The entrance to North Beach Mountain Mystery Dungeon sat silently, just as T'nuri and Alejandrien caught their breath. It was calm. Bathed in the warm orange light, away from the threat of the Black Ruinous Fog, away from the fire, and away from the pirates.
Alas, their journey was not over.
"I don't think I've ever had to run that fast before," the Cubone said as she stretched.
With a shake of their scales, the Jangmo-o rolled over. "Same here, T'nuri." They adjusted the scarlet and violet map case and straps on their black saddlebag, the magnifying glass icon pictured on it reflected the light from the cave.
"Let's go inside." T'nuri pointed her bone-club at the mouth of the cave, her eyes sharpened.
Alejandrien nodded and followed her inside. As they entered, a wall of sand fell into place where the entrance was, and blocked their way back. There was only one way on: forward.
Inside was a rocky landscape filled with warm sand, small croppings of palm trees stood stalwart on the hills and valleys of the brown mountainous terrain.
However, the height of the cliffs above left the Cubone and Jangmo-o pair speechless.
The cave went so deep, that none saw the bottom through the darkness. Not a single cry or call from a Wilderner echoed from the reaches.
Nary a sound besides the rush of water.
"We need to be careful." T'nuri knelt toward the sand and put a clawful of soil in her mouth. "Erm, we should be fine as long as we don't hurry."
Alejandrien nudged her forward and ran ahead to the thin path. "Yeehaw, we need ta speed right on through!"
"That's not what I meant," the Cubone groaned as she spat out the sand.
She followed them along the narrow stretch of land, into a rather larger room, one with various passages to and fro.
In the middle sat a Seel Wildener, their brow furrowed. "Leave!" They shot out a burst of Water Gun at the Cubone, and the sharp jet tore through her scales.
She slid on the ground from the spray and nearly tumbled over. T'nuri caught herself before she charged forward in a torrent of sand. Once she reached the Seel the Cubone retaliated with a toss of her Bone Club.
The strong short distance throw bashed Seel's side and sent them to the ground with a cry. They got up just as the Jangmo-o approached.
Alejandrien followed T'nuri up with a piercing Scale Shot. The sharp scales flew one after another and tagged Seel on the shoulder, belly, head, hip, and flipper, each stronger than the last. Seel fainted on contact with the fifth, their eyes in a swirl as they fell onto the sand.
T'nuri collected her breath as she pried herself off the ground. "Let's keep going."
The Cubone and the Jangmo-o maneuvered throughout the Mystery Dungeon, the warm sand and the salty breeze juxtaposed the daunting height and majesty of the land.
Alejandrien bounded over a collection of brittle earth and swiftly turned around. She sniffed at a large rock before she padded forward."Now that I think 'bout it, why does the Ruinous Fog not spread here?"
"Good question," T'nuri tilted her head. "I wonder what Drilburr and Sandshrew knew about this Mystery Dungeon."
"Can it fer now!" the Jangmo-o pushed her to the ground.
Just above them, a blue Squakwabilly dove their talons against T'nuri's shoulder with a Wing Attack. "Go away!"
The Cubone stumbled to the ground, and just as quickly she rolled to the side and opened her mouth. T'nuri jumped into the air and Bit down on the Wilderner's side, black energy laced in her maw.
With a cry, the Squawkabilly fluttered out of her grasp.
Alejandrien hopped right in front of them. They swept at the Squawkabilly's wings with a Low Kick.
The blow toppled them to the ground before they shot at the Jangmo-o with a Tackle.
She reeled back from the attack and shook her scales.
T'nuri bashed her skull-helmet into the Squawkabilly, and her Headbutt knocked the Wildener out cold.
Alejandrien grunted and inspected their side, the beak and talons of the Pokémon imprinted into the tough hide of their scales, and a small trickle of blood oozed out.
T'nuri's arm trembled as she wiped the blood from her wound.
The Jangmo-o sighed and stretched. "That was a tough one, partner!"
"Let's keep going." T'nuri rubbed her chest and continued onward.
