"And THREE! Smiles go for miles!" Sean, Rai, and now Mane all joined in on the morning cheers with exuberance. It had felt like ages since they had started their day like this.
"Okay pokémon," Chatot said grandly. "Time to get to work."
"HOORAY!" Everyone cheered, rattling the guild's windows with their voices.
With that majority of the guild wandered to their assigned tasks. If Chatot had something else in mind he'd call them back, otherwise, they knew what to do.
The team currently known as Ion, however, was not so directed. "Hm, you three," Chatot said, turning to them with an imperious eye. He tested the last word for a moment, eyes falling on Mane longer than either Sean or Rai.
"Chimecho has decreed you still require at least one more day of rest. However!" he added when Rai gave a disappointed sigh. "After your check-up with her, you should take this day as a means of preparation. With three of you now things will be different. Easier in some ways, but harder in others. Perhaps try and… understand each other."
"Yes sir," Rai said dutifully, Mane held a smarmy retort back for later.
"Good." Chatot nodded, pleased he was being listened to. "Perhaps take a day of discussion and unifying of your wants out of this partnership. All three being on the same way of thinking is very helpful!"
"Didn't you explore with Wigglytuff?" Mane blurted out.
Chatot's expression of distant pride faded as he gave Mane a sharp look. "Guildmaster Wigglytuff, yes," he said to Mane's excited expression. "What about it?"
"Eh." Mane shrugged, feeling Rai and Sean's eyes on him. "He always seemed like the kind of pokémon you could never figure out. But, good on you then!" His voice was chipper and flooded with politeness. Chatot's beak rose slightly, but he didn't wish to start an argument over something so small.
"Yes, quite." Chatot looked between the three and nodded. "Finish healing from your ordeal," he said, eyes lingering on Sean for a longer moment. "And you'll be back to work tomorrow!"
With that, he bid them goodbye and hopped off.
"Did he really need to say Chimecho 'decreed' we have to rest?" Mane asked once the area was clear of bird pokémon. "That's so dramatic."
"He's just making sure we understand," Rai argued. "We can't injure ourselves further, imagine what Chimecho would do to us then?"
"Oh?" Sean grinned, shrugging off Chatot's lingering gaze on him from earlier. "You are coming around to my theory?"
"What theory?" a light, pleasant, tinkly voice asked and all three jumped.
Chimecho floated there and Sean thanked the heavens he hadn't said what theory he had. Even as a playful joke, no thank you.
"Nothing important," Mane said smoothly and earnestly. "Just some playful fun."
"Hm." Chimecho looked over them all for a moment before clicking her tongue. "Well come along then."
They followed, Chimecho quickly and skilfully removed and reapplied the bandages on Rai and Mane, while the rest of Sean's injuries had vanished.
"More scars I fear," Chimecho said softly, having looked over Sean last. "I'm sorry about that." The gentle psychic touch ran over a few ones on his back that Sean didn't even know were there. "What orders have you suffered through?"
"Not sure," Sean said, uneasy. Finding scars through his fur wasn't the easiest, but it bothered him that he had so many. He was almost sure that wasn't right, but then again. 'The future is a horrible place.'
Frankly, Sean preferred the pleasant present. Less dead world and with more thrilling adventure.
"Well despite your injuries, you seem well recovered," Chimecho explained while Rai and Mane watched on jealously. "I still would not advise you to enter dungeons, especially alone, but you're fighting fit."
"So, I can train?" Sean asked happily and Chimecho nodded.
"Don't strain yourself too hard. That's a word of advice, even ignoring your recent injuries as your body still has some recovery to do. You may train, however. Those two, however." Chimecho turned an eye that promised violence on them. "Are not allowed."
"Aww…" Mane grumbled and put his head on his paws. One of them was still bandaged but most of his body was free of the constricting fabrics.
The clumps of Rai's fur that had been burned out and then shaved by Chimecho were already coming back well. It still left him looking very patchy, like someone had given up halfway on filling in all the colours on Rai, but he only had a few bandages left himself.
"I mean it," Chimecho said warningly before looking at Sean. "Don't let them strain themselves, alright? I think I can trust you."
Sean smiled and nodded, shooting a toothier grin at the other two. "Oh, no problem at all."
"We'll see who's a problem," Mane groused but Rai nudged him to be quiet.
With no other business in the guild, they were allowed out for a second breath of fresh air.
"Ah, this is the life." Mane sighed as they trotted out. He stood on Sean's right, Rai stood on Sean's left. Two quadrupeds and a meowth standing on two legs. "Being a guild brat is going to be fun I think."
"It's not all fun and games," Rai pointed out. "Outlaws and ferrying jobs."
"New people, new experiences," Mane rebutted, grinning.
"Sometimes we have to take the sentries places and watch the guild."
"Feet are interesting."
Rai breathed out a hard breath. "Okay." He took the challenge. "Some adventures are a bust, take too long, and leave Sean smelling bad."
To that, Mane quirked his eyes. "Just Sean?"
Sean was giving Rai a dark look, but Rai had adopted a twinkle in his eyes and was grinning at him. "He doesn't bathe himself. He goes to the Hot Springs."
"Whaaa?" Mane asked, overly loud and long-winded. "Why not?"
"Because I don't want hairballs like you," Sean said, aiming to gain control of the conversation, but Rai was still grinning. Mane was about to carry on.
"You don't bathe? Really?" Mane was judging him, and Sean felt like this was not correct. Something had gone backwards here. "Heh, I'm not dealing with smelly meowth. If it's so big of a deal, I'LL bathe you!"
He fought to keep the mocking grin off his face and look earnest, letting Sean splutter in defiant shock while Rai's expression had gone into something almost reproachful.
Sean laughed, that was the only way. Mane's expression had broken into a leer and Rai was still looking perturbed.
"No, thank you," Sean managed. "I'll just visit the Hot Springs more often if it's that big of a deal."
"Your loss." Mane shook his fur. "What about you Rai? Don't have something to say?"
Rai stared at him before blinking slowly.
Sean chuckled again. "That's an image I need scrubbing out of my mind."
Still amused, but coming to be a bit more serious, Mane pushed the conversation to a different path. "So, we kinda talked about it last night, but we were all so tired. Team names huh? You think it should be changed?"
Sean frowned, something was coming back to him.
"Oh yeah." Rai nodded. "When Guildmaster Wigglytuff wanted to talk to me yesterday he mentioned, among other things, that we can change the team name if we wish. It's not often done, but it's an option I thought would only be fair to bring up."
"What would we even change it to?" Mane asked. "Team Ion sounds alright. What did Sean say last night, something about-"
"PLASMA!" Sean squeaked, upon realisation hitting him.
"Yeah… ow." Mane flicked an ear at the painfully high pitch Sean had gone to. "Team Plasma. That sounds interesting."
"What does it mean?" Rai asked, turning to the squeaking feline pokémon. "You knew what ion meant, what's plasma?"
"Really hot," Mane answered, to Rai's surprise. "Sounds familiar. I'm not really sure what it is, but Fire-types occasionally talk about plasma. It's meant to be incredibly hot though. So, it fits me at least."
He was grinning again while Sean explained.
"Plasma is a state of matter," he said, somewhat numbly. "Extremely high temperatures can cause it. So… fire, or electricity. And matter is a normal thing, so…"
Rai and Mane both nodded, the latter curious about how this odd meowth knew this science stuff. "I guess." Rai looked to Mane who opened his mouth, but Sean cut over them.
