Ch.83: The Dreaded Separation in the Snow! Now the True Horrors are Realized!

Hardly any activity of life could be seen out in the Snow Zone. From only the common traveler to those who lost their way, very few dared to brave the element of snow. It was all too easy to get lost out in the wild winter of white.

With the attack on the Immensus Library, Team Ravenfield's impromptu escape wasn't as flawless in execution as desired. While impossible to say one flew halfway across the Snow Zone, it would take a miracle to find their way back to each other.

Moments after landing and recovering from his long fall, the team leader popped his head out of the snow, taking a long deep breath from lack of air. He pressed his paws into the snow and panted quickly to regain his breath. He held his chest and felt the pounding of his heart in his ribcage. Was it the fall that got him work up or the fact he was staring Death in the face? He was leaning more towards the death, but that fall surely left his stomach turned over.

Once his breathing returned to slightly normal, he rummaged through the snow and, thankfully, located his hat. However, he couldn't see any sight of his bag, which was a problem of its own. If he remembered correctly, it was kept near the entrance, so it was possible Uxie ejected their belongings out, too. However, it didn't seem to tag along with him.

It would be a problem if all their stuff was scattered through the snow. It would take weeks to find everything, assuming they didn't get lucky and found them on the first hour. Worst of all, the map and keys were inside his bag. Getting those lost and being picked up by some random traveler would be the worst, assuming he wasn't talking about the shadows.

Wes plopped his hat back on his head before standing up. He held his paw over his eyes and looked around at the vast whiteness in the distance. Just…gray and white. That was all he could see.

He cupped his paws around his mouth. "FLINT!" He waited a moment for a response, but nothing came back. He glared and tried again. "GWYN! ELLA! TONY! GRIFFIN!"

It was no use. With how hard the snow was blowing, his voice was likely drowned at. No one would be able to hear him for miles. He didn't have that kind of time to find his team. As harsh as it sounded, finding his bag was more important. He couldn't let any of those items get lost or stolen.

Wes gripped his hat and turned his body to face in the direction of the wind. His eyes wandered around before spotting something out of place in the white. The immediate sight of it made his stomach churn and a vehement heat build in his chest.

It was far, but he could clearly see the spiraling ball of darkness swirling atop the mountain where, certainly, stood the Immensus Library. It was completely engulfed in the sphere, now just another piece of property owned by the shadows. Something about this shadowy display, though, filled him with a bitterness he never quite experienced before. He hated the shadows, definitely, but…this, in particular, ached at his heart. It…hurt to look at.

"…The man known as Jonathan Geno…was nothing more than a pawn of my design…he never existed…he was never real…"

Wes clenched his eyes shut and shook his head furiously. "That's not true…THAT'S NOT TRUE!" He smacked his paw across the snow, sending it along the wind. He panted a bit, then his eyes shrank as he took his anger out on the snow, growling furiously like a savage beast. "HE CAN'T BE THE SHADOW KING! HE CAN'T!"

He pounded his paws into the snow, but his injuries quickly burned him out. He faceplanted into the snow and panted heavily. He gripped his hat and pulled it down on his head, sniffling as hot tears drizzled down his face.

"The prophecy will not come true."

Wes lay motionless in the snow as the tears came down his face. "…Professor Geno…was Alex Ghostwind…this whole time…?" He closed his eyes. "Professor Geno…wasn't real? Just…his puppet? The man who inspired me to keep moving forward…the man who…who never gave up on me, even through everything I've done…Professor Geno…"

The Umbreon buried his face into his forelegs, sobbing quietly into the snow. Suddenly, finding the keys, map, and his friends just didn't seem all that important anymore. He was too drained…too miserable, to even think of anything else.

'I-I…I looked up to Geno…I admired him for his teachings…for helping me…was anything he told me real? Was I…just being used? Tricked…by some heartless monster?' Wes shuddered, then curled up into ball as the snow fell over him. 'Why…Why do people I look up to…why do they always…?'

He pressed his paws to his eyes and just lay there, crying, as his sadness was drowned out in the snow.

As usual, nothing but plain white snow for miles. However, just recently, two sunken patches were made after a recent landing by two Eeveelutions. First to emerge from the frightening landing was Ella, who gasped from a brief shock that overcame her. She flung herself up and leaned back on her paws, catching her breath with her eyes darting all over the place.

"What…the hell…is wrong with that Legendary?!" she ranted in the heat of the moment. "He nearly killed us!" She slipped off her paws and landed on her back. She closed her eyes and took a moment to calm her mind. "…On the other paw, we were going to die a moment later, so I can't complain too much…"

She spread her forelegs out and looked at the snowflakes flying over her face. While her face didn't say it, she was still under a lot of stress after nearly meeting her end, and from the one person they never suspected. How could they have guessed their own professor was the host of Shadow King?

Perhaps, in hindsight, it wrapped up some lingering questions, but not without the full story. Her mind wandered back to when she talked to Geno earlier and…suddenly, parts of that conversation became all too clear. But…did that mean he knew he was hosting the Shadow King…or did he fear he was losing his grip on reality and thought of the worst-case scenario. Perhaps he was unsure, but making assumptions.

'What did he go through to come to such a spot-on conclusion?'

Ella's eyes wandered off to her right for a moment when she bit of orange buried in the snow, along with a half-buried bowler hat. Her eyes widened. "Holy shit! Flint!" She quickly pulled out of the snow and raced over to him.

Using Psychic, she pulled him from the snow and lay him on his back before standing over and checking his situation. Thankfully, he was still breathing normally. In fact, the spot she pulled him from was mostly melted, hence why his body was so wet. That would normally be a problem, but the heat he naturally gave off would make up for it.

She sat him up and lightly patted his cheek. "Flint! Wake up!"

She got a weak groan out of him before slowly coming to. The Flareon weakly opened his eyes, then held his throbbing head. "Ugh…I think…I'm going to be sick…"

Ella wrapped her forelegs around him. "I'm just glad we're safe…"

"Yeah…" There was a brief pause from Flint before asking, "…You're just hugging me because you're cold, aren't you?"

"Don't ruin it." Once she got all toasty and warm, she pulled off of him. She sighed and looked around at the snow. "I…I can't believe that…" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "What we saw back there…that was…real, right? I…I'd hope it was just a dream."

Flint's ears flopped. "…I'm sorry, Ella…but all of that was real." His face scrunched up the more he thought about it. "The Shadow King has been haunting Geno this whole time…it makes too much sense. There's…just no way I can think of…for him to inhabit a body and…haunt another…t-t-the coincidences…of course the Shadow King would know where the map was…where we were at the time…he was…staring at us this whole time-"

Ella pressed her paw against his lips, showing sympathy in her shimmering eyes. "Flint…I get you're hurting right now, so am I, but you're gonna have to cut your gloomy, verbose realization and help me." She looked around at the white ground around them. "We have no idea where the others are."

Flint pressed his lips together, then took a deep breath. "…Professor Geno was like a friend to me…was anything about our time together real? Was it…all a lie?"

Ella sighed and pressed her paw against her forehead. "Flint…please…I get it…" She looked at the snowy ground with sad eyes. "I'm…confused, too. I…I can't believe what I saw and I still think this is some screwed up dream…" She pulled her head up and glared ahead. "But right now, our friends could be in danger. There's still a chance the heralds and the…S-Shadow King…will come looking for us."

Flint blinked, then glared. "And the Desert Beasts…" He stood up, a little shaky at first, but found his legs. "Sorry…I'll…I'll be fine…"

Ella closed her eyes. "You don't have to lie to me…" She scanned the snow for any sign of friendly life. "Now…can you see their auras anywhere in the snow?"

