Nothing left?

No, it does not make sense to Masters, even the weakest guilds out there do not vanish without a trace. What is happening to the lands around them, what is being unleashed? Who is left?

Halcion. She stomps towards him, leaning herself against the balustrades. She catches her breath, wheezing, her seared scales shining in the dark.

"Masters, listen. We have to get out of here. There's nothing left of the guild." The Haxorus repeats, whispering. Shouting has done a clear number on her voice. "Everyone's gone, it's like Darkrai swept through here - but what's there is worse."

"Worse?"

One Darkrai is enough, the troublesome prince is another, what can be so terrifying as to put a guild to their feet? It has to be linked to what's raging across the town; streaks of light which slither across stone like starved serpents. Maybe it is linked to the guild's tower; an incident involving the arcane things used to power the beacon surging out of control and destroying all in its wake.

She takes a moment to reply, shaking her head as if dredging up a bad memory.

"I don't know what it is, it took the appearance of someone I knew. It turned everyone into colorless hucks, like sucked the life out of them" She rubs her forehead. "Dexys called it 'Torchbearer Arla', she knew who they were, and they were a guild leader of some kind. I told her to go get the others if she were scared, she ran to go get Louisa."

"So it was disguised like a Zoroark - the kind she is?" Masters tries to puzzle it together. "Did it mess up your tower? Is that why it's off?"

"It did something to the place, I don't know. If the people left are any clue, it devoured what was powering the tower, powering itself. I have no idea what this Arla thing is, but it called itself 'The Light Which Hates'. Anything which has a title like that is bad news. It wants to become this world's light - whatever this means, it sounds like Legendary nonsense and we need a Legendary to deal with it."

The Light, something Darkrai spoke of fervently. A light above everyone; a higher power which guides this world to its whims who opposes the world Darkrai and Zekrom would seek to create. Is it the light thing itself?

"Masters, you okay?"

Caught staring at nothing..

"Yeah, fine." He stands up, leaning against the same stone railing. The river, which should be roaring beneath them, does not squeak. "Legendary nonsense happens to be something I'm familiar with. What else did it say?"

She looks into the distance, the lines slithering across the land draw closer. They watch the strands race across the distorted, frozen river, impaling time-distorted waves, unthawing them from their places in time and space.

"Do not interfere with the Darkness here." Darkrai's words ring through Masters' mind. Is this what he meant, is he repeating the same old scheme to stop what is happening here?

"It wasn't from here, it was sent here, called here by the Light of this world, whatever." She grumbles. "None of it makes sense. I just know a scheming type when I see them, if I wasn't worried about Dexys, if I hadn't tried to fight it, I could've…"

"Not now." Masters interrupts. Definitely not now. "You need to get out of here."

"What?"

Masters plucks the plume from his hat. The shimmering light, golden, and splendorous outshines those of the rancid yellow embers. Halcion's eyes widen, taken aback by its radiance.

"Take this. I don't know how to use it. I only know it is from Ho-oh and when his plumes are spread across someone's grave it could resurrect them." Masters thrusts it into Halcion's hand, closing her claws around the golden glow. "Someone here wanted to bring back Zekrom for their own gain, I stopped them, but I can see why he needed him."

He is giving up his one opportunity, his only chance to mend the wrongs the world has given to him. Never should he have lost not one, but two of his partners, and now, with this plume in Halcion's hand, the chance to ever mend one right fades forever. He closes her palm tightly, glaring into the Haxorus' red eyes.

"Get back to halfway rock, there's a ghost there, Oracle. Find her, and tell her to lead you to Zekrom's grave, use this plume to bring him back. I didn't want Darkrai to have is way. If it's you, I can sleep peacefully.

"Sorry, Darkrai?"

Her confusion makes him pause.

"There is another one, an old foe of mine." He collects himself, turning back to her. "Don't be afraid when you see him, just tell him I sent you. Take the plume, and go."

He doffs his cap, planting the Honchkrow hat on Halcion's head. She briefly looks up, confused as to the itchy feathery thing on her skull.

