The Secret of the Idol

by PokeMaster64

Wes Ravenfield, an Umbreon who wishes to become the world's greatest treasure hunter, has been failing in trying to find anything to prove his worth. But, upon discovering a sacred idol that could bring about chaos on the world, he will journey throughout Mysto with his brother and ex-girlfriend, along with new friends along the way. As they get closer, secrets will unfold.

16. Mountain Trial 4

Ch.16: The Trial of Earth Begins! Testing the Willpower of Wes Ravenfield!

As if the cave couldn't give them a break. Ella, Drake, and Rico may have been able to evade and ditch the Earth Guardians, but they were now the least of their concerns. At least when they were fighting the Earth Guardians, there was some sense that they were getting closer to the main room, as that was where it was likely guarded the heaviest. However, the cave decided to play tricks on them. Not the kind of tricks where they'd be going around in circles and pass by the same rock or something five times. No, this cave played much crueler tricks.

One of those tricks involved running away from a giant boulder (then again, what temple doesn't have giant boulders falling out of the ceiling?), more spires firing at them, and, what is currently happening to Ella, the floor giving out and nearly dropping them into a spiked pit.

She had her legs stretched out as far as possible as she kept herself from falling into the pit of sharp doom. "I swear, whoever is running this place is going to get bonked on the head." She wrapped herself in her Psychic and floated out of the pit.

Rico crossed his arms. "I don't know how much more of this blasted cave I can take. I'm worried about Ray and Indigo." He glanced at Ella's raised brow. "…and the rest of my crewmates, of course!" He then muttered, "Although, I wouldn't be upset if Jeffery were to kick the bucket…"

She rolled her eyes. "How you guys haven't killed each other yet is beyond me."

"Just because we're pirates doesn't mean we're uncivilized."

She snorted a laugh. "Ha, right. I can think of at least four of your crew members who are anything but charming." She walked ahead with a strut.

Rico glared, following close behind. "Sometimes I wonder how your own team puts up with you, missy."

She smirked at him. "Oh please, Wes and the others find my personality lovable and refreshing. Besides, at least one of us has to be the rational one of the group. I happen to fit the bill for such a task."

"You also fit the bill for being a sarcastic know-it-all," he fired back, grumbling.

She shrugged. "Eh…it's who I am. Get used to it, pirate."

Rico glared at her, almost regretful for saving her from the Guardians. They didn't need to deal with her now. They needed to get out of this cave as soon as possible. It wasn't like she could help them navigate through the tunnels. She was just extra weight.

Still, the chilling thought of leaving her for death struck his mind. If any of the Ravenfield brothers or the Mew found out, they might not see the sun ever again. It was best to just put up with her until they regroup with their crew.

They stopped as they felt a shifting in the tunnels. They stumbled forward and grounded themselves to keep stable. They could hear the cave groaning from the drastic shifts.

Ella narrowed her eyes. "Okay, what the heck is happening now?"

Drake kneeled down and felt the ground. "I believe the cave is moving."

"Like it's getting up to walk or something?"

He shook his head. "No. I mean, it's shifting the ground around us. I'm not sure why, though."

Rico glanced around and saw a wall crumbling. "Wait, look at that!"

Cracks formed in the wall, taking on the shape of a passageway before crumbling to dust. A perfectly shaped hole in the rock, leading to a different tunnel.

The group looked at each other with concern. Could this tunnel be another trap? After all, they've been dodging sharp rocks and Guardians all day. This seemed a little too convenient. Then again, every other tunnel was a trap, so what could be different about this one? Dropping them into a pool of molten magma? Have the walls stretch out and flatten them into pancakes? It wouldn't be drastically different from the things they had to avoid.

Ella looked back at the tunnel and shrugged. "Might as well." She started ahead.

Rico crossed his arms. "What do you think, Drake? Should we go through?"

He sighed. "It's either we ignore it and try another way that'll get us lost or try the path that the cave monster is offering us."

"Can't argue with you there. Hey Cipher, wait for us!" They ran in after her.

---

Gwyn, Indigo, and Julius weren't sure about the cave tunnel that had opened up for them. It was like inviting strangers into a creepy house, only for that house to be haunted and filled with ghosts. It was an invitation of doom. However, with their string of bad luck and trying to escape Guardians that could pop out from anywhere, were they REALLY going to pass up a free trip through a secret tunnel?

Julius took the lead. "Ye ladies stay behind me. I'll take point."

Indigo rolled her eyes and smirked. "What a gentleman," she said sarcastically.

The girls followed Julius down the tunnel. Gwyn pulled out her lantern and held it up. "Pretty dark down here. We might get ambushed if we don't watch our step."

Indigo shrugged. "Not like we can't handle anything down here. Those Earth Guardians were nothing."

"Are you joking? They nearly killed us!"

"Emphasis on nearly," she replied. "Besides, what do you have to worry about? You could just throw a couple seeds and obliterate them."

Gwyn narrowed her eyes. "You're awfully smug, you know that?"

She laughed. "What can I say? I was raised on the streets in the Fire Zone. Nothing frightens me, Gwyneth. I can handle any little thing that's thrown at me."

"So, you used to be a lowlife even before you became a pirate?" Gwyn groaned. "Should have figured from someone like you."

Gwyn glanced at her briefly before scoffing. "Typical outsider. You've clearly never been to the Fire Zone."

"What does that mean?"

She shook her head. "You wouldn't understand. With your perfect little life, you think everyone gets along and sings songs around the campfire."

The green Mew glared. "Okay, first off, my life was anything but perfect. And second, I might not be socially adept, but I know people can be jerks! I've dealt with a bunch of jerks back at home!"

"Oh, good. So if you ever take a trip to the Fire Zone, you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. You'll see some of us didn't have much choice with the lives we've had."

Gwyn blinked. Didn't have a choice? She may have to ask Flint about the Fire Zone when she gets the chance. Something about it told her it wasn't a friendly place.

She wanted to ask more questions, but Julius stopped, forcing them to stop. "Hold on, lassies." He placed the side of his head against the wall and closed his eyes, listening out for something. "I think I heard voices just around this wall."

The girls looked at each other. "It must be the others!" they exclaimed.

"The way we were going could have took us in a completely different direction," he muttered to himself. "Did the cave help us find them?"

Indigo crossed her arms and sneered. "It tried to kill us, now it's helping us find our friends? This thing is fickle. Does it want us dead or not?"

"Shut up and let's hurry!" Gwyn shouted before running down the cave. The two pirates nodded and ran after her.

---

"You sure you heard someone?!" Ray shouted at Jeffery.

He flew ahead of Flint and Ray. "Yes, yes, I'm positive! Don't doubt my ears, youngling!"

"I still can't believe we found that tunnel!" Flint said.

Like the others, a tunnel opened up for them and led them to a different path. Just as they entered, they heard talking behind the walls. That was a sign that the others were in close proximity.

Everyone ran through the tunnels, trying to reach the end. They saw light at the end of their respective tunnels. They lunged at and skidded to a halt before looking around the area.

Right there, at different tunnels connected to the same room, everyone was there. They have managed to regroup.

"Gwyn! Flint!" Ella ran over to them.

The Flareon and Mew met her halfway and threw their forelegs/arms around her. They laughed happily. "I'm so glad you two are safe!" Flint exclaimed.

"Aww!" Gwyn awed with a sweet smile. "I'm glad you guys are safe too!"

Rico ran over to Ray and hugged him. "Hey there, little dude! You alright!"

The Shinx snickered. "You kidding? Those Earth Guardians were nothing."

The Scrafty pirate smirked and ruffled his head, making him laugh. "Of course they weren't."

Indigo laughed as she walked up to them. "Well, glad to see you two reunited."

Rico blushed a tiny bit. "Hehe…happy you're alright, Indigo."

"You too, mate."

Julius laughed and threw his arms around Drake and Jeffery. "Fantastic! The crew is back together!"

Jeffery flailed in his grasp. "Release me at once! I am not meant to be crushed!" Julius released him, letting the bird gasp for air.

Ella pulled back. "What happened to you guys?"

"I was trying not to get killed by those Guardians," Gwyn said. "This cave is nuts. Do you know how many times I was nearly impaled?! It was not a fun afternoon for me! Is it even the afternoon?! What time is it?!"

Flint patted her back. "Ease up, Gwyn. I think we all went through the same thing." He blinked, then looked around. Everyone was here. Everyone…except Wes and Captain Arid. "Guys, where's Wes?" The girls looked around, suddenly concerned upon seeing the Umbreon was not present. Otherwise he'd be cheering and throwing his forelegs around them.

Jeffery caught on to this and looked around. "Crew! Where's the captain?!"

"He isn't here with us?!" Indigo gasped.

"Captain Arid!" Ray shouted. "Where are you, captain?!"

Rico looked back at the cave tunnels, which closed up. "We can't turn back to look for him. Hopefully he's alright."

Flint's ears twitched. He turned around, facing a wall. He ran up to it and placed his ear against it. "Everyone, hush up for a moment." They did as ask while he examined the sounds. "I think there's a battle going on behind here."

Julius smirked and crossed his arms. "HA! Perhaps the captain and Ravenfield are having a tussle. No doubt our captain is winning!"

"How many battles has Arid beaten Wes in?" Ella asked with her forelegs crossed.

"Easy, he won…" He blinked before groaning in realization. "Three wins for him and…much, much more for Ravenfield."

She smirked. "I rest my case."