"No!" he almost shouted, and the two blinked. "Uh… no, I don't think it fits us so well."
Rai gave him a puzzled look, but Mane thankfully nodded. "Yeah. It doesn't have the same ring to it as Team Ion does. What does ion mean anyway?"
"It's uh… stuff to do with atoms." Sean rubbed an arm awkwardly, he was remembering that Mane didn't actually know about his true nature and was debating telling him. "Really small stuff. Building blocks of the world and such."
"Huh… how do you…? Eh, whatever." Mane shrugged, he was sensing an answer was not forthright. "Let's just keep thinking."
"Well, there was something I've been thinking about lately," Sean said, brushing the questions off. They crossed the threshold into town and Vigoroth spotted them and kicked up a dust trail in his haste to see them.
"Shinx! Shinx! How are you feeling? How are you doing? Are you in any pain? Do you need a Sitrus Berry? Why are you out? Does Chimecho know? Don't tell me you snuck out! Don't ask me to hide stuff from Chimecho! She knows everything, and she's really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, REALLY scary when she's mad, or suspicious, or just floating down the street. Have you seen her when she's mad? She's like-"
Rai, with an ever-patient smile, put his paw up and Vigoroth stopped the stream of unyielding words from the apparently infinite lungs of Vigoroth. He took multiple gasping breaths as Sean tried to pull that apart and understand it all.
"I'm feeling better now that I'm outside," Rai answered. "I'm doing about the same as yesterday when you visited. I'm not in any need of a berry. Chimecho gave us permission to leave, but not do anything strenuous. You don't need to keep any secrets. And don't tell that last part to Sean, he's convinced of crazy things I think."
Sean gave Rai a baffled look, wondering how he could possibly have understood everything being vomited at him but didn't question it. Vigoroth had acted the same yesterday and Sean didn't dare to ask questions he couldn't understand the answers to.
After another bout of a day's worth of discussion ran through in five minutes, Vigoroth let them go and the Kecleon Brother's beckoned them over.
"Shinx!" The green one smiled.
"Meowth." The purple one grinned.
"Welcome, welcome," they both greeted and received smiles in return.
"It seems Chimecho's let you free," Green said, rummaging through a drawer. "This is exciting, exciting!"
"In celebration of your bravery in returning from Amp Plains," Purple added as Green handed him something. "And also for your recovery."
Together they said. "We present you with a fresh apple each, free of charge. Picked just today from the Apple Woods, so their quality is top-notch!"
"Thank you so much!" Rai positively glimmered with gratitude as Green carefully handed the apple to him, balancing it on Rai's head as the shinx grinned.
"Thanks," Sean said, smiling. It felt like forever since he'd had an apple fresh from a dungeon.
"What about Litleo?" Rai asked, as Sean took the apple off his forehead and held it out for him to bite into.
Both kecleon blinked and glanced past Rai and Sean to the third member of their trio. "Ah."
"He came to Amp Plains too," Sean pointed out. "And he's just joined the team officially." He was giving Mane a side glance as he spoke, realising that no one had acknowledged him up to this point.
Green and Purple looked to Rai for confirmation and the shinx nodded. "Yup. We're putting bagon's behind us and starting anew."
There was another moment of hesitation and silent deliberation between the two kecleon before Green procured another apple. "We only picked two from Apple Woods recently," he explained, handing it to Sean. "So, it isn't quite as fresh as the other two."
"Food's food." Mane shrugged and bit into the offered apple, Sean quickly letting go so Mane's sharp teeth didn't take more than just the apple.
Rai thanked them again and they moved onto Kangaskhan as the Kecleon Brothers began whispering together.
Sean gave Mane a few searching looks, trying to find the words to ask a question delicately.
"Can't just say 'No one seems to like you, huh?'" he thought as Mane challenged his look with something resembling a challenge.
"Not many people seem to be…" he began, looking to Mane who rolled his eyes.
"Just say what you really mean," he said. "No one likes me here."
Rai, hearing this, turned around with confusion evident on his face. "No one likes you?"
"Everyone likes you," Mane pointed out and left the matter in the air to settle. Rai's expression began morphing into guilt when Kangaskhan spotted them.
After a quick talk with Kangaskhan, who at least treated Mane with the same care as she did everyone else, and a run-in with Chansey, Sean continued putting together his thoughts.
All the while, as Rai was stopped and talked to Treasure Town residents while he and Mane stood awkwardly to the side, Sean was thinking.
He'd been thinking about it more often recently, but with nothing to do since Amp Plains except sit around, thoughts he couldn't avoid with work were rushing back at him.
His position on the team.
They had decided to spend some time unwinding at the beach and Sean decided he had to talk now, or he'd avoid the topic forever.
"Progress isn't made unless it's forced," he thought as he geared himself for this.
"Rai," Sean said, breaking the silence that had fallen on the three of them, lulled by the rise and fall of the tides. "I think we need to discuss something important. Mane too, actually," Sean added as Rai turned to him.
"Okay," Rai said. "What?"
"Yeah, you finally going say what's been on your mind the whole day?" Mane asked, shifting to face him.
Thrown off a little that Mane had noticed his silent deliberation, Sean began. "Amp Plains was… bad." He cringed on the inside, this was already sounding ridiculous. "And I think I was the problem." There. Sean was more satisfied with that. "No, I don't think. I know I was the problem."
Nodding that he'd started his point successfully, things began falling into place and Sean went to continue. But paused at Rai's dawning horror.
"You're not the problem!" Rai squeaked. "Everything else was the problem. Me. Mane. The dungeon."
"Hey," Mane protested.
"You're fine Sean. Better than fine, you're great!"
Bemused a little at this, Sean gave a self-deprecating chuckle and shook his head. "Rai, I mean between the two, three of us now, I'm easily the weakest of the team. I've only got two moves, one of which doesn't always work, and I can't do nearly as much as you. All I can do is ferry items around really."
"And that's more than enough," Rai insisted. "It doesn't matter if you're not super strong you're still super useful and super tough and I couldn't get through dungeons without you!"
Smiling a little puzzled, Sean tried to reign this back. "Rai. You don't have to defend me or anything. I'm just thinking I need to get stronger." Rai's posture began to relax. "I've been pretty lazy lately, just riding on your coattails, or Grovyle's, or Corphish's. All the tougher dungeons we've done we've had someone else. Mane too!"
Mane perked up at being mentioned in a positive way. "Keep going," he purred.
"I just mean," Sean said, edging away from stoking any egos. "I've had it easy. And I keep getting hurt because I'm not capable of defending myself when you can't. I can't just rely on you, or Mane, to save me every time I get into trouble."
"You get yourself out of trouble," Rai said quietly. "That aerodactyl and all."
"One case." Sean shrugged. "I've got items, but… well. Look there are three of us now. That means we need to buy more items, more food, and more healing, to make sure I can keep everyone in fighting shape. That means we need more money. That means we need to take tougher jobs. That means harder dungeons. If I keep getting hurt like this, I'm just going to weigh you both down."
"What are you saying?" Rai asked, beginning to get alarmed again.
"I think I'm going to ask Marowak if he can train me," Sean answered, and Rai breathed a sigh of relief. "I can't keep just… coasting along. Dungeons are training, sure, but with all the harder ones I've had two people to do the work for me. And now we will always have two." He nodded to Mane who smiled back.
