Ch.5: History of the Grand Imperium Age! The Ultimate Quest Surfaces!

Most people assumed it was going to be a typical night as always, turning into bed and resting up, dreaming, and all the usual things. They didn't expect to, not only be woken up by a large boom but, see a giant beam of energy pierce through the roof of the local college, as if a massive battle took place within the walls. And, sure enough, it raised panic in the citizens as they exited their homes and crowded around the building that had smoking holes coming out from the side and roof. The state of the inside was probably worse, as they assumed.

The authorities came by on the scene to see what started to attack. Aside from a statement from the janitor, they were puzzled as to what caused most of the damage. Stuff was turned over and broken, that much they could understand. But the scorch marks and oddly shaped claw marks were unlike anything they've ever seen. On top of that, they weren't sure if there was any teachers or students in the building that needed help.

Fortunately, Hal stayed behind for a bit to calm everyone down. Wasn't easy since, for one, he was a former pirate and an eighth of the town didn't exactly trust him. Luckily, the authorities were reasonable to hear him out.

Jonathan, along with the Eeveelutions, snuck out before they arrived. The professor instructed the former pirate to make sure they didn't know the truth about the incident that unfolded inside. A reasonable request since anyone would go into a panic if they heard shadows were attacking the place. He managed to plead with the janitor into siding with his side of the story, which mentions an unknown trespasser pulling off some crazy stunt to destroy the building. He, however, couldn't explain the giant hole on the side of the gym without blaming it on himself. Granted, he was already in hot water because he DID leave a large hole in the building, just on the ceiling.

This sent some of the citizens into outrage, accusing him for the damage. The rest defended his case, stating he was a changed Pokémon and would never commit such a crime. The words made him happy, reassuring him that not everyone saw him as the old captain that destroyed countless towns and cities…yeah, his track record probably wasn't helping his case, as he was pretty sure one guy in the massive crowd shouted that over the angry voices.

Far off from the mob was a modest home, similar in design to the many other homes that resided in the town. This was the home of Professor Geno. He felt it would be best to discuss matters on a location of privacy. And not a lot of people visited him, so it was the best place to speak. Plus, he needed minor medical attention after taking on shadows on his own. He could feel the scorch marks on his back.

Wes and Flint set him down in an armchair and elevated his feet with an ottoman. Ella searched around his kitchen for the first aid kit, while also using his coffee brewer to make herself coffee. All of this stressful fighting left her parched.

Jonathan's living room was practically a library, with bookshelves placed against the walls, lined to the brim with books. He had a hardwood floor with a decorative rug underneath. Sitting on top of the rug was his red armchair and a glass coffee table. In between two bookshelves was a fireplace, which had a fire crackling to warm up the room. Sitting on top of the mantle were some family photos and a few of him. It was truly of comforting room.

Wes wiped his forehead in exhaustion. "Man professor, no offense, but you were hard to carry all the way over here."

Flint jabbed him in the side. "Wes!"

Jonathan chuckled. "It's fine, Flint. You both were exhausted from your battle. You obviously lack the strength to properly carry me." He groaned as felt an ache shoot across his left shoulder. He placed a hand on it and rubbed gently. "Though, clearly you two are in better condition than me."

"Need a heating pack?" Wes asked.

He nodded. "There should be one in my fridge."

The Umbreon nodded, then shouted into the kitchen, "Ella, we need a warm pack for the professor!"

"Alright!"

Flint sighed and sat on the floor, as there weren't any other chairs around. "Man, I almost though we were going to die back there."

Wes slapped him on the back, making him cringe. "Well, we didn't! I say a job well done!" He could see Flint's discomfort and frowned. "Oops…sorry…"

Flint gave a simple eye roll and rubbed his back. "So, I'm guessing classes will be canceled for a while?"

Jonathan nodded. "Yes. At least until they can get some repairs done." He closed his eyes and sighed. "We were lucky to get out of there with our lives."

"Yeah! That was so awesome how you managed to hold them off for so long!" Wes exclaimed with a wide grin.

The professor chuckled. "Well, I'm not totally helpless. I was just fortunate to have had a weapon on me. Those shadows would have been difficult to counter with regular attacks."

Ella walked in with a tray balanced on her head. There were two cups of coffee and a warm pack for the aching Scrafty. She dipped her head down a bit. "Here you go."

