Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Silver Resistance

*Chapter 2*: Chapter 1: Charmander Awakens

Season I: Gold

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Chapter 1

"We're wasting our time. They're expecting us back."

"No! I swear, I felt it! It was unmistakable."

In the waning sunlight of the early evening, two figures slashed their way through the overgrowth of Shamble Forest. One marched forward with determination, the other followed reluctantly behind.

"Scythe…"

"I swear! It came from this way. We need to investigate!"

The twosome foraged their way through shrubs and saplings as the sun slowly sank out of sight, filling the sky with hues of red. Soon, night would be upon them. The trailing figure cast a worried glance upward, knowing they'd soon be out of precious sunlight if he didn't get his stubborn partner to listen.

"Scythe, are you certain you're not just hearing things again?"

"I don't know. That's why I need to see for myself."

"Scythe… nothing lives in this forest except for some dumb Pidgey and Butterfree."

As the two emerged into a clearing, a startled flock of Pidgey scattered and hid themselves in the branches of nearby trees. The frustrated Sandslash grumbled in resentment, knowing inside it was all probably just a bad idea.

"Scythe, it's almost night, and we're still miles from the base. It's too late for this! If we don't head back now, the Watchers will catch us. Are you sure you're in a mood to fight with the Watchers?"

"And what if I'm right?!" the Scyther snapped as he turned to face his partner, causing the Sandslash to jump at the sudden reaction. "What if I'm right, and I did hear something coming from in there? If not, what's the worst that can happen? We get back a little late, and the team worries about us for a few extra hours? Somehow, that does not worry me. But Shander… what if the Call is here? Consider that. What if this is our only chance to capture the Call before our enemies do? We can't turn our back on this possibility."

"I know, I know," said the Sandslash. "But the time is not right for the Call. That's all I'm saying. We still have another three years, at the very least…"

"I know the time is not right," The Scyther grumbled. "It doesn't matter. This could be some kind of an anomaly. However, speaking as one of the only Pokémon sensitive enough to the Call to notice it, I feel obliged to look farther. And frankly, I'm growing frustrated that no one else seems to take this matter as seriously as I do."

The Sandslash shook its head. He knew it was hopeless. The same exchange had happened between them at least three times in the prior months, and it always ended the same way. The Scyther was stubborn in his obsession.

"If there is someone in there, we need to get to it before the Watchers do," the Scyther spoke, focusing on the path ahead. "We cannot afford to have it fall into the wrong hands. Shander… if you do not agree with me, you're free to return by yourself. I'll go on alone."

The Scyther smiled wryly to himself, knowing full well that the Sandslash was too much of a coward to part ways and venture back on his own. There was a reason the team followed a strict buddy system. It was difficult—in more than one way—to recount all of the Pokémon who had been defeated in dungeons or captured by the Watchers because they had gotten separated from the team, either by accident or by overconfidence.

"I'll go with you," the Sandslash replied with a sigh of resignation. "I trust you. Besides, I'm a bit rusty at fighting the Watchers. I could use the experience. But just one thing… It's been twenty-four years since the Call. Are you sure you remember what it sounds like?"

"It's not something one can easily forget," the Scyther said.

Bracing himself for the unexpected, the Sandslash followed his partner deeper into the woods.

---

Shamble Forest

It was nearly nightfall as a small Bulbasaur scampered through Shamble Forest all alone.

"No!" it cried to nobody in particular. "No! No! I won't! I won't! I won't do it!"

Deftly leaping over rocks and fallen logs, the Bulbasaur followed a path through the woods it knew well. As it ran, it seemed intent to violently share its anguish with every passing tree in eyeshot.

"No, no, NO!" it shouted, extending its vines and snapping away the twigs and drooping tree limbs that hung in the way. "I can't take it! I won't do it! I… I can't! You can't make me! You can't!"

The little Pokémon had long since reached the end of his patience. He dashed off the path and repeatedly whipped his vines against the nearest tree as hard as he could manage. With a scream, he put gash after gash into the tree's bark. After he'd done quite a bit of damage to the poor tree, he leaped to another and tackled it with all its might, barely even feeling the painful pulse it sent through his forehead. He wrapped his vines around the tree trunk and squeezed, pulling and constricting it violently, as tears trickled out from under his closed eyes.

"Why?! Why are you doing this to me?!" he cried in anguish at nobody but the setting sun. "By Dialga, why?! By Arceus, Why?!"

He released the tree from his grasp and tumbled to the ground. Lashing out with a vine, he grasped a nearby rock and flung it at a different tree, and then threw another rock, then a twig, then whatever else he could find within reach, grunting loudly with each projectile he launched.

"I don't care what they say," he seethed as he felt the weariness set in. "They're not going to make me do it. I'll never go! I'll… I'll hold my ground, and… if they try to make me go, I'll… I'll run away. Yeah! I'll run away! And I'll stay away!"

When the Bulbasaur had spent nearly all his strength, he stood in the dimming light of the woods, gasping for air and trying to endure the throbbing pain from his self-induced headache. It took him a moment to realize how deeply his rampage had taken him into the forest, a place he loved and treasured. Tonight, these woods seemed like the only place he belonged; he felt a measure of happiness knowing he was so far away from his home. At the moment, his home was the last place he wanted to be.

The environment calmed him. As his furious heart returned to normal, he could feel his rage slowly fading, turning into misery. He knew there was nothing he could do. He knew he would have to accept the fate that was decided for him—or suffer the consequences. He wondered how it could have happened like this, that this beautiful forest, and everything else he ever knew and loved, was about to be taken away. That his free will was about to be taken away…

Looking up at the sky, he caught a glimpse of the first star of the night.

"Oh, great Pokémon of legend…" he whispered in prayer, just as he was taught to do from childhood, "Great and immortal Arceus, please... if you find it within yourself to help one of us, the Pokémon of the earth… Please… do something!"

Soon, many more stars appeared in the sky. A Noctowl fluttered down from somewhere and landed on a nearby branch. It stared oddly at the little seed-creature on the forest floor below, as if to ask it what it was doing out at such an hour.

"Night…" the Bulbasaur suddenly realized, wide-eyed. "I have to get somewhere safe! The Watchers are coming!"

The Bulbasaur knew that, at night, legions of ghostly Pokémon known as "the Watchers" rose up from beneath the surface of the earth. For as long as any Pokémon could recount, the Watchers surfaced each and every night as soon as the last of the sunlight faded away. They were wild spirits, lacking the intelligence of the sentient Pokémon or the ability to understand speech. To every Pokémon, children and adults alike, only one thing was certain about them: if they caught you, they did unspeakable, horrifying things to you. Accounts told of Pokémon captured by the Watchers getting cursed, losing their memories or their intellect, being kidnapped and pulled down into the Earth, or being cast into a nightmare from which they would never awaken…

In the dim rays of the remaining sunlight, the Bulbasaur found the path he'd taken deep into the forest, and started to follow it back toward home.

"No…" he realized, stopping in his tracks. "I can't go back home. I might not make it back… I have to go the other way. I have to get to the cave."

The full moon was high in the sky as Bulbasaur found the place he sought. He thanked Cresselia for blessing him with the moonlight, a bright beacon which kept the Watchers at bay for perhaps an extra hour, and turned his attention to a solid rock cliff-face which marked the outer boundary of Shamble Forest. By tradition, he glanced all around to make sure nobody was watching. When he was satisfied that he wouldn't be seen, he extended his vines to wrap a medium-sized rock. Clutching it tightly, Bulbasaur yanked, pulling the rock to the side and revealing a cave entrance.

It was Bulbasaur's secret clubhouse, a place which only he and a select few others knew about. It was the place Bulbasaur would always come when he just wanted to be alone. Tonight, nothing would make him happier than simply being alone.

After waiting impatiently for a few Zubat to swarm out of the cave, the little Pokémon crawled inside. Using his vines, he pulled the rock back into place for privacy.

Comfortable and content in his newfound solitude, and weary from his anger, Bulbasaur laid itself down on the gravel-covered cave floor to sleep. He knew in the back of his mind that his family would be furious about him going missing overnight, but somehow, he didn't care about them anymore. At least, not for tonight.

They can spend all night looking for me if they want, Bulbasaur told itself. Serves them right.

Soon, the wind began to pick up outside, making strange whistles and howls as it found its way through cracks in the door-stone. A light storm was brewing. It was early spring, after all, and storms were common around the time of year. Bulbasaur took even greater comfort in the fact that he had found shelter from the rain—if dark clouds covered the moon, the Watchers would most certainly be out in full force.

At last, once the Bulbasaur calmed his thoughts, he felt himself pulled down into the dark hallows of sleep…

But something caught his attention.

It was a tiny annoyance, something so minor that only the most perceptive of senses would have noticed it. Truth was, Bulbasaur had spent the night here in this very cave many times before (when he'd lied to his parents that he was staying with his brothers in Sitrus City), and he had grown accustomed to the cave's feel. Tonight, something was different than usual—something he couldn't quite place.

Feeling irritated, Bulbasaur's eyes snapped open. He glanced around at the cave's walls for a few moments before realizing what it was that bugged him.

I can see?

Except for when he'd intentionally leave the cave door open, the cave was normally pitch-black—the kind of absolute black where it doesn't matter whether or not your eyes are open. He was used to finding the way around the cave's interior by feel with his vines. But not today; today, he could dimly see the rocky cave walls which surrounded him. It was such a faint sight, like the image that stays on the back of the eyelid after closing it, but there was no mistaking it: there was light coming from somewhere.

Bulbasaur checked the cave door. The door only responded with dull roar of thunder as the storm edged closer to the forest. It was sealed shut, as usual. That much was clear to see.

The light, Bulbasaur realized, it must be coming from deeper inside the cave. But… I can't go too far in. Just one step too far, and… I'd be lost. Maybe even for good.

Gritting his teeth, he warily prowled into the depths of the cave, hoping to find the source of the light before he reached the point which he'd resolved never to cross. As well as he knew the cave, he knew that it held certain secrets deeper down that he wouldn't be wise to try exploring on his own.

His search didn't last very long. He turned the corner… and he saw it.

There, propped up against a rock, with its tail crushed beneath its body weight and burning faintly, was a Charmander. The flame upon its tail cast a faint, dancing light upon the cave walls.

"Whoa!" Bulbasaur croaked in disbelief. "A… Charmander! It… it can't be! There aren't supposed to be any Charmander living around here!"

Indeed, a Charmander was such a rare sight around Bulbasaur's corner of the world, he couldn't even remember the last time he'd seen one.

As Bulbasaur approached the intruder, countless questions danced around in his head. Who is this? Is it wild? Or is it intelligent? Should I wake it up? Is it… dead? No, it can't be dead, its fire is still burning. Where did it come from? How young is it? Has it been running from the Watchers?

Bulbasaur's eyes widened as he approached the intruder. It looked pained, like it had just sustained a major headache. Extending both vines very gently, Bulbasaur tried to roll the Charmander on its side and off its tail flame. But his anxiety got the better of him; he flinched and slipped, accidentally touching the fire with the end of a vine.

"Owww! Youch!" he hissed, whipping his vine against the wall to put out the burn.

Once the pain subsided, Bulbasaur stepped forward to nudge the little Charmander with his forehead, taking great care not to collide with its flame again.

"Hey," Bulbasaur whispered. "Hey, wake up! Are you okay? Wake up!"

There was no response.

"C'mon, wake up!" Bulbasaur pleaded further, whispering a little louder into the red lizard's ear.

Bulbasaur looked again at the tail flame, which was mostly smothered below the Charmander's belly as it slept in such an awkward position. He imagined how painful it must have been for the sleeper, and wondered if that were the reason for the unpleasant expression on its unconscious face. Mustering his courage once more, Bulbasaur set his forehead against the Carmander's shoulder and pushed until the tail was free and the sleeper lay on its side.

But suddenly…

"Aahhh! Ahhh!"

With a heavy gasp, the Charmander suddenly jumped up, slamming its head into a long rock which protruded from the wall.

"Aiahh!" Bulbasaur responded, jumping back. "S-sorry! I was just… You were… Are you okay?"

"Ugh…" the Charmander groaned, slumping back down to the floor. "Ugh… my head…"

"Who are you?" Bulbasaur asked impatiently. "There aren't supposed to be any Charmander around here. How did you get here? How did you find my cave?"

"Ch-charmander?" the Charmander moaned, barely paying any attention. "W…what do you mean? A Charmander's a… Pokémon."

"You… didn't hit your head too hard, did you?" Bulbasaur said, tilting his head oddly at the statement.

"I… I think I hit it pretty hard," the Charmander admitted, rubbing its forehead. "I don't even know where I am. But you… WAAH!"

Once again, the Charmander leapt up in surprise, banging its head against the same rock. It cringed for a second at the pain, then stared speechlessly at its companion with a sort of horrified astonishment.

"WHAT?!" demanded Bulbasaur. "What?! What is it?"

"Y-you're a—Pokémon!" the Charmander yelped. "And you talk! You're a… talking Bulbasaur!"

"Well, you talk, too!" Bulbasaur said. "And you're a Charmander! What's wrong?"

"I'm not a Charmander!" it yelped. "I'm… I'm a human!"

"A human?!" Bulbasaur yelped back. "You look like a perfectly normal Charmander to me! Your head must be hurt pretty bad… Maybe I should try to get you some help. Hold on a second, I think I have some oran berries stashed back here… well, if the Rattatas haven't gotten to them yet…"

As Bulbasaur started to walk away, feeling around in the crannies of the cave with his vines, the Charmander cried out once again.

"No, you don't understand!" the Charmander insisted. "I'm a human! I just—"

"Look at yourself!" Bulbasaur pleaded, turning back around to face him. "Look at your claws, your body, your tail! It's in the middle of the night and you're in a cave. Wonder how you can see me? It's because your tail's on fire! You're a Charmander!"

Reluctantly, the Charmander did as instructed. He looked at his hands, his legs…

"It's true!" he cried in disbelief, testing his arms and legs awkwardly. "I—I've been turned into a Charmander! But how… how can this be?! I… I was just…"

"Here, have this," Bulbasaur said, returning to offer him a large blue berry in his mouth. "It'll make you feel better."

"How am I a Charmander?" he wondered again, trying to grasp the idea. "I was a human! I know it! I was turned into a Pokémon! I—"

Bulbasaur gazed oddly at the confused little Charmander, pondering for a second what it would mean if he were telling the truth.

"If you were a human, then let me ask you something that only a human would know," Bulbasaur challenged. "How does a Poké Ball work? How is it possible to keep a Pokémon of any size in such a tiny little thing? No Pokémon has ever been able to figure that out. Humans invented them. They would know how they work. What about the TM Machines? How do they teach techniques to a Pokémon so… efficiently? Without them, it takes years and years of practice…"

"I don't know," the Charmander admitted. "I was never a Pokémon trainer, I… I think."

"Oh," Bulbasaur said in disappointment.

For a few moments, Bulbasaur said nothing further. The Charmander bit into the berry.

"I'm Saura," the Bulbasaur said. "What's your name?"

"My… name…" the Charmander repeated, racking his thoughts for the answer as he turned the blue berry over in his hands, enjoying the strong but bittersweet taste it provided. "I don't know what my name is."

His eyes widened.

"I don't remember!" he gasped, dropping the berry on the ground. He couldn't even believe his own words. "I can't remember my own name!"

"Calm down for a second," Saura said. "Do you… remember anything about being a human? Anything at all?"

"No, I don't… not anything." The Charmander fretted. "Here I am… as a Pokémon… stuck in this cave I've never seen before in my life… And I can't even remember how I got here?!"

"It's okay," Saura said in a comforting voice. "Eat your berry. It will make you feel better."

The Charmander immediately felt it when the oran berry began to take effect. His body tingled, leaving behind a relaxing, strengthening sensation. His headache faded away a little bit, and his thoughts started to form orderly patterns. The flame on his tail flared up, giving a little more light to the room than when he had first awakened.

"My name…" he fretted, tossing the oran berry seed onto the ground. "I have a name. I know I do! I just… can't believe I… I can't remember it."

"It's okay," Saura said. "Mind if I call you Char?"

"Char?" The Charmander repeated, finding the name to be demeaning somehow. "Isn't that name a little… silly?"

"Well, that is what we call Charmanders when we meet them," he explained. "It's polite to call a Pokémon by the name of their species, or part of it, unless they otherwise have a nickname. We use nicknames if there's more than one of the same kind of Pokémon and you have to tell them apart. It's etiquette. Actually, we got that tradition from the way human Pokémon trainers raise their Pokémon. "

"Fine, call me Char," The Charmander said reluctantly. "But only until I remember what my name was."

"Whatever you want," Saura said, a smile forming on his face. "You're the human."

"You believe me? You really believe that I was turned into a Pokémon?" Char asked again, still not able to fathom the Bulbasaur's faith. "If I were a human running around trying to tell other humans that I was once a Pokémon, they'd write me off as crazy."

"Pokémon aren't like humans very much," Saura said, still smiling. "And, yes, I believe you. You don't seem like the deceitful kind of Pokémon. And besides, I wanted to believe your story from the beginning. These are the kinds of things that are written in the human legend-books. Who knows? You could have been the world's greatest Pokémon trainer, or the President, and here I am, just chatting with you! It's pretty cool just thinking about it."

"Heh, I guess," Char replied. "But I don't think I was anyone too special…"

A few more moments passed in silence. Saura brought out another oran berry and offered it to Char, but he refused. Saura began munching on it himself. Char clutched his tail and fiddled with the flame, amused at how his hands seemed completely fireproof as he passed them through it. He didn't feel the slightest inkling of a burn. Instead, the fire provided his claw with a surprisingly intense comfort, as though it was a refreshingly warm stream of water. He wondered if jumping headfirst into a blazing fire would feel roughly like taking a nice warm bath.

"So, your nickname is Saura?" Char asked, still playing with his tail. "Does that mean... are there other Bulbasaur where you live?"

"Yeah, I have a whole family," Saura replied, a note of disdain entering his voice. "Seven brothers and two sisters. We all have slightly different names… Although, my oldest brother became an Ivysaur last year, and he moved away into the city…"

"What's wrong?" Char asked, noticing his tone of voice. "Is something wrong with your family?"

"My family is stupid," Saura complained, whipping his oran berry seed away. "They want me to—"

Char glanced up from his floor-bound gaze, wondering why Saura had stopped in mid-sentence. His face had suddenly turned full of worry, his gaze quickly shifting in all directions.

"What's w-"

"Sshh!" Saura quickly warned. "I heard… something…"

"What? Is someone coming?"

"Quick! Cover up your tail!"

Reluctantly, Char held onto the flame-spout of his tail with both hands. Again, it surprised him that he felt no pain from such an action, but he found that he couldn't keep all of the flames covered up. They found their own ways through, much like what happens when one tries to cover up a running water current with bare hands.

"That's the best I can do!" Char said.

"Good enough…" Saura hissed. "Now, listen… I think I hear something…"

Except for the tiny sound of Char's fire, and the ominous but barely-audible rumbles of thunder from the outside, the cave became completely quiet.

… For a few moments, at least.

It came: the distinctive sound of… talking.

Although only a few fragments of a few words had escaped to their ears, Saura silently gasped in fright.

The voices became louder. A lump formed in Saura's throat.

"… here…" … "in here…" … "find them! They're in here! I swear!"

"No!" Saura gasped. "No! Char, I thought this cave was secret, but… I think someone found it!"

"Who would it be? Should we run? Should we hide?"

"I don't know," Saura said through worried gasps of breath. "But whoever they are… if they can brave the Watchers, they're nobody I'd like to be around. They might even be…"

"Watchers? What are the Watchers?"

But Char received no reply. Instead, Saura's seemed frozen in fear. The Bulbasaur choked on his last words, wishing to Arceus that they couldn't be true.

"They could be… them!"

"Them?"

There was no time to answer. Without warning, the echo from a horrifying rumble tore through the cave. It was the sound of the door-stone being shoved aside.

"We've found them! Go! Get them! Now!"

"Char…" Saura choked in the tiniest, most petrified whisper possible, "We have to run. It's them… the Master's soldiers… They're going to kidnap us!"

Char wanted to ask for clarification, but figured there just wasn't time.

"I know you didn't!" yelled one of the voices from the front of the cave. "We came here because of you. We followed them here. Now find them! Don't let them escape, after all this!"

"Char… You have to trust me," Saura creaked silently. "Please… You have to follow me, and trust me. We've got to go deeper into the cave."

"Do you know the way?" Char asked carefully.

"Nobody knows the way…" Saura answered gravely, extending a vine to him. "It's impossible for anyone to know the way. Hold onto my vine, and don't let go. Char… if we go just a little bit deeper into the tunnels… We might be able to lose them… "

Char obeyed, letting go of his tail with one hand and taking Saura's vine in the other. However, something about the Bulbasaur's reply didn't make sense to him.

"What do you mean, impossible for anyone to know the way?" he asked.

"Char…" Saura said as he began to retreat into the cavern's rear tunnel, "This place… this cave… is a mystery dungeon."

*Chapter 3*: Chapter 2: Escape Route

Chapter 2

Gravelerock Tunnel 1F

"A mystery dungeon? What's a mystery dungeon?"

Keeping a firm hold on Saura's vine in one hand, and holding his tail like a torch in the other, Char felt his head spinning with countless questions as he followed the Bulbasaur through dark corridors which split into countless side paths.

"This is a mystery dungeon," Saura said, keeping a wary eye in all directions. "It's a cursed maze that's very easy to get lost in. If you get lost… that's it for you. You'll stay in here forever until someone comes to rescue you, or… you starve to death."

Char felt a chill of fear stab at his chest. He instinctively tugged on Saura's vine harder, not wanting to get separated.

"Cursed? How is it cursed?"

"Nobody really knows what causes it," Saura explained, wincing as Char squeezed his vine, "but a mystery dungeon never stays the same. Some say that the curse erases your memories of the maze when you leave… Some say it's constantly shifting and re-arranging itself when nobody's looking, like a spatial anomaly created by Palkia… Hey, Char, you might want to help keep an eye out. We need to work together if we want to get out of this place."

"Keep an eye out for what?" Char asked nervously, his worry growing by the minute.

"We need to find the entrance to the next floor," said Saura. "That's the only way to get out of here."

"The next floor? So… A staircase, or something?"

"Yeah. And we need to avoid the wild Pokémon," Saura warned. "Wild Pokémon live in mystery dungeons. If they see you, they'll try to defend their territory from you at all costs, no matter how weak or strong you are."

"Wait... are you saying we might have to fight some wild Pokémon?!" Char screeched. "I… don't think I'm ready for this! Couldn't we just talk them out of fighting us?"

"But you can't reason with wild Pokémon," said Saura. "They can't talk, and they aren't even sentient at all. All Pokémon are like that unless they are raised and trained by someone else, either another Pokémon or a human. Otherwise, they stay wild—"

"Yaah!"

Saura was interrupted by a sudden yelp from Char, who'd tripped over nothing in particular and toppled to the ground with a thump. Char felt a throb from his still-aching head, as well as from embarrassment, as he lay for a moment on the cave floor.

"Sorry…" he muttered, "still getting used to the body. I think I used to have longer legs."

"Wow, you're probably right," Saura laughed as he glanced back and carefully lifted Char back to his feet. "If you were a human, you'd be much taller. You know, Pokémon have the same problem for a little while after they evolve. It takes them a while to get used to it—Hey! Look!"

As he was tending to Char, something from a nearby room caught Saura's eye. There, at the back of a cramped chamber, was a staircase leading upward into some sort of trap door. Char squinted to see it in the darkness, holding his tail forward to better illuminate the room.

"It's the stairs!" Saura cheered. "We got lucky and didn't run into any enemies. Quick, let's get up. Those guys might still be following us."

---

Gravelerock Tunnel 2F

"Saura, who are we running from, anyway?" Char demanded as he began to explore the second floor with his new companion.

"I didn't want to find out who they were," Saura said simply. "If they were the Master's soldiers, we need to run far away from them. Hey, Char… why don't you try leading the way for a while? You're the one with the light."

"How do I know where to go?" Char asked, reluctant to obey.

"Your guess is as good as mine," said Saura. "Just look everywhere for the next staircase. Just… don't let go. I don't want to get separated."

"Alright, if you're sure about this," Char gulped as he stepped in front of Saura and became the leader of the awkward little procession. "Now, who are the Master's soldiers you keep talking about, and why are they chasing us?"

Saura shivered in disgust. Char thought he even felt it reverberate through the vine he held in his hand. "They're an army of… I guess you could call them law enforcers. They work for the Master. They're everywhere in this country."

"And who's this Master?"

"He's the self-proclaimed king of the whole Ambera region… the place where we are now."

"So, they're like police officers, I guess," Char offered. "In my world, police officers are very good people. Saura… you're not a… criminal, are you?"

"No! It's not like that!" Saura pleaded, stopping in his tracks and tugging at Char to get him to pay attention. "Listen. The Master is the bad guy! He's supposed to be our leader, but everyone knows he took control over the country just for himself. His soldiers do horrible things. They invade towns, kidnap people, steal… and they're such powerful Pokémon that nobody can stand up to them. There's nothing we can do about it. We submit to the Master or face consequences."

Indignation filled Saura's face. He glared down at the floor.

"… And they wanted to take me," he said quietly.

"Take you?" Char repeated.

"Yes," he growled. "The Master wanted to take me. His soldiers travel the country and pick out Pokémon to join his army or to be his personal servants. They picked me… and… just earlier today, they told me I had a week to prepare to leave with them. And my family wouldn't do anything to help me. They're just going to send me off with the soldiers! I… I know they care about me, and I know they just don't want to get in trouble with the Master, but… I don't want to go! I'll do anything not to join them! I want to be a free Pokémon and do the things I want to do!"

"That's why we're running away from them," Char realized, beginning to understand the Bulbasaur's feelings. "Are… they coming to capture you?!"

"I think they saw me run away and they followed me here," Saura said. "Char… are you understanding all this? If they take me, I'll have to be a slave to them for the rest of my life! Will you stay with me and help me run away from them?"

"I…"

"Listen," Saura pleaded. "Just tonight, I prayed to Arceus, and I think he answered me. I think he sent you to help me! You're a human in the body of a Pokémon, right? And you just appeared in the cave without even opening the cave entrance to get in. Char, you were meant to help me!"

Char knew what he wanted to say, but he couldn't bring himself to answer. He gazed into the Bulbasaur's eyes and saw that his heart was truly breaking at the thought of having to work for this "Master".

Yet… at the same time, he knew he couldn't forget about his own predicament.

"Char, are you going to answer me?" Saura asked sadly.

Still unable to find the words he wanted, Char just stared blankly at his companion.

"Char?"

I'm thinking! He said silently to himself. This is already a lot to swallow in just one day! This Bulbasaur wants me to hide from the law and even run away from his own family? What about my own family? Do I have a family? Who am I, exactly? Oh, this would have been so much easier if my memories weren't gone! But… maybe he's right. Maybe I was put right here for a reason. Arceus? Who's he? Is that a Pokémon? I think I've heard the name before, but…"

"Char!" cried Saura, breaking him out of his thoughts. "Char! LOOK OUT!"

Acting on instinct alone, Char dropped to the floor in fright and covered his head… just in time to hear the sounds of flapping and screeching from somewhere above him.

"It's a Zubat!" Saura yelled. "Get ready!"

"Ahh!" Char yelled, rolling on the floor away from the attacker.

The Zubat dive-bombed Saura, sounding its shrill squeals of "Kii! Kii!" as it attacked. Saura quickly yanked his vine out of Char's grasp and jumped out of the Zubat's way.

Char backed up against the nearest wall, his breaths short and heavy. He felt the muscles of his new body clench with panic.

Saura leapt out of the Zubat's way a second time, then a third. He drew his vines like whips and batted at the attacker. When the Zubat tried to dive at him a fourth time, it flew face-first into a swiveling vine and tumbled backward through the air. Saura thrust his body forward, sending a flurry of sharp, spinning leaves at the bat. The Zubat was sliced clean out of the air, falling limply to the floor with a final cry of "Kreeeeee!"

"Is… it dead?" Char gasped, feeling the blood run back into his face again.

"Dead? Hardly." Saura said as he retracted his vines. "He's just knocked out. It takes a lot more than that to kill a Pokémon."

Climbing back to his feet, Char went to inspect the fallen Zubat. Indeed, it only had a few red scratches across its leathery body, and was still breathing strongly.

"You know, you could help out, too," Saura said mockingly. "You've got claws and teeth. You don't have to be a coward."

"What?! I don't know how to fight!" Char retorted.

"Every Pokémon knows how to fight," Saura said, offering his vine again. "It's in our instincts. Just let your survival instinct take over, and you'll do fine. Besides, you're stronger than you know. Charmanders aren't weak."

Char took a last look at the fallen Zubat as they turned a corner and continued their exploration of the dungeon.

---

Gravelerock Tunnel 3F

"Have you been in a mystery dungeon before?" Char asked as the twosome climbed the stairs to the third floor. "You seem to know a lot about them."

"Once," Saura admitted, "but that's it. When I was really small, I wandered into a dungeon and got stuck there for two days. My brothers had to come rescue me. I'll never forget how scared I was. Since then, I've tried to learn about dungeons in case I'd ever be in one again. Later, I made friends with a Chikorita, and she showed me this cave before she moved away. She told me that it turns into a mystery dungeon past the first cavern. Ever since then, I've been coming back here, waiting for the courage to go through the dungeon myself."

"I guess you finally got the courage," Char said with a smile.

"Well, yeah, now that I have a friend to go with me, not to mention something to light the way with," Saura replied, smiling back. "Hey, Char. You never answered my question…"

What question? Char asked himself. Oh…

"Look, Saura," Char sighed, "I… don't know. I don't have a lot of… information to go on right now, alright? I don't even know if helping you to run away from the "Master" is the right thing to do. I just don't know. I can't think straight right now. This is all just a little too weird."

"Let's make a deal," Saura said. "If you be my friend and help me stay away from the Master's soldiers, I'll stay with you and do all I can to teach you how to be a Pokémon."

But what if I don't want to learn how to be a Pokémon? Char moaned to himself. What if I just want to go back to being a human? But… that doesn't really seem like an option right now, does it? But… I don't want to make any promises I won't be able to keep!

Char carefully looked over the Bulbasaur's face, judging him. There was a glimmer of honesty in his eyes, and sincerity in the simple smile which spread across his face. Saura had hidden nothing from him, and had answered every question he had given so far.

Also, unlike himself, Saura was not afraid to fight, and clearly demonstrated that he was strong enough to defend the both of them.

Well, I guess I have no choice, Char determined. What I need the most right now is a companion just like Saura. I'm a Pokémon now, whether I like it or not, and I need someone to be my guide in this new world. He also believes me that I'm a human! How could I ask for anything more?

"Well?" Saura asked eagerly.

"Deal," Char said with a gleaming smile, holding out his hand.

However, instead of the expected handshake, Saura gleefully jumped forward and tackled him.

"Ha! Haha! Yes!" Saura shouted. "I'm officially friends with a human! A human! It's always been a lifelong dream of mine to be a human trainer's partner! But the humans live a hundred thousand miles away from Ambera, so I never thought I'd ever see the day…!"

"Heh, heh," Char gasped, awkwardly struggling to endure the glomp.

… … …

As they continued on through the dungeon, Char could tell that Saura's mood had changed; he'd gone from acting depressed to beaming with joy. He also seemed to ramble, making it harder than ever for Char to get a question in edgewise.

"We've got to keep an eye out for any more Zubat," Saura warned. "They like to attack in groups. One is easy, but five or more could take us out. Watch the ceiling, too. They could be sleeping up there."

"Next time we have to fight one, I guess I'll try fighting," Char said. "I'm not going to lie to you, Saura, but I am a coward when it comes to fighting. But, I guess I've got to start somewhere."

"That's the spirit, Char!" Saura exclaimed. "Fighting isn't all that hard, either, especially when your opponent is weaker than you. And when you get good at fighting, you'll be able to fight more difficult enemies, and you may even learn different tricks to help you. I practiced a whole lot against wild Pokémon this year, and just a few months ago I finally learned how to launch leaves!"

While they didn't run into any more enemies, Char felt his stomach rumble as they entered the staircase chamber. It was then that he realized that he felt absolutely famished, and the oran berry he'd just eaten was only enough to stave it off for a very short while. However, he didn't feel it was appropriate to complain to Saura about it, so he gritted his teeth and kept on moving.

---

Gravelerock Tunnel 4F

"You seem to be pretty good at fighting," Char asked while trying to ignore the rumble of his stomach. "Do you think that could be the reason why the Master wants you for his army?"

"I don't think that has anything to do with it," Saura said scornfully. "They're probably just picking me because they don't have a Venusaur to add to their collection yet. But to be honest, I don't even want to be a Venusaur. I want to stay the way I am. Nobody can force me to evolve if I don't want it! Besides, I'm not really that good at fighting."

"Sure you are!" Char said, regretting how he'd steered the conversation. "It seems like you're skilled… at least against the one Zubat you fought."

"Thanks," Saura said flatly. "I appreciate it."

After walking a little more, Saura spoke up again.

"Ugh… getting so hungry…"

"You, too?" Char said with some surprise.

"That's the other thing about mystery dungeons," Saura said. "They aren't just a spatial anomaly. They're also a temporal anomaly. Walking around in one, your body will heal itself a lot faster than normal… but you'll get tired and hungrier faster than normal, too. That's why it's important for explorers to take lots of food with them when they go to dungeons."

"Did we bring any food?" Char asked, already knowing the answer. "You didn't have any of those berries left, did you?"

"No," Saura said regretfully, "but I was hoping we'd find one or two along the way… they say that sometimes, you can find food that the wild Pokémon have stashed away, but we… haven't found anything."

"Maybe we should look for food," Char suggested. "Any further, and I think I'll start getting dizzy from hunger."

"Yeah… I'm thinking the same thing," Saura said. "Better keep an eye out for food."

Char led Saura around some more, exploring every nook of the maze he came across. There was no food to be seen, and Char's belly really began to ache.

"Ugh…" Saura groaned. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe we weren't ready for this after all… Maybe we're going to starve to death… Or maybe—"

As the two entered a particularly large room, Char noticed small group of Rattata sleeping in a little alcove off to the side.

"Rattata!" Saura exclaimed. "I think I spoke too soon! Rattata always hoard food! They stole from my stash of berries so many times, there's no way they could have gotten through them all by now!"

"Or, we could just eat the Rattatas," Char mumbled.

Ignoring Char's suggestion, Saura crept ahead and into the room in search of something to eat. Char followed, sweeping his tail from side to side and glancing around the room for any other forms of danger that might be lurking in the shadows.

Char's light touched something of interest.

"Char, help me with these rats," Saura instructed. "They're easy to fight. We can take them out if they have any food."

"Saura! Look there!" Char hissed.

"What now?!"

Saura turned to look in the direction Char indicated, and he, too, was surprised by the sight.

Sitting near the opposite corner of the room… was an apple. The apple was not whole; some bites were missing from it. Standing next to the apple, resting peacefully, was a Spearow.

"Char, that could feed us both!" Saura exclaimed voicelessly.

"What's a Spearow doing down here in a cave?!" Char demanded, eyeing it cautiously as its body rose and fell in place. "It's dark down here! How could it live in a dungeon like this?"

"Who cares?!" Saura said, approaching the creature. "Char. Go see if you can take the apple."

"Why me?" Char demanded. "You're better at—"

"Because if that Spearow wakes up… Well… I don't like fighting birds. But c'mon, you said you'd try to fight, right? Go get it! I bet you could take it down!"

"Couldn't you just grab it from a distance with your vines?"

"Char… I'm scared of birds. They hurt a lot when they attack. Could you do it? Please?"

"If you say so… but only if you promise to back me up."

"Of course," Saura said encouragingly. "But let's do it already, I'm really hungry!"

Clenching his claws, Char tiptoed nearer to the napping Spearow. As he closed in, he could barely hear the squeaking of the bird's nostrils as it breathed. He stood for a moment some three feet away, inspecting the creature's closed eyes as if to determine how closed they were. Saura held his breath, only able to watch at a distance and wait to see what would happen.

Just as Char crept closer to the apple… he tripped.

"Ah!" he gasped soundlessly as his face hit the dusty floor. He cringed, his eyes clenched as tight as could be and his teeth grinding against one another, fearful and awaiting the inevitable attack. Saura reared back and prepared to charge, his mouth agape but betraying no sound.

A few seconds passed. Both froze in place, neither moving or even so much as breathing.

"Char!" Saura finally gasped. "Char! Get up! He's still not awake!"

Char opened his eyes and glanced forward. His hands were cupped perfectly around the apple, and the Spearow hadn't moved.

Breathing the biggest sigh of relief yet, Char rolled himself upright and held the apple up in the air. Saura quickly constricted him to help him up, and then snatched the apple from his hand.

"You did it!" Saura cheered quietly.

"Hey, don't I get any?" Char asked, brushing himself off.

"Of course! You get half," Saura said, taking a juicy bite out of the apple. "Pfft… eew, it's dry. But it fills the belly, and that's all that matters, I guess."

"No wonder the Spearow didn't care about it," Char remarked. "Look. It's still sleeping like a log, too!"

After Saura finished his half, he handed over the remaining portion. Char found that his mouth, unlike Saura's, wasn't big enough to eat it as fast as he wanted.

Despite being half-eaten, the apple seemed pretty big. Char wondered whether or not the apple was regular-sized, that it just seemed bigger with a body that was smaller than he was used to. He kept taking small bites out of the dry piece of fruit, yet it never seemed to grow any smaller. He eventually dug down past the dry skin and the browned bruises to the sweeter portion of the fruit, which he enjoyed greatly as they continued their exploration of the dungeon floor.

"Uh… Char…" Saura suddenly spoke, dodging around the fiery tail to tap the Charmander on the back. "Stop. I think we've been down this way before."

"We have?" Char asked, lifting his gaze from his apple. "Well, that's just great. I guess I was too occupied with eating and I wasn't paying enough attention."

"That's okay, that's why I'm here," Saura said, glancing about the hall which they stood in. "But… unless I'm missing something, I think we've been through all the corridors on this floor, but I haven't seen the staircase anywhere."

"What about that one?" Char said, jabbing his tail toward a nearby hall. "I don't remember exploring in there. That's where I was going to go next."

"Nah, we've been in that one," Saura said. "It goes around into a big cave, then a small one, then back here."

"No, that was the one up ahead," Char said.

"Are you sure?"

"Well, why don't we just go in and see for ourselves—"

Raaaaaaw!

A raspy screech, much lower and more powerful than a Zubat's, echoed through the tunnel.

Before another word could be said, the cry sounded again, followed by the sound of powerful wings flapping.

Eeeeerk! Raaaaaw!

"Oh no!" screamed Saura in dismay. "It's—"

Eeeeeeeeeeee!

The screech sounded directly above Char's head, and a figure swiftly dove out of the darkness and shot straight for him. Char jumped back in fright, but it wasn't enough to dodge the attacker. He caught a glimpse of the foe just before his vision turned to stars.

Saura cried out as the Spearow's beak struck Char and knocked him to the ground.

Eeeeeeeeeeerk!

"No!" Saura cried, dashing forward to Char's aid.

But the Spearow returned for another attack, swooping into the flickering light of Char's tail, and Saura narrowly dodged. Catching his breath, he glanced around in panic and tried to anticipate the next attack.

But then, a plural cry descended from the darkness above, striking great fear into Saura's rapidly-beating heart.

"Char! There's two of them!"

Raaaaaaaaaaaaaw!

Heeding the warning, Char climbed to his feet, only to catch sight of one of the Spearow swooping down and snatching the almost-fully-eaten apple from the ground.

"HEY!" Char yelled at the thief, "I wasn't done with that!"

Raaaaaaaaaaw! answered the Spearow.

"Char! Help!" Saura cried, his vines thrashing around in the near-darkness, blindly trying to defend himself. The second Spearow fell from the darkness, pecking at him violently and leaving a juicy gash in the side of his body.

"AHH! OWW!" He cried in pain. "CHAR! Get them off me! PLEASE! CHAR!"

I guess this is where I fight, Char said to himself. Now…I have to let the survival instincts take over…

Char pounced forward, springing into the air higher than he thought his legs were capable of propelling him. He blindly slashed at the air with his claws, hoping to defend Saura from further harm as best as he could. His final attack connected, sending the diving Spearow flying to the side and filling the air with an explosion of loose feathers. But the second Spearow quickly counterattacked, and a third Spearow swooped in to help.

"CHAR! We have to get out of here!" Saura cried upon seeing the third bird. "Char! The Spearows! You were right! They must live in here because there must be an exit nearby! We have to find the exit! This could be the last floor of the dungeon! HURRY!"

Raaaaaaaaw! Cried one of the Spearows as it came down to peck at Saura. Char leapt forward again and slashed, defending his friend from the impact once more. The two took the opportunity to escape down the corridor, but the Spearows gave chase and refused to back down.

"You have your stupid apple back!" Char yelled as he ran and covered his head for protection. "Go away!"

At last, at the end of the previously-unexplored tunnel, there was an exit chamber. A simple metal ladder extended toward the cave ceiling and out to the world above. The early morning sunlight shone down through the hole, softly illuminating the dingy room.

Two more Spearow stood between them and the doorway, wide awake and ready to attack.

"CHAR! Run for the exit!" Saura screamed, his legs moving as fast as he could make them.

But as Char glanced back and saw the enemies closing in on him… and forward, as his friend dashed straight toward the enemies… a weird, lurching sensation began to engulf him. Some kind of new, powerful desire welled in his belly.

Char realized what was happening: his survival instincts wanted even more control. They wanted to completely take over his actions.

Char saw how Saura ran towards an exit that was too far away. He saw the Spearow peck at him, giving him yet another painful wound. He saw how each swing of his vines became increasingly weakened and aimless. He heard his yells of anguish fill the air. He felt the wing of a Spearow collide with his back, narrowly missing its mark and instead homing in on the weakened Bulbasaur before him.

Char's feeling became too much. It needed to be released.

Taking a deep breath, Char gave a mighty roar of fury. But, instead of sound, a stream of flames erupted from his maw.

Whoa! Char realized. I can breathe fire? I wonder if I can do it again…?

Focusing once again on the burning feeling in his stomach, Char drew another heavy breath. He aimed at the flock of Spearow swarming above Saura, then released.

A plume of flames, bigger this time, hit the Spearow head-on. They tumbled to the ground with burning feathers and flapped wildly to put themselves out.

"Thanks!" Saura shouted over the screeches of the fallen Spearow, trying to put out the flames that had caught the ends of his vines. "I really owe you one!"

"I didn't know I could do that!" Char answered, rushing to his side to help him. "Now, let's get out of here! Those weren't all of the Spearow!"

Char didn't have to say it twice. Saura bounded for the ladder, Char close behind, and the two of them climbed up and out into the early morning air.

---

Goldenrod Meadow

It was very early—almost four in the morning—as the two adventurers escaped the dungeon. A few stars still twinkled in the sky here and there, soon to be overcome by the looming sunlight. Char gazed upon the beauty of the wilderness which surrounded him, a sprawling plain covered in tall, amber-colored grass and dotted with sparkling lakes.

"Char! We did it!" Saura shouted jubilantly, tackling his friend a second time. "We fought through a mystery dungeon and lived! Char, you don't know what this means to me. I've been wanting to do that all my life!"

Char laughed with him this time, sharing his joy and relief that they'd made it out alive. Afterwards, they both lounged on the ground and took a well-needed rest, watching the sky as it gradually filled with the scattered colors of sunrise.

"I guess we lost the soldiers," Char said, enjoying the fresh air of the overworld instead of the dank stuffiness of the cave. "I guess you're free."

"Yeah, I guess," Saura said, his smile fading away.

"Well, now what?" Char wondered, still taken aback by his gorgeous surroundings. "If you can't go back home, then where do you want to go next?"

"You're not going anywhere," a new voice rang out from behind them.

Char and Saura turned to see another Pokémon—a Scyther—leap out of the dungeon exit. It was clearly almost as tired and worn as they were.

A Sandslash followed close behind him. They both immediately encircled the dumbfound two, allowing no route of escape.

"NO! YOU!" Saura cried, jumping to his feet. "YOU!"

"Nice idea running us through that mystery dungeon, you two," the Scyther grumbled sarcastically.

"That was not enjoyable," the Sandslash added, "especially after all the dungeons we'd already traversed yesterday, using up the last of our supplies. We were ready to sleep for the day. We were not prepared for that little experience."

"I'm not coming with you!" Saura spat in the Scyther's face, readying his vines to defend himself. But the Scyther responded by leveling one of his silver blades with the tip of his vine, as if to show how he could slice it apart with ease. Saura gulped.

"I'm sorry if you thought otherwise," the Sandslash said, "but I'm afraid you are coming with us."

*Chapter 4*: Chapter 3: Team Remorse

Chapter 3

Even after braving the dungeon, it had all been for nothing. Char could not live up to the promise he'd just made with new companion.

They had gotten themselves captured.

"Please, try to make this easy on us," the Scyther ordered, thrusting the ends of his blades against their backs to prod them along. "It's been a long night. We're quite tired, and I'm sure you are as well."

"Who are you?!" Char demanded, speaking for Saura.

"We should be asking the same of you," the Sandslash muttered as he led the procession forward. "I haven't seen a Charmander in… well, I can't remember how long. But it's certainly not a normal thing you're here. That's why we're going to have to take you with us for the time being."

"If it's me you want, then let why not just let this Bulbasaur go?" Char pleaded.

"No, he's coming, too," the Scyther said. "We need you both. Just in case."

"Why!?" Char blurted. "Who are you?! Where are you taking us?! And why you do you need us?!"

"If we feel you need to know, we'll tell you," the Sandslash said, though his tone was not quite reassuring. "But for now, unless you intend to make pleasant conversation with us, I'd appreciate if you'd not incessantly question our motives. It will get us nowhere."

After that, both the Scyther and the Sandslash remained silent.

They walked for quite a while, saying nothing, as the sun gradually revealed more of itself above the eastern horizon and cast illumination onto the beautiful golden meadow around them. Char glanced to his friend very often, but each time, he always found himself afraid to say anything. Saura looked pained and torn, as though he was fighting an intense battle within his own heart.

"Well…" Saura finally spoke, hanging his head dejectedly and watching the ground pass. "We still did it. We made it through the dungeon all on our own! But… I guess I should have known better that this would happen. I'll always be proud of what we did today. I guess that's all that matters… I guess my life is complete. I'm sorry it had to be this way, Char. I'm sorry we didn't have very much time to spend together."

Char felt it again: that restless sensation of his stomach flooding with fire.

Deep down, he realized he wanted to resist the soldiers, even if Saura was too afraid to try. He had made a promise. If he could do something, anything, for the Bulbasaur, he felt like he needed to try.

The Charmander within him wanted to fight. And, little by little, so did he.

Char eyed the Scyther, weighing the odds. His breathing deepened, and his pulse escalated.

He knew what he had to do. He'd spin around, jump at the Scyther's face, quickly attack the Scyther with his newfound fire breath, then get Saura out of the way as fast as possible so he could make his escape. He only had to wait for just the right moment…

As he felt the Scyther thrust at his back once more, his frustration became too great. He could taste the fire in the back of his throat. It was begging to be released.

Here goes nothing, Char said to himself with clenched fists. Saura, this is for you!

Char leapt.

The next thing Char knew, he was face-down in the dirt from a powerful counter-attack. His head throbbed, and his side stung like mad. He'd been knocked to the ground so quickly, he did not quite remember what happened. He released a violent and painful cough, expelling thick, black smoke from his mouth.

"Char…!" he could hear Saura calling sadly. "Char, why…?"

Grunting, Char pushed his arms against the ground and tried to climb back to his feet. It was then that he noticed the long, thin slice on the side of his hide. He fell back to the ground and clutched his wound to help ease the pain.

Char glanced up. He saw Saura staring at him with a look of pained disbelief. He saw the Sandslash watching him with a look of indifference. He saw the Scyther standing some feet away from him, clearly infuriated, with his blades raised in the air. A tiny line of bright red blood dripped from the Scyther's right blade. His blood.

"The moment a Charmander decides to fight, its tail flares," the Scyther explained gravely. "You had no element of surprise at all."

As Char struggled to sit upright while keeping a hold of his gash, Saura rushed to his side. Coughing again, Char discharged a stream of smoke onto the ground.

"Char…" Saura said simply as he offered to help his friend to his feet. "You didn't have to do that! Are you okay?"

Instead of answering, Char turned to the captors. "Where are you taking us?!" he demanded again in a pained voice. "Who are you?"

"Scythe…" the Sandslash said, "Perhaps it would be appropriate if we offered our companions the benefit of the doubt?"

"Hmm, I don't think that would be wise," the Scyther growled, but in a thoughtful manner. "All they need to know, at the moment, is that we need them to come with us and we can't afford to have them running away."

"I think you've made that pretty obvious already," Char shot back. "What else?"

"Don't bother with it, Char," Saura spat, growling at his captors. "I know exactly why they're here. They're here to take me to the Master so I can be his slave."

The Scyther and the Sandslash eyed each other for a moment. The Scyther looked surprised; the Sandslash made a sound like an ironic chuckle.

"What?!" Saura demanded, frowning. "What's so funny?"

"Well," the Sandslash said, "Let's just say that you're… cold? As in, your guess is far, far in the wrong direction."

The comment even got a single chuckle from the Scyther. Saura blinked obliviously.

"So… you're not the Master's soldiers?" Saura asked, mouth partially agape.

"He wishes we were," the Scyther said with a grin.

"Indeed, I bet he'd give anything to employ our services," the Sandslash said. "But to him, nothing of ours is for sale. And before you ask us 'who are you' again, let me remind you that our answer won't change, no matter how many times you repeat the question."

"But… you're not here to enslave us, at least?" Char inquired.

The Sandslash nodded. "You have no reason to be afraid of us. All we want to do is to… check something about you. After that, you'll both be as free as a Swellow—provided you pass our test. It's a promise. Despite how this may seem, we aren't kidnappers."

"And if we don't pass?" Saura wondered.

"That's something we will discuss in the event that it becomes necessary," the Sandslash said, "…and it looks highly unlikely from my point of view that we will need to. For the record, my partner here is the one who wanted to check you in the first place. Had it been up to me, we'd never have bothered you at all. Now, are we going to continue, or keep wasting time? We still have quite a way to go."

From that point on, the Scyther walked side-by-side with Char and Saura, presumably because he had gained their trust and was confident they wouldn't try to run away again. Char was glad to see Saura in a better mood once again, although the Bulbasaur had a look of puzzlement frozen to his face and seemed too lost in thought to say anything.

Yeah, this isn't making very much sense to me, either, Char realized. And this cut still hurts. Owww.

---

Great Flatlands

In what seemed like a brief moment, Char noticed his surroundings changing once again. The flourishing meadow had ended, turning into a boring, endless span of brown and tan-colored dirt. The gorgeous golden grass had almost disappeared entirely; here, it only existed in ugly, scattered patches. Char wondered if the was headed into a desert or a wasteland.

"Saura," Char said, quickly growing uninterested the new environment, "you've been quiet. How are you feeling now?"

"I feel a lot better," Saura admitted, coming out of his daze and forcing a smile which soon became a sincere one. "I still wish I knew what was going on. But as long as they don't work for the Master, it's a weight off my back. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens."

"The Master…" growled the Scyther, "My heart races even at the mention of his name. He… is my worst enemy."

"Really?!" Saura blurted.

"Indeed," the Scyther said, keeping his gaze turned forward. "When I was young, I was chosen by him as a servant. I have seen with my own eyes what the Master wills upon the world. And… by force, I have carried out his works with these very blades! But then, after plotting for two and a half years, I escaped him. Ever since, I have spent my entire life, my entire being, opposing him."

"Wow!" Saura gasped. "You escaped the Master? That's incredible! How did you do it?"

"Why do you care?" the Scyther said, casting a glance at them.

"Because Saura was also chosen by him," Char told him. "It was just yesterday, too! That's why he ran away from home!"

"… Really," the Scyther said, his tone of voice changing. "And you ran from us, because you thought we were the soldiers who were to come and take you away?"

"Exactly!" Char exclaimed.

"You know," the Scyther said with a smile, "under those circumstances, I would not have acted any differently than you did. You did well, Bulbasaur, to run away from them, and so did you, Charmander, to stand up to me. I applaud both of you."

The Scyther and the Sandslash eyed one another again.

"So, it turns out we have found another one of the Master's chosen," the Sandslash said quietly. "They have reason to fight him, just like you. Do you think…"

"Yes, I can see that," the Scyther said thoughtfully. "I'm starting to think it wouldn't be a bad idea to tell them what they want to know."

The Scyther and the Sandslash stopped walking.

"I am Scythe," the Scyther said, turning to Char and Saura and offering a respectful gesture to them. "My partner here is Shander. We are members of a 'resistance team'."

"What's that?" Saura asked. "A 'Resistance Team'? Wait! Do you mean that, like, as in, you resist the Master?"

"Precisely," said Shander. "We are part of a vast, underground organization of Pokémon who fight against the Master. We couldn't tell you this because we couldn't risk accidentally giving the Master's forces more information about us, but now that it's clear that you both are opposed to the Master for personal reasons, it's much safer to tell you. Currently, we are on our way to our base of operations, which is known as the 'Gold Division'. It exists within a network of chambers under our feet, deep beneath these very flatlands. The entrance is located not one mile from here, and that is where we are heading at this very moment."

"The Pokémon of the resistance number in the hundreds of thousands," Scythe explained. "We are not some tiny guerrilla force without hope; we have been growing and expanding for decades. In fact, there are three grand divisions of the great resistance: there is the Emerald Division, which operates in northern Ambera, the Gold Division of central Ambera, and the Black Division of south-eastern Ambera. Though we are all allied, it's difficult for each division to work closely with one another, both because of the distances and the risk involved. So, each division operates independently."

"Wow!" Saura exclaimed, starry-eyed. "So, you two are part of this Gold Division?"

"Each Division is made up of dozens and dozens of Resistance Teams who operate as units to carry out the missions needed by the Division," Scythe said. "My team is known as Team Remorse. We consist of twelve Pokémon who take turns running missions in small groups, such as Shander and I. In all, fifty-two resistance teams make up the Gold Division."

"Not our remorse," Shander chimed in, "but the remorse we plan to instill in the Master when our efforts succeed."

"Was it your mission to capture us?" Char wondered.

"No," Scythe laughed. "Our mission yesterday involved grueling treks through several mystery dungeons. We found you completely on accident."

"Oh…" Saura said. "Well, I guess we owe you an apology, then. Char and I are sorry for making you chase us through the dungeon! We had no idea!"

"And I owe you one as well," Scythe said. "I apologize for harming you, Charmander. Your wound should heal very quickly."

Char looked at his wound, and although it still stung a little bit, a sticky scab now covered the cut. Char began to wonder if a Pokémon's wounds would naturally heal faster than a human's.

