Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Phantasmagoria

Special Episode: The World Stops For No One

Part One: Safe And Sound

Hot embers flew out from the crackling pieces of firewood nestled deep in a large, open fireplace. The fire beneath the timber was receding and slowly dying over time. The dancing, orange glow washing across the room's stony walls and hearth was split in half by a shadow figure looming over the blaze.

A heavily scarred Garchomp.

The dragoness leaned in close to the fireplace as a steady yet gentle Dragon Breath flowed from her maw and bathed the smoldering wood inside in purplish flames. The fire engorged itself with a mix of vibrant colors as Garchomp smirked at her work and lumbered away.

"Now let's get back to where we left off…" she said aloud. Her heavy footfalls grew muffled as she knelt on a fireproof, dark blue carpet. "Okay, you little scamp - since you decided bedtime was unworthy, are you ready to listen to your ma's stories?"

Seated on the carpet, Gible chewed the Mareep plush wedged into her mouth absently. As her mother's words were processed, her eyes lit up as she eagerly nodded.

Garchomp chuckled as she flicked away a bit of drool leaking down her daughter's jaw. "Scooch over, you little rascal."

Gible scooted back as her mother laid out sheets of parchment with writing and other scribbles on them. Some were black-and-white sketches of strange caves, ruins, or environments - while others were rough maps of areas. Gible was completely entranced by what she saw, though she understood none of it. She was dazzled by these lands foreign to her, creating a swell in her heart as she pictured them in her mind.

Garchomp smirked at her daughter's visible admiration and knelt. She tapped a talon on a rough sketch of cracked stone pillars surrounded by palm trees. "See that one, pup? It's called the Ruins of Isle Ribombee. Was once a princess' fancy palace on some remote island. And the treasure I found here?" She whistled. "Colorful gems, golden necklaces, and shiny trinkets everywhere! Everything an explorer dreams of was in there!"

Sharp teeth squeezed harder against the Mareep plush as Gible absorbed the palpable excitement her mother exuded. Her wonder was only exacerbated by the loud 'thunk' of a wooden chest plopped down onto the floor. She watched as her mother pulled out objects covered in gold and encrusted with gemstones for her to behold.

"And this is only the stuff I decided to keep! Rest of the other junk I found there I sold," Garchomp explained. She then let out a happy sigh. "Exploring? Yeah, it's tough work, but pretty darn rewarding if ya got the spunk and skills for it."

A thought entered Gible's young mind. What if she could become an explorer like her mother? What if she could venture across the world in search of adventure and untold treasures? The Mareep she absently chewed while fantasizing about her future was nearly torn from her now grinding teeth.

Garchomp chuckled as she removed the now-wet plush from her daughter's mouth and tossed it behind her. "Sounds cool, huh? Interested in being an explorer like your ma?"

Gible nodded eagerly, shaking in place from sheer excitement as she readied herself for a potential adventure.

"Well, you're gonna have to grow a bit, sweetheart. You're too young for this stuff yet - contrary to what some guilds around here believe…" Garchomp remarked with a short laugh.

Gible huffed, pouting as she looked down at the floor.

"Letting her down like that, babe? She may be a hatchling, but the girl's got the marks of a true explorer in her."

In an instant, Gible's once sour mood evaporated as she recognized the gruff voice behind him. A Haxorus with a green satchel around his waist trudged past her and pecked Garchomp's cheeks.

"Though, don't think there's any living explorer as good as you, tough gal." Haxorus smiled. "Actually, scratch that - I'm still the greatest there is."

Garchomp scoffed and lightly pushed him away with a smile. "Who's explored the most out of the two of us and has the most experience, babe? Wanna help me remember?"

It was Haxorus' turn to scoff as he crossed his arms. "Bah, Dragon-types like us don't need experience. Iron will, sheer power, tough hide - we're the strongest Pokemon on the continent; that's what Elder Kommo-o always says, eh?"

She let out an airy laugh. "Yeah, and that's why so many of you meatheads here are dolts. Back in my old village, we had something called 'wisdom'." She leaned in and kissed him on his cheek. "But maybe I like having a meathead around…"

"You just like having someone to boss around, don'tcha?"

"Mmmm… Maybe?" she teased. "Someone's gotta be there to soak up the Ice and Fairy attacks for me."

Haxorus harrumphed. "I'm onto you, babe. One of these days I'll be the leader with all the glory and you'll be the sidekick."

"A day that will never, ever happen, Haxie," Garchomp remarked smugly.

Gible watched in a starstruck manner as her parents bantered back and forth. If she had a partner of her own one day, she wondered if they, too, would bicker about their tales and adventures. It stirred more giddy feelings in her chest the more she thought about it.

Haxorus turned to face his daughter. "When you're older, make sure you beat your mom in everything. Gotta get revenge on her somehow."

Garchomp bumped shoulders with him and snorted. She returned her attention to Gible and kneeled to meet her daughter's eye level. "You wanna know about your father and I's next adventure?"

Gible nodded eagerly.

Garchomp looked expectantly at Haxorus as he opened his satchel and retrieved a rolled-up piece of parchment from within. The dragoness snatched it from his grasp and then laid it out over the stone floor. Gible leaned in to get a closer look at what appeared to be a rough map. A large talon belonging to her mother ran across it.

"We're headed over to a place smack dab in the middle of the Mountain Region! It's got lots of dangerous stuff - Steep cliffs, pools of lava, plenty of Mystery Dungeons!" Garchomp sounded more excited about each hazard she listed off. "Here's a little geography question for ya, pu; what's the largest volcano in the world?"

Gible contemplated the question. But realization struck as her vocal cords struggled to emit an answer. "R… Rumble. Rumblecrack… Rumblecrack Volcano!" she yelled proudly.

Garchomp chuckled. "Close, pup. It's Rumblecrag Volcano. And you know what's inside that volcano?"

"Treasure!" Gible gleefully proclaimed. "Treasure! Treasure!"

Another sheet of parchment was laid out by Haxorus that showed what looked like a peculiar design to Gible. It was a sketch of what appeared to be a golden arc of material with cracks along its bottom frame - like it was ripped off from a pre-existing segment.

"That right there," Garchomp tapped the sketch with a talon, "is what we're after, pup. Seen lots of whatever this is engraved onto rocks and trees near the volcano. Whatever it is, it's gotta be extremely rare and difficult for an explorer to find."

Haxorus swiped up the two pieces of parchment and stuffed them back into his satchel. His large smile was directed at Gible. "And your ma and I are gonna drag it back here, cub." He winked at Garchomp. "Ain't that right, babe?"

Garchomp bristled with mirth and pride. "You betcha! I'm not the greatest explorer on the continent for nothin'!"

Haxorus returned her shoulder bump with his own. "We'll see, partner. This is Team Scale after all, and we gotta share the recognition… together," he said slowly.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll have to get Flygon to watch over Gible while we're gone. Would you like that, pup?" Garchomp asked the little sand shark.

Gible nodded. She always liked when the Ground-type came over; she always brought tons of poffins for her to snack on that her mother never allowed.

Garchomp brought her daughter into a warm hug. Gible winced as the rough, scarred scales of her mother's head rubbed against her own in a quick nuzzle. "Get some sleep, pup. Can't let our future explorer miss out on her rest."

