"Is that you, Riolu?" Diglett called.
"Yeah," Sean replied, standing now but Striker hovered anxiously close by. "I've got… well." He glanced behind him, not even sure how to begin explaining things. Sean swallowed nervously. "Company. We've got… yeah. I can't explain it in words."
The grate opened slowly as Diglett's voice vanished.
"I'm not sure about this," Guardian said quietly, but Saniya pushed him along.
"Come on; you got to show me around. Striker's too distracted to even think about me." She was positively glowing with eagerness despite Striker's focus on someone other than her.
The bottom floor was gathering a crowd of concerned guildmembers, Diglett at the front of them.
"H-Hey," Rai said, glancing back worriedly as Saniya zipped down in manic excitement.
"OhmygoshIcan'tbelieveIgettofinallyseeyouallIcan'twaittobethebestoffriendsandtelleachothereverythingandsharegossipandlaughandcryandlaughsomemore!"
While she spoke at speeds only Sunflora could possibly understand, she zipped around the room, giving everyone a hug each before bouncing out an open window and then back in and hugging everyone again.
Her antics provided a nice distraction for Guardian to slink into the room and float uncomfortably by the incline, waiting for someone to notice him.
It was Armaldo, someone Guardian noted was new, who spotted him first. "Okay," the old explorer said gruffly, catching Saniya with a sudden swipe in the air. She blinked in surprise, not being prepared to be caught. "Hold this," he said, tossing her into Wigglytuff's arms, who eagerly hugged her.
Saniya hugged back.
Armaldo's eyes met Guardian's, and the powerful pokémon began walking forward, the apprentices stepping out of the way and looking along curiously. Guardian was noticed by everyone else, and gasps ran through the guild.
"Normally the sentries keep an eye on who comes in," Armaldo said, stepping up to Guardian. "But in all the excitement, it seems something slipped through. Normally we'd ask questions, but with everything else going on, I think it's clear who you are."
Guardian raised his hands placatingly. "I am not here to cause-"
Far quicker than his bulky frame would suggest, Armaldo grabbed one of Guardian's hands, tugged him forward, twisted it around, and grabbed the other arm, slamming Guardian into the wall with both arms behind his back.
A seed Armaldo had been concealing melted into Guardian's ghostly body, and its effects immediately overcame him, freezing up his limbs in his pinned state.
"Wait-wait-wait!" Saniya yelled and tried to break free of Wigglytuff's hug. The Fairy-type was not letting go, however.
"Dusknoir," Armaldo said as the guild looked on in stunned silence. "You are under arrest."
"STRIKER!" Saniya yelled, and the grovyle in question untangled from Sean at last and came to Guardian's defence.
Striker was young, but he wasn't stupid, and he only jumped to his side. "Release him, we can explain."
Armaldo, however, was just as sharp. "Dusknoir may be of a time that may not exist anymore, but his crimes in the past are still punishable. He manipulated the guild, Treasure Town, and harmed pokémon in order to concoct his plot. I don't care what you have to say; it doesn't matter if you believe he has changed."
He pulled Guardian up. "It doesn't matter IF he has indeed made a turn for the better, as implied by him entering with you. What matters is that he has committed multiple crimes, and he will be brought to Officer Magnezone for punishment."
Still struggling in Wigglytuff's hold, Saniya wriggled herself free. She didn't zoom for Armaldo, but for Striker.
"What are we going to do?" she hissed. "I told him things would be fine, and I can't tell a lie."
"I-I don't," Striker replied, caught flat-footed. Armaldo didn't seem the kind of waiting for witty retorts and appeals to mercy to be made, and he was already dragging Guardian away.
It was Sean who responded next. He stepped in the way with arms crossed. "Armaldo, let them explain."
"If it would prevent a scene, you may join me as I go to Team Magnezone," Armaldo said, glancing back to Wigglytuff. The Guildmaster got whatever message Armaldo was trying to put across and jogged up.
"Right, we can all go!" he said, smiling kindly.
"Everyone?" Saniya said, glancing back at the guild.
"The three of us can join Armaldo and Dusknoir, yes."
"You just want backup," Striker muttered under his breath.
Armaldo was unphased. "I don't intend on tolerating any irrational or emotional outbursts. If you try to intervene, you will join him in the cell."
Saniya crossed her arms and glared at Armaldo. He stared back, meeting her eyes.
Striker glanced between the two and Wigglytuff took a step in closer, ready to pull Striker back in case something explosive happened.
Saniya looked away. "Fine. But Guardian already made up for what he did, Magnezone, or whatever will see it that way."
"I am not doing this to be your enemy," Armaldo replied, lugging Guardian along again. "This is simply the law."
"It'll be okay," Wigglytuff insisted, before looking back to the massed, and very confused, guild. "Um… Croagunk, you're in charge until we get back."
"Meh-heh-heh, sure."
A few pokémon eased away from the Poison-type as he continued to chuckle.
With that, the six of them left. Four guests, and Armaldo with Guardian.
Saniya was very quiet as they walked, choosing not to talk to Wigglytuff or Armaldo. Striker found himself with nothing to say. He did understand where Armaldo was coming from, and he whispered a few placating things to Saniya.
Sean knew the punishments in this time were not as severe as the time that never was. He hoped hearing that helped her, whispering quietly to Saniya. She grew calmer as they went and found some energy returning, looking around excitedly at new places.
