POKEMON SQUARE, ATMOS THE AIR CONTINENT, NOON

In town, Branna stopped by the town's Kecleon shop. Kecleon looked up as she approached.

He spoke to her in his usual singsong voice, "Welcome to the kecleon shop today, Branna. What can I do for you?"

Branna responded, "The usual, but with a couple of apples, a reviver seed, and an escape orb."

Kecleon was slightly surprised, "You haven't bought dungeon equipment in a while."

She replied, "Yeah, I'm going away for a little bit."

The shopkeeper nodded, "Well, with the bag of Miracle seeds, three apples, and a Reviver seed, that'll be…"

He calculated in his head, "...1250 poke."

Branna reached into her bag pulled out the respective amount.

After receiving the amount Kecleon asked, "Will that be all?"

"I believe so.

"Alright have a wonderful day!"

Continuing down the path toward the post office, Branna heard her name called.

"Hello friend Branna."

It was Wigglytuff from the Circle of Friends.

"Friend, a Pelipper dropped a note addressed to you."

She looked at the note strangely, who could it be from.

Branna received the note from wigglytuff, then opened it:

Branna, there is evidence of the whereabouts of your long lost friend. I understand that you will want to wait for her, but you are not thinking correctly. If you want to find your friend, you must search the Rock continent to the east. I know that Archiea might bring back terrible memories of Lyle especially, that is where you will have to go. My time writing is almost over, and I must return to my research. Have a safe trip Branna.

P. S. the Relic Keeper will help you find the Relic Master

When Branna finished the note, she looked up at Wigglytuff.

"Do you know who it's from?"

Wigglytuff responded in surprise, "you mean they didn't leave a name?"

"No, they didn't. I was already preparing to leave, but now I know where I'm going. Wigglytuff, I would stay and talk, but I have to get going before Sienna leaves."

As she walked away she heard wigglytuff say, "Bye, friend!"

Branna slithered past the Pelipper post office, and hurried down to the dock.

Sienna, a Lapras, was waiting patiently.

When she saw Branna she asked, "Where would you like to go today, young Serperior?"

Branna looked up at her, "I um."

For a moment she had forgotten, then it clicked.

"Oh yeah, I would like to go to the Rock continent if that's not to much trouble."

Sienna smiled slightly, "It certainly isn't, all that is required of you is a travel pass."

Branna reached a vine into her bag, she sighed.

"I forgot it."

As she was about to turn around, Sienna stopped her, "Oh it's alright, I'll take you there."

Branna looked up at her, "You sure, I mean without pay."

"Yes, free of charge. Consider it a favor."

"Thank you."

Branna slithered onto Sienna's back.

Sienna looked outwards toward the ocean, "Next stop, the rock continent, Archiea."

With that, they set out out of the bay."

NEWSPORT, ARCHIEA THE ROCK CONTINENT, EVENING

The time, the time. Why isn't that one here, the one, that one with the green and white. Her name, her name, what was it that her name was. She shall know my name very soon, my name, she shall know my name as Venomitus, yes, that is my name.

Yes, Venomitus was my name, I was waiting for that Serperior to arrive at the western city of Newsport. I did not know why I was waiting for her, just that an anonymous tip told me that she would help me find a relic.

I heard a voice, "You, Sableye!"

I looked at him.

"Yes you, get off this dock."

He was a Garbodor.
I spoke to him, "Me? Why does dock belong to you? You, the pile of disposable waste?"

He was angry at my comment, I could see he was very angry."

"Why you! Yes it is my dock, my ship is right there, ain't it."

I supposed it would make him angrier, if I pointed out that 'ain't' was not a word, and I'd be best if I didn't. I did anyway.

"You need to work on your speech, yes, your speech is inadequate. Inadequate, as 'ain't' is not a word."

As I expected he became angry. His hand glowed purple, a move I recognized as Poison Jab.

I stood there, being a ghost made me naturally immune to poison.

However, to both of our surprise, his hand never made contact.