"Yeah, and can look forward to when we return from our adventure," Haxorus added. "The other kids won't believe what your dad and his tough gal got their claws on."

Gible quickly hobbled back onto her feet, scooped up the Mareep plush back into her mouth, and ran through the halls of the cave back into her room. She threw herself into the small, circular bed and clutched her Mareep plush close to her chest as she tried to sleep. The remaining excitement nesting deep within her made rest a challenging task, however.

She could not wait for them to return.

"Pup! You're gonna be late! And Arceus knows Drampa gets upset when you're late to your duties!" a rugged, female voice rang from the stone halls.

"In a second, mom!" a scratchy and young voice cried back, followed by sounds of a scuffle.

Gabite scurried across her room, half-eaten berries and Wonder Orbs sent tumbling off tables to the messy floor in her wake. She lifted her bed and pulled open numerous drawers all in search of the item she coveted so much.

'C'mon, cmon, where is it?! Where is it?!'

She soon turned her attention upward to the second floor where burrows within the rocky walls were used as a second storage. Her small talons jabbed themselves into small indentations along the wall as she hastily climbed to the upper floor. She jumped to a burrow, tossing aside a Mareep plush before leaping to another one. She repeated this action before she saw the familiar shiny glint among a collection of shredded scales.

'Aha! There it is!'

Gabite grabbed the shiny badge and jumped down to the bottom floor with a loud 'thud'. A light blue saddlebag was yanked off a stone table and thrown around her waist. Flaps and pockets brimming with seeds and Oran Berries were opened and checked before the authoritative voice of her mother boomed through the home once again.

"You're gonna be late!"

Gabite sighed and rolled her eyes. "I knooooooow, mom! Almost ready!"

Jostling her saddlebag, the young Dragon-type strode to the doorway before stopping herself. She backtracked her steps and turned, sweeping her piercing yellow eyes across her room. They lingered on newspaper clippings from the stacks of Celestic Cognizance on her desk. Many times she had to beg her mother for them, as news delivery Pelipper were rare in parts of the Mountain Region. Gabite walked over and sifted through some of the clippings, reading the headlines written in bold across the parchment.

'TEAM HYSTERIX FINDS ANCIENT TEMPLE AND MAKES CONTACT WITH HIDDEN VILLAGE'

'GROUP OF GUILD EXPLORERS UNCOVER TROVES OF BURIED RELICS IN MASSIVE MYSTERY DUNGEON'

Gabite smiled warmly, flicking past them until she found her favorite one.

'TEAM MOONLIGHT: THREE FRIENDS TURNED WORLD FAMOUS IN JUST ONE YEAR'

She quickly grabbed it and stuffed it into one of her saddlebag's pouches. Realizing she also still held the badge she sought in her talons, she carefully threaded the pin through the upper flaps of the saddlebag. White wings spread out of a circular ball with horns spiraling from the top. Although a mere replica of her mother's gifted to her one hatch day long ago, it was something she always treasured.

And now she was going to wear it on her very first adventure.

Gabite sprinted out of her room, barreling through the halls until she skidded to a halt right before she could crash into her mother. The scarred Garchomp, alerted to her presence, turned and smirked. "Finally decided to not oversleep today, pup?" her mother chided. "C'mon, I'll fill you with some grub before you leave."

The main foyer of the limestone cavern was smothered in the sweet smells of maple syrup and charred berries. Gabite's stomach instinctively rumbled, her chops salivating as she plopped herself in a smooth stone outcropping molded to form a bench. "I thought I was gonna be late?" she asked.

Garchomp stomped over to a towering kiln of rock and superheated charcoal. A few puffs of Dragon Breath from her maw into the glowing red charcoal swelled the fires inside with a loud 'pwoosh' noise accompanying it. More sickly sweet-smelling smoke billowed from the kiln top. Gabite swore she could taste it if she stuck out her tongue - like cotton candy her mother once gifted her from a faraway land.

"Late for breakfast, young lady," her mother began. "I know how cranky you get without eating all morning."

"I don't get cranky…" Gabite mumbled under her breath.

Garchomp chuckled. "Flygon can attest to many of your tantrums growing up." She tapped her chin with a talon and a teasing smirk. "What did I ask her again?" A look of faux surprise crossed her features. "Oh, she couldn't hear me with all the cotton she stuffed in her ears to drown out your crying."

"Mooooooooooom!"

"All right, all right I'll stop. 'Sides, breakfast is done."

A sizzling noise filled the air as Garchomp pulled out a chamber of the smoking kin. Hot steam flooded out as two talons carefully pulled out a tall tower of hotcakes. The dragoness then placed them on a wide, stone plate on a table nearest to Gabite. The child felt herself drooling as she leaned over and prodded the cakes. They were almost as black as coal; crispened but not flakened. One cake that was broken in two seeped wonderfully smelling syrup and charred berries that intensified Gabite's drooling.

She could never understand why Pokemon outside her village hated burnt foods. To a Dragon-type, it was among the most delicious things to feast upon.

"Dig in, pup," Garchomp said. "All for you."

No sooner after her mother spoke did Gabite attack the stack of hotcakes with a ravenous frenzy. Berry juice, syrup, and pieces of dough clung to Gabite's face as she momentarily halted herself and looked up at Garchomp. "This stuff's great, mom! Where'd you learn how to make this?" she asked.

Garchomp smirked and rested her arms on the table. "Your ma wasn't just a great explorer in the past; she was also a really darn good cook. It's how I met your father - got right through his stomach." Her wistful comment ended with a sad chuckle.

Gabite's smile nearly faded as she ate more slowly. "Um, are you gonna be around later when I'm done at the farm?"

"Who knows, pup. The elder wants me and a few others to scout out some Thornhide encampments not far from the village. Looks like there were some skirmishes with the Thornhide and our caravans."

Gabite's smile fell further. "Why does the elder want us to fight other dragons and villages all the time? Why can't we just get along with them? It's all so stupid and pointless…" she grumbled and bowed her head.

A talon was brought under Gabite's and pushed her to look up again, staring at the smiling face of her mother. "You know what, pup? I agree with ya there," she told her. "But it's how we dragons are. The elder wants us to keep that tough, battle-hardy, and controlling aspect from our past."

"Well, maybe we need to change," Gabite muttered. "Like you did."

Garchomp's smile faltered. "Heh, I said the same thing when I first came to the village. But that's the way things are, and it's the way the elder wants it to stay."

Gabite frowned. She never liked when her mother would act like this; it was nothing like her, she thought. It was only after that fateful exploration that her mother came back changed. She never spoke highly of exploration as much as she used to, nor did she share exciting tales from her past by the crackling of the fireplace.

She missed those days.

"Now, finish up so you can get going," Garchomp said as she removed her talon. "The elder already has his eye on you knowing you're my daughter - remember."

Gabite rolled her eyes. "He doesn't scare me." She scarfed down the rest of her meal as Garchomp crossed her arms.

"You might've evolved early, but you're still my young, twelve-year-old pup." Her mother leaned in as her voice reduced to a whisper. "You didn't hear it from me, but the old codger's got a weak spot behind his scales when he flexes them."

Gabite giggled and gave a toothy smile in response. "Got it."

