As I sit and write this, I can hear the ocean, and even see it. Without even trying. A luxury I didn't have while in the Guild. Sure I could see the sea, sort of, while living in the guild, but couldn't hear it, and I'd have to look out the window. And I mean really look. Now here, inside what Pyro calls Sharpedo Bluff, it's just there. A gaping expanse of water. I love it. Pyro probably has different opinions on the ocean, but I don't blame him. He has had a couple close calls.

We live here now, in what is Pyro's old, well I guess I can't call it old home anymore. It's a home to him, and a new home to me. We spent a few days here during the restoration of time with Grovyle after we had escaped from a future of darkness, but other than that, we've barely set foot in here.
I will say the story behind our graduation from the guild is a bit confusing, wild, funny, and uplifting at the same time. I think Pyro's still a bit bamboozled over what has happened in the past 24 hours, but I think I can come to understand everything that's happened.

I've come to realize that some activity in the guild, is tradition, or pointless fun. Chants, cheers, expeditions, everything. I came to realize this when I first entered the guild. There's something about Wigglytuff, that makes me wonder if he isn't a three-year-old trapped in the body of a very decent explorer. But I've gotten used to Wigglytuff, and I must say, he is one hell of an explorer and a guildmaster. His heart for exploring rivals Pyro's. And Pyro...craves exploring sometimes.

But it is quite needless to say, that there are times I have forgotten just how fun, and just how powerful the guy can be. And ever since graduation, I have come to realize just how the entire guild follows in his footsteps, and acts as they follow in his footsteps. Even if it is just blind fun and tradition...

The announcement came one morning. Layne was sleeping normally, as he always did. It had been a year since Time's Restoration, and Layne, if he had any doubts about really staying in this world, had let go of them completely. He was here to stay. No more disappearing for him. His memory was very foggy about what exactly had happened during that time. One moment he was saying farewell and Godspeed to a very tearful Pyro, and then as if by magic, he was back in the future almost instantly...well perhaps it wasn't instant, but to him it may as well have been. He didn't remember anything else.

Now he was back here. And his friends were still alive in the future as well. He thought about them, now and then, but for now, all he could really do was continue to wish Grovyle luck in his mind on whatever he was doing in the future.
Back to that morning.

Loudred came as he always did. "Hey, guys! Wake up! Morning!"

Layne sighed and rolled over onto his back, as he always slept curled like a cat would. At least...that's how he slept now, since his pokémon body, a Buizel, felt that the only real comfortable way to sleep anymore.

Layne sat up and nodded to the fellow apprentice he had now known a year. "We'll be right there."

Loudred nodded and went to the main hall, or to go wake up other apprentices. The guild had indeed received a few new members in the last year.

Pokémon were always new to Layne. He didn't know of any species other than the species he had encountered on previous adventures with Grovyle or Pyro, and the species living within the Guild and Treasure Town. Some of these apprentices were almost like children to Layne. Curious. Awed by the story of the restoration of time, which Pyro and the guild had most likely told them. They gave Layne much respect for who he was, a fellow apprentice, and a hero.

Layne wasn't too sure how to take that, but he had gotten used to it, and had even lead newer apprentices on small explorations of their own.

Pyro groaned and sat up. Ah, Pyro. Good old Pyro. Layne's partner for the past year. What a ride it had been. It wasn't all that long ago that Pyro, a Charmander, had found Layne unconscious on the beach, with little to no memory of who he was. Before then, Pyro was very timid, and not confident at all in himself. Well, Layne guided him to be one of the best explorers. And though Pyro claimed he had come so far because of Layne, Layne would constantly deny it. He didn't know why.

Layne looked over. "Sleep well?"

Pyro yawned and slowly nodded. "Yeah...probably too well."

Layne understood that answer. Layne loved sleeping, but he hated sleeping too well, to the point of feeling miserable in the morning. But if that was what Pyro felt, then he didn't easily show it, and was smiling in seconds. "Another day of training."

"Indeed." Layne said and stood up popping his neck, a habit he tended to have, a lot.

Upon entering the main hall, they saw the usual crowd of pokémon there, along with the new faces of the guild. Bidoof, Sunflora, Loudred, Corphish, Diglett, his father, Dugtrio, and a very special friend to Layne, a female Buizel given the name Autumn. Most of the guild was well aware of the growing relationship between both Autumn and Layne, and most were also aware of how shaky it first was between them. An accident that almost cost Layne his life was probably one of the reasons they were as they were now.

Up at the front of the room stood Chatot, and Wigglytuff came from his chamber shortly after. An event that Layne was once again used to. God only knew if Wigglytuff himself was fully awake yet. It wasn't unlike Wigglytuff to sleep standing up, especially during important meetings or morning cheers.
Chatot, Wigglytuff's right-hand pokémon, seeing Wigglytuff, and hoping he was fully awake, cleared his throat. "Okay, everyone. We do have a very important announcement to say before we get things started today."

