Louisa disappears, vanishing before their eyes as snowflakes fall on his camouflaging skin. There is no sign of the others. They are alone.

Halcion looks back at the thing he knew as Mienshao: this emaciated, vixen-like creature with long and snowy bangs. She stares off into the gray sky, averting her eyes in sullen shame. Is Mienshao just a ruse? Has she come to befriend someone's false identity, and of all the criminals why would she take the life of a harmless Xatu. Halcion steels herself; someone must be first to speak.

"Mienshao."

The creature at the foot of the tree flicks her ears. She glances at Halcion and turns away, sighing as a lick of purple flame leaves her mouth.

"I won't be long for this world, Halcion. You're going down a road I can't follow. Leave me."

"I'm not leaving you here. We're heading back to the-"

"I'm turning my badge in, and resigning." She cuts her off. "You won't be able to find me again, and my daughter will be safe."

"So you're gonna leave her behind?" Halcion fights the urge to raise her voice. "That thing you're scared of is still out there, you're not safe!

The stranger stands up, and turns to face her former partner. Her yellow eyes glow with sickening intensity.

"I was hired by her in exchange for me and my daughter's amnesty. You don't know the type of person she is. You got in her way and you should be thankful she let you walk. I've tried getting you to stop going after her, and you didn't listen. You never do."

Halcion feels a deep sinking sensation in her stomach. Whoever this person is, she is absolutely right.

"I can't stop you from hurting yourself, Halcion. I am not going to be here for this - end of story. I wish I had more things to say to you, but I know it's impossible to change your mind. I'm sorry."

She turns around, the ends of her hair floating as if underwater. Having said her final farewell, begins walking away. As her partner leaves Halcion reaches out, and a pathetic warble escapes her.

"Mienshao."

She stops.

"That's never been my name."

"You're the one making a mistake."

This gets her to turn around. Her eyes twist into a deep glare. Halcion does not let her get a word in.

"I'm taking her down because I want to, and because I believe Zekrom would want his knights to do so. I know how she is. She will do anything for what she wants, and the only person you are helping right now is yourself!"

"What about Eileen?" The stranger hisses. "What-"

"Are you seriously putting her word against mine? She's already used your daughter against you before. Xatu was sick of running and you're gonna end up exactly like him." Halcion points straight to the badge pinning the stranger's garment. "You think that's going to protect you? Going to throw it away? Do you wanna live the rest of your life never knowing if she was coming for you?"

"And don't you dare say you trust her more than me! Go ahead and run, become a loose end for her! But if you want peace after this then you're going to stick with me!"

Halcion can no longer hear herself. She clenches her teeth, and locks eyes with her partner. Neither pokemon move. And slowly, she begins to watch the fight seep from the stranger's eyes, turning into this blank, despondent gaze. Once again they are at an utter standstill.

Then, they hear a crunch.

Both pokemon look towards the source: a light shining through the snow. The Smeargle from earlier appears from the snow carrying his glowing tail up over his head. Prinn is not with him. He gives the explorers an introductory nod, then looks straight at the Stranger. Has he been listening in?

"I assume Mienshao is not your name." He states. "My name is Leon"

The aforementioned pokemon stays silent. She looks like she's ready to give Leon the Xatu treatment. Halcion is on edge watching her. If she moves…

"I overheard your conversation. Your daughter is at our guild, and no matter what you may think of us, what is happening concerns more than the scholars." In the face of a growling beast, he maintains a calm, factual tone. "You have it on my and Prinn's word that she will be safe."

He extends a hand to her. She is too frozen to accept it. Leon nods and steps towards Halcion. Now close, he lowers his voice.

"Prinn has done nothing but talk about you, says you are to be trusted. By extension, I have to trust Mienshao, even if she may have borrowed a few bottles from us." Leon whispers. "I don't know what has compelled your partner to do what she did. I have decided to stay out of this for the time being. Knowing the things I know about this, I can see where things are going and I don't have the strength for this kind of undertaking."

The name Leon, as well as the general appearance of this Smeargle is all too vaguely familiar to her. Maybe she saw him whilst half-asleep? Probably. No matter the case he has the professionalism of a guildmaster with none of the eccentricities which make him a joy to be around.

"Undertaking? You think things are going the way they did elsewhere, like across the Sea?"

"I heard stories about it. If things are going to become disastrous, then I guess there isn't much we can do to stop it. This hunt is drawing out the worst in people, and I can't contend with those types. I'm a guardsman, not an explorer."

"You don't need to tell me there's dangerous people out there. One of them's got eyes on Mienshao's daughter, which I'm guessing you heard."

"Yes. She can reach me through Eileen. This is where my road ends and yours starts I suppose."

He adjusts the strap of a bag he is wearing, then walks past her, the light of his tail leading his way through the frigid night. He waves farewell, fading into the snowfall.

"May Winter be kind to you."

Never has she met someone who sounded so certain of themselves. She can only imagine what her partner is making of this. Mienshao's qualms with the scholars run deep, deeper than Halcion has any right to pry about.