"What's so special about us?" Char asked, caressing the scab. "And just what are you going to do with us when we get to this base?"

"Always full of questions, are you?" Shander said. "That, we still can't tell you quite yet."

This time, Char decided not to argue. He was content with everything he had learned so far. Falling silent, he continued to follow Shander's lead as they ventured deeper into the featureless countryside. It struck him as odd, though, how Shander would occasionally re-direct his route, making both sharp turns and minor adjustments now and then, even though there were no landmarks that Char could see by which to follow. Even the horizon soon became one unbroken ring all around them, with nothing protruding from it and into the sky except for the looming sun.

"Hey… Scythe?" Saura asked meekly after recovering from a massive yawn, "Do you think… we could stay at your base for a while? You know, to hide from them?"

"That could be arranged," the Scyther grumbled. "But you could not stay with us forever."

"Oh…" Saura said in disappointment. "Why not?"

"The division base is not a safe haven for civilians," Shander explained. "It is not a refugee camp. It is a base of operations. Although we could offer you some temporary quarter, we could not house you indefinitely… that is, unless you were to join us."

"Can I?" Saura squealed. "Could I join the Gold Division? Please? And Char, too! What about him? Could we both work for you?"

"Being on a Resistance Team is not an easy lifestyle," Shander warned. "One mistake could cost many Pokémon their lives, you see. You were running from the Master because you dream of living only a free life, yes? If you were to join us, I can assure you that you would be giving up this dream of yours entirely. You would need to endure our training until you are confident enough to perform our work, and then you would need to follow our every command without fail. "

"Regardless, we have never turned down a willing Pokémon," Scythe said, "and if I have anything to say about it, I intend to keep it that way. If you despise the Master and want to oppose him, that's good enough for me."

"That's what I want!" Saura exclaimed vigorously. "The only thing better than being a free Pokémon is fighting so that other Pokémon can be free. I'll train! I'll fight the Master with you!"

"And you, Charmander?" Scythe inquired. "This Bulbasaur seems to be putting words in your mouth. Do you have anything to say in your own defense?"

"Char, this is perfect!" Saura said before Char could even reply. "You've got to trust me on this one. Join the Gold Division with me! I'm sure it'd help you learn lots about everything, too!"

Wow, Char thought. If I choose to join this team… How deep have I gone in such a short amount of time? Saura might be right; I might learn a lot about the world of Pokémon from this team. And I do need some sort of role to play for the time being. Who knows? Maybe this isn't all happening by coincidence, either. Maybe this is the road that will lead me back to where I came from.

"Okay, Saura, I'm with you," Char decided. "If you want to join this team, I will, too."

"Thank you!" Saura said, beaming with pride. "I'm sure this is the right thing to do. I can feel it!"

It was about six in the morning as the group finally arrived to their destination. Scythe's eyes were barely staying open. Shander shook his head frequently, trying to stay focused.

"This is it," Shander finally reported. "We're about to enter the base."

"Here is what will happen," Scythe instructed. "We'll guide you straight to Team Remorse's living quarters. There are going to be a lot of Pokémon down there. Don't talk to anyone. Don't touch anything. Understood?"

"Got it," Saura said with a nod.

"Once we arrive, we're all going to take a well-deserved rest," Scythe continued. "We've all stayed up all night, I have no doubt that our bodies are begging us for a good twelve-hour sleep. Our teammates will take over for our duties today. I want you two to stay in the living quarters until I tell you otherwise. Then, at this time tomorrow, we can continue discussing matters."

"Brace yourself," Shander warned. "What you are about to see might confuse you."

Char and Saura glanced around expectantly, wondering just what to expect. But the scenery was still just as dull and featureless as ever.

The ground shook. To Char, it felt like a fissure was about to open up below his feet. He jumped up, afraid that the ground was about to swallow him whole. But it lasted only for about five seconds before stopping abruptly.

"What was that?!" Saura cried, trying to figure out what had changed. "Was that an earthquake?"

The Scyther and the Sandslash did not answer. They stood still, waiting for something.

And then, a mysterious voice sounded from seemingly nowhere. It was only a tiny mumble, something that could barely be heard unless one was waiting for it.

"Lay low, wait and grow," said the raspy, barely-audible voice. "Seeds of strength to reap and sew..."

"Lay low, keep ahold, await the day of power untold," Scythe and Shander replied in unison.

After the words had been spoken, a massive crevice appeared in the ground before their very eyes.

"Whoa!" Saura cried. "Look! It's like the ground just faded away!"

"It's a very well-hidden entrance," Shander commented. "And we have our sentry to thank for that."

"Ah, ha ha, Welcome back," the voice said.

A Haunter floated up out of the dark crevice, smiling and bowing before the travelers.

"Good morning, Gate," the Scyther said, returning the bow.

"It's good to see you," Gate replied with a gleaming smile. "Some said you wouldn't make it back. But most of us knew better, of course. Team Remorse can take care of itself."

"Bulbasaur, Charmander, this is Gate, our sentry," Scythe said. "He remains here at the entrance, day and night, projecting an illusion over it."

"Our code words come from a lengthy ballad all Division members are required to memorize," Shander added. "It's a nonsense poem. He recites a line of the poem to us, and we must complete the verse to gain entry."

"Nice to meet you," Saura said awkwardly.

"Ah, ha ha, and who are you?" the Haunter laughed. "A pair of new faces for me to memorize, eh?"

"Yes," the Scyther said. "These two will be staying with us for the time being."

"Very well, very well," Gate sang. "Proceed on in. I bet you're all worn out. You newcomers, you might want to mind the step! Once again, good to see that you two are safe."

Scythe nodded to the ghost, and Gate slid back into the ground and out of sight. Char peered curiously into the new passage. It was a large, descending staircase leading down into black nothingness. The stairs were cracked and crumbling, starting to resemble a jagged ramp more than anything. In fact, the first stair had been completely chipped off, leaving a scary-looking drop from the surface. A dusty smell rose from the pit.

"This is really the main entrance?" Saura asked. "It looks… creepy. And deserted!"

"This is our back entrance," Shander said. "The base has a total of four entrances, and the others are even more cryptically hidden than this one!"

"I'm about ready to collapse," Scythe growled. "Let's get on in already. Don't be afraid, you two. Just follow me."

Scythe took the lead, and Char and Saura did as they were told. Char took the utmost care to land on his feet when climbing down onto the first stair. Saura followed, using his vines to balance himself down the uneven surface.

The staircase went down quite a ways. As the last of the sunlight faded from view, Char once again realized how thankful he was for his fiery tail. He realized he'd never have to worry about being trapped in the dark.

"Ah, what I'd give to have the element of fire on my side," Shander commented, also taking note of the unfamiliar light. "Perhaps one day, when Pokémon solve the mysteries of the evolution stones, we could engineer a brand new Sandslash evolution…"

"Right, and I could be a dragon," Scythe groaned sarcastically. "But Shander is right. The element of fire is a useful and devastating one, Charmander. Be thankful it is on your side."

At last, the staircase ended and leveled into a long, dark hallway.

"Hey, this isn't another mystery dungeon, is it?" Saura asked. "It sure is a long way!"

"It needs to be this way," Scythe said. "It's for security. This hallway is lined from end to end with traps."

"Traps?!" Char yelped, jumping a foot in the air. "Where?! How do I keep from activating them?"

"Relax, relax," Scythe said. "They can only be activated all at once, and from elsewhere. Gate is in charge of them. He'll activate the traps if an unwelcome Pokémon somehow barges in."

Char's eyes glazed over the stony walls, his stomach still a little upset at the thought of standing in the middle of a death trap. They looked like perfectly normal walls to him.

Finally, after walking for ten more minutes, the group turned a corner. A brilliant orange light shined from the end of the corridor.

"Here we are," Shander reported. "Remember: stay close to Scythe. Follow him. Don't bother any other Pokémon."

---

Gold Division Base

The moment he stepped through the archway and into the base, Char felt his breath leave him. Dozens of passageways carved out of stone wound around the walls as ramps and into countless hallways. Hundreds upon hundreds of burning torches hung from the walls, lighting the cavern as if it were early evening. The ceiling was impossible to see from the ground floor, the view blocked by protruding rocks from walls and bridges anchored to the ground with thin stone pillars.

Pokémon of all shapes and sizes swarmed the place, filling the room with all sorts of voices and cries. A Hypno and a Marowak crossed his path, eying him suspiciously. A Dugtrio popped out from a nearby wall. A flock of Pidgeotto swooped through the air and weaved between the suspended bridges, a massive Starraptor leading them. A Graveler and an Onix emerged from a large side-tunnel.

"Saura…" Char said, struggling to speak. "I can't… breathe!"

Char found that his heart was beating uncontrollably now, flooding him with such intense excitement that he felt he would faint. The sight of the cavern was inexplicably beautiful to him. He felt the overpowering urge to dwell here for a very long time, that it was somehow perfect for him. He felt that he wanted to trawl and memorize every last tunnel and chamber of the complex.

"Char, calm down. It's only your instinct," Saura said, helping the quivering Charmander to stand. "Charmander live in mountain caves that look like this. All this torch-fire is probably getting you all excited, too."

"Charmander! Bulbasaur!" Scythe yelled, already from across the room. "Please, try to stay with us!"

Char shook his head to regain focus, then rushed back to the Scyther's side, with Saura following close behind. They exited the large chamber, entering a lengthy network of side-tunnels. The halls were just as well-lit as the main chamber, brilliant torches lining every wall, but the wandering Pokémon became scarcer the farther down the tunnels they went. Finally, the hall they walked was completely deserted, save for one Exploud which had passed by at once point, gesturing to Scythe as it did so.

Scythe led the group to a large white stone slab pressed into the wall. It was a door.

"We're here," Scythe told them. "Now, let me just take you to my room, so you can sleep— "

Suddenly, the door slid open with astounding speed. A large, gruff-looking Houndoom stood in the doorway.

"Good morning, Daemon," Scythe said in a surprised but very respectful voice.

"Scythe," the Houndoom acknowledged him. "Welcome back. Good to see that you've returned. I trust that nothing went wrong yesterday?"

"There were no mistakes," Scythe confidently replied.

"I knew there was no cause to worry," the Houndoom said with a smug smile. "Now, who are these children with you?"

"They are… visitors," Scythe said, gesturing toward Char and Saura.

"I see," the Houndoom said. "In that case, let me walk them to the guests' quarters for you. You look very tired."

"The visitors will be staying with us today," Scythe insisted. "They will be staying in my room. I will take care of them."

The Houndoom shook his head, a scowl forming upon his menacing face. "I'm afraid that can't be done, Scythe. We have rules. Visitors must—"

"They will be staying with us today," Scythe repeated, more forcefully. Shander stepped up to Scythe's side, as if to help add strength to his demand.

The Houndoom didn't answer for a moment. A scowl appeared on his face, and with a snort, he forced his way past the crowd and down the dark hallway.

"Who was that?!" Char wondered quietly to himself so only Saura could hear.

"He didn't look friendly," Saura whispered back. "Better stay away from him."

"Come," Scythe said, guiding them into the chamber. "There is so much that needs to be done with you two, but I'm afraid it all must start with a day's rest."

Once Char and Saura had been ushered into Scythe's room, Shander whispered to his partner.

"Scythe… Are you sure you are ready to take this gamble? Do you truly think the Charmander has the Call?"

Scythe hung his head, wordlessly expressing his disappointment.

"Sleep well," Shander said as he turned to head to his own room. "We've got our work cut out for us tomorrow."

"Don't we always?" Scythe muttered, entering his own.

*Chapter 5*: Chapter 4: Tour

Chapter 4

Char had no idea how long he had slept that day, but he eventually found himself wide-awake in a dark and silent cave, staring at the rocky ceiling. Judging from the way his head felt, he figured he hadn't been sleeping for longer than a few hours...

I'm still a Charmander, he noticed, to his dismay. I guess it's not a dream after all. I really am stuck in a world I don't know.

Char's eyes fixed on the individual dents and stalactites in the ceiling, watching as the shadows cast from his tail wobbled awkwardly across the surface. Memories of the previous day floated back to him; he recalled that he was in a room with a Scyther and a Bulbasaur. He remembered that the Scyther had led him miles to some sort of secret underground base, a place where he now slept. But most of all, he remembered that he had made some sort of commitment. Some sort of promise. That, in the upcoming day, he was to take on some sort of grand, new role.

I'm going to be a member of one of these "resistance teams", just like Scythe and Shander, Char realized. What's that going to be like? Will I have to go head-to-head with the Master's soldiers each and every day? I still don't like to fight all that much. But… most importantly… am I ever going to figure out how I got here? The only thing I can remember about my previous life is that I was a human. That's the only thing I'm perfectly sure of. It seems like some kind of clue.

Char turned to lie on his side, wondering whether Pokémon ever found it uncomfortable to sleep on such a flat, hard surface like the stone floor beneath him. Though the Scyther and the Bulbasaur beside him were clearly not complaining, his back was becoming a bit cramped.

And that's the only clue I seem to have at the moment, Char continued. But it must mean… that I was meant to seek out my past. Otherwise, I'd probably have accepted my role as a Pokémon by now. But I hope I can find some more clues soon. Ahh, why couldn't I have kept my memories? This feels so… unnerving. It's as though… I'm not supposed to be here, but I don't know why.

Char turned his head, glancing at the sleeping Bulbasaur. The seed on his back rose and fell with his steady breathing.

Maybe Saura has something to do with it, too, Char thought. Maybe he's another clue. He's the first Pokémon I met. That must mean something.

"Hey, Char," the Bulbasaur sighed in a gentle, weary voice.

Char was surprised; Saura still looked asleep.

"Yeah?"

"So you're awake, too," Saura said, not even opening his eyes. "I can't sleep any more. I think I just slept for an entire day, and I'm too excited about tomorrow."

"I can't sleep, either," Char said. "I still feel… weird. Being a Pokémon and all, I mean."

"I was thinking about something," Saura said. "Yesterday, you really surprised me when you attacked Scythe. Why did you do it?"

"I promised I'd help you run from the soldiers," Char said simply. "It's what I had to do."

"I would have never asked you to go that far," Saura said. "It was touching to see you do that for me, especially with how you're afraid to fight."

"But that's the funny thing," Char said. "I didn't even want to fight. I knew it would be hopeless. But… there was this feeling I got… and it told me to fight back to keep the promise I made. And I couldn't refuse it. It was all instinct. I think… I need to start getting used to this. My instincts are a lot stronger than they were when I was human…"

"Well, do you know what, Char?" Saura said. "Remember when Scythe asked you whether or not you wanted to join the team with me? If you would have said no, I would have changed my mind."

Char blinked. "…Really?" He asked, a little surprised. "I would have never guessed. You seemed so eager to join."

"Yeah. I made a promise, too. I promised to help you be a Pokémon. If you didn't want to join the resistance team, I would have stayed with you. You're the human, after all. I'm just the follower."

It felt strangely satisfying, somehow, to hear Saura say those words, and he wondered if it was his Pokémon instinct again that made him take such great comfort in having a companion. Char was convinced that, as a human, he would have never grown so attached to another person so quickly, and he wondered whether or not all Pokémon were so naturally disposed to forming bonds with each other.

"And that's not changing," Saura added. "If you want to quit any time, I'll go with you. So you don't have to feel like I'm dragging you places you don't want."

"Thanks," said Char. "But I think I'll stay. I thought about it a lot, I think you're right. I think this is the right thing to do for now."

"Whatever you say, Char." Saura sighed, smiling contently.

After that, Char closed his eyes once more and tried to get his restless mind to drift back into sleep.

What neither of them realized, though, was that Scythe was also having trouble sleeping that night. His face had been turned away from them, but his eyes remained wide open… Not only from sleeplessness, but now from shock.

Human…? He mentally repeated, trying to wrap his mind around the puzzling exchange he'd just witnessed.

… … …

The next morning, Char and Saura were given a very rude awakening.

"Enough sleep!" a deep voice commanded, barging into the room and causing both Char and Saura to jump awake in fright. "Get moving. Scythe's room is not a lounge. You've stayed the night, and now it is time for you to leave."

After wiping the blur from his eyes, Char turned to see the Pokémon who'd entered the room. It was the Houndoom, and standing beside it was an especially large Ursaring.

"Go on, get out," the Houndoom barked again. "Consider yourselves lucky. It has been a very long time since we have last offered as much hospitality to visitors as we have offered you. As of this evening, you will be staying down with the trainees."

"Hey!" Saura cried, glancing around the room. "Scythe! Where'd he go? I thought he said we were joining Team Remorse?"

Indeed, Scythe was nowhere to be seen. Char felt more than a bit nervous facing the intimidating hound without the help of the Scyther.

"I've had an… extensive… discussion with Scythe," the Houndoom rebuked. "I have made sure to tell him just what I think of you. He put forth the ridiculous assertion that you should join our team. But understand, hatchlings; Team Remorse has standards we must uphold, and frankly, you don't meet any of them. At this point in time, it is simply out of the question."

Oh, I get it! Char realized. This Houndoom must be the leader of the team! No wonder he's so… authoritative.

"So… what do we do!?" Saura cried. "If we can't join Team Remorse… what do we do?"

"I was planning to send you to join one of our many training teams, but, for reasons that are beyond me, Scythe had different plans for you," the hound continued. "Scythe insists on allowing you apprenticeship with us. He wants Team Remorse to train you personally, and he refused to stop fussing about it until we gave in and made a deal. Here is the compromise we arrived at: you two are to form your own two-person resistance team, and this team will become affiliated with Team Remorse as our trainees. But your team base will be down in the lower halls with all the rest, not here."

"Our own resistance team?" Saura repeated in disbelief. "Char! Did you hear that? We're going to start our own resistance team! I never imagined anything like this would happen! Wow!"

"Get in line," the Houndoom snarled, disgusted at Saura's attitude. "Either way, you are not welcome here anymore. My partner, Ursa, will escort you out."

Not wanting to anger the hound any further, Char climbed to his feet and took the hint to leave the room. The Houndoom, still clearly annoyed, kept his head held high as he led them down the hall and toward the main tunnels of the base. As they walked, Char realized that he had no earthly idea what time of day it was; the torches burned just as brightly as they did before, and there were no windows to the outside anywhere to be seen. He wondered how the gold division kept track of time.

"Today, you will be given a brief tour of the complex," the Houndoom stated. "Ursa will show you around. I expect you to memorize everything he tells you, as well as your way through the base. Also… before the day is over, your new resistance team must be registered as an official member of the gold division. Ursa will take you to the records office to accomplish this. However… before that happens, you must decide on a team name."

"Wow, this is serious, isn't it?" Saura said, almost hyperventilating. "Char, we'll have to think about a good name today. I'm sure we can think of something."

"Team LoveJoy, Team Poképals, Team Sharing, all fine names," the Houndoom rattled off, his sneering voice overflowing with sarcasm. "But if you want my advice, try to choose a name that actually means something about you and why you've chosen to fight your battles as a resistance team. Your name will become your identity. It will determine not only how your colleagues treat you, but also how you treat yourself."

When they reached the end of Team Remorse's tunnel, the Houndoom practically shoved them out the door.

"Now, get out of here," said the Houndoom as the Ursaring ushered them out quickly. "If we are to be training you, you must move with purpose and haste. We will accept nothing less. Now get moving."

The door slammed behind them. Char even noticed Saura relax a little bit when the Houndoom was out of sight.

"Don't mind him," the Ursaring said. "Daemon's always like that. You get used to him after a while. Anyway, they call me Ursa. And you are…?"

"I'm Saura, and this is Char," Saura said. "I'm from the Tiny Plains out west. Char is… well, we don't exactly know. Char lost his memory."

"Amnesia, eh?" Ursa said, leading them down to the main chambers. "Sounds like the Watchers got to you. We've had that sort of thing happen before. Why, I even remember just last year, we had a very promising Kadabra by the name of Ogomo get overconfident and caught by the Watchers. It was miraculous that he survived, but those Watchers did somethin' with his mind. When he finally came crawling back here, he couldn't remember anything. His name, his friends, even the code words. Nothin'. He still fights just as good as always, though. We're thankful for that, at least."

Wow, Char thought. Maybe that's what happened to me. But who are the "Watchers"?

"Yeah, we thought of that," Saura said. "But Char is… well, we think it's probably something else."

"Yeah, well, good luck on the recovery, by all means," Ursa said. "Either way, it's nice to see a Charmander around these parts. Hope you do well here. Now… I'm figuring I should show you to the more important places first. Follow me."

Soon, the trio had emerged back into the main cavern of the base. Once again, Char had a little bit of trouble tearing his gaze away from the expansive, torch-lined room. It was absolutely packed with Pokémon, even moreso than before, all hurrying this way and that to get ready for the day's missions and tasks. Char and Saura followed the bear Pokémon to the very back of the cavern, where he entered a massive arch-shaped tunnel.

"Well, this is probably the most important place here," Ursa said. "Down here's the hospital. Our master of medicine is Dr. Orde, the Slowking. His assistants are Blissey and Hypno."

"Slowking?" Saura repeated. "That's an odd Pokémon to work in a hospital."

"Yeah, you'd think that, wouldn't you?" Usra grinned. "Of course, that's only until he saves your life. Then you'll be singing his praises. He's quite a talented Pokémon with medicine, I'll have you know."

The group entered the hospital area. It was a very long room with a central row of rectangular stone tables protruding from the ground. There were about twenty of them in all. Behind the tables, on the back wall, were several stone shelves stocked with countless supplies, medicine bottles, and instruments. Each table had something like a giant white fireball hanging from the ceiling directly above, almost chandelier-like, which brought unparalleled illumination to the otherwise dark cavern. A few of the tables were occupied with Pokémon. Char spotted a wounded Zangoose on the farthest table, and Sneasel on another. Char watched as Blissey hurried over to the Sneasel's side with a rolling table of supplies.

"Ursa! Good day to you!" said a voice.

Char turned and saw Dr. Orde standing right before them. The Slowking was wearing a baggy coat full of pockets. He clutched something like a scalpel in his left hand.

"Good morning, Doctor," Ursa said. "Just giving some newcomers the run-around. Children, this is Dr. Orde. If you're wounded on a mission, poisoned, anything, he's the first Pokémon you go to."

"Mmm-Hmm," the Slowking said, looking across the room at something else. "I've got every medicine there is. Still figuring out how some of 'em work, but I always seem to get it right in the end."

Char and Saura gave each other an odd look.

"Oh! Of course!" the doctor exclaimed, clapping his one-fingered hands. "I remember what it was that I was doing! Yes, yes! The Sitrus-berries are going to go rotten! Oh, um, yes, very nice to meet you both, looking forward to your first visit here. Actually, no, I take that back, I hope you stay healthy and never have to come here. Later, later!"

The Slowking rushed off in some direction, practically ignoring them.

"Well, the doctor seems excited about something today," Ursa said. "Anyway, yeah, he may seem a bit odd, but he's a brilliant doctor, really. And his partner Hypno is an expert at psycho-therapy. You're in good hands when you come here. Honest."

"Sounds good to me," Saura said.

… … …

Next, Ursa lead them up a long spiral staircase. They passed up three floors, narrowly dodging a Nidoran that hurriedly bounded down the stairs past them. When they arrived to the fourth floor, another sizable hub room spread out before them as soon as they left the stairwell.

"Basement floor seven," Ursa announced. "Market."

"Wow, we went up a lot of stairs, but we're still that far down?" Saura said incredulously. "I didn't realize how deep this base went!"

"Well, it's pretty far down into the earth," Ursa said. "To me, it's pretty evident by the sheer number of stairs you have to climb down to even get in. Anyway, this is where you come to stock up on supplies before leaving on whatever journey you're going on. It's stationed here because it's not too long of a hike from the north or the northeast entrances, but the west entrance is quite a walk from here, unfortunately. But, I digress. Over there, on the right of the hallway, is the storage area. And here, on the left, you have the Kecleon brothers."

Ursa directed them into the first doorway on the left. Inside was quite a sight: it was obviously a store, but so fully packed from wall-to-wall with merchandise that it was hard to tell one item from the next. Strange clothes hung from the ceiling. Small boxes overflowing with supplies cluttered up every table. It was an emporium. Char's attention turned to a particular wall which was covered in bags of dried fruit. He instantly knew what it was for: nourishment for traveling in mystery dungeons.

"Ah, welcome!" shouted a green-colored Kecleon from across the room. "How can I help you on this fine morning?"

"I'm just here to give a tour to these newcomers," Ursa said. "May I introduce them to you?"

The Kecleon, who had been busy arranging a pile of what looked like shiny blue orbs on a pedestal, immediately halted his work and hurried over to meet the guests.

"Well, well," the Kecleon said. "A Charmander! It's been a while since I've seen one of your kind. And a Bulbasaur! A very promising duo, I must say!"

"This is Kecleon, our supplier," Ursa said in the manner of introduction. "He, along with his brother, get us everything we could possibly need to run our Division. His brother must be off on one of his errands at the moment."

"At your service!" Kecleon said with a bow. "If it's on the market, I can get it for you, guaranteed! My prices can't be beat, and I always make special exceptions just for my favorite customers."

"Nice to… meet you," Char said awkwardly.

"Yes, and you, too!" Kecleon replied. "I look forward to doing business with you!"

With that, Kecleon bowed once more, hurrying back to what he was doing.

"Wow, he certainly seems nice," Saura said, equally as awkwardly. "But… does he… charge money for these things? Doesn't he… you know… work for the division? Shouldn't division members get his stuff for free, or something?"

"Well, sadly, that's not part of the deal," the Ursaring sighed. "Kecleon and his brother don't exactly work for the Division. They work independently, you see, and they're only our client, so we've got to pay them. But their services are irreplaceable, either way. That, and it takes a heck of a lot of money to run a black market like this."

"Black market?" Saura repeated in surprise. "You mean… all this stuff…"

"Oh, yes," Ursa said. "Kecleon is… what you would call a professional fraud. He steals, swindles, and everything in between, to get what he has. He and his brother have connections all over the country. His job involves defrauding the main suppliers under the control of the Master, and secretly scoring merchandise for us. He's been at it for decades, and the Master apparently still hasn't caught on. It's a quite impressive career, I might add, probably takes more effort and trickery than I could ever imagine. But, he does it all with a smile, and we're happy to have him."

"Incredible," Saura said, looking around at all the stuff that filled the room with starry eyes. "I guess he's carrying out the same job of a resistance team, but in his own way."

"Oh, and one last thing about Kecleon," Ursa said, lowering his voice drastically. "Sometimes, when you're low on cash, he's usually more than happy to arrange a special deal for you. However… if you value your life, do not, under any circumstances, ever, EVER, try to take something from this shop without paying. That's… all I will say about that."

"Got that," Saura said with a gulp. "No stealing."

Char cast an odd glance at the reptilian Pokémon as he stepped out of the shop.

"Have a great day, and come again!" Kecleon called out with a friendly wave as he left.

… … …

Next, they took the same spiral staircase in the opposite direction. Down, down, and farther down they went, down to the deepest bowls of the caverns where it seemed like the activity was most chaotic. After they'd passed up at least five floors, they left the staircase and had to push through a hectic crowd of busy Pokémon just to get across the room. Char wondered what could be so important down in these lowest levels of the base that so many Pokémon would be gathered here.

"Be careful who you run into," Ursa warned humorously as he waded through the crowd. "Some Pokémon are poisonous, you know. You wouldn't want to run into their horns."

The hallway ended, opening up into a wider room which helped to lessen the traffic of Pokémon. Several doorways lined the room.

"Well, let's see. Over there, first door on the left, takes you to the treasury," Ursa said. "All of the division's gold and money is stored there. Persian also runs a bank from the treasury, so you can open your own personal account there if you want to store any spare change. Don't even think about robbing the place, though. It's guarded by more ghost Pokémon than you can shake a stick at. Next door, that goes to the grand hall. If we ever need to have a division-wide meeting, that's where we all go. It only happens once or twice a year, though, And finally…"

Ursa led them through the widest doorway, which turned into a massive, downward-ramped tunnel. As Char tried to keep from bumping into other Pokémon who were also traversing the tunnel, something caught his attention. Some sort of smell billowed up from the tunnel, becoming steadily more powerful the farther they went. Although Char couldn't identify it, it was an extremely inviting aroma…

"Oh! Smell that, Char?" Saura said excitedly. "This must be where they cook the food! Oh, wow! I'm in the mood for breakfast, aren't you? I haven't eaten in a whole day!"

Food! Char realized. This must be what Pokémon food smells like! It doesn't smell like any human food I remember… But oh, am I ever hungry!

"Basement floor fourteen," Ursa announced as they reached the end of the hall, which opened up into an amazing, rectangular cave that was lined with tables. "The mess hall. You can bet that you'll be visiting this place once or twice every day. Oh, and unlike Kecleon's merchandise, all our food is completely complementary. It's part of the division's expenses"

"It's free?!" Saura gasped.

"Well, are you hungry? We probably have some time to grab a bite," Ursa offered with a grin.

"You bet!" Saura exclaimed.

Char couldn't argue with Saura one bit. His stomach had been rumbling for a while, too.

Ursa led them to a large window which separated the mess hall from the kitchen. On the other end of the counter, many Pokémon scrambled this way and that to cook and prepare the food. There were several Farfech'd, but instead of their usual stalks, they held wooden sticks which they used to stir massive boiling vats of food. A Munchlax wandered around the kitchen, taste-testing from the vats with his finger. An Ampharos worked at the back counter, chopping up massive rows of colorful, round objects and separating them into pots.

"Hi!" said a Belossom on the other side of the counter as she pushed a tray of food across the counter and in front of them. "Enjoy! Have a nice day! Eat up! Here's to another great day!"

Char nodded politely to the Belossom as he took his tray. He inspected it, wondering just what kind of food covered the plate. The food consisted of large, oddly-shaped chunks of… something. It was quite colorful. He wondered if maybe it was candy.

"And if you're still hungry, just go for seconds, or thirds…" Ursa explained as the group sat down at a table.

Saura couldn't contain himself. He jumped up to set his front legs on the table and dug into the plate face-first, almost inhaling the food. Char, although hungry, couldn't help but take one of the objects from his plate and stare at curiously for a few moments, turning it around in his hand. It was warm to the touch.

"Broiled fruit salad," Ursa told him. "Eat it, you might like it!"

Char ate the chunk of fruit. It was sweet, tangy almost, and felt warm as it went down into his belly. He liked the warmth.

After emptying their plates, the three relaxed for a while to let their food settle. Ursa looked like he desired another plate of food (or five), but wasn't complaining.

"Wow, really awesome!" Saura said contently. "There's just one thing that I don't get, though. Why's the mess hall so far underground? You have to walk a long way every day just to eat!"

"Well, most of us would," Ursa said. "You see, the fifteenth through eighteenth floors of the base, just below here, are the living quarters. That's where all the Pokémon go each night to sleep. That's also where you'll be staying."

"What?!" Saura yelped. "That's unbelievable! We have to walk up all those stairs, and back down again, each day?"

"It'll give you strong legs," Ursa laughed.

"Wait, then how come Team Remorse was so close to the surface?" Saura wondered. "When we came in, they were right down the hall!"

"Well, the higher in rank the team, the closer to the surface you can live," Ursa explained. "And Team Remorse is one of this division's highest-ranking teams. We even get food delivered up to our rooms every morning."

"Oh, wow," Saura said, a bit humbled. "That's harsh. I'm already starting to miss living up with your team."

"Well, you really never know," Ursa said optimistically. "Scythe has really taken an interest in you two, for whatever reason. You might find yourself getting to stay with us more often in the future. And, let me tell you, Pokémon around here consider that a real honor, to train with such a high-level team."

"Where is Scythe, anyway?" Char asked. "He just left this morning. Did he go on another mission? Will we see him again?"

"Scythe is… somewhere in this place," Ursa said. "Don't know where. But yeah, you're going to see him again. He wants to talk to you tonight, after our little tour is over and your team is registered. He says he needs to see you for some special reason. He won't tell any of us what it's about, though. Except for Shander, but that Sandslash refuses to spill it, no matter how hard we try…"

Oh, our resistance team! Char realized. We still have to think of a name!

"Scythe seems like a really skilled Pokémon," Saura said. "It sounds like he's been through a lot of fighting in his time. I bet he's really earned his place on your team, hasn't he?"

"Oh yeah, Scythe is one of our best warriors in the entire division," Ursa said with a nod. "And just about everyone's got high respect for him. But… I swear, you've never met a more modest Pokémon in your life."

"Modest?" Saura repeated.

"Oh, yeah," Ursa told him. "Scythe hates to brag. You'll never hear him talk about himself… let me guess, the big ol' bug never actually told you he's the leader of Team Remorse, did he?"

Hearing the news, Char's mouth fell wide open.

"Really?" Saura cried. "I never would have guessed! Scythe leads Team Remorse? He must be a much more important Pokémon than either of us knew, Char!"

"But wait," Char interjected. "What about that Houndoom? I thought maybe he was the leader. He really acted like it."

"Oh, that's Daemon," Ursa laughed. "He's the second-in-charge. You'd never know it, though, because he always acts like he's the one in command. He and Scythe have never really been on terms with one another. As you've probably seen, they have very different styles of leadership. They get into arguments all the time about nearly everything."

"I can only imagine," Saura said.

"Scythe always takes his opinion into consideration," he said, "but ultimately, it's Scythe's word that goes. That's why you two are his apprentices now, because that's what the big ol' bug wanted."

"Well, we'll be sure to treat him with a lot more respect when we see him next, won't we, Char?" Saura said. "I can't imagine how lucky we are to be in this position."

"Well, if you're both done, we should get going," Ursa said, standing up from the seat. "We've got more to see. The next place we're going should prove interesting."

… … …

They took an alternate route back up: it was a big, dark shaft with no stairways and no ramps. It did, however, contain a small elevator which operated when some unseen force far above yanked on the steel cables. Ursa explained that the larger Pokémon like the Onix needed a way to get around as well, and they had burrowed these huge holes through the rock as their own personal roadways. He also explained that there were Magnezone stationed in some of the vertical shafts, running elevators as alternate routes for Pokémon carrying things that would be impossible to take on the staircases.

"Now, listen," Ursa told them when they'd gone up a few floors and left the elevator. "What you are about to see next… is one of this division's best-kept secrets. It will stun you. It will leave you speechless. Heheh, I can't wait to see the looks on your faces!"

"This place doesn't look like it's ever going to run out of surprises," Saura said with a grin. "Try us!"

The next place they were lead was very devoid of other Pokémon travelers. A Hitmonchan sat on a bench at the side of the hallway in deep meditation, but other than that, the corridor was desolate…

At the end of the corridor was a single, small door covered by a red, tattered cloth which hung from the archway.

"Ready?" Ursa said, grinning wildly as he approached the doorway. "I remember when I first saw this. You're gonna love it."

"I can't imagine," Saura said. "Show us already!"

"Hey!" Ursa called to someone, poking his nose through the drapes. "Hey, Domo! Domo! We have newcomers! … … … Oh, alright. He's ready now. Kids, come on in! Come on in!"

Ursa parted the drapes, revealing the room.

It was an extremely large, circular room. The floor had many colorful designs engraved on it, forming a sort of platform in the center of the room. Floating above the ground in the very center of the room, was something incredible.

"Impossible!" Saura gasped, eyes fixated on it. "No! It's… It can't be! This has to be some sort of joke!"

When Char stepped forward to focus on it, he, too, lost the words to exclaim his surprise. It was a tiny cat Pokémon, colored a light and creamy pink, bobbing gently in the air before them. It stared back at him with two huge, blue, bubbly eyes. Its long tail waved from side to side.

"Mew!" it squeaked with a little giggle.

*Chapter 6*: Chapter 5: Mew and Dialga

Chapter 5

As Char and Saura incredulously gazed at the Mew which floated before them, Ursa couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"This can't be," Saura said again. "I'm sorry, Ursa, but I just can't believe this. It's too much! I just can't believe that Mew… works for the division."

"Even though it's what you see right in front of you?" Ursa asked.

Char couldn't quite figure out what to think, either. Mew was one of the greatest Pokémon of legend, thought to be the ancestor of all living Pokémon. It was also thought to be nigh uncatchable to both man and Pokémon, bearing some of the greatest psychic powers ever known. Although Char always knew what Mew looked like, he never thought he'd see the legend in person! Char wanted to agree with Saura that it couldn't be real… even though the Mew looked as real and believable as could be.

"There's got to be a ghost Pokémon around here making an illusion," Saura guessed. "This has to be a trick."

Giggling again, the Mew floated down to tap Saura on the nose. Its long, curling tail wiggled behind it, its eyes sparkling and beaming with curiosity.

"It's… not an illusion… is it?" Saura gasped. "Is this… really Mew?"

But then, a sharp blue light radiated from Mew's body. Its whole form soon shifted into an amorphous, gleaming mass.

"Aww!" Saura cried, jumping backward.

The mass grew, and didn't stop. It became very tall, looming high in the air above the speechless little children who watched. Its form became long and thin, like a giant snake with its head held high.

Char and Saura watched as light faded and the mass began to solidify, once again taking distinct shapes and colors. The next thing they knew, a full-sized Onix sat before them.

"Impossible!" Saura gasped. "Char! It must be Mew! Mew is the only Pokémon that can transform, since it has the genes of all other Pokémon…"

"The… only Pokémon that can transform?" the Onix boomed, surprising Char and Saura both.

"Well, there is another Pokémon that is known for its transformation powers, but they don't work like this," Saura said.

The Onix lowered its head, staring Saura right in the eye. "…And which Pokémon would that be?" it grumbled.

"D—Ditto." Saura stuttered. "Ditto can transform into anything they see. But… Ditto are forgetful, so they can only transform into something they're looking at. But you… can transform into things you don't see."

Again, the great figure began to shape-shift. The long, rocky body of the Onix melted away into a blob of light, shrinking down to a much shorter size. When it was about Char's height, it started to take a new form… a Xatu, the bird of wisdom and patience.

"That, I can," the Xatu said, staring straight into Saura's eyes with its piercing, unblinking gaze. "But it does not mean I am Mew. Indeed… I am a Ditto."

"Char, Saura, I'd like you to meet Domo, our combat trainer," Ursa introduced. "This is his dojo. He uses his many forms to help train us for battle."

Saura blinked. "But… then... how do you have such a good memory for a Ditto? How can you transform into these things so perfectly without watching them?" he wondered. " And… You're a 'he'? I thought Ditto were neither male nor female…"

"I am male, because I choose to be male," the Xatu replied. "When speaking to others, my favorite forms are male, thus, people refer to me as 'he' and 'him'. As for my powers of transformation… I will tell you how I came to be this way."

The Ditto shape-shifted once more, this time becoming a Golduck. "Whenever I tell this story, I always try to tell it with Xatu's form for effect," he muttered. "But I cannot stand that form! Every time I try, it always gives me the overpowering urge to stare straight into the sun, and then I become infuriated because the sun is not visible from down here. So, this form will have to do. Anyway… here is my story."

Char and Saura both made themselves comfortable before the storyteller, and he began.

"One day, decades and decades ago, I was using my inherent powers of transformation to explore the world. I witnessed many lands and many tribes of Pokémon along my journey. I would meet a bird, become it, then fly to another location where I would become a local Pokémon to observe them in their native habitat. It was a very enlightening journey. It was all I ever asked for, to learn the ways of my fellow Pokémon, since I myself did not have an identity of my own. But apparently, fate had other plans for me."

"One fateful day, as I was exploring a very particular region… the impossible happened. I was visited by Mew!"

Char was surprised. "Where? Where did you see Mew?" he asked excitedly.

"I will not say," Domo answered, "for I fear that, if Mew would happen to still be dwelling there today, the great dragons would never forgive me for calling attention to it and tempting other Pokémon to go bother it. Nonetheless… I saw it, and it was the real, true Mew, still alive after all these years of myths and legends. It must have thought I was a strange Pokémon, a creature that didn't quite act like it should, so it came to stare at me. Then, I did what any Ditto would have done… I took on Mew's form for myself. But no sooner did I open my eyes in my new form than Mew had vanished."

"Wow! That's incredible." Saura said. "I can't imagine how lucky you'd have to be to have something like that happen to you!"

"When you speak of luck, you have no concept," Domo continued. "Being Mew was such a sublime experience. The form was… so powerful, so free, so perfect… I flew around wildly for hours, just enjoying myself. I knew that Mew's instincts were making me act that way, but I didn't care. I was so happy."

"But… a Ditto cannot remain in a form forever," Domo said, his voice changing in tone. "A Ditto will run out of strength if it tries to hold a form for too long, you see. The hour soon drew upon me that I would have to abandon the form of Mew. I saw it coming, but I pretended it wouldn't happen, because I wanted so badly to stay in that form for the rest of my life. I remember how horrified I felt when I knew those final moments were ticking down… Even as Mew, I felt profound fear. And so… it happened. I abandoned Mew's form. When I did, I sat down right where I was and cried my entire heart out, knowing that I would never again be Mew. "

"Wow…" Char commented, feeling pity for the storyteller. "That must have felt so horrible, to lose something that rare and precious."

"Words could not describe my agony," Domo continued. "I cried and cried, until I couldn't cry any more. While I waited for my strength to return, I remained there, in my true form, reflecting upon my time as Mew and wondering if I could perhaps meet it again if I were to choose clever enough disguises. I was desperate, you see. But then… when my strength returned and I was ready to choose my next form, I realized that I felt very odd. I could not explain the feeling if I tried, but it was as if becoming Mew changed something within me. And this feeling… it made me want to try and become Mew once again, even though I was convinced I wouldn't recall it from memory. But I closed my eyes, and I tried…"

"And it worked?!" Saura guessed.

"Indeed," Domo said. "I had once again become Mew! But that's not all… I found myself imbued with a special power unknown to any other Ditto before me. From that point forth, I could revert back to any of my previous forms effortlessly! No longer did I need to watch another Pokémon with my own eyes or concentrate hard enough to recall it vividly… I could simply command my body to change, and it would change perfectly, provided I'd been in the form sometime before. You see, Mew is said to contain the DNA of all other Pokémon within it. When I became Mew, I suppose the DNA of all Pokémon somehow became part of me, and stayed with me even after I left Mew's form. Thus, I never again will need to use memories to transform, since I have the very genes of the Pokémon within me!"

"So, you can change into any Pokémon you want? That's… crazy!" Saura said.

"Well, it's not a perfect power. You see, I still can only change into Pokémon I have seen with my own eyes," he said. "Plus, my transformations do not come with memories or life experiences. I must train myself to use each transformation individually, and from scratch. And I must also deal with the wide array of Pokémon instincts. So, it follows that I won't be nearly as skilled with any one of my transformations as a Pokémon who has been the same Pokémon for their entire life."

Except for one who's only been a Pokémon for a few days, Char thought.

"Nevertheless, from that day forth, it became my life's dream to attain as many transformations as possible. As of now, I know how to become one hundred and forty-four Pokémon. While that is an impressive number, I still have a very long way to go if I want to see every known Pokémon species! Of course, Mew is still my most treasured form, and I tend to spend many an hour watching the world from behind its curious eyes. Being Mew has also given me a level of intelligence far beyond anything a Ditto such as myself would have otherwise been capable of. Ditto tend to be unintelligent beings. I have risen above that."

Domo changed into a Donphan. He took an intimidating, battle-ready stance.

"In return for permission to stay with this guild and see all the Pokémon who enter here, I use my powers to train newcomers and skilled Pokémon alike in the fine arts of battle," Domo roared in this new form. "I expect to see you two visit me very often so we can get to work on your techniques. You won't survive the tasks this place puts you through unless you know what you're doing on the battlefield!"

It was strange to hear Domo speak with a different voice each time he changed forms. To Char, watching the transformations was also a bit daunting; the thought of having to battle the Ditto's more powerful forms, even if it were only for practice, scared him.

"After all, I am not the only Pokémon who has transformations to undergo," Domo said. "Both of you will one day evolve. The more battle experience you receive, the sooner that day will come!"

Domo wasted no time in transforming. His form grew taller, wider, heavier; a pair of huge wings melted into existence from his back. His head became triangular, sprouting two horns, and its legs rippled with muscles. When the Ditto's transformation was complete, it stood before them as an impressive, fully-grown Charizard.

"Mrraaawwww!" it roared, a huge fireball billowing up from its maw. Char's heart beat even faster as he gazed up at the powerful dragon which overshadowed him.

Wow! Char thought. A Charizard! It looks so… so awesome! And to think I might one day be one of those… That is, if I'm still stuck as a Pokémon by then… But still! Wow!

"You, little Charmander, will one day become this: the mighty, the proud, the free-flying Charizard!" Domo bellowed. "Respected by all Pokémon as a superior and feared by all enemies, the Charizard's brute strength and command of the element of fire, not to mention its mobility and command of the skies, make it a rock-solid warrior and a desirable teammate. Train hard, little one, so you may soon see the world from behind the cunning eyes of the dragon!"

Yes! Char thought, his eyes just as bright as his smile. I will train! I will become Charizard!

"And you, little Bulbasaur…" Domo said, initiating another transformation, "You have a glorious future ahead of you as well!"

Domo soon became a ball of light, much larger than ever before. The tiny front claws of the Charizard grew to an enormous size, coming down to rest on the ground. When the creature had come to stand on all fours, a great stalk sprung out of its back and blossomed into many leaves and pedals.

When the transformation ended, Domo's new form—a great Venusaur—stood before the two, awaiting their reactions.

"The marvelous beast before which all other plants bow down!" Domo exclaimed in his new form. "The master of all that is green and the fearsome wielder of poison! There is nothing that Arceus has left to be desired in this magnificent creature! When you—"

Domo, surprised that the Bulbasaur hadn't shown anywhere near the level of elation the Charmadner had, stopped in mid-sentence and glanced down at him oddly.

"Is something wrong?" the Venusaur grumbled. "Children are usually excited to see their evolved forms. Aren't you looking forward to becoming a Venusaur?"

Char glanced at Saura. He had a funny look on his face—something between being depressed and having a frog stuck in his throat.

"I—" Saura finally responded, shaking his head a little. "Sorry. It's not you, Domo. I already know what a Venusaur looks like. My parents are Venusaur. It's just…"

"Saura doesn't want to evolve," Char said suddenly, remembering what his friend had said. "He wants to stay the way he is."

"Really?" Domo responded in surprise. "That's unusual. Is this true, Bulbasaur? Do you truly wish to remain in your tiny, weakened form?"

Saura didn't respond. He bit his lip, not knowing what to say.

"Well, if that is actually the case…" Domo said as he began to change forms again, "while I understand that it is hard for a Pokémon to deny what is in their heart, this particular desire is a very foolish one. You have no reason to not grow stronger! Any reason you think you might have is only a fluke. Dispel it! Besides… the division you live among now will expect you to quickly grow into a Venusaur, and they'll be disappointed in you if you refuse."

In minutes, Domo was back into his favorite form—the Mew—but Saura didn't seem nearly as excited to see it the second time around.

"Now, be off!" the Mew squeaked in a playful voice. "I have students to train. I will start my training with you tomorrow."

"Char, let's go," Saura said dejectedly. Char followed.

However, when they turned to leave, their guide was no longer there.

"Hey, where's Ursa?" Char wondered. "When did he leave?"

"Oh, he left a while back," Domo chirped with Mew's voice. "Maybe he expects you to return to him yourself. You have learned your way around the base, haven't you?"

Char and Saura glanced at one other, exchanging a glance of worry.

… … …

"So… I guess we have to find our way back to Team Remorse on our own?" Saura wondered as the two left the dojo and started wandering down the tunnel again. "I know Daemon told us to memorize everything, but this fast? I can't even remember how we got here. Do you, Char?"

Char didn't know what to say to him. Saura was disheartened now, like he'd just been told he would fail a test. Domo said he would need to evolve to be accepted by the division, yet one of the reasons he ran away from the soldiers in the first place was because he wanted to say the way he was.

"Hey, I think we head back this way." Saura said, looking around. "We went down a long ramp, right? And then we went up an elevator… So we have to go down the elevator, right? Or up the ramp? Do they both go the same way? Grr, I wish I'd been paying more attention!"

"This is almost like being in a mystery dungeon after all," Char commented. "I suppose if we can't find our way around here, we can't handle it out in a dungeon."

"You're right," Saura said. "This must be their way of testing us, Char. Let's pass this test! If we're being trained by someone as great as Scythe, we have to earn it. Now, think! Try to remember the way back!"

As they walked, the hallway began to become vaguely familiar to Char. He remembered the bench the Hitmonchan had been resting on, apparently waiting his turn to train in the dojo. He remembered how the hallway had been deserted. He remembered the elevator shaft…

"The elevator!" Char determined. "We definitely go down the elevator to get back to the place with the food. We could probably find our way from there."

"Let's go!" Saura said, bounding down the hallway to lead the way.

… … …

After tracing their steps, the twosome found their way back to the elevator shaft and back to the large room which lead to the mess hall.

"Okay, I remember this place," Saura said over the rumble of the other Pokémon in the room. "But these doors all look the same. Which way do we go now?"

Char looked from one door to another. Saura was right; they barely looked any different. Yet Pokémon filed in and out of the doors like a river, somehow knowing where they were going. Char remembered Ursa saying something about a treasury one way, and… something else.

"Well, I guess we pick a door and try it," Saura said. "If we're wrong, we can always go back."

"Right," Char said, trying to decide which way. "Um… this way?"

"Good enough for me," Saura said.

The twosome ventured through the chosen door. It led to yet another hallway. However, no other Pokémon were coming or going at this place.

"Looks deserted here," Saura said as he followed Char. "I don't think this is the way."

"Well, let's see what's down here, at least," Char suggested. "We've got to learn our way around this place eventually."

The hallway continued to a long, steep ramp which leveled out into yet another hallway. It turned a corner, then another, before ending with an ornate archway. The room beyond the archway was completely dark; the torchlight which lit the hall stopped short.

"Ohh, scary," Saura said. "I wonder what's in here?"

"It's dark," Char said with a shiver in his voice.

Gathering his tail in his hand like a torch, Char stepped forward into the mysterious room.

*FWOOSH!*

As soon as Char set foot through the archway, the entire room roared with a mighty noise that made both Pokémon jump in fright.

"What was that?!" Saura yelped in fright.

*FWOOSH!* *FWOOSH!*

Char realized what was happening: the room was becoming lit! Dozens of torches which lined the sides of the room were suddenly and mysteriously lighting themselves, mighty flames roaring to life at the tip of sticks protruding from the walls and saucers hanging from the ceilings.

"Awww!" Saura could only say as he looked upon the now-lit room as the last of the magical fire appeared on the far walls.

The size of this room was unprecedented; it was larger than any of the other rooms they'd seen in the entire complex so far. Its purpose was clear: it was a theater. The seats consisted of solid stone stair-steps of varying sizes, presumably enough to seat the entire division. The doorway they'd just entered through was one of many; there were at least five other entrances of different heights and widths all lining the outside wall. Four massive pillars stood around the outer edges of the room, supporting the sloped ceiling. At the center of it all, at the front of the room, was the stage. The stage was crowned by a great arch which contained stone engravings of many different kinds of Pokémon and footprint-runes.

But the most impressive part of the room—the part Saura's eyes instantly fixed on—were the two giant statues on either side of the stage. On the left was a stone depiction of Palkia, the ancient dragon which commanded space, and on the right was Dialga, the dragon who governed time. Both statues looked incredibly life-like, despite being colorless, and were masterfully crafted to depict the dragons as mighty, awe-inspiring entities. Palkia held an orb in its hands, as if offering it to an unseen recipient, and Dialga's mouth was open, as if speaking with someone. To Saura, they even looked like they were alive, seeing the light cast by nearby torches dance across their figures and in their eyes.

"Char! I remember now!" Saura cried, his voice echoing throughout the amazing chamber. "This is the place Ursa said that everyone gathers for a meeting! This is the meeting hall! Wow, imagine what it would look like if we had a meeting. This place would be packed!"

After taking a deep breath in admiration, Saura turned to Char. "Well, I guess this was the wrong way," he said. "Let's go back."

But Char hadn't heard a word of anything he'd said.

Char's eyes were blanked, fixated on the great dragon statues. His mouth hung open, his face frozen in a horrible expression as if something was tearing apart his soul. His tail flame flickered abnormally, and his breathing escalated…

"…Char?" Saura asked worriedly, noticing his state. "Char, are you okay? Maybe it's just your instincts again. Char? Char?"

A bright light flooded the room.

The light engulfed the Charmander, and he found himself standing in it. It was white. Everywhere was white.

In front of him stood a creature of extraordinary size. It was the time-god, Dialga. Light shone from it like the sun, and the diamond on its chest sparkled marvelously.

What's going on? Char wondered, only able to stare at the great dragon. It is as though… the statue came alive! Am I even still in the meeting hall? Where am I?

Dialga's mouth moved as if it were trying to say something to Char, yet Char heard nothing.

What? What is it? Char demanded, only to find that he couldn't speak. Dialga? Please! Tell me! Are you trying to say something?

Char felt the presence of others standing around him, yet he couldn't move to see them. He was frozen in place.

Dialga bowed its great head.

Is it sad? Char wondered. Is it done speaking? What did it say? This… this isn't something about my past, is it? Am… am I human right now? What's going to happen?

"CHAR!"

Thump.

Char awoke with a start as his head slammed against the floor. Saura had tackled him.

"Char, wake up!" Saura pleaded. "Say something! Please!"

"Ugh… I'm awake now, I think…" Char muttered.

"What happened just now?!" Saura demanded, helping him back to his feet. "You passed out! I thought you were suffocating or something! Char, maybe we should get you to see the doctor."

"Saura…" Char gasped. "I guess I had… some kind of vertigo, and… I… saw Dialga!"

"What, you mean the statue?" Saura questioned oddly. "It's right over there, see?"

"No…" Char insisted. "Saura… I didn't see Dialga… I remembered Dialga!"

Char looked at the statue again. His heart started beating wildly once again as he gazed at it.

"It was blue and silver," Char said.

Before Saura could respond, a different voice rang out amongst them.

"You two," it said. "Did you take a wrong turn?"

Char and Saura turned to see Ursa standing on the other side of the archway, his arms crossed.

"Ursa!" Saura shouted. "I—we—we thought you wanted us to find our way back upstairs, so we tried to look on our own…"

"Oh, no," Ursa said, shaking his head. "While you were talking to Domo, Shander came and said Scythe wanted to see me. I had no choice but to go. Although, I was assuming that you'd just wait there outside of the dojo for me to come back, not go running off yourself. I went to go looking for you, and I was lucky I caught sight of you going down this way. It's not one of the places I would have looked!"

"We're sorry we ran off," Saura said regretfully. "We really thought you were testing us."

"No worries," Ursa said. "But we have to go. Scythe wants to see you now. Apparently he decided he couldn't wait for tonight."

As Char followed the others out of the meeting hall, he took one last look back at the statue of Dialga. However, the moment he stepped foot out of the room, the magical torches snuffed themselves, turning the room black once more.