Wigglytuff found himself relieved as well. He couldn't be sure if Grovyle, or Celebi, or Riolu that the guild had grown close to would try anything drastic, but Armaldo had clearly thought it a worry. He wondered why they would be so defensive of him, considering his actions, but the thought that Dusknoir truly had turned over a new leaf filled him with joy.
The fact that they were still around was causing exciting thoughts to roll around in his head. However, the current situation was serious, so he held his tongue.
He was eager to talk to Celebi, though. Sean had talked about the pokemon of the future many times and part of Wigglytuff's withered flame sparked back to life at the prospect of all this.
The Team Magnezone base came into view, and Saniya burst into giggles upon spotting it. She calmed herself quickly but the sight of the magnezone-shaped building lightened her mood further.
Surely someone with as silly a home as that couldn't be too mean.
Although Wigglytuff had restrained her, she knew that's what he had done, and he lived in a silly place. He was supposed to be nice. However, she had to think about things. She didn't like to overthink.
The light was going, and the place was technically closed, but Armaldo hammered on the door, having Wigglytuff hold Dusknoir until someone answered.
"BZZT! What is it? BZZT!" a magnezone said in an approximation of annoyance for their kind. It blinked upon seeing the five, in which everyone besides Dusknoir began talking at once.
"I have an outlaw to-"
"He has arrested my-"
"This meanie pants wants to-"
"Pokémon from the future have returned including-"
"BZZZZZZT! One at a time, please. BZZT!"
"I have an outlaw you need to contain," Armaldo said firmly, speaking over everyone else. "Dusknoir the Betrayer."
Throwing a dirty look at Armaldo, Striker said his part, "He has arrested my friend. I am aware of what Dusknoir has done, but he changed and helped stop Primal Dialga from destroying time. Surely Shinx and Riolu mentioned the event of Primal Dialga coming to fight when Team Ion was saving time? Dusknoir saved his life and was instrumental in stopping the mad creature."
Striker crossed his arms and stared the magnemite down. It turned to Saniya before he could really begin to glare, taking the wind out of his sails.
"This meanie pants wants to arrest him!" Saniya said, pointing the finger at Armaldo. "Arrest HIM!"
"Very persuasive," Sean sighed.
Wigglytuff stepped forward and did his best to explain everything to the stunned magnemite, as well as the crowd of magne-pokémon that were building on the other side of the door. "Tonight has been quite a night!" he said to start things off.
Officer Magnezone themself floated through, the magne-pokémon parting for their leader. "BZZT! Explain, Guildmaster Wigglytuff. Explain why we have been intruded upon after hours, with what appears to be Grovyle the Thief, Dusknoir the Betrayer, yourself, Riolu of Team Ion, former outlaw Armaldo and… this pink pokémon."
"It's Celebi," she snapped. "Or Saniya. Except you don't call me that. Unless you let Guardian go! That'd be nice and then we can be friends!"
"Call him, and everyone else, by their species," Striker muttered, hating he needed to remind Saniya already. "Please."
"Oh, right. I forgot. I'm Celebi. He's NOT Guardian. The green and gorgeous one is Grovyle, not Striker. Okay?"
Striker slowly covered his face.
Magnezone had no words, so they faced Wigglytuff instead.
"It appears that pokémon from the erased future have returned," Wigglytuff explained. "Team Ion found them on the… beach?" He received a set of nods as that was easier. "The beach and brought them to the guild."
"There's no sign of Scout though," Saniya piped up. "We're all here, Sean's still here."
Guardian, who hadn't made a sound since Armaldo stunned him, gave a soft murmur of distress.
The bright cheer that lifted Wigglytuff seemed to fizzle out of him, he visibly wilted and the brightness in his eyes faded. He sighed and took a breath, speaking at a more level rate, "Armaldo, after seeing Dusknoir, took reasonable action. He's been dosed with a stun seed and I joined them here as times were a little tense."
"Yeah. Because Dusky is not a bad guy anymore!" Saniya snapped, anger replacing the sadness. She zoomed up and stared at Magnezone in their big red circle.
"Their eyes are to the side," Armaldo said, tiredly.
"Shut up. I knew that!" Saniya said, backpedalling to star back and forth between two very flat eyes.
"BZZT! Dusknoir, while never officially given a branding as an outlaw due to not being in our timeline, is guilty of using an official explorers guild to increase his control and perpetrate crimes against the entire world. He has used, lied, manipulated, and extorted pokémon while portraying himself as a grand saviour while vilifying the pokémon set to save the world and manipulating us all to his advantage. BZZT!"
"Yeah, but…"
"BZZT! Furthermore, he is guilty of kidnapping, and attempted murder, and while there are no official laws against allowing time to unravel, it should be punished. BZZT!"
"Stop BZZZTing at me!"
Magnezone turned to a trio of magneton, who zoomed in to surround Guardian. Their electricity chains lit up, and they picked him up as it snapped him out of his stunned state.
"Finally," Guardian managed. He coughed once or twice before shaking his head and glaring at Saniya, Sean, and Striker. "I know those looks, let. This. Go. I deserve this."
"No," Saniya protested, beginning to grow petulant. "You changed. You changed."
"Not soon enough," Guardian pointed out. The magne-pokémon was kind enough to let them have this exchange. "Look, don't hold this against Armaldo or the guild. I knew this was going to happen, this is what should happen, this is a peaceful time, and I interfered with this. If I had won, this time would be over. I deserve punishment."
"BZZT! So you will comply? BZZT!"
"Yes," Guardian answered. "I will."