I heard a voice like a purr, "There will be none of that."

He was a Persian. Behind him was a Metagross, a Salamence, and an Empoleon.

The Persian spoke again, "Why would you fight on such a wonderfully sunny day?"

The Garbodor responded to his question in his growly voice.

"This miscreant is on my dock, WITHOUT my permission."

The Persian nodded, "Why, that would be your ship…'

The garbodor grunted in agreement.

"...However, this dock, for your information, belongs to the Lapras travel line. It is, without a doubt, reserved by none other then myself."

I stayed silent, deep in thought. The Garbodor's response was a foolish one, because I knew who this persian was personally.

"You! Prove it then, tell me your name!"

He stayed calm, despite the accusation, "My name, well my name is George, but most know me as Mr. Money of Team Gold."

The Garbodor's jaw dropped. In fact, his jaw dropped so far, that it fell off.

He picked the garbage that was his jaw up, and smashed it into his face.

With his newly reformed jaw he said, "My apologies, I didn't realize who you were."

Mr. Money turned to me, "Well, Venomitus, it seems we have not talked for some…"

He paused.

"...Fourteen or fifteen years."

I thought for a second, "That we haven't, and the fact that you're here now tells me that you are not just here to see an old friend."

"You are right, while I did want to see you and Gwynn again, I have found you on more um…"

His partner, Rodium the Empoleon, finished his sentence.

"He means more serious business."

I broke into a smile, "That's new, for your team."

Mr. Money chucked, "You can't argue with that."

Rodium then handed him a paper, which promptly fell to the ground seeing as Persian don't have hands.

"Oh, uh, sorry about that, and captain, get on the ship. This information is a secret that nobody is supposed to know."

The Garbodor looked at him strangely, "Even you?"

Metal Claw the Metagross answered for him, "He means it is confidential."

"Oh."

The Garbodor walked onto his ship and into the cabin. Rodium, handed the paper to me.

There were portraits of four ghosts, a Mismagius, a Froslass, a Banette, and, like myself, a Sableye.

I questioned it, "Who might they be?"

Mr. Money answered, "Team Fade, a team that used to work alongside us in the Goldmine Village Task Force. Now they are fugitives. I tracked them up north, but then they vanished."

I spoke to him, "So, you want me to help you track them?"

He responded, "Yes, if you not after another project of yours."

"Well that's just it, I am waiting for the one that will bring me to the most legendary Relic, along with the one who controls it."

Ember the Salamence complained, "That's what you said about the last relic Fifteen years ago."

Everyone ignored him.

Mr. Money smiled in amusement, "So, you're after your old rival?"

Rodium interjected, "You mean you know where the Relic Master is!"

Immediately every pokemon nearby stopped in their tracks and stared at the us. There was a moment of silence, before every single one of those pokemon started walking toward our group in curiousity.

We all looked at Rodium. His only response was, "Oops."

There was now a crowd of pokemon around us asking about the famed 'myth' of the Relic Master.

A bayleaf called "Is it true?"

Another asked, "Have you really found him?"

These were the kinds of questions we receive constantly. With the crowd at the front of us, and the sea behind us, we had nowhere to escape them.

Think, think I must to escape them. I must escape them now or never.

We continued to be bombarded with questions, until a Hyper Voice was used.

The loud sound blared in all of our ears, but making the crowd back down.

As soon as the last Pokemon was gone, we turned to see who had made that powerful move.

It was a Lapras that only slightly towered over Rodium.

Mr. Money looked at her gratefully, "Thank you, Sienna."

He then looked behind her, "I see you have brought another passenger."

She is her, that one, the green and white. Her name, I remember it, her name, her name was Branna.

When she let herself down from Sienna's back, I bowed.

"I am Venomitus, the Relic Keeper, at your service."

She looked faintly surprised, but tried not to display any emotion.

It was her that spoke next, "I am Branna, former leader of Team Elemental."

Ember spoke, "Ya know, you could bow better with a hat. Here, take this. I got it back in Steel city, but it won't stay on my head."