Garchomp planted a kiss on her head before stepping back and grabbing the now-empty plate. "Anytime, pup. Now get outta here."

"See ya, mom!"

Gabite pushed herself off the stone bench and raced toward the doorway. She pushed up the steel door latch and breached into the outside world. The cavern walls and its darkness gave way to unyielding sunlight and warmth that felt good on Gabite's scales. Stone flooring transitioned to green grass that tickled her feet as she descended the steps of her home.

A salty breeze carried from the nearby Alomomola Sea swept through the rugged yet fertile ravine that the villagers of Dragging Claw called home. Many Pokemon had just woken up, exiting their caves or towering nests. The clear skies above were filled with flying dragons of all kinds, accompanied by deep roars and flaps of their mighty wings. Fields of many crops dominated the landscapes in the distance, earning a disapproving frown from Gabite.

While many Pokemon believed Dragon-types scorned farming and instead raided others for food, it was far from the truth in the modern age of the Mountain Region.

'Would've been cooler to go raiding instead of boring, stupid farming,' Gabite remarked to herself as she trudged down the steps. 'But then I'd have to go along with… ugh, Deino.' Of all the children in the village, she had the reputation of being the nastiest. Gabite attributed it to her extremely prideful and stubborn, traditional parents - a common trait among the village.

'Would it be so hard for her to smile more at least? Sheesh.'

When she reached the cobblestone roads of the village proper, a familiar, warbly voice called to her amidst the morning rush.

"Gabite! Gabite!"

The young dragoness turned to the source of the voice and saw Goomy slowly slinking his way over to her, leaving behind a trail of slime. The small Dragon-type, though scoffed at by other children for a belief that he was weak, was a dear friend of hers. He was odd, but she deeply appreciated and could relate to his fondness and desire for adventure and recognition.

It was something almost the entire village lacked, she believed.

"Hey, Goomy! How're you doing?"

Goomy sighed as his squishy body melted. "Uurgh! Tired! Drampa had me run across the fields all through the night with no break! I feel like I'm all out of slime…"

Gabite giggled. "That old coot just hates that we're young. Hey, is he asleep right now?"

"Um, yeah! Like he always is. Are you on farming duty again today?"

She rolled her eyes. "That's what the elder says, but I'm not; I got something more important to do."

"Ooh! Like what?"

"Do you remember a week ago when Mrs. Altaria wasn't able to access a bunch of her store's supplies deep in the Scabrous Cliffs?"

"Yeah, 'cause a Mystery Dungeon formed in there and- wait, wait!" Goomy's face morphed with realization. "You're gonna enter that Mystery Dungeon?"

"Yep!" She jostled her saddlebag. "Got a bunch of seeds and Wonder Orbs with me for the trip! I'm gonna bring back those supplies myself."

"B-but that dungeon hasn't been explored yet!" Goomy countered, sweating slime. "The elders told everyone to not enter it!"

Gabite sniffed. "So? Then I guess I'll be the first one to explore it. Isn't that exciting?"

Goomy relaxed a little. "Well- I mean… yeah! But, uh, I just don't wanna see you getting hurt or anything."

"Hehe, I'll be fine, Goomy. I just evolved, meaning I can handle any 'mon that dungeon throws at me!" she said with a puff of her chest. "'Sides, someone's gotta return and protect you from that bully Deino."

There was a visible twinkle in Goomy's eyes as he wiggled in place. "Oh wow! You sound a lot like your mom!"

'Yeah, a lot like how she used to sound,' Gabite remarked in her mind.

"Um, I would go with you, but I'm really tired from all the farming," Goomy continued. "But I really, really hope you can bring back Altaria's stuff. She has the best Purple Gummis!"

"Of course I will! Being an explorer is who I am! I'll come see when I'm back, Goomy, and show you any cool stuff I find in there."

"Seeya, Gabite!"

Goomy turned and inched his way through the streets, leaving Gabite to contend with her plan within her mind.

'Okay, so Drampa is still asleep around this time. He shouldn't wake up for a few more hours, giving me enough time to head to Scabrous Cliffs and enter the Mystery Dungeon. If I'm fast enough, I can reach the end and get those supplies, then race back to the fields and finish my work before the old man wakes up. And mom won't even know what happened until I show it to her!'

Grinning at the cunning plan she devised, Gabite immediately set upon enacting it. She sprinted down the village streets, scales rubbing against scales as she brushed past numerous dragons in her wake.

"Hey, Gabite!" a soft, airy voice emanated from the crowd.

Gabite turned on a dime, seeing Altaria staring at her from atop a nest of fluffy, white cotton. "Hey, Mrs. Altaria!" she yelled back, continuing her run.

"Aren't you supposed to be working in the fields today?" Altaria questioned.

"I'm taking a different route there!" was the young dragoness' quick response as she steamed on ahead.

'Heh, and if only she knew what I'm actually gonna do.'

Through snaking roads of the ravine, she eventually made it out of the village and into the surrounding plains of reddish brown terracotta - interspersed by thorny, dead trees. Though it appeared to be a sea of nothingness for many, for Gabite, it was an alluring sight to behold. Never before had she been allowed to leave the village for anything other than small trips with her mother. She had heard of the outside world more than she had actually experienced it.

And now she was going to finally get a taste of what she craved so much.

Popping open a flap in her saddlebag, she procured a map from it and scrutinized its marking.

'Okay, so the cliffs should be east of here. And the Mystery Dungeon is in one of its openings!'

Stuffing the parchment back into her bag, Gabite used the tracking skills her mother had provided her with and set off. Seconds would turn into minutes, and minutes into hours as her environment gradually shifted from barren lands to tall bluffs. When she could hear the sounds of waves crashing against rock, she knew she was close to her destination.

Journeying down a narrow valley, her efforts were rewarded with the grand entrance to the Scabrous Cliffs. Its gaping maw of an entrance was pitch-black - an indicator of a Mystery Dungeon's shadow looming within the hollowed mountain.

Gabite huffed. 'It took a lot longer to get here than I thought, but Drampa shouldn't notice I'm gone.' She smirked. 'Time to get those supplies and make Altaria happy!'

She stopped by the cliff's entrance, inwardly psyching herself up for her first Mystery Dungeon experience. The Butterfree in her stomach fluttered endlessly, but she was able to calm her nerves with steady breaths.

'Well, time to head in!'

As Gabite took her first steps toward the shadowy penumbra, she let out an involuntary gasp as she slammed into something hard and firm. The force of the impact bounced her to the ground as the dragoness looked up, her eyes widening in terror.

"E-elder?" she croaked out.

A towering dragon clad in glittering, scratched scaly armor exited the Mystery Dungeon's shadow. It directed a harsh sneer at Gabite, who averted her gaze in response. Multiple other Dragon-types she recognized from Dragging Claw soon emerged from the darkness as well, carrying full crates of supplies that undoubtedly belonged to Altaria.

Her entire plan foiled in mere seconds. But she had little time to weep for it as her elder opened his mouth to speak.

"What is this? Garchomp's daughter?" Kommo-o scowled at Gabite, sharp eyes narrowing further. "Why are you not at the village doing your duties? And why are you here specifically?"

Such a barrage of gruffly asked questions sent her head spinning as she was still reeling in shock. However, she managed to find an answer. "I, uh, I was going to explore this Mystery Dungeon, Elder Kommo-o."

