Hello everyone!

Not much to say here, other than thanks to deerestlove for looking over this one.

Enjoy,

Hobey-ho let's go!

The little building was unobtrusive to say the least. Honestly I might have walked right by it had it not been for the giant blue and white sign that hung over the door. It wasn't the Pelipper Post's fault that it had been built in the shadow of the Expedition Society (both literally and figuratively), but unless you had business there you probably wouldn't look twice at it.

I was sitting just outside the front door, under the awning to avoid the drizzling rain. The small, two-story building was packed. Sure some of that was from the fact a Milotoc was one of the patrons, but about a dozen other Pokémon were also inside trying to send a letter or a package, Eve included. The namesake Pokeon were flitting in and out of the open roof in droves. We had both decided it would be best for me to wait for her outside. Until it started raining.

I wasn't only waiting for her. I had a couple of grocery bags settled on the ground beside me. We were headed for the Water Continent the next morning, so we were just finishing up the last few things before we went. Who knew how long we would be gone. We'd gotten groceries to restock our bags, some extra food for the Lapras ride, and we were just finishing up with Eve sending a reply letter to her sister.

This came as a surprise to me. The only reason I even knew that Sam had sent Eve a letter in the first place is that Eve dragged me here. Ordinarily this would have been fine, Eve didn't have to tell me everything about her life after all. The problem though, was that we literally spent all day and all night together. For me to not know about Sam's letter meant that Eve had deliberately hidden it from me.

To be fair, I wasn't mad or annoyed. I was concerned. Was there something I did? Or was it something in the letter? Why did Eve not want to even tell me about this?

I didn't have long to think on it though, as Eve finally finished with the post. "Well that was...insane," Eve gave a sarcastic smile, "so anything else before we head home?"

Despite what was going on in my head, I made sure to not let it show on my face. "I don't think so. Besides it's getting dark." I hated traveling, especially on Lapras, so I was more than ready to call it a night.

As we walked home we were silent. While the sound of the rain was nice, I would have preferred to talk to Eve. Every time I looked at her she looked away. Eventually I couldn't take it anymore. "Eve...are you- are you okay?"

She still didn't look at me. "I'm fine," she said almost normally. Still, I knew her well enough to detect the tiniest quaver in her voice. "Why do you ask?"

I raised an eyebrow, although I was certain that she didn't see that. "Well, you've been acting a bit… off since you got that letter from Sam. I was just wondering if...I said something, or if I did something."

Eve stopped walking. It took me a few steps to even realize that she had frozen. Her face was twisted as I turned back, and for a moment I feared she was afraid or even crying. In reality, she was doing something even stranger. She was laughing.

"Trust me Slink," she gasped after a moment. "It isn't anything you did. Honestly it is more of a me, and my family, thing."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Arceus no. Slink, I get that you are concerned but I really don't want to talk about it. Yet. Look, if you really need to know I'll tell you when we get back from the Water Continent. I promise. Otherwise, please just let it go."

"I would, but you've been acting strange," I said. "Eve, I'm just concerned. If you say it's no big deal I won't press. I just want to make sure that you are okay." I licked her cheek. "If this really isn't that big a deal, can we please be good?"

Eve grimaced. "Sorry about that." She looked up, finally meeting eyes with me. "I don't mean to be. I'll try not to be weird about it, okay. Now come on, we should head home."

We were still silent, but it was less strained now, more comfortable. That was until we turned the corner and Eve suddenly threw out her tail to stop me. "Oh Slink, I almost forgot." She walked quickly until she was standing in front of a small store. The massive sign above the door read Dazzling Gleam. She glanced back at me. "Isn't this where Kegan got Vix's old bracelet? Did you ever put in an order to get a new one?"

I shook my head. "No. Not yet." Now it was my turn to awkwardly dodge a conversation. While we had saved Vix's bracelet after our encounter with Enzo, the metal had been twisted and torn apart. Similarly the Firestone had been dashed against a lucky rock which had split the gem in two. I knew the Hatred was still out there, but at the same time Vix and I were hesitant to get a new bracelet.

Any time I thought about it, Vix's nightmare would flash through my head. I remembered the devastated, hollow feeling she had had when she had evolved. I never wanted Vix to feel that pain for real, so I procrastinated getting her another Firestone as long as possible. Now though, we were at the store. Since Eve was with me I was certain that I wouldn't be able to push off getting the bracelet anymore.

She pushed through the door, a relaxing chime filling the air from the Soothe Bell hanging by the door. The inside was a square room with a large glass display on all three walls. The place was dim, currently only lit by the grey light pouring in through the front windows. It was bright enough, however, for light to glint off of the dozens of treasures scattered about.

Gold, silver, and bronze pieces were piled in the glass cases. Most, if not all, containing a gem of some kind. Rings, necklaces, pins, bracelets, and even stranger items like piercings or a singular suit of armor fit for a Lucario that stood in the back corner. Some pieces were cheaper, like a couple of brass, copper, and iron pieces, but most were made of precious or semi-precious materials. At the front near the door they had racks where various fine fabrics were hanging along with clothing items made from both common or luscious materials.

A lone Sableye stood in the back, carefully examining what seemed to be a pair of interlocking lockets, but he set them down as we approached. "Welcome to the Dazzling Gleam. What can I help you with today?" There was a scratchy quality to his voice that set my teeth on edge. It was probably a result of his species, so I couldn't exactly judge him on it. It was still grating on my sensitive ears though.

I stepped forward with the smallest sigh. Reaching into my bag I carefully extracted the remains of Vix's bracelet. The Sableye swiped it up as soon as it was on the counter. He twisted it back and forth before his diamond eyes. "This is my work, yes? But whatever have you done to it? I hope you aren't hoping for a repair job."

"I suppose not." I said with a grin. "As is though, I guess we are in the market for a replacement."

