Thunder boomed, lightning cracked, and the sea roared it's displeasure of being disturbed. The waves shook the boat, and the two passengers struggled to stay aboard.
"Hold on!" he cried.
The other said nothing.
"Are you okay?"
Apparently the first was convinced the other was okay. "Good."
The tiny boat rocked once more. Harder this time. A huge splash sounded and the voice yelled, "No! Where are you?!"
And then white light erupted around them.
The fox-like creature walked up the steep staircase once more. He had done it probably ten times in the past month, but he had to try again…
I have to do it this time…
What other choice was there?
He walked in front of the tent for what seemed like the hundredth time. The half-rusted metal grate sat before him.
Deep breath…
Go.
He stood tall on his hind paws and placed one over the grate.
He stopped.
I can't do this…
Another voice taunted him, ringing in his head, that was not his own.
You're a failure.
It was cold. Evil.
Poisonous, the fox thought.
He sighed, backed away from the grate, and took something from around his neck.
The old stone attached to the string was his most precious possession. His only possession. It was the only thing he had actually ever owned.
It was beautiful. The topside of it was carved with an intricate pattern; like a tiny maze, he thought, as he traced his paw on one of the lines.
He stared at it for a while, then put it back around his neck.
He retreated from the large tent and ascended back down the stairs, past the crossroads, and to the beach.
It was sunset, and the Krabby were blowing bubbles from the bluffs above the sea. The colorful orbs floated across the open sea, popping before they got very far.
One bubble, however, floated out of sight.
The chances of getting in are slim these days…
Untrustworthy Pokémon try to trick the Exploration teams, along with the Guilds.
Like one fortunate bubble in getting across the sea, the fox thought, was his chances in getting in.
The bubbles floated high and low, each one eventually popping. The fox sat for a while, trying to clear his mind.
Would I ever like to sleep in a comfortable bed tonight… Last night was a disaster, that storm was the worst I've ever seen…
A groan made him come back to reality.
The fox looked over to the left and saw a small blue lump in the sand, occasionally getting wet from the waves sloshing up onto the beach.
And with that, Riolu ran over to the very confused Pokémon.