"No!" Saniya snapped, trying to but in. "He will NOT!" Striker caught her.
"Calm down," he said, having to hold her tight. She began beating her wings, blowing air into his face. "Stop!"
Saniya stopped. "He is one-half, well third now, I guess, of all the people I have in the world. You cannot just take him away."
Striker cast a look to Wigglytuff, the Fairy-type holding a contemplative look, and then back to Armaldo, who did not appear moved and then to Sean who was frowning deeply, chewing his lip.
Sean closed his eyes and took a breath, popped his neck. "Okay, I'm about thirty seconds from freaking out again so please let me speak."
Magnezone turned to him as did the rest of his crew.
"A long time ago, I guess in the future now if it still exists, I was thrown into hell. I didn't even know what I was there to do until Saniya found us. All I knew was that Striker, Scout, Guardian and I were everything we had. He… I know why he did what he did and I know it can't just be forgotten. But when he had the chance, he didn't hurt me."
Guardian looked away as Sean looked towards him. "I never got to really ask about that. But you did, didn't you? You…."
Guardian wasn't responding as Saniya and Striker stared at him in question.
"Guardian?" The words sounded heavy on Sean's tongue, a word that carried a lot of history.
"...I won't accept that small deeds outweigh the big ones," Guardian said, stiffening up as everyone stared. "For they do not. I knew this would happen and I accept the punishment, whatever it is."
"I don't!" Saniya cried. "We were going to go on missions and see the world and help all the pokémon we could!"
That caught Wigglytuff's ear.
"You were going to become an exploration team?" he asked. Saniya nodded rapidly.
"Yes! We were going to find out how to do that, and then do that."
"I know this is out of order," Striker said, nodding to Saniya. "But isn't there some sort of… rehabilitation that is done for arrested pokémon?"
"BZZT! Yes. We give them menial tasks in produce and item gathering to start with. BZZT!"
"If we agree to regulations, would you be able to release him into our custody?"
"BZZT! Unheard of. BZZT!"
"You said you wanted to start a team?" Wigglytuff asked, he received a pair of yes's. He looked to Guardian. "You as well?"
Striker gave a stiff nod. "Yes, it seemed the most reasonable choice of action."
Wigglytuff beamed. "You can join the guild then!"
Sean leapt onto that. "Yes! Yes, they can! And I can help them"
Silence overtook the clearing. The clicks and whirs of the magne-pokémon seemed to pause, as everyone blinked at Wigglytuff.
Armaldo recovered first. "Wigglytuff," he muttered, shaking his head. "If what I've heard is even remotely true, these three are far more capable than mere apprentices. They'd graduate in a day, and Dusknoir could get off scot-free."
Wigglytuff waved him off. "Not as apprentices, Armaldo. More like… uh… what's the word?" he hummed to himself for a few moments, trying to pluck the elusive word from the depths of his brain.
"Contractors?" Armaldo said, unable to wait around for Wigglytuff.
"Yes! They can work for the guild, like an already-graduated team! I know from experience that Grovyle is super strong, and Celebi is a legendary pokémon! I know they can hold Dusknoir in check if they need to. Plus, they can report to us every day after doing stuff for and around town. Obviously, we can't just let them leave on missions right away, but there is always work that needs to be done in town that the townsfolk don't ask the guild about!"
Saniya nodded rapidly. "Yes. YES! That's perfect. Absolutely perfect. We'll stay in Treasure Town, and we'll go with whatever you want us to do until you think Dusknoir is as good as WE know he is. Wouldn't it be better for everyone involved that way?"
Magnezone hesitated, glancing between Guardian and Wigglytuff. Striker cleared his throat. "Plus. This wouldn't be the first time someone was arrested and punished for reasons out of their control." He rubbed a scar on his head, and Magnezone's eyes flickered red in annoyance, or perhaps embarrassment, for a moment.
"Oh, snap!" Saniya said, snapping her fingers in the process and thoroughly ruining the moment.
"BZZT! You do not need to be so underhanded. We pokémon of this time owe you a great debt for what you did. BZZT!" Magnezone swivelled back to the Magneton, and they released Guardian.
Guardian, who was not expecting that, hit the ground before he remembered he could float. He raised himself up, glancing between everyone in stunned silence.
"BZZT! Grovyle and Celebi. You WILL not be allowed to let Dusknoir out of your sight. At least one of you must always be with him, if in town the two of you must be. Pokémon will be nervous, angry, distrustful, and for a good reason. BZZT!"
Guardian flinched.
"BZZT! This is an endeavour of great trust, and thanks on our part, Grovyle. You are a hero to the pokémon, and you are powerful. For whatever reason you have chosen to stake such risk on Dusknoir, I may never understand. I can only hope that you are not deceived, as we all were, by Dusknoir. BZZT!"
Striker nodded as Saniya zoomed to Guardian and pulled him away from the building, as if getting him a few meters away made him safer.
"You have my word," Striker said, glancing between Magnezone, Armaldo, and Wigglytuff. "And thank you for this opportunity. I know Dusknoir has chosen this path out of a genuine desire to make things right. He, and we, will not let you down."
"BZZT! I'll leave the finer details to the Guildmaster and the Second. You may go. BZZT!"
Armaldo joined Wigglytuff as Guardian sagged, the magne-pokémon returning to the inside of their home base.
"I can't believe you did that," Guardian whispered, covering his face.