Whenever Chatot spoke of announcements, they were usually pretty important. But it could be anything. From an announcement for an upcoming expedition, to a simple party Marowak or Spinda would be throwing that afternoon or something. Layne doubted it was an expedition. The last one was already about three months behind them, and Layne did not go. He wasn't chosen, but he was grateful that at least Pyro went. Autumn strangely wasn't chosen, but that gave the two of them some time to be around each other.

"It is with great pleasure," Chatot began, "That we have a very big surprise, for Team Hydro Pyro."

Pyro and Layne looked at each other. A surprise? Whatever for? They hadn't done anything out of the ordinary. They both looked to Chatot to hear the rest of what he had to say.

"Wigglytuff and I have come to an agreement, that you, Layne and Pyro, of Team Hydro Pyro, are ready for the guild's ritual of graduation!"

"Pardon?" Layne asked a bit shocked.

Pyro shared that shock. "Graduation?"

"Yes." Chatot repeated. "Graduation. The actions you both have done in and out of this guild have fascinated us all. Wigglytuff and I both feel you are more than ready to complete the exam required for Graduation."

"Exam..." Layne repeated quietly.

Some of the other members were shocked to this announcement, and some of them even seemed a bit dismayed to the suggestion. "Hey, hey!" Corphish came forward. "A great amount of us have been working here a lot longer than them, and haven't even seen a chance of graduation!"

"I second that!" Dugtrio said. "What exactly makes them so special that they get to graduate after just one year of service?"

"Now that's quite enough of that!" Chatot said, a bit cross. "You all have forgotten exactly who we are dealing with here. Team Hydro Pyro we all know have proven themselves worthy of graduating, more than once. Their first expedition, they nearly solved certain mysteries of the expedition on their own, and let's not forget of course, that they saved the world!"

"Please..." Layne muttered as he heard that statement. He just did his duty. Nothing more...

"Well when you point it out like that, it would only be natural they were granted a chance before us." Autumn said.

"And I guess we shouldn't expect that it will be any easier for them, ever since Loudred failed last year!" Sunflora said.

"SHUT IT!" he said loudly.

Layne wasn't really paying attention to them. He was focused more on Autumn. When she spoke for Hydro Pyro's support, Layne couldn't help but feel...uplifted.

Layne snapped out of it. "Okay, so...what exactly do we need to do, I mean, obviously graduation is earned."

Wigglytuff smiled. For once he was fully awake. "To the north, you will find a forest called Mystifying Forest."

Mystifying Forest. The simplicity in names of this world never ceased to amaze Layne...

The Guildmaster continued. "You will explore this forest, and bring back the treasure from it's depths."

There was a moment of silence before Layne said, "That's it?" He was once again reminded on how childish this guild could be sometimes. This was a piece of cake. "This is too easy."

"Is there anything special about this place we should know about?" Pyro asked.

Chatot shrugged. "It is rumored that there is a spring in the deep parts of the forest, and if you bathed yourself in it's waters, you would be given a chance to evolve."

"Evolve?" Layne asked cocking his head.
"Evolution is a miracle of life." Wigglytuff said smiling. "If one evolves, your body appearance changes, and your abilities are enhanced. Though it mainly comes naturally. But...it's also a choice."

Layne listened to this. It sounded good and all, but...

Whatever. "Well, let's just get this over with." he said. "Come on, Pyro."

"Oh...there is one more thing." Wigglytuff said.

Layne turned to him. Wigglytuff's tone changed to one of mystery, a tone in which Layne had not heard before. "Within the forest, lurks a danger unlike any you have ever seen, or ever will see..."

"Oh really?" Layne asked crossing his arms. Layne would be skeptical to that comment since the future held such surprise, and he had basically fought off the pokémon that governed time. Or did Wigglytuff forget about that?

"Within the forest," Wigglytuff said, nodding, "You could encounter, a very bad pokémon there."

"Ohhhh yeaaaah..." Corphish said rather suspiciously. "That guy...hey, hey..."

"Don't even think you're safe in that wood." Sunflora said.

Layne heard this and said, "Okay, out with it already, please. What's so bad about the forest? Who's there?"

Wigglytuff said, "The pokémon known simply as the Grand Master of All Things Bad lives there."

"The Grand Master of All Things Bad?" Pyro asked.

"Yes..." Wigglytuff said. Then there was silence for about thirty seconds. Layne half expected Wigglytuff to at least give them some information regarding this...Grand Master, but before he could even ask, Wigglytuff broke into a smile and said, "So good luck with that!"

Layne wasn't sure how to react. The entire guild was silent, and the Guildmaster hadn't even offered a hint of help of what this...Grand Master was.

After the Morning Cheer, Layne simply looked at Pyro. "Well...now what?"

Pyro looked concerned. "I've...I've never heard of the Grand Master of All Things Bad. What could he be like?"

Layne then came up with an idea. Sunflora had spoke of Loudred failing to graduate last year. Layne turned to him, "Hey, Loudred!"

Loudred looked over and asked, "Layne, you call?"

