Posted December 23rd, 2023
Kobi Espurr's POV
Leader Magearna's seminar was certainly interesting. They shared everything from the inner workings of Mana Artifacts, and other things Team Vanguard tried to find. And then those Gears of Mana. The gears that can finally end the Disruption once and for all. That slept inside every mana artifact, in and out of our grasp, many in the clutches of Wicked Blow. But we needed more details to solve anything. And I was not strong enough. Not yet.
Even though I, and some of the others here had been unlocked, we wouldn't just recklessly attack. All that boosted, untrained power could kill if not kept under control. It's what caused the Disruption in the first place.
I was glad I had my presence in control with this monitoring collar, but I wanted to control it myself. Thankfully I was in the care of just the right Pokémon for the job, Guard Fang, and Defender Hunter.
Master Fang approached Makkuro, Doran and I, with a curious piece of paper in their maw. The Primeape and Pyroar beside us took a few steps back.
Pride spoke up when I gave her a glance. "Might as well give ya some space."
"Okay," I replied.
"Yup, don't mind us." Fist patted her hip.
Master Hunter glanced our way and nodded.
"Hi kids," the Lycanroc said through clenched teeth, the edge of a paper carefully in between them.
"'Ello," I said as I stared at the page. "What 'ave you got for us?"
"Hi Master Fang." The Rockruff wagged his tail and eyed the Lycanroc up and down.
Master Fang had an amused look on their muzzle as they gingerly dropped the paper and rolled it on the floor. "I'll give you the rundown." They read aloud every word on the page, just as Leader Cresselia and Darkrai had written it.
'Most esteemed Sentinels Union Pokémon please send your students back to the League after they retrieve a Mana Key and Lock. It is located around the southeast of this area. Along with numerous other Mana Artifacts. There is also a rumor of Wicked Blow holding hostage a friend of their future Teammate.'
"Oh?" Doran smirked, and her ears perked up. Her stubby tail wagged as she glanced at the page. All the while, my eyes followed.
"All this information?" I glanced back at Master Fang.
The Lycanroc narrowed their eyes. "I can barely believe it myself."
Makkuro lowered their ears. "Those in the League need our help huh?"
We all sat back, while Fist and Pride took another step back.
"We will see you guys later." Pride beckoned with a paw.
"Alrighty." I waved back.
The Pyroar's ears twitched. "Don't want to interrupt whatever that is. Especially since it's related to the League."
"Now that I think about it, it's not all League business, there's stuff about that that concerns us." Fist folded her arms.
"Fair."
The two Pokémon left us alone and gathered their apprentices. Master Fang rolled up the scroll.
"Now that I remember it, it might be that Kobi's connections are also the key." Master Hunter raised a paw.
The Rockruff quirked a brow. "You know about her connections?"
"How did she get an acceptance letter to the League without taking an entrance exam? I assume she hasn't taken one and just left or something," The Lycanroc said as their ears perked up.
"Er, I've been to the League once, but never mind that." I winced, and my head began to throb.
Master Fang licked their maw and spoke."Ah that's true, now that I think about it. I remember you took only part of the entrance exam that I'm pretty sure the League retired with your connections."
"My connections?" I winced. "You mean my brothers?"
"Your brothers? I can't remember if we talked to a Pokémon at the League who mentioned you, however we were barely there before…" Master Hunter coughed as she trailed off.
"Linus, the Treecko who's been at the League for a bit and Hatchet, an Axew who should be on his way soon." I explained.
"Soon?" Makkuro asked, his eyes wide.
"Yeah."
"Ah yes, I remember Linus," Master Fang said in a low tone. "A Sentinel with an interesting presence."
"Really?" I asked. "I never felt anything from him, if anything I felt it from my other brother."
"Oh?" the Boltund's ears perked up.
"Hatchet's a real piece o' work, I'll tell yew."
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree hehe," Master Fang laughed and patted me on the shoulder.
Doran narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
The Lycanroc cleared their throat and paced around a bit. "You're all special Pokémon the League is gunning for."
"They must really want us back in the League eh mate?" I tilted my head.
Makkuro wagged his tail. "And they have information on a future Teammate's friend? Who?"
"No idea who that could be, they'll probably tell us who if and when we find 'em."
"Anddd, we don't have to bust our chops lookin' for Mana Artifacts." The Kubfu grabbed our shoulders and leaned in.
"It's not that simple." Master Fang waved a paw.
Doran rubbed her paws together. "With those guys, nothing's simple. Great ain't it, Leaders Cresselia and Darkrai."
I chuckled. "I've never met them bruv, but yeah I guess."
Another voice cleared their throat and we looked over to see a few Pokémon from Magerna's Domain.
