Ch.54: Rest and Relaxation, Then Back on the Road! A Gamble of a Clue is Discovered!

"Aww…this feels nice," Gwyn moaned as she rested against the edge of the hot springs. She was wearing her swimsuit, as was everyone else in the springs.

Ella was with her, relaxed in the soothing hot water. "Now this is what we needed to finish off our mini vacation. A quick dip in the hot springs and we'll be good to go."

It has been three days since Team Ravenfield had their hard-fought battle with Calder. It was tough, but they managed to win and claim the Key of Water into their possession. Almost immediately after they returned to land, Ella demanded they spend the next three days, at LEAST, to relax after so long. The Espeon doesn't consider herself stuck-up, but she wasn't heading back on the road until she had her vacation from all the prophecy nonsense.

Fortunately, the others were mostly in agreement about taking the next few days off. They were well deserved given the last month has been spent fending for their lives and walking vast distances.

After returning to the surface, Team Ravenfield parted ways with the Desert Beasts, who left swiftly after. Three days after and Arid's declaration of war was still fresh in their minds. They really shouldn't be taking it as seriously as they are, but Wes wholeheartedly admitted that Arid can be dangerous when he has his mind set on something he wants. Coming from basically Arid's opposite in treasure hunting, those words weren't meant to be taken for granted.

Ella leaned her head back and looked at the wooden divider that stood between them and the hot springs on the other side. "Having fun over there, boys?"

The males of Team Ravenfield were in the hot spring on the other side of the wall, relaxing themselves into the water. Wes, who looked lazily blissful, weakly waved his paw at the wall. "Yeah…all good…"

Flint crossed his forelegs at the edge of the pool and rested his head in them while his lower half was submerged in water. His mane and hair were matted down against his body after being splashed with water, curtesy of his brother. Regardless, his nerves unwound considerably. "I have to admit, Ella, I can see why you would much rather relax."

Tony leaned against the pool's edge with his arms crossed behind his head. He smirked with his eyes closed. "Now if only the grump would lighten up."

Yes, out of everyone, it was predictably Griffin who didn't look all that invested in sitting around and doing nothing but let his skin tingle. A deadpan stare crossed his features. "How you people roped me into this is beyond my understanding…"

Tony snickered. "What? The concept of fun really that vague for you?"

"I dedicate all my unrestricted time to improving my magic and sharpening my skill with the blade."

Gwyn was the first to comment through the wall, "…uh…is that fun for you?"

"In a technical sense…I suppose so."

"Then keep doing what you do best!" the Mew cheered. Griffin rolled his eyes and sank into the water.

Tony sighed and looked at the ceiling. "Too bad we have to leave today. I wanted to spend more time with my mom and Cheri." He spent his three days wisely. Aside from flirting with the occasional girl off the street, he used that time to have fun with his loved ones. They went to a bakery, checked out the shops, and played some favorite games of theirs, with significantly less ash in their way.

Ella grinned, snickering in delight. "We've barely seen you the last few days. Sounds like you had the time of your life."

The Dewott shrugged with a light smile. "Of course I did. I haven't had that much fun in ages. It was nice to see my mom moving around and joining in." He rubbed the back of his head and laughed. "Hey, if we're lucky, Ava and Morgan will track us down again and we'll meet up for another visit!"

Wes looked down at his blurred reflection in the water. "No matter how many times I go over it, it's weird that they knew my dad." He looked over at the divider. "Actually, it's even weirder that they knew your mother, Gwyn."

Gwyn's gleeful expression faltered into a sad smile. "Heh…yeah, real weird…" She scratched her cheek as she gazed pensively into the water. "Gee…I never did take my mother for some sort of fighter. Wish I could hear stories of her adventures. They sound like they were times well spent."

Flint smiled sadly as well, closing his eyes. "I'm sure our dad had some wild stories he would've loved to tell us, too."

Wes shifted over to his brother and patted him on the head. "Well, even if he can't tell us any, I'm sure he's looking down on us right now and telling all the other Pokémon spirits in the sky, 'Hey, see those two Eeveelutions down there? Those are my boys! Aren't they so cool? Especially Wes, he's the coolest!'"

Flint smirked, then shoved his younger brother into the hot water. "Shut up, you doofus."

Wes sprung out and splashed water back at him, snickering through his grin. "You're the doofus, not me!"

A mini splash fight was held between them. Tony chuckled behind his hand in amusement, while Griffin groaned in mild annoyance. "Will you two act your age? You're acting like children." Water suddenly splashed against the side of his face. His eyes were wide in bewilderment, then he glared angrily at Tony.

The Dewott pressed his fingers together with an innocent face. "Is something wrong?"