Layne nodded, "Yeah, look Pyro and I got a question. You took the graduation exam last year, right?"

Loudred looked at Layne and said, "Well, yeah."

"Then you must know this. What's all this about a Grand Master of...All Things Bad?"

"Oh...that?" Loudred asked. He looked around. "I...I can't say anything about..."

"You can't say anything about it? What do you mean? How do they expect us to do our job if we don't know about a-"

"It's just...so darn scary...so darn..." Loudred suddenly took off running. Layne popped his neck and crossed his arms. Loudred was hiding something. That or the memories of his apparent encounter with this Grand Master was enough to scar him in such a way that the simple mention of it, would send him running.

"How do you like that?" he asked Pyro. "No help at all."

"So, now what do we do?" Pyro asked.
Layne looked around. He was getting the uncomfortable feeling...that something was out of place in the air. Guild members were talking secretly amongst themselves, at least the ones that had been with them the longest, and sometimes even looked at them. Sure, when Layne returned from disappearing, he was barraged with questions in this similar manner, with everything to him being alive to him being a human. But now...they were just being a little secretive. Where was Autumn when he needed her? Perhaps she'd know.

There she was. Just walking by.

"Hey, Autumn!" Layne called and walked over to her.

She looked his way and...forced...or at least it seemed that way...a smile. "Oh! Layne...Pyro. Didn't see you there!"

Layne seriously doubted that. Now she was acting weird. "Uhh, look do you know anything about this...Grand Master of All Things-"

"Grand Master of All Things Bad?" Autumn asked. "Nope. Never met him. Don't know a thing about him."

"Autumn now wait, you-" Layne began.

"Layne, I really hate to do this, but I gotta go. Look, I'll talk with you later, okay?" And before Layne could reply, she ran off and up the ladder.

Pyro walked over. "What was that all about?"

Layne shook his head. "It's obvious we're not going to get much help out here. Might as well go get ready in Treasure Town."

The walk to Treasure Town was as short as it always was. Treasure Town was filled with business, and chatter. None of the Guild Members were seen, which was strange to Layne, but he didn't think any further on it.

Actually he did see a few of the newer apprentices, but hey were just doing their routine business. Preparing for explorations or other guild errands. One of the newer teams looked to Layne and Pyro. The team consisted of a couple pokémon called Snivy, and Oshawott. They were about three weeks into their guild training, and showed very good potential. Layne had the privilege to lead them on a small exploration himself at request of Wigglytuff.

Snivy smiled and said, "Oh, Layne!"

"Snivy and Oshawott!" Layne had given up how to pronounce their team name. It was some weird tongue name involving life and water. "Where'd you off to?"

Snivy smiled. "We're gonna go answer a call for help near the rocky bluffs." she said.

"The rocky bluffs?" Layne asked looking to Pyro. They had indeed been there before. "If I remember right, that's where Pyro and I had or first guild job done."

"With Spoink! Yeah!" Pyro added in.

"Cool!" Oshawott said, eyes twinkling. Oshawott reminded Layne a lot of Pyro. There was something in his heart that had a love for exploring, but part of him shied in many ways. he looked up to Layne and Pyro, no doubt because of their many successes of the guild, though a good amount of those successes were rather minor. Oshawott smiled and said, "Good luck on your graduation!"

"Thanks." Layne said offering a small smile. "You guys wouldn't happen to know anything about the Grand Master of All Things Bad, would you?" Layne asked, knowing the answer was likely, 'no'.

"Can't say we have." Snivy said. "I'd tell you otherwise."

"Hmm." Layne simply said. Their tone wasn't one for hiding something. His guess was they didn't know, truthfully. "Good luck, guys." Layne said and watched them run off.

At the Kecleon Marketplace, Layne's started growing suspicious of the whole Grand Master tidbit when the Kecleon Brothers had no clue of what they were talking about.

They were just talking about it when the Marill and Azurill brothers appeared. It had been a little while since Layne and Pyro had last saw them. "Oh! Pyro and Layne!"

Layne and Pyro turned to the brothers with a smile. "Hey, boys! Long time no see!" Layne said.

"What are you guys doing?" Azurill asked.

"We're getting ready for our guild's graduation exam."

The green Kecleon brother, or Kecleon-G as Layne tended to mentally call him, was shocked. "Oh? Graduation already?"

"But you've only been at the guild for so long!" The purple brother, or Kecleon-P, stated. "You are really preparing for a graduation?"

"Apparently so." Layne said. "I guess with certain actions put in the picture, they'd give us a chance so early on. It does kinda feel like yesterday when I was introduced to this place."

"Well," Marill said, "We wish you the best of luck! What do you have to do?"

Pyro answered, "We need to explore Mystifying Forest."

"Oh that place?" Azurill asked. "Brother and I go play there all the time!"

"You do?" Layne asked.

Pyro then said, "Well, what about the Grand Master of All Things Bad? Don't you worry about him?"

There was silence, before Marill and Azurill both cocked their heads. "Grand Master of All Things Bad?" Marill asked. "Who's that?"