"Like we'd let you off the hook so easily," Saniya said, giving him a gentle jab with her elbow. "You've got to suffer with us for a while longer."
"Thank you. Even if you really shouldn't have done that, thank you."
"It was that or become a criminal again," Striker joked. Guardian glared at him, but Saniya giggled as she imagined a wanted poster for herself.
Wanted Saniya, the Celebi. For her terrible crimes of putting tamato berries in all the food, tripping that silly pokémon Armaldo twelve times and general noisemaking. This is a menace, unlike any other. Reward, all of the apples, as well as three hugs.
Fiendish, she knew.
"Okay," Armaldo said, stepping back from his rapid whisper session with Wigglytuff. "That, I admit, wasn't expected." He gave Sean especially a hard look. Sean stared back undaunted by the massive insect.
Guardian floated up, hands raised up. "If you'd prefer to stun me again before we go anywhere, I understand."
"I dislike you," Armaldo said, bluntly. Saniya gasped. "Partially for the things I know you've done, but mostly for this cloying, apologetic, behaviour. Whether you are or are not genuinely remorseful, your behaviour comes across as self-pitying and will not impress anyone. If you want to earn forgiveness or whatever it is, remain silent, do what is asked of you, and keep the defeatist attitude to a minimum."
"Very well," Guardian said softly. He straightened his back, and his eye flickered once or twice, but he did as he asked and didn't speak.
"You're in front," Armaldo said, waiting until Guardian was indeed in front. "I'm next. Your buddies next, then Wigglytuff."
"This is ridiculous," Saniya complained, but Striker went along with it. "We're not going to do anything."
"YOU have made it clear that you will do something if you deem it necessary," Armaldo said as they began the walk back. "And I do not know you, so I cannot be sure what you will deem as necessary."
"You're mean."
"Fine."
"Meanie."
Armaldo didn't respond, and the five were somehow quieter and more awkward on the walk back to the guild.
After Saniya tried and failed to trip Armaldo several times, Striker ended it, and she floated around Guardian like a guardian angel for the remainder of the night.
Despite the guild's many, many, MANY questions, Armaldo was too done with the night to answer too many questions.
"Why is HE here?"
"Oh golly, Dusknoir's back?"
"Oh my gosh, WHAT?"
"Hey-hey-hey, what gives?"
"We are filled with discontent over this."
"I've heard more than enough to know he's bad news."
"Shut up!" Armaldo ordered, silencing the guild. "He's on probation with us for the time being. Dusknoir, along with his… teammates." Saniya waved, Striker held his own hand up half-heartedly. "Will be staying with us. Because of that, Flaaffy and Paras." The two named pokémon perked up. "You're going to have to move."
"What?" Flaaffy yelled.
"Oh, okay," Paras said, acquitting easily.
Armaldo nodded at the smaller Bug-type before turning to Flaaffy. "Unless you'd like to stay with Dusknoir?"
Flaaffy opened his mouth to protest further and further, but his eyes fell on the standing trio, and all that came out was a bleat.
He crossed his arms. "If I have to move, I'm not sharing with Paras again," he growled.
"Fine. Stay with Sunflora and Chimecho and Paras can have her own room."
"WHAT?" Flaaffy demanded, but Armaldo was already walking away. "Hey! Hey!"
"That's my thing," Corphish said, scuttling up to him. "Give it a rest."
Flaaffy turned his head and scoffed before stomping off. "Fine."
Sunflora ran after him. "Wait up! I'll help move your bed!"
"My bed, I move it!" Was all that was heard before their voices faded.
Chimecho, having poked her head out of the medical wing to listen in sighed. "I'd best make sure Flaaffy is calmed down."
Striker nodded and quickly ran up, passing Chimecho, leaving Saniya and Guardian to remain standing together.
"I…" Guardian began, before considering Armaldo's words and simply cutting himself short. Saniya was less controlled than he was.
"So," she began, meeting everyone's eyes in kind. "Anyone who's got a problem with Gggggahhh… Dusky here has a problem with me! And my sweet Grovyle too. So, you know?" She punched her palm, before spotting Paras.
Saniya gasped and zoomed straight at her. "You have mushrooms on your back! How EXCITING! You must tell me everything."
Paras meeped as she was bombarded with shiny celebi and rolled onto her back, passing out.
"Did it die?"
"Celebi," Guardian said, strained. That caused a reaction.
"Who are…?" Corphish was asking before Guardian's word hit with the apprentices.
"CELEBI?" everyone yelled at once.
"YES!" Saniya yelled back with near-equal volume. There was a loudred yelling, can't really beat that.
Saniya did a few laps of the room. "I'm the great and magnificent one who sent everyone around to the past to save the world. You may all thank me as much as you'd like. Trust me; I don't mind."
Saniya preened under the sudden influx of talking. She couldn't quite hear what was being said, but she was sure it was compliments.
"Everyone!" Wigglytuff yelled, raising his hands. The world seemed to blink for a moment, and the horde calmed down. "I understand that we are all very excited," he said patiently. "But we cannot overwhelm our new guests."
"Guildmaster?" Dugtrio asked, burrowing closer. "Please, tell us what is going on. Leaving us all in the dark, with Dusknoir back here, Celebi amongst us, pokémon having returned. It is all so confusing, and Shinx and Litleo were scarcely able to explain anything and they just went off to bed."
Among the group, Sean glanced around, noting that Rai and Mane indeed weren't in sight.
