down the wooden carriage. Roark and Gloria were right behind him, and he offered them a weak smile.

'Don't think about… don't think about it...'

When the Guildmaster and Scizor hopped off their carriage, the Bug-type motioned a large red pincer for everyone to gather around the duo. Once everyone circled the Lucario, Jackson took a quick glance around before speaking loudly amongst the celebration around them.

"I will be very quick about this, so just listen to me." He thrusted a paw across the street and pointed at a faraway building.

It was three stories tall, sporting many windows and a large sign near the top that read 'Snooze-Lax Inn'. A cardboard cutout of a Snorlax was built in the back, waving its clawed paw at whoever looked its way.

"We'll be staying at that inn for the night, and will be leaving early in the morning straight to Celestial Mountain. You can rest at the inn now, or enjoy the festivities for tonight. But be responsible... and do not jeopardize our mission here."

Jackson's gaze swept over each member of the guild, before he started marching away from the group and into the partying streets. Scizor, Charizard and a selection of other tired members joined him in disappearing into the crowd. This left Roark, Team Blazingheart, Team Nightshade, and Team Requiem to do whatever they wanted for the night.

Rockruff immediately struck a stance, his tail wagging. "Cool! We get to do what we want! What should we do first, guys? And-" A paw swipe from Mightyena reminded him. "Oh… yeah! When does Primarina start playing?!"

Monferno shrugged, "Dunno, have any of you seen her pool on a cart escort she usually comes in?" He laughed, earning a brow raise from his Braixen partner.

"Does she really need that to move efficiently on land?"

Roark nodded, smirking. "Yup, but she's a real talent in the sea. Got to see her perform in the ocean near Watersong City. Remember that, Gloria?"

Gloria rubbed her eyes with a paw, adjusting the saddlebag around her side. "Mhmm… I'm really tired, but I uh, kinda want to see her show tonight."

Purrloin sauntered into the streets, spotting a large stage-like area a block down. "Mreow~ By the foot traffic... I think she should be performing at that stage in the distance, darlings."

"Shoot, I need to secure a good enough seat." He glanced back at the group. "Are you all coming?" A chorus of 'yes' came after his words.

Gloria nudged a still rattled Liam, breaking him out of his trance. "Hey… are you able to come with us? I think you'll really like this!"

He wetted his lips, sputtering for a second. "U-Uh… yeah. Sure!"

She giggled at his shock, walking after the Zoroark. "Don't worry, you can explore around the city once we're done."

He hesitantly followed the group, who chauffeured him in his dizzy state to the wooden stage. It was a large one, with many sets of funny looking instruments and colorful banners that dropped off the stage's ceiling. One in particular showed an illustration of crashing waves and a singing Primarina backed up by four Oricorio in different forms.

Roark stopped in his tracks once they reached the bleachers, which were nearly packed with excited Pokemon. He tapped a red claw on his chin, scanning the area for empty seats.

"Well, at least we don't have to pay for this." A claw was pointed at a group of unoccupied chairs near the middle. "Aha! It's no front row, but it'll do. Come on!"

Monferno rolled his eyes, "Who died and made you leader? There's some spots open near the bottom."

The Zoroark started walking up the stand's stairs. "What did you say? Speak up!"

"I said-"

"I can't hear you! What... " Roark's voice faded into the noisy audience, causing Monferno to grind his teeth.

The Fire-type waved a hand, stomping off to the stairs. "Bah, whatever. I'm going near the bottom. Enjoy the show, everyone."

Not wanting to be left behind, the group ascended up the stairs after him, splintering off into different sections of the bleachers. Liam followed Gloria as they stepped past multiple Pokémon and took up the two vacant seats next to Roark, who promptly spoke up.

"I hope you two are comfy. Primarina puts on quite a show, and not a disappointing one at that."

Gloria sighed contentedly, "I hope she uses her Sparkling Aria like last time…"

"Oh yeah, that was an amazing stunt of hers."

Liam looked down upon the stage, anticipating the aquatic wonder he's heard about so much to appear. It wasn't until he observed the street behind the stage that he saw her bizarre entrance.

Just like Monferno remarked, she was inside a well contained pool built on top of a cart, which was pulled by two other Pokémon. Four Oricorio in diverse styles flanked the sides of it, occasionally giving a brief flutter of their hypnotic feathers. The Primarina in the pool grew a large smile and waved a white flipper at the crowd, amassing an ensemble of booming cheers. The pool cart then stopped near the stage, the Water-type inside sliding down and onto the ground. The cheers got louder and louder as she dragged her rather large form up the grand stage, her avian cohorts right behind her. A few other Pokemon wearing curious outfits also ran up on stage, standing near their instruments of choice.

Once Primarina wiggled her way to the microphone stand near the middle of the stage, she waited for the crowd to simmer down before letting her voice flow through the large speakers positioned near the bleachers.

Just like Liam predicted, the singer sounded as elegant as can be. She was almost as soft as Gloria, but had a more womanly chime to it.

"Thank you, citizens of Elysium City... and all of my wonderful and dedicated fans for attending this year's festival and today's show!" The crowd went wild at her words, the Water-type smiling as she waited for them to settle before speaking again. "I won't stall any moment longer! The show begins as of now!" She raised both flippers to enunciate this fact, letting the crowd cry out their approval.

Liam felt an elbow jab his side, finding the culprit to be a smirking Roark.

"Hey, maybe she'll make you into one of her fanboys, eh?"

Gloria glared at the ruse fox, "Shhh! It's starting!"

As soon as those words left her mouth, the yellow spotlights shining on the bleachers turned off, leaving only the giant stage in front to be bathed in light. The voices in the audience were reduced to murmurs as Liam gripped his chair's sides, eager to see the performance beginning to unfold before him.

But before he could truly immerse himself, a chill travelled across his spine. His perception wavered, curls of blue and yellow forming around the spots in his eyes. He could do nothing but watch as it happened once more.

'Not… again…'

Just like before, a vision began to play in his mind.


Liam strummed the strings of his banjo, producing his final arrangement of notes in the song. With one last chant of harmonious lyrics from the choir, it was all over. A cacophony of clapping exploded from the crowd that gathered around the stage, along with some whistles from the more enthusiastic listeners.

While the choir and rest of the band waved to the crowd and departed, Liam stood around for just a little longer. He held his banjo to his chest, a blush dusting his small cheeks as he stared out into the cheering audience, seeing his own father staring back with a smile adorning his features.

It may not have been a packed concert, but it was almost overwhelming to the young boy. This was his first time ever performing before a crowd of people. And he couldn't have asked for a better performance.

He stood up, walking down the creaky wooden stairs with more confidence than when he walked up them. The only thing left to do was to wait for the countdown and the fireworks to begin. And right now, he just wanted to relax and watch them. He retreated to a set of white plastic chairs in the back of the area, taking a seat and simply watching the motions of the celebration occur around him.

It wasn't long until the long anticipated moment of the entire day came. Nearly everyone was near the stage again, shouting out the countdown. Liam would've joined in, but felt content in watching this historical event unfold before him.

"Five!

"Four!"

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

"HAPPY NEW YEARS!"

And just as those words were shouted, Liam could hear a loud whistling noise behind the stage as the explosions and cracks of fireworks above were heard.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The boy looked into the starry night sky, watching the trails of dust combust into a flurry of reds, yellows, whites, and blues. He thought long and hard about the new year, and all the joys and sorrows he would experience in this new age of mankind.

'The year 2000… wow!'

It was such a monumental milestone, not just for humanity, but for him in general. The decade previously held the best and worst moments in his young life. But before he could dwell on it, a womanly voice broke his train of thought.

"Liam? Do you mind if I take a seat beside you?"

It was Elena, her inviting smile and soft steps towards the boy jolting him out of his staring contest with the heavens.

"Sur- wait, uh…" He started looking past the woman, into the small crowds. "Is my dad looking at us?"

She laughed into her hand, "Your father is holding a conversation with someone else, which means we can finally talk after so long apart."

A smile began to tug at his lips. "... Yeah."

The woman sat on the chair to the left of the boy, letting out a long sigh and lifting her head to view the fireworks in the sky, the sounds of pops and bangs accompanying them. Liam followed her gaze, thinking of what mess of thoughts to spill out.

"Thank you, uh... for the help with my performance. I think I did pretty good."

All the practice that he had done at her home seemed to pay off. And even when the time came for his part, she was there for him at every step.

Elena smiled, bringing her attention over to Liam. "You have a passion, Liam. At such a young age, you needed a mentor to hone such a skill."

He held the banjo in his arms, looking over the fine strings. "I guess it's an honor, y'know?"

"Of course, but I'd still love to practice more with you."

His face lit up, "Yeah!"

The conversation came to an end, the both returning to watch the crackles and snaps above. Elena would break the silence a minute later.

"Thank you, as well."

"For what?"

"For keeping me company. It can be quite lonely in that house when my husband is not around. And… painting has become a lot more enjoyable with a helper around."

Liam wasn't quite sure at the time if the woman had children and they were just distant, but he quickly realized that wasn't the case. Like she reluctantly told him, it wasn't from a lack of trying, either. Ever since he had first arrived, she was the only soul inside, creating new pieces of art and tending to her garden of wallflowers. She seemed strange at first, until she opened up, and then he did as well. It wasn't long until they realized they had formed a close bond. From her, he learned about this world - the feelings he felt, and the dreams they both longed for.

"S'no problem, Mi- Elena. I… have a lot of fun doing things with you. Maybe sometime we can go somewhere else?"

"Yes… maybe." She scratched at her arm, inhaling deeply. "It's very... hard for me to leave my house of comfort. I'm sure you understand - you know how this world is."

"But," the boy tried to counter her words. "But you came all this way… and you performed!"

"I came here only because of you… so I could finally watch you play." She closed her eyes, smiling. "I don't regret coming."

"Oh… thank you."

He wanted to go places with her, but he knew her reasons like she said. The world was an angry place, and she had already seen the brunt of it before. Her lids reopened, letting the flares of fireworks reflect across her golden orbs.

"You know what they say about new years, Liam. New expectations and changes - a better tomorrow. But… it never does come, does it? Even in this new millennium, conflict has and always will exist."

Conflict was something Liam understood well, and it always seemed to rear its ugly head throughout the ages. Whether it was in these very parts of America years and years ago, or sometime in the distant future - it was almost always for the same reasons.

"I wish it didn't, and that… the happy moments in life could last forever."

Elena laughed softly at his response, "I am glad you're still young and innocent enough to wish for such things."

"Hey!"

Anothr tender laugh came. "I may be old on the exterior, but inside is a little girl who also wishes for the same things, too." She looked over at the boy. "Don't ever forget that you are a good presence in this world of hatred, Liam." Her stare was back on the night sky, taking in the combustion of vibrant fire. "It may not be this year or millennium even, but I know that there's another world in which we don't know. A world where our sisters… would have a chance at living a true life."

At the mention of his once possible sibling, Liam's eyes began to brim with tears. Bile collected in his throat, feeling like he wanted to throw up.

"Do you... really think so?"

"... If we as a species continue on this path, then total destruction isn't far away. But life always finds a way to begin again, Liam."

"... That sounds-"

"Liam!"

The boy almost jolted out of his seat at the stern voice of his father. He looked up, seeing Robert walking, or rather stomping his way over to them, glaring daggers at Elena.

"I told you that you could talk with him at your house." He looked over. "Come on, we've got to go. It's a long trip down to the lake."

"Right, sorry dad." Liam got out of his chair, walking over to join his father.

Elena seemed surprised, "A trip? If I may ask… where to?"

The boy beamed, eager to tell her. "To the highest part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, near Appalachia!"

"Ah, that sounds quite exciting. You'll make sure to tell me all about once you're back, yes?"

He nodded vigorously, "Yeah! Of course!"

Robert checked the watch on his wrist, lightly tugging Liam away. "Let's get going, we're supposed to meet someone there soon."

Just as they started to walk away from the woman, Elena spoke up again. "Please be safe during your trip, Liam. And remember… to not fall victim to the evils of this world." Her eyes shifted towards Robert, restrained anger hidden behind them. "Or else, you might end up repeating the same mistakes."

The man countered her glare with his own, letting her words sink in. "Yeah…" He pulled the boy further away. "Come on."

They wandered further away from the celebration, brushing through tall grass as the sound of fireworks were reduced to muffled booms. It wasn't long until they reached the makeshift parking looked back once last time to Elena, who smiled at him and waved.

He copied her actions, waving goodbye.


BOOM! BOOM!

Liam's eyes snapped back to reality just as the massive bubbles of water floating above the stands began to burst, cascading a light shower of water onto the crowd, who erupted into energetic cheers and clapping. The Riolu whipped his wet head around, his mouth parting as he realized he was back in the real world again.

He looked down at the stage, seeing the Primarina below retreating back to the pool.

'Is the… show already over?'

Gloria freed herself of wetness with a shake of her head, smiling widely. "Wow! I think that was her best Sparkling Aria yet!"

Roark ran a claw through his damp dark mane, whistling. "You just may be right, sis. Primarina really outdid herself this time, especially her Blackwater Dahlia performance."

Liam felt a red claw nudge his shoulder, rousing him out of his staredown with the stage.

"Hey, that shocked look never left your face the entire show. Tell me, what was your favorite song?"

The Riolu blinked in response, "Uh… I…"

Gloria giggled into a paw, "I'm guessing you can't pick? I told you that you would like this."

"Yeah… I guess I did."

As the cheering faded, a plethora of satisfied Pokémon left their seats, heading towards the exit stairs. Roark offered to lead the two partners down, stretching once they were out of the stands and back on the wild streets of the celebrating city.

"Man, does it feel good to get out of those stuffy seats!" The fox tapped his chin with a claw. "Now to see whatever else this city has to offer…"

Gloria yawned into a paw, batting her tired lids. "You can do that, I wanna get some sleep for the expedition tomorrow." She looked towards Liam, who was staring off into space again. "Hey, you look a bit out of it. Do you wanna go to the inn to rest up?"

"U-Uh… nah, I'm good. I uh, wanna see more of the city."

Truth be told, he was restless, and sleep could never stave off what he was currently experiencing. But his thoughts were immediately scattered by Roark pulling him into a side hug, grinning wildly.

"You mean to tell me this is a boy's night out? It's been ages!"

Gloria giggled again, albeit more drowsily. "You two have fun I guess, I'll see you all tomorrow." She took off her saddlebag, handing it over to Liam. "Just don't blow our Poké on Blast Seeds or whatever."

He managed to smirk a little. "No promises."

Roark waved a claw, "Later, sis."

The Vulpix trotted away in the direction of the tall Snorlax themed hostel, merging into the passing crowd of Pokemon. Liam watched her leave, only to find his shoulder jostled again by Roark.

"Hey, let's say we find ourselves a nice little beverage stand." He winked, telling Liam all he needed to know.

Drinking alcohol and competing with Roark at the same time was also something that he didn't need to deal with his troubles right now.

Liam broke out of the fox's grasp. "Sorry, Roark. I… just wanna wander the festival for a bit."

Roark shook his head, walking down the street and waving the Riolu off with a claw. "Psssh, okay. But don't say I never suggested the thought!"

"I also don't really want to be carried back to the hotel."

Roark looked back, "Not my fault you're such a lightweight!" He started walking backwards, raising his arms and coincidentally bumping into a Glaceon who was passing by. "Whoa! How you doin', beautiful?"

The Ice-type snarled back, "Watch where you're going, creep."

The fox arched a brow, following after the Glaceon. "Hey, you know I can change into whatever you want, right?

Both voices quickly faded into the crowd as they continued to argue and walk away. And just like that, Liam was now all alone in the bustling streets of Elysium City - free to do whatever he wanted in this breathtaking place. But for reasons that plagued his mind nonstop, he could do nothing but wander the busy streets in search of answers to the visions he was experiencing. Questions of why they felt so familiar and so homely to him. Questions of why this was happening to him.

Questions that would never be solved it seemed.

For about an hour, he continued to aimlessly wander through the thick of the festival, absently gazing at all the attractions and corner stores the city had to offer. Nothing really caught his attention, until a stand built into a stone building called Meloetta's Soprano stole his gaze. It appeared to sell musical instruments and other related accessories.

He wasn't sure why, but he felt compelled to investigate further.

Two Pokémon were stationed near the small shop, a stout looking Corviknight beside the counter, and one of those strange Psychic-type Raichu that Liam read about in his book floating on its tail behind the stand. Both were exchanging a conversation, which fell apart as Liam entered the fray.

The Raichu bobbed in the air once spotting the Riolu stroll up. "Heeey, little dude! Looking to buy some top of the line and premium instruments this side of Celestic?" He splayed his nub of a paw towards his selection in the back of the stand. "We've even got a one of the kind piece from Primarina's band."

Liam frowned, a bit overwhelmed. "I uh… sorry, I don't know what I'm looking for, really."

The shop owner shrugged, "Take your time - ain't like I got more customers to attend to, right Corvy?"

The steel plated crow nodded, speaking in a male accented voice that was similar to the Meowstic twins, but more urban and less posh sounding.

"S'alright, mate. You'll still get your Pyroar's share of the profits once you're…" The Pokémon trailed off as he intently watched the Riolu beside him scanning the stand's collection. "Hey, that scarf you're wearing… ain'tcha part of that guild near Empyrean?"

Liam jerked out of his stupor, looking up at the bird. "Uh.. yeah! Though, we're kind of here for expedition reasons."

Corviknight cocked his head, "Really now, and I thought you were here on 'oliday retreat… where to, chap?"

"Celestial Mountain, tomorrow."

"That place? Sounds like you've got a tough day ahead of ya. But… you seem a bit lost, mate. You alright?"

Liam nodded, staring off into the selection of instruments again. However, something hanging off one of the stand's back shelves caught his attention - his eyes transfixed on the familiar design of it. It was made out of pure natural wood, with a circular base and cheap looking strings. Across the surface of the instrument was a painted white flower.

He didn't know why, but his heart started to race, his mouth running on its own.

"How much… is that instrument in the back?"

The Raichu behind the counter followed his ogling, shrugging again. "Dunno, man. I got that banjo a while back, but don't know who owned it. How does five-hundred Poké sound?"

Liam placed his saddlebag on the counter, briefly contemplating whether he should do this. But all the feelings in his chest and mind told him to do it - he decided. Opening up one of the pouches, he grabbed the correct amount of gold coins needed for the transaction and handed them off to the Raichu.

"Good man! You will not regret this purchase!"

Raichu merrily floated away on his tail towards the back of the shop, grabbing the relic of an instrument and hovering back to hand it over to the starstruck Riolu. Liam grabbed it, letting his paw glide across the fine wood of the banjo.

Corviknight chuckled at the sight. "You look like ya just discovered a missing piece of yourself. Cherish these sorts of things, mate. Arceus knows how much I miss my first flute."

Liam looked up, holding the banjo close to his chest. "Uh… thanks."

The Raichu behind the counter grinned, waving his stubby paw. "No need to thank us. Enjoy, man."

Liam zipped back up the saddlebag and slinged it around his shoulder, returning to the hectic streets. He looked back momentarily, swearing the red eyes of that Corvinight were fixated on him. He went back to casually roving the streets, his mind combing over the many sporadic thoughts currently driving him insane.

It wasn't long until the curls of blue and yellow began to contort his vision.


The small wooden boat rocked slightly in the gentle waters of Lake Norman, occasionally caressing and bending strands of tall cattail that rose above the water. It waded through various lily pads and other large aquatic flora that floated on the surface - all to the sound of croaking frogs and buzzing insects.

The man who was rowing the boat with the two paddles on its sides, stopped temporarily to fetch his bottle of moonshine near the bottom of the craft. He popped open the cap to wash his mouth full of the concoction, placing the now empty bottle back down. A harness built on the rim of the boat proudly displayed a rebellious battle flag. The blue cross with its white stars on a red background billowed against the cold wind of the night.

The man swallowed the liquid down before addressing his two recent guests aboard the tiny vessel.

"Ya see... My great grand daddy fought the yankees on this very soil ages ago. And someday, kid… you'll fight 'em again."

Liam tilted his head, "Yankees? Why would we fight them… eh, again?"

Robert chuckled, "Lay off the moonshine, Ted. This country may be heading towards ruin, but don't get your wet dreams running."

'Ted' scratched his beard, grumbling. "Conflict is always on the northerners' agenda. Trust me, if they're looking fer a fight… we'll give them one."

Liam sighed, watching the moonlight reflect upon the gentle waves of the lake. It was just like Mrs. Lachaise has said about this world. Conflict has and always will exist.

Robert scoffed, "Maybe we should worry about our own backyard first."

"I know ya were an officer before, Rob. Tell me, what's yer opinion on all these PMC's runnin' the show in the cities?"

"My opinion matters little. I let my actions speak for me."

Another laugh came, "I guess you'd be right."

Ted went back to rowing, drifting the small boat across the body of water until it nearly beached itself on the lake's shores. "Alright, you folks can git yer belongings and head out now. The mountains this time of the year are a sight to behold, believe me."

The two occupants hefted their large and very full backpacks across their shoulders, safely stepping out of the boat and onto the moist grass. Robert extended a hand, which Ted accepted and shook.

"Thanks for ride here. You'll be back the day after tomorrow, right?"

"Anytime, Rob! Just make sure to tell me how everythin' goes in the city."

"Of course."

Liam followed his father as they trekked across the fields and into the forests beyond. Even despite the darkness present around them, he could see the steep outlines of distant mountains.

'Just a bit further…'


Liam didn't know where he was truly going, but he kept walking anyway.

The motions of the festival around him seemed to dwindle into nothing but a blur as he traversed past the sea of Pokémon and winding alleyways. The paved cobblestone road soon transitioned into soft grass that caved underneath his hind paws. It wasn't long until the city behind him was gone, and he was in a forest of pure nature to surround his thoughts with.

But he was too enthralled with his state of mind to notice the flapping of metal-like wings behind him.


For almost an hour, both Liam and his father unpacked their belongings for the trip and began to set up camp for the night.

"There!" the boy exclaimed, finalizing his setup of their tent's posts.

Robert groggily opened up the tent. "Good, now finish whatever else you were doing and get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us." He sighed tiredly, stepping in and zipping the flaps back up behind him.

Liam was now alone in this wonderful place, left to his own devices. Sleeping wasn't something his restless body could do right, and only one thing was etched into his mind. The boy plodded over to his heavy backpack again, sifting through the large pouch, until he uncovered his banjo.

Midnight practicing was just as fun as midnight adventuring.

But he needed to find the perfect 'stage'. He began searching the surrounding area, finding the right one shortly later. It was a large tree stump in the middle of a clearing surrounded by pine trees. The white moon in the sky was shining a spotlight on it, almost like a stage would.

It was perfect.

He hiked through the bushes and ferns to reach the stump, sitting on the moss covered stub of wood and resting his banjo between his arms. A deep breath escaped him, as he began to strum the strings, generating his melody throughout the quiet woods.

The sound of a banjo filled the air, blending in with the chirps of crickets and humming of harmonious insects.


Liam plucked at the way strings of his banjo as best as he could with his paws, adjusting his posture on the large tree stump and stamping his hind paw up and down to catch a rhythm. He attempted to replicate the song in his vision, getting very close.

He kept at it for a while, immersing himself in a feeling that was completely familiar to him. But when he finally stopped, a new warmth filled his chest as he peered up at the bright moon, realizing just what he had discovered within.

Ever since he first woke up beside that tree on the hill in the Sunshine Forest, he always wondered who he really was. It ate at him, sometimes making him think that he truly never existed at all. But the fact that he was here right now, staring up at the same stars as that boy put that idea to rest.

The Guildmaster had told him that someone or something was laying out a path before him, and that he had to choose whether to follow it or not. It was possible that these visions were the path that he needed to follow.

'Visions? No…'

There was no denying it anymore. These were not visions he was experiencing - these were memories, memories of a time when he was Liam, a boy with an adventurous spirit.

'I am… Liam!'

A lone tear slid down his cheek as a relieving smile graced his lips. He had a place to belong, a calling to his real name.

"It's a bit wonky... innit."

"GAH!"

Liam whipped his head around, swiftly wiping his cheek free of tears. His features soon relaxed however once he recognized the familiar avian from the musical shop standing just beside the path.

He held his banjo close. "You… followed me here?"

Corviknight nodded, "Yeah, uh… sorry 'bout that, mate. But you seemed totally confused and lost at the shop, so I had to make sure you were alright in the noggin'." He tapped his black steel chest with a wing. "It's a guard's duty to keep 'mons safe."

"Yeah… sorry, I just-"

"No need to explain yourself. Sometimes we all need time to ourselves." He inhaled, before smirking. "So… you aight to return? You have an expedition tomorrow. Isn't that right?"

Liam hopped off the stump, walking over. "Yeah… we're set up near the Snooze-Lax Inn."

Corviknight displayed his impressive wingspan, turning around. "Hop on, mate. I'll get ya there in a jiffy."

The Riolu hesitantly hopped on top of the bird's strange metal-like back, making sure his banjo was nice and secure. Once he had a grip, the Flying-type took off, soaring past the spruce pine trees and into the crisp dusky skies above. Liam quietly admired the dazzling lights of Elysium City, feeling the cool wind course through his fur and lightly bat his aura tassels. But he wasn't so much marveling at the view as he was jumping for joy on the inside.

All these long months of emptiness in his mind had now been given clarity, and fulfillment. He relished in this personal victory, but found out that he needed something else.

Completion.

BOOM! BOOM!

Once again, the star-filled heavens above Elysium City exploded in color - the two drifting through the angelic dust it created, letting it wash over them.

'I am Liam. That is… something I can finally admit to myself…'


There is no better feeling in this world... than a reason to be.


If you would like to check for news about the latest chapter progress, discuss the story as it goes on, give criticism on anything, point out mistakes, give your appreciation, ask questions, or simply chat about the story, then my DM's are open and I will respond to all meaningful messages. You can also add me on Discord and talk/send me things if you prefer that, for the same reasons. Discord = Z2H#7239

Please leave a review if you wish. All will be read and taken into consideration.

Next Time: A World Of Secrets
 
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Chapter 16: Chamber Of Secrets

Z2H

Junior Trainer

Chapter 16

A World Of Secrets

Above the starry skies of Elysium City, a Corviknight quietly soared amongst the twinkling stars and colorful remnants of recent fireworks, flying past tall and intricate looking stone buildings, and swathes of large crowds in the restless streets below.

Glaceon let out a short sigh, holding her head high and trotting down a busy intersection. After many long hours of scouting the city, and denying the charming attempts of multiple Pokemon, she had spotted the two assets she was sent to look for.

'Stupid Weavile… Of course she makes me do the lackey work.'

The steamed Ice-type made a beeline across the cobblestone roads, and into a series of dark and grimy alleyways. She carefully tiptoed her way around puddles of water, and piles of trash to the safehouse they had secured earlier before the festival began. She stopped at a shabby looking wooden door built into the back of a stone building, beating her dark blue paw on the entrance and flipping her icy bangs as she impatiently waited for her to be allowed in. It wasn't long until a silenced lumbering noise came from beyond the entrance.

The door then swung inward slightly, revealing a pair of twitching magenta mandibles peeking out from the darkness inside.

Glaceon rolled her eyes, "Let me in, Golisopod."

A chittering sound reached her ears as the door was then pulled wide open by the Bug-type's large clawed arm, who quickly retreated back to his private spot of meditation. Glaceon immediately stepped in, happy to be free of the dirty outside world. It was a small, dark, and cramped space only lit by a few glowing orange lanterns in the corners of the room.

It was made clear that only four Pokémon from the clan were going to Elysium City, as to not cause potential suspicion. Glaceon whipped her cold gaze to a dusty looking table positioned along the walls. Two individuals were seated by it on creaky chairs, fiddling with their sets of cards.

Weavile grinned wickedly at her opponent. "C'mon, tin man. Lay out your cards."

Bisharp grimaced, his tongue digging the inside of his cheek. "Alright, a promise is a promise, Weav's." He hesitantly laid his cards flat on the table, showing off his hand.

Not a second later, Weavile slammed down her cards as well, a victorious grin etched on her face, while Bisharp just sighed at his obvious loss.

She leaned back in her chair. "When we're back at base, I want you on it right away."

"Yeah, yeah... "

Glaceon narrowed her eyes at the display occurring before her, coughing loudly into a paw.

"Ahem!"

Weavile spared the upset Ice-type a glance, shuffling her deck back together. "Ah, good to see you back, ice queen." She waved a claw at the Pokemon. "Did ya see the two anywhere?"

Glaceon growled at the nickname, before slowly nodding. "Of course I did." She whipped her bangs once more. "I found them wandering the festival before they entered the Council's main headquarters just a few minutes ago."

That caught Weavile's attention, as she dropped her cards on the table and immediately stood up, a new kind of grin finding its way on her face. Bisharp was up as well, a fierce and determined look in his eye.

"So you say," Weavile began. "Then that means we gotta act now." She pointed her claws at both Glaceon and Golisopod. "Remember the plan - you follow us just out of sight, and only engage if we do. If we're spotted by guards, then you make an escape back to the safehouse, got it?"

A trilling noise from the silent Bug-type and a 'hmph' from Glaceon was the response. Bisharp marched past the table and grabbed a black saddlebag stuffed in the corner of the room, tossing it over to Weavile, who slung it around her shoulder.

"Like Weavile said, this is hopefully just recon, so don't get caught." Bisharp said, casting a glance at the two clan members. "You don't wanna end up like Magmortar."

Weavile smirked, "Hopefully?"

He rolled his eyes, "A possibility, Weav's."

She chuckled, walking past the three and swinging open the wooden door to greet the cold night air and muffled sounds of the city's festival around them. She cautiously checked her surroundings before walking out, Bisharp just behind her while Glaceon and Golisopod stuck to the far back.

"Think this will be juicy, Weav's?" Bisharp inquired.

She shrugged, "Maybe. If we're lucky, then they still have yet to go to their trading location with Serperior's bozos." A wistful look grew on her face. "It's a shame this isn't a snatch and grab mission. I wonder if those two are high in rank..."

The Steel-type quickened his pace, now by her side. "What I rather want to know… is how or rather why the Alignment is trading with the Rose Clan, a bunch of mercenaries like us."

"Mysterious groups do mysterious things, Bishy." Weavile said, sighing and shaking her head. "I don't really care for their reasons - I just want his head."

A snort was his response. "Well I do - you know that."

"Whatever."

The group exited the dingy alleyway, merging into the crowds of Pokemon flooding the cobblestone roads. Glaceon jogged forward, her interest peaked by the conversation that was absorbed by the boisterous and noisy celebration.

"Weavile, I've been in this clan for years and you've never bothered to tell us why we're messing with these weirdos all the time."

Weavile chuckled, "There's no gossip here, ice queen." She waved a claw behind her. "At the end of the day, you're still getting your Poké no matter what we drag you into."

Glaceon whipped her bangs with a huff. "That is… true."

Through the winding streets of the ceremony, Weavile silently guided her crew across, until the crowd thinned out in a plaza-like area near the center of the city. Smooth foundation stretched across the landscape, along with large stone fountains of aquatic Pokémon spewing glistening water from their maws. A decorated pathway laden with trees and other green shrubbery led to an enormous structure beyond, which dwarfed any other building in the city by far.

Columns of white concrete pillars were erected across the building's front, along with rows of long staircases leading into a grand hallway. The structure split into four different sections that curved around in a circular layout. There were multiple stories and windows dotting the sides; the ceiling above all sections bending and forming an arch to unify the building. Banners of blue backgrounds and shining suns were draped off the building's sides, floating gently and proudly in the wind.

Weavile whistled, crossing her arms. "It's been a long time since we've seen the Council's main crib, right, Bishy?"

He nodded, "Ten years to be exact. But we never mustered up the courage to enter the belly of the beast, did we."

"Nope." She smirked. "But why enter when we can just wait for our prey to come on out."

Glaceon huffed, "Can we get this over with? My paws are starting to hurt!"

Weavile thrusted a claw at the building. "Bisharp and I will have a little stakeout near the entrance. Once those two come out, you both will follow us, just not too closely, got it?"

Brief nodding from Golisopod and Glaceon sent them scattering across the plaza, finding their own spot to blend into the crowds. Weavile and Bisharp, meanwhile, turned their attention to an unoccupied bench near the building's pathway, which gave them a perfect view of the entrance.

Once seated, Bisharp couldn't help but speak up.

"Don't you think it's a tad bit suspicious that we're here. We're practically celebrities according to the Council... "

Weavile chuckled, "You know me, Bishy, I like to take risks. And besides, the guards are all keeping watch over the festival."

"Heh, that is true."

For a while, they silently watched numerous Pokémon come in and out of the large building. None were the elusive duo they had seen the night previously.

"Y'know Weav's, eventually we're gonna have to tell the guys back at base our secrets."

Weavile vacantly watched the entrance, contemplating his words in her head. "... I know that, Bishy. It's just a matter of when all of this uncertain bullshit clears up." She bit her tongue, anger swelling up. "Secrets are meant to be found, like you said."

Bisharp bowed his head, "Sometimes… I wonder if you and I will ever see eye to eye on the truth of this all, instead of that revenge of yours."

She was about to cook up a response, but felt it die in her throat as her gaze fell upon two Pokemon exiting the structure - a Gallade, and a Heliolisk - purple armbands strapped around their shoulders. An elbow from Weavile was then hastily jabbed into Bisharp's side.