"Well, that's the bad pokémon that lives there! Didn't you know?" Pyro asked.

"We've never heard of such a thing living there before." Azurill asked, and we go play there all the time."

Layne looked to Pyro. He was starting to get very skeptical to this whole thing. "You guys sure?"

Marill nodded. "Where'd you hear about such a pokémon?"

"Our guildmaster." Pyro said.

"Hmm." Marill said. "Perhaps it's just a bad rumor."

"Perhaps." Layne said, giving the whole thing some thought. "But we won't find out by loafing around. Pyro, the guild's counting on us to pass this exam, so, let's get it underway."

The walk through Mystifying Forest was...rather calm to be honest. The Grand Master of All Things Bad had not left the mind of Layne, or Pyro. And Layne was starting to develop some theories as to if it really meant anything. For all they knew, Wigglytuff was just bluffing. He didn't say a thing about such a pokémon in the past.

They offered some small talk as they went on. Pyro and Layne were on the verge of pretty much knowing each other for good now. They hadn't really left each other's side, say for the time Layne vanished, since Layne came to the world as a Buizel, a gift from a future pokémon called Palkia. It had been revealed to Layne that through Palkia's power, in the combination of a pokémon named Giratina, that he had become a pokémon. The Buizel was a rather curious transformation, but Layne had gotten used to this body now, and was happy. He would not deny that sometimes he missed his human body, but he could do stuff in this body he could only dream about doing in a humans. Abilities, endurance, mobility in water, stamina in water, speed in the rain...it was a body of wonder to Layne.

"So," Layne said, "So far, so good."

"It would seem so." Pyro said.

"How far do you think we've come?" Layne asked, stopping and pulling out an apple for the both of them.

"Decently far." Pyro said. "I'm remembering that spring they talked about. The one rumored to grant evolution."

"Yeah." Layne said biting into his apple. "What about it?"

"I've just been thinking about stepping into it."

"Pyro." Layne said, giving Pyro a look. "A spring is a spring. Even if it does grant evolution, won't it...hurt you?"

Pyro and water did not mix. There were times Pyro had almost fallen into water in which Layne had to grab or hold him to keep him from falling. Then there was that time where he actually did fall in water. That gave Layne a scare to remember, almost as much as Layne gave Pyro a scare to remember after he had almost drowned retrieving Autumn's necklace after a part of the guild wall had collapsed down in her room near the Treasure Town underground river, which flooded her room in seconds. That incident set Autumn and Layne on a path to friendship, but made Pyro nervous whenever Layne was going to go dive or swim. Thankfully over the year, Pyro had loosened on this fear, because Layne had indeed become a very good swimmer in this body.

"Layne, I think you over-react to my natural weakness of water sometimes. I prefer to stay out of it, but it's not like it immediately hurts me if I accidentally set foot in it. Sure Prolonged exposure is...not the best idea, but, I think I'd be fine here." Pyro said. "Evolution. Think of the possibilities! I would be a Charmeleon! That pokémon is my evolution, and that will evolve into a Charizard sometime! That would be so cool!"

"I guess." Layne said shrugging.

"Don't you wanna evolve Layne?" Pyro asked.
Layne shrugged. "I don't know." Layne said. "In my lifetime I've already had to get used to two bodies, my human body, and this Buizel body. I don't think I wanna have to get used to a third one, whatever it is I evolve into."

"Floatzel?"

"Yeah...that." Layne said. "I'm truthfully, happy as I am."

Pyro gave him a confusing look, "You mean, you wouldn't want to evolve?"

"Why would I?" Layne asked. "As I said, I am truly, happy as I am. And if I had to say another reason, I don't feel I need to evolve to get stronger. I'll get stronger myself..."

There was a pause of silence between them there before Pyro stood back up and said, "Let's continue on."

Layne tossed his core away and nodded. He stood and took a few steps forward. Suddenly, his foot sunk through the ground. "What?"

"What's wrong, Layne?" Pyro asked.

"My foot just fell through the ground...almost like a..."

"Let me see." Pyro said walking over to Layne.

"Wait, Pyro! Don't-!" Layne began but failed to get the statement across as Pyro set foot on ground near Layne, and the ground collapsed beneath them, and they fell into a dark pit. Layne landed on his tail, and the air left him, and Pyro landed a few feet away.

"Ow!"

"You okay, Layne?" Pyro asked.

Layne sat up and massaged his tail. "Fine...what the hell- Who the hell made a pitfall trap all the way out here?" he asked rather annoyed.

And before he could look up and study a way to get out, the hole was covered, darkening the soom to a major extent.

Pyro's tail lit up the area around them, but not by much. Layne and Pyro were pretty much blind here.

"What's happening?" Pyro asked.

"We have you surrounded..."

What the hell was that? It was a very strange voice, but, Layne thought it sounded a bit familiar. We? surrounded? That was when the words echoed in his brain. The Grand Master of All Things Bad. Did he really exist?

Pyro jumped a bit, "Who's there?"