On the way to meet Scythe, only one thing looped through Char's mind:

Could Dialga have something to do with my past?

*Chapter 7*: Chapter 6: The Test

Chapter 6

"Well, at least you made it this far," Ursa said as he led the Charmander and Bulbasaur back in the right direction, after they had taken the wrong turn.

"I can't believe how easy it is to get lost in this place," Saura said. "It's so… big."

"Well, you know, the Gold Division didn't build this place," Ursa said. "We just adapted it for our own purposes. Supposedly, it was once an elite training academy for Pokémon, but that was some five hundred years ago or something. Sometime after the Master rose to power, he sabotaged it and forced everyone out. He even sealed the main entrance so nobody would ever be able to enter again. I guess the Master wasn't too thrilled about a school he didn't get to teach, you know?"

"That's pretty dumb," Char said. "This 'Master' is getting worse every time I hear about him."

"So, I guess you got back in?" Saura asked. "How'd you do that?"

"Well, someone, somewhere along the line, found other ways in, I guess," Ursa said. "And, I guess the Master has always assumed this place was empty ever since, because he's never checked back here. In fact, it's been so long, he might have forgotten it even exists. Anyway…"

Ursa led them around some unfamiliar corners, and they finally stopped at a new doorway.

"I thought we were going to see Scythe," Saura said. "What's over here?"

Instead of answering, Ursa opened the door. Within the small and darkened room, Scythe and Shander stood waiting for them. At their side was a new Pokémon, an Espeon. It looked as if the three were all hiding out in this room, waiting for something secret or forbidden. A lump formed in Char's throat.

"Finally, they're here!" Scythe said, turning his attention to the door. "Thank you for your help, Ursa. You can go."

"Can't he stay?" Char asked.

"No, no, I'll go," Ursa told him. "Scythe's keeping his deals with you under wraps, and I don't want to be the one to question what's going on. Besides, I have work to do. Don't worry, we'll be seeing each other again soon… I hope."

Ursa left, closing the door behind him. Char and Saura stood at attention, uncertain of what was about to happen. Now that Char recognized Scythe as a high leader of sorts, he was too afraid to say anything to him for fear of disrespecting him, and even more afraid at how the great bug kept eying him suspiciously. He was starting to feel very uncomfortable, very fast.

"Now, remember how I told you we would need to test you for something?" Scythe said, stepping forward. "We're going to do that now."

"What are you testing for?" Saura asked. "Will it hurt?"

"It will hurt only as much as you make it," the Espeon replied smoothly, revealing that it was a female. "I need to look into your mind. Struggle, and yes, it will hurt. But if you relax and let me work, it will be over quickly."

"Don't worry, we are not looking for your personal thoughts or memories or anything like that," Shander said. "We are looking for something very specific."

"Are you ready?" Scythe asked. "I want to know the results as soon as possible."

"Uh… I guess…" Saura said. "Char, are you ready?"

Char nodded, even though he didn't feel all too ready.

"Good," Scythe said, motioning for the Espeon to approach. "Saura, you'll be first. Char will be next."

Saura gulped heavily as the Espeon approached. She stood over him, the gem on her forehead starting to shine as she readied her power.

"I am Eva," the Espeon said, almost condescendingly. "I have helped Scythe, as well as some others in this division, search for a Pokémon with The Call for years. That search may end today."

"The Call?" Char repeated.

Ignoring Char, the Espeon thrust her forehead closer to Saura.

"Close your eyes," she commanded, her gem shining very brightly. "Try not to move or speak."

Saura did as commanded. Char held his breath as he watched. He still didn't have any idea what was going on, but he hoped that it would be revealed to him soon. He wondered just what the Espeon was doing with her power. She said she wasn't looking for memories, but could she see them nonetheless?

Would she be able to see his memories? Even the ones he could not see? Memories from before his transformation?

"Ugh…" Saura suddenly grunted, tensing up.

"Easy," Eva commanded. "Try not to be too sensitive. I'm almost where I need to be."

"Ugh…" Saura said again. "It feels so… weird…"

"Don't talk," Eva said, a hint of anger forming in her voice. "It only makes things harder for me."

Saura tried to relax. His leg muscles loosened, and his mouth fell open a little bit. His eyes remained clenched, trying to bear the unusual sensations of having his mind read.

"Aaaaaaahh!"

Suddenly, Saura cried out in agony. Not even opening his eyes, Saura unleashed his vines and whipped them forward, wrapping the Espeon and trying to force it away. His teeth were clenched tight, and his vines became taut as Eva pulled back on them. Char bit his tongue very hard at the sight. Scythe looked worried.

"Get off me!" Eva yelled, clawing at the vines and trying to get them off. "I'm finished! I'm done with you! Let go!"

Saura wouldn't let go. He panted violently, grunting and growling with each breath. His eyes remained glued shut as tight as could be. Char's claws formed fists. Did it really hurt that bad? he wondered.

Char gently rubbed Saura on the back, hoping to comfort him. Saura's vines eventually grew limp and fell to the floor. His eyes opened weakly, and his breath calmed.

"Ugh…" Saura groaned. "Eva... I'm sorry. It's just... that didn't feel very good. It was like having a horrible headache…"

"Well…?" Scythe asked impatiently as Eva finally freed her legs from the vines. "Did you find anything?"

A little angered, Eva bowed her head. "No," she replied. "The Bulbasaur doesn't have the Call."

"It's not surprising," Shander said plainly.

"Yes, well, my real hopes were with the Charmander, after all," Scythe said. "Char, it's your turn. Prepare yourself."

Char felt a very familiar feeling overtake him—the feeling of anger. He abhorred the thought of having his mind… probed… by the Espeon. He didn't want to experience the pain he saw Saura take. Not only that, but it seemed this Espeon was not the gentle type. Something told him that she did not exactly take care when intruding into the minds of others.

Char's tail flared. A fiery taste filled the back of his throat.

"Char…" Scythe said sternly, noticing his change of mood. "Remember what happened last time you tried to resist? It will happen again. We need this done."

"Char, it's okay. Settle down," Saura said, still groaning in pain. "Just get it over with."

Char did his best to resist his instincts, but he really wanted to fight back again. Not only that, but it was a tough call between fighting and running away. He glared at the Espeon, the enemy, despising her for what she did to his friend and what she was about to do to him.

"No," Eva said suddenly, taking a step back.

"What?" Scythe asked. "What's the matter?"

"I'm not going to read the Charmander's mind," Eva said. "It is a waste of my time and effort."

"Eva, please," Scythe said. "Don't judge me by the fact that the Bulbasaur was without the Call. He was brought only as a precaution! There are many… strange things about this Charmander, on the other hand."

"No," Eva said again, turning tail and walking to the other side of the room. "I will not. In fact, I am so convinced that the Charmander does not have the Call just by looking at it that I would happily give up quite a number of things if I were proven wrong."

"Then name one, and I will call your bet," Scythe growled. "I did not risk staying overnight with the Watchers to bring these children all the way here, just to have you not cooperate with me. Eva. Test him."

"Fine," Eva sighed, turning back to face Char. "If you insist on being shown you're wrong, fine. But it won't do anything but make you look stupid. Charmander, come here."

Char gritted his teeth and tried to calm himself as Eva moved close to him, aligning her gem to his forehead. He felt her breath on his face, and it made him want to lash out and bite her.

"Close your eyes," she commanded. "Try not to move or speak."

Char closed his eyes, awaiting the inevitable pain, however it would feel, of the Espeon's mind probing his.

No pain came.

Ugh, this is killing me! Char thought. Why won't she start? Get it over with already!

Many seconds passed. Still, Char felt nothing out of the ordinary except for the horrid feeling of anticipation. He wondered if something was wrong. He wondered if he was failing the test.

Maybe it's not hurting because I have "The Call"? Char wondered. Or did she not even start yet?

Finally, a voice that was not his own rang out in his head.

I'm not going to do this, the voice said.

Eva? Char asked with his thoughts. Is that you?

Yes, it's me, Eva replied telepathically. I'm not going to test you. It would be pointless. But we've got to make Scythe happy, alright? So, here's the deal. You pretend I checked you. Now, if I find out you told Scythe about this… I will make trouble for you. Do you understand?

Wait, we're going to lie to Scythe? Char asked. Why? Is it really so hard to test me? Eva?

Char opened his eyes to see Eva backing away, the light fading from her gemstone.

"…And?" Scythe said, his face full of hope.

"Do I even need to say it?" Eva sneered. "No, Scythe. This one is without the Call as well. Nice try, though."

"See?" Shander said. "The time isn't right."

"But… I know what I heard," Scythe stammered as he stared, wide-eyed, at the floor. He thrust one of his blades downward, putting a visible scratch in the ground. "The Call is unforgettable… It haunts you, and doesn't let you go. And… I know I felt it…"

"Don't tell me. I know what the Call is like, as well," Eva said. "Remember, I was there the last time it happened. Now, why you thought either of these two children had it, I will never know. Perhaps you were imagining things? Perhaps… you heard it only because you wanted to?"

Scythe remained silent. He stared at her indignantly.

"Eva, enough," Shander said. "Any other Pokémon would have done the same thing if they thought they heard it, including you. Don't persecute Scythe for doing his job."

"Hmph," said the Espeon, turning away again. "Well, next time, make sure you're not just wasting my time. Otherwise, word about your foolishness might get out… somehow."

Blackmail! Char realized. Not to mention that Scythe could have been right all along, and Eva wouldn't even know it, because she didn't even test me!

"Now, get out of my room," Eva ordered.

Gladly, Char thought. I don't think I can stand another minute with you.

Nice to meet you, too, Eva's telepathic voice responded, startling Char out of his wits.

… … …

"So much for that," Scythe said quietly to Shander as they walked back down the hall. "Maybe you were right. Maybe this was all just a big mistake."

"Don't say that," Shander said with a wry smile. "We still rescued them from the Master, right? Not to mention that they look like a promising couple of fighters."

Scythe peered back at the two little Pokémon following his lead down the hall as they constantly chatted with each other. He watched Char intently, knowing full well he still held secrets… secrets he felt inclined to unearth.

"That, they do," Scythe finally said. "That, they do. I think I'll enjoy training them."

When they were done conversing, Shander left the group to continue with his work, and Scythe took it upon himself to finish the tour.

"Judging from what Ursa says he has shown you, there are only a couple more vital locations in this place you must still see," Scythe said. "Keep your strength about you, the next place is a rather long walk from here."

"I hope we're not going to be tested on all this!" Saura said.

"Oh, you will be tested," Scythe said. "Every day, you are tested. Every single day."

… … …

The next place they visited—after the promised lengthy walk—was a cramped, well-lit little room. The strange thing about this place, though, was that the walls and floors were all bright white. The floor was made of something that looked like marble, and the walls appeared to have been covered in a coat of white sand. At the front of the room, displayed neatly on the wall, was a series of stone tablets with engravings on them.

"I knew you'd have to come here eventually," Scythe said. "Now, take a good, long look at the tablets, if you will."

Char stepped up to the first one and squinted to see the small inscriptions on it. He didn't have much luck, because the writing was no language he'd ever seen before. It was made up of markings which looked like tiny Pokémon footprints.

"Uh… I can't read this!" Char said. "What's it say?"

"You can't read footprint runes…?" Scythe said. "Hmm… perhaps Saura could give it a try."

"Hmm," Saura said. "It says… 'Freedom, peace and war, our fathers lived through once before. Freedom, peace of mind, one dream to live for all mankind…' And that's only the first part. This is long."

"It's a song," Scythe explained. "We call it the 'Resistance Creed'. It doesn't mean much; it's mostly just flowery nonsense. However, you must learn it word-for-word. Otherwise, there's no guarantee that we'll let you back into the base once you leave. See… we use it as a password. Whenever you approach an entrance to the Gold Division, you are given a prompt, which is a line from the creed. You must recite the next line to gain entry."

"That's pretty long, for a password!" Saura said, his eyes glazing over as he scanned the many tablets. "Why does it have to be this long and complicated?"

"The creed is long enough that it cannot remain at the forefront of your mind at one time; thus, it is difficult for a psychic spy to read the entire script from your mind," Scythe explained. "At best, they will garner only one or two lines, which is likely not enough for them to gain admission. That is also why we use a call-and-response system for our password; you are meant to forget the song as a whole, but remember the lines sequentially. Hearing a line from the song will easily trigger your memory."

"But… if I can't read it, how am I supposed to remember it?" Char wondered, looking blankly at the massive tablets filled with markings.

"You'll have to work closely with Saura," Scythe said. "…But it's unusual for you to not be able to read. Most intelligent Pokémon know how to read footprint runes."

"What about Unown-script?" Saura said. "I'm sure Char would be able to read that!"

"Ah, I didn't think of that," Scythe said thoughtfully. "Unfortunately, we don't have a copy of this song in Unown-script. You'll just have to manage without one."

For the next hour or so, Scythe forced the two reluctant children to stay in the room until they had completely memorized the first two stanzas. Char became very annoyed that he couldn't read the tablet for himself, and he soon found himself bored out of his skull.

"Fears that we come to know, and the sorrows we ignore," Saura recited.

"Our lives come to be truth or mystery," Char answered. "The fools… we believe, the lies we can't—I mean, the lies that we… were meant to believe. I mean, see."

"Almost," Scythe said, "but it's truth and mystery. Not or. And. Remember, every word must be accurate, even the ones which sound the least important. Otherwise, you could very well be a Zoroark spy trying to get into our base. Or maybe even a Ditto. That's just the way things work around here."

"Can we go yet?" Saura said, trying not to sound whiny. "We'll practice this more later. The words are all getting mixed up in my head now."

"Fine," Scythe said, waving his blade. "That can be enough for today. Let what you've learned today sink in. You'll know whether or not you've truly memorized it if you can remember it later at will. Now… if I remember correctly, we only have one more place we absolutely must visit today. Come with me."

Char was happy to get out of that white room, even though he knew that he and Saura would have no choice but to return there many times in the future.

… … …

As they made yet another trek through the caves, Char noticed that there weren't nearly as many Pokémon competing with them for room.

"It's midday," Scythe explained. "Everyone's out on their missions. Just like you'll be tomorrow."

"So soon, huh?" Saura said, growing weary already from all the constant walking. "Are you sure we'll be up to it?"

"I guess that's something you're going to find out all on your own," Scythe said. "You learn best by doing. But if I were you, I wouldn't be too worried about your first mission. You've already shown me you can crawl dungeons. But before you can go on any missions, there's a place you have to go first…"

At last, they reached their final destination: it was an office. It had a desk, lots of paper, and rows upon rows of shelves, all filled with paper. The shelves went back farther than Char could see. At the desk sat a very gruff-looking Granbull.

"The registration office," Scythe said. "Here, we keep records of most everything that goes on here in the division. All of our missions, our successes, our failures, our teams and members… its' all here somewhere, immortalized on paper. Everything is important; we can't afford to forget anything."

Oh, no! Char realized. A name! A team name! We didn't think of one yet!

"Saura, quick!" Char gasped. "What should we name our resistance team? That's why we're here! We're here to start the team!"

Scythe stepped up to the desk as the Granbull was furiously flipping through some papers.

"Jay, could we see you for a moment?" Scythe said calmly.

"What kind of moment?" It asked back, not even looking up. The voice was distinctly female. "Intelligence wants this summary in two hours, and I've got no idea where I put it. I'd rather you come back later…"

"Jay, you're always busy," Scythe said. "Later won't do us any good. I need you to register a new resistance team."

Jay paused for a moment to glance at her visitor, then immediately shuffled her handful of papers and set them down neatly on the table. "Oh, Scythe. Good afternoon to you," she said kindly. "A new team, huh? What, don't tell me you quit Team Remorse? That ol' dog finally break the last straw?"

"Oh, no, it's not for me," Scythe laughed. "These two."

Jay peered over the desk and onto the floor, where she just barely caught sight of the Charmander and the Bulbasaur standing at attention on the floor below, both looking extremely nervous.

"Hah!" she laughed. "These two? Well, well, we've got some ambitious children nowadays, huh? Now… let's see if we can make this quick. Are you the only two?"

"Yes," Scythe answered for them.

"Wow. And your names? And which one of you will be the leader?"

"I'm Saura, and this is… Char. He'll be the leader," Saura said weakly.

"You sure?" Char said, surprised at Saura's assertion.

"Far enough," Jay said, before Saura could answer. "Now I just need a team name. What'll it be?"

"Uh…" Char groaned, digging deep for a good idea. "Er… How about… Team Freedom?"

"Taken," Jay said, flipping through her papers. "And not only that, but taken by the sixth team ever on record. Hope you've got better ideas than that…"

"Team Courage?" Char tried again.

"Taken," Jay said flatly, "by the eighth team ever on record."

Char glanced back at Scythe, as if for emotional support. The Scyther looked amused.

"I've got it!" Saura said. "Team Fire Flower. Sounds catchy, doesn't it? And it represents us."

"Taken, sadly," Jay said. "And by 'sadly', I mean it's one of the most ridiculous names I've ever had the displeasure of writing on file."

"Hmm," Saura said. "How about… Team Regret? You know, like 'Remorse', but different."

Jay scoffed, dropping her ink pen on the table and making a blotch on the team record. "Scythe, these two haven't had much of a history lesson, have they? Well, I'll have you know that, once upon a time and all that, there was Lucario. He founded the resistance force which later split into the three divisions. His team was Team Regret… the first team ever on record."

Scythe snickered. Char grew angry at the fact that their trainer thought it was a laughing matter and refused to help them out.

"Well, any others?" Jay said.

"Um…" Saura groaned, wracking his brain.

"Good, good," Jay said, putting a stamp of approval on the file. "Team Peanuts it is."

"Team Peanuts?!" Saura shouted. "What?! We don't want that name!"

"Why not…?" The Granbull said, barely betraying sarcasm in her voice as she scribbled on the paper. "The name fits you! You're tiny, inexperienced…"

"Are you serious?!" Saura stuttered. "T-that can't be! That's a horrible name!"

"Then you should have given me one in the first place," Joy said, not even breaking a smile. "But no, you come down here to waste precious seconds of my time trying to decide on a name that you should have decided beforehand. So, I picked one for you. Welcome to the Gold Division, Team Peanuts!"

… … …

"I don't believe this!" Saura said again, gritting his teeth in anger. "Team Peanuts? Peanuts? That's who we are now? Some sissy little kids who can't take care of ourselves?"

Scythe had spent the rest of the day showing the newly-formed Resistance Team around the more interesting (but unimportant) parts of the base. They stopped for dinner at the mess hall right before most of the resistance teams returned from their missions, narrowly missing the rush. Afterwards, Scythe led them back upstairs toward Team Remorse's rooms.

I guess it just goes to show how brutal this place can be, Char thought to himself. We really need to be on top of things, otherwise we might be humiliated beyond belief! Ugh… Saura's really angry right now. I mean, sure, the name is bad, but… I guess it really means a lot to him.

"Well, I guess you'll just have to prove to the division that you shouldn't judge a team by its name," Scythe said encouragingly. "You could become a surprisingly competent team, and your foes would underestimate you because of your name! Then who would be laughing?"

"Hey, Scythe…" Char said, noticing where they were going. "Um… weren't you going to show us to our rooms? Why are we back here at your team's rooms?"

"Oh… there's been a little change of plans," Scythe said, a subtle smile on his face. "You're going to be staying with us from now on."

"Are you sure?" Char said. "Does Daemon know about this?"

"Not yet," Scythe said with a smile. "But there's not much he'll be able to do about it. I need you to stay with me if I'm going to train you. In a few months, we can talk about you moving somewhere else. But you've got your first mission coming up tomorrow… I want to be the one to walk you through it."

"Wow, thanks," Char said. "I… don't know what else to say."

"It was the least I could do," Scythe said humbly as he bowed to Char with the most subtle gesture possible.

… … …

At last, after a whole day of walking, learning, and humiliation, Char and Saura found themselves back in Scythe's room. Char found the hard floor much more comfortable today for some reason. The opposite was true for Saura, who seemed too restless to keep his eyes closed.

"Ugh, Char, this is going to be hard, isn't it?" Saura groaned. "And we have our very first mission tomorrow. I wonder what that's going to be like?"

Still, Saura's willing to persevere, Char thought, even after today. I'm starting to think he wasn't kidding at all when he said he'd stay with me…

"Say, Char…" Saura said, suddenly glancing around the room to make sure that Scythe was still gone. "Did you notice Scythe today? He was acting really funny."

"How so?" Char asked, resting peacefully on the floor.

"Well… I don't know why, but I get the feeling he knows about you. I think… he knows you're a human."

Char opened his eyes. "Why do you think that?" he asked.

"Well, just the little things," Saura said. "First, he didn't think it was funny that you didn't know footprint runes, but still know Unown-script. That's what we call your human writing, by the way. Unown-script. Oh, and earlier, when we were with Eva, he said there were 'many strange things about you', but he said it in a way like he already knew what it was."

I still have to tell Saura… and Scythe too… about Eva's blackmail, Char remembered. I don't trust her at all. She doesn't deserve to have me keep a secret like that.

"And just now, when we were walking back to the room, he bowed to you!" Saura said. "I know he did! He said 'it's the least I could do', and then he bowed to you. Char, that must be it! Scythe must know your secret! I don't know how, but he found out."

"Maybe someone read my mind?" Char guessed. "Maybe Eva told him, or something."

"Well, this might not be a bad thing, anyway," Saura sighed. "That's probably why he decided we should stay in his room. He found out you're a human, and we're getting special treatment because of it. If this keeps up, it might make up for the fact that… well, the fact that we're Team Peanuts now. All I know is that I don't want to be around Daemon when he finds out his team is affiliated with that kind of a name."

Char wondered something. "Hey, Saura," he said, "why would we be getting special treatment just because I'm a human? Do all Pokémon hold humans in high regard, or something?"

"Oh, of course," Saura said, acting surprised at the question. "We Pokémon have something of an innate respect for mankind. Actually, for most of us, our greatest dream is to befriend a human and to serve them. Well, I can't speak for all Pokémon, but most of us are like that… and I know I'm one of them."

"I wonder why," Char thought aloud. "Did we do anything to earn that respect?"

"Remember when I told you earlier that all Pokémon start out wild and only become intelligent if someone teaches them?" he asked, rolling over onto his stomach to face Char. "In the beginning, the very beginning, all Pokémon were wild. Every single one. We were animals, living only by our instincts. We couldn't talk. We couldn't think for ourselves. We weren't intelligent creatures. Now, any guess how we wound up with intelligence?"

"…The humans," Char realized.

"The humans gave Pokémon the gift of intelligence," Saura explained. "They took us and trained us at their sides. They brought us up to their level. Now, whenever we think for ourselves, we know the humans are the ones who made it possible in the first place. You humans made us who we are."

"I never realized…" Char said.

"And not only that, there's more," Saura said. "Even the great dragons… Dialga, Palkia, and even Arceus… are said to have started out as primal beasts. They say that humans are the ones responsible for imparting wisdom even onto them. So, yes, Pokémon have a deep respect for you humans. To us, you're… legendary."

Char had no problem falling asleep that night. However, his head was filled with strange dreams of Dialga eating peanuts.

*Chapter 8*: Chapter 7: First Outing

Chapter 7

The day began with two little words:

"Get up!"

Rubbing the crust from his eyes, Char rolled onto his back and found himself gazing up at the face of a very cheerful Scyther.

"This is it! Today's a big day. Are you ready?"

"Ugh… you bet," Char said, trying to sound just as excited and failing.

"How long did we sleep, anyway?" Saura groaned, trying to raise himself. "It didn't seem long at all."

"About seven hours," Scythe said. "Team Remorse usually gets up at the crack of dawn, but I let you sleep in a little bit today."

Gee, thanks, Char thought to himself, rubbing a kink out of his neck.

"Pay attention to everything you see today," Scythe warned. "The routine I'm about to show you is something you're going to need to learn to do nearly every day you live with us. You can rely on me for now, but there will come a day when I won't be here to show you the way. So pay attention, and don't let yourselves become mentally lazy. Am I clear?"

"Alright!" Saura said, finally mustering his energy and jumping to his feet. "Our first day! Let's do our best, Char!"

… … …

"Wait, don't we need to, you know, get ready?" Saura asked as Scythe led the two newcomers down the hall. "We're just going to leave? Just like that?"

"First lesson," Scythe told them. "Prepare for your mission the night before. You may have noticed that I was gone from the den for a while last night; I was preparing for our trip. If you're going to learn to do things the efficient way – and the right way - you need to choose your destination, pack your bags, determine which teammates will join you, all before you retire for the night. That way, in the morning, you can leave immediately! The limited daylight is more valuable than you may think. Many teams take it for granted. Not mine."

Near the front door of Team Remorse's personal quarters, Scythe took a small, bulging bag which hung on the wall (somehow without cutting the straps with his blade) and tossed it to Char. It wasn't too heavy, but it sure was awkward and burdensome. Char needed a moment to find his balance as he held the bag.

"Here," he said. "This is our bag of supplies I prepared last night. As a Pokémon lucky enough to have proper arms and hands, you get to carry it for the day."

As Char struggled to get used to the weight of the brown, stitched bag, Scythe pushed open the team's stone door and proceeded out into the base. Shander stood right outside, reading a piece of paper affixed to the wall between two torches. Char noticed something funny about the torches: they were a deep orange color, rather than the usual yellow.

"Morning," Scythe said. "Daemon and the others already head out?"

"Long ago," Shander said, not lifting his eyes off the notice. "Basin Canyon is a long way. They've got a tall order ahead of them today. Of course, he wasn't too thrilled at how you so cleverly got out of the trip. Nevertheless, he wanted to wish Team Peanuts good luck on their first task."

At hearing the sound of their new team name, Saura frowned immediately. "Oh… you know what? I completely forgot about that," he said, his smile dashed.

"The name is brilliant, by the way," Shander said, casting a smile at Saura. "It's the best new name for a team I've heard in quite a while."

"Uh, okay," Saura mumbled. "If you say so…"

… … …

As they continued down the hall, Char noticed that all of the torches which lined the walls had turned this strange color. Is something wrong with my eyes? Char thought.

"Is it just me, or is the fire a different color today?" Saura asked.

"Good observation," Scythe said. "The flames turn different colors depending on what time of day it is. During the day, they're yellow to signify sunlight. In the evening, they turn red to warn of the coming night. They turn blue when the Watchers are out, then they turn orange in the morning to signify the all-clear. Our resident ghost Pokémon take care of the spell. It affects all the fire in the entire complex. Even yours."

Char glanced back at his tail, and indeed, his flame was the same orange color. He was curious to see what it would look like for his flame to turn blue at night.

"We call it 'spiritual fire,'" he further explained. "It doesn't create smoke, it doesn't burn air, and so we can use dozens of torches down here without suffocating ourselves. Interesting, isn't it?"

Coming to the first main chamber of the Gold Division base, Char found that it was a madhouse. Pokémon scrambled to prepare for the coming day, filling the caverns with a dull roar. A Sneasel rushed in front of Char, cutting off his step without even seeing him and almost causing him to trip backwards.

"You see? This is why our team gets ready the night before," Scythe said with a grin. "Otherwise, you have to deal with all this. You don't even want to know what Kecleon's shop or the cafeteria looks like right now. Meanwhile, we can just walk out the door."

"Ugh… you mean, we aren't going to get breakfast at least?" Char groaned, hoisting the bag. "I'm kinda hungry."

"I packed food in there," Scythe said. "We can all eat on the road. Now… today, we'll be using the northeastern entrance, since our destination is to the east… "

Char's vision was soon obscured by two green vines which hovered in front of his face. They mercilessly wrenched the bag from his grasp and set it on the ground.

"I'm hungry, too," Saura said, digging through the bag for the promised food.

Not able to blame him, Char helped Saura dig through the contents and soon found a pear and an apple. Saura ate the apple in nearly one bite as Char hefted the bag back onto his shoulder and took a bite of the pear. He was disappointed that the bag didn't seem to get any lighter.

On the way out, Scythe led them onto an elevator which was occupied by several other Pokémon.

"Hey, Scythe! Morning!" a Raichu suddenly shouted right next to Char. "I heard about your new apprentices. How're you doing with that?"

"Morning to you, Ray," Scythe said cheerfully. "I heard you were going to Blackriver City today, I wish you a safe journey. And these are my students right here, if you'd like to meet them. I'm just about to take them on their first mission."

"Oh, boy! I bet you're excited!" the energetic Raichu cheered, smiling at Char and Saura. "I've got a new teammate going on his first mission today, too. Maybe later you can share stories with him."

"The Vulpix, right?" Scythe said, raising an eyebrow. "He seemed a bit young and apprehensive. Are you sure it's wise to be taking him to Blackriver City on his first day of service?"

"Ah, I'm sure it will be fine," Ray said. "We're going to teach him that there's no reason to be afraid of everything all the time. Especially when you've got a team to back you up and all. Good luck on your mission, you guys! I'm sure you'll learn a lot!"

"Thanks," Saura said. "We'll do our best!"

"Besides, with a name like Team Peanuts, how can you lose?" the Raichu laughed.

A second time, all the color left Saura's face. His smile became a limp, broken frown.

"…How'd you know?" he asked sadly.

"Me? Oh, whenever a new team is formed, they announce it in the bulletins," the Raichu said. "I usually don't remember the names of new teams, but this one really stood out. Great choice, you two! It's a really memorable name!"

"Thanks, I guess," Saura said, looking away.

… … …

Moments later, they'd reached the final tunnel which led out of the base. A giant marking, something which resembled a Tauros footprint, had been embedded in the wall above the tunnel entrance. Char assumed it was to signify the north-eastern exit of the base. He remembered how Scythe explained that the way they'd entered the base in the first place had a security system in the form of a hallway lined with traps, so he expected another long, boring walk through a featureless tunnel.

Along the way, Char walked among many other Pokémon, both alone and in groups, who were also heading out for the morning. Many other teams passed by as he kept near Scythe. He was impressed by the sheer number and diversity of the division's members.

"You know, I had no idea that so many Pokémon opposed the Master," Saura said. "I thought everyone just did what the Master wanted or… you know… paid the price. If I knew that there were organizations like this, I don't think I would have been so afraid of standing up to him."

"Unfortunately, it's better that the resistance remains unknown," Scythe said. "If we caused too much awareness, we'd attract attention from the Master's forces. That's why we work in teams; teams can pass themselves off as small guerrilla groups without provoking the Master's wrath. That's also why we try to limit the number of team members who go on a mission at any one time. Too many, and the Master might consider us a threat, and decide to crush us with sheer strength."

"As if the Master were the only one with sheer strength," a new voice said from beside Char.

Char turned to notice a second team of Pokémon who now walked alongside him. The team was made up of a Luxray, a Machoke, and a Grovyle. The Luxray walked in front like the leader, eying the little ones amusedly.

"So, Scythe, these are the children you've taken under your wings," the Luxray said with a powerful and proud voice. "Very nice, very nice. Consider yourselves lucky."

"We know," Saura said.

"Let me introduce myself," the Luxray said. "I'm Kain. I lead Team Absolution. Our team has… very high standards. We like to consider ourselves at the level of Scythe's team."

"They're a respectable team," Scythe said with a nod. "One of the highest ranked in this division."

"Like you?" Saura asked.

"Well, we are known for our different strengths," Scythe said. "Kain and his team are known for their unrivaled strength in battle."

"And Scythe's team is known for their tactics," Kain added. "I'd give anything to know how that mind of his works. He and Daemon single-handedly took back Wraith Falls from one of the Master's best generals. And he still to this day refuses to tell anyone how he did it. But I take every opportunity I can to learn from him. You should be sure to do the same."

So, this Team Absolution must be another well-respected team around here, Char considered. I wonder if Team Remorse considers themselves their rivals.

"I look forward to working with you two," Kain said to Char and Saura. "By the way, your—"

"Yeah, yeah, we know," Saura said, rolling his eyes. "Our name is interesting. We've heard it before."

"Hmm, have I said something wrong?" Kain asked, looking surprised. He glanced back at the Machoke, who responded with a shrug.

Char nodded respectfully to the Luxray, hoping it had not been offended by Saura's remark, and their groups parted ways soon after.

---

Herring Forest

Before he knew it, Char found himself walking through a lush forest, surrounded by bushy shrubs and looming trees of all shapes and sizes. Tiny, annoying bugs buzzed around his head; he struggled to swat them away and still keep a hold of his bag. A calm stream ran nearby, reflecting the dim red light of the early sun…

Wait, what? Char realized. How… did I get here?

Char was looking forward to seeing the north-eastern entrance to the base, having heard that it was "even more cleverly hidden" than the previous one, but he found that he had blacked out. Char wondered if he was more tired than he realized.

"Did you catch that?" Scythe said. "We're out of the base. The north-eastern entrance isn't all that hidden, actually. It's only a cave hidden behind a waterfall. Thing is, nobody knows where it is, because whenever you leave, Gengar and some psychic Pokémon cast a spell on you that removes your short-term memory after about twenty minutes. You'll never remember where the entrance is."

"But you can still get us back, right?" Saura asked.

"Of course," Scythe said. "Though we don't remember the location of the entrance, there are a few designated return points in the general vicinity. If we arrive at one, Gengar will escort us back into the base, before removing our memories again, of course."

"Uh… where exactly are we going today, anyway?" Saura wondered. "What's our mission?"

"Today, we're headed to a place known as Jaded Woods," Scythe explained. "It's a mystery dungeon."

"An outdoors mystery dungeon?" Char wondered.

"Yes," Scythe said. "The spell that causes dungeons can occur anywhere, whether it'd be caves, forests, plains… anywhere. No location is safe from the curse. The best we can do is track them, keep a record of known dungeons, and prepare ourselves well for when we must enter them."

"So what's the mission?" Saura asked again. "I hope it's not too hard."

"Oh, I chose an easy one for your first day," Scythe said. "Hiding somewhere near this dungeon is a handful of thieves who are responsible for many stolen item reports in this past week. We have to track them down and bag them."

"WHAT?!" Saura nearly shrieked. "That doesn't sound easy at all!"

"Trust me," Scythe said with a smile. "You'll do fine. We can sneak up on them by navigating the dungeon. That's one good thing about mystery dungeons, at least: they provide shelter and stealth, especially from the prying eyes of the Master. Inside of a dungeon you can't be found or detected by your enemies until you exit. Once we're through, all we have to do is disable them and retrieve any stolen items we can. Otherwise, they'll just end up in the hands of the Master."

Char gulped. He didn't think that sounded too easy, either. He still wasn't very excited about having to fight something stronger than himself.

"Well, if you say so," Saura said, still looking unnerved. "As long as you back us up, I guess we'll be fine."

"Of course. I'm not going anywhere," Scythe said reassuringly. "But I'd like for you to learn some things today about navigation, so try to do what you can. But for now, relax and enjoy the scenery. Jaded Woods is still about an hour's hike from here."

Somewhere in the trees, a Spearow began its morning song.

---

Jaded Path

Once the forest was far behind, Char and his new companions traveled a beaten path which stretched through some untamed grasslands. No other Pokémon traveled the path but them, save for the occasional Rattata that dashed across the road.

Above all, Char was worried about Saura. His attitude still hadn't recovered from the last time "Team Peanuts" was mentioned.

What can I do to help? Char asked himself. Should I talk to him? Unfortunately, I can't talk about anything that he'd really care about, like when I saw Dialga. Not with Scythe around… even if Scythe does know I'm a human. Now, what kind of talk does that leave?

Glancing up ahead, Char saw the road lurch into a vaguely bridge-like formation; there was a muddy lump of road which just barely rose above a large pool of standing water. Noticing the water, Char was struck with something to say.

"Hey, Saura, I have a question," Char said. "This flame on my tail… if it goes out, do I die?"

Char was relieved to see Saura lighten up a little bit. "Oh, no," Saura said, shaking his head. "That's a myth. Actually, it's the other way around: if you die, the flame will go out. You can't do anything to put out the flame on your own."

"Odd," Scythe said with a smirk. "You don't know about your own biology, Charmander?"

"I guess I forgot some things when I lost my memory," Char said in defense, careful not to betray himself.

Scythe shrugged, apparently accepting the answer. Char eyed him even more suspiciously now; it was more evidence that maybe he knew his secret after all.

As they were crossing the pond, Char turned his attention to the stagnant, murky water which stood below them.

So, if I put my tail into the water, it won't go out? Char wondered. That might be interesting to see. Let's try it.

"Yeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaahh!"

Startled, Scythe and Saura both spun around to find Char sitting at the side of the bridge, his eyes full of tears. He squeezed and wrung his flickering tail with both of his claws, the bag carelessly tossed to the side. He grunted heavily, trying to swallow the pain.

"Oh, that's just beautiful," Scythe muttered.

"Whaa! Char, what'd you do?!" Saura cried, rushing to his side. "You didn't dip your tail in the water, did you? That must hurt!"

"It stings!" Char sobbed, grabbing hold of Saura's body for consolation. "You didn't say it would hurt!"

"Char, there's a reason Charmander try to keep their tails dry," Saura cried. "Try not to do that again, will you?"

"I don't think you have to ask him," Scythe said. "I think he's learned that on his own. Char… hold your breath. It will ease the pain."

Char did so, willing to do anything to make the pain subside. He held his breath tightly, squeezing Saura hard. He felt himself holding back the fire in his belly, letting it boil. The heat filled his body, giving him a small bit of comfort. His tail flame struggled and tried to restore itself to its former size.

"Ugh," Char groaned, releasing the breath and trying to return to his feet. "T-thanks."

"You're welcome," Scythe said. "I was once partners with a Charizard who taught me some things. Now… can you walk? Let's try to keep going. The rest of the pain will only go away with time."

Char found that he could walk, but only if he used Saura for support. Scythe gathered up the fallen bag and used the back of his blade to sling it onto his shoulder.

"I'll carry this for a while," Scythe said. "You can take it easy. Next time, try asking a few more questions before doing something that violates common sense."

Char only nodded, his face locked in a woeful cringe that wouldn't go away.

… … …

Char's breathing remained heavy until the last of the sting in his tail faded away and his flame had regained its usual flare. He was sure to take his newfound fear of water to heart; the memory of that particular, harsh surge of stinging was slow to leave his mind. He still felt scarred from the experience.

On the final leg of the journey, Char warily followed his teammates into a strange new place. It was a forest, but there was something sinister about it; it became strangely gloomy the farther they went in. Tree limbs sagged low, bringing many branches covered with curling leaves down to Char's eye level. The leaves were strange; they were covered in brown spots, and looked almost like they were halfway ‑ dead even on the tree branch. Tree trunks, although standing, were covered in rot. Char started to feel a little fearful.

"We're almost there," Scythe announced. "See, the curse of the mystery dungeon affects nature itself. This forest is caught in a state between dead and alive."

"This is so strange," Saura said, cringing as he glanced at the surroundings. "These trees are… decomposing. They look like they're about to fall on us at any time. Euugh."

"Keep your eyes on your path," Scythe warned. "These trees will stand. The wild Pokémon are more important to look out for."

"What kind of wild Pokémon?" Char asked, gripping the bag which Scythe had given back to him.

"Many plant-type Pokémon defend their territory in this place, as well as a few ghost-type Pokémon," Scythe said.

I hope they're weak, Char thought with a cringe. Even those ghost Pokémon back at the base were powerful. I wouldn't want to fight a strong one…

"The plant Pokémon should be no problem for you two," Scythe said. "The ghosts… might pose a problem. But that's why I'm here."

Soon, a dark, brooding feeling emanated from the forest beyond. The tree branches hung around awkwardly, almost completely lifeless now, and a dark haze settled over the canopy which filtered out a lot of the sunlight.

"We're here," Scythe said. "Take just a few more steps forward, and we will be ensnared in the dungeon. Are you ready?"

"We're ready," Saura said confidently, nodding with Char. "Let's do this."

*Chapter 9*: Chapter 8: Jaded Woods

Chapter 8

Jaded Woods S1

The sunlight was tinted green as it fell through the treetops of the Jaded Woods, adding to the eerie scene of a forest in the very midst of decomposition. The air was thick and heavy with powerful smells. The sound of chirping birds was scarce, but animal roars periodically sounded in the distance. The small team had entered the mystery dungeon now, and there was no going back.

With a friend at one side and a powerful warrior at his other, Char knew he didn't have too much to fear… except for the looming thought that someday, perhaps someday soon, he and Saura would be doing quests like these all on their own with no guardian to guide them.

"Now, focus," Scythe said in a serious tone. "We must find our path to the next section of this forest. It's a mystery dungeon, so although I have been through this forest several times before, I cannot tell you which way to go. All we can do is search. If we go the wrong direction, we'll find ourselves walking in circles and be trapped in this place."

"So if we find ourselves back where we started, we have to take another route," Saura said. "I got it."

"Good," Scythe said, gesturing for them to lead the way. "Now, let's see what you know about navigation."

Char lead the group forward, taking each step with care and constantly analyzing his perspective of the environment. He started to notice many individual features of the forest that seemed unusual, almost alien to him. In places, colorless sticks covered in thorns shot up from the forest floor, and in others, gray rocks covered with rusty-red moss sat embedded in the ground, threatening to trip him up. Some trees were wrapped in soggy brown vines, sprouting bright green flowers which almost looked like eyes.

"See those flowers?" Scythe said, pointing to the green blossoms. "Poison. Stay away from them. Just one touch and you'll break out in enormous hives. Well, except for Saura. He has poison in his blood; he could wallow around in them and he wouldn't be affected. You and I, on the other hand, we're powerless to stop it from infecting us."

Heeding his advice, Char steered clear of the tree. Looking around, he noticed that this same vine lived on many trees and even on the forest floor in some places, forming entire patches of flowers. Choosing the path that avoided the green flowers, Char continued on.

The deeper Char pressed into the forest, the stranger things became. There were plants which sprouted roots into the air instead of the ground, huge seeds the size of rocks with bites taken out of them, and trees which sprouted colorful fruits, half of which were covered in mold. As he was gazing upon this wonder, he stepped on a rotten piece of fruit which had fallen from the tree. With a squish, his foot became soaked in grime. He groaned, raising his foot from the sticky puddle.

"Another thing," Scythe said. "Traversing a dungeon such as this will leave you hungry far faster than normal."

"We know," Saura said. "Char and I know that all too well already."

"Then you understand how to search for food?" Scythe asked. "We've packed some food in the bag already, but food is common in some dungeons, and we must always take precautions. While you sometimes might underestimate the size of a dungeon, if you've been gathering food along the way, it won't be an issue."

"Right," Saura said. "So…"

"He's talking about this tree," Char sighed, rubbing his foot in the leaves to clean it. "This fruit looks edible. Saura, help me look around on the ground for one that isn't rotten."

Char looked, but he couldn't find anything viable to eat. It seemed that the proper color of this fruit was pink, and the under-ripe ones which had fallen from the branches prematurely were green, and the rotten ones were every other color in between (not to mention swarming with flies).

"Find anything?" Char asked as he searched around on the opposite side of the tree.

"Uh… not yet," Saura responded. "Everything's rotting. Maybe if we could climb the tree, we could—"

Crash!

A reasonably-sized branch, dotted with ripe fruits, crashed to the ground between them. The base of the branch had been cut cleanly and perfectly round. Not a second later, Scythe landed back on his feet and folded his wings.

"Saves us some trouble," he said. "Go ahead, grab some fruit. Take a few; we didn't bring any of these ourselves. We might need them later."

Char did as he was told and began to inspect the fruit on the branch.

"Careful, a lot of these still look grimy," Saura warned. "They'd probably make you so sick if you tried to eat them."

"You're right," Scythe said, "but that probably wouldn't stop you from eating a rotten one if you were starving to death. Shander and I were once in a position like that. It wasn't pretty, but it saved our lives. Now, Shander always insists on gathering some bad food even if we have plenty of good food. We've never had to resort to those kinds of desperate measures again, but we usually just throw them at the wild Pokémon. For amusement."

---

Jaded Woods S2

The morning sun shined brightly among a cloudy sky as Char traveled deeply into the forest.

Scythe continued to follow along quietly behind the team wherever they would choose to go. Char started getting a little unnerved by the feeling of Scythe's gaze burning into the back of his head; the warrior never ceased to watch him, examine his every movement, and wait for the right moments to give his advice.

I know he's only here to keep an eye on us, Char thought. But this feeling that he's always watching me and judging me is a little uncomfortable. Especially if he knows I'm a human… But if he knows I'm a human, why doesn't he just say so? Why are we playing this little game? Then again, if I know he knows, why don't I just tell him myself? Ugh… I don't know. I just get the funny feeling that I shouldn't…

"Hey, wait," Saura suddenly said, stopping in his tracks.

"Something wrong?" Char asked, stopping with him.

"I can't tell," Saura said, glancing around. "I don't know, but I just got this weird feeling"

"Your instincts serve you well," Scythe hummed. "Now, focus. See if you can understand what your intuition is trying to say. Maybe you noticed a subtle change in the environment?"

Char inspected his environment closely. The trees seemed no different. The shrubs sprouting from the ground were in the same shapes and proportions as before. But the ground itself was tilted. Looking down the slope, he could see a tiny water-filled gorge flowing a fair distance away. Struggle though he may, he couldn't see what Scythe had so cleverly noticed…

"The leaves," Saura eventually noticed. "There aren't any leaves on the forest floor. They've all been… cleaned. Just like… oh, no."

"What? What is it?!" Char begged.

Wide-eyed and taking careful steps, Saura descended the hill. He kept himself aligned with trees, as if to hide from something.

"What?" Char begged again. "Please tell me! It's a wild Pokémon, isn't it?"

Still wordless, Saura crept through the trees, keeping himself low and hiding in the bushes wherever possible. Char followed.

"There," Saura said quietly. "Look."

Glancing around a tree, Char saw it: in the side of the shallow hill, there was a hole in the earth. A trench had been dug around it to shelter it from sight. Some of the water from the stream gently flowed up through the impression, pooling into a calm little puddle near the hole.

Standing at the side of the stream, taking a drink, was a Bulbasaur.

"See," Scythe whispered, "the feeling he had must have been familiarity. This is a Bulbasaur den."

"Huh," Saura said. "It's so weird to see another Bulbasaur here. Do you think we'll have to fight it?"

"Probably, unless we avoid it," Scythe said. "Not that I don't think you two could be able to beat it. It'd probably be a good exercise."

"Uh, I don't know…" Saura said hesitantly. "I don't know if I'd be able to fight another one of my own kind. It'd feel so…"

"Uh?!" the wild Bulbasaur shouted.

Startled, Char turned to look. The Bulbasaur had noticed them.

"Well, looks like you've got no choice now," Scythe sighed. "Better go get the first strike while you can."

Char gulped. He tried to heed Scythe's advice, but his body didn't want to move.

"Grrrrrrrrrr…." The Bulbasaur growled, turning to them and taking a hostile pose. Slowly, it started to walk toward them…

To Char's surprise, Saura lunged first. He jumped from the shrubs, lashing out with his vines and brutally whipping the enemy. The Bulbasaur took the brunt of the attack and was knocked aside. It quickly rolled back to its feet, but Saura jumped on it, sending both of them tumbling dangerously close to the running stream.

"Raaaaa!" The wild Bulbasaur yelled in frustration, throwing off Saura.

Saura quickly got back to his feet. He jumped forward, producing a flurry of tiny leaves from his seed which soon engulfed the enemy and knocked it backward into the puddle. After thrashing in the shallow water for a few moments, the Bulbasaur leaped up and landed on the shore. It now had many small cuts across its body, but it gritted its teeth and continued to stand its ground.

With an angry cry, the Bulbasaur produced vines of its own and slapped back at Saura with them. Before Saura could react, it had wrapped the vines around his body.

"Augh!" Saura cried as the Bulbasaur lifted it into the air.

The Bulbasaur slammed Saura against a nearby tree. Then, it somehow fired a series of small projectiles, too fast to be seen with the eye, at its captive target.

"Ow! Ow ow!" Saura yelped as the bullets punctured his skin. "W… what was that?! What did it just do to me?"

Saura struggled to free himself, but the Bulbasaur held on and slammed him back down to the ground.

Furious, Saura sprouted his vines and reached for the enemy. His attack connected, and soon, both Bulbasaur were held in an awkward stalemate as they each constricted the other.

"Char, you could help, you know!" Saura yelled, locked in the tug-of-war.

Char hesitated, his stomach tied in a knot from watching the confrontation.

"Go," Scythe commanded. "Don't just stand and watch. Help him. Your fire could end this match in a heartbeat."

My fire! Char remembered. I keep forgetting… it's such a weird ability, being able to breathe fire. Now… how do I summon it?

He remembered how it felt when he used it on the Spearow a few days earlier, and again when he almost attacked Eva, and especially when he first tried to escape from Scythe. He remembered the fire burning in his belly, fueled by his anger, begging to be discharged from his mouth.

Char jumped out of the shrubs to confront the enemy Bulbasaur. It winced, seeing that it now had two opponents, but kept its hold on Saura. Char took a deep breath and reached for the fire inside of him…

…But, for some reason, he couldn't find it.

He stood before the enemy Bulbasaur for several moments, searching for his fire. He tried to imagine the flame in his belly flaring up, ready to be breathed out… but again, it didn't happen.

"Char, what's wrong?!" Saura demanded as he struggled. "Attack, already!"

"I… don't know how!" Char cried. "My fire… it isn't there! I can't use it!"

Char was confused. Was it an instinctual response, perhaps only activated by extreme peril? Was it linked to other feelings that he couldn't yet identify?

"Char, do something!" Saura cried as the enemy Bulbasaur found a wave of strength and squeezed him tightly.

Char charged at the Bulbasaur. He tackled it, swiping with his claws and leaving gashes in the enemy's side. The enemy twitched violently and threw Char off, but its own hold on Saura didn't waver. It glared angrily at Char, as if ready to lash out at him with its teeth.

Suddenly, Char had an idea.

"Yaaaaaaaaah!" Char bellowed, rushing at the Bulbasaur again. He leaped and spun in the air, swatting the Bulbasaur's face with the flat of his tail.

The Bulbasaur caught on fire.

"Aaaaggg! Aaaaag!" yelped the Bulbasaur, suddenly feeling the excruciating burn on its shoulder. It released its hold on Saura and tried to bat Char away with its vines, but Saura acted quickly and lifted the creature off the ground. He sent it flying into the river, and it hit the muddy water with a squish. A little cloud of steam rose into the air as the fire went out.

When it re-oriented itself, it seemed content to sit, humiliated, at the edge of the water. It made no move to continue battling.

"Ah, ha," Scythe laughed warmly. "I think it's had enough. You did well."

"That wasn't too hard," Saura said, panting. "It's still weird to be fighting a brother, though."

"Well, you can't take anything for granted in a place like this," Scythe said. "If you meet an enemy, regardless of what kind of Pokémon it is, you must defeat it in battle or run away from it. They will all see you as a hostile and try to fight back. But, as you travel and become more experienced, you will learn to spot the signs of the different Pokémon habitats and avoid them if you want to conserve your strengths."

Warily, Saura stepped up to the tired little Bulbasaur. Now that it wasn't moving around, he saw that it was smaller than himself. He watched it as it gave itself a bath in the water, nursing its wounds and grumbling to itself.

"Hey, bro…" Saura said. "You take care of yourself, okay?"

"Grrrrrrr…" it responded with a scowl.

"Saura, let's keep going," Char suggested. "If we stay too long, it might attack again."

Somewhat reluctantly, Saura turned from the creature and returned to his team. Together, they progressed farther into the forest.

---

Jaded Woods S4

Getting to the next part of the forest wasn't as easy as it had been so far. Char and Saura had gotten into a scuffle with a Rattata, knocked out a feral Shroomish, recovered from a surprising ambush by a Seedot, and spent an hour wandering around in circles before Scythe finally pointed out the right way. With a bit of humiliation, Char and Saura marched onward into the fourth sector of the mysterious dungeon.

"Hey, Scythe," Saura said, trying to lighten the mood as they walked down a steep hill. "I've always wondered something. How do these Pokémon survive in mystery dungeons? I mean, they look like they're just living in their own natural habitat, but… how can that be, if their environment is always changing?"

"Nobody knows," Scythe answered. "Nobody knows."

"Really?" Saura said. "Not even a guess?"

"Our best guess is that the wild Pokémon who live in the cursed dungeons… have become part of the anomaly itself," Scythe speculated. "As far as we can tell, none of the wild Pokémon understand that their environment is unusual. We've inducted many wild Pokémon we've found in dungeons into society… and none of them could shed any light on the matter, either."

"Huh," Saura said. "That's… weird."

"Hence, mystery dungeons," Scythe said. "We might learn about the rules and patterns which govern them, but in the end, they just don't seem to make sense, no matter how you look at it."

When they reached the bottom of the hill, the forest opened up into a tiny, somewhat shaded clearing. Taking a careful step around a poisonous flower vine, Char entered the area. A single ray of tinted sunlight pierced the canopy, and a rather large, white, table-like rock rested on the opposite end of the space.

"Speaking of which, this dungeon is starting to take its toll on my stomach," Scythe announced. "How about you?"

"Well, now that you mentioned it, I think I am getting a little hungry," Saura said.

"Me, too," said Char, putting a hand on his stomach.

"Well, in that case, let's take a little break to eat," Scythe suggested. "That rock looks like a good place to rest. Char?"

Char nodded and hefted the bag high onto his shoulder, heading for the rock.

Crunch!

Before Char had time to wonder where the sound came from, the ground below him simply gave away. With a yelp, he tumbled head-over-tail down into a pit of darkness. For a split second, he tried to grab for something—anything—to hold, but all he caught was a piece of the broken debris that used to be part of the ground as it rained down around him.

Splunk!

Char landed headfirst in a puddle of something. It didn't smell nice, and it was… extremely sticky. The substance immediately glued his arms and legs together, and he found it rather difficult to move his body. Groaning, he decided to rest for a second before trying to struggle for freedom.

"Char!" Saura and Scythe yelled in unison from up above.

"I'm here," Char squeaked, lifting his muzzle out of the goop. "I'm okay, I think. I might need some help getting out of here, though."

Out of the corner of his eye, Char saw Saura and Scythe peer over the edge of the pit.

"No!" Scythe growled. "The bag fell in, too…"

Char craned his neck to the side. Indeed, the fallen bag sat next to him in the ooze. It was wide open, too… a pear, a cloth, and one of the fruits they'd picked from the tree earlier had tumbled out and now sat in the substance, hopelessly covered in it.

Saura's vines encircled him underneath the elbows, and Char felt a pleasant tug on his body as Saura tried to pull him out. Scythe climbed down into the pit, digging his blades into the dirt wall to keep from falling in. He carefully lifted the bag from the sludge, causing another apple to tumble out. He shook his head in shame.

When they'd finally gotten both Char and the bag back to the surface, they stared incredulously down into the pit and at the now-useless items sitting in it.

"What a waste," Scythe sighed.

"What is that?!" Char demanded, limping around and trying to cope with the sticky green blotches covering him.