The Sableye didn't seem to have heard me as he continued to examine the twisted metal. "Hmm, this gold wire isn't in too bad of shape. We should at least be able to reuse some of this. That should cover most of the cost of the replacement." He paused, sticking his finger out and prodding the mass. "There was a setting here, correct? Do you still have the stone?"

"Kind of," Eve said with a grimace. I pulled the two halves of the Firestone from my bag and placed them on the counter.

"Ah, I see. Well, that is no good. If you wish, I can dispose of these for you." He reached out to sweep the stones off the counter, but I had grabbed them before he even got close. I became very aware of both Eve and the Sableye's curious looks.

"I'm a bit sentimental." I grumbled.

"Alright then. Lucky for you my smith is in today. I'll take this back to him and see what he thinks. Feel free to look around while you wait." Without another word he had slipped through a curtain leaving Eve and me alone. There were plenty of treasures in that shop to keep us entertained. Eve was fascinated by the exotic fabrics, while I was more interested in the metallic treasures.

"Do you think these guys have a booth at the Festival of Xerneas?" Eve purred as she rubbed up against a Wooloo wool blanket.

I grinned. "Are you trying to tell me something Eve?" She rolled her eyes. "If they don't, I know exactly what to get you for your birthday."

She laughed. "Don't get me the blanket. It is amazingly soft, but we live on the Fire Continent and I sleep next to you every night. Why would I ever need a blanket? Now that scarf on the other hand…"

I followed her gaze to a deep blue scarf that was hanging alongside the other items. On the outside it was a very fine fabric, probably silk, with intricate white patterns stitched into it. Inside though it was lined with a thicker material, probably more Wooloo wool, that was dyed the same deep blue. Overall a fine item. "For something like that you definitely need to wait until your birthday." I winked at the Espeon.

Riiip. Both of us jumped at the sound. I leapt back as the bottom fell out of Eve's grocery bag. The berries we had purchased tumbled out, scattering across the floor. Those that weren't ruined in the impact were squashed as Eve slipped and fell on them.

Eve usually didn't swear, but in that moment I felt like I needed to cover my ears. I reached out, helping the cursing Espeon to her feet. The fur on her side was stained from the berry juices and tangled with little flecks of Oran and Pecha skin. I tried to check her over for injuries, but she brushed me off.

"Damn it. Damn it. Damn it." Eve growled as she shook the sodden remains of the grocery bag off her shoulder. The paper bag hasn't stood a chance against the damp weather. I took the opportunity to look mine over as well, but it was fine. My thicker fur and greater body heat had kept most of the water away from it. "What the hell do we do now?" Eve groaned.

"When we are done here, we can double back to the market. It's not that big of a deal Eve. Besides it is letting up outside, and we won't have as many stops to make on our way home."

Eve shook her head. "It's getting dark, and I don't want to be out any later than we already are. What if we split up? You can finish up here, while I go back to the market."

"Eve, I'd go. You don't have to."

Eve nuzzled me. "Really it's fine. Besides, the rain should wash out some of this, at least." She gestured to her berry-encrusted fur. "Meet you back home?" Before I could get another word out, she was out the door and gone.

I was left alone in the front room for another five minutes, plenty of time for me to clean up as best I could, and browse the full collection of treasures. Eventually the Sableye returned. Instead of the remnants of Vix's bracelet, he now held a sheet of paper. "John drew up this as a rough design for your piece. If it looks okay to you we can get started on it." He looked around for a minute. "Ay, where'd your mate go?"

"Partner," I corrected with a small smile, "and she had to run back to the market for a moment." I glanced behind me to where there was still a sticky puddle on the floor. "Sorry about that."

The Sableye waved a clawed hand. "Don't worry about it. Were about to close anyway. Our cleaning crew will get it later. Now, about the sketch."

I gave the page a short once-over. It basically looked identical to Vix's old bracelet. "That is perfect," I said as I passed the page back to the other Pokémon.

"Excellent. Now, we do have a couple more orders ahead of you, so it might take us a week or more to get this done."

I waved a paw dismissively. "No problem. We are headed to the Water Continent tomorrow and we probably won't be back for more than a week. Take all the time you need."

"The Water Continent ay? My nephew just moved up there. What takes you there? Society business I assume."

I shrugged because honestly we didn't know. Kegan had given us a letter a few days ago that was from the Society administration on the Water Continent. They had asked us to come to visit the Society there for a few days. "Honestly, no idea. Still, should be fun."

"You ever been to the Water Continent?"

"No, but my father was born there."

The Sableye grinned. "Well, fair warning, winter up there is intense, especially for those of us from the Fire Continent. You should stock up on some cold weather materials before you go. Might I recommend one of the beautiful scarves we have for sale."

I half glanced back towards Eve's blue scarf, before shaking my head. "Our team members are either Fire Type, or have very heavy fur. We should be fine. Thanks for the warning though."

He nodded before scribbling down a ticket for me. "You can pay when you come to pick it up. Will there be anything else?"

Halfway through my nod, I glanced back and froze as something caught my eye. "Actually, there is one more thing…"

Mist hung close to the ground thick and white, nearly blinding us. If it wasn't for Vix, we certainly would have wandered forever in the Dungeon. Somewhere in the back of my mind I couldn't help but wonder if that was the point.

This Dungeon was different than any other we had been in, other than perhaps the Hatred's base. It felt...older...as odd as that sounds. There was a sense of ancient power tingling in the air. While other Dungeons were already tightly woven labyrinths, this one was so complex that even Vix took twenty minutes to navigate single floors. It was also quiet and empty. The entire journey, we didn't see a single feral.

The cold, dreary weather of the Water Continent didn't help either. The Sableye hadn't been lying. The sun was out, yet the cold and humidity kept the morning fog right where it was. Abby and Sierra's fur was matted, water dripping from their thick fur. They weren't complaining though; earlier in the morning, before the sun came out, that water had been ice.