Flint pressed his paw against his temple and focused into the distance around them. He could feel the unnatural air of the Snow Zone all around them, with all the magic flowing through it, but he could recognize the auras of his friends without doubt. "Y-Yeah…I sense some auras. They're faint, but…I definitely know those are our friends…"

"Feel like there's a 'but' to this."

"But…they're pretty far away."

Ella groaned. "Typical…how far are we talking?"

"Really far. I think Griffin and Tony are close to each other. Wes is somewhere, but I think he's closer to the library…" He flinched. "Shit…I can feel a dark presence coming from that way."

"Are the shadows coming?" Ella asked cautiously.

"N-No…it's not them. I think whatever the Shadow King did to the library…he has it completely engulfed in his aura. So far, I've got nothing on them." He honed in on their final party member. "And Gwyn's…oh no…"

"What?"

"She's farther than the others," Flint stated with fear coming to. "She's the lightest out of all of us. She must've been thrown farther when Uxie fired us out."

Ella gritted her teeth. "Swell…what should we do?"

Flint bit his lip. "Wes' closer to the shadows, which is a problem, but Gwyn's a main target of one of the heralds. Gwyn might not be as effective this far out in the snow…and Wes hasn't sustained too many injuries apart from that slash he took." He closed his eyes. "I really don't want to choose Gwyn over my own brother, but…"

He felt Ella's paw graze lightly across his back. He faced her and her comforting smile. "I get it…don't worry." She looked over her shoulder. "Wes is smart. He'll know what to do in case he gets spotted. Gwyn's not as experienced. And, like you said, Callista still wants her."

Flint smiled thankfully. "R-Right…" He focused in on Gwyn's aura again. "Still far…I say we look for Tony and Griffin since they're closer, then we rush to get Gwyn, then Wes."

"Then hustle, fire fox!" She pushed Flint to give him a running start, then ran through the snow by his side.

"How you holding out, Hothead?"

"S-S-Shut up and get me a d-d-damn jacket or s-s-something."

Tony and Griffin were the only other pair to land in the general vicinity, and good thing, too. After the last attack dealt by Voss, Griffin was rid of all his upper body's clothes. He was holding himself while shivering against the bitter winds. They stung against the deep wound on his front. Tony was handling things better since he could handle the cold waters of the deep. Though, even he will need winter clothes against this storm.

Thankfully, one serendipitous aftermath came from their unexpected flight. It seemed most of their belongings came along in their flight path, probably because they were the closest to them. They had Ella's, Gwyn's, Flint's, and their bags. The only one missing from the pile was Wes', which was either with him, one of the others, or scattered somewhere in the snow. Not the best for their circumstances.

Tony pulled through Ella's bag before pulling out a pink jacket. "Thank goodness the girls went shopping." He tossed the jacket to Griffin. "Put this on."

Griffin caught it, then deadpanned. "This better be a joke."

Tony held his hip. "Look, any other day, I would be laughing my ass off, but we're not under the best circumstances here. Put the jacket on and I promise to spare you of tarnishing your masculine dignity." He rolled his eyes, then mumbled to himself, "Not like it would be that funny. Pink's hardly a bad color…"

Griffin just gave in due to the frost showing on his skin. He slipped the jacket on and zipped it up, feel a little warmer already. He narrowed his eyes at the snow. "I can faintly sense the others, save for Ella."

Tony picked up the bags. "With any luck, she landed close with one of the others." He swung Flint's and his bag onto his shoulders. "Can you get the rest?"

"I'll do you one better." Griffin touched the bags and sent them away into his personal arsenal.

Tony felt the load lift from his back. He smirked. "Ah, another use for that little armory of yours." He glared. "Hey, wait, why couldn't we have just stashed our stuff in there before?"

"I'm not a garage to store your junk. Consider this a one-time deal."

Tony held his hands up. "Fair enough." He rubbed his hands together and gazed upon the snow. "Well, we're stuck out here until we reconvene with the others. Think you can handle the walk?"

Griffin placed his hand over his front. He grimaced at the mental image of the scarring done to his body from that last attack. The pain was still fresh, in both body and mind. No doubt what was done to his torso will remain as a permanent reminder of what he survived on this day.

"…I'll manage."

Tony nodded slowly. "…So…Geno was the guy who rescued you all those years ago?"

"…Appears so."

"How you feeling?"

"Conflicted…and angry."

"Do tell."

Griffin clenched his fist and growled through his teeth. "I'm mostly mad at myself for not recognizing him. I never got a good look at his face and, frankly, I was still shaken from my village getting burned down. Maybe if I was more vigilant, I could've recognized him and…realized what was wrong sooner."

Tony glared. "…You knew, didn't you?"

"…" Griffin sighed. "I knew something was wrong. I sensed it within him. An…unquenchable rage, maybe of two minds. Perhaps one seeking vengeance upon the world that casted him away…and the other screaming to be freed."

Tony curled his fingers into a fist. "…Does Alex Ghostwind even exist anymore?"

"It's…hard to say. I do not know much of the Shadow King's manner of possession, but I fear it to be stronger than his pawns'."

Tony sighed and scratched at his scalp. "They're all stronger than we thought. To think, even after learning Aeternus was working with them, I took him as nothing more than some obsessed mob boss. Had I realized he was that strong…" He clenched his teeth. "Well…with someone like me, who knows what would've ran out of my mouth?"

"Aside from another round of swearing?"

"Hey, you made a joke. Good on you."

Griffin hugged himself and trudged to Tony's side. "…The Shadow King left us completely defenseless with just his presence alone. I…for a moment, I thought…I could see the image of my death. A deathly pestilence that seeped from his being. Not a single attack was struck to us, yet it felt like death was certain."

Tony growled. "…I refuse to believe he's that strong…"

"Don't lie to yourself and act tough. You were as petrified as the rest of us."

"I was being shoved into the wall by a shit ton of pressure, of course I wouldn't be able to move!" Griffin glared firmly at the back of the Dewott's head. Tony stayed silent for a moment, then his shoulders drooped. "…This is just one mistake we can't make again. We know what we're facing now. We'll be more prepared next time…hopefully."

Griffin sighed and dropped his arms to his sides. "At least you aren't speaking out of blind hope."

"Isn't hope already blind?" He looked over his shoulder and smirked. "If it wasn't, that's just fate. Hope is more about taking that step over the stone slabs over the raging, watering death below…while wearing a blindfold."

"I can see you owning a degree in philosophy."

"Funny, my sister has joked about that before." The Dewott waved for him to follow. "Now come on, we've got to find the others." Griffin nodded and followed behind.

Griffin took some occasional glances at Tony as they walked. The Dewott had a blatant, jokey personality, so it was quite clear from his silence that something was bothering. Somehow, though, he didn't think it had something to do with the Shadow King directly. He could feel the anger inside him, maybe with some confusion mixed in. He seemed mad. Really mad.

Griffin narrowed his eyes slightly, then stared ahead. "…Who were you talking to back in the library?"

"Pardon?"

"The Sneasel. You two seemed awfully chummy…well, at least, that's the impression I got from how furious you looked."

"You saw that?"

"I can sense anger rather effectively. I just happened to be around when I was fighting Voss."

Tony sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "…Indigo. She's…an old friend from back home."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah…she left the village some years back…we reconnected back in the water temple, when we all got separated. She…was doing well." He glared. "Now I see her and her Desert Beast compadres fraternizing with the enemy by force."

"And this has you upset."

"Absolutely livid." He groaned. "What annoyed me more was what she said in response to my outrage…they just want to be the most feared pirates around. Tsk. Not the response I wanted to hear from someone being held against their will."

Griffin glared. "I see…you're mad because you think a part of her-"

"-is seriously thinking this deal is worth it." Tony scoffed. "I don't know what makes me sicker: my friend and her friends are being forced to do the shadows' dirty work or that they may be serious about trading their lives away for some stupid power." Griffin could see the Dewott's fists curling inside his pockets. "They don't know what they're getting themselves into."