Flint pawed the wall. "We need to get through and see if he's alright."

The cave wall rumbled, which he jumped away from with a squeak. A square shaped itself within the wall and lowered, disappearing into the ground below. A new tunnel has been opened up. At the end of it, they could see purple light bursting in consecutive chains.

"That's Wes' magic aura!" Flint shouted. He waved Ella and Gwyn over. "Let's hurry!" They nodded and followed him through the tunnel.

The pirates looked at each other and glared. "Well, what are we waiting for? After them!" Jeffery shouted. They roared and followed the treasure hunters down the tunnel.

---

Wes had to keep running as a snake of dirt and rock chased after him. It wasn't too different from fighting Arid since he controlled the earth with his gauntlet. However, what made this a challenge was that he wasn't being chased by just sand. He had tons of earth aiming for him. Dirt, sand, rock, flying stalactites; all kinds of stuff.

He jumped over the dirt snake and ran up the body. It made a U-turn and tried to crash into him, but he jumped back so that it would slash through its own body. The dirt collapsed to the ground. He landed and ran towards Randolph, who was still standing on his floating rock.

He's certainly quick. He must have spent years working on his speed and reaction time. He raised his hand. But it take more than speed to evade my attacks. He flicked his finger and fired more stalactites down at Wes.

His eyes glanced up at the flying spires. He rolled out of the way of them and snaked around the ones that blocked his path. He jumped onto one, giving him some height, and lunged up at Randolph.

"I got you now!" He used Shadow Ball, infusing magic into it, and fired.

Randolph narrowed his eyes. "Orbital Shield!" Rock tore out from the walls and flew around his body in an orbiting fashion. The Shadow Ball made contact and exploded. The smoke circled around the orbiting path before dissipating.

Wes clenched his teeth. Damn! I was sure that would get him! He landed on his feet. "You're pretty good! This might actually require me to get serious!"

"I expect you to try, Wes. You'll need the tenacity to make it out alive." He snapped his fingers and pointed down. Instead of stalactites being detached and thrown down, one glowed and fired tiny rock shards at him, starting from the point of the rock.

Wes spun on his paw and dodged the rocks with erratic movements. The rain of shards, however, were numerous. He got on his feet and tried to out run them.

The stalactite eventually ran out of ammunition. The Umbreon skidded to a halt and held his left foreleg. One of the shards sliced through his sleeve and scratched him.

He smirked uneasily. "Well…I don't have to worry about this being too easy." He knew this wasn't easy at all, but he had to keep his spirits up. He couldn't doubt himself. He knows he can beat Randolph.

Arid finally managed to detach himself from the wall, but was watching from the safety of a ledge up top. He narrowed his eyes at the mage. He was impressed by his control over the earth. He didn't need to recite a spell or anything to activate his magic. It must help that his natural typing was Ground. It must be giving him an edge in his control.

With the two fighting, he could sneak around and steal the treasure and key. He was curious of the keys importance if that was what caught Wes' eye. It might be valuable. Or it was used to open a treasure chest. Or something…more.

I feel like I've seen this key somewhere before. He scratched his chin as he tried to recall the item in question. He knows he has seen it, but just can't quite place it.

His deep thought was interrupted by the rock behind him rumbling. He turned and saw a wall collapse into the ground, revealing a tunnel. More specifically, Wes' friends and his crew.

"Captain!" His crew ran up to him and saluted.

Jeffery flew in front of Arid and saluted. "Captain Arid! I am pleased to see that you are unharmed!"

He nodded. "At ease, crew." They dropped her arms. "It's good to see you all alive and well."

Flint ran pass Arid, near the edge of the ledge, and looked down as Wes dodged a second shower of rock shards. "Wes?!"

He glanced up. "Flint?!" He smiled. "You're okay!" He flinched as a shard slashed his leg. He seared in pain and jumped away.

"Oh crud, Wes!"

"It's okay! I'm fine!"

The Flareon looked ahead at the figure firing at Wes. "Wait…isn't that Randolph?!"

"Yeah!" Wes rolled out of the way from the last of the shards. "Long story short, Randolph is the guardian of the Key of Earth! And he's trying to kill me!"

Flint glared at Randolph. "Sir, stop! You're going to kill my brother if you keep this up!"

The Flygon sighed at the Eeveelutions words. "I apologize deeply, Flint, but my job is to protect this key at the cost of my own life. Whether you be friend or foe, my job is to eliminate any trespassers who enter this cave. And that's exactly what I'll do to Wes!" He raised his arms and clapped once.

Wes looked below him as he heard cracking. Thinking quickly, he jumped away from an eruption of earth essence. Using such an attack in an earthy area like this increased its power immensely. In fact, now that he thought about it, this entire dimension was probably nothing but earth.

He ran away from the chain of eruptions chasing after him. He zigzagged to try and throw the chain off, but it kept on his tail like a homing attack.

Randolph narrowed his eyes. "You have impressive stamina, Wes. Now let's test your reflexes once more!"

The Umbreon regretted looking up because now he not only had a chain of eruptions chasing him, but also two showers of rock shards flying down at him. He tried dodging them while also keeping his speed consistent. He took a few slashes to the sides and cheek.

Gwyn's teeth chattered worriedly. "W-We need to help him!"

"Don't have to tell me twice!" Flint shouted, worried for the safety of his brother. He leaped off the ledge.

Randolph saw this and glared. "Stop him."

Flint nearly landed on the ground, but was stopped by a sucker punch from out of nowhere. An Earth Guardian leaped out and grabbed him before throwing him back up to the ledge.

"Flint!" Ella and Gwyn shouted.

Arid growled and clenched his fist. A wall of sand rose up into the shape of a hand and caught Flint before dropping him. Gwyn got below and caught him.

"Flint, are you alright?!" she shouted.

He cringed and rubbed his ear. "Gwyn, I'm not unconscious…"

She hugged him tightly. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Seriously, I'm fine!"

Ella glared at Arid. "Not that it wasn't appreciated, but why did you save him?

"Consider it my way of saying 'Cut it out'. If those Guardians have to keep stopping you lot from interfering with their battle, they'll aim their sights on us next."

Gwyn set Flint down, who spat sand out of his mouth. "Bleh…" He tried to jump off the ledge again, but five Earth Guardians flew in front of him, arm cannons aimed directly at him. He held his forelegs up with a panicked look. "Okay, okay, I'll stay here!" Their cannons morphed back into hands and they floated back, keeping an eye on them.

Indigo crossed her arms. "Looks like they want us to stay out of this."

"But I can't just sit here and watch my brother get thrown around like that."

Ella patted his back. "I'm sure Wes can handle this. We need to stay positive and give him our support."

Randolph smiled at her. She has the right idea. He narrowed his eyes down at Wes, who was still attempting to dodge the rapid fire attacks aimed at him. They plan on getting all the keys, eh? He closed his eyes and smirked. Heh…their time will come soon. For now, let's see what Wes is willing to do in order to protect the world.

Wes could feel his body getting worn down from the immense pain shooting against his body. This is insane! He's got these attacks practically locked on to me! He glared ahead before flashing a smirk. Alright Randolph, you want to play hard? Let's crank up the intensity!

The Umbreon twirled his paw under him and created a Warp Pad. He bounced off of it and fired into the air as a purple streak of light. Warp Pads appeared in his path, ricocheting him around the cavern like a pinball.

Randolph stood his ground and observed his surroundings. "Using a glyph to make yourself harder to hit? Impressive." His eyes spotted the streak of light behind him. "Got you!" He turned around and snapped his fingers, erupting earth essence from his floating rock.

The light around Wes dissipated, revealing him holding the Dark Mirror. "Surprise!"

The earth essence slammed into the mirror, pushing Wes back and into the walls. The energy absorbed into the mirror and swirled around inside, waiting to be released.

Randolph narrowed his eyes with his fist clenched. The Dark Mirror?

Wes laughed as he sat in the wall crater. "Didn't see this one coming, did you?! Now have a taste of your own medicine!" He turned the mirror upside down and released the energy, with noticeably more power pouring out of it.

The mage snapped his fingers and countered with another eruption of earth energy. The two beams collided against each other, but the one repelled from the mirror was clearly stronger. It tore through the beam and engulfed Randolph. It smashed him against the wall, while also tearing it down. The cave groaned in pain.

Wes landed on his feet and tucked the Dark Mirror back in his bag. "HA! Guess your little attacks won't work if I can repel them."

"Nice shot, Wes!" Flint cheered.

"That's showing him!" Ella shouted.

The treasure hunter chucked and waved at them. "Thanks guys!" He turned around and raced towards the key.

Arid narrowed his eyes. It can't be over just like that.

Wes ran up the pillar stairs. "Come to papa!"

Earthy colors filled his vision. A fist collided against his face and sent him flying into the ceiling. He clenched his teeth, fighting off the pain. He opened his eyes, which widened upon seeing three Earth Guardians flying towards him. He pushed himself out of the ceiling and kicked off. The Earth Guardians turned in midair and chased him.

Wes looked back at them. "Infernius!" He fired white hot fireballs.

One Guardian took the lead and shot through them while the other two flew down. He continuously fired Infernius at them, but couldn't get an edge in on them. They grabbed him by the head and body and flew down faster. They smashed him on the ground upon landing and jumped out of the way as the lone Guardian bombarded him with concentrated earth essence.