"Look alive! That's definitely them…"

She was ready to see what happened next.


They silently stepped down the gray concrete stairs of the Council's central offices, feeling a lot better now that the burden of failure to come to an agreement with the Council was not on their shoulders anymore - it was a success.

Gallade readjusted his armband, bringing his head up to look at the twinkling stars above, slightly wincing at the crack and explosions of fireworks painting the sky in different hues. A smile was imprinted on his face as he spoke - his voice callous but young.

"... Have you ever seen something like this before?"

The Heliolisk turned its head to the stars, smirking and speaking in a male almost nasally voice.

"Maybe the tower's lights, but these are more vibrant… and explosive. But I bet you wish it were raining, don't you?"

Gallade laughed, relaxing his muscles and sensing the natural wind of the outside world on his skin. Even the full moon in the sky seemed to shine brighter than he would've ever expected. Days, or rather, nights like this brought out a feeling within that he didn't get to experience often.

He just hoped that one day everyone back home could as well.

The Psychic-type's response fell flat as he watched his companion fiddle with the saddlebag attached to the Electric-type's waist, retrieving a strange looking plush doll that held a significant resemblance to a Wooloo.

"What… is that? And why does it look like one of those sheep Pokemon?"

Heliolisk smiled, extending forward the well knitted lookalike with a claw. "Managed to buy it from a vendor while you were preoccupied with watching the festival." He gave it a squeeze. "Think my brother will like it?"

Gallade could almost imagine the hyperactive Growlithe bouncing off the walls at the prospect of something new added to his collection of rather chewed up toys.

"I'm sure he will. We can hand it off to him after we complete this last meeting with the Rose Clan."

The expression of amusement on Heliolisk's face immediately morphed into one of disdain - his yellow and black tail behind him thrashing wildly as he stuffed the plush back into the saddlebag.

"It's a mistake that we're cooperating with these… mercenaries. They're untrustworthy, and have no allegiance to our cause."

Gallade sighed, keeping his gaze on the moon and letting it wash away his disappointment. "I know… I don't like it either. But the orders from the Allfather are clear, and we're expected to carry them out."

"It's stupid!" Heliolisk snapped back. "We should be out here looking for that commander, or that Fire-typ-"

"They'll be found eventually, don't worry." Gallade trained his eye on the Pokémon. "We'll talk with Magearna once we're back about it."

The pair traversed the small hallway of nature, too enraptured with their conversation to notice two other Pokémon lurking the path behind them.

Weavile and Bisharp used the shrubbery dotting the pathway to their advantage, hiding in the shadows of trees and bushes to avoid any unwanted attention.

"Magearna?" Bisharp inquired. "I've never heard of that name before. Is it a Pokémon?"

"Just keep listening before asking any questions, tinman."

Gallade and Heliolisk wandered away from the pathway, exiting the central plaza-like area and heading down one of the many packed streets of the city. The Psychic-type took the time to gawk at the almost non stop motions of the festival around him.

Heliolisk frowned, "She can't do much on her own without our assistance. You know how she is…"

Gallade nudged the Pokémon's shoulder with his bladed arm. "All of this will be resolved in time. You don't need to worry so much."

Heliolisk brushed off the arm, "Easy for you to say. I never liked this Allfather. The things he's making us do…"

Gallade shot him a look, "Each Allfather is given a responsibility and a connection. His main priority is to help light the path before us, as ours is to protect it."

"Jeez, aren't you the astute one," Heliolisk quipped back. "I don't know why he hasn't promoted you yet." His words caused Gallade to chuckle.

"I try, but I don't think I'd like to work in a field without you by my side."

"Because you totally need my help."

Gallade laughed, "As expected."

After a quite uneventful trip through the city's streets the celebration around them began to wind down as they neared a dead end - the only remaining path being the large alleyways, which the pair quickly strode into. Weavile and Bisharp emerged from the small crowd still present, sneaking their way towards the dimly lit alleyway that the mysterious pair ventured off into.

"I keep telling you, Weav's. Us and them aren't so different."

She growled back, "If you saw what I did, then you'd realize it's all a facade."

"Maybe so, but there's more to this - I know it."

A drawn out sigh escaped her. "There always is, Bishy…"

As they skirted their way to the alley, Weavile momentarily looked back at the festival behind them, seeing Golisopod and Glaceon slowly plodding towards them. At a closer glance, she also caught a glimpse of those familiar outfits she dreaded adorning various Pokemon.

"Stay quiet, metal-head. Guards are everywhere."

Bisharp scoffed, "You're one to say…"

She smirked, "Whatever…"

Just behind the duo ahead, Weavile and Bisharp disappeared in the pitch-black shadows of the alley, following in silence. Other than their own footsteps, the echoing mix of sounds in the darkness did little to ease their nerves.

Gallade shifted his eyes warily at each crossing point, until his gaze fell upon a pair of small disheveled looking Litleo curled up along the sides of a building, a grimy cloth draped over themselves to protect against the cold. Such a sight sparked an ounce of familiarity from within, a chill racing up his spine.

It sickened him to think some Pokémon weren't fortunate enough to experience this beautiful world.

"Even up here…" Gallade murmured to himself. "All this suffering for the young and old still exists."

Heliolisk followed the Psychic-type's listless look - that same pang of familiarity rising inside. "This path the Allfather is making… Do you think we'll ever see it happen?"

Gallade watched the Litleo cubs huddle together for warmth in their drowsy state. Just like a certain Helioptile and Ralts did in the past. He wasn't sure why, but seeing such kinship even in the most dire of times provided him a sense of hope - of gratitude for life.

"Rest easy, friend." The Psychic-type glanced over, confidence overtaking the sadness in his eyes. "We might have to do questionable things, but I know there's a light at the end of this all."

Heliolisk nodded slowly, taking his stare off the frail looking Litleo. "I hope so, too."

Eventually their trip through the desolate alley ended at another dead end, this time, a group of stern looking Pokemon lined up against each of the buildings that cornered the area. Gallade looked around, analyzing the breastplates on their forms - a single red rose stitched on.

Weavile ran her sharp claws along the edges of the alleyway's corner, standing in the shadows that obscured her and Bisharp's location. She resisted the urge to simply run out and claw them to shreds.

'Stupid snake…'

"You are all part of the Rose clan, yes?" he questioned.

A Roserade, and a Luxray stepped forward, with the former bowing slightly, extending her arm bouquet over her leafy chest.

"Yes," The Roserade said. "And I assume you are the two emissaries sent for us?"

Heliolisk harrumphed, "That would be the case, mercenary. You-"

Gallade held out an arm blade in front of the Electric-type, halting any potential vitriol from spewing out.

"Apologies, we are just here to adjust the location of our next supply delivery, and recent developments in our agreement."

A smile appeared on Roserade's lips. "Yes, would our regular spot near one of the markings work?"

Weavile gnashed her teeth together, whispering something harshly into the ear's of Bisharp. "The Alignment is delivering supplies to these guys!"

He whispered back, "Yeah… and they made some kind of agreement."

Gallade nodded, "That would be sufficient, but the Allfather also requests I know more about your endeavor in stopping the other clan."

Weavile widened her eyes, leaning in further and whispering. "Stopping another clan? Which one is he…"

The Roserade gleefully laughed into her arm bouquet. "Princess Serperior has been vigilant in undermining the Razor Claw clan's dominance over the continent."

That was when it all made sense. The countless years of back and forth between the two clans, then the slow buildup of Serperior's forces and equipment. Weavile knew the Grass-type was coming for her title, but didn't realize just how much it meant to Serperior. Bisharp seemed just as shocked, but Weavile could tell he was silently leaping for joy at the prospect. He closed his mouth to stop him from shouting, before whispering to the Ice-type beside him.

"Weavile… do you know what this means?"

She did, and she didn't know what to feel at this moment. Angry at the fact that the Alignment was funding her greatest rival to fight her, or happy that the Alignment has realized the danger her clan poses to them.

"I do," She replied sharply. "This means that-"

Gallade approached the Roserade, a stern look in his eye. "The Allfather has also requested for me to inquire about your clan's presence in the Grit Region, especially around the ruins."

Roserade guffawed, "Princess Serperior has many clients in that region, mostly from the bandit nomads."

Weavile almost laughed, 'Bullshit.'

Gallade seemed convinced, as he backed up. "Very well, I hope your clan succeeds in your efforts. We were cutting it too close with the… situation... at the Eden Theater."

'So we did spook them… wonderful,' the Ice-type noted in her mind.

"We will be taking our leave now." Gallade motioned to Heliolisk, who briefly glared at the mercenaries before reaching into the saddlebag. "Send a few of your members to our transaction spot."

Roserade bowed yet again. "Of course, thank you for your time."

Heliolisk brought out an orangish card-like object, tossing it on the ground as both he and Gallade stepped on it. With a parting look at the Pokemon around them, and an explosion of orange light, the pair was gone.

Weavile and Bisharp patiently waited for the mercenaries to depart, but noticed the electrifying black fur of the Luxray frilling up, a gleam entering its predatory eyes. A growl began to fill the alley as its now shining pupils contracted, staring directly at the shadowed area in which two Pokemon were hiding in, now revealed to the Electric-type.

"It's them! The two captains!" the Luxray roared, fur crackling with electricity.

It took only a split second for a barrage of elemental attacks from all angles for Weavile and Bisharp to scatter out of harm's way, regrouping in the middle of the alley's dead end.

'X-ray vision, how typical…' Weavile bemoaned in her mind.

Roserade laughed uproariously once more, holding her head up high. "My, my, it appears we don't have to hold up our end of the bargain for long!" A sinister smirk crossed her face. "We'll simply annihilate you here!"

Surrounded by foes on all sides, Weavile jabbed Bisharp with an elbow, peering into the darkness of the dusky corridors for the next part of the plan. "Hey, think we should give these guys a good 'first impression'?" The wink she sent afterward gave him all the information he desired.

"They'll never see it coming…"

In the blink of an eye, a white blur catapulted through the narrow alleyway and smashed into the grassy chest of Roserade, sending her careening into a nearby building, and forming a decent sized hole in it.

Golisopod halted his steadfast movement, whipping his obsidian black eyes on all the shocked Pokémon circling him. Glaceon hurriedly leapt off the Bug-type's armored back in a dizzying state, staggering on her paws and glaring at her partner.

"Why'd you have to go so fast… idiot!"

The Pokémon responded in a series of mandible twitches, flexing his claws as an arrangement of yellow holographic swords rose above him - Swords Dance. The faux weapons clashed, resulting in a fluorescent wave of powerful energy to wash his form.

But the Rose Clan was not one to be intimidated, leaving their spots on the walls to charge at the four intruders. Flames built up in the jaws of a Houndoom as it sprinted at Weavile with malicious intent. She easily sidestepped the hound, bringing down a slash on its exposed side, sending it to the ground with a yelp of pain.

At the same time, Bisharp dealt with his own enemies. An Arbok had quickly coiled around his metallic body, constricting him in place. He could tell the Turtonator in front was planning an attack in his incapacitated state, so he needed to act fast.

With a bout of quick thinking, and the formation of solid steel on Bisharp's head - an Iron Head making a devastating collision with the Arbok was enough to knock it out cold and release him from its grip. The Turtonator was still preparing its shell attack in the meantime, only to receive a Razor Shell to the face from a beefed up Golisopod, dropping instantly with a 'thud'.

While her Bug-type companion mowed through the ranks of opposing mercenaries, Glaceon followed his path of destruction and finished off any remaining Pokémon - sealing them to an ice induced sleep with her concentrated Ice Beam.

Bisharp took a good look at the group of groaning or unconscious Pokemon littering the ground "Think we showed them we're the best mercs on this continent, Weav's?"

She flicked some blood off her claws, garnering a grin. "You mean the best in the world, Bishy. They can't even-"

The violent flapping noise of cloth in the wind resounded through the alleyway, only intensifying after an entire squad of flying Pokémon rounded the alley's corner into the dead end - brown, dusty coats adorning their bodies, rifles strapped to their backs, and a shared glint of justice in their eyes.

Weavile recoiled instantly, "Council guards! They must've heard… shit - remember the plan!" She locked eyes with Bisharp, who returned with his own fiery look.

Things were about to get more interesting.

Glaceon stood her ground, puffing out her cheeks. "I am not scared of some… muscleheads wearing drab coats! I will- EEK!"

The Ice-type's act of defiance was met with swift resistance from Golisopod, who yanked her up with his arm, holding her closely and producing fidgeting noises from his mandibles while she squirmed.

"Let me go you stupid bug! I will freeze you soli- AAAAAAA."

Her voice became but an echo as Golispod turned into a white blur again, zipping through the alleyway at near impossible speeds. While the guards were still stuck in shock from the sigh, Weavile and Bisharp saw ample opportunity to make their getaway, so they took it. At nearly the same pace, they bolted from their spot, leaving a few guards to tend to the wounded members of the Rose clan. The remaining guards made a sudden U-turn at the dead end, flying at breakneck speeds towards the fleeing pair, squawking out demands.

"STOP! BY ORDERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU ARE UNDER ARREST UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!"

Weavile didn't bother responding, smiling to herself. 'It's like they don't know who we are.'

"WAIT! IT'S THE TWO CAPTAIN'S OF THE RAZOR CLAW CLAN! DO NOT LET THEM ESCAPE!" a new voice from behind shouted, before quickly fading away, presumably to gather more backup.

'That's more like it…'

Jumping across piles of trash and dodging the occasional swipe of talons from the guards, Weavile and Bisharp exited the narrow alleyway, emerging into the still booming festival grounds on the streets. They ran into the crowd of Pokemon, pushing and shoving their way across. Meanwhile, more guards of the flying variety began to swarm the area like angry Combee.

While Bisharp dealt with his own group of avian guards, Weavile rushed through the busy streets, searching for an alleyway to run into. Before she could find one, a dive bombing maneuver from a Staraptor forced her to abandon the plan, hastily ducking the bird.

"STOP THAT WEAVILE!"

With the spotlight now on her, she knew she needed to get out fast. Pushing past more angry Pokemon, Weavile scrambled across the numerous stands lining the road, jumping past the aghast vendors inside and scattering many baskets of fruits or baked goods in her warpath to freedom. All while the wings of authority were in hot pursuit behind, sending blasts of compressed air to stop her.

It was times like these that gave Weavile a nice window into the past. Simple times - like a Sneasel stealing a regular old Oran Berry, and being chased by the local guards. Times like these seemed to only reinforce that part of her that desires a life like this.

But she couldn't help but wonder why the other part of her hates this so much.

'There!'

At the appearance of a nearby alleyway, she dodged yet another swipe from the guards and made a mad dash into the shadowy corridor. With the darkness and disorientation of the city's winding alleyways on her side, the first part of her escape plan was a success. SHe never stopped running, only momentarily glancing behind her to see the absence of Council guards. She was about to write off the second part as a success, until a loud whipping noise from the alley's corner revealed another, more larger and menacing guard - a Salamence.

It was only a second later that the Dragon-type noticed Weavile, furiously beating its red wings and rocketing forward, easily surpassing the Ice-type on foot.

'Fuck. Time to switch gears…'

She clenched her claws together and glanced upward, seeing the underbelly of the gliding Salamence. Solid ice then began to encase her makeshift fist, before she jumped as high as she could and slammed an Ice Punch right into the dragon's belly. A guttural cry escaped the Pokémon, earning a smirk out of Weavile as the dragon swooped up, turned around, and exposed its gaping maw to the Ice-type.

'He's gonna-'

She had little time to react before the purplish draconic flames erupted from the Salamence's mouth, lighting the area around Weavile ablaze. She emerged not a moment later, burn marks across her fur and a scowl staining her face. From the flames, an array of jagged shards of ice were sent spiraling towards the Salamence, pelting its skin and producing a roar of pain.

Another dose of purple flames were cast to the alley's ground as Weavile nimbly jumped to the sides of the buildings, anchoring onto stone bricks that were ajar. Before she could plan her next move, the dragon suddenly swooped down and rammed its entire body into the building she was hanging off of, letting her crash to the ground and leaving a sizeable dent into the building.

Bolts of thunder crackled around the Salamence as it unleashed scattered storms of electricity at the felled Weavile, shocking her greatly. The Ice-type picked herself up quickly, barreling out of the way before the dragon could ram her again.

Weavile knew this needed to end quickly.

As quickly as she could, she opened her black saddlebag, scoured her selection of orbs, and picked one up - the Luminous Orb. She hurled it at the meddling Salamence, resulting in the orb's destruction and a flash of white light that briefly encompassed the alleyway. The effects were weakened outside of Mystery Dungeons, but it gave her all the time she needed to sprint as fast as her tired body could from the Dragon-type's wrath. She never stopped running. only relenting when the familiar door to her safehouse was in sight. A quick check of her surroundings proved her escape attempt a success, so she stopped to take a breather, hoping that her comrades also found their way back to the safehouse.

But inside she already knew the answer to that question.

Grabbing a hold of the door's handle, Weavile threw open the door and weakly entered the dark room, seeing that familiar hardened look of Bisharp staring back at her. In the corner, Golisopad sat in his usual meditation pose, while Glaceon attempted to loosen the curls cropping up in her blue fur.

'No matter what we do, we still find a way…'

Bisharp raised a brow once he saw the scorched marks on Weavile, jostling her shoulder. "You're a little late, aren't you? Something happen?"

She snorted, coughing a bit. "Got caught up in traffic. You know how it is this time of the year."

"Of course, but…" He looked up at the ceiling in thought, before looking back down. "What those two said… and what Serperior is doing in the Grit Region."

Weavile tapped her chin with a claw, grinning. "You think there's something juicy buried in that sandbox?"

He grinned back, "Definitely. And we need to be the ones to scoop it out."

"I like your thinking, as long as this gets me-" She bit her tongue. "Us… closer to the truth of this all."

"It just might…"

From across the room, Glaceon stomped her paws on the creaky wooden floors, whipping her icy bangs in protest.

"I do not want to wander around a giant empty desert looking for old junk, Weavile!"

Weavile laughed loudly, "Don't worry, ice queen. Something tells me this will be a special kind of operation…"

In the Pokemon's heart, she knew everything they were doing was to achieve something. Whether it was the pursuit of truth in Bisharp's eyes, or her own personal justice for her past comrades. Even though she hated everything about them, Weavile couldn't help but reflect upon the words spoken by the Gallade.

That there was a light at the end.


Liam steadied his crimson orbs on the mirror's reflection, taking in the image that stared back at him. He slowly extended his paw, or rather, the reflection's paw and ran it across his muzzle, feeling the sensation of his fur being bristled. While his senses told him that everything was normal, it felt like everything but that to his brain.

The Riolu in the mirror was a completely different beast.

'Why…'

Why was a question he asked himself many times after the revelation he experienced the previous day. It began to consume his thoughts, until it was the only thing he could think of. He thought he had gotten over his obsession to find out his past before, but now it only intrigued him more.

He had found himself, but was still in the dark about the reason for this all. How he lost his memory - how he ended up in the Sunshine Forest, and how he became a Riolu - a Pokémon

'This… isn't who I am. But… what even was I?'

He wasn't one for insane theories, but the thought of aliens was too believable now to pass up.

Liam almost laughed upon recalling the first day when he woke up and followed Gloria out of that forest, feeling like he wasn't a Pokemon. In the end, it was true - he wasn't. He felt estranged in this strange world, where things felt familiar, but also different.

He sighed, turning away from the image in the mirror. In the past, he was able to accept never recovering from his amnesia, but things were different now. His uncovered past revealed things about himself that he would've never imagined before. The secret of it all lingered in his thoughts, tempting him to venture more into the unknown.

And he was always a fan of the unknown.

Exiting the bathroom, Liam entered the tiny room that he, Gloria, and Roark shared at the inn. Rays of golden morning light poured out of their window, obscured by beige curtains, and accompanied by loud snoring.

Across the room, and crashed on a plain looking couch was a sleeping Zoroark, claws resting on his belly, and another pair supporting his head. Liam snickered at the Dark-type's splayed out form, knowing for sure that the fox was intoxicated beyond any measure yesterday.

He stood still for a moment, letting the light bathe over him, until realization of this new day set in over the tired Riolu. His tail began to wag uncontrollably, an excited smile overtaking his once drained and blank features.

'Today's the expedition!'

For months he had been waiting for this moment, to finally conquer something as monumental as Celestial Mountain. He was ready, but he needed to know if someone else was.

'Is Gloria…'

He diverted his attention to the large plush bed, seeing the white Vulpix curled up in a ball near the pillows. He silently plodded over, lightly bopping her exposed snout and loudly whispering.

"Hey, Gloria! It's time to wake up!"

The sleeping Vulpix scrunched her muzzle up in response to the touching, burying her face deeper into the covers to avoid it, which only made Liam further his efforts.

He pushed her side, "C'mon! Wake up!"

Eventually she began to stir, groaning softly and lifting her head out of the bed. She batted her blue eyes, adjusting to the bright light in the room, before resting them on the excited Riolu by the bedside.

"L-Liam…? Is it time to go?"

He began to eagerly nod, before stopping suddenly. "Uh… I'm not sure, but I just wanted to wake you up first." A sheepish smile was imprinted on his face. "Sorry if I got you up too early."

Gloria drowsily giggled her yawns away, "I guess now would be a good time to get ready." She wiggled her way out of the covers and onto the shaggy carpeted floor. "Did you enjoy the festival?"

"Uh… it was great! Primarina's performance was awesome!"

It saddened him a bit that he didn't get to experience all the amenities of the celebration, but the return of some of his memories trumped everything else.

The Vulpix looked around for her saddlebag, finding it lying near the bedside table. She slipped it around her side, smiling at his comment.

"I told you that you would like it!" she said gleefully. "What did you and Roark do after I left?" Realization of what she said took over as her look then became suspicious. "You didn't… do anything stupid, right?"

He quickly raised his paws in defense. "Hey, wait a second - I didn't go with him! Whatever he did is on him!"

Her wary stare soon collapsed into giggles, as usual. "Okay, but what did you do?"

Liam blinked, his response slow. "I… just wandered around. You know me, I like to explore my environment."

Of course that was only the information he could provide her. He hated lying, especially to her, but he knew this was the best option for right now.

The Riolu brought his gaze to the carpet, before perking back up, a goofy smile on his face. "Wait! I got something to show you!" He shot across the room, flipping over a blanket to retrieve the item.

It was the old banjo he purchased from the festival - white flower painted on its scratched surface. After he was transported to the inn, he procured some strips of cloth from around their room and created a makeshift strap for the battered instrument.

Liam slung the banjo around his shoulder, making his way over to Gloria as he proudly held it with open arms. "It's a banjo! One of the shop vendors had it in the back of his shop and I bought it!" He gave a few plucks of its strings, producing that sound he loved so much.

Gloria stared at the instrument for a while. "I didn't know you could play."

"I didn't know either!" He looked down at his banjo. "Guess I... discovered a part of myself yesterday."

She smiled earnestly, "Well, I'm happy for you. Maybe…" Her smile became meek. "Maybe you could play a little for me some time?"

"Yeah! I can do that after the expedition ends and we-"

A yawning noise from the couch across the room scrambled his words. Roark stretched from his uncomfortable position, holding up a single claw in the air.

"Man... never accept dares at a bar." Roark held a claw to his head, sparing the two a glance. "You think this place has room service specifically catered for hangovers?"

Gloria frowned, "You know I told you not to go overboard, remember?"

The Zoroark shrugged as best he could, chuckling. "You know that goes in one ear and out the other, sis."

Before the Vulpix could lecture her older brother, a few daintily knocks were placed on their door, the ruse fox silently thanking the interrupter for saving him from his sister's rant. Liam walked over to open the door, revealing it to be Leafeon, who introduced herself to everyone.

"Hey! Just wanted to tell you guys that we're leaving in a bit!"

Gloria nearly sprinted over to the door, hugging the Leafeon with great intensity. "It's good to see you this morning! Is everyone else ready?"

The Grass-type leaned into the exchange. "Yup! They're all chatting with Team Drarosteel in the lobby."

Roark snapped his claws, "Leafy! I need another favor!" He winced. "Which can be redeemed about now."

Leafeon rolled her eyes, breaking the hug and trotting over to the Zoroark. She let her Aromatherapy do the magic - green mystic energy flowing out of her fuzzy tannish fur, basking Roark in its enchanting glow.

"Ah…." The fox groaned in bliss. "Screw Arceus, you're the real goddess."

"I try."

While Leafeon tended to her 'patient', Liam wandered over to the large window. He brushed away the curtains blocking the view of the city and peered at the outside world, only to gawk at what was taking place on the streets below.

Stretching far and wide on the cobblestone roads was an entire battalion of diverse Pokemon. They marched down the streets, hardened looks staring straight and brown coats gliding in the wind. Each who could hold a rifle did, placing it square against their chests as they continued forward through the streets. Along the sides of the road were even more Pokemon waving banners and flags, cheering out various calls that were lost to the thunderous sound of footsteps.

"What is happening down there!?" Liam yelled to no one in particular.

Leafeon focused her attention on the astonished Riolu. "It's the Council guard parade. Always happens a day after the festiv-"

Liam was already gone from the room - the entrance to it wide open.

Roark scoffed, awestruck at the Riolu's speed. "Man that kid can run!"

Gloria was spurred into a giggling fit, ambling towards the room's entrance. "Sorry about that, Leafeon. He can get a bit… too excited."


Liam blazed down the hotel stairs, racing through the halls and entering the main lobby of the building.

He had to see the parade up close.

Gloria, Roark, and Leafeon were not far behind, also appearing at the spacious foyer not a moment later. The glossy beige tiled floor beneath their paws gave way to a stainless red carpet, with a column of large decorated marble pillars stretching to the ceiling.

Near the center of the room and by the lobby's desk, were the entire crew of the Cosmic Quilt Guild, except Scizor and Jackson. All were engaged in a chat with the three imposing members of Team Drarosteel. Nonetheless, Liam sprinted past all present, breaking through the revolving doors of the inn's entrance.

Garchomp broke her discussion to stare at the blue bullet that zipped past her vision, until the appearance of a white Vulpix entering the fray came into her sights. She cracked a grin, beckoning a large talon at the snow fox.

"Gloria! It's been a while, come join us!"

With everyone's focus on her, the Vulpix gulped and gingerly made her way over, accompanied by her big brother and also self proclaimed big sister. Upon her arrival, Aggron smacked his chest with a hearty 'thud'.

"It's good to see ya again, lass! Still got some fire in ya like last time?"

Gloria nodded eagerly, puffing her chest out. "Yes! I've been giving it my all during our missions! Liam can be my witness to that… even if he ran ahead a few times."

Roark chuckled, attempting to frazzle the Vulpix's head tuft. "I keep telling this lot - my sister is one of a kind. She's packin' quite a lot of skill in that nerdy brain of he- ow!" He rubbed the part of his ankle where the Vulpix jabbed her paw into.

"And she's been helping me a lot in the kitchen as well!" Leafeon chimed in.

"Yup, Maria- I mean Gloria knows I like all my Figy Berries extra cooked!" Charizard added.

Rockruff almost started salivating. "The stuff they make is soooo good! Like yesterday there was a-" He also received a jab from his partners.

Garchomp flashed her razor sharp teeth. "Where we're going today… you're gonna need that fire more than ever, Gloria." She shot Aggron and Tyranitar a look. "Isn't that right, boys?"

Only a modest shrug came from Tyranitar. "I was still a Pupitar at the time, but Aggron isn't ready, says he."

The steel goliath bumped a fist into the Dark-type. "Now you've gone and done it. Slandering my name like that."

"You deserve it, motormouth."

"Why I outta-"

Both got a talon to the face, courtesy of a certain Dragon-type.

Monferno snorted at the display, flicking an ear. "C'mon, what's so difficult about this mountain. It's got a lot of Mystery Dungeons - big deal."

Roark also flicked the Fire-type's ear, much to his dismay. "Wait, so you superstar's already explored the mountain? Any reason to be back at that tall Drilbur hill?"

"We have always wanted to return to Celestial Mountain, but got caught up in a lot of our adventures over the years," Garchomp said. "We didn't get far in our expedition in the past, mostly because of your Guildmaster's actions."

Staravia flew around wildly, nearly throwing Joltik off his back in his frantic state. "No w-way! You guys and the G-Guildmaster explored together?!"

"Aye, but not just him, lad. Us and Team Moonlight go way back. We're just as interested in this potential truth like Scizor and Jackson are," Aggron noted.

Garchomp sighed fondly, letting the memories flood back in. "That Lucario is quite like the mountain itself - a secret. But since we're here to crack 'em, then we're gonna make sure this is the last time we have to come here."


Liam squeezed his way through the many Pokémon present, all of them in the way of his goal of finding a better vantage point of the whole event. Eventually, the sound of marching grew louder and louder as he clambered on top of a nearby wooden box to get a better view.

But once he managed to climb up, what he witnessed didn't disappoint.

Almost in perfect synchrony, the guards went row by row, their aged brown coats drifting with them. They threw their legs up into the air, bringing them down with immense force, advancing further into the city's heart. The strange weapons placed against their chests were also tipped with pointy bayonets, begging for an enemy to get up close and personal with. A shower of victorious and vibrant confetti rained down on the guards, along with the deafening cheers, whistles, and hollers of the crowd.

Liam knew military parades were supposed to be impressive and flashy to promote patriotism in Pokemon, but he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by it all. The only guards he remembered were the plain looking ones from Empyrean City.

"It's pretty wicked, innit?"

"GAH!"

Liam nearly sent the frail box toppling, but managed to steady himself. He immediately locked eyes with the steel feathered avian flapping his wings beside him.

"Corviknight?"

The Pokémon tapped his armored chest with a wing. "That'd be me, mate. Enjoying the parade?"

Liam blinked in response, "Uh… yeah? It's um… actually really cool!"

Corviknight shrugged, "Maybe if you're a civilian. But the entire march puts a lot of strain on us bloke's." He watched the guard's journey through the streets with a sly smirk. "Glad I got to skip out on it this year…"

"Wait… you're a guard of the Council?"

"Yyyup!" The bird tapped his chest with a wing again. "For nearly two years at that. 'Mons are nice, but the pay is pretty shit I'd say." He grumbled.

Liam needed to ask a question that he never seemed to get an answer on. "I've heard a lot about the Council, but what is it exactly?"

Corviknight looked appalled, "What?! You live on Celestic and have no clue what the Council is?"

"I'm, uh… foreign?"

Silence took over the pair for a solid second, until the Steel-type began to snicker under his breath.

"Mate, you're pretty weird, but I guess that's typical for foreigners." He shook his head. "Anyways, the Council is like a body of government, right? They're the ones who set up all the authority and laws on the continent. "

Liam racked his brain, "So if it's a Council, then who is representing everyone?"

"Mayors, or more specifically, mayors from well populated cities like Elysium, Empyrean, and Watersong. Each region of Celestic has members of the Council, and all get their input on certain things." Corviknight smirked. "Did you see Primarina's show last night at the festival?"

"Yeah, but what about it?"

"Guess what - that singer is the mayor of Watersong City in the Shore Region, which means she's also part of the Council."

That was certainly a lot to think about for the Fighting-type.

"That's the gist of it, and-" Corviknight stopped his spiel upon noticing the banjo strapped around the Riolu's back. "Hey, glad to see you're still tugging that thing around."

Liam followed his gaze, "Thanks, I think it means a lot to me…"

"Innit crazy how music always holds a special place in our hearts?" Corviknight flapped his wings. "Anyways, I've gotta fly before my superiors notice this bird is gone. Been nice seeing you, Riolu."

"Liam."

"... Liam."

The crow saluted the Riolu with a single wing, leaping into the air with a great big 'woosh', beating his wings and flying off into the sky without a moment's notice. Liam watched the Steel-type vanish from his sights, reflecting on the words of the watchful but friendly avian.

Music really did hold a special place in his heart.


8EWFYc9.png


They were almost there.

Roark whistled, tossing the remainders of his Aspear Berry off the side of the Mudsdale carriage. "A banjo? Heck, I've gotta show you how good I am with my acoustic guitar some time." He nudged the Vulpix beside him with an elbow. "Right, sis? I know how much you loved me sending you off to bed with it."

Gloria went deep in thought. "That was so long ago… I can hardly remember."

"Ah, but I do!" Roark retorted, raising a claw. "And I remember when you were so tired that you would start drooling all over your books."

She frowned, "Thanks for the reminder..."

"No prob, sis."

Liam stood against the carriage's railing, staring off into the distance. It was a perfect day, blue skies all around with the sun shining on their backs. But he was more interested in the looming figure of a mountain before them.

'We're so close!'

As the Mudsdale pounded the firm rocky ground, they inched closer and closer to their destination. The shadowy image that was once part of the horizon was now fully revealed to the envoy of explorers and guild members alike.

Vast grasslands turned into enormous mountainous terrain, teeming with all sorts of cliff faces, caves, forests, and jaw dropping waterfalls and rivers. A sort of mist seemed to roll in around the mountain's side, shrouding whatever existed on its surface or within the cracks in its tall and grandiose appearance.

'We're here! We're actually here!'

It took a lot of willpower for Liam to not jump out.

The Mudsdale grinded to a halt, spewing mud and other bits of earth in their wake. After the long ride to the mountain, everyone eagerly climbed out of their respective carriages, grouping up near a large boulder wedged into a grassy hill. There were a few bouts of excited chatter amongst those organized, only to be stopped once Jackson broke free and stood in front of everyone else, arms crossed behind his back.