"All we know is that Dialga, or something else, brought Grovyle, Celebi, and… Dusknoir back," Diglett explained. "And that there is no sign of Meowth."
"What we know," Wigglytuff began. "Is that these three have indeed returned. Dusknoir has reportedly changed." He thought for a moment. "Shinx did say so, remember?"
He looked to Sean who nodded. "We all would have died if it wasn't for him."
"Right. Grovyle and Celebi assured us of his change, and with… abject refusal to allow him to be arrested, it has been decided that Grovyle, Celebi, Dusknoir… and perhaps Riolu?" He glanced at Sean, who contemplated it. "Are to form a team. They will work with the guild, and live here, doing work in town until it is decided that Dusknoir has indeed changed for the better and has made up for his past wrongdoings."
"And anyone who disagrees gets the fist of doom!" Saniya added, raising the fist in question. Then she quickly lowered it. "Sorry, that was the fist of justice. THIS!" she raised her other hand. "Is the fist of doom."
There was no real way to argue that.
"We'll discuss this further tomorrow morning," Wigglytuff said. "For now, let's have dinner! Oh, where did Team Ion go?"
Rai and Mane already appeared asleep when Sean went to check on them and he decided to give them privacy. If they wanted to be alone, well, he'd gotten good at detecting when they wanted that.
Dinner was a tense and silent affair, although Wigglytuff continued to dance regardless, and those who had missed Wigglytuff's announcement were filled in there.
It was agreed that Scout could be discussed tomorrow as well, as tonight was simply growing too much to sensibly and maturely take in at once.
Not much sleep happened that night for Rai and Mane.
The next morning had perhaps the earliest assembly held. No one slept well, leaving red eyes, wobbly legs, and short tempers to run amok through the guild.
Rai and Mane found themselves standing away from everyone else, resting against each other.
Guardian, Dusknoir, whatever anyone wanted to call him was expressly not looking at anyone, but everyone had him in their sights. Saniya yawned constantly, but the sunlight streaming through a window caught her and caused her to almost sparkle in the light.
Striker was the most composed of the four but was still leaning heavily on Sean.
Wigglytuff's presence kept everyone in line while Armaldo's keen-eyed glare on the future quartet made sure they wouldn't be doing anything without him knowing about it.
"I almost can't believe you're alright," Striker murmured. Saniya and Guardian beamed at them. To hear Striker talk about much of anything was a rarity.
"I still can't believe you're all actually here," Sean replied, holding Striker's hand as Saniya floated in to hug his side.
"Riolu," Guardian said softly, nodding his head. Sean gave him a complex look in return. Sean had not stayed in the room with them last night, having joined Rai and Mane after walking around the guild.
"Order everyone!" Wigglytuff called. "Let's have one last talk to figure out what's going on before we decide what's going to happen next."
With everyone present, all eyes turned to Striker. Saniya was too erratic, and Guardian was far too distrusted. And Sean seemed to have no idea either. It was down to Striker to explain.
"Hopefully, this will be the last time I need to explain this," he started before going into everything he knew. From the time in the Dark Future when Guardian finally made a change for the better, Striker made sure to include that, to dragging Primal Dialga back to the future, he spoke.
"We accepted it was done. We always knew that changing time would sacrifice ourselves," Striker explained. Rai made a sound close by, and Mane bumped him lightly. They already knew that, he reminded without words.
"Then… then we woke up. In the same place, but with a much smaller Dialga staring at us."
Striker continued, revealing as best as he knew about how they survived, to assisting Dialga in repairing Temporal Tower up until Dialga sent them here.
"And that's where we are," Striker concluded. "That's all we know."
"What about Meowth?" Rai called, having listened silently up until now.
"Yes," Guardian said, voice heavy. His eye burned into Sean as he asked. "Where is he?"
Sean met Guardian's eye with sadness. "I don't know."
Guardian's stare became heavier before he nodded and floated a step back.
"So, why just him?" Mane asked, deciding to point out the hard questions. "You guys came back, okay? You saved the world. Well, so did he! Where's is he?"
Striker grimaced. "Dialga-"
"Dialga probably knows something anyway," Mane cut in. "Why Meowth isn't around yet. I think there are some questions it can answer for us!"
Rai nodded at him. "He's right, if Dialga controls time then it must know something about Scout!"
Standing beyond the perception of anyone in the room, between Rai and Mane as always, Scout smiled at Rai and Mane.
Striker shot a look to Saniya and Guardian, asking without speaking. Both of them knew Dialga somewhat better than he did, Saniya out of friendliness and Guardian out of loyalty.
Biting her lip, Saniya gave a nervous giggle. "It was a good idea last night too, have we all forgotten that was already the idea?"
"Master Dialga could surely shed some light on what's going on." Guardian nodded.
Satisfied, Striker turned back to the depleted Team Ion. "Dialga can be difficult at times, but yes. Maybe it does know something."
"Either way," Mane said, strolling forward. "Dialga will be able to tell us something."
"Where are you going?" Rai asked, running after him.
"To the beach," he said as if it was obvious. "You got there and back on that lapras, and so did they. He even said he could take us back tomorrow, which is today, so I'm not waiting around."
"Hang on," Armaldo snapped, plucking the litleo off the ground by the scruff of his neck. Mane hissed and swiped at him, but Armaldo held him well out of harm's way. "You're not just running off like that."
Mane was set down, and he steamed grumpily. Armaldo nodded to Wigglytuff, knowing the younger pokémon had heard enough to make some decisions.
