Though each battle against the foul ocean currents brought another rise and dip of the Draeke, Argon was lucky enough to feel none of it, being supported by a cotton hammock that ran from one end of the crew quarters to the next. Despite this, she found herself subconsciously replicating the twists and turns signaled by each creak of the well-worn ship. Bitter voices commented that perhaps the tables had turned between her and the Chimera, the latter barely visible against moonlight filtered though cracks in the walls, snoring filling the room as heavily as a slow stream of drool poured into the Bagon's hammock.

With a heavy sigh, Argon rolled onto her side, eyes finding focus on a blue radiance seeping through the canvas outline of Chimera's exploration bag. How her co-worker had managed to so quickly lose his guild badge, she would never know, but a quick visit to the Pith Town main hall once they returned would remedy that easily. She couldn't help but chuckle as her gaze briefly shifted to the strange weapon built by the former human, both stock and string dripping water onto the floor after Chimera was finally able to spot it floating above the underwater cupola once housing a time gear.

Again, Argon forced her eyes closed, mind not willing to comply with recommendations for rest and clarity. A part of her wanted to crack a smile mulling over the lengthy day's contents, but whether from weariness or suspicion, any grin she could form toward the makeshift nightlight was impossible to maintain. Neither shut eyes nor turned head could prevent the imagery of blue light from piercing through her eyelids, the Raichu herself not sure whether it was a making of her minds creation or some adverse effect of the mythological gear. She groaned, not a second passing before time gear now encased in a pink aura levitated toward her hands. One of the many uses, she thought, of a power that provided as much convenience as it did laziness. The gear itself seemed untouched by the effects of time, generations upon generations encased below the sea having done nothing to dull its metallic shine. A chill ran down her spine when cobalt blue eyes met each other across the item's reflective surface, focus alternating between the gear itself and the visage it was portraying.

Their mission had been successful, there was no doubt about that. With item in hand, both team members accounted for, and no serious injuries to either of them, such a complete victory would no doubt draw advancement and compensation from the guild. And yet...Argon still found herself unable to smile. She glanced around the room, taking note of the creaky wooden walls that buckled against ocean winds, as well as the ragged hammock supporting her, seemingly the cause of several sore spots across his back. Both of these were a high contrast to the familiar stone walls and plushy mattresses where she usually resided, two luxuries that would no doubt be severely limited should they be pressed into undertaking further missions of this magnitude. She shook her head, stepping out of the hammock in a manor that would not disturb the sleep of her co-worker, perhaps a bit of fresh air would clear her mind? A thought occurred to Argon as she stood up that she was still holding the blue gear told to contain immense power, and with an exasperated shrug she grabbed for Chimera's bag, hastily shoving it inside to hide the obvious blue glow from any suspecting crew members.

Without another word, Argon followed the stray beam of moonlight through the door. A skeleton crew was manning the deck of the Draeke, their weary faces paying head to the neither the Raichu nor the bag in her hand as she walked toward the stern. Clouds over a moon half concealed with darkness seemed to part once Argon leaned against the back railing of the Draeke, staring into the nearly endless expanse of ocean punctuated by a sharp breeze that ran across her fur. Content with her solitude, she again reached both paws to take hold of the gear, dark blue ocean water visible through the center hole. A voice played through Argon's mind with recognizance of the gear's familiar shape and pattern, her last memory of it being decades ago, through the eyes of a curious pichu gazing toward a threadbare paper cover,

Before you go to bed, Mausi, I was wondering if I could read you this story, my mother read it to me when I was your age. It's called "Heroes of Time."

Oh...ok, what's it about? she heard herself reply, cringing internally at recollection of her former voice's high pitch.

It's the story of a pokemon who becomes friends with this...creature, called a human, who's transformed into a pokemon—

S-Sounds kind of weird...

Yes Mausi, it is to a certain extent, but it's a good story nonetheless. Essentially, by forming an exploration team and collecting these items called "time gears", they're able to go on an adventure that results in them saving the world from a dark future.

Argon drew a deep breath at the memory's conclusion, internally wishing that she had stayed awake long enough to hear the end of the children's story. Despite her best efforts to avoid it, despite four long years of lying in her room with nothing but a book in her hand and a tranquil smile on her face. Despite every infrequent memory of her father coming to their families expansive home and nearly collapsing from physical and mental exhaustion, there she was. Both moonscape semicircle in the sky and cedar plank vessel beneath her feet seemed to move at a constant ticking pace. Each promised that its journey's completion in the coming hours would take away the comforting darkness, bringing with it a life of oppressive heat that seemed as unavoidable as time itself. Afternoons on her cliff side listening to a barely audible chime of bells mix with the rustle of grass, nights used learning the inner tonalities of playing new songs on a fife, years spent with the assurance that the overbearing decisions of life would rest on other's shoulders, all would be at risk once they reached port.

