It had been a while since Layne and Pyro were woken up in the way Loudred usually woke them up. And it had been a while since the morning cheer entered Layne's ears. And the way the day started, was almost new to Layne as well, but Pyro and Layne quickly fell back on track with the way the Guild life went. They had a job to do, and it involved the old pokémon they had seen at the Hot Springs on their first mission for the guild.

Needless to say, traveling back to the waterfall was a nostalgic experience for Layne. Of course they had to jump through the waterfall again, which was a bit easier for Pyro, and they went by the tactic they used last time. The cave was navigated in a short amount of time, as they had been through this cave once, and once they entered the room filled with the gems, they knew to stay well away from the gigantic gem that had triggered a flash flood.

Instead, Layne and Pyro walked down the cave they had ran down when they first came here. Upon reaching the exit, they climbed down to the Hot Spring, and upon reaching that, they saw the one named Torkoal.

Upon seeing Layne and Pyro, his memory jogged back into place from the first time he saw them. "Ah, young friends!" he said welcoming them, "Once again washing away exhaustion?"

Layne was starting to soak in the water, while Pyro simply sat on a nearby rock. "Perhaps, so." Layne said. "But we've come on a different objective."

"Oh?" Torkoal said. "What do you need."

"We need to ask you something." Pyro said.

"Seeking wisdom are you?" Torkoal asked. Layne wasn't so sure how to respond to that but shrugged it off. "Well, there's no better place than here to share your story. Please do tell."

"Well..." Layne said laying back in the water for a brief moment, and popping his neck, "We were simply wondering if you knew of a place called, the Hidden Land."

"Ah..." Torkoal said, smoke coming from his nostrils. "The Hidden Land? I can say, I have indeed heard of it."

"Really?" Pyro asked.

"The Hidden Land is truly a place of legend." Torkoal began, thinking back to what he knew about this. "It is tattered lore at best, handed down by oral tradition."

"If you would...please tell us." Layne said.

"Of course." Torkoal said, "I will tell you all that I have heard. The Hidden Land lies beyond the sea, in a hidden place, so the story goes."

"In a hidden place...how original." Layne thought to himself, but continued listening.

"The Hidden Land also," Torkoal continued, "Allows only the chosen to find it. In order to go there, one must possess certain qualities."

"Okay, I'll admit, that one's new to me." Layne said. He had never heard of a land requiring certain things for one to enter, or let alone find the place.

Pyro asked, "Do you know those qualifications?"

"Oh yes. They are..." Torkoal trailed off. Layne and Pyro looked at him.

"Cat got your tongue?" Layne asked.

Torkoal looked deep in thought. "They are...er...Oh what are they again?"

Layne sighed. "Please don't tell me..."

"I'm sorry." Torkoal said. "It has slipped my mind."

"You forgot?" Pyro exclaimed. "Please, Torkoal, please try to remember! It is essential we know as much as we can!"

Torkoal looked stressed. "That's easy for you to say, but...uhhh...WAIT! I got it! You need proof. You need proof of some sort."

"Proof..." Layne repeated, not expecting that answer. A land requiring proof? What was this? "Proof of what?"

Torkoal shook his head. "Well you need...uhhh..."

"Here we go again..." Layne muttered to Pryo as Torkoal trailed off yet again.

Torkoal looked a bit worried and simply said, "Please forgive me, but I've forgotten again."

Forgotten again. Torkoal's brain could have easily been the size of a peanut for all Layne knew. Pyro clearly wasn't too thrilled about this either. "You can't remember again?"

"I am really sorry to disappoint you But yes."

Pyro sighed and simply gave up. "All right..."

Layne simply asked, "Is there anything else at all you can remember?"

Torkoal looked in thought for a minute or two before shaking his head. "No. I cannot remember anything beyond that. I hope you youngsters forgive me."

"Oh well..." Layne said standing. "We learned a little I guess. We better find a way to cross the sea, Pyro, if this land is truly beyond the sea..."