"Listen up! We are now beginning our expedition of Celestial Mountain starting now! We are to break up into three teams to take on different parts of the mountain." He thrusted a paw to the left of him. "For the first team, I want Team Blazingheart, Evergreen, Static, and Nightshade!"

A chorus of 'yes', and a few 'no' emanated from the group, the chosen beginning to assemble into their makeshift teams.

Jackson pointed to his right, "For the second team, I want Team Drarosteel, Gloria, Roark, Charizard, and Scizor!"

Liam raised a brow, 'Wait a second. Why am I not with-'

"For the final team… it will be myself and Liam."

'What?!'

Scizor was just as confused, stepping forward. "Guildmaster, I don't see why me and Charizard aren't accompanying you-"

Jackson narrowed his eyes, "This is final, Scizor."

"... Yes, Guildmaster." The Bug-type retreated to his team's spot.

The Shiny Lucario motioned to the large bags and backpacks still on board the carriages. "Grab the supplies you will need for the few days we will spend hiking up the mountain. If you have located something, then your job is to contact me through your ELE." His eyes glazed over the Pokémon present. "Any questions?"

Silence.

"Then the expedition begins now. Split up and we will dissect this mountain for good."

As soon as the Guildmaster's parting words were over, the team's began the process of selecting the gear needed for the arduous trek up Celestial Mountain. Liam felt himself getting nervous at the thought of teaming up with the Guildmaster himself, but swallowed that fear and followed the Lucario back to the carriages.

"Take these backpacks, Liam. Scizor has put most of your belongings in them."

The Riolu followed orders, jostling the quite heavy rectangular backpack around himself. Once the two of them were situated, Jackson led him across the quiet valley of boulders and rocks, straight towards Celestial Mountain. This adventure that Liam has been waiting to start for so long just began.

"This is a mountain of secrets, Liam. We are here to fully uncover them…"


This is a world of secrets. Some are meant to be discovered, while others not.


If you would like to check for news about the latest chapter progress, discuss the story as it goes on, give criticism on anything, point out mistakes, give your appreciation, ask questions, or simply chat about the story, then my DM's are open and I will respond to all meaningful messages. You can also add me on Discord and talk/send me things if you prefer that, for the same reasons. Discord = Z2H#7239

Please leave a review if you wish. All will be read and taken into consideration.

Next Time: The Magnagate Investigation Project
 

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Chapter 17: The Magnagate Investigation Project

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 17

The Magnagate Investigation Project

It began in the blink of an eye.

Flashing through the blue irises of Gloria, the earthy and compact ground beneath their paws started expanding greatly. The inky black sky surrounding their vision morphed into one of a cliffside in the early afternoon, the faux sun in the sky baking the rocks in heat, with fake wispy clouds drifting just above their heads.

A great rumbling shook the dungeon's floor as walls of jagged rock, grass mounds, and trees erupted out of the terrain, separating the rooms in an artificially constructed maze of narrow corridors.

"Do you ever stop gawking at these things, sis?" her brother called from behind, trudging forward.

The Vulpix blinked in response, brought back into reality. "I think Liam was right… It never gets old seeing this."

Roark meandered around the room, swiftly picking up any orb or elemental seed that materialized on its artificial floor, snickering at her comment.

"Of course he would say that. Hey, speaking of…" He cocked his head back at her. "Did the Guildmaster tell you beforehand that he would snag the kid for his own group?"

Gloria lowered her head, frowning. "No, he didn't. We've waited so long to go together, and now it's not gonna happen…"

The Zoroark was quick to comfort her. "No need to worry, sis. You're dealing with a master illusionist!"

A flash of white light enveloped the Dark-type before it quickly retreated. Now standing where the tall fox once stood was a much smaller Riolu, paws on its hip and a goofy smile etched on its muzzle. Roark then imitated the voice and slight accent of her partner.

"Hey, y'all! Who wants to go out and explore a random forest? Then we can throw Blast Seeds at mon's faces!"

The mimicry was enough to rouse Gloria out of her funk, a healthy dose of giggles escaping her.

"That-" she struggled to speak between her laughter, "-Does sound a bit like him. You do a good impression, but, um… don't tell him I said that."

Roark freely batted one of his illusionary aura tassels. "Nah, I think I will."

"Roark!"

"Alright, alright. Let's just get this stupid dungeon over with already."

White light encased the faux Riolu, a smirking Zoroark now standing in its place. He waved a claw at the Vulpix to follow, who stuck behind as they traversed the winding open halls of the dungeon. But Roark couldn't help but give a second thought.

"I think I play a good him, since we already share a lot in common."

Realization of her forgottance struck Gloria hard.


After climbing the final staircase of the Mystery Dungeon, darkness flooded their vision, the surrounding dungeon walls vanishing with the darkness. It culminated in them being spat out near the mouth of a cave entrance. They found themselves on the famed steep and jagged cliffs of Celestial Mountain, a breathtaking view below of the untamed grasslands and ocean of pine trees, all nestled together in an untamed forest.

Blinding, but now real afternoon light bathed their surroundings, shattering on the rugged terrain, a rush of cool mountain air accompanying. Gloria felt her vision return, her guilt still remaining inside, eating at her conscience.

Roark had put her worries to ease with a little talk, but she couldn't shrug off that feeling of lying to someone close in her gut. Even after a streak of confidence, her judgement was still clouded by natural worry. Before she could think more about it, a crimson claw lightly flicked her snout, causing her to stumble back quite literally into reality.

Gloria scrunched up her muzzle, touching it with a paw. "Roark! Why'd you do that?!"

"Because I think we've reached our second checkpoint." He scoured the steep cliffs, before his sharp eyes caught figures in the distance. "It's our lucky day after all… c'mon!"

Roark broke off into a sprint, towards the huddled figures atop an even steeper cliff a few meters away. Gloria sent away her troubled thoughts and scrambled after her brother.

"Slow down!" Gloria heaved out, her paws aching.

Roark chuckled at her tardiness. "I'll race ya there!"

'Ugh…' Gloria bemoaned in her mind.

As they hastily approached, the blurry figures morphed into the appearance of their group, saddlebags that matched their natural colors strapped around their bodies. They were seemingly engaged in a friendly conversation, which was halted once a smirking Zoroark plopped down from the cliff face beside them.

Charizard sensed an attack, extending his orange leathery wings and whipping around, flames licking his jaw, before realizing the sneaky intruder was a friend and not a foe. "Roark?" The flames dissipated. "When'd you drop in, bud?"

"Just now, big guy. You guys see anything cool yet?" Roark scoured their vast mountainous surroundings. "Or any locals? Swore I saw a few 'mons on the hike up here."

Scizor followed the fox's eyes, just as confused. "Locals? Are you positive you weren't seeing things?"

Garchomp tilted her head at the fox's claims, "I've heard rumors of a group of Pokémon living in Celestial Mountain long ago, but the last time we were - we didn't find any other 'mons."

"She's tellin' the truth, lad." Aggron added. "Not a single soul in sight that day. Was quite eerie, right, Tyranitar?"

The Rock-type beside him barely moved. "All I remember is your stupid tail in my face."

"Shut it, rock face."

"Make me, lead belly."

Just before the two could bicker some more, Gloria finally caught up with the illusion fox, huffing and puffing away her weary lungs. She looked up from her position, catching the entire group staring back at her.

Her muzzle burned, "Hi… every… one."

Garchomp chuckled at her embarrassed gaze, stomping forward and extending a large talon for Gloria to lean her body on and take a breather. "Didja keep your cool all the way up to the checkpoint? It's been a long few days, hasn't it?"

Ever since the entire guild arrived here, their long trek up on the mountain was not a simple walk in the park. Instead of normally scaling the cliffs, they resorted to using the many Mystery Dungeons that dotted the landscape to slingshot their way to various checkpoints.

To be able to explore a place the Vulpix only read about before was exciting to say the least, but a monumental task.

"Thanks, Garchomp. And yes, it has… but we haven't found anything either." Gloria said with a frown.

"She speaks the truth," Roark added. "Nothing but valleys, craters, and the occasional yawn here and there."

Scizor bowed his head to the fox's words. "Your experiences are akin to ours, I'm afraid." His head perked back up. "But if our goal is to explore this mountain entirely, then we shall."

Garchomp sighed, "Might have to at this rate. Whatever's existed here long ago isn't just gonna be in our path."

Gloria tugged on her scarf. "Maybe we could talk with the other groups? Maybe they've found something after their checkpoints…"

Her suggestion earned her the curious eyes of everyone in the group.

"Unless you've... already spoken with them?" she managed to squeak out.

A red pincer from Scizor glided across his personal red saddlebag, retrieving a Minun-like device that was attached to the cloth. He turned the round dial on its 'face', the screen now displaying a different number.

"No, we haven't. Orders by the Guildmaster were to contact him if something was located, which has not. Yet, I believe you're right in contacting the other group for possible knowledge." His pincer then flicked the switch on the ELE's side as he spoke into its speaker. "Monferno, do you read?"

Beyond the noise of crackling and harsh static, a familiar arrogant voice pierced through, meeting the group's ears.

"Loud and clear, Scizor. Shoot."

"Has your team uncovered anything or interest since the last checkpoint?"

"Nope, unless you count weird looking rock formations, which I don't."

"Rock formations?" Scizor adopted an analytical look. "Can you elaborate on those?"

"Ugh, Rockruff thinks- oof!" The sounds of a brief struggle came through the ELE's speakers. "Will ya… let GO of my arm, Rockruff!"

A new boy-ish voice then shouted through the speaker. "No! Scizor, can you hear me? Tell the Guildmaster that I definitely saw a deer looking statue near our last checkpoint! It's-"

Rockruff was cut off by more sounds of struggling through the speaker as another voice took over, a bit gruffer than the previous.

"Scizor! Shaymin's not following the group! She's flying above the Mystery Dungeons and not entering them with everyone else!" Mightyena yipped.

"Send your complaints to Indeedee, dweeb!" the voice of the Pokémon in question shouted back, barely hitting the speakers.

"Ugh." Scizor gulped. "Please, everyone. Just-"

A cacophony of voices exploded from the ELE's speakers, drowning out the Bug-type's attempts to defuse the situation. Roark then stepped in, beckoning a claw at the ELE in Scizor's grasp.

"Lemme talk to them."

"That's not…"

Scizor suddenly flinched at the device's increase of volume, the group behind the speakers getting more and more volatile. He reluctantly handed the ELE over to Roark, who brought it to his mouth.

"Ahem… SHUT UP!"

The ELE went quiet.

"Now, Mony… you read?"

The sound of something being snatched away came through the speakers as the voice of Monferno returned, a bit peeved.

"Make it quick, Roark."

"Rockruff mentioned he saw a statue near your second checkpoint. That true?"

A sigh travelled through the speakers. "Yes, he did… apparently. He said he also saw you guys, too. Think the mountain air is getting to his small brain or something."

Roark did a double take, swerving his confused look over at Scizor. "How close are we to the other group?"

Confusion filled the Bug-type's stare at the yellow device. "The Guildmaster and I have gone over the maps countless times. Our checkpoints are spread far apart - there's no chance that it was us."

"That's what I told him!" Monferno shouted. "Anyways, we're gonna get moving. We might just reach the peak by tomorrow - who knows. I'm sick of being this group's babysitter..."

"Aww, c'mon," Roark said, attempting to coax him. "Show a little leadership for dear Braixen."

Monferno's response was instantaneous and angry. "The first thing I'm gonna do when we're back is suggest your retirement to the Guildm-"

The device's dial was turned by a red claw, stifling any further remarks. Roark flipped the ELE's side switch, handing it back to Scizor with a grin staining his features.

"Well, maybe we have a little look-see for ourselves?"

Gloria intervened, "We can't… right? We have to stick to our group's goal."

Charizard nodded, "Jack is pretty uptight about these sorts of things. And I don't want to put all my faith in a hyperactive little canine.

"Aye," Aggron confirmed. " But, we could be leaving behind a worthy find, you think?" His words spurred Garchomp to send the overwhelmed Bug-type a reassuring look.

"What do you think, Scizor? Can we manage a little detour?"

With all eyes on him, Scizor squirmed slightly at the pressure. "I… perhaps we could. We are supposed to stick to our group's side, but the main mission is to investigate…"

Garchomp rested a large talon on his shoulder. "I'm sure Jackson will understand. C'mon, we might just find what we've been looking so long for on this damn mountain."

The avid researcher stared at the talon, contemplating the dragon's encouragement. He sighed, letting her talon slide off his shoulder as he opened his saddlebag, retrieving a map with his pincers.

"We should have enough time to get back to our checkpoint before sundown. Let's go."


9Q901NX.png


"W-Woah!"

Gloria watched with trepidation, her forepaws shuffling together as bits of sediment crumbled off the cliff face where she stood, falling into the dreaded depths of the valley. Her group watched from below, waiting for her to finally make the leap down. From her perspective, she could be a million feet from them, leaving her natural fears to stew.

'Why…'

"C'mon, sis! We're burning daylight out here."

"Just… give me a second."

She had watched her reckless partner jump from heights countless times through their adventures, but always tried to find the easier way down herself. Unfortunately for her, there was no easy down, with a graceless slide down the rugged terrain her only ticket back to regrouping.

Requiring that extra push like so many times before, she glanced back at the group, finding the sturdy leader of Team Drarosteel staring straight through her, unconsciously sending her the same message everyone else had.

Jump.

Swallowing her fear, the Vulpix closed her eyes, before leaping from her safe position on the cliff and into the annals of the valley below. Her descending body collided with the gravely surface encasing the cliff, scraping her fur as she tumbled beside her group with a 'thud'. She had little time to react before her chuckling brother scooped her up off the ground, placing her upright.

"That's the spirit, sis! Get dirty!"

"Ugh," was her response.

With her daring rendezvous a success, the group continued their trek through the mountain's many steep valleys. Bringing out the map from his saddlebag, Scizor inspected the roughly drawn area on their surroundings, honing in on the circled areas.

"We're getting closer to their third checkpoint, so be on the lookout for the campsite."

"On it," Charizard said, swiftly spreading his wings and taking to the skies.

Tyranitar kept a watchful eye on the tall hills dotting their surroundings. "Or those 'mons that kid supposedly saw. Native tribes in the Mountain Region always bring their 'warriors' out against so called invaders."

Aggron scoffed, "You're gettin' your wee little head a bit too paranoid. Nobodies bothered livin' 'ere for centuries."

The Tyranitar 'tched' at his response. "Think you're just scared of gettin' roughed up by one of 'em."

"Are you mad?!" Aggron yelled.

As the two bickered, Gloria attempted to heed Scizor's words, scanning her vicinity for remnants of the other group's camp. Left to her own devices, the Vulpix's mind wandered, sending her right into her sour mood from before. It wasn't until the sounds of weighted footsteps beside her that the troubling thoughts withered away.

"Being in a team is quite the handful, you think?" Garchomp said, chuckling at the display occurring in front of them.

Gloria snapped her head to the grizzled veteran beside her. "Uh… it can be sometimes." Her thoughts immediately swarmed of times where her partner would wander off. "But, I can be quite a handful too."

Garchomp laughed tenderly, "So can I - I'm not an easy woman to work with as well sometimes. I haven't seen much of your Riolu friend's antics, but I know you, Gloria." She grew a sharp grin. "And I liked what I saw of our little scuffle back then. Need I remind you?"

"That's… the thing," Gloria exhaled wearily. "Everyone always says that I'm doing a good job, and has such high expectations of me. But, I just feel… I don't know… inadequate?" She flinched saying the last word.

It was a while until the Dragon-type responded, reflecting on her familiar words. "You know… when I lived back in my old village, my mom was practically famous there. Kinda like what some 'mons would attribute to my team nowadays." Garchomp's features softened. "Hearing about her exploits all the time, the adventures she would endure… it all just made me feel... so inadequate in comparison to her."

Gloria blinked, "... Really?"

A nod from the sand shark was her response. "It wasn't until my mother disappeared that I left the village, in pursuit of her, or... maybe just to be free of that life I was so familiar with." Garchomp stared fondly at the mist ridden valleys of their environment. "I didn't think a regular girl like me back then had the tenacity that my mom did, but here I am now." Garchomp looked down at the Vulpix's stunned face.

"Speaking to you, a spitting image of myself, who still shackles to her instincts."

"You... really think that?"

"You think I don't?" Garchomp chuckled. "I don't make offers of personal training to every 'mon I see, you know. You looked like someone who needed an extra push to get what she wants."

It was nothing new to Gloria.

All throughout her life, the Vulpix had her family and friends behind her, pushing her towards her dreams that seemed so far away. Following her parent's footsteps, venturing into her first Mystery Dungeon, even joining the Cosmic Quilt Guild. All of this was done because she needed that push, and she was sick of it.

"I know, and I'm tired of it - tired of worrying about if I can do… anything!" She stamped a paw into the ground. "I just want to stop feeling so bad about myself all the time."

"Same reason why I left my own village. Sometimes, you just need to leave your comfort zone and brave whatever life throws at you."

Gloria trained her eyes on the Zoroark walking the trail in front, looking downcast. "I've promised I would, but fulfilling it just feels so daunting and out of my reach. I wish I could just have my dream in front of me already."

"The world stops for no one, Gloria."

"Huh?" The Vulpix stopped in her tracks momentarily.

"You can't just wish forever about something, and then expect it to drop in your lap." Garchomp laughed fondly. "If I never left my village, I'd still be a regular farm girl, sulking about my mom being annoying, or dreams I never followed." Her features became resolute. "What are you fighting for, Gloria?"

The Vulpix cocked her head, "What do you mean…?"

"The reason you're here right now, in the guild of all places. You obviously weren't forced here. And I never forgot that fire in your eye last time we met. So, are you seeking glory?"

Gloria mouthed that word. "Glory?"

"Everyone wants it, right? But, you know only some can have it. Not everyone gets a happy ending…"

"I…" The Vulpix's heart tensed, trying to find the right words. "I want to be a hero, okay?" She shuffled her paws together. "I want to know that I made my mark on the world, and made it a better place at least. I do… I do want glory."

Garchomp grinned, "Big dreams for such a tiny Pokémon, eh?"

"H-Hey!"

She was not tiny.

The dragon's grin became sincere. "Which is a good thing, since we're both in this together."

Gloria stopped her pouting. "Together?"

Garchomp displayed her talons. "Even gals as old as me have dreams that they haven't fulfilled yet. There's places I've never been, Pokémon that I… have yet to reconcile with." Her scaly cheeks reddened, eyes shimmering a little. "And even then, the idea of being a thought of as a hero is still fresh in my mind. So, maybe we could take this road together?"

Gloria's heart fluttered in her chest at the dragon's suggestion, opening her mouth to reciprocate, only for a loud flapping noise above to halt said reply. She looked up, gulping at the orange entity dropping straight down towards her at breakneck speeds.

The Vulpix quickly stepped back, letting the orange blur smack into the earth as Charizard flexed his wings.

"Sorry 'bout that, Sarah." He snapped his attention towards Scizor before Gloria could correct him. "Yo, Sciz, the camp is just a couple dozen yards away."

"Aye, then use your scaly behind to lead us to it," Aggron remarked.

Charizard snorted, producing gusts of steam from his nostrils. "No need to tell me. Consider it done." He flapped his wings again, shooting off into a different direction, albeit a bit slower than before.

The group followed the Fire-type, cutting across the trail and clambering past the numerous cliffs and ravine-like scars inflicted on the mountain's extensive surface. They passed a clearing of trees, where the remains of a campsite rested on its heart, the glowing embers of its long since extinguished campfire still smoldering.

"Hey, looks like they still left some goodies for us," Roark said, immediately descending upon the leftover tents propped up along the grass.

Gloria sighed, slogging after her brother to stop his inevitable ransacking.

Scizor glanced around, "If what Rockruff stated is correct, this 'statue' should be observable from the camp."

Garchomp assisted his efforts, scrutinizing their hilly surroundings. "Do you think it could be some old native landmark? They use those a lot in the Mountain Region."

"Perhaps," Scizor noted. "It could otherwise be the remains of a ruin."

Roark emerged from one of the tents with Gloria behind him, munching on a Sitrus Berry. "Or maybe itsch one of those schecret lever tchings," he spoke with a full mouth before swallowing his fill and shooting Gloria a curious look. "Don't they have those in the books you read?"

"Uh… sort of?"

Charizard circled around the camp, until his eyes became fixated on a strange rock formation overlooking the clearing. He soared over to get a better look, roaring to the befuddled group below.

"Hey! Is this the rock thing that kid was yapping about?"

Garchomp stopped to gaze upward, "That's… what is that?"

Just resting atop a cliff was the supposed 'statue' that Rockruff had spotted. Its tannish colored rock was seemingly etched to take the form of a deer-like creature. It appeared that time had eaten away at its long since smooth visage. Chips and dents were present everywhere on the stone, sometimes with entire chunks of tan rock removed through damage. From the looks of it, the statue was a quadruped that stood on four spindly legs, with a bushy tail coming from its backside. However, the most striking features were the long antlers that sprouted from the statue's thin face.

Scizor scrutinized the figure, "This is… a Pokémon?"

Garchomp hesitantly nodded, "Has to be. No way something like this could form naturally."

"Let's get a closer look," Scizor replied, fluttering his insect-like wings and scaling the cliff.

Once the group was situated near the statue, they began to examine it, attempting to figure out its foggy identity.

"Stantler?" Tyranitar wondered out loud. "Or maybe one of those Sawsbuck lads?"

"Can't be. Look at the size of the antlers on this one!" Aggron argued.

Roark ran his claws around the statue's sides, feeling for something. "Hmmm… nope!"

Gloria tilted her head, "What do you mean 'nope'?"

"No hidden switch to be found."

She frowned in exasperation, glaring at her playful brother.

Roark's attention shifted to something beyond the statue. "Well, maybe it does have a purpose?" He extended a claw directly in front of him.

Said claw was pointing to a cave entrance just a few yards away, nearly obscured by large pine trees. Large boulders were blocking its gaping maw, denying entry to all who came across it. A layer of mossy foliage carpeted the hunks of rock, further camouflaging it amongst the trees.

"A cave?" Charizard furrowed his brow at the Zoroark. "Come on, stop playing, Roark. There's hundreds of caves on this damn mountain!"

Scizor stepped forward, analyzing the surrounding area for further clues. His eyes caught a glance of rusted mining tools wedged into the ground, caked with muck and nearly blending in with the dirt. Even the cavern's entrance was unnaturally carved inward from the outside, presumably by Pokemon themselves.

The Bug-type quickly formed a hypothesis. "This must've been a mine of some sorts. But there hasn't been any activity of this scale on Celestial Mountain for thousands of years…"

"Either that's a lie," Roark spoke up, a grin splitting his muzzle. "Or we've just hit the ancient jackpot."

"You just might be right, Roark," Garchomp said slowly, stomping her way over to the blocked off entrance. She snatched up one of the rusty tool's off the ground, eyeing it intensely. "Hmm, not sure if this is as old as I imagine this place is. Maybe some group brought this equipment here to dig it out?"

Scizor racked his brain for the truth, but found only one answer "I suppose… that this is an actual ruin." His heart began to race, uncontrollable thoughts racing through his head. "Then that means it's possible that we…" He trailed off as Garchomp gave him a knowing smirk.

"No need to finish that sentence, Scizor. I understand your thinking loud and clear." She angled her head over at Aggron and Tyranitar, who returned her determined gaze. "Shall we?"

Aggron chuckled, "No need to tell me twice, ma'am."

Both Aggron and a silent Tyranitar trudged over to the mine's mouth, stopping near the gigantic boulders that impeded their progress. The two teammates then began thrashing the moss covered rocks with powerful physical attacks, cracking and shattering many of the stone obstacles in their way.

Garchomp returned her attention to the rest of the group. "Anyone else want to join in on the fun?"

Gloria winced, dodging the shower of pebbles created by the rampaging duo. "Wait! Are we really entering this place?" She looked towards Scizor for answers.

"Yes, Gloria," Scizor replied, his mind already made up. "Garchomp and I see potential in uncovering this abandoned mine. If nothing of note is found, we will return to our planned route." His lips curled into a small smile. "But, if we do…"

The Vulpix gulped, but understood completely.

For around a half an hour, the members of the group slowly chipped away at the blockage with their combined attacks, be it physical or special. Despite their efforts, it seemed the bundle of boulders was too much of a hassle for even the largest of members. They then took a break from the strenuous task, while Roark combed through the tiny peepholes that gave a window to the inside. What he could see was a dark, narrow shaft completely buried by rock and other pieces of rubble.

"Pssh, no way in hell we're getting in."

Scizor's chest tightened, "Don't tell me…"

Roark shook his head, sighing. "Yeah… the wooden structures holding it all up must've rotted to shit a long time ago, and the entire tunnel just collapsed." He shrugged, waltzing over to rest his back on the cliff walls beside the mine's entrance. "I know they say 'no stone left unturned', but this would be an imposs-"

As soon as his back touched the cliff wall, he fell backwards, phasing straight through the stone.

"ROARK!"

Gloria ran forward, ignoring her instincts and the bewildered shouts of her teammates as she charged into the seemingly fake wall, quickly being absorbed by the translucent and portal-like surface. Before she knew it, she reached the other side, the clamoring of warnings by her group now deaf.

Her body tumbled down a sloped rock wall, roughly sliding through layers of crunchy gravel and other sediment. The Vulpix's descent down would end as she was spat out in the middle of the cave's chamber, right next to another Pokemon.

"I thought knights came in shining armor, not fur."

Gloria's ear perked up, "Roark?" Her head snapped around in different directions. "Where are you?!"

A single red claw was raised by the cave's floor, belonging to a Zoroark lying on the ground with an arm resting over his belly. The fox was immediately tackled into a hug by a very worried but also happy Vulpix.

"Don't scare me like that again." Gloria scolded, squeezing his chest. She suddenly stopped, backing up as worry flashed across her face. "Wait, are you hurt?!"

Roark chuckled through a cough, wiping some dust off his shoulder. "Just my dignity." He stood up, casting a confused glance around their mystifying location. "Now, where the hell did we end up anyways?"

Before they could get a proper grasp on their surroundings, two Pokemon emerged from the mirror-like wall in which they came - Garchomp and Scizor. They too slid down the gravely slope, ending up on their backs right beside the two siblings.

"Gloria! Roark!" Garchomp yelled in surprise, picking herself up. "Glad you two are safe!"

Scizor stood up, adjusting his saddlebag and throwing a look at the wall they appeared out of. "That was… that was…"

"Certainly not supposed to be there." Garchomp finished for him. "I think it's one of those Psychic-type illusion doorways - the ones that camouflage themselves."

Roark threw his arms up, baffled. "First off, they can do that? Second off, who would bother to put near the most random location on this mountain so they can humiliate the local Zoroark!"

A toothy grin found itself on Garchomp's muzzle. "Yes, Psychic-types can produce this kind of thing. However, it takes a very powerful Pokemon to do so, which only raises more questions than answers."

Gloria gasped, "Do you think there's a Pokemon that lives here? Maybe… they did it so they can't be found?"

Scizor looked around, noting the cavern's desolate appearance. "Not likely, this cave looks just as abandoned as the mine, and maybe just extends to it. But… I wonder." Excitement built up his chest yet again. "Maybe… this illusion was created to protect something."

Roark whistled, creating an echo. "I like your thinking. When are the big guys up top going to come on in? They can't fit or something?"

Garchomp laughed, "No, they can't, but they opted to stay and keep guard while we find out just what's down here." She marched forward, evaluating the cavern encasing them.

The group of four were smackdab in the middle of a large naturally formed chamber, with a tall but narrow passageway leading further into the cave's depths. Large aqua colored crystal-like structures grew from the walls, acting as imposing stalagmites and stalactites. They glowed intensely, washing the cavern with a calming blue glow.

"This… is a crystal cave?" Scizor gathered. "It's rare to see one that hasn't been stripped of all its crystals."

Garchomp tapped her chin with a talon. "Makes it all the more weird that some 'mon decided to hide an entrance inside. Let's keep movin'."

The group wedged their way into the slender hallway of stone and gleaming crystal, traveling a long distance through it to reach another grand chamber. Yet, this room was to be the greatest shock of all to its newcomers.

Large rotting wooden tables, chairs, and other crafted signs of living were strewn about the room. Long since burnt out torches were kept on handles lining the walls, along with large pieces of paper with faded scribbles adorning the damaged pages. An assortment of antiquated measuring tools, bundles of rope, and harnesses littered the floor. Elemental seeds, orbs, and other kinds of dungeon created items were kept in oversized drums, with a few taken out to be placed on shelves or tables.

But the most noticeable thing in the room was the enormous shadow that consumed a large portion of the chamber, denying access to beyond - the telltale sign of a Mystery Dungeon.

Scizor's jaw almost dropped, "Have we… finally?" His excitement got the best of him, his wings flaring up as he buzzed around the spacious chamber. "This has to have been a research station. Without a doubt!"

He was like a Slurpuff in a candy shop.

Garchomp silently agreed, walking further into the room. "Kinda begs the question of what kind of research exactly."

Gloria and Roark strolled around the area, gawking at various things that peaked their attention. One item in particular caught the Vulpix's eyes as she wandered over to investigate. Sitting on top of a busted table was a circular crystal-like object that pulsated vibrantly. The identity of the item escaped her mind, but she knew it was an important find.

"Ooh…" Roark said, tapping the object in question. "Is that what I think It is?" He chuckled. "Man, those were a lot of fun to use in the Rescue Society."

Scizor heard Roark's voice as he flew over urgently. "What is it?"

Garchomp made her way over, holding back the erratic Bug-type with a talon. "Calm down, Scizor." She then observed the strange orb, a smirk crossing her face. "Because we haven't even seen the best part yet…"

Scizor followed her gaze, also understanding their findings. "This is… a Projection Crystal? Of course, we're in a crystal mine. They must have manufactured these here by the dozens."

Gloria blushed in embarrassment. "Can you… maybe give me a rundown on them again? It's been such a long time since I've read about them."

"Now ya done it, sis," Roark remarked.

Scizor obliged her requisition, clearing his throat. "The Projection Crystal is an invention from multiple millennia ago. Once the crystal is infused by Psychic-type energy, it will activate and store the user's memory of an event for a few minutes. Once finished, the crystal can be activated again to display a projection of said memory. This creates a 'bubble' around the device, which expels the memory's events to viewers inside of that bubble," he finished, letting out a much needed exhale after his spiel. "They were very rare back then, but are useful in storing knowledge of data, meetings, and other historical events."

Roark began to clap, "Thanks for the exposition, Scizor. Now..." He grabbed the crystal. "When are we gonna take a dive into the past?"

Garchomp and Scizor exchanged looks, but both knew that there was only one way of knowing what went down in this chamber long ago. The Dragon-type motioned for everyone to follow her, to which they did. She stopped in the center of the room, turning towards the Zoroark holding the orb.

"No time like now to see for ourselves what this place was for. Hit it, Roark."

Roark chuckled, "As if I wasn't gonna already." He found an indentation in the orb, pressing the inside of it with a claw.

With a clicking noise, the orb's pulsating state began to fluctuate colors, shifting from a natural aquatic blue to a vibrant blend of purple and pink. Suddenly, a flash of light enveloped the orb, culminating in a release of stored energy. A see through force field flowed from the device, encasing the group surrounding it in a bubble of pink Psychic-type energy.

Gloria spun around, watching the strange device begin to create the stationary bodies of Pokémon from scratch. She felt her heart beat rapidly as the fabricated memories were near completion, and the true Pokémon behind this hidden place were uncovered before them.

None were prepared for what they were about to witness.


The Projection Crystal started recording once it fully vacuumed up the pink psychic energy swirling around it. A tiny fuchsia colored paw placed the orb on a large oval shaped wooden table, allowing it to observe its surroundings. A row of lit torches provided warmth and illuminating yellow light to the otherwise dark and damp antechamber.

A weighted paw then stepped towards the table, the flickering hearth of the torches revealing its owner a stern looking Entei.

"Now, tell us why you have summoned us to this place, Mew," the Fire-type growled out. "I have duties to return to on the Blaze Continent."

More heavy footsteps echoed through the room as yet another Pokemon emerged into the yellow spotlight. Its glossy, pure black body seemed to crackle with a tinge of electricity. Its tail whirred like an engine, a strip of powerful blue voltage emanating from it.

Zekrom glowered at the floating Psychic-type. "And I don't want to keep Reshiram waiting, as she is already expecting me at my shrine."

Mew giggled, floating just above the ground as she zipped her lithe form around both of their heads. Once finished, she placed her paws on her hips, straightening her cheery expression.

"No need to worry, everyone. I summoned you all here for a very, very important purpose."

Zekrom narrowed his crimson eyes. "Reshiram is-"

"Coming here, too," Mew finished for him. "Now, if everyone can calm down about their dumb duties, we can get right down to work."

"What kind of work did you have in mind, Mew?" a feminine voice clamored from the back, belonging to a peeved Palkia. "This better not be a prank like last time."

More outbursts from the decent sized crowd of the Legendary Pokemon began to arise, all focused on a certain Psychic-type.

Mew held up a paw, "I will let my mate explain the situation." She zipped away, allowing another small Legendary like herself to emerge from the crowd and take center stage - a Victini.

