Layne didn't know if the sleep was longer than expected, but he was actually getting much better sleep that the past couple nights. No one came to wake him, which was odd, considering Loudred usually came in and made them lose hearing for a few seconds every morning. Layne wouldn't complain. He was a bit happy that he could get a few extra minutes of sleep. He was then awoken by a rather loud crashing sound. No crashing wasn't even the right way to put it. It was more like thunder, only it sounded earthy. Was the storm still going on outside?

He woke up. The window showed a clear sunny morning. He sat up, and said "Morning, Pyro." half expecting Loudred to come running up any second. Pyro said nothing. Layne looked over, only Pyro wasn't in the room. Well that was just fine and dandy. Perhaps he'd missed the morning briefing, which would earn him a good mouthful from someone.

He stood up and stretched. It was then that Pyro ran up to the room, "Layne! we have trouble!"

Layne popped his neck and asked yawning, "What's wrong man?"

Pyro sighed and said, "Well it's about Autumn."

Layne sighed, "Oh please. Don't get me started. What does she want from me now?"

Pyro shook his head, "Layne's it's not like that! Just come see for yourself!"

Layne sighed and said, "All right! Sheesh! I'm coming!"

Autumn slept in a crew room, beneath the other crew rooms. Not many guild members followed in this way, but there were a few rooms they passed on the way to her room. "She really likes living low..." Layne thought to himself. And low was correct, because her room was in fact the lowest part of the guild. The entire guild was assembling at one point. Loudred shook his head. Autumn, as usual did not look at all happy. Layne nudged Bidoof. "Wanna fill me in on why everyone's down here?"

Bidoof turned to Layne and said, "Oh, it's kind of sad really. Last night, during the storm, part of the Guild's lower wall was damaged, which water start to leak into Autumn's room.

Layne cocked his head. "A little flooding? We're all gathering because of a little floodwater?" he asked, perhaps somewhat annoyed.

Bidoof looked shocked at the suggestion, "It's most definitely not a little! Just moments ago, the wall itself just collapsed, and it flooded the whole room in seconds!"

Layne frowned. "I don't even see how this is that possible. The ocean may not be far away, but it doesn't reach the Guild. Where did the water come from?"

Loudred looked at Layne and said, "Treasure Town's river. The river may not seem that big, but you only see the surface. Underground, Dugtrio and Diglett have reported of very large underground rivers and reservoirs. And the river runs right behind the guild."

Layne walked a bit more and saw what they were all talking about. There as a hole which would have lead to Autumn's room, and it was topped in dark water. "Well, that certainly changes the game a bit..." Layne thought to himself crossing his arms, looking down into the water.

"How bad is it?" Layne asked.

Autumn simply looked at him. "Do your eyes deceive you? My entire room, is underwater, Layne."

Layne sighed. That wasn't what he meant.

It was then that Corphish came up from the water. "Hey, hey! It's too dark down there! I can't see, and I can't find it. I can't see my own claws in front of my face down there."

Autumn showed a look of frustration, an kicked a rock nearly hitting Corphish, into the water. "Easy!" Layne said, holding up a calming hand.

Corphish simply looked at Layne, and said, "Don't worry about it. I'm gonna go get the Guildmaster and Chatot, perhaps they'll know what to do."

As Corphish went to the upper level, Layne sighed and said, "What was he looking for?"

Autumn looked away and said, "Don't worry about it."

Layne shook his head, "No. What was he looking for?"

Autumn turned to Layne rather angry and said, "My mother's necklace! Why do you even care?"

That was it. Layne had had enough of Autumn's continued aggression towards him. Layne however, wasn't going to start a fight. He simply crossed his arms, "I didn't say I did care. What does it look like?"

Autumn was hesitant, at first and asked, "Why? Why do you want to know this?"

Layne was hoping it was obvious by now, but apparently it wasn't. "Don't you get it? I'm going to go look for it, myself."

Autumn wasn't convinced. "The water engulfed that room in a matter of seconds, probably crushing any furniture in there, and washing any loose items away. Corphish couldn't find anything. What makes you think you'd fare any better?"