"A pitfall trap," Scythe explained. "Some of the more intelligent Pokémon set them around to impede intruders. I'm sorry I didn't notice it, I guess I was too focused on my stomach… eh, well, just be thankful it wasn't one with poisonous spikes at the bottom…"

Char blinked. He didn't even want to know those kinds of traps existed.

"Just take a bath in the next stream we find," Scythe instructed to Char. "It takes work, but that stuff will come off eventually. Just… try not to submerge your tail this time."

Despite the disruption, the three sat down at the rock and had their snack. However… there were only three pieces of food left in the bag: one apple, and two of the fruits they had harvested from the tree. Scythe insisted that Char and Saura split the apple, and that he could press on without eating for the time being.

After continuing on for a time, the team got into a fight with a wild Gloom. Saura fought it off, as Char's toes were still sticking to the ground with every step.

About twenty minutes later, a pond of standing water finally presented itself. Char was still more than a little squeamish about getting in the water, though, and Saura practically had to shove him in. It took almost an hour for Char to get all of the gunk off his skin.

---

Jaded Woods S6

The team had come a long way through the forest and had fought at least a dozen battles with wild Pokémon, but the forest still wasn't short of surprises for them.

As they reached the beginning of their sixth mile, Char's stomach started to growl again. The half of an apple he ate wasn't nearly as much food as he wanted. But he considered, each time his stomach groaned, how much hungrier Scythe must have been…

"How much farther, do you think?" Char asked, resisting the urge to complain about his belly.

"We're far over halfway there," Scythe estimated. "Jaded Woods is only about seven miles wide."

"How do you know we'll get the thieves when we leave the forest?" Saura asked. "Couldn't they be, you know, anywhere at all?"

"Bandits like to build their hideouts near the edges of Mystery Dungeons," Scythe said. "That way, nobody comes after them for fear of getting trapped in the dungeon. Except for us, the exploration teams, of course. I have a good idea of where they probably are, but if not, they shouldn't be too hard to track down. I'll show you how to look for them."

The team ventured through a particularly dark patch of the woods. The trees above shrouded the sky with many layers of canopy, turning the surroundings a deep, dark green. Char even started to see the light from his tail as it flickered across the tree trunks and rocks he walked by.

"Huh," Scythe said all of a sudden. "Wasn't expecting this."

"Uh… what?" Char asked worriedly.

"Look ahead of us," Scythe said, pointing forward. His face contained a satisfied smile.

Char looked. A single, low-hanging branch stood out among the row of trees. It was dotted with large fruit.

"Ah, an apple tree?" Saura said excitedly. "Wow! Let's eat! I can't imagine how famished you must be, Scythe. I know I'm really hungry."

"Wait, wait," Scythe said. "Remember what happened last time we lost sight of our path for food. Mistakes are meaningless unless you learn from them."

Char stepped aside to let Scythe check the area for the dreaded pitfall traps. Once he assured them it was all clear, they proceeded to the much-desired food…

Sorting through branches of the moldy and half-bruised fruit, Char searched for something to satisfy his restless stomach. The apple tree was like the rest of the forest—less than healthy—but there were plenty of bright red apples among the bad. He found a good one and picked it, only to turn it around and find that a large red caterpillar was already feasting on it. He tossed it aside to look for another.

"Excellent!" Scythe roared, slashing down a whole branch for himself. "We got lucky this time. Now we can make this last leg of our journey a strong one! Eat your heart out!" He skewered an apple on the end of his blade and devoured it.

"Wow!" Saura said, pulling down an apple for himself. "I guess we got lucky, Char!"

Still searching for an acceptable apple, Char pushed his branch out of the way in favor of another one. But as he reached up, he suddenly noticed something else entirely. A nearby tree, only a small distance behind the apple tree, sprouted large blue fruit. And it was fruit he recognized, too…

No way! Char thought. Is that an oran berry tree? Aren't those the fruits that heal you? I think there was one in the bag… but we could use more than that, couldn't we?

"Hey, Saura! Scythe!" Char called, wandering closer to the tree. "Look at this!"

"What?" Saura asked, his mouth full of apple.

"I think it's an oran berry tree!" Char exclaimed. "Should we pick some?"

"Oran berries? Sure!" Scythe said, swallowing a big bite. "We can never have enough of those. Just be careful. Keep an eye out for anything that might be dangerous—wait."

Char approached the tree, looking for a berry close enough to pick. The berries sprouted under large, green leaves in huge clusters near the end of branches. There was something else, though: some vines dangled among the branches, some green and others red. He followed them with his eyes… right to a conveniently low-hanging branch.

"Char?" Scythe called, looking up from his food. "Are you sure those are oran berries?"

"I think so," Char said, reaching for a berry from the branch.

"Char! Wait!" Scythe called.

Like the speed of light, Scythe opened his wings and launched himself toward Char… But it was too late.

As Char reached for the fruit, his hand brushed up against the red vine. He noticed how the vine twitched oddly around his claw…

"Schluuuuurk!"

A feral roar struck fear into Char's heart.

Before he could blink, Char was slammed to the side. He found himself lying on the ground with a throbbing sensation in his head. Scythe stood over him, panting nervously.

"Char, that was close," Scythe said. "Get up!"

"W…" Char started

"Get up!" Scythe repeated. "We have another battle on our hands."

"Schluuurk!" The roar sounded again, louder and angrier this time.

Baffled, Char looked back at the tree. Hanging from the branches was a horrible-looking creature, attached by the same red and green vines his claw brushed against. A massive, thorn-covered head hung at the end of the vines, gashing its ridiculously long teeth at the air where Char was.

"Carnivine," Scythe hissed. "Char, you were almost done for! If it captures you in its mouth, nothing can make it let go. They like to live in chesto trees and eat any Pokémon who try to take the fruit."

Twitching wildly, the Carnivine dropped to the ground.

"Watch out for its mouth," Scythe warned, taking a battle stance. "It attacks fast. It'll still try to eat you. Char! Keep your distance! It still wants you!"

"W—what do I do?" Char stuttered.

Char instinctively took a step backward, and Scythe lowered a blade in front of him. "Let me take care of this one," he declared. "Stay away from it!"

Wings buzzing, Scythe dashed forward at the enemy. He moved so fast, Char couldn't even see him for a moment. But the Carnivine jerked out of the way, narrowly dodging the attack. Char recoiled at the sudden movements and took yet another step away.

"Saura! No!" Scythe yelled, noticing Saura rushing forward and trying to give assistance. "I'll handle this. Stay away!"

Scythe hovered in the air above the Carnivine for a few moments. With the same blinding speed as before, he dove down and slashed at the creature, narrowly missing as it dodged and leaving a deep gash in the ground. The Carnivine catapulted itself up at him, but Scythe parried the attack with crossed blades and countered by slicing off one of its tentacles.

"Char! Look out!" Saura cried.

With its spine-chilling scream, the Carnivine launched itself straight for Char. Char leapt backward in panic as Saura sprouted vines in an attempt to defend him… but Scythe shot by, swiping at the Carnivine again with his blades, and sliced Saura's vines apart.

"Auughh!" Saura cried in surprise, retracting what was left of his vines.

"Get out of my way!" Scythe yelled again.

Re-appearing from his agile movements, Scythe lunged at the enemy and finally connected. A big, horrible gash appeared in the side of the foe's head, and its left leaf hung by a thread. It roared in protest.

Char couldn't take it anymore. It was too much. He panicked and dove for cover behind the nearest tree he could find, leaving Scythe to battle for him. Once he convinced himself he was safe, he peered around the tree to watch the battle take place. Scythe's movements were indescribably swift, but the Carnivine's erratic moments kept it free from damage most of the time. Still, Char was confident that Scythe would prevail. Saura soon joined him in his hiding place, not wanting to further get in the warrior's way as he fought.

"I can't believe you almost got eaten!" he gasped. "This place is really dangerous! I guess we'll have to learn what Carnivine look like—Oh, no!"

"What now?" Char asked, turning to him.

"Char, aren't these the poisonous flowers?!"

Char looked down. He immediately recognized the green, eye-like flowers that Scythe pointed out earlier. And not just one, but a whole patch of them. He was laying in them, his whole body covered in their leaves and petals, and hadn't even noticed.

After that, Char didn't remember much of what happened… only that he tried to move his body, but failed, and that he tried to scream for help, but no sound came out… His vision swirled as reality seemed to fade away…

*Chapter 10*: Chapter 9: Team X

Chapter 9

Dialga?

Though the vision was cloudy… Char knew it was the same vision as before.

Surrounded in a white nothingness, the glorious dragon Dialga stood before him, bowing its long, silver-lined head. Still, despite the feeling that Dialga was telling him something of immense importance, Char heard nothing.

This isn't just some dream, Char determined. It's something from my memory. I remember this happening to me! But… why can't I remember anything else? What is Dialga doing to me? What's he saying?

But then, in the midst of the whiteness, a new object appeared floating in the air in front of Char. It, too, was gleaming with supernatural light, so much so that Char couldn't tell what it was.

All he could tell was that it was round and about the size of his fist.

His heart began to pump viciously at the memory of this object. It was an object of importance. Grave importance. But… what was it?

I think… I might know what this is! Char exclaimed to himself. I know what this is! It's… It's… Wait, I remember this! I really do!

I know it's something… Something I'm here for? Something I came to get? Something I brought with me, maybe? It's got to be something like that.

Unfortunately, just when it started to feel closer, the memories began to fade away.

No, wait! Come back! Char pleaded. No! Why, oh, why is it ending now? I was so close to remembering!

But try as he might, he couldn't stop the white shadow from sinking into the black bowels of his mind's eye. Soon, Dialga's luminous blue form became nothing but an outline, an etching in his head.

Come… back… Char pleaded again, reaching for the memory that he could no longer grasp.

… … …

The sounds of voices swirled around him, reminding him of the reality he was returning to.

He remembered the poisonous flowers which infected him during his mission with Scythe and Saura. He felt himself reflexively swallowing something cold, presumably medicine, that'd been shoved into his mouth…

"See? He's going to be fine," a voice said. "He's already starting to move."

Is that Scythe? Char wondered. Where am I? ... We didn't abort the mission because of me, did we? I hope not!

Char's eyes blinked open momentarily. Seeing a blur of dark green, he knew he was still in the forest. For a moment, he felt much better knowing that his first mission wasn't a failure because of his stupid mistake. Though, he couldn't help but wonder how long he'd been passed out. Blinking again, an image of Saura's face flashed before him, looking like he was about to force something into his mouth.

"Hey, Char, how're you feeling?" Saura said, giving him a yellow piece of fruit with fuzzy, pink skin. "You were poisoned pretty bad."

"I feel great," Char responded, taking the piece of fruit into his mouth and trying to sit up. "How long was I out?"

"Less than a minute," Scythe said, stepping up and kneeling beside him. "I took care of the Carnivine as fast as I could, then Saura told me what happened."

Feeling good enough to return to his feet, Char noticed that, indeed, they hadn't moved from the place the battle had been fought. He noticed the poor Carnivine, almost completely dismembered, lying next to a tree trunk and ingraining its roots into the soil to re-grow.

"Remember that tree where we got the fruit earlier?" Scythe said. "It's pecha fruit. Eating them can purge most poisons from the body. Very useful. You only needed a few bites, and here you are, good as new. There wasn't any reason to worry. Although, I'd finish the rest of it, just in case."

The fruit left a very sweet taste in his mouth, almost sickeningly sweet, as it went down his throat. Saura handed him the other half of the pecha fruit, looking infinitely relieved that he was better.

Though Char still felt rattled, he was able to follow Scythe and continue the journey, the old warrior taking over the job of leading the team for the time being.

"I guess I've got a long way to go before I become like Team Remorse and never make any mistakes," Char muttered after swallowing a big bite of the fruit.

"You're well on your way," Scythe said with a smile. "After all, the one who makes no mistakes is the one who has already made all the mistakes in the world. You've learned a valuable lesson today about spotting a certain type of enemy, haven't you?"

"Yeah," Char said, "and one about watching where I dive for cover."

"Well done," Scythe said. "Of course, Team Remorse makes mistakes every now and then. There isn't a Pokémon who doesn't. Remember how I didn't spot the pitfall trap earlier? Remember how I slashed Saura's vines apart in the battle? I can get clumsy sometimes. Again, Saura, I'm very sorry about that."

"Don't worry," Saura said. "It didn't hurt, after all. And they're already starting to grow back."

"Really? You didn't feel that?" Char asked, eating another bite of the pecha fruit.

"I only feel the tips of the vines," Saura explained. "And I'm glad for that, too. It wasn't the first time they got cut. Once, I even got them tied in a big knot…"

"But regardless, these mistakes pale in comparison to some," Scythe continued, gaining a strength in his voice. "Mistakes such as… misjudging the strength of the enemy. Incorrectly predicting where the enemy will attack. Forgetting where your alliances truly lie, or trusting those who should not be trusted. Mistakes that cost Pokémon their lives. The mistakes we made today were reparable. Many in life, especially for a resistance team, are not."

---

Empirical Falls

Elsewhere, in a well-concealed cave next to a riverbed, a Seviper sat curled up in the shadows and waited. He occasionally glanced around at the sizable piles of possessions which surrounded him.

"Where is that idiot?" it hissed, uncoiling itself from restlessness. "I swear, if he doesn't come back in two hours—"

Not a moment too soon, a second Pokémon, a Croagunk, bolted into the cave. It stood for a moment to recollect itself and catch its breath, then brandished two items it was holding: a gold-colored cup, and a smaller, circular piece of jewelry.

"Where were you?!" the Seviper nearly exploded, leaping at him.

"Just getting these," it answered, ignoring the serpent's anger and tossing the items into the corner along with the rest of the junk. "What? You should be proud of me!"

"Croagunk, you don't seem to get the idea. We hunt at night, under the cover of Watchers. We retreat in the sunlight. Why is that such a hard concept for you to grasp?!"

"Shut it," croaked the oversized frog as it sat down to lounge on the floor. "Heh heh, look at you. Getting all fussy just because I decided to pull some overtime? You should be thankful. It was your fault we didn't get anything done last night."

"Besides the point!" the viper spat. "Is it worth risking being spotted? At this time of day, they could be sending police to come get us at this very moment! Or maybe they even reported us to one of those blasted 'resistance forces'! Then what? We'd have to run, we'd lose all our work from the past month, and… what do you think the boss would say? We'd be better off just running away and never coming back."

"Quit worrying so much," the Croagunk sighed, closing its eyes. "There isn't one Pokémon in all of Iron Town with half a brain enough to come after us."

"Would you bet your life on it?!" the viper demanded. "Or do you think this is just some kind of a game? Going out in the daytime is dangerous. You might as well just tell the boss his face looks funny."

The Seviper slithered over to the corner where the golden cup had landed. He inspected it.

"By the way…" it grumbled. "Being out in the sunlight and all, you did make sure nobody was following you… right?"

… … …

"See?" Scythe said from behind a rock, pointing out the cave entrance to Char and Saura. "Told you they'd be easy to spot."

Saura peered over the rock. "Wow, that was pretty easy," he said, surprised.

"Well, this particular bunch wasn't really trying," Scythe laughed. "Now, let's go and meet them. If they're as bad at battling as they are at stealth, I bet even you two could take them out."

"Uh… I'm not so sure," Saura said with a frown. "That Croagunk looked strong… shouldn't you take them out instead?"

"Yes," Scythe said. "But it doesn't mean you're not going to help. Now, get ready for a lesson, you two… I'm about to teach you one of the oldest tricks in the book."

… … …

"Hey!" a voice yelled from outside the cave.

The Seviper jumped up at the sound, scowling.

"Croagunk!" it hissed. "Did you hear something?"

"Go back to sleep," the Croagunk mumbled. "It's probably just—errrrk!"

The Seviper clamped down on the frog's arm with its sharp fangs, causing it to jump wide awake.

"Was that necessary?!" It blasted in rage, rubbing its arm.

Before it could say another word, the voice outside the cave sounded again.

"Hey! You!" it called.

"Impossible!" the Croagunk scoffed. "I checked all around. Unless they came through the Jaded Woods…"

Both waited in silence, cowering around the corner. More calls came, louder each time. The Croagunk clenched its fists, realizing that, yes, there were intruders.

"Someone's here!" the Seviper hissed. "You did let someone follow us, didn't you!? You…"

"Wait, wait," the Croagunk said, holding up its hand to silence the snake. Very carefully, it peeked around the corner to glance outside, only to see a Charmander and a Bulbasaur standing at the cave entrance.

"We know you're in there!" Saura called.

"It's just some kids," the frog scoffed. "Heh heh, boy, did they pick the wrong Pokémon to follow. Relax. They'll be a cinch to deal with."

"Good, because now that they've found us, we don't have a choice," the Seviper hissed in annoyance.

Adopting a cocky and confident stance, the Croagunk marched out of the cave and into the sunlight. Seeing his greater size, Char felt a twinge of fear as the frog stepped up to him. Like Saura, it, too, was a creature of poison. All Char knew was that he didn't want to be poisoned again.

"Well, hi, you kids," it said evilly. "Is there somethin' I can do for you?"

"You're a thief!" Saura said fearlessly, stepping closer to him.

"And you're annoying little kids who sound like you know too much," the Croagunk replied. "Is that all you came to tell me?"

"W-we came to get back what you stole!" Char said awkwardly, trying to join the act alongside Saura. "So… surrender, or we'll fight you!"

"Yeah, you heard him!" Saura shouted. "Give us back your stuff!"

*Croak!*

The Croagunk's cheeks inflated, emitting a frightening sound that intimidated Char and made him want to run.

"For your information, we're Team X, and we never return what we take!" it said, stepping even closer to Saura and sizing him up.

"Well, we're Team Peanuts, and we never go down without a fight!" Saura returned. "So, what'll it be, huh?"

"Heh. Heh heh. Heh heh heh! *Croak!* " The Croagunk laughed. "Is this some kind of joke? You actually want to fight me, don't you? You think you have a chance? Team X is undefeated!"

"You can't beat us," Char said, forcing out all the feeling he could manage. "Your poison is powerless against him, and my fire will burn you to a crisp!"

"So, you've done your homework, eh?" it replied. "Heh. Funny kids. Think you know everything. Well, yeah, sure, if you were lucky, you'd be able to beat me. But I'm not all there is, you see?… Seviper! Come on out, why don't you? There's some kids out here who want to meet you!"

"Oh, no!" Saura cried. "There's… a Seviper, too?"

Char wore his best expression of fear—which was at least partially sincere. He turned to the cave to watch for the Seviper who would inevitably be emerging…

*SLASH!*

*SLASH!*

In the blink of an eye, both the Croagunk and the Seviper were now somehow sprawled out across the rocks, moaning in agony. Long, red cuts covered their bodies. Scythe stood over the viper, blades raised. All he'd needed was for both enemies to be drawn out of the cave—a task that Char and Saura had performed admirably.

"Takes care of them," Scythe commented, folding his wings and turning his attention to the cave. "Good work, you two. Good distraction. Let this be a lesson: if your enemies don't know how strong you are, there's no limit to what you can do with them. It is one of the most important and basic mechanics of war. Now… let's see what kind of loot these thugs have hidden here."

Even though Char was expecting Scythe's attack, his mouth was still hanging wide open at the display of his speed. Both the enemies, for all their talk, were now on the brink of unconsciousness and looked like they were welcoming it. The Croagunk's own poison oozed out from its sliced sacs, and the Seviper's body was contorted into an indescribably awful shape. Both were still bleeding profusely.

"No, Char, I didn't kill them," Scythe said, anticipating his question and motioning for him to follow him into the cave. "While there are times when you must kill your enemy, this wasn't one of them, and I prefer not to finish my opponents unless it is truly necessary."

"Huh," Char nodded. "So… they'll heal?"

"Char, who cares?" Saura said. "They're thieves. Let's go take their stuff before it's too late."

… … …

The inside of the cave was like a garbage heap, filled with mounds of carelessly tossed-aside valuables mixed with useless scraps and trinkets. Some of it sparkled, some of it leaked, most of it was broken or scratched. Char gazed upon the handiwork of the thieves with wonder, doubtful they'd be able to rescue it all in a single trip.

"Amazing," Saura gasped. "So this is what a thieves' den looks like. I wonder where all of this was stolen from?"

"All across the countryside, probably," Scythe said, sifting through the junk. "These guys have been around. I've met them before, never saw them as any sort of threat. I thought it would make a good practice mission for you two."

"So, what now?" Char asked, gazing into the reflection of something shiny in a nearby heap of possessions. "Do we take it all back?"

"No," Scythe said. "Right now, we're going to load up our bag with the most valuable things we can find here and take them back to the base. After that, we'll report the location of this cave so that all the citizens of Ambera can rebel against the thieves on their own terms. The thieves are probably in league with the Master, but nothing can save them if the local Pokémon find them out. They'll have no choice but to run away."

"And if they run, they'll take their most valuable possessions with them," Saura said with a nod. "That's why we've got to find them now. I get it!"

"You're learning," Scythe said with a smile. "Now, help me search for things worth taking."

Char dove into the nearest pile, tossing aside things that looked unimportant. A golden plate. Was gold valuable to Pokémon like it was to humans? Or was it just another color? He tossed it aside. A small, tarnished knife. Interesting, but his own natural weapons were much better. He tossed it. A small blue orb of some sort. Magical? Perhaps it could be appraised by Kecleon? He let it roll away…

"Hey, this looks interesting," Saura reported. "Char, I can't get it, my vines haven't grown back in yet. Could you help?"

Char and Scythe gathered around Saura to see what he'd found. On the pile in front of him sat a small, glistening crystal. Saura nudged it, and it fell off the pile and rolled across the floor.

"Good find," Scythe said. "That's a 'feral-shard'. It's a very special sort of rock that most Pokémon in Ambera require to evolve. The Master hoards those like there's no tomorrow. They're actually quite rare in this day and age. Put it in the bag."

A feral-shard? Char wondered, picking up the stone. Hmm… So, this could turn me into a Charmeleon once I grow stronger? I thought Pokémon just evolved when they grow strong enough. Why do I need a feral-shard to evolve?

As he held it and watched it sparkle in his claws, he noticed Saura shirking away from it just a little bit. He still couldn't imagine why Saura was so afraid of evolving, but felt it would be impolite to ask him directly…

Char tossed the sparkling stone into the bag, and the team proceeded to scour the rest of the cave for anything worth taking. They found quite a bit of things, ranging from jewelry to rare stones to some blue orbs. Much to Char's dismay, the bag got quite heavy.

"Good enough," Scythe said, kicking a stray scrap of metal across the floor. "Nice work, you two. I think we've gotten all we can. We've accomplished our mission! It's time to head back."

When they turned to leave, they found the Croagunk and the Seviper standing at the cave entrance, casting silhouettes of their weakened, defeated forms. They were both barely able to stand. Scythe stepped in front of Saura and Char, meeting the thieves' scowls with his own. A chill went up Char's spine as the Croagunk eyed him. Although he did not speak, the Croagunk's message was clear: this isn't over.

With hatred burning in their eyes, and without saying a word, the thieves turned around and left.

---

Jaded Path

It was early in the afternoon as the trio hiked back to the base. They had to take the long way around the Jaded Woods and be tremendously careful not to re-enter the mystery dungeon on accident. Char struggled with the bag, but Scythe agreed to take turns carrying it.

"Well, our mission was a success," Scythe proclaimed as they found their way back to the Jaded Path. "And this will be the first of many. Such is the life of a resistance team. Today, we'll return back to the base, record our mission in the registry, then prepare to do it all over again tomorrow."

"What do you think, Saura?" Char asked. "We didn't do half bad today, but is being on a resistance team what you thought it would be? Do you think we'll be able to handle it?"

Saura didn't answer. Instead, he forced a smile.

Wow, I hope Saura didn't get discouraged over it all, Char thought to himself. Maybe he's starting to realize he doesn't like this job after all? It's an awfully harsh job, and we've really got to sacrifice our freedoms if we're going to do these missions each and every day. Or… or maybe seeing that shard-stone-thing reminded him of what Domo said about evolving. Or maybe…

…Maybe it was when he told those thieves who we were.

"Scythe, there's something I've been meaning to ask you," Char said, eyeing Saura just a tiny bit. "Is it possible to change the n—"

"Yes. Yes, it is," Scythe interrupted with his most mischievous grin yet. "I was really starting to wonder how long it would take you to ask that."

Scythe turned his head and grinned at him, casting a gaze that told Char, without a doubt, that he knew what he was talking about.

"What?!" Saura croaked. "What is it?! Whaat? You're keeping some kind of a secret from me!"

"I believe you'll find out shortly," Scythe assured him, still smiling at Char. "But don't look at me. Trust your team leader. That's what he's there for."

Saura turned to Char with a confused, questioning expression. Char only smiled back, but his mind was racing.

Now that I seem to have more time to think about it, he wondered, is there anything better that we could name our team?

*Chapter 11*: Chapter 10: The Fire Within

Chapter 10

It was a long, long way back to the base. Not only did Char, Saura, and Scythe have to walk all the way around the Jaded Woods and back down the entire path, they had to do so with a bag full of valuables. Char tried not to whine about the discomfort, but couldn't always help himself. Whenever he'd complain, Scythe would assure him that he was building his endurance and that it wouldn't always be this hard. Still, it didn't do much to comfort his weary limbs.

As soon as Char regained his awareness from the memory loss spell, he found himself sprawled across the floor in Scythe's room. His feet and his arms both hurt like nothing he'd known before, throbbing constantly as they tried to regain strength.

"Ugh… what a day…" Saura moaned, lying on his side. "That was a lot of walking."

"You're telling me!" Char groaned back. "You didn't even have to carry the bag!"

"Hey, you think this thing on my back is light?" Saura griped. "I have trouble traveling long distances anyway because of this seed. I know exactly how you feel."

A few moments passed in silence as the two tired little Pokémon enjoyed the peace.

"So… what do you think?" Char asked again, hoping Saura would respond this time.

"Score one for Team Peanuts, I guess," Saura said, rolling his eyes. "I'll admit, I was a bit disheartened today because of the accidents. And it was so tiring… But I'm sure we'll get better as we go, just like Scythe said…"

As the two laid in silence, Char's mind floated back to the events of the day. He remembered the sight of that Croagunk as it cast its last threatening gaze…

It was no match for Scythe, but… Scythe wouldn't always be there to protect us, Char thought. If they come back to exact revenge when Scythe isn't there, will we be strong enough to defeat them?

Char then thought about something else which wasn't sitting well with him: the vision of Dialga.

He had seen it twice already: first as a memory jogged by laying eyes upon the statue of the dragon in the deserted meeting hall, and then again after passing out from poison. It had indeed been the same vision both times, but the second time had been clearer – clearer enough to see that object, that vitally important object, which hovered before the dragon.

But what was it?

I just don't remember, Char cried inwardly. It's right there in front of me, but I can't… I can't reach out and grab it! If only there were other ways to jog my memory…

Char tossed and turned on the floor, trying to find a position that wouldn't strain any of his poor muscles. But just when he thought he found a comfortable place, voices arose from outside the closed door.

"Good, and now that you've had the opportunity to lead them through a trial run, they can go out on their own," a voice said.

Daemon! Char realized, recognizing the voice. He must be talking about us!

Char heard Scythe respond, but his voice was much lower than the hound's. Char couldn't quite tell what he was saying.

"Scythe… how are they ever to learn?" Daemon grumbled. "You can't coddle them! What good will that do!? They need to learn to depend on themselves!"

Char crawled across the room and listened intently through the door, but still couldn't make out anything Scythe said.

"Then when do you plan to have them ready?!" Daemon spat. "In two days? Three? You said you'd train them, not do all their work for them! Send them out on their own mission and see how they fare. If they're to fail, they need to learn what failure tastes like! They'll grow much stronger that way."

Pressing his ear against the door, Char could finally hear Scythe's voice.

"No," Scythe said. "They won't. At this point, failure could destroy them. I must keep protecting them for the time being. I'll start to let them take control of the missions themselves, but I'll continue to stay with them."

The hound growled in protest.

"Scythe, do what you will," he grumbled, "but remember that we have a reputation to uphold. If we, Team Remorse, are to train this 'Team Peanuts', we must train them by our ways. And so far, I believe that you are giving them the wrong impression of our ways. Only suffering and failure can light the fire within, and make them understand what it means to fight. These children must be taught to feel that fire, or they will be useless to us and to the entire division."

"They'll suffer plenty, with or without my help," Scythe said lowly. "You don't need to worry about that part."

At the sound of shuffling feet from outside, Char quickly leapt away from the door and back to Saura's side.

"Huh?" Saura responded, halfway asleep.

Ignoring him, Char waited for the door to open and someone to barge in. After a few more minutes of Scythe and Daemon discussing some ongoing conflict at a place called Basin Canyon, the Scyther barged in.

"What? Asleep already?" he called loudly, entering his room and dropping a bag onto the floor. "What's the deal, sleeping in the middle of the day? We aren't nocturnal, you know…"

"Day?" Saura wearily replied.

"You thought it was night already?" Scythe laughed, stepping up to them and shoving them both with the blunt ends of his blades. "It's only the middle of the afternoon. There's still plenty of daylight left to get things done. Anyway, just now, I recorded the day's mission, and I put all the valuables into storage so they can be examined later. Next time, I'll have to show you how that's done. But for today… I'll let you go free."

"Free to do what?" Char wondered.

"Do whatever you feel you need to do," Scythe said. "Remember, I'm just your guide. You're your own team. You should take this time to go about the base and find things to do that will benefit your team. I wouldn't recommend leaving the base, but you're free to go wherever you want."

Scythe almost shoved the lazy Saura a second time, but he jumped up to his feet and leapt out of the way.

"Okay, we'll go already," Saura said, shaking his head. "Hmm, Char… I don't know.I feel like getting something to drink. I'm famished after that walk."

"Great! Go on down to the mess hall, then," Scythe said. "Just be back before nightfall. When you get back, I'll show you how to prepare for tomorrow's mission. Then, we can all get some sleep."

"Fine with me," Char said, following Saura to the door.

"Oh, and one more thing," Scythe said just as they were about to leave, complete with his devious smile. "Two more stanzas."

Char and Saura groaned in unison.

… … …

"So, where should we go?" Char asked as they walked through the now-crowded upper level of the base. "We can go have lunch, but what about after that? Where can we go to… 'benefit our team'?"

"I thought Team Remorse got their food delivered," Saura grumbled. "But anyway, Scythe obviously wants us to memorize more of that dumb poem."

"I know, but what else?" Char said. "He said it as if… eh, how about we just think about it while we eat?"

"Sounds good to me," Saura shrugged. "Now, which way was the mess hall again…?"

… … …

Down in the cafeteria, the lines were quite longer than they were the previous day. The training teams, which all finished their shorter and significantly easier missions, were all filing past the counters and making it hard to move around. Char stood in line, wondering if it was ever going to move faster. Saura couldn't do much to help him carry food, but he stood in line to keep him company.

"Hey! Careful where you swing that thing!" a voice yelped from behind Char.

Char turned to find a Treecko, and a female one at that, cowering against the wall in overly-exaggerated fear of his burning tail.

"Uh… sorry?" Char said meekly, gathering his tail in his hands.

"Thank you," she sighed, regaining its composure. "Some of us burn easily, you know. But hey… wow. You're an actual Charmander! I've never actually seen one of your kind, only in pictures. You must be those kids training with Team Remorse."

"Yeah!" Saura said, grinning. "That's us! We're Team Peanuts! Nice to meet you!"

"Well hey, I'm Taka," the Treecko said, shaking Char's hand and patting Saura on the nose. "I'm only on a training team right now, Team Stripes. They work us really hard, but I can't imagine how much harder Team Remorse is working you two!"

"Uh… yeah," Char said.

"You're so lucky. You must be getting the best training of any newbies ever to set foot in this base. How's Scythe treating you?"

"He's… pretty nice, actually," Char said, taking a step forward with the rest of the line.

"He's an undisputed genius," Taka continued. "I read about some of the things Team Remorse has done, and wow, talk about achieving the impossible! I'd give anything to be in your place."

Char was about to respond, but a new voice called from nearby. A Raichu pushed his way through the crowd.

"Hey, Taka, there you are!" it said. "Sorry, I had to spend an hour unpacking. Mind if I…?"

"Yeah, go ahead…" Taka said, rolling her eyes and letting him in line.

"Hey, aren't you Ray?" Saura asked the Raichu. "Didn't we meet this morning on the elevator?"

"Oh, hey, it is you!" Raichu laughed. "Team Peanuts! Nice to meet you again! Want to chat over some food?"

… … …

Ten minutes later, the group finally got their food and sat down together. Char determined the food to be sweet potatoes—or something similar—and dug in. Saura downed a whole bowl of water in what seemed like a heartbeat. The other two Pokémon ate their food much more slowly, chatting at every opportunity between bites.

"So, how did it go?" Ray asked eagerly. "How was Team Peanuts' first mission? Come back with a lot of good stuff? Did Scythe teach you any of his secrets yet?"

"It went fine, I think," Char said, awkwardly playing with his empty plate. "We made some mistakes along the way, but we made it. We uncovered a thieves' den and came back with their stuff. I think the police is gonna try to give most of it back to their rightful owners, so we don't get to keep it, but yeah… it was a good trip."

"Wow, incredible!" Ray cheered after taking another bite. "Nobody's first mission is ever a success! I guess that's what you get for training with Team Remorse, huh?"

"So, what about you?" Saura asked. "How'd your day go?"

"Oh, we failed our mission," Ray said.

"Oh…" Saura said, tilting his head. "It… wasn't too bad, was it? You didn't get in trouble?"

"Nah," Taka said. "It wasn't an important mission. Team Bladewing dropped something in Blackriver City on the way to their destination yesterday. It was a gold band that they were going to sell. We were assigned to go find it."

"We couldn't do it, though," Ray said. "Blackriver City is a brutal place. We got attacked by ghosts, and they forced us to bail out…"

"Nobody expects a training team to accomplish their missions," Taka explained. "That's why they give us pointless missions, so it won't hurt anyone if we screw it up. But when we learn to start accomplishing the missions, we can get accepted into a real team. That's how things work around here."

"For me, it's always been my dream to join Team Remorse," Ray said with a smile. "My older brother was on that team for years before he retired, and I want to take his place. It'd be an honor to serve under the legendary Scythe!"

"Ray's got a long ways to go, though," Taka groaned. "But he's sure got the enthusiasm for it. Me, I don't care where I go, just as long as I'm good enough to do my job, you know?"

Char and Saura glanced at each other, sharing an expression of awkwardness.

"So… uh… how far are you at memorizing that poem?" Char asked nonchalantly.

"Oh, I finished it," Ray said. "I had it down since the second day I was here. You kinda have to, you know? Otherwise they won't let you back into the base! Why, did you not get a chance to memorize it yet?"

"Uh… yeah, we uh, we're finishing it today!" Char rambled, getting a sudden and surprise glance from Saura. "We've just been busy these first few days."

"Uh… okay," the Raichu said with a wink. "If you say so."

Very suddenly, Char felt extremely uncomfortable. The blaring noise from the active cafeteria, the constant sounds of plates scraping against tables, and especially the non-stop sounds of the Raichu's voice, all suddenly culminated into a mass of… unbearable irritation. He felt his stomach sink, like the fire within him had receded by half. Suddenly, he wanted to be alone, away from all the crowds and banter. He wanted to be somewhere quiet.

"Saura, let's go," Char said suddenly, climbing to his feet. "There's somewhere I want to go."

"Char…? Is everything okay?" Saura asked oddly as he jumped down from the table.

"Ray, Taka, nice to meet you both," Char said in a flat voice. "Saura, let's go."

… … …

Char felt a measure of peace sweep over him as he stepped once again into the huge yet deserted theater. The torches along the walls flared up in sequence as they entered, inviting him in with the warm glow of his element. He sighed. He really, really wanted this solitude all of a sudden, although he couldn't place why.

"Want to talk about something?" Saura asked, coming to Char's side as he took a seat on the top step.

"Not really…" Char said. "I just wanted to come here."

Char fixed his eyes, once again, on the incredibly-detailed statue of Dialga at the front of the room.

"You sure?" Saura said. "You don't feel bad lying about memorizing the poem, do you? Because I'm pretty sure Ray just thought you were joking."

"No, it's not that," Char said, not taking his eyes off Dialga's figure. "I guess… this place just suddenly made me feel uncomfortable. I had to get away. It's… it's about Scythe more than anyone else, I think. Since Scythe's training us, we're suddenly held up as these lucky people—Pokémon, sorry—and everyone's saying that we're training with the best warlord that ever lived or something. But we didn't pass today's test because we were good. We only did it because Scythe was there, and he did everything for us. But now, everyone thinks that we're... prodigies, or something. I don't want that. Especially since we're not even playing by the same rules as the rest of the… entire division."

"Maybe Scythe's just teaching us his own way," Saura offered, shrugging. "Maybe he knows what he's doing."

"Or maybe he's just treating us like this because he knows I'm a human!" Char returned. "Maybe he's just giving us extra protection because he's a Pokémon and I'm a human and he feels he needs to serve me. Just… like you, Saura. It's just… I don't want to be treated special if I don't deserve it. It makes me feel really bad. I don't want other people to have expectations of me that I can't live up to."

"To tell you the truth, I kind of feel the same way," Saura said in a genuine tone. "But I have faith in Scythe. I think he knows what he's doing."

But I can't help thinking that maybe Daemon was right, Char said to himself. Maybe learning for ourselves would be the better way to grow. But… I guess I have nothing to do but to put my faith in Scythe at the moment…

Char sat for a moment, enjoying the quietness of the large space lined with fiery torches. It made him feel a little better knowing he was safe and sound inside of this beautiful room. He watched Dialga's stone skin rippling with light from the flames, and he tried to imagine that the great beast stood before him in the same room, ready to tell him that which it had soundlessly spoken in his dreams.

"What do you see?" Saura asked, changing his tone. "Is it bringing back any of your memories?"

Char told Saura about the dream he had during his poison-induced coma as best as he could, describing how he felt that there was something else—something indescribably important—that these dreams were still failing to reveal.

"No wonder," Saura said. "Right before you woke up, you said Dialga's name. I should have known you were having another dream."

"That's the thing, though," Char said. "I don't think they're dreams at all. I think I really am slowly remembering things that happened to me before I transformed… I just wish I could remember more."

The more Char stared at the statue, the more he tried to visualize it acting out its behavior in his memory. But no matter how hard he tried, the memory wouldn't return the same way it had. It seemed like it was teetering on the brink, but never fell into place.

… … …

After spending a good deal of time sitting in the peacefulness of the theater, but failing to induce another memory, Char pulled himself away and decided to head to the little white room where the poem was posted. There, they both rubbed their heads as they glanced upon the two stanzas they should have remembered from yesterday, and the two stanzas after that.

"Do you… remember any of it?" Saura asked.

"Uh… Something about peace that our fathers had before," Char said doubtfully. "Really… I still don't see how I'm supposed to do this if I can't even read…"

After spending a grueling length of time going over what they had forgotten of the first two stanzas, they tried painfully to pave more room for the next.

"Ho, oh, miracle, Lessons learned and lives retold," Saura recited.

"Ho, oh, tales of old, it's how we live by what we know," Char answered.

"Good, good," Saura said. "Now, let's see if we can get the next one without pushing that one out of our heads."

… … …

Eventually, when they learned everything Scythe required of them for the day, they eagerly leapt out of the room and back down the corridors. Since there was still a bit of time left in the day, they discussed other places in the base to visit. Saura suggested stepping into the dojo to see if it was available.

"I'm a bit tired still," Char had replied, "but I don't see why not…"

As Char and Saura entered Domo's Dojo, a Scyther who looked suspiciously like Scythe buzzed around the center of the room, attacking a giant rock which sat in the middle of the main platform. His movements were awkward and clumsy, though, and he didn't move with the same blinding speed which Scythe had used before.

"Oh, you two," the Scyther said to them (with Scythe's very voice), letting himself get distracted from his makeshift opponent. "Right, you remembered me telling you to come in today. Very good. If you're not busy, we can have a lesson."

Before Char could say "yes," Domo lunged at him, causing him to panic and jump backwards. In doing so, though, he tripped and fell, hitting his head against the rock platform.

"Scared you, didn't I?" the false Scythe sneered. "One thing you must learn… I will teach you… is not to panic when faced with an opponent. Never panic. Yes, it is a survival instinct built into your mind, but the instinct is wrong! It can be overcome, so that you will never lose your good reasoning during battle."

"But first, you have to teach us how to fight," Saura interrupted. "Confidence only comes from knowing you have the skill to do something."

"Wrong!" the Scyther yelled. "If you panic, you will never acquire skill in the first place! It all starts with the ability to turn off your lower-level instincts when they are not needed, and see things only from an objective point of view. A vital skill to learn! Now… show me what you know about battle!"

With a shift of his form, the Scyther became a Kabutops. When the transformation was over, it reared back, ready to lash forward with its spiked limbs.

"Get ready for me!" it squealed in its distorted voice. "Now…"

"Wait! Please!" Char pleaded. "I'm… not ready."

"Why?" the Kabutops demanded. "What's the matter?"

"I have a question," Char said weakly. "I was wondering if you could answer it, being the combat trainer and all."

"Oh…" Domo said, dropping his hostile pose. "Well, what do you need?"

"Something's been bothering me," Char told Domo. "Today, when we fought another Pokémon on the mission, I… couldn't use my fire breath. I tried to use it, but it didn't come out. I was wondering if… you know… you knew anything about how it works."

"Well… let's see if I can remember," Domo said, shifting forms once again. In only a few short moments, Domo had shrunk down in size to exactly Char's height. In fact, he had become Char.

Is that really what I look like? Char wondered, staring oddly at the real-life reflection of himself. I look… weird!

"Ah, to be a fire-type," Domo spoke with Char's voice, adding to the strange scene. "I've been spending a deal of time in your form, and the fire-nature is starting to return to my memory. Now… you said you lost your inner fire, did you?"

"Yeah," Char answered. "It wouldn't come out."

"Well, let me tell you how it all works," Domo said. "All fire-aligned Pokémon have a flame which constantly burns inside of your body. It is called your Ember. Your Ember is your very life force; it's what sustains you and animates you. In essence, you are a living tongue of fire encased in a catalyst of flesh. That fire is your spirit; if it were to ever go out, it would mean that your life is over, regardless of what condition your body is in. Now, while all fire-type Pokémon have this Ember burning inside, it will… express itself in different ways, depending on the species. For some fire-Pokémon, such as Ponyta, Infernape, or indeed, Charmander, the flame remains exposed to the air through a natural ventilation system of sorts - hence, the flame on your tail. For other fire-types, like Vulpix, the flame is harbored within, and will only be expelled when the Pokémon intends to use it, for instance, to defend itself."

So it is a defensive mechanism after all, Char realized. There must be some way to control it, then…

"Now, even though your tail flame will burn for as long as you live, you must always keep it protected from things like the cold or the water," Domo continued. "Not only does it hurt immensely for undesirable elements to come in contact with your flame, but you could become seriously injured, indeed, even to the point of death."

Yeah, I found out the hard way how that works, Char thought.

"As a fire Pokémon with an open flame, its appearance can be useful in judging your health," the Ditto explained. "The flame you see on your tail will always be a reflection of the state of your inner Ember. Sometimes the flame will flicker and weaken, letting you know that something is amiss within your body. However, the opposite is also true. Sometimes, when you are healthy and overflowing with vitality, or if your spirit is touched in the right way, your Ember will swell, sometimes to the point of overflowing. In those times, you can use it as a weapon against enemies by expelling it from your throat."

"How do I get it to swell?" Char wondered. "That's the thing. I tried to make it do that, but it didn't work!"

"It's mostly an instinctual response," Domo explained. "It will often be your body's reaction to when you are… worried, desperate, or otherwise offended."

Offended? Char repeated silently.

"That makes sense," Saura chimed in. "Remember? I remember when we were fighting that other Bulbasaur. You didn't really want to join in and fight in the first place."

"I was afraid to," Char said. "I was… shy."

"Right! If you were being cowardly, of course your Ember wouldn't have risen to your aid," Domo explained. "Now, with enough training, you can learn to trigger your Ember whenever you want. It will get easier when you become a Charmeleon and a Charizard, but you can learn it at your age, too. A good way I found to do it is to pretend my pride is being threatened. Think to yourself: 'You can't tell me what to do! I don't deserve this! This shouldn't be happening to me! I deserve more than this!' and so on, and so on. And you have to mean it, too. If you do it right, you should feel your fire swelling. Try it."

Char took a deep breath. Focusing on his inner fire, he—

Whack!

"Hey! Ow!" Char cried, recovering from the blow to the head which the other Charmander had delivered. "That hurt!"

Pow!

Next came a clenched fist to Char's belly, knocking the wind right out of him. He fell back onto the floor but quickly scrambled up. The other Charmander quickly approached him.

"Ugh!" Char grunted.

"Yes, yes, feel that?" Domo replied. "Now you're being offended. Don't forgive me! Demand respect from me! Demand repayment for the harm I have caused! Who is the better Charmander, huh? Me or you? It's your decision!"

Char scowled at his doppelganger. He knew what he had to do, now. He had to hate him. He had to loathe him. He had to feel the same hatred that he once felt for Scythe, and also for Eva, and for the Spearow that attacked Saura. But… could he bring himself to hate his trainer? It didn't seem to be working. He knew he had to think of something before he collected more bumps and bruises...

No, he realized. He could not hate those who were his friends. He could not turn his fire on them. But… there was one thing that he could learn to hate…

The Master, Char said to himself. The Master. I hate… the Master. The same way Saura hates the Master. The same way Scythe hates the Master. The same way all the other Pokémon in this place hate the Master. He who tears families apart… He who kills and steals without remorse… he is the one whom I hate!

Char felt invigorated; his tail flame had instantaneously grown to twice its normal size. The flames roiled in his belly, ready to be spewed outward at his command.

"Good!" Domo shouted. "I see you've gotten the hang of it. Now, since you understand how it works, it's only a matter of practice. Use your fire to defeat your enemies in battle, and—"

My fire burns… Char said to himself, not listening to Domo. Wait! That's IT! That's PERFECT! My fire burns… to destroy the Master!

*FWOOM!*

A decently-sized fireball rose from Char's chest, blasting out from his mouth and striking the doppelganger in the middle of his speech. Domo fell onto his back onto the stony floor below.

"Nicely done!" he cried, leaping back to his feet. "See? You experience elation! Your fire rises to your aid! Can you do it again?"

*FWOOM!*

Char coughed out another plume of fire, and this time the Ditto leaped out of the way to avoid the attack.

"You learn!" the other Charmander said. "This is the key! This is the first step in learning how to use your fire in battle. You have learned well!"

Char felt the pleasant, searing heat in his chest. He glanced at his tail, watching how the flame doubled in size. He smiled.

My fire is there, he realized. It has always been there. All I really needed… was a reason to fight.

And maybe… I don't have to be a coward anymore.

For the first time since his transformation, Char felt the faint twinkle of an emotion he had forgotten how to feel. He felt a flicker of real, true happiness.

"Thanks," Char muttered, bowing to Domo and raising his hands to show that he no longer wanted to battle. "I think I understand. I know how to control the fire."

"Trust me, you have not yet begun to learn!" Domo proclaimed, shifting back into the form of Mew. "You have learned the most basic kind of attack your fire is capable of: a simple discharge of your fire from within to without. This basic attack is known by Pokémon as the "Ember attack". But there remain dozens, perhaps hundreds more ways for you to learn to utilize your fire. But, perhaps, those can be lessons for another day."

"I understand," Char said, bowing again. "Thank you."

"Thank you for the opportunity to train you," Domo replied. "It is an honor. I have forgotten what it was like to be a Charmander, or a Charizard. You have given me the opportunity to remember what a strong, passionate nature they have."

Smiling in glee, Char stepped off of the stone platform and returned to Saura. His tail burned brightly as his thoughts kept running in circles, proclaiming "I have my fire! I have my fire!"

"And you, little Bulbasaur!" Domo called out. "Surely, you have not come to me in vain! Come, approach me! It is now your turn."

"Um… okay," Saura said, turning to Domo. "Uh… well, since I'm here, I have a question for you, too. Earlier, I fought a Bulbasaur, but he attacked me in a way I didn't recognize…"

"A new attack?" Domo said, already in Saura's form. "Describe it to me."

… … …

Although Char and Saura both wanted to do something else before retiring to their rooms for the night, they couldn't think of anything to do after the lessons from Domo. All the while, Saura was too busy singing to Char about the new attack the Ditto taught him, called "bullet seeds". Char was just thankful that it distracted Saura enough not to remember his team name, or anything else that might dash his good mood.

Eventually, it came time to return to Team Remorse. Satisfied at their accomplishments of the day, Char and Saura hiked back upstairs and walked down the tunnel which lead to the elite team's rooms…

"Well, I guess that's a wrap for our first day," Saura laughed as they headed back down the tunnel. "Not only did we accomplish our first mission, but we learned some new skills, and we made some new friends! Team Peanuts is on the road to victory!"

There he goes again, Char noticed. And… what? Don't tell me… he doesn't seem to mind the name anymore…?

"And tomorrow, we'll wake up and do it all over again," Saura sighed. "This really is kind of exciting, anyway. The more victories we get, the more well-known our team name will be, and the more famous we'll become! The Master's forces will cower before our… um… famousness!"

Char bit his tongue.

"Hey, Char, I've got an idea," Saura said, leaping around. "What if we had some sort of motto? Maybe our motto could be something we say every time we meet the bad guys! Imagine. The bad guys are there, thinking they're getting away with it. Then suddenly, we leap out of nowhere, and they know they're in trouble when they hear the words…"

Saura jumped ahead of Char and turned around, facing him like an enemy and smiling evilly.

"…To protect Ambera from devastation! To destroy the Master's domination! To denounce alliance with evil's hand! To resist all those who plague our land! Team Peanuts is here to stand for what's right! We'll never go down without a fight! Ha-HA!"

Hey, that's not half bad, thought Char as Saura leapt again and performed a little pose. Char cracked a smile.

But just as Char's grin covered his face, Saura's suddenly disappeared.

"Oh, Char. It's just no use!" Saura moaned in a sudden bout of anguish, surprising Char and dropping to the floor in hopelessness. "I've tried so hard to get used to our team name. But… I can't! I just can't, Char. I don't care if everyone else likes the name. I hate it! I… I don't want to be a peanut. I don't want to be something weak and silly and stupid! Why'd we have to get stuck with such an awful name? I'm sorry, Char. I shouldn't be acting like this. But every time I hear the name, it just sucks all the energy right out of me…"

Char stepped forward and gave him a big hug.

"I know, I know," Saura sniffed, almost ready to cry. "We knew from the beginning this wouldn't be easy. I shouldn't be whining like this. I really shouldn't."

Char smiled.

"Saura," he said gently. "I was wondering something."

"What is it?" Saura grumbled, casting a questioning glance up at his friend.

"Would you like to change our team's name?"

Saura held his breath. His eyes widened.

"You can do that?" Saura cried. "I didn't know that!"

"Neither did I, until I asked Scythe earlier today," Char explained. "He told me that it's easy. You just go down to registration and request a name change for your team. We might even be able to do it before the office closes tonight. You have to write down the new name on paper, though, so you may have to help me with those footprint-things everyone writes with. And you can only get one name change per year, or something…"

"Char, I'd love to…" Saura sighed. "But… do you have anything in mind? Anything better than Team Peanuts, at least?"

"Oh… I might have something in mind," Char replied, staring thoughtfully into the distance.

… … …

Later that night, a Pidgeotto swooped down into the hallway. Casting a glance of acknowledgement toward the Charmander and Bulbasaur who stood nearby, the Pidgeotto set itself down on the hallway floor. It emptied its talons of some rolled-up sheets of paper. Taking one in its beak, it applied it to a nearby bulletin board with a few pecks.

"Interesting news today," the Pidgeotto commented. It quickly gathered up the rest of the papers in its talons, rolling them into neat little scrolls, then took off again.

"Take care," it called as it flew away, leaving a feather or two behind.

Saura approached the large posting on the board, completely covered in blocks and blocks of footprint runes, all of varying sizes.

"Hmm…" Saura said. "It says… Team Absolution finished a week-long campaign in the mountains. And Team Remorse is still fighting at Basin Canyon. Hmm… They said it would be here…"

Saura grinned in eager anticipation, finding the passage of text he had been looking for. Char held his breath, savoring the look on his friend's face.

"Furthermore, Team Peanuts… by the request of the team's leader, is hereby to be known as… Team Ember…"

Wow, we really are in the news, Char realized, feeling the fire in his belly tingle with glee. Everyone in the rest of the Gold Division is going to read this tomorrow morning…

"Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback from their previous name, the newly-founded team has requested this change for personal reasons," Saura continued. "While it is not nearly as unique as Peanuts, we here at the registry unanimously agree that the new name is…meaningful and well-chosen. Good luck to you, Team Ember, and to all of our newly-joined members!"

Saura glanced back at his friend.

"Well, it's official," he said. "We're Team Ember now…"

"What do you think?" Char asked. "Do you like it? Do you have any regrets? I felt a little guilty for naming the team after fire, you know… But I thought it was just a good name that meant something. Something we can both be proud of."

"Char… I… really don't know what to say," Saura gasped, nudging Char's leg as he looked back at the news post. "The name's perfect! Thank you so much! I… You have no idea. It really takes a load off my back not having to be ashamed of the name anymore… and not having to pretend to like it!"

At that, the two little Pokémon turned to head for the door of Team Remorse, ready to sleep and begin the day anew with high hearts.

*Chapter 12*: Special Episode: The Resistance Creed

"The Resistance Creed"

The poem just never seemed to end.

After more than two hours of trying to cram a few stanzas of the blasted Creed-code into their heads, Char and Saura were already stricken with terrible headaches.

"Ho, oh, miracle? Lessons learned and… lives retold," Saura recited.

"Something, something… It's the way we live by what we know," Char answered.

"Well, apparently we don't know this poem," Saura grumbled, rubbing his forehead against the wall. "I don't know how everyone else gets it. It just… doesn't make any sense."

Saura read the next stanza of the creed. He read slowly, enunciating every word in hopes they would stick in his memory. The words were unpredictable and meaningless. At times it consisted of random words thrown together in a rhyming manner, and at other times it hinted at some vague silhouettes of meaning. To Char, it was the most uninteresting thing he'd ever seen in the entire division base, even worse than the formal papers and rulebooks he had been given to read due to being a team leader.

It was going to take quite a while for him to garner enough interest to actually remember any of it, not to mention the fact that he couldn't actually read the text; they were in that strange Pokémon-footprint language he was not yet literate with.

"You're doing it wrong," a voice suddenly called from the other side of the room.

Char and Saura turned to meet a Zangoose. It was lounging against the far wall, reading the tablets alongside them. Its white fur camouflaged the creature against the marble-colored walls of the room.

"There's a trick to it," the Zangoose mumbled. "It's not just a poem. It's a song."