"Anyone who wears that thing, Honckrow's hat, is in charge of them. Use those Krows to do whatever you want. I don't think they can carry much on their own but a hundred wings could definitely take you back to Halfway Rock. Get there, contact the Oracle, then go get Zekrom."

The thought finally seems to catch up with her. Halcion blinks, adjusting the feathery thing on her head.

"What about you? If I'm giving this Darkrai what you want, what are you gonna do?"

"Stay here." He says.

The sentence makes the Haxorus shiver. She looks to him, then to the river. Streaks of light, distorted waters, the whole world unravels before them. She resigns to her fate with a deep breath.

"You sure?"

"Certain."

Her hands tighten around the illuminescent feather. Looking down, the glow catches her eyes, shining upon her bewildered gaze. Seeing it in the tavern is one, nothing feels like holding it. She is careful not to become lost, stowing the feather in the brim of the Honchkrow hat strapped to her head. Her expression turns to a regretful one.

"I don't want to leave you here, Masters."

"Don't think about it. The feeling of parting is temporary, you'll be over this." He brushes her shoulders, the sparks flying off like worthless slag. "Someone has to warn her, and everyone else. She's helped Rei, I know she'll help you, I know she will."

A distinct pause. Silence takes over, Halcion, readying herself, draws a deep breath. Her body quivers with anticipation. She looks over her shoulder, eyeing the Typhlosion.

"Masters." She sighs. "I became an explorer to protect the ones I care about. I heard a tale of an explorer who did the same, who protected all he cared for until the world wiped him from existence. He cared for all of us, this person, and there was one pokemon to spread his message of peace everywhere."

The story strikes him as familiar, too familiar. With a deep breath, Masters places a hand on the explorer's shoulder.

"I won't let this thing take your continent. Go, keep the message alive, it's what he wanted of me and all of us."

And with a nod, Halcion backs away slowly. She places a claw on the Honchkrow hat, then whistles. Hundreds of Krows fly down as she sprints into the streets, descending upon her, carrying her to the skies with their thousand wings, leaving a lone Typhlosion to face the horrors.

What could it be? A Light That Hates? He pools together his strength, shambling away from the bridge into broken streets to his final destination: the guild or what is left of it.

If there is going to be one person between an egotistical parasite and the world, it is going to be him. He has done this before, there is no reason he couldn't again, and again...

Halfway Rock

The central hub to the continent, the place everyone goes, and passes on their way to wealth or adventure. Hundreds of murkrow squawk above, painting the skies black with their wings while the tent city below lies aslumber. An all too familiar sight, not a soul, not a sound. Being trapped in a neverending dream must feel like mercy.

She got to fly most of the way here, the rest she spent moving as fast as she could, resulting in her legs feeling like they are on fire, figuratively and literally. The yellow embers still cling to her muscles like annoying little burs of fire. The Krows, under her temporary command, scour the town as she sets foot in the streets. Within minutes one swoops down onto her shoulder and points the way.

She races through the maze of tents. All the merchants visibly slumped over their wares sleeping away, ripe for the picking.. The Krow points her between two tents, at the end, a little purple hut awaits her. With a wave, it flutters off, leaving Halcion to her fate.

The Oracle's place, the orb peddler. Why would she have a role in all this? The answer lies ahead.

Halcion creeps down the alley, her huge frame blocks the way out while her tusks hoist up to the side, ready to chop. She approaches the doorframe. She prepares for the worst, then rips the fabric aside.

Dexys, here, huddled upon a cushion, frozen in place with Prinn of all people on her lap. The merchant behind her counter, smiling, and to their right, just lying there-

Dark as night, locks like silver, blue eyes which paralyze her. Darkrai, or another one, looking straight through her with a soft grin across his featureless face. Masters said there was another; seeing itm before her eyes is another experience entirely. They look pleased to see her.

"Hal, be at ease."