Griffin's eye twitched, then he sighed irritably. "Very well…it seems I'll have to even the playing field." He opened his personal arsenal and pulled out Twin Storms.

The Ravenfield brothers and Tony recoiled to the other side of the pool with panicked expressions. Flint flailed his paws at him desperately. "G-Griffin, no! W-We're all adults here!"

The girls glanced at each other, wondering what was going on, then jumped in alarm as a geyser of water shot up on the other side of the divider before raining back down. Gwyn cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Are you guys okay?!"

Wes, Flint, and Tony were scattered on their side of the springs, dazed from Griffin's attack. Wes was collapsed on one of the lounge chairs, Flint was flat on his stomach on land, and Tony was upside-down in the water, eyes spinning dizzily. Griffin stood in the middle of the water with crossed arms while completely drenched into hot water. Water was sprayed all over the floor.

"They're fine," Griffin answered before sitting himself back down.

The girls blinked, looked at each other, then shrugged before laughing it off. "Boys…" Ella mumbled through her laughter. She sat back down and sighed, then tapped her gem a couple of times.

Gwyn noticed this action and asked, "Hey…are you sure you're doing alright?"

"Huh?" Ella grinned weakly. "Of course I am. Nothing to worry your adorable little head over."

Gwyn, for as naïve as she is, was totally convinced, but decided to drop it and returned to taking in the relaxing water.

Ella smiled sweetly, then looked away with a pensive look. She, at least, wished she'll be okay. While the last few days of pampering and unwinding were absolute heaven for her, it became clear she wasn't completely over what happened in their fight with Calder.

She pushed herself trying to contain the Rite of Water so her friends could form a counterattack. While she was glad to play her part in achieving victory, it came at a small cost. The mental strain she placed on her psychic powers seems to have left them a little…faulty.

How to explain that? Well, for one, she couldn't use basic telekinesis for as long as she normally does. Sometimes it has shown to just cut off against her will. A few migraines also came with the package. This wasn't something she should worry about too much. This wasn't the first case where a psychic Pokémon had placed absurd strain on themselves and received serious backlash in the end. More often than not, she'll be able to reutilize her abilities eventually. So, for the time being, she will have to hold off on using any psychic abilities for a while until they return. It wasn't the wait that concerned her, though.

The battle with Calder showed she didn't do much in defeating him. That's not to say she thought she was completely useless. Her mini sacrifice gave them the edge they needed and that much she was proud of. However, her attacks were…a different story. Throwing rocks and psychic beams were probably the best she could do in the situation. She barely learned how to use clairvoyance back in Ghost Cove and, by complete accident, used telepathy to project her thoughts.

Before and when Ella's psychic abilities returned to her, she wanted to learn everything she could to enhance her skills. She may not have magic, but she refused to fall behind the others.

Ella took a deep breath, then relaxed herself further into the soothing waters. All she needed was time and practice. First chance she got, she was going to train hard.

Their time in the hot springs came to an end. The manager wasn't at all pleased with the little splash fight on the boys' side, earning a stern lecture for about ten minutes. After that, they left and made their way to the Circus of Enchantment. Ava promised to give them fresh supplies for their journey while they took their little vacation.

Once they arrived, they were let into the fortune teller's trailer and waited patiently as she gathered the items. "Now then, I've packed you all some meat to cook up, a supply of berries that should last you a month if handed out properly, fresh supply of water bottles and some extra treats for your enjoyment."

Gwyn grinned thankfully. "This is so nice of you, Ms. Ava!"

"Ava's just fine, dear." Ava took a step back and looked the team over carefully. She couldn't help but smile nostalgically. "Heh…looking at you six reminds me of the good ol' days. You all are going places down this road."

Griffin narrowed his eyes. "This is still a lot to take in, you know. Putting our lives in danger for the sake of everything. A hard burden to carry."

Ava smirked. "And yet, none of you are backing down."

Ella closed her eyes and smirked back. "We're crazy. That's our excuse."

The fortune teller chortled in response. "We're all a little crazy."

Morgan, who stepped in on the conversation, laughed along with her after taking a swig of his flask. "You have to be crazy to take on this daunting a task."

Wes nodded. "It'll be tough, but we're sure we can handle it. The mages so far have faith in us. Makes it easier to keep going."

"There will still be challenges along the way. Don't expect all the mages to be easy to beat." Morgan glared to the side. "Trust me, you'll see what I mean in time."

Tony smirked with a raised brow. "Think you could help a couple weary travelers out and give them a heads up on the competition?"

Morgan smirked and ruffled his head. "Nice try, but this is something you'll have to figure out on your own." He paused to stare at the Dewott, then held his chin as he contemplated in silence.

Ava continued, "Anyway, do you have an idea as to where you'll go next?"