The rabbit-like creature hopped to where Mew once floated, clearing his throat. "Alright! Is everyone paying attention to me?"

A grumbling noise emitted from those gathered, clearly uninterested in the two's exploits.

Victini took this as a yes. "Awesome! That means I get to show you all the mysterious thing that popped up here suddenly! If, uh, you haven't already seen it of course, heh…" He sped off towards the end of the chamber, expecting the group to follow.

Few did; the remaining higher status Legendaries still skeptical of this entire ordeal.

Victini skidded to halt, pointing straight ahead. "Take a look! Isn't it strange?"

Just a couple feet from where the Victini stood was a colossal, almost pitch-black shadow that nearly reached the cavern's tall ceiling. No light seemed to pass through its void-like appearance.

Virizion stepped back slightly, shocked at the anomaly before her. "Victini… what is this thing?"

The Fire-type shrugged, "Wouldn't have a clue, I'm afraid. The Excadrill miners told me that they were leaving the mine because of constant headaches, and this shadow just… appeared… like out of nowhere!"

Mew glided over to them, tapping Victini on his shoulder. "Tell them the rest of the story!"

Victini perked back up. "Oh! Apparently, a few workers went missing after this shadowy thing appeared, and the king who rules over the workers went to us to unravel this mystery!"

Dialga stomped forward, angry at this blasphemy he was hearing. "And you expect us to listen to some commoner king?! My duty is to defend time, not solve mysteries of missing workers at the whims of some random monarch!"

Mew sighed, jostling Victini again. "The full story, Victini."

The Fire-type's ear's shot up. "Right! I told the king that us Legendaries would try and figure out what happened, since his kingdom is busy with uh… war and stuff, I guess."

"You spoke for us?!" Dialga roared with righteous rage. "You do not have the authority to do such a thing! You are wasting precious time that could be used for far important mat-"

"Come on, Dialga!" Victini interrupted, frustrated. "No Pokemon even has the power to mess with time!"

"Why, you insolent little-"

"ENOUGH!" Mew cried out, shutting the both of them up. "Listen… I think we can all play the 'who has authority' game all day, but regardless, we're Legendaries! Our role in this world is absolute."

Dialga sputtered in exasperation, "Mew, please understand that this is not our fight."

"It is our fight, Dialga. You may have forgotten our ancestor's duties, but we are still here to respect them."

"... Fine." Dialga backed off, literally. He then stared into the shadow. "Have you or any of the workers entered this… shadow?"

Victini shook his head, "Nope! We're not actually sure if it's safe to enter. But, that's kinda why we're establishing this whole operation. This could be something really dangerous!"

Entei sighed, "Have you any plans for figuring out just what this entity is?"

Mew placed a paw under her chin, adopting a thinking pose as Victini did the same. "The king did supply us with a lot of equipment for the job, so… I hope you guys can help us crack this mystery."

"Yeah! And, maybe we can gain just a little more trust from the commoners. We'll be heroes to everyone!"

Another round of grumbling and acceptance of plan came from the Legendaries, which gave Victini all the leeway he needed to kickstart everything. The Fire-type flashed his signature victory pose, a symbol of peace and hope with just his two fingers.

"Come on, everyone! Let's get to work!"

Mew meandered over to a section of the mine where rows of carts overloading with crystals excavated out of the winding tunnel systems. She grabbed one, showcasing it to the Pokemon present.

"We're in luck! Since this is a crystal mine, we can manufacture our own Projection Crystals to record our research. For every action we take against this thing, I want it recorded on the crystals for future study."

Zekrom nodded slowly, "I can't speak for everyone in this room, but I will abide by your rules, Mew. I hope that this investigation actually leads somewhere."

"Thank you, Zekrom, and trust me." She locked eyes with Victini, who returned her gaze and happily waved. "I've got a feeling we've stumbled upon something big."


A clicking noise was heard as the Projection Crystal turned off, content with its memory collection. The memory projection's bubble faded away, leaving behind a group of stunned Pokémon in its wake of discovery. Scizor was the first to break the silence.

"L-Legendaries? They were… investigating a Mystery Dungeon!"

Garchomp huffed, scratching her chin with a talon. "Kings, too? Celestic hasn't had monarchs for thousands of years. So, this is what the mountain was hiding from us all this time."

Gloria was still reeling from the short experience, her heart thumping loudly in her chest. Never before had she seen so many important Pokémon in one room. She had only read about the many secret lives of Legendaries, but their interactions were scarcely recorded.

'And… even that Victini wished to be seen as a hero to us regular Pokémon.'

It was a conviction familiar to herself that stirred her up inside. But, she couldn't help but ponder what became of this project, why this place was seemingly abandoned.

And why the Legendaries of today were still distant to the Pokémon they swore to protect.

"Woah, woah, hold up." Roark said, raising up his arms. He pointed a claw at the shadowy entrance at the chamber's end. "Does that mean this is the first Mystery Dungeon?"

"… Not exactly. It's possible there were dungeons that went unnoticed in their time." Scizor reasoned. "But, this may just be the first recorded contact between Pokémon and the Mystery Dungeons!" His stoic voice did little to hide his excitement. "This… just might be the find of the century!"

"Millennium, more likely," Garchomp said, looking around in all directions. "That Mew said something about using more Projection Crystals for data collection. Let's see if we can find more around this room."

Everyone was in agreement, scattering to different sections of the mine to scour for orb-like crystals amongst the abandoned setup of equipment. For a while, it seemed the possibility of more answers were out of their grasp. However, Roark was able to find a crystal wedged between some rocks with his keen eyesight, and familiar past of 'finding' valuables.

"We're in luck, gang." He grabbed the orb and waved it around. "Let's see where this one takes us."

The group gathered in the middle again, preparing themselves for another dive into this hidden past. Roark pressed the indentation within the orb, letting loose a bubble that began to construct the memories of a certain Psychic-type.


Mew set down the activated Projection Crystal on a table before gliding over to the all encompassing shadow. She watched with anxiousness as the walls surrounding the strange shadow were blasted or shredded away by destructive attacks from the rather large amount of Legendaries gathered for this mission.

Construction was well underway.

Long wooden poles were erected near the shadow's entrance, bundled with large amounts of tight rope. Their first few tests involved tossing various objects into the void, curious if there was an actual bottom to this quite literal mystery. Attaching the rope from the poles to different items and slowly reeling them in also gave no insight, as the twine would cut off when said item was consumed by its inky black depths.

Despite everything they fed to the shadow, the eerie silence that came afterward was the sign that there was no belly for it to drop into.

Mew was dumbstruck, thinking of multiple ways to approach this conundrum. Special attacks performed by everyone in the room presented no harm to the shadow, and dropping objects into it was only going to last for so long until they were stumped. Was it a portal to someplace else? A new type of undiscovered move that lingers? The questions were endless, but the answers to which were nil. She knew they needed to get drastic if the circumstances demanded it, and that scared her most of all.

Dialga stomped towards a thinking Mew, worry present on his face.. "Palkia and I have been discussing matters of this... 'shadow'. She has come to the theory that this aberration is a crack in spacetime, which somehow manifested in our reality."

"She's… serious, right?" The Psychic-type's mouth was agape from the claim. "How would we even begin to fix something like that? We don't have the power of Arceus himself on our side!"

"It's not a conclusion, but I proposed the same question of its origins to the other Legendaries here, and they have not managed to trace down a possible explanation themselves. I fear… that we may have to evacuate the rest of the inhabitants on this mountain if what Palkia hypothesized shows validation."

"... Thank you, Dialga."

She sighed, retreating back to her thoughts to dig out a new angle to take this project. With the possibility of this being bigger than she could imagine, she needed to take chances with more dire consequences.

A Pokemon was needed to enter the shadow.

Mew sucked in all her worries with an inhale, grinding her teeth. "Everyone! Stop what you're doing and come by me!"

Although the Pokemon present didn't wish to stop their efforts, they left their positions and gathered as a collective near the hovering Psychic-type.

Mew tried to find her words. "There's… a way we can determine the potential danger of what we're dealing with. We... need-"

"To send someone in, right?" Victini suddenly chimed in, looking straight up at his partner.

Mew stared back quizzically. "... Yes. We do, but-"

"I'll do it."

Murmurs and harsh whispers broke out amongst the Legendaries, with shouts of disbelief from his proclamation. Mew herself was too shocked to utter anything back; the thought of her mate entering that thing was a weight too heavy for her conscience to bear.

"Victini! We have no knowledge of what even lies within that shadow!" Dialga warned. "If you enter, you may never even come out!"

Mew held a paw to her rapidly beating heart, floating in front of the Fire-type. "Don't do this. We can just… find someone who's willing, okay?"

Victini shook his head, "No, I want it to be me. I brought you guys all into this mess, and I wanna prove that we can fix this!"

Despite his obvious insanity to the Mew, she couldn't help but appreciate his stupidly selfless way of approaching things.

"Victini…" She smiled amidst the wave of conflicting feelings crashing inside her, a tear forming in her eye. "I won't... stop you from leaving, idiot. Just… please come back."

They exchanged a brief nuzzle as Victini backed off, his resolve clear. "The world stops for no one, Mew. It's time I put my Poké where my mouth is, y'know?"

She didn't say anything back, just hoping her partner would be back safe and sound.

"You have my deepest respects," Zekrom proclaimed, to the many nodding heads of everyone in the chamber. "I bid you a safe journey, and a hero's return…"

Victini took a deep breath, sending an emotional Mew a parting glance, before hopping towards the shadow's entrance, taking in its feeling of vast emptiness. He then suddenly turned around, flashing his sign of victory.

"See you all in a bit!"

The Fire-type entered the shadow not a moment later, vanishing into the void of uncertainty.


The fabricated bodies of the Legendaries vanished once the projection ended, leaving the group of four still curious about the events that transpired here long ago.

"Well then..." Roark flicked a claw. "That little rabbit dude might've been the first Pokemon to enter a Mystery Dungeon."

Gloria felt chills invading her senses after the event of Victini's heroism played out before her. She had read so much about the selfless acts of fictional characters within novels, but couldn't imagine someone enduring the task of voyaging into some place so daunting at the risk of losing everything.

"Yeah, but we need to know what became of him, or this entire project," Garchomp mentioned, whipping her gaze around the room. "But I don't see any more Projection Crystals around."

Roark scoffed, "That… can't be it, right?"

Gloria needed to know more about this project's fate. She couldn't let this be the end of their journey here, so she spoke up.

"Wait! Is it possible that they could've expanded beyond the Mystery Dungeon? Maybe there's another area to this place."

Scizor considered her words, before nodding. "Yes, I don't believe the Legendaries simply stopped their work after this. We need to go deeper into the mine and get to the bottom of this project's history."

Garchomp smirked, "I like your attitude, Scizor. Let's smash this dungeon and go on."

With no more information to be found, the group switched their sights to the looming entrance of the Mystery Dungeon at the far end of the mine's chamber. They steeled themselves, walking into the shadow as one.


Wispy puffs of white smoke slowly drifted out of Charizard's nostrils, carried into the sky above, all to the tune of loud snoring noises that rumbled the earth surrounding the Fire-type's supine form.

Tyranitar attempted to drown out the noise, smashing rocks by the mine's entrance. "Who told that lazy bastard he could sleep on the job?"

Aggron shrugged, "I'll give 'em a pass, since there doesn't seem to be a soul on this mountain. We just need to wait for the lads inside to do their thing and get out."

The sound of tumbling rocks and bits of gravel alerted Tyranitar to look upward, his hard exterior scrutinizing the muffled sounds of footsteps and whispering voices just above the cliff face.

"Hmm… he says not a single soul, eh?" Tyranitar mumbled. "Guess that kid was right about two things. Look alive, Aggron."

The Steel-type curiously peered up, only to find the angry stares of dozens of Pokemon looking down at them. Blue and yellow colored garments covered a large portion of their bodies, along with makeshift antlers that clung to their shoulders. Aggron knew right then and there that this was not a friendly greeting.

"Charizard! Get up ya sad sack of scales! We got hostile natives!"

The Fire-type grumbled out a sleepy response. "Just… place my food down near the hammock, Indeedee…"

"Charizard!"

The Pokémon above jumped down from their position, sliding down the jagged cliffs as more dressed Pokémon emerged from the surrounding forested area. They all converged into one unified group, trapping the three Pokemon by the mine's entrance.

"Forget this," Tyranitar snarled out, kicking the drowsy lizard's ankle hard. "Wake up!"

Charizard's eyes snapped open, his wings unfurling as his upper body lurched upward. "Ghuh!? Wha- what's going on…? Is it-" It was only until his vision refocused that he saw the predicament they were in.

The attackers didn't bother waiting, charging towards the ambushed trio. A Bayleef was one of the first to reach them, only to receive the equivalent of an exploding volcano from a well timed Flamethrower by Charizard. It dropped instantly, knocked out.

"NOBODY disturbs my power naps!" Charizard roared, beating his wings and surging into the air.

Aggron chuckled yet again. "Guess diplomacy is out of the question. Let's show these bum's just what kind of Pokemon they're messin' with!"

"For once I agree with ya," Tyranitar grumbled, shifting his fierce gaze at the encroaching Pokemon surrounding them.

The rest of the attacking Pokemon didn't relent at the show of force, reaching their targets, throwing everything they had at them.


The group of four simultaneously exited the back entrance of the Mystery Dungeon, completing their excursion through it and reappearing in another section of the mine.

This area was in complete disarray in comparison to the last chamber. Wide cracks formed in the rocky flooring, splitting off the room into different sections, and swelling pieces of wood furniture, tools, and other relics in its wake. Water gushed out of gashes in the walls, flowing into the ravenous cracks and creating natural streams.

Scizor frowned, but felt relieved that there was more to discover. "So, they did expand beyond the dungeon. I wonder… did they discover the ley lines as well?"

Garchomp looked up, contemplating his words. "It's entirely possible that they attempted to find an energy source to the dungeon by just… digging straight down til they found it. It's not too far off from what us regular 'mons did a while back."

"Regardless, we won't know for certain if there's no more windows into the past…"

Luckily, despite the carnage present in this room, Roark was able to spot a visible Projection Crystal bobbing in the flowing streams of water, along with several other smashed orbs.

Roark pointed straight at it. "Bingo. There's our key." He sped off towards it, pulling it out of the water and returning to the group's location. "Let's hope this isn't another tease. You have the honors, sis."

The crystal was placed on the ground and rolled over to the distracted Vulpix. A red claw lightly flicking her ear was enough to return her focus.

Gloria blushed in embarrassment, scrunching up her face. "O-Oh, sorry! I'll, uh… start it now."

She hoped this whole story had a happy ending.

A press of the orb's indentation sent it spewing out its psychic energy, immersing the group into yet another memory of the past.


Mew dropped the Projection Crystal, tears of happiness sliding down her cheeks as she flung herself into the chest of an awestruck Victini, just as he emerged from the void of black, to the gasps and shouts of other Legendaries awaiting his return.

"Don't…do that again!" Mew scolded, hugging him intensely

"Enter this shadow again…?" Victini choked out, still smiling. "We're gonna have to anyway. And… please back up, you might squish 'em."

"Squish what?" Mew questioned, releasing her Bewear-like vice.

Victini held out numerous strangely colored objects, including a large seed, a glossy orb, and a fresh looking Oran Berry. "See?"

"You… found these in there?" Mew needed to know more. "Where did you end up?"

"I… it was so surreal." Victini struggled to recall his miraculous encounter. "Everything was all dark at first, and I thought I had died. But it was like a magnagate to this new… world that seemed to grow out beneath me, with walls and rooms like the cave around us, all stitched together in some weird labyrinth!"

Victini stopped to breathe, sitting down and cradling the items he brought from the other side in his lap. Bruises and other scratches adorned his fur - clear signs of a scuffle from within the shadow.

"I wasn't the only other 'mon in there, too. I thought… I saw the Excadrill and Drilbur workers that were missing, but they tried to attack me!" Victini sighed, managing a small laugh. "The whole place was like a castle dungeon, but like... ten times crazier!"

The wonders of the mysterious 'new world' beyond the shadow brought harsh whispering amongst the Legendaries. Some were optimistic, some fearful of this apparition. Dialga didn't doubt Victini's words, the theory that Palkia proposed still fresh on his mind.

"You said this shadow was a magnagate? That must mean there was an end point to this… 'dungeon'?" Dialga inquired.

"Yeah, I, uh... must've finished the final room of this place, and it spat me out near this new chunk of the mine. Going through the magnagate again led me back here. It's a shame I couldn't find those workers - they might be still trapped in that place!"

Mew placed a paw on his shoulder, her tears gone and brave face put on. "We'll find them, don't worry. Right now you need to rest your little noggin'." She giggled her worries away. "We should see if can carry materials into-"

"Mew!"

The familiar voice of Reshiram caused the Psychic-type to halt her words and spin her floating form around, facing the dragon that flew in from the mine's entrance with haste, her ivory coat ruffled, and a distressed look across her face.

"Reshiram? So, you actually came to help?"

'Yes, and I bring grave news that another one of these shadows has formed in the middle of that sandy region on this continent. I've sent a few of my followers to check the other continents for this anomaly."

Outcries were now vocal as panic set in over the gathered, concerned about their shrines or places of worship being smothered by shadows. Mew's heart dropped at the information, the gravity of the situation now weighing on her mind more than ever. If there was a way to stop the spread in its track, the steps they take now were the most important.

Mew lingered over the quarreling Legendaries. "Everyone! Calm down, please!" Her attempts to defuse them were drowned out. "Please… Agh."

With her patience worn thin, she summoned her mimicry powers, creating an Echoed Voice that reverberated her inflection and sent shockwaves through the rowdy crowd. It was a success, as the Pokemon stopped their bickering to hone their attention on the frustrated Psychic-type.

"Listen, I understand a lot of you are afraid of what's happening. I… also am afraid." She locked eyes with a weak looking Victini, feeling her heart soar above the fear. "Victini and I promised to establish this project and combat the possible threat that this magnagate poses. We are all here to fulfill that promise, and eradicate this peril once and for all." She drifted towards the shadow, thrusting a paw at it. "As Legendaries, we have a duty to serve this world - protecting it and its inhabitants. This project's expansion beyond the magnagate will continue, and we will find whatever fuels the magnagates spread, then eliminate it."


Scizor blanky observed the projection dim, before dissolving completely. So many emotions were rolling inside of his armored husk of a shell. Even without further knowledge of this project, he knew the outcome of it. They failed - the Mystery Dungeon continued to exist, and the ley lines continued to sink their roots in all around the world.

A scythe-like talon jabbed his shoulder, scrambling his thoughts.

"Hey, you good to keep going? Lookin' a little more red than usual there." Garchomp asked with a sly smile.

"… Yes. From this crystal we have gathered this projects primary mission - the elimination of the Mystery Dungeon."

"Aaand that leads them to locating the source of the dungeons - the ley lines." The dragon sharply grinned at their findings. "Guess the guild wasn't the first to this party."

"Uh… Garchomp?"

"Yes, Roark?"

"The giant hole in the ground behind us wouldn't happen to lead all the way to the ley lines, correct?"

"H-huh?!"

Both Garchomp and Scizor immediately swerved around, being witness to the gaping fracture in the earth besides the Mystery Dungeon's entrance, the source of this room's shattered flooring.

Scizor knew immediately that this was it. "So, they did manage to locate the ley lines underground." He walked towards it, minding the edges as he stared into the enormous Pokemon made crater. "And there they are…"

Glora nervously tiptoed near the hole, peering into the long and dark crevice below. An ominous orange-yellowish glow at the bottom sent shivers down her spine.

"Is that…"

Scizor nodded, his tone hollow. "Yes. Those are the ley lines - the destroyers of this world."

Roark whistled, "And you say Pokémon in our times dug up these suckers up as well?"

"Correct. Long ago, we had a team from the Grit Region dig down deep enough to reach the physical ley lines. That was when I theorized a way to stop them by finding the coordinate of all ley lines."

Alongside the chasm's rim was more equipment hanging from the edges, threatening to drop into the almost never ending pit. An unbroken Projection Crystal was wrapped up in rope, hanging over the hole's maw. Garchomp expertly sliced the constraints, balancing the orb over her talon. She sent a glance Scizor's way, who silently confirmed for her to go on.

With a click, they were brought back to the place where it all began.


Mew glided across the newly restored chamber, carrying an activated Projection Crystal.

For the past few months, the 'Magnagate Investigation Project' expanded, bringing more Legendaries to the fray. This included sending teams into the magnagate to test theories, such as collecting and testing the strange items that appeared within the dungeons.

Mew was no stranger to pranks, but these objects were beyond even her tinkering. Seeds that explode - orbs that grant a boost of energy, or create a blinding burst of light. There were even traps littered around the various dungeon floors that sprung off when stepped on, ranging from harmless to deadly.

The ever so tenacious Zeraora even tried to capture one of the attacking Drilbur constructs to bring it back for study. Sadly, the Pokemon seemed to vanish once exiting the dungeon, only leaving the thunder cat with a headache and lots of scratches.

"... Heck, maybe I should prank Victini with a bundle of those sleeping seeds." She snickered at the idea, but tried to put on a serious face for her current duties.

"Mew! Over here!" the ethereal voice of Lunala called.

"Coming!"

Of all the breakthroughs they made through this journey, this next one was sure to be the gamechanger for this ordeal. After a bout of decision making, the idea to search underground by the shadow's entrance was approved by her and Victini. It was a successful move, as something incomprehensible was discovered deep in the cavern's surface. And Mew was ready to document their findings.

Mew hovered near the bat-like Pokemon. "Are they ready to show me?"

"Yes, but I can only allow you there for a few minutes. The others have experienced strenuous headaches after long term exposure. I've just sent Terrakion down to show you, so be quick."

"I'll be in and out!"

Lunala opened the third eye on her forehead crest, splaying her circular wings and charging up a Moongeist Beam. Once the concentrated attack was complete, she launched the pillar of purplish light at a nearby wall, colliding into it to form a warped swirl of matter sucking energy.

"Thank you, Lunala," Mew said with gratitude, hastily entering the wormhole with the Projection Crystal.

Once she was transported to the dig site, all she could feel was an unrelenting force pushing into her brain, and the ubiquitous view of fluctuating orange blurring her vision with its vibrancy. She could hear an eerie humming noise in her ears, coalescing with the ambience of swaying grass, rough winds, and flowing water.

"Mew!" The rough voice of Terrakion shouted. "Did… Lunala send you?!"

"Y-Yes!" the Psychic-type tried her best to respond rationally with the chaos around her. "Is this… the power source?"

Terrakion nodded, albeit painfully. "Yeah! Look into the walls, and you'll see these energy line things!"

Mew headed his words, boring her gaze into the warmly illuminated walls. "That's… what are those?!"

Glowing lines of golden orange vibrated amongst the dirt, rock, and clay of their surroundings. They buried themselves deep, forming a maze-like pattern with their entwined arches, loops, and streaks through the earth. A dug out portion near the bundle of lines showed an arrow of pulsating orange stretching almost infinitely through the ground, leaving only the mind to wonder how far it extended outward.

Terrakion cringed in pain from his splitting headache. "We… don't know, but we believe it's powering the magnagates. Each time a team enters the shadow up top, these… line things start to physically change its patterns down here."

Mew's head was pounding as well. "Tell me more… when we're out of here. We should leave. Now."

The Psychic-type escorted him over to Lunala's wormhole, taking one last look at the fascinating but intimidating foe before her. Its origins were unknown, however intriguing it may be.

"I hope you're right, Victini."


"Woah, so that's what the ley lines look like up close? I think I'll stick to the kids' drawings we have of 'em." Roark remarked, twirling the deactivated Projection Crystal on one claw.

Scizor sighed, "It's been such a long time since I've seen them up close. But, what's strange to me are these headaches the Legendaries experience when close to them. That wasn't the case for us when we ventured to it."

"Maybe it's unique to them only?" Garchomp presumed. "The Legendaries may be mortal and even have children like us, but they still have their own quirks and weird abilities we don't."

Scizor refocused his sights around the room of many splintering gaps of rock. He spotted a pair of narrow hallways leading out of the room, pointing a pincer at them.

"There's our next area of interest. We'll split up and investigate each hallway for new information, then meet back up combine our findings."

"You heard the man, sis. Let's skedaddle." The Zoroark ushered the inattentive Vulpix away, heading to the hall on the left.

"H-Huh? Hold on!"

The voices of both got quieter and quieter, until only Scizor and Garchomp remained in the deserted chamber, the both of them choosing to not dawdle around and head to the remaining corridor.

Garchomp ducked under a fallen pillar of stone, speaking up. "Nice on you for taking authority with Jackson not being here and all. You underestimate yourself a lot, y'know?"

"... Maybe. I just don't see myself leading Pokemon as well as he does. It's too stressful, and I think it has taken a toll on him ever since the guild was created."

"He's always been acting strange and distant for years - a far cry from when we first met, I might add." She huffed, grimacing. "But I'm not worried about him, I'm worried about you."

"Me?"

The barely lit hallway held more wide entrances on its sides, presumably living dorms. They entered each lodging that wasn't blockaded by fallen boulders and other debris. Despite living and breathing legends of old residing here, the accommodations were quite modest, with just a bed and a few oversized tables for dining.

"Yeah, I know you and Jackson have grown restless over discovering any leads, and shit… I'm still trying to find someone dear to me. Just know I've always respected your dedication."

"... Thank you."

Even with the praise, he still couldn't shrug off that feeling of futility from before.

The final dorm within the hallway was much more spacious, containers full of items from Mystery Dungeons lining the floor, as well as various tools and instruments fit for only a Psychic-type to use. Even the walls of the room were bizarre, showing a constantly swirling backdrop of infinite space - orange lines connecting across different stars and constellations.

"This obviously must've been the quarters of that Mew. I wonder if... " Garchomp stopped her gawking and narrowed her slits, before grinning. "There we go… this must be the last undamaged Projection Crystal."

The orb was resting on a table, with discarded and dried up cloth scattered around it. Scizor strode forward, taking a deep breath of hope before hitting the indentation to begin the stored memory's tale.


"Shoot! How do I… oh, there we go!"

Victini placed the Projection Crystal in the hallway leading to his quarters, hopping back inside his room to sit adjacent to a table with piles of written notes on them. He rubbed his temples, attempting to free the pain of his blistering headache. He then abruptly stopped to cheerfully wave at the crystal recording him.

"Hey, Mew! Recording my notes and theories for this week's research roundup! I know you're busy helping Reshiram set up that other place, so I'm gonna do this real quick!" He flipped through the pages of his notes, stopping on one.

"Aha! My research on these 'glowing lines' that the other teams uncovered is… rough to say the least, but I think there is more to them. It's-"

He halted to massage his head. "Sorry, just a little headache I got. Anyways, since another magnagate popped up on this continent, I believe these 'lines' are all connected to one another, sending information and energy to each other - like a constant loop!"

Victini flipped to another page. "What's most interesting is that it's entirely possible that there is a source of these lines, a coordinate that passes along that energy through these lines, allowing them to expand. But If we found that coordinate, then it's possible we could end the spread of the magnagates for good!"

The flipping of notes was stopped, his headache spiking all of the sudden. It was a moment before he regained his bearings.

"I need to have Tapu Lele mend this headache, so I'll make this quick. I… was hoping we could find those lost miners, but then I had a thought. What if… the magnagate formed while they were leaving, and they got trapped within it?"

His pain intensified, but he continued his train of thought nonetheless.

"Maybe... they're in a state of quantum limbo - both alive and dead, acting as defenders of the dungeon." He laughed glumly. "I remember when the miners said they left because of headaches, and…" Awareness crept in just as his pounding mind released.

Before Victini could even react, a pitch-black shadow engulfed where he sat, taking up the entire room. Dead reticence then set in over the remainder of the Projection Crystal's recording.


A red pincer was forcefully brought down on the orb's indentation, ending the outthrust of memories.

Scizor backed up, hyperventilating before he collapsed in a sitting position. Past trauma flared up inside, the memories of that day he tried to shove away in his thoughts now resurfacing in its most frightful appearance.

"Scizor!"

Garchomp understood her old friend completely, knowing his past all too well. She knelt near the rattled Bug-type, consoling him with a talon on his back.

"It's okay. Just breathe. In and out," she said soothingly.

Scizor replicated her words, trying to refocus back into reality. He looked down, collecting his thoughts once more - the emptiness from before bubbling up. He felt like his life's work was crumbling before him.

"... Garchomp. Do you think we are doomed?"

The sandshark was caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

Scizor inhaled, exhaling as his eyes swelled up with tears. "Is it just… inevitable that we are overtaken by the ley lines? Is everything we've worked to accomplish this far just in vain? Not even the most powerful of Legendaries together couldn't expel them…"

"No," Garchomp stated firmly. "Of fucking course we're gonna stop it. Isn't this something you've wanted to do ever since that day? It's your life goal."

"... I've always told new members not to bend to others, but I guess I can't follow my own preaching." He went silent for a moment. " I have always just been a dutiful guild assistant. I… I don't know if I even have what it takes to complete our goal anymore."

"Scizor, look at me." He did so, panning his crestfallen look to see her determined one. "You are without a doubt the greatest Arceus damned researcher I've ever known. I never met a Scyther before that cared so much about unmasking the Mystery Dungeons, because nobody cared, including me." She chuckled in memory. "I thought you were just a weirdo at first, but you made me really think this about this world."

Scizor's already crimson cheeks darkened at her praise, smiling sadly. "I'm… glad I managed to do that, at least."

She extended a talon for him to latch onto. "I don't care how long it takes for the both of us to get the answers we need, but we'll do it together."

He stared at the appendage for a second, before sighing and gripping it with his pincer. She pulled him up, showcasing her sharp toothed grin.

"... Thank you, Garchomp."

"Feelings all the same." She opened her purple colored saddlebag, placing the Projection Crystal inside. "We should gather the other orbs for Jackson to see, then rendezvous with the big guys up top."


"Desecrators!"

"Ugh… lay off the nature mumbo jumbo already, will ya?" Charizard scoffed out, rotating his wingspan and adjusting his altitude for a dive bombing maneuver.

A contingency of Water-types was hot on his trail, eager to extinguish his flames with sprouts of water, but the Fire-type was no rookie at this game.

"Eat on this, chumps!"

He opened his maw, spewing out volley after volley of molten hot fire balls at his pursuers. Each attack landed, earning him the blackened and defeated forms of his stricken enemies.

Charizard cackled at his work. "That'll take a while to sleep off!"

Not to be outdone, Aggron and Tyranitar worked on the ground, mopping up any attackers that dare cross their way.

"Save some action for the rest of us!" Aggron cried out, bellowing with laughter as he headbutted an invading Ledian.

"You mean save 'em for me." Tyranitar retorted, erupting pillars of jagged stones between his foes. "These greenhorns are just up my alley of destruction."

The almost never ending wave of angry Pokémon stalled after the three began their own assault, with only the largest and toughest attackers still in the fight.

An Aerodactyl soared above the cliffs, twirling its bony body in a downward spiral towards Charizard. The collided midair, duking it out gnashing claws and teeth.

"Do you..." Charizard growled. "... Have any idea… who you're facing?!"

The Rock-type ignored his rambling words, aiming to take the fiery dragon down to the ground with Crunch to the nape. Charizard saw his opportunity, twisting his body and latching onto the Aerodactyl's shoulders, whirling it around at breakneck speeds.

"Grraaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

He let go, sending the poor Pokémon careening into a nearby wall of rock, breaking off huge chunks of it as the prehistoric avian crumpled to the ground - defeated.

"I'm the powerhouse of Team Moonlight, and never forget that!" Charizard roared out.

With their comrades falling fast, the group of attackers switched their tactics to fleeting, grabbing their wounded or unconscious and scampering down and up the cliffs to evade the trio's wrath.

"Looks like we got our old big headed pal again," Aggron chided, smirking at the now vacant area. "And we sent those 'mons packing. Hopefully the lads in that other are well and safe."

Charizard landed with a 'thud', reaching for his saddlebag. "I'll give 'em a call just to make sure. Then, we wait for the team downstairs to finish their business."


"Aaaaaachoo!"

Gloria sneezed, quickly concealing her snout with a paw as her brother snorted with laughter.

"That was so adorable! Do it again!"

The Vulpix let out a muffled 'no', still covering her muzzle, and now moving away from the cabinets layered with a carpet of dust. Once out of the danger zone, she relinquished her hold, inquiring about her brother's progress.

"Have you found any in those drawers?"

Roark slid down an elongated blue crystal jutting out of the wall, landing beside the Vulpix. "Nope. Just more dust and ancient junk those Legendaries might've tinkered with."

The hallway they entered led them to a series of multiple doorways, which contained living spaces and other aspects of normal life in the days of old. With no Projection Crystals lying around like before, they resorted to scouring cabinets and other piles of debris in search of new leads.

Gloria deflated at the news, wanting to know the outcome of this mysterious project. However, deep down she wanted to know where this Victini hero ended up.

"Oh…"

"But… I was saving this for last." He waggled a claw. "There's one of those Psychic-type seals at the end of the hallway, just waiting for me to break it down and discover more stuff."

She perked right back up. "Really? Show me!"

Just like Roark had mentioned, the end of the corridor revealed a decaying breach with a pinkish psychic latch holding it in place. It was nothing that a well executed Night Slash couldn't fix.