There was a bit of laughter...creepy muffled laughter. "I...am the rand Master of All Things Bad!"

"Yes, and we are his minions!" another voice squawked.

Layne could have swore he knew that voice too, but the main thing on his mind was vision. "Look," he said crossing his arms and popping his neck, that is all fine ad dandy, but you mind giving us a little light before deciding to do whatever it is you're gonna do? I mean-"

"Light?" The voice repeated. "I am the Grand Master of All Things Bad. I never give-"

That was when the light returned in the room. It sorta hurt Layne's eyes a bit, but they quickly adjusted, and gave Layne a sight which...very much confused him. Every member of the guild that he had known since arriving here as a rookie (except Bidoof)...surrounded him and Pyro. Wigglytuff, Chatot, everyone. Even Autumn. Each had a look of dumbstruck confusion.

Chatot squawked and looked up, "Bidoof! What do you think you're doing? Why did you take the cover off?"

"Bidoof?" Layne asked and looked up himself.

Sure enough, Bidoof was up there. With a look of a worried look that said, 'did I just do something wrong?' "Well," he said, "I kept hearing the words light and I figured, perhaps you guys could use some...and well..."

"BIDOOF PUT IT BACK ON!" Loudred shouted, causing loose dirt to fall from the pitfall's walls.

"Oh..." Bidoof said, and just backed off. "I've never helped with a graduation exam before" was the last thing Layne heard Bidoof barely say before backing away. The light remained in the cave, which probably meant, that Bidoof didn't put the cover back on, and each guild member in the room, looked at Wigglytuff in confusion.

Layne finally spoke. "Uhh, Guildmaster? Wigglytuff? What's this all about?"

There was some silence in the room. Wigglytuff, who had never lost his smile, simply said, "Who's Wigglytuff?"

"What?" Pyro asked in disbelief. "Guys, come on! Wha-"

"Uhhh right!" Chatot said, continuing with the little act or whatever it was they were doing. "We don't know this...Wigglytuff! We serve the Grand Master of All Things Bad!"

"They do!" Wigglytuff said. "And you both dare to intrude upon my lair. We have no mercy for intruders! Get them!"

"Get them?" Layne repeated in shock. They had to fight off the guild?

Pyro looked over to Layne. "Layne what's going on?"

The minions charged.

"Questions later! Right now...we better just focus on the task."

What happened next would forever stay locked in Layne's memory. It would take him a little time to fully understand it, but once he did understand, he would look on this, and laugh or smile. Loudred was the one to reach Layne first and a quick Iron Tail put him down for the count at that moment. Pyro easily kept Sunflora at bay, not burning her, but putting her on the run. Coragunk and Chimeco, well, Croagunk didn't really participate, which didn't surprise Layne. The guy, still creeped Layne out and all he did in that pitfall was stand to the side, maybe he'd attack if they got close, but he didn't really offer much more than that. Chatot didn't offer much fight, and though Diglett and Dugtrio gave Pyro a hard time, Layne easily defeated them.

When Autumn faced Layne however, a big smile crawled across her face. Layne raised his eyebrows. He didn't know how to respond here. He and Autumn had grown quite close, and she was in one of her offensive stances. "Uhhh..." Layne managed to finally say.

Autumn simply said, "I give no mercy for intrusion of my master's hideout!"

"...I'm sure..." Layne said, still in wonder of what to do. Was he really comfortable fighting Autumn. He probably should have gotten there because Autumn attacked with an Aqua Jet that got him in the chest, pretty hard. Layne fell to the ground, recovering the air he lost. "God-damn, you are strong..." he said looking up at her.

Pyro looked over, "Layne! You okay?"

That was when Wigglytuff stepped in front of Pyro. "Well, well...you look a bit weak. Do you really think you can take me?"

Layne got up and simply said to himself, "Focus on the task at hand. Focus on the task at hand..."

Autumn attacked again, with her famous ice-punch attack which he still had no clue how to learn. Layne had seen ice punch in action before, and he wanted nothing to do with it. He ducked and her punch impacted the wall. Autumn shook her fist in pain and muttered some curse words that Layne didn't hear, but he could hear her "normal" voice under those words. But he also knew that Autumn would attack him again, so he did the only knowledgeable thing. He said, "Sorry." Then he, let loose a small but effective Water Pulse attack near Autumn's feet, which made her lose balance and tumble over. Travis then ran in aide of Pyro, who was getting attacked by Wigglytuff. He charged up another Water Pulse, and shot it right at Wigglytuff.

Now it hit Wigglytuff dead on, but Layne was once again reminded about how Wigglytuff was rather strong. For all Layne knew, Wigglytuff didn't feel that at all, or perhaps he did, but was in a state where it wouldn't matter. Wigglytuff swung, clumsily, at Layne, but none the less, it impacted...and it hurt. Layne was thrown to the ground, and he rubbed his jaw. The rest of the guild members were watching now from afar, the battle between Wigglytuff and Hydro Pyro.

"You'll never defeat me!" Wigglytuff said in his grand master voice.

