Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Instruments of Creation

by The Desert Cat

A clever and curious Zorua. An Arcanine who dreams of a past he can't remember. An Absol with a terrible vision of the future. Together with the the Pokemon of Treasure Town and Pokémon Square, they must discover the truth behind Absol's vision of an endless winter, and harness the power of an ancient artifact to prevent it. Violence, injury, death, implied sex, no Human main.

12. Chapter 12: Three in Pokemon Square

Chapter 12: Three in Pokémon Square

"Up and at 'em," Dewgong said, patting Arcanine on the shoulder with a flipper, "that's all I've got left."

Arcanine rose unsteadily, his head still spinning. He was still badly hypovolemic, he thought, despite Dewgong's ministration. Vaporeon's broken body still lay at his feet. The earth around them was muddy with their blood. Mostly his, Arcanine thought numbly; Vaporeon had left most of hers on the rocks outside.

He could hear the sounds of fighting and gunfire somewhere; between the echoing of the cave entrance and the spinning in his head, he couldn't tell where it was coming from.

"What's happening?"

"They've landed troops on the south side," Dewgong said, "they're fighting their way up through the tunnels. We need to get back down and help."

Arcanine rounded the corner and was surprised to see a half-dozen Humans at the other end of the corridor. They were dressed all in black, with bulky vests and helmets, clear masks covering their faces, and heavily armed. Their weapons roared, and Arcanine felt a stinging impact on his chest. He scrambled hastily back, loosing a Flamethrower as he retreated. Panicked screams and cries of pain followed him around the corner.

Dewgong and Meowth stared up at him wide-eyed, waiting for instruction. He was one of the elders; they expected him to have a plan, to remain calm, to know what to do, but he didn't know. How many Humans had come? Should they fight or retreat? He wished Pikachu was still with them; he knew more about Humans and how they fought than any of them except Mewtwo.

The occasional bullet still cracked off the wall at the end of the corridor, enough to keep them from sticking their heads out. Humans were weak; he had probably knocked out or even killed some of them, but how many? More would be coming. It was their weapons that made them dangerous, especially at a distance, but he and Meowth both knew Protect. Meowth could ride him. Dewgong was too heavy, but she should be safe behind both of their Protection, and she preferred to fight at a distance with Ice Beam and Water Pulse anyway.

There was nowhere to retreat to. They were on an island, and out in the water, most of the family would be helpless prey for the guns on the airships. They had to fight.

"Meowth, on my back," Arcanine said, "Protect us. Dewgong, stay behind us."

The blue screen of Meowth's Protect filled the corridor ahead of them as Arcanine rounded the corner. Four bodies lay in the hall; the remaining pair of humans had retreated to the cover of the intersection. Dozens of rounds sparked off Meowth's Protect as Arcanine charged. Dewgong's Ice Beam flashed past, and a freezing mist filled the intersection. Both Humans stumbled back, clawing at their ice-covered gas masks.

The reached the intersection. Dewgong's Water Pulse slammed the left Human against the far wall. Arcanine's fangs found the gap between body armor and gas mask on the on the right Human. Flesh tore, and he let it drop to the ground without stopping.

There were more Humans to their left and right. These had large plastic shields which they held in front of them as they advanced, weapons firing. Hundreds of rounds sparked off Meowth's Protect. Arcanine could see the field beginning to weaken. Meowth was yelling something, but he couldn't understand over the thunder of automatic weapons. Arcanine fired off another Flamethrower down his side of the hall, but the Human's riot shields blocked most of it.

A metal cylinder rolled toward them across the floor, white gas billowing from one end, then two more. Arcanine didn't know what it was, but he was certain that he didn't want to breathe it. They couldn't stay here, but if Arcanine moved, he thought, he would leave Dewgong unProtected. Meowth, hopefully reaching the same conclusion, leapt from his back. Arcanine quickly use his own Protect as Meowth's faded behind him.

Holding his breath, he dashed through the smoke, slamming into the wall of riot shields on the other side. Shields and Humans collapsed under his momentum. He lashed out around him with claws and fangs, moving faster than any Human could hope to react. They flailed helplessly as he tore them apart.

Another cylinder sailed around the corner ahead of him and began spewing more smoke. His eyes already watered and stung, and his throat burned. The sound of fighting behind him had stopped. They couldn't keep going like this very long, he thought; he was still weak from his earlier injuries, and he couldn't keep Protect up much longer.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You can still escape," Pikachu said, "Arcanine, Venosaur, and I will attack from the bottom entrance on the west side. Between Arcanine's Protect, Venasaur's Light Screen, and my Double Team, we can make it to where they're landing equipment. Once we're among them, they'll have to bring the airships in close to engage us. You take the others and the eggs, and flee through the north entrance. Blastoise will cover you from the cliff, and Charizard will harass the helicopter."

#You'll all die,# Mewtwo said, his eyes wet with unshed tears. Arcanine's eyes stung, too. It was a residual effect of the smoke and gas, he told himself.

"Better than the Ball," Charizard growled

#No.# Mewtwo shook his head. #I'm the one he wants. I have to surrender.#

Everyone objected at once. Mewtwo raised his hands, motioning them to silence.

#No, friends, this is my fault. I should have returned and dealt with Giovanni years ago. I won't have you die for me.#

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Alakazam sat motionless in his chair, eyes closed and brow furrowed in concentration, his mouth moving silently. Gathered around him, Charizard, Tyranitar, Delphox, Absol, and Zorua, still disguised as Poochyena, waited and watched. He couldn't communicate directly with Magnezone, of course, so Chimecho was intermediating.

"Don't expect too much," Tyranitar told Poochyena and Absol quietly, "Alakazam is stubborn, and Magnezone doesn't have a reputation for negotiating. It may take them a few tries to both see reason."

Absol leaned forward to take another Poffin from the half-finished plate that Tyranitar had brought to facilitate their discussion and ate it carefully, not wanting to leave crumbs on the table full of books.

Eventually, Alakazam's face relaxed and his eyes opened. He placed both hands on the table in front of him and looked around at the others, his expression unreadable.

"Well?" Zorua prompted impatiently.

"They've agreed to teleport him over in the morning..." Alakazam's voice trailed off uncertainly.

"That's great!" Absol said.

"What did they ask for?" Charizard asked.

"That's the problem," Alakazam said, "Magnazone started off demanding a refund of the two hundred thousand Poké he already paid, plus another two hundred thousand, all in advance."

"He must know we don't have that money any more," Tyranitar growled.

"Of course; he seemed almost eager to be talked down. He's agreed to, ah, lend Arcanine back to us until we can pay back the bounty, or until the situation is resolved."