Vix was perfectly dry, her fur gently steaming as her Fire evaporated the mist away. I was in the middle. My Fire was still unreliable, my Psychic continuing to butt in at the worst times and disrupt it. At the very least I could use Fire occasionally. My fur was damp, but not dripping, and even then it was growing drier. Fire, for the moment at least, was responding.

Eve was where she had been for the past five days since we had arrived at the Water Continent. She didn't have an inner Fire, neither was her fur thick enough to trap any heat. She was tucked into me, her head just above my shoulder, leeching off of the plentiful heat I was producing. I tried to keep my Fire close enough to the surface to warm her, but not so close that my fur would catch. I was just glad that Vix was there too, so when my Fire failed, Eve still had some way to keep warm.

The cold had first hit in the middle of the ocean as the weather grew cooler and cooler until, for Eve at least, it had become unbearable. "G-g-g-guess I w-was wrong," she'd joked. "Looks l-l-like I c-could have used that b-bl-blanket after all."

Or a scarf, I thought to myself, that would have been useful now. What I said was, "Don't you remember what you said about the blanket? Why would you need that when you have a Fire Type?" I lay down next to her and fired myself up.

Out in the middle of the ocean every star was visible. It was a perfect picture, like what the planetarium back at HQ could produce. I glanced at Eve with a smile knowing, without Psychic, that she was thinking about the same thing as me; the evening we had spent in the planetarium when I had taught her all of the constellations like my father had taught me. It was a beautiful moment, just the two of us. For the briefest moment, I considered asking her about Sam's letter again. I knew it was in her bag, but I didn't want to ruin the moment.

Sierra, Abby, and Vix were hunkered down in the small shelters our vessel provided. For this journey, we weren't on the typical Lapras. The Expedition Society was experimenting with different methods of transportation given that more and more civilians were using the Lapras travel lines. There were only so many Lapras in the world, and each could only hold two or three Pokémon at a time.

The Society had allowed us to take an experimental craft that they were testing. It was a large wooden platform with several balloons under it. Overall it was about three times the size of a normal Lapras, so the five of us fit comfortably. This new craft was attached to the Lapras using a special harness, allowing the Pokémon to pull it. The added weight slowed the Lapras down a little, but only by half a day. This new setup though would allow other water Pokémon to help with the transportation. The Society hoped it would further evolve the transportation system, making travel between the Continents faster and cheaper.

The ride was far more comfortable than normal, I'll admit. I still hated sea travel, but at least it could have been worse. All in all it was a two and a half days journey to reach Lively Town. That morning when we got our first look at it, the five of us unconsciously gravitated toward the front of our ship to get the best look possible.

I thought Festive Town was huge but it was nothing compared to Lively Town, being merely a third the size. It seemed as though the town had originally been built atop a small coastal mesa bisected by a river, but had since grown so big that buildings simply poured off the sides and into the valleys The town stretched at least a mile north and south of its original center, but was also more cohesive than Festive town. A lot of the buildings, regardless of their purpose, all looked alike. They were round and tall, with pointed tips. In the center of the city, towering what seemed like miles above the rest of the buildings was the Expedition Society.

It had to have been at least twice the size as the Fire Continent HQ. The stone tower seemed to touch the sky, crowned by an absolutely massive planetarium dome. I glanced at Eve, and couldn't help but grin at the sheer awe in her face.

The landing was a bit awkward, the dock not being built for our boat. Eve's quick thinking made it work. Our combined power made it easy. Together we were able to guide the ship safely to the dock. Once disembarked, we thanked the Lapras and then Eve and I helped push him out to sea. The five of us then headed up a path of stone steps hewn into the cliffside towards the Expedition Society HQ.

The path deposited us into a crowded market square the moment we crested the cliff. The crowd was so thick, and moving so swiftly that we probably would have been separated, swept away by the crowd had Vix not reached out and grabbed onto us with her tails. With her tails wrapped around legs, tails, and even horns in Abby's case, she towed us through the crowd. The five of us together were able to push our way through until finally we arrived at our goal. The enormous wooden doors of the Expedition Society hung open, welcoming us inside.

At first glance, the lobby looked identical to the one back home, but like everything else it was nearly twice the size. The massive circular room was lined with comfy chairs for patrons to wait in. A grand staircase took up the center of the room, leading deeper into the tower. A dazzling blue glow emanated invitingly from the next floor up.

Unlike our HQ though there seemed to be two hallways branching out from the lobby. I only managed a passing glance down one of them as we entered. It seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance, gradually curving as it went. Dozens of doors lined the halls, and I even caught a glimpse of a few Pokémon, all wearing blue-and-silver society badges.

Tucked in a corner, to the left of the staircase, was a massive wooden desk. Instead of Kegan though, a Floatzel was perched behind it. She wore thick goggles, a quill in her paw scratching along the parchment as she scribbled, occasionally pausing to consult a heavy leather ledger on the desk beside her. As we approached the desk she raised her head, her heavily magnified eyes regarding us. "Hi, how may I help you today?"

Eve stepped up. "Yes, we received a letter a few days ago-"

"-Oh, are you Team MindFire? Oh my, yes. We've been expecting you." She hopped down from her stool, shuffling out from behind her desk. "Mr. Ampharos asked me to bring you to his office as soon as you arrived. Follow me, I'll take you there."

Up the stairs, higher and higher into the tower of the Expedition Society, she led us. Other than size, the place was mostly laid out like the HQ on the Fire Continent. Then I laughed correcting myself. Fire Continent HQ was laid out like this place. The Water Continent HQ was built first after all. As we passed through the second floor, we all paused for just a moment to look at the Pokemon Nexus, the original Nexus. The literal heart of the Society.

Finally we reached the last floor beneath the planetarium's dome. Several large offices filled the majority of the floor. As we wandered past them, I peeked through several doors. One was an architect's paradise, blueprints and drafting tools covering every surface. Another was filled with all sorts of containers filled with mysterious chemicals, crystals, and brightly colored vapors.

