"A toast to Team Pelagic, for getting our mates back!"

Guildmaster Zoroark had one leg up on a table, and a mug in her hand.

"CHEERS!" All the guild members in the mess hall shouted with enthusiasm.

Tonight's dinner was something of an impromptu celebration for the safe return of Team Rupture. Zoroark told Team Pelagic this was the 'first successful rescue mission all year', and insisted they break out 'the good stuff' to commemorate the occasion.

The good stuff was beer.

Even though she barely partook, the presence of the alcohol was comforting to Lyra. It was another relic from her world, another anchor for her in this realm of insanity.

Nobody else in Team Pelagic drank much, either. Seph only had a single mug as well, and Indigo abstained entirely. The same could not be said for their guildmaster.

Lyra had lost count of how many mugs of beer she saw Zoroark plow through at this point. That toast she just delivered was her 3rd of the evening, and after each one she would chug an entire cup, much to the delight of the guildlings around her. She didn't really seem to be drunk, either. She still had all her wits about her, and she repeatedly dominated every single Pokémon that challenged her to an arm-wrestling contest during the night.

Lyra watched as another Pokémon was pushed to the floor by Zoroark's overpowering muscle.

"Better luck next time, Mr. Fraxure! Maybe give it another shot once you're all sobered up!"

She wondered if this was more weird Pokémon magic, or if that woman could just hold her liquor like nobody's business.


The next morning was something out of a comedy routine. After Squawkabilly's wake up call, many Pokémon stumbled out of their rooms confused and exhausted. Zoroark and Infernape, meanwhile, were paragons of energy, dancing around the hungover guildlings.

"Good morning, explorers!"

A cacophony of groans was all the response Zoroark got.

"Oh, come now! Surely a bit of booze isn't enough to take this guild off its feet! I said , good morning, explorers!"

A collective sigh erupted from the more experienced explorers.

"GOOD MORNING, GUILDMASTER."

The callback was as loud as always, but lacked any energy.

"Good enough. Alright everyone, shake off that alcohol: we've got big news, so listen up. First off, everyone should be on the lookout for pirates as you sail. Our friends Team Rupture were taken hostage by one such pirate crew, and we have reason to believe there's more out there. You all better take care while you're traveling, and keep an eye out for any odd ships on the horizon."

Lyra nodded, recalling how last night she told Zoroark about their run-in with Captain Leavanny, and the mention of Bisharp. The guildmaster ignored Lyra's questions about who Bisharp was and why he's a threat, but she did thank Lyra for the info.

"And one more thing. We're submitting an official bounty request to the entire guild. Well, less of a bounty and more of a treasure hunt. Milo, show 'em the thingy!"

Infernape walked out towards the guildmaster, pushing something covered in a cloth on a rolling platform. He dramatically flung off the cloth and gestured at what lay underneath.

The revealed object was a small stone statue, about half the size of Infernape. It was in the shape of a bipedal Pokémon, sitting criss-cross on the ground. A large pyramid-shaped piece of stone was missing from the statue's chest. It looked like something could be inserted there.

"Milo and I dug this up last week." Zoroark continued. "We found it at the end of that dungeon near Saltspell. C'mon all, get close. Take a good look at it. Hopefully, you all recognise this as an Abra statue. And you might recall that a long long time ago, Abras were used as a symbol of secrets. If you wanted to hint that something was more than what it seemed, you would draw an Abra on it.

"Ya see that hole in its chest? It's a polished slot. It's too intentional of a hole to just have been broken off. We got reason to think something fits in there. Now, based on how well this thing was protected, we think something really fuckin' crazy will happen if we put whatever is supposed to go there in there. So that's our bounty! Whichever team finds the missing piece first gets a reward!"

Smeargle raised his hand. "What is the reward, though?"

The guildmaster smiled. "Ten thousand poké."

There wasn't much reaction to what sounded like an outrageous reward to Lyra. That reward is 100 times the amount they usually get from a mission, but none of the guildlings seemed impressed. Smeargle even sighed at the announcement. Zoroark wasn't finished, though.

" And , you get 1 month of paid guild leave."

Half of the exploration teams immediately started running towards the docks. They pushed and trampled over each other to get a boat before anybody else could. Since many of them were still hungover, it was less like a race and more a slapstick routine. Zoroark watched with a proud smile on her face as her guild members bumbled into each other and fell off the pier, crashing into the water.

"I love treasure hunts."