Kommo-o snorted. "Verily, child. But I asked what it is exactly you're doing here."

Gabite gulped as the elder's entourage encircled her completely, completely silent as they waited for her response. "Well, um, I heard Altaria lost her supplies on this cliff when a Mystery Dungeon formed. I was gonna go inside and get them myself," she explained.

"You were going to enter an unexplored and potentially dangerous Mystery Dungeon by yourself? Thirty floors of some of the most deadly Pokemon inhabit this dungeon; you would not have survived if you entered."

Gabite winced as her plan was once again smashed into pieces Though she hated to admit it, the elder was correct in his assumption she would not fare well against tough foes. Still, she did not want to appear weak in front of him and instead puffed out her chest. "I could've taken them, elder! I could've brought back Altaria's supplies by myself!"

Laughter rang out from the encircled Dragon-types from such a statement, further stoking Gabite's anger and embarrassment. Kommo-o would wave off their amusement with a raised claw. "You could not have, child. You are too young and too inexperienced to be taking risks like these alone. If I am to assume you are shirking your responsibilities in the fields today, then you have best return there to correct your missing hours from this foolish endeavor."

Gabite gritted her teeth. "I'm not a farmer! I'm an explorer - like mom is!"

Kommo-o breathed in a deep sigh. "I understood what type of problem you would be when your mother and father came to the village. Listen here, child. You may not understand this now, but this village can only operate if every dragon here pulls their weight. To that end, you must work; we all must work if we're to climb to the top and succeed."

'Climb to the top and succeed? What?' Gabite thought. 'What type of success is there here? There's nothing but working and fighting!'

"Furthermore, our village is under constant prodding from enemy clans," Kommo-o continued. "Your insistence on these 'adventures' takes away time that could be spent on productive means from being put toward staving off these wretched dragons."

'Yeah, those dragons we chose to fight because of some dumb rule thousands of years ago that only one dragon and one village can be on top and rule the others,' she ranted in her mind, choosing only to glare at her elder. She wished she dared to say it to his face without grave repercussions from both him and her mother.

"Your mother will hear of this when she returns from her mission - I will make sure of it. But I suspect she is already aware, given her reputation. She will have to face a punishment as well if this is the case."

"She didn't know!" Gabite blurted out. "I didn't tell her anything! She thinks I just went to the fields like usual."

"I should not be surprised; a dragon like her who expresses such frivolous ideals would not be able to watch over her young carefully."

Gabite suppressed the urge to lash out at him. Occasional slights about her family from the elder were common growing up, but she always said nothing in return as her mother wished. She stood up, dusting off her scales and making sure her slightly damp eyes never connected to Kommo-o.

"Get out of here and return to your duties, child."

Obeying her elder, she wordlessly turned around and began trudging back the way in which she came. But not far into her trek, the voice of Kommo-o would boom across the valley.

"I would have assumed what happened to your father would influence your decision-making, but I suppose not!"

Something snapped within Gabite as she whirled around and charged at Kommo-o, fully intending to swipe at him with her talons. But before she could reach him, two Druddigon latched onto her arms and pulled her back. Kommo-o seemed to find her struggles amusing as he formed a small grin.

"Perhaps there is some sort of dragon within you. If only you gave up such childish notions and faced reality."

It was not fair. It was not fair that he could hurt and insult her family and she was powerless to do anything.

A Noivern broke away from the encirclement and spoke with Kommo-o. "Elder, there's a bunch of Thornhides trying to wrestle control over us in Zapdos' Roost. How should we engage?"

Kommo-o crossed his arms behind his back. "Bah! The Dragging Claws shall wipe them out from our areas. I want two teams of our strongest dragons to push them out and then assault their encampments." He raised an arm and pointed it at Gabite. "Someone here take and escort this child to Drampa for her work duties."

Gabite collapsed to the ground in a fit of tears.

The stars above the Mountain Region and the Dragging Claw village were full and bright. Gabite huddled her legs over the edges of the cliffside as she could witness the beautiful night sky in its entirety.

'Wow… dad wasn't kidding about the Minior showers. This is awesome.'

Streaking across the twinkling stars were hundreds if not thousands of shooting Minior falling from the atmosphere in distinct and colorful lines. She was not convinced at first when her father told her that the Minior were actual, living Pokemon. An event like this only occurred every few years or so, and she could not imagine missing something so enthralling.

Gabite often wondered where these Minior would wind up in the world. What is their goal? Why do they fall from the sky all the time? There was so much of the outside world she knew nothing about, and yet an event like this only tempted her more and more.

She wanted a way out, but she was just a kid.

"Pup?"

Gabite lowered her head at the voice of her mother. She listened to the muted thuds of her footsteps growing near. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the tongue-lashing she was about to get.

"It's a super cool night out, isn't it?"

Gabite cracked open an eye and looked up to see her mother wearing a calm expression. "Y-yeah, it is," she replied.

Garchomp took a seat next to her daughter, craning her head up at the stars and shooting Minior. "Wow… You think you've seen everything as an explorer, but this world always throws something new at ya." Her head shook. "I thought I did everything, but then I decided to become a mom. Thought I fought everything I wanted to as an explorer, but then I had to fight other dragons under the elder." A sad chuckle escaped her. "It's weird when you think it's all over, but there's still so much out there; so much more for you to learn and grow from. And that's because the world stops for no one."

Gabite adopted a quizzical look as glanced at her mother. "What does that mean?"

Garchomp smirked. "You're a smart kid, pup. Why don't you tell me what you think it means?"

She racked her brain for a moment. "It means… you can't let an opportunity pass up on you."

"That's one way of interpreting it. Is that how you feel living here, pup? Do you feel like there's an opportunity passing by that you can't take?"

Gabite was silent for a moment. "… Yeah. The village, it's nice, but-" she frowned," but nothing happens here! We just farm and fight and farm and fight forever! It's been like this since dragons first came here. We don't dream, we don't explore, we don't… live! Besides the other kids, there's nothing for me here. I wanna leave one day; I wanna be my own 'mon and not some… thing the elder can push around so he can be the big guy in charge," she finished with a sigh, happy to be finally out with it.

Garchomp appeared to mull over her words as she tossed her head around. "So, you still want to be who I was once, huh?"

"Of course I want to! And what do you mean 'once'? Aren't you still an explorer?"

Garchomp looked away, suddenly aloof. "It's not a life I lead anymore, pup. It's not a life I want to champion, either." Her gaze returned to her daughter. "And it's not a life I want for you to chase like I did."

An appalled expression washed upon Gabite's features. "W-what? How could you say that? After all the stories you've told me growing up? About you and dad venturing across Celestic? Your old village even supported you when-"

"No. No, they didn't." Garchomp sighed. "I was kicked out of my village for wanting the life of an explorer. I met your dad during one of my travels and we decided to team up. It was only when you were born that we came here - to Dragging Claw. Elder Kommo-o was already distrustful of us as explorers, but he eventually allowed us to stay and settle. The truth, pup, is that we dragons aren't supposed to care about these things. Elder Kommo-o, he-"

"Who cares what he thinks! He just wants to become a High Elder! He's making us do all the work for him so those other old dragons can respect him!"