Wes pulled the map out and reviewed it. "Well, the Swamp Zone is pretty far away. We could go by there and retrieve the Key of Life."

Gwyn grinned in excitement. "You mean an entire zone completely covered in vegetation and flora?!"

"That's the Swamp Zone for ya."

Gwyn squealed excitedly and bounced in place. "We should totally go there next!"

Morgan narrowed his eyes, then held his hand up. "Actually, if I could make a suggestion…" He reached over and tapped on a spot on the map with the yellow glow. "I recommend you go here next."

Wes checked the location. "Tempest Valley, huh?"

Griffin narrowed his eyes. "The Storm Zone…"

Morgan nodded. "The Storm Zone and Aqua Zone neighbor each other, so the walk to it won't be so bad. Tempest Valley is a far way away, but the trek will be worth it, I assure you."

The team looked at each other for approval. "Any disapproval?" Wes asked.

Gwyn looked bummed out. "Aww, but the Swamp Zone!"

Flint patted her back with a reassuring smile. "If it makes you feel better, we can show you the best parts of the Swamp Zone that I'm sure you'll love."

Gwyn's eyes sparkled. "Really?!"

"It might be a long detour when we enter the zone, but it's worth it just to make you happy." Flint gasped in surprise as the Mew snatched him off his feet and hugged him tightly, affectionately rubbing her cheek against his.

"You're the best, Flinty! Thank you!"

Flint's cheeks warmed up as he awkwardly hugged her back with a gentle laugh. "N-No problem…"

Wes smiled amusingly, then looked at the other three. "Anyone else?"

Ella shrugged. "Eh, I'm cool with anywhere."

Tony cracked his knuckles with a bold smirk. "A location completely covered in the strongest storms of Mysto? No need to convince me! I'm on board!"

Eyes fell on Griffin, who occasionally directed glances at the map, getting a decent look at the possible route they'll have to take. He…wasn't looking forward to it, personally speaking. The Storm Zone is his home zone and, seeing the path they'll have to take, that meant they'll have to cross through…

Griffin closed his eyes and sighed. He didn't want to make a big deal excusing himself out of the trip. They needed to get the key eventually. Maybe by a different path, but it was best to get it while they could.

"…sure. Storm Zone, it is."

With everyone in agreement, Wes stuffed the map away. "Well, I guess we're going to Tempest Valley. I've heard good things about it. Not so much about the lightning."

Morgan smiled. "It'll be an interesting experience, I assure you."

There was a knock on the side door. Ava opened it and let in Cheri, Angel, Faye, Susan and Micah, and her children. The Pikachu quickly ran to her older brother and hugged his waist, nuzzling her head into his vest. Fortunately for him, she didn't look upset over him leaving a second time. "Good luck on your trip, big brother!"

Tony grinned and hugged his sister back. "Same to you, you little nuisance." He held her shoulders firmly and gave her a stern glare. "And no more tightrope walking!"

Cheri winked and stuck her tongue out cheekily. "No way!"

Tony groaned, then snickered through his teeth. "Stupid kid…" He ruffled her head, making her giggle. "Just don't get yourself hurt or you'll get an earful from me."

"I'm not a baby, Tony!" Cheri playfully whined, lightly shoving him. The two siblings held each other again and laughed.

Abby and Carrie walked over and smiled at the Dewott. "We'll make sure she has the time of her life in our troupe," Abby promised.

"Cheri's the greatest friend we've ever had! It's our duty as hosts to make her feel welcomed!" Carrie added.

Tony smiled and ruffled the young Hawlucha's head. "I'm glad the squirt has some friends to call on."

Faye chuckled and slid over. "I'll also give you my full guarantee that she won't be harmed in the shows. I do help plan the shows."

"Guess I'll be holding you accountable," Tony guessed with a smirk.

Faye rolled her eyes, smiling in amusement. "I suppose so." She looked to the rest of Team Ravenfield. "You all take care." She smirked at Griffin. "Especially you, grumpy." Griffin shot her a warning glare, but she shrugged it off and laughed.

The Grovyle sighed and crossed his arms. Weird girl.

Ella held Micah and Susan in her forelegs and gave them affectionate hugs. "You two be good now, you hear? Adorable little doofuses like you shouldn't be getting into trouble."

"We won't!" Susan exclaimed.

"We promise!" Micah added.

Gwyn couldn't help herself and just squealed at the polarized rodents. "They are so adorable~! Let me hug them!" She snatched them up and affectionately nuzzled them, which they enjoyed and returned in full.

Flint held his paw against his lips to prevent laughter from escaping. The sight of the green Mew cuddling the two children was too precious and sweet to ruin. If she ever had children, she would be a very loving mother. "Heh…there might be a chance you're not getting those two back," the Flareon commented.