Finally, the Floatzel stopped before a thick wooden door etched with lightning bolts. She knocked firmly, waiting a moment before turning the knob and pushing the door open. "Sir, you have visitors." The Floatzel said poking her head into the room.

"Of course, Lara, bring them in." The voice was strong and deep, but there was an unmistakable strain to it. The Floatzel, Lara apparently, nodded before pushing the door fully open and beaconing us in.

An Ampharos sat behind the desk. A small pair of spectacles were perched on the very tip of his nose and he practically lay over the table making minute notes with a quill. The badge on his chest wasn't the usual silver. It was gold with silver wings, and about a third larger than the typical badge. His golden fur had faded to a silver along his head, neck, back and around his white belly-fur. His arms and legs were still mostly gold, the color saturated around his paws. He also seemed deflated, like there should have been more to him than there was. His skin was wrinkled, and his crouched posture seemed natural for him. "Ah, welcome," he said to us as we entered, "one moment, I'll be finished and then we can talk." Now that I'd seen him, I recognized the strain in his voice. It was the raspiness that naturally came with age.

He set down the quill and sat up in his chair as much as possible. He carefully folded his glasses and set them on the table. He regarded us carefully, eyes roving over us, mentally measuring us. We met eyes, and he froze. A small spark burst off of him, and his hardened gaze softened into something else. Recognition? Surprise? I had no idea. "I can't believe it," he muttered to himself. I wasn't sure if he knew that we could hear him.

He shook his head. When he looked at us again, a warm smile was on his face. "Welcome to the Water Continent. You are Team Mindfire I assume."

Eve nodded. "Yes, er sir. You, uh, sent us a letter I think." She dug into her bag with her tail as she spoke. As she withdrew her tail, a pair of letters was clamped between her prongs. She took a half-glance back at them before letting the bottom one drop back into the bag. She glanced at his gold badge while offering the letter. "You are the leader of the Society...right, uh sir?"

The Ampharos didn't even reach for the letter. He regarded her for a moment before he burst out laughing. "Hahaha, oh Lara did you hear that? I like this one." He threw his arms up, his chair tipping back as he went. Eve and I both lunged forward to try and catch him before he hurt himself, but Lara got there first. She dove behind his chair, bracing against it and lifting until it was back on all four feet. The Ampharos continued on like nothing had happened. "My dear, you flatter me. I may have once been in charge, but not for seventy years at least. And no more 'sir' stuff. Just call me Ampharos. Everyone does." Eve reeled back, obviously caught off guard by the Ampharos. "Also I don't mean to correct you, that would be rude after all, but I didn't write you a letter. I didn't ask you to come here."

For the briefest moment, my blood ran cold. Trap, my mind screamed, the Hatred. Run, run! Just as soon as it came, it went. When Eve spoke again, there was a definite quaver to her voice. I wasn't sure if she had heard my thoughts, or if those same thoughts were running through her head. "Then...then why are we here. Who wrote the letter?"

"Don't worry young one. I do know who sent the letter. It was an old student of mine. Of course now, I suppose, he ranks higher than I do in the Society."

"Oh, thank Arceus," Sierra said from behind me. I wholeheartedly agreed. "So where is this guy?"

The Ampharos cocked his head. "Well, that gets difficult. He isn't based in Lively Town. He only ever comes to town every few months. Most of the time he's…" Ampharos paused blinking. "Oh darn it. I can never remember. Lara would you please get me a scroll?"

The Floatzel briefly disappeared before returning with a large silver tube in her arms. She placed it on the table unrolling it onto the desk. It wasn't one solid piece like it seemed, instead it was hundreds of long, thin metal plates. As soon as it was unrolled, the center lit up with a green glow. Above the desk a perfect replica of the Pokemon Nexus appeared in the air above the desk. Ampharos started tapping on different panels, each making an audible clicking sound. Soon the map changed, the Water Continent growing until it was the only thing on the globe. Another few clicks, and the image grew again until only the center of the continent was visible. A pair of black dots appeared on the globe. One labeled "Lively Town" and the other "Serene Village". The second black dot was nearly overshadowed by a red dot that was positioned on the mountain right beside it.

"Ah, that is right. He lives on Revelation Mountain." He glanced at us, a grimace on his face. "Don't get old kids, you hear me? You'd forget your tail if it wasn't attached."

As soon as Ampharos said the name, Eve stiffened. "But sir- I mean Ampharos, that's one of the forbidden Dungeons. How are we supposed to go there? How does anyone live there?"

The Ampharos looked confused. "Forbidden? Well that won't do. Well, if nothing else the Expedition Society would have to charge you for going there. I'm sure we can look the other way if need be. Anyway, it should be a three day journey to get you there. I say you should spend the night here, get a fresh start tomorrow." He glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall behind his desk. "Ooh, it's almost dinner time. I'm going to head down there." The Ampharos hopped down from his chair, grabbed a knobby wooden cane that was leaning on the desk, and ran directly into the wall. All five of us jumped, not quite sure what to do.

"Ampharos, it is the other way," the Floatzel said patiently. The Ampharos nodded, before working his way out the door, barely using his cane. Lara turned to us, a blush covering her cheeks. "He's a bit...eccentric, but he was one of the best leaders the Society has ever had. He was instrumental in diverting the Dark Matter disaster. And obviously he is still trusted with Society Business." She grimaced. "I've seen your guy. I've never talked to him, but I've seen him once or twice. I don't know his name, but I know that he is a Lucario. Come on, let's go to dinner, then I'll show you guys to your room."

As Lara left the room Sierra, Eve, and I exchanged glances. So far our trip to the Water Continent had been...odd to say the least, and it looked like we still had a long ways to go.