"Okay!" Wigglytuff yelled as the apprentices had begun to talk. "We've got three plans of action for today! First, we are going to set out some teams to see if they can find any trace of Meowth of Team Ion. He may have returned and simply appeared somewhere else."
Sunflora, Bidoof, Corphish, and Paras were immediately raising a limb to volunteer for the search.
"Second, Team Ion is going to head to the Hidden Land to ask Dialga if it knows anything."
"By themselves?" Striker asked, concerned. "The journey is not as harrowing as it was the first time, but to find Dialga, you would at least need to make it to the Old Ruins. That's not an easy prospect for two pokémon."
"I'll be with them," Sean pointed out. "Technically, I'm a member of Team Ion."
"You are?" Striker asked before shaking his head. "Not important."
"I'm surprised we didn't get to that last night," Saniya said. "Or did we…?" Last night was a bit of a blur of action in her head.
"It isn't like you can go along with him," Armaldo added, gesturing to Guardian. "You, nor the celebi, can leave the town as per your own agreement to keep an eye on Dusknoir. Or are you thinking of disregarding your agreement already?"
Sean nodded to that. "I'm the best bet. Would Lapras even allow anyone else?"
"He might not even take Litleo," Striker pointed out, getting a glare from Mane.
"We'll see about THAT!" Mane declared, stomping a foot and leaving a scorch mark on the floor.
Wigglytuff clapped his paws and beamed. "Alright, everyone, time to get to work!"
"HOORAY!"
Armaldo stomped over and took the future trio to the side as Wigglytuff moved to start dividing the pokémon up into guild work and meowth searching.
Sean joined Rai and Mane and managed a smile for the two. "Feels like yesterday we were heading out."
Rai gave a small smile of his own, and Mane snorted at him.
"Team Ion?" Wigglytuff called, already done with dividing the apprentices. He came over and gave all three of them a hug at the same time. "Go to the stores and take whatever you want for this journey. I'll see you off at the beach. Armaldo will make sure Grovyle, Celebi, and Dusknoir know what they are doing."
Happy to follow for the moment, Sean followed Rai and Mane to the stores and helped pick out a few items.
There was a moment of awkwardness as the bag was passed around, it settled on Sean before long, and none of them spoke about it. Something that they had never talked about over the last few months.
It was never a factor, never a problem. It was a tragedy, that had happened. One that happened regardless of their wishes. Sean was never blamed and Rai and Mane made sure to talk through any bubbles of resentment that dared to crop up.
And yet that was easy before. Easy to not feel. Easy because they were together in grief. Sean was hurt possibly even more than they were and they knew he struggled with nightmares, the horrors of surviving where everyone else he knew did not.
And yet, now everyone he lost was back… except for the one they both shared.
There was a stiffness between the three. A pervading thought that all three felt, but none were willing to speak the words. As to say, it would be awful. Even thinking it, however involuntarily and untruthfully, was awful.
You are the wrong one.
Sean didn't call Rai cute for sneezing when he inhaled too much dust at one moment, or lazily swipe at Mane's tail.
Rai didn't tackle-hug Sean, and Mane didn't make inappropriate remarks about him.
There was just silence.
You are the wrong one.
They met Wigglytuff at the beach after Sean had bid his goodbyes to Striker, unable to stop himself from smiling as he said. "See you later." And meaning it.
Striker grinned as well. He hated to see Sean go already but knowing that he WOULD see Sean again raised everyone's moods.
They found Wigglytuff chatting with Lapras. There was a certain sadness to Wigglytuff, Lapras had offered condolences for Chatot, but he was still smiling at them.
"Got everything you need?" he asked. Sean nodded, patting the bag. "Excellent." He turned back to Lapras, who was wearing a most uncertain face.
"I am… unsure," he said, looking past Rai and Sean to Mane. "As per the rules, I don't think I am allowed to bring the litleo."
"I am NOT being left behind again," Mane snapped, he walked up to Lapras and brushed some fur out of the way, exposing a scar along his neck. "I was there too; I would have come along had those monsters not slashed me."
Wigglytuff gave him a gentle pat, and Mane stopped fuming. The smoke was irritating everyone's noses.
Lapras made a considering sound and glanced at Rai. "The Key was the proof needed to come along," he said, eying the string around Rai's neck.
Rai's ears flicked as he met Lapras' eyes. He took the string off without hesitation and trotted to Mane, looping it around his neck. "There! He has the key."
"Something-something the key was inside you all along. I see no problems then!" Lapras beamed. "You two have already been chosen, and a new bearer is before me. Hop on."
Mane rolled his eyes at it all, but couldn't hide a small, happy, smile on his face at Rai's gift. He knew it wasn't for him, but he continued to wear it over the Silver Bow as everyone climbed onto Lapras' shell.
"Good luck, everyone!" Wigglytuff said and waved them off.
"Thank you for the company," Lapras said, "and the thrilling conversation."
"You are welcome here any time, Lapras," Wigglytuff said, and Lapras smiled. The four of them drifted off over the sea, and Wigglytuff watched them for a while longer than he should have.
"Armaldo will be needing me," Wigglytuff said to himself, smiling slightly. He watched a moment longer, remembering another team he saw a scene quite like that. Then he turned and ran back to Treasure Town. Things could devolve into a messy panic if Dusknoir wasn't properly reintroduced to the town.
"Wow, those pokémon were motherless bastards," Mane chirped as the dungeon finally began to change, become less controlled, and moved into the natural growth of the sane world.
