"Hey, Lira. Come on, Lira."
The darkness that engulfs me is almost suffocating. I could be floating in the heart of a vast emptiness or swimming in a pitch black miasmic ooze and not know the difference between the two. Yet despite it all I hear a familiar, warm voice calling out to me—beckoning me away from the shadows. My mind desperately pulls at it like a lifeline.
"Wake up, Lira. It's morning already," the voice urges with a note of worry.
My head begins to pound heavily, as if the echoes of Cresselia's words were rebounding within the confines of my skull, and I release a stiff groan. Sure enough though, I'm torn from the realm of sleep and blink my tired eyes open to find myself lying in bed with the sun's rays pouring into our room.
Ri's shadow leaves my side and I look up just in time to watch him open the window and peer outside. "Hey, look at this! The weather's great again!" he beams. And I'm sure it is, but I really don't feel like up to doing much of anything besides staying where I am.
I had that same dream again. It felt strangely real for a dream, though… It all plays back for me so clearly. I don't want to believe it, but what if it was actually more than a dream? I was told that I can't exist in this world: Cresselia said that, if the distortion in the fabric of space expands, the world will be ruined. More than that, she said I'm the one causing the distortion. Since Luminous Spring said that I was somehow connected to it, maybe… Maybe it's true. Merely by existing here, I might cause the world's destruction.
Is that what I am here…? No matter what, it all still makes so very little sense to me. Then why did Dialga let me come back? Since we were able to save Temporal Tower, he didn't lose himself like he did in the Dark Future: I can't imagine a sane Dialga… letting me live, if it meant that the world could be destroyed…
A new thought comes to me. What if we were wrong? What if Dialga's sanity never really did recover from all of the damage Temporal Tower suffered, or what if he's somehow devolving back into his Primal state? If it happened once then there's no guarantee that it wouldn't happen again. Primal Dialga would want the world to fall apart if it meant he could take control of it, so if I'm a catalyst to all of this he would want to keep me alive!
But then I'm reminded of another thing: Primal Dialga tried to have Dusknoir and his men kill me because—as a Guardian of Light—I exist to protect the world. He didn't lie about any of that, so what could any of that even mean now? Was I only ever meant to exist to protect Temporal Tower and then die? If so, then why didn't I truly disappear after we saved it… I just don't know who or what I'm supposed to believe anymore…
"Why are you daydreaming?" Ri asks, snapping me out of my turmoil of thoughts, "It's not like you, Lira."
I'm overthinking things. That's it. I still don't know if my dream means anything, and I've been so worried and so paranoid over everything that's happened lately that it would drive anyone crazy like this. "Well, I still feel like I'm half-asleep," I answer with a light smirk, rubbing the weariness out of my eyes, "I don't think the dream world wants to let go of me just yet." I really don't…
Taking me by both hands, he lifts me onto my feet with a small chuckle, "Come on, let's see some energy!" As if to illustrate that, he bounces a bit on the balls of his feet.
I snort: Ri's acting even peppier that usual. But… Maybe he could be right. It's not for sure that I'm going to destroy the world, so there's no point feeling sorry for myself. The best thing I can do for now is look into what's going on myself and stay positive. I gotta cheer up! I've faced worse dreams, so I can't let something like this get to me.
I roll my shoulders to shake away the last of my fatigue and press a smile onto my lips before giving my partner's hands a firm squeeze. "I think a decent breakfast might do us both some good," I offer, "Maybe a Sitrus berry will help wake me up."
"Yes, that's the Lira I know!" he returns with a nod, taking the lead out the door of our room, "Let's make this another big day!"
At least he's got enough energy for the both of us today. What am I going to do though if these nightmares keep happening? If they keep repeating themselves, I won't be able to deny the fact that they have to be some sort of premonition, but what can I even do? I… I won't just throw my life away. I was lucky enough to get this second chance that I'm not about to give up on the life I've made here.
It's so quiet in the compound. Since I didn't look outside, I have no idea what time it is. Did we wake up before the others again? It's strange to be up before everyone else, because there's usually at least the bustle of an exploration team or two heading out at the break of day for their work.
The situation goes from strange to somewhat eerie when we enter the meeting chamber only to be greeted by silence. Where is everyone? Surely we didn't get up that early! Still, it doesn't look like anything's happened, and someone would've woken us up if there had been. "You can go ahead and check the Boards to see if there are any other jobs we can do today," Ri says, "I'll get us some breakfast and then we can go meet with our client later."