"…Do you hate her now?" Griffin asked.

Tony glanced at him for a moment, then looked back ahead. "Don't ask such stupid questions. Of course I don't hate her. Never could."

Griffin looked up. "Well good…then maybe we can see what they have to say."

Tony stopped, then sneered at nothing. "They've been tracking us, haven't they?"

Griffin pointed up. Sure enough, among the gray skies was a shadow flying over their heads, shaped like an airship's underside. It was lowering to get into the perfect exiting level. Tony glared up at it as the ship slowed down it descent. He had a feeling they wouldn't allow their prey to escape. They must've been sent out to find and retrieve the stragglers. As if things couldn't get any worse.

Ropes started flying down, with the pirates getting ready to descend. Tony lifted his hand and generated sparks from his palm, while his fur glowed in its electric blue. "Should we fight?"

"No…" Griffin surprisingly answered. "I want to see where this goes."

One by one, pirates started swinging down from the airship and landing in front of them, sinking a foot into the snow. Tony and Griffin didn't move a muscle as the pirates dropped and surrounded them, armed with cutlasses and pistols trained on them. Again, the duo didn't flinch, nor raised their hands in surrender. They were, however, prepped for a battle should one commence.

Tony's eyes flickered over to Indigo as she landed. She caught sight of his glare and flinched, shrinking back behind Rico. The Scrafty noticed this and directed a glare at Tony in retaliation. The Dewott didn't bat an eye.

His attention shifted back to the final figure landing in the snow. He rose to full height, standing on his feet and knuckles with Jeffery perched on his shoulder, who was looking especially nervous as of now. The Darmanitan snorted smoke from his nostrils while the heat he emitted melted away at the snow around him.

Tony and Griffin remained nonchalant in their current position, though Tony couldn't help looking back at Indigo every so often. It was clear from this that Griffin will have to do most of the talking. He made his glare clear and precise to the Darmanitan captain, winning over his full attention, as well as the rest of the pirates.

"So…here's the deal," Griffin started. "We can either talk…" He reached behind his back, freaking out the pirates aiming at him from behind. "Or…we can finish you all off here and now."

Arid scowled at the Grovyle, but kept a patience within him. "Speak."

Griffin narrowed his eyes. "What exactly do you intend to do with us?"

Wes had seen earlier the Wasteland exiting the darkness engulfed around the Immensus Library. That was a clear cut sign that he needed to duck and run. How far was irrelevant at this point. He had no intention of trekking several kilometers just to flee, but he required shelter in order to escape the elements. His normal jacket, which was now ripped after…he struck, could only protect him for so long.

The idea of danger rarely affected Wes' mood and he would normally take to it with a cheerful grin on his face or some form of bravery. Now, however, all cheer and jolliness he possessed has been suppressed into the darkest corners of his soul. All that could be shown was his sadness. His rage. His guilt.

He made hard steps into the snow as he trudged and pushed through the high winds, keeping a tight hold of his hat that nearly flew off a couple of times. His tight glare scanned the ever-blowing winds for any shelter he could take comfort in until he could reunite with his allies. Such a treat would be a blessing from Arceus.

He stopped for a moment to catch his fading breath, slowly succumbing to the vicious chill of the cold. It did little to change his sour mood as he just scowled at nothing. It was getting harder to stand and see. Very soon, he'll collapse and succumb to hypothermia if he doesn't find shelter soon. Merely thinking about dying out in the snow only drew out more anger, taking it out on the snow once more.

New tears dripped from his eyes. They were barely warm against his fur. Wes exhaled a single, visible breath, then glared up for any sign of refuge. If he had the time or patience, he would build an igloo and huddled inside there.

Before he considered digging his own grave on the spot, a spot of darkness caught his eye in the white. An unchanging shape fixed into the side of a mountain. His best guess and hope: the entrance to a cave.

'Arceus did answer my prayers.'

With newfound energy surging into his legs, Wes raced up the mountain and towards the cave entrance. He wanted to find his friends above all else, but it was pointless if he couldn't survive out in the snow. He only planned to stay until he warmed up, then it was off to reconvene with his companions.

It took less time than he thought to reach the cave, likely thanks to that surge of adrenaline and hope. He sauntered into a slow pace once inside and collapsed onto the rock floor. Out of the raging winds, he could feel himself warming up already. Though, soon, his clothes will get damp and aggravate his condition if he didn't get a fire started.

Wes sat up and considered his options. He activated his Star Amulet and conjured a small Infernius to cup into his paws. The heat of the white flames licked gently at his cold and soon to be wet skin and fur. He sighed and leaned back into the wall, holding the flame up as he stared into it.

'…Professor Geno…was Alex Ghostwind this whole time…holy shit…' Wes took a moment to compose himself, lest he have another outburst of anger. 'If I had known sooner, I would've…done everything I could to…but…' Wes shook his head. 'I could've saved him! I know I could've!'

Maybe if he knew earlier on or tried harder, he could've saved Geno, or Alex, from his shackles. Maybe there was something he could do, but he failed miserably. Maybe if he did know, he would've made sure the Shadow King was never released by any means necessary.

It frustrated the Umbreon that he didn't notice this ahead of time. He was so focused on the mission, he never stopped to wonder where the Shadow King was this whole time. As in, actually take the time to investigate. He knew Fernando and the bounty hunters were on the case, but they might have been as stumped as him.

…Yet, he didn't. He didn't know and it costed him a trusted ally, or so he thought.

This whole time, what if everything that happened was done because the one they trusted with their mission the most was actually the enemy? Was the actions taken by Geno his own? Was anything about him real? Was any ounce of encouragement he offered sentimental and not some fortune cookie statement to get him off the possessed Scrafty's back?

Wes pushed the back of his head against the wall and exhaled a long-held sigh. The anger he felt diminished, now left with his grief. He actually thought he had a friend in Geno, even taking his advice to heart. For a moment, he thought becoming a teacher wasn't so bad an idea.

How can he take that advice seriously now? What if it was just the Shadow King's words? What if that's the response he made this persona say? Geno…isn't real. He was a pawn created by the Shadow King.

Wes closed his eyes, leaning towards the fire in his paws. "First Dad…now you, Geno…why…why do the people I look up…just disappear?"

"Sounds to me your mind is troubled, boy." Wes yelped, throwing his head back into the wall and dispelling the fire in his pain. As he cradled the throbbing wound to his head, he gazed down the dark tunnel. He couldn't see much, but he could make out a white cloak hiding in the dark. "Emotions…if we let them fester for too long, they cloud our judgment."

Wes blinked twice, then stood up and glared at the figure. "Who are you? How did I not sense you?" Now focused on the figure, he could see the white aura surrounding him. It was potent from what he saw.

"No tricks to hide my aura, at least of my own doing." The figure raised his hand and pointed at the Umbreon. "Your stress, as I said, is clouding your judgment. You're too full of grief."

Wes bared his teeth, then growled, "Yeah?! So what?! I'm angry!"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah! Someone I looked up to turned out to be my enemy and nearly killed me and my friends! I almost died earlier! Why wouldn't I be pissed off?!"

The figure made no sudden movements. He simply inhaled, then folded his arms into his lap as he released the breath. "You are an overemotional child."

"Who asked for your opinion?!"

The figure glared at him through his hood. "And quite rude, I should add, though I'll let it slide for now." He shook his head. "I have no idea what the others see in you. So far, I'm not impressed."

Wes backed away, still holding his glare. "What are you talking about?"

"I've heard much of your combat abilities. You have great talent as a warrior. A high proficiency and understanding of magic, despite your magical disability…Wes Ravenfield."