The Salamence handed me a black and green Fedora. I tried it on.

"Perfect fit, thank you."

I then noticed that Mr. Money and Branna were staring at eachother. Mr. Money then ran up to her and hugged her.

Ember was surprised, "Rodium, should I tell Kookie the bad news?"

Rodium responded in annoyance, "No Ember, he is not in love with Branna. If you remember correctly, they've always been like brother and sister."

Branna's emotionless demeanor was replaced by a joyous smile.

"I've missed you George."

"Me too. If only Lyle hadn't gone evil, and Frost hadn't disappeared, it could be like old times."

Branna had wished it could be like that again, but it couldn't because even if she found Frost, Lyle had passed on to the afterlife. I smiled awkwardly, looking at them.

"Miss Branna, um, I was told that you could help me find a um, a Relic."

She looked confused, "What kind of Relic?"

I responded, "It's called the Rock Looplet, ever heard of it."

She looked irritated, but not at me, "Of course I've heard of it, in fact I was in possession of it until about Six years ago, before a Claydol stole it from me."

I was shocked, It could not be that one, the one that was my friend, my friend indeed.

She looked at my hand, "What do you have there?"

"Oh, this? Just the portraits of a team that Mr. Money and his team are tracking."

I opened it to show her. She took a closer look at them.

"Hey, aren't they the ones that my daughters team had to fight all those years ago."

Metal Claw responded, "Yes, Fifteen years ago, Team Life Energy was set to stop Team Fade, along with the Legendary pokemon Darkrai, from plunging this world into a nightmare."

Rodium blurted, "Wait you fought Darkrai!"

The pedestrians turned toward us, only to turn away from Sienna's glare.

Sienna then looked at Rodium, "You have to keep that beak of yours under control, young one."

"Okay, I will try. Wait did you call me young?"

She responded, "You know who I work for, and long I've lived."

"Oh, right."

Branna looked at me, "So, I assume you wrote the letter, so that I would help you find the Rock Looplet?"

"No, I didn't write a letter to you. I received a letter telling me that you would help me, and that you would arrive here."

She thought for a second, "You said you were the Relic Keeper?"

"Yes, I believe so."

"My letter mentioned a Relic Master, and I assumed he or she knew where Frost was."

I looked at her suspiciously, "This Frost, what does she mean to you."

She replied with a hint of sadness, "She was my old teammate, a Snorunt. You haven't seen her have you?"

I looked down at the paper, "I cannot be certain, but I think your friend has passed on, just look."

She examined the portraits of Team Fade. She turned to Mr. Money.

"What are their names?"

He put his paw on the paper, "The Mismagius here, is named Vanish, but most call her Witch, for her expertise in magic."

He pointed toward the Banette, "This is Revenge, he is their trapmaster."

Ember interjected, "He also has a little trouble with his girlfriend, Revenant."

Mr. Money pointed to the last one, a Froslass, "This here is-"

Something occurred to him, "Hey, Venomitus"

I respond, "Yes."

He asked me, "With your experience with the dead, what happens when a Snorunt dies."

I replied, "Well, when a species of Pokemon dies, it will first turn into a ghost. Then when its ghost form dies, it will be sent to the Hall of Origin to be judged."

Ember asked curiously, "Venomitus, if you're a ghost, what did you used to be."

I respond, "Good question, but I was born a ghost, though would rather not talk about how."

"Ah"

Branna was still thinking about my description then asked Mr. Money, "What is the last member's name?"

He answered, "Her name is Frost, second in command of Team Fade."

We stood there in silence. After a minute, Sienna broke the silence.

"Well it certainly has been interesting seeing you all again, but I have to make it to Baram town before the end of the day. I'm sure we will all meet again soon, only time can tell."

As she swam out to sea, she winked at Rodium, "And time will tell."

We watched Sienna go off into the horizon.

I watched Branna look up into the sky, "It's going to be dark in a couple of hours."

Ember commented, "Yeah, it is. So, what now?"