Ava giggled in agreement. "I wouldn't object to it if it weren't for your current agenda."

Tony exchanged a hug with his mother, saying, "Please stay safe, both of you."

Angel hugged her son back and nodded. "You shouldn't have to worry about us, sweetie. We'll be fine. I should be telling you not to get yourself hurt."

Tony chuckled and pulled away. "I wouldn't dream of doing that to you two." He walked over to the others while Ella pulled Susan and Micah off Gwyn and sent them off back to Faye.

The team stood by near the trailer door, then exchanged one final stare with everyone, specifically on Ava and Morgan. Wes narrowed his eyes. "If we ever need your help…or have any questions…"

Morgan smiled and nodded before he could finish. "You're free to call upon us if needed. This is your destiny to fulfill, but veteran fighters like us will lend our strength and wisdom when needed. You have our word."

Ava nodded. "Don't feel afraid to ask for our help. Our fighting days may be behind us, but we're still as strong as ever."

That was all the convincing Wes needed to leave with a bright smile. "Right…thank you for everything. I hope we cross paths again soon." He turned to the others and nodded. "Everyone else ready?"

They nodded back. "Yeah!"

Wes took the lead out and led his team out of the circus area. Ava and Morgan stood by and watched them as they turned a corner and disappeared out of their line of sight. Morgan glared. "We may need to look more into the activities with the shadows. The Shadow King is out and about somewhere, probably still inhabiting Alex or someone."

Ava nodded solemnly. "It's out of our hands for the time being. If we must interfere, we will."

"Do you think they stand a chance against the Shadow King?" Morgan asked as he took his flask out. "Gauging what we know from our last encounter with him, I don't think those kids are ready to take him on."

"Then we better hope they train hard, or at least avoid him at all costs. If it comes down to that, he'll be our problem." Ava then directed a questioning glance at Morgan. "…why the Storm Zone?"

Morgan turned away from the door and sipped on his flask. "No reason."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Don't try pulling that on me, mister. What's going through that brain of yours?"

The Hypno tilted his head to the side and laughed quietly. "What could you possibly be insinuating that I'm thinking?"

"I have a couple of guesses…" She shut the door behind her. Faye and the others must have left in the short time they've been conversing. The privacy was very much welcomed for this. "We both know who the current ten mages are. You seem to be interested in them taking on Leroy next. Why is that?"

Morgan tittered lightly, then took another swig of his flask. "I think the answer should be obvious…Leroy, I feel, should be their next test."

Ava glanced to the side and compiled his vague wording, then raised a brow in suspicion. "A personal test for one of them…"

"Correct, my dear." Morgan capped his flask and stuffed it in his back pocket. "Some factors need to be set up for the best possible results. I think it'll be beneficial."

Ava held her hips and cocked her brow. "That's not your only line of reason for sending them to the Storm Zone. Not just for the Storm Mage…but so they might have a chance encounter with a certain someone."

The Hypno grinned. "Tempest Valley is pretty close to Gale Wind Village."

Ava narrowed her eyes, then sighed. She held her face and turned away. "You want them to see her, don't you?"

"There's only three of us left. It might be best for them to hear things from another perspective." Morgan's eyes narrowed sullenly. "Seeing them might bring back that spark she has forgotten for so long. She needs it. She really does."

"You're a cryptic man, Morgan," Ava pointed out.

Morgan scratched at his left upper arm. That particular spot irritated him furiously. "I've been told." The itching came and went, allowing the Hypno to resume his usual demeanor. "Anyway, we should be getting back on the road ourselves."

"We'll be leaving tomorrow," Ava reminded, walking over to her tea maker. "For now, let's wish the new Team Ravenfield the best of luck."

Morgan smiled and joined her for some tea. "Of course."

Faraway from Spring Wells City, the Wasteland flapped its massive wings through the sky and carried the crew to their next destination- wherever that may be. Jones wasn't given specific instructions on where to fly, only ordered by the captain to 'fly in that direction.' It was abundantly clear their captain had no destination in mind and was simply having them go wherever they crossed.

The Barbaracle steering the ship looked down at the main deck and spotted Tyrone looking over the side. "Tyrone, where are we now?"

The Tyrogue shaded his eyes from the sun and peered down at the lands below. "Hmm…I think we're still within the Aqua Zone's borders. I'm not really sure where we're going, to be honest."

"Neither does the captain, but I'll take his word for it." Jones narrowed his eyes. "I never realized Captain Arid could be so serious. He actually declared war on Ravenfield." He closed his eyes and chuckled. "Then again, the prize we're after is a worthy one."