"I didn't say I would fare any better!" Layne said, a bit annoyed. "But I'm offering to go and at least give a try! I don't see, again, why you're so against it! A family possession is irreplaceable. I don't think you're gonna let this river make off with it so easily. Now," he said giving Autumn a serious look, "What does it look like?"

The remaining guild members here were looking on in surprise. Loudred spoke, "Layne, the currents down there could be very strong, and the terrain not the same as it once was."

Autumn added in, "Plus, there are no air pockets. Another reason, why I had Corphish look, seeing as he has the ability to breathe in water."

Layne looked at Autumn. "I may not have gills, but it doesn't mean I don't know how to swim."

Pyro came over and said, "Layne, please. You don't know the conditions down there. What if you get in trouble?"

Layne gave Pyro a smile, and said, "I better hope there isn't any. I'm going to have a look."

Autumn finally said, "Look if you're trying to impress me-"

"Autumn," Layne said, giving her a calm look, "Is it so hard to believe that I'm just offering some help? What does it look like?" he asked for a third time.

Autumn sighed and said, "It's a chained necklace, with a black stone. If you were to somehow find it...I would be grateful."

"Well," Layne said putting his goggles over his eyes, "Let's all pray that I find it."

Layne was a bit surprised by what Autumn said next. "...be careful."

Pyro nodded at that and said, "Layne, please do."

Layne, adjusted his goggles, gave a smile to his partner, and a thumbs up, and said, "I'll be back." After he said that, he dove into the dark water.

Layne was completely on his own down here. For the first few seconds under the water, Layne felt, a bit weird. Perhaps it was just the pokémon body he was in. The water didn't feel sold, and his breath capacity was not as short as it once was. His collar, which was always around his neck, was deflated, which made it somewhat easier for Layne to swim around.

Corphish wasn't kidding. The darkness down here was pretty big. Layne was starting to think he had got himself into quite the mess. A chained necklace, with a black stone? In this water? What was he thinking? Layne shook that thought away, as a sudden current made him swim to stay in place.

He was beginning to think his goggles really did work. He was managing to make out the terrain rather well. He swam down the hole a little more and finally came into what he could only guess, was the remains of Autumn's room. One thing he noticed was that he was having uneasy feelings about everything. If these goggles did as Wigglytuff said, then if there was any danger, Layne would know. Perhaps that was what he felt last night. Autumn's room would fall in the night. Layne shook the thought away. He could see the water was eroding the roof of the new underwater cave. It wouldn't be long before perhaps another collapse was in order. Which meant...

A few rocks suddenly fell from the ceiling all around Layne, which made him cover his head suddenly. He was running out of time, and air. He swam into the room some more, and managed to find a crushed desk area. Autumn's hay bed was floating everywhere. Layne looked around and felt around the crushed desk for the necklace, but found nothing. Where else would she keep it? He had to think quick, but not too quick in a way that would make him panic. Panic here would only spell disaster, and he couldn't afford that.

Layne once again got a tingling feeling, and more rocks fell from the ceiling. However, as the rocks fell, sunlight entered the water, giving Layne some light to work with. Sunlight also meant one more thing. Air. Layne swam up, only to find disappointment. The hole made, was not big enough to fit layne's full body, despite what Layne tried to do. Layne was perhaps a bit annoyed by that as from the hole to the surface of the water was maybe only 10 or 20 feet. The water was still murky from unsettled dust, but Layne could now make out the remains of the room much better. The crushed desk, a part of Autumn's wall, and the path that normally she would probably take.

Layne was running out of air, and he didn't wish to try and push his luck. His lungs were starting to strain. Layne would be able to make it back. He just wished he didn't have to return empty handed.

It was then that he saw it. Dust was settling on it, coating it, but the black stone, gave a rather big shine in the sun. Layne swam forward, and picked it up and examined it. That had to be the necklace. The chain, and black stone, if it wasn't the necklace, then Autumn would have one more reason to hate his guts. Layne began to swim for the entrance again. It was then that the head-rush came into his head again. "Oh, come on. It could have picked a better time..." Layne thought as he struggled to get to the surface before another vision hit him. The tingling feeling returned, and before Layne could react, more rocks fell around him. One, was a decent size and it got Layne in the back, pushing him down, and pinning him on the waterbed.