Mr. Money responded, "Well, I know a good place to start."

I looked at him, "What's that?"

He replied, "Articune City."

Rodium became excited, "We get to see Articuno?!"

With Sienna out of sight, nearby pedestrians surrounded us once more.

I saw Ember role his eyes, "Here we go again."

AWOWA CAVE, SUNSET

"How it going, sister?"

Witch was doing a revival ritual on a Blaziken, who Frost knew all too well.

Her purple eyes opened, "Perfect, Frost."

Frost stared silently at the Mismagius.

Witch spoke, "I see discontent within you."

Frost did not respond.

Witch continued, "You have sensed it too?"

Frost snorted, "What, the Legend? You know I don't believe in that old thing. My old partner returning to the continent once more changes nothing."

Witch sighed in annoyance, "How many times must I tell you that the Legend is already halfway over."

Again, she said nothing.

"It was started with Lyle Fifteen years ago, and it is going to end with you, him, and Branna."

Frost smacked the wall in anger, "I don't want to see her again! She will only get in the way of us restoring our balance, and if it weren't for his necessity to us, I wouldn't want to see Lyle again either."

Witch said dismissively, "Sure you wouldn't."

Frost scoffed.

The Mismagius turned to the Froslass, "Regardless, what is the source of your discontent then?"

She sighed, "The ritual is almost done, Vanish."

Witch looked down, "That is is, Frost."

She tilted her hat then extended a tendril down to the altar that the Blaziken was set on.

Instantly, he jolted awake.

The Blaziken looked around.

Witch asked him calmly, "How do you feel?"

He responded in a deep voice, "I feel just fine, back in the land of the living."

She helped him up onto the ground.

He looked around the cave, until his eyes landed on Frost.

"Hello, Frost."

He smirked, "I can't say I've seen you in a long time."

Frost looked at him, "Hello Lyle, I look forward to doing business with you."

SOMEWHERE IN THE DESERT OUTSIDE STEEL CITY, MIDNIGHT

"Chief! Chief! Come quick!"

Wearily, a Luxray came up off his bed.

"Chief, Filicia is having another vision!"

He followed his second in command, a Lucario, out of the tent.

They ran to the other side of their camp to a tent with a crown around it.

A Hitmonlee yelled, "Make way for the chief."

The crowd parted, revealing a short walk space for the chief.

He walked through the crowd, all eyes were on him. He soon made his way into a tent, where a Gardevoir was convulsing rapidly.

Clyde, a Marowak, was sitting next to her, a worried look on his face.

When he saw the Chief, he asked, "Will she be alright, Nova?"

The Luxray responded, "Yes, I believe so. How long has she been this way?"

Clyde looked at the Gardevoir, "She's been this way for an hour. The last thing she said was to get you, Chief."

Nova walked over to the shaking Gardevoir. He put his paw on her, and ran a current of electricity into her body. Immediately she stopped convulsing. Everyone in the room held their breath, waiting to see what would happen. All of the sudden, her eyes shot open.

A green glow radiated off of them.

Felicia then spoke in an ominous voice, "First there will the one who wanted Power, they shall fall and rise again. Second will be the one that strives for Balance, they shall learn the error of their ways. Third will be the one who brings Order, they can only be stopped with the power of the Gods themselves."

They sat quietly for a moment, before Nova asked, "What does it mean?"

Felicia collapsed onto the ground and fell sound asleep.

Varian, the Lucario, replied, "Don't you recognize it Chief? It's the Legend."

Nova looked at him, "Then the only thing we can do, is pray that we survive the coming times."

?

"You watch them from afar, but you don't help them. Why?"

"It is their job to solve their own feuds. I only step in in dire need."

"But Master, the region is going to be at war. The Legend has already started."

"You gave them the vision without my permission, that is all the help they need."

"Master, I used to see you as benevolent, but until you see the truth, I no longer serve you."

With that being done, the Original One was alone in the darkness, possibly forever.

Thus concludes Chapter 2

- Vien Locke