The Umbreon's eyes widened in shock, then dropped into his glare again, now much more suspicious looking. "Who are you?"

"Yet, I see you suffer from a similar problem like that of your teammate, Everfall." The cloaked figure rose and folded his arms behind his back. "Similar, but nuanced in execution. Outward expression of anger that has long since festered. Your case, however, is more so a sense of failure. Someone like you hates to lose when the stakes are high. Lose…whether from a decisive battle…or maybe when the life of another is at stake…or perhaps the failure to meet the criteria or expectations of a position granted to you. These are all fears many worry about, but you seem to take it the hardest out of your team."

Wes raised his brow as the gears turned inside. "…You're one of the mages, are you?"

"A moment of clarity brings the correct answers."

Wes scanned the figure, looking over his entire figure until he focused on a particular source of magic on the man's body. It was pulsating with familiarity, a presence he has felt four times before. "…You're the Mage of Power."

"Benedict, protector of the Key of Power, yes."

'Best not bring up I don't have the keys on me.' That was something else Wes needed to get done quickly. He continued to glare at the mage. "…What are you doing in this cave? Is this the entrance to the temple?"

Benedict leaned to the side and pressed his hand against the cave wall. "Nope. I don't have a temple to preside in. Base of operations is where I'm needed, mostly in the Snow Zone for my convenience." He glared. "Though, I assume you want my key."

Wes nodded reluctantly. "…I didn't intend to come looking for you, now, but since you're here…"

"The answer's no."

Wes' eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

"No…I won't fight you."

Wes blinked. "W…What? Why?"

Benedict glared. "Why? I'll tell you." He pointed right at the Umbreon. "You would lose." That brought a glare to the Umbreon's face. "I can list a number of reasons why. You're weakened, you're weak, and you don't have the mentality of a warrior to properly fight me. You're letting your emotions control your actions, a flaw among most of your team. Things that strike close to the heart will break the well of concentration used to fight properly. My analysis of you previously states you are a fighter who can maintain control of his emotions in a fight. Petty insults and dirty tricks rarely deter you from the fight. And yet, here you are, presenting yourself as a mercurial mess. If you were to strike me here and now, you would lose without laying a paw on me."

Wes bared his teeth and growled. "Is that a threat?"

"It's a blatant observation."

Wes stamped his paw down. "I can totally beat you!"

Benedict sighed and shook his head. "…I sensed what happened at the library." This only made Wes' glare deepen. "I was too late to interfere. Maybe I could've done something, but risk the safety of the key? Unlikely. You're just lucky to be alive." Benedict glared. "…You're grieving. You feel like you let everyone down. You thought you could've done something. You are the leader of your team, right?"

Wes snarled angrily. "I'm not leaving here until you give me that key!"

The mage remained undeterred. Wes could feel the still ocean of power hidden inside this man. This was the mage they were warned about back in the Storm Zone. The one who came close to the Top 3 of the mages. This was the one they should fear the most, for it was their next step into realizing what tests they had to traverse through.

Benedict stared intently at the grieving Umbreon. "…Is this truly the hero who will save the world? Are you…the Hero foretold by the prophecy?" Wes' mood didn't change or falter. "Which are you, really? So hard to figure." He glared. "My stance remains the same. You are not worthy to fight me the way you are. Against a regular opponent, you would surely fail."

Wes' rage was reaching the limit. He needed to burn all this stress off the only way he knew how. "I won't let the shadows win."

Benedict closed his eyes. "…To think I had high hopes for you, boy. It seems my thoughts were misjudged. Still…" He raised his hand and beckoned him respectfully. "As a mage, I suppose it's only fair to test your worth, for as little as you have."

Wes spread his legs out and, with an empowering shout, activated Mystic Burst. His Star Amulet swung with the heated pressure of his aura, while his raw glare fixed squarely at the mage. He bent back on his hindlegs, then rocketed right at Benedict with a cry of swirling ire echoing like the sounds of a storm ready to raze everything to release all its built-up energy.

Benedict pulled his fist back, glared a bit, then threw a punch against the Mystic Burst, ending in a bright flash.

In a start, as the cold finally registered to her after lying unconscious for several minutes, Gwyn jumped to her feet, shivering like a leaf. Appropriate metaphor given that a single leaf wouldn't last very long out in this snow. In fact, that leaf would not only be dead, it would be stiff, frozen, and so brittle that the daintiest of touches would instantly shatter it and leave its once whole remains to be buried away and forgotten in the snow.

Gwyn wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed them for some hope of heat to keep her up and ready. "F-F-F-Freezing out here!" She smiled as an idea came to mind. "Oh! I have some potions in my bag!" She reached for her backpack…only to realize it wasn't on her. All she had was her waist satchel, but she kept most of her potion equipment in the one bag. She could make a potion of cold resistance, but nothing like that could be made without the proper tools.

She refrained from falling back in the snow and wallowing in her own misery. Thinking of the only thing she could do for the time being, she closed her eyes and tried to pinpoint the location of her friends. Besides Ella, it didn't take long to locate everyone, only…they were much farther from her position than she hoped.

'Oh no, I must've flown further in the flight.' Gwyn bit her nails as fear began ramping up, not help by the chills felt all over her body. 'I'm…I'm all alone…no one to help me…while the shadows…and Callista…they could still be…oh no!' Tears welled up in her eyes. "This is horrible! What am I going to do?!"

She didn't want to be alone. After finally having real, Pokémon contact with an individual after so long, she didn't want to be alone. She didn't want to be without the people she trusted. She didn't want to me alone out in the snow. She needed her friends. She needed the ones she trusted and loved to tell her everything's going to be alright.

Facing in the direction of the first aura she sensed, she made off running despite her legs partially sinking into the snow. "Ella! Tony! Griffin! Wes! Flint! I don't want to be alone! Please! Where are-OOF!"

Thankfully, a solid object at her feet that managed to trip her knocked her out of her panicked state. Her face planted into the snow with a soft thud, which she lay in for a solid seven seconds before bursting out and fidgeting at a now cold face. She patted her cheeks to get some blood running through them.

"Cold, cold, cold, cold!" She shifted her feet around and felt the same object she ran into again. She blinked twice, then reached down into the snow. She gasped, pulling out the familiar black messenger bag with the big white 'X' over it. "Holy me! Wes' bag!"

She quickly opened it up and did the first sensible thing of checking for the keys. It felt weird stick her head into the cosmic void of the Umbreon's bag, yet oddly ticklish, but she managed to grab the small bag from within. She quickly checked inside the sack and sighed in relief, finding the four other keys were still in their possession.

She placed a hand over her heart and sighed with the utmost relief. "Oh thank goodness!" She tightened the bag and threw it back inside before swing the messenger bag onto her person. "I don't know how I would've felt if we lost the keys…oh man, Wes will be so worried when he realizes his bag is missing." Though, if he knew the situation now, he'd just be glad it landed near someone trustworthy.

Now came the real difficulty of the journey: getting her way back to her friends. That, itself, came with an automatic set of problems. Since they were released from the library earlier than expected, they were likely all stuck in the snow without proper jackets and gear. Surviving out for this long without their snow gear meant they needed to find each other soon, and hopefully with their bags.

'Hopefully the bags landed near one of the others.' Gwyn gripped Wes' bag strap tightly and exhaled a visible breath. She scanned the area again, this time checking to see who was the closest in walking distance. 'I can feel Tony and Griffin's aura…along with a few others that I'm not quite as familiar with. Oh dear…I don't like the sound of that.'

She did notice there wasn't much activity over in that direction, so things were calm at the very least. Second closest she could gather was Flint, who she just wanted to run up to and cry into his mane so she can thank the high heavens for his safety. She'd feel ever more grateful if she had any clarification on the whereabouts of Ella so she can hug her very best female friend. She just wanted all her friends to be safe! She had her favorites, she admitted, but she loved them all like family!