The pair headed through a wide stretch of sandy mountain, the Mystery Dungeon air was calm and silent, through the muffled footsteps. The Cubone and Jangmo-o went across a few winding twists and turns before they came across a path to a lower elevation. A natural decline in North Beach Mountain. One that led to a branching path.
The massive cliff they were above before was now beside them, just like the water that trailed off. Palm Trees still towered over the two and the rough land before the pair.
Inside the next area, a Dratini slithered across the sand. They looked back and forth as their facial fins flapped.
The Cubone watched as Alejandrien shivered. T'nuri poked her head into the room. Without any fanfare she pulled her arm back and tossed her Bonemerang at the Dratini, the attack bashed deep into their hide.
A roar echoed throughout the area as the Dratini shot forward a light blue ball of energy in their maw. Then the Icy Wind blasted the Cubone, frozen shards pierced through her scales. She dropped to the floor.
"Don't fret now!" The Jangmo-o shuffled in front of her and fired off two Scale Shots.
The Dratini countered with a Dragon Tail that swept away a portion of the sharp draconian blades and collided with Alejandrien.
They crashed onto the ground with a gasp.
The Dratini's eyes narrowed even further.
T'nuri yelled as she pulled off the ground. "I've got you!" she clutched her Bone Club tight and swung it right against the Dratini's upper torso.
The powerful attack knocked the Wilderner down on the floor and they fainted, sprawled out, chilled air of Icy Wind charged in their maw, dissipating away.
The Cubone glanced at her bone-club, her eyes trembling."Something… something is wrong with me."
With a sputtered groan Alejandrien climbed off the ground. They coughed and shook. "Ya okay now?"
T'nuri sat still for a moment. The Cubone heaved in a breath and pressed a claw against her leg.
"Barely."
"Same."
The Jangmo-o sighed and T'nuri stretched.
The Cubone got up and pointed at the open walkway before them, a thin section of tunnel within the mountainous cavern.
As the wind intensified the pair made their way down to the end of the Mystery Dungeon.
T'nuri rubbed her shoulder and slowly walked across the sandy mountain, the path widening in odd juts and angles."That Sandshrew and Drilbur Wilderner pair said something would be here."
"Somethin's supposed to be here besides the exit right?" Alejandrien asked, her eyes narrowed.
Further along the end of North Beach Mountain, quite a familiar sight could be found along the brightening area: odd stone pillars, with a wall made of brittle stone. Light from outside peaked through the exit as the pair grew near.
The palm trees swayed in the current. More and more of the towering plant life led to a small stone structure.
As T'nuri and Alejandrien set foot on the ground the area shook. In the midst of that, a gentle green and purple mist filled the air, the same glow of the two Pokémon when they cut the Black Fog.
Out of the ground rose a wooden chest. Mold and fauna alike burrowed into its depths.
"Wander what's inside?" Alejandrien nudged T'nuri as the latter stood still.
The Cubone continued forward with a nod and rubbed her scales. "Perhaps related to that odd map?"
"Listen T'nuri," the Jangmo-o gestured at their bag. "It ain't just an odd map, it's a bonafide relic!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
"Ya don't understand how important detective work is!"
"Just help me open this." T'nuri grit her teeth as her arms strained to pry open the lid.
Alejandrien grabbed one handle of the chest with her maw, then pressed her claws into the top. She heaved with all her might. The lid crashed open with an echoing thud. This clatter traveled throughout the entire area just as the cloud of dust and decay exploded into the air. The Cubone and Jangmo-o flinched as they were covered head to claw in a faint layer of grit.
With a shake of her scales, the Jangmo-o peered inside the chest.
"What is it?" The Cubone behind her panted and wiped the film off her body.
Inside the wooden box was a yellow, faded scrap of paper. Part of a journal part, judging by the thinly placed lines that ran horizontally along. Written on.
The ink scribbles were nearly illegible, but there were a few words that stuck out.
'With our findings, we believe we could have a route to our alternate Archipelago Continent, and the whole world as we know it, once we complete that fabled map. It's — and — so far.'
"A Map ta another world!?" Alejandrien yelped and dropped to the floor.
T'nuri's eyes widened. She studied the rest of the paper. "Number VIII 8 Page LXXII 72."