"But I don't want to just… be so weak. I've got to actually start working and stop being so lazy. I've got to get Night Slash down, and maybe even learn a new move. Cause things are just going to get harder, and I don't want to have to be the one that needs to be protected all the time. Do you understand?"
Rai digested that for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I do." He gave a smile. "You had me worried there for a moment. It sounded like you wanted to leave or something."
"Leave?" Sean's ears went straight up as he realised how he had started their conversation. "Oh, no, I did not mean that at all! I'm so sorry."
Rai chuckled. "You weren't so it's alright."
"Get a room you two," Mane moaned, pulling himself up and shaking some sand off.
They spoke a little while on ways Sean could learn from more than Marowak before Mane began peering towards the town.
"So, I think I'm going to go around to my house and see if it hasn't been completely torn apart yet. I hope my bed at least is still there."
"Sure," Sean said eyes falling off the ocean below. "Might as well do something." Rai gave a mute nod himself, enjoying the ocean's sounds.
On their second walk near Treasure Town, the three were stopped again.
"Salutations," Beheeyem said, giving a wave with his alien arm. "Tis good to see the three of you up and about once more."
"Yeah! Yeah!" Electrike cheered, running up to them and doing a few laps. "How are you doing? How? How? How?"
"Reprimand: Give them space," Beldum said when both Mane and Sean winced, but Electrike took another lap before going back to his team.
"It's good to see you again, Beheeyem." Rai smiled brightly. "Thanks again for saving our lives."
Beheeyem waved his hand at them. "No-no, it was simply my civic duty as a pokémon. I know you would have done everything in your power to help us had the situation been reversed."
"Who are you again?" Mane asked, deciding he was finished with being left out of the loop.
Sean whispered over to him. "Beheeyem." And Mane gave his cheeky grin a withering look.
"Yeah. I gathered that much."
"I am Beheeyem, the leader of Team Gazer," Beheeyem said grandly, straighten up in a dramatic position. "These are my compatriots, Beldum and Electrike. We seek to uncover the past."
"Explore the future!" Electrike continued.
"Declaration: And protect the present." All eyes fell on Beldum. Beheeyem and Electrike seemed unbothered but Mane whispered.
"Their motto seems to get a bit slow at the end there." He nudged Sean who didn't nod. He would not visibly agree.
Beheeyem pretended as if he hadn't heard that, but Electrike bounded over to Mane who stepped back. "Based on the two of you covered in bandages, is it wrong to assume you still have healing to do?"
"Yeah." Rai nodded. "Chimecho's cleared Meowth though. He seems to understand when she's talking about that healing stuff."
Inquisitive eyes fell on Sean and he began talking as Mane and Electrike began to circle each other, Mane's eyes never leaving the curious Electric-type. "With all the bruising, burns, internal bleeding, the uh… external bleeding on Rai and a few throat things, she's being very careful with us. Making sure we heal up without causing lasting damage to ourselves."
Beheeyem nodded. "It is far better to be safe than sorry. Being lamed would not do well for you at any time, but all three are quite young. Best remain careful." He raised a finger and waggled a light on it. "Do not get yourselves into more situations that require Dusknoir and my intervention. It's worrisome."
"What are you?" Mane called from where he was staring down Electrike. "Their mother?"
"Statement: No. Beheeyem is male. And of an incorrect egg group to be closely related to any of you."
Mane gave Beldum a flat look as Beheeyem raised an arm to stroke along the metal body. "Thank you," he said after a pause.
"Statement: You are welcome."
"Now." Beheeyem clasped his hands together, lights intertwining. "Would you join us three for a drink in Spinda's Café?"
"If this is a date I'm choosing Electrike," Mane said immediately. He received looks. He returned those nuanced expressions.
"Hooray!" Electrike cheered and sped off, Beheeyem gave a tired sigh.
"Declaration: I choose Shinx."
Sean laughed at Rai's confused and vaguely affronted look but nodded to Beheeyem's request regardless. "Sure… don't listen to Litleo. He's, uh…"
"I completely understand," Beheeyem said, waving him off. "Electrike seems to be cut from the same cloth."
Sean saddled up next to Beheeyem as they walked the short distance out of Treasure Town and to Spinda's Café. Beldum floated by him silently before swivelling their eye to him.
"Statement: You appear in thought, with something to say."
"Hm?" Sean blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Oh, it's nothing. Just thinking."
Beldum's eyes swivelled up and down for a moment before spinning to Beheeyem and Rai chatting about Dusknoir. Their eye returned to Sean rubbing his chest and Beldum spoke once more. "Declarative Apology: It was incorrect in retrospect to have fought at Boulder Quarry. I apologise for striking you."
Sean's paw dropped from his chest, unaware he was even doing so, and he gave Beldum a puzzled smile. "It's fine. It was a mistake, manipulated into doing so. No need to apologise, I'm just sorry I didn't get Ditto to reveal themselves earlier."
Beldum bobbed in the air in silence and Sean took a moment to wonder what kind of Psychic ability allowed it to float yet not use any other moves. Beldum's eyes returned to him, creeping him out with its ability to swivel at any moment. "Query: Your attention on the Time Gear was disconcerting, why did it enrapture you so?"
Sean's heart did a funny flip and he blinked at Beldum, mind racing.
"We're here. Hello? Anyone in there?" Rai waved a paw and Sean blinked again. Beldum's eye swivelled to Beheeyem who gave a minute shake of the head.
"Oh, we're here?" Sean asked, and Rai smiled.
"That's what I've been chattering about," he said and nudged Sean until he moved, following after Beheeyem into the comfortable space that was Spinda's Café.
"Welcome all," Spinda waved, nearly toppling over in the process. "Take… a seat wherever… you… please."
Mane and Electrike were already sitting at a large table, glaring at each other. Beldum took their spot by Electrike's left and Beheeyem sat down on his right. Rai let Sean sit down next to Mane then took his seat next to Sean, the meowth and litleo's eyes falling solely on Electrike. Mane moved in closer, and then Rai did, going until Sean was almost squeezed between them.
"So what's up?" Sean asked, highly aware of the fire cat and electric cat by his arms. His tail flicked out.
Beheeyem templed his fingers and leaned forward. "We were on our way to Treasure Town when Dusknoir found us," he explained as Sean and Rai frowned. "We were heading here for you."
"For us?" Rai asked. "Why us?"
"Because you and we were the ones who found that Time Gear," Beheeyem said. It wasn't dangerous to say this out loud, word had already spread about the existence and subsequent disappearance of Boulder Quarry's Time Gear. "Along with Wigglytuff and… someone else many years ago."
"Okay," Rai said slowly, giving a slow nod as well. "But still, why were you coming here for us?"
Beheeyem dropped his hands and sighed. "Time is degrading further," he said, laying it out there in all the bluntness he could. "Dungeons are appearing more frequently. Shadow Pokémon are appearing more frequently. Ferals are fleeing dungeons. Things are going to devolve into chaos soon if the solution to whatever is going on isn't found."
"What is going on then?" Mane asked sharply and Beheeyem shrugged.
"That's the first problem," he said, rubbing his face with his hand. "We've been searching for all the information on Time Gears since Boulder Quarry. Trying to find some rhyme or reason to what's going on."