"Believe it or not, it was worse when we first came through here," Rai said, limping slightly. He'd gotten a nasty blow to his right foreleg and was feeling it hard.
Sean chuckled. "I'm just relieved they weren't crawling out of cracks in reality and gunning for us. That was just no good. I did not like that."
Rai and Mane carried the mission. They often had during the many missions across the months, Sean wasn't as aggressive as either of them nor as familiar in his body even now.
Sean appreciated the thought, but he never had and never was going to let others fight for him. The most distant feeling of irony had hit him, thinking of the time he wanted to be a Pokémon Trainer.
Then it passed, and they continued fighting through.
Thankfully, most of the pokémon were fine with leaving them alone or could be warded off with enough force. Nothing like the rampaging life-or-death fights it had been before.
Soon enough, the three stepped into the Old Ruins. Mane whistled as they passed by the ancient scriptures, now cleared of rubble and left looking clean and quite nice. Sean could see Guardian's work on them; he was always so meticulous.
That was a weird thought to him. Any thoughts considering Guardian were. The dusknoir had come through at their final moments and proven he could still do what was right.
Yet, betrayal's cut stung deep and far, and no single action would be enough to ease that burn. Sean preferred not thinking about it. He'd have to face it when they got back to Treasure Town, but not now.
For now, they had Dialga to face.
It waited for them at the top of the Rainbow Stoneship, staring down at them with an impassive glare. Mane gave a low whistle as they ascended the steps, Rai noted that Dialga seemed a little larger than the last time he had seen it.
The three were out of breath by the time they had climbed the pyramid, but Dialga gave them no time to catch their breath.
"Pokémon, who changed time," it began, disregarding Mane completely. "Why are you here?"
Annoyed at being either mistaken or ignored, Mane was the first to reply. "We want to ask you a question."
"You would come all the way to the Hidden Land to ask I, Dialga, the ruler of time, a question?" Mane's lip may have curled from Dialga's tone, but it was a powerful creature, and he did know how to show respect.
Sean stepped forward. "My friends are back, Grovyle and Celebi… even Dusknoir. But what about Meowth? Where is he?"
Dialga rolled its eyes. "Of course," it muttered. "One cannot expect salvation to be given without the recipients to hold their hands out for more." Dialga shook its head as Rai and Mane shared a frown. "I understand why you had come, and I have no answers you want to hear, but I have answers regardless."
Sean gave Rai and Mane a fearful look as Dialga rose to its full height. Still nothing to the previous Dialga, but it towered over them regardless.
"The previous Dialga's problems could not die with it," Dialga said. "The mess it has caused has been left to me to clean up. I do now know why your companions were revived, only one entity, I believe, could have done so, but the likelihood is low. Arceus is supposed to be hibernating. But… but that may not have been true of the future, which this time is now the current of."
"What are you talking about?" Rai asked, Dialga turned its eyes on him.
"Things above your station. Let me be blunt, the continued existence of Grovyle, that Celebi, and Dusknoir are the literal grace of Arceus. The reason that one." It nodded to Sean. "Exists is due to coming from another world and paradoxes are thankfully not so all-consuming as to snare him in its hold."
"Where is Scout?" Mane asked lowly. For a brief moment, Dialga's eyes flicked to his side, right by Rai. But he said something else. "Gone."
Everything felt cold to Rai and Mane, and they exchanged a terrified glance.
"Why?" Sean asked, voice cracking. He stepped forward. "Please. You control time? Can't you do something?"
"I cannot."
"That isn't fair!"
Dialga's eyes darkened. "Fairness is a concept invented by those that exist now. Fairness was not a pivotal aspect of existence. Meowth is gone, erased from reality, never to exist again, doomed to be forgotten to even you in time."
The three of them flinched and fell wordless in horror.
It shifted in place, allowing a weary sound to escape it. "Did those three explain what condition they were in?" it asked, to their confusion. "When they first awoke?"
"No?"
"In shambles, injured and exhausted. They each slept for days after I greeted them, just trying to recover. Even if the meowth was to be plucked from the voids of nothingness and reconstituted, he would return as he was. Do you not realise how injured Meowth was?"
No one responded to that.
"He was dying already." Rai and Sean flinched, remembering Scout's wounds. "His injuries would have ended his life before you had reached Lapras." Sean flinched. "And those wounds could not simply be undone by healing and items. I may not have existed long, but I may call upon my predecessor's memory. Infection of the blood, broken ribs, exhaustion, dehydration, poison."
Dialga shook his head. "All these things can kill on their own, but Meowth was suffering it all. Even if he was to be revived, at great risk to myself as Palkia would be enraged, he would die regardless."
"N-no," Rai said. "No. NO! You can't be right."
"What right do you have to call me mistaken?" Dialga demanded, glaring right through Rai. Mane stepped between them.
"He saved the world," Mane growled back. "And we all lost someone that day."
Again, Dialga's eyes flicked past Mane and to something else. Never for long, however.
Dialga shook its head. "I have given you my answer," it said. "Meowth cannot be brought back. There is no point."
"Someone can save him!" Rai said, stepping out from behind Mane. "If we find someone who can, you can bring him back!"
"And how long would this take?" Dialga snapped. "There is not an unlimited time to do so. Eventually, he will be truly unreachable." Again its eyes flicked to just past Rai. "You would not have long."
"We can do it."
"I will not."
"WHY?"
Dialga loomed over the trio, eyes flat and unmoved. "It is not worth it."
