Corpses of ferals, Halcion unconscious by the bridge, there is not a sound throughout these catacombs than a gentle dungeon wind breezing through towards the Sea. The boat lies aflame around him, but it too peeters out with time. The only thing illuminating them is the omniscient glow of The Sea's mist mere feet from having consumed the bow of this war machine.
He can feel himself spinning out of control. The tears stream down his face. Masters tries to steer his mind to somewhere other than what he lost, and his thoughts settle one someone.
Whiskey. Were it not for that curious steed the vessel would have broken The Sea of Time, and they would be at Darkrai's mercy. She would have had Louisa defeated, Halcion and the others could have posed a threat to her. Although his part in this has been to carry them to and fro, they truly could not have surpassed Darkrai without him. Wherever the Sea takes him, let it be somewhere great..
Halcion too.. Her determination is admirable, reminds him of an old friend, and a certain thief from another time who prevailed through the darkness to achieve whatever is she wanted. He assumes it was to protect the one she loved, the Zoroark.
And without Dexys, Rei and Halcion would have been at each other's throats to the bitter end. It is because of her they came together. Maybe Halcion and Lucario made up a bit, he hardly remembers the night. Her taste in wine surely is a killer. If she comes back with Whiskey, maybe he can thank her properly.
Then Louisa. No matter how many times they were at each other's throats, it was him who saw the ultimate good they can accomplish. He shares the same heart as Masters, the kind which would not want to see anyone have to reign over so many others, the kind to shoot a villain first then let her expel so much rhetoric. He really does take after Rei in this regard, although they could not be more different. Had Louisa been partners with him when they were younger, he would have given the entire guild a run for their money with the amount of bounties he could've turned in.
Oh - and Celebi - he has to thank her too. He would have lost heart in this search long ago were it not for her loving guidance. Minstrel as well for keeping the truth of his story alive throughout these long years he has spent a ghost. A lot of people gave their all just so one of them could get their hands on the gears.
Then at last, there is Rei.
Never could he have pictured himself meeting another of Dent's ilk, yet alone one so vastly different. Though a thief, his heart was in the right place, he felt it every day and every night. He is a criminal, no different than the dozens he has brought to justice as Team Chaser's only, but a certain honor ran deep within this scum of a Lucario. An honor which the world seems hollow without. Masters is the only person Rei trusted, and Rei is the first he let his heart open to after so many years of agonizing wandering.
Now, it's gone, reduced to cinders. A small, warm stone is all he has to show for his friend's existence. It pains him deeply. If he were here though, he would tell him to stop wasting time. Always headstrong, him.
Masters looks around. A gear, maybe Louisa's, is glowing at his feet. It becomes ever brighter when he takes it towards the bow. With a kick, he tosses the bodies aside to reveal the many gears strung together by a segment of rope, nailed to the ship itself by a spearhead so it would not leave without excessive force. Masters puts a hand against it and the rope burns away, letting the gears crumble into a pile.
So much suffering for a bunch of metal toys.
The glow still yearning for its others, he crosses the dock, the light around him dimming with every step. Smoke, perhaps? Night befalling the Sea? He sees the gear lying at the portside, probably having fallen out from Halcion's cloak. It calls for him
Masters approaches. The hairs along his back suddenly spike.
A purple, three-clawed hand emerges from the ground itself like a spectre's. It wreathes its claws around the gear and drags it into a cut in reality. Ghastly mist billows outwords, the lights dim, and a voice whispers through the air.
"Not yet." She speaks. "We must speak, Cole."
He has heard the voice before, on the beach. It was dark then, it was dark inside of her tent. The shiver fades. He has forgotten one other on their journey, and she has been there, from the very moment the Knight became known to him - from the day since Rei became his partner.
Appearing within licks of flame, a long draconic body emerges from the mist. Her smiling visage is akin to a serpent's, her hands bearing three razor-sharp claws each, and strewn across her chest are three diamond-shaped garnets embossed into her spectral scales. In her hand is a familiar object, a large orb, their source of ghostly light as the world dims around him.
From her head protrudes two long wisps which taper off into pink flowing fabric. Although her appearance seems not of this world, only one name matches the shape she takes, the name of another legendary from another continent which suffered similar calamity to his home.