Tyrone was less than enthusiastic. He has heard the legend of Apollo and the evil warlock, where the Idol of Origin originates from, so he understood the drive to get it. However, as he looked at the cursed gauntlet that was forever bounded to his arm, the prospect of finding yet another ultra-powerful relic sounded displeasing.

Rico joined the conversation as he swabbed the deck. "Can you imagine all we could accomplish with the idol? That thing can make you a king with a single thought. The legends say it has no limit to its power."

Jones nodded. "I've heard about that, too. Imagine all the riches we could obtain. We'd be feared throughout the skies. No one would dare challenge us."

Tyrone drummed his gloved fingers across the deck's edge. "Unlimited power…yet you guys still want to be feared?"

"Don't listen to the simple minded, Tyrone." The three pirates casted their gaze over at Graham, who was leaning against the opposite side of the deck with his eyes closed. "Given their impulsive nature, this ship will go down in flames by the time they locate the remaining keys."

Rico glared lightly. "Oh, don't go acting like you don't care for the idol, Graham. We all know that's a treasure trove waiting to be exploited for you."

Graham smirked. "Eh, guilty as charged." He stood up straight and slid his hands into his pockets. "I could sell that thing off to the highest bidder and plan myself early retirement. Or exploit its power to give me the lap of luxury I desire while still maintaining my status as a bounty hunter. There's many ways to look at it."

"Well, the first option is a negative," Rico pointed out. "We're not selling the idol when it can make our dreams come true."

"Perhaps that would make for a bad deal." He grabbed hold of the ratlines and climbed up to the crow's nest. "Even so, do you really think this crew has a chance of beating a treasure hunter who has one up you nearly every single time? This is why I stick to taking bounties when I'm with this crew: it guarantees riches."

He made his way up to the top, leaving earshot of the main deck. Rico sighed. "Condescending prick…"

"It would be wise to get into shape," Jones pointed out. "After all, the only other threat outside of Ravenfield was the Devil Wakers and Ambrosine was the reason we lived to tell the tale."

"Yeah, uh…what did happen to the Devil Wakers after they…crashed?" Tyrone asked hesitantly.

A new voice joined the party, this time being Banama. "I've heard through the newspapers that they're still kicking. Not sure if we've crippled their resources or manpower, but they're no doubt pretty pissed about our last encounter. Like any mad pirate sailing the skies, they'll be coming back for revenge if we meet again."

Rico clenched his fist and grinned widely. "Ha! As if we'd give them the opportunity! I say we take to intense training and really prove what makes us the Desert Beasts!"

Banama nodded in agreement. "With you all the way on that one."

Jones tapped his chin briefly, then placed both hands back on the wheel. "Captain Arid probably won't object to the idea. We could take a day during restocking to spar."

Rico snickered with glee. "We'll show those Devil Wakers and Ravenfield that we're the toughest pirates of the sky! Bold! Cunning!"

Loud, playful music cut into his exclamation, turning their attention to Lyra as she happily played on her concertina. She spun on her heel, then posed dramatically with a goofy smile. Banama smirked lightly. "Annnd non-stop partying, apparently." Lyra silently giggled.

Jones chuckled to himself, then looked out ahead. He then noticed something laying on the bowsprit. Upon leaning in, he made out the dark blue fur and pink feather on its head, clarifying the species immediately. "Indigo! You shouldn't be laying on the bowsprit while we're in flight!"

His warning fell on deaf ears as the Sneasel lay on the ship spar with her arms crossed behind her head and one leg crossed over the other. She had a distant smile on her face as she hummed quietly. Her mind has been wandering for the past few days, thinking about a certain friend of hers she has only recently reconnected with.

Tony Sapienti…long time no see. The Sneasel snickered to herself. A chance reuniting I never expected. Dreams to come true after all. You've grown a lot from that wimpy little Oshawott I once knew. Look at you now: bold, charismatic, strong, and, in my own personal opinion, quite handsome. She giggled under her breath. Oh, listen to myself. I sound like I have my eyes on him. I've only gotten to rekindle our friendship within an hour or so. Still, he has that adorable, devious charm I saw in him before.

"INDIGO!"

The Sneasel finally jumped from her daydreams and sprung up, nearly slipping off the bowsprit. She retained her balance, thankfully. She walked off the bowsprit, then waved her fist at Jones. "Don't yell at me! Do you know how dangerous laying on there is? I could have fell!"

"I…I…!" Jones sighed and rubbed his face. "Ugh…whatever."

Arid sat in his office with his hands folded together, staring heavily at his desk with a distant look in his eyes. By his side, as usual, was Jeffery, who looked a bit worried by his captain's unchanging expression. The last three days, the captain would stare off into space with a scowl present on his face. A meditative state filled with deep thought.