He reached out and took one of the cups and the pack. "Thank you, Ms. Cipher." He took a sip of the coffee and set it to the side before placing the pack on his shoulder. Already he could feel it relaxing the soreness.

Ella psychically sent the tray back to the kitchen and held her cup in between her paws. She took a sip and sat on her haunches. "So, I feel you owe us an explanation as to what those shadows were doing here. I assume it's for the map."

He sighed. "You would be correct…"

Wes narrowed his eyes. "You said a great evil has been awakened. What did you mean by that?"

"Well…"

Before he could explain, there was a knock on the door. Flint got up and answered it. Revealed at the entrance was Hal, who looked exhausted. "Ye lads owe me one. Most of the town in on me case for what happened."

Ella took another sip of her coffee. "Well, you are responsible for the hole in the roof."

He deadpanned. "Well, I can see which side ye are on…"

She shrugged. "Just saying."

Flint sighed. "It doesn't matter what happened. What's important is that we're all alive."

"Agreed." Hal made his way in and greeted Jonathan. "Evening, professor. How ye doin'?"

Jonathan gave a nod. "Hello Hal. A little roughed up, but I'll recover in no time."

"Well, that's good." His expression then went from happy to a scowl. "Now…CAN ONE OF YE SCALLYWAGS EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"

The sharp tone of Hal's yelling sent a ringing through their ears. Wes banged the side of his head, hoping for it to go away. "Well…it's kind of a long story…"

He snorted and crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "Trust me lads, I have all the time in the world."

Jonathan sighed. "Well, to start off…I feel you must know something. Are you familiar with the legend of the Idol of Origin?"

The Krokorok pirate scoffed. "Familiar? Buddy, it's every pirates fantasy to have that beauty." He smirked. "The mere mention of such a valuable treasure would send shivers up their spines. It would be priceless."

He narrowed his eyes and clasped his hands together. "What if I told you it wasn't some old fairy tale?"

The pirate blinked in confusion. "Come again?"

"The shadows that attacked us tonight weren't after just anything. They were after something precious. Wes, the map."

He nodded and reached into his bag. Hal stood up straight as he watched the Umbreon dig throughout his enchanted bag. Then his eyes lightened up with amazement. Held in between the treasure hunter's paws was a beautiful, golden like map, one he has never seen before in his entire career as a pirate or a shop owner.

"It can't be…" Like a small child reaching out for something delicate, he took the map from his paws and held it up to his eye. Withered with age, the scent of dust and dirt…it could make a grown man cry. In fact, a single tear dripped down his face. "Beautiful…"

Everyone around him looked away, forming sweatdrops. Well, this was…uncomfortable. Wes coughed into his paw and rubbed the back of his head. "You, uh…need a minute, Hal?"

The pirate snapped out of his daze and shook his head. He cleared his throat and tried to regain his composure. "Uh, no…I…I am good." He looked at the map again, this time with more seriousness. "Is this truly the map to the idol?"

The professor nodded. "The shadows were dead set on getting it. And with all the evidence I've gathered, there isn't a doubt in my mind."

Hal smiled. "Amazing…" He slowly unfurled the map, expecting great fortune to appear in front of his eye. Then a wave of disappoint washed over him, having discovered the real truth about the map. "It's…it's blank?" He held it in different ways, hoping for some sort of change to occur, almost in a similar fashion to Nightmare. "Where's the path? Where's the dangerous obstacles? Where's the skull and crossbones?!"

"It's there, I assure you." Everyone's attention was now on the Scrafty. He pulled out a partially scorched journal. "The one who was researched the map coated the map in a potion, hiding the magical properties needed to find the keys."

"A potion?" Ella repeated. She chuckled and waved it off. "Big deal. We'll just make something to counteract it."

"I'm afraid it isn't that simple." He set the journal down on the coffee table. "From what I've gathered, it was soaked in a special potion that requires a master potion maker to undo. The professors here don't have the same knowledge as a true master. It could take weeks, months, even years, for them to find the right counter potion."

"Well, as long as the shadows can't read it, we're safe…right?" Wes asked with uncertainty in his tone.

The Scrafty wished he could say no, but he couldn't. "The shadows don't know of the map's condition as of yet. If they don't figure out how to see the pathway hidden on it…they could easily tear apart Mysto, maybe even the world, just to find those keys. Destroyed or not, this map is the only reason they haven't started attacking people yet."