"A song? I don't see how," Saura said, looking over the stone tablets. "There's no rhythm. It's just a big pile of words…"

"There is rhythm," the Zangoose assured. "You just have to find it. Listen."

The Zangoose closed its eyes and, to their surprise, began humming. In spite of its low, raspy voice, the melody it sang was clear. It was a mysterious tune, somehow sad and touching…

Opening its eyes again to read from the tablets, the Zangoose started to sing.

Freedom, peace, and war,
Our fathers lived through once before,
Freedom, peace of mind,
One dream to live for all mankind.

Our lives sing the song, destiny goes on,
Light for the ones astray,
Those who have lost the way.
Our lives come to be, truth and mystery,
Fools that we now believe,
And lies we were meant to see.

Ho, oh, miracle,
Lessons learned and lives retold,
Ho, oh, tales of old,
It's how we live by what we know.

The tale never dies, legend, it abides,
Fears that we come to know,
Sorrows we ignore.
Dispelled, trapped in time, power in its prime,
One who has paid the price,
The final sacrifice.

Ho, oh, ebb and flow,
Time will tell if all will hold.
Ho, oh, tears of woe,
Our time is here before we know.

Our foes fill the sky, darker than meets the eye,
Watching until the dawn,
And from the light, withdrawn.
They wait for the sign, dawn of the coming time
Power sustains their greed
for only the one they need.

Ho, oh, miracle
Stars in darkness shine and glow,
Ho, oh, golden moon,
light the way through dark and gloom!

We stand on the spire, sheltered from the fire.
Timing is all we need
for efforts to all succeed.
A beast to be slain, fighting to end the reign,
Sorrow for what's been done,
we stand, in the end, as one.

Lay low, wait and grow,
Seeds of strength to reap and sew.
Lay low, keep ahold,
Await the day of fate untold.

Our call is our key, greatest mystery
Legends we call our friends
and foes to make amends.
The waves in the sea, sound and majesty,
Prayers to beckon the lord
through him, all is restored.

Freedom, each their own,
Perched upon the silver throne.
Freedom from the grave,
This is how the Hero lived.

The last is the first, breaking through the curse
Holes open in the sky,
We watch, and we wonder why.
The last turns to dust, words without the trust,
Futile is our attempt
To turn and reverse the past.

Ho, oh, run away,
Seek the victory to repay.
See, now, how we've known
in the end, we are alone.

Hypnotized by the song, Char was surprised when it ended.

"Does that help?" the Zangoose rasped. "That's how it's supposed to sound. Once I learned that, it helped. I'm learning the song fast now."

"I'm impressed," Saura said with a sincere smile. "Now it's hard to forget that melody. Thank you!"

"Good to hear it," the Zangoose said. "Anyway, I'm Zachel, trainee on Team Carrier. Nice to meet you."

---

(The lyrics are sung to "Great Canyon" From Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red / Blue Rescue Team.)

*Chapter 13*: Chapter 11: A Team Effort

Chapter 11

"The first thing you need to do when preparing for the next day is to examine the options which are available to you."

The firelight which illuminated the cave's tunnels had already turned red for the night, but Scythe wasn't yet ready to let Team Ember sleep. As he had promised, Scythe needed to walk the new team through the process of choosing the next day's mission. With the help of Shander to deal with the paperwork, they presented Char and Saura with an array of job requests.

Blinking from the impending sleepiness, Char watched as Shander somehow held the papers between his claws and set them onto the floor. He still couldn't read the text, but tried to follow along as best as he could.

"So… I'm guessing you two always hang out together because Scythe can't do all of this on his own? Without having hands, I mean?" Saura asked curiously.

"About right," Shander responded, sliding his last paper into place. "Scythe has chosen me to be his hands. Although, it's been a little harder of a job ever since I evolved. And I keep telling this overgrown bug that all he needs is to grow up and get some pincers, and he wouldn't need me anymore."

"And I keep telling this overgrown mouse that pincers are pathetic excuses for weapons, and I have no intention of trading my blades for anything," Scythe said with a warm smile.

Char could tell that it was all just an excuse for these two Pokémon to spend time together, as they were obviously great friends. He knew they even shared their secrets with one another, most notably their quiet search for The Call. Char couldn't help but wonder just how Shander, out of all the other Pokémon in their elite resistance team, had won Scythe's favor as a close friend.

"Hey, Char!" Saura called playfully. "I don't have hands, either! Guess what your new job is?"

"Bag-carrier and official team scribe?" Char groaned sarcastically. "Oh, the humility… And I still don't even know how to read!"

"You will have to learn eventually," Shander said. "It's as vital a skill here as being able to talk. But in the meantime, if we pull a few strings, I bet we'd be able to get some of your papers transcribed to Unown-script… since Scythe tells me you know that language."

Ugh! Char grumbled to himself. Not this again! Did Scythe actually tell Shander that I'm a human? Does his whole team know? I don't want to talk about it right now…

"So… what are our options?" Char said quickly, trying to change the subject. "Do we get to choose where our destination is? Is that what these papers are about? You have to do this every day, don't you?"

"When you come to be on a… high-priority team such as Team Absolution or Team Remorse, then no, you don't choose missions each and every day," Scythe explained. "Our missions are long-term, sometimes taking months to complete. But our team holds a meeting each and every night, and we discuss the plans for the next day as a whole, how we will progress our efforts, and so on. But overall, we try to keep our jobs limited to only one or two larger campaigns at a time until they are done."

"Like Basin Canyon?" Saura blurted.

"…Yes, like that," Scythe said. "We understand our role to play in this division, so we try to take on the more dangerous and large-scale jobs that other teams will not. So, no, this list is not for us. This is actually a copy of the task list that the training teams receive."

"Wow, these jobs look really boring," Saura said as he skimmed over the paper. "Escort a family of Nidoran through Gulch Valley? Deliver a shipment of fruit to Sitrus City… Wait, why would a resistance team even be in charge of stuff like this?"

"You'd be surprised at the number of things we actually do to usurp the Master's influence," Shander said. "Delivering food lessens a city's dependence on the Master's suppliers, for instance. It's a very low-risk task as long as you evade detection."

"Hmmm," Saura hummed, not looking very impressed.

"Here's something else which may help you decide," Shander said, pulling a very large, rolled-up piece of paper from the burlap sack he'd hefted into the study-room.

Carefully laying the scroll on the bench and unrolling the rust-covered paper under his claws, Shander revealed something incredible: it was a colorful, comprehensive map of the entire Ambera region. Even by the light of the red-tinted flame on the ceiling, the individual cities and counties seemed to leap from the paper in an unbelievably vivid patchwork of color, all meticulously surrounded by all the descriptions and notes of each individual detail of terrain that could come in handy to a traveler. Char couldn't believe his eyes; the Ambera region was huge! It was a continent. The footprint-runes which labeled the map were tiny and mercilessly crammed together in places with many features, yet easy to see. It was quite a work of art. Shander used some clips to pin down the map to the sides of the table so it wouldn't go rolling itself up.

"The Map of Jirachi," Shander announced as he smoothed out the remaining wrinkles on the paper. "It's the most accurate map of Ambera ever to be drawn, and only the resistance forces have copies of it. Study it all you want, use it on missions, but please make sure it doesn't get lost or stolen!"

"Especially this particular copy," Scythe added. "This one even shows the locations of the division bases and the areas they're all responsible for. See this shading? That's where the Gold Division's jurisdiction lies. Past these lines, the Emerald Division is responsible for the area, and the Black Division down there. You can see all the cities inside of our area, and even the known mystery dungeons are marked."

"Hmm… what's this shaded area?" Char asked, pointing out a plot of land toward the center of the map that seemed to lie outside of all three jurisdictions.

"That… is where the Master's castle stands," Scythe told him, a hint of a shudder echoing through his deep voice. "No resistance teams go there, at least those who are not willing to risk everything. You'd risk giving away our locations, our plans, our missions… everything. In the history of the resistance forces, only four missions have required us to infiltrate the Master's residence. Only the most trustworthy and reliable teams are assigned to those tasks, and even so, it's never a pleasant occurrence."

"Scythe was on one," Shander noted. "It was only eight years ago, too…"

"Don't remind me," Scythe grumbled in annoyance. "I was only on that mission because I knew the territory personally. I barely even helped with the mission otherwise."

That's right, Char realized. Scythe once fought for the Master, didn't he? I keep forgetting that. Looking at him now, it's so hard to imagine…

"Anyway, back on track," Scythe said. "When you go over the list of tasks, make note of the areas you'll be required to visit to accomplish those tasks. Ask yourself: how far away is the destination? What roads should I take? What obstacles lie in the way? What mystery dungeons could I sneak through to evade detection from the Master's spies? What kind of Pokémon live in those territories, and how could I best deal with them? Which teammates could most help me with the mission? What tools would I have to lug all the way there in the bag?"

Saura looked over the list again, occasionally glancing at the different locations on the map. Char wanted to provide input, but still couldn't understand any of the symbols on the papers.

"How about this one?" Saura asked, pointing his paw to an area on the map. "It's close, it looks easy…"

"What is it?" Char asked. "What's the mission?"

"Ravine Woodlands. It's a sentry mission. It says… 'Ravine Woodlands is a medium-priority tactical region which must be regularly examined for enemy activity. This mission requires traveling to the aforementioned destination, preferably by way of the neighboring mystery dungeon to avoid detection, and spending no less than four hours policing the destination. If gathered enough reason to believe the destination is infested by or is being used as an enemy thoroughfare, do not engage in battle. Return immediately to the Division Headquarters and report the issue. Risk Level: D'"

"Hmm, that's a possibility…" Scythe hummed. "It's nearby, straightforward…"

"And it's another forest," Saura added. "Plant Pokémon should live there. Char and I should have no problem with those."

"Excellent point," Scythe said. "So, is that your choice?"

"What do you think, Char?" Saura said. "We'd only have to walk around and explore the woods for a few hours. Sound good to you?"

Char briefly considered the offer, and didn't see anything wrong with it—other than the possibility that it might be a little on the boring side. Or maybe not, Char considered. Fresh air, exercise, more experience against wild Pokémon… and maybe even another dungeon to crawl…

Char nodded in agreement.

"Great," Scythe said with a nod. "You've made a good choice based on your current abilities. That's the first step. For the next step… follow me."

… … …

Char and Saura followed Shander and Scythe out of the team's quarters and into the base's tunnels, which were barely even active at this time of the night. Before long, they found themselves taking a familiar path.

When Char stepped down from the staircase, he recognized the floor immediately.

"It's Kecleon's shop," Char noticed. "Are we going shopping for items?"

"We could go shopping at this time, yes," Scythe said, "But your Team Ember doesn't have any money yet, does it?"

"Uh… I guess not," Char said. "How do we get money, anyway?"

"There are various ways to get Poké," Shander explained. "The best way is to gather merchandise on your travels and sell them to Kecleon. He buys everything, and he can pay a real hefty sum if you give him something he really likes. But the way most of the resistance teams make a profit is by taking jobs that have bounties. The one you chose has a small bounty, if you hadn't noticed. The one you did earlier today with Scythe had a rather large one, though."

"Really?" Saura asked. "Do we get any money for it?"

"Of course you will," Scythe said. "I've even taken the liberty of opening your account down at the treasury. The reward will get deposited into your new account sometime tomorrow morning after the records are examined. But, since you're still training, I'm going to go ahead and take eighty percent of your profit from your mission yesterday. That can be incentive for you to learn how to operate on your own."

"Oh…" Saura said, slightly dashed.

"But," Scythe continued, "since you're going to do even more of your own work tomorrow, I'll drop that to sixty percent for your next reward. And when your training is done and you are operating on your own, you will be allowed to keep all the money you earn – save for the tax which the Division itself takes from you, of course."

"So, you're going with us again?" Char asked, already knowing the answer.

"Of course," Scythe said. "I'm going to come with you on your missions until I'm comfortable that you've learned the basics."

"Don't you think Daemon would disagree with that?" Char asked, curious as to the answer he'd receive.

"Of course he would," Scythe said, not skipping a beat. "Daemon is Daemon."

Scythe kept walking as if nothing had been said, but Shander couldn't hold back a grin at the comment.

"But no, we're not going to Kecleon's tonight," Scythe said as they passed right by the store entrance. "There's no use buying things we already have. We're going to pay a visit to the storage room."

… … …

Char followed Scythe into the storage area lobby. It was completely empty. There was a counter separating the entrance of the room from the back, like most shops would have, but the counter was completely barren, and there was nothing behind it but a bare wall. There was no Pokémon to be seen, and not even a door or window to suggest there was an area in back where Pokémon could have been busy working.

"Um…" Saura said. "Are you sure this is the right place? It doesn't look like anything's here."

"Ha, haha. That's what I said, too, the first time I came," Shander laughed. "You'll see here in a moment."

Char waited for a while, not knowing what to expect. Then, suddenly, a Gengar stepped out from the solid stone wall, startling Char to bits.

"Heya," the Gengar said, jumping up to the top of the counter. "What can I do for 'ya tonight, Scythe? Ah, and Team Ember's here too, huh?"

"This is Morrik," Scythe introduced. "He's in charge of storage. When he carries something, he can take it through the wall with him, and he can keep all your valuables back there in completely isolated cracks in the earth. Somehow, he keeps track of who owns it all."

" 'S not that hard," Morrik scoffed.

"Before you head out on a mission, always make sure you have what you need, and keep the rest in storage," Scythe explained. "If you drop something in a mystery dungeon, you usually can't go back for it. It's lost forever, unless you're willing to scavenge the dungeon again or hire another team to do it for you. So, you should only take with you the things that you need, and give the rest to Morrik."

"I see…" Saura said.

"Now, usually, when you do this, you've got to know already what you're going to ask Morrik for," Scythe told Char and Saura. "To figure that out, you've got to do more research on the destination and the route you'll take to get there. For example, if you're going into a place with poisonous Pokémon, you make sure to take pecha fruit. But today, just this once, I'm going to do it for you. And since you have no supplies of your own yet, I'll lend you some of mine…"

… … …

Ten minutes later, Char awkwardly stumbled out of the storage area holding an absolutely stuffed bag full of supplies.

"That should do it," Scythe said cheerfully. "Congratulations, you two! You're all prepared for your journey tomorrow! All that's left to do now is to get a good night's rest. But I have to warn you, this process won't always be this easy. As you learn how to be a resistance team, it'll get a little more complicated. But we'll show you everything you need to know when the time comes. For example, normally, when you decide on a mission, the first thing you need to do is go down to Registration and tell them so that other teams won't take the same mission. Training teams can usually skip that step, though."

Char was barely even listening. He was too occupied with trying to carry the bulging bag and stay standing at the same time. It was really heavy.

Thump. Overcome by the bag's weight, Char tripped over his own feet and landed face-down on the floor. He released a muffled whimper as he tried to get up.

"Careful," Scythe said nonchalantly. "You've got to pace yourself. Lift from the knees! You've got a long way to carry that thing tomorrow!"

As Saura helped Char up, Scythe effortlessly stole the bag and slung it onto his own shoulder.

"I'm joking, of course," Scythe said with his smile. "I'll carry it. I'm just going to be watching you two, anyway."

… … …

Later that night, Char sat awake in Scythe's room. He knew he was supposed to be resting up for the next day's mission, but instead, he stayed awake and stared at his tail flame, the only active light source left in the room. All the other spirit-torches had been somehow disabled. It burned an unusually deep shade of red due to the color-flame spell which affected all of the fire in the complex.

"Ugh… Char, are you alright?" Saura asked groggily, noticing his friend's wide-open eyes. "Having trouble sleeping or something?"

"No…" Char said simply.

"Then why don't you rest?" Saura croaked. "I don't want you collapsing on us tomorrow—"

Suddenly and soundlessly, Char's tail flame flickered. It re-lit itself almost immediately, but now was bright blue! The base-wide spell had been activated, changing the color of every flame to indicate that, for the seven darkest hours of the night, it was not safe to travel outside.

"Whoa…" Saura gasped. "That's… weird."

"Yeah, that is," Char said, running his claws through the blue fire. "I just wanted to stay up and see that happen. I'll go to sleep now…"

"Good night, Char…" Saura sighed, closing his eyes again.

Char imagined the Watchers and recalled everything he'd been told about them. It made a shiver run down his spine knowing that the wicked ghosts were now unleashed across Ambera, doing whatever it was that they did. He knew for certain that he never wanted to see them with his own eyes.

"Well, Dialga, I'm still here," Char whispered to nobody as he situated himself on the floor for sleeping. "Any time you'd like to come and let me know what's going on, I'd appreciate it…"

Thus ended a very, very long day for Team Ember… but it was nothing compared to the next one which loomed on the horizon.

… … …

"Get up!"

Char blinked repeatedly. He'd been awake just moments ago, and he was sure that his tail had still been blue. Had Scythe been waiting for the precise moment the fire would change back?

"No sleeping in today!" Scythe called, nudging them both. "Let's be off! The day will not wait for us!"

Char nodded and stretched as he rolled into a sitting position. Through his blurred eyes, he saw that Scythe was already holding their bag of supplies and ready to embark.

Wow, he just keeps getting more zealous each time I see him, Char said as he rubbed his eyes. Maybe he's not taking it easy on us after all.

Scythe lit the room's torches to make it impossible to fall back asleep, and he had both Char and Saura on their feet within five minutes.

… … …

"Good to see you awake at this hour," a familiar voice said as the group ventured down the team's hallway.

Char cringed. It was Daemon again. He and two other members of Team Remorse, Shander and an Exploud, stood at the side of the hall.

"Good morning, Team Ember," the hound said condescendingly. "Having a little trouble waking up?"

"Good morning, Daemon," Saura said obstinately.

"Scythe, the team has sorely missed you at Basin Canyon lately," Daemon said pointedly, turning a disgusted look at the bag of supplies he carried. "Do you think you'll be returning any time soon?"

"I think the rest of the team knows what they're doing," Scythe said, obviously trying to evade him and get out the door. "I'm confident there won't be any problems until settlement."

"If you keep this up, you won't be ready for settlement," Daemon reminded him. "We need you at the Canyon, not running around with these children! Otherwise, this could all turn into one big mistake. Finish up with them and get back to the task at hand! If it takes too long, dumping them into a training team would be the only acceptable solution."

"Wow, he even insults Pokémon who are standing in the same room," Saura hissed to Char.

"Understood," Scythe said. "But that will not be necessary. You seem to have things well under control at the moment. And, like I said before, I will review your logs, and I will come to the settlement. Now, are we going to waste any more time standing around and talking, or do we have missions to accomplish?"

Daemon bit his tongue and turned toward the door.

"Let's move it," he barked to his teammates. "Nidoroch's team needs to be relieved as soon as possible, and we need four more tunnels cleared out by the end of the day. Oh, and Team Ember?"

"Y-yes?" Char squeaked.

"Have good luck on your mission."

He and the team hustled down the hallway and out of sight.

"Wow, he said something nice…?" Saura said with fake surprise. "Never thought I'd see that happen."

"'Good luck' is his favorite insult," Scythe told him, leading them down the hall. "Daemon constantly likes to remind everyone that winning has nothing to do with luck, and that only the amateur need to rely on it. As he likes to say… 'To the skilled, luck is nothing but a minor convenience.'"

… … …

The group took the western entrance, the same way they'd entered the base on the very first day they arrived. Just like the previous morning, they were joined by other teams on their way out for the day, but many less Pokémon than usual; after all, these were the true early birds, the Pokémon who jumped at the crack of the dawn to begin their missions. Not very many teams were up to the challenge of awaking quite this early. It hadn't even been fifteen minutes since the torches changed from blue to orange.

Nevertheless, as Char munched on a big green apple he'd pulled from Scythe's bag, he started to recognize some of the other faces which followed him. Apparently, Saura did as well.

"Hey, is that Taka?" Saura said in surprise. "Wow, she's up really early!"

Char turned to look, and sure enough, Taka was following along behind him, along with a Shinx and a Zangoose.

"Hey, look! It's Scythe with Team Peanuts!" the Shinx crowed.

"Team Ember, you moron," Taka rebuked. "They changed their name. Learn how to read the news."

"Oh… they did? I liked Team Peanuts better," the cub replied, cocking his head.

The little Shinx scampered toward Char, its teammates unenthusiastically following behind.

"Hey, Taka," Saura said. "Do you training teams usually get up at the crack of dawn like this?"

"Lately, yeah," Taka said. "It's mostly Ray's fault. He says he's training to be on Team Remorse, but he just wakes everyone else up with him."

"Good for him!" Scythe cheered. "We could certainly use energy like his on the team. It's hard enough getting half the team awake on time."

"So, where are you guys headed?" Saura asked. "Anywhere interesting?"

"Hardly," Taka said, rolling her eyes. "It's a four-hour sentry mission at Ravine Woodlands. About as dull as they come."

"Wait… that sounds familiar," Char said. "That's…"

"Hey! That's the same place we're going!" Saura cried. "Does this mean we'll all get to stick together?"

"Hmm, I wonder how this managed to happen," Scythe said. "Perhaps a mix-up at the registry. Hmm. A group of six is really pushing it, but… since this is a training mission, and such a low risk, I don't see why not."

"Wow!" The Shinx cheered, leaping excitedly into the air. "We're going on a mission with Scythe? For four whole hours? This is awesome! This'll be the best mission ever!"

"It'll sure make things a little more interesting than they were going to be," Taka said. "It's hard to be bored when you've got so many Pokémon to talk to. Oh, by the way, this is Zachel." She gestured to the Zangoose. "She's from Team Carrier, but she's tagging along with us because she got stuck going to the same destination."

"Morning," Zachel replied with a wink. She was carrying the bag for the rest of the group.

"And this little guy is Leo," Taka said, indicating the Shinx. "He's just a little spark of energy. Just like Ray. I guess it's an electric-type thing."

"It's an honor!" Leo yelped. "I can't wait to tell Ray that I was practically on Team Remorse for the day! He'll be so jealous!"

Wow, this might be really fun! Char thought to himself as he took another bite of his breakfast.

---

Great Flatlands

Like always, the group was due for a long walk. After they'd braved the ridiculously long staircase, said "hi" to Gate the Haunter, and set foot onto the Great Flatlands, it seemed like one big hike into the middle of nowhere. The sun was barely just peeking over the horizon at that point, leaving the terrain practically as dark as night. The speck of sunlight was, apparently, enough to ward the Watchers off. Char shivered a little; the fresh morning air was a little chilly today.

He found it amusing how all three of the trainees instantly shut their mouths whenever Scythe said a word.

"So, Team Ember," Scythe said. "Which way do we go? This is your mission, after all."

"Um…" Saura said, looking in all directions. "I thought I knew… It was to the south-west. But… this place looks all the same to me! How can you tell which way to go?"

"Even we know this one!" Taka said with some pride. "Saura, look. In a place like this, finding the directions is as easy as reading a compass. See the sun? The sun's in the east right now, so south-west would be that way."

"Oh, right, I should have known that," Saura said. "But yeah… we go south-west, we find the Etcher Ravine, and we follow it south. That should take us right into the Woodlands."

"Sounds like a plan," Scythe said. "And we always have a map if we get lost. Now, one other thing: are we going through the mystery dungeon, or around it?"

"We were going to go around it," Taka said, "but now that we have you guys, we could go either way."

"Yeah, let's go through it!" Leo suggested. "There's no way we can lose today! Not with Scythe and Team Ember here!"

"Well, Char?" Saura said. "What do you think?"

Char couldn't agree more. Soon, it was decided: they'd all brave the Etcher Ravine mystery dungeon.

*Chapter 14*: Chapter 12: A Pleasant Journey

Chapter 12

Etcher Ravine S1

Spirits were high as Char and Saura led the massive team into the Etcher Ravine. The six members marched proudly across the border of the Mystery Dungeon, not looking back.

The Etcher Ravine was a long, narrow canyon with a small but violent river running through the center of the valley's floor. From wall to wall, a lush, humid garden of trees and vines sprouted up around the stream—many budding with colorful flowers and fruit. Even though the environment was so inviting, Char found himself a little nervous on the venture; it was a very difficult place to find one's way through. Not only were the bushes and saplings often difficult to push past, but the ravine walls themselves cast the whole place into an eerie twilight—even though it was already mid-morning by the time they arrived. Ultimately, though, Char wasn't worried; as the little Shinx had said, there was no way they could lose today.

To add to everything, the solemn silence that had taken up most of Char's trip through the Jaded Woods was replaced by the constant banter between the team members. It was like a party! Even Scythe seemed cheerier than normal, and the tag-alongs took every opportunity to chat with him.

Before long, the group had met their first wild opponent. To Char's horror, it wasn't anything he'd expected to meet in the dungeon the night before. It was an Azumarill—a water creature. It had been trying to climb a tree when the oversized resistance team barged into its territory, and it immediately dropped to the ground in a hostile stance.

"Hey, look!" Leo shouted. "It's one of those big water mouses! I forget what they're called! Who wants to fight it?"

"Uh… wait!" Char said, a lump now lodged in his throat. "What's that doing here? A water Pokémon? I thought there would be more plant Pokémon here, not this!"

"Oh, yeah!" Taka said. "Etcher Ravine is home to a lot of water Pokémon—Marill, Quagsire, Poliwag... Don't you research your dungeons before you go out?"

"Uh…" Char answered, slowly backing away as the Azumarill centered its gaze on him. "It's looking at me all funny! What do I do?"

The mouse took aim at Char, and with a mighty squeak, unleashed a stream of water at him. Overcome by panic, Char dove for cover behind Scythe as fast as he could.

"AHH!" he cried. "HELP!"

"Let me try this!" Saura said, stepping up into Char's place. "The perfect place to use my new move!"

Saura squatted with his front legs, lowering his head and pointing the tip of his bulb forward at the enemy. He focused, and soon the bulb began to vibrate with built-up energy. As the energy got more intense, Saura closed his eyes…

A shower of tiny projectiles erupted from the tip of the bulb and flew towards the enemy.

Saura opened his eyes to find that some nearby trees now had a few punctures in their bark where the bullets had landed, but the enemy itself was unharmed.

"It missed?" Saura said in disbelief. "Aww, come on!"

"You really thought you could aim with your eyes closed?" Taka laughed. "That move is next to impossible to hit with as it is. But good job learning it! It's something I've still got to do."

As Saura stared with disappointment at the results of his failed attack, Leo stepped up next to him.

"My turn!" he shouted.

Leo gritted his teeth in concentration. His fur stood on end, and some yellow bolts of static electricity rippled across his form as he charged energy. Before the Azumarill could dodge, Leo released a bright static spark at the creature. The water mouse screeched in surprise as it was violently electrocuted. With eyes frozen wide, it collapsed backward onto the ground. Leo followed up by quickly slamming the creature with a headbutt, sending it flying a few feet and tumbling against the trunk of a tree.

But the Azumarill was strong. It soon recovered and was back onto its feet, even though it was still clearly rattled from the attack.

"Hey, hey! Good job, Leo!" Saura shouted, surprised at the little guy's performance.

"I'm not so strong yet, but I'm getting good practice!" Leo answered with pride.

The mouse looked like it would retaliate, but it was unsure of itself.

"Alright," Taka said, stepping up to the front with the others. "I can finish it. Stand back!"

Taka cupped her hands together. As she slowly spread them apart, a glowing sphere of light materialized between her palms. It started at the size of a marble, but kept growing as she kept it balanced in front of herself.

"Whoa!" Saura said, watching in awe. "What's that?! How're you doing that?"

"Energy ball," Taka replied simply, trying to concentrate.

When the energy ball grew to be the size of her head, Taka thrust her hands forward to throw it. The Azumarill bounced to the side to evade it, but the ball swerved in mid-air and changed its course, connecting with the enemy in a brilliant explosion.

The next thing anyone saw, the mouse was upside-down and smashed into the side of a bush, the front of its body completely charred. Tears dripped from its eyes; it was out for the count.

Saura's mouth was agape. "You have got to teach me how to do that!" he cried, examining the completely debilitated animal from afar as it twitched and tried to free itself from the thorny twigs.

"Is it over?" Char yelped, still cowering behind Scythe's leg. With his eyes closed tight, he hadn't seen most of the battle.

"It's over," Saura told him. "You can come out now…"

"Scaredy-cat…" Taka added lightheartedly.

"Hey, I hate water, okay?" Char grumbled as he got up, a hint of shame in his face. "The last thing I want is to get hit in the tail with a water attack. Besides, I just wasn't expecting water Pokémon here…"

"Now you know the value of doing your homework," Scythe said. "You assumed there'd be plant Pokémon here, instead of looking it up for yourself. Thankfully, today, we're more than equipped for the water creatures. I don't think you have any reason to worry. Team Stripes came prepared."

"Yeah!" Leo said. "I eat water Pokémon for breakfast!"

"Heh heh, good for you," Scythe laughed. "Saura and Taka here also have an advantage over them, being plant creatures. Just keep a wary eye for the enemy, and you'll be fine."

"Yeah, Char," Saura said. "And remember what Domo said about panicking."

Ugh, just shut up about it, Char thought, his face growing warm from embarrassment.

Suddenly, Char gasped. Wearing a look of pure horror, he pointed up to the sky. "LOOK OUT! A PIDGEOT!" he yelled.

"AHHH!" Saura and Taka yelled in unison, casting panicked glances upward. "Where?! WHERE?!"

Terrified, they both leaped to Scythe's legs and held on tight. Char, however, was laughing so hard that he couldn't stand. What was even funnier, though, was how Scythe had also gotten a shot of adrenaline from the prank. For a moment, he'd cast a worried gaze to the sky, his scythes slightly raised in preparation for attack. But he'd dropped the stance and smirked at Char as soon as he realized the truth.

It wasn't long before Saura's expression of terror faded into a scowl. "Okay, Char. Very funny," he said, stepping away from Scythe. "Point taken, point taken…"

"Hmph," Taka said, crossing her arms and recovering from the humiliation.

After walking a little while longer, the team ran into a Poliwag. Char wanted to prove his courage by helping to defeat it, but ran for cover as soon as the tadpole blew a stream of bubbles at him. Saura stepped forward to swat it senseless with vines and knock it out of the way. After that, they stopped to rest for a while and eat before ending the first mile of their journey.

---

Etcher Ravine S2

"This dungeon is pretty straightforward," Char commented. "We just follow the river. How long is it, by the way?"

"Four miles," Taka said in a flat tone. "You know, it says this stuff right on the map."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, we need to do more research," Char said. "I got that already. But this is only our second mission, after all."

In this leg of the trip, the shrubs cleared up a little and allowed some breathing room in the cramped jungle. The ground here was mostly gravel, so the trees couldn't grow. Char was thankful for it; it meant that there weren't so many hiding places for Water Pokémon to jump out from.

"So far, so good," Saura said, taking a deep breath.

As they walked, Saura noticed something odd about Leo's face. At times, his facial expression would scrunch up, and he would squint as if he were getting the sun in his eyes.

"Uh… Leo? Are you okay?" Saura asked. "Is something wrong with your eyes?"

"I'm practicing!" Leo answered, squinting around again.

"Uh… practicing what?"

"If I try hard enough… sometimes I can see through stuff!" he replied.

"Whoa! That's cool," Saura said. "That's what Luxrays can do, you know."

"I know that," Leo said. "I'm not dumb. But it's hard. I have to focus really hard or it won't work. And there has to be lots of light… Hey! There's something! I think…"

"What is it?" Char asked, looking around. "What do you see?"

"There!" Leo said, pointing forward at a large stone. "I think there's a Pokémon there! Behind the rock!"

Eagerly bounding forward, Leo took a look around the large stone. As soon as he peeked, he jumped back and returned to the group. An angered Chikorita chased him out, frozen in surprise when it saw the whole group. With a startled "kiiu," it stood its ground and prepared to fight the trespassers.

"Chikorita, huh?" Taka said. "Hmm… those can be really strong."

"I'll fight it!" The little Shinx called, his fur starting to sparkle with static.

"Maybe you shouldn't, Leo," Taka suggested. "Plant Pokémon are resistant against your electric power. I know: let's give Char a chance to fight this one! I know he must be itching to fight something that's not going to spray him with water."

"Okay!" Leo said, calming his static and jumping behind Char and Saura. "Good luck, Char!"

Char took a small step toward the enemy, fists clenched. It would be his first real battle of the trip. He had figured out that plant Pokémon burn easily, thanks to his battle with the Bulbasaur and Taka's earlier remark, so he didn't expect to have much trouble.

"Go on, Char," Saura said encouragingly. "Show them all what you've got."

My fire, Char remembered. I need my fire to fight. My "Ember," it's called. Where is it? Is it going to help me this time?

The Chikorita struck first. Twirling its little leaf, it jumped into the air and flung something like a single green blade straight at Char. Before he could dodge, it struck its target, cutting a sizable gash in Char's stomach area. But the gash wasn't too deep, and it didn't seem to hurt all that much…

"Oww!" Char moaned, rubbing the wound.

I've got to focus here! Char said to himself. Yeah! Here we go. I need… emotion. I need to feel angry! Right! That Chikorita will pay for what it did to me! It has no right to injure me, the mighty and powerful Charmander! It will feel my fire! I will make it respect me!

It wasn't much, but Char felt it when the flame in his stomach started to rise and flare. The pleasant smell of smoke entered his mouth and his nostrils.

I did it! Char cheered to himself. I summoned my fire at will! All on my own! But… it's not very strong. Do I have to get even more annoyed than this?"

The Chikorita stood in its battle pose for a moment, examining the environment. Then, it leapt into the air, pivoted, and jumped into a shallow puddle of water which ran off from the main stream through the gravel underfoot. Little droplets of water rained down on Char, one causing a disturbing sting as it managed to strike his tail flame and turn to steam. It started slapping the water with its leaf, trying to keep Char at bay.

"Heh heh, smart," Scythe commented.

Oh… that is it! Char said to himself, immediately becoming infuriated with the enemy.

Char exhaled in the Chikorita's direction. He spewed a great bright ball of fire, bigger than any he'd produced yet, which completely engulfed the enemy and set its entire body ablaze.

"KIIIII!" it yelled, flailing wildly and trying to put the fire out in the puddle.

Oh no, you don't! Char thought again. I'm not done!

Char reared back and exhaled again. Another fireball of equal caliber came forth, lighting the Chikorita on fire all over again. Desperate, it leapt into the rushing stream. Char saw that its body was almost completely black, like a chunk of coal, as it bobbed in the surface and washed away.

Char turned back to the group, still panting from the experience. Black smoke bubbled from behind his teeth and through his tiny nostrils. Team Stripes let loose a cheer for him.

"That was awesome, Char!" Saura congratulated. "You're really getting the hang of using your fire!"

"Did you see that?!" Leo said. "His tail fire was as big as he was! And it turned blue on the inside!"

"Okay, remind me never to make you angry," Taka said, exaggerating a shudder. "I wouldn't be surprised if that poor thing doesn't even live!"

"Good work," Scythe said, smiling warmly to him.

Char looked down at himself in wonder. He stared at his light-orange underbelly, wondering how bright his inner Ember really could get. With enough battles, perhaps he'd find out…

---

Etcher Ravine S3

After another whole mile and dozens more battles, the team's morale hadn't changed one bit. Char even got to help with another battle against an annoying Nincada—it was fast, but it couldn't dodge Char's blasts of fire. Char felt more proud of himself the more he used his "Ember".

On the third mile, the trees and bushes closed in once again, making it hard at times to keep pushing forward. Scythe was more than happy to lend a hand, effortlessly slicing down the thicker clusters of plants to make a passage for the rest of the team.

This stretch was quite unusual; almost no wild Pokémon attacked. There was a Rattata and a Wooper, but they both fled without battling, and it was all anyone saw. The team wasn't complaining, though, especially Char, who stayed at the front of the line most of the time and held the lead.

After about an hour, everyone took another break to eat. Scythe encouraged them not to be afraid of eating their fill, as both bags held enough food to last them for the rest of the day, and even more hung on the trees all around them. After the short rest, it was back to crawling through the ravine.

As they walked, Leo started humming a catchy little melody.

What a great big world, a sight to behold,
What a perfect place to be!
What a great big world for life to unfold
and it's filled with mystery!

All my friends are gathered around
and it's such a sight to see,
and we work and play and get through the day
Like a great big family!

From the mountains to the parries,
The heavens down to the ground,
All the creatures great and small,
Our song makes the world go 'round!

It's a great big world, a sight to behold,
An enormous place to explore,
With the friends we make and treasure we take
Who could ask for something more?

In this world there's so much to do
And so much we can't understand,
But we work and play and get through the day
And we do the best we can!

In the mornings when we wake up,
And in the night as we lay,
All our spirits join together
In song, to sing our tears away!

The song quickly got stuck in Char's head.

"Leo's so adorable," Saura commented to Taka. "How'd a kid that young get into the resistance force, anyway?"

"I heard he was orphaned," Zachel said quietly. "His parents were killed in one of the Master's raids, and the good guys got there too late. Found him alone. Took him in. That was two or so years ago. He's been living with the resistance teams ever since. He only joined Team Stripes two months back."

"If that's the case, he sure is taking it well," Char said.

"Same thing I say," Zachel said. "Remarkable little kid he is. And he's got a personal reason to fight. I think he'll be something great someday."

"Enemy!" Leo announced. "Uh-oh. It's a Parachisu. Or however you say that. Those squirrel things! Sorry, I'm still learning my Pokémon! They're electric, right?"

Char looked forward. The Pachirisu scampered down a tree trunk, looking very eager for a fight. But that wasn't all; a second one followed behind it. Both faced the group, static bolts jumping over their white-and-blue fur.

"Uh oh," Leo said. "What do we do?"

"Hey, I've got an idea," Taka said, examining the squirrels. "Let's all ATTACK AT THE SAME TIME!"

In a flurry of vines and claws, all six team members gleefully bounded forth into the fray. Priceless expressions covered the Pachirisus' faces as they beheld the wave of Pokémon descend upon them.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeek!" they squeaked, quickly darting away into the depths of the forest and never looking back.

"Hah hah HAH!" Saura laughed. "Good job, everybody! We showed them!"

Saura and Taka spent the next hour having a silly argument over who the Pachirisu were more scared of, and Scythe chimed in with a hearty laugh whenever one made a good point. Leo's energy was still bottomless, and it just Char happy every time he saw the little child leap around in joy. Zachel was mostly silent, but wore a constant smile.

Char sighed contently. Surrounded by his friends and nearing the end of a pleasant and successful journey, he was sure that the day couldn't get any better.

He was right.

---

(Note: The lyrics are sung to "Treasure Town" from Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky)

*Chapter 15*: Chapter 13: Scizor

Chapter 13

Ravine Woodlands

"Um…" Leo said suddenly. "Are we out of the dungeon already? I thought you said it was four miles! That was only like three!"

Char had noticed the change in the ravine; it was as though they had been warped to a forest in the gorge. He had written it off as a quirk of the mystery dungeon.

"Hmm… odd," Scythe said, examining the surroundings. "Very odd. I remember this place being four miles long as well. I've never heard of a dungeon shrinking in size before…"

"Look," Zachel spoke out, quickly taking the map out of the bag and checking it. "Etcher Ravine is four miles long, according to this."

"Well, that's… unexpected," Scythe said. "It's possible we've discovered a new kind of mystery dungeon anomaly. But I've been through more dungeons than I care to count, and they've always been the exact same length each time. If they change in size, they grow; they do not shrink. And even then, they only expand over the course of decades."

"Are you sure we're outside of the dungeon?" Char suggested. "How do you know we're not?"

"Do you see the way the terrain changed?" Scythe said, indicating the trees around him. "This is the Ravine Woodlands now. We've arrived to our mission's destination. But I'll have to admit, I'm puzzled."

"Time flies when you're having fun," Char said. "Maybe we just didn't notice the distance."

"Wait, wait…" Scythe said suddenly, pacing from side to side and periodically staring off into the woods. "There is one other explanation for this… But it's… unlikely. It's something that I've only seen happen once before in all of my travels."

Scythe knelt to the ground, keeping an eye on the treetops and the canyon cliffs which surrounded them.

"… There is a possibility that we have been found," Scythe said quietly.

Everyone gasped.

"Found?! By who?!" Saura demanded. "I thought you can't find someone when they're in the middle of a dungeon!"

"Quiet, Saura. And all of you, keep your voices down!" Scythe warned. "But yes, that is normally the case. You're completely hidden when you're crawling a dungeon. But there is a chance… a highly, highly unlikely chance… that… if someone sufficiently powerful knows exactly where you are within the dungeon… most notably, the Master's magicians… and it needs to be a perfectly precise guess… they can tear the shelter of the Dungeon's curse right out from over you, revealing you to be seen. It is called… performing an unveiling. And we may have just witnessed it happen to us."

A brooding quiet came over the group. Char saw worry form in everyone's eyes, Saura's most of all.

"What do we do?" Saura whispered.

"To be on the safe side…" Scythe replied, "We should turn around and go back through the dungeon, back to the base, and report the mission as a failure. However… if someone's watching us, they may be waiting for us at the other end of the dungeon, since this ravine is so linear. We'd have to climb up the ravine walls to escape."

With a unanimous "sounds good to me," the group hastily performed an about-face and started back toward the dungeon they'd just inexplicably exited.

"Wait, wouldn't it be a successful mission?" Char wondered. "I mean, if we spotted enemies at the Ravine Woodlands…"

"But we didn't," Scythe said, now sounding annoyed and a little uneasy. "We haven't gathered evidence that there are enemies here. We're aborting the mission for the sake of keeping everyone alive, just in case there are enemies. Char… remind me to never let such a large group come with us ever again…"

Their happy clamor now only a nervous silence, the group backtracked through the ravine. Scythe led the group this time, and he insisted they travel against the ravine wall for shelter.

"If you see anything out of the ordinary, tell me," Scythe said gravely, keeping an eye on the surroundings.

"Right," Leo said, squinting around and trying to use his special vision. "It's kinda dark here though, but I'll try."

And then…

"I see something!" Leo said, startled. "Up there! Behind that rock, on the cliff ledge! I can't tell what it is…"

"Is it a Pokémon?" Char asked.

"Whoa!" the Shinx said in surprise. "I know that Pokémon! It's a Scizor!"

Scythe stopped cold in his tracks. He reeled back, like he'd just been hit in the head with a boulder.

"Are… you sure?" he asked quietly.

"It has to be," Leo answered. "Right there, behind that rock!"

Char saw Scythe's demeanor change. He was afraid. He could see a streak of true fear behind the old warrior's eyes. He realized it was the first time he'd ever seen the Scyther in this state of mind before. Char's heart filled with uncertainty; he could only imagine what would happen now that even the fearless Scythe was shaken.

"All of you," Scythe rasped. "Get up against the cliff. Behind me. And don't move. Do not move! If you move… you might be killed."

Char and the rest followed his command unquestioningly.

"So, it's come to this…" Scythe hissed to himself, watching the indicated rock intensely. "Adiel…"

Adiel? Char wondered.

It was like a standoff. For a full minute, then two, then five, everyone was frozen and dead silent. Only the sound of the animals from the jungle and the rush of the rapids could be heard alongside everyone's muted gasps for air. Scythe's gaze never wavered.

"Is it still there?" Scythe hissed to Leo.

"I don't know," Leo admitted. "I can't see anymore. The light's all wrong."

"What is it, anyway?" Taka asked carefully. "Why are we being so… like this?"

"If there is really a Scizor up there," Scythe whispered, "It's the one responsible for pulling us out of the dungeon. And we are all in grave danger… I believe I know this Scizor, and the only reason he would ever show himself to you is if the Master is looking for your blood…"

Taka's face paled even further, as did everyone else's. Scythe kept his sights on the rock which sat on a shelf on the cliff side far about their heads.

A bounty hunter employed by the Master? Char thought. This is bad. What do we do?! Where do we go?! Can Scythe protect us from this? This happened because our group was too large, didn't it? Are we going to die today…? … … Or is the Scizor even still there?

Finally… after nearly ten minutes of silence, the Scizor chose to reveal itself. It stepped up to the edge of the cliff, taking a few moments to examine the terrain beneath. Then, it jumped. Within seconds, it'd landed on the ground several feet in front of Scythe.

All of the Pokémon behind Scythe let out a muffled cry of terror at the sight of the Scizor, cramming even closer to each other for safety. Scythe lowered his head and raised one blade into the air, a feral stance with a clear meaning: come any closer, and I will fight.

Char felt his heart beating faster than he'd ever thought possible as he gazed at the wicked beast before them, its crimson, full-body carapace standing out among the green trees of the forest. The Scizor was nearly the same size as Scythe, but its broad wings, massive pincers, and long three-horned faceplate gave it the illusion of being even greater and more powerful. Char had to look twice at the spiked pincers; not only were they bigger than the creature's head and looked like they could snap the body of a younger Pokémon in a single grasp, but he felt a nameless fear at the sight of the spotted eye-marks on their sides. The Scizor's eyes were a burning yellow, its piercing and unblinking gaze locked with Scythe's.

Char's fire raged greater than ever before from the terror instinct; he felt as though it would even suffocate him. He could only struggle to suppress it.

The Scizor took a single step forward with one of its two-toed feet, and Scythe's stance jerked and became even more threatening than before.

Then, the Scizor spoke.

"Do my eyes deceive me?" it said in a low, powerful, authoritative voice. "I thought there was a mirage, but it truly is you, Scythe. You know, I thought it was odd when you didn't show up at the canyon yesterday, but this? Protecting your… students… from me? You've really outdone yourself this time."

Scythe said nothing, continuing to scowl. The Scizor took yet another step forward.

"Congratulations, yet again. This is a momentous occasion! This must be the first occurrence in the history of the world where such a perfectly-executed unveiling has been thwarted. And by none other than the legendary Scyther everyone knows and loves. Seems I can never stop underestimating you. You're an amazing creature, you know that? Absolutely incredible. I wonder how you knew to come here? Pure luck, perhaps? Well, either way, I certainly wouldn't put it past you to have predicted this. Well played. Very well played."

"What are you doing here?!" Scythe demanded violently.

"Well," it answered, "ever since I noticed your teams coming back to this place on a regular basis, I couldn't resist planning a little… surprise visit one day."

"This is what you have come to?" Scythe hissed angrily. "Preying on the young? Aren't there enough of you that slaughter innocent children already?"

"I don't see it as slaughtering the innocent," the Scizor replied smoothly, yet pointedly. "I prefer to see it as slaughtering the guilty."

"You can't fight me," Scythe hissed again. "Not here."

"Ah, hah hah, Scythe," the Scizor laughed evilly, giving a graceful bow. "Calm down. After bearing witness to your brilliant devices, I'm no longer in the mood to fight. I gladly concede. You're the one who wins today's little game. Besides, I wouldn't want to make you look bad in front of your children. Even I know you don't deserve that..."

The Scizor paused in mid-sentence.

"...Oh? What's this?" it said in an exaggerated tone of surprise. "What do we have here?"

Taking its eyes off Scythe, it glanced down at the group of cowering Pokémon against the cliff side. It took Char a second to realize something: it was staring right at him! ... No. Not at him. At the Pokémon beside him, the one whose body he was gripping in fear.

"Bulbasaur!" the Scizor spoke, pointing a pincer at Saura. "And not just any Bulbasaur, but Saura, our newest recruit! Are you ready to join us yet? You only have three days remaining!"

Saura's mouth hung open, as if he'd lost complete control of his body at hearing the Scizor's words. Char held him all the tighter.

"I'm… not… joining you…" Saura croaked out.

"You don't have a choice," the Scizor said, its tone of voice becoming stern. "The Master has chosen you. Nobody truly escapes from the Master once they are chosen. Nobody. Although, at times, he may allow you to think that you have."

The Scizor eyed Scythe as he spoke the words, yet Scythe didn't even flinch.

"Well, I'd love to stay and talk, but I'm very busy today," the Scizor said. "Go on home, have your fun… I'll be seeing you again shortly. Especially you, Bulbasaur. But once again, it's been an honor to have met you today, Scythe. I hope the next time we meet will be under… different circumstances. Come, Dusknoir! It's time to leave!"

The Scizor bowed to Scythe, Then, wings buzzing, it deftly leaped up the ravine walls and was soon out of sight.

The silence remained for what seemed like hours. Nobody moved. Char felt Saura trembling uncontrollably, caught in a state between weeping and speechlessness. Even his own fire was reluctant to secede, questions looping endlessly in his mind: What… just happened? What does this mean?

"Well," Scythe finally groaned in a desolate tone as he relaxed his stance, "let's go. We're done for today."

---

Great Flatlands

On the way back to the flatlands, the group shared a morbid silence. Everyone's spirits were either too crushed or confused to say anything. Char walked alongside Saura, rubbing him on the back for comfort. He felt so terrible for him, seeing him even having trouble lifting the seed on his back to walk. He knew exactly what was going through his mind: maybe I didn't escape from the Master at all…

"Scythe… what was that?" Taka said, finally breaking the silence and speaking what was on everyone's mind.

At first, it seemed like Scythe wasn't going to answer. Then, after a long sigh, he replied.

"Adiel," he said. "Long ago, before the Master came for me, he was one of my clan-mates."

So that's why he seemed so… friendly, if you even want to call it that, Char thought.

"He turned to the Master?" Leo asked sadly. "That's awful."

"The Master's forces came for me one day," Scythe explained. "That's when I joined them. But after I escaped from the Master's grasp, they went and took Adiel to replace me. He resisted the Master at first, but the Master's brainwashing worked quickly on him, and he stopped struggling… And since he and I had similar training, he went on to become… one of the Master's greatest generals, commander of a large portion of his servants. The Master only uses Adiel when he truly means business, and he rarely fails his tasks… Also, he's made it a personal mission to… find me, and dispose of me."

That is awful! Char thought.

"Well, look on the bright side," Taka said with a squeak in her voice. "He didn't attack us!"

"There's a very simple reason he didn't attack us," Scythe said, speaking without looking back at the group. "It's the very reason I didn't attack him. It is because… if he were to fight me, he doesn't know who would win the battle."

There was a moment of quiet as this sunk in.

"You are all very lucky to still be alive," Scythe added. "Adiel isn't merciful. If I hadn't been defending you, he would have taken one of you down before any of us would have realized it."

"Hey, I guess Daemon was wrong after all," Char said, trying feebly to lighten the mood. "If we were out on our own today, it would have been a disaster! It's good that you came with us today!"

"Yes, it is," Scythe said grimly. "It would have been a mistake to send you out on your own already. To some degree, I suspected something like this would happen. So… I had to ignore Daemon's complaints and do what I knew was right."

"I've always wondered," Leo said. "If Daemon's wrong so much, why's he your partner?"

"Because, little one," Scythe said, filling his voice with gravity, "For every time I've corrected one of his mistakes, he's also corrected one of mine."

"Really?" Leo replied.

"Yes," Scythe said, still keeping his eyes on the road ahead. "Our basic natures clash, and that is why we are a perfect pair. Daemon is a brilliant Pokémon who can question me, challenge me, find flaws in my plans where I cannot see… and that's why I keep him at my side. And by the same token, I help him make his decisions by disagreeing with him. Do you think it would do any good for my team to choose a partner who constantly agrees with me?"

Wow… Char thought to himself, I never thought of it that way. And now I see why Daemon is so valuable to Team Remorse. Scythe is much wiser than I gave him credit for! And now, he even saved our lives! I can't believe I was starting to doubt him.

From now on… I'll give Scythe my complete trust.

---

Division Base

It was early in the afternoon.

With bags still half full, the disheartened crew of six made their way back to the base and dispersed to their various teams. No goodbyes were shared, no smiles were displayed; it seemed that they simply wanted to put the day's events out of their minds. To Char, it was his first failed mission.

So much for the immaculate Team Ember, Char thought silently. And now we've got a powerful enemy out for us. What a fortunate day, indeed.

As Char, Saura, and Scythe returned to Team Remorse's hall, they ran into Ursa reading a news bulletin on the wall.

"Well, you're back early," Ursa commented upon seeing them. "I'm pretty sure that wasn't four hours. Wait, you didn't fail, did you?"

"Ursa, go to Intelligence and have them issue a twelve-day ban on all training teams," Scythe commanded. "And tell them to increase the risk on the Ravine Woodlands missions to five-star."

"Wow, what for?" Ursa gawked.

"Because… Adiel is on the move," he replied in a low tone.

Scythe didn't have to ask twice. Ursa could barely contain his shock, shooting looks of disbelief at Char and Saura. It was then that he noticed the glaze of fear which still hung in their eyes, even Scythe's.

"Right away," he muttered, leaving quickly.

"What do we do now?" Char asked once he was gone.

"I'm going to have a talk with the rest of the team, as soon as they get back from the mission," Scythe grumbled, opening the team's door. "We have much to discuss. Unfortunately, that can't happen for a while. The members that went out this morning aren't coming back until tomorrow night. As for you… go do whatever you need to do. You won't be going on a mission tomorrow."

Although it didn't surprise him, Char was hurt to hear those words. He knew it was for his own safety, and he knew it was by no fault of his own, but they certainly didn't help to cheer him up.

"Come on, Saura," Char said. "Let's go eat."

Saura nodded, and the two went to the mess hall.

… … …

"Come on, won't you cheer up?" Char said to Saura, who was refusing to even start on the plate of food in front of him. "You know that Scizor only said that stuff to scare you, right? There's no way he can get to you down here! We're protected by ghosts and traps and hundreds upon hundreds of powerful Pokémon. And after today, Scythe is sure to keep protecting us, even when we go on missions. You're safe!"

Saura didn't answer.

"You know, if you really want to, we could lock ourselves up in the deepest level of the base and stay there for three days," Char suggested as kindly as he could.

Saura's voice creaked. He looked at Char with sad eyes.

"You know, I think I would like that," he said.

Char frowned. "Saura, eat your food," he ordered. "It'll make you feel better. Besides, I don't care how powerful that Scizor is. He's bluffing. There must have been hundreds of Pokémon who have angered the Master in so many other worse ways, and they survived! And we're just a couple of kids! Compared to all them, we're… peanuts!"

Saura plucked a slice of food from his tray and slowly chewed it.

"Listen, all we have to do is follow the rules and be a good resistance team, and we'll do just fine, Scizor or not. Let's just wait and see what happens, okay?"

"You're right," Saura said lowly, setting his forehead on the table. "I'm… just a big whiner, aren't I?"

"Saura…"

"No, no, you're right," Saura said again. "I'm just being a coward. This is a dangerous job. I… have to accept that. But at the end of the day, it's a job I really want to do. Scizor or not."

Char glanced at his surroundings. The cafeteria was nearly deserted, the Pokémon all gone on their missions for the day. He was still trying to swallow the loss, and the feeling tugged at him of being left out of the day's events. What he really wanted to do was start the day anew with a clean slate.

"Saura… how about we go learn some more of the Creed, then turn in early today?" Char suggested. "I don't know about you, but I got up pretty early this morning. I'm tired already."

Saura smiled. It was just what he was thinking… except maybe for the part about the Creed.

