"Greetings, Scout," Darkrai said, rising from the stump it had been sitting on. "My name is-"

"Darkrai!" Scout spat.

The Pitch-Black pokémon paused. "I'm… surprised you know of me," Darkrai began.

"I know more than that!" Scout yelled, Darkrai took a step back. "YOU! You broke Temporal Tower. You tried to end the world. Whatever you're doing here, I don't care, LEAVE!"

Darkrai stared at him, naked astonishment on his face. As difficult as it was to see beneath the red growth and shining blue eyes.

"Well," Darkrai said, visibly stunned. "That was not what I was expecting."

Scout snarled at him, and Darkrai rose his hands placatingly. "It's fine. It simply means I don't have to explain as much."

"What?" Scout spat before shaking his head. "Why am I even still here?"

He turned to glide away, but Darkrai yelled, "WAIT!"

The sheer need in his voice paused Scout. "What?"

"Please, I just wish for a chance to explain. To hear me out."

"I am NOT listening to you," Scout growled, turning to leave.

"I wish to thank you!"

That paused Scout. "...what?"

Darkrai nodded, sighing softly as the meowth did not storm off. "Yes. I wish to thank you for averting that terrible future."

It was Scout's turn to stare and blink dumbly. "I… what?"

"Yes." Darkrai nodded solemnly. "One thing you MAY not know is how a pokémon of my stature… you may know us as legendary or mythical pokémon. How we exist. Changes to reality are… felt among our kind, you see."

"Changes?"

"Yes. This includes changes to time. Many of us, if not all of us, will have some recollection of what was now never. Especially through dreams, the slumbering mind is capable of handling such things easier. And I, as one of the two pokémon with command over the dreaming mind, have a far keener grasp on these changes than most. I know what the future would have been like. I know what would have happened to the world had time completely fallen apart. I know what a mistake I would be making, now at least."

Scout could not believe what he was hearing. And he made that clear. "I… don't believe you for a second," he said, sounding almost wonderous in sheer bafflement. "YOU wanted nothing but a world of darkness. THAT is what the Dark Future was."

"Indeed," Darkrai agreed. "I will confess, at first, in the flickers of memory losing what I had in that time, I was angry. But then… then I began to think differently. I realised what the world had become due to my actions. I realised what… was being stopped by the salvation of time. I have come to give my thanks, from the bottom of my heart, for averting such a terrible tragedy."

"Again," Scout said, voice still blank with astonishment, "I do NOT believe you."

Darkrai sighed sadly. "Whether you believe my intentions or not, I still wished to give you my thanks."

"Fine," Scout snapped. "You've said thanks. Now go away."

"I have SAID, thank you, yes," Darkrai agreed. "But I have not given you my thanks yet. I wish to reward you."

"Excuse me?"

"You require help, I can see," Darkrai said, looking him up and down. "Dialga will not help you, will it?" Scout tried not to flinch. "No one will help you in your state. But I can help you." He extended his left hand, arm black and shiny, the skin either rippling or taught or scaly, Scout wasn't sure. "Take my hand, and I can bring you back."

"No." Scout backed away. "I am NOT touching you."

"Scout…."

"And do NOT call me that!"

"Would you prefer Sean, then?"

"NO! Go away. Leave me alone. Leave EVERYONE alone. You're the reason they are having nightmares, aren't you?"

Darkrai nodded sadly, lowering his hand. "A side effect of my existence. I cannot control any more than you could control your heartbeat."

"If this is where you go into a spiel about why THAT is why you are such a bastard, save it. I want nothing to do with you, Darkrai. I just want you to leave."

"Very well," Darkrai whispered, eyes dim with sadness. "I will leave for a time. Give you some space. But I cannot let a debt go undone; I truly cannot. It is a rule with me. And I have one to you, as well as the others. I can bring you back. I am the only one that will. The other 'legends' all despise me regardless of what I do; I cannot make them hate me any more than they do already."

Darkrai slowly faded away, and Scout raced back to the guild. It was easier to return than leave, and he breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Rai and Mane sleeping peacefully.

For whatever reason, Darkrai was around. But at least it left.

For now.

A brief flicker ran through him. The first conversation he'd had in months was with the monster responsible for all of this. Already, a part of him yearned to go back, speak more, and hear Darkrai out. He knew, he knew, he knew it was a mistake and resolved to stay put.

He stood vigilant over them for the entire night until the sun peaked through the window and stirred them from their rest.

"And THREE! Smiles go for miles!"

"Okay, everyone!" Wigglytuff said. "Time to get to work!"

"HOORAY!"

There were a few tired eyes and bigger yawns this morning. No one had enjoyed a particularly restful night, but the pokémon were too busy to discuss their problems yet.

Team Sunrise needed to remain behind to get their work from Armaldo for the day, but everyone else dispersed, already prepared to do what they needed to.

Diglett and Loudred headed for their stations. Croagunk slipped into his little shop, humming with enjoyment, Wigglytuff returned to his room, and Chimecho floated to her station.

It was to Chimecho that Team Ion headed.

"Good morning Shinx, Litleo," Chimecho said, nodding pleasantly to the pair. "I'll open up a link now if you're okay with waiting around?"