The Chatot knew better than to disturb his captain, but this has gone on long enough. He perched himself on the desk and folded his wings. "My captain, are you going to finally tell me what's wrong?"

Arid said nothing, though his eyes showed activity as they directed themselves towards the Chatot for a moment before looking back at the desk.

Jeffery groaned, then flapped his wings. "What's got you acting weird lately?"

"…Jeffery, you told me the shadows are taking part in this little game, too?"

The Chatot blinked, then nodded solemnly. "Heard it from that circus trailer myself. They were supposed to be gone forever."

Arid relaxed himself and leaned back. "That's where the problem arises. They gave our kind a heck of a lot of trouble back in the day. With Ravenfield apparently involved in all of this, there's no doubt our paths will cross, too, if we start our hunt for the keys."

Jeffery narrowed his eyes. "Not exactly an easy task. We didn't get a good look at Ravenfield's map. We're lost on those grounds."

Arid closed his eyes. "Perhaps…but there are other ways to take them. All we need to do is wait and take our opportunity when it really counts. We won't let Ravenfield or his team get in our way."

Jeffery nodded, then narrowed his eyes seriously. "I am wondering, though…when I overheard the prophecy thing, it mentioned them and the Shadow King. A fated battle for the fate of the world…that could end in death."

Arid grimaced. It was hard to believe what came out of Jeffery's beak when he first relayed the prophecy to him. Then and now, it seemed ludicrous. Can one truly see the fated death of an individual from that far into the future?

Fate seemed like a tricky subject. Once stated, that's it. It's almost like saying 'This is your future, so suck it up and deal with it.' A harsh way to describe, yet was that true? If so, what did that mean for Team Ravenfield once they go further down their intended path? Is their fate sealed in stone? Can fate be changed?

Arid gripped the edge of his desk and pulled himself out of his chair. He walked around his quarters with a dark expression. "Ravenfield has been placed in a tricky bind. The mighty Shadow King that was once feared…is he truly back from his eternal imprisonment?" The Darmanitan glared. "All I see is competition, and not the good kind."

Jeffery glanced out the door window and spotted the crew dancing around on the main deck. The Chatot narrowed his eyes. "I have to wonder if our crew would be enough for such a threat."

"Don't speak of the negatives," Arid advised. "We'll be sure to steer clear of these ethereal phantoms. Once we take control of the idol, the shadows will only be another pest to flick away."

Jeffery grinned, refusing to doubt the judgment of his captain. "Of course, my captain! You're right as usual!"

Arid closed his eyes and returned to his desk. "Have Jones dock in about three hours. Nearest town or city in that time window."

"Of course, my captain!" Jeffery flew out of the captain's quarters.

Arid took a deep breath and exhaled thick smoke from his nostrils. He looked over at the Harenae Gauntlet, sitting in the corner clenched into a fist. He placed a hand on the golden gauntlet and stared at his reflection in the metal.

That Umbreon continues to vex me, whether intentionally or not. That greedy treasure hunter becomes the center of a grand prophecy balanced on the fine line of life and death. I wouldn't be surprised if he used this to gain fame. He glared at his reflection. I will surpass you, Ravenfield. I will find the Idol of Origin first…then I will be the one with all the power.

Hal placed a box on his shop counter, removed his fake arm, then cut the tape on top with the Sword of Silence. "Not me preferred method of getting new artifacts, but it's effective," he mumbled to himself. With Wes gone, Hal has been branching out to different treasure hunters and hiring them to send over used or rare mystical items for decent pay. He missed having the Umbreon around and getting rare artifacts, since there was a more personal connection, but this was the next best option.

However, when one sends out a help ad for treasure hunters, there was the occasional jokester trying to be cute.

For instance, the moment Hal opened the box, whipped cream exploded in his face. His single eye opened through the cream, blinked a couple times, then slanted it into an annoyed glare. "…I'm not mad…I'm not mad…" His heavy breathing said otherwise. He locked his prosthetic arm back into place, then sighed angrily. "What a…lovely addition to me shop."

Unfortunately for those jokesters, these packages had their return addresses on them.

Hal, being the petty ex-pirate he was, placed an unmarked sack in the box, then resealed it. "Ye're a funny guy, but no one makes a fool out of Captain Specter! Hope ye like woodeater locus casings!" He laughed out loud at the ceiling, then grunted in pain. "ARG! Me back!"

He set the box to the side and rubbed his sore back. As it relaxed, the front door open. He turned to greet the customer, but was surprised to see Jonathan. He looked a bit more refreshed than when he last stumbled on the ex-pirate. He still had dark circles under his eyes, but looked overall healthier. The Scrafty even worked in a smile. "Hello Hal."

