Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Phantasmagoria

Chapter 42

The Lucario At The Crux Of A New Dawn

He swept his gaze across the courtroom.

Orange, warm rays of light peeked through the gaps of sun-emblazoned banners covering the windows. Coughs were stifled and chairs clattered as Pokemon took their seats. They looked at him with either animosity or simple apathy.

'Prisoner.'

They spoke softly and quietly to one another, their words of contempt for him suffocated by the loud, metallic stomps of heavily armored Council guards patrolling the room. Their attention and gripped rifles were solely focused on the barricaded doorways occasionally rattled by unseen forces. They were separated from the chaos outside by mere inches of concrete.

Would this trial even last before the crowds of enraged Pokemon overwhelmed this courthouse with their rage?

'Prisoner.'

His bruised pincers ached as he brought them to his blank face. A pressure formed in the back of his head the more his thoughts wandered. The sounds he could hear were mute; the faces he could see were blurry. Time slowed down around him as he buried himself deeper into his mind.

"Prisoner!"

Scizor blinked as he slowly looked up at the tall podium before him. The Skuntank glowered at him shortly before clearing his throat. "I asked you a question, prisoner. Will you accept the counsel provided to you, or will you be defending yourself?"

"I… I won't need any counsel, your honor; I will defend myself," Scizor said.

Skuntank nodded in confirmation. "Very well. Let's begin with the charges." His paws swiped away the papers on his desk as he leaned forward to read them aloud. "Scizor from Empyrean City, you are charged with High Treason against the Council and the Pokemon of Celestic. You have also been charged with collaboration with an extremely dangerous terrorist - a Shiny Lucario known as Jackson. Your last charge is attempting to break out from your confinement and allowing other members of the Cosmic Quilt Guild to escape - and are still missing as of now."

Scizor closed his eyes and squeezed his pincers shut. 'At least the others have gotten away. But for myself? They have so much against me that it seems futile… But I need to try and convince this room.'

"How do you plead to these charges, prisoner?"

"Not guilty, your honor," Scizor said firmly

Hushed murmuring and even a few vocal shouts of disbelief audible from the stands were quickly put to an end by Skuntank's paw hitting the podium. "Enough! We will be civil in this courtroom!" He directed his attention back to Scizor. "Now that you have given your plea, we will move on to the prosecution."

A Smeargle emerged from a doorway behind the podium. It conversed briefly with Skuntank before adjusting the small pair of reading glasses across its snout and making its way to the center of the chamber. The numerous scraps of parchment in its grasp were then shuffled. Scizor stood his ground despite his shaky legs, preparing his mental faculties for a barrage of nearly endless questions.

"Court Officer Smeargle, you may begin your questioning," Skuntank said with a wave of his paw.

Smeargle nodded and cleared his throat. "Defendant, before Yveltal and this Jackson character attacked Empyrean City, what were your duties as advisor to the Guildmaster of the Cosmic Quilt Guild?"

"For all intents and purposes, officer, I was the second-in-command of the guild," Scizor answered calmly. "Other than my role of providing Ja- the Guildmaster with valuable advice, my other duties were numerous. I surveyed the Meadow Region for potential job listings, managed all the finances and transactions carried out, handled the productivity of our members, and dealt with the many logistical obstacles the guild has faced."

What once sent a spark of pride through him now sent a shiver down his spine as he listed his many duties. Everything he had done for the guild's goal of something greater was instead put toward something horrific. His dutiful service was forever stained with that fact.

"That's quite an amount of responsibility for one Pokemon to bear," Smeargle commented.

"The Guildmaster knew full well of my capabilities when we founded the guild. For twenty years I've served at my post and did everything in my ability to keep it running smoothly."

"I see. Let's rewind the clocks back to before the Cosmic Quilt Guild was formed. How did you meet this Shiny Lucario - this 'Jackson' character? And why did you decide to help create this guild with him?"

The Bug-type's red pincers quaked and clenched as vivid memories reemerged in his mind. It was one day in particular that changed the entire course of his life. His next words almost came out choked with emotion, but he swallowed down these feelings and responded clearly. "I met Jackson more than twenty-five years ago in Areos Village before it was overcome by the ley lines."

"Can you tell me specifically how he and you crossed paths?"

"Yes, officer. I'll explain in detail." Scizor took in a deep breath that steadied his nerves. "It was morning when I exited a birthday party I attended the night before; I had just turned twenty. My best friend was with me that day - Charmeleon." His throat tightened as he mentioned his now petrified friend. "I wanted to head to the beaches near the village to hopefully speak with the Remoraid school there and glean any biological data of them I could submit to the village's library. Chameleon would begrudgingly follow me there," he remarked with slight amusement. "It was on that beach that I found him..."

'That Pokemon that I found back then… Was it really him, or was it someone else?'

"Jackson?"

Scizor nodded almost shamefully. "He was lying on the sand and unconscious. Chameleon said he was probably 'some drunk' and that we should leave him, but I…" Emotion and visible confliction flashed across his face. He felt guilty now for his actions, but how could he have known back then what he would unintentionally set into motion? "I felt like I needed to help this Pokemon. And we did. We brought him to my parent's house, and we waited for him to wake up."

Smeargle scribbled into a scrap of parchment with his ink-tipped tail. "... And when he awoke, what did he say? Did he offer you anything? Or an invitation to form a guild together?"

"No, officer. It was plainly revealed to us when he awoke that he was an amnesiac. He could not remember anything of his past or what put him on that beach that day. Despite this setback, he was in good spirits. He was… friendly, outgoing, and eager to learn of a world completely new to him."

The Pokemon gathered in the courtroom raised eyebrows at Scizor's statements. Yet Smeargle continued to jot away and ask more questions. "What did you and Charmeleon decide to do with him?" he probed.

"Well, it was clear to us we couldn't send him to the streets. Even if he was visibly older than us, he wouldn't last without proper guidance. To that end, we spent the next month acclimating him to the village and surrounding area. We helped him find a job and make friends with the villagers. The three of us became close, and one day - a day I'll never forget - we showed him a Mystery Dungeon not far from the village to inform him of their existence. Then…" Scizor's next words were reduced to an inaudible murmur, his mouth staying ajar.

Smeargle noticed his hesitance. "And what happened after that?" he pressed.

"... We went back to the village, but it was gone. A forming Mystery Dungeon has enveloped everything in the area into a shadow. All of the buildings, the Pokemon… my parents - gone. The three of us were one of the only survivors." Scizor wetted his lips as he found the strength to continue his story. "While Charmeleon and I were distraught, Jackson was- it was like a switch turned on in his brain. While he was quiet and somewhat shy before, now he was confident, passionate, and told us what we needed to do next."

"Which was?"

"He said we needed to eliminate the Mystery Dungeons from our world, and that we would form an exploration team - Team Moonlight. From that point onward, we ventured across Celestic in search of answers to the mysteries of ley lines. We grew more and more famous each year we traveled, and Jackson became more outgoing and a leader to us as well. Those five years went by fast, but they held the greatest moments of my life. I could break out of my shell and meet life-long friends; research and investigate this wonderful worrld to my heart's content. Charmeleon - now a Charizard - was happy to fight more foes and grow stronger. All the Pokémon that we helped along the way, it was-"

Skuntank raised a paw to interrupt Scizor. "I believe we're going off track. Officer Smeargle, please continue your next line of questioning."

Smeargle nodded as he shuffled his notes. "Defendant, you mentioned Jackson showcasing a switch in demeanor in the past. Did you notice anything about him recently that changed?"

"Yes, officer, but it was not recent," Scizor said. "It was twenty years ago, and our team was exploring and investigating Celestial Mountain with another group we met - Team Drarosteel. We found a cave that looked like a ravine, and Jackson said he needed to explore it by himself. We trusted his judgment and skillset, and allowed him to do so. But when he came out of that cave, he was… different."

"Different how?"

"He was staring off into space and not explaining what he saw within. Some sort of golden ring was now across his paw. And the first words he uttered were that we needed to form a guild." Scizor's throat felt dry as let out a hoarse sigh. "From that day on, I never knew exactly what he was thinking, feeling, and doing behind our backs. I didn't notice it at first, but he became colder, more aloof, and prone to bursts of anger. But at that time, I thought it was simply the stress of now being a Guildmaster. I refused to see what he was becoming."