Garchomp sighed again. "You're not getting the point, pup. What you have here in the village is a nice, safe life. But skipping out on your duties three times a week to try and be an explorer? The others aren't going to tolerate it much longer once you grow older."

"Then let them get mad with me! Let them throw me out! It's probably much better out there than here…" Gabite mumbled.

"It's not, pup. It's not…"

There was silence, but Gabite mustered up the courage to finally ask a question lingering in the back of her mind for many years.

"Tell me. Tell me what happened to dad that made you like this."

Garchomp visibly stiffened. "… Are you sure, pup? You might not be satisfied with what you hear."

Gabite nodded.

Her mother swallowed thickly. "It was the day of our expedition up Rumblecrag Volcano. Your dad and I were getting everything ready for the trip and set up a camp in one of the mountain's caves. Once we were done, we decided to call it a day and get some rest. It was… pretty strange that night; I swore I could hear voices beyond the cavern walls while I slept." Her face twitched and formed a scowl as she continued. "But anyway, the next day Haxie and I finally begin our exploration. The volcano was massive with lots of snaking paths. There was one path that I saw which had a lot of shiny objects in it, so I told your dad to wait behind as I went to check it out. That… That was the last time I ever saw him."

Gabite opened and closed her mouth several times. "And then…?"

"While I was checking out the path, I heard voices again, but they were unintelligible. I heard your dad speak, then heard some sort of scuffle or commotion. I ran back as fast as I could, but I was too late. There was nothing left - only the trace of some pattern on the floor that wasn't there before. I searched that volcano for hours and hours, but I could not find him anywhere."

"…"

"I'll never forgive myself for leaving him behind at that moment for something so… pointless as treasure." Garchomp looked back at Gabite. "So, now you know. Now you know why your mom doesn't explore anymore. I can't anymore - because of the memory of your dad and that day. Exploring is not some game; there are risks and consequences, and some consequences are too painful for even a 'tough gal' like me to take. There are dangerous Pokemon out there, and It's too dangerous for you to consider as well."

Gabite digested her mother's story of her father's disappearance with a conflicted look. While she was horrified at what happened, it did not change her view at all. She knew not even her father would give up the life of an explorer over the mere threat of danger.

No, it was her mother who was wrong. It was her mother who had lost sight.

"That doesn't change who I want to be, mom. I want to become an explorer like you and dad. I want my own team! I want my own fame! I don't wanna just stay here and hide my whole life!"

Garchomp rested a talon on Gabite's shoulder. "… There are heroes and nobodies in this world, pup. The heroes get their fame, and their time in the spotlight, but it comes with a price of a life-ending tragically short. The 'mons that are considered nobodies? They live long prosperous lives in simple peace. That is the life I want for you here, pup. You're safe and sound here."

"And what? Become a 'nobody'?" Gabite shoved her mother's talon off her and bared her teeth. "I want to be somebody! I don't wanna live in the shadow of who you once were! Can't you understand that?!"

"I do, pup. But I had to grow up myself to realize that life was for us. I had to become a mother for you; there was no other choice in my mind."

"If you wanna be my mom, then why can't you support me?!"

"Because I can't lose you as well!" Garchomp cried back, her weary eyes brimming with tears. "You're all I have left, pup… Don't you see that? Please, please understand why I can't let you do these things."

Gabite went quiet for a brief minute before she shook her head, standing up and storming away from the edges of the cliff and her mother. As she walked away, she could hear the faint sounds of sobbing from the cliff that nearly shattered her heart into pieces.

'I… I love you, mom. But why did you have to give up your whole life just for me?'

Four years went by like a blur for Gabite.

For the most part, she kept her head down and attended to her daily duties like any dutiful villager did. However, embers of resentment burned greatly within her from time to time. She would still occasionally wander out of the village when there were no prying eyes fixated on her. While her mother hoped she would grow out of this 'phase', her aspirations were reinforced by what she could only hope to experience.

Her heart pounded whenever she neared the village's entrance - like it was calling out to her to leave. If only she had the courage to take the final step toward what seemed like freedom, but she could never hurt her mother like that. If staying truly meant her mother would be happy, then she would stay as long as needed.

"Gabite? Are you well?" a soft voice from above asked. "You're staring off into space again."

Gabite blinked. "Huh? Oh, psh, I'm fine," she said with a wave of a talon.

Swablu giggled from atop the dragoness' head, her fluffy wings acting like a hat. "Whatever you say, G."

"Say, where's Goomy? I thought he liked these sort of things?"

"He's with my mom taking supplies through Scabrous Cliffs," Swablu answered. "He should be back pretty soon for the party. He'd love all the desserts they brought in from around Celestic for today. Cookies, poffins, these 'iced cream' things; they all sound so delicious!" she ended with a melodious chirp.

Saliva drooled down Gabite's lips as she thought of all the food she would inevitably devour. "It's the only thing I care about in this 'festival' thing. That and it's the only time 'mons around here seem happy."

A celebration of some sort was taking place in the heart of Dragging Claw which Gabite and Swablu were walking toward. On this day, Elder Kommo-o and dozens of the strongest dragons in the village set off on their campaign to finally defeat the Thornhides after years of conflict. Streamers sporting the purple and black colors of Dragging Claw ran across the ravine, covering homes and market stands alike. Strange caricatures of different Dragon-types made out of a 'paper mache' were paraded through the streets on wooden stilts. Dragons all across the village attended and contributed to the festival, vocally expressing their desire to achieve victory over the dreaded and despised Thornhides.

Gabite could not bring herself to express any joy over what was a mere celebration of more pointless fighting. And yet she stayed silent in her disapproval, not wanting to ruin the joyous fervor in the air. A thought crossed her mind as she realized something.

'Mom… is how you felt all these years?'

"Hey, Gabite. Don't you start training with Elder Kommo-o's dragons next week?"

A jolt ran up Gabite's spine as she snapped back into reality. "Uh, yeah! My mom said I start next week, and when my training is done, I'll be sent out on regular scouting missions."

'And then I'll be just another dragon fighting. Another good little villager…'

The dragoness could feel her fluffy friend vibrate atop her head. "That's so cool!" Swablu said. "I always wanted to join, but mom said that kind of work is for tough dragons only. But it's like… I'm tough!" The cotton bird paused. "Am I tough?"

"No duh, you are, Swablu. Other dragons might not see you and Goomy as tough, but that doesn't always matter. Sometimes…" Gabite smiled. "Sometimes it's better to be strong together than just strong alone."

"Wow, Elder Kommo-o would never say that."

"Yeah, and it's something only weaklings think!" a hoarse-sounding voice chimed in from behind.

Gabite let out a low growl and turned, facing the newly arrived Pokemon she despised so much. "Hey, Zweilous, grow another more annoying, ugly head today?" Her head vibrated from Swablu's giggling.

Zweilous' first head snorted. "Have you grown into a better battler yet? I whooped you twice in sparring!" The first head was pushed aside by the second head as it spoke. "You mean I whooped her twice! I was the one attacking last time!" The first head growled. "Yeah, and who was the idiot keeping us in range of her attacks?" it countered, butting heads with its sibling.

Gabite rolled her eyes at the arguing heads. "Did you come over here for a reason? I'm sure there's a whole lot of festival here for a blind hothead by herself."