Despite the initial excitement around the bounty, no news about the missing piece surfaced for the rest of the week. Teams searched everywhere on Saltspell, but nothing had popped up. No more pirate sightings had been reported, either. Team Pelagic had decided to ignore the drama around the bounty and just focused on completing missions: Lyra wanted to get the team to Gold Rank as fast as possible, Indigo cared about training more than some stupid time-off reward, and Seph was game for whatever they wanted.

By the end of the week, they were getting better at being explorers. They weren't great, mind you, but they were finally on the path to get there. They were coordinating their attacks more. Lyra and Seph started learning some combat training, courtesy of Indigo. Indigo started to listen to Lyra's plans, and would sometimes even follow through with them.

They were becoming a proper team.

At the end of the week, Lyra went by herself into town to buy some supplies for their next series of dungeon runs. Despite him wanting to come with, she insisted that Seph needed to stay at the guild to keep an eye on Indigo. The real reason was because last time he went into town, Seph spent half their budget on pastries, but she didn't want to hurt Seph with that truth.

Seph was talking Espeon's ear off when Indigo, who had spent most of the day in the team's chambers, walked up to him.

"Buizel. I need to talk to you for a moment."

"Of course! What's up, Indigo?"

Espeon sighed with relief as Seph walked away from her. She could finally keep reading in peace.

"You are usually the one who steers the boat while we're sailing." Indigo stated.

"That's right!"

"And I am usually the one who gives you headings. And Mareep manages the sails."

"That's also right! We've all got our own job when we're sailing!"

Seph was about to walk away, as if he had answered all of Indigo's questions fully, and they were finished here.

"Hey- wait. I'm not done. My point is, I see you adjusting our bearing and messing with the sails when you think we're not looking. You try to do our jobs yourself."

Seph scratched the back of his neck with a hand. Wherever Indigo was going with this, it probably wasn't good.

"Uh, yeah. I guess I do that sometimes." He said.

Indigo stared daggers at him. "Why?"

"Oh. Uh… I guess I'm worried we're off-course sometimes. So I try to fix it myself. But I don't want you two to feel like you're not doing well, so I do it when you're not paying attention. I'm really sorry about that."

Indigo shook his head. "That's not what I meant. Why do you know how to do all that? I thought you joined the guild two days before I joined Team Pelagic. Where did you learn to sail like that? It certainly wasn't the guild." He almost seemed frustrated at Seph.

Seph's expression shifted from worry to surprise when he realized what Indigo was asking. "Oh. Oh! I've been sailing small boats for a looooong time. About seven years now. My family owns a farm on a tiny little island. My job was to take all our berries and apples and stuff to the next island over where we'd sell 'em at the market. I learned a lot about boats during all those trips!"

Indigo nodded. "Ah, I understand. You've been training for the guild for a long time. Of course that would extend to minor parts of guild work as well, like sailing. You came prepared. That's a relief."

"Uh, yeah, sure! What you said."

"Now that we've established that, recall what Mar- Lyra, what Lyra said about us being a team. We need to trust each other, and stuff. So it's only fair that you get me up to speed on your knowledge of boats, so that we can trust each other when we're sailing. I need to have the same sailing skill that you do, otherwise team cohesion will fall apart."

Seph blinked a few times. It took him a moment to digest what Indigo was even saying.

"Are you asking for sailing lessons?"

"...No. I just need you to improve the sailing skills I already have. For team cohesion."

"Right. And that's different from getting sailing lessons."

"Yes."

Seph was barely holding back a fit of laughter. If Indigo wanted lessons, he need only ask. He'll play along with this charade, though: it would kill Indigo if he had to admit out loud he wanted Seph to teach him.

"Well, we can't let team cohesion fall apart, can we? Let's grab a dinghy and I'll show you what I know!"


The duo were drifting in a dinghy a little ways off the coast of Perrin as Seph very patiently taught Indigo the more technical and delicate parts of sailing.

A frustrated Noibat sat in a pile of unkempt ropes strewn about the deck of the dinghy they were practicing on. He stared up at the sail he had attached by himself to the mast.

"It's upside down, isn't it?"

Seph sighed. "Yeah, it is. Let's take it down and try it one more time! Remember; the head of the sail is the corner that's farthest away, then you attach the tack to the mast and the clew to the boom."

Indigo nodded. He was angry at himself for taking so long to get this stuff right, but he would keep trying.

"Okay. The rope goes through the hole, then around, then out…"

"Hey, Indigo?" Seph called out.

"Hang on, I think I have it this time… That's the clew so that goes on the far side…" The Noibat continued to fiddle with the sailcloth and the ropes.

"Indigo!" Seph was shouting now.