"Lend?" Zorua asked, "so after we help, you're just going to send him back?"

The corners of Alakazam's mouth turned up in the closest thing to a smile that Absol or Zorua had seen him make. "Collecting him afterward is Magnezone's problem. If you two help, I don't think anyone in Pokémon Square will be eager to help him."

"Especially since they know he can't pay," Tyranitar added.

That seemed like they were getting everything they had asked for, Absol thought, but Alakazam still looked troubled.

"So that's good, right?" Zorua asked.

"Too easy," Alakazam said, "Magnezone is never so cooperative. He knows something that we don't."

"Maybe he wants to help?" Absol suggested. "Surely he understands how important this is."

"Of course he understands," Charizard said dryly, "Magnezone is the sort of Pokémon who should be demanding more, not less."

Absol didn't know how to answer. The idea of profiteering from the situation had never occurred to her. From the look on Poochyena's face, is was obvious that she felt the same way; she had been uncomfortable even asking for Arcanine's return. Almost everyone in Pokémon Square wanted to help, Absol thought. Team ACT wasn't asking for anything for their time and the use of the manor. The other teams weren't being paid, though Team Hydro, Team Easy, and Team Mighty had received a small portion of Arcanine's bounty, with the promise of more when Magnezone paid team ACT. Other Pokémon in town were donating orbs or seeds or even snacks or whatever else they could spare to help their efforts, especially now that it was obvious to everyone that something was badly wrong with the weather.

Alakazam leaned forward and took a Poffin from the plate. He took a bite, chewed, swallowed, then looked thoughtfully toward Poochyena. "Poochyena, we need to know everything you know about Arcanine."

"Well, um…"

She hadn't thought about it this way before, but she realized that, despite trusting him with her life, she really didn't know much about him at all. Alakazam took another bite, pretending not to be staring at her.

"We're not judging either of you," Charizard said, "but anything could be important; we don't even know what to ask."

"I've only known him, like, a month and a half," Zorua began, "and he doesn't talk a lot, so I don't know much. He woke up five years ago near Treasure Town with no memory. I guess he killed people, but you know more about that than me. After he escaped, he found that cave in Haunted Forest. I think he lived there alone, doing mystery dungeons, till I found him. He had a bag and a badge he stole from someone."

That was all simple, relatively impersonal information. The rest was more personal. It was Arcanine's story, and it wasn't her place to tell, but she still needed Team ACT's cooperation. How could she say the rest without making him sound crazy?

"I sent the badge to Federation headquarters," Delphox said, "it doesn't matter now, but we'll know in a few days who it belonged to."

"Is that all?" Alakazam asked.

"Well...no. He knows weird stuff. He can do big numbers in his head super fast. I think he dreams about wherever he used to live every night, but he says he can't remember them. He's also really strong."

Alakazam set down what remained of his poffin and leaned toward her. "He has amnesia, you said?"

Zorua nodded.

"Are you familiar with Team Go-Getters and-"

"He's not Human," Zorua interrupted, "at least, he doesn't think so. He said he might remember Humans, though."

"Interesting..." Alakazam said slowly, leaning back again in his chair.

"Do you know something?" Absol asked hopefully.

"I'm afraid not," Alakazam said, shaking his head, "though all thr- both of the Humans I've know fit Poochyena's description quite well."

"Three?" Delphox asked, turning to Alakazam with eyebrows raised, "you've been holding out on us?"

Alakazam didn't answer. Absol knew exactly who Alakazam meant, but she was pretty sure that she wasn't supposed to say; Mother and Ninetales had never told her to keep it a secret, but they'd never expected her to be in Pokémon Square, either.

Delphox looked around the table; no one but Poochyena met her gaze. "Are Poochyena and I the only ones who don't know?" she complained.

"It doesn't matter," Alakazam said, "He's no longer here."

Delphox frowned, then smiled, then began to laugh. "That jerk? That explains some things."

"Back to the matter at hand," Alakazam said, "if we don't know what game Magnezone is playing, we'll need to be prepared for anything. Team Hydro and Team Razor Wind are in town, and Team Mighty may be back this evening. Team Easy will probably want to join us. That should be more that enough Pokémon to deal with anything."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Have you guys found anything yet?" Grey asked as he pushed through the curtain into the library.

"No more leads," Absol said, shaking her head as she and Poochyena looked up from the book they were reading together.

Grey looked frustrated, she thought, and even the normally irrepressible Pink, trailing a step behind him, looked grumpy this evening. It was snowing again, and she could see through the window Tyranitar and several other Pokémon working in the garden.

"What are they doing out there?" Absol wondered.

"Xatu says it's going to be colder tonight than it has been since you got here," Grey said, "Tyranitar is worried about his garden; he has a crew of Pokémon from town harvesting as much as they can, and knocking snow off the branches before they break."

"Should we go help?" Absol asked. She didn't want to go work out in the cold, but she felt slightly guilty sitting in the warmth of the library while the others worked outside, even if they were working in here too.

"No," Grey said, "Tyranitar has enough help, and there's no need for you to be miserable out there. Besides, they've gotten most of the low fruit already."

The four of them worked late into the night, taking turns with the Luminous Orb. The weather now lent an urgency to their efforts that Absol had not felt in her first few weeks in Pokémon Square. Eventually, though, they were all too tired and frustrated to read any further. Grey excused himself and Pink, and Team Easy headed back to their base.

Sometime when she hadn't been watching, Absol noticed, Poochyena had dragged her bed in front of the stove as well; they were close enough that they could have stretched out and touched paws without getting up. Absol considered inviting Poochyena to share her bed. There was enough room for both of them and it would have been comfortably warm, but they had only known each other a day and a half, and she didn't know if Poochyena was ready to be so familiar.

Absol yawned and curled up under her blanket, leaving only her eyes and muzzle exposed. She could still see through the windows several Pokémon working out in the garden in the falling snow, in the blue light of a Luminous Orb. Tyranitar was probably still out there with them too, she thought; he wasn't the sort of Pokémon who quit while there was still work to be done.

"So who's the other Human they were talking about? Poochyena asked.

Absol sighed. It wouldn't do any harm for Poochyena to know. Besides, all the other Pokémon at the manor were nice, but other than Pink, they were all a lot older and more experienced than she was. It was nice to have a friend closer to her own level of experience to confide in. "It's supposed to be a secret, so you can't tell anyone else, okay?"

Poochyena's silhouette nodded in the darkness.

"You know about Team Go-Getters?"

Poochyena nodded again.

"Gengar was a Human too."

Zorua thought about that for a minute.