Layne in shock of what had just happened, accidentally let out a good amount of the air he had been holding. Which wasn't good. Layne tried to push and pull his body from underneath the rock, but to no avail. He was stuck, and just about out of air. He knew that panicking would get him no where, but now, it seemed a bit involuntary. He yanked again, and again. He began to get dizzy. He pushed with all his might against the rock...and let out the air he had been holding. His vision blurred, and his world went black as water entered his lungs. He felt his body thrash for a brief moment before settling down...

The last thing his mind showed him before blacking out, was a vision in which two pokémon...he couldn't make out the rest of it...

The others looked at the hole. Layne had been down there a little long for Pyro's comfort, and he had already begun pacing. "Layne, come on, please be okay!" he kept repeating to himself.

Autumn looked around, "Where the heck is Corphish with the guildmaster already?"

"Hey, hey! I'm right here!" he said, coming down to join the rest of them.

Autumn looked at him and said, "Well, where's Guildmaster Wigglytuff?"

"Still waking up." Corphish said a bit annoyed. "Who knew the guy could sleep so well?"

Autumn shrugged and said, "Well, listen. We've all been feeling a few vibrations, and the water's showing sign's of activity. Plus, Layne went down there, and hasn't come back."

Corphish looked at Autumn, "Layne's down there? What's he thinking? One of the main reasons I got out was that the whole room looked about ready to go! How long has it been?"

Pyro hearing this said, "You mean, the room's going to collapse? He could be in trouble! What are we going-"

Autumn cut him off. "Don't worry, Pyro. We're gonna go get him now." She looked at Corphish and said, "Care to help me?"

Corphish was already running into the water, and Autumn dove in after him. Pyro was on the verge of freaking out. He could only hope by some miracle, Layne was unharmed.

Meanwhile, Autumn and Corphish once again were in the room. The new sunlight was certainly a change in the cave. Other than that, the room was still a mess, and full of the river's water. The thing was, where was Layne? Autumn propelled herself using her tail through the water. She had watched Layne swim off, and found it strange that he didn't use his. Who knew why.

Corphish walked along the cavern floor and then called in a muffled voice, "Autumn! I found him! Give me a hand, quick!"

Autumn looked over. She could barely make out under the water, a rock pinning the unconscious Layne to the cavern floor. Autumn saw this, and was alarmed. Corphish tried pushing, as did Autumn, but that rock was there to stay. Or was it?

Autumn charged up a sonicboom attack with her tail, and started attacking the rock. Corphish saw what she was doing and used an attack of his own, called crab hammer, and finally, after the combined strength of the two, the rock shattered, freeing Layne's body. Layne began to drift with the current, but Autumn swam over and grabbed his body. Corphish was getting to the entrance of the hole ready to help Autumn with his body. Rocks were beginning to fall around Autumn, which took her by surprise, but she managed to avoid the same fate as Layne. Layne was heavy , and slowed Autumn down, but she managed to hold on, as the ceiling collapsed around her. She they broke the surface of the water, gasping for air, and pulling Layne's limp body out of the water with Corphish's help.

Pyro took one look at Layne's body and ran over in absolute fear. "Oh no! Layne! Speak to me!"

Autumn said in a loud voice, "Don't panic, he might still be okay!"

Autumn had learned about how to take care of a drowned pokémon before. Her family had taught her. There was a number of techniques different pokémon did, but she lay Layne on his back and pressed hard on the upper chest. Water exited Layne's mouth, as she pushed second time. She pushed a third time, and Layne suddenly coughed. Whatever water was left in Layne came out in a violent rush of coughing and hacking. Layne sat up as he did this, and after a few more coughs and hacks, he lay back down and started breathing normally. Pyro seeing Layne's eyes slowly open, ran to his partner's side and said in a mix of joy and tears, "Layne! Don't ever do that again!"

Layne who was starting to slowly get the idea of what had happened, simply said, "My bad..." before breathing again. It hurt him to breath, as it felt as if his lungs were coated in more than just water, but whatever had been floating in that water too. Pyro then said, "I'm just glad you're okay. You really had me worried. You're are really tough to put down."

"Thanks." Layne said coughing a bit more.