Torkoal called as they left, "If I remember anything, I'll be sure to drop by the guild!"

Layne simply gave a thumbs up as they left the Hot Spring. "You think Chatot will like this?" Pyro asked.

"No clue, and don't want to know." Layne said. He was really wishing Torkoal was more helpful. But he did provide a few clues. They now knew they'd have to find a way to cross the sea...

"So Torkoal couldn't provide us with many answers." Chatot repeated.

Layne nodded and said, "Yeah. The guy kept forgetting things left and right."

"That's too bad." Chatot said.

Wigglytuff on the other hand, said, "That's not entirely true! We now know we need proof, which is a step forward in knowledge for us all!"

"Hey, hey!" Corphish said "And we've all begun searching, too!"

"Even though we weren't successful in finding anything..." Loudred mumbled.

"But we'll keep trying, by golly!" Bidoof said.

"We all will!" Autumn said, backing Bidoof up in his statements.

Layne simply didn't know what to think right there. They were running out of time, and this guild knew it, yet they still looked to hope and kept their cheer, even in the growing dark. Layne didn't know how they managed to do this, but sometimes he didn't care. He just needed to find the motivation to hold on to the cheer that they had.

That night, he was having trouble sleeping, and so was Pyro.

"We're not making so much progress, are we?" Pyro asked, in a sad sigh.

Layne shook his head as he stared at the ceiling. "Not at all..."

"I won't lie," Pyro said, "I thought we had found hope when we talked with Torkoal."

"So much for that..." Layne said popping his neck.

There was a silent moment between the two before Pyro said, "I wonder how Grovyle is doing. You think he's gathered the Time Gears?"

"It's only been a day." Layne said. "I think he'd need a little more time. But I know Grovyle, and he won't easily stop until he has each one."

"We're running out of time..." Pyro said. "But we can't get flustered now, especially since everyone is helping out!"

Layne chuckled at that. "I guess there's always a bright side to the darkest points." Layne said before he and Pyro finally managed to drift off to sleep. Though Layne knew he wouldn't sleep too well. There was just too much on his mind.

The next morning started like any other morning. Since the guild had so little information that they did, all Chatot could do was to encourage everyone to continue investigating this legend of the Hidden Land. Layne and Pyro were just about to go up the guild's ladder, wondering where they would go investigate today, when Loudred shouted, "Oh, Torkoal's here? Let him IN!"

"Torkoal's here?" Pyro asked.

"Indeed, I am." his rusty old voice said, as he managed to climb down the guild ladder, with some difficulty. Layne offered to help, but the Torkoal insisted he was "Quite all right...". He was obviously winded from the climb up the stairs to the guild. The look on his face said it ten times over.

Chatot flew over. "Torkoal, sir! How can we help you this fine day?"

Torkoal looked at Chatot and said, "I understand you were all gathering information regarding the Hidden Land."

"Why, yes." Chatot said. "Layne and Pyro came to visit you yesterday, if I'm not mistaken."

"They did, however I wasn't able to...remember much information. However...I do have one thing to tell the Guild."

Chatot lit up and said, "Well let me get the guildmaster, and the rest of the guild!"

Chatot flew off to get the guildmaster, but Torkoal stayed in front of Layne and Pyro. He was obviously winded. Layne asked, "Can I get you a drink of water?"

Torkoal shook his head, "That's quite all right. It's just my old bones. They are not as young as they once were."

Layne smiled at that and could only wonder how long it had taken Torkoal to climb up the hill. From where he came from, turtles did not go that fast on land...neither did tortoises. Torkoal resembled a tortoise more than a turtle to Layne, but he just shook tat thought away as soon as the rest of the guild, Chatot, and Wigglytuff joined them.

Pyro then said, "You said you had something to tell us about the Hidden Land. Did you perhaps...remember something from yesterday?"

Torkoal nodded and said, "Indeed I did. However..."

Layne and Pyro weren't sure they liked the sound of that "however." Did he perhaps forget what he came to say again?