"We can wait," Rai answered. Chimecho nodded back and floated into place, closing her eyes. She had to be still and focused on this. Her levitation began to fail as she put more and more Psychic-focus into locating one of the broadcasters.

The pair had asked her after dinner if she could help them figure out if Lucario was on the continent. Chimecho, being the helpful sort, agreed without hesitation.

Chimecho found one of the closer minds, a pleasant natu, and probed an inquiry. It took a moment before she felt Natu's focus sharpen in and slip into hers. She was in.

"Good morning, Natu," Chimecho said, verbally. She only had to think the words across, but it was easier to remain focused when speaking out loud.

"Good morning, Chimecho," Natu returned, she smiled to hear her voice again.

"I've got a Team Ion, the same one that saved time here with me," Chimecho said, Rai blushed, and Mane bumped him. "They are in urgent need to contact Lucario… yes, THAT Lucario. Do you have any clue if she is on the continent?"

"Hmm. Let me disconnect for a moment and ask around."

"Certainly." Chimecho opened her eyes. "Natu will get back to me when she can," she said to Team Ion.

They waited around for a few minutes. Mane wandered over to mingle with Sunflora while Rai sat down in an effort to be patient but jittered in place. Chimecho couldn't quite enjoy some small talk; she wanted to be able to reaffirm the connection to Natu when it came.

"Chimecho?" The guild's Psychic-type felt, and she quickly reconnected. "I have some good news. She was seen in Dample Valley several months ago. Contact Gothorita there. He might be able to give you more information."

"Thank you, Natu. Have a nice day."

"You too."

With the connection terminated, Chimecho yawned and blinked a few times. "Natu believes Gothorita of Dample Valley may have an idea," she explained, to Rai's excitement. "You know, this may take some time? Perhaps you and Litleo might enjoy some time in town? And I'll have a word for you later."

"Alright," Rai acquitted and stood up. "Thank you, Chimecho."

"Don't mention it." She waved him off. Rai trotted to Mane to tell him the news, and together they stepped out of the guild.

Chimecho hummed an old ditty to herself as she searched for Gothorita's psychic impulse. "Dee dee de-de. Dee-de dah dada."

She caught the eye of Guardian as Team Sunrise emerged from the lower level, he nodded to her before hurrying after the others.

"Chansey helped save Shinx, Litleo, and Scout's lives, you know?" Sean said as they walked. Guardian nodded along to the explanation. "Guardian actually carried them back to Amp Plains. In his belly mouth, I hear."

"Heh, Scout must have loved that," Striker chuckled.

"He did not," Guardian said. "Litleo had objectional things to say on the matter too."

Saniya giggled. "Ha, like-"

"Think very carefully about what you are going to say," Guardian snapped, cutting Saniya off. For the third time in her life, she did think about what she was going to say. And slowly closed her mouth.

"Thank you."

Sean chuckled at them and continued leading the way. He knew the path to Chansey's as he had stopped around to give thanks in the most indirect way he could manage at the time. Gifting an anonymous gift of healing items.

Armaldo had given the four their job for the day. Chansey wished for them to gather up some herbs for her practice. He had reminded Chansey they couldn't actually leave town, but she said they wouldn't be doing so.

Curious, the four made haste to Chansey's practice.

Her shop front wasn't far into town, close to where the large dojo lay, and like most permanent buildings in Treasure Town, was styled after the pokémon running it.

"What happens if she evolves?" Striker pointed out as they approached.

"I have no idea," Sean said.

"I'll contact Leavanny and have it updated," Chansey said. Right from behind the four, causing them all to jump besides Sean.

It wasn't the wisest move to sneak up on four paranoid pokémon after all. No one attacked, but hackles were raised. Chansey simply raised an eye at them. "Jumpy, I see. You may want to talk to Azumarill."

"Already covered," Striker answered, for the four. Their hearts were pounding, but there was no threat, just their boss for the day.

"Good. Good." Chansey waddled past them. She wasn't a fast pokémon, to the point that these four from the guild were closer to her home than she was. They awkwardly filed in behind her, waiting for some sort of direction.

Striker looked to Sean, who was busy trying to beg Saniya for help with just his eyes. She was staring into space, however, leaving Guardian as the only one actually keeping his eye on Chansey.

Chansey stopped at her door, checked to make sure she had everything and turned back to the four. "I presume Armaldo filled you in at least a little on what you are expected? You won't be dealing with any of the kids. If you think you are, then you are definitely in need of Azumarill's help."

The jab at their sanity wasn't unnoticed, but no one responded to it. "We were told that you needed us to gather herbs?" Sean said, okay with being the spokesperson. As small and cute, he played the role easily. "Without quite leaving town, because… well."

"Yes, yes, I know. Dusknoir isn't leaving town so you won't be. The herbs I need are called Revival Herbs, bitter things they are, but very potent," Chansey explained, opening her shoulder bag to dig one out. "This is what you're after."

She handed an old, browning, reed-like plan to Sean, and he carefully took it. The item was fragile, and he was a little intimidated by Chansey. "Those things aren't the rarest, but they aren't the most common, either. Mostly I get someone to head out to Amp Plains or just in that direction, but you can find a few in the residential district too. No one eats them because they are foul."