We left before sunrise the next morning. We had nothing left to do at Society HQ, and I know we all were more than a little curious to find out who had brought us here and why.

Ampharos and Lara still saw us off, despite the early hour. They meticulously explained the easiest route to our destination, although it wasn't the most direct. We had to travel halfway across the continent. Ampharos showed us the road we should take that would avoid all major Dungeons. Sure we still ran into a couple of five-floor Dungeons, but Vix got us through them in only fifteen minutes each. The mountain range we also had to cross raised a few issues. There wasn't a single known pass that wasn't also a powerful Dungeon (apparently a ley line ran underneath the mountains). Ampharos directed us towards one that was the weakest, only twenty floors as opposed to forty. All in all, Ampharos guessed that we should reach Serene Village in three or four days.

With Vix's help, we made it in three, although I'm certain we could have been there earlier if we chose to. Either way, we only had to spend one night in a Dungeon, and even then we were out by noon the next day.

Serene Village came into view by sunset. The sunlight reflected off of the ocean, turning the buildings into little more than silhouettes. The instant I saw the town, an odd warmth entered my stomach. My whole body relaxed, and for some reason I felt safe and comfortable. My gaze gravitated towards a hill on the other side of the bay from where we were standing. A lone tree stood at the top. It was bare for the winter, but I could sense that in the summer its foliage would be thick enough to block out the sun when sitting below it.

"Slink? You...okay?" I jumped at Eve's voice. I suddenly became aware of the tear dripping down my face. "What's wrong?"

"I have no idea," I said. I was as bewildered as she was. "I just...it felt like...nevermind." A shiver ran down my spine, and I turned my back on the village. What was that? The town made me think both of home and somehow of great loss. Perhaps it was best that we left the village behind, at least for now.

We spent the night at the base of the mountain. There was an abandoned building there, basically a hut. It was a tight squeeze for the five of us, but it was only for the night. We were up early again the next morning. Now that we were so close to the end of our journey, we were ready to be finished.

By lunch, the mist that shrouded the whole dungeon had yet to thin at all. Vix showed us to a small clearing, small enough for us to see the walls and the two corridors that led in and out of it while not so small that we couldn't fit comfortably while we ate lunch. Tempers were a bit worn from the cold, hunger, and general exhaustion. "Apples, again?!" Vix whined as Eve and I pulled our supplies from our bags. "I'm tired of this stuff. When are we gonna get actual food?!"

"I'm sorry," Eve said patiently, "we've been away from home a lot longer than we anticipated. Just be patient. Tonight we'll hopefully be in a place with food, and after that we can warp back to Lively Town as soon as we are done."

"Fine," Vix grumbled, rolling her fruit between her paws, "but I don't want to eat another apple for at least a week after this."

Eve rolled her eyes, standing and stretching. "Fine. Slink, would you mind packing up? I need to go...er…'Explore' for a minute." She blushed as she fumbled over the words. "I'll be back in a minute." She lifted her bag over her shoulder and wandered back the way we came, moving just around the corner.

Slowly I started packing up the leftover food, carefully putting it into my bag. My mind was somewhere else though. Vix was still working on her apple behind me, while Sierra and Abby were curled up, their eyes closed. A nap didn't sound bad, but I didn't have time.

"Vix," I whispered as I continued to work. "Would you possibly do me a favor?"

She looked around at the others. "Sure. Why are you whispering?"

"Look, this has to stay between you and me, okay?" I glanced at the doorway and then at Sierra and Abby. "Vix, do you think you can get something out of Eve's bag without her noticing?"

Vix stretched. "Of course I can. Did you even need to ask." She raised an eyebrow. "Why though?"

My furtive glance at the entryway probably only made me look more guilty. "I promise I'll explain later. You just have to trust me, please."

Vix grimaced. "Slink, I don't know. That feels wrong. I don't know what else to call it. Can't you just ask her for it?"

"No," I said probably way too loud, sounding panicked. I took a breath before continuing. "Vix, I promise she won't notice it is missing. And if she somehow does find out, I'll take the blame. Please."

Vix still seemed a bit uncertain, but she eventually gave me a small smile. "Sure, dad. But I'm holding you to that promise. Of course, first I need you to tell me what I'm grabbing." I rolled my eyes at her words. She only ever seemed to call me dad sarcastically.

I smiled, before explaining exactly what I needed. "... and you don't have to rush into it. Whenever you can get it. I just need it before we get back home."

Vix nodded. She looked like she was going to say something else, but at that moment Eve returned. "Aright everyone," she said loudly enough to wake Abby and Sierra, "almost there. Might as well get it over with."

We continued on at the same mile-eating pace. We would certainly feel the exertion tomorrow, but we felt it was worth it to end the journey sooner. Vix lead us true, and only a few short hours later we reached the end of the Dungeon.

The thicker layer of air passed over us again as we left the Dungeon. It already was an unpleasant sensation, but as we left the Dungeon, my skin started to crawl. The fur on my back stood on end, a chill running down my spine. My shoulder blades clenched together on instinct. I had the distinct feeling that someone was watching me. Watching us.

I glanced around nervously. The fog was seemingly contained to the Dungeon, so I could see everything around me clearly. Still there was nothing. Nobody. Not in the trees nor in the grass. I even sent out a pulse of Psychic, but I only saw two minds: Eve and Vix.

"You feel it too," Eve whispered. Her gem was glowing faintly, and her fur stood on end. "Someone is watching us."

"I can't sense them." I muttered nervously. Do you think they're Dark Type?"

Eve shrugged. "I don't think so. Something about this feeling...it is almost Psychic, don't you think? She looked around, as if the watcher was about to appear. There was nothing we could do, so we simply continued on following the path further up the mountain.

As we walked, I kept my senses open and my ears perked. I had the best chance of hearing our watcher. Eve was just ahead of me with Vix considering that I couldn't use Fire while searching. I could feel her sending out Psychic pulses constantly. This allowed me to focus my power behind us.