Chatter could be all around him as Smeargle paced the marble floor. "And so the guild was created, and you took up your role as advisor to Jackson, correct?"

"Correct, officer. While Charizard wasn't keen on our transition from explorers to managers of others, it was a position we naturally shifted to."

"And throughout your many years beside Jackson, have you noticed anything sinister about his actions? Anything that could pose harm to the Council or Celestic?"

Scizor stiffened. What he wanted to say came out entirely different. "No… I- I had always worried about his well-being, but I never expected him to carry out an attack like this."

"But you knew that he was beginning to oppose the Council and carrying out operations that undermine their authority, correct?"

'So this is what he's getting to. I've got no choice but to tell the truth.'

"Yes, I did know of his efforts to go against what the Council wished for the guild."

Smeargle's disposition changed in an instant as a smug smile wormed its way onto his face. "And you helped him do this, correct?"

"I did, officer, with great hesitance," Scizor admitted. "I believed Jackson had the guild's best interests in mind when he conducted our expeditions. I didn't oppose him because the guild's mission of removing the Mystery Dungeons from our world is the most important thing in my eyes."

"And you would potentially destabilize the Council and Celestic for this mission?"

Scizor pondered his question for a moment before nodding confidently. "If it meant a better tomorrow for this world, then I most definitely would."

His statement sent the stands into an uproar. But Scizor remained vigilant through the vitriolic insults hurled his way. The more distraught Pokemon exploded from their seats in an attempt to rush Scizor but were apprehended by Council guards before they could reach him and swiftly exited out of the room. Scizor could still hear their pained cries from the halls when the doors were shut.

'They must've lost loved ones in Empyrean…' the Bug-type deduced. 'For them to hate me this much, what could I do to show them to redirect their anger toward something meaningful?'

"This attack on Empyrean - the very heart of Celestic - would you say it was a result of your pursuit of progress?" Smeargle inquired further.

Scizor was taken aback by such a question; it felt more like an insult. "The attack had nothing to do with the guild's research or goals as far as I'm aware, officer."

"I don't believe that's true, defendant. In fact, I believe that you have been directly assisting Jackson in his efforts to destabilize Celestic."

Scizor scowled. "That-"

A loud noise wracked the ears of those in the courtroom. Eyes were immediately shifted to the obscured windows as sounds of a scuffle could be heard outside. Concerned whispers among the stands filled the silence that followed. Scizor watched as a Sawk guard marched over to the podium to whisper into the ear of an increasingly nervous-looking Skuntank.

"Nonsense!" Skuntank proclaimed aloud. "This court will not be adjourned until we can get a verdict. Court Officer Smeargle, please continue."

The smug expression on Smeargle's face reappeared as he turned. "Your honor, I would like to present forward to court evidence of the defendant knowingly cooperating with Jackson's intent to undermine Celestic and the Council." The assorted bunch of parchment in his paws was held up high for all those in the room to see. "What I hold here are documents written by Jackson himself that detail the defendant's agreement in subverting the Council's authority! Do I have permission to read an excerpt out loud, your honor?"

"Permission granted, officer," Skuntank said.

Scizor's heart dropped as he realized what exactly this Smeargle was about to reveal. He knew Jackson always kept a log of important guild decisions and reports that the Lucario wrote himself - stamped by Scizor's approval. But what he did not expect was for these documents to survive the attack and Jackson's purging of information.

As much as he wanted to shout for the Smeargle to stop, there was nothing he could do.

Smeargle cleared his throat before reading aloud. "'After returning from our expedition of Celestial Mountain, Council guards awaited us the following day, pestering for details of the guild's findings. Much like before, Scizor and I were able to send them away with careful wording. They grow increasingly demanding each day, but they hold no sway over me or the guild. We will always remain free of their influences and their control of the Council. The guild will remain pure and see through to its goal, and Scizor will see to that as well."

Though it was not Jackson's voice, Scizor could hear it through his words. If this was written not long ago, then when did the Lucario stop seeing their vision through? When did the goal of the guild become tainted and obfuscated? Though these unanswerable questions pained his soul, something else irked his mind. He had no recollection of attending these confrontations with the Council guards, so why did Jackson write him into these accounts?

Smeargle looked up from the parchment. "There's a footprint marking on all of these documents. This is your print of legitimacy - correct, defendant?"

"Er- Yes, it is, officer," Scizor responded. "I always made sure to verify nearly every document that gets processed through the guild is legitimate. Some were personally given marks to ensure this. Though…" Scizor hesitated. "I was not present during these meetings with Council guards and Jackson. As to why it is written down that I attended, I haven't a clue."

"But you have read through this, correct? Your footprint markings would indicate that."

Scizor instantly realized the trap he had walked straight into. But there was no escaping from it. "Well… yes, I do read through them. But I don't remember ever reading or signing a document pertaining to this."

The smarmy look on Smeargle's face did not go away as the Normal-type flipped to another piece of parchment. "Today, Scizor and I had to make a difficult decision," he read aloud. "Our expedition to the Grit Region has been halted by the appearance of mercenaries holding a fortress with immense knowledge within. But instead of backing down and returning home, Scizor and I decided we would fight off these mercenaries and claim what is rightfully ours. Regardless of the Council's decrees of such actions, and regardless of whether this will affect the region's balance, we will persevere. We will usher in a new era for this world." Smeargle looked up. "This document written by Jackson also has your footprint marking on it."

"That…"

He was dumbfounded.

"And this here document indicates that you agreed with Jackson to start a war with the Rose Clan mercenaries taking position in the region. Not only that, but you did this knowing that it could destabilize the region, yes?"

Scizor contemplated his next words. "That is… correct; I did agree with Jackson's proposal to face the mercenaries. However, I did so for the betterment of all Pokemon in this world. If we could somehow find a way to eliminate the ley lines, we would do so at all costs."

Skuntank held up a paw. "I would like to see these documents for myself, officer."

Smeargle obliged his request and handed over the stack of parchments to a guard, who gave them to Skuntank. The Poison-type sifted through the paperwork as Scizor nervously counted away the seconds that passed in silence. The parchment eventually was dropped onto the wooden podium as Skuntank looked up - a visible fury in his eyes as he spoke slowly. "Prisoner, not only do you admit to undermining the Council's authority over the continent, but the rest of these documents indicate that you and multiple members of the guild knowingly assisted Jackson in this 'resurrection' of Yveltal and the destruction of Empyrean City. And these are all processed with your footprint marking on them."

There was momentary quiet before the stands lit up with ravenous anger. Pokemon stood up and hollered at Scizor where he stood.

"He's a terrorist just like the Lucario!"

"He betrayed Celestic!"

"Hang him!"

Scizor's head was pounding as a wave of sickness traversed his shot nerves. His heart was beating rapidly, his head turning to each call for his execution. But his mouth remained shut, and a certain feeling of stage fright kept him nailed to the floor. As he tuned out their frenzied voices, all he could hear was the chaos unfolding outside the courthouse growing near.

'That can't be my footprint marking. It can't! It's someone else's… maybe another Scizor? But who would go to such lengths for these forgeries?'

"Order! There will be order in this courtroom, or you will be forced to leave!" Skuntank barked at the stands. "Officer Smeargle, finish up."

"With pleasure," Smeargle said. "I believe it's more than clear now, your honor, that these claims of nobleness and 'betterment' the defendant purports the guild to exude are nothing more than fabrications. The existence of this 'Cosmic Quilt Guild' has been nothing more than an insidious front to sew chaos and destruction in our government and homeland. The defendant is undoubtedly guilty of the crimes he has been accused of."

Skuntank huffed in apparent agreement as he looked at Scizor. "Defendant, you have the opportunity to take the stand against these claims. If I were you, I would speak your next words very carefully."

All eyes were now on Scizor as if a spotlight was honing in. But he was still so lost in his own thoughts to utter even a word. He could not wrap his mind around such evidence ever existing of him betraying Celestic. It was totally at odds with his ideals, but the court believed it nonetheless.

Then it hit him. It was staring him right in the face all along.

'Jackson… He forged all of these documents. He did all of this to frame me?'

This revelation twisted the knife piercing his heart. To think that a Pokemon that he saved - a best friend, no less - would try to destroy his character in such a way sent shockwaves through his mind. He felt like a fool - and the weight of the consequences for trusting such a deceiver was now crashing down upon him.

