"Will we ever catch up?"

"We will. We have to."

How long has it been now? Though the surface area is now considerably smaller, you're still convinced that every inch of your body is caked with dirt, save for your eyes- and even that is starting to get kind of ambiguous. You can't imagine all this climbing is doing wonders for you, not when you're not simply doing it as a workout.

And that's not the only tiring thing, either. The two of you had encountered more Pokemon as you'd ascended, including an Audino (they remind you of peaches and cream), which had taken forever to take down. Even now, you can still feel the bruises sting. It was worth it, though, you're sure of it. When you look over and see the blue band adorning Jen's neck (you're pretty sure it was intended to be a wristband, but it was far too big to be worn as one) you know you did something right. A Power Band, she called it. 'These increase physical strength to whoever wears it. They're very useful. Wait, you don't want it? Why not?' Then, 'Fine. I guess that makes sense. But the next time we find any item such as this, it's all yours.' You'd told her that though she was significantly faster, her raw strength wasn't as high, so you should even out the playing field for what you're sure is an impending battle.

That wasn't the only enemy in these upper floors, though. You had come across more Wooper and Sewaddle- in gangs, they had proven to be much stronger, not at all unlike you expected. You thank whoever is up there that you don't have a fear of water or bugs. The puddle situation is getting progressively worse, especially with the loosening dirt. From the skirmishes, though, you managed to get a Health Orb and some Chesto Berries, ones that apparently cause insomnia. You're not sure why you would need that, but Jen insisted on bringing some in case.

Best of all, though, your biggest reward from all the fighting wasn't an item: it was learning to unleash some of your newfound strength. 'Demon Flame', you named it. No reason. It just sounded cool. And looked even better.

The first time you used it you thought you'd unleashed the netherlord. Flames so hot they burned white, dying off in purples at the ends. The Sewaddle had shrieked and passed out instantly. Everyone in the battle stopped and stared. You did too: jaw already dropped to the floor and everything. You swear you heard Jen's eyes widen in the utter silence.

"Look," Jen says. You do, and up ahead is a square of (relative) light, bordered with familiar wooden planks.

"Are we at the top?"

"I don't think so."

And indeed, she is right, when you stumble out the entranceway. It is even dimmer in the sky than you remembered, and you're seeing stars, though you can't tell whether they're actually in the sky or just swimming in front of your eyes. The land is as barren up here as always, grasses rustling faintly in the cool evening breeze. Where's the next entranceway or set of stairs? Not to the right, nor to the left, nor to-

But there is something else there, to the left. Not something, you realize: someone. Pulling up skin flaps like low-ride jeans, you spot a familiar Scraggy pacing about nervously, skitterish. You brace yourself. He hasn't spotted you yet, so maybe you could sneak up on him with a Demon Flame: and then it'll all be over.

Jen hushes you quietly, voice muffled by the Power Band. "There's someone else. Coming towards us."

"Who?"

She doesn't say anything, but you have a good feeling who it is anyways. Wordlessly, you follow her into a hiding place behind a large boulder, nearly three times your height. From here, you can catch a good view of Scraggy and of the entraceway from whence you came. Two Pokemon coming from both directions: now you'll finally get to see what this is all about, provided you don't get caught- of which the chances are very high. You shrink against the rock. Dusty and cold. You stifle a cough and hold your breath.

You can't say you're surprised when you see him finally come, but your heart still drops like a stone. Against Scraggy, maybe, but there's no way you'd win a battle against this one. The I-beam he carries everywhere would crush you into bits within seconds. Now, the scowl on his face is not the usual, but you can't tell whether that's good or not. Jen stiffens beside you.

Gurdurr's appearance, it seems, had not surprised Scraggy in the least. In fact, he looked frustrated at the much bulkier Pokemon, running up to greet him impatiently, pulling up skin flaps all along the way. You crane your head to get a better look.

"Sorry for the wait," Gurdurr grunts.

"Took you long enough," Scraggy sneers, voice tinted with a hint of boredom, so typical of all the gangsters you'd heard back in your world. "I want to get down to business."

"Don't be like that. I've got to make sure I'm not followed either." Gurdurr wrinkles his nose. "It takes a lot of work to keep up a scam like this, you know?"

You feel a low growl rise in the depths of your throat. But you keep watching, and think desperately of some way to put these two lowly crooks to justice. The Pokemon beside you is nigh shaking, too, eyes blazing. These kinds of souls don't deserve anything!