Dust and smoke rose up from the ground as it fired. Its hands morphed back into hands and concentrated earth energy into its hands. It raised them and summoned a massive boulder coated in the mystical earth energy. It threw it down with ease, like it was a baseball. It slammed hard against the ground, with enough force to uplift the rock surrounding it.

In the walls of the cavern, Randolph kicked some rock out of his way and floated out. He glared down at the dust cloud. He couldn't sense Wes' magical aura. That either meant he was dead, a possibly that seemed very improbable, or he was concealing it.

He pointed at the cloud. "Search the wreckage. Make sure he's down."

One Guardian floated down and walked over to it. It waved the dust out of its face before coming up to the boulder. It lifted it off the ground, then got a good look at the aftermath.

Its eyes widened. Wes was gone.

"Hey man!" It looked down in time to see a black streak fly under its legs, with a purple glyph under its feet. "Did you miss me?" Wes asked in a mocking tone.

It felt something balancing on its head. It looked up, greeted by the irritating presence of his grin. With a chuckle, he tapped the bottom of the boulder before kicking off its head. It saw the symbol was a tracking glyph. It tried to run away, but the immense, crushing force created from the gravitational pull of the glyph was far too strong. Its arms cracked from the force, then its legs.

Wes walked out of the smoke and raised his paw. With a smirk, he snapped. The boulder was then heard crushing the contents under it.

"Doesn't feel nice being hit with a boulder, does it?" he joked at the destroyed Guardian.

Randolph crossed his arms. "Should have figured. He was more than capable of taking on a whole tunnel full of them." He snapped his fingers. "So let's see how many he can take on by himself."

The Umbreon narrowed his eyes, feeling the shifts in the ground. Thirty Guardians were now surrounding him, arm cannons aimed and ready to fire.

The Flygon mage raised his hand, then swung it down. "Fire!"

The Guardians fired at the Umbreon. Wes formed a Warp Pad and jumped into the air. Five Guardians flew after him, forming swords of earth in their hands. They chased after Wes as he bounced around.

Randolph glared at Wes' movements. "He seems well versed in the Warp Pad glyph. It is useful it making a speed escape. In that case…" He slammed his hands down, summoning a large glyph. "Darkness Glyph!"

"What's a Darkness Glyph?" Gwyn asked.

Ella pointed up. "You're about to find out."

Starting from the ceiling, the light in the room seemed to be vanishing. All they could see was pitch black up top. It continuously got darker, stealing the light from the room.

Wes landed on the side of the cavern and looked around. "Oh snap!" He jumped away from an energy blast.

Light sucked up into the glyph, leaving the room pitch black. No light expect for the glowing glyph and the light sources of the sightseers. Their light didn't travel far in the dark cavern.

Ella squinted into the mass of black obstructing her view. "I can hear him, but I can't see him!"

Flint and Gwyn could see Wes' magical aura, but not the magical aura of the Guardians. "Wes, get out of there! You're completely exposed!"

Wes landed on the ground and shined his rings, giving him some light. "I can't sense them. They must be hiding their aura." His eyes widened. "But, if they're not using magic, that means…"

It took him a brief moment to register the kick delivered to his stomach. He flew across the air before getting slammed in the head. Even then, he didn't hit the ground. He got punch by four Guardians, at least. He skipped roughly across the ground. He spun with the momentum and caught himself on his feet. He tried to run, but one of them grabbed his tail and threw him against the wall.

He tried to push himself out, but, immediately, he was shoved back in and took a flurry of punches. He forced one eye open, seeing the fists for brief seconds as they flew out of the dark. He quickly tapped on his Amulet of Umbra and transformed into a shadow. He flew away from the Guardians and flew straight to the Darkness Glyph.

Randolph snapped his fingers and fired showers of spikes at him. They harmlessly passed through Wes as he flew closer. He reverted back to his solid state and landed a kick across Randolph's cheek. The mage staggered back before standing his ground. He slammed his palm into Wes, followed by tons of dirt and rock that rammed into him.

A Guardian grabbed Wes and threw an uppercut, sending the Umbreon high into the air before being slammed down by four more. The cavern shook when the treasure hunter made contact with the ground, shaking the surrounding area from his devastating impact.

"Wes!" Ella shouted. "Are you okay?!"

Gwyn clenched her fist. "This is cheating! Wes can't fight if he can't see anything!"

Indigo snickered. "How naïve are you?" Gwyn glared in the direction of her voice. "You might as well get used to it. In a battle, there's no such thing as fairness."

She growled, then looked at Flint. "Isn't there anything we can do?"

He shook his head. "No really, unless Wes starts developing night vision, he won't be able to do anything."

She groaned. "You'd think for a guy with acute hearing, he'd be able to tell where they're coming from."

Back in the center of the darkened cavern, Wes laid in a crater, eyes shut. Gwyn was right. His hearing was sharp, which is why he was able to pick up on their whispers. Ugh…okay Wes, chill. You're not down yet. You just need to find some way around this. You've pulled moves like that before.

He rose to his feet and perked his ears up. He could hear the Guardians circling around him, waiting for the Umbreon to make a move. They had their eyes locked on to him. Anything he does will be immediately countered with another round of pain.

I could use Lumios Storm, but I'll have no idea where to aim it. Even if I did, they'll just dodge again. Ugh, this is frustrating.

His ear twitched, hearing a change in the air. He sidestepped, feeling the sharp breeze of a punch slide passed his cheek harmlessly.

On any other day, I'd be able to handle a threat like this. But these guys move too fast. I'd need my eyes, too.

Randolph floated high into the air and crossed his arms. He's been quiet for a while. Let's see if he can work his way out of this.

The Umbreon heard another change in the air and dodged three punches, but was unable to dodge the surprise fourth. He skidded on his back before slamming into a wall.

I need to learn to fight in the dark later. If I'm to fight the Shadow King, that would be an essential skill to have. But how can I get around this little issue?

He tried to recall anything he had that might give him the edge. So far, all he had was his magical amulets and array of spells. The Vortex Amulet, probably his only useful amulet right now aside from the Star Amulet, would just allow him to safely escape and catch his breath. Maybe even get him to the pillar to retrieve the key. No doubt Randolph has a Guardian waiting for him to pull a sneaky trick like that.

He recalled anything else he might have had. Everything else in his bag was junk he collected. Plus there's his climbing gear…

…his climbing gear!

He quickly reached into his bag and pulled out the one item they brought in case of emergencies like this: the sound goggles. Ella did buy these in case their lanterns break. Now, they were going to get him out of this mess.

"Thanks Ella!" he shouted before strapping them to his head.

The Espeon blinked. "Thanks for what? Wes, what are you doing?!"

He adjusted them on his face before smirking ahead. "Just catching my second wind." He ran towards where he last saw the Darkness Glyph, since light was no longer present in his vision.

Randolph glared and pointed at him. "Attack!"

The Earth Guardians ran in fast, weapons forming in their hands. Wes could already see their movements causing vibrations in the air. He looked back and smirked as their outlines were now completely visible to him.

"You're not beating me up this time!" He stopped and flipped backwards, right over the Guardians. He spun in the air, engulfing himself in light. "Lumios Storm!" Light arrows rained down on the Guardians.

Half of them escaped while the rest got shredded apart by the barrage of light. Wes landed on his feet, then immediately saw a sword flying at his face. He ducked, then shot his hind leg up, smashing the Guardian's arm off. It tried to grab him, but he spun on his back and sweep kicked it.

He stood up and glared at the surrounding Guardians around him. "Alright, who's next?"

They rushed at him, firing earth essence at him. He ran towards them, dodging the energy blasts swiftly. He fired magic infused Shadow Balls, destroying a few of them. The others dodged and fired from the sides. Wes endured the hits before using Infernius, knocking them back with a wall of fire.

They jumped back and fired once more. He used Lumios Storm to counter. Light arrows and earth essence bolts flew everywhere. Stalactites rained from above, rock shattered, the earth rumbled in pain.

Randolph looked up at the ceiling, listening to the agonizing pain of the cave. "Keep it together. You'll pull through." He glared down at the battle. "As soon as he destroys the glyph, prepare for a counterattack."

Flint placed a shield around the group as energy bolts and light arrows flew at them too. Rico squinted at the darkness. "Ravenfield's putting up quite the fight down there!"

Jeffery squawked. "Don't praise him! If Captain Arid were down there, he'd surely be doing just as well! Even better than Ravenfield!" He laughed. "Am I right or am I right, captain?!"

Arid ignored the Chatot as he kept his eyes on where the attacks were being fired from. Whenever he and Wes fought, he could see the expression on the Umbreon's face. It was full of cheer and amusement, like a child playing a game in the park. A face that showed he never took their battles seriously. He only saw them as games. He never thought he was in serious danger against the pirate captain.

But now, seeing his expression before the light was taken, he didn't have the same gleam in his eye. For the first time since they've crossed paths, Wes Ravenfield was acting a little serious. He still acted impulsive in the battle, but it was clear he was determined to get this treasure by any means necessary.

He glared at where the pillar was. The Key of Earth…could it be…

The Earth Guardians landed near the glyph. Their bodies were cracked and worn down from constant hits. They looked up at a purple light progressively getting brighter.

"This ends now!" Wes shouted as he charged is most powerful spell. "Mystic Beam!" The mystical purple beam shot through the air, creating a loud boom from its speed.

The Guardians clapped and slammed their palms against the ground, raising thick walls of earth that pushed against the power of the beam. They thought it kept the beam at bay, giving them the time to escape. However, they underestimated the power behind it.

