[Now Playing: "Daydream"by: Tycho]

Dear Mother, Father, and Twila,

But where did she go after that? Carefully maneuvering her inky paw in Unown script, she continued to write.

As I've promised and continued to deliver, I have included with this letter a sum of 1000 Poké. Hopefully, that will keep you guys going for a while. I love you and I miss you very much.

She was about to end the letter there, close it with a footprint signature, but she stopped. Had all her letters become this monotonous and droll? Had she resigned to writing situational reports instead of longing letters?

She continued.

It's been so long since I've even said anything. I suppose I assumed you were ashamed of me. The Thieves' Guild was my only option at the time, but I know none of you were pleased by it. Especially not you, Twila. You most of all.

But things have changed. That's why I send less money this time than I used to. I've left the Thieves' Guild. Too many things have gone wrong there. Instead, I joined an exploration guild. Wigglytuff's.

The guild here is nothing like the Thieves'—it's stupendous. The Guildmaster really is an amazing Pokémon. He's the only one who's given all us normal types a fighting chance to make our stand.

And the members here are cool too! Chimecho is always cooking up something interesting for dinner, and Bidoof, this goofy fella, tries so hard to be the best he can be. We aspire with each other and conquer our fears. Together, I and the others have grown so much. It's crazy to think how much we've done.

"Thali!"

"Yes, Aru?"

She felt a paw on her shoulder, warm and caring. She began to relax instantly.

"Don't stay up too late. Accalia and I are off to bed. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Right,"—she giggled briefly—"I know. Goodnight, Aru."

"Goodnight, Thali."

She paused for a moment, breathing in deep, deliberate breaths. Then she continued:

I've made a close friend here. Well, two close friends really. Accalia is a girl from another world, and it's hard to explain why that is, but she's cute and new to this land. She's like a child—there's just so little she knows about the world. I've taken it upon myself to be there for her and to uplift her in this new world.

And Aru… Well, there isn't enough space on the scroll for me to explain his predicament. He's a dear friend, a Riolu, who has lost his memory, but he still helped me form my own exploration team. We've been through many mystery dungeons together, some more harrowing than others, and he has always been there for me.

Mom, dad, was this what it was like for you? Somehow, I cannot get past this feeling I have for him. When I talk to him, I choke on some of the words. When I'm next to him, it's like bathing in warm firelight. This isn't friendship, it's something… more.

We have many days of danger ahead of us. We're going to track down a vile criminal and change the world. Wish us luck. And please, stay safe.

Your loving daughter and sister,

Thali

[Stop Music]

^/\^|v\/v

…Syaoron the Fox presents…

…His First Pokémon Story…

Beyond the Sky

Chapter 13

The Northern Desert

^/\^|v\/v

The next day, Team Unity awoke and reported immediately for duty. Out in the mess hall, Froslass, Wigglytuff, and Chatot were gathered around the table with a map of the known world spread out. Around them, the other guild members had gathered to discuss a plan of action for dealing with Grovyle the Thief.

"I'll tell ya," grumbled Loudred as he bit into a juicy apple. "If I catch wind of that Grovyle, I'll gut him like a fish for getting Uxie like that."

Sunflora nodded emphatically. "Absolutely! I mean, oh my gosh, I can't believe someone would do something like that! It's despicable! And I still can't believe it happened so soon…"

Croagunk nodded. "Again, I wonder exactly how he—"

Sensing the beginning of conflict, Chatot gave Croagunk a careful, soul-piercing gaze. "Croagunk," he said in a mindful tone, "I think it's safe to assume that, given his accountability for the other missing Time Gears, Grovyle has spent months investigating their locations. Our arrival at Fogbound Lake and his present thievery are parallel situations. I will not hear any more of your treason-talk."

Croagunk gulped down a single, fearful breath. "R-right, Guildmaster." He was immediately silent.

Thali had a sort of stony gaze, fierce and pointed, as she strolled up to the map of the world along with her two comrades. She placed her forepaws on the table to get a better view. "So Guildmaster, what's the plan?"

Chatot seemed almost taken aback by Thali's candid approach, but Wigglytuff only smiled and nodded. "Straight to the point? Good! Froslass has been very gracious in helping us devise a strategy for catching our criminal," he said. "He can say it better."