"Is it a problem though?" Mane asked, resting his paws on a table and giving Beheeyem a challenging look. "Time Gears are disappearing. That seems like it'd be the cause."
"No." Rai shook his head. "Chatot explained not long after we joined the guild that things were going on for a while now. Before even Treeshroud Forest was frozen in time."
"Before it was frozen?" Mane questioned. "Or only by the time that someone figured out that gear was missing?"
For that, Rai had no answer. He looked to Beheeyem who sighed.
"We asked that same question," he admitted. "And found no answer. It seems possible that something was happening before the first gear was taken, but certainty? That is much harder to determine. That forest is a vindictive dungeon few had made it to the end of regardless, and we don't know how long it takes for a dungeon to freeze. Boulder Quarry is not entirely frozen in time after all, but all of the inner dungeons are. Who knows how long it takes before it is noticeable?"
Sean remained perfectly silent and attentive throughout this. He was happy to skate this one by. Beldum looked to Beheeyem who gave a brief nod.
"Inquisitive: Meowth, your attention on Boulder Quarry's Time Gear. Neither your companion nor any of us reacted the same way."
"Excuse me?" Sean asked, frowning as Rai and Mane looked at him. "What are you implying there?"
"We aren't implying anything Meowth," Beheeyem insisted. "It is simply a question that has to be asked. You had a reaction there."
"It was beautiful to look at," Sean said, feeling very uncomfortable but trying to not be defensive. "That's it."
"You reacted the same with…," Rai began before clamming up.
"The same with what?" Beheeyem asked, leaning forward.
"Yeah," Mane said. "With what?"
"I… uh…" Rai looked to Sean with help, but he looked just as mortified and equally as unhelpful.
"Have you the location of another?" Beheeyem asked softly.
"Yeah, do you? Do you?" Electrike barked.
"We…." Rai looked for Sean's help.
"We can't say," Sean managed, wincing under Beheeyem's frustrated expression. "I'm sorry, it was a promise."
Beheeyem looked at him for a very hard moment before breathing out. "I see."
"Ooh is that what?" Mane said before nodding smartly. "Gotcha. My mouth's a banette."
"There's a lot he should know," Sean thought absentmindedly while Beheeyem floated into the air.
"I believe our conversation is done for now," he said as Rai stood up.
"I hope we haven't offended you." He frowned and Beheeyem took a moment but shook his head.
"I am going to speak with Wigglytuff," he said. "It isn't a stretch to perhaps assume something said by the guild was not as truthful as it seemed. If nothing else, some peace of mind is something I dearly want. And to offer our help, there are proactive measures we should be doing, and nothing is more important than fixing whatever chaos is gripping the land. Not even honour.
He gave them a look and then floated off, Beldum and Electrike moving on after him quickly.
"I feel like I offended him," Rai said, and Sean smacked his shoulder.
"I'm the one who said it," he argued, and Rai gave a soft laugh.
"Yeah. I do feel bad though, he saved us, and we couldn't say anything."
"So that whole little failed lakeside resort you went on a little while ago?" Mane asked, sliding into the conversation. "Was that maybe not so much of a failure?"
Rai gave Sean a concerned look, but Sean nodded and lowered his voice. "He's part of the guild, Rai," he pointed out and Mane grinned.
"I'm so smart."
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Rai grumbled as Sean came to his feet.
"I think I've used up enough of the day," he said, looking to the door. "I should really speak to Marowak."
Rai joined him. "Marowak's really strong and smart, I've trained with him."
Mane also joined them in standing. Unlike Sean, both of the other two didn't gain much height in doing so. "Well, I've got to see this."
"How does Team ThunderFlame sound?" Mane asked as they made themselves busy in Marowak's Dojo.
The skull-wearing creature was delighted to see Rai, sympathetic to Sean's wishes to get stronger, and tolerant of Mane's presence.
That was the least they could ask for, Sean and Rai were beginning to realise.
"Where's Sean in that name?" Rai asked, watching as Sean began running laps in the training room with Marowak barking demands.
Mane huffed, but he saw the shinx's point. "Well, then Team Whiskers? We all have those."
Rai watched as Sean stumbled off his feet, managed to catch himself, and roll back up as Marowak said something firm and only almost emotionally hurtful. "Hm. Isn't that too cutesy?"
"Team Tough?"
"Now you're just being silly."
Mane snickered and glanced over to Sean. During their periods of bare-bones awkward conversation and somewhat less awkward silence, Sean was being put through the wringer by Marowak.
The Bone Keeper Pokémon was steadily smacking his bone club into a palm. The sound left Sean flinching each time the dull thwack echoed out in the small room.
Marowak hadn't done anything but stare, criticise, and stare some more. Still, he didn't want to know what might happen if he displeased the suddenly crazy taskmaster and neither Rai nor Mane were a good matchup for him if he needed help.
"So, how?" he puffed as he ran, Marowak following steadily and smacking the bone against his palm. "Is this going to help? Endurance training? It's more strength I'm worried about."
"There is little use you can be in battle if you cannot finish your excursion afterwards," Marowak said primly. "Now stop dragging your tail, hold it up or I'll put a weight on it and force you to."
"Yeah, lift that tail!" Mane cat-called.
Sean withheld the groan and continued plodding along. He could only thank his stars this body was much fitter than whatever he was before.
Even then, as he ran he could feel his heart beating heavily in his chest, combined with the fast and sharp breaths he was taking, Sean was reminded how thin he was.
He had put on some muscle during his time here, and some weight. Still, being able to feel his ribs when he breathed too hard didn't sit well with him.
"Faster!" Marowak snapped, smacking his bone harder and Sean jumped. He was lagging behind with all the thinking, but he resolved to put it out of his mind until later, like he preferred to do.
"What about Team Purrfect?" Mane asked as they continued watching Sean flail onwards. He was swinging his arms an awful lot, which Marowak barked a correction. Sean shot them pleading looks but both just returned it with silent judgement.
He had asked for this after all.
"No."
"Okay then."
They continued watching until Marowak decided he had enough of Sean's attempt to run in circles.
"Hmm… yes," he said, lowly as he rubbed his chin on the rounded end of his bone club. "A lot of work needs to be done. What moves can you use, Meowth?"
Sean, having only slight trouble breathing, little enough that Mane did not feel sympathy, choked out. "S-Scratch and Night Slash." He took a few moments to gasp for breath. "Sort of. I've mostly got it down. But sometimes. It takes me a few tries."
Marowak nodded. "Hmm. Very well. Endurance training will need to be done every day, make a lap around Treasure Town each morning while your partner. Partners," Marowak corrected. "Make the preparations for your day's journey. We'll move up to two laps as you begin to build some stamina. After you return, come here and I will begin working you into proper shape. Being able to run from or after a fight is one thing, but you still need to learn how to actually fight."
Sean nodded, mostly grateful but somewhat fearfully. "Y-yes." He nodded again before adding. "Sir."
Marowak waved him off. "No 'sir' business around here," he said, smacking his palm and Sean twitched. "I am Marowak as you are Meowth."
Sean quickly agreed with that. "Yes! No problem, Marowak."
"Very good. Now follow me." He turned tail and began to stroll to the opening in his dojo. "Within is a contained dungeon. We will enter together, but you will be leading, and you will be doing the work. Leave your bag with your partners."
Sean gave the two bored pokémon a pained look and Mane perked up. "If you're going in then we should probably do something else."