"So, he was the cursed Human in the story? And he knew all along it wasn't Team Go-Getters' fault?"

"That's right."

"Wow," Zorua said, "that's pretty mean, but how do you know?"

Absol didn't answer. Poochyena was smart, she thought; she could make the connection from there.

"You said you're from Mount Freeze," Zorua continued, "but you can't be the Absol in the story; you're not old enough."

"That was my mother," Absol said, "Ninetales, who cursed him, is my father."

"And now you're in Pokémon Square, saving the world again," Poochyena said. "That's quite a coincidence."

"Nothing happens purely by chance," Absol said, "even if we don't understand why. Maybe my ancestors choosing to live on Mount Freeze was more than luck. Maybe there's something special about that place which lets us see things no one else can. Maybe Ninetales' abilities synergize with our own. Everything is connected, somehow."

For several minutes, both of them were silent. Absol could hear Pokémon still working outside, as well as footsteps on the floor above, her own breathing and Poochyena's, Pokémon talking quietly in the lobby, the occasional creaking and popping of the wooden posts and beams supporting the manor. None of them were the sounds she'd been accustom to falling asleep to her whole life on Mount Freeze, but by now, they seemed just as comfortable and familiar. Absol was nearly asleep when Poochyena spoke again.

"Absol?"

"Hmm?"

"It's not very important now, but I want to tell you a secret too."

Absol raised her head and turned to look directly at Poochyena, head tilting to the side inquisitively. "What is it?"

"I'm not really Poochyena," Poochyena said. Her body began to shimmer with purple light, fading into a slightly longer, leaner shape. In the darkness, she didn't look much different to Absol. "I'm Zorua. All the other stuff I said was true, though."

"That's good. Is this still a secret, or may I call you Zorua now?"

"Um, I guess it's a secret a little longer; I'll be Zorua when Arcanine gets here tomorrow to make sure he recognizes me."

"Okay," Absol said, pulling her head back under the blanket, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Zorua was slightly disappointed that Absol had reacted so nonchalantly to her revelation. It would have been such a great opportunity for a prank, too. She could have been something huge and scary, just for a second…that would have been a poor way to use the trust she had built here. That sort of behavior was why Pokémon back in Meadow Town didn't trust her, and she wasn't going to be like that any more.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Absol?"

It was still night. With the snowclouds covering the moon, even her Dark-type eyes could make out none of the details of the library.

"Absol?" the voice repeated, slightly louder. Now that she was awake, she recognized it. She raised her head and looked around. A head about a half-meter high peeked through the library curtain, outlined in faint blue light from the lobby.

"Umbreon?"

"Sorry to wake you; there's a Growlithe at the door who won't talk to anyone else."

"Growlithe?" Absol was awake and on her feet in an instant, with Zorua only slightly slower. "Is she alright?"

"Well," Umbreon said, "we're not sure."

Espeon and Tyranitar were waiting for them in the lobby. A glowing Luminous Orb hovered above Espeon, providing enough light to see by. One of the Federation Beldums rested on a crate beside the sandglasses, apparently in whatever state of shutdown passed for sleep among it's species. The front door was closed.

"She's still outside?" Absol asked.

Espeon nodded.

Absol and Zorua, once again disguised as Poochyena, crossed the room together and pushed open the door. As the cold air hit her, Absol flinched, taking an involuntary step backward. Growlithe sat in the half-meter deep drift which had accumulated in the alcove in front of the door, her bag of bottles beside her. It was still snowing; fat, lazy flakes which floated down to melt on her head and back, soaking her fur.

Zorua stepped forward to fill the gap. "Growlithe! Are you alright?"

"Fine," Growlithe said. Her voice was taut and pained.

"Um, will you come in?" Zorua asked, stepping to the side to allow Growlithe to pass her in the doorway.

Growlithe picked up her bag and limped inside, grimacing with each hop of her back legs. Zorua let the door close slowly behind her.

"Did you walk all the way here?" Absol asked.

"Yes." Growlithe sat down again, set the bag down, and looked around, not acknowledging the other Pokémon staring at her. "Nice place. Who lives here?"

"We do. Team ACT." Tyranitar crouched down in front of her, offering a hand for her to touch or sniff. Growlithe ignored it.

Zorua cringed, embarrassed at Growlithe's rudeness. She wanted to lean over and cuff Growlithe, but Growlithe looked so pathetic that Zorua couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Are you staying the night?" Zorua asked instead.

Growlithe shrugged without looking at her.

This didn't seem to getting anywhere, Zorua though. Absol was glancing back and forth between Growlithe and Tyranitar, Umbreon, and Espeon, who all looked confused, probably trying to find a polite way to explain the situation in front of Growlithe. They probably all expected an emergency, she thought, but there was no emergency. Growlithe had just limped several miles through the snow in the middle of the night because she was lonely up there by herself. She was obviously in pain. She didn't need questions; she needed to be laying down somewhere warm as soon as possible.

"Absol," Zorua said, "you keep helping Tyranitar. I'll show Growlithe where we sleep." Without waiting for answers she turned and started very slowly for the library. After a few steps, she could hear Growlithe following her; two sets of clicks as her front paws hit the floor, the scrape of the dragging bag, and the thump as her back half caught up. The Luminous Orb bobbed after them in Espeon's psychic grasp, throwing long, bounding shadows across the floor.

Absol turned to face Tyranitar, Espeon, and Umbreon, and sat down.

"Is she alright?" Tyranitar asked quietly.

"She's Team Mighty's friend," Absol said, explaining the situation briefly, "I invited her to stay with us here while they're away. I'm sorry, I didn't expect she'd walk here herself."

"That's okay," Tyranitar said, "she obviously shouldn't be living up there alone in that condition, but I'd feel better if one of you two keeps an eye on her while she's in the manor."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Where does Absol sleep?" Growlithe asked.

Zorua led her to Absol's pile of cushions in front of the stove. Growlithe flopped down on the floor beside it and opened Aromatisse's bag. All five bottles were there, each very carefully wrapped in rags which smelled like they'd been part of Team Mighty's bedding. It must have taken Growlithe hours to do such a neat job without hands, Zorua thought; there had been not a single clink of glass on glass. She'd probably been planning the trip all day, but too stubborn to ask for help when they visited to deliver her medicine.

The Luminous Orb floated a meter above her, silently illuminating the library. Espeon was probably watching and listening as well, Zorua thought. That was good, the others would know Growlithe was okay. Growlithe unwrapped a bottle, stuffed the cloth back in the bag, and pulled the stopper out with her teeth. The bottle was full.

"You haven't had any all day?" Zorua asked.

Growlithe shook her head. Zorua felt instantly guilty.