This was it. This was the legacy he was going to leave behind. The courtroom fell silent as Scizor hung his head. Not a sound escaped him.

Skuntank cleared his throat. "It appears the defendant has no rebuttal against these claims. Prisoner, you-"

"I still would like to speak if I can, your honor," Scizor interrupted.

The Poison-type harrumphed and waved his paw. "You may, prisoner."

Scizor steadied his breathing and let loose a long exhale. His pincers were clamped shut as he addressed the glares and dubious stares fixated on him. "... I stand here as an honest Pokemon. Everything that I have done in my forty-five years of life on this continent - I believe I made the sound decision since the very start, even if it's led me right here in this courtroom. I was scared of the world once; scared of the unknown and the Mystery Dungeons. But after my village was destroyed, and I formed an exploration team, nothing else ever truly scared me in this life of mine. Except for one thing - never uncovering the truth of this world. I've researched philosophies, organizations, plants, and plagues. I could uncover the origins of all of these properties, but I could never figure out where the ley lines originated from."

The metal cuffs around Scizor's legs scraped against the floor as he limped around the room. "Charizard, he-" Tears welled up his eyes that he wiped away. "I told him not to fight Yveltal, but he did it anyway because he wanted to protect both us and the city. He didn't deserve a fate like that. We… We were just kids at the time; we didn't know what we'd unleash upon the world. We thought we were helping a lost Pokemon find his way through our world. And Jackson…"

Scizor's face morphed into multiple expressions but eventually settled upon a forlorn smile. "I've spent this entire week hearing everyone call him a monster, a demon, a terrorist, and wish him death. But even after all he's done, and what he's done to soil my name, I just can't bring myself to hate him." His head shook. "The Lucario I knew and considered a dear friend is not the same Lucario that has destroyed the lives of thousands. If it weren't for Jackson's courage at the lowest point of my life, I would never become the Pokemon that I am now. Deep down, past all of the lies and the deceit, I know there's that same Lucario from back then - my best friend alongside Charizard."

All eyes were glued to Scizor as he stumbled toward the podium where Skuntank sat. The Bug-type glared at the Pokemon. "The documents you have in your possession are all forged by Jackson and were planted in the guild for the Council to find," Scizor said matter-of-factly. "That is the truth. But that doesn't matter to you or anyone in this room, because my fate was decided the moment I was captured." Scizor turned to face the stands. "This 'trial' is a mockery of the rule of law! What would the founders of the Council so long ago say to this? Where's your shame? Where's your honor? Do you simply want a corpse to parade through the streets as appeasement?"

"Wrap this up, prisoned," Skuntank muttered as his eye twitched.

Scizor scowled at him. "I did go against the Council before - and on many occasions, I sided with the guild over the Council. I helped free the members of the guild who you wrongfully imprisoned. I did all of this in the hopes that the Pokemon of this world would understand the truth of this world. Jackson and Yveltal - they are not the true enemies here. What my comrades will uncover with the research I have bestowed upon them will prove that. And when that time comes, the Council won't be ready." He paused, collecting his thoughts. "I… I accept whatever punishment I'm given. But I won't accept this world's demise from lack of action! And I won't accept the fate of-"

The sound of shattering glass resounded throughout the courtroom as the body of a Marowak in a brown coat came crashing through the draped windows. It skidded across the floor before smashing into a marble pillar and slumping over - unconscious. The double doors leading outside were then thrown open as a Sawk screamed at the top of his lungs.

"The rioters have breached the barriers! They're coming here NOW!"

Panic immediately set in as the Pokemon in the stands rushed to leave the room. Skuntank slammed his paw onto the podium and hollered for all to hear.

"The prisoner is sentenced to execution by firing squad! Take him to an empty room and make sure it is done! Evacuate the rest of the courthouse!"

Scizor's arms were latched onto by two heavily armored Throh and Scrafty before he could react. His gaze was fearsome, but his strength waned. A part of him wanted to fight back, to live against insurmountable odds, but it was a battle that was already over; his fate was decided before he entered.

He had done everything that he possibly could.

The double doors he came in were slammed shut as he was forced to walk further and further away by the guards.

Freezing, biting winds clashed with warmth as a door to a small cottage opened. A ghostly white Zoroark lumbered inside; it held a Never-Melt-Ice against the deep scratches and cuts inflicted upon its face. Turning, it swept a free arm over the orange-lit room.

"Please, please, come inside. There's a lot to discuss, I'm sure."

Roark stood in the doorway briefly before stepping inside and closing the door. While Beartic's home was more like a mansion, Zoroark's cottage felt like a quaint abode hidden among the tundra. It was a single room with a bed, simple wooden furniture, shelves with various jars and pots, and a crackling fireplace. But Roark was more interested in the Pokemon standing before him than anything else.

"Yeah, I think we should," Roark said as he collapsed onto a chair. "I've realized by now how much Excadrill loves the sound of his own voice. 'Mons say I talk too much, but that mole - a whole league of his own, heh."

Zoroark chuckled softly, wincing in pain as he removed the Never-Melt-Ice from his wounds. "We never did get the time, did we? So why don't we start over." He extended his claws outward. "It's nice to meet you again after so long, Roark."

Roark leaned forward to grasp the paw with his own, shaking it. "Same to you, Zoroark. It's been what… more than ten years since I've been here?" He whistled. "Yeah, the memories here ain't great, I'll tell you. But this village still being around after it got wrecked in that avalanche? I wasn't expecting something like that."

Zoroark sighed. "Yes, the initial inspection by the Council deemed this land too dangerous to reinhabit. But through time - and some tense negotiations - We were able to secure permission for what was left of the Glacier Guiders and the Rescue Society to reconstruct the village. It was a bumpy road those first few years, but we did it."

"Yeah, yeah you sure did…" Roark mumbled, lost in thought. Zoroark cocked his head at him as Roark's ears were pinned against his head. "Look, I think I need to ask this question first before anything else. What happened to you after I left? And how is the Rescue Society still around after what happened that day? It should've been all but gone."

"I assume you wanted to know, and I'm happy to share that information. After our, well… encounter at the top of the Glacier Peak Mountain, I was transferred to a Council jail in the Mountain Region."

Roark held up a claw. 'Wait. Let me guess - inmates in there called it 'Tyrantrum's Jaw'? I heard some real horror stories back in the day about that place."

Zoroark nodded solemnly. "The stories you've heard are all but true. Those Dragon-types that make up the guard regiment there are extremely brutal and abusive. Some of the worst outlaws in Celestic were sent there. And I was one of them for a few years…"

"Shit… I'm sorry that I, uh, wasn't there. Maybe I could've negotiated a better place for you to end up at."

"It's fine. You did everything you could for me."

"Yeah, If you say so," Roark murmured. He shivered as the flames from the fireplace ceased and the room grew cold. "So this whole Rescue Society leader thing, is that true?"

Zoroark walked over to the fireplace and bent down to retrieve more wooden logs. He dumped them inside the hollowed-out stone; a quick scrape of his claws back and forth along the wood produced the friction that relit the fire within. "It's true." The resurrected flames danced and reflected across his yellow pupils. "After I was let out for good behavior, I set out to return here to hopefully fix what I broke. To atone for the lives I've ruined; to see if I can do something good with the life I almost threw away."

"Looks like all that rehabilitation junk they teach you at prison did some good for you, huh?"

Zoroark shook his head. "There was no rehabilitation at Tyrantrum's Jaw. There was only confinement and pain there; exactly what the Council wanted for monsters like myself…" He stood and wiped the dust from his claws. They shook slightly - Roark could only assume barely contained anger. "I got out of there because I was lucky. And when I came back to what was left here because I knew I couldn't run away from my crimes."

"So you came back here, and then what? Willing to bet it wasn't accepted with open arms."

Zoroark let out a sad, short laugh. "Not exactly; some of the villagers tried to hang me when they first saw me. It was only because of the intervention of Beartic that I wasn't killed by a mob."

Roark averted his calm gaze and bit his lip. "Fuck… I'm so sorry. I wouldn't joke about that if I knew what they tried."

"It's okay - no, really - I'm over it. Following that ordeal, a Feraligatr from the Rescue Society took me in. After you left for Empyrean City, and with Bisharp gone, the group was all but annihilated through my own actions. But he wanted the group to remain and he trusted me, so he decided to take me in and make me a member. I was more than happy to join."