A silence passes over them. Halcion draws in a deep breath.

"Are you okay, Mien-"

"It's Dexys." The Zoroark speaks. "I don't have much choice. Let's find a place to talk about this plan of yours, Hal."

He would much rather they leave this town altogether, but this is not his choice to make. Masters is badly hurt, the multiple Night Slashes he took tore apart his ghostly body. He is holding on by a thread. Lucario, with nowhere else to turn, leads them backwards again.

Upon catching him on the other side of the window, his steed gallops back to Lapis Town. The trio, reunited, race to a familiar tavern. The whole town, much to their surprise, is empty. Lucario's only guess is the townsfolk probably saw the fireworks going off at the guild then decided to rightfully lock their homes or leave for the night. At least no one is around to see him barge right into the Inn.

Lucario snags a set of keys from the unoccupied counter and leads the Rapidash through the stairs, up to the first room his keys are to get open. Whiskey's glowing mane lights a room with a single bed and a foggy window in the back.

Whiskey cranes his neck down, allowing Lucario to ease the unconscious body of Masters onto the sheets instantly staining them a gnarly purple. He looks towards the Rapidash as he squeezes through the door.

"Are you able to do your magic-thing?" Lucario commands.. "We ain't got wine."

Whiskey nods. His mane shines, and with a brief touch, he mends the worst of it. Masters, still a wreck, is at least breathing now. Lucario can finally take a breather.

"He should be well, the rest he will need to mend on his own." The Rapidash turns to him. "Had I gotten to him sooner, Sire, thy friend-"

"I didn't thank you for fishing us out of that place, consider us even."

After taking a breath Luccario begins unpacking their things. Still unused orbs, bits and baubles - nothing useful. Lucario reaches over to Masters, unshackling his bandolier. In addition to the coins he keeps on him, he finds little other than the blue little creature which he keeps clipped to himself. He picks up the doll.

It is cyan, otherwise it is the same exact creature whom he forced Lucario to purchase with his well earned coins. There is a little ribbon around its neck, but most curious of all are a set of darkly colored, floppy things which have been sewn on where the things' horns should be. They seem vaguely familiar in a sort of "embarrassing repressed memory" way. Lucario tosses it on Masters' corpse.

He slips off the rest of Masters' things, bundles them together, then sets them aside on the nearest thing which is not the floor. Whiskey, being a large quadruped who can't quite sit in the comfy-looking chair in the corner, lies down on the carpet.

"'Tis not as accommodating as below, but I don't believe I was meant to squeeze up those stairs." Whiskey remarks. "I will keep Masters accompanied, if thy wish."

"Do that. I don't want him to be alone while I go scrounging." Lucario moves up to the window, and peers out into the snow-covered roads. Still nobody. "Do you know what time it is? Where is everyone?"

"I wish I could say, sire." Whiskey gives an expected answer. "I presume the ruckus from the Society scared some folks. Even if shops are supposed to be open at this hour, I doubt they are now."

"Oh great." Lucario pulls the curtains. "You think the idiot who runs this place is gonna care about us borrowing a room?"

"I highly doubt, not unless the Explorer here has memorized you as the one who stole their Time Gear. I still advise that we depart at the earliest opportunity. The Society is sure to be wary of any suspicious fellows."

"I'm aware that staying here's a bad idea." Lucario grunts. "I'm going downstairs. Inns have wine sitting somewhere. You stay here and-"

"Don't."

Masters' mane suddenly ignites. Masters stirs to life, reaching out towards the sound of Lucario's voice, wheezing desperately.

"Downstairs…don't…"

Before Lucario can possibly lend the sleeptalker his ear, Masters' mane sputters out and he crumbles back into the bed. The others in the room are left speechless. What happened? What is he going on about? A sudden sense of dread stews within Lucario, which rather than face it, he opens the door and looks to his steed.

"Tell me if he does that again." Lucario says. "I don't like it."

The Knight nods and Lucario steps out into the empty hall, shutting the door behind him. He listens for a moment, getting a lay of his surroundings. Not a sound. His curiosity gets the better of him as he goes over to knock on the adjacent room.

Again, nothing.

Either his timing is impeccable or there actually is an evacuation order. If in the case of the latter, he can't stay here very long. There's gotta be wine downstairs. Once Masters is on his feet they will be right on out of here.

He moves to the top of the stairs, the carpet muffling his footsteps, and peers down into the inn. The dread sticks with him. Is there something down there? Did the Scream tell Masters' something? The more he dawdles the more he wants to turn back around.

Lucario shoves the feelings aside.

Downstairs the large cobbled fireplace is dead cold. The door to the tavern is closed, and an odd chill lingers in the air. His gaze scours the inn. Who he sees behind the counter sends a shiver down his spine.

She is here. Hovering at the counter with a bottle of something is an all too familiar spectre, staring, waiting for her Lucario. The Phantom smiles, making no attempt to hide her fangs, and pats a stool next to her.