"Growlithe, you don't have to torture yourself with it. A little bit at a time is good enough, okay?"

Growlithe didn't answer. Staring at Zorua, she lifted the bottle and took a long, deliberate draught. She replaced the stopper, placed the bottle back in the bag, and lay down with her back against one of Absol's cushions. Zorua wanted to help, but she didn't know how, so she returned to her own bed and lay down. The Luminous Orb floated back across the room, slipped through the curtain, and it was dark again in the library.

After a few minutes, Growlithe began to whimper in her sleep. Absol didn't know what to do. She didn't want to wake Growlithe; as much as she wanted to help Growlithe, she didn't know how, and Growlithe wasn't an easy Pokémon to communicate with. She pulled the blanket completely over her face and hoped it would pass.

The whimpering grew louder and louder, and Growlithe began to kick against her bed. Absol sighed and stuck her head back out.

"Growlithe?"

She could see Zorua's eyes watching as well, glowing slightly in the darkness.

"Growlithe?" Absol tried again, slightly louder.

Still no answer. Neither she no Zorua were going to get any sleep like this, Absol thought. If Team Mighty weren't back by tomorrow evening, they were going to have to get Growlithe her own room. Zorua got up and felt her way over to them. She stretch out on the floor next to Growlithe and wriggled her head between Growlithe's jerking forelegs. It seemed to work; pressed between Zorua and the cushion, Growlithe calmed down almost immediately.

"You know, she didn't take any of her medicine all day," Zorua said, "and, right before she lay down, she took a really big dose. It's like she's hurting herself on purpose."

"Why, though?"

"I don't know," Zorua sighed, "Absol, have you noticed how both her legs are broken and healed just the same way?"

Zorua could see Absol nodding only by the faint glow of her eyes.

"Absol…there's no way that happened on accident in a fight. Someone did that to her on purpose."

Absol shuddered, pulling her blanket more tightly around her shoulders. She hadn't thought about the that possibility; she tried not to think about Growlithe's injury at all. She had caused and received countless injuries playing and occasionally fighting with the other Pokémon around Mount Freeze, and a few playing tag or pawball with the Pokémon here, and she was never squeamish about it, but looking at Growlithe's hindlegs made her stomach turn.

"What kind of Pokémon would do something like that?"

For several minutes, neither of them could think of anything to say.

"Anyway," Absol said eventually, "there's no need for you both to sleep on the floor. I'll pull her up here, and you bring your cushion over on the other side of her."

Zorua nodded in agreement. Absol leaned over and took Growlithe by the nape, and dragged her up onto the cushions, careful to keep Growlithe's legs straight. She struggled a bit, but didn't wake.

She hadn't realized before how she missed laying curled up with Mother's warm body in the cave back home, Absol thought. Zorua was obviously enjoying it, too, and Growlithe, sandwiched between them, seemed to finally relax. The three of them were still in nearly the same positions when the sun creeping through the library windows woke Zorua and Absol in the morning.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

If not for the bright red and black blanket she wore, Zorua thought, Absol would have blended in quite well in the snow. The clouds had dispersed early in the morning, and the sun reflected blindingly off the fresh snow. They'd gotten almost a foot, but it was already beginning to melt.

Right now, Absol looked miserable. The snow was firm enough and Zorua light enough that she could walk across the surface, but Absol sunk in to her knees with each step. Though they had only been out a few minutes and it didn't feel that cold to her, Absol was already shivering badly.

"You don't have to do this," Zorua said, "everything will go okay."

"I-I w-want t-to b-be th-there if y-you th-think it w-will h-help."

"I do think it will help to have another friendly face, if you're sure you're okay."

"I'm f-fine. Let-ts j-just m-make it f-fast."

They were gathered on the road in front of the courtyard, at Zorua's suggestion, rather than in the courtyard where Alakazam usually performed his Teleportation. If anything went wrong, Arcanine would have plenty of unoccupied directions to run. Team Hydro, Team Razor Wind, Umbreon, Espeon, Charizard, and Tyranitar were all waiting by the gate, while Alakazam hovered beside Absol.

"It's almost time," Alakazam said, "you're sure you can control him?"

"Yeah," Zorua said, "just stay back and make sure he sees me first."

It was time, Zorua thought. She let her illusion drop, taking satisfaction from the looks of recognition on the faces of the Pokémon who had seen her in Haunted Forest, even if no one seemed particularly surprised.

Alakazam frowned, but said nothing. His eyes lost focus as he began to meditate, reaching out mentally to search for Chimecho in Treasure Town. For several minutes, nothing happened. Absol shifted uncomfortably beside him, trying vainly to wrap herself even more tightly in her blanket. Once they got back inside, Zorua thought, she needed to get Absol and Arcanine together. He could warm Absol up quick, and, if they got along, maybe she could convince both of them to come to Creepy Tunnel with her.

Alakazam's lips were moving, but he made no sound. His frown deepened. The air between them began to shimmer with energy. In a poof of displaced snow, Arcanine was suddenly in front of her, flanked by a pair of Magnemites.

"Arcanine!"

He lay on his side in the snow, forepaws and hindpaws tied together. The snarl on his lips faded into confusion as he looked around; his eyes settled on her.

"Zorua? How..."

She ran to him. Their noses touched briefly; she kept going, rubbing the length of her body along his muzzle. Arcanine leaned his head against her, hot breath ruffling her fur as he inhaled her scent.

"I missed you, big guy. I'll explain everything, just play along for now, okay?"

Arcanine nodded.

"First we need to get you untied. You remember Absol, right?" Zorua looked across his body toward where Absol and Alakazam stood.

Arcanine nodded again, twisting his head around to follow her gaze.

"She's a nice Pokémon. You won't hurt her, right?"

Arcanine snorted. "Don't think I could even stand now."

Zorua backed up a couple steps and gave him what she hoped was a stern look. "She's my friend now, too. She helped get you out. You have to promise you won't hurt her."

"Promise." Arcanine agreed.

"Absol, can you help me cut him loose?"

As Absol approached, the two Magnemites swooped down in front of her, lights flashing, to block her path.

"Releasing the prisoner is not permitted," they blared in unison.

Absol stopped, looking to Zorua for direction. All three of them turned to Alakazam. His frown deepened.

"I'm sorry, it was part of the deal. I agreed that we would not untie him or interfere with Magnezone's representatives."