Sean passed the herb to Saniya, who waved her hands around it several times. Some green returned to it, but not much.

Chansey saw that, however, and was interested. "How did you do that?"

"Just some old fancy legend tricks!" Saniya beamed; she did love to brag. She angled herself differently in the air as if she was reclining on her side to pass the tea to an interested party. "Jealous?"

"Is that all you can do?" Chansey asked, causing Saniya to snap back into her previous position as if nothing had happened.

"Well, I could do more. I just don't want to."

"Hm. Whatever, I want you four to pick as many of these herbs as you can and bring them back. As long as you get back today, I'll be happy."

With that dismissal, Chansey drifted into her practice to check on the kids and left the four to fend for themselves.

"Mmm." Saniya made a frustrated sound.

"Don't worry," Sean said, leading them away. "She's always like that, not just with us."

"Oh, so she's a prick to everyone?" Saniya winked. "Gotcha."

"Why did you wink?"

"Oh… you know. Wink." She winked again.

"Why did you SAY it that time?"

"What do you mean? Wink." She winked with both eyes at that time, one after the other.

Sean decided it was wise to drop the matter and move on. Was it not madness to try the same thing again and again but expecting different results?

Or was it some wise guy's term about arguing with the crazy makes you the crazy one?

Either way, he was content to move on. Saniya hummed to herself as they went, swaying in the air. Guardian kept to the inner edges of the group, floating between Striker and Saniya and staring forwards with steadfast resolution.

And together, Team Sunrise exited the main town and headed for the residential district. Hopefully, no one would give them a hard time around there.

After an hour of wandering around town, doing exceptionally little, Rai and Mane made their way back to the guild. Chimecho was not in her usual spot, so they ventured down to the lowest floor and spotted her returning from the medical wing.

"Ah, Shinx, Litleo," Chimecho said, happily, floating over to them fast enough to blow their fur up slightly. "Excellent news. Truly excellent."

Brightening, Rai asked. "You found Lucario?"

"I did it!" Chimecho beamed, doing a spin in the air. "I spoke to Gothorita, who had me contact Kirlia, who got me into contact with Abra, who advised me to track down Team Frontier. So I went into town to speak to Spinda, as Team Frontier is the team that works for his Project P. I wasn't able to find them, but I did ask Spinda who told me I could connect with Mr. Mime who had ventured out with them to a place known as Sky Peak. By asking Mr. Mime, I finally got you an answer."

Chimecho said that with one long, elongated, breath, and she needed to take a few gulps of air afterwards.

"Oh, that was… a lot," Rai said. "Thank you for doing so much for us."

Chimecho waved him off. "It's no problem. We are guildmates, friends I hope. If there is anything I can do to help you get Meowth back, there will be no questions asked. I can have Sunflora dig holes for bodies if needed."

They looked alarmed and she giggled. "I'm kidding on that front. It was pretty fun! But I got a seriously bad headache afterwards, so I went to get myself a persim berry to help. I'm good now."

"What's the answer?" Mane asked, eager to get a start on this. He pawed at the ground with a touch of anxiety.

"Lucario has been helping around Shaymin Village for the past few weeks," Chimecho answered. "I would say that's a strong argument that it's really her, as shaymin would almost certainly know. You can find her there. Mr. Mime was able to confirm she was still there but was… reluctant to ask her to remain. He said he'd pass the word that someone wanted to meet her, but… she gets that a lot I would imagine."

Mane nodded. "Yeah, I bet. Okay." He and Rai shared a wide-eyed look. "We better find a way there sooner rather than later. Do we have it on the map?"

"I'm not sure," Rai replied, digging the Wonder Map out. The one hadn't been updated since they first had it. "I'm not too sure where it is…"

"Here," Chimecho said, levitating the stem of the persim berry she had. She poked it down in the middle of the mountain range, on one of the two tallest mountains.

"It's one of the places close to Mt Horn?" Rai asked, giving an involuntary shudder. That was not a fun trip.

"Eww, Mt Horn?" Mane wrinkled his as Rai began rolling the map up with his nose and paws. "What was Mt Horn again?"

"Aerodactyl."

"Ah."

Mane hummed and turned to Chimecho. "Thanks for finding Lucario. That means a lot. What can we do for you?"

Again, Chimecho waved them off. "I already said you don't owe me anything. But," she said, as their expressions turned. "If it'll make you feel better. Just say you owe me a favour?"

"Sure." They nodded.

Chimecho beamed at them. "Great! Well, you better get a move on. Armaldo will be counting the days."

Nodding to each other, they glanced to Wigglytuff's chambers and approached.

Mane did the knocking, he had a bit more oomph to it, and they waited for Wigglytuff to let them in. The doors blew open, thankfully in the direction they weren't, and there stood Wigglytuff. "Hi!" He beamed, gesturing for them to enter.

Wigglytuff's Chamber was the same as it always was. Messy, treasure boxes spilling their contents, one window broken, twin doors, and a big chair. Wigglytuff pulled himself onto it and clasped his paws together. "What have you come to implore?" he said as dramatically as he could. His big smile ruined the effect, giggle afterwards, and the fact that it was Wigglytuff.

Rai took a step forward. "We've got Lucario's location. She's at Sky Peak or, uh, the Shaymin Village."