"What? We can't come over and see a friend?" the first head asked, its mouth curving into a smile. "Idiot. She doesn't have any friends besides Swablu and that pathetic Goomy," the second head added. "I heard Elder Kommo-o is even gonna keep her on farming duty until she evolves! Which will be never!" both heads said at the same time, cackling loudly.

Gabite tensed up in response and clutched the straps of her saddlebag slung around her shoulder. Dealing with Zweilous and a barrage of insults was a pain in itself, but she would not take being pushed around lightly. "Are you gonna keep trash-talking? Or do I have to force you to molt a new set of scales after I'm done with you?"

Zweilous chuffed. "You couldn't beat us in a battle if you tried!" both heads said in unison. "You're gonna have to get mommy to pull you out of the fight again!" the first head mocked.

Gabite's sharp teeth ground together. "Don't bring my mom into this."

"Why not? You're both weak; why do you think the elder never bothered to take her to fight the Thornhides?" the second head said. "Famous explorer? Psh, as if."

Hot air was expelled through Gabite's clenched jaw as she took a step forward, raising her talons for a fight. Swablu quickly flew off her head and put herself in between the two feuding dragons.

"Waaaait! Don't fight! You'll get yourselves both kicked out of the festival!" the cotton bird warned.

Zweilous sighed. "Fine. Whatever. I would've won anyway," both heads said glumly.

Gabite scowled. "Whatever you say, Zweilous. Now can you leave us alone?"

"Oh, we'll leave you alone. We won't even bother you anymore in fact," the first head said. "We're ditching this town tomorrow to become first-rate mercenaries! None of you bozos in this podunk village are ever gonna be as strong as us!" the second head continued.

Another eye roll from Gabite was all the young dragoness offered as Zweilous stomped away, the duo of heads forever bickering with one another that gradually faded into the sounds of the festival. "You think she'll actually leave unlike all the other times she said she would?"

"She's just a bluffer, but forget about her; let's have some fun now!" Swablu cried.

And indeed Gabite did have fun as the two of them went around exploring the newly decorated village. They played intricate games of war stratagem and strength contests. They wore masks of different Dragon-types and watched reenactments of important battles in their clan's history. Gabite even got the opportunity to taste different foods and treats from other regions on Celestic, such as 'ice cream', which was such a pleasant departure from the scaling hot foods she and other dragons were used to. She wondered if Pokemon outside the village dined on food like this all the time, envying them if that was the case.

As the sun dipped past the mountains and then below the horizon, Gabite found herself seated alone on a stone outcropping. She watched the village residents mill about and enjoy the festival's activities. With how much fun she had, she forgot that it was entirely to celebrate a war with another clan. What would sadden her before was increasingly numb now.

It was the way things were around here, and how they were to stay. That was what her mother drilled into her and forced her to learn all these years. But the Garchomp could still learn herself, and she was ready to give a little push.

'Mom's gotta come stop hiding in her room all day and come see this.'

Pushing herself off the outcropping, Gabite set off toward her home. But not long into her walk, a harsh gale rushed through the streets that beckoned her eyes upward. Nearly dive-bombing from the sky was Altaria, a frantic look in her eye. Gabite had seconds to move before the dragon swooped down in front of her.

Altaria panted as her words came out ragged and panicked. "Please! Someone! Goomy… He needs help!"

Gabite felt her heart sink. "Woah, what's wrong with Goomy?"

Altaria attempted to calm herself. "I-it happened coming down the Scabrous Cliffs.The land bridge we were using to move my shop's supplies broke apart, and Goomy, he…" Tears welled in her eyes. "He fell into a narrow shaft and rocks covered the hole. I tried, but I was too big to fit inside and help him. I couldn't use any attack to remove the rocks without risking the whole shaft collapsing onto him." She glanced at the gathered Pokemon. "Please! Any of you!"

Other villagers began to crowd around to understand the commotion, a Dragonair slithering forward.

"The kid, where did you lose 'em?" he asked.

"By the seaside! Closest to the ocean!" Altaria answered.

"It's high tide season!" a Noivern bellowed. "Those waves will swallow the boy up!"

Looking around, Gabite could only see other dragons even bigger than Altaria, but not herself. Though it was an awful thing to consider, she saw no better opportunity than now to prove to herself, to the elder and his dragons, and to her mother what type of Pokemon she was. Swallowing any fears she had, she pointed a talon at herself.

"I'll do it. I'll go, Mrs. Altaria."

Altaria's eyes grew wide. "But- but it's too dangerous for a child! You can't go!"

Gabite already broke off into a sprint down the street, shouting as she ran. "You said it yourself! I know the area, and I'm small enough to fit in a shaft like that, I bet!"

The protests from Altaria and the other dragons were drowned out by the ringing in her ears and that pure adrenaline that pumped through her racing heart. Her saddlebag thumped against her chest, reminding her of a rhythmic beat. Her best friend was in dire danger, and she was the only one who could save him before it was too late.

The route to Scabrous Cliffs was all too familiar to her; memorized by heart through the sheer amounts of times she snuck away from the village to train her exploring skills or simply decompress after long days. But this time was different, and she had to take all the shortcuts she knew. Through the barren fields and the steep cliffs that she dashed beyond and climbed over, nothing but the thoughts of saving her friend from a certain demise clung to her mind.

Gabite followed a sea breeze blowing toward land until she could hear the distinct sound of waves crashing against a shoreline. A narrow strip of rock was her only way of reaching the Scabrous Cliffs' seaside entrance. She audibly gulped before tiptoeing across, pebbles and chunks of stone broken beneath her weighted steps plunging into the surging and angry waters below.

By the time she reached the end of the perilous stretch, a swivel of her head to face the Alomomola Sea revealed a cluster of gray, rumbling storm clouds heading toward the mainland. The crack of loud thunder in the distance earned a scowl from her.

'There's gonna be a storm here soon. And if I don't reach Goomy by then, all that water coming down will…'

Gabite ran along the cliffside, cupping her talons around her mouth and shouting. "GOOMY! GOOOOOMY!" She leaped over gaping pits of missing land, screaming her friend's name some more, but was returned with only the noise of taller and taller waves smashing into the cliffs.

'I couldn't have been too late, could I?' Fear gripped her chest. 'No! I can't give up! I'm not letting him down!'

She continued running.

A beacon of hope would emerge not long into her journey - the knocked-over crates and other supplies from Altaria's stash. Goomy was close - he had to be. She turned around and peered into the dark depths of a rock-filled shaft splitting the narrow corridor in two.

"Goomy! Are you there?"

Gabite waited and waited as she listened for anything that resembled her friend's voice. And then she heard it - faint and familiar.

"Gabite… Is that you?" an echoing voice emanated from within the darkness.

She was elated to hear that he was still alive. "Just stay where you are! I'm coming down!"

"Oh wow… Altaria said she was getting help, but I didn't expect her to bring you!"

"Er, well… She knew I was the best for the job!" The sand shark quickly slid down the shaft and pierced the brownish rock walls with her talons. "Keep tight! I'm gonna reach you in no time!"

"Uurgh, I hope so," Goomy moaned. "T-this place is all watery and shaky."