Zorua's anger flared briefly. Team ACT had acted so friendly, implied they would let Arcanine go, but they had actually agreed to keep him tied up for Magnezone? But why had he emphasized I and we like that? When they had talked yesterday, Alakazam sounded like he expected to keep Arcanine for the duration of the crisis; obviously they couldn't keep him tied up the whole time. Alakazam was a smart Pokémon, and he wouldn't have agreed to a dumb plan like that without a way out. Did he mean that she and Absol could free him, and Team ACT wouldn't interfere?

She didn't know how strong the Magnemites were, but if they dealt with criminals all the time, surely they were dangerous too. In any case, Team ACT couldn't allow her to be too badly injured; they still needed the location of the mystery dungeon.

"I haven't any fire," Arcanine leaned his muzzle against her ear and whispered.

It was up to her and Absol then, Zorua thought; they'd have to risk it. She looked across Arcanine's body, caught Absol's eye, and winked. Zorua knew she could count on Absol's help. She bent down to gnaw the rope around Arcanine's forepaws. One of the Magnemites swung around to face her as they both began to Charge themselves with power.

Absol Snarled angrily, and the Magnemites hesitated. Zorua leapt up, raking her claws across the front of her Magnemite in a Sucker Punch. It wobbled back, but she didn't think she'd done much damage. Yellow Thunderbolts of electricity arced from the tips of both Magnemites' magnets

Zorua felt all of her muscles spasm at once as the electricity flowed through her body. The pain was incredible. She lost consciousness for an instant. When she recovered, she found that she had collapsed on the ground. Smoke rose from dozens of small burns across her body.

Arcanine grunted and twitched. He managed a feeble burst of flame, attempting to distract the Magnemite as she struggled to her feet, but it was so brief that the Magnemite did not seem to notice.

The electricity coruscated across Absol's Magic Coat, burning fur and flesh, but it didn't slow her down. Absol's Magnemite drifted backward away from her as a silver Flash Cannon began to gather between it's magnets, but the movement brought it closer to Arcanine. He lunged at it, pushing himself up with his bound forepaws, but fell short.

Arcanine's distraction, however, gave Absol the opportunity to strike. She leapt straight for the Magnemite's eye, Night Slashing upward with her horn.

The horn drove straight into the center of the eye. Something in its circuitry exploded with a loud pop and a puff of smoke, and it dropped to the ground, rolling several meters to come to a stop against a rock.

Zorua was too slow to rise. A blue-white Thunderwave arced from her opponent's magnets to her back. All of her muscles contracted at once. It was just as painful as the last time, only this time, it didn't end immediately.

She wanted to scream, but her jaw was clenched closed. She couldn't move, or even focus her eyes. Double Arcanines struggled to rise as a blur of yellow light gathered between double Magnemite's magnets. Double Absols dispatched their opponents and turned to face her, taking an instant to comprehend the situation.

Something moved at the edge of her vision. One of Scyther's blades flashed past her head, tearing deep into the metal sphere of the Magnemite's body. Sparks flew from the rent; it wobbled slowly in a circle, lights flashing erratically, then crashed to the ground.

The single, clear note of Heal Bell rang out from among the Pokémon gathered at the gate, and Zorua's muscles relaxed. She let herself slump to the ground as the pain of the electrical burns she had received replaced the pain of the paralyzing electrical charge. The smell of burned fur and flesh and hot metal and circuitry filled the air.

"Zor-rua! Are y-you alr-right?" Absol rushed over to bend down beside her.

Absol didn't look that good either, Zorua thought; she was limping, and there were charred patches of fur and skin down her sides and legs. Arcanine had a few patches of burnt fur, but appeared to have missed the worst of it.

"Think I'm okay," Zorua said through clenched teeth.

"I've wanted to do that for years," Scyther said with a grin. Zangoose and Sandslash stood flanking him; all three of them must have been waiting to help her and Absol if they needed it, Zorua thought. Scyther gave the unconscious Magnemite a kick, then hooked one of his blades through the ropes around Arcanine's forelegs and and the other through the ropes around his hindlegs. He jerked upward with both blades; a dozen windings of rope parted at once and fell away.

Freed, Arcanine stretched out his legs, rolled onto his back, and wriggled side to side in the snow.

"Z-zorua, c-can you c-come ov-ver here with Arc-canine? I'll t-try t-to heal us."

The cold of the snow felt good on her wounds. Everything hurt, and Zorua didn't want to move at all, but she forced herself to her feet and limped over to lean against Arcanine's chest.

"You know," Zorua said to Absol, "I should have expected something to go wrong. Every time me and Arcanine meet up, I'm either injured or filthy."

Absol sat down in the snow, placed her forepaws on Zorua and Arcanine's shoulders, and closed her eyes. She tried to imagine the light of the moon shining through her fur, but all she could think about was how cold she was.

"May I?" Absol heard Umbreon's soft voice beside her.

"Please." She opened her eyes and lowered her paws. "I've not quite got the hang of it, yet."

A column of silvery light flowed down onto Umbreon, clearly visible even in the morning sun, and spread out over the three of them. Absol watched as the burnt tissue in Zorua and Arcanine's wounds returned to a healthy pink color. Muscle regrew, and skin crept slowly back over to close the wounds. Umbreon was incredible good at that, she thought; someday she would be, too.

"Thanks!" Zorua said, looking herself over. She wasn't completely healed, but all of her wounds were at least scabbed over, and most of the pain was gone.

Arcanine bowed his head in acknowledgment to Umbreon. He could feel that his wounds were healed, but it didn't help with his stiffness. Healing never did.

Umbreon smiled back at them and turned to Absol. "You're getting it. Maybe we can practice again once you've warmed up."

"Can you walk, big guy?" Zorua asked Arcanine.

"Give me a minute," Arcanine said, and then, quietly, "not going to have to fight any of those guys, are we?"

"You'd better not," Zorua whispered back. She turned to Absol, still waiting and shivering beside her. "Why don't you go warm up? We'll be along shortly."

"G-good id-dea," Absol said. She leaned over to rest her chin briefly on Zorua's head; Zorua pushed back. She turned to Arcanine, feeling like there was something she should say, but nothing came to mind. She smiled and nodded. So did he. She turned to leave.

"Absol…" Arcanine began.

She turned back to face him.

"…thank you. Now and before."

Absol smiled again. "You looked so uncomfortable. I just wanted to help."

"That went better than I expected," Charizard said, falling in beside her as she entered the courtyard. Umbreon and Espeon trailed behind them.

"I h-hope w-we're d-doing th-the right th-ing," Absol said, "P-pooch- Zorua s-seems like a g-good Pok-kemon, and th-there's someth-thing sp-pecial about Arc-canine. I d-don't kn-now. Wh-what if I've p-put everyone in d-danger b-bringing him h-here?"