It sent a pang of familiarity through Roark's heart.

"Feraligatr, huh… He was always looking out for me back then," Roark said, scratching his chin. "Guess that swamp gator just has a thing for helping down on their luck Zoroark."

Zoroark smirked. "I guess so. Anyway, Feraligatr took over the remains of the Rescue Society for a while. Since there weren't as many of us around as before, we abandoned the headquarters and set up camp near Kyuris Village. That's when things started to change around here. We combined our efforts with the Glacier Guiders to help rebuild the village; to fortify it, and protect it so another tragedy can't happen again."

"So this new 'Rescue Society', you guys don't venture off into different continents to help 'mons anymore? Doesn't seem like you got the numbers for it."

"No, we don't. We keep our efforts focused on issues present in the Frost Region from our camp here," Zoroark explained. "Blizzards, extreme temperatures, lost explorers, and avalanches - we help safeguard everyone we can. And we've been doing that for over seven years now."

Roark went silent for a moment as he listened to the crackling of the fireplace. "Wow… To think I believed the Rescue Society was just a memory in my head. Man, what an idiot I was, huh? I never looked back after that day, but you guys stuck through it. Bisharp, well, he would've been really proud of what you and Feraligatr have done for his baby."

Zoroark looked proud to hear him say such a thing, his chest puffing out somewhat. "Thank you! Feraligatr retired a few years ago, and everyone only wanted one Pokemon to replace him as a leader - me."

"They chose… you?"

"Yeah, they did. I obviously rejected it at first given my background, but they insisted because of all the progress and growth I had. I didn't want to disappoint them, so I accepted after some contemplation."

Zoroark pointed at a painting hung on the wall. It depicted Zoroark and Feraligatr with an eyepatch side by side. Behind them was a group of cheering Pokemon donning black capes that billowed in the gusts of cold wind blowing across the snowy scenery. Roark felt something stir within his heart when he saw those capes. It was that same feeling he had when he went out on his first excursion with the Rescue Society.

"Beartic's daughter painted that. She says she's not good at drawing, but we all say otherwise," Zoroark said.

"I'll say… So, you became the head guy in charge, eh?"

Zoroark nodded. "Indeed I did. The villagers took time to adjust, and some still give me dirty looks, but Beartic's daughter has eased them into my presence after she took over her father's position." A comforting sigh escaped him. "And that's how I ended up here again. A lot has changed, of course, but I hope you find this change acceptable. After all, I owe everything I have now thanks to you, Roark."

"Thank me? Hey, all I did was do my job that day." Roark grimaced as the memories rushed back into his mind. "We came here to help and save Pokemon. And I almost did something I would've regretted."

Zoroark gave him a reassuring smile. "I could say the same, you know. But when I was about to fall off that mountain through my own action, you still grabbed me, didn't you?"

"I did. I didn't know why at that time, but I told myself it was just instinct."

"Was it?"

"… No." Roark laid his arms across the armrest of the chair and gripped it with his claws, inhaling deeply and finding the strength to continue. "I wanted to kill you - my claws were so close to your throat. But looking at you was like looking into one of those funky mirrors at carnivals - you know those ones?" He waited for Zoroark to nod before continuing. "It was like you were me - someone at the end of their rope and doing stupid shit just to get by another day in this hell. I know you didn't want to hurt all those Pokemon like I didn't want to rob all those Pokemon, but we just did it. Why? Because there was nothing else for us in this life - no purpose - just existence."

"You seem to have struggled a lot before we met. But I didn't see that in you then or even now; you looked almost… sure in yourself."

Roark laughed and covered his smirk with a pair of claws. "Yeah, well, life's funny like that. I was lost once, then found, and then I was lost again. But after seeing you at the peak, everything felt much clearer than before. I did a lot of drifting - even while I was in the Rescue Society - 'cause it never felt like I belonged anywhere." He looked up at the ceiling in thought. "And then suddenly having a little sister to look after?" A chuckle escaped him. "That happens to take your attention off things for a while."

"Hah, I can imagine that being so." Zoroark smiled. "Your sister was a villager here once; you saved her from that avalanche I caused, right?"

"That I did."

A frown erased Zoroark's smile. "I know what happened to her parents. And if it brings any ease to both of your hearts, I did not harm them; their climbing gear broke as they pursued me through the caves." His eyes closed. "I… I should have gone back and-"

Roark cut him off with a raised claw. "Stop - just stop. Don't spiral like that, 'cause there's nothing you could've done for them; I realized it back then when I found them that their gear was faulty. Some tragedies are just tragedies."

Zoroark did not look convinced. "Your sister… She has a lot of good reasons to despise me."

Roark nodded slowly. "She does. And I should actually apologize to you for what she did. I've never seen Gloria explode like that - or try to harm anyone before that wasn't a dungeon 'mon."

"Please don't apologize either. She saw someone who took away everything she had in this world; it only makes sense for her to react the way she did," Zoroark lamented.

Roark winced. "Do you, uh, need any bandages for that? She really did a number on you from what it looks like."

"And I won't require aid either; Zoroark like myself are rather difficult to permanently injure with physical wounds," Zoroark explained. He then pointed a claw at the scratches on his muzzle, which Roark noticed had slowly been vanishing throughout his time spent here. "See? It'd take something fatal for my body to even be affected."

"Well, that sounds pretty damn cool. I sure could've used that ability when I was getting knocked around like a ragdoll back then."

"It does freak out some Pokemon, so there is a bit of enjoyment to be had there as well."

"Even better!"

The two laughed together for a moment before their enjoyment faded into awkward silence. Roark cleared his throat as he looked around. "So, have you got anything to drink around here? I've noticed these jars you've got on the shelves here, and being dry and cold for this long has been driving me crazy."

Zoroark plodded over to one of the shelves in question. "Ah, my apologies, you're a guest! Would you care for some water or warm Aspear Berry juice?"

"Oh, I meant the, uh, alcoholic kind of drink. Got any of that?"

"I do not. I gave up alcohol ever since I was let out of Tyrantrum's Jaw. Some of the Pokemon in the village may have some elixirs similar to what you're used to."

Roark waved off this issue with a claw - though his ears twitched in slight frustration. "Psh, it's nothing important. I can go without killing my liver for a bit longer." He fiddled with his claws briefly before speaking again. "I guess I should get to why I'm here exactly."

Zoroark perked up. "Oh, yes, I would love to hear how we can help with your situation."

"Well, to make a really long story short, I was with a guild near Empyrean City for the past eleven years. After the whole Yveltal thing, we got arrested by the Council 'cause they thought we were behind it - we aren't. After some time locked away, Excadrill decided it was a bright idea to have his workers tunnel into your cells and free us. We rode away from Elysium on those Mudsdale all the way here." Roark clasped his claws together. "So now we're enemies or something of the Council and I've been made a leader to carry out some vague mission of saving the world or something like that from the Mystery Dungeons."

Zoroark blinked. "This… is quite convoluted and confusing, I would say."

Roark's tongue dug into his cheek. "You don't know the first part of it, pal. But hey, I have the notes for it all with me." He reached into his mane and pulled out scraps of parchment. "The guild's advisor - good friend of mine - he, uh, put all his research and nerd stuff onto this so we could maybe find something out here."

Zoroark grabbed the parchment and analyzed the notes written down. "This looks incredibly interesting, but it means nothing to me. You said you were sent here to look for something?"

"Yeah, some kind of artifact or whatever. We apparently found one before it was nabbed by mercenaries. My good friend that wrote this says there's gotta be one of them here - inside the Glacier Peak Mountains or something."

"And these 'artifacts', they're very important that you find?"

"I guess so. My good friend acted like they're the only things that can reverse all the crazy shit that's been happening recently."

Zoroark glanced quizzically between him and the parchment in his grasp. He turned a sheet over and stared at what looked like a drawing of the 'artifact' in question. Golden colored and in the shape of an arc. His mouth slowly parted and his eyes widened. "I… I know this image. I've seen it before."

"Wha- huh? Seen it where?"

"In one of the caves near here on a wall mural. After the avalanche, a lot of collapsed areas resurfaced, and that mural was one of them. This sketch and that mural look incredibly alike - I'm sure of it."

Roark grinned. "Well alright then! You can show me and Excadrill to that cave then, right?"