Hal set the map down on the table. "So, let's just find those freaks and teach them a lesson." He punched his fist into his fake hand. "I haven't had a good tussle in years."

"No Hal, that's far too dangerous," Jonathan warned. "With their magic and your old age, they'd have an advantage over you."

The pirate glared. "I'm NOT that old." He flinched and rubbed his back. "Ow…besides, I don't see ye landlubbers coming up with anything. Taking those freaks out is the only way."

Feeling a fire rise up from within him, Jonathan stood up with a glare. "Even IF we eliminate the shadows, there's still the threat of others finding out about this. Pirates, bandits, hitmen, anyone willing to get their hands dirty to find the idol."

"Then we just clobber them, too! I can take on a bunch of second rate thieves!"

"This isn't about winning! This is about protecting the life of all Pokémon! We're not dealing with thieves! We are at war!"

Hal scoffed. "Please, what's so scary about some pesky shadows?"

The Scrafty clenched his teeth. "They were the reason the Grand Imperium Age even happened! The age where all life was at it risk! The 50 year war that cost thousands upon millions of lives!" He slammed his fist down on the coffee table, a large crack forming from the force.

Everyone jumped back from this sudden burst of rage, even the usually cocky Hal. Jonathan panted heavily, feeling his anger leaving just as quickly as it rose. He looked at his hand, which was bleeding a bit from a sharp edge of the crack. He held it and sighed.

"I am…sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you all like that…"

Wes couldn't find the words to speak, feeling like someone punched him in the gut and knocked the wind right out of him. He may not the most studious Pokémon, but he's been in enough classes to know his professor. He was always so calm and collected. Even when he was late, he didn't let it affect his mood. All he ever did was give him some boring lecture about the importance of good education, never filled with spite or anger.

This was the first time he's ever seen a great deal of rage burst out from him. It was a shocking experience to witness. He could tell Flint was just as flabbergasted.

The Umbreon stood up and walked over to the Scrafty, patting his shoulder. "Are…you okay, Professor Geno?"

"Y-Yes…I'm fine, Wes…" He sat back down and rubbed his forehead. "It's just…when I saw those shadows…I feared something bad was going to come out of it…"

He narrowed his eyes worriedly. "You said a great evil has risen. Is that what you meant?"

He looked into the Umbreon's ruby red eyes. He could see the confusion that reflected off of them. Wordlessly, he stood up and headed to one of his bookshelves. He guided his finger across the book spines, hoping to find the book needed to explain this situation.

"The Grand Imperium Age was one of the bloodiest times in Mysto history. As I've mentioned in our class yesterday, it was at a time where spell making and magic were improved upon. A time where we began to rely heavily on these mystical elements.

"As Pokémon, we are naturally gifted in controlling different types based on our species. But, with these new threats rising, we had to trek down a different path. A path of the unknown. The pathway of magic." His finger stopped on a particular book and he pulled it out. "To this day, magic has become common practice for those born with a magical aura. It has been integrated into our studies for centuries, so that we will be able to combat these dangerous threats." He sat back down and placed the book on the table, flipping through some pages. "And it's all because of the one known as the Shadow King."

They looked at the page. One page had a wall of text, describing key points during the beginning of the age. About how dark clouds would roll in and block out the sun, depriving citizens of sunlight for their crops. It mentioned a part where criminals were driven mad and became unstable, filled with a lust for blood. Then came the mysterious deaths of townsfolk. One by one, a new body would be found in someone's property each day. The murders could never be identified for a time. Everyone slowly turned against each other, filled with fear and paranoia. They didn't know who to trust.

As time passed on, the murders seemed to have gotten worse. Families were leaving, those who stayed attacked at the first sign of danger…it was horrible. Then one day, an unknown citizen came across a mysterious form lurking in the darkness. Out of curiosity, he followed this form hoping to find answers to this horrible phenomenon hanging over all their heads. They eventually confronted.

There was an illustration on the page adjacent to it. It showed a shadowy specter similar to the ones they fought. However, its form was different. It looked like a dark cloud with piercing red eyes. This was the creature described throughout history.