"Hello! Hold up! There's big trouble, by golly!" A voice calls out to us no sooner do we hear the creak of a door. It cuts through the quiet so swiftly that I flinch, spinning on me heel in time to watch Bidoof darting out of the Guildmaster's chambers. "I'm glad I caught you!" he continues as he runs over to us, "I reckoned you were about ready to go out for the day."
I feel a lump form in my throat. The last time we saw him the Normal-type in this much of a panicked rush was when Uxie's Time Gear was stolen and Grovyle was listed as a wanted criminal.
"What's wrong, Bidoof?" Ri questions, retracing his steps back to us. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Th-there's trouble afoot!" he stammers, "Little Azurill… The little Azurill is in trouble!"
It's like a piece of my world has been shattered when I hear those words. My heart stops. There's not one person in this entire town who couldn't love Marill and Azurill: Those two were practically adopted by all of Treasure Town. I think pretty much every young Guild member sees the pair as their little siblings and Ri and I couldn't begin to thank them enough for everything they did for us and Manaphy.
If there's one thing I know it's that neither of them would get into any trouble by just looking for it. Their adventurous, but they're also responsible. The only way they'd do anything dangerous is if someone were to trick them into doing it. Just what exactly happened? Did Azurill get sick like his Mom?
"They brought the little feller here only a minute ago," Bidoof explains, "He and Marill are with the Guildmaster!"
"Let's hurry, Lira!" Ri says, pulling me with him. Good, because I can barely carry myself one step forward. After the dream I had, for this to happen… What's going on?!
The two brothers were moved into our room. With how bad things appear, it's for the best if they stay in the Guild while all of us investigate and Ri and I volunteered to give up our beds. We'll move to Sharpedo Bluff for the time being.
When we see Azurill though… Oh Arceus, he's unconscious… Worse than that, the way he's thrashing in his sleep reminds me too much of what I saw in the future when Pitch Black was hunting me down. Quiet whimpers slips past his lips and his face remains in a contorted expression of pain and fear. I can only imagine what he might be suffering inside his own mind.
The sight rattles me enough that I keep back, my spine pressed to the wall amid the circle where everyone clusters around Azurill. There's a part of me that wants nothing more than to sit by his side and try to force my powers as a Guardian of Light into working so I can try to help him and another part of me that wants this to be nothing more than a dream. And still, there's another part of me—that most disappointing, guilt-ridden part—that can't help but think that any second now Azurill's going to open his eyes; that they'll glow with a familiar, deadly light; and that he'll attack, just like Masa and Ri were forced to.
"Hey, Azurill!" Ri exclaims in attempts to stir him awake, even going so far as to kneel by the bedside and shake his shoulders. When this fails, he looks up at our guildmates worriedly, "Is he alright?"
Sunflora turns her gaze to the floor, "There seems to be no danger to his life, but…"
"What happened to him?!" Ri demands, a certain fire in his voice that none of us are used to hearing from him. I blink at my partner in mute shock, but his piercing gaze is unrelenting.
Eventually, it's Marill's faint sniffle that answers him, "He's been sleeping and sleeping and sleeping… But he won't wake up."
I fold my hands across my arms, gripping them tightly as my brows furrow. Why wouldn't he be able to wake up? He doesn't look like he's sick or that he has any physical injuries. I think for a second that Marill might mean he's in coma, but to suddenly fall into one you'd think he'd have to hit his head or there'd be some other extreme cause.
"What?" Ri practically whispers in confusion, pushing himself back onto his feet, "He won't wake up?" I don't understand it at all either. My only reassurance is that I don't think Pitch Black could do that, put someone into a coma. He's tortured me plenty in my dreams, has tormented others enough to drive them insane and attack, and even made me sleepwalk over a balcony. However, they were all only temporary. All of us eventually woke up thanks to one thing or another. That thought is enough to bring me a step closer.
"Yes…" Marill nods despairingly, "I tried waking him over and over, but he's still asleep. I got so worried, so I brought him to the Guild."
Not sooner does he say this, Azurill's tossing and turning worsens and he emits a fearful moan. I bite down hard on my lower lip, crossing over to Ri and looping my arm around his. I need his stability right now, or else I'm going to break. I just can't believe this…
Ri draws me closer to him, but not once does he take his eyes away from Azurill. "He seems to be tormented by something…" he mutters in thought, his anxious words laced with sympathy.
"He's been like that the whole time he's been asleep," Marill explains further, placing a hand on Azurill's head as if he were trying to let his little brother know that he's there beside him. "It's like he's suffering… Is he having a bad bream?"