"Guard Fang, Defender Hunter, if we have any more requests and details for you another one of us shall deliver a letter or come to you." The Lokix bowed.
Master Hunter bowed back."Understood."
The Lokix held up their claw to the others."The same goes for you Caster Pride, and Vanguard Fist."
"Thank you kindly," the Pyroar replied, her tail raised.
"Good night, may the gears grind forever." The Lokix and other Pokémon of Leader Magearna's staff left us to go.
"Well." Master Hunter placed the note into one of her pockets. "We should go too."
The Rockruff tilted his head. "Where?"
The Boltund's ears lowered. "I know you have lots of burning questions and all so we are going to our hotel room."
"Sounds good ta me." I suppressed a yawn with my paw.
After we gathered the rest of our belongings, Leader Magearna's staff ushered us toward the elevator docks. I held my breath when we shuffled into the enormous silver, white, yellow, and grey room. Along the edges sat massive pink elevators of various sizes that spanned a wide stone and metal hallway. Nothing like I've ever seen! There were loads of Pokémon from different organizations, big and small, and we all fit comfortably.
Master Hunter glanced over at all of us. "Everyone doing alright?"
"Today's been wild," Makkuro sighed before he lifted his head. "But we learned what we wanted."
"Yeah. Definitely a wild day, full of excitement, so glad to hear all of our work went to use and wasn't for nothing." The Lycanroc grinned.
"Definitely."
Doran ran a paw through her head fur tufts."Thanks fer taking me to the seminar, of course I'm really excited to see my folks if I have any."
The Boltund nodded. "The Urshifu, Shifu Yang and Shui along the others should be able to talk to you tomorrow Doran."
"Quite swell. Cheers from me!" the Kubfu said before she shadow boxed against the air with a flurry of punches.
"Everyone else good?" Master Fang looked my way.
I nodded. "My tail wasn't stepped on so I'm great."
"Good to hear." The Lycanroc's ears perked up as a few of the lifts arrived.
A Poliwrath led us, Master Fang, Hunter, Fist, Pride, and the other apprentices, Doran, Makkuro and I, along with some Paradisers from Bristberg, and Explorers from Starlight Beach toward one of the elevator loading docks.
"Woah," I gasped.
Makkuro and I took a couple steps back. "It's huge!"
Master Fang held their paw over their muzzle."Are you still surprised to see all this stuff?"
The Rockruff sighed. "This elevator was much bigger than the one we took down into the Domain."
"Don't get too shocked!" Morpeko's snarky voice called out.
I turned my head and of course she, Smeargle, Aron, and Impidimp were right beside Fist and Pride, even if they weren't there the whole time.
"We weren't, we just stated a fact, Morpeko," I growled.
Makkuro bore his fangs as he spoke. "Exactly, you asshole."
"Excuse me?" Impidimp grabbed the Rockruff's chest fur.
"Hey," Master Hunter sighed. "Behave."
"Fine," we grumbled.
Smeargle wagged her tail with a purple hue, the paint of Sketch, and leaned in. "I haven't even hit you dolts yet and you're already whining!"
What the Distortion!? I flinched away from the splatter of poison while Doran and Makkuro stepped in front of me.
"Kehinde Smeargle," Fist grabbed the Smeargle's shoulder.
"Y-yes Master Fist?"
Some of the Primeape's veins poked through her skin, as her eyes blazed. "We're in Leader Magearna's Domain."
Kehinde's tail lost color and curled between her legs and she fidgeted with her grey Union vest. "My apologies."
Not another word was uttered as we waited for the lift. It arrived and our group shuffled inside, the dull hum of the machinery echoed throughout the cavern, one set after another. The elevator lurched and we made it back to the surface.
Back out into the dark, cold, and wet stones of Saltwater Cliffs. I can't say it was worse than the winters in Galar of course so I'd be fine. Makkuro, Master Fang, Pride, and Aron shivered from the rain while everyone else shook the pelting droplets away occasionally, some more dreary than the rest.
The Pokémon of the various other organizations left, and we Sentinels Union Pokémon were alone again.
We all exited the rough wildlands and made it onto the stone-lined roads that led back towards the black castle, the heart of Saltwater Cliffs City. Finally my paws could take a breather, nearly sliced up a pad on those rocks for Za's sake!
Doran placed an arm on my shoulder and laughed. "I guess we finally get to have some privacy." she whispered in Johtoian.
"What?" My tail drooped as I peeled myself away from the Kubfu.
"I meant to talk about fancy mancy stuff, but if you have other ideas~"
My jaw dropped further. "W-what?"
"Doran you're being fucking weird," Makkuro growled.
"Oh, didn't know she's yours," Doran giggled.
"What!?"
"No, I'm not usually into guys." I shook my head.