"...I've recalled only one more tiny thing, I am sorry to say." Torkoal said.

Layne felt some relief go down his spine. At least he didn't waste his time in coming here.

"Yesterday," Torkoal began, "I thought about our little discussion at the Hot Spring for a long time. It was then that one recollection resurfaced. But, as I said, it is very small, and I'd think it as insignificant."

Wigglytuff said, "Please! Do share!" The smile that was most of the time slapped on his face was still present. "Every scrap of information helps, no matter how small! Please say it! Say it!"

Torkoal looked at the Guildmaster and nodded. Layne could only guess that Torkoal, being the elder of Treasure Town, was not a stranger to the guildmaster's strange behavior. He lifted his head and spoke up. "When we spoke of travel to the Hidden Land, yesterday,I mentioned that you needed proof of your qualification to go there. I also said I had forgotten exactly what kind of proof. Well, I remembered just a bit more about that proof."

"And that is?" Layne asked.

"Well," Torkoal said, "The proof...how should I say this...bears an inscription of a very peculiar pattern."

"A pattern?" Autumn asked.

Torkoal nodded. "Yes."

"Hey, hey! But what kind of pattern are we dealing with?" Corphish asked.

Torkoal cocked his head, "I'm trying to think on how I can describe it. It really is hard to describe...all I can say is the pattern is very intricate and odd. A peculiar pattern, one not often seen."

"A pattern you rarely see?" Bidoof repeated. "Golly."

The guild began to chatter in what kind of pattern they were dealing with. Layne however was thinking. He felt like perhaps...he should know something. It was right on the tip of his mind. And that was when it hit him! Pyro's stone! His Relic Fragment! The day they met, Pyro showed him a pattern he had no knowledge of. It wasn't surprising he knew nothing of it, but...it was worth a try!

"Pyro." Layne said looking over.

"What is it, Layne?" Pyro asked.

"Where's your...Relic Fragment?"

"My Relic Fragment?" he repeated. "What do we need that for?"

"Pyro, think. Your Fragment has a rather curious pattern, doesn't it?"

"Come to think of it, you're right! It does have that pattern!" Pyro said. He took his necklace of, and looked to Torkoal, "Excuse me, Torkoal, but would you mind having a look at this?"

Pyro came over and showed him the inscription on his Relic Fragment. Torkoal took one look at it, and his eyes widened. "This...this is the exact pattern!"

"You're kidding me..." Layne said.

Everyone burst into chatter right there. Torkoal, however looked to Pyro and asked, "Where...where did you get this?"

Pyro looked like he was put on the spot, but he simply said, "I really don't remember too much. I was just wandering down a road, and happened to come across it. If I had to guess, I'd say I found it near the beach."

"Yippee!" Sunflora cheered. "This is fabulous!"

"You can say that again!" Autumn said.

"Since Pyro has this pattern, doesn't that he is qualified to go to the Hidden Land?" Sunflora asked.

Torkoal simply said, "I wouldn't know. Perhaps, but in the same way, perhaps not. To go to the Hidden Land, yes, one surely must possess that proof. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the bearer of the proof has the qualification that are needed to be...chosen. For all we know, that proof could just be a physical key to the Hidden Land itself. And even further still, though this fragment bears the same patter, there's no sure way of determining the connection between it and the Hidden Land."

"But..." Wigglytuff said, "There's no question that this pattern has something to do with the Hidden Land. To us, this is a major discovery!"

"I guess..." Torkoal said, then it hit him. "Hold on. You do realize that the Hidden Land is only a spoken legend, right? Surely you and the guild are not trying to find the Hidden Land?"

Wigglytuff smiled broadly. "Indeed we are!"

"My goodness!" Torkoal said, shocked. "I guess this comes to no surprise, but...I am shocked!"

"Chatot!" Wigglytuff said, taking a closer look at Pyro's fragment. "This pattern...we've seen it before as well, haven't we?"