Rai yawned and pulled himself up as well, he nosed the strap of the Treasure Bag over his head and lifted it. "I think Chimecho might give us some lunch."
"Great!" Mane beamed. "I'm starved."
Sean gave them a glare, but it softened into a sigh. "Have fun you two."
"Good luck, Meowth," Rai called and gave a crackling smile. "You'll do fantastic. I'll see you at the guild later, we might take over from Loudred and Diglett since why not?"
"What? Work?" Mane moaned and sat down. "I'm staying."
Rai gave him a truly flat look before sighing. "Or we can go get your bed." Mane perked up again and bounced to his feet.
"Well what are we waiting for?" he laughed, flicking his tail. "Catch you later! Maybe I'll see your feet later, who knows?"
Rai tossed his head, following after Mane, and Sean waved them goodbye.
"Now," Marowak's chilling voice put his fur on end. "The training begins."
Rai gave a low whistle as he and Mane looked around the hollowed-out tree he had staked his home in.
"That doesn't… look good," Rai said, eyes looking up and down. They hadn't even entered yet and the place was looking terrible. The door was missing, just to start with.
Mane took a deep breath and set his jaw. "Well…" he didn't finish the thought and just stepped forward. Rai quickly hopped into movement himself, trailing the proud litleo into his home.
"It's only been a few days," Rai mumbled as they stepped in. The entire room was stripped of valuables and what was left was broken.
Mane gingerly picked his way through his house with a stony expression, kicking broken twigs and shards of orbs out of his way. Or perhaps just to kick them.
"Treasure Town is a nice place," Rai said softly, looking around at the ruin. "Who'd do this?"
Mane reached his nest and moved some stuff out of the way. "Hmm. Not as bad as I had feared," he said, looking down at his straw bed. The sheet that had covered his bed was gone and a hollow pang rang out through his chest, but he refused to let it show. "Let's go."
Rai started from where he was examining what appeared to be some graffiti and turned to Mane with a confused look. "What?" Mane just continued to walk forward, tail rigid in place. "Is your bed gone?" Mane didn't reply. "Couldn't there be something you want to take with you? Surely not everything is missing."
Mane paused as he reached Rai, close enough that Rai could see the tenseness in his neck. "There's nothing here," he hissed. "Let's just go."
Rai looked back to where Mane had gone and back to where Mane was now doing his best not to stomp. "Mane. We just got here."
Mane sighed and the tension in his body seemed to go out all at once, almost leaving him looking deflated. He turned back with a torn expression and Rai's breath hitched in his throat. "Look I was expecting this, I just needed to have it confirmed. There is nothing here. Let's. Go."
Rai swallowed and stepped forward. "Shouldn't we look anyway? Something might not be broken, or something may have been missed."
Mane snorted. "I do love your optimism," he sneered, and Rai paused. In an instant, he was reminded of all the other times he and Mane had spoken. Mane seemed to detect Rai's anxiety and visibly pulled his expression down a notch. "I'm sorry. Please, just let it go."
Rai stared at him for a moment before sighing. "No. Tell me what you were looking for, and then we'll see."
Mane growled and tossed his head. "Why are you so damn stubborn?" he demanded, but Rai stood firm. "Fine. I wanted my sheet. It's valuable. It's gone. I'll need to get a new one with all the money I'm going to earn now that I'm a guild brat. Happy?"
Rai brightened and nodded. "Definitely." He trotted forward to a stunned Mane and gave him a smile. "Thanks for telling me. And I'm sorry this happened." His smile faded, and he looked around the trashed house again. "Why would anyone do this?"
Mane waved a paw in front of his eyes and Rai turned back to him. "Stop looking around and let's just go."
Rai looked to challenge him again for a moment but nodded and Mane sighed in relief. They quickly left and once they were clear of that place Mane's cocky smile returned. "You know it took me just three meetings to get Sean to come to my house. Took me five years to get you to. You play hard to get."
Rai gave him a flat look and tapped the silvery bow Mane wore around his neck. "I'm still annoyed you made Sean give you that for a Perfect Apple."
"I offered my body," Mane replied, laughing at the myriad of expressions that immediately flew over Rai's face. Affronted was the one he enjoyed the most. "But he said no. Even when I did this." Mane stretched out as widely as he could, claws popping out and tail flipping up. "Ah. But still, nothing."
"As if he would," Rai grumbled, and Mane leered at him, Rai sneered back and they both glared at each other before breaking into laughter.
"Don't pull faces at me," Rai admonished, the effect lessened by his giggles.
"Don't have a face so easy to laugh at," Mane joked back. "I like the black markings by your eyes though."
Rai shook his head at him and they continued to make light conversation on the walk back to the guild. It was easier to talk than it had been until Mane decided it was time to move back into harder areas of conversation.
"So, about that little expedition the guild went on?" he began, voice light and innocent. It made Rai tense up, although he reminded himself that he didn't need to be. "Too bad that didn't work out so well, huh?"
Rai chewed on the thought for a moment before Mane turned to look right into his eyes. "So?"
Rai sighed and nodded. "There was a promise we made. Instead of having our memories taken. You're a part of the guild now, but… well, I'd need to ask the Guildmaster if I could really tell you anything. I think you've guessed it though."
Mane nodded. "Okay, I get you. I can understand that you don't really trust me yet." Rai's expression turned guilty, but he waved it down. "Don't look at me like that. Seriously. The only one who should ever be guilty between us is me.
Rai breathed out and found he didn't need to force a smile, it just came about his face. "Thank you." They didn't have much more to say as they walked the rest of the path.
Diglett was not at the Guild to let them in.
"Hello? Diglett?" Rai called, and Mane pushed him out of the way.
"Let me try." He took a deep breath and then bellowed into the grate. "ANYONE HOME? WE'RE COLD AND HUNGRY AND HURT AND WOULD LIKE TO COME IN." He may have put a little Hyper Voice into that.
Rai blinked a few times as Mane's voice echoed multiple times before Loudred bellowed back. "HOLD YOUR HORSEA!"
The entry gate was yanked up in jumps and they quickly entered before Loudred decided to close it again.
"HURRY UP!" Loudred yelled, his voice even louder that they were inside. "DUSKNOIR'S BACK."
"What about Team Eaten because we were all in that guys stomach," Mane muttered as they hastened their step. They entered the lowest level to find a crowd of pokémon around the entrance to the rooms.
"Oh my gosh, thank the- oh my gosh, I can't even say Thank the Legends!" Sunflora gasped as they arrived, she was by Rai's side in an instant. "It's terrible. It's so terrible."
"Hey-hey, where have you been?" Corphish snapped, also coming up to Rai. "Bidoof went to the dojo but no one was there."
"Sean's in the dungeon," Rai answered and looked confused at everyone gathered. "And we went to Litleo's house. It didn't go great."
"WELL, THINGS HERE ARE TERRIBLE TOO!" Loudred roared. "UXIE HAS BEEN-" He was silenced when Wigglytuff's sniffles cut through all noise.
The rest of the guild parted from the entrance to the rooms to let Wigglytuff, Chatot, and Dusknoir back through. Rai gasped as he saw the tears streaking the fur on Wigglytuff's face. This wasn't just a tantrum, he was actually crying.
Dusknoir's hand was hovering awkwardly over Wigglytuff's back like he wanted to pat him on the back but wasn't sure if he could. Chatot was no help, a blankness to his eyes as he walked, not hopped, forward.