Jonathan spoke, "The Shadow King was a creature of unknown origin. No one knows what it is or even where it came from. But, its power was haunting. It bounded itself to this man and possessed him, burying his thoughts into a dark abyss, never to rise again. This, however, didn't go unnoticed. The man's wife heard the commotion and saw what had happened to her husband. She alerted the town, where everything fell into place. The Shadow King summoned his army and had them slaughter every last one of them, so their existence could remain in the very place it started. The shadows.

"But their attack didn't end in a total massacre, as they wished. One survived and sought help. He eventually came across a tribe of wanders, who took him in after seeing his state of exhaustion. The survivor informed these wanders of the great evil that attacked his town. From the description, they knew what was responsible for it. But they couldn't do anything about it, as their numbers were limited compared to the shadows.

"However, as time went on, more and more kills occurred. Eventually, word got out of the attacks and a war had formed from the madness. The Pokémon were at a terrifying disadvantage, with their attacks not so much as slowing them down. No matter how many they took down, they either got up or simply multiplied. But their spirits were not discouraged as they continued to fight on.

"They trapped themselves in a pit of denial, hope clouding their minds, believing they had a chance at seeing the light of day once more. But it was useless. No matter what they tried, the shadows only grew stronger. Things continued to grow worse for many, many years. It was only a matter of time before everyone perished from the carnage.

"For a few decades, the wanderers watched from afar. They wished to help, but they simply lacked the numbers needed to combat all of them. That's when the survivor asked the question he should have asked from the beginning. 'If that's the only issue, why can't we train others to use magic?' The thought had crossed their minds for a time, but they knew the risks. They would need to find those with a hidden potential for magic. Searching throughout the chaos could have led to their own deaths. But the survivor was persistent. He wanted the war to end just as badly as the wanderers, perhaps even more than them.

"It took many days, but his constantly pleas changed their outlook on the situation. With everything on the line…it was their last hope. With no time to spare, they began their journey to find those with an untapped potential for magic and took them in for training. Many were just regular Pokémon who lost their families…some were even children…they needed every able body needed to combat the shadows.

"Then came the final five years, where the turning point began. After forty five years of war, defense, and suffering…the shadows experienced their first taste of defeat. A squadron of trained magic users came upon a battle the Pokémon were losing and aided them. Unprepared for such an unexpected turn of events, they made short work of the shadows, ending the battle just as quickly as it started. The tides have finally shifted.

"The shadows fell back for a short time, having to reflect upon their sudden loss. With this time, the wanderers took the time to construct and perfect new spells, to teach to their growing forces. After witnessing such amazing power, everyone took action. Everyone with a magical aura volunteered to help defend their land. Magic turned from a private practice into a blessing sent down from the gods.

"For the final five years, everything changed. With new spells being formed, more power and strategies to fight off the enemy. The shadows would adapt and even copy the spells, hoping to catch them by surprise. But the Pokémon were always three steps ahead. From what the shadows learned, we only improved upon. After decades of hardship, we were finally winning.

"Eventually, our forces came upon the Shadow King himself. A skilled warrior, he was, fighting off our magic users with little to no effort. It almost looked like our fight was for nothing. But the wanders took action. While the king had them beat in combat, they were superior in magic. Combining the efforts of their allies, they used one last spell to ensure the Shadow King would never rise again.

"They sealed his spirit away in stone, to never again rise from the earth. The shadows were imprisoned as well, doomed to sleep for all of eternity. The location of the king's and the shadows' burial grounds were cut from history, so no one would ever raise them from their eternal slumber again…

"…until now." With that, he slammed the book shut and sighed.

The group stared with awed expressions. Wes really wished he learned about this sooner. His eyes sparkled with delight, positively fascinated by the events…excluding the parts that cost thousands of lives, of course.

Flint rubbed his chin. "So, the Shadow King was released recently?"

Jonathan leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling. "Hard to say. He could have…however, the state of this journal and the contents tell another story. It's possible he has been in our world for years. No telling for how long, but this couldn't have happened today."

Ella finished off her coffee and set the cup to the side. "If that's the case, why hasn't he attacked yet? Why didn't he summon his army earlier?"

"From his perspective, he has been trapped for roughly 500 years. Considering the development of magic since then, he must have known there would be risks to sending his shadows. There's also the fact he didn't know where they were hidden for some time. Even if he found them, he knew it wouldn't be easy to attack."

Flint rubbed his chin, trying to piece together this elusive puzzle. "Which means…someone found his burial ground and became possessed by him. And whoever wrote this journal must have known about it. And somehow picked up knowledge that the Idol of Origin was a real relic."