Layne was sure he didn't hear that right. Wigglytuff knew about this pattern? The Guild was shocked there too.

Chatot looked at the pattern, and said, rather hesitant, "Y...yes...The sea inlet to the northwest. That...cave. Oh but Guildmaster...that place!" Chatot said in what looked like fear.

Wigglytuff calmed his right hand pokémon down and said, "Yes, Chatot, I know. That place housed that vicious bandit."

"A vicious bandit?" Autumn repeated. "Guildmaster, do you have something to tell us?"

Wigglytuff nodded and said, "Everyone, please listen. I once saw this exact pattern, now inscribed on Pyro's fragment inside a place, known only as Brine Cave. Perhaps we may discover more by taking Pyro's Relic Fragment there. There is however, one problem."

"And that's that?" Layne asked, crossing his arms.

"The last time Chatot and I went there, we were attacked by a vicious bandit pokémon."

"How long ago was this?" Layne asked.

Wigglytuff shrugged. "A few years before we started the guild, if I remember right."

"Well don't you think this bandit has perhaps moved on? I mean if I were a bandit, I would not be spending years in one place. Hell, I don't think I'd stay in one place for more than a few months at most."

"Perhaps," Wigglytuff said, "But there have been more than just us who encountered this bandit."

"Well, hey, hey!" Corphish called out. "We won't let that scare us!"

"Right!" Loudred said. "We're explorers!"

"We all expect danger!" Sunflora said.

The guild began to chatter in excitement. Layne simply looked around.

Wigglytuff smiled and said,"Then it's settled. We will investigate Brine Cave tomorrow! Everyone should take today to get ready! Clear?"

"Yes, Guildmaster!" The guild replied in unison. Everyone then began to talk in excitement. Torkoal on the other hand was laughing heartily. "I must say, I only thought of the Hidden Land as nothing more than old folklore! It saddens me a bit to see how age has made my thinking so inflexible. It brings back old memories of when all I dreamt about was romance and adventure! I wish the guild luck, and I hope you help me see my dreams, once again!"

"We will!" Pyro said, putting his Fragment back on.

"Thank you once again, Elder Torkoal!" Wigglytuff said.

"Oh, not at all! Not at all!" Torkoal said, still laughing. He then disappeared up the guild ladder.

"Okay everyone!" Wigglytuff called out. "Let's get prepared for tomorrow! Dismissed!"

Layne wasn't so sure he'd seen such excitement in the guild since the expedition. Everyone was chattering, and it was almost as if this whole thing was another expedition itself. It might as well have been.

"Chatot..." Wigglytuff said to his pokémon. "You stay at the guild tomorrow on standby."

Chatot did not like this one bit. "G-Guildmaster! Forgive me if I am out of line, but for personal reasons, I must ask that I go to Brine Cave with you all tomorrow!"

Wigglytuff shook his head, and had a look of sadness come about him. "I'm sorry, Chatot, but I cannot let you face danger like that ever again."

"But that's why I must go! I must face that possible danger again! Please, let me go!"

Layne and Pyro stood listening from the other end of the room. Layne had never seen these two like this. It was quite interesting, and he knew that there was more to it where it came from. Wigglytuff looked at Chatot and sighed. "Okay...then you go with Team Hydro Pyro tomorrow!"

He said looking over to Layne and Pyro. Layne was a bit surprised. He did not mean to be eavesdropping, or anything but Wigglytuff was obviously smiling as though he had been aware of it the whole time.

"Us?" Layne asked.

"Yes. Chatot will guide you to the place where we last saw the strange pattern. But do be wary. We cannot let our guard down."

Chatot nodded, "Thank you, Guildmaster. I will not let you down."

Layne just leaned into Pyro. "I just hope he doesn't let us down."

Wigglytuff also said, "I also have a thing that needs to be done tonight. So Chatot, you are in charge until I get back."