She couldn't even imagine trekking in Wes' direction with how far she was tracing him. She wasn't too confident in her ability to travel far without any protective gear. Flint has told her plenty about the Snow Zone and it didn't do well with her confidence over the situation. Even with her fears, though, standing out in the snow wouldn't do her any better.

She sighed and, reluctantly, took that first step forward. "May my passage back to my friends be a safe one."

"Would some assistance suffice?" asked a warm, comforting voice from behind. Gwyn froze for just a moment, as she tried to place a face to the voice, then glanced over her shoulder. A figure she never sensed coming, with no indication of his presence there before. Like a phantom to the snow, he was just there, like he always has been. Spooky, but it'd be a lie to say his presence didn't fill her with joy. "Hello again, Ms. Belladonna."

"Mr. M!" Gwyn readily jumped and wrapped her arms around the Alakazam's waist, pressing her face into his shirt. "I'm so happy you're here!" she cried. "I didn't want to be out here, all alone, without any of my friends!"

M smiled sympathetically at the Mew. He gently ran his hand through her long hair in long strokes. "Oh…sweet child…there's no need for tears. I heard your worries and came to you at your request. Even with a mind so brilliant, you are still a young child at heart."

Gwyn sniffled lightly. "Is…Is that b-bad?"

"No…in fact, I think it's a wonderful thing." M held her chin and tilted her head up just a bit. "We all have to grow up at some point, but that doesn't mean the dreams we had as a youth need to vanish with age." A warm smile stretched out as he brushed some snow off her cheek. "You've been alone for too long, child. You need friends who will help you grow. They will never abandon you…and you will never abandon them."

The soft tone of his words filled her with an unexpected warmth that lifted her sorrow spirits. She vigorously rubbed away the tears ready to pour and showed off a toothy grin. "N-Never!"

M chuckled. "Good girl."

Gwyn rubbed her eyes, then looked up at the mysterious man curiously. "Mr. M…what are you doing all the way out here? Aren't you cold?"

"Cold?" M scratched the back of his head with his cane. "Golly…I hardly noticed. Guess I'm just used to it. I travel around Mysto quite a bit. Eventually, you stop noticing all the little things."

Gwyn looked down at her feet. "…I can't believe you managed to find me. This place is so huge. Can you sense magic? Were you in the area when we…?"

M placed his hand atop her head and ruffled her hair. "I'm sure you have many questions, child, but let's save them for another time. Just know that you have nothing to worry about. I'm a kind, old man at heart and I can't allow a sweet innocent child like you to succumb to her fears." He poked her in the forehead. "Be strong for your friends and they will see how strong you are, too. You still have so much potential waiting to explore."

"What…do you mean?"

"Perhaps you will learn in time. You are a Mew, after all." M smiled wearily. "…You have a lot of power hidden deep inside you. You've tasted it once or twice already, now it's just a matter of harnessing its flow through the binds of a mortal."

Gwyn blinked with her mouth gaping open in an o-shape. She did remember experiencing that power before, though she had little control of her emotions when first used. Her nature as a Legendary burning inside her, releasing under the same twisted nature of innovation her mother experienced. Her mother's alleged madness. "Wow…"

M took her hand. "Now…let's see about getting you back to your friends." He started leading her through the snow.

Gwyn immediately realized he was leading her in a completely different direction. "Um…Mr. M? My friends are…that way."

He chuckled quietly. "I know, child." He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. "Just trust me. I…know a shortcut."

Gwyn gasped in awe as snow swirled around them, following the space they took up in their steps. It was like being engulfed in a tornado. She covered her face as the snow blew into her face in wild flurries.

Just like everything in the Snow Zone, the two vanished into the white of the wind.

Griffin and Tony stared down the pirate captain with no fear to shed in their eyes. It was clear that both sides were weakened from the hard battles they faced and that either side had a chance of falling to the other, even though Griffin and Tony were outnumbered and facing an enemy allied with an even stronger enemy. All they had on their side was luck.

Griffin held his hip as he had his intense stare down with the pirate captain, who bared his teeth into a cautious snarl. Tony kept taking glances at Indigo, who still didn't want to look the Dewott in the eye.

"…So?" Griffin started, "what do you want?"

Arid settled down, but continued to glare. "To finish the job. Simple as that."

With his other hand behind his back and still gripping to the first weapon poking out of his arsenal, Griffin hummed over his answer with a bit of intrigue. "Finish the job? And…this is of your volition, correct?" The twitch in Arid's brows gave the rightful response the Grovyle expected. "That's what I thought."

Arid glared through his peripherals. The shadow that now occupied their ship didn't seem to be around. Perfect time for them to speak freely. Looking back to Griffin, he said, "We're only doing this to get on the Tribe of Shadow's good side. We want those keys for ourselves."

Griffin's brows dipped. "Annnd…you think you're the ones in control?"

"We'll find a way out of our little deal and take everything for ourselves." Arid raised his clenched fist. "Once we have the idol, the Shadow King will be bowing to the Desert Beasts."

Tony scoffed through his teeth. "Do you have a plan?"

"We'll find a way." Arid glared sharply. "No matter how it looks, Ravenfield and I have a score to settle. I won't let these shadows use me forever. I'll take that idol for myself and use it to make the Desert Beasts the real monsters of Mysto. Pirates all around will fear us. We'll be the only crew to soar the skies. We'll take what we want."

Tony shoved his hands in his pockets. "Mind if I add my two bits in?" He glared. "You signed a deal with the devil. You felt the Shadow King's presence, just like the rest of us. I bet you were thinking you could get away with this if you were lucky, but that's only because you haven't met the big guy who rules over this little tribe."

The Darmanitan stretched a forced snarl. "I don't fear-"

"You and your crew felt his overwhelming presence like the rest of us. The shadows are dangerous, the heralds are monsters…and the Shadow King is the unavoidable death sentence you either run from or remain loyal. And you can't run from death. It'll always catch up to you, no matter how far or how fast you go."

Arid turned his attention to his crew, who were now looking rather uncomfortable. They could still remember the harshness from that domineering aura. For a moment, they thought they could see visions of their own deaths. To instill such a horrific image with one's mere presence only exemplified the sheer magnitude of his power underneath. He had the power to turn the bravest souls to mush through will breaking and fear.

Tony sighed, then turned himself around to face Indigo. The Sneasel fidgeted in place, scratching at her arm while keeping her eyes on her feet. The snow crunched under Tony's feet as he stepped right up to her. Rico got in front of Indigo to protect.

"Leave her be," the Scrafty warned venomously. His eyes widened suddenly. He felt the Dewott's finger pressed against his forehead, lighting up with magic.

Tony's stare was cold, freezing him to the bone more than the cold itself. "Say that again."

Rico gritted his teeth tightly and curled his fingers. Before he could make a move, Indigo touched his shoulder. "Rico…it's…it's fine." He could hear the cracking in her voice. She seemed scared, but, for some reason, not of Tony.

He sighed in defeat and stepped out of the way for them. Tony took one step forward, standing close to Indigo. The Sneasel bit her lip, but was relieved to see his face was much softer than just a moment ago. She took note of the tears brimming from the corner of his eyes. He made no sounds of sorrow or aching gestures. He was still, with just the tears coming out.

Indigo gulped quietly. "…Tony…"

The Dewott made no sudden movements. He lifted his hands and placed them on her shoulders. He stared her sternly in the eyes. "…Indigo…I can't let you stay with those freaks. Please…come with me and I can keep you safe."

Indigo narrowed her eyes, a bit touched by his concern, but sighed and brushed his hands off, nonetheless. "Tony…these are my friends. I can't abandon them like that."