I didn't notice our watcher directly or through Psychic. A rustle in the trees here, a misplaced shadow against a rock there. Every flicker of motion I caught out of the corner of my eye was instantly suspicious.

"This is ridiculous," I grumbled loud enough for Eve to hear me. I turned around, towards the last rustle I'd heard. "Show yourself!" I shouted.

"Slink, that's not helping." She glanced at where I'd been looking. "Maybe they are scared? If that is the case, do you think yelling at them is going to help? Maybe they'll reveal themselves on their own. Just give them a chance."

She was probably right, but I was still frustrated. Enough so that sparks began to appear in my fur. "I'm sorry. It's just… this whole trip has been one crazy thing after another. Part of me just wants to go home at this point."

"Slink, we can't," Eve said patiently. "Whoever asked us to be here probably had their reasons. We can't just leave. Besides they are high enough in the Society that they could probably get us suspended if Team Mindfire doesn't show up-"

-Crash! We all jumped as something seemingly fell out of the tree behind us. We all turned, curious as to what the hell had just happened. I glanced back at the others as I slowly approached. There was a thick, Oran berry bush beneath the tree. A single yellow paw stuck out from it, reaching up in the air.

I leaned over, trying to see who and what it was. The air popped, and I leapt back feeling something like an electric shock. A bust of blue flames burst out from the bush as whoever had been in it leapt up into the tree. I didn't even see them, only the faintest flicker of motion. I guessed that was why we hadn't seen them up until then. Once back in the tree the Pokemon crouched in the shadows, its forepaws held up in front of it defensively, both flickering with the blue flame.

"Who are you?" Eve called to the creature in the tree. "We won't hurt you, please come out."

"Why do you think I'd believe that?" The voice was clearly feminine, but there was still a childish squeak in it. "Throw one of your badges up here, so I can see your Team Symbol."

Whether this Pokemon was hostile or not, taking off your badge was usually a pretty bad idea. "I'll do you one better," I called up to her. I turned aside, showing off my bag and the larger etching of the winged symbol I had stamped there.

A red eye peeked out of the shadows, followed by the rest of the Pokemon. They shuffled forward along a branch, inching into the light. Glittering golden fur covered the creature's head and arms, while the other half was a deep black. A pale, cerulean collar encircled their neck. Deep blue flames wreathed their paws, and small blue embers blazed in their eyes but both seemed to be fading as they calmed down.

"Who are you, and why are you following us?" I growled.

The Riolu shifted nervously. Despite obviously being nervous and more than a little afraid, she stood up straight and looked directly at us. "Sorry, I just…I'm from the village and I needed to make sure that you were you." She grimaced. "I'm Lucy by the way."

"What do you mean about making sure who we were?" Sierra asked.

Lucy shrugged. "I just… Ampharos sent word when you left HQ, and our scouts told us when you arrived at the base of the mountain last night. My Grandfather asked me to wait here for you guys, but I couldn't help but feel suspicious. That journey should have taken you much longer than it did." Lucy sheepishly rubbed at her tassels. "I guess I was a little paranoid, but to be fair there are plenty of bad people who would do anything to find this village. You guys probably just got really lucky with the Dungeon."

None of us said anything, but it was everything I could do to not glance at Vix as she said that. "Anyway," Lucy continued, "I'll take you to the village. Grandfather will want to see you guys." She glanced at the sun. "He should be able to see you tonight if we hurry."

Despite what she said, she didn't really lead us. Instead she chose to hover in the middle of our party as we returned to the road and headed higher up the mountain. "Your grandfather? He's the one who sent us that letter?" I asked as soon as we were moving.

The Riolu nodded. "He's very excited to meet you guys. I think you really caught his attention after your assault on the Hatred base." Her voice grew quiet as she glanced at me. "Is it true that you were kidnapped by them?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she stiffened, her expression twisting into a grimace. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"You're fine. I was, I don't mind talking about it." I was taken back a bit at her question. It was the sort of thing most people wouldn't normally talk about. She seemed genuinely curious, or maybe she just loved stories like that. Maybe both. Thankfully I didn't have to think about it long, as Vix butted in shortly after.

"Hey, I was kidnapped too. I'll eat my own tails before I let Slink get all of the credit for that."

"Credit?" Lucy said giving the Vulpix a look of utter confusion with a bit of concern mixed in for flavor. "For getting kidnapped?" Obviously she hadn't met Vix yet.

Everyone was spared an awkward conversation as a tall, wooden barricade, much like the fence at the mountain's base, came into view at the top of the next hill. There were several odd pictograms carved into the wood. Some, I recognized with a start, were Delphox runes. A set of banded double doors stood open at the center allowing for access into what I assumed was the village. A pair of Lucario stood guard, one at each door, their red eyes constantly scanning.

"Hey Lucy," one of them called as we got closer.

"Percy," the Riolu grinned waving. "How is Janet?"

The guard laughed. "Still pregnant, but the egg is due any day now." He looked at the five of us. "Who are your friends?"

Eve stepped forward. "We are Team Mindfire with the Expedition Society. Please tell me that you are expecting us."

The Lucario's whole demeanor changed immediately. "Team Mindfire. Yes, go right through. Lucy will take you where you need to go. I probably don't need to warn you guys, but make no trouble within these walls."

"Relax Percy. I'll get them where they need to go. Have a good day."

"Phoenix?" I asked Lucy as we walked through the gate. In the back of my head, I couldn't help but feel that I'd heard that name before.

Lucy nodded. "My Grandfather. He's the…" she paused, searching for the word, "chief? Mayor? Whatever you might call him, he's the leader of the village. In fact he founded it."