"As you say, Guildmaster." Chatot said, and with that, Wigglytuff left the room to go prepare for whatever it is. Chatot flew over to Layne and Pyro. "So that's how it stands." Chatot said to them. "We will be traveling together tomorrow. If Brine Cave still houses that pokémon, or anything similar, we cannot let our guard down. And please, don't do anything that keeps me from succeeding!"

Layne almost shot an insult at Chatot for saying that last part, but held his tongue. Pyro didn't look too thrilled with this, either, but said, "Okay..."

The day had gone by slow for Pyro and Layne. But it was over for the most part. Layne right now, was spending some time, surprisingly with Autumn, on the beach. The two were just sitting together, enjoying each other's company, and talking about life.

Pyro and Layne were pretty much set for tomorrow. They had the supplies they'd need, and they had even gone back to Pyro's old home, to possibly see if Grovyle had come by. They didn't find him, but they did find a letter he had left. Grovyle had indeed written a letter, in footprint runes, so Pyro had to do the translating. Grovyle was basically just checking in, wondering how they were doing, and things were going extremely well for Grovyle. Apparently, he had collected three of the five Time Gears. He said he would join up with them, once he had all five. He also wrote how things were going quite smoothly, as he had met with the lake guardians, and they were now in complete understanding of his actions, and now gave him full cooperation and support. Which meant, that the guild members, Autumn and Sunflora had been successful in getting the message to the lake guardians about the truth of everything regarding time's paralysis. It also meant that perhaps more pokémon were beginning to trust them.

Grovyle however would continue to stay away from the guild, and Treasure Town. The reasons were obvious to Layne. Grovyle was still uncertain if trust in every pokémon was present, and it was likely that some pokémon still didn't trust him. And another reason was that the job was not done, and time could not be wasted.

But one reason that got Layne and Pyro's eye was the suspicion that Dusknoir could return at any given day. Because of this, he wished to keep his profile as low as it could get.

Layne sighed and stretched.

"What's on your mind? Autumn asked.

Layne shrugged, and said, "Thinking about Grovyle, is all. Wonder how he's doing."

"I'm sure he's fine. The way he fought you and sent both you and Pyro back to the guild tells me that."

"Thanks, Autumn." Layne said, a bit wigged by that answer.

Autumn giggled and stood up and began to pull Layne with her, "Come on, silly."

"Wha-? Where are we going?"

"Swimming!" she said playfully.

Swimming? Well...Layne thought, it wouldn't hurt for a little. Sure they'd have to go back to the guild soon, and tomorrow would be busier than hell, so that gave Layne even more reason to spend...a little time with a friend.

Layne stood up, and Autumn ran for the beach water and dove in. The way she dove in was graceful, yet playful. Layne stood and smiled, as she resurfaced, and looked his way. "You coming, slow poke? Or am I gonna sit out here by myself?"

Layne laughed at that, and simply muttered, "Oh, here I come..." With that he strapped on his goggles, and ran and dove straight into a wave. The water against his skin, felt cool, yet comforting. He could only guess it was supposed to feel that way to him as a pokémon. He felt agile, and maneuverable in the water. However his tail strength, wasn't as good. And Autumn seemed to notice this, because she came up from behind, and started a little game, which involved taking the goggles off of Layne's head.

Layne resurfaced to see Autumn smiling and waving the goggles.

Layne simply said, "Those were Wigglytuff's gift upon arrival here!"

She laughed and said, "I guessed as much. You want them back, you will have to catch me!"

"Oh I will, will I?"

Layne could only guess, Autumn was either fooling around with him, or trying to get him to swim better with his tail. Perhaps even both. But Layne simply smiled and laughed as she dove down again. Layne took in a breath and dove down toward her. He began to focus more on his tail. He could see in the water fine without his goggles, perhaps better than he could as a human, but he always just preferred goggles over his eyes in water.

The chase went on for maybe about five or even ten minutes, and it involved five or six breaths of air, an obstacle reef course, and avoiding several other sea dwelling pokémon. But finally Layne was managing. He knew because his tail was getting very tired, but he was also gaining speed, and finally he did manage to catch up to Autumn...that or she purposefully slowed down for him. Most likely the latter.