Froslass began in her sweet alto, "Yes, thank you Guildmaster." Accalia was entranced while she detailed the plan: "Grovyle is hunting Time Gears. Naturally, the best way to find Grovyle is to find the Time Gears. We have laid out a set of locations on the map which we believe—based on prior experience—have something to do with the Time Gears."

"Prior experience?" Aru wondered. "You've encountered these before?"

Wigglytuff chuckled. "Another time, Aru. Go on, Froslass."

"Yes, as I was saying," she spoke, not at all disgruntled, "we have identified a couple key locations. Specifically, the Northern Desert, Crystal Cave, the Eastern Plains, and the Gulf Archipelago. Thali, if your team is up for it, I would like you to investigate the Northern Desert."

Thali looked between her teammates and hummed in thought. It was obvious that they were waiting on her to make a decision—the way their eyes gleamed with trust, and yet also uncertainty.

The desert, she assumed, would probably be a fine habitat for ground and rock types. Accalia and Aru would be great at dispatching such foes, so she turned to Froslass and nodded. "We'll gladly accept the mission," she answered. "Anything to help Uxie."

"Good," curtly said Wigglytuff. He had bounded from his chair and was organizing the other explorers, gathering them by the painted hall of the dining area. "Now line up, kay? I have to give the official assignments."

Lining up in order of seniority, Aru looked down the row and noticed that Croagunk was at the head of the pack. Strange. With his nonchalant attitude, I'd have thought he would be newer. I thought for sure Chimecho was his senior.

"Alright, explorers!" Wigglytuff exclaimed in his characteristically joyful voice. "As you know, we have a duty to hunt down that bad guy! We organized a plan to divide you all up in order to search for him.

"Sunflora, you will take Bidoof and Loudred to Crystal Cave."

A mumble from Loudred was heard under Sunflora and Bidoof's excitement—something about wanting to be leader.

"Chimecho, you will lead Corpish, Dugtrio, and Diglet into the Eastern Plains."

Chimecho nodded, a determined expression on her face. "Absolutely, Guildmaster!"

"Froslass will venture solo to the Gulf Archipelago. Which leaves Thali, Accalia, Aru, and Croagunk to explore the Northern Desert."

Team Unity was excited, but Aru, who had been watching Croagunk, noticed that the toxic mouth Pokémon was less than ecstatic. He seemed reticent, and he looked up to Wigglytuff, an unasked question on his lips that Wigglytuff answered with a firm stare.

"You're all dismissed!"

"Hooray!"

^/\^|v\/v

The journey to the north would be long and arduous. They would not even reach the mystery dungeon at least for a day. Team Unity and their new tagalong had gathered everything they needed for the journey—items, wood for a fire, food for the day, and their hardened determination.

And yet, when they set forth for the Northern Desert, Thali couldn't escape the unmistakable feeling of something missing. Some vacancy or void had filled her gut with a strange, uncomfortable stirring.

"Alright everyone," Aru spoke. He held the map in his paws, examining their path. "Looks like we'll have to venture around the waterfall and this forest in order to get there. We'll reach the edge of the forest and then rest for a while."

With a plan set, they ventured off. Without a moment to spare either, as the winds that proceeded a storm were beginning to sweep across the dusty path.

Soon, morning turned into afternoon, and their dirt road became a rocky expanse through which sparse creeks sometimes flowed. The silence had been unbearable, but it prevailed for hours it seemed. The only sound was the rushing of water and the swirling of clouds overhead in windy gusts. The sky, once clear blue, had become dark, shadowy grey.

Ascending to higher plains, climbing, Thali finally decided she'd had enough of silence. "Anybody have a story?" she asked curiously. "Accalia, you must have one, right? I mean… you're practically from a whole other world."

The Snivy blushed. She hadn't expected to be called on, and the sudden attention had her stuttering. "Well… I do have this one," she said in thought. "And it's a personal experience too."

"Well, go ahead! Tell us."