It was only thirty yards or so between the gate and the village proper. It seemed a bit longer though as the village rested on the other side of the hill. From above we had a gorgeous view of the village. It was certainly a bit chaotic. It seemed that there was no rhyme or reason to how the houses were laid out. There were at least twenty houses. While they weren't necessarily small they were simple buildings. Each was only a single story at most, and the majority couldn't have been much larger than our apartment back home.

There were only two buildings that were more complicated than that. The first was set in the center of the valley, and was one of the only two-story buildings in the village. It was also nearly four times the footprint of any of the other buildings. It was still built like the other houses, and looked mostly the same on the outside. There were two notable differences however. Hanging above the door was an intricately carved Expedition Society logo. I'd later find out that while Phoenix and his family lived there this sign marked it as an inn for Society members who visited the village. The second was another carving, this time in the door, of a three-toed paw wreathed in flames. It took me a second to recognize it, but I remembered seeing that symbol in one of the old leger books. I couldn't remember what Team it belonged to though.

The second was a far more massive structure tucked into the base of the hill opposite us. Looking at it compared to the houses in the village was like seeing a Wailord among Joltik. The only way I could describe it is a castle. It was made of stone with towering walls on each side. The front doors were massive, about the same size as the doors we had just passed through. There was a tower at each corner of the triangular structure, each with a Lucario on top, scanning. I was simply awed by the size of it.

Lucy led us through the village, passing closely by the massive house in the center. As we walked I noticed even more Lucario and Riolu wandering around. A few kids, smaller than Vix, played with a ball in the center of an improvised court, goalposts marked by sticks and stones. A pair of older Lucario sat in the doorway of a house. One was reading a book, the other wrote frantically on an already lengthy scroll. We even ducked past a pair of older Lucario who were tossing spheres of blue fire to each other, juggling up to ten at a time. I could feel the power radiating off of them. The energy of Aura was close to Psychic, but still felt alien.

"Is the entire village Lucario?" I asked.

Lucy glanced back at me, and then pointed off towards one of the houses. I looked over and saw a Sawsbuck playfully chasing a Deerling. "Not entirely, but we do make up a little less than half of the population. Of course most of us are related, just one big tribe. Although our numbers do attract other Lucario from around the world. A few families here are retired Society members, a couple are families that moved here from Serene Village. Grandfather just trusts his family to do most of the guard duties."

The walls of the fortress loomed tall over us as Lucy directed us towards it. I could feel the scrutinizing glare of the guards as we passed through the gates. Part of me was a bit scared to wonder what they would have done had Lucy not been with us. I knew I had a double type advantage, but something told me that they could destroy me far before I could even get a move out. I shivered just a little as we passed into the castle.

Once through the walls we were truly able to witness the scale of the place. An enormous stone courtyard took up most of the space, but there was a sturdy stone keep on the other end. I couldn't help but notice that there was enough room within the walls for the population of the village to gather here. Four times over! There were several faded tents scattered across the grounds. They didn't seem to be neglected, they actually seemed to just be permanent features. There were several lamps throughout the place with streams of colorful flags fluttering between them. On this side of the wall there were stairs that lead to the walkways above. The once-squared edges had been worn smooth with years of foot traffic.

"What is this place?" Eve asked looking around.

"Grandfather designed it as a shelter. If the village is ever attacked we can all shelter here indefinitely. We have enough food and water to survive in here for months. Since it is also the largest open space in the village, we also use it as a market, a school, and we have monthly town meetings here." She gestured at the keep. "Grandfather does most of his business here."

We entered the keep, and it was just as grand as the outside. The main doors opened up into a luxurious auditorium. I guessed this was the school Lucy was talking about. We followed Lucy through a side door and down a corridor. We passed several staircases, but Lucy just kept us headed towards the back corner of the fort. Finally we arrived at a very intricately carved stone door. I couldn't quite make out all of the images. At the very top there was an odd pyramid. Below that, most of the door was covered by a large carving of a tree. For a moment, I felt a shiver down my spine, remembering the Hatred's skeletal tree symbol. This tree was lush and alive, seeming to stretch out from the stone.

A single Lucario stood before the door. His steely glare followed us as we approached. "What business do you have here?" he called once we got close enough.

Lucy simply laughed. "Really dad? Come on."

His stoic expression only softened slightly. "Sorry sunshine, it's protocol. Besides, I am more concerned about the others."

I stepped up this time. "We are Team Mindfire," I said, turning so he could clearly see the symbol stamped on the side of my bag. The Lucario's eyes grew large, looking at the symbol and then at me.

"Of course. He's been expecting you. One moment, let me see if he is ready for you." He placed his palm on the door, the tassles about his neck levitating slightly, a sheen of blue flame flickering around them. A moment later he opened his eyes. As his paw left the door it swung open silently. "This way please, but keep quiet. Phoenix is currently meeting with someone."

For a moment, I thought we had passed outside of the fortress again. The floor had turned back to grass, I could see open sky above, and the area we had entered into was crowded with trees. The more I looked though, the more I realized we were simply in a giant terrarium. Thick stone walls enclosed the triangular space. Above a clear glass dome let in sunlight, but kept the area enclosed. From the moment we entered, the gurgle of running water filled the space, probably how all of the plant life survived.

Through the trees there was a roughly circular pool of water. At the center a single protrusion of stone extended out with a fountain of water spilling from the tip. A dozen streams spilled out from the pool, criss-crossing the garden before reaching the base of the wall where the water cascaded into a deep trench dug there. A simple chair was carved into the finger of stone, and on it sat a Lucario.

The few silver streaks among his blue fur was the only indication of his age. His form was still impeccably muscled, his red eyes still keen and clear. A gold badge, much like the one Ampharos had worn, gleamed on his chest beside his razor-sharp spike. He sat forward on the throne, his paws pressed together firmly as he listened to the Meinshao standing before him. There was a gravity to his presence, a sense of aged wisdom and authority that made me feel smaller in his presence. At the same time though, his expression attempted to subvert this image. His muzzle seemed perpetually split into a mirthful smile, and there was a gleam of mischief in his eyes.