… … …

And so, even though the day ended on a low note, Team Ember's resolve could not be snuffed. They spent the rest of the mid-afternoon learning another portion of the Creed, studying the map of Jirachi and researching nearby dungeons, and exploring a new tunnel of the base to help them remember their way around. Soon, there was nothing to be done but to retire for the night and wait for the dawn of the next day.

In the early evening, Char and Saura returned to Scythe's room all on their own. Scythe, however, wasn't there that night for some reason – as he'd accidentally fallen asleep in the planning room – so the two set themselves down to rest without him. They had a long, peaceful rest.

The next day…

"Get up!"

Ugh, Char wondered as he twisted his body across the ground, reluctant to wake up. Again?! I thought we weren't doing any missions today!

"Get up, sleepyhead!" the voice repeated. "We've got work to do! Get up, you lazy bum!"

Char opened his eyes and painfully sat up. He scanned the room with his blurred vision, trying to make sense of it.

"Saura!" Char realized. "Where'd Saura go?! What happened to him?"

"Saura got up long before you did," the voice said. "Now it's your turn."

Char was very confused. The voice was not Scythe's. It was definitely not a voice he recognized before. Maybe another member of Team Remorse?

As Char's eyesight returned to him, and he could pick out the shapes and colors of the room, he identified his visitor. It was… a Haunter?

"Gotta pull your weight in the Gold Division," the Haunter said. "No loafing! Now get up! Since you're not going out today, you need to stay inside and do some chores!"

"Chores?!" Char repeated.

"Yeah, chores, you know, menial labor!" the Haunter said. "The guild don't run itself! Saura's on cleaning duty today. You, on the other hand, will be doing something far more useful. Come with me."

Before Char could react, the Haunter grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet. Before he knew it, he was being dragged through the corridors of the base toward a destination he could only guess at. Then, something really strange happened… Char walked right into the wall! He realized that, being touched by the ghost Pokémon, he had the temporary power of intangibility. Char watched as many familiar and unfamiliar rooms flashed by as they walked through the very walls of the base.

"We're here!" The Haunter announced, pulling Char into a cramped room. "Here's where you'll be working for today."

Char looked at the room. There were no doors, no windows, no passageways to the outside. He was absolutely trapped. There were no light sources, save for his own, so Char had to lift his tail to investigate the room. There were only two features of the room which he could see: a large gemstone in the shape of a rectangle, and a few smaller diamonds sticking out of the wall.

"…What's my job?" Char asked.

"What's your job?" the Haunter repeated. "Isn't it obvious? Don't you recognize who I am?"

Char looked at the Haunter again. Then, it struck him. He didn't know how he missed it before, but it was clear as day now: the ghost was Gate, the sentry of the base's north-eastern entrance!

"S…sentry duty?" Char guessed.

"Yup," said the ghost. "I need a vacation, so you can take over for me today."

"W…what do I do?" Char wondered nervously. "How do I do this job?"

"Oh, it's easy," Gate said. "You know your Pokémon, right?"

"…What if I don't?" Char squeaked.

"Oh, ha hah, you're joking, right?" Gate laughed. "Everyone knows their Pokémon. Now, here's what you do. See this big gem? You can see the Pokémon who try to enter the base on it, just like a big camera. Your job is to identify each Pokémon who tries to enter the base.

"That's it?" Char said. "Just identify them?"

"Yep," Gate said. "And when you identify them, just touch this little gem here, and say their names! The magic will do all the rest. Well, almost all the rest. You know the Creed, right?"

"…uh…" Char grunted.

"Hah, of course you know the Creed!" laughed Gate again. "Everyone knows the Creed! Now remember, there are over four hundred Pokémon that could enter the base at any time, and you need to get every one right! Get just one wrong, and you could doom us all!"

"Uh, I'm really not so sure about this," Char said, starting to eye the room for a way out. There was, of course, none.

"Oh, it's really not that hard. Here, I'll do one for you. See the screen?"

Char looked at the screen. The image was so very fuzzy, but if he squinted, he could just barely make out the shape of a Pokémon. The Pokémon was… red. And… furry. And… had six hands. And three feet sticking out of its head.

"Quick, Char!" Gate said. "What's that Pokémon? Remember, you can only get two wrong!"

"Uh… Uh… I… Don't… I don't know!"

"Oh, come on! It's an Octofus! Get your act together!"

"What?"

"What about this one?" Gate said, pointing to the screen again. "Oop, too slow! You should be faster than this, Char! It's a Freezle!"

Char gulped. He was on the verge of panic. Were these new Pokémon species he'd never heard before? And how did Gate expect him to know every species of Pokémon by heart?

"Now, there's just one thing left," Gate said. "After you've identified the Pokémon, touch the gem and recite the entire Creed from the top. Careful; if you miss one word, you have to start all over. That's how the spell checks and makes sure the visitor got the password right. And that's it! I'll see you at the end of the day!"

"NO!" Char cried as the ghost floated away. "Gate, stop! I can't do this!"

"Cya, kiddo!" the ghost said, floating into the wall.

"NO! Come back!" Char screamed at the top of his lungs, diving forward as the very last of the ghost disappeared into the solid rock. Char's head brutally collided with the rock. But he didn't even feel it; his heart was racing, and his mind was spiraling in complete panic.

"GATE!" Char yelled, pounding on the wall. "GATE! COME BACK!"

… … …

"Aaahhhhhhh!"

Panting heavily, Char jumped awake. He was in Scythe's room. It was dark except for just his blue tail flame. Saura slept soundly beside him, emitting the peaceful sound of steady breathing.

It had been a dream.

"Ahh… Ahhh…" Char breathed heavily, trying to calm his racing heart. "So… glad… it was… just… a nightmare…"

As his breathing returned to normal, Char's eyes fluttered shut again. He set himself back down on the ground, hoping to the legendary dragons that the next dream would be better.

And then, it happened.

With his eyes closed and his mind already starting to return to the state of sleep, Char started to feel inexplicably dizzy, like he'd just been tossed off the face of a cliff and couldn't tell which direction was up.

Char opened his eyes to try to get a bearing on his physical position… but he found that it didn't help. In fact, he wasn't sure if he'd even opened his eyes again, as the image on his mind's eye hadn't disappeared.

What's… happening to me? Char thought. Is this a dream? I just had a dream, and this doesn't feel even one bit like it.

Next, the sound of a deep, powerful hum flooded his ears. Not just his ears, his being. And it wasn't even a sound, more like a feeling. His body reverberated with a tremendous energy that somehow seemed like a sound, yet it could not be heard. He felt like he was floating in space and listening to some sort of great beast humming a one-note song.

What is that noise? Char wondered. Is that… me? Am I making that noise? It doesn't feel like a noise, or any feeling I've ever had. It almost feels like… telepathy!

Suddenly, a loud, mighty bellow of indescribable caliber rang out from the nothingness! Like the humming, it sounded as a deafening silence that couldn't be heard or identified. As the roar sounded through the dark void, brilliant colors erupted before Char's eyes.

Is this… another one of my visions? Char wondered again. No, it can't be! This… this isn't a memory. This isn't a vision. This is… this is… an experience of some sort… It's like I'm peeking into the spiritual realm itself, or something…

The bellow escalated. The colors became even more vivid and intense, turning into rings which circled Char's sense of presence and surrounded him. He couldn't tell if it was getting lower or higher, but it was certainly getting "louder," though it still always remained silent. Char had the urge to cover his ears; but he couldn't move his body. He couldn't even see his body. It seemed like his body was missing entirely.

Finally, the roar exploded into a full-blown, soul-shattering feeling that gave Char the sensation of being blasted away at high speed. With each pulse of the soundless cry, Char could have sworn his entire being had been ripped into a million tiny pieces.

The cry wasn't just a cry; it came with emotion. Some sort of all-consuming emotion flooded Char's being, soaking through every crevice of his soul. It was the feeling of despair, of hopelessness.

The roar, then, became a voice.

DIALGA!

Dialga? Char wondered, using every ounce of his will to retain his self-awareness as he watched the supernova erupt.

I am here, answered a voice.

This voice was not like the roar. It was powerful, yes, but it was calm and wise, and also sad.

And then, before Char's eyes, a figure emerged. It was a great, wingless dragon of incredible proportions. Its blue hide, lined with countless silver blades, glimmered brilliantly in the inexplicable light. Its mighty tail swung behind it, an expression of its dominance. Its eyes were blood-red, and on its chest rested a diamond that shone so bright it could not be seen.

D…Dialga! Char called, his spirit ecstatic. Dialga! It's me!

But Char's voice fell flat to the endless roar.

DIALGA! the mighty roar said once again. PLEASE, HELP ME!

I cannot, Dialga answered sadly. I am powerless!

Suddenly, just as soon as the experience had started… it was over.

Char found himself sitting awake in Scythe's room. He did the only thing he could do—stare wide-eyed at the wall. At this point, he could not put any of his questions into words. He flexed his hands in front of his eyes to make sure he was still solid.

The door's room flung open.

Scythe stood in the doorway, his gaze immediately locking with Char's. Wonder and awe filled his eyes. In the dim light of the room, Char saw something sparkle on the side of the Scyther's face—he was crying.

"Char…" Scythe gasped. "I… heed your call!"

*Chapter 16*: Chapter 14: Answering The Call

Chapter 14

"Every so often, a Pokémon is born with a special ability known as The Call," Scythe explained to Char as they, along with Saura, rushed through the deserted corridors of the base.

Char had no idea what was going on. Before he could respond, Scythe had hastily ushered him and Saura from their sleeping place. Char found himself following close behind as they hurried through the blue-tinted halls. Saura had the hardest time keeping up as they ran, still trying to come to his senses after the rude awakening.

"Char has the Call?" Saura asked groggily, trying to get his eyes to stay open. "I didn't hear anything! What is the Call, anyway?"

"You don't hear it," Scythe said. "It's a telepathic call. It only affects you on a subconscious level. Hah, they didn't believe me. Nobody believed me! Not Eva, not even Shander! But here you are, Char! Right here in our grasp, right in front of our very eyes! Hah! Quick! This way!"

Scythe dashed into a dark side-tunnel, and Char did his best to keep up by the light of his tail. It all strangely reminded him of the dream he'd just escaped minutes before.

"Where are we going?!" Char demanded.

"We need to hide!" Scythe hissed.

"Hide?" Char repeated. "What, can't we hide in your room?"

"No, not even there," Scythe said. "If I am correct, soon, all fourteen hundred Pokémon in the entire base will be wide awake and looking for us. We need to be out of sight until it all passes over."

Char was amazed at Scythe's reaction to the whole thing. The old bug was absolutely ecstatic. Fire burned in his eyes as if he was witnessing something legendary. His steps were nervous and impatient, yet he took great care not to move too fast for Char. He constantly cast nervous, worried glances toward every adjacent corridor.

Down the stairs they went, down into the lower floors of the base. As they descended the spiral staircase, a low rumble came from down in the dark depths. Even after they'd only passed three floors, it became clear that other Pokémon were coming, and they would be overrun.

"I hear them," Scythe said in a trembling voice. "The base is coming alive! We're almost too late…"

"Do you know of a good hiding place?" Char asked.

"I was going to have us hide under the very bottom of the stairs," Scythe said. "Nobody ever goes down there… but now I don't think we'll make it. Now, we'll just get intercepted."

"Quick question," Char said suddenly, remembering his recent dream. "If a ghost Pokémon touches you, can it drag you through the wall just like it does with items?"

Scythe froze.

"Brilliant!" he cheered. "Char, you're incredible! The storage area. We're only two floors away from that. Quick! We can make it there!"

Running faster than ever, Scythe bounded down the stairs five at a time. Char's feet fumbled about as he followed behind, trying to keep up the speed yet not take a spill and tumble down the stairs. He knew it was a long way down, with a lot of stairs to hit on the way…

After they descended another floor, the unmistakable sound of footsteps began to echo through the stairwell. Soon, it was accompanied by the low murmuring of barely-awake voices. Char wondered why it would be dangerous to be spotted by other Pokémon, but since now was clearly not the time to ask, he could only put his full trust in Scythe and keep running.

Finally, they emerged into the seventh floor. To Char's surprise, no Pokémon were patrolling the halls of the floor just yet. By the bright blue lights of the torches, he could see that the main halls were empty. Scythe dashed down the hall, beckoning the others to follow as fast as possible.

At last, the final stretch was visible. The hub which led to Kecleon's shop and the storage area opened before them. Char's heart skipped a beat when he noticed that both doors were closed for the night with planks of wood.

*CRASH!*

Before Char knew it, Scythe had barged straight into the door of the storage area and taken it down. Splinters of wood fluttered to the ground as Char followed him inside, holding his breath in anticipation.

Morrik the Gengar leaped out of the wall in anger, screaming "WHAT IN THE NAME OF AR—"

"Morrik, we need your help," Scythe interrupted. "Hide us in the storage area."

"W-what?" Morrik said, reeling back. "Y-you're kidding, right?"

"Morrik, this is vital," Scythe roared. "Hide us, fast!"

"W—all three of you?" Morrik said in disbelief. "Well, I've never done anything like this before, but if you say so, Scythe… Uh… hold on, I guess?"

Char grabbed hold of the Gengar's arm, half-expecting his claw to go straight through the ghost's skin. But it turned out to be tangible, and he held on tightly as his friends did the same. Once they were all ready, Morrik sighed and led them straight into the back wall. Char braced himself as he saw the solid rock wall coming closer and closer…

Walking through the wall was one of the weirdest sensations Char'd ever experienced. He found himself blind. The sound was muffled as though Char was underwater; all Char could hear were low, haunting reverberations that reminded him of the vision he'd just experienced only minutes ago. A painful tingling sensation burned at the tip of his tail as the flame couldn't quite stay alive. A clenching feeling arose in his chest: his lungs deflated and were frozen in place, as there wasn't any air…

But the worst feeling of all was the hunger. Walking through the wall was exhausting, somehow, and was quickly draining his body of any semblance of energy he'd attained from the nervous rush to hide. Even his grip on the Gengar weakened as they went, but Char didn't want to think about what would happen to him if he were to let go. He wondered if he instantly die, becoming a petrified fossil in the middle of the wall.

Just when Char was starting to lose his grip on reality, a rush of ice-cold air engulfed him and brought him back to his senses. They'd arrived at a storage pocket. With a strange little sizzling sound, his tail flame re-lit itself as it popped out of the wall and brought light to the absolute darkness of the chamber. It wasn't a very big room, and it was packed from wall-to-wall with orderly piles of items, clothes, and food. He heard himself taking a big breath for air along with his two friends.

"Now, uh, you know you can't stay in here for too long before you suffocate, right?" Morrik reminded them.

"We're fine for now," Scythe said, panting. "Thank you for your help, Morrik…"

"You're welcome, I guess…" the ghost said, scratching its head. "Now… uh… wait here for a sec."

Morrik leaped into the wall, and soon re-appeared holding a pile of clothes. He set them on the floor.

"Mobile scarves," he told them. "You can use these when you want to leave. Just put them on and walk straight that way. Just be sure they get back to me; they belong to Team Dread."

"Thank you," Scythe said again. "And I'm sorry about the door."

"Ahh, 's not a problem." Morrik said, walking back into the wall. "I'm sure you had a good reason."

Morrik left, but Char still didn't feel peaceful. The air was terribly chilly, taxing his poor little flame and giving him frostbite on his nose. It didn't help much that his stomach wanted to retch from starvation. He noticed Saura frantically jumping around the room, examining the piles of items and gobbling up the first pieces of dried food that he saw. Char joined in, not caring what teams they were stealing the food from.

Char soon collapsed onto the floor, his stomach satisfied for the time being. He was still cold, and tired, and confused…

"Scythe, what is going on?" Char managed to say. "What are we running from? Are we in danger?"

"Not really, no," Scythe said, sitting against the oddly-angled corner of the room. His smile had never left his face the whole time. "All I know is that I don't want to be the one to explain to everyone what just happened. But, can you believe it? This is all your doing, Char! You released a call so powerful… It was truly touching, it made my eyes water."

"So, what is this 'Call', anyway?" Saura asked again. "Can't you tell us? Or does it have to stay a secret still?"

"I can tell you," Scythe said. "Like I said, every so often, a Pokémon is born with an innate ability we refer to as 'the Call'. It stays dormant for most of the Pokémon's life, but at unpredictable times, when it activates, it will telepathically cry out to other Pokémon, and anyone who hears the Call will come to you. It all happens subconsciously, so neither the caller nor the answerer will realize what's going on. Depending on a Pokémon's sensitivity to the Call, the other Pokémon will simply be disturbed, or find themselves strangely drawn to you."

"Uh… okay," Char said, trying to wrap his mind around it.

"The Call comes only every several decades," Scythe continued, "and the power of the call varies. One Pokémon's call might only fill one room, while another's might reach out to a whole city. But… then, there are Pokémon like you, Char, whose call is so vast and immeasurable, even the legendary dragons would heed it! And when the call is that powerful… strange, unpredictable things happen! We knew that the next time the Call would appear, it would be more powerful than ever before… And those few of us, like me, who are so sensitive to the Call that we can hear and understand it on a conscious level, we've been searching for it… searching, and waiting… and now, the wait is over, Char, because you're here!"

"So, wait," Saura said. "Char let out this telepathic cry that I didn't even hear, and now the whole base is awake and looking for him? And that's why we have to hide?"

"Exactly," Scythe said. "Like I said, they wouldn't hurt you, but I think it's safer this way. After tonight, most of the Pokémon in this base will know that we've found the Call, but for safety's sake, we're going to keep a secret of who exactly has it…"

"There's something I don't understand," Char grumbled. "What's so special about the Call, anyway? Why were you looking for it and waiting for it for so long?"

"That's the most important part," Scythe said gravely. "The Call which is so powerful that it can summon even the aid of the legendary dragons… can win the war!"

There was a moment of quiet as the words sank in.

"You mean… we can actually get them to fight for us?" Saura said in disbelief. "We could summon Dialga and Palkia to fight on our side?"

"Yes!" Scythe answered excitedly. "Throughout history, this power to call upon masses of Pokémon has won wars and kept entire civilizations of Pokémon and humans alive. If we were to harness this power to call upon the gods, the resistance force would become undefeatable! But, would the Call have fallen into the hands of the Master, the same could be said about him. Whichever side obtains the Call would be the victor. That's why it's so extraordinary that you're here today, Char! It means that the Call has finally been secured, and the resistance forces can finally win! The Master will finally be brought to feel his due remorse!"

Maybe this is my purpose, then? Char considered. This Charmander body… if it possesses both the Call and the ability to hear the Call… that must really be something rare and special! Maybe I was put here to summon Dialga to help the resistance forces win the war! But… didn't I call to Dialga? I did, didn't I? And Dialga answered me! It said it was powerless! How could Dialga be powerless? What… could this mean?

"But… there's one thing I can't understand," Scythe said, his smile finally fading. "Eva tested you, both of you! Using her psychic abilities, she can sense the Call in Pokémon even when it's not active. Yet… she didn't find it in either of you. And she made me look like a fool, at that…"

This is it, Char thought. Now is the time to say it…

"Scythe… I have something to tell you," Char mumbled, his face full of shame. "Eva didn't test me. She lied to you… and she threatened me to not tell you. I'm… sorry I didn't say this earlier. She just pretended to test me, but she said it wasn't worth her time."

Char held his breath as he watched for Scythe's reaction. Scythe blinked.

"Char, you're kidding!" Saura said, shocked at the news. "I didn't like Eva, but… that's ridiculous. She didn't test you? And you even turned out to actually have the Call?"

"That arrogant brat…" Scythe spat. "You know, this doesn't really surprise me. Part of me never wanted to trust Eva in the first place, but because of her power, I ignored my instincts. I should have listened to them. She will hear about this. I will not go lightly on her about this. It could almost be considered treachery. Char… you should have told me sooner. You should know that Eva can't do anything to you. Not here."

"I'm sorry," Char said again.

Scythe got up, his eyes wide in concentration. He paced around the tiny room, muttering strings of thoughts quietly to himself. Char couldn't imagine all the things that were spinning in the warrior's head. He was starting to see what it all meant. He wasn't just a Pokémon. He was an important Pokémon. His power could change the world. What now? What could he do?

"What now?" Char decided to ask. "Is there a way I can use my power to help?"

"That's the hard part," Scythe said. "As far as I know, there's no reliable way to trigger your Call. It happens all on its own, on its own time. We will just have to wait. Although, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if your call tonight reached out to the ancients. It was… so powerful… I shudder in memory of it! But now, I will live knowing that I could wake up one day, and Dialga would be standing at our front gate, ready to help us. We just have to wait and see what happens."

After about twenty minutes of Scythe's excited banter and Char's nervous silence, Char started to feel a little short of breath. Having less air to feed on, his tail flame slowly died down, dimming the light of the room and making it harder to see. Regardless of what was happening out in the base, it was time to leave.

As Char slipped the scarf that the ghost had given him around his neck, there was one last question he felt he needed to ask Scythe as long as they were confined to this cell, away from all the other Pokémon in the base. Part of him didn't want to ask the question, but the other part of him knew he had to, especially now that his purpose was starting to be revealed to him. At last, when they were ready to step through the wall, Char hesitated. Gathering his courage, he turned to Scythe.

"Scythe, there's one other thing I need to ask you," Char said nervously. "Do you—"

"Yes," Scythe said, eying Char with a blank face. "Yes, I do."

"Oh, come on!" Saura growled. "Not this again! Scythe, please, just answer's Char's question."

"I did," Scythe said, turning to the wall again. "The answer is yes."

"I'm a human!" Char cried. "There! I said it! Now you know. I'm a human. Now we don't have to play this dumb game anymore. Now you know my secret. Because I trust you, Scythe. I really do. I need you to know, so I can stop worrying about it. So there."

Silence. In the dying light of his flame, Char watched Scythe for a reaction. He resisted the urge to bite down hard on his tongue. Had he just make a big mistake? The warrior had his back turned, staring at the wall through which he was about to walk, contemplating his reply. Char held his breath as he awaited the answer, even though he was already getting dizzy from lack of air…

"You look like a Charmander to me," Scythe said quietly, not turning around.

Before Char could respond, Scythe stepped into the wall and disappeared from sight.

… … …

Using the strange "mobile scarves," Char and Saura passed through the wall and back into the main corridors of the base. To their surprise, the directions that Morrik had given them didn't lead back to the storage area lobby; they were now in a familiar, yet unrelated hall. Scythe was nowhere to be seen.

It was still in the dead of night, but this time, a few Pokémon wandered through the hallways. When Saura casually asked a passing Pikachu why it was up so late, she told them that she had trouble sleeping tonight and just felt like taking a walk upstairs. A Minun said it was sleepwalking and it found itself several floors away from its room when it woke up. A Growlithe claimed it was awake because it swore it felt an earthquake and wanted to go upstairs to escape the base, before realizing that getting caught by the Watchers was a much more horrible fate than being buried alive. A Typhlosion asserted it had a dream about Dialga, and a voice told him to go upstairs and visit Team Remorse's chambers.

With each Pokémon they questioned, Char felt more and more nervous about his power. He could see its gravity right before his very eyes, how it had the power to literally control the minds of the Pokémon around him.

"This is so weird," Saura commented as they walked back up to their rooms and passed countless numbers of confused Pokémon all suffering from insomnia and wandering around. "The entire base was… looking for you."

"And apparently I summoned them all," Char muttered.

"Hey," Char said quietly, passing by an annoyed group of Nidoran trying to find their way back downstairs. "I just realized something. Do you remember when I first met you?"

"Vaguely," Char said. "It was only a few days ago, but it feels like weeks…"

"Well, that night, I was taking a walk," Saura said. "But when the night came, I… I decided to keep going farther into the forest, instead of heading back home. Even though I knew the Watchers were coming. I felt… I felt like I really wanted to go to the cave. Do you think… that I heard your call?"

"That would make a lot of sense," Char thought out loud.

"Also, how do you think Shander and Scythe found us?" Saura continued. "They probably heard the same call I did! They were drawn to the cave, and they found it even though I thought it was hidden, and… and Scythe was the only one who understood what was happening, since he was looking for the Call all along. And that's why he took us here to the base to be tested. It makes perfect sense!"

That does make perfect sense, Char realized. Of course, that would also mean… that every good thing that has happened to me since becoming a Pokémon has happened because of my power: Saura finding me, Scythe and Shander finding me, Scythe and Shander taking me to the base, even Saura and I getting special treatment with Team Remorse… If it weren't for the Call, I'd still just be a lonely Charmander sitting in that cave, too afraid to go anywhere… It's almost like the Call is bending my surroundings to best suit me. No wonder it's such a coveted power!

Char continued to gawk in awe at the effects of his call. So many Pokémon had been disturbed from their sleep! Some were even lounging and sleeping in the hallways, too tired to make it back to their rooms. He could only wonder what he would hear about this crisis the next day.

… … …

Meanwhile, Scythe was headed in a different direction. He crept in the shadows and tried to avoid being seen—since it was his rooms that all the Pokémon had been drawn to, and it was him that they would all question—and made his way down to a certain hallway of residence. His heart was set to give a certain Pokémon an earful of his frustration.

"Eva!" He hissed angrily, arriving at the Espeon's door.

Without waiting for a reply, Scythe tried to force to door open. It didn't budge; it was blocked from the inside. Eva had to be home.

"EVA!" Scythe yelled a little louder. "I'm not going to let you hide from this. This is your error, you will be the one to face up to it."

No reply.

With a snort, Scythe reared back…

*Slash!* *Slash!*

The wooden door fell into several pieces, and Scythe barged inside.

The room was completely dark. All the candles and torches were turned off and snuffed out.

"Eva…" Scythe said again, becoming even more annoyed at the Espeon's stubbornness.

Just as the Scyther's irritation was about to become full-blown rage, he realized something he should have seen sooner: the Espeon wasn't there after all. Her sleeping mat was empty.

"Eva…" Scythe growled to nobody but himself, slashing at the air. "You coward! What do you think you're doing?! Where did you run off to?"

Growling incessantly, Scythe fled the room.

… … …

When Char and Saura arrived back at Team Remorse's front door, what they saw was an odd sight that, in reality, didn't surprise them. About twelve Pokémon were sleeping in that very corridor, too lazy to return to their own rooms after being summoned by the Call. Char gritted his teeth as he carefully stepped over a sleeping Meditite on the way to the door.

Just as Char's first knock connected with the door, a rage-filled voice rang out from behind it.

"GO AWAY!"

"Uh…" Char said. "But… we live here!"

"PLEASE!" the voice demanded again. "FOR THE LOVE OF ARCEUS, LEAVE US ALONE!"

"Uh…" Char said again.

Then, Char noticed something: he was still holding the mobile scarves from before. With an evil smirk, he quickly tied one on and put the other one on Saura, and they proceeded to march straight through the locked door…

They met a weary, infuriated Gabite, a member of Team Remorse, on the other side.

"Oh… it's you two," it said indifferently. "Ugh… And here I thought it still wasn't over. There's no way I'm getting up for the mission tomorrow. Too…tired…"

… … …

"You know, I don't think I'll even be able to sleep now either," Saura said as the two once again tried to relax in Scythe's room. "Tomorrow's going to be a crazy day. You know that, right? Everyone's going to be talking about this… And when word gets out that the Call caused this, we'll never hear the end of it…"

That's for tomorrow, Char told himself. Tonight… it's time to finish our sleep.

As Char's eyes fluttered closed, he knew one thing was for certain: his purpose in the world of Pokémon was slowly but surely becoming clearer. Although, for the first time, he found himself starting to wonder if he really wanted to find out what it was.

*Chapter 17*: Chapter 15: I Can Explain

Author's Note: In early 2013, I began a minor revision of this story. As of now, this revision ends here. I apologize to new readers if you encounter an increased number of typos starting with this chapter.

---

Chapter 15

Empirical Falls

"Remember… we've got to do this fast. This is our last chance to grab our stuff!"

The sky was dark and cloudy the night a humiliated Seviper and Croagunk made their way back to their pillaged hideout. The previous day, word was officially out that a gang of thieves kept a den full of stolen goods south of Jesterville and right on the border of the Jaded Woods—thanks to a certain meddling resistance team—and come sundown of the next day, the thieves knew there'd literally be nothing left of it. Their last chance to salvage anything was in the darkness of the night, as the Watchers hovered in the sky.

With only three hours left until sunrise, the two arrived at the Empirical Falls.

"I don't see the point," the Seviper snorted. "The boss will have our hides for this! Have you even thought about what we're going to tell him?"

"It's his own fault," the Croagunk mumbled, trying to find the path back to the cave. "If he'd been here, we could've taken down that stupid Scyther. He picked a real bad time to go on an errand…"

"Didn't have a choice," the Seviper replied. "Adiel called him away. Besides, it's your fault this happened! Quit trying to pin the blame on someone else! There will be no twisting the truth when the boss gets back. I'm not taking the fall for you. Not again."

"You could just run away, you know," the Croagunk suggested evilly.

"That's not a bad idea," the Seviper said, dripping with sarcasm. "What's the point of staying with—"

The sound of moaning came from below, cutting off the Seviper's masterfully-crafted insult. It was the voice of a ghost Pokémon lying in wait for a victim. The Seviper froze, waiting for the inevitable attack. The Croagunk shivered in anticipation.

A large Shuppet rose from the ground before them. With eyes glowing white, and a face of evil glee, it emitted a hiss and started bobbing through the air towards the Croagunk. He took a few steps backward, preparing a strike to defend himself.

But then, the ghost's moan echoed. The sound came from all around him.

"There's more than one," the Seviper warned, his voice fearful. "They're closing in…"

Another Shuppet popped out of the earth, directly behind the Seviper. Soon, three more emerged from the shadows, all glowing with dark energy. The ghosts hovered menacingly in the air, forming a tight circle around the thieves.

"Blasted Watchers," the Seviper spat. "Don't they know their allies when they see them?!"

"Apparently not this time," the Croagunk mumbled. "Get ready…"

The Seviper struck first. He uncurled violently and flung himself into the air, sending its bladed tail at the nearest ghost like a whip. The ghost fell back, disturbed. Then, all five of the ghosts dove inward at the intruders like hungry Carvanha to a feeding frenzy. The Seviper lurched in an attempt to strike away a ghost with its fangs, but the ghost dodged back and quickly countered, latching onto the Seviper's head. The Croagunk furiously punched at the ghosts, but most of his attacks passed straight through the bodies of the ghosts, who proceeded to throw themselves at him, the cursed dark energy leaking from them…

"No, you don't!" The Croagunk shouted as the Watchers swarmed him like flies. "Not today!"

With a loud croak, the frog Pokémon held his breath and focused on a well of dark energy in his chest, a power which was given to him upon induction into the Master's service. He prepared to use one of the techniques which had aided him many times in the past in defending himself against the Watchers. A small, shadowy ball of power formed between his hands…

"Ugh! Get off!" The Croagunk roared noisily as he released his power. A pitch-black pulse of shadow exploded from him, engulfing the Watchers. They shrieked as they were all flooded with dark energy, and soon went limp and faded away back into the ground.

"Meh heh heh, that'll show them," the Croagunk mumbled, rubbing his forehead and trying recover from almost getting cursed by the ghosts' power.

"The Watchers aren't supposed to even be watching this region tonight," the Seviper hissed in annoyance, picking himself off the ground. "Dumb ghosts."

"The Watchers go wherever they please," the Croagunk reminded. "It's not like we can tell them what to do."

The two rushed onward, and soon found their hideout. Not wanting to attract any more Watchers, they hurried inside. Croagunk lit a lantern, and the Seviper reeled in horror at everything the resistance team had taken.

"See?" Croagunk said with a ridiculously faked carefree tone. "Everything's still here!"

"No!" the viper shouted, slithering forward to examine the piles of stuff. "You fool! Everything of value is gone! The scarves, the orbs, everything that's of use to us! The boss will be outraged!"

"Nonsense!" Croagunk scoffed, searching through the piles himself. "They left plenty of stuff. Like… oh, no!"

A horrified gaze now in his eyes, Croagunk dug through a pile of scraps, furiously shoving everything away.

"They didn't! They couldn't have! This is impossible! They…"

He reached the very bottom of the pile, the stone floor of the cave, and angrily smashed a nearby stack of scraps with a clenched fist. Something of glass shattered within it.

"…they took my feral-shard! Do you know how hard those are to find?"

The Seviper didn't answer, instead just smirking at him with a "you deserve it" look upon his face.

"I was this close to being able to evolve! Meh, you're right. We really blew it this time."

"You blew it," Seviper said again, angrily. "I wasn't the one who decided to be an idiot and go out hunting during the day."

"Well, good evening to you both,"

At the sound of the new voice, both Pokémon spun towards the entrance of the cave. A large, menacing Dusknoir floated in.

"BOSS!" The two Pokémon yelled in unison, trying not to betray their nervousness.

"W-welcome back from your mission, boss!" the Croagunk stuttered.

"How was your mission with the Scizor? Did it go well?" added the Seviper.

The Dusknoir hung its faceless head, floating farther back into the cave. "No… it was a complete failure," it uttered. "I performed the perfect unveiling. The single most accurate, most skillful unveiling in the history of the Master's reign. But it was undone by… the Scyther."

The Seviper and Croagunk cast worried glances at each other, their nervousness growing by the moment.

"Somehow, the Scyther knew about our plan, and he chose that one day to guard over his team members. Scizor and I had to back down."

Without further ado, the powerful Ghost unleashed his pent-up anger at the nearest wall. He punched with all his might, setting a huge hole in the rock and causing pebbles to fall from the ceiling.

"That wretched Scyther!" it growled angrily. "How can one Pokémon be so brilliant? How does he predict our every move, time after time? He's been a scourge in our sides for over a decade now. He is like a mastermind! Like… a human, almost! This must end! He must be brought to humility!"

The Dusknoir punched again, shaking the entire cave and causing a huge boulder to fall out from the wall and crush a nearby pile of stolen supplies.

"Graaaaaaah!" it yelled.

The Dusknoir stood still for a moment, looking down at the hole he'd punched in the wall. Seviper and Croagunk were, simply put, scared stiff.

But, just as suddenly as the ghost Pokémon's rage had appeared, it was gone.

"So, how were your days?" the Dusknoir asked in a surprisingly friendly tone. "Get very much accom-wait, what did you do with my Dusk Orb?"

"Dusk Orb?" Croagunk gulped. "I, uh, didn't do anything with it."

"I need it back, I wasn't done with it yet," the Dusknoir said. "It still had plenty of energy left in it. Someone must have moved it. It used to be right here, right next to the…"

Dusknoir froze again. He glanced around at the contents of the cave, then to his two teammates. He took immediate notice of the forced smiles spread across both of their faces, and the way their muscles twitched like they were about to run away as fast as possible.

"YOU FOOLS!" The Dusknoir raged, slamming its fists into the ceiling and causing more rocks to fall around. "YOU WERE BLOWN OPEN, AND YOU THOUGHT I WOULDN'T NOTICE?! Can't I leave you alone for THREE DAYS? THREE DAYS? THREE DAYS, AND ALREADY WE'VE BEEN ROBBED?! ALREADY WE'VE LOST HALF OUR WORK?"

Croagunk tried to run, but the Dusknoir lurched forward and slammed him against the wall.

"WHAT HAPPENED? WHO DID THIS?" It roared, seething with dark energy.

"I—I can explain!" the Croagunk pleaded. "It… the… the…"

"The Scyther attacked us," the Seviper admitted shamefully in place of his partner. "We'd just settled in for the day, when… They ambushed us from within the dungeon! The Scyther used a little Bulbasaur and a Charmander to trick us, and… he almost destroyed both of us. There was no way we could have fought back. Not without you here."

The Dusknoir dropped its captive.

"A Bulbasaur and a Charmander, you say?" it replied, the anger once again vanished from its voice, replaced with a calm and thoughtful tone.

"Yes, and it sounded like he was… training them. Leading them through the forest," the Seviper explained.

For a moment, Dusknoir was silent.

"Ha. Hah hah. Hah hah hah," The Dusknoir said, almost a faked laugh. "Hah hah. Hah hah hah hah! That's… that's funny. You see, those two were also with him during the unveiling. You're meaning to tell me that… the Scyther… not only did he attack you when I was away, and then put a halt on Scizor's operation immediately afterwards, completely uprooting us both at the same time, he's walking his students through the process as well? This is… this is his way of schooling them?"

Croagunk started to join in the laugh, but Dusknoir fell silent again.

"We all know that the Scyther is brilliant," Dusknoir said, "But this… goes too far! Now he's just rubbing it in our faces. Heh, heh, heh! It's funny! I think it's time we've done something about this… this Scyther. I think it's high time we crack a plan that not even he will see coming."

"But who can come up with a plan like that?" Croagunk wondered. "Not even Scizor has been able to do it yet!"

Dusknoir glided over to very, very back of the cave, where even the lantern didn't shine. Truth was, he wasn't all that upset about the hideout getting discovered… just so long as the one thing which mattered most to him was still there.

His arm becoming intangible, he reached it into the wall and felt around for a little pocket of air which he'd been keeping a secret even from his two minions. He was relieved to find it exactly where it was supposed to be. Eagerly, he yanked it out and looked it over: it was a small, round object of incredible value. His hands trembled as he held it.

"Remember what Scizor is always telling us," Dusknoir said evilly. "If your opponent doesn't know how strong you are, there's no limit to what you can do with them. And now… I think it's time to unleash one of our… hidden weapons."

"Bwuh?" Croagunk said, confused. "What's… that you're holding, boss? I don't remember stealing something like that."

"NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" the ghost yelled suddenly. "Besides, what ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Start PACKING! We have to be gone by sunlight! GO!"

"Yes, master!" the two yelped in unison as they started scrambling around for things they could take with them.

---

Division Base

"Get up!"

Ugh, thought Char, rubbing his forehead. Do we have to get up like this every day?

"I'm dead tired," Saura groaned, rolling over. "Can't we sleep for just a little while longer?"

"We don't have a choice," Scythe said. "The division's holding a meeting. We have to attend."

"A meeting!?" Char repeated in annoyance. "I wonder w— oh."

"Indeed," Scythe said. "Something last night created quite a disturbance. So, first thing this morning, they're sounding the alarm to have a meeting. We need to get down to the grand hall."

Char felt sick, not just because he'd been up for several hours the previous night, but also because it scared him to even imagine what would be said at this meeting. Surely, they would be discussing the Call and its effects on the base. Would they find out he had it? It wasn't something very difficult to figure out. He was one of the new kids sticking around with Team Remorse. Would he have to stand up before the entire division? Would he be ridiculed, or, far worse, have to spill the secret of his humanity?

This morning, instead of his usual zealousness, Scythe wore a frown as he ushered Char and Saura out of the room.

"This all could have been avoided if it weren't for Eva," he reminded them as they proceeded down the hall. "And now, I don't even know where she ran off to. I stayed up last night searching the entire place… couldn't find her. The registry claims she's still in the base somewhere, but… she might have fled."

"She ran?" exclaimed Saura in disbelief. "Because of all this?"

"It's because of her that we couldn't take the necessary precautions to prevent something like this from happening," Scythe said scornfully. "Now that she's seen her mistake, she's hiding so she won't have to deal with it. But she can't hide forever. She'll turn up. And when she does… she'll hear about it."

When they reached the end of the hall, a large group of Pokémon stood lined, talking amongst each other and waiting for their leader. Char realized that this was the first time he was able to see all of Team Remorse together, save for the few who were still out on the mission. On one side of the hall stood a Marowak, a Nidoking, a Feraligatr, and an Umbreon, and on the other, there was a Gabite, a Breloom, a Crawdaunt, and Ursa the Ursaring. As Char and Saura approached, the team looked down at them oddly.

"The teams will go down to the meeting in procession," Scythe explained quietly. "You'll have to be in back this time. Stick with Ursa."

"Morning, Team Ember," Ursa said. "Hard to tell what's going to happen today, you two. We've got to keep our fingers crossed that this doesn't all turn into a fiasco."

The murmuring stopped as Scythe stepped up to the front of the line and turned his attention to the entire team.

"Well, well," he said, addressing the team. "I can only think of one thing to say, and that's to be prepared for anything. At best, this could be a monumental occasion that we've finally found what we've been looking for. At worst… this could cast the entire division into schism. But anything in between could happen."

Wait, Char realized. Does that mean Scythe told everyone about me? About the Call? I don't know whether to feel safer, or more nervous…

"What will we do if it does destroy the division?" The Nidoking asked. "Have you thought about that?"

"I will make one thing clear," Scythe said, holding his head high. "I will always fight the Master, regardless of what happens. Anyone who wants to stay at my side and keep Team Remorse alive, it's your choice."

"I'm not going anywhere," the Nidoking said firmly.

"I'm staying," the Gabite announced. "Got nowhere else to go, anyway."

"Let's all be honest with each other," the Umbreon spoke up. "There's no breaking up this team. Where Scythe goes, we go. Right?"

The team cheered their unanimous decision, although there was a clear streak of uncertainty in everyone's voice. When everyone was nice and collected, they opened the door and started their procession down to the lower levels of the base in two, orderly rows.

… … …

On the way down, all Pokémon, no matter how crammed the hallways were, cleared a path for Team Remorse. But as he proceeded with them, Char watched as all the Pokémon glared suspiciously at him, causing his stomach started to get tied in knots all sorts of knots. He could tell, just by looking at them all, that they probably knew the secret. It didn't take a psychic to tell that not everyone had gotten a good night's sleep, and that they all suspected what had caused it. Char did his best to stay hidden between Saura and Ursa until they reached their destination.

For the first time, Char got to see what it looked like for the Grand Hall, easily his favorite room in the entire base, to be filled. The simple beauty of the vast dish-shaped room, with its large, circular stair-steps, outer ring of torches, and gargantuan statues of the legendary dragons was now impossible to see, buried under hundreds, no, at least a thousand Pokémon all filing into their seats and clamoring about not having slept well. Each and every Pokémon was grouped by team, with the more important teams near the front and the training teams at the back. It was the first time Char noticed all of the many special places for the irregular Pokémon to watch from, such large side-caves for the Onix and high perches for the Pidgeotto. Once more, Char couldn't tell whether to feel safe and sound with so many allies, or worried that his safety and sanity was about to be put into danger as soon as the meeting began. He felt his Ember churning like an upset stomach as he filed in near the very front row with the high-ranking resistance team.

"Wow," Saura said for the third time as he watched the seats quickly fill up by the bright orange light of the hundreds of torches on the wall. "This is… a lot… of Pokémon. This is like… a whole city. Just to see everyone in the same pace like this…"

"Yeah, the Gold Division is easily the biggest of the three," the Umbreon said from next to Char. "We've developed a habit of housing more refugees than we should, but, in turn, we've had the highest recruitment rate on record. The other divisions are more of the elitist type. Anyway, I don't believe we've met. Everyone calls me Raon."

"Hi, Raon," Char said, again trying to shake his hand before he realized the Umbreon didn't really have any.

"Of course, you two need no introduction," he said. "You've only been here for a few days, but everyone's talking about Team Ember! I think you're going to be even more popular than us!"

"Did Scythe… tell you about us?" Char asked carefully. "I mean, like…"

"Like you having the Call?" Raon said. "Of course he did. Last night, when he came back to the room, he woke everyone up and gave us all the news. But don't let that worry you! Team Remorse is on your side. Now we all know to look out for you."

Char was going to say something, but bit his tongue when he noticed that the entire room had gone dead silent. The murmuring stopped, and the rustling of feet and wings quickly faded out. Char turned his gaze to the center stage only a few feet in front of him. A Chatot fluttered onto the stage, followed by an Alakazam.

"This is it!" Saura whispered. "The meeting is starting!"

"Good morning," the Chatot announced to the entire audience. Even though he was so close, Char was surprised his voice was so loud.

"It's a trick of the architecture," Ursa whispered. "The ceiling is a giant dome, so you can hear voices from the stage anywhere in the room. That, and Alakazam likes to broadcast the words with Telepathy at the same time, so everyone can understand what he says."

"Thus begins the thirty-eighth grand convention of the Gold Division of the Great Resistance," the Chatot continued. "I apologize for the… sudden and inconvenient timing of such a meeting, but due to recent circumstances, we have much to discuss. So, without wasting any more time, it's my pleasure to introduce to you… your greatest servants, High Intelligence."

A procession of Pokémon climbed onto the stage and stood at Alakazam's side. First came a Slowking, apparently Dr. Orde from the hospital, then a Xatu, then finally, coming down from levitation, a mighty Metagross. With a gentle but enormous crash, its four limbs came to rest on the stage.

"There he is," Raon said. "Metagross. If the Gold Division had a leader, it'd be him. It never sleeps. It spends all day and all night reading records, and piecing together parts of the puzzles. It assigns most of the missions the Division accomplishes each and every day. Alakazam and Xatu are his assistants, and Dr. Orde is considered one of them, just because of his intellect. Together, they can see the entire division as a whole and make decisions regarding all of us."

Char held his breath as the Alakazam took to the front of the stage.

"First and foremost…," it spoke loudly, its voice echoing both audibly and mentally, "the issue that's on everyone's mind at this early hour… Late last night, at approximately three twenty-two A.M., by the human clock, there was… an epidemic amongst the entire division."

Voices arose from the audience, signifying their acknowledgement of his words.

"Over half of the members of the Gold Division awoke last night, almost instantaneously, and began to wander around the base in a state of half-consciousness."

More murmuring from the crowd. Char's heart escalated, but he took deep breaths and tried not to panic.

"There have been many rumors surrounding this strange occurrence," the Alakazam said, "but Metagross has determined the most likely cause…"

Here it comes, Char thought. The Call! The Call! This is it!

"…An earthquake."

Huh?!

As the entire room came alive with uproar, Char glanced at Scythe. Shock covered his face, and so with the rest of the team.

"What?!" Scythe said, shaking his head. "Now… This, I didn't see coming…"

"Quiet, please!" Alakazam pleaded, silencing everyone. "Yes, yes, at about Three-twenty-one, a minor earthquake shook the base. It was only a three on the Diglett scale, but it would have been enough to awaken everyone from sleep and affect them subconsciously."

"It was the Call!" someone shouted from across the room. "The Call!"

"Quiet, Quiet!" Alakazam pleaded again, just before the uproar could restart. "While evidence suggests it could have been the Call, the likelihood of such an occurrence is simply… benign. Not only is a Call of such magnitude practically impossible, but the timing is not right. The last Call was only twenty-four years, six months, two days, and five hours ago, and according to Lucario's pattern, a call, indeed, one of such magnitude, would not have appeared for at least another two years, five months, seven days, and sixteen hours. Keep in mind that these are not simply statistics, but solid, proven scientific facts."

"I… I don't believe what I'm hearing," Scythe said, completely incredulous.

"You don't think…" Ursa said. "You don't think this could be possible, do you?"

"I… wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes," Scythe muttered. "High Intelligence… is lying!"

"You might be wondering how this explains why everyone was somehow drawn to the quarters of Team Remorse. There is a very simple explanation for this: you all respect Team Remorse, correct? You all trust them as powerful allies, do you not? Well, in your states of half-consciousness, you sensed danger, and you fled to Team Remorse for protection, the same thing you would have done on a battlefield."

"It is difficult to believe, yes," the Xatu said calmly, "but… Metagross is rarely ever mistaken."

"Scythe!" the Feraligatr said softly. "You know, we could put an end to this right here and now! Just shout out! You're in a position to do it!"

"It's no use," Scythe said. "If High Intelligence sees fit to lie like this, they already know the truth, so there's no sense in arguing. Besides, this division trusts their words much more than us. Ugh… I bet those four brains of his took two seconds figuring out the answer and thirty minutes conniving a good lie to cover it up."

"Anyway, it is in the past," Alakazam continued, trying to calm the roaring crowd. "It does not affect us now. Now, we must move on to the second important issue on our agenda… Yesterday, after returning from a mission with his apprentices, as well as a few members of Team Stripes and one of Team Carrier, Scythe reported that he'd had an encounter with Adiel, the Scizor."

A gasp of horror rose from the room, followed by more muttering.

"Thankfully, Scythe and all five of his companions escaped with their lives and lived to tell the tale," Alakazam said. "But yes, it's very horrifying news that the Master has once again employed Adiel among his forces. The news could mean unforeseen trouble for us. Rest assured that Metagross has already begun to think about it. Since we got the news, he's been ceaselessly considering all possibilities of what the Master could be planning next."

"Due to these circumstances, I regret to announce… that… we must now place a twelve-day restriction on all training teams," Xatu said. "No training teams will be allowed to embark on missions until the restriction is lifted. We are… sorry for the inconvenience, and we know full well how far behind schedule this will put many of you, but… it is for your safety. Scythe's party only survived because of his presence. If their mission had been a routine one with no supervision… they would have not returned."

"I don't get it," Scythe stammered, not even listening to the new announcement. "Why? Why has this happened?"

"Obviously, Metagross thought it was the best course of action," Marowak said, fidgeting with his bone. "It's just like you said earlier, Scythe. Tell the truth, the division goes into schism. Lie… and it's a better outcome for everyone."

"Better outcome for everyone, my foot," Scythe rasped. "The Call could win the war. How is that not the better outcome?"

"Maybe Metagross sees other unforeseen consequences that you can't comprehend," Marowak suggested.

"He's doing us a service, Scythe," the Feraligatr said. "They know the truth. We know the truth. But now, we'll just less attention over it."

"Yeah, don't worry about it," Ursa added. "Everyone who's important believes you. That's all that matters."

"This isn't the way it should have happened," Scythe insisted. "I don't care if it is the better outcome. It doesn't feel right."

"Now, we must let our brethren of the resistance know about this news as well," Alakazam said. "Thus, I declare two missions: to send the warning of Adiel to the Black division, and to send the message to the Emerald division. Both missions are at the two-star level of risk, and have a bounty of four thousand Poké. These missions will become available at the registry as soon as this meeting adjourns."

"One thing's for sure," Scythe said. "I wish Daemon and the others were back. All of us need to have a serious discussion."

The rest of the meeting covered minor, silly issues which had obviously been thought up by Metagross to justify calling a meeting, such as a reminder to everyone not to allow their teams to get too big on missions.

"Hey, Char, you're dozing off," Saura hissed when Char's eyes stayed closed for too long, causing him to jerk back to attention. "So, that wasn't as bad as we thought, huh? The Call is still nothing but a rumor to the rest of the division."

Char, though, couldn't help but share Scythe's discomfort. If the Scyther's instincts told him that something wasn't right, something wasn't right, and it didn't make him feel any safer.

*Chapter 18*: Chapter 16: Keeping Busy

Chapter 16

The door closed behind Team Remorse as they returned to their private cave.

"I still don't understand," Scythe muttered to the group. "It just… doesn't make any sense. Why has intelligence done this to us?"

"It's a lie that makes sense to tell," the Crawdaunt said. "They didn't want the news of the Call to get out of hand, and now, they don't have to worry about it. It's a brilliant strategy… something you of all Pokémon should appreciate."

"Yes, I know that," Scythe said, staring at the floor. "But now, I can't help but wonder… has Intelligence ever lied to us before? I, for one, have trusted them unconditionally since our team was founded. Has it been a mistake?"

His words rang powerfully among the team. There was no response.

"Regardless," Scythe said suddenly, picking up his head and swinging a blade through the air, "This affair will… simmer. There will be no speaking of this to anyone. The last thing we need is to become an enemy of the Division. Raptor, you and Craw have your missions to do. I expect them to be done as usual."

"Of course," the Gabite said with a nod. "Though, you must excuse our… sloth. We had a long night."

"Ursa, Markov. Red Haven. Just like we discussed last night."

"No problem," the Feraligatr said. "Simple mission. We'll be back before lunch."

"Raon, I want you, Nidoroch, and Kyria to take the care of the Ravine Woodlands duty for today," Scythe said. "I have a feeling that mission isn't going to be a popular choice among the division."

"Sure thing," the Breloom said with a nod. Surprisingly, it was female.

"Marrow, you can hang around the base and give me a hand with the files," Scythe ordered. "In all the chaos, and without Shander here, I haven't finished with the records from yesterday. Intelligence will be wanting them as soon as possible."

"Lovely, paperwork!" the Marowak grunted.

"Good, now, be off," Scythe commanded, motioning to everyone. "Daemon and the others will be back this evening. Be prepared for the meeting."

Char and Saura watched as Team Remorse quickly dispersed to follow Scythe's orders.

"Oh, and you two," Scythe said, turning to Char and Saura. "No mission today. Stay at the base, get your rest. Oh, and just in case… try to keep a low profile. This isn't a day to be visiting with friends."

"Understood," Saura said.

"Oh, and just one more thing," Scythe said. "I also expect you two to be at the meeting tonight. When the torches turn red, make sure you are back here as soon as possible."

"I can't believe he wants us to attend the meeting," Saura sighed as he and Char wandered off to find ways to occupy themselves for the day. "It seems, you know, a little over our heads… But I guess he needs to train us like that…"

I know why he wants me to be at the meeting, Char determined. It's because this is all my fault in the first place. I'm the one who has the Call. Now, whether I like it or not, I've got to be involved in everything. And if this power can go off at any time, I've got to be ready for anything!

As they walked through the base that morning, Char noticed how a lot of the other Pokémon gave him suspicious looks. It was extremely unsettling. It made him want to crawl into a hole and cower there for hours on end.

"But, oh well, what can we do?" Saura wondered. "Actually, I'm surprised Scythe didn't say 'hey, two more stanzas!'"

"It's probably implied," Char speculated, trying to keep from making eye contact with anyone else "We can go and learn some more later today."

"Wow, this is pretty uncomfortable," Saura said quietly. "Everyone's just staring at us…"

"Yeah," Char said. "It's a shame Scythe took those mobile scarves away when we slept. I bet we could use them now."

"Hey, that's an idea!" Saura said. "Maybe we could buy some of our own! We might have money today from our first mission. Let's go to the treasury and check our account!"

… … …

Although it took a little work pushing through the morning crowds and standing in line, Char and Saura made it down to the treasury in one piece. Thankfully, most of the Pokémon were too preoccupied with getting ready for the day, forcing their way into and out of the cafeteria, to take much notice of them.

Surprisingly, the treasury was not at all crowded like the other locations on the floor. Only a few Pokémon lingered here and there, some holding big brown bags stuffed with something heavy. Gold? Char thought. Or… Poké, as Shander called it? I wonder why there aren't more Pokémon here. Isn't money something important to the division?

The lobby to the treasury was very ornate. The stone walls had been carved and colored to resemble bright red bricks. Four giant gold pillars were positioned near the corners of the room. In the center of the floor lay a huge red frilled rug laced with shiny, golden weavings of winged Pokémon. On the far end of the room, two giant rectangular windows were carved out of the wall.

"How can I help you?" asked a Persian on the other side as Char awkwardly approached the lower of the two windows.

"Uh… hi," Char squeaked. "We're Team Ember. We want to see how much we have in our account."

"Of course," Said the Persian, lowering its head behind the wall and searching for something. "I believe I remember you. Scythe opened the account just earlier this week. Ah, here it is. Your account holds… twelve thousand, seven hundred and eighty-four Poké."