Rai and Mane both growled, and Sean's aura tassels rose for a moment. Dialga gave them a daring look.
No one acted.
Satisfied, it raised its head. "If only to stop you from returning to bother me, I will offer you ONE thing."
It focused on Rai, the real issue here. "The longer you cling to your memory of him, the longer you will suffer, the longer HE will suffer. Let me erase him from your memory; that way, you may all have peace."
"What?" Rai spluttered. "What? Never."
Dialga blinked at the sheer resolve in Rai's voice. "Never?"
"Never."
"Never," Mane added.
Sean nodded. "Never."
Dialga shook its head. "Then I have no further business with you. I offered you a choice between suffering and peace, and you choose to suffer. Leave."
"We will find someone else!" Rai snapped.
"You said Arceus," Mane added.
"We'll find it," Sean finished.
Dialga gave the four of them one last look before it turned away. Angry and upset, the three of them left, but the one who was not there remained behind.
Scout looked up at Dialga. As the footsteps of the three began to fade, it turned back to him. He had tried speaking to it if anyone could hear him, it'd be Dialga.
"You can hear me," Scout said. It was no question.
My name is Scout.
I never went to sleep.
I closed my eyes and then reopened them.
He could not see me.
He could not hear me.
He could not feel me.
I couldn't feel much.
The only thing I can feel is a memory.
I remember.
I remember.
My name is Scout.
My name is Scout.
My name is Scout.
I remind myself every day, or is it night?
I have trouble sometimes. Telling when they are.
They cried for me.
But I was still there.
I am still there.
I am Scout.
I have to hold on.
Has it been days?
Has it been years?
They fell into each other.
Comfort in the cold nights.
They've talked about me.
Scout wish I could talk to them.
I am Scout.
I have to hold on.
When they sleep.
Now that they sleep.
I have to remind myself.
When they are asleep.
I am still Scout.
I am still Scout.
I am still Scout.
Please don't forget me.
If you do…
I won't remember who Scout is.
Scout met Dialga's eyes.
"You can see me," he said again.
"I can hear you as well," Dialga replied. "You appear surprisingly lucid."
If Scout had lungs to exhale with, he would have breathed a hard breath out. "Why weren't you reacting? Call them back. Please, I just want to talk to them somehow."
"No."
"Can Celebi hear me?"
"No. Her powers are sapped from the damage to time and then divided further. She shares her pool of Power with the Celebi of this time, weakening them both. She is scarcely stronger than a normal pokémon now. At best, you would be an itch on the back of her neck."
Scout grit his jaw, or at least he felt like he should be. "What am I?" he asked.
He had persisted for months, better during the day but clinging onto existence when Rai and Mane slept. He almost felt himself fading again, as close to feeling as he could feel anything, as they walked away. He would be pulled along with them soon enough, but he found some way to resist, anchor himself here. To talk to someone. Anyone. For the first time in months.
Whatever was going on, no one could hear him. No one could see him. But now, Dialga stood before him, smaller, angrier. He had tried to get its attention but had been forced to listen as it told his friends the harsh truth.
Their defiance to bring him back touched him in a distant way, but part of him understood Dialga's side of things. He remembered Palkia being furious at the distortion in time, what would it be now that there were more of them? How fair was it to demand more?
Still, Scout wanted explanations, and he could feel himself getting drawn back. As Rai and Mane and Sean left, and so he did not have long.
"What am I?" Scout repeated, hastier. It was getting harder to remain where he was. When he was. Who he was.
"You are a memory," Dialga answered. "You're not a being; you are not a spirit; both of those things do not exist anymore. What you are is closer to a living memory. You remember who you are, your spirit could still be pulled back from the abyss. How this has come to be… even I do not know. I can only guess that the reconstitution of the three somewhat loosened the reigns of primal time."
"Again?" Scout asked. "The abyss?"
"Essentially nothingness. Not so much a place as it is simply a state of unbeing. But… that shinx. He will not forget. And that is a mistake. The longer he clings to your memory, the longer he refuses to give up, the longer you will persist, the longer this falsity will continue, and the longer the two of you will suffer."
Dialga shook its head. "I did not offer to remove such memory of you out of malice or frustration but mercy. For as long as you are remembered, none of your loved ones will know peace. You will all remain in this perpetuity of nothingness until he lets go."
"What if they do find Arceus?" Scout asked. He wondered if he should feel angry or upset at Dialga's words, but the emotion was hard. Thinking was hard sometimes, even during the day.
"It will not. Nothing the Original One does is without consequence. To have revived the first three invites chaos, but a calculated decision, I at least hope. You will not be given the same reward. It isn't fair, and I am sorry. You deserve life, and you deserve happiness, you deserve to exist for the sacrifices you made. However, I will not help you. Arceus will not help you. No one will help you. And the sooner you disappear, the better it will be for your loved ones."
Its eyes, young and old and angry and sad stared down at him with the weight of forever. "Let the pain fade, as all tragedies should. I am sorry, Scout. You deserve more but there is nothing I will do. Goodbye."
With nothing else to say, and Scout being physically dragged back now, Dialga began flying to Temporal Tower.
Scout soon floated back to his companions, those that didn't know where he was. He didn't know what to think now.
But, as they returned to Lapras and found that Lapras required a night of rest again, he wondered and thought.
And as everyone slept poorly, gripped by the horrors of the day, he wondered if he heard something in the trees.
Welcome to Arc 2!