Roark kicked the makeshift breach in, scanning the contents that lie within. But the only discernible thing to be found was the unmistakable appearance of a Mystery Dungeon just beyond the doorway. Gloria squeezed her way past the Zoroark, standing by the shadow and looking on in.

"Well, seems like we've got some more cave exploring." He yawned boringly, lumbering over towards the shadow. "Let's get this over with…"

"Wait!"

He raised a brow, before retreading his steps and bowing politely. "Well, I am a gentleman, so I guess ladies first."

"No! I-" she sputtered out her speech, digging a paw into the ground, "I… want to go alone this time."

"..."

Roark went quiet, seemingly contemplating her declaration. After a brief stint of silence, he placed both claws on his hip, smirking at the brave little Vulpix before him.

"You know you never needed to ask before, so I'm glad you're telling me straight up now." He tried frazzling her tuft of fur, only getting resistance in return. "Can't say I didn't try…"

She giggled, "Thank you, Roark, for letting me do this."

"Do you remember?"

"... Remember what?"

"The first time you entered a Mystery Dungeon - your first leap into the reality of this crazy world?" Roark shook his head, reliving that memory in his head. "You were so confident yet frightened, but now… now you look totally ready for whatever is beyond that dungeon."

"I am." She touched her scarf, eyes brimming with confidence.

He waved a claw, "Then you don't need to hear me yammer on. Go show yourself and the world that you've got the spunk to be a hero."

Pride swelled in her heart. "Right!"

Gloria took a deep breath, swallowing her fears and confronting the shadow before her. Each step she took was slow, but eventually she picked up pace, before sprinting into the vacuum of darkness. She was ready to see the next chapter of this story.


Victini's Quarters

BF 1

The stone walls began to form around her, but she never stopped running, dashing through the near invisible passages that materialized in real time with her paw steps.

If the world was her stage, then it was going to compose itself only when she ran forward, never looking back.

It wasn't long until she found the stairs, heading further towards her goals.


Victini's Quarters

BF 4

An attacking Drilbur attempted to jab its claws into Gloria, failing to do so as the Vulpix nimbly ducked the assault and opened her mouth, creating an Aurora Beam as twin beams of pure cold energy that encased the Ground-type with a layer of ice, freezing it solid right then and there.

It was only after Garchomp's training that she was able to fix her usual way of battling, now more involved and willing to enter the fray.

The frost casing on the Drilbur melted, just as the Pokemon vanished into orange light.


Victini's Quarters

BF 11

Gloria smashed the One-Hit-KO orb beneath her paw, releasing a purple mist that shrouded her body in its aura of strength. She waited for the Monster House's cluster of lifeless Drilbur and Excadrill to approach before she initiated the crux of her strategy.

Pink colored gusts of wind picked up behind the Vulpix, pounding the group of Pokemon with its enhanced might. Each exploded into orange light one after the other, until the room was clear of all aggressors.

She sped down a corridor, finding the rocky staircases and climbing up, failing to look back and see a rabbit-like Pokemon hop after her in a futile charge to stop the intruder.


Gloria exited the haze of blackness, breathing a whisper of relief as her vision readjusted to the reality around her. It was strange, but she relished in her feelings of heroism throughout traversing the Mystery Dungeon.

'For glory…'

It appeared the Mystery Dungeon had transported her to a separate hallway in the crystal mine that was enclosed from all sides. What was most strange to Gloria, was the lack of echo, the noise of running water, and the general atmosphere of an abandoned and desolate place.

This new area was without a sound - serene almost.

She carefully trotted ahead, occasionally glancing around, curious to know more about her near peaceful surroundings. Healthy bundles of grass grew along the cave's edges, teeming with white wallflowers that were in full boom.

'Wait… is that?'

The Vulpix stopped at a podium of rock built near the hallway's left side. A Projection Crystal was resting on that podium, cushioned by fuchsia colored pillows, as if it was a shrine. She approached it, finding the imprint where she would place her paw to activate the concealed memories inside.

'I'm… ready to see the next chapter.'

She pressed it, observing a bubble of psychic energy surrounding her as the recollection of the past was played out.


Mew tightly held the Projection Crystal to her chest, sniffling away the hot tears that spilled from her eyes. She adjusted her grip on the orb to wipe her tear stained cheeks free of wetness, before floating over to the all encompassing shadow that blocked off the entrance to her beloved's quarters - her greatest enemy, and her greatest friend now combined.

"Hi… Victini."

She rolled the crystal around in her paws. "It's been a while since I've last seen you, ever since we had to evacuate this place. I… don't know if you can even hear, but I never stopped looking. Countless times I've ventured through the dungeons trying to find you in them, with no luck."

Mew held out a paw to the shadow's penumbra, laughing quietly to herself. "Now I have so many duties to uphold at this new station, and I…" She coughed, her sickness reanimating to life again. "I would've never participated in this project if I knew I'd lose you, but I'm guessing you would be stubborn enough to join, anyway."

The Psychic-type dropped to the ground, gasping out more tears as she clutched the Projection Crystal. "I've even watched your last research recording; I've your final words so many times that I could recite it just off memory. But I hope you weren't true - that you aren't at the whims of the magnagate." A dismal smile graced her lips. "A foolish, stupid, but definitely brave hero like you deserved to die only a hero's death."

Mew slowly floated back into the air, drifting towards the podium she built. "Now I have to seal this project away with illusions, making sure no one finds it until we come back." She gently placed the crystal she held onto the platform's padding. "But, I don't think of this place as a project anymore." Another tear was shed. "I consider it your tomb that I have to say goodbye to… possibly forever."

After finalizing her last moments, she floated towards the shadow, preparing to leave and seal her lost lover for good.

"Goodbye, Victini."


The projection ended, leaving an aghast Vulpix to sulk in solemn silence. She held her head up, trying to piece together what she just witnessed.

Victini was dead, and the Mystery Dungeons were apparently behind it all.

Her mind immediately thought of the town of Areos, the once home to the Guildmaster and Scizor. She remembered when they told her that the village was suddenly enveloped by a forming Mystery Dungeon, with all of its inhabitants swallowed by the sea of darkness - gone forever.

'That… must've been what happened to…'

It couldn't have been.

Gloria began to aimlessly wander the hallways of shining crystals and budding nature in relative peace, trying to convince herself that the memory she saw wasn't the ending she feared most in this world.

It wasn't long until her journey ended at a dead end, with the most enchanting grove to be discovered. Mossy grass overflowing with white wallflowers extended in a circular base as trickles of water seeped through it, forming tiny streams and currents. Cracks in the ceiling above let a heavenly ray of daylight shine upon the center of the grove, highlighting the most important piece of its magnificent composition.

A single tombstone.

Gloria gradually reached the quiet spot of solitude, her eyes wide as she stared into the monument of the dead, already knowing who this was intended for.

'Why…'

The Vulpix broke down, kneeling next to the gravestone and sobbing uncontrollably, letting her tears hit the grass and wallflowers. She wasn't even sure why she was crying, but her heart was crying with her. Here was the final chapter in this story, and the end for all heroes who strove to better this world.

'Why… why does everyone I look up to always have to go in the end.'

Gloria thought of her parents, of Roark, of Liam, of Leafeon, and the other wonderful Pokemon that got her to chase her dreams of glory and heroism. To say goodbye to them at any moment in her life all was a feat that she wasn't ready for. She thought back to Garchomp's words of advice not long ago, searching for that courage to defy against the cruelty of their reality.

The world stopped for no one.

Gloria stood up, drying her tears with a swipe of her paw. She spun around, never looking back at the tombstone as she marched to the ghostly black entrance of the Mystery Dungeon, her resolve complete as darkness consumed her vision.

'I made a promise, and I'm going to keep it.'

It began in the blink of an eye.


For even the bravest of heroes, the world stops for no one. Requiem...


If you would like to check for news about the latest chapter progress, discuss the story as it goes on, give criticism on anything, point out mistakes, give your appreciation, ask questions, or simply chat about the story, then my DM's are open and I will respond to all meaningful messages. You can also add me on Discord and talk/send me things if you prefer that, for the same reasons. Discord = Z2H#7239

Please leave a review if you wish. All will be read and taken into consideration.

Next Time: Fatherhood
 

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Chapter 18: Fatherhood

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 18

Fatherhood

'This time for sure.'

Liam bent down, scouring the trail's bed of flat rocks for the perfect one.

'That one!'

He scooped up the right sized hunk of rock, refocusing his attention on the small lake in front of him. His grip on it tightened as he slowly pulled his throwing arm back.

'Come on…'

The Riolu chucked it, watching the stone soar across the lake and rapidly skip across it. He held his bated breath, counting down each individual skip.

'One, two, three- dang!

The rock failed to make the fourth jump, plunging into the lake's depths. Nonetheless, Liam rebuffed his efforts, bending down to grab another flat looking stone.

'Okay, it's this time for sure.'

He cocked his arm back yet again, before lowering it, slowly realizing his forgotten mission as of now.

'Shoot. What was I supposed to be doing right now?'

"Liam!"

He gulped, '… Right.'

Hearing the gruff voice of a certain Shiny Lucario, Liam dropped the stone, spinning around to see the owner of said voice stiffly marching his way, carrying a perturbed look as he spoke.

"The passage we were originally going to take has been blocked off by rocks. We will coordinate our new route and make a detour to the right. As for now, we'll stay with our camp on this plateau, conserve our energy, then get back to climbing at dawn."

Jackson scoured their surroundings for signs of their camping equipment, arching a brow. "… I do not see the tents that I asked you to place." He squinted at the sweating Riolu. "Care to explain why?"

"I… uh, I." Liam dropped his shoulders, tail drooping. "I got distracted. Sorry, Guildmaster."

Jackson went silent for a moment, allowing Liam's anxiety to spike, before breathing in a sigh and walking over to the nervous Riolu.

"It's fine, kid. We'll rest here for a bit, then set up camp once nighttime hits." He looked up, squinting his eyes at the mountain's tallest summit. "By then, the peak will be in our sights the following day."

Liam collapsed in relief, huddling his legs together, a joyous smile tugging at his lips. "I heard on the ELE that the other groups were getting close, too. Do you think we'll reach it first?"

Jackson sat down as well. "Possibly, but don't get your hopes up. Reaching the peak isn't really our primary mission."

The two went silent, quietly taking in the sounds of flowing water and the rush of mountain wind on their fur.

"… So, you like skipping rocks, huh?"

Liam snapped out his daze. "What?"

Jackson got up, "Whenever I felt overwhelmed or angry as a child, I would break out of my room and head off to the local lake and skip stones across it." He kneeled on the bed of stones, picking up a decent sized one.

The Lucario's wrist snapped almost faster than a bullet, sending the stone soaring above the pond. Once it neared the water, it bounced, rippling across its surface at impossible speeds. Liam counted the number of skips it made in amazement, losing track not long after fifteen.

"Wha- What!?" The Riolu jumped up, an incredulous look on his face. "How'd you do that?!"

Jackson smirked a little, picking up another stone. "Practice, obviously. But the key is angling all your throws." He replicated his last toss, producing the same steadfast skips as before.

Liam, not one to be outdone, copied the Lucario's actions the best he could, sending another flat stone hurdling across the lake - fourteen skips.

The Riolu pumped his arms in the air. "I did it!"

Jackson chuckled lightly, retrieving another smooth stone. "Yeah, but you've still yet to even match me."

The glint in Liam's eye was enough of a rebuttal. For a brief few minutes, they partook in this friendly match, attempting to outdo each other by way of adjusting their pitches. This moment of peace would be broken by Jackson, his mind still curious of the Pokemon beside him.

"Ever since we began this hike, I've noticed you staring off into space quite a bit. There's always a reason for something, so you might as well tell me what's been bugging you ."

Liam threw another stone, watching it glide across the water as his illusion of sport was torn down by the Guildmaster's inquisition. He brought his gaze to the earth, knowing full well that hiding anything from the Lucario was seemingly futile.

"A few nights ago, right when we arrived in Elysium City. I… I had another memory."

Jackson snapped his attention to the Riolu - astonished. "You called it... a memory. Does that mean you've chosen which path you'll take?" He finished with a sullen look.

"Yeah, I think- no, I know I found myself in there." Liam kneeled, fetching another rock. "It felt so good to know that I was something before, y'know? But I… I'm not sure about a lot of other things."

"... Do you feel overwhelmed? Like you're being tugged in two different directions?"

The answer to that question was pretty obvious to Liam. On the outside, he showed as much vigor as he loved to exude, but on the inside, his mind was broken so much by these glimpses of memories that not even he could fathom. The Mystery Dungeon and its threat against this world was one thing, but he was battling something else within all this time.

The Riolu squeezed the stone, releasing his inner frustrations into it. "I want to know more, and I just know something is leading me to it. There's gotta be a reason for this, right?"

Jackson didn't answer immediately, boring his eyes into the pond. "... I did tell you there's always a reason for something - bad, good, doesn't matter." He studied their surroundings, spotting their rectangular backpacks laying in the tall grass. "Grab your stuff - we're gonna get back to climbing."

"... Got it."

Liam gave the stretch of water a parting glance, walking over to heave the hefty backpack over his small shoulders. After the two were situated with their belongings, the Lucario pulled out an aged looking map of the mountain's right hand side, taking the time to plan out their next move.

Meanwhile, a distracted Liam found himself ogling the broad expanse of natural terrain above and below them, brimming with adventure, discovery, and a sense of limitless freedom. Despite everything he had and still is going through, being here right now to experience it firsthand was a stroke of luck he would never regret.

'I can't wait for-'

His vision blurred for a split second, a feeling of sharp and prickly pain flooding his nerves. All of this was familiar to him, which led to the conclusion of only one culprit.

'So soon?!'

He nearly bowed over in pain as strands of blue and yellow curled around his perception, bleeding into spots of black. Nonetheless, the Riolu managed to stand straight amongst the assault on his body, embracing what was about to come next.

It was this unknown that he was now accepting of, eager to know more of his past.

'I'm ready for this!'

A flurry of familiar voices, whistling wind, and shuffling leaves graced his ears. He braced himself for the onslaught of memories that were now being unleashed yet again.


Morning had just dawned over Southern Appalachia, bringing the sun's warm golden rays through the canopy of thick trees dotting the Blue Ridge Mountain. A perfect day like this was most suitable for ambitious hikers to ascend its green peaks. And with the local wildlife now awakening to the morning sun, there were many diverse critters to identify and examine.

'Just a lil' closer!'

Liam carefully tiptoed through the grass, planting his back against the rough bark of a spruce tree. He held his trusty notebook and pen close, taking careful peeks around the tree's berth. He had already applied his pine smelling deterrent before engaging in the hunt, but he needed to be sure.

'Well, if things get outta hand, I still got the spray…'

The young boy bided his time, before sucking in his fears and shifting his body to get a better look behind him. He twisted his head sideways, staring at the large clearing behind him, hoping to spot that coarse black fur amongst the natural backdrop of greenery. Disappointment swiftly overtook his excitement, with only an empty glade to be witnessed.

'Awww, dang. It must've wandered off already…'

With his efforts to track down the black bear that had wandered the nearby forest, he began packing up his supplies back into his quite full backpack of hiking essentials, throwing it around his shoulder as he embarked back to his camp's location. Even though he was unable to spot the fleeting beast, he kept his head high at the thought of seeing more of the mountain's wildlife.

'And maybe… I'll even see those rare red wolves!'

Through an opening in the trees, he could see the remnants of last night's campfire, and the legs of his father pacing back and forth as he scrutinized the map in his grasp. Liam wandered over, keeping a hand firm on one of his backpack's straps.

"I'm back! Did ya plan our next route?"

Robert's attention was stolen by the returning boy as he folded the map back up. "Yeah, we're gonna head out now. The path I was gonna take had some knocked over trees blocking the trail, so it looks like we're gonna have to take the detour."

A smile then stretched across Liam's face. Detours were always the more fun option than planned out pathways.

"So… we can head off now?"

The older man nodded, lifting up his own backpack off the ground, slipping it across his shoulders. "I've already gathered up our camp's belongings, so yeah, we're going now."

Liam was already way ahead of his father, blazing down the wooded trail opposite to their camp.

Robert chuckled slightly, "Other way, son."

"O-Oh, right!"

The boy quickly swiveled around, changing directions in the blink of an eye, with his father treading along his sides. With the two finally back on the trail up the mountain again, Liam, like many times before, began to immerse himself into their surroundings. Whether it was the lingering smell of pine and morning dew, or the cool winds that occasionally swept through the forest.

All of it seemed to quell the burning anger that resided within the boy. Being here right now with his father gave him the hope that things might just turn around.

"Liam… there's something I wanna show you ahead. Are you up for it?"

It took a moment for his distracted boy to respond, who seemed to grow delighted at the proclamation.

"Of course I do!"

Robert nodded, "Alright, just follow me closely. It's a place that's... special to me."


Liam jolted forward as the rush of memories came to a sudden close. He took deep breaths, steadying himself back into reality. Before, he would still be in shock from the visions, but now he just wanted to extrapolate more knowledge of his past identity.

'I was with… my father, and-'

The Riolu halted his thoughts, sprinting from his position, towards the Lucario still prepping up their voyage on the map. He needed to tell him of what just occurred.

"Guildmaster! I had more of my memories appear!"

Jackson looked up, shocked. "You're saying…"

"Just now! It-"

A raised paw interrupted the excited Pokemon. "Compose yourself; you're likely to receive more memories in the coming minutes."

Liam simmered down, his mind still buzzing with a single thought. "Do you think… What you said before is true?"

Jackson's gaze met the floor as his orange ring flashed - he sighed. "I told you before that someone or something is possibly lighting a path before you, and now it seems you're following it." He advanced over to where his backpack lay, picking it up. "We have a lot of ground to cover today, so we're heading off now."

"... Right. But what if I have more me-"

"You'll tell me about them along the way. Now, we're burning daylight."

Liam understood the Guildmaster's haste, angling his head upward to see the massive cliffs they had yet to climb past. He gulped, realizing the grandiose gauntlet that lay before them. However, his love for adventuring the unknown thwarted that imposing feeling. With a jostle of his hefty backpack, he followed his Guildmaster deeper into the mysterious mountain.

'One step at a time!' he told himself.

As they trekked this new path, the Riolu waited and waited for the next wave of memories to surge through him. While their forested surroundings coaxed him into relaxation, only then did those familiar tendrils of blue and yellow creep into his vision again.


"Gah!"

Robert misjudged his fall, causing him to lose his balance as his foot slipped off the rock. His legs plunged into the rapid currents of the river, thoroughly soaking his pant legs. The man scowled, slogging through the stream's powerful tide, all to the tune of his son's laughter behind him.

"Go ahead, laugh it up." The man chuckled, reaching the river's opposite end. "Let's see how well you do."

Liam knew he could do better than his father, approaching the small speedily flowing river that blocked his path. Stones of various sizes were tall enough to crop up through the water, providing a pathway for the boy to safely hop across if her were agile enough.

'I totally got this.'

He wasted little time jumping from his spot, landing carefully on the first rock. The boy briefly stumbled, trying to regain his footing.

"Ten more to go, Liam!" his father said jokingly.

"Uh, don't worry! I got it!"

There was another leap.


"Hurry up, Liam! And don't look down!"

The Riolu nodded, feeling the sweat trickle down his face at the task. There was slight apprehension as his hindpaws started moving by themselves, but he was quick to rectify his confidence.

A large wooden log was balanced between two jagged cliffs, with the log being the only bridge to the other side. Just below was a river of surging water that led downstream to a waterfall. Wherever it led, it was certain that if you were to fall, it wouldn't be a trip unscathed.

Liam swallowed his fears, keeping his arms to his sides as he tiptoed along the felled piece of timber. He kept true to the Guildmaster's words of advice, not daring to take a gander downstairs at what could be his watery fate. But it didn't take long for him to surpass this challenge through use of his delicate pawsteps, and even find some enjoyment in doing so.

Soon the curls of blue and yellow would suck him into another forgotten memory.


'Ah, could this be…?'

Liam hastily brushed aside the thorny thickets and branches in his path, emerging into a new area of the mountain that he could describe as totally dead.

It was a wasteland of life that seemed to extend for miles, with spindly and blackened remnants of trees that rose like charcoal colored pillars - a far cry from the verdant and bountiful forest behind them. The ground was ashen, covered with soot and the scattered remains of once tall and proud pine trees.

Robert promptly caught up, "This is the easiest path towards what I wanted to show you, so just follow my lead and we'll get outta here very soon."

"Uh… sure."

The two journeyed through the scorched earth, occasionally stepping across ash covered stumps or logs. Eventually, Liam spoke up with a question that was plaguing his mind.

"I, um, read about the fire here before we left. Do you think it was natural, or if someone else did it by accident?"

Robert looked back momentarily, "Could be either in my eyes. But I've known quite a few people from my youth who would even do it on purpose."

The boy frowned, "... Why?" He couldn't understand someone who would destroy for no reason.

A shrug, followed by a shake of his father's head was the response. "Can't rightly tell you. Could've for curiosity's sake, to release some frustration, or to just have some fun and watch the flames."

"Even if it harmed the environment around them?" The boy could only imagine the homes of animals destroyed, or the ones that couldn't escape - it sickened him.

The man nodded, "When you have nothing, that's when you stop caring about your surroundings. Happened to them, and it happened to me too."

"But you aren't like that anymore. That's why you became a police officer, right? To stop people like them from harming others?"

Robert inhaled sharply, caught off guard. "... Yeah. It was because I had you and-" he stopped himself, changing the subject, "Liam, do you still want to become a forest ranger?"

"Of course I do!" The boy replied, grinning widely.

It was always a dream of his to become a forest ranger, to protect this beautiful land and the creatures that called it home. There was no way in the world that you could convince him otherwise that it wasn't his calling.

"I'm glad, because... I don't want to see you living a life without purpose. I want to see you be successful."

"Thanks, dad."

The two wordlessly went back to wandering the desolate land, with Liam keeping his eyes glued to their surroundings. Mrs Lachaise has mentioned something akin to a forest fire like this - the idea of perseverance and rebirth through devastation.

'No matter how much you burn something down, it will rise from the ashes stronger and more determined than before…'


WOOSH!

The rocky tops of geysers began to erupt around them, spewing forth a great volume of boiling water that rose high into the air, most of it evaporating into pockets of hot steam. This spectacle happened multiple times, like natural fireworks that rattled the skies.

Liam couldn't keep his eyes off the stunning event, pointing at each exploding opening while Jackson followed his gaze, a slight smile tugging at his features. Their trip through the sea of bursting hot springs eventually ended, now standing before a vantage point of their entire journey so far.

While the view of the vast lush forests and rocky bluffs were impressive, Liam's mood was stifled by something else far more visible. Scattered like the jacks, dark shadows dotted the terrain, spanning from small blips in caves to expansive acres of pure darkness - the mark of a Mystery Dungeon.

Jackson observed the land below with a flat expression. "Liam, when you look at this… what do you see?"

The Riolu didn't respond instantly, opening and closing his mouth until he found his voice. "I… I see potential being stolen - all the possible experiences or adventures there now gone. Like… this world's being robbed from us."

Jackson inhaled, narrowing his eyes. "I see a disease that has sunken its roots deep into this world long ago, slowly suffocating us throughout time." His eyes shifted to the upset Riolu. "Perhaps there is a greater purpose to them that we are blind to, but, Liam… what do you think their purpose is to exist?"

That was a difficult question for Liam to comprehend - a reason to exist, for the Mystery Dungeons no less. He tried to wrap his mind around it, but couldn't come up with any feasible reason for them to be here.

"I don't know. But they shouldn't exist, right?"

"... Possibly."

Jackson began walking away from the grassy ridge, waving for the Riolu to follow. "Whatever the true answer to that question is, we're just gonna have to find out on our own someday."

Liam gave the cluster of the shadows behind them one last glance. "Yeah. We will."


It wasn't the tallest cliff in the world, but it might as well have been to the small and inexperienced boy.

"W-Woah!"

A medium size piece of rock tumbled off the eroded face, nearly hitting Liam as he changed hands. He clung to the surface of the rough wall, looking up to see his father slightly ahead. Trying again, the boy grabbed another section of the cliff that was sticking out, finding it difficult to do so.

Robert was near the top, but glanced below to see Liam struggling. He immediately swung left, holding out an outstretched hand for the boy to grasp and hold onto.

"Grab my hand, son."


"Grab my paw, kid."

Liam briefly stared at the extended paw, clasping onto it with his own. With the Guildmaster's superior strength on his side, he was easily pulled up to the cliff's topside, along with the Lucario.

"Did we… make it?" Liam forced out, falling on his backpack and catching his breath.

Jackson nodded, wearing a somewhat distressed expression as his orange ring flashed. His stare lingered on the Riolu, before he uttered something. "There's... something I want to show you just ahead."

Liam's eyes widened, keen on finding out what exactly it was. "What is it? Some sort of ruins?" The curiosity was evident on his face.

Jackson turned his back against the cliff, treading ahead. "... Sort of. We got one more dungeon before we reach it, so I need you at your best."

"I'll show you then!"

With newfound furor, the Riolu immediately stood up, following the Lucario down another winding forested path. Along the way, the Pokémon swore he remembered catching a glimpse of a deer-like statue, but brushed it off as just his excitement getting the best of him.

As they approached what seemed to be their last Mystery Dungeon before arriving at this supposed place, Liam was pulled into yet another memory.


"Here it is, Liam."

The boy in question excitedly hopped off the mossy ridge, sliding down a gravely slope to get a better view of the spectacular waterfall. The sound of crunching shale behind him made him momentarily glance to his side, seeing his father join him in witnessing this sight. It was no Niagara Falls, but the deluge of water was colossal, and its roar thunderous. It spilled from all sides of the tall cliffs, sparkling in the afternoon sun, and producing the illusion of a blurry rainbow through its hazy mist.

"You know… your mother always wanted to come out here and see this."

"… She did?"

Robert stepped closer towards the falls, taking in its amount of force. "Whenever I told her about moving down here, that was one of the things she wanted to see." His shoulder slackened as he sat down with a relaxed sigh. "Maybe she would've seen it that summer, but… well, at least you get to see it now."

After a brief minute of silence, the man's rest was soon joined by his son, who took a seat next to him.

"... Thanks for showing me this, dad."

"Don't thank me - thank your mom for telling me about this place."

Liam huddled his legs together, observing the waterfall pound into the earth, over and over. It was these kinds of moments that you couldn't capture by seeing a picture, or reading about it in a magazine somewhere. Simply being here to experience it all in its majesty made everything along the way worth it in his eyes.

'And you never got to see it for yourself… mom.'

These brief few minutes of peace amongst the loud crashing of water were nice to Robert, but he found his attention averting to his son, instead of the spectacle in front of him. The boy suddenly stood up, gripping the straps of his backpack as he peered into the forest beyond the falls.

"I think we should go back to hiking, dad. We might even reach the peak before the end of tomorrow."

"... Yeah, I think we've seen enough."

But to Liam, seeing these amazing things with your loved ones seemed to be the most memorable of all.


From the depths of an inky black shadow, a Riolu and Lucario emerged, adjusting to their new surroundings.

"Are we there, Guildmaster?"

"Yeah, I think we just might be. This area looks… familiar to me."

Exiting the Mystery Dungeon's shadow had transported them to a new, more open clearing amongst the forest. Boulders littered the landscape, wedged into the ground over time. But the most noticeable thing was a massive opening in the mountain's side just ahead of their location.

Liam stepped forward, "Do you see that over there?"

"I do…" Jackson's orange ring gleamed as his eyes snapped to it. "Drop your stuff and follow me."

The two dropped their backpacks on the grass, reaching the large fissure not long after. Like something was forcefully ejected from the earth, the crevice splintered all the way up the cliffside, producing wide cracks in the mountain's side. White wallflowers marked the entrance that led into the unknown.

Liam was perplexed, "It's a cave? What's down there?"

Jackson peered into it, "I call it the 'World's Eye', for it burrows as deep as I can imagine a Pokemon could feasibly explore. And one day… I entered it, and came out a different man than before. That was when I decided to create the guild."

"Wait! You came to Celestial Mountain before?"

The Lucario slowly nodded, "My team came here with a mission, a mission to discover the truth of the ley lines that had annihilated our village. We searched hard for what we wanted, but didn't get the answers we deserved here."

Liam crossed his arms, "But how does this place tie into it? How did it change you?"

"... You could fight for so long against a force, then change your perspective on a whim when your loved ones are involved. They're the most important things in life, right?"

The Guildmaster was always vague before, but this was something unprecedented to Liam. The Riolu approached the cavern's entrance, hoping to see more, only for Jackson to block him with a paw.

"Not yet. It's not your time."

"What do you…"

Jackson's four aura tassels spasmed erratically as he whipped his head around, seeing a pink misty projectile rocketing towards their location. He reacted instantly, shoving Liam out of the harm's way as he dove to the sides himself. The blast of psychic energy zoomed past them, disappearing into the crevice's abyss.

Liam quickly picked himself up. "Wh-What was that?!"

Jackson growled, glaring at the clearing's outskirts. "An ambush..."

The Riolu was going to respond, but took notice of the rustling trees and bushed around them. After a few seconds of eerie silence, swarms of Pokemon emerged from their hidings, encasing the pair inside a circle. Blue and yellow colored clothing adorned their bodies, along with strange anter-like protrusions tied to their heads.

"W-Who are these guys?! And why…"

"Save your breath, kid." Jackson backed up, analyzing his foes. "Don't think - just fight!"

An angry looking Granbull then beelined for a still stunned Liam, lifting its paw to strike down upon the Riolu. With a sudden twitch of his aura tassels, Liam was catapulted out of his stupor, ducking the swipe and pivoting to his left.

'These guys are for real!'

Majority of the attacker's assault was focused on Jackson, with a Bastiodon being at the vanguard, attempting to wrestle the Lucario to the ground with its substantial weight. However, its attempts were halted by a flurry of Fire Punches into its shield-like face, forcing it to back up. A Skuntank attempted to replace its stricken ally, only to receive a swift kick into its stomach, sending it flying across the clearing.

Firing up his twin Thunder Punches, Liam had no choice but to go on the offensive. He slammed his electrified paws into the Granbull's sides, following up with a well timed uppercut, knocking the frenzied Pokemon to the ground. But his victory was short lived, as a nearby Beedrill collided into his chest, forcing him to halt his attack and leap backwards.

'How am I… shoot!'

It seemed the group of assailants had realized the two weren't going to go down easily, now closing in faster than before. Jackson and Liam found themselves back to back, watching their enemies charge up physical or special attacks.

"Kid, I hope you've been practicing your aura well..."

The barrage of combined moves would eventually reach them, causing both of their aura tassels to go haywire. As if a switch was turned on in them, they began ducking or evading each blow with steadfast snaps of their limbs. Jackson, being the expert in aura manipulation, was able to heed his body's warnings completely, while Liam attempted to emulate the master's movements beside him.

For a moment, it seemed like they were invincible to their foes - dancing around them with ease.

But a single powerful punch by a Rhydon into Liam's chest would break his concentration, punting him across the field. The Riolu weakly inclined his upper body, seeing the group of aggressors encroaching on Jackson.

"Guildmaster!"

The incredibly confident eyes of the Lucario met his own, before the Pokemon abruptly rose one arm into the air, the glowing orange band on his paw blinking rapidly. But Liam's attention was more focused on the rainbow colored stone that was indented into the ring - a strange swirling pattern in its center. It seemed to swell and crackle with a white energy, enveloping Jackson in its blinding glow.

Pebbles began to slowly hover above the ground as the group of attackers backed up, eyes wide at what was now transpiring. A solid sphere of white then encased Jackson, churning and radiating a bluish energy. It got bigger and bigger, expanding until cracks appeared in its all encompassing frame. The fractures in the large orb intensified, the entire thing exploding in a violent unfettering of forceful power, the swirling symbol from before briefly flashing above.

Liam shielded his face, cracking open a single eye. 'What is this?!'

The striking Lucario that stood undetermined held a different resemblance altogether, now sporting elongated aura tassels that swayed in an invisible wind. More sharpened spikes jutted out of his limbs, his tail more bushy, and his fur also now taking a golden-greenish tint.

Silence filled the air, but was swiftly replaced by the sound of a charging attack. More specifically, four Aura Spheres bursting with immense power around Jackson's body. They flew at impossible speeds into the shocked crowd of Pokemon, barreling into them and sending multiple into the treeline. At such a colossal display of power, the group of Pokemon quickly began to flee, dragging their fallen comrades and disappearing into the forest, or simply leaping off nearby cliffsides. Seeing this, Liam hopped up, slowly approaching the intimidating Lucario with pure unfiltered shock on his face.

A single glow of white light shooting across Jackson's body would revert the Pokemon back to his normal form.

"What even… how did you… what?!"

Jackson held up a paw, showcasing the rainbow stone embedded in his ring from before. "Mega Evolution. With this stone, I am able to briefly tap into its power and transform into a Mega Evolved state for a small amount of time. That attack you just witnessed is only a peek into what is capable with Mega Evolution."

Liam's jaw dropped, "Is it possible that I could Mega Evolve someday?"

"If you have evolved into a Lucario by then, and acquired a Key Stone, then it is entirely possible."

"Key… Stone?"

