"W-what is all this?"

"Hmm, it looks like steam coming out. Do you think it's anything at all like the Hot Springs we found?" Mana asks, looking around her. After avoiding any further trouble with Team Skull and Guildmaster Wigglytuff, Riolu and Mana took no breaks to catch up on the time missed before they were interrupted. Mana observes the bubbles rising up from the mini ponds of water, taps her legs on the warm ground, and stares at the mouth of a cave where small white clouds exit out of holes in the walls. Or that's what it looks to Mana.

"Um, I don't think so but this is second time we've been to a place with so much hot water-" Riolu jumps as a large bubble in the pond next to his feet pops. The noise surprises Riolu and he quickly moves closer to Mana, who sighs.

"You're right, but we won't know until we head in. The Guildmaster told us we shouldn't be slacking off so let's get to work and find some clues."

"That is true, but I'm still a little nervous about all this. I mean, a part of me is really scared that something bad will happen and the other part of me is really excited that we've finally managed to do something no one else could do. Now we're in front of an entrance that could lead us to finding answers and maybe be able to find a connection between Uxie and your memories. I don't really know what's going on, Mana. I've never really felt such mixed emotions before…"

Mana smiles sadly. Her friend is growing up right before her eyes and what has she done? Nothing. While she feels a little envious of her friend, Mana is proud that the Riolu she knew that day on the beach is becoming a much different Riolu right before her eyes. She turns away from her friend, staring straight into the mouth of the cave. Another puff of steam rises from one of the holes in the wall and floats up to the sky, dissipating after a few seconds.

"That's what being an explorer is all about. We can talk more about this later when we get back to the guild, but right now we need to stop wasting time and head in." With that, Mana makes her way into the cave, not wondering if her friend is following her or not. She ponders her own feelings for a few minutes until Riolu calls out to her in a scared tone. The sad smile she had on slips and falls, breaking into pieces as a smirk replaces it. Riolu complains to the cyndaquil, upset that she would leave him and in turn, Mana complains how slow Riolu is in walking. She teases him as they walk, both bantering back and forth about small, unimportant things.

Skuntank takes a step back, his breath suddenly catching. His eyes widen and he pants, trying to catch any air he can to stay alive. In front of him is a sinister pokemon, watching him with those eyes that hold the darkest of hells the skuntank has ever come across. What was he thinking trying to battle with this…this…

"Uh, weren't we gonna squash this fluff ball, boss?" Zubat whispers, unaware of his leader's fear. Koffing glances at his leader as well, a little confused. Just a minute ago, his boss was ready to pound this fluff ball to the ground to catch up with those pipsqueaks, but something had happened.

"Fluff ball? Squash? Who are you talking about?"

"B-Boss… Let's finish this before he catches on!" Zubat says, eyeing the Guildmaster. Wigglytuff cocks his head to the side, confused. His eyes hold on to Skuntank's and he feels a terrible dread taking hold of him. A cold, clammy feeling that begins to trap him inside out. He has rarely felt this way before, but this… This Wigglytuff was not the dumb pink pokemon Skuntank thought he was.

"Sh-shut up!" Skuntank shakes his head, ridding himself of these fears and puts on a brave face. What he wants is the treasure hidden in the lake and-

"-And anyone who gets in my way will be defeated by yours truly. That includes you, great explorer Wigglytuff. Koffing, release the special combo!" That's right, once he's gone I can focus my attention on those pipsqueaks. Koffing and Skuntank both attack Wigglytuff, who hasn't moved from his spot.

Mana and Riolu turn the corner and Riolu pauses. He looks up ahead where the path widens into a small circle. Unmoving, Riolu closes his eyes and listens again.

"Riolu?" Mana looks up at him, starting to worry. Riolu holds up and paw and she quiets down. Suddenly, a small noise travels towards them and Mana straightens. This unknown noise sounds again, this time a little louder and Riolu opens his eyes, his body glowing.

"Mana, there's something up ahead. I can feel it…and see it, but this aura is different from yours…it's a brownish color but there's something wrong..."

Brownish aura? But wait, if Groudon is a fire type pokemon like me, then shouldn't the color be red? What if she was wrong? That her theory about a fire type pokemon burning with the sun's heat was wrong? If that's the case, then I was wrong and Groudon is not a fire type. But a brownish color… Wouldn't that be a ground type?

"…Mana I don't think we should go any further. I think we should wait until our guild catches up to us," Riolu says, his fear clouding his aura readings. He stops glowing and takes a shaky step backwards, already afraid of whatever is making those scary noises.

"We've come too far to stop now, Riolu. This is our chance to find something, anything that could lead us to the main mission! Look, I'm sure whatever you saw was scary, but we could beat whatever or whoever is up ahead. We defeated Kabuto-"

"-And barely made it out alive-"

"-Saved Azurill from Drowzee-"

"-It was pure luck that we even got out. Mana, I know what you're trying to say but think about it! This is more than just an adventure, this is more than just finding treasure and celebrating. Our lives are on the line here! I thought you were going to die when Kabuto… When he attacked you…and all those other missions, we risked our lives to save other pokemon, but not once did you ever worry about your life.