"Number VIII Page LXXII!?" the Jangmo-o threw their bag to the ground and yanked an empty metal tube out. "That must mean there's a hundred pages or more… "
"Why was this scrap of paper in a chest at the end of a Mystery Dungeon in the first place?"
Alejandrien's tail lowered as they nudged it into the tube. Then they secured it inside their bag. "We'll have to get a date on the paper and a chemical composition analysis of the page for this to mean anything."
T'nuri looked at her bone-club, then sighed. "Well, I want to get out of here and get back home to my island."
"Hold on a second!" the Jangmo-o raised a claw. "We've gotta find the crew and go back to the Agency first. I'll explain more later."
The Cubone rolled her eyes. "Sure."
North Beach Mountain Mystery Dungeon had nothing left for the pair, as a salty wind swept around the cavern the two Pokémon exited the shelter.
The entrance was sealed up with a wall of rock. T'nuri and Alejandrien didn't look back.
Ohon'ro Island was still the same, a rich Black Fog floated across the land, pockets of red and orange fire rolled closer and closer to the sand below.
Flames were further away from the beachline on this side of the island.
"That Mystery Dungeon was awfully short," the Jangmo-o sighed. She stared into the murky skyline and glanced back at the Cubone beside her.
"I hope we don't run into any pirates and can just find the crew." T'nuri rubbed her arm.
The Jangmo-o nodded and stepped in front of her. "We also need to find the ship and collect some more samples before we go. I really want ta measure the amount of sulfur and nitrate in the air, oh and the parts per million, or ppms of carbon dioxide."
Under the turbulent sky and on the uncertain land, the pair continued past the dormant volcano towards the beach.
Mangroves and oceanic plants grew out of the ground, untouched and untainted by the Ruinous Fog, and swayed in the wind as the Cubone and Jangmo-o passed.
Hidden, buried in a portion of sand, a long green scarf sat crumpled out near a palm tree. T'nuri and Alejandrien hurried toward and the Jangmo-o lit up.
"That's Frederico's scarf!"
"One of the crew?"
"Yeah!"
Once the pair got closer to it the black and purple stripes spiraled around the scarf, along with the magnifying glass in the center.
"He ain't on an Investigation Team, but he still wears somethin' to show he's part of our Agency's Navigation Crew!"
"So he should be nearby!" T'nuri grabbed the scarf and tied it across the Jangmo-o's torso. "Let's go!"
As the Black Fog followed she led her through the weedy sand dunes closer to the crashing waves of the sea. Danger surrounded the two. Not that they were alone in their rush.
Fire was upon them again.
Through the cover of smoke, ash, and the land itself a large jet of Chilled Water drenched The Cubone and blasted her across the ground. She rolled and tumbled for a bit and laid in a heap.
"What in Sky Tower!" Alejandrien skidded to a halt beside her.
"Third time's the charm!" the Buizel yelled.
The Deino dashed next to them with a laugh. "Don't think we'll let ya two run away again!"
In the wind, the fabric of the Pirates' pink, yellow, and orange striped bandana waved, the Sharpedo stitching stalwart, almost primed for battle.
With a groan, T'nuri rolled over and tossed her Bonemerang at the Deino.
It cracked into their hip and sent the Deino to the ground in a tumble.
A plume of Black Fog engulfed the Cubone, the spark of ignition ticking away like a bomb.
Through the fumes and new burst of flame, Buizel launched through the air in a Quick Attack, straight toward the Cubone.
Before the Jangmo-o could intercept it they rolled to the side to avoid the brunt of a Dragon Breath. The teal energy charred her hide and flicked her face.
"Fucking mudder!" As T'nuri crawled the fire tore through and across her body, the Buizel was right on her tail.
Dark blue energy charged in the pirate's paws.
"Help!"
"Partner!" Alejandrien roared and flung her body in an arc. Her eyes went pitch black and her scale tips purple as she fired out a barrage of Scale Shots.
A few of those blasts knocked the Buizel off course, and their Chilling Water splashed onto the ground.
T'nuri grabbed her Bone-Club with both arms as her skull-helmet went pitch black, and purple and green markings trailed down her face. Her eyes pitch black as well. "Yeah!" She swung it, and it knocked one of the Scale Shots through the Black Fog. In a flash, it struck Deino square in the chest.
