We've been searching for hours and have found…nothing. How could there be absolutely nothing? We've scoured the library and the artifacts themselves, and there's no sign of anything that we could even begin to consider a lead! Not even the tiniest, most tangentially related of hints!
"Don't let it get you down, there has to be something around here!" Delcatty chirps for the 100th time. Usually, I find her forced enthusiasm in the midst of adversity empowering, but right now it's doing little to set my mind at ease.
There seems to be books on everything here…except anything about portals, different dimensions, or pokemon who travel between them. So far I've found legends detailing encounters with pokemon who could create continents, warp dreams, and even bend time, but nothing about portals, save a report about Giratina that Seviper found.
"Wow…Gwen, this is who you made a deal with?" She says, poring over the illustration. I look at the picture…it's incredibly well drawn, but…"yeah, although some of the details are…off. They didn't look quite like that," I say. "Huh? Let me see," Delcatty says coming over to have a look. "What are you talking about? It's a spitting image!" She says. "…really? The Giratina I saw…well their wings weren't like that, first of all, they were more like…I dunno, tendrils? And they didn't have any legs."
"Gwen, not having legs is no joke," Serperior calls from behind a bookshelf. "Those of us born that way manage to cope well enough," Seviper calls back while Dragalge nods sagely. "Ha ha ha. I'm serious though! The Giratina I saw was really different!" I say, interrupting their thrilling debate. "Oh! You know, I may have seen a book that could explain it!" Rotom says, zipping back in the direction we came. A few minutes later, she returns with a large, dusty book, and slams it down on a table as we gather around.
"Professor Alakazam's Complete List of Legendary Pokemon, 7th edition." I read the faded title out loud. "I suppose that means the complete list keeps becoming…more complete," Dragalge says with a weak laugh.
I flick through the old pages, then I see it. "There! They looked like this!" "Ooh, really? They're creepy!" Seviper says. "Let's see…Giratina's Distortion form…this is how they appear in…the Distortion World." "Wow! Gwen, so you were in the Distortion World? I can't believe I didn't realize…you simply must tell me everything! We have to document this! It's momentous!" Delcatty says, eyes bright. I nod absentmindedly, looking through the book. Other than the Distortion World, it doesn't mention anything about portals or other worlds. Just something about Giratina's history of 'incredible violence.' Great. My spirits fall again. This can't be it. I frantically go through the pages, looking for any other mention of them, but there's nothing. I do, however, notice a few pages have been torn out.
"Ough, Delcatty, looks like someone took some of this book to go!" Rotom says, seeing the missing pages. Delcatty's aghast, "this is…appalling! I'll have to speak to the guards later, find out who went on tours, if anyone was left unattended—" she's going on about what she'll do to remedy the problem, but I'm not really listening. Seeing Giratina's face there, their carefully drawn, stern eyes staring back at me, reminds me again of our deal…the one I've been breaking every moment since I woke up here.
And I remember one more thing…when condemning Dr. Laurel and I's research, our presence in this world…they had mentioned the ability to travel through worlds was reserved for them…and a select few other pokemon.
My heart starts racing, even if we can't find it now or here…yes! There has to be a way! Someone who could help! They told me themself, after all! "Hey Gwen, what's with that face?" Delcatty asks, noticing my huge grin. I tell them what I remember; that there is a solution, somewhere. It's just a matter of finding it.
"So, as long as we keep up the search…an answer must be out there," Dragalge says, summing it up. "I think so, they didn't actually say which pokemon had such an ability…but…I'd assume they're some kind of legendary, right?"
"Most likely! If I had my Pokédex, I could've done a quick search and—" "will you zip it about that thing for two minutes?!" Serperior snaps, then blushes, realizing everyone's staring. "Ahem…sorry, please, go on." I guess the tedious nature of the search is getting to him too. "…anyway, so if they're some kind of legendary…Delcatty! Maybe an answer is here!" I say, gesturing to the book. "Hmm? Oh, well, I'm not sure…but Gwen, this book?" She scrunches her nose, looking unimpressed, "it doesn't seem so…accurate, to me. More like a book you'd read to the kids at bedtime." "What do you mean? It was the only place so far that mentioned Giratina being the way Gwen saw them!" Seviper says excitedly. Delcatty screws her eyes shut, then sighs, "riiight, but just because it got that right doesn't mean it's…the best. I just don't think we should put all our eggs in one basket, is all."
"Delcatty, right now we don't have any baskets. We've been here for hours, and the only thing I've found that's even remotely close to an answer was a cake recipe described as 'out of this world!' What harm could looking through this book do?" I say. She takes a deep breath, then exhales, "ok, right. You're right. Let's take a look."