"I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I'll be fine."

Tony glared. "If you continue working with the shadows, it won't be long until one of them decides to off you." He glared at all the pirates. "All of you are on their list. You're all pawns to the shadows. They'll kill you if they see reason to."

That statement caused Ambrosine's weak heart to start pumping hard. She clutched at her chest and inched back, hiding her face. Jones, who happened to be standing behind her, rested his hand on her shoulder. She stared at the appendage before accepting it in a needy hug.

Tony sighed and stepped away. "I have no time to be arguing about this." Indigo looked away shamefully as her old friend placed himself back beside Griffin.

The Grovyle glared at Arid threateningly. "…Let me ask you a serious question, Captain Arid." The Darmanitan tensed in preparation. "Why did you become a pirate?"

Arid raised his brow. "What kind of a question is that?"

"One you should be answering before I lose my patience."

A sharp grunt came from the captain before relaxing himself. "…I was born into the life of a pirate. Back when the meaning of brotherhood and freedom still met something to pirate kind. It's everything a pirate wanted. We wanted to be a band of hearty sailors across the sky, pillaging everything and taking what we want. The easy life ruled by fear."

Tony forced a smirk. "Tch. Can't quite blame ya." Griffin raised his hand to quiet him.

Arid bared his teeth. "I was apart of a crew once. My captain had a goal just like most pirates these days: to surpass the fame of the Underworld Raiders." He closed his eyes. "They were a crew that ruled by fear. Most of their crew died by their own terms, not by the hands of others. From their ranks spawned other mighty crews that sought the same fame. Closest to ever reach that height were the Undying Apparitions."

Tony held his chin, recalling the name from a conversation with Wes. 'That Hal guy's crew?'

"It's all about stealing treasure and leaving the impression you want. The highest bounty for the capture of our crew. That's what we want." He glared to the side. "It's why a pest like Ravenfield is my rival. He is my treasure hunting equal. We both want the freedom we deserve, but he stays bound to…most laws. He could've just turned us in, maybe even captured us…same for me…but this is all a game for us."

Griffin glared. "Is that what this is? You know the shadows are after us, especially Wes. Wherever the shadows go, there will be Wes."

"Ravenfield is the only Pokémon I know that has ever given me a run for my money. Even if it means sacrificing a few personal morals, at least I plan to take it all like a pirate." He raised his fists. "The Desert Beasts will be the pirates that surpass the Underworld Raiders. And I will be the one to defeat Wes Ravenfield."

Griffin held his hip. "At what cost? You think you'll outsmart them, but you saw what they're capable of. If they can put guys like us on the ropes, what chance you have at outsmarting them? Much less…beating them."

Arid bared his teeth. "I will not allow those shadows to order me around any longer. I will have my freedom."

Griffin glared. "You'll never be free. Whether you escape them or not, if they win, they'll kill you. Stay with them, and you'll end up just like them: heartless, soulless…monsters."

The silence was only broken with the winds that blew between them. The Desert Beasts readied with their weapons. Tony reached for his scalchops, though noticed Griffin had let go of his weapon and sent it back to the void. There was no desire to battle in his form. The Dewott couldn't see what he saw through his eyes, but he made a bet that this battle was already over.

Indeed, for Griffin could sense the collective anger between all of the Desert Beasts. The whole time, they were suppressing fears and letting their anger take flight. This wasn't the freedom or power they sought. What's the point of being a pirate crew when everything you did was decided by a higher power? There was no law of the pirate captain.

There was only the will of the shadows.

Arid blew a huff of smoke from his nostrils, then whistled to the top of the boat. "Send down the ropes!"

Jeffery looked down at Arid. "Captain?! What are you doing?! We have them in our sights!"

"As far as I'm concerned, they got away." Arid grabbed hold of the rope, while his crew each shared rope together. Arid pointed at the duo. "Mark my words, you two. This is not an act of mercy or retreat. Both our sides clashing would resort in a loss for all, and I wish not for my crew to suffer in the cold any longer." He tugged on the rope, ordering to be lifted up. "Remember that for next time. Even if my fears are true…at least for now, the target isn't on my back."

The pirates were lifted back into their airship and, soon after, floated back into the air. Griffin and Tony covered their faces as the wings pushed up a gust of snow flurries in their faces. The ship flew off ahead, disappearing into the wild wintery winds.

Griffin lowered his arm, then brushed off some snow. "…We need to get stronger."

"Thanks, Captain Obvious," Tony grumbled. "I was just thinking of rushing back in while I still have a punctured shoulder and scorch marks to my stomach."

Griffin glared at him. "I mean…actual training. We can't just keep training amongst ourselves. We need professional help to improve ourselves."

"I think we're too far away to consider another house call with Willow." Tony glanced to his right, then turned himself around as he saw an orange aura coming up at them. "Wait…hey, Griffin, look!"

The Grovyle saw it, for once cracking a smile after the crappy day they've had. "What a relief…"

Paws crunching into the snow, Flint and Ella lifted their heads and gasped at the forms of Tony and Griffin. "You're both okay!" Ella rushed over and wrapped her forelegs around their necks, pulling them into a tight hug. "Ha! I should've figured with you two!"

Tony smirked. "D'aww, were you worried about me, Lilac? I'm touched."

Griffin rolled his eyes and brushed her off, then directed his focus onto Flint. "I hope you both are well."

Flint shook snow off his person, then said, "The landing was rough, but nothing broken."

"You'll be happy to know that we have your bags."

Flint sighed. "Thank goodness! Do you have Wes' bag?"

"Unfortunately, it wasn't a part of the pile."

"Less great…" Flint held his forehead, then began rubbing his temples, thinking about all kinds of trouble they were in. "If any of the mages find out about this, we're screwed! We gave our honest word to protect the keys at all costs and this is…I don't even know what to say about this! I still have so many questions and-and-and…oh my gosh, we have the fight the SHADOW KING-!" Ella slapped him across the face. "…Thanks."

Ella sighed. "Right now, we should make sure everyone is safe. With any hope, Gwyn or Wes have the keys on them." She looked at Tony and Griffin. "Speaking of which, we really need to find Gwyn. I can't imagine the poor thing's doing well all alone."

Tony pressed his fingers against his temple and scanned in the direction he last sensed Gwyn. "Hmm…actually, where is Gwyn? I can't find her magical aura."

"What?!" Flint cried. He spun around several times, trying to find her aura, but he couldn't get a read on it. He held his paw over his heart and wheezed with panicked breaths. "Gwyn…Gwyn, no!"

Tony grabbed Flint and held him still. "Flint, calm down! I know you're worried about her, but I'm sure she's fine. She's a kid at heart, but she's a hell of a fighter!"

"Magic auras don't just disappear!" Flint shouted. "She could've been taken to another realm! Or forced into suppressing it! Or…Or…" Tears formed in his eyes. "What if she's already been…?"

Ella glared. "Don't talk like that! Look, I'm sure she's fine! Don't panic!"

"How can I not panic?! I…I…I care about her so much! If anything happened to her, I would…I would…"

There was a moment of silence to give the Flareon time to calm down. Tony and Ella gave their comforting pats on the back while Griffin kept vigilance for Gwyn, in case her aura mysteriously popped back up.

'You don't just disappear,' he thought to himself. 'Only sound way she could've pulled that off is if she went through another realm. But there's no way she could've done that. The only other explanation is realm travel teleportation, but she doesn't know how to do…'

He stopped as the snow started picking up behind them. He covered his face while the others shielded themselves against the snow. They felt a strong presence of magic blowing from the cyclone of snow, unlike anything they've felt before. However, something from the cyclone rang with familiarity, something Flint was quick to catch.

He raised his head and gasped. "Gwyn!"