Before they could run, the beam wash over the wall, completely blocking off any means of escape. They looked back at the wall and saw it was cracking. They placed their hands on it, magically sealing the cracks at a rapid rate. More cracks formed in the wall, becoming gradually larger and slower to seal.

Randolph stared at the magical beam in amazement. Such power…the Mystic Beam. I haven't seen power like that in ages. He must have been honing his skills in using it for years. He smirked. Excellent.

The Guardians continued to try and fight against the beam, but they were delaying the inevitable. The beam overtook their magic and shot through the wall. Their bodies contorted from the searing might of its magical power. It tore apart their bodies into powdered rock and dirt.

The beam collided with the Darkness Glyph and destroyed the ground it sat upon. A flash of light exploded from the collision and spread across the cavern, blinding everyone. After a moment, they opened their eyes to see the light has been restored to the cavern.

Wes walked up to the smoldering crater, which ran deep into the ground. A confident smirk sat on his face as he took off the sound goggles and shoved them back into his bag. "Well Randy, guess you're gonna have to hit me with something else."

The Flygon stared down at him, his eyes almost emotionless. He possessed an air of contemplation, considering his options for a surprise attack. Wes was truly a capable user in the magical arts. He wasn't one to underestimate.

He smirked. "How long have you been at this?"

Wes blinked in confusion. "Come again?"

"How long have you been a treasure hunter, Wes? I wish to know."

He tilted his head, clearly confounded by the curious question. Wasn't this guy trying to protect his sacred key a moment ago?

Still, he might as well play along. He needed a cooldown after using so much energy taking those beatings. "Well…I've been doing this since my teen years. Started out when I was fourteen, I believe. I work for an old croc name Hal and he pays me."

"Why did you become a treasure hunter, Wes?"

"Well…" He pawed at the dirt. "I was inspired by my dad at a very young age. He made the life of treasure hunting sound…well, magical. I absolutely enjoy seeing new places and exploring untouched regions of Mysto. The thrill of avoiding traps, the rush of fighting off bandits and pirates, the excitement of achieving your mission in the end…" He shook his head with a smile. "Everything I've done was an inspiration from my father."

"I see…" Randolph closed his eyes. "You work as a common treasure hunter to make a profit. But let me ask you this. This new mission of yours, it's one of the biggest ones you could ever encounter in your life. And now, you've reached the first part of your journey with a proud smile on your face."

He tilted his head, flashing his signature grin. "Well, duh! When I first saw the map, I knew this was something that needed to be done!"

"But how far are you willing to go?"

Wes laughed. "What do you mean? I'm willing to see this whole thing through!"

The Flygon mage opened his eyes, shaping them into a glare. "Even if death is certain?"

The Umbreon waved it off. "Oh please, many locals have told me 'death is certain' about every single temple I've been to. Surprise, surprise, I'm still alive and kicking. This won't be any different."

Randolph sighed. "Your optimism is refreshing, to say the least. Unlike the one who first found the magical item you seek."

This made the treasure hunter narrow his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"He was a sharp lad, taking on adventure with a positive spirit. Too bad such curiosity can lead to negative consequences." He shook his head. "Nearly driven mad from the temptation of the idol. It was a painful sight to see. He fought pass the temptation and even overcame them, but, in the end, he ended up losing something dear to him in the madness: a friend."

Wes was starting to feel uncomfortable. "What do you mean?"

"Like any treasure hunter, he had a team. A team of close comrades he'd give his life for. I still find it shocking how one magical artifact can turn the closest of friends against each other. A weapon with the power to rival a god…it's so much to consider. It's almost impossible to refuse.

"What I'm saying is…what lengths are you willing to go to in order to achieve that goal? Abandon your morals? Sacrifice the safety of your own friends and family to succeed? Destroy the entire world?"

His questions started to make Wes' blood boil. He growled. "I'd never do something like that!"

"And yet, that friend I mentioned…said the exact same thing. He said he would never do anything morally wrong or evil to betray those he considered family. And yet…he did. You are no different, Wes."

"That's not true! I don't know who you're talking about and, frankly, I don't give a crap! He's not me! I'm different!"

"How different are you? What is different about your potential to succeed?" He narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying you wouldn't go mad from the power of the idol?"

The Umbreon felt a lump form in his throat, making it difficult to swallow. He clenched his teeth. "I've been doing this for years. If I haven't abandoned my beliefs now, I never will."

"This isn't like anything you've encountered in the past, young one. This is far bigger than any trek you could ever experience in your life." He sighed. "It is heartbreaking to see someone perish from their own goals. He was positively excited to find the idol, only for everything to go horribly wrong…all because that friend of his wanted to cheat death."

Wes glared. "Who are you talking about?"

The mage didn't immediately answer as he contemplated his thoughts. How long has it been since he last saw that group together? Time sure does fly when you have to guard a sacred treasure that could bring about the destruction of the world.

He could still remember the young lad's face twisted with anger. He was never told what hardships he had gone through to become so enraged, or why he would turn on his own team so suddenly. He would have never pinned him as someone who wanted power. All he did know was what forced him to turn against them and that he had to guard this key with his life, to protect everything from a force that could eradicate the entire world.

As he looked down at Wes, he could see the determination in his eyes. He wanted to protect the world by any means necessary, but he can also see the restrictions he would set for himself. He doesn't see a ruthless treasure hunter who wants to destroy anything or anyone that stands in his way. He sees a treasure hunter filled with the need to discover new mysteries and help the world.

Wes' and his team's reason for being here was fairly obvious. He knows what forced them to travel this far out for the key. It was as plain as day. It only showed they needed someone to protect the idol from the shadows. They needed someone strong to protect the idol. If Team Ravenfield was up to the challenge…

Randolph raised his hands. "I will only say this, Wes Ravenfield. If you wish to understand more about the truth, then you must defeat me in combat! I am sworn to secrecy by the one who tasked me to protect the Key of Earth, but I shall bestow you with knowledge that may aid you in unraveling the truth!"

Wes glared deeply at the mage before getting into an attack stance. "Alright…if that's how you want to play…bring it on!" He made a dash towards the Flygon at breakneck speeds.

Randolph glared. "As you wish." He thrusted his hands out and sent a massive wave of rock and dirt at him.

Wes narrowed his eyes as he charged towards it. It was far too large for him to simply leap over. Instead, he took the more dangerous route. He continued his dash towards it and jumped on a rock caught in the wave. He continuously hopped between boulder to boulder and reached the top before the wave could break.

He lunged at Randolph with a spinning drill kick. Randolph extended his finger and flicked it up. A pillar of dirt shot up into Wes. It carried him high into the air before turning and leaving him hanging in midair. He tried to regain his balance, but was struck from behind by the twisting pillar of earth. It curved around endlessly, hitting him with the force of a large punch.

He forced his eyes open into a sharp glare and fired a magic infused Shadow Ball. It destroyed the front of the curving pillar while also knocking him through the air. He flipped and gently landed against a wall before dashing down it. He used the speed of his descent down it for his next attack.

"Lumios Storm!" He spun down the wall, coating himself in the bright light, and fired a wave of arrows at Randolph.

He crossed his arms. "Orbital Shield." Rocks surrounded him ad negated the attack swarm, leaving him unharmed. He raised his hands. "Everburning Lapis!"

Dirt swirled in the air and took the shape of multiple stones. They glowed with a magma color. He flicked his wrist, commanding them to rain down on Wes. He dodged them, but took a moment to examine their effects. They left a smoldering, bubbling crater that would not stop sizzling or smoking. He cringed at the sight. Getting hit by those things wasn't going to make his day any better.

"Infernius!" He fired the fireball right at the mage, who, again, countered with his Orbital Shield. However, the destruction of his shield left him open for an immediate attack. "TerraSlash!" Rocks coated in purple energy fired from the ground.

Randolph held his hand out. "Crepido Disruption!" A sonic pulse emitted from his palm.

It passed over the sharp rocks. They suddenly chipped and cracked, then shattered into pieces. The dust particles rained lightly from the air.

Wes clapped his paws together. "Aquos Mist!" He exhaled the thick wall of mist, covering his tracks. The mist stretched out across the cavern until it covered Randolph as well.

The mage scanned the area for any surprise attacks. He checked carefully, for the Umbreon was swift enough to catch him off guard.

He heard a noise behind him and swung his wing, slapping Wes across the face. He smirked at his reflexes, then became confused when Wes wrapped his legs around his wing.

The Umbreon smirked at him. "Infernius!"

With no escape, the flaming fireball scorched his face. He shook and patted the flames off his face to keep from suffering deadly burns. With a glare in his eyes, he spun in place, flinging the treasure hunter around.

"WHOA!" he shouted, trying to keep his grip on the Flygon. He could feel himself slipping off his wing. He bit down on it to give himself more grip, which it did. He wasn't going to let go until he took the mage down. He could barely see anything through the rapid spinning. He only got a brief glance at his friends during the tornado of fury.

…wait, why were they upside down?

He looked up…or rather, once he got a clear image of what was happening, down. Randolph rammed them both into the ground, using the force and momentum of the spin to deal serious damage to Wes. He gasped after slamming hard against his back. He couldn't breathe for a moment.

Randolph flapped his wings and took off back into the air. "Everburning Lapis!" He summoned the magma glowing stones and rained them down at Wes. With the Umbreon momentarily paralyzed from his painful impact with the ground, he took the full blunt force of the stones, enduring the searing pain that came along with them.