The Rockruff sighed as his nose twitched. "I like Kobi as a friend, and a mentor, Doran. Anything else is - uh kinda weird."
"Weird huh?"
"I'm not comfortable answering that question."
The Kubfu wore a shit-eating grin. "And Kobiiii. What's that 'usually' about? It's not right to toy with the Great Legendary Doran ya know."
My eyes narrowed. "I also am not comfortable answering that question."
"Aw, why not?""We barely know you." Makkuro added."Yer prying too much just because yer also a former human." I pointed a paw at the placed her paws on her head. "I prefer ex-human."
Master Fang loudly cleared their throat. "Alright you three, we are at the hotel."
"Sorry," I spoke in Mysterioso, or what they called Constellation and turned towards the Lycanroc along with the others.
The building of the hotel had a sleek grey finish, black trim and a dark purple main section, the windows covered by yellow blinds.
'The Moonlight Hotel'. A stone and wooden sign read.
Master Hunter led us inside and showed the Clefable and Nidoking at the front desk a piece of paper.
Master Fist handed the two Pokemon a huge sack of what I assumed was poké and they slid over four room keys. The keys looked like how they did back in Galar; a card inside of a paper packet, but with a small chain.
Everything was like a blur, as we made our way up to the room via the stairs, and slope sections. Master Fang opened the door to a room with two huge low-rise beds fit for royalty.
I flew toward one and someone removed my saddlebag. The second my body hit the warm Flaaffy fleece I passed out.
"Kobi."
A gentle voice called through the waves of my awakening. Light slowly drifted into the hotel room and into my eyelids, my tail twitched as the warm heat rolled in more and more. The curtains were being pulled open.I kept my eyes shut as the scent of berries wafted into the air.
"Makkuro," the voice, Master Hunter's, voice called again. It was like Hoennian, Kantonian, and almost Paldean in accent so I couldn't miss it.
"Doran."
"I'm uppp," the Kubfu groaned. Doran's accent sounded like Wydon- highly pronounced northern Galarian and Johtoian, fitting as she's from both places from what she said yesterday: that those Ace Trainer teachers from Blackthorn City were her grandparents. And then the Kubfu rolled straight into me.
"Oi!" My eyes shot open as I nearly fell out of bed.
Doran sat there with a drowsy grin. "Oops."
"She's fitting in well I see!" the Boltund laughed.
I hissed in annoyance. "Nearly trampled me!"
"Well, uh today's actually a day I feel like going by he him," the Kubfu grabbed onto me. "Fluid and all, remember?"
"Okay Mister Doran." I staggered upright. "Please behave."
The Rockruff beside me sighed. "He's getting a bit too comfortable huh?"
"Yep, oh-" a loud noise shook the room, "wha tha bloody sword n 'ield?!" I bolted out of bed just as the door flew open with a rattling thud.
Everyone else turned to see the Midday Lycanroc as they winced and shut the door.
"Alright everyone we've got to hurry," Master Fang said in a muffled voice, in their maw a basket full of bread, berries and small cups. "It was earlier than I remembered."
I blinked before I took in a deep breath. My throat tensed up before I coughed. I shoved my paws into my bag and pulled out our toothbrush and toothpaste.
"Can't try out the Breath of Mana with the monitoring bands on." Master Hunter patted my shoulder.
"Right right, later I guess."
We hurried along with as many of our morning rituals as possible and bolted out of the Moonlight Hotel.
Fist, Pride and their apprentices had a rendezvous with us as we passed a brewery, and a confectionery Shoppe. The sweet scent nearly lured me over, but Makkuro nudged my shoulder. I tripped over my paws for a moment and Doran snickered as he pulled me up.
"Don't make the Great and Legendary Doran Kubfu have to pick you up Espurr!" Morpeko said as she crossed her tiny arms.
Aron stamped onto the ground right beside me and I scrambled away, claws out. "Yeah, can't you see Young Master Doran is made for better things!?"
"Young Master? What?" I questioned, and my tail swished.
"Chill it out," the Kubfu laughed. "You can fight over me later, come on."
"What?"
"You must be joking." Makkuro groaned.
Everyone who had a recall came back to the shadows of Leader Magearna's Domain, all the entrances from before hidden just as last time, the stony land still wet with puddles from the rain.
Not as cold as last night, with the warm light of the sun that poured in through sections of the clouds above.
This time a Drednaw and a Slaking approached along with a huge battalion of Pokemon, all of them clad in silver and pink scarves. "All you all have clearance already, please follow us." the Drednaw explained and headed deeper into the rainy mist.
Like yesterday a giant pink gear opened from the land with a whirling clank, sound somehow muffled by the mist or the land itself and we entered inside.