Unless...

Her paws wavered, abyss of water ever more visible through the inner pentagon. Just what, thought Argon, would the consequences be if she were to let go of the gear? She was alone, what few crew members running the graveyard shift not even knowing of their mission. If, hypothetically speaking of course, she were to report to Executive Binair that Uxie had relinquished its end of the deal and reclaimed its rightful property, what would happen? What prior experience she had with the Girafarig brought the conclusion that their failure would not be cause for dismissal or even demotion. Chimera would be disappointed, to say the least, but perhaps the Bagon could be convinced of the benefits of a career of resource collection? With mention of her co-worker came another memory, painful cringe forming on the Raichu's face with echoing recollection of the Pallid Charmander. Its cries were unlike any of the feral pidgey and zubats usually encountered on a daily basis, and the back of Argon's neck quivered with the thought that future missions could very well force them against similar foes. Would she, as today, not bear the brunt of it, or would she be forced to adopt the methods of survival used by Chimera, going to sleep every night with similar cries stuck in her conscious?

Argon gave one last scowl towards her own blue eyes in the gear's reflection before forcing them shut, inner resolution repeating that the ticking hands of fate could only be disrupted with its removal. Without another thought, her grip released, and the time gear went tumbling towards the ocean abyss.

You know, you're being very selfish.

Seconds passed, and when it became clear that no soft splash accompanied the gear's fall, her eyes again opened in shock. Seemingly on reflex at her mind's cry, Argon's telepathic powers had activated, stopping the time gear mere inches above the tumultuous waterline.

No I'm not! she inwardly shot back. 1...I know how much this means to him, but I have too much here to risk it being lost.

And what exactly do you have to lose? her mind's mocking tone continued. Sitting on your tail everyday by yourself? Going back to your crappy apartment from your 6000 poke a day job? Keeping up some convoluted lie to Mom and Dad despite you having every opportunity to make it true? You still haven't written to them, how many more promises are you going to break?

Despite a persistent temptation to release the pressure in her mind and let the metallic gear wall into the water with a satisfying plop, Argon found herself unwilling.

I've known him for what, two days? I've let him share my apartment, I've agreed to form a team with him, it's not selfish to at least have something in return!

And this is the way to do it? came the instant reply. By going behind his back and throwing away what he's spent his blood, sweat, and tears working toward? Every pokemon on Faire knows how helpless you are, don't let them add two-faced to the list.

What other choice do I have! He won't back down if I try talking to him, he'll keep pressing and pressing, just like he did with Uxie, and...I won't say no.

Well, either grow a spine or accept it. You've made your choice, and whether you like it or not you have agreements to uphold. It won't kill you to have a little variety either, Dialga isn't going to come down and destroy your world if you give the time gear to Executive Binair. All you can do now is talk to him and draw a line in the sand, you know you'll never forgive yourself if you destroy that Bagon's dreams.

Argon's mind went silent, eyes now merely watching as increasingly tumultuous waves ran against the gear's surface, splashing water that could quiet possibly rust what once rested in unending monotony. With no more objections on either side, the shaky pink aura surrounded the time gear stabilized, bringing it back into the Raichu's paws. Such an action, however, could not stem the new feeling that she was being watched, that every single pokemon in Faire, visible or not, was shooting her a spiteful and malicious glare. A quick glance around the deck suggested that nothing could be further from the truth, but the endless sensation of feeling smaller and smaller remained.

He trusted you, he stood by your side despite all your flaws, the human chose you! How could you even consider doing this? How terrible of a friend can you be?

A few seconds passed before the reply came, the Raichu not sure herself which side it was on,

Just get some rest, you're not thinking straight. You can worry about this in the morning.

Argon found herself giving a slight nod to no one in particular, and with time gear again stuffed inside of the backpack she departed toward the crew cabin, moonlight fading against the newly reformed clouds. And as the Raichu silently scrambled back into the hammock to let conscious fade into nothingness, she could of sworn she heard a faint flickering noise, one that gave no illumination to reveal its source.

"Hey Argon, are you sure you're alright? You look like...well you look like me at this time of day, if I'm being perfectly honest."

The Raichu merely chuckled at Chimera's comment, both pokemon's droopy eyes attempting to avoid the harsh morning sun as they passively scanned the port surrounding the docking ship. The journey up to this point had been a relatively quiet one, with Argon anxiously tapping her feet trying to find the right words to use for the inevitable meeting, while Chimera spent the early morning hours attempting to dry off the moisture that had seeped through his weapon.

"O-Oh yeah, I'm fine, I just...have a lot on my mind."