Hal grinned and waved. "Geno! Good to see ye in good spirits! Vivian's medicine doing ye wonders?"

Jonathan rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I haven't slept that well in ages." He then finally registered the cream splashed over the shop owner's face. "Um…should I ask?"

Hal growled and wiped his face off with a rag under the counter. "Stupid treasure hunters these days…ye get the competent ones, then ye get the ones ye want to strangle by the neck!"

The college professor glanced to the side. "Riiiight…"

Hal finished cleaning his face, then through the rag over his shoulder. "Anyway, what can I do ye for? Come for a friendly visit? Or ye here to buy something? If it's the latter, can I interest ye in a brain in a jar?" The disgusted look on Jonathan's face told him otherwise. "It's, uh…not what ye think."

"I'll…take your word for it, but that's not why I'm here." Under the professor's arm was a burgundy covered book, the one he has been reading recently. "I've actually come to ask you a few questions. Since you've been around the region for years, I assume you've been to the many ends of the zones."

Hal grinned proudly and held his hips. "Ah, care to listen to me tales of pirate life? Always happy to tell me tales! Shall I start with the time I captured Garret and threatened to throw him over me boat?!"

Jonathan kept forgetting that the deceased Ravenfield and ex-pirate were mortal enemies back in the day. "That's, uh…not what I had in mind."

Hal groaned. "Aww…well, it didn't have a happy ending…for me. Darn Jolteon had allies, so…me fun didn't last very long."

Jonathan snapped his fingers. "Hal, stay on topic."

"Right, right. Proceed."

Jonathan held his book up so he could look at the cover. "As I was saying, I was hoping to get your word on something I've been researching." Hal glared, remembering that he and Vivian specifically ordered the Scrafty to call off shadow research while he recovered. "NOT…about the shadows, specifically."

"Then what?"

"Well, I've got to thinking about the idol and pondered how many of the old legends are true. I happened on this book miraculously: 'The Immensus Library.'"

Hal's eye widened. "The…Immensus Library?"

"Yes. This book is quite fascinating. I never realized a single building could have so many pages dedicated to explaining it. This library sounds impossible, yet…well, our region has proven to deny the realm of impossibility. But still, this seems unreal. A library with all the answers. A treasure trove of collected data from all means of conception. Fictional, historical, even personal data about a single individual. Can you believe it?!"

Hal tugged on his shift collar awkwardly and laughed to ease himself. "Haha…y-yeah…sounds ridiculous."

Jonathan paced around the shop, flipping through pages. "There's recounted stories passed down through myth about travelers who sought out the library for its infinite wisdom. One story even goes into the basics of how the library operates. A single archivist who manages the production of the history of Mysto. Every interpretation of these stories says the same thing: it's a library without end. Basically, it's bigger on the inside."

Hal turned away, feeling a bit nervous. "R-Right…um, what's yer point?"

"I came to you because I have to know: does the Immensus Library actually exist?"

The Krokorok clenched his teeth and eased up his tension. "Heh…how should I know? It's just a fictional tale."

"So was the Idol of Origin, but look where we are now."

Hal scratched his cheek. "Geno…ye should probably get some sleep. All this thinking might not be good for ye."

"Hal, I'm being serious here. If this library has all the answers, if it actually exists, it can tell us about the Shadow King and where the shadows came from."

Hal grunted. "The library isn't as cut and dry as ye think, Geno."

Jonathan blinked. "What do you mean?"

Hal sighed and crossed his arms. "I had a crewmate obsessed with obtaining knowledge. He was the eccentric smart guy of me crew." He narrowed his eye. "I've heard him talk about the library for years before me crew and I parted ways. Don't remember much, but I do know a bit about the library." He glared at Jonathan. "Just because it can obtain the knowledge of everything doesn't mean it's that simple to obtain for mere mortals."

"I'm confused."

"Remember when ye said the library can obtain knowledge on any living creature in exist? The legends are true that it has that potential, but ye might have skimmed over something important. Let's use Garret as an example. If I were to go into that library, it'll have all the recorded information about the Jolteon on hand. Not something easy to obtain, mind ye." He narrowed his eye. "But, if ye were to look for information about, say, me, that information is off limits.

"What are the differences between Garret and me?"

Jonathan narrowed his eyes and considered the variables. It couldn't have anything to do with their species. Not so much age, either. Hal was older than the Jolteon even before he died. What other difference was…?

"You can't obtain the information about someone from the living…" Jonathan muttered.

Hal closed his eye. "More specifically, ye can't obtain info on someone still in our realm. The shadows, whether they be ghosts or whatever, exist on our plane of existence. Ye can't find info on anyone from the other regions or in the alternate dimensions scattered about Mysto. Once ye die, yer spirit is sent to the afterlife, thus removed from Mysto and our realm entirely." Hal looked at the back of his store, eyeing up his wares. "The Shadow King's information can only be available if he is jettisoned from Mysto's realm. Even then, that information isn't just given out.