His voice is young, charming even, with a dash of snideness snuck in there like a poison. This is not the same Darkrai, he seems inexperienced, or better at putting on a facade. Halcion can barely keep herself from slicing him asunder.

"How do you-"

He gestures across the room. Dexys is alive, not trapped in a dream, though she is quivering in visible distress. Prinn on the other hand is sound asleep, or as sound as Halcion was when constant nightmares whittled down her mind.

"I plucked through her dreams. Her thoughts were of you, and an old flame of mine, begging to be saved by them again." He recounts with mild amusement. "It was in my best interests to bring her here. One less person in the nightmare won't hamper much; the darkness comes all the same."

"You put her through this again?" Halcion growls.

The look on Dexys' face. Cold, panicked breath plumes out of her open mouth. She barely registers Halcion's presence, returning Halcion's glance for a split second then back at nothingness. What did she relive?

"I've never seen a phantom like her. Today was our first meeting, dare you hold me accountable to actions done by his reflection? There is nothing to be gained from tormenting her, so I rescinded her curse, it is very simple.." Two long appendages sprout from his cloak as he sinks into his lounge, folding his legs. "I would expect better temperament from his squires."

The statement blindsides her. Squire? Since when? She has been an explorer every year of her adult life, and now, she is a squire, and anointed to whom? The answer, while obvious, is something she can only see as an attempt to deceive her.

Looking back, Halcion exchanges a knowing glance to Dexys. She mouths something unknowable, holding Prinn even tighter, laying his weary head on her lap where there is a letter, freshly opened.

Upon turning her back to him, Darkrai has not moved.. There are no tricks from him, he has much more pressing things to worry about, so does she. Pushing her woes aside from this moment, she looks at the pompous prince.

"You called me a squire. You said that, right?" Halcion says.

"Yes, because you have the attitude of his lessers. You would like it nowadays to an explorer's spirit, one loyal to their own ideals - his ideals. Her memories made mention of your fealty to him, your willingness to abandon his flag for what you see as right. These are those cherished the Knight would desire of his warriors. It was a compliment, little more. If you were a squire of his you would answer to me, and to her."

There is mention of a left and right hand, because of there is, of course he would have others aiding him. Little could she have imagined she would one day stand in their presence, that one of them would be the man who once brought terror to a continent.

Her doubts are plentiful, it has always been good to doubt one's idols. But meeting his hands, and facing a living warrior of his in combat who threatened Dexys' life for existing has cast a shadow not easily ridden.

She can only hope this Oracle, whatever or whoever she is, can alleviate some of this. Halcion turns to the silent, smiling spirit, doffing Honchkrow's hat and plucking the golden feather..

"So it comes crawling back to me." Darkrai snickers. "Knew it would, Oracle. I am its rightful bearer."

The Mismagius raises an appendage, silencing him.

"Yet you're not the one holding it."

Darkrai pretends not to hear her, going about preoccupying himself with the gigantic head of hair he has.

"Excuse my other, he is crass at times." She says, a pair of fangs protrude from her grin. "I am the one you answer to, and the one you seek'st."

Of course she knows. Halcion keeps the plume in view, but out of reach.

"Masters told me to find you. Something real bad's come here: a thing not from this world. I tried to stop it myself, but it's gone out of hand. I need help in stopping it before things get worse." She looks about her shop where dozens upon dozens of orbs lie strewn. There is one on her desk which stands above others, a deep violet unlike any orb she has seen. "Can you help me find him, Zekrom?"

"You would not have to scour the continent had your fool, Masters, given the plume immediately. She, and I foresaw this very threat." Darkrai speaks. "An abominable light, is it Hal?"

She glances at Darkrai.

"It called itself a Light That Hates, Dexys knew about it, called it Arla. I'm guessing you picked up from what you did to her, didn't you?"

"I knew prior." Darkrai continues, clasping his long clawed fingers. "We believed upon weakening the higher power we would see it take measures to save its loathsome existence, the possibility of another coming to take its place was once such a problem we foresaw. Nary could I have predicted it would be so desperate as to summon someone to devour it. Those little gears cannot hope to stop it..