The three of them stopped at the lip of the corridor, the apprentices looking on in fear. Dusknoir didn't say anything, it didn't feel like his place. Chatot seemed unaware they were even standing in front of them. Wigglytuff took a deep, shuddering, breath before he straightened up and rubbed his face.
"The Time Gear of Fogbound Lake has been stolen," he announced, voice steady and strong despite his previous behaviour. The whole guild thought they were prepared for that, they had seen a limp Uxie be carried in, but the confirmation from the Guildmaster shook them.
Croagunk bowed his head as Chimecho burst into tears. Sunflora immediately went to her side, gently stroking her as Chimecho shuddered.
Loudred froze up as Bidoof whimpered a soft. "No."
Dugtrio burrowed into the ground to muffle himself before he made a fool of himself, Diglett looked between Loudred and the hole his father had gone into with a lost expression.
Corphish scoffed and turned his head, one pincer clacking several times as his eyes flicked from everything but another person. He almost fired a Bubblebeam at a window but controlled his temper.
"Oh," Rai whispered, and Mane looked between him and the remaining guild with a very uncomfortable expression.
Chatot blinked, eyes clearing up a little and he looked to Wigglytuff, behind him, and then to the apprentices. He ruffled his feathers and opened his beak but couldn't find the words.
"What happened to Uxie?" Diglett asked, turning to someone else he looked up to. Wigglytuff's lip quivered but he held firm and brushed another tear out of his eyes.
"Uxie is," Wigglytuff began but really didn't know what to say. He turned to Dusknoir with a pleading expression.
"Lost," Dusknoir answered, looking back to the bedrooms with his single eye. "Frozen in time due to the loss of the Time Gear. He suffered quite a bout from the aggressor to defend it. In an optimistic light, his freezing in time is beneficial." He turned back to the guild. "It means his state cannot get worse. It cannot get better either, but once time is restored we'll know he needs help rather than suffering alone.
"I-Is there anything I can do?" Chimecho asked, steadying herself with Sunflora's help. "I could look him over? See if…?"
Dusknoir shook his head before pausing. "While there isn't anything you can do for him in his current state, yes. It is a good idea to grasp his current state and injuries to be prepared for treatment when you can."
Chimecho nodded and went to go forward but Dusknoir held a hand up. "There is time for that later. For now, I think it would be best for the full guild to discuss options of where to go from here. It is imperative we catch the culprit. Without the Time Gears, Uxie and everyone else frozen in time cannot be helped."
"Dusknoir, sir," Chatot said before the guild could mobilise. "First I must ask. How did you move Uxie?" Dusknoir turned to him as Chatot looked back. "Every report I have read on the subject of time has always proved that objects, and pokémon, frozen in time cannot be moved or manipulated to any degree. It is like they aren't there, but the space is being occupied anyway. So, how did you move Uxie?"
Dusknoir smiled, or as best as he could with no face and a belly mouth. "Even in times of crisis, your keen mind stays sharp." He bowed to a somewhat flustered Chatot. "It is not well known, or understood actually, but." Dusknoir's right first became wreathed in electricity and Chatot and Corphish jumped. "Electricity can render things frozen in time… how do I put it? Less frozen."
He turned back to where he had taken Uxie and sighed. "Water can be drunk, and food can be eaten. Things move again, but they are not… quite there regardless. Pokémon unfrozen in this method remain frozen in time, they can simply be moved. Nothing more."
"Let's move into the mess hall," Wigglytuff said, once Dusknoir's expertise had been proven yet again. "It is the best place for a franker discussion, I think."
He moved, Chatot after him, and Dusknoir along later. The rest of the guild quickly followed, Dugtrio could be seen coming along as well, even as he remained underground.
Once in the mess hall each pokémon drifted to their usual seats and sat in silence. Each thinking over what had happened, that Uxie had been lost, that somehow something went wrong.
"What happened?" Corphish snapped, still angry. "How did anyone know about the Time Gear besides us?"
"What are you implying?" Loudred growled, voice lower than they'd ever heard it. Still rather loud though. "Are you trying to say you think someone BLABBED?"
"Hey. Hey." Corphish clacked a pincer. "Maybe I am. Did anyone break their promise to Uxie?"
"How DARE you ask that?" Sunflora shrieked, slamming her leafy hands on the table and making it rattle. "Do you not trust your fellow apprentices?"
"I'm not saying anyone would willingly betray Uxie," Corphish snarled back. "Anyone could have told a family member or friend believing in their trust." His eyes flicked to the end of the table and he pointed a claw. "Shinx! Did you or Meowth tell Litleo?"
"W-wha?" Rai jumped as every eye fell on him. "Wha? Mane's a part of the Guild now!"
Mane glared back at Corphish. "Why don't you just ask me rather than yell at Shinx?"
"I don't want to have to talk to you any more than I-"
"Enough!" Chatot yelled, voice quelling everyone in the room. "Corphish." He turned to the Water-type. "Your concern is admirable, but your behaviour is not. Do not start picking fights among your fellow apprentices."
"Shinx didn't tell me," Mane cut over, stunning everyone that he'd speak before Chatot was finished. "Neither did Meowth. I figured it out though, your 'secret' wasn't that hard to work out, to be honest."
His words sent the guild into another flurry of panic as words were yelled and worries were felt.
"Everyone stop!" Wigglytuff cried and the guildmembers all turned to him. His lip was quivering again. "Do not allow this situation to break your bonds with each other. Do not allow paranoia or suspicion cast a negative light on anyone here. We are all equal in Wigglytuff's Guild, we are all friends. I do not believe anyone here would betray Uxie's trust, and he wouldn't want the happy and unified guild to be tearing itself apart over his plight. Please, calm down."
"Y-You are correct Guildmaster," Chatot said softly, ashamed he had fallen into the hysteria as well.
"Sorry, Guildmaster."
"Hey-hey… I'm just concerned. But. Sorry."
"You have a way with words Guildmaster."
"We see now that we allowed fear to overtake us. It will not happen again Guildmaster."
Wigglytuff smiled as everyone relaxed and wiped his face again. "I really do need to stop crying today. It's so depressing. But maybe that's okay, because today is a depressing day." Wigglytuff stopped wiping his face to smile at his apprentices, even as tears continued to streak his face.
"But today is not the end. Today is not the day where we run and hide. Today is the day we make a change. Today is the day evil's defeat has truly begun. Today should not be remembered as the day we learned Uxie was lost, however temporarily. Today we will remember as the day we all come together to stop this and save the world."
The apprentices gave a cheer. Some said hooray. Others said here-here. Others still said various catchphrases and turns of phrases they were known for saying. It was chaos, it was disorganised, and it didn't sound very pleasant. But it sounded as real as the greatest of their cheers, and greater yet.
Afterwards, the guild began to brainstorm ideas.
Wigglytuff gave permission for anyone to use his library to research any ideas they may have.
It was agreed that they would reveal what had really happened on the expedition to the town and spread the word that another Time Gear was stolen. The time for soothing the worries was over, ignoring the problem and not addressing it publicly was only going to stress more pokémon out. It had to be known that the guild was fully acting to stop this menace.
Excursions were planned for teams to visit the three areas frozen in time. Look for any clues, anyone in the area that has seen anything at all.