The snow parted, with Gwyn and M standing together. Gwyn was clutching M's arm tightly, absolutely bewildered by what she just experienced. It was like walking through a plain of infinite flurries before suddenly popping up in a completely different location. It felt they were only walking for five minutes, too.

However, all questions were put on hold as she brought into a warm embrace by Flint, who pressed his cheek against hers. "Oh Gwyn! Thank goodness you're okay!"

Gwyn's cheek bloomed with red, then she happily returned the embrace with that adorable 'squee' of her. "Flinty! You're okay, too!"

"Hugging time!" Gwyn yelped as Tony and Ella joined in on the hug, throwing them all to the ground. They laughed out loud happily, ecstatic to see each other.

M smiled fondly at the group. "You all pose a strong friendship. I was happy to help."

"You definitely saved us a trek," Griffin mumbled. "But what are you doing all the way out here? It's been days since we last saw you."

"Let's just say I felt drawn to Gwyn's sorrows and felt the need to assist her. You all seemed to have been separated after a most unfortunate evening." M leaned on his cane. "Consider it a token of gratitude."

Griffin looked the old man up and down with a critical eye. Last they met, he hardly acknowledged a magical aura around him, but now it was fairly obvious the old geezer had power he was hiding. "Token accepted…"

The other four pulled themselves off the snow, then Gwyn showed off Wes' bag. "I was lucky to find this, too!"

Flint gasped. "Wes' bag! Does it have-?"

"-the keys inside? Yep-a-roo!" Gwyn bounced to her feet. "Crisis averted!"

Flint wiped his brow and sighed in relief. "That's the best news I got all day…" He narrowed his eyes. "We still need to get in contact with Wes."

Gwyn held her hands together. "Is he okay?"

"I…don't think so." Everyone looked to Tony, who was staring off in the direction of Wes' aura. "Wes' aura is fluctuating a lot. I think he's in a fight."

"A fight?!" Flint bit into his jittery claws with a weak cry. "Did the shadows find him?! The heralds?! The…The Shadow King?"

Tony glared. "…No…but it's something strong. Really strong. Maybe not as strong as the Shadow King, but…it's definitely up there."

Ella stamped her paw down. "He needs back up, then! We need to hurry!"

"Just a second." Right as they were about to run after him, they stopped and looked back at M, who waved his cane at them. "Allow me to save you the walk. I'll bring you to his location. I won't be accompanying you, though."

Flint narrowed his eyes. "Why not?"

"I only came to help because…well, I like you lot, but my place is not to interfere with your matters. You don't need an old man like me tagging along." He pointed at Gwyn. "I'm just happy this precious one is safe." Gwyn smiled bashfully.

Griffin glared. "…Why are you so interested in us? I still find it odd you happened to be around after what happened."

"Call it a premonition, or call it fate. I'm merely keeping you all on the right path." He twirled his staff, then slammed it down. "Now…off with you."

The snow swirled around the group and engulfed them. Before they vanished with the wind, Gwyn held her hand out to M and shouted, "Thank you, Mr. M! Please be safe!"

The snow condensed around them before dispersing into flurries. M stayed motionless at the spot with a warm smile, same as usual. However, that warmness was accompanied by light tears that dripped from the corners of his eyes. He slid a finger across his eye and flicked the tear away.

"Precious child…such a precious, sweet little rose…"

It took only a couple minutes for the group to gain some sense of awareness of themselves. A snowy cyclone dispersed away, where they were once more treated to the same gloomy skies and unending winds. However, they noticed the elevation difference and the steepness of the mountain they landed on.

"Whoa, whoa-WAH!" Flint nearly went tumbling backwards, doomed to the fate of a steadily growing snowball, but was caught by Griffin just in time. Flint muttered a quick 'thank you' under his breath before finding his ground. "That was…something."

Suddenly, a loud booming echoed from over their heads. Turning their heads in its direction, they saw the bright flash of light blue light come from inside a cave. Aside from the light, the sounds were an obvious giveaway of a fight breaking out, and the magic users were unfortunate to witness who was on the losing end of it.

"Wes is in trouble!" Gwyn shrieked.

"If it's not the shadows, what did that knucklehead get himself mixed up in?" Tony grumbled as they raced to the cave.

"Hang on, bro!" Flint shouted. "We're coming!"

They came onto the entrance and entered, but were halted by a blinding flash of light before their eyes. The Umbreon's cries were heard, followed after by rock smashing on their left. They turned with alarm as they found their friend plastered against the cave walls before peeling off and landing on his face.

"Ow…" Wes groaned. Blood trickled from his nose. His fur was disheveled, with light bruising appearing through the black coat. One eye was barely able to open more than a squint. He pressed his paws on the ground and tried to stand. They saw the strain he was putting on his legs. He didn't want to collapse, but his body was screaming for the misery to end.

"Wes! That's enough!" Flint scolded as he ran to his brother's side.

"I'm…f-fine…" Wes groaned.

Flint grabbed and forced him onto his back as gently as he could. "Gwyn, help me out here!"

"R-Right!" The Mew quickly dropped her bag and pulled out some berries and potions, then joined by the Flareon's side.

Ella held her mouth as she stared sympathetically at the fallen Umbreon. "Wes…what have you got yourself into now?"

"Ask him," Griffin pointed out as he drew Endless Regret.

He, Tony, and Ella glared down the cave and faced Wes' opponent. With the hood now fallen back, they had the pleasure of meeting the Beartic, Benedict. The polar bear exhaled a cold breath as they exchanged silent stares. Not a scratch was found over his body. No tears in his robes, no scuff marks to his fur, not a speck of blood to be seen. Whether it was because Wes wasn't in prime condition…or this guy was just that strong.

Benedict tilted his head. "So, the rest of Team Ravenfield arrives."

Tony raised and electrified his water blades. "Who the hell are you, snow bear?"

"G-Guys…" They turned to Wes as Flint and Gwyn patched him up. "That's…the Power Mage…"

Suddenly, all the color in their faces drained. The Mage of Power, the one Gunnar warned them about since last time. He was supposed to be up there with the likes of the Mages of Darkness, Time, and Space. Now it became all the more clear why Wes got beaten so easily. With the states they were all in, the same truth lay with them if a fight were to break loose.

Benedict held his hip. "Wes Ravenfield…you disappoint me. All the praise you've received from the likes of Randolph, Calder, and even Leroy…yet this is what I get? Are you really destined to be the Hero? What a joke."

Ella narrowed her eyes. "Wes is the Hero of the prophecy?"

"He doesn't sound so sure himself," Tony mentioned. He bared his teeth. "But who the hell cares? Listen up, Power Mage!" He pointed at the mage with an air of boldness, despite knowing a fight wouldn't do them any good. "You've just declared yourself a target to all of Team Ravenfield! Why don't you hand over that key and we'll make this swift!"

Benedict narrowed his eyes. "Tony Sapienti…ah yes, your father told me much about you." Tony's stance withered a bit, with a sudden tenseness running in his expression. "Two efforts to strike him down and yet you still haven't managed a victory with him. I wonder how much stronger you have gotten." He ran his eyes over the group. "All of you…I only expect the best from my opponents. It's why I took up the position of Power Mage from my master. I knew…one day, I would find an opponent worthy of my best.

"Tell me…do you all stand up to my expectations?"

No one was immediate with a response, still unsure of where to take this. After all, none of them would last in a fight with the way they were. However, Flint took lead as he stood up. "…Maybe not today, but we will be back for that key. And we will beat you."

Benedict settled his eyes on Flint, almost like he was studying him. "…You're scared of me." Flint flinched. "I can see it in your face, though I applaud you. You're much bolder than what I was last told." He closed his eyes. "Every year, I face strong opponents who try and topple me from my pedestal. Every year, I crush their hopes to retain my symbol of strength. That is how it is and how it will be."