Inside the cramped lift its rosy lights seemed brighter than ever. The elevator operator, this time a Heracross, smiled at us as everyone filled in, then the door shut and we descended into the depths of leader Magearna's Domain.
The rest of Leader Magearna's staff checked our belongings and exchanged some metal buttons on our monitoring bands before we were let into the auditorium.
We of Sentinels Union Branch Sies sat where we did before.
Meowscarada, Quaquavel, and Skeledirge stood behind Leader Magearna, while a Cramorant and a Sandaconda were stationed on the far edges of the stage.
"Greetings everyone from all across the Celestial Hemisphere, here in our audience and Pokemon listening in on the Connection Orbs!" Leader Magearna's voice echoed out strong and clear from the Skeliderge's flamebird microphone.
They gestured to our left, stage right and the white but not shiny Zeraora, the one called Young Master Xuě Zeraora walked on stage beside them.
"Today I am continuing my seminar on our findings, this time more focused on how the Gears of Mana works with the elemental keys, the Mana scrolls and the Mana Regalia." Leader Magearna gestured toward us and every Pokémon in the audience.
"Like I explained yesterday, inside of every mana artifact there are Gears of Mana. And these were originally powered by Ether Gems."
"However." They held out a hand toward the Young Master. "More information on the Gears of Mana and different information on mana is sealed tight within mana scrolls from the ancestors. Like this one Xuě Zeraora has. Only ones called Legendary or Mythical can carry them around for safekeeping and be the ones to open them."
The Zeraora held the metallic scroll, and I saw the gear insignias as they gleamed under the pink light.
Young Master then stood off to the side and Leader Magearna spoke again.
"Back to more familiar territory, the keys and locks of mana. We know that the Gears of Mana are inside them and how they allowed the Disruption to happen. But there is something important about the keys and locks. They weren't always just one tremendous strong pair for each type."
Leader Magearna gestured to the silver wall behind them. On it was a pink diagram of all eighteen keys and locks.
"The old keys and locks of mana couldn't cause the Disruption in their state, but what caused them to change from how they were about a century ago?"
"You see, Team Vanguard found a bit of information that helped us find out some crucial details. There are four states that each Mana Artifact can go into," Leader Magearna said as they pointed to the wall and it changed to white, while the diagram went blue.
"The gears change them into three: Neutral, Primal, and Futuristic. Let's talk about this in relation to the most important artifacts. The keys."
"The current Gears of Mana inside the majority of elemental keys and locks of mana are set to Futuristic. However only Neutral and Primal can prevent the Disruption. But we do not know the finer details and elaborate workings of each state, and why they were created. Or much about the fourth state." They explained.
On the wall a myriad of colors danced."To change the Gears of Mana we need to find the whereabouts of the mana scrolls, which is something everyone can help with, Sentinel or Keeper!"
"This brings us back to the Ether Gems, pure collections of mana. They are needed to unlock the sealed mana scrolls. And Ether Gems also power a newly rediscovered set of mana artifacts, the Mana Regalia." Leader Magearna said, their arms wide.
The wall changed its picture to one of a black sword, and various other types of weapons, the pink of the background juxtaposed the sharpness of the outlines.
Their eyes blinked. "The Mana Regalia are a collection of numerous weapons that allow redistribution of mana and only Sentinels can touch them, particularly the Fangs of the Fallen can wield them safely and to the fullest potential."
So those cousins' of Hatchet were wrong about Linus, when they said he and the other Sentinels were useless! And everyone else across this land.
Leader Magearna spoke again."But more research needs to be done regarding Fangs of the Fallen and the Mana Regalia. We know it can aid in restoration of the world's balance of mana and end the Disruption."
They waved a hand and the wall went back to the image of the keys and locks. "It's not only in the hands of Keepers who find the keys and locks. Sentinels can make a change too, unbridled by tempting power!" Then back to the armory.
Something inside Leader Magearna had an audible click and they walked toward the Quaquavel. "I'll have more of the seminar tomorrow, more about theories on the states of the Gears of Mana, and various mana artifacts." they called, voice louder than before.
"For now we who fight for rehabilitation need the rest of the blueprints found in mana scrolls to make the strongest countermeasure against the Eternal Federation. Our true enemy. May the gears grind forever!"
The Eternal Federation? Not Wicked Blow? Not even the Committee?
Everyone exited the stage and Magearna's staffers called out various sections to leave the auditorium. I watched as all sorts of Pokémon down by the front, the VIP, left.
An Alolan, psychic Raichu who sported a silver and pink scarf floated toward Master Fang, who was on the edge of our row.
"Will everyone with the Kubfu please follow me?" she spoke, her voice surprisingly low. "Shifu Yang and Shifu Shui Urshifu wish to speak with you."