Lucy's father directed us to wait by a tree while the Lucario and Meinshao finished their discussion. The Lucario briefly looked in our direction, but quickly returned his attention to the Meinshao. At least he seemed to. I felt his gaze linger on me, and it didn't leave. Every time I looked up at him, I met those red eyes. I shifted uncomfortably, moving a bit closer to Eve and Vix.

Finally it was our turn. Lucy's father led the six of us forward so that we were standing at the edge of the spring. Vaguely, I wondered how the Lucario made it to the chair given there was no walkway connecting to the shore. He stood, an almost childish grin splitting his muzzle as he swept his arms wide in welcome. "Ah, you've arrived. I've been expecting you. I must say, you made it here faster than I could've expected." His voice was higher than I would have imagined, but there was a warmth to it. My muscles relaxed as he spoke. I felt safe. "I am Phoenix. May I please have your names?"

We introduced ourselves quickly, Eve going last. After she gave her name she continued on. "Mr. Phoenix, er sir, I don't mean to be rude or anything, but...may I ask why you asked us to come here?"

"Just call me Phoenix, Eve. And questions aren't rude. They are questions. You may ask as many as you like. Feel free to speak openly with me. But to answer your question, I called your team here for two reasons." He regarded us, but again his gaze landed on me and lingered for quite a while. "First, I wanted to finally meet the team that I sponsored."

As he said those words, a spark of Psychic passed between Eve and me. A shared memory of Kegan's words flickering through our heads. Phoenix. How had I not recognized the name earlier? "You're the one who got our application approved."

The old Lucario nodded. "Yes, and I see that I made the right choice. I truly am impressed at what you have been able to achieve in such a short time. Especially considering how many run-ins you've had with the Hatred."

"But why us?" Eve asked? "What made you approve us?" At this Phoenix sank back into his chair.

"Ah, there are a few reasons for that. First, I was impressed with the three of you. I was there when Kegan brought in your application. I was the one who did your background check. A Fennekin who had already escaped the Hatred, an Espeon who defied her village to save an innocent, and a Vulpix who hadn't even existed in our records before that point. I figured that after all you'd been through, joining the Society would be easy in comparison. I believed that you'd do well."

"And the other reasons?" I asked. His gaze locked onto me once again. He slouched in his chair, his smile turning tired.

"Well, that is the other reason I asked you to come. Slink Fennekin, I needed to speak with you specifically. As soon as I read your name on that application, I knew I would need to talk with you. There are things you need to know."

The rest of my team turned to look at me. Even Lucy was staring at me curiously. "Alright then," I said nervously, "what did you need to tell me?"

The Lucario regarded me. "Ah, I think that is a conversation best had in private." He waved his hand beckoning the Lucario from before, Lucy's father, forward. "Slink, Lucy, I'd ask you to stay behind. The rest of you should go with Seth. He'll take you to my house where you are more than welcome to stay the night. I'd love the opportunity to get to know you more."

Before he had even finished speaking the rest of my team was grumbling about this sudden turn. Vix was staring at the Lucario angrily, Sierra's eyes had gone wide, his head on a swivel between me and Phoenix. Abby was already on edge, and this just made things worse. She hunched down between Vix and her father, glancing over at Seth nervously. Lucy simply looked confused. Why had she been singled out to stay as well?

"We'd really prefer to stay together," Eve said cooly. She didn't sound mad. Unless you knew her like I did.

Phoenix kept his eyes on me. "Slink, I think you'll agree that this should be a private conversation. Especially considering that it concerns your quest."

"Quest? What quest?" Even as I said the words, it dawned on me what the answer would be. I just couldn't let myself believe it.

"Your quest to find the Dreamstone," Phoenix answered simply.

"That doesn't matter," Vix snapped. "Eve already told you that we are sticking together. It doesn't matter what you are talking about. Right Slink…Slink?"

I didn't look back at her. "I think it is best that you guys go." Shocked silence followed my words.

"But Slink," Vix said, all of the Fire gone from her voice.

"Please, trust me on this. I won't be gone long. But you, Abby, and Sierra need to go with Seth." I turned and flashed her a smile. "It'll be fine. Promise."

"But what about-" Sierra put a paw on Vix's shoulder stopping her.

"Come on. Let's go get some food, and maybe a nap. I could definitely use some rest after the last couple of days." The two kids begrudgingly allowed themselves to be ushered out of the room by Sierra. Eve however remained by my side.

"Eve, I'm sorry, but I must insist that you go. This discussion should remain between Slink, Lucy, and myself."

"No," I said firmly. "I want her to be here for this. Anything you have to tell me, you can say in front of her."

Phoenix seemed to be calculating in his head. I felt a whisper of aura pass through us, briefly disrupting our connection. "Slink, I understand. But I still think it would be better-"

"What?" I snapped. "Do you think she isn't trustworthy? I trust her with my life. I trust her with more than my life. She's been helping me look for the Dreamstone since day one. She needs to be here for this."

"This knowledge is dangerous," Phoenix warned. "I know that won't stop you Slink, but I wanted to keep as many of your team members out of danger as possible. I know that you know the Hatred is after the stone as well. Anyone who stands in the way will be in trouble."

"I am aware of the danger," Eve said calmly. "I just want to help Slink. If he wants me here, then I am staying. That is the end of it."

Phoenix bit his lip, thinking, before nodding slowly. He chuckled when he spoke, "I forgot how powerful the bond between Expedition partners can be. And you two have more of a connection than usual." He smiled, tilting his head back so he was looking up at the sky. "He'd have done the same for me after all," he muttered to himself.

After a moment he leaned forward, folding his hands beneath his chin with his elbows on his knees. "Alright, where to start?" He thought for a moment before speaking.

"You have to find the Dreamstone Slink. It is the only way to save your grandfather."