A blast of black, purple, and green lit up the area.
The Deino gasped from the impact and flopped onto the ground, their eyes swirling as their fighting spirit was quenched.
In that move all of the flames around the four Pokémon vanished, the Ruinous Fog gone with the wind. All of the Black Fog on this side of North Beach Mountain, and the surrounding beach and stretch of land.
The Cubone slumped back down and clutched her injured side, skull-helmet back to normal.
"I gotta get outta here!" the Buizel gritted their teeth and shot forward at T'nuri with the blinding speed of Quick Attack.
Alejandrien stepped in front of her with a translucent barrier of energy, a Protect, and the pirate crashed into them. "Good night!" the Jangmo-o bashed into the Buizel's body with a Headbutt and threw them to the side.
As they flew through the air the Buizel passed out. And crumbled to the sand.
Finished, Alejandrien collapsed onto the ground. The Jangmo-o's head buried against the sand as her heart raced.
Gales of fresh wind blew around the area as they took in a shaky breath.
The Cubone beside them groaned. Her right arm was covered in a layer of char, the thick scales and natural grit tender.
She too took in an unsteady breath and stood up. "The fires are gone from here. Permanently."
"Y-yeehaw," Alejandrien stumbled toward her, as their tail slowly rose. "We destroyed it!"
T'nuri's eyes widened as the Jangmo-o's scales faded back to normal. "Together."
"We just did that partner!" They nudged the saddlebag on their side and the scarf across their neck. "We really did!"
The Cubone wiped the blood and sand off her shoulder. "With our teamwork!" she pointed her bone-club at the sky.
While the path before them to the beach was bare, it was traveled. Paw, claw, and footsteps of varying sizes were faint but certain imprints in the mountain and especially in the sand.
"Hopefully there aren't anymor' pirates on this here Island," Alejandrien said with a sigh.
T'nuri nodded. "Yeah, I would hate to run into more of those sparking mon."
There was the subtle sound of something or someone in the distance just a bit out of reach.
"Is 'spark' a common profanity on the Archipelago Continent? Along with 'mudder' and 'snuff'?"
"Yeah" The Cubone glanced around the path. "What did the crew drop a couple of them on you too?"
The sound was clearer now, the waves and voices.
"Yeah." The Jangmo-o's golden eyes lit up even brighter. "Left me mighty confused!"
They walked out of the outcropping foliage and onto the sand of the beach, with T'nuri right by their side.
Tall compared to the small dunes of the sandbar, an Arboliva searched. He held a relatively small chest in his leaves as he dusted across the area.
"Frederico!" Alejandrien bellowed in a shout and tried to hurry toward him.
"Alejandrien!?" Frederico gasped and dropped the crate. The Arboliva flew over to the Jangmo-o and hugged them tight. "I was so scared when I woke up without any of the crew around!"
She tapped Frederico's shoulder and he let go.
He gasped as he grabbed his scarf from Alejandrien's torso. "I thought you guys had died in the sea or something after that crazy rain!"
T'nuri made her way down to them and sighed. "Hello, I'm T'nuri."
"Ah hello," Frederico fixed his scarf across his shoulders. "I take it you were the one Alejandrien was looking for?"
The Jangmo-o laughed a little. "Let's worry about that later, Frederico. We need to find Marísa and Àdi."
With a nod, the Arboliva hoisted the chest off the ground. He pointed a leafy tendril to the west. "If anything, I came from that way and didn't see them so they must be further along the beach to the east or up in the land itself."
"Thanks, are we ready?" The Cubone rolled her shoulders.
"Yeah, T'nuri!" Alejandrien grinned.
"Let's move!" Frederico pointed at the stretch of sand and plants before them.
The three padded through the beachfront for quite a few minutes, all the while the Ruinous Fog slowly spread closer from another side of Ohon'ro Island and it spread fast.
After they traversed along the dips and rises of the beach a bit longer, Alejandrien pointed toward the brush of the land to the side. "Maybe we should check over there?" they asked.
T'nuri and Frederico rubbed their chins at the thought. "Sure."