Chimecho was to get into contact with Alakazam of Team A.C.T and Xatu that called the Hill of the Ancients of the Air Continent home.
Lastly, Dusknoir was asked for any insight he may have.
"You found Fogbound Lake, and its Time Gear, with another, did you not?" Dusknoir asked smoothly, as the guild was getting ready to begin their plan. "Grovyle, correct?"
"Yes." Wigglytuff nodded. "Looking for Grovyle is a great idea! He may have some idea as well, he is very wise."
Dusknoir paused for a moment before nodding. "Yes. Any questions we could ask of Grovyle should prove to at least give us something new to work with. And who knows? Could he have spoken of this with anyone?"
"Grovyle made the same promise," Wigglytuff said brightly, but firmly. "Whoever is doing this must be cunning to have found Fogbound Lake."
Dusknoir decided to let the matter rest and he and Wigglytuff continued discussing other plans with Chatot adding in information when needed.
Before things were wrapped up for the day, Dusknoir had brought Uxie from the lake to here. He moved the lifeless Uxie from Wigglytuff's office to the infirmary and was invited to stay for dinner.
"No-no," Dusknoir said, declining the offer. He had more things to get done tonight. "I have imposed enough on your beneficence. If it is agreeable, I will return in the morning to help organise the following days."
As he left the room, Dusknoir's eye fell on the quiet shinx sitting with a less-quiet litleo.
"You are always welcome here, Dusknoir," Wigglytuff said gratefully and lifted the grate himself to allow Dusknoir to leave, waving goodbye to the brawny Ghost-type as he floated off.
Wigglytuff remained standing there, watching, as Dusknoir began to move down the steps, before he noticed him stopping.
Dusknoir looked down and gave a polite greeting to an exhausted looking meowth struggling to reach the top of the hill.
Sean looked up grimly and nearly squeaked when he realised he was face to belly-mouth with the Great Dusknoir. "Hello," he said in an exhale of breath.
"You seem fatigued," Dusknoir noted, looking over the panting meowth. "May I carry you to the guilds entrance? No need to strain yourself any further."
"No, no," Sean replied, dearly hoping he was sounding perfectly casual. He pulled on some experience and placed a grateful smile on his face. "I'm training to get stronger. Marowak said there aren't any shortcuts. I can do this. I will do this."
Dusknoir observed him for a moment longer as Sean found the energy to flee and began climbing the remaining steps. "Very well. There is important news at the guild. It isn't good news either, all assistance is valuable. Your guildmates will bring you up to speed."
"Goodbye," Sean said and Dusknoir repeated it before slowly floating down as he struggled the last few steps.
Sean shivered once he was free of Dusknoir's presence and noticed Wigglytuff waving from the guilds entrance. "Guildmaster!"
Wigglytuff lifted the grate himself, grabbing the bars and simply pulling the stupidly heavy metal up as if it was fairy floss. "Meowth! Come in, come in."
He managed a small burst of energy and trotted in a staggering lope the rest of the way, the grate clanging harshly as Wigglytuff let it drop. Wigglytuff put his arm around Sean's shoulder and guided him down. "There has been an incident," he explained seriously enough that Sean perked up and remained completely attentive, putting even Dusknoir out of his mind. "Fogbound Lake's Time Gear has been stolen and Uxie has been frozen in time."
"O-oh," Sean stuttered, passing it off as panting for breath. "Oh. Oh… oh my, fuck!" he gasped, spinning to Wigglytuff. "The Time Gear? Uxie? What? What? How? Who?"
He was putting on an act, it filled him with shame to lie so brazenly to Wigglytuff. As he questioned, however, the panic became a little genuine. "Do you know who stole it?"
To his relief, Wigglytuff shook his head. "No. No leads either. The guild is preparing to put out an official word on the situation, Chatot is writing something up now. But from here we are taking a more active role in determining what is going on. Who is stealing? And why."
They reached the vacant second floor, eerily quiet for this relative earliness. Sean thought of Grovyle.
"Sunflora, Loudred, and Dugtrio are heading off to Treeshroud Forest, that's where the first Time Gear went missing. To see if they can learn anything at all," Wigglytuff explained as they did a spin and began walking the second slope to the lower level.
"Bidoof, Diglett, and Croagunk are returning to the area around Fogbound Lake. Being the earliest time, maybe something was left behind, or someone saw something. Anything."
They reached the lower floor and Wigglytuff frowned, looking off to a window to the sea. "For the Limestone Cavern I'm going to try and contact Lopunny, but in the time we have the plan is to send Corphish and ask that Team Gazer. Since they all have been there before, and they are also investigating the Time Gears."
Sean nodded, following along. "And Chimecho? And us? Team Ion?
"Chimecho is going to be doing her best to contact Alakazam and Xatu. Either one of them would be invaluable in furthering our reach of information. For your team?" Wigglytuff sighed, not looking at him. "We are not sure yet. Shinx and Litleo are still injured, it isn't an acceptable risk to send them out to parts unknown."
Sean nodded. "I… see."
Wigglytuff cracked a smile and continued. "For the time being, those two will be taking over Diglett and Loudred's job. As for you? I heard you have begun a training regimen in order to improve your combat capabilities?" Sean nodded. "Excellent. You should continue doing that, but during your rest period if you could perhaps take a look in the library and see if you can find any information we could use? I know that's a big undertaking, but all the help we can get would be fantastic."
Sean immediately nodded. Not only was that something he knew he could do, he liked reading and missed it a bit. "Absolutely! That sounds perfect, as I get a bit stronger I can get a bit smarter too!"
Wigglytuff beamed, washing the odd morose demeanour away. "Excellent! I knew I could count on you friendly friend!" He hugged Sean, tightly but thankfully not too tightly, and danced a bit. "I know this whole situation stinks! It is smelly terrible, and I hate having to order my friends around. It's not me! It's not me!"
"Aaand we alllll love you for you," Sean said dizzily, Wigglytuff twirling them a few more times before releasing him.
"Okay. Litleo and Shinx are just over there!" He pointed to where Mane was staring with a bored, but somewhat amused, expression. "I have to go see Chatot." Wigglytuff pouted. "He's probably got three letters for me to read over already."
"Seven actually," Chatot called from Wigglytuff's room and the Fairy-type giggled.
"Coming, Chatot!"
He rolled away, and Sean was allowed to wobble his way over to Mane. The litleo was resting against Croagunk's Swap Shop, near the crank that had to be pushed to lift the grate. "Hey," he groaned, sitting down and sighing in relief.
"Hey yourself," Mane answered, stretching out. "Have fun with the maniac?"
"How was I supposed to know Marowak takes training as 'Serious Business'?" Sean whined, cracking his back. "He had me running through the dungeon too. Endlessly smacking that bone. I'm going to hear that sound in my nightmares tonight."
Mane gave a small chuckle and they both turned to look at the hole Rai had to crawl through to get to the underground tunnel. Sean groaned, but got up and plodded on all fours to it. "Hey Rai?" he called, waiting for a moment.
"Meowth! You're back!" Rai's relieved, and slightly echoing, voice bounced back. "Did you hear?"
"Yeah. This sucks. This completely sucks."
"I can't believe the Time Gear's gone. Another one. We've seen two. And they've both been taken after we left."
Sean frowned, a little uncomfortable. He became very aware of Mane sitting behind him, watching him. "Really bad luck. But it wasn't just us, Team Gazer and Corphish the first time. And the whole guild the second time."