"That's a really nice place," Wigglytuff said, nodding happily. "Go on."

"Since Armaldo's given us just a month," Mane said, playing along. "We need to get to her sooner rather than later since she could leave… whenever. So, we were wondering if you could contact Alakazam or Claydol or someone to teleport us there?"

Wigglytuff nodded wisely and considered the plea deeply and with great deliberation. "Alakazam will help you in return for a Psychic Torc," he said, to their surprise.

"How did… you know already?" Rai asked.

"I already asked him if he'd help!" Wigglytuff exclaimed, delighted with the surprise. "But last time he helped because of a favour he owed. Otherwise, he can be really stingy. 'Or else everyone will be nagging me for trips,' he says."

"Oh, okay," Rai said, glancing at Mane before back to Wigglytuff. "What is a Psychic Torc?"

"It's a really powerful item that only works for his species line!" Wigglytuff explained. "It's got some powerful effects, and it won't be too easy to find. Or to get. A few of the shopkeepers in town might be able to help!"

"Thanks," they said before being excused.

"Okay," Rai said as they began climbing the floors of the guild. "We need to get a Psychic Torc for Alakazam to help us."

"Better start asking around," Mane grouched. "You probably will have better luck with that."

"Come along," Rai pleaded, bumping him. "I'll do the talking?"

"Fine. You've convinced me."

Sharing a smile, they made their way back into town.

The first destination seemed obvious to them, was asking the Kecleon Brothers.

"I'm afraid not," Green said, apologetically to Rai. "The name rings a few distant bells, Psychic Torc… but we certainly don't have access to items such as that. Oh, what I would give for a Kecleon Torc, though…"

"Perhaps ask in the explorer's market?" Purple offered. The idea was accepted, that was the second idea in their heads regardless.

Team Slacker was of no help.

"Psychic… Torc?" Slowpoke yawned. "No…?"

"Try… Duskull…?" Slakoth suggested.

Spoink was also asked, aiming for more of the Psychic-type pokémon in town. "No, sorry," Spoink said, bouncing in place. "I haven't heard of something like that."

"Why is finding something like this so hard?" Mane groaned after their twelfth failure to even get a hint of where one could be.

"Someone has to have some idea," Rai said, pulling them back up.

They ended up approaching Duskull. He had lived in the town since before they did, ever static and unchanging, always there to creepily grin and people and horde their money away safely.

"Hee-hee, what can I do for you two today?" Duskull asked the tired pair. "Making a withdrawal? Or…?" he shuddered. "A deposit?"

"No," Mane said, face screwing up with discomfort. "We want to know if you have any idea where we can find a Psychic Torc?"

"Psychic Torc?" Duskull asked, the word did not sound foreign coming from him. "For whatever reason, do you desire an item for a kadabra?"

"Alakazam wants one," Rai answered, growing excited. Duskull definitely knew something. "We need his help to get to Sky Peak as quickly as possible."

"Curious, curious, curious," Duskull said, repeating the word several more times. "You may be in luck today, perhaps. Yes, perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. Perhaps you are in luck or are faced with the greater disappointment of hopes and dreams snatched before your eyes. Consumed by the megalomaniacs."

"What?" Mane asked.

"I have a Psychic Torc," Duskull said, causing both felines to jump.

"You do!?"

"What do you want for it? Money?"

Duskull tittered at their reactions and eager spirits. "I have one, yes. Old, very old, but still in excellent condition. Only the best. The best. Only the best are with Duskull."

"What do you want for it?" Rai asked, hoping Duskull would give them a straight answer.

"One thing, there is only one thing that could cause me to part with it. One thing, one thing, hee-hee."

Mane's patience was dwindling, and he snapped. "What is it?" Meeting Duskull's bouncing orb of an eye.

"A…" Duskull lowered his voice as if he was to impart a saucy secret, "Reaper Cloth."

"Reaper Cloth?" Rai asked, at a perfectly reasonable level.

"Speak ONLY in whispers," Duskull snapped, eye blazing red for a moment.

Not wishing to spoil his mood, Rai acquiesced immediately. "A Reaper Cloth?" he whispered.

"Yes, yes, hee-hee," Duskull giggled, eye settling on Rai, then Mane, never remaining still for long. "Only that. That is the only thing. The only thing. A Reaper Cloth. Bring it to me, and I will trade it. Won't it be wonderful? Wonderful? Wonderful!"

With Duskull now giggling like even more of a maniac, the pair backed off.

"Okay," Mane breathed, once they were well out of earshot of the giggles. "A Reaper Cloth then. That sounds fun."

"We've got to ask everyone again," Rai moaned. Mane gave him a bitter chuckle. With the day moving relentlessly onward, they have begun the walk back to the Kecleon Market.

The herbs were frustratingly small and frustratingly rare to spot. Although, in truth, it was not the job that was frustrating.

"Go back to the future!" yet another person yelled, glaring at Guardian. Striker had to keep Saniya clasped close to him to stop her from trying to attack someone.

It worked half and half. She was delighted to get some cuddles from her sweet Striker, but this contrasted with the ever-burning fury that had her spitting back insults.