Before long, the ship ground to a halt, pokemon one by one evacuating out of the gangplank of the Draeke. Perhaps, thought Argon, their debate could be delayed, at least for the day? Any thought of this was quickly cut off when the visage of a familiar Girafarig came into view, both faces staring anxiously for their arrival from the Draeke. Though her teeth clattered with every step, Argon followed Chimera off of the ship, backpack containing time gear firmly in hand.

"Great to see you, old chum, I trust your mission was a success?"

"Yes Sir," Chimera quickly replied, "it was a more...tumultuous process than we had hoped, but we have the item. Argon, would you mind handing it over?"

Argon stared quizzically at the Bagon's outstretched hand, altering her gaze between the backpack in her paws and the expectant look from Binair,

"W-Well, before I do, I was wondering if you could answer something. I never thought time gears actually existed before this point, why send us to collect one? W-Why collect them at all, in fact?"

"The explanation is simple," Binair quickly replied, tail giving her a barely perceptible scowl, "but before I tell you, would you mind if we converse in somewhere with less prying ears? I'm sure you can understand, I wouldn't want any old pokemon on the streets knowing of this information."

The two nodded, even more questions being silently asked as they followed the Girafarig toward an isolated outdoor cafe, faint crashing of waves still audible against the harbor-side view. The busy hours of the quint establishment seemed to have waned as pokemon left port, and the only witness to the trio's conversation was an unassuming sneasel, one that left quickly after taking their orders.

"Anyway, as I was saying, time gears hold too much importance to the world to be kept in the hands of so-called lake guardians. If it was not the WFG who first obtained the object in your hands, it would have been an outlaw, or worse, some ignorant explorer who would use it as a paperweight, I hope you can understand. The reason we sent you two, old chum, is that Argon is probably the only pokemon in the guild I could trust to navigate through that mystery dungeon who is not already on an expedition mission. Also, I wanted to see if Chimera had truly learned the lessons from our croquet game."

"And thus," he continued, voice in a hushed tone, "that brings us to the fruits of your labor. Chimera, you are aware that your team is presently bronze rank, correct?"

The Bagon nodded, though Argon sank lower with his newfound perturbed expression.

"And you must know then that Argon has been that rank for the past four years? I would trust no less than a gold rank team to complete the mission, and as such, I am prepared to offer both of you such rank, with only two conditions. One: that you simply hand over the time gear. Two: that you are willing to undertake missions of similar length and magnitude. A fair offer, is it not?"

Simultaneous with this statement, Binair's two horns emanated a familiar pink light, letting an ornate cane fastened to the Girafarig's side float out. Such cane was directed opposite the ocean-side view, serving as a makeshift pointer toward a momentous red-tiled building, gold-plated initials on its top clear for all to see.

"I always reward those who show exceptional conduct, and I can guarantee to you, old chum, if you accept this offer you'll be living there in no time at all."

Chimera was ecstatic, smile beaming from ear to ear as he once again held his arm out expectantly for the bag in Argon's paws. However, the Raichu's continuance remained stuck in a humorless look. Any notion of asking questions had seemingly vanished from the two's minds, dread and exhilaration staring each other in the eye with the notion that their paths would soon be decided.

"I-uh...t-this is a really big decision to make, don't you think we should talk about it first?"

"What's to decide?" Chimera quickly replied. "This is amazing! We're not going to get a chance like this again, we have to take it."

Despite her co-worker's objections, Argon turned toward Binair, clutching the time gear closer,

"I-I just think we need some time to talk about this, would you mind if we come to you later?"

"Not at all, Argon. You'll find me at the guild hall when you both are ready, I trust you will make the correct decision," Binair said, roguish tail flashing a grin towards Chimera as he departed.

With the Girafarig out of earshot, the two pokemon returned their attention to each other,

"Why?" Chimera asked, tone of the question more genuine than rhetorical. "What do we have to lose by accepting Binair's offer? We've worked so hard for this, we can't throw it away now!"

Argon jumped back at the Bagon's sudden change in tone, but quickly regained her ground. She had the entirety of her life to ponder this question, and after a few seconds the Raichu believed she had found the right words.

"Because...i-it's a difficult life when you advance in rank. M-Most of the teams I've seen spend ninety percent of their time traveling for missions and ten percent actually in that guild hall Binair showed you. The last gold rank team I remember seeing came back with one of their members having two broken legs. Remember when you were attacked by that Pallid? I don't want...I don't want that to be a regular occurrence for either of us."

"I did what I had to do," Chimera quickly replied, once passive eyes now squinting at Argon.

"I-I know that, but I don't want us to have to spend everyday fighting pokemon that could strangle us to death, it changes pokemon's mindset, and it...it could make them cruel."