Pyro looked over to Layne, and Layne just gave him a smile, and said, "Let's put his theory to the test."

Wigglytuff aimed a beam-like attack at Layne, and Layne just narrowly missed it, dodging, and getting to Pyro.

"You have a plan?" Pyro asked. "He seems to be ignorant of our attacks."

"You bet. That's obviously Wigglytuff. Now think Pyro. What does Wigglytuff most like in life?"

Wigglytuff shot an attack which they both missed by ducking near a boulder.

"What's that got to do with anything?" Pyro asked.

"Pyro, answer the question." Layne said.

"Perfect Apples."

"You bet. Now all we gotta do is distract him with...one."

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Pyro asked. "We don't have any, and never have."

"Does he know that?" Layne asked. He took an apple from his bag, and said, "It's worth a try. He sees the apple, he'll likely get distracted. Then..."

"We attack?" Pyro asked.

"As I said. It's worth a try."

"Come out and face me you fools!" Wigglytuff said out loud.

Layne breathed and rolled the apple out in sight outside the boulder. Layne was waiting for a cry of joy...waiting...

"What's that? Perfect apple?"

"Guildmaster, no!" Chatot squawked. That's not-"

Layne and Pyro jumped over the boulder. Pyro attacked the guildmaster's feet with a powerful flamethrower, and Layne followed up with Water Pulse.
Wigglytuff was impacted. When he realized what had happened, he gave a rather strange cry, and said, almost in a tone of fun. "Wheeee retreat!"

Layne wasn't sure how he and the entire guild managed to leave that pitfall trap so quickly, but they ran...up the hole, all in...perhaps forced terror, or screaming laughter of...joy. Layne unpacked a rope and threw it over a branch above the hole, and both he and Pyro climbed out to see them just leave sight.

"What the devil was that all about?" Pyro asked in disbelief.

Layne was catching his breath, and trying to piece together the pieces of this puzzle. When a likely thought crossed his mind. And when it did cross, he began to laugh.

"Layne, what's so funny?" Pyro asked.

"Oh nothing...just...nothing. Let's finish up our exam and get home."

"Uhhh...okay." Pyro said, though he remained confused.
The two continued along, and about five minutes later, they saw...a spring. They entered the area. The atmosphere was definitely different. Mystical. Quiet. Calming.

"Is this...the spring?" Pyro asked.

"Perhaps...hey. Look over there." Layne said.

Laying in sight, was a small chest. Looked normal, unlocked, and wasn't hidden, or at least not hidden too difficult to spot. A few bush branches covered it, but were easily removed.

"Something would tell me that this chest wasn't here before." Layne said.

"You think this could be the treasure we're supposed to find?"

"Perhaps." Layne said shrugging. "But...I may as well try and see if there's something wrong with it. For all we know, it's a trap."

"I see what you mean." Pyro said.

Layne relaxed his mind and breathed. He touched the chest. Over the year, he had finally learned to control his ability for the most part. His ability, the Dimensional Scream, played a crucial part during the Restoration of Time, and without it, the world today could have been engulfed in darkness. Upon contact with items, Layne could see past or future events of the item he touched. There were certain restrictions that sometimes came into play, but for the most part, those did not need to be worried about too much.

Layne felt the usual head-rush, and his eyes glazed blue. He supported himself, something that took quite a while for him to learn, as for the most part, in the past when he had these visions, he would lose balance. He opened his eyes. Wigglytuff was setting down the exact chest he was looking at. He put a few bush branches over it and then ran off. Then the vision ended.

Layne opened his eyes again. He looked to Pyro with a shrug, and said, "Well Wigglytuff put it here, so I would guess that this is what we were sent here for."

"Then open it!" Pyro said, a bit excited. "Excited are you?" Layne asked. "I guess we have pretty much bagged graduation."

Layne opened up the chest.

...

Inside...sat a Perfect Apple.

"A Perfect Apple?" Pyro asked.

Layne chuckled. "Well...I guess it fits the picture. Let's take this and-"

There was a flash of light suddenly, and the spring behind them lit with light from above.

"What in God's name..." Layne began.

A voice filled their heads. A voice he had not heard before, but sounded almost as if Palkia were speaking. It wasn't Palkia's voice or any other voice like that but...it just reminded him of those pokémon.

"I have waited your arrival here. Your actions of the past, have restored many things of this world besides Time, Layne and Pyro."

Layne and Pyro looked at each other. Layne didn't ask who it was, he just continued listening. "The spring before you, is not a normal spring. Many years ago, I blessed it and granted it certain powers, which involved many things, to enhancement of power, speed, defense, or even evolution."

"Evolution!" Pyro said to Layne. "This is the spring Wigglytuff told us about!"

"If you would seek such enhancement...all you must do is set foot into the spring...and the process will begin..."

Layne looked at Pyro, who smiled and said. "Layne...I'm going to try!"

"Okay, man." Layne said. "Go for it. Just be careful...that is water."