So we all settle around the book, glad for the break from searching shelves. I go right to the start, looking carefully through each entry. There are some incredible pokemon here, each with differing details of descriptions, illustrations, and, in some cases, recorded encounters. We scan page after page, profile after profile, but there's nothing else talking about portals or other worlds.
When we finish, I return to the torn pages, gently running my paw against the edges. These pages…why are they missing? The profiles before and after appear complete with their introductions and conclusions…it must have been all the pages for at least one pokemon, if not more.
"Delcatty? Is there another copy or edition of this book here? One that may have the missing pages?" She thinks for a moment, then, "off the top of my head, not that I'm aware of. But! I can have our archive searched, see if anything's there. As for now though, I think it must be getting late! I apologize, but I must be returning to my regular duties. Perhaps we continue the search another time?" She suggests, tilting her head.
I'm feeling defeated. It seems like we've come so close to an answer, just to have it snatched away. I don't know why, but I get the feeling those pages are the very ones we need. Relevant or not, if I don't get to see them, I might explode.
But, I also know everyone, myself included, is exhausted. It's been a long, boring, tedious day that's resulted in almost nothing. This place always seemed to enticing with its stores knowledge and meticulous organization…I'd never imagine myself being so fed up with it.
I remember one more thing. It's not crucial to getting home, but…it would make a nice end to an otherwise frustrating day. "Delcatty? Before we go…do you think we could take a quick peek at the Center's history?" She's beaming now, "Gwen, I thought you'd never ask!"
She guides us to the hall—it's just as I remember it; the large crevice on the left containing artifacts sealed behind glass, winding its way all across the vast room, before finally ending on the right side of the door, empty. Last time, we were frantically looking to find Rotom and Dragalge locked in their pokeballs—this time we have the leisure to appreciate the full history.
It's incredible. I see the pokemon who founded the Center—the first official Master— was an aegislash, known for his strong sense of justice, valiant spirit, and successful career as an explorer. As time passed, the Center grew, metaphorically and literally; more pokemon answered the call for exploration, and eventually it became the entity it is today. As we come nearer the present, I see a brief profile about Lurantis—how she and her partner, Tinkaton, were one of the most formidable teams the Center had ever seen, and how her leadership and drive made her the clear choice to succeed as Master.
I guess whoever wrote the article didn't know how crazy she could be. Or maybe they did—maybe that's why it's such a glowing profile, I think with a smirk.
Then I'm surprised to see some things about us. The initial police report against my team, plus their wanted posters ("why would you want to keep rubbish like that?" Was all Serperior could manage, while Delcatty broke down laughing), a piece of debris that I think came from Dr. Laurel's makeshift portal device, my original explorer's badge, and pictures and articles from her own rise to the Master position.
"The Exploration Center is proud to congratulate Delcatty of Team Starburst on becoming the new Master. Former Master Lurantis announced her decision this morning, citing Delcatty's 'quick thinking and fighting spirit, even in the face of unimaginable grief and adversity,' as among many of her merits. Delcatty will be the youngest Master in the Center's history. Her teammates, Ampharos and Cradily, will also be rising to the occasion…" My heart swells reading the article. To have done so much…and so young…she really is amazing.
"Well, there you have it, the complete history of the Center," she smiles. "My dear, what you've done is truly incredible," Dragalge says, impressed. "Well…I found putting my energy to exploring really helped. But believe me, there was a lot of moping around that came first." She gives a forced laugh. I feel guilt about what happened all over again. "Delcatty, I…I really am sorry it all turned out the way it did. If we could've stayed, I…" "it's ok, I…I know it had to be that way." She comes over and pulls me into a hug. "I'm just glad you're all here now," she says softly. I return her embrace while noticing from the corner of my eye the others looking overly interested in the various plaques and artifacts—I'm glad they're trying to give us our moment.
We leave the Artifacts Wing, say goodbye, and part ways with Delcatty. The sun is setting by the time we return to the dorm, and Elliot is already fast asleep.
"Any of you wake him up, and you'll have the honor of feeling my Flame Charge," Stephanie warns with a smile as we cross the threshold. I go over and give her a kiss while the others quietly settle in their beds. "Thank you for looking after him all day…was he too much trouble?" "No more than usual," she laughs quietly. "How about you? Learn anything important?" I think about our long day, about what we did—and didn't—find. "A thing or two, mostly leads to be followed up, more than anything." She nuzzles against my cheek, "it's progress. We'll figure it out, sooner or later."
She's right, as usual. For now, this is the best we can do.