"Ignore them, please," Guardian pleaded for the fifth time. Saniya would listen each time he asked, but as soon as someone new posed a lyrical bout, she was back on it.

"Your father came from a rock farm, and your mother ran on windows vista!" Saniya yelled at a klinklang.

"How do you know what that is?" Sean asked, puzzled.

"A rock farm?"

"No."

"Giratina," she answered, shrugging. "Now, where was I? Oh, right!" Turning back to someone else, with the door now closed, she called. "How do you like THAT you masochistic stunfisk? I'll walk right over you! You'd LOOOOVE THAT, WOULDN'T YOU!?"

"Calm down," Striker said.

"Where are the splinters?"

"Emotionally, it feels like they are in my eye," Guardian groaned. "Please, please, I beg of you. Stop responding to them. Let me take this on, I deserve-"

"Upp!" Saniya snapped. "Upp-bup-bup-bup. We will have NO TALK of self-blame here, Mr." She extracted herself from Striker's arms to instead latch onto Guardian's face and hug him. His large, cylindrical, head was about the only part of him she could wrap her arms around. Mostly.

"Alright, fine," Guardian grumbled. "Would you release my face, please?"

"Nope."

"Very well."

With Saniya attached to Guardian, they continued the hunt for herbs.

"I had no idea the townsfolk were this angry," Sean said, quietly, to Striker. Saniya and Guardian were off, picking at a nice, large, patch they found.

"I don't… blame them," Striker said, carefully. "But at the same time, I wish the matter would simply pass. Guardian doesn't deserve this treatment, he almost worked himself to death helping Dialga, and I know he'll do the same here. Not even for forgiveness. He just would."

Sean nodded and resolved to treat Guardian a little kinder. It had only been a few days since they had returned and everything felt topsy-turvy. Guardian was difficult to interact with. He didn't have the months upon months of reconnecting that Saniya and Striker had with him.

"Was it easy for you?" Sean asked, still quiet. "At first, when you realised you were alive. And that he was alive too?"

Striker considered the question, plucking herbs out of the ground. "It was… not. It was not easy. Scars run deep, and it is difficult to trust after the trust is broken. Guardian himself did not make it easy. He was, and is still, so remorseful that he would often try to distance himself, 'rid us of his burden,' he said."

Sean frowned. He hated to hear Guardian feeling like that.

"Ultimately, we made it work the same way this is going. We all threw ourselves into fixing Temporal Tower. As the days and weeks went on, struggling together again, it reforged that connection. I'm sorry," he said suddenly. "This must be so confusing for you, and we've hardly talked about you, Sean." He leaned down, facing Sean directly. "Are you okay?"

Sean averted his eyes. It was more a reflex than anything. "Not really," he answered. It was always so easy, to be honest with Striker. Even when they couldn't communicate without Saniya around, Sean trusted him with secrets and feelings, even though Striker could tell them to anyone, and he'd have no idea.

He trusted him.

Sean gasped as Striker hugged him tightly. "It's going to be alright," he whispered. Sean's face screwed up slightly, and he hugged him back. He wasn't going to cry, but sometimes it felt good just to close your eyes and breathe, knowing someone had your back.

Make that three someone's. As once Striker released him, Saniya collided with him. She didn't know the details of what they had been talking about, but she saw a hug, so she wanted in.

Guardian abstained as Sean waved Striker in. Then he waved Guardian in, but he still hesitated. It could have just been any random paw movement. "Guardian, please," Sean said, and the dusknoir buckled.

He hated to be a burden, and he hated to burden others with his problems and weaknesses. But Team Sunrise had survived on hugs in the future, and there was no reason they couldn't do the same here.

With emotions stabilising, the four held on for a little longer before separating. There were still herbs to find and angry pokémon to ignore.

Someone who was much harder to ignore, and thankfully not angry at all, was Bidoof.

"Oh golly," Bidoof gasped when he saw them. In an effort to find herbs without getting verbally attacked, they had retreated to a more abandoned area. More grass and weeds grew here, so it was even harder to find the elusive herbs. It was quiet, however, and that was what was needed.

"Oh, Bidoof," Striker said, being the first to spot the apprentice. "Hello."

"Hi," Bidoof said, giving a wave with a stubby leg. "What are you folks doing all the way out here? Uh… are you allowed this far?"

"We're still in town!" Saniya said, hotly. "Got a problem with that?"

"N-no."

"Oh, great!" Saniya was all smiles again. "It's lovely to see you. We're collecting revival herbs for Chansey today. Everyone back there were being… how may I put this delicately…? A colossal haemorrhoid, so we came over here!"

"That… sounds unpleasant, yup-yup."

"Yup." Saniya nodded.

"Yup," Sean said, grinning to Saniya. She clicked her tongue, winked, and gave him the finger guns for finishing her joke.

"So, uh, what's a revival 'erb?" Bidoof asked pleasantly.

"This gross thing," Saniya said, pulling one out of their collective bag and zooming to Bidoof faster than he could step back and flee to safety. She waved it under his nose, and he sneezed.

"Gross. But it probably tastes better now." Even so, she tossed it on the ground.

"She tasted one earlier," Striker said, calling over his shoulder. They could talk, but he was going to continue working. Guardian agreed. "That was funny."