"W-what?" Saura cried. "Are you sure that's ours? We can't have that much money already! We only accomplished one mission!"

"Very well," The Persian sighed, reaching down below the wall again. "I will show you your statement. Here. Tell me if anything seems amiss, and we will try to look into it."

The Persian produced a neatly folded sheet of paper and slid it across the window to Char. Char opened it, but of course, he couldn't read a word. All he saw was a list of numbers. He handed it to Saura, who slapped it down onto the floor and stared intently at it.

"Uh…" Saura said, scanning the statement. "Here's where our account was opened, and it started out empty. And here's where our first bounty was awarded. Retrieved stolen goods. Reward: four thousand, five hundred Poké! Oh, but Scythe took away eighty percent, leaving us with only twelve hundred… And… wait, what? Another bounty?"

He re-read the line, tracing over it with his paw.

"Reported enemy activity in Ravine Woodlands? Reward: nine hundred Poké!"

"Wow, and I thought we aborted the mission because of the Scizor!" Char said, mouth agape. "I just assumed it was a failure!"

"I guess it was technically a success!" Saura said with a smile. "After all, we did exactly what the mission objectives said to do. Wow, that feels good to know! Oh, but Scythe still took some of the reward. We only got five hundred and forty."

"Then where did the extra money come from?" Char wondered. "That only accounts for about two thousand."

"Hold on, I'm still reading," Saura said. "W—wha?! Donations? We're getting donations from other teams? Seventy from Team Stripes, Five hundred from Team Absolution? Two hundred from Team Duskhunter? And… oh, wow."

"What?!" Char pleaded. "What is it?"

"It says… High Intelligence: monetary grant: ten thousand Poké! Char, we really are rich! High Intelligence gave us a ton of money! And… according to these records, it just happened less than a day ago. Wow! Char, I wonder, what can we buy with all this?"

But why did High Intelligence give us that money? Char wondered. To pay us off for lying?

"Let's go to Kecleon's!" Saura said eagerly. "Maybe we can buy one of those scarves. Or two!"

"Is everything alright?" The Persian asked, stepping up to the window again.

"Yeah, we're great!" Saura said. "Now, how do we… withdraw our money? We want to go shopping!"

"Oh, that's not necessary," Persian explained. "You don't need to withdraw money unless you plan on using it outside of the division's base. If you just want to buy something from Kecleon's, or if you want to transfer funds to a different team, it can all happen behind the scenes. Now, to prevent theft, Kecleon demands that you send him the money beforehand. So, if you'd like to buy something from him, you'll have to transfer your funds to his account. If you don't use all the funds, you can ask him to send back the remainder, or simply keep it there until you wish to purchase something else."

"Uh… okay," Saura said. "So… uh… can we do that?"

"Certainly," the Persian said, flipping through the papers beneath the window. "How much do you wish to spend at Kecleon's?"

"Uh, I don't know how much things cost," Saura said. "How about… five thousand? That should be enough to buy something, shouldn't it?"

"Five thousand it will be, then," the Persian said, scratching something onto a slip of paper with his front claw and sliding it to Char. "Here, take this receipt. Kecleon only checks his account in the morning, so you'll have to show this to him if you want to buy something."

"Thank you!" Saura said.

"It's our pleasure," Persian said kindly. "I look forward to helping you again, Team Ember."

Saura was beaming. "C'mon, Char. Let's go buy something!"

… … …

"FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND?"

"Yes," Kecleon said. "I'm so very sorry for the extravagant price, but you, sir, have very expensive tastes. Mobile scarves are among the rarest and most valuable items in the land, and I've only got one, and I refuse to part with it for less than that."

Saura was speechless, and Char was just a little bit disappointed. Casting a sad glance up at the green reptilian Pokémon before him, Saura gave a hopeless shrug.

Kecleon's shop was filled with Pokémon trying to stock up on supplies for the day's journeys, and Char and Saura had to stand in line for over half an hour just to get in the door. Kecleon himself spoke fast and with urgency, as if to move the two along and help other customers, but his friendly, polite demeanor never wavered. He let his brother, a pink-colored Kecleon, help the rest of the customers as he spoke with the Team Ember.

"I'm so very sorry," the Kecleon said again. "Perhaps I could interest you in something else? If stealth is what you seek, I have several of the fabled invisify orbs! Just activate one, and you'll be invisible for up to a whole hour! Only fifty thousand each!"

"No, thank you," Saura sighed. "We can't afford those, either. Eh, and here I thought we were rich… I guess we've got a long way to go."

"Do you have anything for beginning explorers?" Char asked, trying to lighten the mood. "Something cheap and useful, you know, for general purposes?"

"Oh, but of course!" Kecleon said, walking quickly to a nearby shelf of clothes. "I am made of that sort of merchandise! How about a Pecha scarf? Very popular with the new recruits!"

"What's it do?" Char asked.

"Prevents poisoning," Kecleon explained. "It's coated in a potent antidote made from Pecha Fruit. Wear one, and the antidote will constantly circulate through your system, rendering you as immune as a poison-based Pokémon!"

"That sounds like a really good idea," Char said. "I was poisoned once, it felt awful…"

"Well, with one of these, you'll never have to fear the poison ever again!" Kecleon said. "Or, how about this little item over here? The 'escape orb'! Incredibly vital for every Mystery Dungeon mission! Activate it within a dungeon, and it will instantly perform an unveiling, freeing you and all your allies from the dungeon's curse! This is the one thing you'll always want on hand, just in case something goes horribly wrong. Why, even the bravest and best of resistance teams bring one on every mission!"

Saura didn't look too impressed, but nodded kindly in reply. "What do you think?" he asked Char.

"We'll take them," Char decided. "One of those scarves and… three of those orbs."

"Very good!" Kecleon said with a smile. "The total will come to seven hundred Poké. You can take the items with you if you are in a hurry, or I can have them delivered to your storage later. It's your choice."

Saura requested the items be sent to storage, and Kecleon thanked them for their business and hurried to the next customer in line, apologizing for the wait. Team Ember left the shop feeling strangely unsatisfied.

"Just wait and see," Saura said. "We'll become so great, that one day, we'll buy that mobile scarf! Yeah! And a bunch of those invisible orbs, too!"

"Well, that was a good waste of an hour," Char groaned. "Now, I wonder if Domo's available? I'm starting to feel like some exercise…"

… … …

When Char and Saura entered the dojo, they were greeted by the sight of a mighty Charizard spewing flames into the air, lighting the torches to open for the day. Char was once again awed at the sight of his future form, and suddenly felt the desire to train rushing back to him. His heart melted at the thought of having wings, and the absolute freedom which came with them.

"Oh, early birds, are we?" Domo hummed upon seeing them. "Of course, we were all rudely awakened this morning… But anyway, congratulations, you're still my first visitors of the day! Come to practice?"

"Yeah," Saura said. "We're banned from doing missions today, and for another whole week, too. We're trying to find ways to keep busy."

"Well, I can keep you busy for a few hours," Domo said proudly. "If you must know, I've been training ceaselessly with my Charizard form for the past two days, all because of you! Are you ready to learn some more techniques?"

"You bet!" Char shouted.

In just a moment, Domo had finished lighting the torches and was now a perfect copy of Char, ready to begin the demonstration. Saura retreated from the platform, giving the two combatants some room…

"So, have you been practicing with your fire?" Domo asked. "You should have the hang of things by now. Have you learned how to summon it at will?"

"Mostly, yeah," Char answered, not fully honest. While he had been getting better at it, his fire had been weak at best, and he knew he still needed a lot of training if he wanted to fight with the best of Pokémon.

"Good," Domo said. "Now, I will teach you a couple advanced techniques you can perform by skillfully manipulating your fire. First… prepare your Ember for battle!"

Char tried to do as instructed. He recalled some of the more annoying memories he'd experienced over the past few days. He remembered the Chikorita in the ravine, how it so cleverly splashed him with water… just to annoy him…

…and the Scizor that would have effortlessly crushed his skull into pieces, had his trainer not been there to help him…

It worked. His fire rose to his aid, ready to be spewed forth.

"Is that all?" Domo asked. "How weak. You need lots more practice. When you're really serious about battle, your tail flame should grow larger than you are, and it should even change from red to blue, then from blue to white. Well, of course, that can't happen while you're in this base, but still. Your fire is inadequate."

Char looked back at his flame. It was now roughly half his size, and still didn't look too terribly violent. He felt a little ashamed of himself, but the desire to better himself only grew.

"Nevertheless, this will do for the first lesson," Domo barked. "Now, here's what I want you to do. I want you to spit a small ball of fire at me, just like you normally would to an enemy."

Char focused. He felt as the fire slowly rose up his throat. Soon, it teetered on the edge, the urge to spew it becoming unbearable…

"BUT!" Domo suddenly shouted. "Just before the fire leaves your mouth, I want you call it off! Hold it back! Cancel the attack at all costs! Understand? Now, go! Breathe! Prepare for the attack, then stop it!"

Ugh… this isn't going to be pleasant, Char thought, wanting badly to relieve himself of the pressure.

Char cringed. Finding a spark of courage, he took a deep breath—the deepest he could possibly manage—then let it out.

But at the last moment, Char shut his muzzle tight, preventing any fire from escaping. At once, tiny little flames burst from his nostrils, and a terrible pain shot through his throat and stomach like he was about to explode…

Char coughed. It wasn't a painless cough, but a cough that felt like a claw tearing through his chest. He simply could not hold it back. Immediately, another cough followed, then a third. Char dropped to the ground, tears streaming from his closed eyes, as his lungs erupted over and over with painful spasms…

"Char!" Saura cried. "Are you okay?"

Char heard the voice, but couldn't answer. Instead, he coughed again, releasing a long, whistling wheeze that squeezed his lungs for all they had.

With each violent exhale, another pitch-black could of smoke was released into the air. When Char was finally starting to recover and open his eyes, he noticed that he literally could not see two inches in front of his face.

"And that's it!" Domo exclaimed, trying to fan the smoke out of the way. "That technique is known as the Smoke Screen. With it, you can fill the air with smoke and reduce the accuracy of your enemy's attacks. Also, being a creature of fire, you have a distinct advantage in a room filled with smoke… as you can breathe it freely like air… but your opponent may not be so lucky."

"Does… -cough- does it… -cough, cough- always have to be this painful?" Char hacked.

"Of course not," Domo said. "As you train, you will learn to bring your fire up to just the right level, and hold back at just the right time to release the smoke without injuring your lungs. It takes practice, but trust me, it's a skill you really want to learn…"

As the smoke spread and filled the whole room, Saura started coughing as well. But the smoke cleared soon after as it hit the ghost-flames on the ceiling and walls, somehow getting filtered by them. In only a minute, the air was as clear as always.

"Next, I have another skill to teach you," Domo said after transforming into Charizard. "Ah, look. Your flame has even grown! I knew your first attempt at producing a smoke screen would leave you annoyed. Perfect! Now, the technique I am about to teach you is a difficult one, and will become mountains easier once you evolve, but with a little bit of effort, you can learn it as a Charmander. Now… ready your fire!"

He doesn't have to tell me that, Char thought, still trying to recover from the painful experience. He… he deserves a giant fireball to the face for making me do that. Yeah! I'll show him weak!

Char clenched his fists, trying to act as offended and vengeful as he could manage, to fuel his fire even further…

"Ready?" the Charizard growled. "This time, don't hold back! Release your fire with all your might!"

Once again, Char focused. His fire was so much more powerful this time, flowing easily like a river of lava within him as it oozed up into his throat.

"BUT!" Domo boomed. "When your lungs have completely deflated, do not cease your attack! Just keep pushing as hard as you can! Do you understand? Keep going, even when you think you are out of power!"

Char couldn't wait for Domo to finish talking. With a great fwoosh, he spewed fire at the Charizard's belly. And held.

Whoa! Char realized as the flames kept coming from his mouth. I didn't know I could do this! I'm… sustaining the flame! How long can I keep this up?

Soon, his lungs were completely empty, but Char kept on pushing. The flame didn't even waver. For the first time, Char realized that maybe his Ember wasn't even controlled by his lungs in the first place. He wondered if there was a different, unseen organ in his body responsible for the attack. As long as he kept his mouth open, the flames just kept on coming…

The Charizard suddenly leapt out of the way of the fire, and something incredible happened. Char saw his fire fly several feet across the room!

Upon seeing the power of his attack, Char had to finally cut himself short. He took a deep breath to recover from the imminent suffocation.

"And that technique has been dubbed 'The Flamethrower'!" Domo explained to the wide-eyed Charmander. "Its magnitude is limited only by the level of your Ember's arousal. Its duration is limited only by how long you can hold your breath. You cannot spew fire and inhale at the same time, you see. But your Ember is ceaseless, and once the attack has been triggered, it will not stop until you cut it off!"

"That's awesome!" Char yelped once he regained his breath. "But… it's tiring!"

"Yes, indeed, it is tiring to use your fire," the Charizard said. "That's why you would normally just use the basic Ember attack when your enemy is weak, to conserve strength. Also, once you evolve, your body will become greater and stronger, able to withstand much more exertion than now, and your lungs will be able to hold more air. Your fire attacks will become… truly devastating."

The more Char thought about it, the more he couldn't wait to become Charizard. His mind drifted back to that feral-shard that he'd held a few days earlier, and wondered if it were still in storage.

"Now, just between you and me, when you evolve into Charmeleon, come see me immediately," Domo hissed. "I don't yet have a Charmeleon transformation."

"Wow, Domo!" Saura cried in amazement, approaching the Charizard. "Got any new techniques to show me?"

"Sorry, Saura," Domo said, shaking his head. "Like I said, I've been spending all my time as Charizard lately. But I promise, next time, I will be prepared with new techniques for you."

"Aww, okay," Saura said.

"Well, that's all I have to show you at the moment," Domo said. "Practice these new techniques well. If you use them properly, you might one day find yourself undefeatable!"

"Oh, we will!" Saura said happily. "I'll make sure Char gets plenty of practice. Just make sure you have those lessons ready for me!"

The lesson coming to an end, Char and Saura bowed to their combat trainer. Char started to experience the twinges of a feeling he never thought he'd have: true self-confidence. Using these new attacks, he knew he could count on himself to perform well in battle. It was a very pleasant, invigorating feeling. He wished for nothing but more of it.

"Glad I could help!" Domo shouted as they started to leave. "See you later, Team Peanuts!"

Char and Saura stopped in their tracks. They turned around oddly to see the Charizard with a gleaming smile on his face.

"What?" Saura blurted.

"Team Peanuts," the Charizard repeated, smiling even wider.

"You know we changed our name, right?" Char said.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know," the Charizard said, a slight giggle sneaking its way into his voice. "But… I just can't help but laugh whenever I hear that name. It's a shame you abandoned it when you did. Team Peanuts! Truly, a brilliant name!"

To Char's surprise, Domo began to chuckle.

As he did, parts of his Charizard body started to glow bright white, as if it were transforming, yet trying to resist the process. Its legs wobbled, growing and shrinking in size, and its wings and arms briefly turned the color of purple. Its face distorted and flattened, becoming a weird, almost nightmare-inducing blob of flesh.

"Right, Ditto can't hold their forms when they're laughing," Saura said to Char, rolling his eyes. "But seriously, I still don't see what's so great about that name. Why'd everyone like it? It's the worst team name there could ever be!"

Domo soon composed himself, and was able to revert back to his Charizard form. He concentrated and was able to keep from laughing, yet the smile stayed stuck to his face.

"You have to understand something," the Charizard said. "I don't know if you've realized it yet, but life on the resistance force is brutal. Every day we wake up, we have to cope with the fact that we chose this as our vocation, to fight as soldiers in a never-ending war against impossible odds. Pokémon die every day in defiance of the Master. And for what? They'll never know. We'll never know. There may come a day when the Master will finally fall. We'll never see it. And it's not going to be my doing, or yours, but the work of the truly great ones like Scythe. We're all just here to support them, really, doing our little parts to keep the world running… And every day, we have to just keep getting up and doing it again, and finding ways to… keep smiling."

"…Oh," Saura said. "So… it was good, because… everyone laughed at it?"

"It put a smile on everyone's face, yes," the Charizard said warmly. "And it made us laugh. You have to understand, we weren't laughing at you, but with you. Knowing that you chose that sort of name made us all respect you ever the more, and it gave us a little bit of joy as we went through our day. I, for one, pictured you becoming a great team such as Team Remorse, and keeping the name; that would have taught the Master to mess with peanuts!"

"Well, for the record, we didn't choose the name in the first place," Saura said flatly. "The secretary did, because we couldn't think of one."

"Ah, of course," the Charizard said, trying to hold back another laughing fit. "I suspected as much. You see, this sort of thing has happened before… Jay has a knack for making the best names. Several years ago, she registered a… a… 'Team Dumb Bunny'…"

That was it; he couldn't take any more. Domo erupted into laughter again, causing entire chunks of his form to fade into a purplish ooze. Char had to look away; watching involuntary transformation made his stomach retch.

"Well, let's go find something else to do," Saura suggested, rolling his eyes again at the Ditto.

… … …

When Team Ember decided to head for the mess hall for lunch, they were surprised to find it still pretty full, even though it was long past time for all the teams to be busy with their daily activities…

It's because of the ban, Char realized. These are all training teams who can't be on missions today. Just like us.

"Hey, I wonder if Team Stripes is here," Char wondered. "Maybe we could—"

"No, no," Saura said quickly. "Remember what Scythe said. No conversing with friends today."

Right, Char remembered. I almost forgot—we're still in the center of a huge controversy. Don't want to attract attention until this all blows over.

So, without saying a word to anyone else, Char went to go stand in line. Thankfully, the Pokémon around him seemed friendly to him, greeting him only with respectful smiles. He wondered if it was because they were all children on training teams who didn't quite comprehend the gravity of the mood that day.

"Everyone likes lunch!" the Bellossom cheered as it passed Char a tray of food and drinks. "Lots of mouths to feed today! Enjoy your food!"

Applesauce? Char wondered, looking at the food.

Without incident, Char gathered enough food for himself and Saura and returned to their table, one positioned inconspicuously in the room's far corner.

"How are you supposed to eat this without getting it all over you?" Char wondered, setting the food down and staring at the big mountain of golden substance in the middle of his plate.

"What's wrong with getting it all over you?" Saura asked. "That's normally what happens when you eat…"

Char crossed his arms. "Well, where I come from, that's considered rude," he said. "Humans have these things called—"

"Hey, guys!"

Char turned to see three Pokémon quickly approaching their table. It was Team Stripes. Ray, Taka, and a Meowth surrounded them, and Leo quickly brought up the rear.

Great, Char thought, his stomach upturned. Okay, nothing bad will happen if we don't say anything stupid. Just be friendly...

"Hi, Ray," Saura said, clearly with the same uncertainty as Char. "How's your day going?"

"Boring!" Taka answered, sitting down to the table. "I can't believe we're stuck at the base for a whole twelve days. This is going to be a long two weeks… It's hard to find ways to keep yourself busy."

"We know," Char said. "We've been trying all morning."

"Did you really see the Scizor?!" Ray asked excitedly. "What was he like? Did Scythe battle him? I still can't believe I wasn't there! I would have given anything for just one day out with Scythe like that!"

"Raaay!" the little Shinx whined. "We were there too, remember? We told you about this ten times!"

"Yeah, he never gets tired of hearing the story," Taka said, rolling her eyes. "And he's also never going to forgive himself for passing off the Ravine Woodlands duty to me."

"Well, I think you're lucky you weren't there," Saura said. "Scythe says we could have died."

"Nah, I really doubt it," Ray said. "Not with Scythe there with you. I still wish I was there."

At a pause in the conversation, Char took the opportunity to start on his food. Hesitantly, he lowered his mouth down to the plate and ate like an animal, getting the sweet, sticky substance all over his muzzle. When he looked up, he was surprised that none of the other Pokémon thought weird of the behavior. He wiped his mouth with his arm.

"So… guys," Ray said, lowering his voice. "Is it true? Do you have the Call?"

A lump formed in Char's throat. This was exactly the sort of thing Scythe didn't want happening.

"Uh, we don't really know," Saura lied. "I just thought it was an earthquake."

"Eathquake, shmeathquake!" the Meowth spoke. "Have you seen High Intelligence lately? They've been going nuts!"

"He's right," Taka said. "I heard that High Intelligence has been acting really weird ever since the big night last night. Even Dr. Orde really isn't himself today. We're starting to think the whole earthquake thing was just a cover-up."

"Uh, well, there's really no way we can tell for sure," Char said. "I mean, Scythe thinks it's the Call, but… well, it's not like we can tell what it was. We were asleep!"

"Then it has to be the Call!" Ray said. "Scythe's instincts are never wrong. That's why you're with him in the first place! He knew it from the moment he first brought you here."

Saura cast a mean glance at Char. Char bit his tongue.

"Hey, you two," Ray said quickly. "You know, you don't have to worry about us, right? We're on your side. We're not going to go blabbing your secret to everyone. That's not what friends do."

"Yeah! My lips are sealed!" Leo proclaimed.

"Our lips are all sealed," Ray said with a nod. "But… it's crazy. I've just been thinking about this all day… I think that big things are about to happen here. It'll be a real honor to be witnessing it."

Char's tongue was tied in many knots; he had no idea what to say. All he knew was that it was going to be a long two weeks.

*Chapter 19*: Chapter 17: A Meeting of Minds

Chapter 17

"C'mon, Char… you can do it! Think!"

Saura was almost ecstatic. They'd spent the last three hours in the white room, memorizing the Creed… and it was all about to pay off. Char leaned his head against the wall, racking his mind for that last handful of words…

"C'mon, Char!" Saura begged again, his excitement wavering a little. "This isn't too hard! We don't have to start all over again, do we?"

After nearly two whole minutes of silence, Char lifted his head and cast a beaming smile at Saura. "Futile is our attempt to… turn and reverse the past!"

"Yes!" Saura shouted, jumping in the air. "Char, we did it! We memorized the whole thing! Wow, isn't Scythe going to be thrilled?"

"That wasn't so hard after we found the rhythm," Char agreed. "That really wasn't so hard at all."

There were many other Pokémon feverishly studying the Creed in the little white room that day, mostly due to the training team restriction. They all gave Team Ember a weird look as Char and Saura shared a little hug.

Char really felt good about himself. For once, the Creed didn't feel like some bulky baggage in his head, like trying to carry the bag of supplies through a dungeon. He felt it ingrained in his memory like a catchy tune. Knowing the whole creed made him feel a little stronger, as if he'd just evolved; now, he was ready to take on just a little bit more of the world than before. For once, he started to feel as if he were a part of a real resistance team.

"What will we do to celebrate?" Saura asked eagerly, pacing around the room. "Should we go show off to Scythe? Or maybe to Gate! Let's leave the base for the first time, and then—"

Suddenly, the room's light changed color. The Pokémon all yelped in surprise, muttering to themselves as they glanced up at the now-red torches on the walls.

"What?!" Saura cried. "Already? It can't be! It doesn't feel late yet! You can't tell me we just spent a whole day!"

"Time flies when you're having fun," Char suggested. "Come on, Scythe's waiting for us. We have to attend a meeting."

… … …

Char and Saura hurried up to Team Remorse as fast as they could. When they arrived, Char eagerly rapped on the front door.

"Hey, Scythe!" Saura called. "Scythe, guess what we learned!"

The door slid open, but it wasn't Scythe standing on the other side; a very displeased-looking Houndoom stared back at them.

"…Oh," Saura said suddenly. "Uh… good evening, Daemon. Welcome back."

Daemon didn't look impressed. The hound was clearly worn out from his two-day venture, and it showed in his eyes. Char guessed he wanted badly to sleep, but Scythe had insisted he stay awake for the long-awaited meeting.

Saying nothing, the hound turned and left. Char and Saura followed soundlessly, sure to close the door behind them on the way in.

"So, everyone's here?" Scythe grunted authoritatively as Daemon led Team Ember into the war room. "Good, good. It's a bit daunting how much we have to discuss tonight. You three missed too much."

"Well, it'd better be important," Daemon growled, sitting down near the front of the table. "And I don't see why we had to wait for these children."

"You have no idea," Ursa told him.

The war room, tiny as it was, was packed. The members of Team Remorse were crowded around the rectangular table at the center of the room, with Scythe and Daemon near the front and the rest standing in two ranks down the sides. Scythe motioned for Char and Saura to take their places at the very end. Trying his best not to be intimidated by the whole scene, Char obeyed.

"Now, first off," Scythe said, standing up at the front of the table, "The status at the canyon."

"…It's going as expected," Daemon said. "The tunnels are completed. The citizens are prepared. Settlement is in two weeks."

"Nothing went wrong?" Scythe asked forcefully. "They're all prepared for the settlement?"

"If you would have been there, you could have seen for yourself," Daemon growled. "But no, nothing went wrong. Everything is according to plan. All that's left is for you to do your part when the time comes."

"Good," Scythe said. "It's what I wanted to hear."

Char cast a glance at Daemon. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked as though he was ready to collapse onto the table right then and there. His teeth were partially bared, as if he was struggling to stomach the grating sound of Scythe's voice.

"Here, though, things haven't been so fortunate," Scythe said, lowering his voice. "Adiel is out."

Shander and the Exploud gasped.

"Oh, my," Shander muttered. "This adds a twist into things…"

"No!" Daemon snorted. "Where? Who spotted him? I heard some rumors that he'd been spotted at the canyon, but I wrote them off…"

"Do not write it off," Scythe warned. "He was at the canyon. And he was here. I know… I saw him with my own eyes. While I was taking these two on a routine mission to the Ravine Woodlands… he came."

Daemon's mouth hung open. "So… he targeted the Ravine?" Daemon repeated, a measure of humility entering his voice. "That doesn't make sense."

"Indeed, it doesn't," Scythe said. "When we spoke, he claimed that he was simply trying to pick off some easy prey. But I suspect something greater is at hand here. Metagross is currently focused on this issue. We will have to wait for his thoughts on the matter. But if you ask me, it looks like… he's trying to create some sort of a diversion."

Daemon's face had changed at the news, like someone had struck him in the heart. Char knew why; Daemon had realized that, if he had it his way and sent out the team all on their own, it would have been a big mistake.

"Did you see this coming?" Daemon demanded. "Is that why you insisted on protecting the children?"

"In the back of my mind, I suspected Adiel might have been somewhere behind the conflict at the canyon. It seemed like his style," Scythe said. "But if I told you I predicted just what would happen, I would be lying. But there was something in the air lately, and it didn't make me feel comfortable."

"In that case, I expect that you've requested at least a seven-day hold on the trainees?" Daemon snorted. "Wouldn't want anyone to get hurt."

"Twelve days," Scythe responded, "Just to throw them off this time."

Daemon slouched back, defeated. Char couldn't quite tell if it was in humility, or just exhaustion.

"What do we do?" Shander asked. "We can't keep a constant watch over Basin Canyon for the next few weeks, can we?"

"With Adiel afoot, we have to," Scythe said. "We don't have a choice. A well-placed strike could ruin our months of hard work."

"But there's no time! The Red Haven mission could be at stake as well!" Craw noted, pounding a pincer on the table.

"Right, we still haven't found the perpetrators," Markov the Feraligatr reported. "We need more forces there if we want to get this done before the Master crushes us."

"And we've got to focus on the base if we care for the safety of the division," Ursa noted. "If Adiel pops up somewhere else, we've got to be here."

"Hmm," Scythe hummed, staring down at the table in thought. "There's got to be a solution to this. I get the feeling Adiel's trying to pull something… and we've got to pay attention of we want to catch it."

"Hey, some of us could pull double-duty," Raon suggested. "We could stagger our missions so that we're always in both places at once."

"Just like the Aero Cliff mission?" Ursa said. "Might work. That was a little tiring, though."

"Please, do not bring up that mission," Daemon growled, shaking his head. "We were all living corpses by the end of the week. It was almost a complete failure!"

"But we did pull it off," Raon said. "We could do it again!"

"We were lucky," Daemon said. "I thought Aero taught us a lesson. We can't rely on luck. We only succeeded because the Brutals underestimated us and launched only five squads to assault us. If there'd been six… or even five and a half…"

The entire team fell silent, taking Daemon's words to heart. Char could barely follow along, but he started to understand how much effort the team put into their work.

"I've got it!" Scythe announced, triumphantly slamming his blades down on the table. "We get help."

"Help? From who?" Nidoroch shouted in surprise. "Team Dread? Team Entei? You don't think they'd be up to this, do you?"

"Team Absolution," Scythe said firmly. "They'd be the most reliable choice. They just finished their last mission, and they haven't accepted a new one yet. Last I saw, they were just running errands for the division."

Daemon snarled disapprovingly. "Team Absolution is a handful of brainless juggernauts," he said. "With all due respect, they couldn't strategize their way out of a box! You expect them to hold their own on this venture?!"

"Hold their own, no," Scythe said. "They'd accompany us and give us the increased headcount we need. We'd still be directing the venture."

"It wouldn't be very good publicity," Daemon noted. "I can't remember the last time we asked for help. It would make us look like we've spread ourselves too thin and succumbed to bad judgment."

"Well, we haven't," Ursa said. "We've spread ourselves just right, just like always. It's Adiel who's screwed it all up. With him in the picture, our hands are suddenly too full. I think the division will understand—they even announced the whole situation at the meeting this morning."

"In that case, I would have to agree," Daemon said. "It would be a good move. Fine, alright. We get help."

"Would they be accompanying us to the settlement at Basin Canyon, then?" Shander inquired.

"I don't see why not," Scythe said. "I think their strength would make a good addition to our efforts there. Daemon—do you think you could take over Red Haven once Team Absolution is on board? Think you could lead them down the road?"

"My pleasure," Daemon said.

"And I guess that leaves me with the canyon," Scythe said. "If Adiel shows up there… I could thwart him, especially if Team Absolution's here to help."

"So, good enough?" Shander sighed. "Problem solved? I'm a bit tired, myself…"

Char was quite impressed at the team's problem-solving skills. Through an open forum, and input from multiple team members, they'd quickly arrived at a solution to a dire problem. One day, Char would have to be the one making decisions for his own team. It was a scary thought, but if Scythe was the one teaching him, he'd probably turn out alright. Char knew that this ability would only come with more skill and experience, especially the kind which Scythe possessed.

"Since we're here, there is another issue I'd like to bring up, if I may," Daemon said, assuming his serious posture once more. "About these children. Team Ember…"

The entire team, save for those who still didn't know the truth, held their breath. Char did as well, sensing that the focus of the meeting had just shifted to him.

"Oh, I was just getting to that," Scythe said, taking a deep breath. "You see, when I said that something was in the air… I suppose I could have been a little more specific. Daemon, Shander, Brock… I would like to announce… that we have uncovered the Call."

Char still felt a little nervous as the whole team turned to fix their eyes on him and Saura. He gulped.

"What?!" Daemon spewed.

"The Call…" Shander said, his eyes full of awe. "Which one? Which one has it?"

"Char does," Scythe said with a gleaming smile.

"How… how powerful is it?" Shander asked, simply stunned. "Is it… just as we expected?"

"It's more powerful than we could have imagined," Scythe said. "Just last night, he woke the entire base. The entire base. The entire base was on our doorstep last night. All because of him."

For a moment, there was silence. Daemon's jaws were closed tight, and a faraway look hovered in his eyes. He was speechless.

Shander backed away from the table, then approached Char with a sort of awe and reverence that could barely be contained. Char bit his tongue as the Sandslash stood over him, examining him with his black, beady eyes…

"There was a meeting this morning to address the… issue," Scythe explained.

"You've done it," Shander interrupted, placing a claw on Char's head. "Scythe, you've done it! I never thought it would be possible, not now, but you've done it. You found the Call. It's here. It's finally here! But… Eva…"

"Eva was a fitly liar," Scythe said simply. "Eva lied about checking him… and she missed the only diamond in the sand. But here he is, right in front of us… the living legend!"

"I never imagined you would do it…" Shander continued, starting to smile. "I can't believe I didn't believe you. You did hear it! And…what now? What can we do now? How do we… deal with this?"

"That's the other thing," Scythe said. "At the meeting this morning… High Intelligence…"

Suddenly, a sound echoed through the room. It was the sound of a knocking. Scythe silenced himself and glanced at the door, looking very surprised.

"Uh… is someone here?" Ursa wondered. "One, two, three… yep, all twelve of us… and Team Ember, too…"

"Who could have the audacity to bother us now?" Daemon growled. "It's almost after-hours!"

"Oh, by Arceus, is it happening again?" Raptor the Gabite groaned, holding his face in his claws. "Not again, please…"

"No, no," Scythe said. "Believe me, if this was the Call again, I would have heard it. Somebody! Ursa! Get the door!"

Ursa hurried out of the war room to open the team's front door, while everyone else waited nervously to see who, of all Pokémon, could be visiting them at such a strange hour…

When Ursa returned, he wore an expression of wordless surprise.

"What was it?" Scythe asked him.

Ursa didn't answer. Instead, he simply stood in the hallway and gestured into the war room. To everyone's surprise, a Xatu filed into the room, followed by an Alakazam.

"It's High Intelligence!" Saura hissed to Char.

"Good evening, Team Remorse," The Alakazam said respectfully as Ursa closed the door behind them. "Scythe, if we may, we would like to have a word with you and your team."

For a moment, Scythe looked afraid to say anything. The Alakazam spoke with extreme authority and urgency; Scythe knew nothing he could have said would have made a difference. Although he was clearly displeased at the sudden intrusion on his team's meeting, he gestured kindly to the guests and conceded his position at the front of the table.

"Of course," Scythe said simply. "It's an honor to have you here. The floor is yours."

"The honor is all ours, Scythe," the Alakazam said, standing at the head of the table and staring down the team. "Because of you, a new era in the resistance has begun."

What's going on? Char wondered. Are they going to apologize to us for lying?

"As you probably know," the Alakazam said, "the disturbance last night was not caused by an earthquake, as we might have suggested earlier today at the gathering. It was undeniably, unmistakably, the Call. Of course, you have probably figured this out by now. We have come here tonight because we wanted to clarify our position to you. You, Scythe, and your team have always been one of our division's greatest assets, and we do this because we would like, despite recent developments, to continue to have your complete trust."

Char looked into Scythe's eyes. He was annoyed at the words, bordering on infuriated. He figured that the psychic Pokémon, of course, probably picked up on this as well.

"Yes, we knew," Scythe said lightly, controlling his temper. "But why was it necessary to lie? What was wrong with telling everyone what they probably already knew? Now, the base is divided between those who agree with you and those who do not."

"I wanted to announce the news," the Alakazam said. "It was my intention to do so when I first called the meeting. But Metagross didn't agree. It ordered me to cover up the news with a fabrication of truth. Despite the moral ambiguity of such an act, I knew it would have been foolish to disobey him."

Scythe didn't respond, but he still smoldered on the inside. The Alakazam walked over to the confused little Charmander, his hands folded behind his back, as a short silence hung in the air.

"We know how you've been searching for the Call," Alakazam said, glaring down at Char much in the same way that Shander had done earlier. "But we also know, now that you've found it, you still are unable to comprehend its power, its effect on our very surroundings. Metagross insisted that, if the news of the Call were to become public… the division's members would be split in a much direr manner. They would, too, be unable to grasp the Call's power… its gravity… and, in doing so, may make decisions the division would regret."

"What do you want us to do?" Scythe demanded politely. "Do we pretend to be oblivious to the whole matter? For how long?"

"Do not take us wrongly, Scythe," the Xatu said. "The Call can, and will, tilt the balance of the war. But… it will only come in due time. Alakazam and I… have begun a new leg of research dedicated to this phenomenon. We… have been recovering and reading all the earliest records of the Call and its effects. Once we obtain a deeper understanding of its power… it is our intention to announce our findings to the division at large. But… until then… we must trust Metagross that it is best to be dishonest."

"All attempts to measure the magnitude of this Call have been unsuccessful," Alakazam continued. "It has surpassed any scale we thought we had. It is indeed possible that a legendary may have heard it. What we are dealing with… is, for the time being… above our heads."

Alakazam knelt down to Char's level, examining him from head to toe. Char was so nervous that he felt he would die from hyperventilation, but as the Alakazam looked him over, he felt a sudden feeling of relief come over him, subduing his vibrating nerves and helping his spinning head come to a rest. Char knew that the feeling was coming from the Alakazam.

"It is you, isn't it?" The Alakazam said, smiling warmly.

"Y-yes," Char replied.

"You may not yet understand it, but the world's balance now rests in your hands," The Alakazam said softly. "We want your trust. Let us help you to understand and use your power. Will you do that?"

"Yes."

"Good," said the Alakazam. "You are in good hands here with Team Remorse. Let them continue to guide you, and we will do all we can to uncover the secrets of the Call. With your cooperation, Charmander, and yours, Scythe, we could bring about changes the world has never seen."

"As has been my life's mission," Scythe said, "to change the world."

"Keep training him," Alakazam said, standing back up. "Help him develop to his full potential as a Pokémon, so he may be ready when the time comes."

Xatu and Alakazam bowed, then excused themselves from the room.

… … …

The meeting dispersed rather quickly after High Intelligence had left, as Scythe had nothing left to say.

As another day finally came to an end, Char and Saura settled down in Scythe's room to rest. Scythe was still away, presumably preparing for the next day's missions, as Char reflected on the day's many events.

"I'm not sure whether to feel comfortable or not," Char sighed to his friend. "On one hand, Team Remorse and High Intelligence are working with us. On the other hand… I don't know if I'll ever be able to take all this. I'm just a little Charmander! I hope Dialga knew what he was doing when he sent me here."

"You should try to feel comfortable," Saura suggested, his eyes already closed. "You know what I think? I think that your Call ability has a lot to do with why you were turned into a Pokémon. If Alakazam and Xatu are going to help you with the Call, they might help you uncover your past, too."

"I didn't think of that," Char admitted.

"Still, you're right, this is getting really stressful," Saura said. "I'm starting to lose count of all of our problems. But I'm sure we'll feel better in the morning…"

Just as Char was ready to close his eyes, the door slid open. Char took a glimpse at the entrance, expecting to see Scythe back from his errands… but it wasn't.

"Daemon," Char said groggily, standing up and meeting his superior at the door.

"Team Ember," Daemon replied.

Char saw that Daemon's eyes were still broken and longed for rest, but he noticed a change in the Houndoom's voice. Was it… weakness? Friendliness? Saura rushed to Char's side as fast as he could.

"There is something I must say to you," the hound said. "For the past week, at every possible opportunity, I… have been treating you unfairly. I apologize."

Char didn't know what to say. He wanted to accept the apology, but he didn't want to sound rude.

"Thank you," Saura said simply.

"It's because I doubted Scythe when I shouldn't have," Daemon said. "You must understand something about Scythe and I. We do not tend to get along. He likes to rely on his instincts, whereas I… try to use common sense wherever possible. He's always had a gift for that sort of thing. You might have noticed how he loves to try and finish your sentences when he knows just what you're going to say."

"Oh, yeah, he sure does," Saura said, breaking a smile. "It can get really annoying, too."

"Indeed," Daemon said. "His instincts tend to be accurate more times than I can predict, however illogical they may be. As was the case with you. When he first brought you here, I couldn't stand the sight of you. And now that it is revealed you have the Call, I see now that I should have trusted him, but instead, I chose to voice my disdain without giving you the benefit of the doubt. For that, you deserve my apology."

"Apology accepted," Char said. "We didn't mean to make you mad. We were the ones dragged into all of this, after all."

"However," Daemon said, his voice strengthening, "You still have a long ways to go if you wish to earn my respect. But, from now on, know that you have my support."

After wishing Team Ember a good night's rest, Daemon left.

"Wow, now that was something I wasn't expecting in a million years," Saura yawned, settling back down. "I guess Daemon really isn't so bad after all. I don't know about you, but that makes me feel a lot more comfortable."

As Char's eyes fluttered closed, he knew he couldn't agree more.

… … …

"WHAT'S GOING ON in here?!"

Char and Saura jumped nearly a foot in the air as a screeching voice rang out across the room, waking them up. Scythe stood at the door, looking very displeased.

"You're sleeping?" Scythe roared. "And you haven't prepared for tomorrow?"

"W-what do you mean?" Saura yelped.

"What do I mean?" Scythe repeated. "You are a resistance team! Resistance teams accomplish missions to serve the division! Each and every day! You think you can just lounge around the base forever? You had your day of rest already!"

"B-but…" Saura stuttered. "I thought… we were banned from missions! For twelve days!"

"That ban was placed on training teams," Scythe said. "You are not a training team! You are a full-fledged resistance team! Now, go! Get out of here!"

"Yeeesh!" Char whimpered as he and Saura rushed out of the room.

*Chapter 20*: Chapter 18: Hands Full

Chapter 18

Char and Saura once again filed into Team Remorse's planning room, which was like a cramped little office with a small desk at the center stuffed with papers. Char unrolled the map of Ambera onto the desk as Saura dug around in a stack of paper for the task list.

"Okay, let's get this over with and get back to sleep," Saura said, jumping up onto the table and setting down the task list. "What should we do?"

"Something nearby, hopefully," Char said. "Remember, that Scizor is around."

"Oh, I almost forgot about that," Saura said worriedly. "Yeah, definitely. Something close. Um… How's this? Guard Duty at Kestra Town? It's only ten miles to the south of here."

"Guard duty?" Char repeated. "Are you sure that's a good idea? If something bad happens, we'd be responsible to take care of it. We're not that strong yet!"

Saura nodded thoughtfully. "Well, we'll still have Scythe to help us, right? … But that means he'll just take more of our bounty if he has to do all the work. Oh, and the bounty on this one is only four hundred Poké. Lame!"

"Hey, why not check the bounties first?" Char suggested. "Find a nice big one! Then we can think about taking the mission!"

Saura skimmed down the list. "I don't see any," he reported. "I guess this is because it's only the training list. Urgh, It's a shame we have to use this list in the first place, but I guess we're not strong enough for… Hey… wait! What's this?"

Saura pointed at an item near the end of the list. Char couldn't read, but he saw the numbers as clear as day: five thousand Poké!

"Now that's more like it!" Saura cheered. "It's a place called Red Haven! It's pretty far away, but for that money, I could be motivated!"

"Red Haven?" Char repeated. "Isn't that where Team Remorse is working right now?"

"Oh, you're right," Saura said. "That wouldn't be a very good idea. And the risk level is 'A'. Hmm… If I'm right, they wouldn't even let us take that one with our level of experience. Well, let's see what else there is…"

Saura continued to skim down the list, tracing his paw across the bounties. Most of them were pathetic amounts, as could be expected for training teams, but one suddenly stuck out… there wasn't even a number listed.

"This is weird," Saura said. "There's no amount for this one. For a bounty, it just has… question marks. What do you think that means…?"

"Maybe the bounty isn't decided?" Char wondered. "Or maybe it's being kept a secret!"

"That's interesting," Saura said with a grin. "I want to see what the reward is. Want to give it a shot?"

After agreeing to take the mission with the mystery reward, the twosome poured over the map and did some research on the locations involved. This time, they were sure to make note of just what kind of wild Pokémon they'd be up against, instead of assuming based on the landscape. Saura plotted a simple course across the map, one that didn't involve any dungeons, and helped Char to write a list of the directions to follow and the items they'd probably need.

After doing all they could in the limited amount of time they had—everything would be closed for the night once the torches turned blue—they hurried down into the base to run their last-minute errands. Char rushed out to Kecleon's store to stock up on dried food and items, and Saura made his way down to the registration office to confirm the mission for his team. As there weren't very many teams who made a point of getting preparation done the night before—and certainly not any of the training teams, who rarely ever confirmed their missions in this manner—the job was clear to take. Soon, both were back up in Scythe's room, eager to get some rest.

… … …

"Wake up!"

Just as quickly, the rest was over.

"Ugh… Good morning, Char," Saura groaned as he rolled to his feet.

"Up and at 'em!" Scythe cheered, bursting in the door. "Let's head out! There's work to be done!"

Char wasn't going to slouch this time. He jumped to his feet, ready to take on the day. He enjoyed a nice long stretch as he waited for Saura to come to his senses…

"Oh… you two might want to cover your ears," Scythe said suddenly, interrupting Char in mid-yawn.

"WAKE UUUUP!"

The massive voice, practically an earthquake, blasted from the door behind Scythe. It took Char's breath away, knocking him completely off his feet. Saura cringed, his vines tightly plugging his ears.

"Ahh, good ol' Brock," Scythe chuckled, shaking his head. "It's a big day for the whole team, you know. Everyone's got to be up this time! Thanks to a certain Scizor, our hands are going to be full for the next few weeks. We've all got to start out strong..."

"So! Where'd you decide on today?" Scythe asked as the threesome walked down the hall.

"Goldenrod Meadow," Saura said proudly, hoping to impress his trainer. "The mission is to escort a few Buneary children to Sitrus City. Their mother wants to make sure they get there safely, so she's asking for help."

"Hmm, good enough," Scythe said.

Char took a deep breath of relief, thankful that Scythe wasn't horrified at their choice of a mission.

"Got everything you need?" Scythe inquired.

"We sure do," Char said proudly, hefting the bag over his shoulder. "Enough food for all of us, a pecha scarf, since there's a chance we could run into some poisonous Pokémon like Butterfree and Beedrill, a detect band, which should give us an edge against the agile Rattatas, five oran berries, and an escape orb if we accidentally wander into the small dungeon to the north."

"Good!" Scythe applauded. "I'm impressed! You've done your research! Now… got anything for breakfast? I'm hungry!"

"Uh…" Char said nervously, digging through the bag.

"And what about those Buneary kids? They'll need to eat, too! Got enough for them?"

Char bit his tongue. Of all things, he didn't think of that.

"Not to worry," Scythe said as they arrived at Team Remorse's front door. "I know you can't learn everything at once. I wasn't sure you remembered to pack your bag, so I brought one of my own. Off we go!"

With an exaggerated wipe of his forehead, Char mouthed "whew" to Saura.

… … …

As Scythe took up his own bag and prepared to lead the team out into the base, the team members were all starting to creep out of their rooms. Char saw Daemon, Markov, and Ursa out in front, all trying to shake off the weariness and get into gear like they had probably done hundreds of times before.

"Scythe," Daemon called out. "Before you leave, what should we have Team Absolution do once they agree to our deal?"

"We should be fine for today," Scythe said. "Just give them the basic debriefing. If they're willing to come with you today, so be it. Send them off to Red Haven with you. I'll give Kain the whole story this evening when I come back. If not, we can all take one double shift to start out with… It'll be good to get us in the mood."

"So be it," Daemon grunted with a nod. "And Team Ember… I wish you success on your mission today."

"Thanks!" Saura answered. "You, too!"

Daemon turned his attention to the main corridor which connected the team members' rooms. Not all the team members were awake yet; those who were lucky enough to be on their feet already slowly filed down through the hall.

"Team Remorse!" Daemon bellowed, almost at the top of his lungs. "Why do we rise?"

The rest of the team, Scythe included, sounded their reply: "So that he will fall!"

That's pretty cool, Char thought as he headed out. What a great way to get up in the morning—to remember your purpose. Maybe Saura's right. We could use a motto. Maybe something to do with fire? Something about… spreading the fire? The fire that will never die? I dunno… I'll have to think about it.

---

Goldenrod Meadow

"Oh, thank you so much for helping us!" a Lopunny said to Char as they met at the edge of the gorgeous golden meadow. "I heard rumors that the Master's army has been around lately. I was worried sick! We're moving into the city because it's safer there. Would you please make sure my children get to the city safely?"

"That's what we're here for!" Saura assured the mother. "Just leave everything to us!"

"Oh, thank you!" the Lopunny said once more. "I would take them myself, but… My husband broke his leg last week, and I have to stay here with him until he's healed. Here, let me introduce you to the children!"

Seeing the beauty of the land spread before him in the light of the early dawn, Char was suddenly reminded of his first day as a Pokémon. Was it really only five days ago that he'd emerged with Saura from that first cave? Maybe it was just his Pokémon emotions, but he was starting to feel that he'd spent his entire life in Ambera. Every time he looked at the landscape, especially at this wonderful meadow as the orange light of the dawning sun gleamed off the grass, it seemed like home to him. Whenever he saw it, he knew exactly why so many Pokémon dedicated their lives to protecting it from the Master's evil whims. It was, indeed, a treasure.

"Here they are," the Lopunny reported, tearing Char's attention away from the surroundings. "Wait just a moment, I'll have them awake for you, if you'd like to get going as soon as you can."

A long, flat slab of rock sat implanted in the ground. Char examined it, and saw that a narrow trench had been dug underneath it. The mother bent down and spoke into the hole, gently prodding the sleeping children that lay within.

"Kids! It's time to wake up! You've got a long road ahead of you today! Wake up!'

"Ugh, already?"

"It's so early!"

"Do we have to go to the City?"

"Just a little while longer, please?"

"Sorry, but it's time to go," the mother said sternly. "Your guardians are here. Now, come on! Get up!"

One by one, the Buneary kids crawled out from the hole. The first one looked like a living fuzzball, its unkempt brown fur hopelessly tangled from a restless night's sleep, its ears drooping lazily onto its face. It didn't look very happy to be up. A second little bunny followed, a slightly larger child with much longer ears, its fleece stained with dirt.

"Come on, don't dawdle!" the mother goaded. "Your guardians shouldn't have to wait on you!"

Two more children jumped out from the hole, eyes blinking.

"So sleepy…" one moaned, stretching out on all fours.

As Char was watching the children wake up, Scythe emitted a quiet sound of displeasure.

"What?" Char whispered to him. "Is something wrong?"

"You tell me," Scythe replied. "There are more of them than us!"

Again, Char felt some butterflies in his stomach. The job description never said how many children they'd have to watch for.

"Don't panic," Saura told him. "We can do this."

"Beary…" the mother called into the hole with a displeased tone. "Beary, you come out here right now! Your brothers and sisters are all awake! Ugh, I'm very sorry about this, sirs, Beary is a stubborn one."

"Eehh! No!" a voice cried from inside the trench as the mother reached in for him. "I don't want to go!"

"I'm going to count to four," the mother warned. "One… two… three…"

The last child, the smallest of them all, quickly leapt out from underneath the rock. He didn't look too happy to be following orders.

"So, here they are," the mother said. "The smallest one is Beary, and then there's Meary, Teary, Leary, and Heary. They're very well behaved… except you'll probably have to keep an eye on Beary. He can be a little… energetic at times."

Char looked closely at the littlest bunny. Already, he could tell that Beary was different from the rest. His nose twitched, his eyes darted, and one paw restlessly combed a tuft of grass upon the ground, as if he was being forced to stand on a sharp rock and couldn't wait to move.

"Don't worry!" Saura said, holding his head high. "They'll be no problem!"

"You know how to get to Sitrus City, right?" the mother asked. "Once you get there, you need to take them to Genevieve, my friend. She's a Nidoqueen. She lives near the center of town in the Pearl Dome. It's not hard to find once you get there."

"Not Aunty Genevieve!" Leary whined. "Why do we have to go there?

"Listen, all of you," the mother said firmly. "We've discussed this before. It's not safe for you here right now. You need to be somewhere where you aren't in danger. Daddy and I can take care of ourselves, but we need you to be safe, too, until the danger goes away, okay? These nice Pokémon are going to lead you all the way to the city. You listen to them and do exactly what they tell you, okay? You're all going to be in big trouble if I hear you were disobedient!"

The children all gave a nod, some reluctantly.

"I don't know who you are or who you work for, but I can't thank you enough for this," the mother said, turning to Char. "I couldn't sleep at night because my children are in danger."

"Happy to be of service," Saura said again, smiling brightly. "I've been to Sitrus City more times than I can count. Don't worry, your kids will be home by this evening!"

Saura's really optimistic today, Char noticed. Maybe it's that reward he's after. Yeah, I sure hope it'll be a good one… especially if these kids turn out to spell trouble!

… … …

And off they went. Sitrus City was far up north, far past the meadows and forests that bordered on Saura's old homeland. It had taken a few hours of walking to even reach the meadow in the first place, so now there at least was adequate sunlight to guide the way. The path was very straightforward, but it would take a bit of walking and patience to get there.

Yes, patience. Definitely patience.

"Mister frog!" one Buneary said. "Why is there a big plant stuck to your back?"

"That's just the way I am," Saura laughed. "This seed soaks up the sunlight and gives me strength when I need it most. It's almost like a big battery! Sometimes—"

"Why are you on fire?" another one asked of Char, interrupting Saura's explanation. "Doesn't that hurt?"

Char sighed. "It's because…"

"I'm tired! Can you carry me?"

"I'm hungry! Can I eat something?"

"How long until we get there?"

"Silence!"

The five Buneary kids stopped in their tracks and froze at the violent sound of the voice. Even Char and Saura were taken off guard, turning to Scythe in surprise.

"Has your mother not taught you to take turns?!" Scythe demanded of the children. "We can answer your questions, but not all at once!"

"Answer my questions first!"

"No, don't listen to him! Answer mine!"

"I'm still hungry!"

"Silence!" Scythe yelled again, louder this time. "You must not make a racket. You must be quiet. Talk… quietly. Whisper. Like this."

"Why?" asked Meary, softening her voice as instructed.

"Because, if you don't…" Scythe said in a quiet whisper, "the Master could hear you. And if he hears you… he'll come and CUT OUT YOUR THROAT SO YOU NEVER SPEAK AGAIN!"

Scythe swung a blade inches from Beary's face as he suddenly screamed this, causing all five of the kids to gasp and jump in fright.

That did it. Since then, the kids huddled tight behind Saura's lead, trudging along in complete silence.

"Hey, thanks," Char said quietly to Scythe, glancing back at the kids and the fearful looks on their faces..

"Don't mention it," Scythe said with a smile. "It's what I'm here for."

Twenty minutes passed, and still, the kids followed faithfully behind, never bothering their guardians and never letting their voice rise above a dull murmur.

"Hey… Hey? Mister? Mister frog thing?" asked Teary, the littlest of the two girls, in a respectful voice. "I'm still hungry…"

"We could stop to eat," Char suggested. "I'm in the mood for breakfast, myself."

"We could," Saura said with a wink, "But… is this a safe place to eat? Will the Master catch us here?"

Scythe smiled again. "Hmm, I don't think so," he reported. "We're not safe out in the open here. We need to find a good place to hide before we can stop to rest."

"If the Master tears out your throat, I bet it can be really hard to eat," added Char, joining in the fun.

"Ah, yes, it is," Scythe agreed, shaking his head. "In fact, I once had a good friend… a Houndoom. He was a talkative one. He just would never sit still and be quiet. Then, one day, the Master heard him, got annoyed—ripped out his throat, plain and simple. I never heard the poor fellow speak ever again. And he had to be force-fed for the rest of his life."

"Whoa!" Meary exclaimed. "What happened to him? Did he make it?"