Griffin glared. "You mean…people seek you out each year for that damn key?"

"No…many of my opponents do not know of the key's existence. I hold a different reputation out here in the Snow Zone, where many challengers of different strengths and skills come out to test their potential. This year…I've taken an interest in the strength of teams, to see how far a unit can make it together."

Gwyn got Wes' foreleg around her shoulder and helped him up, then asked, "What do you mean? Who are you exactly, mister?"

Benedict spread his arms out. "To you, I am Benedict, Mage of Power and protector of the Key of Power. I've trained to be the very aspect of raw strength and magic." His brow furrowed. "But to those who know me from rumors, I am Benedict Whitethorn, Champion of the Magic Duelists Tournament!"

Most of the team didn't have any immediate reaction, except Ella. Her jaw hung open with a stunned noise quietly buzzing. "Benedict…Whitethorn? You're a ten-year champion of the Magic Duelists Tournament, one of the biggest tournaments held annually. Held mostly in the only major cities out in the Snow Zone, for as few as they are, to test the distance travelers will go to compete. Anyone who wins in the finals as the chance to challenge you for the spot of champion."

Benedict nodded. "Correct, Ms. Cipher. And this year, should anyone beat me, the title would be passed to the team who beats me." He glared. "That tournament will be held soon. Less than two months away."

Wes glared softly. "…Why are…telling us this?"

Benedict sighed. "The strongest fighters from all around come to claim victory and dethrone me. A true fighter needs to have the experience of fighting multiple different kinds of opponents. Just because I'm one of the strongest mages doesn't mean I'm unbeatable. After all, with many different backgrounds and experiences comes different opponents." He pointed at Team Ravenfield. "That is what you all need to prepare for."

"Eh?!" the team gasped, now very confused.

"You want my key? Then you need to earn my respect. I've dealt with all sorts of fighters who gave me a tough time in the past, giving it their all and beyond to claim my title. Each year, I get stronger, and so do they. That is what you need to look out for. As a team, you will need to place your trust in your teammates to strategize a win over me. If you can do that, you will face me. One-on-one, with you as individuals coming at me to prove what you can do on your own and what you can do to optimize victory for your teammate should you fall in battle. After all, when teams work in unity, they can understand the intentions of each other and plan around them. That is what I want from you lot!"

Flint held his paws up defensively. "H-Hold on a minute! We don't have time to compete in a tournament!"

"It's the only way I'll allow you to get my key. I don't fight with Guardians or special tricks up my sleeve. I just want a damn good brawl." Benedict raised his fist and clenched it tightly for them to see. "Fighters from all over will be coming to Gelid Peak City. All of them will be fighting at their best. If you can face the odds of hundreds of teams coming together with the same crushing intent to win and surpass them…then you will only be that much closer to surpassing the shadows."

"You seriously want us to compete in a tournament for that key?" Griffin asked, still not sure if this was a serious demand. "What happens if we lose?"

"It's not like I'm reserving you from coming after me. However, I will be busy planning for the tournament. It's a big turnout every year. I figure, to get more experience, why not fight some of the best from Mysto to test yourselves. Not a bad idea, right?"

The team turned to Wes, who managed to support himself on his own paws. He shook his head, then glared at the Beartic with short breaths. The pain in his legs was numb thanks to something Gwyn fed her, but he could feel the aches and wails of his poor bones.

The mage's suggested really left them with little choice. It may take them a while to get patched up after their loss to the shadows. Fighting Benedict now would be pointless. Then there was that whole point of different fighters from all around to compete against. That…wasn't a bad idea, actually. If they wanted to test their limits, perhaps varying up who they faced was the next best step.

However, competing in a tournament? As far as he knew, none of them have ever entered an actual tournament. Granted, this one will be team based, but this was out of their field of expertise. There was no telling who they had to face, which may have been the best possible thing ever or the worst.

Did they have a choice, though? It may as well be their best shot of getting the key without any chaos going on. Plus, it would mean a lot of backtracking if they decided to go after another key outside the Snow Zone, and this mage proved that he didn't like staying in one spot for too long. Even if they had to wait at less than two months, it would give them time to mentally prepare for what's to come, especially since there are stronger mages to look out for after Benedict.

It was decided.

"…We'll compete in the tournament."

Benedict narrowed his eyes. He had heard a lot about the Umbreon's optimistic nature. It was strange seeing someone so full of life act so…blasé and serious. He wasn't the same young man mentioned. Even so, it seemed his answer was all they needed to get on board. "Excellent." He walked around them for the exit. "Feel free to camp out in the cave. I'll be taking my leave."

"Already?" Gwyn asked.

"I'm a wanderer. I meditate, I eat, I sleep, I walk. Not much to it on a daily basis." He got one foot out the cave before stopping and turning around. "Ah yes, almost forgot. If you're looking for a little extra training, perhaps it would be best to seek Margo, the Mage of Metal."

Ella raised her brow. "Right…she's the only other mage that resides in the Snow Zone."

"More specifically, in Ironworks Kingdom. Quite different from other parts of Mysto. More reliant on technology than magic, as you can imagine. Still, it has a reputation for having some of the best battlegrounds around. Good training equipment, plenty of Pokémon itching for a spar, and weapon and potion shops for all to use at their disposal. It wouldn't hurt to update yourselves. Some new equipment might do you lot some good."

Tony raised an uncomfortable smirk. "Heh…are you just saying that because you'll kick our asses next time we see you?"

"Take my advice as you will." He turned back to the snow. "Oh…and I suggest you be careful when you face Margo. She's rather new and…proud of herself. She'll likely want to face the one with the strongest aura. Be…ready for that when it happens."

Flint bowed his head. "Th-Thank you, sir." Benedict gave a halfhearted wave as he walked down the mountain, vanishing into the snow.

With the light tension now over, Wes collapsed to the ground and panted heavily, now feeling the full weight of his injuries. "Holy shit…"

Ella glared at him. "If you weren't hurt, I'd slap you. How could you get into a fight with one of the mages without waiting for us? Much less while you're already banged up?"

The Umbreon looked at her apologetically, then tilted his hat over his eyes. "…I…I'm just…" He gritted his teeth. "…so angry…"

Ella lightened up, seeing the tears now coming down his face. The others gave their sympathies to him, especially Flint, who had some tears coming from his eyes as well. It's been a long day for all of them. What they needed now was to rest.

"Flint, Gwyn, start making a fire," Ella ordered quietly. "Tony, can you handle the cooking?" Tony gave a sluggish salute. "Griffin, keep watch in case we get invaded." He nodded and sat before the entrance.

Ella lay down beside Wes, then hung her foreleg around him. His teary eyes exchanged a sad stare with her empathetic ones. He shuffled closer to her and leaned his head against her. She patted him a few times and leaned against him as well.

"I got you, Wes…"

"…Why do bad things…happen to g-good people?"

Ella didn't answer with words, but with a shuddering sigh. She nudged him a bit. "Go to sleep, Wes…you need your rest."

The mood in the cave was somber, with no words of exchange to offer. Not even Flint and Gwyn could get into their usual conversations without being reminded of the tremendous losses they dealt with. This wasn't a good day for Team Ravenfield. They've had a streak of victories and good fortune down the road, but now the path has become treacherous and completely caught them by surprise.

They had their first taste of what the Shadow King was capable of, even an ounce of his true strength. Should their paths cross again, they will need a miracle to escape with their lives. It almost felt hopeless to continue on. Many travelers would've had their fill and quit the journey while they still had breath to draw.

But like the Imperium Age that the Shadow King ruled over, these losses won't deter them from the war. While discouraged, they won't let the shadows have their final say.

This was just the beginning of the war.