Just as the three Pokémon got into the thin grass of the Island they spotted a red, pink, and white figure amidst the sand.
"Àdi!?" the Arboliva shouted, his voice a raspy against the waves.
The Stufful, wrapped in a small green, striped neckerchief bolted toward them, a torrent of sand flying in the air as their massive paws crashed onto the ground. "You guys!" they cried.
"Hey Àdi," the Jangmo-o smiled. "You okay?"
Àdi sighed and caught their breath. "I guess."
"Great, I missed you too!" Frederico hugged them.
"Oh," they returned the embrace and broke away. "Alejandrien found the relic we were looking for!" the Stufful pointed at the cylinder.
Alejandrien puffed up. "Hehe, I'll tell you about that on the voyage back!"
T'nuri rolled her eyes yet again.
The four went further along the beach, closer and closer toward their destination and final companion. A squall slowly filled the air as the Ruinous Fog continued its path of destruction, and engulfed more of the island under a black cloud of toxic tyranny. Mist still surrounded the edge of the water, blanketed in thin grey soft sheets for kilometers.
The waves of the sea ebbed and flowed with a renewed vigor, the brine splashed higher and further as the Pokémon hurried along.
Out of cover of bushes and rocks on the hill, a Floatzel climbed out. "Hey!" her shout echoed through the area as she adjusted her purple-striped bandana. "I've gathered some supplies."
The Floatzel was still a bit away from the group as the view beach was blocked by more mangroves and towering flora. They rounded the corner to a clearing as she caught up.
"Marísa!" Àdi cheered.
The Floatzel caught her breath for a moment, her tails spinning. "I'm glad to see you all safe."
"Likewise," Frederico grabbed her shoulder.
"Now where is the ship?" Marísa hefted up the wood.
"There!"
On the shore sat the ship that carried Alejandrien and the crew to Ohon'ro, a brown-orange Brigantine, with purple sails, some finishing, green trim, a black hull, an orange rudder, lookout nest and harpoon. Battered and bruised. Pieces of wood from the hull drifted in the ocean. And one of the masts had collapsed from the rough mooring.
"Shit!" the Jangmo-o's tail dropped. "El Nadar Rapido - The Swift Swim!"
"Mierda Shit indeed," the Floatzel clutched her purple scarf. "Those damn snuffing pirates did quite the number on him."
"What are we gonna do now?" T'nuri held her bone-club to her chest.
"Well here's the good news," Marísa climbed up the ladder on the port side. "We can fix it!"
"And the bad news?" Àdi called.
"We've gotta fix it."
The five Pokémon spread out toward the palm trees and large deposits of stone.
The Cubone and the Stufful sized up one of the larger selections of trees with the thickest wood and cut them down from bottom to top while the Jangmo-o and Arboliva dug through the soil and found tough collections of stone and ore. The Floatzel sorted through them and made repairs and fixes to the vital parts of El Nadar Rapido.
Once they gathered enough materials everyone went aboard and started the particular reinforcements and building. Marísa, Frederico, and Ádi inspected the nails on wooden supports and stone add-ons.
"Alrighty," the Floatzel called. "Let's hurry before that Ruinous Fog catches us."
"Now Alejandrien, tell us what you've seen." Frederico tightened his scarf.
"On the southwestern, and northwestern side of Ohon'ro Island, there are Category 5 conditions, and it will reach Category 6," the Jangmo-o explained. "Extremely dangerous amounts of Ruinous Fog along with a small amount of pirate activity. I need a full Team for further investigation."
"I see," Àdi's ears lowered. "Do what you need to."
Marísa waved a paw at them from the rudder. "I'll be waiting."
Alejandrien took out a small assortment of glass jars."I'll go collect some more proper evidence!"
T'nuri grabbed a few and pried off the lids. "I'll help too."
The Jangmo-o dashed toward the plume of black, fire, and orange "Let's get a bit of Ruinous Fog, and some of the Island that have been affected by it!" they listed.
"Got it!"
With a careful bob and weave they snagged a jar full of the toxic gas and then snipped a blade of seagrass as it was set alight. Alejandrien grabbed a portion only covered in the Ruinous Fog and shoveled that into another jar.