"Sure, I wanted to go on this expedition and I knew that it was going to be dangerous, but not this dangerous. If it wasn't for the Guildmaster, we wouldn't be here. And that noise? It's a warning and what if that pokemon decides to get rid of us? Where will our future go? What would've been the point to joining a guild only to die like this?"

Mana watches her friend, all traces of emotion gone from her expression. This was how he thought. These were the worries that lived inside him and plagued him every time he opened his eyes each day. She knew those feelings, those worries that haunted her but they weren't as horrible as the loss of memories she has to live with. She could understand that Riolu wanted to be an explorer but not the kind that would risk his life for some valuable or invaluable information, that he was always afraid of that one mission becoming so overwhelmingly dangerous, there was no way for him to fight back.

"I…I know I've been annoying and cowardly and acting…well, acting like a burden. It's just, I've never really thought that being an explorer would be so difficult and…" Riolu takes a deep breath, suddenly feeling really self-conscious and he averts his eyes towards the ground.

"…And this has just got me thinking that maybe I wouldn't want to do this kind of stuff again. I mean, I… I'll come with you, but after this, I think I might quit being a…an explorer."

"Fine, then let's go." With that, Mana and Riolu walk towards the sounds, their destination coming closer and closer. Riolu glances sideways at Mana, silently apologizing for breaking his promise. He wasn't strong enough to handle the risks of being an explorer and while being able to mature a little when he and Mana had traveled together, Riolu thinks there will be a time when he will be ready to join the guild again. And maybe Mana will have forgiven me by then…

Mana scolds herself yet again. Her thoughts and worries had taken advantage of her silence and dragged up from her subconscious to torment her once more. If Riolu hadn't announced his resignation, Mana would have been able to keep her worries to herself, but now, those same worries swirl inside her already distracted mind.

I should've told him that everything was familiar; coming to the base camp, the sudden flash of visions, everything from the time I've accepted this expedition. If I told Riolu, would he still leave? Would he change his mind and help me find answers? No, NO! I can't do that to him. I can't burden him with these things anymore because…because… Because what?

Mana musters enough mental energy to shove the rest of those horrid thoughts down beneath her subconscious. Mentally chaining and locking them down, Mana closes the blackened door that holds her own darkness and focuses on the task at hand. Right now, she needn't bother telling Riolu anything because it is her burden to bear… And our mission right now is more important than this.

The rookies continue along, Mana not having said one word to Riolu. He attempts to speak, but immediately gives up as there is nothing he can really do to get rid of this awkward atmosphere. He decides to try again after a few minutes go by.

"M-Mana…"

Mana ignores him and stops. Her friend also stops, hoping to try again. His mouth opens, but no words come out.

"Look, there's nothing beyond this point," Mana says and she's right. As they walk closer to the widened space, there are nothing but walls circling around them. Looking anywhere but at each other, the rookies observe what appears to be a dead end. Next to her, Riolu shudders.

"T-this place… I feel like something is crushing me."

"It might be the location. I mean, we did climb pretty high up, so it's probably the high altitude that you're not used to." Mana pats Riolu.

"W-well maybe…" But why do I feel like something really bad is about to happen?

A loud roar answers Riolu's question and the rookies stare straight ahead. The ground a few feet in front of them begins to rumble and what was supposed to be a dead end became another entrance. The walls crash downwards, pushing into the ground, crushing the solid foundation.

"GGGRROOOAAAAAAAR!" The ground shakes every five seconds and the noises grow increasingly loud. Riolu jumps backwards, his instincts already kicking in. Whatever it is, it's coming closer and closer to the two pokemon and Riolu is not yet ready to face anything dangerous.

"M-Mana, I think we should run! It sounds really big and scary!"

"No, I'm staying here. If I can find some answers, then I'm willing to risk everything to get them," Mana yells, but the raging noises drown her out. "Go on without me!"

"B-but Mana-"

"As weak as you are, you'll only get in my way! Get out of here before you regret it!" Mana turns her back on Riolu, who feels like he has been beaten to a pulp. The cyndaquil's words sear his mind and body, engulfing him in flames.

"M-Mana… You can't really mean…"

"'What would be the point in joining a guild only to die like this.' That's what you said and you're right, what would be the point? But I have nothing to lose! I lost my memories which is the same as my life so I have nowhere else to go except to keep moving. I'm scared of the unknown, of what or who I was before all this. I'm afraid I'll always be stuck like a cyndaquil, wondering about myself and feeling lost... And I don't want that. I want to know who I am, so Uxie is my goal in finding information, but you-" A tear runs downs down Mana's cheek, falling to the ground and immediately drying up.

"You made your decision and I've made mine, so I don't need you anymore."

Don't go.

"You'll only get me killed."

Please don't leave.

"You've always been so weak and cowardly."

Please don't run.

"A coward will never change no matter how hard he tries."

We made a promise together… You promised we'd find my memories and the secret behind your relic. You promised me… You promised!

"I would've been better off without you!"

I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS!

Without another word, Riolu flees in the direction they had come from. He cries, Mana's words cutting deep into him. This is not what he wanted, not what he thought would happen, but he was finally able to realize one thing and it was his deepest fear come true.