"It was NOT funny!" Saniya protested, spinning on the grovyle. "It tasted… ugh, I don't even know. Like an anti-gummi. I don't even know how."

"That looks familiar," Bidoof said, staring at the remains of the one he had sneezed on. "Yeah, I reckon I've seen a big ol' patch of those by, uh… my friend's place. I could show you the way if you don't mind some knock-knock jokes on the way?"

"Ooh, knock-knock jokes!" Saniya beamed, doing twirls in the air. "That sounds AMAZING!"

Bidoof was delighted at such a response. "You like 'em?"

"DO I? They are the corniest things ever. Even more than corn. Ah… it's been YEARS since I've heard a good one. Or any at all. These bozos don't know a knock-knock joke from a comment about the weather. Tell me; you must tell me all that you know!"

With Saniya deciding for them, Team Sunrise joined Bidoof on a short trip. Along the way, Bidoof told as many as he could, and Saniya laughed hysterically at each one.

"Knock-knock?"

"Hee-hee-hee, wh-who's there?" Saniya laughed; she had already caught the giggles and was tearing up.

"Says."

"S-says who?"

"Says me!"

She was laughing hard enough that Striker had to carry her. Bidoof was stoked at the positive response. He doubted her actual enjoyment of it until she started having trouble flying. Whatever it was, she loved his jokes.

"Ah… whoever this friend of yours is a lucky one," Saniya sighed, once she had finally calmed down.

"I… I'd say I'm the lucky one, yup-yup," Bidoof said, blushing a little.

"Ooooooh?" Saniya said, homing right in on that. "Does someone have a crush?"

"N-n-no? By golly. Don't stare."

"You do! I LOVE IT!" Saniya did a few laps around him in excitement.

"Good work," Striker said, shaking his head. "She's happy again. Thank you for that."

"No problem, I reckon I didn't do anything special."

"Being yourself is clearly enough," Sean said, making Bidoof flustered all over again.

"I… I could maybe introduce you lot to her, she might like… or… no, no… she's a bit shy, and I reckon you lot are all a bit busy."

"Ahh… thanks for the… offer, maybe?" Saniya said, floating back down. "But yeah, we DO need more to pull up."

"The biggest patch I've seen is right along here." Bidoof led them past the last few houses to where the motherload of revival herb lay. "Maybe don't pick all of it, so more grows later?"

And with that, they parted. None of Team Sunrise had thought to really ask Bidoof why he was out here. He had said something about visiting a friend and was carrying something in his travel bag that smelled nice.

Anything smelled nice after carrying so many revival herbs.

Team Sunrise listened to Bidoof and resisted the urge to pick the clearing bare of herbs. In the Dark Future, you took as much as you could take, not much was growing anyway. But here? Here the day turned to night, the winds blew, and life still prospered. That dark time was now no more and had never been.

And they'd be okay. Not today. Not tomorrow. But they would be.

The Kecleon Brothers were, again, of little assistance in their endeavour.

"Reaper Cloth DOES sound more familiar to me," Purple said. "They are supposedly powerful conduits of Ghost-type Power. Spooky things, as the name would imply. Perhaps asking Team Ebony could lead you on the right path?"

Team Ebony were nowhere to be found. Difficult enough that they asked another team to help them find the materialistic pair.

"We can help! Yes! Yes! Sniff them out."

It was Team Poochy to the rescue. Commonly seen around town as a set of triplet brothers, they were an exploration team of one mind. Track down minor criminals and push them to exhaustion before capture.

They were also very friendly. Very, very, friendly.

"Shinx!"

"And Litleo!"

The third ran around them both, sniffed them and then ran some more.

"Sniff, sniff, sniffing," one of the three said as he sniffed a path. "Scent! The scent of birds and death! Lots of death! Good death. Not death-death."

"Carry on," another said. "Yes! I smell the smell too! Lots of smell. Bird, treasure, gross metal."

"Yucky metal, metal with old blood," the third brother said, sniffing along as Team Ion struggled to keep up. "Follow us!"

"Follow!"

"Follow!"

They followed, as running alongside the trio was near-impossible.

Team Poochy led them on a trail out of Treasure Town, through the residential district, then through the trees, then back through the houses, then back to Treasure Town, and then finally to a pair of arguing pokémon.

"For the last time, this is GOLD!" Murkrow squawked, flapping angrily.

"No, it's a gross bloodstained metal band, and I'm not touching that even if it IS gold. Do I look like a cofagrigus to you?"

"Maybe a cofagrigus would have a better eye for this gold! This glorious gold."

"Ugh, I'm going to dunk you in the ocean later."

"Yeah, I could go for a swim."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Ladies!" Team Poochy barked as one, startling the pair. They were near the road, having returned from a mission to find treasure, as usual, and had argued about it, also as usual.

"How do you do?" Poochyena one asked, siding up to Murkrow.

"Blood and treasure!" Poochyena two said, hopping in place.

"We found you! We found you! Now you chase us?"

"Chase?" Murkrow asked. "What? When? Why? Who?" She spotted Team Ion panting for breath, having just caught up.

"We found them!" Team Poochy declared.

"I was the best sniffer," one of them stated.

"Never! It was I!"

"Both are wrong. I am the best. You followed me."