Embarrassed, Accalia waited a moment to gather her thoughts. She began slowly, softly:

[Now Playing: "I Talk to the Rain" by: Yuki Kajiura]

"Where I came from was not… the greatest place. It was a land divided by war and hatred. Pokémon from two kingdoms had resigned to anger and war as a way to solve their problems. The two leaders were godlike Pokémon, lords of destruction, Reshiram and Zekrom. For centuries, they fought.

"I belonged to neither Reshiram nor Zekrom's kingdom. I lived in an outlying village where we were relatively peaceful. For all my life, I had cultivated food for my villagers. But… things didn't stay that way forever.

"We thought we were safe from war where we were. But one morning, I woke up and found war at my doorstep. My fields, burned; my mother and father, slain; my people, scared. I rushed around, trying to help others while I could, until I was trapped in a burning hut.

"I thought I was going to die there. I thought that was the end of my life. It wasn't. The building suddenly exploded open, the embers climbing into the sky, and before me were the dark silhouettes of the Pokémon that I knew were Reshiram and Zekrom. I begged for mercy; I was utterly terrified.

"Something strange happened then, something I still cannot explain. Those two gargantuan Pokémon looked back and forth between each other. Then they told me that 'Arceus had called for me,' or something like that. They surrounded me, and then I began… glowing. I don't know how to explain what happened then. I was in another plane, filled with white and nothing else, like I was floating endlessly…

"And now… well, now I'm here."

Accalia finished her story, tears in her eyes when she finished remembering the events that had transpired that day. Even Croagunk appeared moved by her story, though it was displayed in only the barest widening of his eyes.

"Accalia…" Thali mumbled. "I—"

"Don't, Thali," she assured her, smiling slightly. "We can talk later. Let's just keep going."

The story had lasted them quite a while. Soon, the rough stones under their steps turned to fine dirt, weathered and smoothed by time. They were just at the edge of a forest, and, famished as they were and sore from a day of walking, they settled down, hunkering beneath tree to avoid the worst of the rain to come.

And come it did. Pouring in massive rivulets and thick drops, the rain soaked the ground, and they rested through only with the setup of a tarp. Accalia stood out in the rain, soaking it up, while Thali watched her from afar.

Meanwhile, Aru eyed Croagunk. His dry skin, now quenched by the rain, seemed much smoother. Still, the frog remained something of an enigma to Aru, something that he desperately desired to figure out. He was nondescript, yet something about his unwavering expression seemed so suspicious.

"Staring is rude. Didn't someone ever tell you that?"

Singularly, the statement broke Aru's concentration and he was suddenly on the other end of Croagunk's stare. With guarded speech, Aru treaded, "Something is bothering you. But you won't speak up about it."

Croagunk's prosaic gaze returned some intensity. "I think you'll find that many Pokémon are aloof to others, especially in this perilous time," he croaked. "Don't ask, don't tell; that's the motto of the time. Respect that."

"How can you expect me to work with you when I don't even know if I can trust you?"

"Funny you say that. I'm not sure I can trust you either."

Finally giving up on the standoffish Croagunk, Aru backed down and settled by the tree. Thali and Accalia had already cuddled up and were resting. Odd. Accalia had been so distant before. I wonder what changed.

As the moon finally peaked in the sky, parting the sky with its soft glow, Aru gazed up in lonesome thought before finally letting sleep claim him.

And while the guys slept, Accalia and Thali lay awake, whispering.

Thali peeked over her shoulder, saw the slow rise and fall of Croagunk and Aru's chests, and turned back to Accalia, comfortable knowing that they were asleep. "So," she whispered, "What was it you wanted to talk to me about in private?"

Accalia's eyes glimmered in the moonlight, shining with radiant innocence. "Thali… It's admittedly a bit embarrassing," she whispered.

"You should never feel embarrassed to talk to us," assured Thali. "We're here for you."

Accalia was silent for a moment, as if waring with herself, wavering between denial and uncertainty. "Thali… I feel excluded."

"Excluded?"

"Yes, I… You two spend a lot of time together," she whispered. "I just want to… I want to be a bigger part of the team. You two have become so close, and I just fade into the background."

Thali sighed and looked down at the wet ground. "Shows what kind of leader I am," she mumbled. So there they sat a few moments longer in gnawing silence, and the She-Eevee looked up at her comrade with sorrowful eyes. "Accalia… can I be honest?"

"O-of course, Thali."