"I'll do you better. I'll bring some other members from the Rescue Society and the Glacier Guiders to help search that area with you."

"That'd help us a hell of a lot if you did.."

"The Council may believe you to be enemies, but I don't." Zoroark held a claw over his heart. "Kyuris Village and the Rescue Society will assist your group in any way we can. It's the least we could do for someone with a prestigious record like yours."

It felt very strange for Roark to hear such praise from a Pokemon - especially Zoroark. It was a foreign concept during his years at the guild being a mere errand boy and occasional explorer. A leader was someone prestigious; not a thief, a jerk, a drunk, or an irresponsible brother. He was all of those, and yet he was still respected by his peers.

Why?

"Hey, at the end of the day, I'm just a guy. Eventually, we'll get someone who actually knows how to run things back in charge. I sure as hell hope so…"

"If you say so, Roark, but I believe in your abilities thus far."

Roark chewed on his statement before he shot up from the chair. "I should grab Excadrill and get him here. He can explain our whole situation and those notes better than I could, y'know? I'll be right back." He quickly ambled to the doorway before halting his tracks as he heard the floor 'clack' behind him.

"Roark."

Roark turned to face the Ghost-type. "Yeah?"

"I would like for us to talk more in private. You know about me and my past, but I'd love to hear about yours. When you said before that looking at me was like looking into a mirror, I felt the exact same. In a way, it feels like we're kindred spirits. Brothers in a way - if you don't mind me saying that."

"Nah, I don't mind. I don't think we're 'friends' yet, but I'd like to see you in that sort of way."

Truthfully, he had no idea if that would ever be the case. But a small part of him wanted him to. He both hated the Pokemon for what he was and his reflection of himself, but also admired his evolution. Both of them went separate ways in life but were mirrored in incredibly similar ways.

Zoroark smiled warmly. "Hopefully so." He watched Roark turn the door handle before speaking again. "Roark, if Bisharp and that good friend of yours thought you were the right choice to lead, then I believe they saw something in you. They made the right decision, I believe."

The door swung open as Roark stood in the doorway, battered by the howling, winter winds of the outdoors. "Maybe they did - maybe they didn't. I've got a job to do here regardless, and Pokemon are counting on me."

"... If it means anything to you, I am truly sorry for what happened to Bisharp."

"..."

The door was then closed.

Roark faced the frigid weather head-on with a blank expression. Members of the Rescue Society he for once could not recognize and Excadrill's workers mingled in colored tents around him. The encampment he was in was active - alive and seemingly prospering among arctic conditions. He ran a claw through his mane and exhaled a stream of vapor, closing his eyes.

'Sorry, huh? That's it? And for some fucking reason I believe he means that. Why?'

He wanted to feel anger, to feel any sort of resentment toward the Ghost-type like his sister had, but he couldn't. Much like the real Gloria he spent years tracking turning out fruitless, retribution was the last thing weighing on his mind.

Besides, Bisharp would not have wanted such actions, and he still obeyed his leader's orders.

'Zoroark being here, being a leader; Kyuris and the Rescue Society brought back from the dead. What other curveball are you gonna throw me, oh cruel mistress of this world?'

"Um, hey."

Roark's eyelids snapped open as he instantly recognized the soft voice speaking to him. Glazing down, he saw Gloria staring up at him - an unreadable expression across her short muzzle.

"Hey, sis, you-" He stopped himself, realizing something. "Did you, uh, hear all of our conversation inside?"

Gloria looked away and guiltily pawed the snow. "Yeah… Sorry, I didn't want to eavesdrop, but I had to speak to you."

Roark chuckled heartily. "Fu- Fricking walls must be as thin as the ones I had in my dorm at the Rescue Society HQ. Tell me, how much did you hear?"

She blushed. "Almost all of it…"

"So, you got anything to say?"

"..."

"Did you come here to apologize to him? Is that the real reason?"

Gloria's mouth twisted as she struggled to force out her next words. "Um, yes - maybe? I don't really know, but I feel horrible for how I acted earlier." She bared her teeth slightly as rage crept into her voice. "I still don't forgive him, but it's just- I don't know how to feel about all of this. It's crazy. But I don't feel like being angry anymore... I don't like feeling that way."

Roark chuckled again as he knelt and rustled the fur atop the Vulpix's head. "Yeah, I got a goody two shoes for a sister, don't I?" He smiled widely as she glared at him. "But you got a bit of fire in you. That's good. You're not a pushover, sis. You just need to aim some of that anger at something more productive."

A white paw stomped the ground as Gloria pushed herself away from him. "But what am I supposed to do? You want us to work with him? You want me to work beside him? How am I supposed to trust someone like that?! Tell me that!" she demanded.

"He's trying, sis. If you heard all of what he said, don't you see he's been doing good around here? This isn't some long con or trick he's pulling."

"You don't have parents that were killed here..." She murmured as fresh tears fell from her eyes. "Your home wasn't destroyed like mine was. Don't you understand how I feel about this?! He's-"

Roark shushed her with a claw to her lips. "Calm down, sis. I understand completely how you're feeling. I'm not asking you to be friends with the guy, but just…" He looked around, trying to find the right thing to say in his mind. "Just tolerate him, okay? Arceus knows I'm still trying to get past what he's done, but if this old fox past his prime can try, so can you."

Gloria's lip quivered and her body trembled. She remained silent.

"Can you?" he asked again.

"I can... I can try," she mumbled. "As long as you're by my side..."

"Atta girl. Now c'mere and give your bro a hug." Roark smirked as she barreled into his chest and released a much-needed sob into his fur. He extended an arm around her side and pulled her in closer. "Let it all out, sis…"

His dark fur grew damp with the number of tears she shed into it. "I… I just don't why I'm like this," she spoke, her barely audible voice muffled. "I hate that I'm so- so dependent on you and others."

Roark rubbed her back. "It's because I'm so charming, isn't it?"

An unexpected giggle briefly shattered her sadness.

"But don't feel bad, sis, 'cause we both need each other right now more than ever."

'You think you need me, but you really don't; you just need to realize that first. Because the truth is I need you more than you ever needed me.'

"So, what do you think, Roark? Think it's a perfect match?"

Roark peeled away the scarf encasing his muzzle in white cotton and narrowed his gaze. He stepped closer to the dark blue walls of the cave and scrutinized the markings etched into the ice. Though clearly faded through age, he could faintly make out what looked like a group of Pokemon holding some type of object. The object of seemingly total reverence was in the distinct shape of an fractured arc.

"I think so, Excadrill. Have your workers dug up the rest of that spot?"

"Ah, I'll ask 'em." Excadrill cupped his claws over his mouth and shouted. "Hey! Lazy bones over there! Ya find anythin' there yet?"

"We did, boss! We think it's an Entercard pattern!"

Roark swore Excadrill's eyes almost popped out of the mole's head as the Ground-type shimmied over to the voice as fast as he could. The Dark-type followed with a chuckle, strangely keen on seeing this pattern for himself. Indeed, just as the Gurdurr had mentioned, there was a peculiar arrangement of crisscrossing lines and circular loops carved into the cavern's floor.

"Why I'll be… That's for sure an Entercard pattern!" Excadrill exclaimed. "Thousands of years old, I reckon." His claws tapped together as he let out a giddy laugh. "Ooh, what a mighty find we have here!"

Gloria walked over from the other side of the room, casting glances at the many murals engraved onto the walls. "We were here once, Roark," she mumbled. "Don't you remember that day we traveled across the mountain?"

Roark nodded. "Sure do. Now would've thought this place would be so important, eh?" he jabbed the Ground-type next to him. "Say, you bring some of those Entercards with you?"

Excadrill scoffed, as if offended by the Zoroark's claim. "You kiddin' me? I never leave without 'em!" He reached into one of the many pockets in his utility gear and procured a set of metallic cards. "Gimme some time for my workers and me to put in these patterns; we'll see what this pattern is for lickety-split."

Roark gave him a thumbs up as Excadrill barked for more of his workers to assist him. A group of figures could then be seen approaching the cavern's gaping entrance. Roark identified them as Zoroark and more Pokemon from the Rescue Society. Black capes with the letters 'RS' on them fluttered in a fierce gale, imposing against the twinkling stars of the night sky. As soon as Gloria caught sight of Zoroark, she refused to look at him, hiding slightly behind Roark's leg. But Roark could not keep his eyes off of the group - in awe just as when he saw them in action long ago.