"It is indeed why I tasked Darkrai to fetch Ho-oh's remains. Which he performed excellently even in failure." The phantom speaks. "He sewed Darkness there, the same method he would use to force the world of darkness, and was thus thwarted by a friend we know very well. While we desire the knight's world, it is a fool's errand to force it. We're using an old method to slow down the light burning through this land.

"And I am most afraid there will not be much left of your guild or the town by the time this outsider is laid to rest."

Magcargo, all those explorers, everyone in the town including those little fellows in the bar. All of them have been cast into a nightmare for this gambit, and for what? Halcion swerves back to the dark prince, sneering.

"You're using them, aren't you? What's going to happen to those people, what happens when this thing finds out you're using them to stop it? You saw what it did to my guildmates!"

"Turn them to ashes?" Darkrai snickers. "It will, there is nothing you can do. Perhaps were you swift or if Masters had let me fulfill our plan sooner, he-

"I don't care what Masters did! He killed the other Darkrai for less! What is wrong with your kind and using others against their will?" She points back to Dexys. "She was used by this other Darkrai, made a pawn in her stupid schemes! Now you're making this happen all over again."

"Hal…"

"And let this light rage across the land, devouring all in its wake?" Darkrai retorts. "You are naive to think I have not planned this through, if you could-"

"See the greater picture? Stop with that! I'm sick of hearing i-

"Hal!"

A cold set of claws reaches out for her, grabbing Halcion's arm. She looks back, Dexys, risen from her seat. Those yellow eyes, exhausted, tired, and wanting none of this quarrel, see into her soul.

"You don't need to forgive him, you don't have to agree with him. Level yourself, Halcion, focus. I need you."

The words are a warm embrace around Halcion's heart. She looks at the Zoroark, bewildered, her mouth keeps on going.

"He put you in a nightmare, he's sacrificing people to…"

"Choices need to be made, I don't agree either, but you're asking the queen of 'attack first' if she can forgive someone's brash judgement. Leave my past horrors to me. There are only so many things you can defeat with strength."

Before there is time to reflect on those around her, Dexys slides a piece of paper into her arm. The returns to her seat, shutting her eyes, and drifting into a sleepless rest unlike the little blue bird.

"Prinn, the boy."

"Fine, slumbering away." Darkrai answers. "I'm not assailing him with nightmares for there is nothing to gain."

"Thank you."

No response.

Folding the paper, stowing it on her person, Halcion turns her attention to the phantom.. Her pink eyes, serpent like, stay focused on her as she pretends to polish off an orb.

"Oracle, right? That's what you are?"

"A title, yes. I am the knight's right hand, I have been with Zekrom for a very long time. May I ask what you intend to do with the ho-oh's plume?"

"I thought I told you already." Halcion grunts. "I need to find Zekrom, I'm going to bring him back. Whatever this Alra guy is, I don't think any of us can take him, neither Darkrai, you or I."

"I'm flattered." She says. "Your intent is true, the same as the Prince. I will aid thee in finding him."

"Good. Now where is he?"

She raises an appendage to silence her, then wreaths her arms around the strange Wonder Orb, picking it up from its plinth and clenching it close to her person. Her expression fades for a moment, shutting her peculiar eyes contemplatively.

"Oracle…?" Halcion stutters.

"Give me but a moment. I will bring thee to his grave." She speaks solemnly, drifting through the table with orb in hand towards the slumbering blue fool. The Mismagius reaches around his waist, fetching a crumbled map. "His watches have surely gone mad since my last visit. The Dungeon is not a merciful place."

"A dungeon? He's still around?"

"His remains are kept in a place of great distortion to deter the intrepid who would rob his warriors of their possessions. It is his final resting place, where he wanted to be laid after being slain by his partner. His tale is a storied one, and an arduous one, and the reason for this invader's arrival." The Oracle sighs. "Save the talk for when he is flesh again. I'm sure you have many, many questions for him. I'll be with thee soon."