They both resurfaced, and filled their collars with air to keep themselves afloat. Layne put the goggles back over his head, and simply said, giving a playful splash to Autumn, "Like games do you?"

Autumn smiled and returned his splash, and simple said, "I like a lot of things." She said this drifting a bit closer to Layne.

"You do, do you?" Layne simply said, drifting on his back, eyes closed. He could start to see where this was going.

"And one of those things, is you, Layne." Autumn said.

Layne was taken a bit back by that and opened his eyes. He didn't know what to say. "You do- er I mean...i Am...you like me?" was all he managed to say, cursing himself at such a stupid thing to say, and he half expected Autumn to react negatively.

Instead, she just laughed some more. "Yeah." She said giggling. "You are dense. I would hope it was obvious by now."

Layne chuckled a bit and said, "I guess it is."

"Do you like me, Layne?"

The question had come. He knew what she meant. Did he...like her in such a way? To be truthful, he wasn't so sure how to respond. If he said yes, perhaps they'd both be embarrassed, but if he said no, would he be lying to himself, and hurt not only Autumn's feelings, but his own as well?

"Well, of course I do, I mean we're friends, aren't we?"

Autumn smiled at that word. "Oh? Friends?"

Layne wasn't expecting her next move at all, and she jumped him and dunked him in the water before he could even breath. Of course it was a playful dunk, but it surprised Layne to no avail., and Layne while down there, gave a playful tug on her and drug her down with him. They both resurfaced coughing and laughing at the same time. Layne guessed there was no point in hiding.

"Autumn, you are one of my dearest friends at the guild. I don't know what I would do without you to be honest with myself. So...yeah. I like you..."

"Like me well enough to...lick me?"

"Lick? Do you know what a kiss is?"

"A kiss?"

Layne drifted close to her and faced her towards him. "Let me show you..."

Layne gave embraced her and planted his mouth on hers. This was actually the first time Layne had done this, and well, as soon as he did it, he felt chills of both joy and anxiety go down his spine. Autumn on the other hand...looked so calm and happy with what had just happened, and simply said, as Layne drifted away to give her room..."One more..."

Layne was about to say..."Well, okay..." When he heard Pyro's voice.

"Hey, Layne!"

Layne chuckled and sighed and said, "Never a dull moment."

Autumn and Layne swam for the shore, and met Pyro there. "Layne got out and shook off excess water, as did Autumn and asked, "What's up, Pyro."

Pyro simply said, "We'd best get back to the guild. They're closing the gates early tonight."

Layne and Autumn looked at each other and smiled. Layne said, "Okay, we're following you."

Pyro looked around. "Strange..."

Layne simply asked, "What?"

Pyro looked at him, "The Krabby aren't out right now. They always come out on evenings like this and blow bubbles in the evening sky. It's always a lovely sight...too bad they didn't come out tonight..."

"Well, let's get to the guild." Layne said. Autumn walked next to him, her head on his shoulder, and she said, "Pyro...never would have guessed you held such a key to the Hidden Land."

"I never would have guessed it either, Autumn." Pyro said. "It's actually kind of funny. When I met Layne here, Koffing and Zubat stole the fragment from me. Layne helped me get it back...he really was one for the moves."

"Please..." Layne said.

"You gave me courage there, Layne. Right there, we started as our team."

"Good story on how to start as a team..." Autumn said. "Your first adventure is getting the Relic Fragment, and now you're using that Fragment to discover a land of legend. Not a bad career."

Layne nodded, and simply thought of the sunset. He and Pyro had to stop the paralysis of time. The sun's rays reflecting on the water were a beautiful sight to him...especially for this night. He didn't think he could be a happier man...or pokémon.

He looked at the ocean, because he thought he saw a pokémon... A...

"Layne?" Pyro asked. "What's up?"

Layne looked back to Pyro, and said "...Nothing. Let's get home."