Jackson marched towards their forgotten belongings, grabbing his backpack. "An artifact that will allow you to Mega Evolve at any time. Only certain Pokemon are lucky enough to find one at all, or even master the technique." He picked up Liam's backpack, tossing it behind him. "Feel free to have a short rest, but we're gonna need to change directions for a while."

The Riolu caught it, tilting his head. "Why?"

"Because... we're going after them."


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"-And then you suddenly created these ginormous Aura Spheres and threw them at 'em!" Liam gushed, earning a chuckle from Jackson. "I've never seen a Pokemon get launched that far!"

"Few get to see what else I can achieve in my form, but that is typically the case for most Mega Evolved Pokemon."

The sun had begun to set in the horizon, bringing with it an orange tint that shrouded the mountain's open fields in its warmth. The hale pair of Pokemon that wandered this rocky meadow would liven it up a bit through friendly exchanges and laughter.

"I know! But-"

Liam was cut off by a ring of harsh static that exploded from the ELE clipped to the side of Jackson's backpack. The Lucario stopped walking upon hearing its chatter, reaching behind to snatch the Minun-like device. He held it and waited for the stark voice that emanated from it.

"Guildmaster, are you there?"

Jackson flicked the device's side switch, pulling it closer to his mouth. "Loud and clear, Scizor. Has your team located anything of note during your travels?"

The reply back was ecstatic, but wary. "Yes! But… I have also come to inform you that a group of strange Pokemon showed up and attacked us while we were investigating a site. Have you encountered-"

"Yes. Liam and I were able to successfully deter them." He changed the subject. "Now, tell me more about this 'site'."

"Guildmaster… the site was an underground mine used as a base of operations for Legendary Pokemon thousands of years ago - all to investigate the sudden appearance of Mystery Dungeons, and how to stop them." Scizor's words were laced with pride

Liam's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets, his jaw hanging loose. 'You've got to be kidding… Legendaries… and they investigated the Mystery Dungeons?' His head was spinning even trying to wrap his mind around it.

Whatever it was, he was sure to pick Gloria and Roark's brain to get more information about this.

Jackson realized the implications of this find, now pacing back and forth. "Scizor, tell me right now. In this site, was there any mention of shrines."

The response was delayed, "... Shrines? No, we've already combed the place clean of new information. However, Gloria was able to uncover a possible second loc-"

The ELE's side switch was flicked, ending the communication between Scizor.

Jackson's paw shook with rage as his breath came labored and ragged, the grip on the device becoming murderous, producing cracks in its delicate frame. He then tossed it to the ground, slamming his hindpaw into it over and over, until it was nothing but bits of scrap metal.

Liam watched with horror, eyes shifting from the now destroyed ELE and the enraged Lucario. "Guildmaster! You-"

"SHUT UP!" Jackson roared, whipping his head back.

Liam flinched, yet still wanted to help calm him down. "But they could be wrong! They might've missed something! Or maybe-"

"STOP PRETENDING EVERYTHING IS FINE!"

That was enough to shut the Riolu up, who just stared at him in shock. Jackson glared back, breathing in and out. Eventually, he would turn back around, crouching and clenching both paws to contain his fury, only to place them against his skull as he looked outward to view the golden tinged terrain in hopes of finding relief.

"... What the fuck is wrong with me."

A shift in the mountain's wind brought a cool and relaxing breeze that swept through the field, coursing through the tall grass and fur of the two Pokemon on it.

"... Fuck."

Whether it was minutes or mere seconds, the peace of silence was lost as Jackson abruptly stood up, marching through the fields again as if nothing had happened. Liam wordlessly followed; the Lucario was still his Guildmaster after all. There were no more exchanges along the way, but that didn't stop the creeping blue and yellow tendrils from invading the Riolu's vision once again, bringing him back to a world he didn't recognize anymore.


They were closer than ever to reaching the peak, but first they had to go through a portion of the swampland, which meant a change in wardrobe.

"C'moooon!"

Liam struggled to get into a pair of pants he had specifically brought along for this moment, which to any observer, would see that they were far too small for him. Nonetheless, with a little tenacity, he managed to slip them on.

"There we go! I'm all ready now, dad!"

Robert had already assembled his getup, and was rearranging his pant straps, only for the boy's antics to make him stop and question his son's selection of leg wear.

"Liam, why did you bring the small pair?"

The boy blushed, "I, uh, well, this is was all I could find in my closet!"

The man grinned knowingly, "Which is because your closet is a huge mess, right?"

"N-No?" The boy attempted to lie, clearly not doing a good job at it.

"Well, if those pants tear during the hike through the water, I might just have to carry you on my shoulders like you were a toddler again."

"What?! No way!"

Robert laughed heartily, preparing another quip, but heard a buzzing noise from his backpack. Instantly knowing it was his phone, he dropped his backpack, hurriedly opening up a zipper to retrieve the vibrating device. He flipped open the phone's cover, giving his son a hand signal of needed privacy.

Liam understood completely, quietly retrieving his notebook and jogging over to sit on a rotten looking stump. While his father spoke words that he could not decipher from this distance, he decided now would be a good time to run through his 'Nature Notes', as he described them. Along with a short physical description of the various plants and animals he'd find, he also sketched them to the best of his young and very inexperienced abilities.

'Chicory, Daylily, and even the Rhodo…dendron? Did I spell that one right?'

He wanted to check his book of plant life to check if that mouthful of a name was correct, but simply laughed it away as he flipped to another page. But after a while of glossing over his notebook, he would soon stumble upon his old diary entries.

'Ugh, my handwriting was so bad back then.'

Truth be told, it was still horrible according to his father, but he could totally differentiate the two.

Like a gateway to the past, he read the countless mundane or even thrilling adventures a younger version of him would embark upon in his old home's backyard. Whether it was accidentally touching some poison ivy, or hunkering down underneath an overgrown tree root, there was something about this life that an older him desired so much to return to. It was simplicity, the near limitless freedom it felt like he had to explore this new and exciting world that hadn't yet shown its true colors.

Innocence.

After a while of flipping and reminiscing, he would stop upon a tiny passage with more neat handwriting - his mother's no doubt. It was a poem she wrote after her own father had died, and shared it with a young Liam. The small but beautiful verse talked about imagining yourself in a familiar forest, surrounded by all the friends and family you've come to meet in life - a paradise to call home forever. But she had only told him half of it, and said she would tell him the rest when he got older and more mature.

The boy would never get to hear the other half.

Tears would fall and stain the worn out pages as he read the poem over and over, fantasizing over a place that would never exist. A yell from across the clearing would break his emotional trance, looking behind to see his father pacing back and forth near the ridge.

Robert slammed the phone down, ending the call. He heaved in and out, feeling a toxic bile rise in his throat. His hand's grip on the phone clenched, before he hurled it off the cliffside in a blind fit of rage, screaming loudly to the heavens.

No matter how far he ran, how hard he fought, it didn't seem to matter.

The man crouched, burying his face into his hands. "What the fuck is wrong with me... " He blinked away angry tears, trying to tune out his inner thoughts.

"God…"

He would fail to register the pitter patter of soft footsteps behind him.

"... Dad?"

Robert immediately straightened up, whirling around to see an aghast Liam staring up at him. Time seemed to slow for the man as he realized there was no escaping this anymore. This was the hardest truth a father would have to tell his son. With a few solemn steps, Robert kneeled to meet Liam's height, gripping his shoulders as he focused on the boy's worried appearance - his own fear and sadness staring back.

"Liam, your mother… she's dead because of me…"

The man was able to grapple the small hand before it could pound into his chest, holding it firmly as he kept his attention on his son, who was fighting back his own angry and confused tears, uttering a whisper of a demand.

"Why…"

There was no response.

"WHY WOULD YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT?!" Another enraged fist was thrown, but caught again by his teary eyed father.

"Because there's no point in hiding it anymore - from you or myself," The man admitted. "And because… I'm scared."

"Scared?! What do you even mean?!" the boy shouted, trying to break his hands free.

Robert let go of his grasp, standing up again. There was so much he wanted to say, to explain, to make the rightfully angry child understand, but even the anger towards himself was far greater.

"... I'm scared of becoming someone who doesn't care, someone whose only goal is violence and revenge. Liam, you-"

"SHUT UP!"

The boy realized what he said and backed off, collapsing into a kneel and letting loose the flood works he's kept in for so long. Every day he would try to find a glimmer of hope in things - to pretend that there was still a life left for him, and that everything would turn out fine in the end. He cried for as long as he wanted to, not even noticing Robert silently leave to collect their belongings and walk ahead, towards the swampland, alone.

Liam would eventually look up, finding his father gaze back expectantly, waiting for him to follow along, just like many times before. The boy picked himself up, wiping away his tears with an arm as he sluggishly accompanied the man, for he was still his father at the end of the day.


Dusk was setting in, and they still had a ways to go before they could catch up with their attackers.

Jackson shattered a large stone in their path with one mighty Brick Break, reducing it to bits of rubble as he trudged past it, tagged along by a vacant looking Riolu. Whenever the Pokemon would fall into a trance of memory intakes, it gave the Lucario's scattered thoughts enough space to breathe.

However, no matter how hard he tried, the events from earlier couldn't be scrubbed from his mind. It was the first time in a while that he had an outburst like that. Years and years of scouring this world had finally seemed to take its toll on him. But a flash of his paw's orange ring would remind him that he was not alone in this fight, not for long.

He marched ahead to survey their surroundings, wondering if they should go for the highlands, or stay low in the forests to track down their past enemies.

"My mom… she's... she's dead."

Jackson stopped in his tracks, his fur bristling with horror as he sharply inhaled. He stood in silence for a solid minute, before slowly turning around to face a grief stricken Riolu, tears sliding down his muzzle.

"I can't even remember her name… or who she was… but she's dead, and I…" Liam collapsed to his knees, hyperventilating. "Is everyone I know gone?! Why am I… even here. Why..."

The Lucario calmly walked towards the upset Riolu, kneeling to reach the Pokemon's eyes. "Do you remember when I told you about my own family?"

Liam tightened a paw, "... Yeah."

"And you remember... when I told you about the son that I had lost?"

A nod was Liam's answer, "I… I do. But…"

"Get up."

"H-Huh?"

Jackson extended his paw, "I can't promise there's a light at the end, but I can't have you giving up just like this." His awaiting paw was kept still. "You and I - we're the same. We fight and fight; that is who we are. We both have duties and dreams to uphold, despite our constant setbacks in life."

The Riolu sniffled, hesitantly reaching out and grabbing the paw. The Lucario would then pull him back up to his hindpaws, looking him firmly in the eyes.

"Are you ready to accept it?"

"Accept… what?"

Jackson flipped around, resuming his hike. "That we're in this cruel world together."

Liam blinked, trudging behind his Guildmaster. "I… I guess we are, right?" He wanted to know something, to understand. "Can you… maybe tell me more about your family."

There would be no answer back as their travels into the dusky mountain continued, leading them further and further up its heavenly heights. Only when the stars became visible did the Lucario crane his head up to gaze at them, finally speaking.

"We have the whole night to talk, don't we?"


Liam lifted the lantern up, letting its smoldering flame brighten up their swampy surroundings with its radiance. Using its luminous light as a guide through the dark, he gently slogged through the murky water that nearly reached his stomach in height. His father was close behind, checking the boy's blind spots for a possible exit point.

"I remember running so far away from South Carolina, anything to just get away from the orphanage, or the violence I was so accustomed to…"

"... When did you meet mom?" Liam asked, moving aside a thorny wet branch.

Robert smiled sadly in remembrance. "I went so far as New York City, and what a crazy place that was to a country bumpkin like me." He sighed. "We, uh, met in this dinky little pizza parlor, and things just started from there."

The lantern was lifted higher, exposing the small fireflies that danced around them, their abdomens flickering to the tune of croaking frogs, buzzing insects, and a man's pained chuckle

"I told her it was cliché for a city girl to want a simple life out in the South, but she was a woman who knew what she wanted, and she got it." He inhaled, wading through deposits of algae in the lake. "I changed my name and moved back to South Carolina - built a house on the prairie with the money from my… past work, and tried to live a life I never had before."

Liam absorbed this information as he stepped onto the first piece of dry land for quite a while, removing the bits of leaves and twigs that clung to his clothes. Despite everything he heard, he knew there was more pain to uncover; there always was.

"But… that's not the full story, right, dad?"

"No, it never was."


The rocky bluffs of the greater Celestial Mountain heights proved quite difficult to navigate through in the thick of the night, with only a pale moon and a whisper of chilly wind to accompany them. Luckily, Liam had stuffed a Luminous Orb into his backpack for the trip, now using it's natural yellow glare as a beacon to guide them.

"As a kid, I was always fascinated with the stars. My mom… bless her soul, would even go out to buy me a telescope." Jackson gritted his teeth, breathing heavily. "I watched my own father strangle the life out of her one night, and all I could do was watch through a crack in the closet door - terrified. That… single fucking night was when I couldn't pretend that things were fine anymore."

Liam cringed at the details, looking down. "What, um... when did you decide you would become an outlaw?"

The Lucario snorted, "Nobody just becomes a criminal on a whim. It's always for something or someone - for money, power, fame. Every other reason under the damn sun."

"... What was yours?"

"Truthfully - chaos, the adrenaline, the rush. When you're always beaten down, it feels good to beat someone else down in return. To me, the world was nothing, and I was nothing, which meant that I could be anything if I took it by force."

They stopped a section of the trail split into two by a ravine's splintering chasm. Thankfully, the Lucario was able to scale a hill adjacent to them, lending Liam a helpful paw for him to clamber up as well, finding themselves in a place doused with deposits of rainwater.

"But you mentioned finding a Pokemon that wanted to change you?"

Jackson nodded, "That woman… I thought it was all bullshit, but she really showed me that family was everything, that I should be fighting for a better tomorrow instead." He stared into a shallow puddle, observing his distraught face. "Even now, when I'm trying to make the world a better place, I always just see past victims."


Robert stared into the puddles reflection of him, seeing a man he didn't want to recognize anymore. But he would end the staredown with himself not long after, returning to the small alcove they ducked into a while back.

The rain from their initial arrival had come back with a vengeance, pounding the Appalachian forests for what seemed like hours. Liam wanted to brave the downpour, but was swiftly prevented by his ever so protecting father, leaving them stranded until the storm had subsided. It wasn't all so bad for the young boy, however, as there was a gap in the leaves of quivering trees that allowed them to see the gleaming stars, free from a city's light pollution.

"I had never seen your mother so happy before, until you were born." Robert couldn't shake the smile appearing on his face. "She wanted to do so much more with you, and even wanted another little monster around the house - a little sibling to add into the mix."

Liam could feel the painful tears coming again, but resisted against them. He had only one simple thing one his mind, and wanted to know.

"Dad…" The boy almost choked on his words. "What were you going to name my sister?"

"It was… June. She wanted to name her June."

Now came the flood of tears from Liam, who huddled his legs together, crying for the little sister he would never play with, teach things to, or grow up with.


"What name were you going to give your son?"

"..."

Liam lay on his back, watching the ever shifting cosmos with an undeniable sadness that ruptured him to his core. But he said nothing about it to the Pokemon next to him, watching the stars as he did in his forgotten past, dreaming about the sister that never was.

Jackson opened and closed his mouth several times, sputtering out broken sentences, and wiping the wetness staining his cheeks with both paws. It took him a while to collect himself, but eventually he would open up once more.

"When I was young, there was this lone bright star I would spot with my telescope all the time. So much so that I gave it a name - Apollo."

"Is that... "

"Yes." Jackson let loose a hoarse sigh. "That was… the name I had chosen for my son - a name that's been engraved in my mind for decades."

Liam inquired nothing more, choosing to quietly admire the view above with the Lucario beside him. He couldn't stop thinking, thinking of the little sister that was lost to him, both in memory and existence - the name that she was supposed to be gifted when brought to life.

'June.'


Daybreak had finally come for the Blue Ridge Mountains, the morning sun now revealing its blinding arches through the famous blue hued curves of greenery. At the top of its quite humble peak was a hunched man, taking in the fantastic view around him with a blank expression.

Robert took a long drag of his cigarette, breathing out the toxic yet calming white smoke into the harsh gusts of air. He made sure to enjoy the sight while it lasted, knowing full well what he would return to in the coming days - the mayhem that was occurring in the city - the 'return of the old days', as he had called it.

There was no escaping it.

He took another puff, trying to think of more pleasing thoughts. The man nodded his head to the sounds of a faint banjo that carried throughout the wind. A double take would make him stand, turning around and walking towards the campsite they had set up in the sparse woods nearby. As he got closer, the music got louder and louder, and with a brushing aside of obscuring leaves, Robert was able to witness the composer behind it all finish his work.

Liam sat upon an aged tree stump, plucking away at the strings until the song that came from his heart was over. Not expecting an encore, he hopped off the large stub of wood, unwittingly bumping into his father on his trip to stow away his instrument.

"D-Dad!" The boy nearly fell over in shock. "You scared me!"

Robert laughed, "Sorry. I just couldn't help but see you play… once again." He looked down at the banjo. "I remember when I first got you that, and you were over the moon about it."

"Yeah…" Liam held it close. " I'm still practicing, but I think I really understand now!"

"That's nice..."

A breeze ran through the trees, carrying stray leaves that floated up into the cloudy blue skies. Sadness, guilt, and other emotions panged inside the estranged father, forcing him to grab onto the boy's shoulders again, needing to speak his worn out mind one last time.

"Liam, I don't want to pretend anymore that things are okay; they're not. But I want to make things better. I want you to live a life worth living, okay? I've messed up so much as a father to you, but I want to make things up." Robert stumbled on his words. "That's why I took you fishing, and brought you out here - to prove that I still want to be that person in your life."

The banjo was dropped to the ground as the boy was brought into a hug by his now crying father, but the youth did not fight it, melting into a much needed embrace. Liam sniffled, returning the hug, his emotions overwhelming him. No matter what words he said before to the man, nothing could separate them now.

"I love you, dad."

"I love you too, son."


Liam awoke peacefully, resurrected to consciousness by the rays of the morning light that reached down into the campsite and graced his face. He raised a paw to shield away the sun's brilliance, standing up and yawning away his tiredness. A glance around their makeshift encampment showed no sign of Jackson.

'That's weird… the Guildmaster's gone. Did he go out to collect berries?'

He had little time to dwell on the whereabouts of the Lucario, as his acute hearing picked up the distant noise of music in the distance - a singing banjo. Feeling entranced by it, he wandered off in the direction in which the melancholy harmony was being played. The melody's trail would lead him out of the forest's outskirts and into an open area with a large precipice, giving an impressive perspective of the progress they've made so far. However, the Riolu's attention would suddenly shift to the creator of the harmony, who was sitting by the cliffside.

"Guildmaster?"

Jackson turned his head, placing his worn out looking banjo on the grass. "You're up pretty early."

Liam blinked, pointing at the now idle instrument. "I heard you play, and decided to investigate."

An unnoticed smirk was formed, "Well, I hope you enjoyed it. It's not often that I have enough free time to play."

"I, uh, also play a little. I bought a banjo the other day in Elysium City, but I'm still learning."

"Really now…" Jackson rose, back still against the Riolu. "Maybe someday we can play together, and I can teach you." The response was wistful, hopeful even.

Liam's heart was thumping in his chest, realization hitting him like a truck. Ever since he showed up in the guild, the Guildmaster was always looking out for him. Either through teaching him how to utilize his aura, being someone to confide in, and now again with this entire trip.

He needed to know exactly why.

Liam stepped forward, "I asked you at the start of this expedition, and you didn't respond. Why… why did you only bring me along?"

The gale in the clearing picked up, whipping the fur of the two Pokemon on it as the posture of the Lucario slumped, almost defeated, his orange ring flaring. He would search the open skies for an answer to deflect, or to hide behind, but found no reason to anymore.

"Sometimes, when a man loses something dear to him, it breaks him." Jackson finally looked back, anguished tears sliding down his face. "Sometimes… a man must pretend he still has something in life to continue."

Liam approached the broken Pokemon, now understanding completely. He didn't want to pretend things were fine anymore, because they weren't. But he wasn't going to run, nor allow the grim reminder of his past to affect him now. He was here, and here to stay for the long struggles ahead.

They embraced, squeezing each other as to hopefully never let go, releasing their inner frustrations, their agony, and desires in one drawn out hug.

"Please," Jackson pleaded, closing his eyes and forgetting his responsibilities right then and there. "Please let me pretend for just a little longer."

The hug would endure, with the sun's dawn washing away those invisible stars.

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Fatherhood is difficult for those who have made mistakes along the way, and for those who could never experience it at all...


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Next Time: The Riolu At The Top Of The World
 
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Chapter 19: The Riolu At The Top Of The World

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Chapter 19

The Riolu At The Top Of The World

It was another bright and sunny day on Celestial Mountain. For the members of the Cosmic Quilt Guild that set off nearly a week ago to scale its mighty presence, the end was just in sight. And for one team leader atop a green hill, that meant one more push until they would reach the peak.

"For the love of… can you erase that part about my mom, Braix?"

"Why, Mony?" she asked with a perplexed turn of her fluffy ears. "My parents always liked to talk with your mother all the time."

"Ugh… at least put a good word about me in there, so mom will see it."

Braixen laughed as Monferno crossed his arms, analyzing the scrap of paper she was diligently writing away at. He glazed over sections of shining achievements Braixen had earned over her brief few years at the guild - being one of the best field duty members, and now a nurse in training under the guidance of an expert like Hatterene.

Monferno knew she was going places, but couldn't see any achievements like those under his belt.

"You should really write to your mom someday," Braixen remarked, tapping her chin with a quill. "I'm sure she wants to hear all about the missions you and I have done ever since we joined."

"… I don't think that's a good idea, Braix," Monferno admitted, deeply inhaling. "Not sure if she'd want to hear about me, at least for a while, until I can show her… something."

Searching his mind for anything of value to say about himself to his mother brought up nothing as always. He didn't know if she would appreciate it, anyway.

"What about you being our team leader for this expedition? Scizor doesn't make mistakes often."

Monferno snorted, "Yeah, real proud of him for making me the babysitter of this trip." He threw his arms up. "Rockruff's done nothing but get on everyone's nerves, and Leafeon can't even get Shaymin to stop skipping dungeons and go in with the team!"

His words proved to be perfect timing, as just over the range's rugged horizons came a soaring Shaymin, grinning cockily. The Grass-type glided over to the pair resting on a grassy ridge, making circles around them, before landing with style, much to the dismay of a certain Fire-type.

"How's it goin', mates? You blokes ready to make the trek up to the peak yet? I haven't seen skies this clear and open since the Shaymin Village."

Braixen's authoritative side kicked in. "Shaymin, you shouldn't be ignoring the plans of the team leader. The group is supposed to work as one, and it can't operate well if our best flier disappears every now and then."

"Yeah, I think everyone, including Leafeon, is getting sick of your shenanigans," Monferno added, receiving a set of furious eyes from Shaymin.

"Listen here, no 'mon just gets to boss me around all day - especially some no talent bludger like yourself! Now, I'll help with spottin', but I'm not gonna be your little lackey to command around."

Before either of the two could respond, Shaymin took off with an angry leap over the cliffside, gliding away from the group camp and her troubles.

"… Man, what a bitch."

"Monferno!"

He shot her an incredulous look. "Braix, I know you're thinking what I'm thinking. I don't see how the Guildmaster even puts up with her antics."

The fire fox sighed - as much as she wanted to be professional around her colleagues in the guild, Monferno was right - some just wanted to be a thorn in her side at times.

"That Lucario works in mysterious ways, Mony. I'm sure she'll come to her senses one day, or Leafeon will make sure she is." She stood, gathering her letter and patting Monferno on the shoulder. "And… I don't think you're untalented at all, Mony."

"Appreciate the praise, Braix, but I don't really have the authority like the Guildmaster or Scizor to lead you guys."

"You led us all the way up the tallest mountain in the world to our team's last checkpoint." Braixen smiled. "To lead an organized crew like us, I think that takes a lot of talent."

Before the Fire-type could respond, a child-like voice would pick up behind. Turning around, they could see Minun running as fast he could on his stubby legs over to them, firmly holding his ELE in a paw.

"Monferno! I've just got a word from Scizor! He said his group is going to regroup with ours in a few minutes!"

"That all?" Monferno approached the Electric-type. "Did Scizor mention anything about that place they found?"

Minun shook his head, "He just said for you to look out for them near our camp's edges."

"Got it."

Fulfilling his new duty, Monferno hopped down from the grassy cliff, going past their campsite and scaling a nearby hill to get a good vantage point of the surrounding mountainous region. With them being this high up, trees were scarce, giving him perfect vision of other Pokémon. And after a while of scouting, he could see the weary group traverse through a valley of rocks, straight towards their camp's location.

'Man, even Roark looks like he went through the wringer.'

Once the encroaching group was in speaking distance, Monferno left the hill to greet them, curious of what the discoveries that his own team failed to locate.

"Well? What's the scoop on the place you guys found?"

Scizor took a deep breath, glancing at each member of his group, who silently gave him the floor to speak his fascinated mind. "We had found an abandoned mine from long ago, which held a secret entrance guarded by Psychic-type powers. Inside… we uncovered the ruins of a Mystery Dungeon investigation project… which was helmed by the Legendaries of the past themselves."

Monferno was now positive that he had been given the short end of the stick. "Legendaries?!… You're all pulling a prank on me, right? I didn't expect Scizor to do this also, but that's just crazy talk."

"Ain't crazy talk, Mony," Roark spoke up, jabbing a claw at the filled rucksack slung around Charizard's shoulder. "I saw it myself. And since you obviously can't believe me, we took those Projection Crystals they used with us."

Monferno's jaw dropped, "Okay… I'll believe you all for just a quick second. Tell me just why some powerful and all knowing Legendaries would hang out in a mine to study dungeons?"

"With us we have brought their mission statement and eventual evacuation, Monferno," Scizor replied. "More will be discussed once the expedition has concluded."

"Uhuh… I'm sure the Guildmaster will be pleased."

Garchomp stepped forward, "Speaking of which, has your group been contacted by Jackson at all in the past few days?"

Scizor nodded, "The conversation between the Guildmaster and I concerning the site was suddenly cut off, which has led us to wonder if he has mentioned anything to you."

Monferno shrugged, "Minun said he couldn't catch his signal or something. All I've done is follow my orders and get to the final checkpoint."

A soft voice in the group's back finally spoke up. "Do you… do you think the Guildmaster and Liam may have been, um, injured somewhere?" Gloria's mind festered with worry over the pair, Liam in particular, who was always prone to recklessness.

Roark chuckled, "Can't be, sis. Those two are a powerful bunch together, I bet."

Garchomp grinned at his words, "Right, our best option right now is waiting for those two to come straight here-"

Her presumed plan of action was swiftly cut off by the sound of frantic wing flaps, which belonged to a panicking Staravia, who zipped their way at an alarming speed.

"S-Scizor and Monferno! Quick! You all n-need to come and see who Rockruff found near our camp!"

Monferno raised a brow, "Rockruff found who? That 'mon is always making up stories and other junk. What makes you think this one is true?"

Staravia sputtered, "No! Th-his one is actually true! I saw the Pokémon - he's like the ones with f-freaky antler horns and strange clothing like Rockruff s-said! Tell them, Joltik!"

From the avian's back came a shrill cry of agreement, courtesy of the tiny yellow arachnid clung to the bird.

A gasp emanated from Aggron. "Lad, did you say that Pokémon wore antler horns and strange garments?"

"Y-Yes!"

Charizard growled, thinking of his stolen nap. "Those little tribals… It's gotta be them."

Garchomp spared her metallic ally a glance. "Aggron, you think this 'mon's part of the same group that…"

"Aye. We need to hurry and find that kid right away, for that Pokémon may be preparing an ambush."

"Wait!" Gloria yelled. "What if that Pokémon just wanted to talk to us?"

Scizor steeled himself, "Your skepticism is noted, Gloria. I hope diplomacy can work, but we will have to see… Staravia, guide us to Rockruff immediately."

"Right away!"

The Flying-type flew through the camp again, with the group, excluding Monferno, hot on his tail in pursuit of the strange Pokemon.

Monferno sighed, shaking his head. "Can't believe that mutt was actually right. I'm never gonna hear the end of it from him…"

The Fire-type's brief lamenting over his disbelief would soon end by the paws of an approaching Braixen, who paused to stare at the newly arrived group of Pokémon bolting off.

"I see Scizor's team is here. Do… you know why they just ran off?"

"Yeah, we're gonna need to get the rest of our team up and ready to fight or something, cause apparently this mountain isn't home to nobody."


Garchomp led the vanguard of her allies and accompanying guild members, with Gloria just beside her, curious to confront the identity of the Pokémon that had attacked them. Along the way, every other member of Monferno's team would accompany them, just as curious as the snow fox.

She had only hoped this encounter would not end in violence.

The combined team's short embankment through the camp would end at its outskirts, where they see in plain sight an injured Grovyle, who bore an incredible resemblance to Staravia's description. It was slumped over near a rock wall, with Rockruff close by, who instantly became aware of the group's presence.

"Guys! Look! I told you I wasn't lying!"

Garchomp immediately stomped over, causing the Grovyle to stand weakly, preparing for a fight that it could never hope to win.

"I assume you are part of the group that attacked my friends?" The dragon narrowed her draconian slits. "Care to explain yourselves?"

The Grovyle heaved out a sigh, now standing firmly. "We… we did not set out our intentions to harm, but to protect our families against a force we thought had returned to hurt us and Celestial Mountain."

"Protect?! You lot ambushed us from the cliffs!" Charizard roared, to the agreeing growls of Aggron and Tyranitar.

The Grovyle flinched, "Yes, but there was a plausible reason for us to initiate first. Please understand that we made a crucial mistake in identifying you as intruders." He said with sincerity lining his voice. "This… Rockruff, your 'guild member' had explained to me that you are not who we thought you were."

"But wait!" Gloria shouted, her mind burning with questions. "We had gone into the expedition thinking there were no Pokémon living on the mountain, but you said you attacked us to protect your families here? Is your group… native to this place?"

The Grovyle was going to respond, if it weren't for another voice interrupting him - the gruff voice of the Guildmaster.

"They are, Gloria. And they will also answer more questions."

From behind the wall of stone, two backpack wearing Lucario and Riolu jumped down, landing beside the gathering of onlookers. Jackson would spare no time in hastily approaching the stunned Grovyle, glaring intensely at him.

"A full explanation would suffice for my guild members, beginning with your tribe's identity."

Grovyle clenched a hand, "... It is only fair… very well." He straightened up his posture, pulling off the antler horns tied to his head. "I am a member of the Followers Of Life. It is my duty to my clan and our goddess to protect the lives of fellow Pokémon."

"Sure didn't hesitate in trying to take ours…" Roark remarked.

Scizor's mouth slowly parted, "The… Followers Of Life? Surely you are not mistaken?"

Jackson held up a paw, "He speaks the truth, Scizor. If I am correct, your clan is located near the peak?"

Grovyle raised a brow, "That… Yes, yes we are. I lead teams of Pokémon around the mountain to survey it, and make sure there is peace."

Gloria frowned, stepping forward as well. "If your clan wanted to ensure peace, then why do you have ill intentions with this other group?"

Murmurs of agreement emitted from the guild members, rebuffing Grovyle's stance.

"This other group… They came to this mountain long ago, aiming to dig up that abandoned mine. An argument between us and them began…" The Grass-type inhaled sharply. "Then a fight broke out, and numerous members of our clan were killed. We managed to force them into retreating, but it left a heavy toll on us…"

Garchomp glowered at him, "I get it that your clan was wounded over that incident, but why attack us first if we showed no harm to the mountain, or your Pokémon."

More whispers were uttered, causing the cornered Grass-type to flinch.

"I gave out the order to ambush the two groups we had spotted near the statues. I… I did it because I couldn't risk our brothers and sisters getting hurt again."

Before anyone else could respond, Jackson placed himself between Grovyle and the rest of the group, narrowing his eyes.

"You said this other group traveled to this mountain to unearth that mine - who was that group?"

Grovyle gritted his teeth, thinking of that fateful day once more. "They were… strange. They carried these metal tubes around their backs that sounded like an erupting volcano, and wore armbands."

Liam, who was standing by the sidelines simply watching, racked his brain. He knew that Council guards carried around rifles, but the armband part was something also familiar to him. Nonetheless, his mind was so scrambled from the past few days that he couldn't fabricate an identity of these individuals, but kept that thought in mind.

Scizor also calculated the Pokemon's words, his eyes slowly enlarging. "Did you say… armba-" He was cut off by Jackson's raised paw.

"Grovyle, where are your other men? I noticed you were in the group that ambushed me and the Riolu over there, but I do not see them with you now…"

Grovyle held his injured arm. "Yes… that Mega Evolved form of yours greatly shocked us. And as for my allies, they are here right now in hiding, as I came out to peacefully investigate this camp."

After his explanation, the surrounding bushes and the verdant leaves of nearby trees began to rustle, revealing stowed away members of Grovyle's group. They then circled the group of guild members once more, but held no malicious intentions this time.

"We do not wish to fight you again, travelers," Grovyle said, holding out a leafy appendage for Jackson to shake. "We wish to make amends with your guild, and prove that we are Pokémon to be trusted."

The sturdy Lucario would analyze each clan member that surrounded them, studying their somber and regretful faces, before returning his attention to Grovyle. He would accept the pawshake, relaxing many in the group.