"Is everything all right?" Wigglytuff's voice called. Everyone turned to see both Chatot and Wigglytuff on the stairs. Bidoof said, "Everything is okay! We just had a close call." he said.

"Tell me about it..." Layne said, coughing yet again. It was then that Layne sat up and looked at Autumn. There was a moment the two just looked at each other. Layne then held his extended palm forward, and opened it, dropping Autumn's necklace into Autumn's hand. Autumn was astonished she held what she held, and Layne just smiled weakly and said, "Found it."

That triggered a small round of applause from the guild members. Layne smiled a bit at the sound. Chatot on the other hand, looked cross. "Layne, you put yourself in unnecessary danger." At that, Layne just lay back down again and groaned. Why did Chatot feel the need to criticize his stupid decision now? To Layne, it literally hurt to breathe. He didn't need a headache caused by Chatot's rambling of how he put himself or the guild's reputation on the line, to go with that. Chatot continued and concluded, "We expect much better judgement-"

The thing that happened next, surprised Layne almost to the point of jumping up.

Autumn interrupted Chatot and spoke up, "What he did was humble!" It surprised Layne a lot. Autumn was certainly unpredictable, but Layne did not expect to see her to ever chew out a superior.

Chatot looked a bit unnerved by Autumn's sudden reply, but before he could reply, Wigglytuff spoke up. "Please! All that matter is that Layne, our friend, is okay!"

Layne chuckled a bit at that and managed a thumbs up to his Guildmaster. Chatot, who seconds ago, was not too thrilled by what had taken place, suddenly smiled, and chirped in joy, "Of course! And thank Heavens he is!" Layne gave a confused look at Chatot. The guy sure knew how to give a major u-turn to his mood. He continued, "A very good rescue effort to both Autumn and Corphish! And a great job to Layne as well!" Layne shrugged and was helped up by Pyro.

As Layne stood up, giving off a few more coughs, and his body tried to get rid of that last bit of water in his lungs, Chatot said, Now that that's out of the way, shall we continue upstairs, for out Morning Briefing?"

Layne looked at Chatot and said, "What about Autumn's room? I mean she obviously won't be able to sleep there again."

"Never fear!" Chatot said. "Guildmaster Wigglytuff and I shall discuss such matters immediately, following the cheer."

Layne shrugged at that. Perhaps this morning, he could use the cheer.

The day had gone by a bit slow actually for Layne. He and Pyro really didn't do much outside the Guild that day, other than pay a visit to the Kecleon Marketplace. The Kecleon brothers had heard of Pyro and Layne's apprehension of Drowzee and rescue of Azurill, and expressed their gratitude. Layne couldn't deny that it felt good to be thanked and appreciated for that, but he still felt a little weird.

Layne and Pyro didn't do much exploring other than a revisit to that old beach cave, but it wasn't for guild training reason. Layne and Pyro simply had nothing to do that day. All jobs were surprisingly taken, and most of the guild was busy with other matters. So, Pyro decided to bring up the morning in question.

"Why did you do what you did?" Pyro asked. "I mean, for Autumn? She has treated you like dirt since you stepped in the Guild. I don't see why you did it."

Layne shrugged and sat on a beach rock, looking at Pyro. "Why wouldn't I?" All he could say. "Part of it was the final attempt to tell her, 'look, I don't want anything bad to do with you.' Can't really put it any simpler than that." Layne said.

They continued walking until they hit the usual cliff that Layne sat and just watched the ocean. The sun was setting in the distance and was reflecting off the ocean. Pyro sat next to Layne for the moment.

"Something on your mind?" Pyro asked.

Layne shook his head. "Just winding down, Pyro. You don't have to wait for me, you can go enjoy dinner if you want. Chances are, I won't be out here much longer."

Pyro stood up, and stood next to Layne for a few more seconds. Pyro worried about Layne sometimes. He didn't quite know what went through his mind yet, and he acted a bit weird. Sure he said he was a human, but...

There couldn't be a but. Layne didn't act like any other pokémon he had ever seen before. Pyro sighed and walked off, a bit in worry, and thinking about Layne. His partner's mystery grew bigger each day.