Ella crossed her forearms. "I see…the king must have figured out it was real and wanted to get it for himself. And whoever this guy is, he made sure he could never find it."

"Resulting in his apparent death," Wes finished, staring at the bloodstains on the book.

Hal sighed. "Great, just what we needed. More reason to panic."

"Which is why we cannot alert the town about this. Or anyone for that matter," Jonathan said as he picked up the book and returned it to its proper place.

Wes scratched his head. "One thing doesn't make sense though. How did the Shadow King even know the map was here?"

The professor placed the book away. "He could have possibly sensed it when it was removed from the hidden room. Those glyphs were used to keep him from finding it, obviously." He sat back down in his seat. "He's been biding his time, waiting for the right moment to attack. His minions may have failed in getting the map, but there's still many things to worry about.

"For one, we have no idea who the Shadow King has possessed after all these years. For all we know, he could have possessed a dead man and we wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Then there's the issue with them being able to sense the map. After your battle with the shadows, they're most likely licking their wounds after their 'defeat'. There's no telling when they'll be back. And we can't defend the idol if we have no idea where it is. Without the correct potion, we'll never be able to reveal the map's secrets." Jonathan clenched his eyes shut and rubbed his temples. "So much to worry about…"

Hal crossed his arms. "I'd ease up on the stress, professor. Ye'll give yerself wrinkles." He narrowed his eye. "Well, the way I see it, we have one of two options. Hide the bloody map and hope for the best. Lead them off our trail and hope they'll not harm any Pokémon. Or option two…find the idol."

The history professor looked up at him like he has gone insane. Granted, Hal wasn't known for his rational decision making skills, but still. "That's crazy. Do you know how long that could take?"

He shrugged. "Days, months, years…when ye've been around the region like I have, time isn't an issue in most cases."

"Even so, you would still need to find a master potion maker to counteract the potion soaked map and we simply don't have that kind of time."

"Look, I know my track record speaks for itself, but we have no choice in the matter. It's like ye said earlier, a great evil has awakened. This isn't the time to be twiddling our thumbs and waiting for permission to do something." He punched his fist into his fake hand and cracked his knuckles. "We must take action at once! We're gonna show those shadows what we're made of!"

He had to admire the former pirate's resolve. This was clearly a dangerous task and he was willing to take any mean necessary to accomplish it. He may be rash, but he had good intentions.

The professor sighed. "Okay, fair point. Finding the idol first might be a smarter strategy." He scratched his chin. "But we need someone dedicated enough to search for it. I can't obviously do it. I need to stay here and do more research on the Shadow King. Plus, I have a job to worry about."

The Krokorok rubbed the top of his head. "Same here. Can't keep me shop running hundreds of miles away." He looked up at the ceiling. "I may know some bounty hunters who would be willing to do it…"

As they exchanged ideas, Wes stared at the map intensely. This map filled with many feelings. Curiosity, excitement, a twinge of fear, and nervousness. The idol is a powerful relic that could endanger Mysto, even the entire world. That much destructive and chaotic power in the hands of dark spirits would be a nightmare. However, he saw it in a different light. Yes, he knew the consequences of them getting the idol first. It would be tragic. But he saw it as something else. A feeling he felt when he fought the shadows earlier. A rare feeling he has only experienced once, on his very first treasure hunt.

…a challenge.

Those shadows did a number on him and Flint when they fought. Fighting off a large shadow dragon just filled him with absolute glee. He's fought many pirates and bandits for years, but never a force such as this before. Passing up such an opportunity would be a letdown. Then there's the fame that could be earned. Going around the region to save it from certain doom. Unearthing a relic that could make him rich. The sheer enjoyment of going around the region just for the thrill of it. It was all so good that he would have to be insane not to take up such a quest.

His smile grew more and more as the thoughts raced through his head. This was probably the best day of his life!

"I'll do it!"

The room went silent, with Jonathan and Hal's discussion coming to a halt. All eyes were on the eager Umbreon, who smiled brightly at them. He was practically glowing.

"What?" Flint asked, hoping he misheard him.

"I said I'll do it! I'll look for the idol and make sure the Shadow King never gets it!"

Jonathan narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "No Wes, it's too dangerous."

He pouted. "Hey, I'm old enough to make my own decisions. I've survived some pretty dangerous stuff."