"Your clan's village is near the peak, correct? My guild's expedition was set to end once we reached the summit."

"Then it would be an honor to show your guild our village, as we do not get outsiders often, besides a Lycanroc clan that braves the trip to meet us."

Rockruff felt like he was about to explode in excitement, wanting to say something, but failing to find a moment in between Grovyle's offer.

"Come - we will guide you there, and I will convince our elder to arrange a grand feast in the night to celebrate your hard work in scaling this mountain, and… as a way to apologize for our misguided actions."

His parting words were enough to convince the majority of the guild, who were eager for some actual cooked food for once in this trip.

Jackson ended the exchange, turning around to address his own Pokémon. "Listen up! In about an hour, we will follow Grovyle and his men up the mountain to his clan's village! I expect for you all to be on best behavior, so pack up this camp and get ready for our final journey here!"

With their Guildmaster's command, and the promise of a feast in their name, each member of the guild quickly got to work, dismantling the camp's tents and equipment while Team Drarosteel chatted with Jackson.

Liam didn't follow his comrades, instead searching the sea of Pokémon to find the one he sought after. And then he locked eyes with her, who returned her gaze, the two of them now staring at each other with bated breath. They would eventually walk slowly to meet, never breaking eye contact.

"Hey."

"… Hey."

Their bottled up emotions would open up as they suddenly hugged, the two partners of Team Requiem now finally reunited. After being separated for almost an entire week, they could tell at a glance that the other had been through a lot - emotionally and physically.

Gloria broke free, smiling with an embarrassed blush covering her muzzle. "I, um, hope you had fun hiking with the Guildmaster. I know I did… discovering the Legendaries project and all."

She thought of Roark and Garchomp's constant encouragement throughout the expedition, the discovery of the mine's secrets, and even finding Victini's grave. And no matter what, the Vulpix could never stop thinking about what it takes to be a hero - the sacrifices one must take for a better tomorrow.

Liam returned the expression, "We did have fun - lots of it." He laughed, pointing a paw at his large backpack. "We even had the idea to take our banjos with us, so we played together a lot in the night."

He thought of the various obstacles he and the Lucario crossed - the countless Mystery Dungeons they conquered, the area of exploding geysers they crossed, and even the pain and trauma inside they fought together. A broken man who desperately wanted to be a father, and a lost boy who had no family to call his own anymore.

Before Gloria could respond, a set of crimson claws would find themselves on their pair's shoulders. A quick glance to determine their owner would find the visage of a smirking Roark.

"Well, the dream team is back in fighting form, eh? But don't you two have some more work to be done until we reach the peak?" He threw a claw to his left, motioning back to the working guild members still packing up the camp. "Help this poor old fox, will ya?"

Help they did, because soon they would witness a sight few Pokémon would ever see in their lives.


"Please keep to the path - the village is just past these statues."

Grovyle's entourage led the members of the guild up the grassy slopes of the cliffside, scaling a paved dirt trail that extended into a small lush forest. They would pass more deer-like statues and aged signs.

"Mreow~… ugh." Purloin huffed, Mightyena assisting her with walking. "This trail is not fit for a lady! Your clan should seriously- ouch!" she stepped on a pebble, hissing slightly, "-Consider stairs."

Monferno groaned back, "You've complained the entire trip, princess. They ain't just gonna roll out a red carpet for us."

The glare and haughty eye roll was the cat's response.

Grovyle sighed, "Yes, I apologize, Miss Purloin. We have been able to grow our food here on the mountain just fine for years. But our lack of contact with others on this continent hasn't allowed us much materials to work with."

"I've read about your clan before, albeit not much," Scizor mentioned. "But I've seen tales that say your tribe has members around the world, and whose origins possibly date back a couple millennia."

Shock and awe was present on almost everyone's faces in the group, who couldn't imagine a clan that old lasting into the modern age.

"You have done your homework, I see," Grovyle replied, smiling. "The village is just up ahead, and we will discuss our proper history once we enter."

With no more words to be shared between the two parties, they took their last few steps up the trail and past the trees and greenery that blocked the view of distant houses and other statues. Just beyond this hall of nature was a wooden gate already open for them, allowing the large group of Pokemon to enter without trouble, entering what seemed to be the square of the village.

Decorated hamlets dotted the treeline row to row, with growing vegetation that clung to the wood and windows of some, giving it a touch of the environment. Strands of blue and yellow cloth were strung along nearly every home and small shop, matching the colored clothing the Pokemon walking the paved roads were wearing. However, the most impressive centerpiece of the square was a massive stone statue of a deer-like Pokemon. It held significant resemblance to the other crumbled and withered effigies located all across the mountain, with its large antlers and lithe frame. Many of the native Pokemon stood by this statue, praying to it.

For even a place as remote as this, to call it lively would be an understatement.

"Wow… can't believe Pokémon actually live this high up," Roark said, shaking his head - gobsmacked. "Now, you can't tell me you guys couldn't fit a bar or something."

Grovyle laughed, "We do get to trade with this 'Council' in the cities below, so we do have some drinks of the… alcoholic variety."

"Haha! I'll take all my previous comments back!" Charizard yelled, pumping a clawed fist up.

"Aye, just save some for us…ya big bellied hog," Aggron grumbled.

Liam observed the large stone figure in the square's center, searching his mind again for that familiar feeling he felt. He knew he had seen this Pokémon before, and only after a small amount of consideration did he recognize it. He opened his mouth, ready to confirm his suspicions.

"Is that statue… of Xerneas?"

"Yes…" Scizor mouthed, now remembering the passages he read long ago. "The Followers of Life are also devoted followers of Xerneas, the Goddess of Life Eternal."

Grovyle nodded, admiring the icon before them. "No matter what part of this planet you find us, we will always dedicate ourselves to living in Xerneas's image. And here, we-"

"Is that you, Grovyle?" an elderly female voice questioned, beckoning everyone's attention

"Grandmother?"

From the doorway of an odd looking cottage across the square, an old Leavanny slowly shuffled her way over to the group, adopting a motherly smile that suited her age.

"My, and even brought in travelers from your guard outing?"

A nervous sweat would form on the Grass-type's forehead. "I… yes, but I brought them here to make amends with a feast later tonight after we mistakenly attacked them."

The Leavanny covered her mouth with a leafy hand. "Well, I'm glad you apologized, then." She averted her careful gaze from Grovyle to the newly arrived group. "So many of you… and is it true that you all will stay for tonight?"

Jackson approached the Bug-type, "Yes, ma'am. My guild has come here to witness the peak - we then will leave in the morning." He scrutinized their surroundings, looking for a particular building. "Where can I find your elder's quarters? There is a matter of importance that I would like to discuss."

The leafy appendage of Leavanny would point to a grand structure near the end of the village, covered with blue and yellow banners with tinted glass windows adorning the sides.

"Elder Sawsbuck will be happy to speak with you, dear." Leavanny bowed. "As for the rest of you, I'm sure Grovyle and his men can take you to the peak, and even come back before the elder begins the fest."

"Uhh…" Grovyle blinked, realizing the new task assigned to him. "I'll most definitely escort them to the peak, and also tell the elder of their temporary stay." He raised an arm, giving way for multiple guards to head towards the large building.

"That would be appreciated, right, Scizor?" Garchomp asked, tapping the spaced out Bug-type with a talon. "We might be able to find more clues up there."

"... Right." Scizor cleared his throat, acknowledging the look of approval Jackson gave him. "If any of you wish to accompany us to the peak, then stay here near the statue. Otherwise, you are free to wander the village until dinner later tonight."

Liam had already chosen his path - he was finally ready to see the summit of Celestial Mountain.

Leavanny cleared her throat as well. "It would also be an honor to show some of you fine folk of our long history at our archives - if you wish to keep an old lady company for a bit, of course."

There seemed to be no takers, until a small white paw hesitantly rose amongst the group. Gloria stepped forward, holding her scarf firmly.

"Um, would… you show me the archives? I'd love to know a lot more about your clan."

Leavanny seemed delighted to hear her acceptance, crossing her arms together. "Why, yes! Just follow me, dear!" She strolled down an opposite path, further in the village, expecting the Vulpix to follow behind.

Gloria heeded the aged bug's advice, breaking away to trot behind Leavanny. She would momentarily glance back, locking eyes with Liam, both of them acknowledging that they would see each other later that day. Roark would also make sure to send her a wave of his claw, silently telling her to have fun.

Eventually, the rest of the group would either stay with Grovyle and the rest of the guards, or break apart exploring the village and chatting away about the new sights. Jackson would immediately excuse himself, heading straight towards the elder's abode. However, before he could make it across the village, a red pincer would tap him on his shoulder.

"Guildmaster, I... want to talk with you privately."

"... Fine."

The Lucario readjusted his route, taking a right into a part of the village where natives or members of the guild were loitering around. He would turn, facing his loyal advisor and giving him the floor to continue.

"A few days ago, our conversation was suddenly cut short, and neither me or Minun were able to contact your ELE."

"I accidentally dropped it off a cliff, but don't worry - once we leave this mountain, we will travel as an entire group to avoid communication issues." Jackson explained. "Now, was that all you wanted to discuss until we went over the details of your team's findings?"

Scizor bit his tongue, "Yes… there is something else." He paused to look around, making sure nobody was near to hear. "That Grovyle mentioned something about a group of Pokemon wearing armbands that came here long ago to excavate the mine. That group… he's talking about the Alignment - the Pokemon that helped build the Eden Theater."

"I know, but I'm more concerned with finding out what knowledge the Legendaries might have accumulated from their findings. I want a full report on it once we're back at the guild, so the others can be informed about it."

Scizor nodded, "It will be done, but…" The Bug-type inhaled, slowly exhaling." There's a matter of the Council that we need to address. More specifically, the ultimatum they gave us the other day."

Jackson remembered the day they had first arrived in Elysium City by carriage, and the pair were approached by members of the Council guard, as a request of the Council members themselves. The brief meeting was a direct message to the Cosmic Quilt Guild, in that they were authorized to disclose any of their potential findings within Celestial Mountain to them.

The Lucario would do no such thing.

"The Council understands the importance and reputation my guild has acquired over the years. I have called their bluff, and we will not yield to them under pressure."

"Guildmaster... I don't want to see them close this guild down - they shouldn't have the right to do it. We are so… so close to finding out this world's secrets. Just a little more time and we can... "

"Jackson! It's been a bit since we've talked!"

Loudly stomping over, the friendly yet intimidating presence of Garchomp was immediately known. "Spoke with Aggron and Tyranitar, and they were pleased about the expedition. But I'm curious… how did you know about the Followers of Life being here?"

Jackson's attention shifted to Garchomp, then back to Scizor. "The first thing we'll do when we're back at the guild is prepare to find that second location you mentioned. Once we do, we'll immediately set out to find it." He brushed past the sandshark, retracing his steps back to the elder's quarters.

"... Well, that Lucario is the same he's always been," Garchomp lamented.

"... You know that's not true." Scizor sighed. "This whole endeavor has put us both under monumental stress, and I'm not sure if the guild will live to even see it, or even I…"

"Whatever happens, you know that my team will always be sticking up for you guys." She grinned. "Heck, just say the word and we'll help you with scouting out that second location."

He grinned back slightly, "... I'd like that. Thank you… again, Garchomp."

She chuckled, turning around. "C'mon, let's go see if there's anything of interest near the peak. I know you're dying to see it."

The Bug-type peered up at the blue sky for answers, guidance, hope, or anything that could help show him and his colleagues a tomorrow where the ley lines didn't threaten this world. Since the day his village vanished, he's been searching, and now he's been given a lead by the Legendaries of the past. With their failures in mind, he would make sure they would not fail this time.

Scizor knew he would not let go of it - no matter what.

"I guess I am."


"I see… Thank you for telling me of their arrival. I will gladly attend the feast for our guests. And please make sure their accommodations for tonight are well. Dismissed."

The two guards bid their elder farewell, making their exit. They strode across the blue and yellow carpet, releasing the creaky wooden double doors to the outside world. Once they were gone, the orange autumn colored Sawsbuck would saunter back to his couch, resting his weary form. Everyday he grew more tired, and every time he woke up, he'd wonder what day would be his last.

Before he could close his eyes once more to rest, a creaking of the double doors would resound through the room. Sawsbuck curiously tilted his head, wondering who the sole Pokemon that entered was - A Zoroark.

Roark looked around, his gaze finding a confused Pokemon staring back. "Huh, guess this wasn't the village bar I was looking for... "

Sawsbuck was silent, but eventually chuckled softly. "It would appear not, sir. Are you one of these 'guild members' that are visiting us?"

The fox shrugged, "I'm more of their errand boy, but, eh, I still consider myself a part of the gang. And no need to call me sir." He chuckled to himself. "Already turned forty and I don't need more reminders that I'm growing old over here."

"Ha, I wish I didn't have to remind myself too."

The Zoroark moseyed on over to a set of shelves and cabinets that lined the wooden walls of the room. Books, masks, bottles full of liquid, and various other items were placed neatly on them. He ran a claw across a dust covered bottle, attempting to decipher any names he would recognize.

"So, what kind of crazy drinks do you guys keep around here? Tribes always have some weird voodoo concoction that'll make ya hallucinate flying Mareep and stuff."

Sawsbuck laughed again, "Sorry to disappoint; we don't have anything like that. But… I do want to ask a question."

"Shoot."

"You act very… young and rambunctious for your age. It's not something I encounter often when talking to my fellow clan members, Zoroark."

The fox grabbed a glass, swishing its contents around. "Roark. You can call me Roark."

Sawsbuck arched an eyebrow, "You… have a name? Not many Pokémon adopt names, besides titles and such…"

"Heh, you should see this other Riolu kid I know. And this sweet little dork of a Vulpix I call my sister." He smirked, picking up another bottle. "You got any actual alcohol in this place? I didn't climb the tallest mountain in the world to go on a sober streak, y'know?"

Sawsbuck sighed, eyeing the many bottles on the shelves and reminiscing of a time when he would drink with the Pokémon he called his friends - all gone to the passage of time, now kept under Xerneas' watchful gaze. But seeing time fly by was always more noticeable by an old man like himself.

"Roark… why do you drink?"

A shrug was the fox's response. "Why do we do anything on this rock? Why do us 'mons feel the need to become heroes, explore the world, or solve mysteries and junk." He twisted open a bottle, taking a whiff of its berry aroma. "We do it because we like it, and want more of that feeling. Call me an alcoholic, but I drink because it makes me feel alive and young."

"And… you don't have feelings or regrets that you wash down through a bottle?"

"…"

Roark squeezed the bottle in his grasp, careful not to break and spill its contents on the carpet. His mind was shrouded in a perpetual fog over that question, wondering the answer to it himself.

"... Way back when, I used to live in a small city on the Mist Continent, and my job, well, my only way of living was through robbin' 'mons in the alleys between the markets in broad daylight." He chuckled again, rocking the bottle back and forth in his claws. "Pretty damn good at it, too - even got myself known as the Zoroark who didn't know how to make illusions. And when the sun would set, I would climb on a tall building and just… drink."

"But you're here now," Sawsbuck assured. "You're a member of this guild, and you have a sister and friends to call your own."

"Yeah, I sure do."

"So, is there still another reason you drink to this day?"

"In the past, I wasn't just stealing to get by. I was trying to find someone, but I couldn't help but get caught up with the law."

"Did you ever find this Pokémon?"

Roark looked up at the ornate ceiling, sighing. "Nah… well…" He smiled, thinking way back. "I did find someone long ago, but I still wonder about it every now and then. Where are they now? Are they looking for me? What is…" He held the drink close, thinking of that fateful day. "My purpose."

Sawsbuck leaned back, closing his eyes. "Life always has a purpose, Roark. Regardless of what path or aspiration you take, what you do will always hold meaning to someone. That someone in my life would be my dearest daughter, but finding purpose midst completion of one's goals in life... that is difficult."

Roark clicked his tongue, "Bit too late for me to be a father, but I do have my little sister to protect. She… is really the reason I get up a lot of times in the morning." He snorted. "That or there's someone in the guild that needs pranking badly."

The elderly Grass-type chortled, raising a cloven hoof towards one of the closed shelves in the corner of the room.

"That cabinet there houses some aged tonics and wine. Make sure to bring me a glass as well."


"Wow! This place is really large, Miss Leavanny!"

"Oh, please, dear, you don't need to call me 'Miss' or anything."

Their small adventure through the quiet village ended at a building which supposedly housed artifacts and records of past members of the Followers of Life. The section about artifacts excited Gloria the most, who always wanted to see more relics of a bygone era.

The cream colored Vulpix entered the rather spacious museum of history, plodding around to check out the numerous strange and rather decrepit looking objects laying on plaques. Leavanny would follow her, exposing each and every one.

"Ah, that glossy stone there is actually a Mega Stone! Its origins here most likely date back thousands of years, when kings and queens would Mega Evolve for grand battles against their foes."

"Really?!"

The Grass-type nodded, "Mhm! We firmly believe that Mega Evolution is directly tied to Xerneas' power, which was most likely shared to us a long, long time ago."

If the Vulpix had a quill on her, she would get to writing these descriptions down immediately. Nonetheless, she eagerly went to another exhibit, tilting her head at its strangeness.

It was a mural carved into a stone tablet, which was beyond damaged, with only a small chunk of it being salvaged from the looks of it. But what could be gleaned from the painting was a gathering of Pokémon. After squinting hard, Gloria was able to make out the clear depictions of Xerneas and a Lurantis standing before a crowd.

"What… is this supposed to mean?"

Leavanny studied the mural, "While our records aren't the most accurate, we know for sure that we dug up this tablet in the ruins of a city that we… have come to find is the very first civilization to grace this earth, and our clan's origins."

Gloria's jaw almost dropped, staring wide-eyed at her. "You're kidding, right? I thought that city was just a rumor that explorers told in novels!"

Leavanny nodded, "Yes, my dear. Only buried bits of chiseled stone remain inside the earth, and our exodus from other continents to find it was a lucky stroke for us." She stepped over to a large map of the Celestic Continent, tapping a location near Celestial Mountain. "Right beside this mountain is where that city emerged, and we Followers of Life are closest to both Xerneas' resting place... and our journey's starting point."

Gloria strolled over to the many bookshelves that lined the walls, wondering just how much history there was to uncover. But something the Bug-type said irked her a little, and interest tugged at her mind.

"You said… 'Xerneas' resting place'. Does your clan know what happened to Xerneas or Arceus?"

"Ah, my dear, now that is a story." Leavanny followed the Vulpix's wandering gaze, picking up a dusty book and flipping to a specific page. "The details are fuzzy, but the elders over the past millennia have come to a conclusion that Xerneas perished in a fight with her rival and opposite in life… Yveltal, the God of Death, in that city."

The fox's ears perked up, "... Yveltal? Wait! Are you saying that Yveltal, um, killed her in battle?"

Leavanny chuckled, "No, my dear. Those two are equals in everything - both in balance of life and death, and power. Neither could truly kill each other, and nor could any other Legendary Pokémon, for they truly are manifestations of Arceus' will given physical form." She bowed her head. "Sadly, our archives do not store any information about Arceus. I am sorry to disappoint you, my dear."

"No, no!" Gloria sputtered, "I really am learning a lot right now! But… if you say the two of them could never really die, then how come you say Xerneas perished in that fight?"

Leavanny inhaled, "That… my child, is something that not even I or any elder of the past could come to comprehend." She took out another book, turning the grimy pages. "While we have concrete evidence that Yveltal is still dormant within that city, the whereabouts of Xerneas has eluded us since our very existence."

"Dormant? You mean…"

"Yes. Yveltal lives, but in a cocooned state. We assume he drained enough power in that fight long ago to return to this form. However, the energy he needs to recover is something no Pokémon or Legendary could offer."

Gloria frowned, taking a shot in the dark. "Maybe Arceus could have revived him with his powers?"

"Ah, yes! That is something the elder and I have considered once." The Bug-type grew a wide smile, crossing her arms. "You're a very bright young lady, aren't you?"

"Thanks, nanny, I-" Gloria immediately stopped herself from continuing, a blush burning her muzzle. "I… um, I…"

"Nanny?" Leavanny crooned, nostalgia flooding her senses. "My, I haven't been called that in such a long time! Do you consider me one?"

"No! I…" The Vulpix cringed, squinting her eyes." Sorry, you just sounded and talked a lot like a Pokémon I once knew, and I blurted something stupid out."

"You don't have to apologize, dear. I think it's very sweet of you to still think of that presence in your life." She tilted her head. "Is she still around?"

"... Um, no. She passed away when I was just a kid."

"... My deepest sympathies, dear."

With the resurgence of buried emotions she held as a child, Gloria sat on the floor, gliding past memories in her head. She remembered her nanny led her out of the village whenever her parents were gone on missions, and into a town below with the biggest supply of books the young Vulpix had ever seen. They would scour the shelves, read, and pass theories around to their heart's content. At that time, the Vulpix saw a sweet old woman looking to spend quality time with someone else, and her nanny saw the child as someone who needed to see more than just her snowy village.

In this time, Gloria felt pinprick-like tears welling up at the loss she faced when so young. Her sudden emotional shift would be broken by a leafy appendage resting on her paw.

"Mortality is something we all must endure. None of our families, our friends, or anything strangers we meet are safe." Leavanny kneeled, keeping her arm on the fox. "I'm positive your nanny desired the best life for you. And look at you now - a smart girl in a guild ready to take on the world, right? Don't forget you climbed this impervious mointain, and that means you can overcome life's obstacles."

Gloria sniffled, tears still building up in her blue orbs. "I did… I did do this, didn't I? I left my village, I joined the guild, and I'm right here talking to you because I've chosen this path."

"Yes…" Leavanny stood back up. "You can look back at the past that held all your doubts and know that you made it. If your nanny was still with us, I assure you that she would be proud to see you now."

The Vulpix wiped her wet cheeks, happy to bid her sensitive emotions farewell once again. She knew for sure that would come out of this expedition a different Pokémon, a more reassured one. With Garchomp's mentorship, the fate of a heroic Victini, and Leavanny's kind words, she couldn't stop anymore - not like the world would give her a chance that it never gave anyone else.

"She would be…"


"Just pour it in the bowl - thank you."

The Zoroark heeded the deer's advice, sitting down and tipping the unique looking bottle of wine into a wooden bowl beside the kneeling Sawsbuck. The fox then kept the bottle to himself, taking the occasional greedy gulp.

Roark peeled his lips from the aged glass. "Gotta say… you 'mons make some fine wine for practically being hermits." He took another sip. "Just glad you guys weren't cultists or anything."

Sawsbuck guffawed at his claims. "I would hope we aren't seen as that to travelers. We are religious indeed, but our morals are most important."

"Cool, but if there's some sacrifice to Xerneas that requires a Zoroark… count me out."

The elder laughed heartily again, lapping up a good amount of his alcoholic serving.

"Tell me, Roark. What is your biggest fear in life?"

The fox halted his next big swig, placing the bottle down and clicking his tongue in thought. He was not the kind Pokemon for a bleeding heart analysis about himself, but he would try.

"Well, any brother in the world would say losing their sibling, or not being there for them… but if there's something else creeping into view, then it's what I said earlier - lack of purpose, I guess."

"Purpose… As an elder, I struggle with finding purpose to still be one with so many young and bright Pokemon living here to take the reigns." Sawsbuck groaned, his weak body getting the best of him. "I am far too weak to leave this place to even see my daughter, and I know my time is coming - and with it my purpose. I once promised here that I would never leave her… a foolish thing, I know."

"Yeah, I know all about making promises here." Roark sighed, finishing off the bottle. "When you got a sister as talented and with a future that bright, sometimes you wonder if you've completed whatever purpose life gave you. And-" He paused momentarily, squeezing the empty bottle. "And well… I guess I can't complain about something like that, but it does make me wonder if there's more in store for this old has-been."

Sawsbuck nodded, "We see to that together, Roark." He slowly curved his neck to stare at a clock on a wall, noticing just how much time flew by. "Well, I would advise you to return to Grovyle to witness the peak for yourself."

"Yeah… you're probably right." Roark set the glass down, standing up. "Was fun drinking with you, elder, but I got a little sister to embarrass out there, so you take care now, old man."

Sawsbuck grinned, "You are not so far from my age, Roark. You will soon know what it feels like to be so sore when you walk."

With a trademark parting chuckle from the dark fox, Roark waltzed over to the large double doors, stepping back in surprise as they opened by themselves, and another Pokémon entered - a Shiny Lucario.

"What's up, Guildmaster?"

Jackson silently glared at the fox, feeling that same spark of guilt shoot through him. The Zoroark stared back, wearing a slightly amused expression.

"Stand aside."

"You got it, boss."

Roark allowed the Lucario to pass, exiting himself as Jackson entered and marched straight towards the caught off guard Sawsbuck.

"So, you are the leader of this guild I've been hearing about? To start off, I am deeply sorry for the attacks my clan put your Pokémon through. I hope we did not jeopardize any mission you came here for."

"Thank you, but no - our mission went unimpeded. However, I am here for a different reason - knowledge of a Pokémon."

"I would gladly repay the debts we owe to your clan in the form of an old man's spiel," Sawsbuck gracefully replied.

After hearing his words, Jackson turned around and headed back to the double doors. He grabbed both handles, closing them shut, before returning back to the old deer. After a long week of climbing up Celestial Mountain, the Lucario was ready for the next step.

"Tell me about Yveltal."


After quite a while of waiting in the village square near the Xerneas statue, Grovyle would finally begin the short hike to the peak, accompanied by a small group of guild members, Team Drarosteel, and the village guards. With each step they took, they could feel themselves getting closer and closer to the finish line - the tallest point of this world.

Liam's heart pumped in his chest, the excitement of it nearly getting a hold of him. He made sure to keep his scarf nice and tight, as the cool winds were more frequent as they went higher and higher.

'Gloria and Roark are gonna have to drag me off this mountain once we're done…'

"Near the peak, there's this strange symbol that our ancestors found long ago when settling this place!" Grovyle yelled. "Since it's so close, we'd thought we show you."

Scizor and Garchomp's attention immediately peaked, the both of them sending each other looks that said if all.

There was more to find out here.

"Ooo! Is it like one of those treasure chest locations?" Rockruff yipped.

Mightyena arched a brow, "I thought they only buried those in sand?"

"Aye… but sometimes a pirate walks the plank with his riches and buries it for safekeeping." Aggron said. "Right, Tyranitar?"

Tyranitar simply scoffed.

Through the tall spruce trees and rocky terrain of the trail, their efforts of the past half hour would come to fruition in the form of a grassy plateau. In the middle of said plateau were very faint markings burned into the ground.

"This is the symbol I was talking about… it's very peculiar."

Scizor was the first to flutter over with his insect-like wings, walking circles around the etched in pattern. Garchomp would join him, trying to decipher what possible explanation there was for the symbol. Nothing in his mind would prepare him for what he could uncover.

It was three circles overlapping the other, with spirals and swirls coming out of each circle's outline. At the center of the symbol was a small rectangular shape.

"This… this looks like an Entercard marking, like someone was making sure this was the spot." Scizor suggested. "But it doesn't look like any Entercard making I've ever seen… The pattern is too bizarre and complex."

"Hmm, You think, lad?" Aggron grumbled, shooting Garchomp a look. "You ever see something like this in our travels before?"

"Nah." She muttered. "Never seen this kind of Entercard pattern before."

While the other guild members and Followers of Life shared their two cents of what the symbol could possibly mean, Liam was more interested in finding a higher vantage point to see everything at once. He knew they were at the peak, but he needed to be at its tallest inch to feel complete.

'There!'

Just beyond the odd symbol was the last cliff he would need to climb, Sprinting over, he clambered over its mossy surface, leaving behind the group to witness the summit first out of anyone.

"Hey, Scizor."

The Bug-type snapped out of his mental battle with the unique pattern, turning his head to see Garchomp's kind yet sturdy visage looking back.

"I remember you spoke about that group who helped you and Jackson discover the ley lines, and that they're supposedly good with Entercards. You think…?"

Scizor knew where she was going with this, nodding. "It's true - they are. And they're located in the Grit Region, which is-"

"Exactly where the second location of the Legendaries investigation project supposedly is…" Garchomp grinned, flashing her wicked sharp teeth and extending a talon. "I think our little collaboration here shouldn't end just now, eh?"

Scizor blinked, his blank expression slowly morphing into a genuine smile. He bumped his large red pincer into her talon, signifying his agreement. "If everything goes smoothly with the Guildmaster, we shall see your team in the Grit Region with us."

Garchomp gazed up at the sky, taking the sight in. "Heh, I think that Lucario will come around sooner or later and relive the glory days of Team Moonlight."

"I… I hope so too."


7oYlJLp.png


'…'

Each step, each drum-like beat of his heart made the nerve racking yet monumental moment he was about to experience more grand. In breathless silence, his hindpaws glided across the smooth grass, almost possessed. When he finally stepped onto the last piece of land this mountain could offer, the Riolu stood still, drinking in his victory, the white wallflowers that dotted the cliff he stood upon dancing with him.

Here he was, the top of the world.

7WfQnoV.png

The ocean blue sky's clouds were pierced by the peak's might, the see-through opaque wisps now visible from above, like he was inside heaven itself and looking down below.

Past the clouds, the distant seas of land stretched farther than Liam could wrap his head around. To his left, the sandy dunes of the Grit Region caught his attention, but the freezing tundra and forests of the Frost Region to his right captivated a wild side of him - all separated by more mountain ranges in the middle. Putting his back to them, he turned his sights to the rugged and volcanic Mountain Region, right next door to the Meadow Region in which he called home.

'I can see… all of Celestic.'

Right now, he could see himself exploring every bit of those regions in the future - unraveling every secret and mystery that kept itself secure until he arrived in this world.

A wind picked up, quietly rustling the grass and bristling his short fur. He began to reflect on the Riolu that awakened almost a year ago, and the Riolu that was now atop this mountain. Liam couldn't identify himself that Riolu of the past anymore - the one that was lost all the time, the one that didn't know what to do, the one that truly didn't know if he existed at all.

Being here right now to witness this amazing view was more than enough proof that he was existing. Thinking of Gloria, Roark, the Guildmaster, the Pokémon he came to know, and even the mother and father that were lost to him now - he wanted to show them the true Liam.

'I hope you're still out there… watching over me.'

Continuing to observe the continent from a perspective few would ever experience, he didn't notice his vision blurring, and the world around him shifting into something completely different. He only watched in amazement as it happened, flower petals drifting across his form.

Liam was here yet again - in 'that place' - his paradise.

The fuzzy clouds vanished, bringing forth a mist that shrouded the pastured platform where he stood. The ground below shook as plates of faraway meadows and plains overtook the environment, naturally blending in. In the distance, green mountain ranges and valleys were obscured by rolling veils of white mist, making his mind tingle with wonder as to what new adventure could be held there.

The same angelic choir of voices from before started singing and cooing into his ear, relaxing him into a state of utter euphoria. From behind, white Pidove-like creatures arose from nothingness, flapping their soft wings and flying off into the peaceful, bright blue sky above. The Riolu watched them leave into the horizon, before hearing a familiar voice speak to him again.

"Hello, Liam."

"... Hello."

"I am so happy to see you once again… and especially at a time like this."

"I… I'm so happy that I made it here."

"And I am so very proud that you've come this far in your journey, surmounting indescribable feats. It won't be long until we can see each other again, and I can show you the true spectacle that is a life in paradise."

"... I'd like that."

"It fills me with great joy to hear you say that… but I must bid you farewell for now, Liam. Goodbye."

"Goodbye... "

Liam watched his paradise disappear before him, along with his senses of elation inside. He was now back into the world he called his own, and still observing the peak's majestic view. A striking pain of blue and yellow flashes would fluctuate across his vision, interrupting this beautiful moment. It never relented as glimpses of a claustrophobic concrete room, the feeling of cold iron chains around his arms, the stomping of loud boots, and a gruff voice echoing throughout his mind that shot a sinister chill up his spine.

"Grim reminder, kid…"

END OF PART ONE


Imagine waking up in a strange world, and defying all challenges in your path to reach a peak this great - seeing the uncertain past now behind you - a vision, a memory, a dream, a magnificent sight… that could last over ten thousand years.


Author's Note: We've come a long way from the Liam in Chapter 1 to now, haven't we? I bet you're scratching your head at this being an ending, but this is truly only the beginning of this story. When we return, we embark upon the story's very first Special Episode! And after it ends, we'll be right back to where the guild ended off their expedition!

Also, credit to @LegendKaira on Twitter for creating this commissioned piece of Liam atop Celestial Mountain.

Let's start this tale off somewhere high up in the snowy vistas of the Glacier Peak Mountains, where a certain Pokemon with a dream of heroism will be born...


If you would like to check for news about the latest chapter progress, discuss the story as it goes on, give criticism on anything, point out mistakes, give your appreciation, ask questions, or simply chat about the story, then my DM's are open and I will respond to all meaningful messages. You can also add me on Discord and talk/send me things if you prefer that, for the same reasons. Discord = Z2H#7239

Please leave a review if you wish. All will be read and taken into consideration.

Next Time: Special Episode: Can You Make A Promise?
 
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Special Episode #1: Part 1

Z2H

Junior Trainer
Special Episode: Can You Make A Promise?