Pyro took a breath and stepped into the water. He didn't appear hurt if he was, and his tail was kept above the water. Layne sat down, watching his partner. He was quite curious as to the whole aspect of this, but after about a minute, of nothing happening, he simply asked..."Is that it?"

Then the voice returned.

"Strange...very strange..."

Pyro looked around. "Wh...what's strange?"

"Your body...it meets requirements for enhancement and evolution...yet...it is impossible for you to evolve."

"What?" Pyro asked, almost as if a little upset. "Wh-why?"

There was some silence. Then the voice returned. "It appears that space...your space...has been distorted."

Layne spoke up, "Oh, come on, didn't we get over this chapter already? I don't want to have to make another trip to Temporal Tower-"

"Be silent, human." This voice knew Layne was a human? That made Layne a bit uncomfortable, but he continued listening. "Time has been restored. However...something has distorted the space or both you and Pyro. Evolution and enhancements for you both are impossible."

"Well...what's causing this?" Layne asked.

"I'm afraid to say, I'm not too sure right now. I will investigate into this...I am sorry to send you on your way in such a manner...farewell..."

With that, the light dimmed in the spring. Pyro came out of the spring, and looked at Layne. Layne was deep in thought. Space was getting distorted? Layne rubbed his head. He had pretty much just finished fixing time itself. He didn't want to be involved with anymore big adventures like this. Not now. Not so soon...

"What do you think of this all?" Pyro asked. "Space distorted?"

Layne sat up and sighed. "Dunno what to say, but I will say, let's worry about getting this exam finished. We should probably get back to the guild."

"Uh, Right." Pyro said. "Let's go home."

Upon returning, the sun was setting. When the guild came into sight. Layne breathed in satisfaction as did Pyro. 'You know..." Layne said. "Looking back at all we've done together as an exploration team, and now about to graduate...not bad for a year."

Pyro looked at him and smiled. "To think. We'll be accomplishing much more after this too."

Layne gave his partner a pat on the back. "I've said it before, but it's awesome to know you, Pyro."

They continued to the guild. Corphish and Sunflora were sitting outside the guild when they spotted Layne and Pyro approaching. "They're back!" Sunflora cried out. "Eek! I better tell everyone!"

Layne heard that much as he and Pyro began climbing the guild stairs. As they began to climb, Pyro said, "Perhaps we can finally get some answers."

"Answers to what?" Layne asked."

"You know..." Pyro said. "About this afternoon. The guild members attacking us like they did."

"Oh Pyro..." Layne said shaking his head. Before he could reply, however, most of the guild ran out of the tent, and some even ran down to meet them. "Guys! Were you successful? Did you find the treasure?"

Autumn was also pressing in, "Well, were you two successful?"

Layne was a bit crowded, and put up his paws. "Guys! Guys please..." he managed to say before he heard a very familiar, "YOOM-TAH!"

The ground shook and a light flashed. Everyone who was crowding, looked up. Wigglytuff stood there, and Chatot flew up next to him. There was a few seconds of silence and no movement, before Layne looked to Pyro and started walking up the stairs again. The guild members followed. Upon reaching the top, Wigglytuff looked at them and asked, "Did you two find the treasure?"

Layne took the team bag off his shoulder, and put it on the ground, and out rolled the Perfect Apple. Layne gave a small smile, and asked, "This it?"
There was a moment of silence, before Wigglytuff said "Chatot!"

Chatot nodded and exclaimed, "Guild members of the Wigglytuff Guild, today we are very honored! Team Hydro Pyro, you have succeeded in the Guild's graduation exam!"

The guild members let out a loud cheer for their famous team. They did it. They really did. Layne looked around at everyone. Autumn, Bidoof, the rookies, the old faces he knew. He...he wasn't sure how to take it.

"You okay Layne?" Chatot asked.

Layne shrugged, and gave a small smile. "I guess, it's just something I'll need to take in. Seems...so sudden. I don't see at all how anything Pyro and I just did was at all significant."

"What are you saying?" Loudred asked. "Of COURSE it's significant!"

"You have succeeded in doing something in one try, not all of us could do!" Autumn said.

"Eek! And not to mention, all you've done in the past!"

"And," Wigglytuff added in, "You both have returned, which means you must have defeated the Grand Master of All Things Bad!"

"Uhh, about that." Pyro said.

As soon as he said that, silence immediately entered the guild...say perhaps from the chatter from the rookies, who had not been seen earlier.

"That Grand Master..." Pyro began. "Al that happened...come on...wasn't that all you? I mean...why-"

Layne was looking around. Everyone he looked at was looking away from him, perhaps hiding a look of...happy guilt on their faces. He smiled to himself, finally catching on.

Wigglytuff simply said, "I'm sorry?"

Pyro crossed his arms. "Guildmaster, back at the cave. That Grand Master, and all his minions acted like each and everyone of you. This could not have been a coincidence. I mean-"

Layne finally said with a smile to his partner, "Pyro...let's drop this one."