Layne sat alone on the cliff, and breathed. The past few days of sitting up here were nothing significant. Most of the time he sat there, he just reflected on the day and prepared for tomorrow. Hopefully tomorrow would be somewhat more eventful for him and Pyro. Of course the morning had been a joyride to forget. Layne never knew he could be so reckless. Chatot was right there. Perhaps what he did that morning was a bit stupid on his end...but...

His train of thought was suddenly interrupted.

"Why is it, you come out here so often?" Autumn's voice asked from behind him. Layne was surprised to hear her, and nearly lost balance, but quickly recovered and prevented himself from falling. He turned to see Autumn, not with the look of anger she normally showed him, but the look of curiosity.

Layne simply shrugged. "It's a calming sight." he simply said. "Helps me relax." That's when tit hit him. "Wait! How do you know I come out here so often?"

Autumn smiled and said, "Well, you are always wandering out of the guild and walking over here." Layne was a bit uncomfortable with that answer. Had she been...watching him? "I will say," she said, "it is indeed a very nice sight. My mother used to take me to the beach during some sunsets. You don't remember how marvelous a sight can be until you see it so many times."

"Hmm..." Layne simply said as she walked over. Layne was certainly feeling a bit uncomfortable with this whole thing. Autumn was acting kind of strange, wasn't she?

Then it came up.

"You know, you didn't have to do what you did this morning." She said.

"Yeah, I know." Layne said, tossing a small pebble into the water below.

"I mean it wasn't like I deserved it. Since you've come here, I've only treated you like dirt, and you've just...been so tolerant."

Layne looked at her and said, "Yeah, can I ask what this is all about?" He asked a bit cautiously. He half expected Autumn to explode in anger yet again,

Actually, Autumn chuckled a bit, which only made Layne the more uncomfortable.

"I'm trying to do what you've been trying to do now, for the past two days. Make amends." she said.

Layne was a bit surprised by that. "Seriously?"

"A little dense, aren't you?" Autumn said, cocking her head. "None the less, what you did this morning, was as I said, very humble, and I thank you for recovering my mother's necklace. And I apologize. I really have been going at you for stupid reasons. It was a a pride thing I guess."

Layne shrugged. Don't think anything of it. Everything worked out in the end."

"Wow, you even respond weird."

"What?" Layne asked.

"Well, you're certainly taking this well..." she said with a bit of sarcasm. "You're certainly unique from any other Buizel or pokémon in general I have ever seen."

Layne looked at her. "What makes you say that?"

"Your behavior. And your actions. One thing I noticed this morning after you dove in was that you didn't use your tail to help you swim."

Layne looked at her in confusion. "My...tail?"

"Yeah, you know, that thing on the back of your body that splits at the-"

Layne shook his hands in a cutting motion, "No, no, I know what my tail looks like. How does it help me through water?" he asked simply looking at his. The sight of his tail still creeped him out somewhat, but if it did indeed help him swim...

Autumn giggled. "You mean you don't know how? You are dense." she said, which just made Layne turn back to the ocean, annoyed. Autumn continued, "Every Buizel knows it's the primary way to swim underwater. It's much more reliable than simply using your arms and legs."

Layne shook his head. "I wouldn't know."

"What makes you say that?" Autumn asked.

"I don't think you'd understand." Layne said.

Autumn said, "Try me," and sat next to Layne, which made him a bit more uncomfortable. Of course this was probably apparent to Autumn, because she looked secretly delighted to see this. Perhaps this was just another way of messing around with Layne. Who knew? "You and your partner, Pyro don't even seem to completely know each other. That's not good for your team." she said.

Layne sighed, "I've told Pyro all I've known about myself. I can't say more, because I don't know anymore."

"This is gonna be good, I can tell." Autumn said smiling.

Layne sighed. Was he wise to tell her? "Autumn...I'm not like other pokémon."

"Obviously." Autumn said.

"Not in the way you're thinking." Layne said. "Look at me and tell me what you see."

Autumn looked at him and said, "I see one very unique Buizel."

"I'm actually..." he sighed. "I'm not a Buizel at all. I'm a human. I mean, what you see is a Buizel, yes, but I'm telling you that I am actually a human. I've barely known anything or anyone here for as long as I've been at the guild. I woke up on a beach not two or three days ago, as a Buizel. I have no memory of what it was like to be human, and no clue as to why I am as I am now." Layne scoffed and shook his head. "It's all too crazy. I don't expect you to believe me, and who would?" Layne looked back over the ocean.