It gave Roark relief in some sort of way that he did not realize immediately. It validated that part of his mind that the Rescue Society was in capable claws.

"Abomasnow said there won't be any snowy weather up here for at least twenty-four hours!" Zoroark shouted over the harsh wind. "Think that's enough time to find what you guys need?"

Roark pointed at the Entercard pattern on the floor and grinned cockily. "That's plenty of time! Say... Think you can give us a hand down there? Could get pretty dicey if there's dungeons down there!"

Zoroark glanced between him and the determined Pokemon beside him before nodding confidently. "We're by your side all the way through, Roark! We'll be right behind you!"

"Glad to hear that!"

Gloria mumbled something under her breath. Roark noticed and gently poked her cheek with a claw. She suppressed a smile from forming as he chuckled. "I hope you're ready, sis. Could be some real danger down there if this is what we think it is."

"I'm… I'm ready for whatever it is we have to face," she said, adopting an assured look. "I have to be, right? For Scizor and the others - they're depending on us right now to finish what they started."

He winked. "That's the spirit."

Excadrill stood up from the floor. "Entercard's all ready! There's multiple cards here so all y'all can go." He looked around. "You folks all ready to find that hunk of shiny metal?"

"Ready when you are, moleman," Roark said with a wink.

"Well alrighty! Roark, Gloria, we three are goin' in first!"

Roark and Gloria stepped forward and got close to Excadrill as he laid out his Entercard and pressed an indentation on the card. In an instant, ley lines were dancing in the confined space as a beam of golden orange light shot upright from the Entercard and engulfed the trio. A split-second passed before they and the Entercard blipped out of existence.

Garchomp paced endlessly around their cramped and confined cell while Aggron and Tyranitar were more content in resting up against the walls. Her rough scales were constantly flexing while her large tail swung angrily behind her, narrowly clubbing Aggron in the head before he ducked instinctively.

"I can't believe it," she seethed. "After everything we've done for Celestic! After everything we've done for the Council! They just decided to throw out all our goodwill?! Throw out everything we worked to achieve?! G-RAAAH!" In a fit of blind anger, she took a massive swipe of the stone walls with her talons, shearing away a chunk of rock. "Those idiotic, cowardly, lying Rattata!"

The bars of the cell were rattled by a Primeape in a dusty brown coat as he banged them with a fist. "Hey! Keep it down in there, prisoner! You can make all sorts of feral noises when your trial begins."

Garchomp stopped in place and affixed the guard with a vicious glower. "Buddy, you are so lucky there's these bars between us." She punctuated her remark by flashing her many rows of jagged sharp teeth.

Primeape said nothing as he went back to his post, but was noticeably a few more steps away from the cel than before.

"Agree with that guard, I do," Tyranitar murmured with a yawn. "Some of us are tryin' to get sleep, boss lady."

Garchomp rubbed her temples and emitted a low-pitched growl. "... Sorry, boys, but this is just terrible. I should've listened to Excadrill and stuck with his workers."

"Aye, we should've," Aggron commented.

Garchomp shot him a withering stare. Tyranitar quickly copied her action.

"What? We'll always do what ya say, lass, but that weasley mole had a point," Aggron defended.

Garchomp wilted once more. "Yeah, I sure as hell see that now. I just hoped that… I don't know - I hoped deep down that Kommo-o and the others would have some reason left. But like Excadrill said, with Empoleon out of the picture, they've devolved immensely. They've got nothing but their own damn preservation on their mind - not what's actually important."

"Aye. Have ya heard the commotion outside?" Aggron asked. "I could hear it through walls this thick! 'Mons aren't happy with the Council - that's for sure - and who knows what'll happen if the guard breaks down."

Garchomp pressed her back against a wall and slid down it. "And while Celestic is dissolving into chaos and Jackson's planning his next move, we're stuck here. All we can hope is that Excadrill and the other guild members have escaped and are carrying out Scizor's wishes."

"The old armored bug is here, isn't he?" Tyranitar questioned. "Goin' through the mock trial right now, I'm bettin'. Tch. What a joke this government has been."

Thoughts of Scizor and his fate only exacerbated the feelings of despair rolling inside her. Their situation felt helpless; the Council was against them, and the Pokemon of Celestic would surely be against them if they assisted the remains of the guild. This seemed to be the end for them, and yet she could not cast away the other side of her that defied such a destiny.

There was an opportunity present that she knew they could not pass up on, but it was just out of her grasp; her professional side was against such an idea, but it was quickly losing.

"Lass, what are ya thinkin'? Aggron inquired. "I know you're thinkin' when ya always look so tense and mean."

Garchomp sighed. "I'm thinking about not long ago - during the start of the guild's Grit Region expedition. I'm thinking about what Jackson said about us during that time. How about we became complacent with our success and fame; how we haven't actually used our team for good."

"Listenin' to a crazy, lyin', backstabbin', terrorist mutt now, are we?" Tyranitar quipped. "Finally lost it, have ya, boss lady?"

"Heh, not yet, Ty. Look, as much of a bastard as Jackson is, he was right about saying that; we haven't done right with our position like Team Moonlight did- tried to do. We gotta do something - now - and quick before this situation gets any worse."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Tyranitar wondered.

"We-"

The squealing of a metal door from the dark corridor overcame Garchomp's voice. A Sawk emerged from the now open doorway, panting heavily. The sounds of many footsteps resounded behind it as shadowy figures rushed past.

"Primeape! Captain Houndoom wants all of his regiment to the front doors! The rioters have broken past the perimeter and are storming inside!"

"Shit!" Primeape hissed as he ran over, his gear and rifle clinking as he prepared himself for battle. "Are you coming with me?"

"No. The rest of us gotta take that Scizor prisoner to another room and keep it on lockdown."

"Then let's hold off these fucking animals."

The two guards immediately sprinted out of the hallway with their rifles ready. The hall of jail cells was now left empty of guard presence. Sounds of clear gunfire could be heard from the open door as the entire building quaked from the constant battling all around.

"The rioters broke through?" Garchomp repeated. "How much of the city is being overrun right now by them?"

"A better question is if these Council lads can even fend off a horde as pissed off as these Pokemon," Aggron said.

Her eyes widened. "Scizor! If those Pokemon find him, they'll kill him without even thinking!"

"If the Council doesn't kill 'im first," Tyranitar added.

Garchomp swallowed thickly as she continued to pace around. Fear for Scizor's life consumed her mind. The audacious ideas swarming in her head seemed like they were coming to fruition out of need - not want. She stopped and ran her talons across the metal bars of their cell, giving it an experimental swipe. The metal gave way almost instantly.

"These bars, they're practically paper. I could slice through them so easily…"

"Almost like they thought we weren't ever gonna try and bust out," Aggron said from behind.

Garchomp turned to see Aggron and Tyranitar pulling themselves up from the floor. Their cocky smirks told her that they knew it - and she knew it.

With one long slash of Garchomp's talons, an entire section of metal bars was cleaved away and clattered onto the floor. Team Drarosteel bolted from their exposed exit and ran straight through the doorway leading out of the hallway.

Nothing stopped the pair of Mudsdale as they galloped across the breadth of the Meadow Region. Dirt caked their hooves as they trekked through expansive forests and fields of brightly colored flowers. Side by side, they steamed onward to their destination.

Monferno loosened the grip he had on his Mudsdale's reins and glanced beside him. Braixen was absolutely stiff and staring off into the distant, grassy hills. She occasionally shuddered as tears rolled down her cheek.

"Braix?" he called out.

Monferno reached a hand out to touch her shoulder, but she swatted it away instantly before it made contact and cried even harder, avoiding his stare. His arm remained outstretched for a moment before falling limp by his side.

"We're gonna be okay, Braix. We'll go home and everything will be fine."

Monferno returned his gaze to what lay ahead, wondering if he truly made the right decision for them both.

'It's for her own good, right? She can return home and be safe, and I can… leave her knowing I did everything I could to help her succeed.'

'Agh… My fuckin' head! Feels like a Taurus kicked it.'

Emerald green eyes fluttered open and were struck by rays of sunlight pouring in through a window draped in moss and greenery. Shaymin immediately shut her eyelids and wetted her incredibly dry lips. Her entire body felt sore, but she could feel and wiggle each part of her limbs.