"This isn't the same as dodging poison darts and avoiding pressure plates. We're not even sure where the keys are. They could be in magic tunnels for all we know and those could take days or months to find."

"Not to mention ye're luck with finding them isn't exactly…well, good," Hal reminded, as Wes has never once entered the mystical realms in his life. He had no means of finding them.

"I don't care, I have to do this!" Wes shouted.

Flint placed a paw on his shoulder. "Let's talk about this for a minute. You're talking about searching around the region, looking for something that has been hidden from us for many centuries."

"Once we find someone to counteract the potion, that won't even matter!"

"Still, there's the shadows. They nearly tore us apart when we fought them. You're expecting to take them on your own?"

"I'm not going alone. You're coming with me."

"WHAT?!" He didn't agree to this.

He poked his chest with a stern expression. "You said you would join me if I had a clear idea of what we're searching for and if it's something worth looking for. A relic that can alter reality and magic seems like a pretty worthy item to search for."

"Wes, this is crazy. I'm not risking my life looking for that thing!" he shouted back. "I don't want to fight those things again just so you can become famous off of that idol!"

The Umbreon was many things. Greedy, a wee bit selfish, and reckless. He can admit that. But he refused to acknowledge that he was that shallow. He glared at his brother. "Yes, I want to find the idol. I want to prove myself to the world that I am a skilled hunter. BUT…I'm not doing this just for those reasons. We're talking about a possible apocalypse here. I'm doing this for anyone whose life would be threatened by those monsters. Everyone, including us, is in danger.

"We could get professionals to do it, but how do we know they can complete the task? We know firsthand what we're dealing with. We have a better advantage. I'd rather take the risk and look for the idol myself. I'm not doing this just for money or fame. I'm doing this so we can ensure everyone is protected." He picked the map up and held it in front of the Flareon's face. "This map holds the secrets to success hidden behind a wall of secrecy. I don't want to lose anyone else in my life…" He looked down sadly. "You and Mom are the only family I have left. I don't want to lose you guys…"

He wasn't sure if his younger brother was doing it on purpose or not, but he was filling the Flareon with a wave of guilt. "Then…why would you want me to come along?"

Wes smiled sadly. "Well…if things do go wrong, at least I got to have one last adventure with my big brother."

Flint could feel tears welling up in his eyes. "S-Stop trying to make me cry…" he responded jokingly, rubbing his left eye a bit.

Wes chuckled. "Sorry…"

The older Ravenfield shook his head. "No…you're right. I made a promise and it wouldn't be right to deny you this quest." He looked him straight in the eyes, with a proud smile. "Count me in."

He almost regretted saying that, because, next thing he knew, he was trapped in a tight hug with a squealing Umbreon. He practically felt his eyes bulge out. "Thank you so much!"

"L-Let me go!"

He laughed. "No way!"

As Flint desperately tried to get out of the hug, Jonathan thought to himself. Having them go would be risking. He still thought they should hire a professional to do it. Pay them well enough and they'll get the job done. But Wes did make a good point. They weren't dealing with normal foes. The shadows may be at a disadvantage currently, but taking on one hunter would be child's play for them. They at least knew Wes and Flint could handle it themselves. They took on a shadow dragon without too much difficulty.

Still, instinct told him to protect his students. He didn't want them to risk their lives like this. But Wes wouldn't take no for an answer. History speaks for itself. When the Umbreon had his mind set on a goal, it was next to impossible to convince against it. Would it be fair to discourage him from fulfilling his dream? He wanted his students to prosper with their dreams. He would be hypocritical of him to deny the Umbreon. Was he against it? Absolutely. Was he going to stop him? No.

He wanted Wes to choose his own path. If this is the path he must take, then so be it. He wasn't going to stop him. He may not have had the best luck as of late, but he knew he'll complete the task ahead of him. He always did.

Jonathan chuckled, earning him the brothers' attention. "You two are quite the duo." He smiled at them. "You better find that idol, Wes."

Wes smiled at the professor with glee. "Thanks!" He tried to hug him, but he pushed him back.

"Still injured, Ravenfield." The Umbreon chuckled sheepishly.

Ella smirked at them and stood up. "So, when are we going?"

Wes blinked and turned towards his ex. "We?"

"I'm not letting you dorks go without me. You need someone to keep you two in line. And focused."