He laid in the smoky crater. His fur smelled of burnt charcoal. Since his Star Amulet turned his fur purple, the blackened patches of fur were highly noticeable.

He pushed himself up and shook his head. He formed a Warp Pad under his feet and jumped. "TerraSlash!" Shards of rock followed him as he soared towards his opponent.

Randolph glared and raised his hand. "Crepido Disruption!" The sonic pulse obliterated the shards of rock. "Orbital Shield!" Rock surrounded him and blocked Wes' kick.

He growled in annoyance. "Infernius!" The fireball engulfed around the shield.

Randolph's eyes peered through the flames. "Take him down!" He heard a finger snap from him.

Wes looked up and gasped. A fist of rock and dirt rocketed down on him. A second fist appeared from the ground, meeting him halfway. The colliding fists created a shockwave, creating a gust of wind that washed over the others. The fists moved back, revealing Wes standing unsteadily on the bottom one.

A third fist extended from the wall and punched him into the wall parallel to it. They retracted back into the walls while Wes pushed himself out.

He panted heavily. "I'm…not…" He took a brief pause to catch his breath. "…out yet."

The Flygon sighed. He's stubborn. Too stubborn. "Your tenacity can only get you so far, Wes. Your body can't handle the strain you're putting it through forever."

He clenched his teeth in a wide smirk. "If you think a few bruises are going to push me down, then you're wrong!" He attempted to leap at him.

The mage raised his fist and swung it down, commanding the stalactites to fire at him. The pebbles did their job of shooting him back down, damaging him even further.

"I'm sorry, Wes…" He clasped his hands together. Orange, earthy energy surrounded his body. "But this is over!" He raised his hands high. "Rite of Earth: Funeral of Gaea!"

A large magic circle appeared in the air, taking up half the size of the ceiling. A massive, glowing boulder slowly protruded from the circular portal. Wes gasped upon seeing it and tried to make a break for it. However, the cave had other plans. Arms of rock extended from the ground and wrapped around him. They pulled him back down and kept him from moving.

"Uh, guys?!" he shouted as he looked up at the colossal boulder. "I think I'm in trouble!"

Flint panicked and tried to run towards him, but the Guardians blocking their path kicked him away. Gwyn gasped before glaring angrily at them. "I can't let this go on any longer!" She lunged at them and slashed with her whip.

One grabbed the end, but got kicked in the face, decapitating it. She jumped off its headless body and lunged towards the battle arena. The second Guardian grabbed her by the tail and jabbed her in the gut. She gasped for air as she was tossed into Flint.

Ella looked at them with a concerned expression before turning back to Wes. She could blast them away with her Psychic, but there was still the matter of Randolph. Not to mention the cave acted as an issue as well.

Wes pushed off the ground to break through his restraints, but he suffered too much damage to properly escape. I need more time! He stopped his struggling and glanced up at the massive boulder. Only one option left. He relaxed on the ground and took some deep, meditative breaths.

Randolph focused on the boulder and flicked his wrist down, commanding the boulder to slam down on top of the defenseless Umbreon. He clasped his hands together. "Now die!"

The boulder flashed into a brilliant, blinding light that stung the group's eyes. Rico seethed in pain. "AGH! I CAN'T SEE!"

"WHAT'S GOIN' ON?!" Julius shouted.

Arid peered through the tiny gap he made with his fingers, getting a brief glance at the boulder as it crumbled down on Wes, burying him alive. He gritted his teeth together in anger.

"Everburning Lapis!" He rained down the magma stones, setting the burial ground on fire.

Flint and Gwyn rose to their feet with their eyes shielded from the light. "WES!"

The attack ended with a massive pulse that rocked the inside of the cavern, either slamming everyone against the wall or knocking them on their backs.

The light eventually diminished after the shockwave. A sharp hum echoed in their ears, probably an aftereffect from the explosion. It was hard to hear anything with that annoying sound slamming in their ears.

Flint rose to his feet and shook his head. He ignored the buzzing as he ran to the edge of the cliff and looked down at the arena, observing the aftermath of the explosion. To his horror, there was no remnant of Wes anywhere. Not a scrap of clothing, not a drop of blood, or even his hat. Nothing was there aside from the smoldering pit that rested as his apparent burial ground.

He dropped to the ground, horrified by what has transpired. "No…he can't be…that's not…"

Gwyn and Ella limped over to see for themselves. Their eyes narrowed in sorrow. They crouched down next to Flint and embraced him.

The pirates stared in surprise, greatly taken back by the events that unfolded. Jeffery tilted his head, as if what he saw was just an illusion. "Did…that really happen?"

"Holy crap…" Julius muttered.

Arid walked closer to the wreckage, taking it in before closing his eyes. Unbelievable. After all the trouble he sent us through, this is how he goes out…

Randolph floated over the wreckage, trying to sense for any remnant of his magic aura. He couldn't sense one anywhere. Still, he wasn't one for taking chances. He snapped his fingers and pointed at two Guardians. "Search the ground and find any trace of his body." They nodded and floated down.

Flint's eyes snapped into a glare. He shot his head up at Randolph with fury burning in his pupils. "How could you?! After all of that, you don't feel any remorse for what you just did?!"

He shook his head. "I've done many things in my time, Flint. Sadly, seeing those die by my hands hasn't affected me in years."

He growled. "You heartless bastard!"

Randolph didn't argue with him. He understood his anger. "This was the life I chose, Ravenfield. I was chosen to protect this key with my life. If that means I must go against my own moral codes, then so be it. The key can only be given to those who possess a righteous heart. Someone who would never let it fall into the hands of evil. You all should have realized what you were getting yourselves into when you took up this role.

"That is why I must fight with all my strength and power. All protectors of the keys must do the same. We won't let anyone with impure intentions take it for their own. And we won't let any good willed do-gooder receive it unless they prove themselves strong enough to protect it." He narrowed his eyes. "And Wes Ravenfield…sadly, wasn't up for the task."

Flint's eyes watered. He faced the ground with agonizing thoughts surging through his mind. Gwyn hugged him close, her own eyes watering as well.

Ella glanced down at the smoldering pit in thought, watching the Guardians dig around in the ground. She knew that goofball for nearly her entire life. There was no way he could have gone out so easily. It wasn't like him. He was stubborn. If anything stood in his way, he'd just charge at it headfirst. This was the same guy who has survived some of the deadliest traps ever made, coming out of the whole ordeal unscathed, too.

It wasn't like him to just quit, even with the threat or on the brink of death.

She glared, wiping her foreleg across her eyes and drying them, before standing up. "Alright…if that's the case, I'll be your next opponent."

The Flareon and Mew looked up at her in shock. "What?!"

Randolph shook his head. "You must understand, Ella. If Wes could not defeat me, your defeat will be just as certain."

She cracked her neck. "Heh…then I'll die knowing I had a good bout." She narrowed her eyes into a stern glare. "Let's get one thing clear. Like Wes, I'm never going to quit. You can call me weak all you want, but I'm much fiercer than you could ever imagine." She crouched down. "Go ahead, use your fancy magic. Try and hurt me. I'll still be standing in the end."

He narrowed his eyes. "You're willing to risk your life even though you're at a clear disadvantage?"

She scoffed lightly with a chuckling smile. "Yeah…that sums it up nicely."

"What possesses you to think in such a matter?"

She shrugged. "When you know a guy like Wes, you pick up on his never give up attitude." She smirked. "You also know that it'll take more than detonating a bomb in his face to knock him out of the fight."

Flint rubbed his eyes. "Ella…what are you talking about?"

She smiled at him. "Flint, get real for a moment. You know Wes better than anyone else. Do you actually believe he went down that easily?"

He blinked through his tears. His fast talking, quick thinking brother…when has anything really slowed him down? He has seen the guy getting smashed and blasted at on a daily basis. His tenacious attitude, goofy nature, unpredictable behavior…Ella's right. He wouldn't go out this easily.

He narrowed his eyes in contemplation, then rose to his feet. He wiped his eyes away of their tears. "She's right…" He glared up at Randolph. "Wes is a fighter. He'll never stop doing what he does. Not even death will keep him down."

Gwyn looked at them in surprise before smiling and rising to her feet. "Yeah! Come on, Wes! Show this guy what you can really do!"

The Flygon narrowed his eyes. Have they gone mad? There's no way he could have…

His ears rang with the sharp sound of rock being smashed. He quickly turned his head to see his Guardians were destroyed. "What the…"

The group behind him gasped. He whipped around fast enough to see the remaining two have also been smashed to dust. The culprit was unseen, save for the purple streak of energy that faded away.

He looked around frantically, trying to find the attacker. Did Wes actually survive the Funeral of Gaea? If so, how? He was weakened drastically. He couldn't have survived, much less pulled off a quick enough escape. What happened during the flash that he didn't see?

"Where are you?" he asked as he prepared to cast a spell.

"Right here!" The familiar ring of the chipper tone sent shivers up his spine, along with a painful jab to his back. It was quick, but surely not painless.

He turned around, but the attacker had already fled. Wes' voice…he did survive. But how?

"Over here!" A streak of purple bashed his right side and vanished. "Now over here!" It came in from his left. "You can't catch me!" He was bombarded with a rapid stream of attacks, coming from multiple directions.

What is going on?! In a fit of rage, he extended his wings out, creating a powerful gust of wind. "Reveal yourself, Wes Ravenfield!" He heard something land on the ground behind him. He turned around, only to see a sight he hasn't see in sometime.