"I think I have enough sand and rocks!" T'nuri called and held up the filled glass jars.
The Jangmo-o sniffed each of them and nodded. "Alrighty, let's go!"
She ran to the ocean and scooped up the brine into one last container before she sealed all of the glass and placed them back in the compartment of her saddlebag
The Jangmo-o and the Cubone made their way on board El Nadar Rapido via the large ramp on the port side. It rose back up into the ship once they stepped on the deck.
"The Ruinous Fog isn't going along the water!" the Arboliva gasped as he lifted the anchor. "We're safe!"
Frederico ran to the front sails and loosened the ropes on the port and starboard. With one push the sails unfurled and caught the first bit of wind, massive fabric blowing every which way before the Arboliva angled them straight ahead.
The Stufful adjusted the starboard side rear sails."Now we can take a breather and plan for our next trip."
Adi grabbed a telescope and tucked it in between their scarf. Then they began the lengthy climb up to the lookout nest, and gazed at the ebb and flow of the tide from the point for a bit.
"Alrighty we're setting sail," Marísa held out her compass before she pulled out her Wonder Map, an orange triangle on the top right of it. This ship and all others of the Fogcutters Detective Agency had a few other colored shapes on the map: beacons inside them that shared their location.
And thus El Nadar Rapido set off onto the ocean, headed southwest. It was off the northern shore of Ohon'ro Island, one of the furthest points in the Archipelago Continent's waters. A brisk wind rolled across the ship and its passengers as they locked in their course.
T'nuri plopped down against one of the masts as the ship lurched. "So where are we sailing to?"
"Iaijustukage Island." Alejandrien sprawled down beside her.
"In the heartwaters? Why?"
"It houses tha Fogcutters Detective Agency."
"Ah, okay."
The voyage was simple, fair winds, easy currents, and no pirates to be seen.
Waves crashed upon the deck of the ship as it navigated through the gales used to continue onward. Some bursts of wind had to be countered with an adjustment of front and rear sails, and other times with the steady guidance of the rudder, to slightly alter the path of El Nadar Rapido.
From far off the coast the Ruinous Fog truly did swarm across Ohon'ro, but some of the southern point, a heavily forested area was fine. For the moment.
On the slim glance of Islands to the south, there was a small shimmer of a sparkling fog on one and a very faint shine of a faded dark green fog. Both weren't as intense as the Black Fog but could brew into something deadly given time.
El Nadar Rapido passed one last Island, one small and free of Ruinous Fog before it approached the western side of Iaijustukage Island.
An enormous island filled to the brim with white buildings as far as the eye could see. Tall hourglass statues and various monuments stood tall, like the few mountains that graced the island.
There were different types of buildings spread throughout the island, with pagodas and shrines that were located toward the center and northern portion of the land.
The ship made it to a harbor and the crew anchored it down before they lowered the ramp.
"Alrighty you two, we're going to go work for a bit!" Marísa ushered Alejandrien and T'nuri down.
Down on the boardwalk, there were numerous other ships and boats, some were very small while others were much bigger than El Nadar Rapido. Pokémon of all types walked to and fro, some carrying supplies, or equipment.
Frederico wrapped his arms around them both with a fragrant aroma. "Now you can go relax before you give your report."
The two separated from the Arboliva for a moment and then walked further inland, with Àdi right behind them, a purple saddlebag fastened to their hip.
"I'd rather relax in Damehameda, at home with my folks but fair enough." the Cubone sighed.
The Jangmo-o gestured at a large collection of buildings above the beach of Iaijustukage. "We have ta go to tha Fogcutters Detective Agency first, partner."
"It shouldn't take long," the Arboliva added. "But we need to look for someone."
They soon exited the boardwalk and made their way onto a grassy and dirt-filled path, slightly above the beach, still in view of the sea."Where's the Agency?" T'nuri asked.
"It is on the outskirts of Phantismo Vista, a city," Marísa spoke up.
"Ah, I've never been there. I've mainly hung around the south and then the capital, far in the north."
The group of Pokémon walked along the harbor and eventually made it to a residential area of Phantismo Vista.