"You sure about that, Ella?" Wes asked, with a hint of concern in his voice. "You stopped joining me after…" His eyes darted off. "…well, that day."

She waved it off. "You're gonna need me. Besides, that was months ago. I can handle myself a lot better than before."

He looked down. "Well…if you say so…" His saddened expression did a complete one eighty, turning into a bright grin. "Alright! The gang is back together!"

Hal chuckled. "Should have figured ye scallywags would do this yerselves." He placed his hands in his pockets. "I'll pack some stuff for yer journey. Might come in handy just in case of emergency."

Wes smiled. "Thanks Hal." He looked at his friends. "What do you guys say? We head out tomorrow?"

Ella nodded. "The sooner, the better."

Flint chuckled, then suddenly frowned. "Oh yeah…we're not sure how long we'll be gone." He looked at Wes. "Mom…"

Wes frowned too. "Oh…yeah…"

Hal patted their backs. "Don't worry, lads. Yer mother would encourage ye to go on this journey. She'll be fine."

They smiled at the shop owner. "Thanks Hal…"

Jonathan stood up. "You three might need some bits for the road. I'll provide each of you with a thousand bits, enough for food and supplies."

"Professor Geno, you don't have to do that," Flint assured.

Wes looked up. "Well, if you're offering…"

The professor chuckled. "I insist, don't worry. Your journey is important. You'll need to provide for yourselves, after all."

Flint smiled. "Well, alright."

Ella stretched. "I better tell Lenny I need someone to cover my shifts."

The Scrafty nodded. "All of you be prepared for tomorrow. We'll meet up at around noon so you all can get going. That'll give you plenty of time to cover everything that needs to be taken care of."

The Eeveelutions nodded. "Right!"

He smiled. "Go home and get your rest. You have a big day tomorrow." They nodded and started filing out.

Hal stayed behind for a bit, waving goodbye to them. He sighed and looked at the professor. "Ye sure this is a good idea? Those three are practically family to me too."

Jonathan collected the coffee cups and headed to his kitchen. "I understand your concern, Hal. Don't think I'm not worried too. But I trust that they'll do fine. They're very intelligent and have surpassed many odds before. There's not a doubt in my mind that they can't complete this quest."

"Maybe…" The former pirate crossed his arms and grunted. "My main concern lies with that Shadow King fellow. He's been unearthed for years and we haven't noticed. How do we know who to trust? It's like ye said. He could be possessing anyone."

"The thought itself is very concerning, I'll admit. All the more reason why we can't inform anyone about this." He placed the cups in the sink and began washing them. "I would like to know who was even responsible for all of this. Something about all of this doesn't feel right. I need to do more research to determine who we're dealing with."

Hal picked up the journal and flipped through it. "Ye would think the bloke who wrote this would have provided a name."

"Even if he did, the Shadow King could easily take another host over."

The pirate tapped his chin in thought. "Maybe a bit more…direct research is in order."

"How so?"

He walked into the kitchen. "I mean hire someone to look for the tomb of the king and find any clues needed to identify our mystery man."

The Scrafty crossed his arms. "Well…it could work. But do you honestly think anyone will believe we have shadows lurking about?"

"The Shadow King was in one of the bloodiest wars in our history, so whoever we hire won't immediately dismiss it. While Wes and his friends search for the idol, we can figure out who we're dealing with so we can guarantee victory."

Jonathan closed his eyes as he gave the idea some thought. If they captured the Shadow King first, they may stand a chance at victory. He opened his eyes and looked at him. "Alright…we'll go with your idea. I trust Wes, but I don't want him battling that madman."

Hal nodded in agreement, then made his way towards the door. "I better get their stuff ready for tomorrow. See ye in the morning."

"Hal, wait." The pirate stopped and turned around. He had his eyes narrowed seriously. "Make sure they're well equipped. I don't want them to die." He nodded, then left the house with a wave. Jonathan sighed and turned around. "Arceus, make sure they stay safe…"

Morning came far sooner than they expected. Then again, they went to bed pretty late. Still, the Eeveelutions were ready and meeting up with Hal and Professor Geno. Lenny and Vivian were also there to wish them luck. It only felt right to explain the purpose of their journey, after all.

Vivian wrapped her ribbons around Wes and Flint and hugged them. "Oh boys, I'm going to miss you so much."