"I don't see that we had much choice," Charizard said, "once Zorua explained everything; assuming she's telling us the truth, and we have quite a few strong Pokémon here, if things get out of hand."

"Wh-what will hap-pen t-to the Magnemites?"

"I don't think they'll stay around once they wake up," Charizard said with a grin, "and there's not much that Magnezone can do this far from Treasure Town."

It was safe and warm in the manor, and Absol felt instantly better when the door thunked closed behind them; she was still shivering and cold, but it wasn't quite so intense. At least part of her reaction was just in her head, Absol was certain, but that didn't make it any less uncomfortable.

"Would you like me to start a fire?" Charizard asked.

"I'll b-be f-fine," Absol said, "but m-maybe tea?"

Charizard grinned down at her. "Definitely tea. No one can fight while drinking tea, and I picked up a larger kettle yesterday, now that we have so many people staying with us."

"This is where they brought me after Haunted Forest," Arcanine said as they entered the courtyard. Everything looked and smelled different covered in snow, and he hadn't recognized it before, but the courtyard was unmistakeable. "Where are we?"

"Pokémon Square," Zorua said, "for you, about three days south of Treasure Town, around the bay."

The other Pokémon surrounded the two of them, like they had surrounded him before, when they paraded him through town after his capture. They still considered him a prisoner, he thought. Had be been at his full strength, and had Zorua not been with him, he could probably have made an escape, but as things were, he was still helpless. He would have to wait and trust to Zorua's plan, whatever it was.

The sight of all the Apple trees and Berry bushes reminded Arcanine how hungry he was. Team Magnezone fed their prisoners enough to keep them alive, and nothing more. Most of the lower branches had been picked clean, but he spotted a low-hanging apple as they passed. Ignoring his escort he stopped, walking his forepaws up the trunk to reach it. It was bitter and only half-ripe, but he didn't care.

The inside of the manor was comfortably dim after the glare of the snow. Arcanine paused a few seconds inside the door to allow his eyes to adjust. Tyranitar, Charizard, and Alakazam's scents were strongest, but he could smell dozens of other Pokémon who had been there recently, along with the scents of food and ink and paper. Combined with the thick stone walls and heavy wood floor and ceiling, it gave the place a feeling of timelessness and solidity. It reminded him of somewhere else, he thought, but he couldn't recall where.

In the center of the room, four sandglasses of various sizes stood in wooden frames, attended by a Beldum. That was strange, Arcanine thought; none of the Pokémon he had met here had seemed much concerned with time, and what use was a clock when no one else had one? He would have liked to investigate the mechanism further, but Zorua was already leading them across the room to a curtained doorway on the far side.

"Come on, big guy," Zorua said,turning back to look at him, "I think you're going to like this."

Arcanine made it halfway through the door before he stopped, staring around in amazement. Books! Thousands of books, lining the shelves around the room. He had forgotten that books were a thing; he didn't think he'd seen any here, though there had been paper in Meadow Town. Alakazam and his team couldn't be all that bad with so many books, could they?

He wanted to rush in and examine them all, but a more pressing matter caught his attention. Absol, Charizard, and Growlithe were gathered around the stove in the center of the room. Growlithe spun to face him, fur bristling and lips pulling back in a snarl. Front legs stiff, Growlithe took a step toward him.

Before anyone else could react, Arcanine's territorial instincts took over. He backed quickly out of the room, bumping into Tyranitar and nearly stepping on Sandslash.

"Hey!" Sandslash complained, "careful."

"Arcanine?" Tyranitar rumbled.

"Growlithe! What are you doing?" Absol asked.

"It's him," Growlithe growled, "the bandit from Treasure Town. Why is he back?"

Arcanine could hear them talking clearly through the curtain. Sandslash's spikes poked at his back leg. Arcanine took a step forward and sat down, trying to regain his composure. At least the adrenaline from the fight or flight response covered up the pain in his back, he thought.

"He's ag-greed to help us with the w-weather problem," Absol said. She realized as she said it that Arcanine hadn't yet agreed to anything, but it seemed like a minor distinction; surely he would, once they'd explained the situation.

Growlithe was still staring stiff-legged at the door; it would have been a comical pose with her crooked back legs, Zorua though, if she wasn't completely serious. Growlithe just might be crazy enough to try to fight Arcanine, and, though he'd retreated just now, Zorua didn't know if she could trust Arcanine to respond reasonably. Charizard watched from beside the stove, apparently willing to let her and Absol deal with the situation; well, Tyranitar had made them responsible for Growlithe, hadn't he?

Back out in the lobby, Alakazam stepped around Arcanine toward the library.

Tyranitar put a hand on his shoulder. "Let them handle it," he murmured.

"Growlithe, Team ACT has been nice enough to let us all use their house," Absol said, "it would be so rude to fight, especially in the library."

Growlithe sniffled, and slumped in defeat. "You're all on his side, aren't you," she said sadly, turning around to limp back to Absol's bed. She flopped down right in the center, facing away from the door. "You don't understand what bad Pokémon are like."

Zorua, Absol, and Charizard shared a look. None of them knew what to do.

"Shall we bring them in?" Charizard wondered.

Absol sighed and nodded. She was going to have to tell her whole story again. She was still freezing and she wanted to curl up in her bed, but Growlithe hadn't left her any room. She settled for stretching out along the side of the bed and leaning against Growlithe, who ignored her. At least the Fire-type was warm.

"Arcanine?" Zorua called, "you guys can come in now."

Arcanine, Tyranitar, Alakazam, Team Razor Wind, and Team Hydro filed in the door, spreading out to sit or lay on chair,s or the few remaining cushions, or just on the floor. Arcanine lay in front of the stove, facing toward Absol, but his attention was on the shelves of books around the room.

Zorua hesitated before choosing a spot. She wanted to resume her customary position between Arcanine's forelegs, but Absol still looked pretty uncomfortable, and Zorua wanted to help her warm up as well. She chose Arcanine. In a little bit, she was going to have to ask him to stay and help the Pokémon who had attacked him. She wasn't sure when she'd decided to stay instead of returning to Meadow Town, but she was sure now that it was the right thing to do. Zorua didn't think Arcanine cared much where they went or what they did, as long as they were together, but he was going to object to working with Team ACT on principle. Anything she could do to make him fell more comfortable here would make her job easier.

"Five weeks ago," Absol began, "I lived on Mount Freeze with Mother and Ninetales…"

Arcanine smiled as Zorua settled between his forelegs, and lowered his gaze from the books to her. She smelled wonderful, he thought, letting his muzzle rest on her back. Absol was talking, something about snow and dreams and astrology; she had a beautiful, soft voice, he thought, but what did it have to do with him?