Slain by his partner, the reason why this is all is happening. Too much to take in at once. For her own sanity, she leaves not before glancing at Darkrai who returns a knowing nod. She may not trust him, she doesn't need to, but for a man who dwells in Darkness his conduct was admittedly…refreshing.

There are worse people to make your left hand.

Stepping out to the empty streets, the crowd of Murkrow still scamper overhead. Hundreds, if not thousands of messages are being flown out as they speak. According to the squawking of those who carried her here, they are all preparing for the worst, sending out countless warnings trying to get help. The mail has been congested for weeks given the hunt, but now, they are practically burning all those letters to get the urgent word out.

Speaking of mail…

She unfolds the letter, and squints her eyes, reading it under the moonlight.

Dear Mienshao.

Eileen is in good tidings, she is doing well. I've informed her that I am going to be her correspondence for the time being, and she agreed to allow me to be your mediator. She has continued to perform excellently in her apprenticeship under Garl, sooner rather than later we intend to send her to go dungeon delving. She won't be given an official badge to show for it until we actually…make ones.

Once you receive this mail I will be off duty for a time. One of our guildmates, a Braviary, has been reportedly missing. He was being held here for his injuries till he vanished without trace during my absence. His behavior was, quote "unnatural" and spoke without his usual accent. I mailed Prinn and told him to remain in Halfway Rock in search of him, though I worry he may not be enough.

He is a beached, or a faller, a person not from this world. It appears his amnesia finally worn off and he is coming back to his being. Should you happen to see him, please inform me, I need to see if he is okay. He had spoken some worrying things about his amnesia before. Until I see him, I have no clue if he's acted on his worrisome impulses.

Return this letter if you happen to find him. He is not difficult to miss.

Best tidings, Leon.

The letterwork is as plain and organized as the man who wrote them. Leon, the Smeargle, friend of Braviary and Prinn. Whatever happens to Scoria Town through all this, she can only hope for Dexys' sake her daughter is safe. Leon is capable. Unless his guild is harboring some arcane talent, it does not matter how capable they are when this thing strikes it will absolutely destroy them.

Another reason to stop it here and now.

"You don't seem to have much to prepare."

The phantom speaks, hovering up to Halcion's side. She hands the map to Halcion, the charcoal etchings give it away as one of Prinn's many, many maps. This one appears to be freshly made, depicting that of the frigid north. Two settlements are marked: Lapis Town and Winter's domain.

Winter. Where is Louisa? The Krows should be getting him.

"This looks new." Halcion mutters.

"Indeed, commissioned by me. He needed the work and the north is much too frigid sometimes, dangerous for draconic ilk." She scans Halcion up and down, holding the orb in her palm. "Thou'rt not startled by strong winds?"

"No." The Haxorus folds up the map, pretending to understand her. "Are you?"

"Oh, no. I am no stranger to turbulence."

The orb drops from the phantom's palm. When it shatters it engulfs Halcion in a shroud of billowing, ghastly smoke. She hears the wind howl through the mist, ligaments snapping, a gargantuan body lurking in the dark. A pair of eyes sears through the fog, and powerful talons seize Halcion and bring her close, gripping her tightly against a rayquaza's chest as it carries her to the skies.

It speaks with the oracle's voice, tinged with a sibilant accent.

"Be still for me, and avert thy gaze from the lands below. I will carry you to his grave, the rest is up to you!"

Masters is alone.

His fur is on end, he's nervous and his body is in shambles. The only thing keeping him going through this ruined town is knowing what is at the end of this place - only he can face it. The one who controls time, the great colossus, the man in shadow, the dragon of space and the shadow's reflection, he has faced these Legendaries more than any one person should.

There ought to be an award, truly. It happens to these sorts of people who end up with Humans, it always does, apparently. If only he had known. Now he's alone, wandering through the imminent apocalypse like a person who drowned his sorrows in wine.

Get to the guild, get to the foot of this problem just to say he has. He keeps telling himself.