Before him was Wes, alive and well. There was one noticeable difference. Surrounding his body was a powerful purple aura that blazed immensely. It was so thick that only his figure and features could be seen, similar as to when a Pikachu coats itself in a Volt Tackle.

He smirked, standing tall. "You've been putting me through hell today, Randolph. A split second earlier and that attack could have done some serious damage. Perhaps fatal if I was unlucky."

Randolph clenched his teeth into an uneasy grin. "You really are full of surprises…" I should have figured. If he knows the Mystic Beam, he would surely know THAT spell.

Gwyn narrowed her eyes in confusion. "Flint, what is that?"

Flint didn't hear her. He was just taking in the joyous relief that his brother wasn't killed. For a moment, he didn't believe himself, but he knew his brother wasn't one to lay down on the job. He felt stupid for thinking less of his younger brother.

"Flint?" She shook him, snapping him out of his trance. "What's with Wes? Why is he glowing like that?"

He blinked at her before smiling. "It's a spell that should turn things in Wes' favor."

Randolph kept his eyes on Wes as he circled around him. "You asked me earlier what lengths I'm willing to go to in order to save the world. Well Randolph, I think I finally found the answer.

"I want to achieve great things in this world. I want to be remembered for something great. Think of it as selfish if you must, but I want to be the one to find the idol. With my friends, I want to explore all of Mysto and see brand new places. I don't care how long it takes me to find the rest of the keys or the idol.

"You know what I'm willing to do? I'm willing to push myself to the limit and break all limitations in order to succeed." He closed his eyes in thought. "I'll give you this, there's no telling what may happen to me if I do find it. I might be tempted to use its power for my own desires. I might be corrupted by its glorious power. Anything could happen if I were to pursue that goal."

Arid narrowed his eyes. It's almost too coincidental. Is he actually referring to…?

Wes opened his eyes. "However, I know for a fact my friends will be there to help pull me back from those tempting thoughts." He smiled proudly. "You can say all you want about what happened in the past. But I will not repeat history." He crouched. "And I'll prove that to you…in this FIGHT!"

He kicked off the ground at blinding speeds, obliterating the ground behind him. Randolph smirked widely. "Good! Show me that fighting spirit! Everburning Lapis!" He fired the magma stones at Wes.

Wes saw them coming and swiftly dodged them. He sped across the arena and up the wall, defying gravity. He got halfway up before kicking off and ramming into Randolph, giving him no time to defend himself.

Back on the cliff, Gwyn gasped. "That's his trump card?!" she exclaimed at Flint's finishing statement.

He nodded. "It's called Mystic Burst. Mystic based spells draw power from the user's aura, so they have to be properly conditioned to use them, otherwise there could be negative consequences. Wes has been practicing both of them, though he has more experience with the Mystic Beam.

"Mystic Burst, however, is another story. Drawing energy from his magic aura, he elevates his speed and strength, plus his magic output. He doesn't have much practice in using it, seeing as how it takes a lot of magic to keep it active. He has been practicing on keeping it stable for longer periods of time."

Ella sat down and crossed her forelegs. "If I had to guess, he used it to escape being crushed under that final spell, then concealed his magic for a brief recharge." She smirked. "He never fails to impress."

Flint nodded. "Now you're about to see what he's capable of when he gets into motion."

The Mew smiled brightly before shouting, "Go Wes! You can do it!"

Randolph flew high in the air as the Umbreon circled the cavern across the walls. Wes smirked. "You may be a powerful mage, but you know nothing about my power!" He leaped off the wall. Randolph tried to counter, but Wes vanished at the last second.

Suddenly, a barrage of kicks nailed him from behind, beating him with fast, powerful strikes. Many jabbed at his stomach, arms, legs, and head, leaving large bruises in his way. He kicked off Randolph and raced around the walls once more.

The Flygon mage glared, wiping the blood on his lip away. "Restrain him, now!"

Limbs of stone stretched from the walls and aimed at Wes. He smirked mockingly and jumped off the wall. "Infernius!" With his amplified magical power, he summons a massive purple fireball and fired it at the limbs. Upon impact, they melted into lifeless puddles.

The mage looked at the air and raised his hand. "Crepido Disruption!" The sonic wave washed across the ceiling and caused the stalactites to dislodge, raining them down at the Umbreon. But that wasn't the end of his spell. He pointed at them, commanding them to spin and propel down at high speeds.

Wes evaded them as they drilled through the ground. He grinned excitedly, feeling his heart thumping wildly in his chest. "Oh yeah! Now this is what I'm talking about!" He dashed even faster, leaving behind a trail of worn down earth in his path.

"Everburning Lapis: Ruby Flame!" The magma glowing rocks engulfed in ruby red flames and fired at Wes.

He smirked. "Mystic Beam!" Randolph wasn't given any prep time to think of a counterattack. Normally Mystic Beam required time to charge. But now, with the Mystic Burst takin affect, the beam fired almost immediately as it was casted. The beam was much wider, eclipsing half the cavern wall. It easily shattered the flaming rocks.

Randolph clenched his teeth. "Orbital Shield!" The rocks surrounded him and spun. The beam engulfed him and, at first, washed over the shield as usual. However, before he could get comfortable, he saw the rocks were smoking. The beam was chipping through them.

The beam overtook his shield and engulfed him in searing pain. He forced his eyes to stay opened as he peered through the beam, seeing Wes through the thick blanket of purple.

"Cave, crush him!"

A massive stone hand rose out of the ground and attempted to squash Wes like an insect. The quick thinking treasure hunter saw this coming and canceled his attacks, dashing away before the hand could slam down on him.

He raced up the wall of the cavern and reached the ceiling before using a Warp Pad to hurtle back down on top of it, obliterating the hand in a single motion.

Randolph smirked widely. Now you show us who you really are, Wes! This is what I was asking for! "Everburning Lapis!" He fired the storm of burning rocks.

"Lumios Storm!" Wes spun, engulfing himself in purple light, and fired purple light arrows at the stones. The speared through each of them, reducing them to scattered bits of rock. The rest of the storm struck Randolph, dealing great damage to him.

"ARGH!" He glared before raising his hands, summoning up as much earth essence as he could muster. "Cave, lend me your power! Give me the energy laid dormant within the earth!"

Orange energy swirled to his palms, creating a massive sphere of earth essence. He collapsed it in between his hands and took aim. "This ends now!" He thrusted his palms out, firing the earthy beam at Wes.

Wes charged up a massive sphere of energy in front of his face. "Mystic Beam!" He fired the attack, crushing the ground beneath him from the pressure.

The two beams collided with each other. The force and pressure of their power smashed up the ground around them. Everyone got behind Flint as he placed up a barrier. Even with the barrier, cracks were still spreading across the ground.

Electricity crackled and bounced off their attacks as they glared at each other with undeterred expressions. The beams pushed back and forth between each other, trying to overpower the other.

Randolph growled. "Is that all you got?!" He added more energy into the beam, increasing the size of it. It slowly pushed against Wes' Mystic Beam.

He stepped back a bit, a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead. Just breathe, Wes. Just breathe. He inhaled deeply, channeling his energy through a meditative breath, then exhaled. His Mystic Burst pulsed and increased in size. He let out a sharp roar and poured more power into his attack, drawing power from the Mystic Burst.

Randolph's eyes widened as the beam not only got bigger, but was pushing against his at a much faster rate than before. He tried drawing more power, but he was far too weakened to take in any more. His beam collapsed before becoming completely engulfed in the Mystic Beam.

Wes ended his attack and ran up the side of the cavern, reaching the ceiling. He kicked off with the Warp Pad and crashed into the mage in a spinning buzz saw manner, sending them both careening into the ground, which brought dirt rock up in a brilliant flash of purple light.

Everyone covered their eyes until the dust settled. They could smell the burning smoke of rock and feel the remaining pressure of the magic as it faded. They could hear the occasional chip of rock as the moment passed.

When they opened their eyes, they saw the large crater that Randolph and Wes sat in. While the Flygon laid in it unconscious, Wes was panting, having used up a lot of energy in that last Mystic Beam. The Mystic Burst dispersed around him as he fell forward, supporting himself on his forelegs. He was clearly ready to pass out.

"Phew…that worked up a sweat." He flipped himself onto his back and laughed. "Hey guys, you wouldn't happen to have medicine on you by any chance."

His friends smiled at his carefree attitude before running down the cliff to meet up with him. They got around him and hugged him. "Wes, you idiot," Flint muttered. "Don't scare me like that."

He chuckled and hugged his big brother. "Aww, you cared!"

Ella laughed. "That was some fight you gave him."

"Yeah!" Gwyn cheered. "That was so freakin' cool!"

He smiled sheepishly. "Aww, you guys~!"

"Ahem…" They blinked and looked down at Randolph, who appeared to have regained consciousness. They nearly got ready to fight, thinking he got his second wind, when he rose his hand. "Wes…you truly showed us that you are a capable fighter." He sat up and bowed his head. "I yield."

Wes blinked, then smiled. "I won?" He nodded, giving him the opportunity to cheer. "Yes! Woohoo!" He fell onto his back once more and laughed out loud. "I didn't know I had it in me!"

Ella chuckled. "Trust us, we all were a bit surprised."

Randolph picked himself back up and dusted his robes off. "Because you have beaten me, I now bestow upon you the Key of Earth." He snapped his fingers.

The key flashed brighter for a brief moment, then floated over to them. He held his hand out as the key floated over his palm, spinning slowly. He handed it to Wes.