Pyro gave him a look that was asking "Why?" but Layne didn't care. Perhaps Pyro would one day understand, that what they had gone through, was just another silly and pointless guild tradition they were not familiar with. The guild perhaps wasn't ready to say goodbye. Or perhaps it was just part of the silly test. For all Layne knew, it was the guild's silly way of saying "Godspeed and good luck in your future as explorers."

Layne looked to Wigglytuff, "Okay. So we've graduated, but...now what?"

"What do you mean?" Wigglytuff asked.

"Well, "what's so special about graduating? What can we expect in our lives now?"

Wigglytuff laughed. "Layne, you ask as if you and Pyro will still be depending on us."

Layne was a bit surprised at that, but then again, it was graduation. This was obviously coming.

"As you have now officially graduated, as of tomorrow, you are officially off the Guild's training program. You, Layne, and Pyro, are first class explorers."
Layne gave a smile to Pyro right there. If that didn't get him closer and closer to that dream of his, he didn't know what else would.

Chatot also said, "And, since you are now graduated, you no longer are confined to our Guild as a living area. You are free to move out, and live wherever!"

"Well..." Layne said giving a small smile. "I guess that means late night partying. Can't go wrong there."

Pyro all of a sudden however, brought up something Layne was hoping he would never bring up again. "Does this mean that we keep all money we earn from completed tasks and jobs?"

Chatot gave that face again. The face from Day One. "Uhh...sorry, that rule doesn't leave you."

"What?" Pyro asked in shock. "Why?"

"You are still affiliated with us, and we still depend on the funding you provide. What you do, ensures that future apprentices, much like the ones we now have, learn in the same ways as you both did."

Layne looked at Pyro. Pyro was looking around, and finally, much to Layne's surprise, smiled, and said, "Heh...what are you gonna do?"

Layne gave him a smile and said, "There you go."

"But enough!" Wigglytuff said. "The day is at an end, and you both have graduated. The only thing I want everyone to think about right now, is having a fun time, because it's time to celebrate the success of our two, very friendly friends, Layne and Pyro, of graduated, first class Team Hydro Pyro!"

Another cheer erupted from the guild, and before Layne and Pyro could even react, they were being pushed inside the guild, for a night neither of them would easily forget...

Layne was sitting in the main room of the guild with Autumn. The room was dark. Everyone, Pyro, Wigglytuff, Bidoof, everyone was fast asleep. They were alone in the dark. She was leaning on him, perhaps resting her eyes, and Layne was looking out the window, at the night sky. They were not really speaking. Just...enjoying each other's company.

Layne however broke the silence. "I'm not sure I'm ready to go." he said.

Autumn said, "Hmm...what makes you say that?"

Layne shrugged. "Well, I mean, Hydro Pyro's only been around for a little more than a year I guess, and technically, I've been around perhaps even less. A good amount of our success was luck based. Facing Dialga on Temporal Tower, lifting the fog at Fogbound Lake, escaping the future. I just can't help but feel that we just had luck on our side."

Autumn sighed. "Oh Layne..." she sat up. "I have known you for a year now, and I still don't understand half the things that go through your mind."

"I guess that makes two of us." Layne said. "I still don't know half the stuff I should about this body."

"You know enough," Autumn said. "And you know certain things I could not even imagine having. Layne, you can see the future and past, clearly as night and day."

Layne sighed and said unsure, "I don't know why people look at that as cool, though. I mean I guess it is, but the future I guess, it is what it is. Unseen. I used to think it was unseen for a reason, and now I don't know anymore."

"Okay." Autumn said, Layne hearing a growing smile, "If you're not sure about that, then you, as a swimmer have drastically improved."

"You're the faster one." Layne said looking down and smiling.

"And you're the one who can hold his breath underwater for nearly ten minutes. Now I mean, come on, why would you even consider not being ready to leave?"

Layne sighed and sat up. "I guess it's just weird. I mean ever since coming here, the guild's been nearly the only home I've known. We were always moving in the future, and well, upon coming here, the only other place we stayed was Pyro's old place. I guess Pyro and I decided we'd be staying there again, but I mean...life will be different."

"Layne, you're silly." Autumn said laughing.

Layne looked at her. "Why do you say that?"

"Layne, with everything your team has done, again...I can only say, you are late in graduating."

"And...we won't be living here. Which means..."

Autumn shushed him. "I know, or think I know what you're going to say."

"Autumn, you're a very good friend to me..." Layne said. "I don't know if I want to leave now."

"Layne, I'm not going anywhere. And it's not like once you've graduated, you're not allowed to enter the guild. Layne, I'll be around Treasure Town, and I know you and Pyro will be taking jobs from our boards for a while. Don't even worry about me."

Layne smiled and kissed her head. "You really think I should go?"

Autumn smiled and pushed him to the guild floor, so that she was over him. "You've earned it. So yes. You should. And trust me...I won't be far behind."

Layne smiled as they shared another kiss. The night was one to remember for him. Just the two of them...in the dim moonlit room...He could not ask for a more perfect night to end his stay in Wigglytuff's Guild...