A primal sense of fear seeped into the back of Argon's head as she locked eyes with Chimera. The Bagon's breath was fuming, glare having every so slowly transitioned into one unseen even since they had first met. He looked at the Raichu before him not as one would see a loyal companion, or even a random pokemon. Instead, his visage gave the impression of someone staring toward an obstacle, toward a set of cloths that, though initially promising, were revealed as completely ill-fitting, or toward a pair of hiking shoes that would need to have pebbles repeatedly plucked out if the end of the trail were to be earned.

"Well then," he asked, "what's the alternative? Say no, spend our days watching the clouds roll by till we're buried in unmarked graves? I've already done that, and I can assure you that it's not pretty."

"You've...you've misconstrued my position. I-I've seen what happens when a pokemon becomes so absorbed in their work that they neglect themselves and the people around them, and it's also not pretty."

Chimera took a step forward at Argon's response, Raichu herself staying firmly in place.

"Well then, I have a question for you. Do you wake up everyday knowing that you're the happiest that you can be? That there's nothing, absolutely nothing more that you could want? Are you content with your life, Argon, or are you miserable with it?"

At the question, Argon was forced to pause, clutching the time gear closer to her chest. A temptation existed in her heart to shout a spiteful 'yes' to force the Bagon shut, but her mind was too lost in thought to offer anything more than a simple grunt.

"I...no, t-there are things I wish I could have done differently, promises I wish could have kept, but I can't say that accepting Binair's offer is going to give either of us a better life."

"You don't know that," Chimera said.

"And neither do you!" came the response, an indignant glance from both around the empty cafe confirming that they weren't making a scene.

"Well, I can certainly say that it will for me. And if you're content to just let this opportunity fly by, I can guarantee that you'll regret it later."

Whispers in the Bagon's mind worked their way to the forefront with the temporary silence. Perhaps, he thought, perhaps he had been a fool to believe that the first pokemon he'd meet would be the assistant toward his future. Perhaps it was true that some partnerships were unable to survive going down the same path. After all, with Binair's offer, Chimera would no longer need to be dependent on the Raichu before him for food and shelter, nor would he be restricted by her seeming phobia of success. The thoughts were a weight on his conscious, and with a deep breath Chimera prepared to vocalize the writing on the wall.

"Maybe...maybe this whole team idea isn't going to work out, maybe we should just—"

"Excuse me?"

A voice pierced through the conflicted pokemon, causing both to jump up with recognizance of the sneasel waiter,

"Two greppa berry teas and one frappe. Will there be anything else?"

Stream of conscious having been interrupted by the intrusion, Chimera waved the Sneasel away, suddenly noticing that neither Argon nor himself had actually taken the opportunity to sit down on the many wooden chairs situated beneath straw umbrellas. After a couple blinks the Bagon quickly rectified this, Argon joining him around the small table holding their drinks in a silence that was simultaneously awkward and contemplative.

With the bitter liquid running down his throat, and adrenaline fading from having the chance to rest, new thoughts began to whisper into the Bagon's mind, having identical voice but a more soothing tone. Perhaps it was he who was it fault. After all, it was the Raichu now staring at her cup in melancholic acceptance who had extended a hand to him when no one else would. Who had offered to help him find his place on a completely foreign world instead of running for the hills. Who had defended him against a horde of feral pokemon and provided him means of escaping the treacherous dungeon when his own method failed. With the torch burning in his eyes being slowly but surely drowned, a stark realization dawned on Chimera: she had chosen him, despite having every reason to pick a more qualified pokemon to form a team with. Argon had done a thousand times more to enable his future than to prevent it, and if there was any person or pokemon in either world worth listening to, it was her.

"I...I'm sorry. This is stupid, we've both been targeting straw mans ever since we've started talking. I don't understand why you wouldn't want to accept this offer, but...I respect you too much to not offer a compromise."

Argon's head lifted, shock being replaced by a quaint smile with the sudden statement,

"A-Alright then, what are you proposing?"

Silence returned to the cafe as Chimera lifted one of his stubby arms to his chin in contemplation, arguing with himself over what he was willing to relinquish.

"Lets say...you let me give Binair the time gear and let us get that promotion. In return, I promise to you that in any of the future missions we do together, we'll be close to home, and there won't be anything too dangerous."

Argon's grin as she raised a glass toward Chimera was all the answer he needed. Though what had transpired between the two was more hostile than what she wanted, the result was the best she could hope for. Inner anxieties seemed to fade away with assurances that Chimera wasn't shackling her toward the fate she dreaded. A large cloud drew a comforting shade over the two as their cups clinked, drinking from tea that, while plentiful at the moment, was assured to run dry in the future.