Faced with a barrier of fallen rocks below her, Gabite gingerly swiped away each piece of stone before she was able to safely drop into a new section of the shaft. Her reptilian slits adjusted well to the darkness in the pit. Between herself and a current of rushing water heading out to sea was a small island of rock where Goomy was stuck. He was a small, quivering mess of oozing purple goo that reformed the instant he caught sight of her.

"G-gabite! You're actually here! I.. I thought I was just hearing things."

Gabite smiled. "I'm here, Goomy. Now I just need to get you out of here safely."

A quick glance at the slowly rising flood of water separating her from Goomy proved that jumping across seemed like an impossible task. Her gaze wandered until it fell upon the walls, and then it struck her.

'The walls! I can rock climb across them to get to him!'

With the water still rising, she had no choice but to enact upon her intuition and jabbed her talons in the wall. Lumps of rock and clay fell into the waters below as she dangled precariously before lodging her talons further to the right.

"B-be careful!" Goomy fretted.

"Don't worry… I-" She grunted. "I got this!"

Seeing her destination in the corner of her eyes, she unhooked herself and swung her body to crash onto the small island where Goomy was. Water seeped in through cracks in the terrain as the raging current threatened to swallow it whole.

"You gotta move fast, Goomy. Grab onto my talon!"

"With what?!"

"I don't know! Just… Just grab onto it with your mouth!"

Goomy did just that, latching his lips onto one of her talons as she threw him over her back. The added weight almost caused her to buckle, and a horrifying realization set in as the island sank around her.

'I can't climb across the walls with Goomy on my back! That means…'

She stared at salvation just a stone's throw away from her very temporary position. She felt her footing falter as rock split apart beneath her. She had no choice but to try what she deemed impossible.

"Hold on, Goomy!"

"Wait! Are you gonna-"

Goomy had no time to finish as Gabite backed up before jumping as high as she possibly could. Time slowed down for her as the daring leap she made seemed to not be enough. Her feet slammed into the embankment as her talons clawed at the ground before the current could drag her and Goomy into a watery grave. Using all her strength, she managed to drag herself onto the floor and stand up.

"Oh, oh Arceus…" Gabite muttered. "That was- that was so close. Are you alright back there, Goomy?"

She could hear the sounds of spitting water behind her. "Uurgh, I swallowed some water but I'm fine, I think."

Gabite sighed in relief. "Good. Let's get the heck out of here now before the whole cliff is underwater!"

As fast as she could, she helped Goomy slide up the shaft from which she came before climbing out of it herself. They repeated this action until finally clambering back to the surface. Draconic wings eclipsed the incoming storm as a Noivern descended down and landed before them.

"By the elder's scales, you actually managed to find him!" Noivern exclaimed, flashing a grin.

Gabite nodded. "I said I could do it, didn't I?"

"Takes some real spunk, kid. Now c'mon," Noivern said, motioning to her outstretched wings. "Storms gonna hit soon so get on."

Gabite and Goomy obeyed without a word, seating themself on Noivern as she took to the skies. There was silence as they trailed through the auburn skies and dark clouds. Gabite collected her breaths and replayed what she did over and over in her mind. Despite the dread looming over every split decision she made, it was immensely satisfying to come out not only unscathed but with a friend saved and by her side.

"I… I really owe you one, Gabite," Goomy said. "I didn't think I was gonna get out. But- thank you," he finished flatly.

Gabite smiled and brought him into a hug, not caring about getting slathered in slime. "Hey, I'm just glad you're okay. I know you would've done the same."

"I guess, um, I guess this is your first rescue mission as an explorer, heh."

That sent shockwaves through Gabite's mind. This would indeed be the very first mission she truly embarked upon and succeeded at. A warm, fuzzy feeling smothered her chest and rid it of all the doubts and insecurities she had before.

She had done it. Her first mission as an explorer.

Noivern angled her head toward the pair. "I gotta agree; you're a hero, kid. You don't get to see that much around here in the village."

Gabite said nothing, content to ride out her victory with a winning smirk on her face.

"Hold on tight. We're landing at the festival. Looks like both of your moms and a whole bunch others are gathered around."

Noivern circled the snaking ravine before swooping low and landing in the cobblestone streets surrounded by chattering Pokemon. Gabite and Goomy hopped off - Goomy immediately being absorbed into Goodra's crushing hug before he could utter a single peep. It provided some amusement to Gabite before her smirking gaze fell upon her mother in the crowd, falling instantly.

Garchomp looked positively furious. The scarred dragoness stomped toward Gabite as she backed up. "What are you doing, pup? What were you thinking?!" her mother scolded. "Don't you realize how much danger you could've been in?"

But Gabite refused to back down. "I saved Goomy's life! If it weren't for me, he would've been carried out to sea and drowned!"

"And what if you didn't? What if you couldn't? One small slip up and you could've lost your life or endangered Goomy's!" Garchomp argued. "Other Pokemon would have had it under control without you recklessly risking yourself and others like that!"

"No they couldn't! And all the elder's other dragons are too busy in some stupid fight to help us!" She felt more emboldened now. "I got there just in time before anyone else! I knew what I was doing back there!"

"No. No, you don't, pup! You don't know what you're getting into. And once the elder finds out, he's going to-"

"I don't care what the elder thinks!" Gabite exploded "I only care about what you think of me. And why aren't you proud? Didn't I do what you always wanted me to do?"

Garchomp sighed and squeezed her eyes shut. "I told you why, pup. It's too dangerous out there. You can't live a life like I once did without consequences…"

Gabite snarled. "And what if I did? What's stopping me from just leaving the village anytime I want?"

Garchomp recoiled slightly, and Gabite could see a certain pain in her eyes she had not seen in so long. "Gabite… You have to promise me. You have to promise you won't leave this place. You can't be so obsessed with this like I was. You have to give it up and stop endangering yourself. Don't you realize it? I couldn't handle it if I lost you too, pup."

There was a stillness in the air accompanied by hushed murmurs from the otherwise silent gathering. Gabite stared at her mother's crestfallen expression before she shook her head. Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes.

"I don't even recognize you anymore. You're nothing like the mom I knew."

Before Garchomp could say anything, Gabite stormed past her, pushing past any dragon in her way. Her arm fins covered her ears from the shouts of her mother calling out her name. She ran the remaining distance back to her home, fighting off more tears and the conflicted emotions broiling in her chest.

Two weeks had passed since the festival and the public spat she had with her mother. And it had been a full week of her mother being gone on some important trip to another region by orders of Elder Kommo-o

Gabite laid in her bed, sulking and staring up at the stalactites hanging from the ceiling. She came to regret saying the things she said to Garchomp. She never wanted to hurt her mother like that, but her passion for exploration and her disillusionment with her mother collided.

If she could take it all back, and the both of them could have a genuine talk without screaming at each other, she would in a heartbeat.

'Maybe when she's back; we'll both be… calmer, I guess.'

With a sigh, she grabbed a newspaper with its headlines sliced out from the stack of Celestic Cognizance on her bed. While Goomy and Swablu insisted she get out of her house and hang out with them, she could not find it in her to do anything but laze about. Too many thoughts were swirling in her head to brush them aside.

'But I still got you guys, heh.'