The name of this legendary eludes him, just as herself continues to be unknowable. And hovering like the phantom she supposedly is, she holds the orb in her hands, leaning down upon it as it affixes itself in space. Her fangs peek out as she speaks.
"My intent was to reveal myself to our darling Rei." She exhales. "I sense he is no longer. Rei would entrust you with his life; so you've earned my trust a thousand fold. I only have you to speak with now."
"You're…" Masters stares up. "You're calling me Cole. You know who I am, are you the same one on the beach?"
"Indeed. I had not forgotten you, and I'm sure the knight's left hand would have done his best to forget you. Yet here you are, embodying what the prince could not - even as Zekrom's companion." Her smile is omnipresent. As cold as it feels, it comforts him. "I do not envy your position, though I find you fascinating."
"My goal is to forward The Knight's ambition, to see the world he wishes to have made true be one day a reality. I sent Rei on this journey on my behalf. The sacrifices, and the ultimate results have sewn doubt in my goals. As the one who I believe embodies my old darling, who has remained unchanged in the face of such adversity over so many years, I ask thee: what would you do with these gears?"
What could he do? Could his original plan for the gears even work? All this time exploring he had wanted these gears to write a certain wrong that Dialga could not. He wanted Dent back. Going through all of this has left him emptier than before.
Masters can feel one thing in his heart, a resentment for the people like those who would seek these gears - Bisharp, and Darkrai, and the other Darkrai who calls himself prince - the people in this world who want power above all. Though their hunger varies, none of them stood in a more powerful place than he did that day atop of Temporal Tower. He has regretted it since. Not just because of Dent becoming forever lost, but knowing what it meant for those who did not have a choice in it.
The Typhlosion takes a deep, sullen breath. He looks at the gears in the distance, the pile of which lingers there. This thing, Mismagius - which is obviously not her name nor is it her true species, waits for the answer.
"They don't belong to anyone." Masters says. "Not at least in their full form. No one gets to have that sort of power over anyone, there are too many selfish people in this world for those gears to exist. If change needs to happen, it has to happen because the world wants it. I did not spend so long telling everyone what happened on Temporal Tower for no reason - we're still living in that time of peace, one we made for ourselves."
"If your Knight would have said the same thing, then do as I say: scatter these things for good. Don't destroy the gears, a generation from ours might need them, just ensure they can never be abused again."
Silence. The cold air lingers around them, and the figure looking down upon him breaks the pause with a soft chuckle.
"Deftly spoken, my Cole." Her body snakes and slithers down until her face is level with his. Her pink, serpent-like eyes narrow on him.. "I'm sure thou wonder who and what I am."
Masters lets her speak.
"I am the Knight's Oracle, from the beginning of Zekrom's journey across the lands, to his demise and now. Though he and his left hand are no more, I still seek the Knight's world. In exchange, all had asked for a position where I can prevent such meddlesome powers from sundering our world. I love to dwell in the affairs of the short lived, it's an existence I am content to uphold."
"Others would not. There was once a Legendary who when faced with the prospect of a star - a calamity from another world falling on ours - chose to willfully ignore the cries of his people. It took a man like you to enlighten him. This legend would perish, taking the star with him to an early grave. Had he listened, had he chosen to protect their fellows, he could have lived to see an era of peace."
"I am a ghost-type, I am not one to let a perfect vessel rot. I took what was left of Rayquaza, and stole his position, the single one allotted for our world." She raises a hand up to her chest, the gems glistening faintly in the light. "I give you the knowledge of what I am, so you know I mean no deception."
Her long tail spirals across the air, whisking the remainder of the gears into her possession with its fan-like end. She bundles these gears together with a long silvery twine, then faces Masters.
"The gear in your hand is Rei's. Keep it so the Gears may never be used again, and keep his Mega Stone close to your heart. He had given a piece of himself to create it, do not let him fade from this world."
She holds out a long, clawed hand.
"I know you've begun this journey from a place of guilt. There may yet be a way for you to absolve yourself, though I must know if you trust me. Take my hand, promise me you will keep my secret, and I will lead you to safety."
Masters hesitates. By all means, he has every reason to. Rei, ever the opportunist, has left an impression. With a sigh, he reaches out.
And shakes a Legendary's hand.
Part Two: Time Thieves - END