"The Immensus Library, according to me old crewmate, went by another name. It was originally referred to as the 'Infinite Center of Heavenly Knowledge as Foretold by the Gods.' Ye can see why that name died out with later interpretations. There was a point in our history when the gods of our universe lived amongst the mortals during the beginning stages of creation. According to the legends, Mysto was the first of the regions formed, saying their powers left behind a latent power waiting to be accessed. That power being magic…

"Uxie, Bringer of Knowledge, wanted to keep a record of each region's development. Mysto was the starting grounds for that idea. The Immensus Library was the first and only of its kind ever created. The legends say only one was made before the plans were shot down. It became an outdated information gatherer compared to how the gods likely view the world nowadays. Me crewmate theorized it had something to do with the creation of the Idol of Origin and the implications of both sources used together. That artifact…with the power of those libraries…would have been catastrophic."

Jonathan narrowed his eyes. "So…what's stopping me from getting info on the deceased?"

"The gods themselves. Knowledge comes power and they knew this. Uxie devised a safety measure into the library to keep the secrets of one individual contained. The history of our world is nothing new, if with only a few secrets we may have overlooked. But the secrets of one individual can bring about consequences. That information is reserved only for the afterlife and the gods. It can only be obtained by the word of Arceus himself. As ye could imagine, that's not something ye can get like an ice cream."

"…what are you trying to tell me? Hal, you sound like the library is in fact real!"

"…" Hal sighed and stepped around the counter. "Jonathan…having that kind of info on hand can make ye a genius…but there are some things about our history better left forgotten. That library has near perfect accuracy when it comes to obtaining info." He glared. "I've never seen it…but there is reason to believe it exists. No one's been able to find it.

"What I'm saying…is that ye're risking a lot if ye try to go there. Not only is finding it next to impossible, but…what happens when ye see something ye should have never seen? Something within history that should have stayed forever a secret? Ye might be able to skip the trivial stuff and find the Shadow King's tomb…but ye might also find sensitive info that will change how ye see this world. The entire, complete history of Mysto before we ever started recording our own history.

"The Immensus Library is a godly creation that shouldn't be meddled with by mere mortals, just like the Idol of Origin."

Jonathan stepped forward, still trying to prove his case. "Hal, that library might have answers, maybe even a lead. Don't you want to take the shadows out for good?"

"We don't even know where the Shadow King is, nor do we know how he's haunting ye." Hal shook his head. "Geno, as yer friend, I'm telling ye not to pursue the Immensus Library. It's been hidden ever since the formation of the Mysto region. Ye won't be able to find it." Hal sighed shakily. "Between this and the idol, it's quite clear the gods left behind a lot of their past in Mysto. A starting ground for divine beings, which we turned into our world of magic."

Jonathan glared. "But if there's a chance…"

"We need to rely on Fernando's scouting and Ravenfield's mission. We can't afford any slip-ups." Hal sighed. "I'm sorry, Geno, but…as much as I hate to admit it, we're not cut out for this stuff.

"We can't be heroes now…and we're certainly not gods."

Jonathan felt a cold shiver run up his spine after that line was delivered. He held his head and groaned quietly. Sudden rush of déjà vu. He shook his head and tried to ignore the cold feeling through his body.

Hal was observant enough to notice this. "Ye alright?"

Jonathan clutched his shirt and breathed steadily. "…yes…I'm fine." He sighed. "I'm sorry, Hal, I'm just…I just want to help in any way I can. I…can't explain why, but…I really, really need to help them. Any way I can…"

Hal narrowed his eye. "Just forget about the library, Jonathan. This is out of our hands."

Jonathan looked at the ground, then looked at the book cover again with newfound confliction. He felt so sure of himself stepping into the pawn shop, hoping the former pirate would be onboard with this game changing plan. Seeing how serious the Krokorok got, though, it was enough to show things don't come so simply. Hal flat out confirmed his beliefs, but…it would be an endless journey to locate the library after eons of existence.

Jonathan, without another word, turned his back to Hal and walked out the shop with a somber expression. The ex-pirate wanted to call him out and apologize for being so brash, but it had to be said. The idol was bad enough. Messing with an archive constructed by the gods wouldn't go over well.

Even in his defeat, the Scrafty refused to let this stop him. He clenched his fist and looked forward as he stepped out the shop. I'm sorry, Hal…but I can't afford to stay on the sidelines. Wes…Flint…Ella…all of them are putting their lives at risk. I need to help and this is my only chance. I will…find the Immensus Library.