The Umbreon's eyes sparkled with admiration, taken in by its captivating glow. With a small squeal escaping his lips, he carefully reached his paws out and grabbed it. It felt like glass, smooth to the touch. It sent a cold shiver up his spine as he stared at it.

He smiled brightly, then looked up at Randolph. "I'll make sure to keep an eye on it."

He smiled back. "I know you will." He glanced at the pirates, who were glaring down at the group. "I have further matters to discuss with all of you, but I must get rid of them." He swayed his hand at them.

A portal opened up behind them, to which they briefly glance at it.

"I am only giving you one chance, pirates. Take this portal and return to your ship at once. Or you'll have to deal with me."

Jeffery squawked and rolled up his sleeves. "Argh! You think you can scare us, mage?! Well think again! We came here for treasure and that's exactly what we'll get! Along with an explanation as to what the hell that key is!"

Randolph glared. "I'm only giving you one chance to leave. Don't toy with me."

"Please, you're far too weak to take on all of us!" He prepared to soar at him, but Arid grabbed him by the tail feathers.

He had his eyes closed in thought before saying, "We'll be taking our leave. Crew, into the portal." They were surprised by the command, as they didn't even get the treasure. But, orders were orders. They saluted their captain and headed through.

Jeffery was appalled by his captain's orders. "B-B-But, my captain, the treasure-"

"NOW, Jeffery," he ordered sharply. He flinched under his dark gaze and landed on the ground. Like a cowered child, he waddled into the portal with his beak quivering. He glared down at Wes, who returned a similar stare. "Until next time…Ravenfield." With a flick of his cloak, he entered the portal, closing behind him.

Randolph glanced at that area for a bit, suspicious of the captain's compliance to leave. He didn't press on the manner further and turned his attention back to the group.

Wes placed the key in a small loot bag. "That should keep it nice and safe." He dropped it into his explorer bag and closed it up.

The mage folded his arms. "You are a fine treasure hunter and a great warrior, Wes Ravenfield." He bowed to him. "I wish you luck in the search for the remaining nine keys."

Wes smiled and bowed back. "Thank you, sir." He looked up. "Now, uh…you said you had something to tell us."

He sighed. "Yes. All four of you, listen closely. I know what has brought you this far out from your homes. The shadows have returned."

Their expressions dropped. "So…you know about them?" Flint asked.

"Why else do you think I was tasked with this job?" He crossed his arms. "The shadow army was still sealed away after the Grand Imperium War. Everything was at peace. That is, until someone unleashed the Shadow King from his tomb."

"Where is his tomb?"

"That, even I don't know. None of the mages do. All I was ever told was that the friend I mentioned became possessed by the Shadow King upon discovering his resting grounds. He attacked his own teammates in blind rage, having sought for the map to the Idol of Origin."

Gwyn narrowed her eyes. "Who did he possess?"

"A man once known as Alex Ghostwind. I do not know much about him, for I never met him personally. I am the newest of the ten mages at the time. He was a great warrior with honor and skill, possessing extraordinary fighting prowess. From what I was told, he was killed upon fighting his former friend." He looked down. "Now it seems the Shadow King has risen from his slumber to finish what he had started."

"Oh man…" Ella muttered.

"It was a sad tale for the remaining team. They went their separate ways a long time ago, deciding to search for peace in this world, to cope with their losses. Where they are now, I do not know." He looked directly at Team Ravenfield. "Let this be a lesson for all of you. Never let the Shadow King tempt you with rage. He can only possess those with great anger in their hearts. Do not let him take you over by any means. Do not lose yourselves to his control."

The group looked at each other quietly for a moment. They nodded. Flint said, "Don't worry, sir. We won't let that happen. We won't fall for his tricks."

"I pray you do not. Now, you all must be off. If you are to continue your search for the idol, you must locate the next key."

"Wes?" Ella asked.

"Already on it." He reached into his bag and pulled out the unfurled map. "Okay, let's see…okay, the closest key is in the Fire Zone, in Scorch Grave City."

Flint shivered. "Ugh…the Fire Zone…"

Gwyn looked at him. "What's wrong? If I were you, I'd love to go to somewhere filled with fire."

"Maybe, but…" He groaned and held his head. "Trust me, when we get there, you'll understand why I'm not too thrilled."

Wes rolled up the map. "It'll take us a month or longer to get to Scorch Grave City. We'll have to head out immediately."

"Wes, you took a major beating from your fight. We'll need to stay here," Ella said with a motherly tone.

He waved it off. "I'm fine, don't worry. I'll rest once we find a place to stop on our way. It'll take us a couple days to reach the Fire Zone from here, anyway. Might as well make the trip first."

She sighed. "If you pass out on the road, you know I'll say 'I told you so'."

He snickered. "I'm willing to take that risk."

Randolph waved his hand and summoned the portal to leave. "Best of luck on your trek."

They bowed to him. "Thank you for an exhilarating battle, Randolph," Wes thanked. "I truly enjoyed it."

"As did I." He bowed. "May our paths cross again at a later point in time."

They nodded and stepped through the portal, giving a goodbye to the cave, which grumbled a reply back. The portal closed, leaving the cave empty and quiet.

Randolph rubbed his head. "Phew, that certainly left me exhausted." He jumped as the cave shook angrily. "Oh, quit being a baby. You're a massive cave." A pebble knocked into his head, leaving a sharp pang. "Okay, I deserve that."

He sat down and clapped his hands together, earning a questionable grumble from the cave.

"I'll rest in a moment. I need to do something first."

A magic circled formed under him. A white curtain of light rose up like a gentle waterfall defying gravity. "I wish to speak with the Mages of Origin."

He waited a moment for a reply. Then, nine images appeared on the wave of light. Each one possessed a different mage with a different colored robe, each representing the key they protect.

"Randolph," the purple hooded mage spoke with an old, sagely voice. "It has been sometime."

He smiled and waved to them. "Hey gang, how's it hanging?"

The green hooded mage smirked. He sat on tree branch. "Someone looks worn out. What happened to you?"

He closed his eyes, his smile never wavering. "I have been defeated."

This caught them by surprise. "Excuse me?!" The silver hooded mage, who sounded female, asked. "You were defeated?!"

"By who?" another female voice, this one coming from the red hooded mage, asked, sounding calm with her tone. "And why are you smiling? This is not a matter to be happy about."

He shook his head, chuckling quietly to himself. "Forgive me, it's just my opponent was…quite the spectacle. He was a fierce battler. I've never seen someone with so much courage and tenacity in years. I saw it in his eyes. I believe we have found our champion. Now we only need to test the remainder of his team."

"Who is it that challenged you?" the black hooded mage asked.

He chuckled, finding amusement in his question. "…Wes Ravenfield."

He kept his eyes closed, not that it mattered since their faces were obscured. He could see their expressions in his mind. The times surely have shifted in the last few years.

"A Ravenfield?" the purple hooded mage repeated. "Wes Ravenfield?"

"He's not the only one. He was accompanied by his brother, Flint Ravenfield. They had two female companions, Ella Cipher and Gwyn Belladonna. I made a quick evaluation of them as they entered my cave. They have strong wills and serve to support each other when in a tight situation. Their bond, as far as I can see, is fairly strong."

A white hooded mage bowed his head in thought. He seemed to be sitting in a cave like Randolph, only it was darker and the rocks were blue, though they were most likely a grayish color due to the lack of light. "This is truly a change in what we have expected. And he is after all the keys?"

"That is correct. And, if history were to repeat its course, I suspect it won't be just those four searching for the keys."

"I see." The purple hooded mage looked up at the sky. "So my predictions were true. Six warriors will band together and seek the Idol of Origin in order to keep its power protected from the shadows."

The yellow hooded mage scoffed, looking away. "You and your predictions…my only concern is beating these treasure hunters. They'll get no sympathy from me, heroes or not."

Randolph shook his head, then opened his eyes. "That is the goal of our mission. Speaking of which…" He looked at the red hooded mage. "They'll be coming for you next, Seraphina. In about a month or so."

"I see…" She bowed her head. "Very well, I shall be prepared for their arrival."

"Do you believe these treasure hunters will stand victorious?" the female voice of the dark blue hooded mage asked. "There is no guarantee they will succeed. Predictions or not, time can be changed."

The blue hooded mage hummed to himself. "She is right. We cannot be certain."

Randolph grinned to himself. "Just give these guys a chance. I promise you, it'll be worth the fight."

"If you are certain, Randolph, then we will consider your words," said the purple hooded mage. "Seraphina, we expect a report on these treasure hunters after your encounter with them."

She nodded. "Yes, Master Celio."

"The council of the ten mages is over. Return to your routines at once." With a wave of his hand, the images faded into mist.

Randolph smiled a bit and laid on his back with his legs crossed and hands behind his head. He chuckled to himself, looking forward to listening to his fellow mages' stories once they cross paths with the treasure hunters. They won't be disappointed by his evaluation.

---

"My captain, forgive my language, but…WHAT IN DAVY JONES' LOCKER WAS THAT ABOUT?!"

Arid had his arms folded on the back of the ship's rails, gazing down at the ground with a wandering gaze. His crew was relieved to see him and the others have safely returned from their disappearance into the mountain. They were confused as to why they didn't come back with treasure. Frankly, some of them were flat out disappointed.