Indigo threw the rope in frustration. "What? What was I doing wrong this time? At least let me finish the attempt!"

"Not that! Rogue wave off of starboard! Brace!"

Indigo looked up for the first time in a few minutes to see a wall of seawater quickly approaching them from the right.

Ah.

The massive wave crashed into the boat with catastrophic force. Seph and Indigo were both flung off the dinghy as it capsized in the water, all three entities at the mercy of the torrent. As he was flung about in the water, Indigo felt something pull tight around his leg. One of the ropes he was working on tangled around him, and was now stopping him from swimming upwards. He was tied to the boat, and would go down with it in the water.

Indigo started to run out of breath. With every panicked second, he wasted more and more of his valuable oxygen by uselessly blowing bubbles into the ocean. His vision was starting to fade at the edges.

He closed his eyes. There was nothing he could do. Maybe Seph would find him and pull him out in time. If not, then, well…

This was it.

Wait. Stop this pity party.

Indigo, you fucking idiot.

There's like, one hundred things you could do about this situation.

Don't be stupid. Think through what's happening, and act. Do something and save yourself. Seph and Lyra have carried your dead weight for long enough. You have to prove you're the explorer you think you are.

Somewhere in the middle of the ocean, a little bat opened his eyes. That bat decided it was finally time to take care of himself. That bat could no longer allow the world to do what it pleased with him. That bat had to take a stand.

Indigo used Wing Attack on the rope binding him in place. It was easily cut in two, freeing him. He used the last remaining traces of strength to crawl up to the surface.

Indigo emerged from the water, panting. He could breathe again. He could hear again. After the muddled sounds in the ocean, the clear noises above water were intoxicating. The sound of waves crashing. Of the dinghy cutting through the water. Of Seph shouting out to him.

"Indigo! Are you alright?" Seph had righted the boat and was extending a paw out. As Indigo reached for the hand, he noticed a bright red rope burn on Seph's hand he could have sworn wasn't there a moment ago. He grabbed Seph and hoisted himself back into the boat. He laid flat on his back and allowed himself to catch his breath.

"Not a word of this to Lyra."

"Works for me."

The two of them decided to end their not-training there, and headed back to the guild.


That night, Team Pelagic had finished their dinner and was heading to their room when Infernape strode up to the group, blocking their path.

"Good evenin', Pelagic. Before you post up for the night, the guildmaster wants a word with you. Go see her in her office."

Infernape noticed the worried expressions on the trio as he began to walk away.

"It's, uh, she has good news. Don't be so worried, gang."

Thoughts of getting caught breaking the dinghy Seph and Indigo used earlier escaped their minds with a sigh.

Lyra looked at her teammates as Infernape awkwardly shuffled off.

"What does the guildmaster want with us?"

Indigo shrugged. "No clue. Maybe there's been an update to the Perrin situation and she wants to let us know."

"Only one way to find out!" Seph declared with excitement.

Guildmaster Zoroark's office was wildly different from the rest of the guild. Many of the guild's buildings looked makeshift or unfinished, with large empty spaces and splintery, unpainted wood. In contrast, the guildmaster's office was a proper building. Team Pelagic stepped onto a polished wood floor, and stood in front of a beautifully ornate desk with paperwork strewn all over it. Zoroark was illuminated by an unnaturally bright blue flame that sat on the desk in a corked glass bottle.

Lyra wondered what the logistics of a magical flame would be.

Zoroark raised a hand in greeting as she saw them enter. "Pelagic! There's my favorite up-and-comers! How are we doing tonight, me lovelies?"

Lyra gulped. Talking to the guildmaster in such an official setting like this made her seem ten times more intimidating than normal. "We're fine. Mr. Infernape said you wanted to talk to us?"

"Aye, that I did. I've got good news for you. Your team has officially hit gold rank!"

Lyra went slack-jawed. "I… I thought we were only halfway to gold rank, last time I checked."

Zoroark laughed. "That might've been true if it weren't for your daring rescue mission last week! In my eyes, rescuing another guild team is a massive undertaking, and deserves to be recognized. And thankfully, the Guild Association feels the same way. That mission, and the others you've been doing, have pushed you three up to gold rank. So, congratulations are in order!"

"Alright!" Seph gave Lyra a high five. He offered one to Indigo as well. He did not reciprocate the gesture.

Lyra then spoke, trying to drive the conversation to where she needed it to go. "So, now that we're gold rank, does that mean-"

"Aye, Ms. Mareep, you can go get your book now. It's only fair, after all the honest work you've put in these past few weeks." The guildmaster gave Lyra a sincere smile before reaching for something underneath her desk.