'Wait… I can't feel my earwings. The hell's going on?'

Shaymin cracked open her eyes once more and got a good look at her surroundings. She was resting in the bed of a quaint bedroom with a modest amount of furnishing. She used what little strength she had to throw off the blanket covering her form and scowled at what she saw. Her body was much smaller, and her limbs were stubby.

'Great. I got knocked out of my Sky Forme, and I got no Gracidea at the guild, so I'm stuck in this flightless body. Just fuckin' peachy…' She ground her teeth before memories came rushing back. She cast a second around the room. 'Wait a second. This isn't my room from the guild. I was- I was fightin' someone! I was fightin' that stupid Yveltal! There was this orange fireball, and I got knocked out of the sky by some freaky orange spear move. Then…'

Everything she remembered past that point was blank.

Shaymin quickly put her aching muscles into use and jumped off the bed. Remarkably, the door to leave the room was short enough for her to open it in this form, which was rarely the case. Pleasant and natural green colors dominated the rest of the small cottage as she stomped her way through it. The empty home felt extremely familiar to her senses, but nothing mattered now - only answers.

'Someone had to have found me and put me here. Was it Charizard? Did he win against that birdbrain? Or maybe it was Leafy who dumped me here. But why not the guild then? Better not be another one of that sheila's dirty pranks…'

Shaymin found the entrance door and wasted no time in swinging it open. Her jaw immediately dropped at what she saw next. Small clumps of fluffy clouds were drifting across a vast ocean of blue sky. Verdant green mountains dominated the landscape and stretched as far as the eye could see. Multiple Shaymin in their Sky Forme could be seen happily gliding through the skies, laughing and chattering as they soared off into the distance. Land Forme Shaymin quietly strolled through the grassy hills below that were dotted with similar wooden cottages. Fields of bright red Gracidea and other crops were also being attended to.

A chill ran up Shaymin's spine as she stood perfectly still. This was undoubtedly her hometown. This was the Shaymin Village.

"What the fuck…"

Everything hurt.

Weavile grunted as the cold iron chains wrapped around her bleeding, matted legs dragged her wounded body across a stone floor. It was dark, and she could only see the clawed hand of her captor in the pitch-black corridor pulling the chains. She used what little strength she had to glance at her sides in hopes that Bisharp was beside her - like always.

But he was not there.

The possibility that he was no longer alive sent shockwaves of anger and grief through her mind. But there was nothing she could do but speculate. Not even her vocal cords could sputter open to curse her opponents.

The scraping noise of scales on rock caught her attention as something long, green, and serpentine in nature slithered past her. Though she could barely see, Weavile snarled viciously at the piercing red eyes staring at her from within the darkness.

"It was very kind of that Shiny Lucario to hand you both over to me on a silver platter," Serperior spoke in her usual smug and regal tone.

Spittle dripped down Weavile's gnashing fangs as she growled intensely.

Serperior leaned in closer to the Ice-type's ears and spoke softly. "I told you that I would wipe out your pitiful little clan from existence and reign as the true mercenary queen. And it was so easy, too!" Her words dripped with venom. "Now the real fun can begin, my dear Weavile!"

The Grass-type cackled madly, her long, forked tongue flicking the air as Weavile's conscious ebbed until everything was dark again.

Blaziken stood proudly at the very center of a black steel platform with orange lines crisscrossing in a strange pattern. His scarred arms were kept behind his back as he marched back and forth along the platform and surveyed his soldiers below. A starry-eyed Heliolisk was right behind him, drinking in the view of what he perceived as an ultimate form of the Alignment's glory and strength.

"Battle formations!" Blaziken cawed loudly.

Rows and columns of Pokemon in armor-plated black suits heeded the orders of their commander and stomped the ground once. The tips of rifles were pointed high, catching the light of nearby flood lights.

Blaziken began to clap. "Very good, soldiers! Move onto the second formation!"

Heliolisk walked over. "Uh, commander? Is there a reason you wanted me to join you at your drills?"

Talons latched onto the Electric-type's shoulder. "You may not be ready to become one of these fine soldiers here yet, but you will in time," Blaziken said. "Gallade did think himself worthy, but I am sure you think differently than him. You have a warrior's spirit that I intend to bring out of you. I'm positive you're willing to commit yourself to this trial."

Heliolisk gave a hasty nod. "It's a lifelong dream of mine, commander. I'll do whatever it takes."

"Good." Blaziken returned his sights to the statue-like army of Pokemon. His arm shot into the air as he clenched his talons. "WHO DO WE SERVE IN THIS WORLD?" he screamed

"THE ALLMOTHER!" the soldiers shouted back at him.

"And why?!"

"FOR HER GLORY AND PARADISE!"

"Eden unto the Allmother!"

"EDEN UNTO THE ALIGNMENT!"

Blaziken basked in the vocal devotion they all pledged to a better tomorrow. Resolve filled his very being, as very soon they would all embark upon their pilgrimage to show the outside world the gift they would soon receive. His eyes swept across the battalion until he saw the unmistakable form of the Allfather a few yards away. The Frogadier was atop a nearby tower and staring down at him. A conversation between them was shared with no words, and Blaziken ended it with a wicked smile.

He did not care if Frogadier knew. In fact, he wanted the boy to see this. He wanted him to see the real power of the Alignment that he refused to unleash upon the world.

"Sawk! Watch the doorway for any stragglers that might come through!"

"You got it, Scrafty!"

Scizor grunted in pain as his legs nearly gave out on him. The Throh and Scrafty holding his arms stopped letting him walk on his own a while ago and merely dragged him into a new chamber of the courthouse.

'Where… Is this where they'll finally get rid of me?' Scizor wondered, drifting in and out of consciousness.

He was tired. He was ready for it to be over.

The room was small and sparse. Sandbags were stacked high up against the walls until they reached the windows; wooden chairs were stacked on top of others. Shafts of light from a setting sun cascaded through stained glass onto the center of the chamber.

"All right. We can set him down here," the Scrafty grunted out.

"Okay," the Throh said.

Scizor was haphazardly tossed onto his knees. As his head craned upward, he instinctively stared into the orange light that basked him in warmth. Through the radiance, he could see a depiction of Arceus rearing his legs in the stained glass. Though he was not religious, he took solace in knowing the creator of everything would be one of the last things he would see in his life.

Perhaps he would even see him soon.

Scrafty caught his breath and shifted the armored plating across his coat. "Fuck, this armor's heavy. Okay, we'll carry out the execution here." He glared at Scizor. "Don't move a fucking muscle, bug. Let's not make this harder than it has to be - got that?"

Scizor said nothing as he stared forward.

"Throh, give him the blindfold. And do you have your armor-piercing rounds on you? This one's got a tough shell."

"Yeah, yeah, I do."

The blinding light was snuffed out of Scizor's sight as a layer of cloth was wrapped around his eyes. Everything was now dark.

"W-wait," he heard the Throh speak. "Once we do this, what happens next? The captain says he wants to hold our position here."

A scoff could be heard. "Fuck the captain, and fuck the Council. We take the body and show it to that crazy mob out there so they know we're with them, then you and I get the hell out of the city before things get even worse."

"You mean… desertion? We'll be jailed if we get caught!"

"And is that much worse than getting killed by them out there?" Scizor heard the clinking of metal - undoubtedly the Scrafty's rifle being pulled out. "Look, two of us can do the job fine. Let's do this quickly so we can leave this hellhole."

"Okay, man, okay."

Scizor tuned out their voices and all the ambient sounds around him until everything was pure silence - just how he enjoyed it. All of his attention was put toward his final thoughts floating along an abyss of memories recurring through his mind. There were happy memories and there were also sad ones. Fleeting moments of joy he never once spared a thought were now the most impactful things he ever experienced.

"Aim!"

He thought of Team Moonlight, and of the strange Lucario he thought was a friend - but could not hate. He thought of Charizard, and a smile crossed his lips. A true friend of his, and would no doubt honor his death if he were freed from his stony prison. He thought of Garchomp and his heart ached at what could have been. He thought of all the Pokemon they had met, saved, or fought, and wished them well.

Scizor heard the click of a rifle's safety being turned off.

He thought of his parents, and wondered how proud they would be of him; that he would devote his entire life to preventing their tragic demise from happening to other Pokemon. Even with his death, his ambition would live on - he knew it. There would exist a world in which those three boys truly dreamed of long ago.