I really could break when he looks directly at Ri and me. We've helped the two before and we've done so much. We should be able to do more, but we just don't have any answers.
Corphish ends up speaking in our stead, "Hey, hey, that could be it. The way the little fellow is tossing and turning, it looks like he's having a nightmare."
Ri shoots me a quick look, but I can only shake my head in numb distress. I just don't know… When that fails, he turns to the Guild's second-in-command, "Hey, Chatot. Do you know how we can wake up Azurill?"
But even as all eyes land his way, the dejected look on his face says everything. "Unfortunately, I'm fresh out of ideas too," he mumbles, "To be locked in a nightmare, unable to wake for days on end… I've never heard of such a thing."
"Since he's asleep, we can't feed him anything like berries," Chimecho sighs, "We're at our wit's end trying to come up with a cure." She has a point. Chesto berries normally help, but it's next to impossible to get people to eat or drink anything when they're asleep. Usually, they're picked when they're overly ripe and their tough skin is softened, making it easy to tear off a piece and use the meat of the fruit as a kind of salve around a Pokemon's nose in order to wake them up. It's so common a cure though that I imagine they've already tried it.
"Who'd know of a way of getting rid of a nightmare? Hey, hey, hey…"
Bidoof begins to nervously shuffle in place to the right of me, not looking any one of us in the eye. "Uh… um…" he fumbles with his words before raising his voice a little louder, "Uh, everyone, can I say something?"
"What is it, Bidoof?" Loudred booms, enough so that the former ducks his head and hesitates to speak up again.
Still, he perseveres over his own nerves and after a deep breath continues, "I got to thinking… Since we can't make the nightmare go away… If we somehow figure out what kind of nightmare he's having… Maybe we can figure out why that little Azurill can't wake up, by golly."
My eyes widen at that. Figure out what kind of dream he's having? How would that help? I'm not even sure if a Psychic-type could pull off something like that. Still, it's the only thing we've been able to come up with and if we somehow could pull it off it wouldn't be a half bad idea. It's just that I don't think we can.
"Oh, right!" Loudred exclaims with sarcastic realization, "So we should look into Azurill's dream!" He's expression then darkens in frustration as he barks, "How would we do that?! Look inside a dream?!"
"Yipes! Gosh, I'm sorry…" This time, Bidoof backs away from Loudred. With a frown, I shuffle a step between them protectively. We can't let this turn into another issue like when we were trying to find the Time Gears: Turning on each other doesn't fix anything.
Even with that thought though, there's no denying my surprise when Chatot speaks up again, "Actually… that might be possible."
All eyes snap back on him once more. Step inside a dream? That's insane! I mean, it wouldn't be the craziest thing we've experienced: I just don't see how that's possible.
"Hey, hey! How do you do that?!" Corphish demands.
"We find Drowzee," Chatot answers simply, "If anyone can do it, Drowzee can."
"Drowzee?" my partner echoes, "I know that name somehow…" And soon enough, his expression falls into one of horrific shock once the answer dawns on him. "Th-that's it!" He jerks his gaze my way, "Remember Lira? We fought Drowzee!"
I grimace, "How could I forget? He kidnapped Azurill!" Just thinking about that creep makes my blood boil, but to actually consider bringing him back here—to let him anywhere near Marill and Azurill again—I swear, I would knock him for a loop so hard that his head would spin!
"Yeah, that's him!" Ri nods, "He's that outlaw! The first one we ever caught! But…" he turns his eyes back on Chatot, "why Drowzee?"
"Yeah! Why Drowzee?!" I sneer. If a Psychic-type really can help, then we can surely find another! Maybe even Chimecho could figure out something! Surely there can be any other solution to this than letting that Pokemon within a meter's distance of these kids though!
Chatot narrows his eyes, but keeps his voice level and clears his throat, "This is just a rumor, mind you… But they say that Drowzee has the amazing ability to enter others' dreams."
"Really? He can enter dreams?" Ri echoes, and I can see some of his reservations slipping away.
"Isn't it also said that Drowzee can also eat dreams?" I mumble under my breath, my ears pinning back.
"It's strictly rumor," Chatot repeats, ignoring me, "I couldn't vouch for its truth. However, the possibility exists."
"Ok, I get it." Ri sighs, "So if we were to ask Drowzee, maybe he'll be able to get into Azurill's nightmare!"