Zoroark unrolled a map of the Inner Sea and set it on the tabletop. Seph immediately leaned forward, simply excited for the chance to look at an interesting map. Lyra also noticed Indigo taking a step away from the table. Maybe he wasn't interested in this whole book thing, since he already knew about it.

"Now, before I show you what I'm about to show you," Zoroark continued, "you lot have to make a promise. You can never talk to anybody about this thing if they're not in the guild. It's a matter of not just guild honor, but of safety as well. This information in the hands of the wrong Pokémon could have terrible results. Do you promise to keep our secrets?" She looked into the eyes of Lyra and Seph.

Lyra nodded. "Yes."

"Absolutely." Seph didn't take his eyes off the map as he spoke.

Indigo shrugged. "I've already been through this speech, guildmaster. If you don't mind, I'll just go wait outside.

Zoroark made a 'move along' gesture to Indigo. "Go for it, Mr. Noibat. As for you two, allow me to tell you about the Lost Archive. It's a Mystery Dungeon, about here , on Topline Atoll."

She tapped on a small island that was just south of the center of the map. Her finger was softly framed by the blue light of the flame.

"It's not too difficult of a dungeon. I have faith you three could get to the top, no issue. It's what's at the top of the dungeon that's an issue. Believe it or not, there's an archive there! That place has books you can't find anywhere else in the Inner. Some say a copy of every book that's ever been made is held there. If it's been written down, it's in the archive."

Oh, wow.

That's sick as hell.

Every book in the world? Lyra wondered what types of esoteric information could be found in a world like this.

"Ms. Mareep, that book you wanted about humans is there. However, there's a reason why it's sitting in that library fifty leagues away from here rather than on our own shelves. And this is when you two need to listen very carefully ."

Zoroark leaned forward during that last sentence.

"Each and every Pokémon can only take one book from the archive. That's it. One book. Not two, not three, one. As soon as it's off the shelf, you're stuck with it. If, Arceus forbid, you take more than one book, the entire archive'll come falling down on you. You won't make it out alive with your very precious two books. We know the archive falls apart because it happened once before, over a hundred years ago. It took a full century for the archive to reform."

Lyra raised her hoof, intending to ask a question.

"No, Ms. Mareep, I don't know why that's the rule. It just is. Some very strong Pokémon a very long time ago just decided everyone only gets one book."

Lyra lowered her hoof.

"So, you two now have permission to enter the archive, take one book each, and take it back here with you. Mrs. Espeon will make a copy of the book that we'll store, and you can keep the original. And if you decide to ruin it for everyone and destroy the whole archive, I'll hunt ya down to the ends of the sea and kill ya myself."

That last point hung in the air a bit too long.

"Only a joke, Pelagic! We all know it won't come to that. One more thing: you're more than welcome to take Mr. Noibat with you for assistance, but he's already taken a book. Keep an eye out to make sure he doesn't try to take another. Not that I think he would, mind. Mr. Noibat is brash, but he's not stupid."

Lyra was idly nodding along to what the guildmaster said. "Okay. Yeah, got it. We'll make sure to do that. One book each. Of course. I-I'm sorry, this place has every book EVER WRITTEN? How far back does it go? How many books are there? What books are already taken? How big is it? How will we know where to find the books we want? How the hell was that even built?"

Seph put a hand on Lyra's shoulder. "All questions I'm sure we can find out on our way there! C'mon Lyra, we gotta start prepping if we're gonna head out tomorrow!" He gently pulled her along as he made his way for the door.

Zoroark chuckled. "He's right, you know. Go make a plan, and go get some sleep. You've got a big day tomorrow. Good luck, me hearties!"

The two of them left the office, and were greeted by Indigo leaning against the outside wall.

"So, who's ready to do some reading?" He had an assured confidence that was absolutely unearned.

Lyra cocked her head. "Do you want to come with? I thought there wouldn't be a point, seeing as you already took a book."

"Uh - well, no, of course it's not about the books. It's about training. The husks in that dungeon are species you don't see anywhere else. It's good experience."

"Oh, of course."

Even Lyra, who was much worse at reading people than Seph, could see through Indigo's entire schtick at this point. Her perception of the Noibat went from a cocky brat to a nervous, lonely person that pretends to be a cocky brat. But if he wasn't ready to admit that he wanted to tag along just for the sake of helping, that was fine. Lyra wouldn't force that out of him. Some day down the road he'll break out of his shell by his own decree.

Hopefully.

For now, she'll play along.

"Alright then. Let's get ready to visit the library."