They hugged her back. "We'll miss you too, Mom," Flint said.

"Yeah. We'll be fine. We've done this sort of thing before and we'll do it again."

She smiled. "I know you will." She sighed. "It's just, after your father died, I can't help but worry about you boys. Mainly you, Wes. I know you both are old enough to take care of yourselves. It makes me happy to see you two all grown up." She wiped a tear from her face with her ribbon. "I wish you luck on your journey."

Wes smiled. "Thanks Mom."

"And don't worry," Flint assured. "We'll find the time to come visit you when we have the chance. We're not sure how long we'll be gone. But I promise you, we will visit. And we will be safe."

She nodded. "That's all I wanted to hear."

Ella smiled at the sweet scene. "Aww, how adorable."

Lenny walked up behind her and crossed his arms. "Gonna be weird not having my favorite employee around here."

She looked up at him and rolled her eyes, offering a smirk. "I'll miss you too, Lenny. You got my shift covered?"

"I'm hiring some people to cover for you, don't worry." He looked around. "I was kind of expecting your parents to see you off too."

"Oh, they're usually busy, so they couldn't come. I wished them goodbye though." Hal whistled them over. Ella gave one last goodbye to Lenny and walked over to him.

Wes and Flint gave their mother one last hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek before walking over to Hal. He handed out two bags to them, one for Flint and Ella since Wes already had a bag. "These bags will have the needed camping gear ye'll need." He chuckled and looked up. "It has been a while since I've been camping. I should consider that when I go into retirement."

"So…next year?" Wes joked.

Hal bent down with a glare. "I ain't that old, bucko."

Jonathan chuckled at him before walking over to them. He had three cloth bags filled with bits. He handed one to each of them. "Don't use all of this in one day. You'll need to provide for yourselves eventually."

Flint nodded. "Don't worry sir, we will." He placed the bits in his bag and flung the large bag onto his back.

Ella placed her bag on and stretched. "So, where should we start searching?"

"Well, with no determined path, you'll be wandering aimlessly until you find a potion maker to counteract the potion. I'm sorry I can't help any further from here."

Wes threw his money in the air and opened his bag, letting it plop into the enchanted void. "Don't worry. This is no different to what I usually do. We'll think of something."

He nodded. "I know you will."

Hal snapped his fingers. "Ah, almost forgot! Wes, I want to give ye something." He reached behind him and pulled something out. A rectangular mirror. It had a black rim and back, with a white flower design on the back. Wes held in his paws and looked at his reflection. The mirror had a dark tint to it. "This was something yer father found."

His eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes. Probably one of the most dangerous items he has found. That is known as the Dark Mirror. Like how a mirror flips yer perspective of yer world, the Dark Mirror reverses the effects of magic or certain items. It can also absorb any spell and fire it back with twice the power. Be extremely cautious with how ye use this. Don't think ye can counter everything thrown at ye with this. Ye will still feel the force of whatever is aimed at ye."

"Got it…" Another magical artifact found by his father. It was practically his birthday. He hugged it closely with a large smile before putting it away in his bag.

Jonathan placed his arms behind his back and smiled. "I wish you all the best of luck on your journey. We have faith that you will do well."

Vivian nodded. "Make your father proud, boys."

They nodded. "We will."

She looked at Ella. "Make sure they stay out of trouble, Ella."

She gave a salute. "Don't you worry about a thing, Mrs. Ravenfield. I'll keep those boys in line."

After a moment of farewells, they made their way towards the path out of the town. They looked at each other and gave a nod. This was it. Their biggest adventure yet. Their hearts raced with anticipation. There was no turning back once they stepped out of the town. They will see this journey through. They will find the keys. And they will find the idol. There's no telling what kind of adventures they will have to endure. But they know they will surpass all odds.

Wes looked at his friends. "Just like old times, right?"

Flint rolled his eyes and smirked. "If it is like old times, you'll be leading us into a pit full of spikes."

Wes smirked back jokingly. "That was only one time."

Ella laughed. "He's right, though. Been a long time since we've done this together. I always figured we would again. I just didn't expect us going into a life or death situation."

The Umbreon shook his head, smiling forward. "We've been stalling long enough. I'm ready to start moving. We have a long road ahead of us. You two ready for the greatest adventure of your lives?" They nodded with bright, determined smiles.

After some calming breaths to soak in the anticipation, they took the first step forward.