I hate this: Arceus knows how much I hate this! I would not spit on that Pokemon if he were on fire! Still… My stare slips down to where Azurill lies. If he's our only hope… I hate relying on a piece of scum like him, but I want Azurill to wake up again. Maybe we won't have a choice but to trust someone like him…
Ri and I turn to face the officer that had helped Marill carry Azurill here, where he's been standing near the door and out of the way out of respect. "Hey Magnemite," Ri asks, "What became of Drowzee after you guys arrested him?"
"Drowzee was subjected to an intense grilling by Officer Magnezone," he buzzes, "He expressed remorse: He vowed never to break the law again. So we released him."
Just like that, or is justice really that blind…? It's hard for me to imagine someone magically turning around their criminal lives for the better. At this point though, maybe I can't really afford to say anything since I gave Dusknoir—of all people—a second chance.
Nevertheless, I'm not the only one not fully convinced, "But did he really straighten out?" Corphish presses, "Sounds really sketchy, hey, hey?!"
"Corphish, now is to the time to be quibbling over that," snaps Sunflora, then she questions, "So… where is Drowzee now?"
"He has gone away to cleanse his mind and spirit. He stated that he would self-discipline on Mt. Travail."
Chimecho speaks up again next, "Mt. Travail? That would be in the mountainous region on the other side of the continent."
It's definitely no small trip: It's farther away than Aegis Cave is. Nevertheless, it's the only lead we have on him and he's our only option. Not even a second does the thought come to mind, Ri's voices what we're both thinking aloud, "Ok, so that's where Drowzee is now. So we have to go, Lira! Off to Mt. Travail!"
"Right!" I squeeze his hand. This is our fight. We were the ones who fought Drowzee the first time: We should be the ones to chase after him now. We have to do this for Azurill's sake!
Another sniffle beckons our attention and we look to see quiet tears streaming down Marill's face, "Oh, Ri…"
"Wait for us, Marill." My partner offers the child a smile that I mimic. Out of all the insanity that's going on in the world right now, this is one job that I know we can do. "We promise we'll come back with Drowzee."
"Lira, Ri… You always, always help us…" he continues to sob, "Thank you so much."
"It's decided then!" Wigglytuff steps forward, speaking for the first time, "We'll leave this matter to Team Crusade!" With a look over the crowd, he gives all of us a fain grin, "Everyone is worried about Azurill, but let's have Team Crusade handle it. Everyone else should go on as usual!"
Right, we can handle it… We have to handle it. I move away, allowing people to pass through as the room begins to clear. I'm so scared though. Just when I was starting to think that things were really going to be ok, Manaphy leaves, and then Grovyle and the others had to leave, and then the dreams, and now this! Why is this happening?!
Soon enough, only the Guildmaster, Chatot, the boys, and Magnemite are left in the room with us. Ri and I tear through our belongs as we hurriedly pack. We have to get moving now! Ri goes on ahead to grab some food for the trip, but before we can walk out, I see someone trying to hide themselves in the corner of the hall next to our door—trying to blend in with the grass at our feet and stay within the cover of a rock as I pass by. Azalea.
"And what are you up to?" I ask. I don't mean to sound snippy, but I'm stressed and exhausted. What is she doing, trying to hide? Then again, the pack around her midsection gives me a pretty good idea.
"I…" she fumbles, a blush blossoming on her cheeks as she avoids looks us in the eyes, "I want to come too… I'm part of the team! I want to help!"
"You're an apprentice," I counter, then release a heavy sigh, "What we did yesterday… Look, that was nothing compared to what this is. What Drowzee is. Just because we need him doesn't mean we trust him. I don't want you near him in case he tries anything."
She purses her lips at me, "You were an apprentice just a couple months ago. You're not much older than me, and I've heard stories from Celebi about the things you did when you were my age!"
"I did a lot of things," I frown, "I hope you'll never have to do." I led an army. I abandoned one of the people I cared for most and let him sacrifice himself—twice. I watched people die and convinced an entire resistance to let themselves disappear over living in the world of the Dark Future. I've stolen aura in order to save myself. And now, maybe even my very existence…
Maybe she notices the grave tone in my voice, but she dips her head disappointedly and wanders back into the room she shares she Sunflora and Chimecho. No one should have to go through what we did, and she's still so new to all of this. We just can't risk exposing her to anything like this yet—she's still a rookie.
Someone taps my shoulder and I turn to find Wigglytuff facing me. He's better at reading people than anyone would normally think, and a part of me can't help but hope he doesn't pick up on my thoughts. "You're in charge of finding Drowzee," he reminds me with a smile, "So don't fail us!"
"We've faced him before," I shrug, "If we could go against Dialga, I think we can face him again."
We have to.