Scizor closed his eyes. He lived with zero regrets.

"Fire!"

The sound of two gunshots echoed throughout the empty chamber.

Scizor flinched intensely, his ears ringing from the loud noise. He remained motionless, still surrounded by a void of complete darkness as death swallowed his being. When the buzzing in his ears faded, he heard the strange sounds of a struggle behind him. There were grunts, shouts, and scrapes heard through a sea of nothingness.

Then there was silence.

Scizor recoiled at the reemergence of light flooding his vision as the blindfold covering his face was gently pulled away. When he cracked open his yellow eyes, he saw the relieved face of Garchomp staring back at him.

"Scizor!"

The Bug-type had no time to react as the dragoness barreled into him, forcing him into a hug. His pincers naturally gravitated to her waist as he cast frantic looks at his surroundings. Aggron and Tyranitar were right beside him, looking just as happy as Garchomp was.

"G-garchomp? Aggron and Tyranitar? How are you all here?" Scizor croaked out. "I-I thought I was…"

Garchomp removed herself from him and grit her teeth. "We weren't gonna let these bastards kill an innocent Pokemon! Especially not you, Scizor."

"But the Council! They'll know that you-"

Talons latched themselves around the Bug-type's shoulder. "We don't care about what they think anymore! Things are more important than that! You're more important than them to me! You got that? Do you remember why I gave you that Metal Coat?" There was a pause and a wait for a response. Garchomp's impatience grew as she shook him fiercely. "Do you?!"

"I-I do!" he stuttered out, hoping to spar her wrath. "Of course I do, Garchomp!"

He always believed that she cared.

Garchomp rose to her full height. "Team Drarosteel isn't letting any of our comrades die pointless deaths! We're getting out of this city, we're finding the others, and we're stopping Jackson!"

"But how? The city is in chaos! Tell me at least you have a plan out of here!"

"Do you think my team is known for excellent planning? We're gonna wing it - that's what! We've gotta survive no matter what!" she barked.

Wounded and bleeding on the floor, the Scrafty with heavy lacerations across his armor crawled over to his rifle. He grabbed it and tried to aim at Garchomp with his shaky aim. Aggron caught wind immediately and quickly threw himself in front of the distracted dragoness, hoping to absorb the incoming bullet.

But the unthinkable happened first.

A black and red ray of utter destruction blasted through the ceiling and smashed into the ground directly behind Scizor. When the smoke settled, all that remained of Scrafty was a petrified, stone statue frozen in action.

Scizor's jaw dropped. "He… turned to stone? That could only mean-"

"KYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"

Wide, horrified eyes looked upward at the gaping hole in the ceiling to see a horrific sight. Beams of black and red lit up the dusky sky as they fired off in multiple directions from the wings of a large Pokemon. The striking appearance of Yveltal and the flickering, orange lines that covered its body like chains blocked the sunset-drenched heavens. It roared another blood-curdling scream before engaging in battle with multiple Salamence, Dragonite, Noivern, and other Dragon-type Pokemon fearlessly throwing themselves at the Legendary god-given physical form.

Unfolding before them was apocalyptic in nature.

"Yveltal," Scizor muttered. "Jackson's sent it to Elysium City next…"

Garchomp sneered. "You said you wanted to know if we had a plan? Well this is how we're getting out!"

Another stray Oblivion Wing ripped through the room and nearly clipped Tyranitar in the shoulder. "Gah! More runnin' and less gabbin'!" the Rock-type yelled as he took off, Aggron following suit.

Scizor was locked in place as he stared up at Yveltal single-handedly fending off multiple Pokemon at once. His gaze honed in on the orange lines entangling the Legendary and watched them flicker following each action the beast took. He tried to find Jackson riding atop it, but like before, he was not there.

He was not anywhere, but he was behind it all, right?

A talon hooked itself around the Bug-type's shoulder. "C'mon! I'm not leaving you here, Sciz!"

He snapped out of his daze with a shake of his head. "Right!"

The pair bolted out of the room just as the ceiling split open and caved, completely collapsing the room into rubble.

Liam took a deep, relaxing breath as he was spit out from the shadow of a Mystery Dungeon. He took a moment to collect his bearings.

'I'm finally back… Back to the surface.'

His cardinal red eyes swept across the darkness until they caught the shimmer of the full moon from the wide entrance. He trudged forward until he emerged from the cave. The sound of metallic wings flapping alerted the Lucario to Corviknight as the Steel-type swooped in and landed in the grassy clearing beside him.

"There you are, mate! You've been in there for almost two hours!" Corviknight squawked, his feathers visibly ruffled. "Was ready to put on a brave face and go to rescue you, but from the looks of it… you made it back all right."

Liam was covered in dust and grime as he stared straight through Corviknight - a sense of clarity presented in his listless gaze. He then raised a paw to glide across the flickering, golden-orange scarf that was wrapped around the Lucario's neck. It did not blow in the cold breeze of the night, nor did it have any texture of cloth or cotton. It felt like running his paw across electricity or pure energy bursting at the seams.

It was perfect, but he needed to know if it worked.

Liam blinked, then smiled. "Corviknight, how close do you think you could get me to the peak?"

Each step, each drum-like beat of his heart made this nerve racking moment more intense. The banjo across his back thumped and jostled in accordance to his swelling chest. He moved closer to his destination with zero signs of stopping, like he was possessed. When his paws stepped over the last cliff blocking his path, he reached the pinnacle and stood before the precipice to drink in his victory.

Here he was again - the top of the world.

Liam wasted no time in enjoying the view as he started fiddling with his orange 'scarf'. "Hey! Can you hear me? Is this strong enough?" He waited patiently for an answer.

For a brief moment, he worried this endeavor of his was for all naught, but then he heard it.

"Y-yes… I do." His scarf flickered as a familiar, silky voice emanated throughout his mind. It was a wonderful voice he always welcomed. "Yes, my dear. I have a signal; I have you. From now on, there is no separating us. Not like before."

To hear such words from her made his heart soar. Things would be different, and they would make sure of it - together.

The white wallflowers beneath Liam's paws began to sway in a gentle, summer wind. The pale moon, gray clouds, and glittering yellow stars were erased from existence as a beaming sun hung high in the cloudless sky. Vast, untamed fields and flowery meadows replaced the four regions of Celestic. White doves cooed as they flew over the mountain.

Liam smiled as he could faintly see a familiar house manifesting in the distance. It was his old home, and it would soon be more than a memory. He would see his father, his mother, and finally meet June. It was so close; it was just within his reach, but there was always something blocking his path.

But now he knew what was blocking him all this time.

It was not just this world. It was all existence.

"Corivknight said his guard friends saw a group of Pokemon on Mudsdale heading toward the Glacier Peak Mountains," Liam spoke. "If I can find my friends there, I can convince them to help us. I can tell them what we need to gather and where to bring it."

"Find your friends, dear," she said in his mind. "But know that they will not support our vision for a better tomorrow. They will attempt to break our bond, and if they interfere, they must be subdued. We must endure this ensuing storm together. "

She was right. She was so right and it hurt his soul to realize it. But he was not going to let this opportunity slip past him.

"Yeah, together…"

"Paradise will be born, Liam. I swear to that. I opened your eyes to the idea of it before, but now it is much more than an idea or dream; it is our destiny to forge it for all creation. And creation itself shall be our blank canvas..."

Liam clenched his paws as he scowled viciously. Vitriol flooded his veins. He was fueled by the desire to overcome. "And anybody who gets in our way… isn't going to stop us."

Nothing could stop what was coming.

END OF PART TWO

Imagine rebuilding a past identity once lost; an identity now split between two people. For one to live, the other must perish. For something so fantastical to be birthed into existence, a monumental sacrifice is needed…

Author's Notes: It's been a long time since we've been atop the breathtaking peak of Celestial Mountain, haven't we? It's an even longer way down this treacherous path that lies ahead. But before we can move forward, we must look to the past once more.

Let's set our sights on the rugged, jagged landscape of the Mountain Region, where a certain Dragon-type in her adolescence begins to question her place in this cruel world...

A new Liam at the top of the world - imgur DOT com/a/rgsFS72

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Discord: z2h2z

Next Time: Special Episode: The World Stops For No One