Part 1: One Lucky Day

A flurry of cascading snowflakes descended from the twinkling midnight sky, the furious gale of the night blowing them to new destinations. Across giant and sheer glaciers in the ocean, and huge swathes of freezing tundra's, they would ascend into the skies, reaching the Frost Region's very own Glacier Peak Mountain.

While not the most hospitable for majority of Pokémon, many Ice-types in particular would call it their home - especially one village nestled atop the mountain's rugged cliffs. Travelers and Pokémon native to it would come to call it Kyuris - named after the beast, Kyurem, who was rumored to dwell deep inside the mountain's many caverns.

At a time like this, everyone who inhabited the village was asleep, taking rest in their timber cottages. But one cabin on the outskirts of the village still showed signs of activity throughout the night, with a warm and illuminating lantern turned-on near the windowsill. Just beside the isolated lodge, and sitting on a ridge overlooking the mountain, an alabaster coated Ninetales would keep a sharp eye on a snow shelf tucked away in a distant valley - his concern grew.

"Definitely need to check that out with Beartic, and-"

Realizing the words coming out of his mouth, he steered his gaze to instead stare at the starry sky. He has promised his mate that he wouldn't think or mention about work for an entire week, as the two had been given time off to adjust to their new life.

"Ah, I wonder how long I'll have to stay up…"

It appeared his decision to advert his attention was a good choice, for the auroras decided to return in full swing tonight. The divine curtains of twisting green light spiraled across the stars, providing its cosmic radiance to all those that gazed up at the heavens.

It was one lucky day, and it seemed Arceus himself bestowed these blessings unto them.

Before he could continue to admire the scenery, a creaking of the door to the cabin behind him would steal the spotlight, looking back to see his beloved mate exit the home and walk softly towards him. She was a Ninetales just like him, but her cream-ish locks of flowing fur were more darkened in tone.

He didn't know much about Shiny Pokémon, but it was another lucky stroke for him to meet a wonderful woman this rare and beautiful.

"Honey… I think it's finally about to happen," she said quietly, a wide smile stretching across her muzzle.

"… You're for real, aren't you?" He gulped, psyching himself up for what was to come - an excited grin of his own forming nonetheless. "You still think you're correct on your assumption?"

She laughed, hastily returning to the door. "Hurry. I'll prove you wrong once we see her."

Before he could retort back, she was already inside once again. Bidding farewell to the calm snowy showers of the outside, he joined her on the inside, closing the door and embracing the warmth he grew to miss everyday.

It was no mansion, but it was cozy enough for two Pokémon to reside, which was soon to change. Other than their own bedding, their harnesses, rope, and other work equipment were neatly placed on shelves, ready for them at a moment's notice. But no item nor piece of furniture was more important than what was cradled in the corner of the home. Protected by warm bits of straw, a white Pokémon egg was to be seen. Visible cracks formed in its outer shell as it wobbled on its own back and forth.

"You weren't kidding…" the male Ninetales' said softly, slowly inching his way over toward the nestled egg. "And look! He's already trying to break free and see his pop, ha!"

Rolling her eyes, the soon to be mother carefully rested her body mere inches from the shaking egg. She would be joined by her mate as the young couple watched with bated breath for their sole child to finally be brought into this amazing world.

They wouldn't have to wait any longer.

"Hey! Look! Its-"

"Shhh!" the female harshly shushed.

The egg's movement accelerated as chips of the outer shell began peeling off, until a wide cracking noise and tear in the thin frame would pop the top half of the egg right off, revealing the newly born Pokémon inside. The innocent and baby-blue eyes of a snow-white Vulpix would slowly unfurl, batting its virgin eyelids at the influx of blinding new light. It yawned cutely, locking its tired gaze unto the two starry eyed Pokémon staring back, mewling softly at them.

The new mother would waste no time in standing up to brush aside the scattered pieces of shell casing that surrounded her child. After doing so, she delicately grabbed the tiny kit by the scruff of its neck, laying down and placing the pup near her stomach to rest upon.

"Hah… it looks like I was… right, huh?" she said, her emotional dam about to burst with joy. "Come… come and see your daughter, honey."

He would only break out of his happiness induced stupor after her words. The Ninetales' slowly walked over, getting a good look at the fuzzy little face he would take care of the rest of his life. He didn't cry often, but no man wouldn't cry upon seeing their kid for the first time.

"Wow… You're adorable, you know that?" he mouthed.

A weary cry from the pup was the response he got, and he accepted it.

"Heh, me too… me too." He raised a paw, gently touching the Vulpix's much smaller pair with his own. "You don't know it, but you've got great things coming your way…" His mate silently agreed, diligently attending to her daughter's dietary needs.

The rest of the night would go smoothly as both parents stayed up until the morning and even the day to make sure their Vulpix was well secure for living with them as a loving family.


"C'mon! Just a little more, sweetie!"

The one year old fox kit listened closely to the male voice's encouraging shouts, stumbling around in the general direction she heard it come from. Eventually, her sluggish crawl would turn into a staggered trot, utilizing her four short paws to now walk towards the voice.

"That's it! Keep going!"

To a mere infant, the wooden floor of a modestly sized cabin was like traversing an entire continent, but her will to reach the Ninetales wouldn't falter, bringing her closer and closer. It wasn't long until her efforts would be rewarded, as she completed the journey, rubbing her furry cheek against her father's forelegs and babbling away incoherently.

"Haha, you did it!" He angled his neck downward, nuzzling the little fox. "You made daddy very proud today, didn't you?"

"… D-dad-dy?"

The Ninetales' sturdy blue orbs lit up in surprise at the high pitched yet soft voice coming from the Vulpix. He kneeled to the floor, wanting to hear more from his daughter.

"Sweetheart, can you say that one more time?"

"… Daddy!"

The father immediately embraced her with a paw, laughing loudly. "You called me daddy! Haha, can't wait to show your mom what you just did!"

The tiny pup, however, didn't seem to understand her father's enthusiasm, and endlessly repeated that word for her own entertainment.


While the claws of a Ninetales weren't as sharp as a Weavile's, or any other clawed Pokémon, the tips of them were just pointed enough to slice an Occa Berry in half.

Vulpix watched in childlike fascination as her mother expertly diced up the pile of berries and other frost resistant fruit on the kitchen counter. The Ninetales would then brush the bits of cubed fruit into a bowl, moving on to the next step of prepping dinner.

"Does this interest you, sweetie?"

The distracted kit's ears perked up at her mother's comment. "Mmm… yeah," she mumbled, not knowing what to say.

Being only three years old, she didn't have the vocabulary to express just what about her mother's cooking interested her.

"Do you remember that nice berry soup that me and daddy make all the time?"

The Vulpix thought long and hard, before nodding viciously, remembering that meal fondly. If she were to learn how to create it by herself, then she could eat as much as wanted of it, and that was a small child's dream.

"Well, you might not follow everything I do, but just watch what I do, and try picture yourself doing it!"

And so Ninetales' restarted the process, slicing the berries, placing them in a dish, adding drops of honey and pinches of sugar, then putting it all into the open tray of a funny red and yellow device. It was shaped like a Darumaka, which never failed to amuse the little girl whenever she saw it. After a few minutes, the device grew red and hot, jettisoning steam from its 'nostrils'. But once its tiny tantrum was over, her mother adopted small mitts around her paws, opening up the appliance and retrieving the now liquified contents from it. She placed the scorching bowl on a nearby rack to cool off, free from the paws of a curious Vulpix.

"And once it cools off, it'll be ready to eat!" her mother explained. "Maybe when you're older you can start creating your own food… or making your own recipes, and then teach your children them!"

Vulpix didn't exactly know what a 'recipe' was, but the thought of making her own dishes or recipes by herself one day excited her. However, there was one other concoction she wanted to see done before her eyes - the round delectable puff-like treats she'd only see whenever she was on her best behavior.

"Poke… puffs? Mommy! Can you make Pokepuffs?"

The Ninetales' face blanked a little, knowing exactly where her beloved daughter was going with this. She sighed, knowing this was still good learning for her small fox.

"Oh… alright, sweetie. But I'm only doing this so you can do this yourself one day."

"Yay!"

While the Ninetales got to work on whipping up a batch, an enthralled Vulpix would observe her do so, attempting to harness the cooking powers of her masterful mother.


"Take a good look! That's what me and daddy do on a regular basis!"

"I see - I see!"

Vulpix slightly squirmed her way out of the Ninetales' smothering tails, getting a good look at the group of working Ice-type Pokémon entrenched in a pit just beside a valley of steep looking snow overlooking the village. The workers chipped away at the hole's sides, ensuring all the snow would simply fall inside once triggered to fall.

They were the Glacier Guiders, a group of Pokémon from her village that prevented avalanches and saved Pokémon all across the Glacier Peak Mountains.

"You see, sweetie… when the seasons change and the weather gets warmer, we have to stop any deposits of snow that may come falling down."

"Wow… Do you do that everyday, mommy?"

The Ninetales' giggled, bringing her child close. "Not always, sweetie. But in order to keep everyone here safe, sometimes me and your daddy must do what we need to do."

"That's so cool!"

While the pup had seen a lot of things in her five years on this earth, the jobs her parents went on all the time always stirred her mind crazy at what it was. But one lucky day, her constant begging to tag along would pay off, and she got front row seats to observe them work a safe distance away.

"Honey! Uh, got some news!"

Vulpix, hearing the jubilant tone of her father, bounded after the voice's direction, but found herself barreling into a set of soft wispy tails.

"Just wait a second, sweetie," her mother cooed, much to the dismay of the hyper fox.

From beyond an embankment of compact snow, a massive Beartic and another Ninetales emerged, heading their way with concerned expressions on their faces. Vulpix hid in her mother's tails at the sight of the imposing bear, but slowly popped back up once seeing her father.

"Turns out those 'travelers' we found near the cave weren't actually travelers - they were bandits."

The Shiny Ninetales' gasped at the revelation. "Surely that can't be true, right, Beartic?" She tilted her head. "What would thieves want in these mountains, anyway?"

Beartic shrugged, grumbling his theory. "Dunno. They were Ice-types too - a Glaceon, a Bergmite, and a Froslass." He laughed hoarsely. "Said they came here to see if Kyruem is really here, but ah… was a buncha nonsense to trick us into lettin' 'em go."

"We don't have proper jailing quarters in the village, so what will we do with them?" she questioned. "Could a guard unit from Slush City come and arrest them?"

Her mate responded, "Might just have to keep them in the village for now, honey. It's a bit dangerous traversing the mountain now, and a couple of thieves in the mountains isn't really a priority."

Beartic scoffed, "We'll let them hang around Kyuris for the time being. In the meantime, let's keep setting off these avalanches before the caravans come in a few days."

Vulpix wasn't quite sure what exactly the three were discussing, but all she could grasp was that they had caught thieves - bad Pokémon. Heroes always saved the day from Pokémon like those in the stories her parents read to her, and it seemed today proved those mere tales to be true.

She could only wonder what it felt like to be a hero and save the day herself.


"With that taken care of… I suppose we have some time for recess."

The Jynx had little time to react before her hyperactive students exited their seats and bolted to the door in an excited frenzy.

"Ah! Please don't push or shove, and remember to stay within the school yard!"

The teacher's advice fell on deaf ears as each child exited the schoolhouse in droves, running out into the fenced off snowy fields to frolic around and play with their friends. Vulpix exited last, thankful not to get trampled by her fellow classmates. While she did want to know more about today's lesson, the kit wouldn't pass up another opportunity to read her favorite book.

Once outside, she searched the crowds of playing Pokémon to find her friend - Cubchoo. After spotting the cub standing around all by herself , she jogged over, her quite hefty saddlebag of school supplies and books fluttering in the wind behind her.

"Cubchoo! I brought my book again!"

The bear sniffled the drooping blue mucus dangling from her nose, eyeing the incoming Vulpix. "R-Really? You'll read some to me again, r-right?"

"Um, yeah!"

The bear's eyesight was poor without her glasses, and since she had lost them a while back, Vulpix had volunteered to act as the Pokémon's eyes and read to her on occasion until she got a new pair of glasses.

The cub clapped her paws in delight. "Yay! Same s-spot?"

"Sure!"

Huddled together on a frost covered bench underneath a tree, Vulpix opened her saddlebag and procured the little red book from it. The title across the front read 'The Lucky Tale', accompanied by colorful art of a fox-like Pokémon with an erupting volcano behind it. The children's novel told of a Fire-type Vulpix from a faraway continent, who would go out on a heroic adventure to stop a volcano from destroying her home village.

Vulpix couldn't help but see herself in that other Vulpix's situation, imagining herself of saving her own village from an incoming avalanche or roving bands of thieves. Her imagination went wild with different scenarios as she read out loud the first few chapters to her friend.

"W-Wow! She really beat that mean Houndoom a-all by herself?" Cubchoo squeaked out in surprise, sniffling.

"Yup!" Vulpix flipped the page. "She's really cool!"

"Um, Vulpix?" Cubchoo's attention was honed in on a circular sticker attached to the book's cover. "What's t-that thing say?"

The confused fox tilted the book on its side, cocking her head. "What do you mean? I don't see it!"

"There!" The small bear pointed straight at it. "Isn't that the book return thing from the library?"

With a quick glance, the kit was able to determine that her friend was correct in her assumption. Horror dawned on the Vulpix's expression as she closed the book in fear.

"Ah! I was supposed to turn this book in yesterday!" She leapt off the bench, tossing the book into her saddlebag in a hurry. "I need to go right now and turn it in!"

"B-But it's school time!" Cubchoo sneezed, frowning. "You can't just leave right now, right?"

Vulpix couldn't put this off any longer, as she already feared bringing her parents home a bill for a late fee. If she were to run all the way to the library and turn it in, then it was possible she could return before recess ended.

It was a bargain she had to take.

"I'll be back soon! If, um, I'm gone longer, just tell Miss Jynx I got really sick all of a sudden!"

"O-Okay…"

With her new mission on a time limit, Vulpix ran towards the fields fence that blocked her from leaving. She didn't like breaking rules or skipping class, but she swallowed her worried thoughts and squeezed her small frame through the fence's holes, eventually ending up on the other side of it.

'Okay, now to go to the library!'

She put her stubby paws to good use, sprinting down the school's hilly terrain and into the snow packed central square of the inner village. Shooting past wooden cottages and confused Pokémon wandering the streets, she made a mad dash to the tiny house of bookshelves this village called a library.

'Please, please help me make it, Arceus… or Kyruem, whoever!'

The young kit prayed to whatever Legendary out there witnessing her plight as she neared the last turn to her destination. However, she didn't account for the slick coating of ice that encased the cobblestone roads, causing her to slip and glide across it.

Vulpix gasped, realizing her situation and squeezing her eyes shut, unsure and frightened of where her journey would end up. She expected to face plant into a pile of snow, but didn't expect to smash right into the backside of another Pokémon. Luckily, she was able to regain her footing right after, quickly hopping up and rubbing her freshly bonked snout with a paw.

"Ouch… sorry there, miss… or, um, mister?"

The Pokémon in question, a Froslass, whirled around with a twirl of her ghostly kimono-like dress of ice. Thankfully for the fox, her aged face lacked an angry expression, seeming more embarrassed than anything.

"My, was I in your way to the library, dear? I apologize for being rather slow…"

Vulpix seized up, shuffling her forelegs together. "Um, yes? Wait, No! I mean- I just needed to return a book here." She motioned to her saddlebag with a whip of her head. "I gotta get back to school, so that's why I ran and, er… slid into you."

"Well, dear, I'm afraid to tell you that the library is closed today."

"W-What?!"

She was gonna get killed by her parents.

"Yes, but…" The Froslass made up her mind. "Since you came all this way, I can possibly convince the librarian in there to accept your deposit."

"Really?!" Vulpix grew a joyous smile. "You'll do that for me?"

Froslass giggled, "I am the librarian's assistant, so I can make it happen if I wish… Do you have it on you, dear?"

Vulpix wasted no time in opening her saddlebag to retrieve the book, handing it off to Froslass, who turned around and floated into the timber lodge. Vulpix was just behind, unsure if she would have to pay a late fee for her tardiness. Inside was a narrow labyrinth of dusty bookshelves and halls of paintings of old elders or other important figures of Kyuris. Nonetheless, the two went past it all to reach the desk at the end of the room, finding a quite busy Sandlash swamped with surrounding papers.

Frosslass coughed to get its attention, briefly chatting with the Ice-type while Vulpix curiously analyzed the stuffy library as any kid would do. But what she did notice from the adult's conversation was the mention of a late fee - her blood ran cold.

'Shoot! Now I need to get mom and dad to do this!'

"It's fine, Sandslash, I will pay for it with my own money." Frosslass took out a sack of Poké from her dress, dropping the right amount of coinage onto the desk. "That should cover it, right?"

'Huh? Did she…'

The Sandslash seemed to accept the payment, shooing them both off with a wave of its icy claws. Froslass immediately began to leave, chauffeuring the shocked kit beside her out the door and into the cold streets. The hasty return back to school wasn't present in Vulpix's mind, as only one question resided within her.

"Why'd you pay for my book fee, Miss Froslass?"

The Ghost-type folded her hands. "I'm aware that school children don't carry around Poké with them, so it seemed convenient to pay right then and there… And besides, I wanted to help out a child that I presume loves to read, correct?"

Vulpix blushed, "Um, yes! I come here when I don't have homework to do."

Froslass laughed into a hand, "My, I bet you're quite a smart girl in school with all the knowledge you must know by now…"

"Er, well…" The kit dug a paw into the snow. "I kinda just like books about heroes and stuff. That's… that's what I wanna be when I grow up!"

"Ah… that's a good dream to have. But being a hero isn't all about strength - it's about having the knowledge and wisdom to save the day for others that lack it! Only when you better the lives of other Pokémon can glory be considered yours…"

Vulpix wanted to have that glory, the feeling of bettering someone else's life with her own. Like her parents, she wanted to help others. But while translating the Pokémon's words into her own guidance, she remembered that one prospect her mother had mentioned.

"Um, Miss Frosslass? Can I ask you a question?"

"Anything, dear."

The fox squirmed, trying to find the right words for her proposal. "Well… my mom told me a while back that once I turned seven years old, we'd need a nanny at our home to watch me while they were gone for work, and…" Her crystalline colored eyes shimmered with hope. "Could… could you be my nanny for just a bit?"

Frosslass was stunned that the child would entrust a mere stranger with an offer this personal. She contemplated it, but felt her hesitant defenses on the outside weakening at the kit's innocent and hopeful gaze. On the inside, her heart thumped with joy at the thought of watching over this youth.

It was one lucky day for her to be late to work.

"If your parents would accept me as one… then it would be an honor, dear."

Vulpix did a little dance with her paws, jumping up and down, careful to not slide on the ice again. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I won't be bad or anything, I promise!"

"I know who your parents are, so I expect you won't be trouble." Frosslass angled her head. "My, shouldn't you be back at school by now?"

"Uh, shoot! I gotta go now, Miss Froslass! But I hope to see you again!"

Vulpix said her goodbyes in a frantic flash, darting down the opposite street back to her school. She may have been late to return, but she definitely considered this to be one lucky day for her to earn a new friend and a possible nanny through her heroic adventure.


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It took a lot of convincing, or rather, begging from Vulpix to have her parents strike a deal with the Froslass, and have her become the kit's nanny while they were gone. However, the two Ninetales' would keep a sharp eye on the Ghost-type in secret before they could fully trust her to guard and care for their child alone. But after realizing her true intentions, Froslass was given passage and fully accepted into their home.

"Remember just a pinch, dear."

"Um, right!"

Since Vulpix's mother was quite busy on certain weekends, the pup was able to practice the many recipes that the Shiny Ninetales adopted over the years with someone else. With Froslass supervising by her side in the kitchen, she tried her very best to prepare a dish of Pokepuffs her hard working parents would appreciate when they finally came home.

Frosslass took the pot of sugar from a flustered Vulpix. "Like this…" She lightly tipped the container over the bowl of patter they were stirring. "And you pull it back before it becomes too sugary to eat."

"That's… that's not a bad thing, though!"

Her nanny chuckled, handing the pouting kit a wooden spoon to stir the contents of the bowl with. Eventually, their quite messy efforts in the kitchen will be rewarded, but Frosslass knew to take it one step at a time with the child's remarkable sweet tooth.


"Mag… nifi… um.. kent?"

"Magnificent, dear," Froslass corrected, observing Vulpix decipher a novel of stronger vocabulary for her age. "And that word right there is 'artificial'."

"Arti… ficial?" A nod sealed in the kit's vocal victory. "Artificial! Artificial!"

The bookshelves inside their tiny home provided many insights into a world of knowledge, history, and even fiction that amazed the kit. But Vulpix wanted to someday visit a huge library and read all the books there.

Still, she learned little by little of Celestic and the surrounding continents each day.


"Wow! Is this really just a library?!"

Vulpix sped past the double doors of the building's entrance, entering a grand room with bookshelves that rose like pillars, and stained glass windows lining the walls. Well lit chandeliers were suspended from the stylized stone ceiling, burning fervently.

"Yes, it is!" Froslass answered, a wide smile across her face, but quite as large as Vulpix's. "Slush City's library isn't as monumental as the one in Empyrean City, but its wealth of collected intelligence is vast enough to have you reading for centuries!"

The kit didn't understand much of the old lady's spiel, but her parting words excited the small bookworm greatly. With a wag in her tails, Vulpix picked an aisle to trot down, analyzing the titles of fiction, non-fiction, and other works that interested her.

Frosslass hovered behind her in amusement, even feeling youthful just walking down these old hallways of literature.


Hours seemed to go by in a flash in the library as Vulpix turned another page of the extensive book she was reading out loud to Froslass. It was a codex of all Legendary Pokémon around the globe - their mythos and real powers described in details.

Currently, they were discussing the possible truth of Kyurem and the fabled treasure beneath the Glacier Peak Mountains.

"Nanny! It says here in this book that Kyurem really does exist! And, um, but there's no sign that there's treasure there at all."

Frosslass nodded, "Many Pokémon spread rumors that Legendaries guard relics of artifacts of importance. While most are false or hearsay, it doesn't stop exploration groups from trying to find them."

Vulpix pondered this truth, "That seems kind of silly… If Legendaries are like us, why would they do something like that? If they got loads of Poké from selling their treasure, then they could buy all the Pokepuffs they ever wanted!"

The Ghost-type laughed fondly at the kit's innocence. "It's not so simple, dear. Some could protect treasures out of honor or duty, or even to keep it out of the hands of Pokémon who would steal it for their own intentions."

"… Nanny, do you know why Pokémon do bad things?"

Despite it being a question by a still growing child, it was a question of philosophy that every Pokémon had a different answer to. For Frosslass, that answer resided deep inside her aching heart - hidden beneath layers of regret, anger, confusion, and great sorrow over the old lady's many losses over her years on this earth.

But being here and reading right now with this joyful spirit soothed the woman's frothing feelings inside.

"Vulpix… did I ever mention to you before that I had a daughter?"

"Um… no?" The kit leaned in, ears springing up with curiosity. "Who is she? And is she the same age as me?"

Frosslass sighed contentedly, "No, my dear. If she were still alive, she'd be the same age as your parents."

"If she was still alive…? Do you mean...?"

"Yes, dear. She…" Frosslass swallowed her distaste. "My daughter is no longer with us, along with the children she was going to bring into this world. There's not a thing I could do to see her again, no matter my actions."

Vulpix bit her lip, lowering her book. "Nanny… why are you telling me this?"

"Because Pokémon have many… vindictive but very real reasons for being bad to others and themselves. And I am no stranger to it, dear."

The kit gasped, not believing her words. "You? A Bad Pokémon? That can't be true… right?" she almost pleaded.

"Yes… I am. While I am an old lady, my childish anger still found me in groups of roving bandits who attacked and stole from others." Frosslass sighed, gazing out an adjacent window. "I told myself when venturing to the Glacier Peak Mountains with thieves beside me… that there was no reason for me to exist in this cruel world, but that is no excuse for my actions, dear."

"But… you aren't a bad Pokémon, nanny." The fox's eyes shined with hope and happiness. "You've taught and shown me so many cool things this past year! You've shown me that you're a good Pokémon and an awesome nanny!"

"… Thank you, dear." Frosslass shuttered a few freezing tears from the pup's statement. "I was happy to have your parents accept me despite my actions, and It means… a lot for you to say those kind words to me."

The fox leapt forward with astounding speed, wrapping the Ghost-type in a much needed hug. It would last for quite a while, both parties knowing how much the other meant to them.


Frosslass quietly watched on the sidelines of the open field as Vulpix and her friends from school played in the snow - playfully wrestling or throwing snowballs at each other - just being kids and having fun with their lives.

She coughed quietly into a hand - she knew her time was coming soon, but she wasn't thinking about herself or the life she left behind before settling down in this isolated village. Instead, her thoughts were of the kind and intelligent Vulpix she would have to leave behind very soon.

What sort of emotional toll would she leave on her? Could it be repaired? Should she have ever accepted the offer to be in this position of her life?

Nevertheless, having an impact at all on the fox's growth in life was something remarkable to her. All her past regrets seemed to vanish when that young Vulpix yipped in joy upon finishing an exciting book, or recreating her mother's recipes perfectly.

Frosslass would never be a mother again, or even see her own grandchildren, but her cold heart might as well melted over her brief time with the kit - pretending there was a deeper connection between the two - like mother and daughter. She watched Vulpix score a point in the strange children's game they were playing, wondering if whatever paradise beyond this realm would absolve her of her sin, or if that even mattered to her in the first place.

This was redemption - letting go of past anger and finding purpose with one's fading years.


Vulpix stormed out the house after hearing her parent's sorrow filled words, tears streaming down her face. She ran, but didn't go far, standing near the cliffside near their house and crying her heart out in disbelief over what happened.

Frosslass had passed in her sleep - her nanny was gone.

She was rightfully upset, confused, and angry that one of the closest Pokémon in her life would just be taken from her like that. She didn't want to believe that it had happened, and that she would see the kind, old Frosslass waiting at their doorstep like so many times before.

She didn't want to say goodbye just yet.

Bawling her eyes out, she didn't hear the crunching of snow behind her - not until the calm voice of her father would interrupt her emotional moment.

"I know you're hurting, sweetheart, but please understand this was something unavoidable."

"W-Why…" Vulpix spoke through her tears. "I still wanted to do so much with her, and…"

The kit broke down again, now aided through her turmoil by her father's reassuring paw on her back.

"I know, honey. It hurt us to see her go too, but I'm sure she had a lot of fun watching over you in her final year." He smiled warmly, nuzzling the Vulpix's tears away. "We know she meant a lot to you, so we won't hire a new nanny. Know that her memory and pride in you stays forever."

Vulpix wiped away the wetness staining her cheeks. "Will… will I ever have to see you and mom g-go… one day?"

There was silence as her father took in the quiet mountain's breathtaking view of the drifting snow over the cliffs. He remembered a sight like this, the night his daughter was born, and the day his life changed forever.

"One day… when you become a woman, you'll understand things you don't now. That means saying goodbye to Pokémon you've come to cherish, and it could come at any time, sweetheart… This is something me and your mom must face on a regular basis, and something you've only just experienced now."

The teary blue orbs of the Vulpix were now dry, courtesy of her father's small speech. The loss of her nanny was devastating, but this was something she'd just have to accept it and move on - like heroes did. However, the thought of losing her parents someday hung heavy on her young mind, never leaving it as she thought happy thoughts of her many adventures with Froslass.

'… I hope you're still watching me, nanny.'


"Are the straps working? Let me see real quick…"

"I'd be more concerned about the harness, honey. You know that thing almost snapped like a twig last time at our checkpoint."

"Well, consider it one lucky day now that the weather's warming up a tad bit. Hopefully that pile near Abomasnow's area won't come down because of it."

Vulpix listened to both her parents bicker back and forth about their upcoming mission near the mountain's peak. She had only heard snippets about it, but apparently it was really important, and demanded all members of the Glacier Guiders to attend.

Her mother returned the kit's curious gaze. "Me and your father will be gone for a bit long this time, but I think you can handle yourself at eight years old, right, sweetie?"

Her father also jumped in, "Yeah! Did we also tell you another group will be working with us? Called the 'Rescue Society', and they help Pokémon in need of assistance all across Celestic!"

Vulpix grimaced, "Um, will you be able to maybe come back tonight and read that book to me?" She smiled, hoping to win over them.

The Ninetales' couple exchanged looks, wondering if they'd even return today at all. But after a quick glance back at the puppy eyes display their child was exuding, their was no doubt that they would return and read to her.

"We promise," her father said resolutely, heading towards the doorway. "We'll pick it up on our way back, so just be patient for now, okay?"

The Shiny Ninetales present would jostle the metal gear attached to her white frame, following in her mate's pawsteps. She looked back, sending her daughter a wave of goodbye.

"Be safe, sweetie! We'll be back as soon we can!"

With a loud closing of the cabin's door, they were gone, and Vulpix was now alone for the time being. She considered visiting Cubchoo and her other friends to hang out, but felt drowsiness clogging down her natural kid instincts of playing.

'Maybe later I can show them the next book in the series…'

With a yawn, she ambled over to her cloth bedding in the corner of the lodge, curling into a ball of white fur to rest away the day until the night would arrive with its bedtime stories she was promised.

After hours of sleeping peacefully, a colossal rumbling noise and subsequent echo of it would awaken her as she scrambled up into an upright position in shock. Various items on shelves in the room fell to the ground and shattered from its might - the windows briefly rattling and shaking.

'Wha- What was that?!'

Vulpix was deathly afraid to check out what happened, but she reluctantly mustered up the courage to exit her bed and look around. Nothing inside the kitchen blew up this time, and there were no lanterns lit right now.

In a confused state, the kit looked out the window, finding the serene image of her village in the daylight. Strangely, the walls of packed snow that bordered the cliff behind the village many times before were absent. She rubbed her eyes, thinking she was just hallucinating after waking up.

'Why isn't it appearing? Why-'

Vulpix watched as an incoming sea of snow, ice, and rocks tumbled down the cliffs and pummeled into the houses dotting the outskirts of Kyuris, obliterating them completely in its destructive wake.

Another rub of her eyes, but still, the impending wave of snow didn't vanish.

'Wha…'

The avalanche didn't stop, destroying more and more of the village as it grew ever so closer to Vulpix's home. She slowly backed up from the window, absolutely petrified at what she was seeing. The cabin began to tremble and quake before the incoming surge of the snow and ice, the windows shattering as a flood of arctic fury flooded the cabin's insides. Vulpix screamed in terror, dropping to the ground in a panic before the scattered shards of broken glass could cut her.

Frigid rocks and other bits of stone and wooden debris from the village smashed into the home's sides, blowing the walls wide open and pushing the creaking foundation of it near the cliffside. Vulpix held onto a nearby piece of timber wedged into the floor for dear life, still praying that this was just a horrible nightmare.

She would never awake from one as the avalanche's destruction of the house would crush its last remaining legs of support, sending the pummeled structure down the cliff's steep and rocky slopes. Vulpix cried out in pain as she fell with the wrecked cabin, striking multiple jagged pieces of rock and wood the way down, feeling her consciousness fade in and out.

It wasn't until her and the remnants of her cabin smashed into the snowy ground that she was brought back into reality. Vulpix immediately let loose haggard breaths, coughing out vestiges of blood onto the snow. Attempting to move from the rubble proved futile, as boards and other pieces of icy rock trapped her battered body underneath.

The kit could do nothing but cry for help and hope that someone could hear her.

"M-Mom! Dad! P-Please! … Anyone… please help me…"

Her cries soon turned into soft whimpering, the fox's pain surging from the arctic wind's cold bite upon her wounds. Everything in her surroundings began to blur, and she truly wondered if she was going to die here - all alone, without her parents and friends by her side.

But before she could think about that, a distant snapping noise and a muttered curse word would prove otherwise. From an adjacent cliffside, the remains of a connection of rope dropped into the snow, along with a Pokémon decked out with gear for the winter elements, and a black cape that fluttered in the chilly wind.

It was fox-like, bipedal, and had a large mane of black and red fur - along with sharp crimson claws that adorned its paws. Vulpix knew these Pokemon were called Zoroark, and were known for their crafty illusions.

"Man, I told Bisharp not to cheap out on the rope for this operation." The fox shook his head, chuckling. "Now I gotta take the long way back up the mountain, and hope that wasn't what I just heard up there near that village…"

"… Please… help."

The Zoroark spun around at the introduction of the soft yet pleading voice, being witness to an injured Vulpix trapped beneath the debris of a demolished house. His features softened as he quickly approached, kneeling to meet her weary gaze.

"Hey, I'm with the Rescue Society, and I'm gonna help you get out of this, alright?" His claws searched for the area where her legs were trapped. "Just hang on tight, kid - you'll be out lickety-split, alright?"

Vulpix didn't respond, already unconscious from shock and trauma.


It takes just one lucky day for your life to change forever… for better or for worse.


If you would like to check for news about the latest chapter progress, discuss the story as it goes on, give criticism on anything, point out mistakes, give your appreciation, ask questions, or simply chat about the story, then my DM's are open and I will respond to all meaningful messages. You can also add me on Discord and talk/send me things if you prefer that, for the same reasons. Discord = Z2H#7239

Please leave a review if you wish. All will be read and taken into consideration.

Next Special Episode Part: Falling Without Purpose
 
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