"My feelings for Aru are… different," she admitted shyly. "I don't know what it is, but something about him makes me feel different. And maybe that's why I've been spending more time with him and less with you. I can't deny the way I feel about him, but I'll talk to him and tell you what you told me, okay?"

"Oh…"

"We'll spend lots more time together, okay? Don't you worry one bit," Thali whispered. "We've been here for you since the beginning, and we're not about to leave now."

"Thank you…" Thali listened, but couldn't tell if there was genuine happiness in her words. Perhaps she was just tired. "I'm going to sleep, Thali. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Accalia."

[Stop Music]

^/\^|v\/v

It was a grim night for Wigglytuff and Chatot. With the gates to the guild locked up tight, there was no one left in the torch-lit halls beside them. Peering out a window to the open sea, Chatot looked up at his best friend and Guildmaster with a solemn expression. "I dare say, Guildmaster—"

"Chatot."

Stuttering and bumbling a bit, the bird spoke again. "Right. Wigglytuff, I don't think we've ever had the guild hall this vacant."

"No, not even since the beginning. I had always amassed many followers. The guild hall had always held throngs of Pokémon."

"Now though…" Chatot fluttered up to Wigglytuff's shoulder and perched there. "I worry, Wigglytuff. You and I, likeminded as we are, both know that our young apprentices run the very real risk of encountering a mastermind criminal who has defeated countless Pokémon, including Uxie himself, singlehandedly to obtain his prize."

Wigglytuff sighed. Now that Chatot said it aloud, it was worrying him too. Pacing to and fro, Wigglytuff replied, "We knew the dangers we were sending them into. We even counted on that. We knew that sending our teams out, as other guilds are certainly doing now, would undoubtedly draw the attention of our criminal. He knows they're looking for the Time Gears, and he will follow them."

"Then what do we do? I'm worried sick."

"We keep worrying, Chatot. We worry and wait."

^/\^|v\/v

[Now Playing: "SIVA Swarm" by: Michael Salvatori]

"We could be searchin' for hours, you know that?"

"Quiet. Every word you speak is filled with disgrace."

It was midday, the time when the sun was its harshest in the Northern Desert, and three senior members from the Subterra Guild were exploring the vastness. A Sandslash, Vibrava, and Hippowdon. "I'm just sayin', there's no tellin' how long we're gonna be out here," said the Sandslash with rude, impatient disposition. "I don't know why they sent elites like us out to catch some petty thief."

"Not a petty thief," said the jittery Vibrava. "Stole the Time Gears, he did. Need much skill for such an operation."

"Vibrava imparts keen insight," said the Hippowdon. "We are not dealing with some simple vagabond who takes coin purses. Our thief has successfully stolen not one, but three Time Gears. Be on your guard."

The mystery dungeon around them was not an open desert as they had expected, but a twisting labyrinth of high walls surrounding narrow openings like a box canyon. Already, they had encountered several rabid Pokémon, and with no sign of the thief or the Time Gear.

Hippowdon charged around the corner, Head Smashing a Trapinch while sending others of its kin scuttling back into trenches through small holes in the walls. Sandslash followed behind, groaning and wiping his claws together. "You'd think that we'd have found somethin' by now," said the Sandslash. "Come on, my quills are beginnin' to ache."

"Halt! Do you sense that?" Hippowdon shouted after coming to a stop. His nostrils flared up as he smelled the air. "Something not of this land approaches."

Trapinch burst into action, flitting about in a square perimeter, his eyes dashing about. "Nothing here; nothing there," he claimed as he looked around. "Target not found. Are you not mistaken, Hippowdon?"

"No, I certainly sense something unusual. This place has a particular scent to it, and this thing I detect is not from here."

"Then where is it?" Suddenly serious, Sandslash bared his immense claws to strike. "Where is he?"

"I don't know!"

Hippowdon's intuition was correct, but none of them could react in time to make use of it. Dust exploded from the ground, razor sharp blades cut into them. It was over in seconds. Their bloodied, unconscious bodies lay strewn across the desert sands, and away from the battle scene walked a single figure, the green leaves on his arms tainted in blood.

Speaking in a deep, gruff voice, Grovyle mumbled: "Now let me see… If I were a Time Gear, where would I be?"