"It's just down the bridge that way," Àdi pointed forward toward a white marble bridge.
The Arboliva adjusted his purple satchel. "Bao, the Head Navigator, a Clawitzer said she and her crew would be nearby once we landed."
"I see," Alejandrien replied with a flick of their tail.
Small brown, gray, and white with bright colorful trim apartments sat in stacks, with palm trees and other tall plants surrounding them to the bridge and beyond, deeper into Iaijustukage.
The Jangmo-o hummed in thought and stepped away from the crew.
In the distance far beyond the bridge a large blue, and black Pokémon, a Clawitzer, jetted through the air, the structure behind her blocked the view of the Pokémon behind her.
"Oh, there's Bao! See ya~" Marísa's ears perked up. She adjusted her scarf before she raced down the bridgeway.
Frederico and Adi gathered up all their belongings and hurried after the Floatzel without a word.
The Jangmo-o and Cubone pair didn't hear the three as they stared at their surroundings.
"Isn't this area mighty swell?" Alejandrien asked.
"Yeah," T'nuri walked away from the dirt road to an open hill, providing a view of the town below. Phantismo Vista was breathtaking. Full of all sorts of architecture, framed on seashell-lined and cobblestone-lined streets.
Ancient white buildings were tightly packed, their sides painted a myriad of warm and bright colors, despite the narrow streets. Newer yet similarly light buildings appeared in developments and various sections throughout the city, more and more toward the center.
The light brown boardwalks between each land mass were sparsely decorated with lanterns and electric lamps. Atop them, quartz and marble hourglass statuettes sat ominously, juxtaposed by bright scarlet and violet ribbons that linked each light source to the other.
Closer to the hillside, a Grookey and a Fuecoco walked on a stony path, both carrying a backpack.
Another pull, this time different.
T'nuri glanced back at Alejandrien and stamped her foot into the earth. It rumbled back her frustration, and a pile of sand started to dislodge.
The pair of Pokémon's saddlebags were black too.
One weaker than the other.
But they also had the purple and green colored magnifying glass. The symbol of the Fogcutters Detective Agency.
"Can't tell from here."
Still a pull.
A warning pitter-patter from the steadily increasing sand fall was too quiet to be heard over the daily life of Pokémon in Phantismo Vista, and the thoughts in the Cubone's and Jangmo-o's heads
The very hillside they stood on had something inside it. Inside Iaijustukage. Something that resonated within, and it was weaker than they ever were.
Another rumble shook through the hillside, not from the Cubone's efforts.
Then it collapsed.
The loosened sand fell in chunks, and the weakened foundation of land destabilized once again in the presence of a ground-type and their unstable will.
In a crashing heap, the dirt, rocks, and chunks of soil cascaded down to the slate of the earth.
"L-look out!" the Jangmo-o yelled as she and T'nuri plummeted downhill.
The two held onto each other as they careened toward the ground and the other Pokémon below. A plume of sand and dirt shot into the air as the earth collided with a deafening roar.
Alejandrien fell into the Grookey and was shoved back onto the ground. The Grookey fell backward just as their companions crashed.
T'nuri couldn't catch herself and collided against the Fuecoco as they tumbled over. Her bone-club accidentally jutted out of her clutches and hit him.
"Ya've gotta be bloody kiddin' me!" he screamed.
As the Fuecoco fell T'nuri pulled away. She widened her stance to ground herself. "Spark! My bad-"
"You!" At the speed of light, the Grookey beside the Fuecoco swung her wooden stick at T'nuri.
"F-fuck," the Cubone gasped and twitched for a moment. She dropped her bone-club and sank to the floor wordlessly. With a croak, she doubled over.
"By 'Quaza! 'Am sorry plenty Emile!" The Jangmo-o got off the ground and ran up to T'nuri, the Fuecoco, and the Grookey.
The Grookey crossed her arms as Alejandrien nearly doubled over, her forelegs wobbly.
She pried herself upright and faced the Fuecoco. "And Kaliente! T'nuri didn't mean to do that on purpose!"
"Ya sure mate?" he croaked.
"She and I lost our footing and tumbled downhill."