Autumn sighed and said, "Well, I certainly didn't expect that kind of explanation.." She looked over the ocean with him. "But I will say, I've heard stories of weirder stuff happening."

"The only other pokémon I've told this to is Pyro." Layne said, "And even he has his doubts."

"Layne, I'm sorry, but I can see why." Autumn said.

"You don't believe me either, which I actually expected."

Autumn shook her head, "I never said that. I take a skeptical approach to this stuff."

Layne popped his neck, "Fair enough. I just wish I had more memory of who I really am."

Autumn stood up and said, "Well, you're a Buizel right now, which means you should probably start to learn like one, which brings me back to your tail."

Layne looked at her. "What about it?"

"I'm going to show you how to use it. You wonder why your tail is split up like it is?" she asked.

Layne looked at it and shrugged. "I never put much thought into it. I will say it strangely helps me keep balance, but that's a given."

"Well, you use your tail as if it were a propeller. Spinning it very fast. It has the power not only to propel you through water, but to cut up any seaweed that you perhaps get tangled up in. Very useful in that area."

Layne looked at her funny. "Spinning it?"

Autumn sighed, and said, "You know, like this." Her tail began to spin without any difficulty shown whatsoever, but Layne, upon seeing it, cringed.

"Ouch! Doesn't that hurt you at all?" Layne asked.

Autumn looked at Layne. "Do you see me screaming? It's perfectly natural for me, you, and any other Buizel. Sure, when you first learn it, it indeed feels weird, but your body almost instantly gets used to it."

Layne stood up and said, "Well might as well start learning." Layne closed his eyes and focused. He began to turn his tail. He opened his eyes, and saw that he was not making progress. He just ended up twisting the ends of the tails together. "Well, that's a start I guess..." Layne said.

Autumn chuckled and shook her head. "Focus more on the base of there the tails split up rather than the tails as a whole."

Layne untwisted his tails and said, "You call this natural. To me, this is just plain freaky."

Autumn chuckled, "You know, you're not so bad."

Layne looked up, "Excuse me?"

"I mean talking with you here, getting to know you, it shows a side I didn't see before. And not to mention, what you did this morning." Autumn sighed, and said, "I misjudged you badly. For that, I apologize."

Layne gave a small smile and shrugged, "Think nothing about it. I guess I too made a few misjudgments about you."

Autumn smiled and said, crossing her arms, "Why don't you attempt to propel that tail of yours again?"

Layne shrugged and focused. He began to feel very weird. A bone popped, a couple times but stopped. It literally felt like a single bone somewhere was spinning around with the help of some special muscle. Layne opened his eyes, and though, the tail wasn't spinning all that fast, it was spinning like Autumn's was, only a lot slower.

"There you go!" Autumn said smiling. "That's progress. Keep practicing that, and your tail will be propelling you through water faster than you think."

'"Sounds...fn." Layne said sitting back down.

"I wouldn't stay out here much longer," Autumn said turning around. "Guild Curfew's going into effect in about 15 minutes." She began to walk away.

Layne spoke up and said, "Autumn, I never thanked you."

Autumn turned around and said, "Pardon?"

Layne popped his neck and said, "If you and Corphish hadn't been there earlier today, there wouldn't be a chance of me sitting here."

Autumn walked over and smiled, "I never thanked you for what you did for me, either. This necklace means a lot to me. I've had it or a long time, and it would have devastated me, if I lost it."

"Which gave me even more of a reason to go for it in the first place," Layne said smiling.

It was then that Autumn leaned in and gave Layne a small...lick...on the cheek. Layne could only guess this was the same as another...thing they did...wherever it was he came from. Autumn smiled and said, "Layne, you may be human, but you're a good pokémon too. I'll see you in the morning. " With that, she left.

Layne chuckled, as he looked back to the ocean. Was this perhaps the end of their quarrels? Maybe not. Autumn was unpredictable. But one thing was for sure, at least he could hazard a guess that they were friends for now. Which made Layne smile. She had even gone as far as to call him good. "Come on..." he thought to himself. "I'm not that good..."