Lucario sighs. When he sits himself down she slides the bottle towards him. Colbur Wine. How did she…

"Before you voice your suspicions about my being here, know that I am still on the hunt for those precious things. Leveraging my connections with these explorers, I have learnt of one such artifact housed in the fort up above." The phantom puts two of her wisps together as if clasping fingers. "I thought of taking a tour, however it seems someone has beaten me to it."

"The Colbur is a gift from Abra. As your liege, I assured him it would find its way to you."

Liege. She sounds like Whiskey. He knew she was old fashioned but even this was beginning to be a bit much. The silk tying the gear to him feels tighter than ever.

"Tell him I said thanks."

He swipes the Colbur from the table, uncorking it, and he takes a sip. It tastes sweeter than expected. Perhaps it is from a batch after the time gear was taken from the place. Being rewarded for helping out Abra makes him feel all fuzzy on the inside, a feeling which quickly subsides upon remembering the ghost is here.

"I shall." Her smile remains. "I presume you are here for the very same thing?"

"Yeah, and I found it." He answers. "The guild's gone up in flames. Some guy I knew torched the entire guild to try and get me and 'M. I made out like a bandit. Did you want it?"

Why did he just tell her that?

"Of course I do, but I shan't make myself a target." She chuckles. "Keep the Time Gear. It will serve you better in your hands than having it waste among my valuables. I only require them when they are fully collected."

And for what? He still has no idea. Thousands of questions continue to badger Lucario's mind. All he can do is nod along, sipping from the bottle she has generously bequeathed him.

"What's your plan with these things?" He speaks between gulps of alcohol. "Gonna try to become a deity or whatever, be the strongest, or get yourself infinite wealth? You said the wish wasn't super powerful, so…"

"My machinations do not concern thee" She assures in the least-assuring voice known to this world. "I am not above the wants of fortune or might, but my intention for the Time Gears are neither of those."

Another not-answer. Asking the same thing over and over will not make her budge, he needs something else.

"Then what about some actual introductions? My name's Rei."

"Call me whatever you please. Mismagius is my species, use it as a name if you must."

"Okay Miss Mismagius." Lucario pulls down on his cape to reveal the Gear tied around his neck. The ghostly fabric still binds it to him."Whatever you are, I don't think you're a Mismagius. As a matter of fact, I have it in good word you are not who you seem."

This catches her attention. She looks at him, grinning dubiously.

"If you're shy you're shy. If you're in some disguise then I can't exactly punch it off of you - ghost typing and all. You're something alot more scary than you let on, and whatever you are you put your mark on me to tell every other big guy that you own me." Lucario covers the gear back up. "I met a Legendary. They said they didn't want to touch this thing because of you, so I take it you're not some ordinary ghost. Right?"

"You're very intuitive, my Rei." She laughs in the face of his suspicions. Mismagius then flicks a hand, and a purple ember drifts from her wisp towards the fireplace, setting it alight with Mystical Fire. "Then allow me to be more forthcoming with you. I had not only come for the gear, but also that I might see you and witness your progress."

"I have my doubts about you, but I am pleased how far you've come in little time." The purple fire lights her smiling visage. "Take no offense of course."

"None taken, missy."

"How witful." She holds back a chuckle. "You are indeed correct. I am not who I seem. I ask you to keep this knowledge to yourself; guises exist for a reason."

"And as it would seem exploration of local guilds has not been without fruit. You've acquired a gear. Now I can return to my mundane duties. If you have a favour, do ask. You have earned it."

She's being honest, at least she sounds more honest than her usual mocking self. Being in her good graces is a blessing in disguise, he has no idea if he should be scared or in awe of her. No matter the case, Lucario already knows what he wants from her.

"I need a Mega Stone."

Her endearing mask quickly fades. She reaches out, taking his chin into her hands, cradling his face like one coddles a fearful hatchling. Her eyes narrow. He swears he can see her smile start to stretch beyond her face.

"If you are determined to meddle with such powers then I bequeath a warning: you, Rei, are of a meddlesome sort. No matter how far you may distance yourself, we must all face the toll of our misgivings. This is why I chose you."

"The power you seek will attempt to destroy you, and I believe it will take you. With the toll you carry, are you still determined to seek this power?"

There was a time to back out, and it was weeks ago. For Masters' sake, his own and the Phantom's, he will find these gears. If not for power, then just to say that he did it. He wants the curtains to close having done something with his time. He didn't expect her to stir up these fatalistic feelings in him yet alone show up in the first place; Mismagius plays hard to predict.

Lucario's hands meet her appendages, holding the fabric fingers around his face. He takes a deep breath.

"You already know what I'm going to say."

Her eyes narrow, staring into his ruby eyes. He looks back, trying to stay still and determined. The phantom leans in, whispering.

"Then I will deliver what you seek, my Champion."

Her body deteriorates. Her robes, her hat, her whole body fades into a cloud of mist. Her eyes are last to disappear, and for a split second he feels something else holding him.

Razor sharp elongated claws, three in each hand holding him like a precious little wonder orb.