"Un momento One moment..." Emile, the Grookey narrowed her eyes. "My calculations were off."
The Cubone clamped her eyes shut. "It's ... it's fine."
"Ya ain't doing a good job convincin' me I'll tell ya," Alejandrien stood in between her and the others.
"I'm... down here," Kaliente, the Fuecoco mumbled. "I'm down here too, yew know,"
The Jangmo-o's tail lowered. "Sorry 'bout that! I'm the one who made us fall. It was an accident Kaliente."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you like that." T'nuri sighed.
The Fuecoco thrashed his tail. "Accepted. Still bloody hurts."
Alejandrien blinked. "Emile?"
The Grookey glanced at the Jangmo-o, who gestured at their partner.
"Emile," they shook their head. "Ya didn't need to hit T'nuri so hard."
The Grookey looked at Alejandrien and her injury. She dropped her stick on the floor and knelt at the spot beside the Fuecoco and the Cubone. "Are you okay?"
"No," both replied in a groan.
"Sorry I did that," T'nuri apologized once more. She groaned and grasped at her burnt shoulder.
Eventually, the Fuecoco got up and nudged T'nuri. "Emile got you back so we're even lass~"
"Don't call me lass." the Cubone growled. "I don't even want to be here."
"Sorry then laddie."
"Only a bit better… I'm not entirely sure."
The mentioned Grookey's tail twitched. Her red eyes studied every centri of the three Pokemon around her. She exhaled as her ears folded. "Vamos. Let's go."
She turned away from the sandy hill Alejandrien and T'nuri collapsed and to the town outskirts behind them.
The town was filled with tons who roamed about. Peacefully unaware. The Ruinous Fog hadn't tainted Iaijustukage's sand. Not one bit.
"Yeah," with a laugh T'nuri staggered off the sand and immediately shuddered in place.
Alejandrien sighed as she held herself. "I'm glad we don't have any hard feelings."
"Hard feelings?" the Cubone mumbled.
The Fuecoco smirked. "Why's that?"
"Because we'll be working together soon."
"Emile, are they talking 'bout what I think they are?" the Fuecoco grinned, and a puff of smoke poured out his maw.
"Probably."
"Aw yeah!"
The Cubone sighed. "Are you two Detectives?"
"Ah right, ya have Alejandrien here tagging along. Of course, I'm Kaliente," the Fuecoco squeezed T'nuri's arm.
The Cubone stepped away from Kaliente and put her bone-club in her left claw. "And this must be Emile."
The Grookey simply nodded.
A gentle breeze full of solemn salt parted through the air.
"Like me, these two work for ta Fogcutters Detective Agency," Alejandrien explained as they looked left and right.
"What's wrong, Alejandrien?" T'nuri followed their gaze.
The Jangmo-o swung her tail against the sandy soil. "Speakin' of work, where did Marísa and the others go?"
Kaliente's emerald eyes lit up. "You got to sail with those guys?!"
"It wasn't exactly the best ride," the Cubone rubbed the back of her head.
Alejandrien stamped their claws into the ground. "That ain't important! I can't find them-"
Emile sighed. "Perhaps they went to look for Captain Bao?"
The Jangmo-o nodded. "Yeah, they needed to upgrade El Nadar Rapido."
T'nuri groaned. "I think I'll have what Rapido's having."
"Okay," Alejandrien stepped forward. "Let's go get help from the Apothecary before we head on down to the Agency."
"Apothecary?" the Grookey twindled her stick.
"Yeah, I'm sore all over from everything that happened on Ohon'ro." T'nuri rubbed her side.
"Sounds good, we could stock up on some supplies." the Fuecoco adjusted his bag.
"Agreed."
The four Pokémon dusted themselves off and headed into Phantismo Vista proper, as the breeze from earlier grew stronger. The salty spray spread far and wide off the ocean's waves all through the land.
Winds that traveled all across Iaijustukage Island, and far beyond. Far throughout the Archipelago Continent's reaches. Just as another plume of Ruinous Fog began to slowly brew, not far from the coast.
On the coast of Iaijustukage Island and many other islands, deep into the depths of the sea an obsidian hourglass ticked away.
It counted away the sands of time.