He didn't say much as to what happened, letting Julius explain everything. He ordered Jones to guide them out of Igneous Valley to a different location. He didn't specify one, just somewhere to rest for the day. They respected his orders and left him be to think. Well, everyone but Jeffery.

"I mean, seriously! The treasure was within our sight! They wanted us to leave, right?! We could have used that as our bargaining chip! They clearly cared more about their stupid key than the gold! So why didn't you say anything?!"

The captain glanced down at the ground in deep thought. His entire perspective of the world became topsy-turvy. Everything he knew was out of balance. Nothing made sense anymore. The tales he was told as a wee lad have suddenly lost their mystical whimsy. But now, a new feeling arose in him: desire.

He pieced their dialogue together in his head as Ravenfield and the mage duked it out with each other. He was so easy to deny as hoax, a scam. But seeing the fire in his nemesis' eyes told him that this was not an act or falsehood. What he was searching for was as real as the gauntlet on his arm.

He deadpanned upon feeling Jeffery perch on his head and peck the side of it. "Captain! Are you listening to me?!" He gulped as he felt two fingers press against his beak and pulled him down to eye level with his annoyed captain.

"Jeffery…keep that up and I'll let the crew toss you overboard again."

He freaked out. The last time he was thrown overboard, they had him tied down to a barrel so he wouldn't fly away. Then they dropped him into a forest and left him stranded for an hour before Arid forced Pain Train and Malcolm to bring him back on board.

Once he got a nod of confirmation, the Darmanitan released his beak. "Now, what do you want?"

He rubbed his beak gently. "Well captain, I'm just baffled by your decision to leave without taking the treasure first. You didn't put up any resistance to leave."

He narrowed his eyes and returned to staring over the ship. "Yes…strange thought for someone like me. Why would I leave behind such a bountiful pile of treasure?"

Jeffery chuckled uneasily. "Well, if it's any consolation, I knew you could have taken them all on, sir! You're much too powerful to be defeated by second rate treasure hunters like them!"

Arid closed his eyes and smirked a bit. "Perhaps that's true…still…those second rate treasure hunters might be on to something."

Jeffery blinked. "I'm…not following, sir."

"Jeffery, do you know why that key was so important to Ravenfield?"

The parrot scoffed and crossed his wings, perching himself on the railing. "Honestly, with the things he has stolen, I'm not surprised he was drawn to it because it was shiny or something. Did you know he stole a grand piano once?" He slapped his face with a groan. "And everyone says WE'RE the bad guys."

The captain grunted at his navigator's ignorance. "For once, I would like you to use your brain. Really think about that key. It shouldn't have been so difficult to gain access to and be guarded by Earth Guardians and a mage if it was a piece of junk."

The Chatot rubbed his chin in thought. "Huh…you're right, captain. That is most peculiar. Maybe it's part of a treasure chest."

"No, it's much more than that." He closed his eyes. "When Ravenfield and I were exploring the cave, I got a good look at his map. There was something different about it. It led him specifically to that key." He opened his eyes, watching a cloud pass under their ship. "I believe he's looking for multiple keys."

Jeffery tilted his head in confusion. "Multiple keys?"

"Ten, to be exact." He stepped back and started walking down the ship stairs.

Jeffery followed him, laughing a bit. "If I may be so bold, how would you know that?"

"Because it's part of a legend. A legend I've heard of for my entire life." He walked up to his quarters and opened the door.

His navigator flapped behind him. "What are you doing?"

"I'll be in my quarters doing research on this item. If Ravenfield and his team are after it, I'll be there to steal it away from him."

"Steal what?"

Arid gave a haunting chuckle as he closed the door. "The legendary Idol of Origin." The door closed in Jeffery's face, leaving him flapping there in shock.

"The…Idol of what?"

---

"…and you're sure you don't know where they might have headed off to?"

The traveling circus crew had made it to Marble Stone City quite some time ago. They meant to leave sooner, but Ava's good nature slowed them down a bit, seeing as how their city had endured quite the beating. She practically begged Vince to let them stay and help for a while. He would say no, but his wife had her way of persuasion with him. He was so weak-kneed to her charms.

They spent half the week helping with minor repairs, or entertaining the saddened children seeing as how they were heavily affected by the loss of their homes. It brought a smile to the ringmaster's face. Perhaps staying to help was a good thing.

Besides, the other reason they stayed to help was so Ava could ask around about Wes, Flint, and Ella. While they didn't affect her sleep, her visions have been plaguing her dreams every so often. She needed confirmation about what the future was asking before something terrible happens.

Muk shook his head at the ringmaster. "Like I told you, sir, they never gave specifics as to where they were going. All we do know is that they were in a hurry for something."

"Is that so?" Vince muttered to himself. He sighed. They've talked to practically everyone and the answers turned up the same. Since they didn't have definite confirmation on their location, they could be tracking the entire Mysto region and running into them would be a miracle. "Well, thanks anyway."

He held his hand out and shook Vince's. "And thank you for helping out with our city. We appreciate it."

Ava was watching them from her trailer, which was connected to a small train of trailers and boxcars that contained the tents, props, etc., all of which being pulled by twelve Tauros. She sighed and floated back to her chair. Cradled in her arms was Charlie, who was drinking from his bottle.

"To think those three went through a disaster like this…" She chuckled quietly to herself. "They are something, I'll give them that." She narrowed her eyes at the damage. She has heard plenty from the locals that this damage wasn't caused by a Pokémon.

The thought frightened her deeply. She recognized most of the damage that had been dealt. But it wasn't possible. They couldn't be back…could they?

Charlie finished with his bottle and cooed up at his mother. He pulled on her sleeve and teethed on it.

She was pulled from her thoughts and looked down at him. She smiled and kissed his forehead. "Silly baby." There was a knock on her door. "Enter."

Abby walked in. She carried some tools around her waist, having helped out with construction in the last few days. "Hey Mom, when are we leaving?"

"Soon, dearie." She sighed. "Though, a better question would be 'Where are we going'?"

"I'm guessing you and Dad still don't have anything on those travelers?"

"That's right."

She crossed her arms. "Why are you so interested in them, anyway? They don't seem like much."

She chuckled. "Maybe from your perspective, but, to me, they're definitely something to take interest in." She rubbed Charlie's head, who gurgled affectionately. She set him down and let him crawl around the trailer. "The two male Eeveelutions are the sons of my old friend, Garret."

Abby tapped her chin. "Oh yeah, I remember you mentioning him before."

Charlie crawled over to a storage trunk that housed various items his mother used in her act, or just stuff she threw in there because she needed a safe spot for them. He stood up on his tiptoes and tried to push the box open.

"What really caught my interest was what I saw in my vision when they asked me to locate a potion maker." She looked away with a smile, but also possessed saddened eyes. "Oh Clara…how I miss her. To hear she suffered such a horrible fate brings a tear to my eye." She sighed. "I wish I could have seen her before she passed on, just to give her one last goodbye."

"Sorry to hear that, Mom. So, is that why you're so interested in them?"

She rubbed her right eye. "The fact my vision led them to a deceased potion maker says hundreds. But what I'm most interested in is their adventure. They were awfully sneaky about it." Her eyes narrowed into a grave glare. "Then there's the issue of that vision that triggered my breakdown. Last time I had that…" She held her head and shook it. "Well, it wasn't a pleasant vision to endure."

"What do you suppose it means?"

"I've been trying to figure it out. But I can't complete the visions without all six players. So far, it's only speculation."

"I see…"

She smiled at her oldest daughter. "Oh, don't fret about it. I'm sure everything will turn out fine."

She smiled back. "If you say so."

They heard a giggly voice nearby. They turned and saw Charlie digging through his mother's trunk. Apparently something caught his attention. Probably a pair of keys.

Ava smirked and floated over to him. "Charlie, what did I say about going into my storage trunk?" She gently grabbed him and pulled him out. "What's caught your eye now?" He giggled and pointed to the bottom of the box.

She looked down, probably thinking he found a pair of old keys. However, much to her surprise, it wasn't a pair of keys. Or anything part of her act. It was an item she has forgotten about for quite some time. She rarely dug down into her chest for stuff, as everything she needed usually rested up top.

"How is that…possible?" she muttered to herself.

Abby narrowed her eyes in concern and walked up to her. "Mom…are you okay?"

"Abby, get your father now. Tell him, once we start moving, to steer us towards Igneous Valley," she politely ordered as she reached down into the box.

"Err…alright." While still flashing a concerned look, she raced out of the trailer.

Ava pulled out the item and wiped the dust off the front. A golden decagon with ten gems at every corner, each a different color. While it looked beautiful, what caught her eye was one of the gems.

What once used to be a brilliant orange had now turned as clear as crystal.

"The Key of Earth has been found…?" she muttered in shock. Her eyes widened in revelation. "Their mission…"

The vision she had of the statue…it became so much clearer in her head. It wasn't a statue…not a large one, at least.

An idol.

She gripped the decagon tightly in her grasp. Charlie tilted his head in confusion. "Momma?" he sounded.

She ceased her tight grip and looked down at her son. She smiled. "Thank you, Charlie…" He wasn't sure why he was being thanked, but he clapped, believing he did something good.

She rested the decagon on the closed trunk and clasped her hands together. "Garret…if you can hear me in the great beyond…it seems your sons are finishing what you started…" She closed her eyes.

She thought she was behind her past now, but it appears she was wrong. The shadows were back, meaning the Shadow King was likely still alive. Garret didn't finish him off.

She sighed and looked back down at the decagon. "I hope they don't meet the same fate as you did…"