Whenever she was down, whenever she felt defeated, she would read these newspapers and read the articles that detailed the thrilling stories and origins of all famous explorers across Celestic. It provided a sense of comfort and solidarity in her. One of the Pokemon in those articles could be her one day.

And yet with how bleak her future seemed, she would have no choice but to give up those dreams of hers.

Unfolding the newspaper in her grasp, her tear-stained eyes drifted down to the section dedicated to an upcoming exploration team from the Shore Region - Team Moonlight. She began to read off of it in her mind.

'Five years ago, a Shiny Lucario, a Scyther, and a Chameleon formed an exploration team following the destruction of their home village by a forming Mystery Dungeon. Dedicated to cracking a mystery unsolved by researchers and explorers throughout history, this team has already proven to be extremely formidable and persistent in both solving Celestic's many mysteries and helping as many Pokemon as they can.'

That could be her. That could be her team. But it was all slipping out of her grasp.

The newspaper dropped unceremoniously onto the bed as her thoughts wandered again. She thought of her mother again and wondered if she still found excitement in her travels, or if what happened to her father truly killed any sense of spirit within her. But as her thoughts transitioned to her mother's latest trip, she realized a peculiar detail.

'She never did say where she was going. Maybe she's out exploring and I'm missing all the fun.' She laughed to herself. 'And everybody I asked about it said the elder didn't issue any mission to mom.'

Then it struck her.

Gabite forced herself upward from her supine position, frantic eyes darting around her room.

"No… No, she couldn't have. FLYGON!"

She flew off her bed, out of her room, and into the hallway. "FLYGON!" she continued to shout as she ran into the kitchen.

A clatter of pots, pans, and bowls clattered to the ground in a loud cacophony as Flygon yelped in surprise at the sight of Gabite's talons sliding across the floor. "G-gabite!" she cried. "Don't scare me like that! I would get in real trouble with your mom if I broke all your stuff!"

"Forget it, Flygon! My mom! When she left you to watch over me, did she say anything weird?"

Flygon clacked her claws together in clear discomfort over the question. "Well, um, she said the usual stuff - make sure you have your breakfast, make sure you do your village duties, and-"

"I know that! But did she say anything else?"

"Uh, well, she did say something I thought was weird."

"Which was?"

"She said… 'Tell Gabite that I will always love her' before she left the village."

Gabite backed up, shock across her face. "No… No!" She whirled around and ran down the hallway again.

"Wait, Gabite! W-why are you acting so weird?" Flygon shouted.

The door to Gabite's room slammed closed as fresh tears slid down her cheeks. She did not want it to be true - it had to be a joke, a prank, or anything that told her this was not reality. But it was, and she knew deep down that her mother was gone, and was not going to return.

'Please... Please let me be wrong.'

She quickly dug into a pile of unsorted items and pulled out a worn-looking and stitched Mareep plush. She clutched it tight against her chest and collapsed onto her bed in a sobbing wreck. She cried harder than the time her father never returned from that fateful exploration.

'Why, mom? Why leave me without saying anything?'

She did not want to be all alone. She wanted to have hope she was just overreacting, but it was only just hope.

Another week had passed, and she was done pretending.

Gabite stopped herself just before reaching the giant wooden arch of the Dragging Claw entrance. Throughout her childhood, it loomed over her ideals of a better, more exciting life following in the footsteps of her parents. She took a deep breath and made sure the light blue saddlebag packed with all the supplies she needed was snug against her waist. The sun was shining down; her hopes were soaring high; her goal was resolute and doubtless in her mind.

She was going to find her mom.

Goomy, Swablu, and even Zweilous were nearby, all voicing their concerns and support as they walked alongside her.

"So, you're actually gonna do it?" Zweilous' first head asked. "You're actually going to leave the village by yourself?" the second head continued.

"Yup!" Gabite confirmed. "There's something more to my mom just vanishing like this, and I'm gonna figure it out before the opportunity passes, y'know? Maybe you can finally learn from me and become an explorer too, eh, Zweilous?"

Zweilous growled and bared her teeth. "Shut up!" both heads shouted. "We'll be leaving soon, and we'll be even more amazing and more popular than you ever will be!"

"Hah, whatever you say."

"I'm really, really happy for you, Gabite!" Goomy proclaimed. "I know you'll find your mom out there! Uurgh, I just wish I could come with you, y'know?"

Gabite smiled at her friend. "Thanks, Goomy. I'm sad I have to leave you guys behind, but this is something I gotta do alone."

Swablu gave a concerned look. "I'm rooting for you too, G, but are you sure this is the right thing to do? Things aren't always great in the village, but it's at least safe here."

"I have to do this, Swablu. There's no future for me here." Gabite flashed a grin. "If I ever return here, it's either with my mom beside me or my world-famous exploration team!"

"That's the spirit!" Goomy yelled.

"Well, if you ever wanna come back, we'll always support you, G," Swablu said.

"And I guess... well, we would be less mean to you since you had the nerve to try," Zweilous' heads reluctantly grumbled.

Gabite felt her chest tighten with emotion. "Thanks, guys, really. I'd have gone insane here if it wasn't for you two sticking up for me." She took another step forward. "So… I guess this is where I head off. I'll be seein' you guys."

Gabite continued her quiet yet pulse-pounding walk toward the village entrance. But before she could cross the wooden structure, the loud sounds of clamoring scales behind her and a surly, authoritative voice sent shockwaves of ire through her.

"Child."

Gabite turned to see Kommo-o glaring at her from across the street beside Goomy and Swablu, who remained petrified in place.

"Yeah, Kommo-o?"

Kommo-o caught onto the lack of his title being used and bristled his scales. He affixed her with a cold sneer. "Your mother has not returned to the village in over two weeks. I'm beginning to suspect she will not." He snorted. "Abandoning her own child - an approach many Pokemon like her take."

Gabite huffed. "Then I guess me and her are the same - like you always thought." She resumed her slow walk forward, stopped again by the booming, hateful voice she so despised.

"Child! You leave this village now… and you are never to be allowed here again!"

Gabite bowed her head, brandishing an unseen smirk. She knew he would resort to an extreme like banishment, but it did not matter to her now. He had no sway over her or her mother anymore. She did not even spare him another remark as she moved on, her back against everything.

And then she crossed through the entrance. She kept on going.

In a matter of minutes, she had set off on an uncertain journey and had been banished from the only home she knew in this world. And yet she had never felt more excited, more free, more ready for what came next.

'This is it. The next part of my life…as an explorer!' she exclaimed with glee in her mind.

A desolate, dry canyon awaited her outside the village's entrance that spanned what seemed like miles. She greeted it with an unflinching smile, the fires of adventure burning bright within her very core. And then she stopped, realization setting in.

'Oh, almost forgot! Can't have an adventure without it!'

Popping open her saddlebag, Gabite pulled out a white badge from it. A circular object that sprouted wings and horns; it gleamed in the direct sunlight. She then pinned it over the large flap of the saddlebag to display it proudly.

'Now I'm ready.'

The journey to find the whereabouts of her mother was not going to be easy, but she was always up for a challenge.

There are heroes and nobodies in this world... Which one are you?

Want to discuss anything related to The Phantasmagoria with the author himself? If so, send a friend request to my Discord below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Special Episode Part: The Mariner