"You followed me."

"No, you followed me!"

The three fell into a barking, yipping, biting argument that ended with them all agreeing they were equally good.

"Do you want to play later?" Poochyena asked Rai.

"Play! Lots of fun! Again!" The second and third saddled up by Mane.

"Hah, maybe later guys. Thanks." Rai shook his head and they accepted it, running around each other.

While that went on, Team Ion approached Team Ebony.

"Have you heard of a Reaper Cloth?" Rai asked.

"Oh!" Shuppet said, pleased. "I certainly have. So elegant, so mysterious, so ancient and powerful. I've wished to acquire one for ages, but my partner only thinks of conventionally pretty things."

"Why would you want a dusty old scrap of dirty fabric when you can have GOLD?"

"Who cares about gold? It's the mystique and legend that is the real value."

"You can try selling your dusty junk you make stories up all you want, but WHO brings in the cash?"

"Who finds the locations for your pretty trinkets?"

"Who finds the 'trinkets' themselves?"

"WHO?"

"Excuse me?" Rai asked, politely. They glanced at him once, then went back to arguing.

"WHO packed the bags?"

"WHO bought the bags?"

"WHO shared their apples with you?"

"WHO paid for those apples?

"HEY!" Mane yelled. "WHO is going to answer our question? We are on a time limit here, and we don't have time to listen to you two squawk and argue over everything that crosses your minds."

Team Ebony blinked at him before glancing at each other. "Team-up on Litleo?"

"Team-up on Litleo."

"Wait!" Rai jumped between them before a fight could break out. "Let's just… calm down, shall we?" Not wanting to attack the saviour of time, Murkrow and Shuppet paused.

Mane glared at them from around Rai anyway, and they matched his glare. "We're looking for a Reaper Cloth," Rai explained, hurriedly. "We need it to give it to Duskull to get a Psychic Torc to give to Alakazam so he'll take us to Sky Peak so we can ask Lucario if she has any information on finding Arceus."

"That's a long list," Murkrow said, forgetting Mane entirely. "Well, uh… we don't HAVE one if that's what you're asking."

"I'm sorry," Shuppet said, dashing Rai's hopes. "I've wanted to search for one, but I haven't had the time. There's none in town that I know of. I might be able to get you a few dungeons you could look at, but…"

"Thanks anyway," Rai sighed, turning back to Mane. "We'll… keep looking."

"I'll find you if I do figure something out," Shuppet called, and Rai thanked them again before leaving, also giving thanks to Team Poochy for bringing them this far.

They dragged themselves to town. The sun was closer to the horizon than it was to the middle of the sky, and the two were at a loss for what to do. There were more pokémon to ask in Treasure Town, they had hardly made a dent in the overall population, but their hopes were beginning to dwindle.

"Maybe we can… I dunno, get the Torc on a loan of something?" Mane offered as they walked back from Sharpedo Bluff. Rai had taken them there to think, but Dugtrio was staring out to sea, and they did not wish to intrude upon that.

"Maybe we can just buy it with enough money?"

"I doubt we'd have enough."

"Money is the Legendary Lucario's gift, but for valuable treasures perhaps there is wisdom in thrift," a voice reached them, pulling their attention to the rights.

An odd little shop neither had found any point in approaching, south from where the Kecleon Market boasted its wares, was a small curious tent.

Before it, rested Xatu.

"You rhyming at us?" Mane asked as they approached.

Xatu had his eyes closed, and head bowed, but he raised it upon their approach. "Many pokémon say many things. Tales of treasure, beckoning wings. Do you have treasure, what do you bring?"

"Is there something we can do for you?" Rai asked. He wasn't in the best of moods at the moment, but he was a polite mon to his core. He would excuse them if Xatu was only here to talk.

"Perhaps a task," Xatu confirmed. "Perhaps a quarry. Would you be willing to listen to a story? Talk is cheap, they say, and will cost you nothing. Perhaps I can help you, I am not bluffing."

"What are you talking about?" Mane asked, head spinning from Xatu's soft voice and roundabout words.

"I speak of mystery, of dungeons, of mystery dungeons, and dungeons of mystery. Some mysteries are not wise to learn, and it is unwise to ignore history."

"We won't ignore you," Rai said patiently. "If you can get to it, please."

"Comforting words from one so young, so bold." He cocked his head as he stared unblinking into Rai's eyes. "Those same eyes stared at the end of time, so old. And it is these same eyes which say 'No' yet again, to the loss you have suffered, to call back from that dark plane."

"Huh?" Mane asked. "What? Just… what? What do you want? Stop speaking in circles."

"Is the circle the sphere, or are you but here to sneer?"

Mane's eye twitched.

"We are looking for a Reaper Cloth," Rai said, curling his tail around Mane to calm him down. He could feel the tension building in his partner's body.

"Indeed. The cloth of the spirits, drawn from the dark. Do you know what it is that you seek? Or is there some other reason for the next step to embark?"

"Yes," Mane snapped. "We want the damn thing to trade to Duskull."

"Duskull? Ah yes. The keeper of coins. It is by the lucario's compassion that he has a meaning. I wonder, yes wonder, what it was like before. I do not know. Regardless of him, I wonder of a convening."