"You haven't lost your touch, though," Gurdurr continues, eyes slightly narrowed. "Still quite the skillful little thief."

Scraggy's face twists into a grin, but says nothing.

"So..." A pause. "Where's the cash?"

Scraggy spits on the ground and waves a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. I've got what I promised you." A beat. "Getting a little greedy, aren't we?"

Gurdurr's eyes flare, but he keeps his composure. That isn't something you thought him capable of. Maybe there's something more to the story. "I'm not the greedy one here," he says carefully. "Those blue gems will pay you back big time if you sell them in the west. Compared to that, the money you pay me is like a drop in the bucket."

Scraggy flashes a wicked grin. "True enough."

The other Pokemon narrows his eyes. Stays quiet.

"Of course," continues Scraggy, mostly to himself. "I could just go into Stony Cave myself and get some, but it does get pretty dicey in there." To, Gurdurr, with a mocking edge, "Having you lend your particular expertise to that problem is just plain expedient. Ain't no other way about it."

Gurdurr nods, but seems lost in thought. Then says, not without a hint of cruelty, "I'm going to get those two fools to bring me some more gems. I'll be counting on the usual amount when they do."

At this point, you're starting to feel sick.

"What?!" Even Scraggy seems a bit surprised. "You're going to have them get you even more?! Those little losers?!"

"That's right," Gurdurr chuckles. "After all, they're still dumb enough to believe I'll build them a house. At this rate, I'll be able to send them after more gems for the rest of their lives!"

Scraggy's disgust is now nearly as plain on his face as yours. "You serious?! Dude, you're cold! It's their dream to build their own home, ain't it? They're going to keep believing in that dream and just keep bringing you gems forever!"

Gurdurr is roaring with laughter now. "Exactly!"

"They'll keep doing that, never knowing it won't come true?" Scraggy chews on his lip, uncertain. "Man, ain't you got any heart left? That's cruel, even for me."

Gurdurr snorts, unfazed. "You want me to cry over this or something, oh great Scraggy, one of the worst criminals of the west?"

Scraggy sticks out his tongue. "Just wanted to have see if you'd go back on your word. You're no fun to play with, though." A pause. Then, accompanied by a snorting fit of giggles, "Though THEY are." Gurdurr joins in a second later, a low, rumbling bass. You watch the pair laugh and cheer, and you can't take it anymore.

"Hey!" you shout, as loudly as you can after the day-long hiking and fighting. But this time, you feel energy pulse through the entirety of your body, and the adrenaline pounds in your ears even harder when you see the duo's eyes widen.

"What?!" Gurdurr yells, nearly stumbling backward. "You two-"

"We followed Scraggy here," Jen cuts in, words encased in ice. "Quite the act you two had going on here, this whole time. Though I regret to inform you that we never believed you for a second." When the crooks' jaws hang open, speechless, you see her allow herself a smile.

"What will you do now?" you taunt, drawing out the moment a little longer.

Gurdurr is the first to compose himself, and he snarls, eyes cold. "Anyone who expects honesty in this world is a fool. That's what you'd get for trusting me. Dream big, and you lose big."

"So I'm assuming you've done this to plenty of others in the past?"

"It's their own fault for getting tricked."

You're utterly speechless. Jen seems no better off, eyes wide, as if not believing what she is hearing.

Scraggy hesitates, putting on a mock uncertainty. "You mean you were tailing me this whole time? You actually saw through me? I'm almost impressed. But, I mean, what are you going to do now? You want to fight against the two of us?"

Your stomach does thirty somersaults despite your best efforts.

"I'm warning you now, I've been tussling on the wrong side of the route my whole life. The battles I've been through, little squirts like you couldn't imagine. It'd be best for you to just toddle off home to your mamas, you hear?"

The sheer irony almost pushes you on by itself. "Of course, mister, we'll head back right now. Sorry for the trouble, we promise we won't do it again."

Scraggy narrows his eyes. "My, my, my, and even after I went to the trouble of warning you."

"So you really want to fight?" Gurdurr repositions his steel beam, and you hope that won't be repositioning through you any time soon. "You don't have a bit of sense between the two of you, do you?"

Enough to figure out a plot as transparent as yours, you think to yourself.

Scraggy's voice is flat now, hands emptying the money and assorted gems from his skin pockets onto the ground. "Fine, then. Why don't we show you just how big of a mistake you're making?"

The two Pokemon glance at each other. "Let's roll."