"Yeah…"
They lapsed into silence and Sean found a comfortable position. One that would be painful, or impossible, had he not been a magic cat monster.
"How did your training go?" Rai asked just as Sean's mind was drifting, pulling him back to reality.
"Oh terrible," he answered, grinning. But Rai couldn't see that, so he stopped. Too much effort to smile anyway. "Marowak had me running even in the dungeon. He also made me go through it three times. I didn't know he took training so seriously."
Mane gave a soft chuckle from behind him, causing one of Sean's ears to flick. "Funny how we change what we say for others," he said softly enough that only Sean heard him.
Sean gave him a look, but Rai responded so he turned back to the tunnel. "Yeah, he's pretty intense at times. He's usually at his worst at the start, he calms down pretty quickly. Did you see that Dusknoir's back? He found Uxie and brought him back here."
"Yeah I saw him on my way up," Sean answered, a little distracted. He frowned as all of Rai's words clicked. "Wait. Brought Uxie here? I…" Sean paused, remembering that he shouldn't know Uxie's fate. "I could pretend Wigglytuff told me. But… less lies."
"Uxie's frozen in time," Rai said, oblivious to Sean's inner monologue. "But Dusknoir knows a way to move things trapped in time. If anyone did, it would be him." Admiration for Dusknoir pushed the morose tone away for a moment. "Heh, it's actually with electricity which I guess is cool."
Sean squirrelled that information away for later.
"So?" Mane called as Sean's conversation slowed down. "What do you think about Team Time or Team Gear?"
Sean gave him a challenging smile and then actually thought about it. "Hmm."
Mane sniggered. "I'm just being an ass. Honestly, Team Ion is fine with me. I didn't expect you to change the name for me?"
"Not Team Plasma?" Sean joked, and Mane laughed. "Not Team Rocket?" They had a red, blue, and meowth after all.
"What's a rocket?" Rai called, and Sean sighed.
"Hey, Mane?" Sean asked, coming to a decision.
"Hm?"
"Who's still in the guild?"
Mane furrowed his brows for a moment, wondering about the question, before deciding to answer it. "Chatot, Wigglytuff, Chimes, you, me, and shinxy."
Sean thought some numbers in his head and nodded, deciding he'd tell Mane. "I-"
"Meowth?" Chatot asked, hopping out of Wigglytuff's room. Wigglytuff was busy reading over some lines and repeating them out loud, he'd be doing that for a while.
Upon hearing his name, or what acted as one, the meowth poked his head up. "Yes?"
"May I speak to you?" Chatot asked, hopping forward and pointing a wing to the living quarters. He didn't say it but asking to see him alone was clear.
So, without hesitation, Mane stood as well.
"You are manning the gate," Chatot said sharply and Mane slowly leaned back down with a pout.
He gestured again and waited for Sean, who was being harshly reminded of his sore muscles, to come along.
He was reminded of Chatot's lingering gaze from this morning, an innocent time that already seemed so long ago, as Chatot led him into his own room.
Sean abstained from sitting on his bed, as he feared he wouldn't get back up again after he had this private conversation with Chatot. "How can I help you?"
"I've seen fit to give you some words of advice," Chatot said, standing in place. His eyes were tired, his feathers were springing a few bits up here and there. Chatot seemed quite frazzled, but he was deadly serious here.
"Thank you…?" Sean tilted his head slightly, waiting for Chatot to say it.
"According to my sources," Chatot begun, having decided on how to say it. "There is someone, or a group of someone's, looking into the name Sean. Now I don't know why, and I do not think it is something to be concerned about." Chatot gave an approximation of a comforting look.
"It could simply be fans of myths or of Team Go-Getter's," he hypothesised. "And looking into the possibility of another human. But on the off chance that this is something to be concerned about, I believe you should request both of your partners to make sure they refer to you only as Meowth when you are outside this floor of the guild."
Sean nodded, throat suddenly very dry. 'Oh no. My name," he thought. "Sunflora spread it around. If Dusknoir already…? No. No that was ages ago and she put out the correction. But… oh no this is way too early. I… I don't really want him to know at all. Dusknoir is so dangerous.'
"Furthermore, may I ask if you have informed Litleo of your… position?" Chatot asked, bringing Sean back to the present.
"No," Sean answered, shaking his head. "I haven't. I was actually about to tell him when you called me over."
"Good," Chatot muttered under his breath and straightened. "Now. I have no jurisdiction over what you tell your partners, I can only offer advice. And I was to suggest telling him soon."
Sean blinked. "Really? I kinda expected you to say the opposite there. I can't help but notice that a lot of people don't seem to like him."
Chatot thought of Corphish earlier and grimaced.
"Litleo is… he has not had the kindest upbringing. I won't share gossip, if you want to know you should ask him directly. Others might think he's untrustworthy but I have seen otherwise."
Sean leaned back. "What did he do to make everyone hate him so much?" he demanded and Chatot blinked. "I know he's a jerk and has been a bully, but does that justify how everyone treats him? No one asked how he was fairing when we went around town, they just ignore him when they can."
"Mind your tongue," Chatot snapped and Sean stopped talking. He realised he'd spoken too harshly and sighed. "My apologies. But… it's a combination of things. His behaviour for the last five years is too much to begin to discuss in a short meeting. His family, those are beings best to be forgotten."
He frowned and Chatot nodded. "I had best get back to work." He began hopping out before pausing and looking back to the human-turned-meowth. "Meowth you… remain safe. I would not wish to see you, or Shinx or Litleo be dragged back to the guild half-dead and in need of urgent medical intervention again."
A small smile ghosted its way across his face and he nodded. "I'll do my best. Thank you, Chatot."
Chatot hopped his way out and Sean sighed. He wanted to want to get up and go back out and keep Rai and Mane company, but the bed was so inviting.
"Maybe just for a minute?" he said, chuckling softly. He knew it wouldn't be for a minute.
Outside the guild, down the stairs, past the water hole, into the town, further and further and one may come across a curious sight.
A large brawny Ghost-type pokémon, sitting alone in a comfortable room, swinging something that was clasped between two thick fingers back and forth. Back and forth.
In the gentle candlelight, Dusknoir saw the circle as it flashed by. The next swing and he saw the four spirals. On the next swing, he saw the four spires. The next swing and he caught the Relic Fragment that the sableye had acquired, gripping it in his fist.
Dusknoir slowly opened his hand to look at the object again. For the umpteenth time, he looked at the key to the Hidden Land. Memorising every wobble, every line, every part of the small object that held so much weight.
He closed his eye and took a shuddering breath. He couldn't put this off any longer. It was pure fancy, mere nostalgia, it was dangerous, nearly suicidal even, to put this off any longer.
"Forgive me, Scout," Dusknoir begged before he clamped his hand around the object and squeezed until he felt it crumble.
Dusknoir squeezed his eye shut nearly as tightly as the shards began digging into his hand and releasing his ghostly ichor. He met it with the cold fire he could command, burning in his fist.
It was painful. But he felt that it should be.
Eventually, Dusknoir stopped and turned his palm facing up and slowly uncurled his hand. The ashy remains slid through his fingers and trickled to the ground.
He breathed out a hard breath and sat in silence, not sleeping, for the rest of the night. He could give penance this one time. Just this one time. The next morning, his work would begin in earnest.