"Missed you," Arcanine whispered.

"Missed you too," Zorua whispered back, "but pay attention; this is important."

Absol talked for a while, about the weather and Darkrai and Kyurem and various teams and dungeons and books. Tyranitar left, and returned few minutes later with a basket of berries and a plate of Poffins, which he passed around the room while Charizard poured cups and bowls of tea for everyone. Arcanine was still hungry; he raked a couple Poffins and handful of Berries onto the floor beside him to snack on. Delphox and a pair of Eevees arrived, sitting together at and on an unoccupied table. Alakazam and the Water-type team were still staring at him like they expected him to go berserk, but the others seemed more relaxed.

After Absol finished, Zorua sat up and recounted her past week since his capture.

"So, this is where we come in, big guy," Zorua said, "I agreed to show them to Creepy Tunnel to get the Orrery Fragment. You'll come with me, right?"

Arcanine nodded. It wasn't far out of their way, going back Meadow Town, and he wasn't about to let Zorua go off anywhere alone, now that they were back together.

"The problem is," Alakazam said, "we still don't know how to open that door."

"I've been thinking about that," Zorua said, "and I think me and Absol and Arcanine should be the ones who go in. Absol knows astrology stuff, and Arcanine is pretty smart. We can figure it out together."

"Zorua, not our problem," Arcanine objected immediately, inclining his head toward where Alakazam and Team Hydro sat, "and, I'm not working for them."

"I would like to go," Absol said, "but I don't know if I'd make it in this weather."

She should have talked to Absol about this in advance, Zorua thought guiltily. It wasn't fair to put her on the spot like this. Arcanine would have disagreed no matter how she asked.

"Alakazam could teleport us to Meadow Town, and you'd only have to be outside a couple hours each way. And Arcanine, it is our problem. Weren't you listening to Absol? It's the whole world's problem."

Arcanine shrugged. "Let them solve it, then."

"Arcanine…"

Arcanine sighed. "You're going to go with or without me, aren't you."

Zorua nodded; she knew she had him, now. He couldn't refuse, not after they'd had the same conversation the night the Ice-types attacked Meadow Town.

"We only got you released temporarily," Alakazam said, "if you run away again, Team Magnezone will reinstate the bounty. This is your chance to make up for what happened in Treasure Town."

Arcanine was on his feet in an instant, the pain in his back forgotten. The others flinched or stepped back instinctively. "Owe you nothing!" he snarled. "Won't hide this time. Hunt me, I'll hunt you."

Still between his forepaws, Zorua cowered through his outburst. She knew Arcanine would never willingly harm her, but he was still Intimidating when he was angry. Arcanine turned and strode from the room.

"Alakazam..." Zorua said, recovering from her shock.

The outside door creaked open and closed.

"I told you he was a bad Pokémon," Growlithe muttered.

"I thought you said he would cooperate," Alakazam said.

"He was cooperating," Zorua growled. "He wants to help, he just has to do it on his own terms."

"Should we go after him?" Blastoise wondered.

"I'll find him when he calms down," Zorua said. "We're going to need our bag back, and you can arrange a Teleport to Meadow Town tomorrow."

"Do you think he'll still help us?" Absol asked.

Zorua nodded confidently. "He will. Just, when he comes back, act like he's a normal Pokémon."

"I'm afraid we don't have your bag anymore," Charizard said, "but we can provide some supplies. What do you need?"

Zorua thought for a moment. "A big bag; Arcanine will carry it. A scarf for him, and Absol, if she wants to come, and a Luminous Orb, on a necklace, and some berries."

"I would like to come, if you think Arcanine wouldn't mind," Absol said, "and if we won't need to be outside too long."

"He won't mind," Zorua said with a grin, "I think he likes you. And he definitely knows how to keep a girl warm."

Absol's ears dipped in embarrassment.

Oops, Zorua thought, that was a little too abrupt. "I mean, um, we can find shelter if you need to stop, and he can make us a fire."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Once he was outside the manor, Arcanine broke into a run; slowly at first, then faster and faster as the motion worked out some of the kinks in his back. He was going to regret this later, he knew, but right now he didn't care. Several Pokémon stared as he passed, but no one tried to stop him.

His instincts told him to point himself away from Pokémon Square and run for days, and leave the last month and a half with Zorua behind as a pleasant memory. He would miss her, but he would survive. He was good at surviving.

He couldn't do that, though. Zorua was the sort of Pokémon who would would get herself killed because she cared about everyone. He could live with missing her. He couldn't live with wondering whether she'd gotten stuck and lost her mind in Creepy Tunnel, or whether those Ice-types had come back and flayed her like they'd done Treecko.

Arcanine settled for a wide arc around Pokémon Square. When his thoughts began to clear again, he found himself on the hill overlooking the valley from the north. He may as well wait here, he thought; the hilltop was clear, and he would be visible from a distance. He wasn't ready to go back to the manor just yet, but if Zorua came looking, he wouldn't be hard to find.

The library seemed familiar. He knew he had never been here before, but it reminded him of someplace else, of other Pokémon he ought to remember. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine it...

The stone walls were black with soot, the floor littered with the charred remains of shelves and mattresses and books, long since cold. Thousands and thousands of books. The little table by the door, now reduced to a few charred sticks, had once held a chess board, with each piece masterfully hand-carved in the form of a Legendary Pokemon, with Arceus as the King, and Mew as the Queen. Each step stirred up a cloud of dust and ash, making him sneeze and cough. The tall, grey-furred Pokémon beside him knelt down, brushing ash off a half-charred leather cover. Delicately, he tried to pick it up, but it fell apart in his hand, thousands of flakes of burnt paper fluttering to the floor.

The Pokémon beside him spoke a single word.

"Why?"

Arcanine didn't know.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Charizard asked. He settled cross-legged on the floor beside her, opposite where Growlithe still lay, and poured the last of the tea into his mug and her bowl. "We still don't know much about him, and he seems a bit..."

"Crazy," Growlithe suggested without lifting her head.

"Well, yes," Charizard agreed, "there's something not right about him."

"I'm not sure," Absol said, "but I think I have to go. I've had a feeling about him ever since you all brought him in. At first I thought I was imagining it, but I'm not. He's important, somehow."

"He'll act friendly," Growlithe said, "till he gets you out of town. Then he'll knock you out and drag you back to his cave and-"

"Enough," Charizard growled, "Growlithe, this isn't helping."