"Do you have any leads for us?" Rai asked, hoping that something would stick. He was tempted to leave. He had heard from the other apprentices that Xatu could be frustrating. Bidoof often would have his fortune read here, but it was difficult to say anything Xatu claimed came true. It was all excessively vague.

"A Reaper Cloth I have no excess," Xatu said. "But I may yet possess a Reaper Cloth for you?"

"Wait, are you saying you have one!?" Rai asked, right back to excited.

"I do, yes, I do. But it is not yours to take. An exchange I demand, I know what's at stake."

"What do you want for it?" Mane asked, smoke wafting in the wind.

"A message, a cry, something to give to-"

Rai did not groan, but Mane did. "What do YOU want? A Xatu Crystal? A Lively Bow? A Goodra dick? What do you want that'll send us in circles?"

Xatu blinked at him. "I want you to deliver a letter to my son when you cross paths with him again."

Both of them blinked at that. "Oh."

"Indeed. Not all paths seek to test you in the ways you expect." He pulled a letter out. "Zubat of Team Skull, he and I do not know much of a life together it is null, but I wish to make amends. If you see him, would you give him this, on you I depend?"

"Sure," Rai said, accepting the letter and carefully stowing it in the Treasure Bag.

"You have my gratitude."

"Wait?" Mane asked, frowning. "How is Zubat going to read it? He has no eyes."

Xatu waved his wing at that. "That will not be an issue. I only request you deliver this message, and not to read it yourself, this I know you can manage."

"You can count on us," Rai said, smiling.

Xatu nodded again. "Thank you. Journey to Duskull and he will give you your prize."

"Thank you, Xatu."

"Yeah, thanks… and, uh, sorry for snapping."

"To take grievance with every barb and flame leaves a pokémon who seeks others to blame."

"O…kay?"

"Verily. Be well, you two."

They rushed off in excitement, Xatu watching stoically as they left his privacy and nodded his head.

Scout. Scout. I am Scout.

Scout sat in the mess hall.

It continued to be strange, and would probably always be strange, to be walking right by his best friends and have them unaware of his presence with them.

He used to slip up, saying a witty joke or sarcastic remark, but no response. There was no response because they had no idea.

No idea, he walked with them every minute of the day. No idea he was there when they slept.

He wanted to lean up by Rai, or even snuggle up to Mane, and simply feel them. Feel them, know they were there, and let them know he was there. But his paws went through them, and he felt nothing.

He knew they didn't feel anything either. There was nothing to feel, after all. What was he, but some sort of projection?

Scout wished Dialga had explained more but didn't it explain enough?

It was slow.

It was so slow.

Dialga had told him he wouldn't truly disappear until he was forgotten. The idea was terrifying. He had asked Rai, begged him, not to forget him. Not to forget what had happened, and to let everyone else know.

He had begged him for two reasons. The first was that he truly did not want Rai to forget him. And the second connected with the first. He was not sure if he'd actually come back. He was not the 'hero' after all, no matter how long he had pretended he was, intentional or otherwise.

That fear had come true in only the most twisted way. He still existed in some shadowy memory state. He could think, but that was about it. But he had not come back, not really.

The idea that he would disappear was terrifying, but not only because it meant Rai would have to forget him, that would be a true death, but also the fear that Rai may not.

What if he was stuck like this, teetering on the edge of oblivion. That in itself would be terrifying enough, but that would mean that Rai would never truly let go. He would lose his own life, tying Scout's to this feeble existence.

The idea was terrifying because it meant that Rai would suffer, never letting go. He was not something that was supposed to chain itself down, always looking back.

But there was nothing Scout could do. Rai could not hear him. Mane could not hear him. Saniya could not hear him. Only Dialga. Dialga… and Darkrai.

Rai and Mane were twitching and moaning in their sleep again, and he feared this would become a common sight to him. Darkrai was back.

I can bring you back. Darkrai had said. I can bring you back, and I am the only one that will.

Was that true? Did Rai and Mane have the right idea, trying to find Arceus? Hadn't Scout done enough to deserve the same reward?

Or did Arceus know?

Did it know how he had lied? How had he used and manipulated? How his actions nearly doomed time, due to his unceasing interference? Did it know about that?

If there were anything that did, he'd believe it was Arceus.

So, perhaps that was why he was the only one that hadn't been revived — the only one who had fought to save time, at least. The Dark Future and all its pokémon were gone. All of them. Even the sableye he'd named Danny whom Scout had convinced to help him.

All gone.

Only the Planetary Investigation Team remained. For saving time, they were rewarded.

And for nearly dooming it through his own stupidity, was this Scout's punishment?

He had no idea. And he had no one he could ask.

There was only Darkrai, but it was the enemy. He did not; he could not, believe it to have changed. But a part of him thought about accepting the offer. Why offer, what could it possibly use him for, if it could not follow through?

But why would it offer? Why? It could not have changed.

What was the line? No evil pokémon, only bad trainers? That was patently untrue.

These thoughts circled Scout's mind as he refused to budge. He would not go to Darkrai, and, thankfully, Darkrai did not come to him.

Rai and Mane relaxed in kind, and Scout breathed a metaphorical, sigh of relief. He refused to deal with Darkrai again.

He would be wrong about that.