Then what? Get engulfed? He has to be worth more than another body to throw to the fires of calamity. He should have left with her!

Pain keeps those thoughts at bay. The buildings around him are utterly warped, no signs of life save for piles of indiscriminate ashes. There are piles out in the streets surrounded by those golden streaks, doors which swing open, sacks of belongings. People were rushing to safety before…

No, don't think about that. Just keep going.

Finally, a clearing through the ruins. What is left of an amphitheater has a gaping scar in the ground those serpents have poured out of. Across the water, the guild tower lies in splintered ruins, light flickering out from its dead tower like a grotesque candlestick.

Exhaustion finally takes him, and he crumbles onto the ground, sitting his back against a flowerbed. His breath slows. The horrible light blinds him. He shuts his eyes, and…

It registers, like a flash in the dark. He is not going to leave here. He is alone. He will fade here, alone…

If he hadn't- no, he had to. They need someone to stop this; the someone is not him, it can only be Zekrom. Rei would stand no chance, but if he were… if he were here what would he say? He could have left this place; he had his out right there-

"Hey."

A voice cracks the Typhlosion's eyes open. The wind howls, the land crackles with burning light.. No one is here. He's not mad, is he?

"Hey!"

He gets to his feet, putting on his cap, sliding the corviknight plume into its holster, spitting fire into his hands and resupplying his lanterns. The voice. Someone is here; somebody has survived this wreck. Where are they? The wind howls. His heart thumps against his chest, a warm, blistering hot warmth races through his body. Adrenaline is in full swing.

"Up here, idiot!"

Up. The fire continues in his chest, smoke creeps out of his cowl, pouring outwards onto the stone and drifting towards the sky. He follows it to the heavens. A deep resplendent red overwhelms the gold shining down from the tower. Fom the smoke, someone looks down.

"'M! Finally! Thought you'd gone deaf!"

Smoke, and deep red aura form a familiar face. His brass teeth shine through the illusion. Donned in the hat he wore when they met, Lucario is suspended in the clouds. There is no anger, spite, or wretched things he once harbored in his smile - just pure joy at seeing his friend once more.

"Rei?"

"You're not dead yet, just halfway there." The spirit snickers. "I think you know how it goes. You still got that piece of me, right?"

Masters reaches for the thing warming his heart, and pulls it out. The Mega Stone, shining brilliant with his friend's crimson aura.

"I have somewhere to be. It's going to be a very, very long time before we see each other, but I'll be waiting for you, gotcha? You owe me a drink, I think."

"Yeah, I do." Masters stutters out. "Rei- I'm…"

"I thought I told you not to use that name, 'M. 'Sides, I couldn't leave you, I had to know if you'd waste the feather on something stupid like me. You did the right thing, you did what I would do. There's no wrong in doing the obvious good thing, 'eh 'M?"

"No, not at all. I just…"

"Give it time." He laughs, his smoke, and aura thinning with every precious word. "We'll meet again. I was gonna haunt you forever if I found out you did something dumb with this or the gears. You're still you, 'M. Someone's betting on you making it out of this, so tell us you've got this."

His heart skips. A dry feeling travels up Masters' throat.

"I have this."

"Of course you do! We'll be cheering, we'll be drinking for you."

The tail of smoke from stone to his spirit tapers off. His time is dwindling. Rei tilts his hat, pulls at his stupid grills, revealing his dumb old smile for the final time.

"I gotta go, the show's about to start. Don't let me down."

"I-I won't."

He looks down at himself, the smoke making his body is all but cut off. Invisible hands envelop Rei as he shuts his eyes with content. His final words echo from the heavens; a parting message from the veil.

"And when you see Celebi…tell her….you'll take care…of it…"

The warmth from the stone fades instantly. Masters reaches up, trying to grab the shadow of a friend long lost. Tears gush down, and like a pitter of rain they paint the floor. He holds the mega stone close, gripping to the last motes of warmth as he whispers.

"I will. I'll cherish you, Rei. I'll right this for you, for Whiskey, for Celebi, for everyone."