"I'm not sure I can trust him," Absol said, "but I trust Zorua. She wouldn't invite me if she thought he would hurt me."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The soft snow muffled the approaching Pokémon's footsteps, but Arcanine could hear the soft crunch-crunch as he approached. His ears swiveled back to track the sound, but he gave no other acknowledgment. It was someone small; Zorua, he hoped. His fire still hadn't returned, and despite what he'd said in the library, he didn't want to fight anyone.

"That library's pretty amazing, huh big guy."

Arcanine nodded, still not turning around.

"Can I join you?"

"Yeah."

Zorua sat beside his head, following his gaze down into Pokémon Square. She didn't know where to start. "Lot of Pokémon down there."

"Yeah."

Zorua leaned over, resting her muzzle on his shoulder.

"Glad you're safe," Arcanine said, "Riolu and Luxray okay?"

"I think so; if anything had happened in Meadow Town, Alakazam would've heard."

"Zorua, I have to go back to Treasure Town."

"What? Why? We just got you out."

"Everyone here seems to think Magnezone's a good Pokémon. He's not. Zorua, he's hurt a lot of people, and someone has to stop him."

"What do you mean?"

"He's running a protection racket. Most of the Pokémon there didn't hurt anyone; they were competing with the guild, or the merchants. He keeps them locked up alone in the dark, with barely enough food, till they go crazy, then dumps them in the wilderness."

"Arcanine…that's awful, but why is that your problem, but this isn't?"

Arcanine considered for several minutes. Why did he care so much? Zorua waited patiently, leaning against his side "Never got to see any of them, but we could talk through the doors. Some of them are good Pokémon. Some aren't. When I was in that cell, didn't matter, we were all family. Pokémon here…They cheered and laughed when Alakazam paraded me through town. Don't want to help them."

"Arcanine, you trust me, right?"

Arcanine nodded.

"And can you trust Absol?"

Arcanine hesitated. Absol might be the nicest Pokémon he could remember knowing, but that didn't necessarily mean she knew what she was talking about. Still, all that research she'd talked about, she had to be an intelligent Pokémon.

"Think so."

"Arcanine, if Absol is right about everything freezing, everyone is going to die. All those Pokémon you don't want to help. Also me and you and Absol and Luxray and Riolu and all the Pokémon in Treasure Town, whether you rescue them or not."

Arcanine's shoulders slumped in defeat, his chin drooped down to rest in the snow.

"You were right," Zorua continued, "you don't owe them anything. You don't owe me anything either. Me and Absol have to do this, though, and…we'd like your help. And, if we survive, I'll help you fight Team Magnezone, too.

Arcanine didn't argue. Zorua was right, and there wasn't anything else to say; that didn't mean he liked it.

She'd said enough, Zorua thought. Arcanine knew what was the right thing to do, and it was his decision to make. If she kept talking, it was just going to frustrate both of them. She rubbed her face into his mane, filling her nostrils with his scent, and then stood.

"I'm gonna go help Absol get ready. I won't bother you again. We both hope you'll come with us, but if that's not right for you...well, I still love you."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

On the way back to the manor, Zorua passed Team Razor Wind heading into town. The three of them waved, and she waved back. They slowed as she passed, watching her as if they were expecting something.

"Um, thanks for the help this morning," Zorua tried.

"Our pleasure." Zangoose sounded noncommittal. "Find Arcanine?"

"He's...thinking about it."

Zangoose grunted, and the three of them kept walking.

Did they have some business with Arcanine, Zorua wondered. They were from Treasure Town, so it was possible that they had met him before, years ago. Maybe they had some dispute with Team Magnezone as well. Maybe they were just curious.

Absol was still in the library when she returned, talking with Team Easy, Umbreon and Espeon at one of the tables. Charizard was writing in a book, and Growlithe still lay on Absol's bed, apparently asleep.

"Did you find him?" Absol asked.

Zorua jumped up onto the table beside Pink, where Charizard's sketch of the door in Creepy Tunnel lay beside several open astrology books.

"Yeah, we talked. He'll be back when he accepts that I'm right."

"Good," Absol said, "Umbreon and Espeon are Team Arcana. They work for the Federation, and they're also interested in mystery dungeon artifacts; they'd like to come with us."

"So you're coming too, huh?" Zorua grinned at Absol.

Absol nodded.

"Learn anything yet?" Zorua gestured to the books.

"In addition to the one your team discovered in Creepy Tunnel and the one in Armaldo's journal," Espeon said, "there is rumored to be a similar door at the bottom of Buried Relic. As far as we know, no one has found a way to open any of them."

"We're trying to contact Team Charm in Treasure Town," Umbreon picked up the narrative, "they're renowned for solving puzzles like this, even if they're more interested in looting than studying, and we'd like to send them to Temple Ruins. Perhaps they'll discover something we don't."

"Pink and I will be heading to Treasure Town," Grey said, "Wigglytuff guild has hundreds of years of exploration records; maybe we can find more of these doors, or clues to open them."

They six of them ate lunch together in the garden and returned to the library to work for several more hours. Arcanine still hadn't returned, and both Zorua and Absol were getting worried.

Each time they heard the main door open, Zorua rushed to the lobby to see who it was. Team ACT came and went, and Beldum, and Team Hydro, and several other Pokémon from town, but not Arcanine.

How well did she really know him, Zorua thought. They'd really only spent maybe a week's worth of time together, and Arcanine didn't talk much. She felt so comfortable with him, thought she understood him, thought she knew how he would react. Maybe she was wrong. He could be hundreds of kilometers away by now. In a way, she couldn't fault him for leaving. He had no reason to care about Team ACT or any of the other Pokémon here. He didn't need them. He didn't need her; he'd been doing well enough up there on his mountain before she arrived and complicated his life.

The book Charizard was working on now wasn't the same one he'd been copying before, Absol thought.

"That's not urgent," Charizard explained, "the original isn't going anywhere, and I probably have a couple decades left to finish it. I've decided to keep a journal of our - mostly your - work here, before we start to forget the details. Someday, someone will want to write a book about everything we're doing. I might even have enough years left to do it myself."

Grey and Pink headed back to their team base. Espeon and Umbreon, shoulders touching and tails wrapped around each other, returned to their room in the manor. She and Absol stayed up for a while, taking turns rubbing the Luminous Orb. Eventually, they had to admit that they weren't making any progress and went to bed, curling up on either side of Growlithe like they had last night. Neither of them felt much like sleeping.

"Absol, what are we going to do if he doesn't come back?"

"We're going to go to Creepy Tunnel," Absol answered without hesitation, "and find the Orrery Fragment, if it's there, and bring it back."

She was right, Zorua knew. The four of them, or five if Riolu joined them again, should have no difficulty completing the dungeon. Still, the thought of doing it without Arcanine made her feel very alone.