^/\^|v\/v

The piercing sounds of struggle could be heard for miles it seemed. At least, that was what it seemed to Team Unity when they heard the echoing sounds from afar. "What was that?" Accalia asked, furrowing her brow with curious concern.

"Our allies have encountered the enemy, it seems," said Croagunk as he walked at the head of the group. "I'll lead from here."

Thali hurried up to get alongside Croagunk. He was walking unusually fast; she had to lengthen her stride just to keep up with him. "What allies?" she asked.

"Oh, you don't think that the Grovyle problem is solely our jurisdiction, do you?" asked Croagunk in genuine surprise. "All the guilds have put a price on his head. It is only natural that the Guildmasters would coordinate a strategy to uncover the Time Gears. Those were allies from another guild. We continue the mission as usual."

"But shouldn't we help—"

"We continue the mission."

Firmly set on a singular goal, Croagunk led on through the blistering heat of the Northern Desert. Winds picked up, and every step to them was a fight against the forces of mighty nature, every grain of sand a scathing knife in the gales that blazed over the land.

After hours though, the rooms began to blend into each other. Through the thick mist of sand, each corner of the dungeon began to look like the rest. Even climbing to a new plateau seemed to create only new, uncertain paths. Entering a room in the dungeon, they were quickly accosted by a Lairon and two Aron, defending their territory with loud growls and crunching metal beneath their feet.

"Accalia, you take the Aron on the right!" shouted Thali, surveying the battlefield. "I can handle the other, and Aru—"

But Croagunk rushed ahead out of turn, passing with only the slightest notice of, "I'll handle this." He struck quickly with powerful chops and punches. From a distance, Aru noticed the energy surrounding his fists. Brick Break, he assumed.

Croagunk moved with ease, fluidity, but with a sort of turbulent violence, reminiscent of a tadpole struggling to swim in torrential rapids. He smashed the Aron with his fist, downing the steely ram with a clang. The other Aron, scared but vigilant, charged in with headfirst, but was stopped by Croagunk's firm grip. Yelling, Croagunk hauled the second Aron into the air, tossing it against the wall as though it were a feather and knocking it out.

Left now was the Lairon. It scuffed its feet on the dirt, scraping up dust in rage. Rearing onto its hind legs, it reached out with foreleg, baring sharp, metal claws at Croagunk. Again, with a gaze steely enough to match the Lairon, Croagunk swiftly dodged the maneuver, ducking under and sweeping a powerful low kick to knock it off balance.

In the moment of that final strike, Aru caught sight of the Lairon's tail coiling back to strike. Thali and Accalia were too awed by Croagunk's battle prowess to notice, so Aru took it upon himself to charge forward and help.

He lunged forward, shoving Croagunk away and off balance. "Hey, what are you doing?" shouted Croagunk. He would have berated the Riolu had he not noticed that within his arms was caught the Lairon's swinging tail.

"I've got him, Croagunk. Finish him off!" shouted Aru.

Taking no time at all, Croagunk lunged in with a final fist, striking the Lairon back into the canyon wall, unconscious.

With but a brief glance, Croagunk nodded to Aru. "Thanks," he said. "Now come on. Let's get going."

Hanging behind them, Accalia tugged on Thali's tail to get her attention. "It's weird, isn't it?" she said. "I thought Croagunk would open up once we got out of the guild, but he only seems even more introverted now."

Thali gazed into the distance, looking at the opening of the canyon walls into a sandy clearing. "Perhaps it's none of our business," she replied. "Maybe he's like me. Everyone has a checkered past."

"Perhaps…" Nonetheless, Accalia couldn't help but worry.

They stepped out of the clearing, into a wide open field. "Over here guys!" shouted Aru from ahead while he stepped out into the field. "Something's off here!"

Accalia and Thali followed shortly behind and were stunned by the sight around them. All around were swirling whirlpools of quicksand, sifting with a soft hiss. "Other than these pits? There's nothing out here Aru," Thali replied, frowning.

But Aru was looking around frantically. Something about this was all too familiar. Something that made his heart race with anticipation. What exactly was all this? What was it that made him feel so excited?

And then, before he knew it, he blacked out.