"He starved to death," Scythe said sadly. "Couldn't take the pain of eating. Poor guy, I tried to tell him to be quiet and respectful around his elders, but he just… he just didn't listen… Why, oh why, didn't he listen…?"

Scythe hung his head, pretending to reflect upon the memories of an old friend. Char almost giggled as he heard the Buneary kids give a collective gulp, some even feeling their necks to make sure they were still in place.

"Ah-ha!" Scythe exclaimed, motioning forward to the path ahead. "Look! A tree! The perfect shelter from the Master! We can stop to eat there!"

"Why does a tree shelter us from the Master?" Leary wondered.

"Because," Scythe said wisely, "nobody suspects a tree."

After a good half-hour's walk, the procession stopped at a sizable pear tree near the side of the barren road. Char dropped the bag onto the ground and dug around for some food as the little bunnies all gathered around.

"Dried plums," Char said, pulling out a small pouch. "Who wants them?

"Ewww, yuck!" Leary yelled. "I don't want that! I want a poffin! Do you have any poffins in there?"

"Yeah, do you?" Meary begged. "I want a spicy poffin! Please?"

"Spicy poffins are gross!" Leary proclaimed. "Give me a sweet one!"

"Sorry, I don't have any of those!" Char cried. "Look… you can have plums, or apricots, or apples, or Sunflora seeds. Or pears from this tree."

"Eat up, because we've got to keep moving," Scythe said, skewering a pear on the end of his blade. "If you don't eat, you won't gain energy. If you don't gain energy… you might get worn out along the way… and get left behind."

"Yeah, and then, nobody will be able to save you from the Master!" Saura warned. "So eat whatever you can!"

Leary regretfully picked the sack of plums and tried to open it. "Auntie Genevieve makes the best poffins," he said. "Maybe she'll make some for us when we get there."

"The Master isn't really that bad, is he?" Heary, the oldest of the children, asked. "Would he really… you know… tear out our throats? He wouldn't really do that… would he?"

"Yes," Scythe said plainly. "And worse. The Master… does whatever he feels like. If you annoy him, he may have you tortured and killed. If you oppose him… there's no telling what he'll do to you if he catches you. There are… far worse fates than pain and death."

Char noticed the change in Scythe's voice as he said this; he knew he wasn't just joking around anymore.

"What do we do if he finds us?" Meary asked, slowly munching on a slab of apricot.

"You run away as fast as you can, and never look back," Scythe said gravely. "If he still catches you… you can at least say you tried your best."

Scythe continued to entertain (and frighten) the kids with stories and warnings of the Master as they ate. Char found it hard to tell when he was joking and when he was being serious, but he ultimately realized that it didn't matter: he was trying to instill the children with a fear of the Master, something that could one day save their lives or their freedom… just like it had for Saura.

After everyone ate their fill, the group lounged around the tree for another hour, watching the world around them come alive as the sun rose higher into the sky. Char and Saura took the opportunity to chat with the children and get to know them a little better. As the Buneary kids became more energetic, they were eager to tell Char all about their life in the meadow.

"And then, this one time, this huge Starraptor flew right out of the sky and almost ATE me!" Beary described. "he was huge! Like THIS BIG! And so I dodged REAL FAST and curled up, and he missed me!"

"Nuh-uh!" Meary said. "You did not. You only got away because Daddy scared it off!"

"Daddy's so awesome," Leary said. "He can beat anything in battle! He could even beat a big scary bug like you!"

"Oh, really?" Scythe chuckled.

"Yeah!" Leary insisted. "He protects us from stuff all the time! Someday, I'm going to be as strong as him!"

"No, no!" Beary insisted. "I beat the Starraptor up! With my teeth! And I saved mommy, too!"

"In your dreams, Beary," Meary said. "You're just making this all up to impress people!"

"Nuh-uh!" Beary whined. "I could do it again right now! See that Pidgey up there? See it? HEY, PIDGEY!"

"Shut up, now you're just embarrassing us!" Meary screamed, running to tackle him.

…And so on.

Eventually, the group had to wrap up their little picnic and continue down the road. Having eaten a good breakfast, everyone was now wide awake as ever—especially the kids. It was apparent that Scythe's tricks wouldn't work for very much longer. Char could only hope things wouldn't get out of hand…

*Chapter 21*: Chapter 19: Grave Responsibility

Chapter 19

Route 370

"Route Three-seventy" Char reported, looking at the map as the long journey continued. "This curves to the northwest and goes right into Sitrus City. But… it's still a six-hour walk."

"Yeah, it's pretty far," Saura said. "But we should still make it, no problem. I'm just worried about the trip back home. Do you think we can make it back to base by evening?"

"If we keep a steady pace, we should be able to, yes," Scythe said. "But, if not… we could always stay overnight in the city. Worst that'll happen is Daemon will get worried about us."

As they left the golden meadow behind, Char looked ahead at the upcoming landscape. It was a pleasant-looking countryside, with a tree sprouting up here and there to provide shade from the sun. The dirt road which they traveled upon was faint and hard to see, overgrown in places with grass and shrubs. Char got the impression that this was a road less traveled.

"Why aren't we meeting anyone else?" Char wondered. "If this is such an important road… we haven't seen any other Pokémon at all."

"Pokémon don't travel much anymore," Saura explained. "They don't feel safe. There are too many thieves out, some work for the Master, some just getting whatever they can from the weak and defenseless."

"The Master also uses these roadways to transport his forces from place to place," Scythe said, "so Pokémon stay off the roads for fear of running into them."

"I remember when I was younger, lots of Pokémon traveled this road," Saura said. "I would go to visit Sitrus City every month. But then, the Master started increasing his forces in this area, and the thieves started breaking out, and everyone started getting scared. That's when I started battling against wild Pokémon and learning to defend myself."

"We haven't been to Auntie's in a long time," Heary said. "Mommy said all the roads got blocked, so we just stayed at home."

"I see," Char said simply, falling silent to ponder this information. No wonder Pokémon would request an escort for themselves and their loved ones, he determined. The Master never stops getting worse every time I hear about him. He's really got the entire country afraid to do anything on their own for fear of crossing him… Well, that's why we're here! Nobody's going to stop us from getting these kids safely to the city!

The children stayed manageable for a while, at least. Char and Saura lead them down the road in a single-file line, and Scythe brought up the rear so he could keep an eye on all five of them at once.

After another hour's worth of walking, the inevitable happened: the children started to realize they were bored. After a couple miles of the dull dirt road underfoot and the unchanging countryside, the Buneary kids were more restless than ever, starting to yell and jab at each other and sometimes run around off the side of the road. Scythe did his best to keep them in line from behind, but something else… something other than mere scare tactics… had to be done.

"How much farther?" Meary asked. "My feet are starting to hurt!"

"But we just took a rest an hour ago," Saura said, looking disappointed. "You can't be getting tired already!"

"Hey, how about we play a game?" Char suggested.

"Game?" Saura asked. "What kind of game?"

"Yeah, let's play a game!" Beary shouted. "What kind of game? Finders Seekers?"

"Oh, no you don't!" Saura said. "We're not getting anyone lost! Not here! Not with the Master out!"

"I'm not scared of the Master!" Beary said confidently. "I bet I could just bite him in the toes and make him cry!"

"Er… how about… I Spy?" Char suggested.

"What's that?" Leary asked. "I've never heard of that game before!"

"It's easy," Char said. "First, you try to spot something cool, but don't tell anyone else what it is. Then you say what color it is, and everyone else tries to guess it. Like this: I spy something… green. Can you guess what it is?"

"This is nature! Everything is green!" Beary proclaimed. "That's boring! Let's play battle!"

"I'm RAYQUAZA!"

"Not fair! You're always Rayquaza!"

"I'm Groudon!"

"I'm Groudon, too!"

"Hey, that's against the rules!"

"I don't care! EARTHQUAKE!"

"HYPER BEAM!"

"I'm DIALGA! I summon a BLIZZARD and knock Rayquaza out of the sky!"

"You can't do that! Rayquaza stops your blizzard!"

"I'm ARCEUS! I can beat all of you!"

"Hey, you can't be Arceus!"

"Can too! I sing the death song! La, la, la, la! Now you're all going to die in three days!"

"Dialga goes back in time and stops you from singing the song!"

"Arceus goes back in time and UN-MAKES DIALGA! Now you can't beat me!"

"Now you're frozen because there's NO TIME STREAM!"

"Hey! Look!"

Heary suddenly shouted over all the others, pointing to the side of the road. Sitting and staring at everyone was a small, pink Nidoran with its ears perked high. It didn't look happy.

"Whoa, it's a Nido!" Teary said. "Hey, Nido! Are you alright? You don't look too good!"

"I think it's a wild one!" Leary said.

"Aww, it looks scared stiff," Saura said, stepping forward to examine the Nidoran. "Hey there, little guy…"

Quivering in fear, the Nidoran took a step backwards. It hunched down, as if prepared to pounce and defend itself. It didn't look like it wanted to run away. Saura wanted to console it, but it only scowled and lowered its poison tip to strike.

"Whoa, what's its problem?" Heary said.

"I think we should leave it alone," Saura suggested. "It doesn't look like it wants—"

"Let's BATTLE IT!" Beary proclaimed, leaping forward. "Nobody can beat the mighty GROUDON!"

Before Char or Saura could do anything, Beary pounced on the Nidoran. The wild Pokémon hissed and dodged backwards.

"What the heck are you doing?" Saura cried in horror. "Stop that! Leave him alone!"

Beary pounced again, but this time, the Nidoran attacked! They collided, Beary just narrowly missing the poison horn, and they both fell to the ground in a scuffle, the Nidoran violently growling. Beary found an opportunity and nipped at its nose, causing it to squeal and jump away again.

Saura rushed forward to break up the fight, but it was too late. The rest of the kids had decided to help out their brother and were already jumping into the fray on all fours.

"I'll get it!"

"Take THIS, you dumb Nido!"

"HYPER BEAM!"

"Oww!"

"Hey, watch it!"

Saura lashed forward with vines and wrapped the closest bunny, trying to fish him away from the brawl.

Char quickly yanked his Pecha scarf from the bag and tied it around his neck. A numbing, tingling feeling spread across his skin as the antidotes diffused into his system. He rushed forward, although he had no idea what he was going to do to help the situation.

The Nidoran sprung itself up above the pile of bunnies, still refusing to back down and run away. Char cringed as he saw it come down with a violent headbutt upon one of the children, but the Buneary shifted away just barely in time. Another Buneary struck back, its ears laughably swinging like whips, and batted the Nidoran away.

"Guys, stop! Someone's going to get really hurt!" Saura cried, each of his vines yanking on a different bunny as hard as he could. "Nidoran are poisonous, you know!"

Char rushed in and tried to detain a bunny, but it squirmed and fell out of his grasp.

"Scythe!" Char yelled. "Scythe, we could use some help here!"

"Fine," Scythe sighed.

-Slash!-

Once again, Scythe swooped in with blinding speed, slashing at the poor little Nidoran. It was tossed into the air from the impact, and fell to the ground some feet away from the Buneary kids. A deep, red slice was now visible across its face. It wormed around in the grass, trying to bear the pain. The kids instantly stopped their struggling, all amazed at the show of the Scyther's speed.

"But I thought for sure, between the seven of you, you could chase away a little Nidoran…" Scythe said, folding his wings. "Now, come on, everyone, let's go. We don't have time to—"

Then, even Scythe paused in surprise, joining Char, Saura, and all the children in a speechless stare. The injured Nidoran, after slowly and painfully climbing to its feet, stood once again with its legs locked, refusing to back down. Its entire body shook with weakness and blood dripped from its wound, but it scowled and stood its ground.

"It still wants to fight?" Char said, amazed.

"A tough one," Scythe said thoughtfully. "Though, it's probably just defending its family. We should go."

All of a sudden, the Nidoran's ears perked. It blinked. A genuine look of fear came over its face, even more so than before. With a yelp, it turned and bounded away into the wilderness.

"…Or not," Char commented. "I guess it figured out it couldn't take any more."

"We did it!" Beary yelled. "Bye-bye, Nido!"

"It didn't stand a chance," Leary said.

"Nidoran, Nidoran, run away home!" Teary sang.

"That was awfully weird," Saura said, frowning. "When it ran, it almost looked like…"

"Quiet!" Scythe hissed suddenly, staring intently at the ground. "Something's wrong…"

On command, the children silenced themselves and tensed up.

The group stood still for a few moments. All Char could hear were the distant songs of Pidgey, and the sound of the gentle wind… He looked over at Saura, who shared a shrug with him.

"We… weren't too loud, were we?" Heary said, shuddering. "Do you think… did the Master hear us?"

"Perhaps…" Scythe said, squinting into the distance. "Perhaps…"

Scythe's eyes widened.

"There!" he hissed. "Do you feel that? Feel how the ground shakes underfoot?"

"I don't feel anything," Char admitted, looking down at his feet.

As Char looked down at the ground… he noticed a little pebble shifting across the ground. Only then did he begin to feel the tremor. It was like an earthquake, except that it was not a constant vibration; it came in pulses, as if a giant were marching across the land.

Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble…

"I feel it!" Saura said. "What is that?"

"The Master's army is upon us!" Scythe said, not moving his eyes.

The children once again gasped in horror, hugging each other for comfort.

"W-what do we do?" Saura cried. "Do we run?"

Scythe knew there was little time to waste, but he stood and thought for a moment. He looked around at the landscape, analyzing it…

"Char, Saura, take the kids and go that way," Scythe ordered quickly, pointing into the wilderness to the north. "I'll be right back. I want to see what's going on."

"Scythe, don't go!" Saura pleaded. "What—"

"Go!" Scythe ordered again. "I'll be back in five minutes or less. I promise. Now go!"

The earthquake steadily got heavier. Char looked to the road ahead, but didn't see anything. There was a shallow hill in the way, blocking his view of the horizon.

"Kids! You've got to come with us!" Saura barked. "We could be in danger. Let's go this way!"

Scythe darted away down the path, and the children unquestioningly followed Saura to safety. Char brought up the rear, carefully watching to make sure none of the children would get separated. They all scampered into the safety of the deeper wilderness, never daring to look back.

Rumble, rumble rumble…

After a quick search, Char and Saura found a concealed ditch, a good place to hide. But the rumbling was still getting louder…

"Mr. Saura, I'm scared," said Heary quietly.

"Me too," Teary said.

"We're all scared," Saura said. "But don't worry. Scythe is a really good fighter. He'll help us get through this. We're here to protect you."

… … …

Rumble, rumble, rumble…

They waited for what seemed like half an hour… until, finally, Scythe showed up, leaping down into the pit and scaring everyone half to death. He looked astonished.

"Good hiding place," Scythe said as he gasped for air. "I almost passed it right by."

"What's going on?" Saura demanded. "Did you see them?"

"Hundreds," Scythe gasped. "Rhyperior, Blastoise, and Tyranitar. All marching down the path. And bad news… I think they had scouts. Some of them are coming this way! I think they saw us!"

"Scythe, what do we do!?" Saura cried.

"There's only one thing we can do," Scythe said, dropping his bag. "We've got to make a break up north. Char! Isn't there a dungeon up north? Get out the map!"

Char fumbled around in the bag, pulling out the map. He unrolled it as fast as he could.

"We are here, approximately," Scythe said, pointing to a brown patch on the map near Route 370. "The Sitrus Orchard is only a mile north of here. It's your only chance to hide. From there, you can lose the army and possibly still make it through to the city."

"A mile is too far!" Char said. "We can't run that fast!"

"You'll have to," Scythe said. "If you go now, they won't see you. But you have to hurry!"

"Us?!" Char gasped, noticing Scythe's choice of words. "Aren't you coming with us?"

The rumbling never ceased. Scythe glanced up at the sky. He looked extremely worried, as if torn in a decision.

"I really should come with you, yes," Scythe said, slicing the dirt in frustration, "but… I can't understand why the Master has his forces here… and I don't have the slightest idea where they're going…"

"I thought you said the Master uses the roads for his troops," Char said. "What's so different about this?"

"Never this many at once!" Scythe said. "It just doesn't make sense! Char, Saura, I'm sorry. I need to go follow them. It's my responsibility. For the good of my team and the whole division, I need to know what the Master is doing with all these Pokémon! I want you to go on without me. Take these children to the Orchard and get them to safety!"

"No, Scythe!" Saura pleaded again. "Please! Don't leave us alone! Not now!"

"Saura," Scythe said sternly. "This is not an easy situation for either of us, but we are a resistance team, and we must function as one. Besides, I have confidence in you. Gather your courage, use what I've taught you so far, and save these kids!"

Saura gulped.

"I'll meet up with you later," Scythe said. "I promise. Now, go! Wait any longer, and they'll see you! Go!"

Without another complaint, they went. Char and Saura ushered the Buneary children out of the ditch and hurried as fast as they could toward the orchard up north.

---

Sitrus Orchard S1

Everyone was out of breath when they finally reached the boundary to the orchard, but it wasn't nearly the end of the road. Char and Saura hurried the kids inside as fast as they could, gaining the protection and shelter of the dungeon's curse from the Master's army. The fact that the shaking of the ground had stopped was a relief, the sight of the thick and confusing woods ahead of them was not.

"Children!" Saura barked, trying his best to sound like a leader. "Listen up! We have escaped from the Master, but now we're in a very dangerous place. This is a Mystery Dungeon. If you meet any wild Pokémon, they will attack without hesitation. If you take a wrong turn and get separated from the group, you will get lost for a very long time. If you don't pace yourself, we will run out of food and get very hungry. I want you to stay very close to Char and I. Does everyone understand?"

"Yes, Mr. Saura," some of the Children replied.

"Good," Saura said. "If your belly starts to hurt, tell us, and we'll feed you. Now come on. We've still got a long way to go if we want to make it to your auntie's. Char, you lead the way. I'll bring up the end of the line."

The Buneary children huddled close to their guides as Char and Saura as they began their expedition.

The Sitrus Orchard looked anything like an orchard. It looked like a thick, overgrown forest, and there wasn't even a single fruit tree in sight. Green and brown vines ran across the leaf-padded ground, running up tree trunks and strangling dead logs. Char couldn't take a step without his claws or toes getting snagged on the vines, and it made him wish Scythe was there to slice through all the overgrowth for him. The smell was fresh and humid, as if it had just rained. The incessant sound of insects buzzing and birds chirping filled the air; it made Char really wonder if there were other animals besides Pokémon in this strange world.

Char was more nervous than he'd ever been. He knew that the day would come when he and Saura would have to brave a dungeon without Scythe, but he never pictured having a whole handful of kids in his care!

What an overwhelming responsibility, Char said to himself, glancing back at the party following him. I can't believe I'm even doing this!

"It's okay, Char," Saura said. "I've got us covered in the rear. Just keep going."

Char turned back to the path at hand, doing his best to push and forage his way through all the shrubs. He tried to keep an eye out for anything that could pose a threat to the team; it wasn't easy, since animal sounds came from all directions and visibility was often limited to a foot in front of his face.

After a few more minutes of walking, Char stubbed his toe on something. He looked down to see a small grey rock. A small green vine ran over it, sprouting green eye-like flowers as it went.

"Guys, poisonous flowers," Char reported. "Watch out."

"Uh oh," Saura said. "Kids, Look out for the green flowers. They'll poison you."

"We know that," Leary said. "What was that song mommy taught us?"

"Ruby flower will give you power. Sapphire berry will make you wary. Emerald eye will make you cry," Heary recited. "The Rageflower, Chesto Berry, and Dragon's Eye."

Char had a thought. He curiously inspected the green flower, then plucked it right from the vine. Immediately, his fingers tingled violently as the antidote from the Pecha scarf neutralized the poison.

"Mr. Char!" cried Heary.

"It's alright," Char said. "I can't be poisoned right now, I have a..."

"Mr. Char, LOOK OUT!"

Char spun in all directions, looking for danger. When he didn't see anything, he turned to Heary, who was pointing into the air…

"CHAR! ABOVE YOU!" Saura cried.

Char felt a horrible stinging sensation as he was knocked aside by something very large. Immediately his back flared with the tingling feeling, warding off a new shot of poison. A horrible buzzing sound filled the air, and the kids all shrieked.

Char turned around to see a Beedrill harassing the group. Not just that, but a second one popped from behind of the tree leaves and joined it.

The first Beedrill circled in the air, coming for another attack at Char, but Saura skillfully extended his vines and swatted it out of the way. As it wobbled through the air and tried to re-orient itself, Saura followed up with a barrage of tiny seeds from his bulb. This time, the attack hit; several holes immediately appeared across the bug's body. It fell to the ground, where it hopelessly buzzed and thrashed in place.

The second Beedril hung in the air far above Char's reach, as if waiting for a moment to strike. Char concentrated, fueled his inner fire, and a long stream of flames exploded from his mouth. They engulfed the bee before it could even react, lighting it ablaze with flames and knocking it right of the air.

Char panted heavily as his fire subsided. He surveyed the damage.

"Good job, Char," Saura said. "We did good."

"Yeah, we did," Char said, watching as the Beedrills both slowly ceased moving. "Maybe we can get through this on our own after all."

---

Sitrus Orchard S3

As they went farther into the dungeon, the trees thankfully started to space themselves out and give the group some breathing room. Still, Char didn't really know what to think about the place.

"Why is this place even called an 'orchard', anyway?" Char wondered as he helped the kids carefully descend a small drop-off.

"Well, it's a long story," Saura said. "A few years ago, this place was a beautiful orchard where Sitrus berries grew. There were at least a hundred trees here, and they were all in orderly rows… It was really beautiful. Wow, it really brings back some memories… That's what made Sitrus City so popular. Everyone would always go there for the Sitrus berry medicines, or just to pick them from the orchard… the city was filthy rich, and it was a great tourist place, too. But when the Mystery Dungeons started cropping up, one of them consumed the entire orchard and turned it into a dungeon… and because of the temporal anomaly, it got all weedy and overgrown in no time."

"Wow," Char said, unable to believe the messy forest he now walked through was once a lush garden. "Are there… any Sitrus trees still here?"

"There should be, yeah," Saura said. "But because of the spatial distortion, you never know where they are, and just searching for them is pretty dangerous. That's why Sitrus berries are so rare. Nobody likes coming in here and searching for them."

"What are Sitrus berries, anyway?" Char asked. "What makes them so special?"

"You're kidding, right?" Teary said. "You've never had a Sitrus berry?"

"Sitrus berries are one of the best medicines known to all Pokémon!" Saura explained. "Eating just one feels invigorating, and it takes all your pain away. They speed up your body's own regeneration if you're injured, and they can even keep you alive if you're on the verge of dying."

"Wow, that must be a pretty powerful fruit," Char said.

"Yeah," Saura said. "And they even say that if you eat Sitrus berries when you're perfectly healthy, you'll add years to the end of your life."

"Maybe we can find some," Char said, still unable to see any fruit trees around him. "I think I'd like to try one."

"Hey, Mr. Saura," Meary said, "I'm getting hungry now."

"Really hungry, or just sorta hungry?" Saura asked.

"Just starting to get hungry," Meary said.

"Me, too," Leary said. "Can we have a snack?"

"Not quite yet, but we will soon," Saura said. "If we don't pace ourselves, we'll run out of food. You can waste food if you eat too fast, you know. Eating a lot of food really fast doesn't always mean it'll take you longer to get hungry."

"We'll take a rest soon," Char promised. "But for now, we've got to keep pushing on. This trip isn't going to get any easier."

"Uh oh," Saura said, glancing up. "More enemies on their way. A Beedrill, and a Butterfree. Get ready!"

Char and Saura took out the intruders before they even had a chance to pose a threat. Char found it easier than ever to control his fire, and he was getting really good at aiming with his flamethrower technique.

Saura's gotten good with his bullet technique, too, Char noticed. We're actually getting fairly powerful. Just a few more miles left! We can do this!

---

Sitrus Orchard S5

An hour later, there was no doubt about it: it was about time for a break.

After having singed at least ten feral bugs to a crisp, and gotten into a rather heated battle with a Roselia, Char was getting pretty winded. Still in the lead, he limped along and looked for a good place to stop and eat.

"My tummy hurts a lot," Heary reported. "Can we eat now?"

"Yeah, my belly's getting pretty empty, too," Saura said. "I think it's time to stop. Char, see anywhere to take a break?"

"Not here," Char said. "Maybe this way…"

The ground was littered with nothing but thorny shrubs and Dragon's Eye, so Char pushed through some more foliage, hoping to find something more fortunate on the other side…

…and tripped over the anchor-thread of a large Spinarak web.

The Spinarak leapt down to subdue the potential prey, but Char rolled onto his back and spat fire upward, burning the web and snapping the spider up into its own string. Saura quickly jumped in, wrapping up the spider with his vines and tossing it away.

"Guess not," Saura said disappointedly. "But we can't keep this up for much longer. I really don't want to pass out. Not in this place!"

"I know, I know," Char said, pushing on. "I'm starting to get dizzy… Here."

Char reached into the bag and produced a small apricot. He passed it back to the children.

"This'll tide you over until we can find a stopping place," Char said, grabbing another apricot to pass back.

"Char, watch it," Saura warned. "Willow trees up ahead. There might be Weepinbell."

Char kept a wary eye overhead, wondering if the dungeon would ever let him take a rest.

---

Sitrus Orchard S6

"Char… I can barely see straight…" Saura moaned. "Please… Let's just stop right here… I don't care…"

"We can't," Char said. "Not… safe…"

"Oh, not again," Saura grumbled. "You're right. Char, watch out. Get ready…"

Some bushes rustled, and an annoyed Ledyba emerged. Char sighed, taking aim at the bug, then reached for his fire.

…But his fire was not there. His inner Ember felt like a smoldering, flameless chunk of coal…

"I… -cough- I think… I'm… out of fire," Char moaned, backing away from the wild Pokémon.

"Char, your tail," Saura said. "It's…"

Char turned to glance at his tail, and was horrified at the sight. It was almost out, reduced to just a tiny, flickering candle flame. It made him feel even weaker knowing how close to the limit his body was…

"And I'm out of bullet seeds," Saura said. "Here… I'll take care of it…"

Saura stepped forward to confront the little ladybug. Grunting in weariness, Saura dispelled a small flurry of leaves at the enemy. Most of them missed, and the ones that hit only helped to disorient it. Saura panted, disappointed at his effort.

Char jumped at the enemy, but its wings buzzed and it flew out of the way. It circled around and tried to dive-bomb Leary, but the bunny whipped its long ears at the bug and bumped it away.

"Char, maybe we should just run," Saura suggested. "We're… not doing so well."

"I can't run," Char gasped. "I'm…"

"Char, just go," Saura said again. "If we go, it can't catch up with us. The trees are too thick for it to fly."

Too tired to argue, Char picked himself up from a slump and ran forward as fast as his numb legs could carry him. His entire body stung as he pushed himself through the wall of shrubs, twigs and rough leaves scraping all over him…

And then…

When the shrubs cleared, they cleared. Char was awestruck at the sight before him: the forest ended, and a small clearing opened up. The messy ground became a gorgeous, rolling plain covered in short, soft, lush grass. Sprouting up in the clearing were no less than twelve large, fruit-bearing trees aligned in perfect rows. It was like a well-tended garden. An orchard.

Is this… a mirage…? Char wondered, his vision so very blurry…

"Char, this is a miracle!" Saura cried, pushing his way into the open area. "Sitrus trees! We found Sitrus trees! We did it! It all paid off!"

"No way!" Teary cried upon seeing the small fragment of the once glorious orchard.

Nobody even had to be asked. Char, Saura, and all of the bunnies rushed forward to the nearest tree as fast as they could. Char pounced on a low-hanging branch, grabbing a whole handful of the golden berries. He stuffed them into his mouth, and was immediately overcome with the sweetest, most wonderful taste he'd ever felt. He grabbed the branch again, viciously tearing off another handful of berries and stuffing his face with them. He felt the thick, sappy juice smeared all over his muzzle, but he didn't care.

"Heavenly," Saura moaned, his mouth full of fruit. "The gift of Arceus…"

Char collapsed against the tree truck, still munching. A total, absolute comfort flooded him; he felt life pumping back into his stagnant limbs, his sight shifting and sharpening, returning to normal, and his inner fire sparked back to life, bringing warmth back to his belly.

Char wanted to just fall asleep in contented bliss, but strangely, the berries would not let him. They had an invigorating effect, rather than a suppressive one. In just a few minutes, he knew his belly would be satisfied, his fire would be re-fueled, and he'd be ready to stand back up and lead the team on a strong final leg of the journey.

"Char, here," Saura said, holding a branch of berries with his vine. "Put as many of these as you can in the bag! If we just take some of these with us, we'll be undefeatable!"

Char smiled, and completely emptied the bag onto the ground. He sorted through the contents, replacing only the most important items like the orbs, and filled the rest with the magnificent berries. Twenty-three berries fit into the bag before the thread wouldn't close anymore, and even while it was stuffed, the contents were unbelievably light.

"Ahh," Saura sighed, enjoying another berry. "I thought we were done for, but we did it. We pulled through again."

"I hope Scythe's doing alright," Char said, lounging on his back. "He said he'd meet us later. I wonder if he's waiting for us on the other side of the orchard."

"Wow... I never thought our first mission alone would be so stressful," Saura said. "But it's actually pretty satisfying, knowing we're actually doing—"

"Mr. Saura?"

Heary approached the two, his fur tangled and stained with both dirt and Sitrus fruit. He still looked scared.

"What's wrong, Heary?" Saura asked. "What do you need?"

"Where's Beary?"

"What do you mean, where's Beary?" Saura repeated, looking around the orchard at the rest of the bunnies. "He's… wait…"

Even Char could see it… there were only four bunnies in sight. The fifth… the little rebellious one… was nowhere to be seen.

"Beary!" Saura gasped. "He's… he's not here…? W… where is he? How… how… how long… was he missing?"

"I don't know," Heary said, almost ready to cry. "I was so hungry, and dizzy, I didn't see him… I don't think he came into the orchard with us…"

Char and Saura realized the same was true of them. They'd been so disoriented and tired, they both failed to notice that one of the children had not been with them for a while.

"No… By Arceus, no…" Saura whispered, trying to grasp the horror of having left a child behind in the brutal depths of the dungeon. "Char… We have to find him. I don't care what it takes. I'll spend the rest of my life in this dungeon if I have to. We're going to find Beary!"

*Chapter 22*: Chapter 20: To Safety

Chapter 20

Sitrus Orchard S6… still

Team Ember had made a solemn promise to the Lopunny mother to keep her children safe. Now that the youngest of the children had gone missing somewhere in the cursed orchard, there was no question in Char's mind that the kid had to be found at all costs. But how does one rescue someone amidst a spatial anomaly, where "back" and "forth" are meaningless, and you can never count on the terrain to look the same? It was quite an understatement to say that Beary could be anywhere.

"This isn't the way we came!" Saura cried, already on the verge of panic. "This looks nothing like the place we just were! How do we find our way back?"

"I don't think we can," Char said. "This place is cursed, remember? It tricks you into going the wrong way. We'll just have to keep wandering around until we find him."

"Char, you take two of the kids and go that way," Saura ordered. "I'll go this way."

"Are you kidding? You want us to lose each other, too?" Char responded. "We've got to stick together or we'll be just as lost as Beary. We just need to stay in this section of the forest and keep our eyes open."

"I'm sorry, you're right," Saura said. "I guess I'm not thinking straight right now… But… I just hope he's okay… I still can't believe I wasn't paying attention!"

"We'll find him," Char said, hoping to convince even himself. "We can do this. Just keep going."

The search through the overgrown, enemy-infested forest continued for at least half an hour. The children were sure to stay extra close, and helped out by calling to their missing brother.

"Beaaaaaaaaaary!" Teary yelled at the top of her lungs.

"Beary, answer us if you can hear us!"

"You dumb bunny! You're going to get yourself killed!"

Of course, the sound of their calling only served to attract more enemies. A wild Venonat, a Rattata, and a Beedrill all heeded the voices and came quickly to purge the intruders. Despite some bumps and scratches in the battle, the enemies were dispatched quickly whenever they came.

Even though the group stayed in the same sector of the forest for a very long time, the wild Pokémon just kept coming, no matter how many of them were punctured and burned down by their attacks. It was almost as if the enemies appeared out of nowhere when their backs were turned. Char was starting to wonder how long it would take before they'd see any signs of progress…

"Hey, Char," Saura finally said with a distraught face, "This is the third time we've passed this tree. I'm getting really worried."

"Are we lost, too?" Teary asked. "Can we still find Beary?"

"Hey, Saura, I just thought of something," Char said. "Maybe the spatial distortion doesn't work the way we're thinking. Maybe he could be farther into the dungeon. Remember how we only saw part of the old orchard? The other part might be in a completely different place. So we might have a chance of finding Beary if we continue on to the next section of the forest."

"But what if you're wrong?" Saura said. "I don't want to leave Beary behind!"

"Saura, you even said it yourself. We've been going in circles for the past—I don't know how long. He's not here. Maybe we can find him if we move on."

"I can't do that! I'm not going to risk leaving him behind!" Saura growled, digging his paws into the ground in frustration. "I'm… sorry! We're not going anywhere until he's found."

---

Sitrus Orchard S7

"I hope to the ancients you're right," Saura mumbled sadly after facing the fact that there was nothing he could do but continue forward. "It doesn't make sense, but… Oh, please… I just wish he's here somewhere… Please…"

I do, too, Char thought to himself. Dialga, if you're watching out for me now… You've put us through so much… is it too much to ask for you to lead us to the missing child?

"Where are we going?" Heary asked, looking sad and confused. "We're not leaving Beary alone, are we?"

"Mystery Dungeons are strange places," Char explained. "We think if we go forward, and leave behind the place where we lost him, we'll find him."

"Oh…" Heary replied, clearly not understanding.

"What if he's dead?" Teary wondered out loud. "He's been missing for an awful long time! What if he got killed by a bee?"

"Teary! Don't say that!" Saura yelped. "Please! Don't even think about that! Just… help me look for him! Keep looking!"

"But what if he is dead?" Teary said again. "What will Mommy say…?"

Saura turned to the four kids who followed him, continuing to unquestioningly persist through the forest at his command. He could tell it by the looks on their faces: they all wanted to ask the same question.

"Listen!" Char said firmly. "I don't care if Beary's dead. We're going to find him, alive or otherwise, and that's final! We're just going to search every last inch of this forest until we do. Do you understand?"

The kids all solemnly nodded.

"I don't want to hear any more talking about 'is he dead' or 'what will we do if we don't find him', okay?" Char told them. "Save it for when we know for sure. Until then… we just keep going."

---

Sitrus Orchard S11

For six more grueling hours, they searched that forest, inspecting every tree, digging through every leaf pile, diving into every ditch, and fighting the endless stream of wild bug Pokémon as they went. Still, there was not even a single sign—not even a footprint—of the missing child. Worry mounted in Char's heart as the end of the forest drew close—only one more mile remained.

Saura no longer showed signs of panic, anxiety, or weariness. He was beyond it all. He marched through the forest, emotionlessly following Char's lead, scanning everywhere the light touched with his unblinking eyes and rustling through everywhere it didn't with his vines.

The children had changed a bit, too. Char noticed that they were beginning to act a little differently: after only the first half hour of searching, they no longer complained about hunger or weary muscles. Silently, unquestioningly, they followed the commands given to them by their leaders and trudged along beside them. Whenever Char noticed a child starting to get teary-eyed from strain, or starting to limp from fatigue, he'd administer a Sitrus berry and hope it would be enough to help.

The forest was not merciful. The enemies never stopped coming, especially the Beedrills. Every time a Buneary's little voice echoed through the woods, calling out for the missing brother, an angry Beedrill seemed to respond with wings buzzing and poison stingers at the ready. And there were countless more Spinarak webs to walk into, Weepinbell traps to avoid, and Rattatas to fend off… Char even once fell into another pitfall trap, only to have Saura act quickly and catch him in mid-plummet, saving him and all the items in the bag.

There were poison spikes at the bottom of that one.

Eventually, the sunlight started to deepen in color, signaling the beginning of evening. In just three more hours, the light by which they walked would be gone, and in one hour after that, the Watchers would be out. But the search continued on, the group unwavering in their efforts…

…Until Heary, after a very long time of the group not speaking to one another, spoke up.

"Mr. Saura?"

"What is it, Heary?" Saura spoke flatly, but trying not to sound unfriendly.

"You said that Beary might have gone forward in the forest, right? That's why we left behind the orchard and kept going forward?"

"Yes," Char answered.

"Well… What if he went backwards?"

Silence rose from the group.

"What if we couldn't find him because he went backwards, instead of forwards?"

Char and Saura turned to stare at one another, pondering if it could be true. It was, after all, the most likely possibility yet to be offered.

"But you can't go backwards in a Mystery Dungeon," Saura said. "…Or can you?"

"…if you somehow get trapped in the spatial anomaly, maybe you can," Char considered.

"What if… we left him behind before we found the orchard?" Heary wondered. "We looked everywhere for him back there, but maybe we were too late!"

Again, silence. Saura's eyes faded to a faraway gaze.

Was it true? Had they left the child miles behind? It seemed to make perfect sense. Maybe they'd left Beary farther back than originally thought, and that's why their most thorough searches all came up empty. But even then, it was a horrible thought to behold. How would they rescue him now?

"Here's what we'll do," he finally decided after a few minutes of thought. "We finish this search. Then, when we leave the dungeon, one of us goes on to the city with you Buneary, and the other explores the dungeon from the very beginning."

Char knew the idea was absolutely crazy. There was simply not enough time left in the day to scour the dungeon from the beginning. But, he knew that, between Beary and himself (since it was obvious he'd be the one staying to search, since he was the only one with a light), he was the one more deserving to be left as prey for the sinister ghosts. He was the one who screwed up and let his attention slip long enough to lose the child. He was the one who would face the dark of the night to find him—or die trying.

"Sounds good to me," Char said, knowing that he didn't have any other choice. "Onward it is, then…"

Just as Char was ready to continue forward, Meary gasped.

"Wait! I heard something!"

"What is it, another Beedrill?" Char asked, looking up to the treetops.

"No. It sounded like Beary!"

"Where? Which way?" Saura demanded. "You sure it was him?"

"I… I'm not sure, it might have been," she said. "That way!"

Without a second thought, the group rushed forward as fast as they could in the direction Meary indicated.

"I heard it again!" Meary said. "It was louder!"

"I didn't hear anything," Saura said. "What did it sound like?"

"It sounds like Beary crying!" she insisted. "It's getting louder!"

"You heard her," Char said. "Keep going!"

"BEAARY!" Teary cried. "We're here! We're going to find you!"

After traveling just a few more yards, Char thought he started to hear something strange, too… but it wasn't the sound of a child crying. It was like a low humming sound, sometimes escalating in pitch to sound like a shriek. He couldn't quite tell what it was…

"That's not Beary," Saura said, disappointedly. "But… what is that…?"

The noise kept fluctuating, making it hard to follow or identify. Char moved in the direction of the sound, even though he didn't see anything quite out of the ordinary…

But then, Char pushed aside a leafy branch, and he saw it. Everyone froze in horror; it was the last thing they wanted to see.

A small alcove opened in the forest. In the center of the forest, there was a tree. You couldn't tell it was a tree, though; it was covered, completely swarming with Beedrillls. It was a hive. The sound of buzzing wings faded together to form the terrible humming noise.

For a few moments, Char couldn't tear his eyes from the sight. Many cocoons and paper nests stuffed with larvae hung from the branches…

"Oh, no!" Saura whispered upon seeing the invested alcove. "Everyone, run!"

But it was too late to run. Some Beedrills spotted the intruders and quickly called upon their kin to help defend the hive… soon, almost a hundred of the angry bees began to swarm towards Char…

Almost without thinking, Char prepared to blast his fire, then held it back at the last second to release a thick cloud of smoke at the swarm of insects. The cloud spread quickly, reducing visibility…

Trying to resist a coughing fit, Char turned to flee with his companions…

Although some of the Beedrils had become confused as they entered the smoke screen, throwing off their course and directing them into tree trunks, most of them shot straight through and kept coming. They closed in on Char at an incredible speed…

"We're not going to make it!" Heary yelled as he glanced back. "AHH! Mr. Char, LOOK OUT!"

And with that, the swarm was upon them. Nothing could save them now.

Char ducked, narrowly avoiding the poison tip of a Beedrill as it passed by. Saura tried to give him cover by sending out a flurry of razor-sharp leaves, but to his surprise, most of the leaves were stopped by tree branches and foliage—obstacles which the Beedrills so agilely zoomed around as they closed in and surrounded the group…

"CHAR! We're not going to make it this time!" Saura cried, batting at the bees with his vines as best as he could. "CHAR! USE THE ESCAPE ORB!"

The escape orb! Char had completely forgotten about that!

"But... we're not to the end of the forest yet!" Char cried, leaping to shield a terrified bunny from an attack. "What if the Master's forces are still out there? They'll see us!"

"Char, we don't have a choice!" Saura cried desperately. "These kids are all going to die! Char, use the orb!"

It was true. Saura was succeeding in defending the group from the swarm as they hurried for whatever kind of cover they could find, but he couldn't keep it up. The number of bees on their tail kept growing.

"Also, maybe this is our last chance to find Beary!" Saura yelled. "Remove the curse, and the forest might become easier to search!"

Char quickly ducked behind a tree, throwing the bag onto the ground and plunging his claw down into it. Sitrus juice burst from the berries and stained his hand as he dug down for the orb…

When he found it, he held it hesitantly in his hand…

"If the Master's soldiers are still out there…"

"Char, we have to take the chance," Saura said again. "Please, Char! They're starting to… OW! OW!"

At once, Char grasped the shiny, opaque orb with both of his claws. A telepathic voice entered his head.

This is an escape orb, the voice said. Activate?

Yes, activate! Char answered.

The orb emitted a powerful pulse, a strange ripple that spread through the air in all directions. As it passed, the buzzing of the bees and the frantic screaming of the bunnies all seemed to cease for a moment…

Activation successful, the orb said. The curse has been broken. Your party may now leave the dungeon at will.

With that, the orb's color faded, becoming glassy and transparent. It soon collapsed into thin shards which fell to the ground and dissolved away…

And then there was silence.

Char looked around. The bees had… simply disappeared. With the breaking of the curse, they had either given up on their attack and flown away, or vanished into thin air, trapped in a sort of alternate dimension. The forest and the sky looked a lot different, too… it almost felt like they were standing in the true Sitrus Orchard, the one that had been shrouded by the Mystery Dungeon curse for so long. Most of the overgrowth had vanished, and Sitrus trees blossomed with flowers and berries all around…

Char saw Saura still cringing, wrapping all four of the Buneary at once with his vines to protect them... he saw as they opened their eyes, one by one, seeing that the danger was gone…

Saura's eyes snapped open, surprised.

"It… worked," he said. "They're gone… We're safe…"

It was true. There were no more enemies to be seen, and the forest seemed… much more peaceful than it used to be.

"Okay, quick," Saura said. "Now that the dungeon is gone, everyone split up and search for Beary. It should be much easier to find him now that the place isn't all distorted."

So they did. And Saura was right: it was much easier to find Beary. In less than ten minutes, the search was over.

As Char wandered through the forest calling Beary's name, a muffled sound answered him back.

-Hic!-

Char looked up.

"Uhhhhhh…" -hic!-

Sure enough, it was him. Char spotted the little Buneary laying in the branch of a nearby Sitrus tree. His fur was hopelessly stained with Sitrus juice, and his belly was absolutely stuffed. He moaned in pain, half-asleep...

"Beary!" Char exclaimed, rushing to his aid. "Beary! Oh, I'm so glad to see you!"

"Mr. Char…" the bunny moaned vaguely, his eyes half-open.

"What happened?" Char asked, trying to pick him up and take him off the branch. "We searched everywhere for you!"

"I got tired… I couldn't keep up…" the bunny muttered. "I… think I'm sick… I ate lots of berries to help me feel better…"

When Char succeeded in picking up and carrying the child, he noticed the problem: there was a gaping, messy wound in the child's side. Scabs had already started cover it, thanks to all the Sitrus berries he'd eaten, but they were having some trouble doing so: the skin underneath the child's brown fur had turned a bright green, bubbling up into large boils around the opening. He was poisoned.

"Oh, Beary!" Char cried upon seeing the wound. "You were stung by a Beedrill, weren't you?"

"No… it was…" the child tried to say. "I think… the Nido got me… I thought it was just a scratch… but it got bad and it started making me tired… so I couldn't keep up…"

Char gently set the child onto the ground to look over the wound. It was infected pretty bad.

"I hid in the tree, because you said that nobody suspects a tree, right?"

"Here, take this," Char said, quickly slipping off his scarf and tying it around the gaping injury. "This should make you feel a lot better. It won't cure the poison, but it should help until we get you some medicine."

"I want mommy," the child moaned sadly as Char picked him up and carried him away.

"How about your Auntie?" Char said gently. "We'll be there soon. Don't worry. You'll be okay."

---

Route 370

Saura, and the rest of the children, were absolutely overjoyed at the missing brother was found. Once re-united, they all pushed their way out of the forest as quickly as they could, leaving the vicious, unforgiving dungeon behind.

"About time," Scythe called to them as they emerged from the orchard. "What took you so long? It's almost evening!"

Leary answered him. "Sorry, Mr. Bug," he said, "but Beary got lost!"

Char and Saura both bit their tongues as Scythe cast a worried glance toward them.

"You lost a child?" he said with surprise. "Really? You lost him? In the middle of a dungeon?"

"…Yes," Saura answered regretfully.

"But it looks like everyone's all here," Scythe said with a smile. "You found him again. Good for you! You could have been a little faster, but you two did good. I'm very proud of you. Children! How was the Orchard? How'd it go?"

"It was scary!" Leary said. "There were Beedrills and Spinaraks everywhere!"

"I wasn't scared," Beary said, limping along with one hand on the scarf that covered his would like a bandage.

"Mr. Saura helped keep us safe," Teary said. "Mr. Char helped, too."

"I almost cried when Beary was missing, but Mr. Saura said we'd find him," Heary added. "It took a long time, and we got really tired, and hungry. But he promised!"

"Mr. Char is the best at fighting!" Meary said. "But I still think daddy could beat him!"

"I don't know about that! Mr. Char has FIRE!"

"I bet Mr. Saura could beat Mr. Char! Mr. Saura saved us from a whole swarm of Beedrills at once!"

As Scythe led the group back to Route 370, Char and Saura both released a great big sigh. Even though they weren't exactly proud of themselves for everything that had happened, they were relieved that it was all over. The five kids were all alive as promised, and Sitrus City was just over the horizon.

There was a problem, however… nightfall was coming a bit too fast. Noticing this, Scythe ordered everyone back off the path and into the grasslands.

"Where are we going?" Saura asked. "Don't we have to head for the city? We're almost out of sunlight!"

"Exactly," Scythe said. "There just isn't enough sunlight left. We'll never make it to the city at this rate. Here. Dig!"

Scythe slashed at the ground, flinging dirt into to the air.

"Dig?" Saura repeated.

"Yes, dig," Scythe said, putting another long slice into the dirt. "The Watchers never attack a shelter, no matter how it's made. Now, help me! It's our only chance to escape them!"

The team spent the rest of the evening digging a hole for shelter from the looming darkness of night. Thankfully, the Buneary children seemed quite skilled at this activity, and with a little effort, they now had a musty, narrow trench to crawl into. Once they'd hit the layer of clay, they dug the rest of the hole at a slant until the sky could no longer be seen from the very bottom.

There, the Buneary snuggled around Char and Saura, and everyone had a well-earned rest after such a very tiring, stressful day.

The Buneary took turns with Char and Saura retelling all the events of the day to Scythe. He listened amusedly and proudly as they told stories of Weepinbells, pitfall traps, Beedrills, and Beary getting lost. The only time he stopped to reprimand them was the part where Saura explained his plan to take the children back to the city while one of them stayed behind to search.

"I admire your courage," Scythe told them sternly, "but never, ever forget the most important rule of all. Never, ever, ever travel alone."

"Oh, you mean like how you ran off on your own to go spy on the soldiers?" Saura retorted sarcastically. "Sure. We'll remember not to do that. Thanks for setting a good example for us."

"Okay, you got me," Scythe said with a grin. "But still. I was not traveling. I practically stayed in the same place, even as I followed the soldiers down the road. You were the ones who had to traverse the dungeon. That is not wise to do alone, no matter how experienced, or desperate, you may think you are. At the very least, had you carried out that plan, you should have kept the most able-bodied child with you."

Char ignored his excuses. He knew Scythe didn't have to explain himself; that he, not them, was more than able to venture off on his own whenever he wanted. He and Saura agreed never to even consider breaking the buddy rule in the future.

Char got to the part where they broke into a Beedrill hive, saved their lives with the escape orb, and rescued Beary. The children agreed that, by far, it was the most frightening thing they'd ever been though. Beary, though, seemed to be a little disappointed that he missed the event.

"That was the part I didn't understand," Char said, holding his tail close to his chest so as to not accidently burn anyone. "How come the land just changed like that when we used the escape orb?"

"From what we know of Mystery Dungeons, they are simply alternate dimensions that overlay certain areas of the terrain, absorbing their features and arranging them in random shapes," he explained. "If you use an escape orb, it actually transports you from the Mystery Dungeon dimension back into the real dimension which still exists underneath. The result is that you become visible to those around you, and you are able to simply leave whenever you want. Although, if you stay unveiled too long without fleeing the dungeon, you will just get sucked back into the curse. You were lucky you found Beary as fast as you did. In the future, remember to always get out as fast as you can once you activate an escape orb."

"Noted," Saura said. "There's no way we're going to waste something that useful."

"Oh, and another thing," Scythe said. "It is very likely that you could not find Beary because he was dispelled from the dungeon."

"Dispelled?" Saura asked. "I never knew about that part. How's that work?"

"If you lose consciousness in a dungeon, and nobody revives you for more than about a minute, the dungeon will expel you," Scythe explained. "Usually, that means you will be separated from the rest of your team who remain in the dungeon, and unable to join them again until they leave."

"No wonder," Char said, remembering Beary's predicament. "So that's why we couldn't find him anywhere!"

"But he's here now," Teary said. "That's why I'm glad."

"Heh, us too," Saura said.

Char passed out a snack of dried apples that had somehow survived at the bottom of the bag all day, and the weary children started to drift off to sleep.

"So, Scythe," Char said, long after the kids had all passed out for the night. "Did you find out what happened with all those soldiers?"

Scythe closed his eyes for a moment, deep in concentration. Char knew that the day hadn't gone too well for him, either.

"Maybe," Scythe grumbled, staring at the ground. "I can't be sure. They looked as though they were heading to the southwest…"

"Well, at least that means my family is safe for the time being," Saura sighed.

"One thing's for sure, though," Scythe muttered. "The settlement at Basin Canyon will have to be postponed. We shouldn't risk it while the Master has such a strong hold on the nearby area. The team's not going to like this one bit. Especially Daemon. I already know I'm going to have a hard time explaining it to him."

"Why's that?" Char wondered. "It looks to me like your team trusts you unconditionally. Even Daemon."

Scythe forced out a laugh. "Ah, ha ha ha," he grunted. "Sure, but just watch how they respond when I tell them we'll have to work overtime for an entire month. Maybe even two or three, just to keep an eye on the place. I've got to put it to Adiel… he has a way of accidentally executing plans that are more effective than he can imagine. Just by appearing to us, he's forced us to act and put strain on our entire operation."

Adiel, Char remembered. Oh wow, I almost forgot. When he appeared… he said that Saura only had three days left of freedom… and that was two and a half days ago. That means… he only has one day left! After tomorrow, he might come looking for Saura… I sure hope we're safely back in the base when tomorrow night rolls around!

"Say, Scythe," Saura said after yawning. "I've been wondering. What's up with Basin Canyon, anyway? What are you doing there, exactly? Well, I mean, if you're even allowed to tell us."

"It's a very long story," Scythe muttered. "But, I see we've got nothing better to do at the moment. Hmm… Where to begin…? Basin Canyon is a colony. A good number of years ago, a tribe of Sandshrew and Sandslash lived there. They had a whole network of tunnels and chambers in the walls of the canyon… and that was their home. They cherished it and defended it for generations. So, naturally, when the Master moved into the area, they… they stood their ground. Even when the Master demanded they clear out… they refused. They defended their home with their lives, and a war broke out. Many lives were lost. Sadly, most of those lives were the Sandslash that tried to put up a fight."

"But why would the Master do that to them?" Saura asked. "Even for him, that seems kind of low. Why would he force them out of the canyon? He had to have had a reason of some sort, right?"

"Because, the Sandslash were hiding a secret," Scythe told them. "Down, beneath the depths of the canyon… there was a mine. A mine of feral-shards. And when the Master found out this secret, he wanted all the feral-shards for himself, so he went to go take them by force. Even back then feral-shards were very rare, so you can imagine how wealthy the Sandslash made themselves by selling the stones to the markets. But the Master was determined to be the only one in control of the stones, to prevent Pokémon from becoming too powerful for him."

So, they're fighting for the feral-shards! Char realized. I remember when we found one in the thieves' den… no wonder Scythe got all excited when he saw that. I bet they're really valuable!

"Well, the battle over Basin Canyon raged on," Scythe continued. "When this battle was almost at its breaking point, my team decided to go in and help them. So, Team Remorse gathered their strength and fought for the Sandslash. But we soon found that even we were not strong enough. We had underestimated the Master's efforts… and we knew that the battle would be lost. So, we did what we could to evacuate the Sandslash safely. But, during our very final battle in those caves, a very… unfortunate thing happened. It was something I thought I could have avoided, but in hindsight, I know now there was no way for me to prevent it. The soldiers attacked us… and they killed Jahzara, the leader of the tribe."

As he said this, he hung his head as if in respect for the memory of a fallen hero. Char also saw a little resent in his eyes. He could tell that the story was very important to the old warrior; it was a memory he lived in the shadow of, wishing he could change.

"And when the dust settled, and it was all over, Jahzara's tribe was defeated and demoralized. They had lost everything they ever held dear—their home, their precious stones, and even their leader. So, we did the only thing we could do: we led them somewhere safe, somewhere they would thrive and stay hidden for as long as they could. And, that day… I gave a solemn vow to them. I promised them that one day, I would lead them back to their homeland."

"And that's what you're doing now, isn't it?" Saura said. "That's what this 'settlement' is you keep talking about. You're going to take the Sandslash back so they can settle at the canyon again."

"Indeed," Scythe said. "Even after all these years, I kept it in the back of my mind. I never forgot my promise. Well, it was hard to, anyway; it turns out that I had taken a little reminder with me. You see, when Team Remorse turned and left the Sandslash in their new home that day, a little Sandshrew, the second-youngest of Jahzara's seven sons, followed us and wanted to join us. His name… was Shander."

Char smiled. He finally understood why Scythe and Shander were such great friends. Scythe also smiled warmly at the memory, but his smile soon faded as he continued his story.

"Now, when the Master took control of the canyon, he found something he did not expect. The feral-shards which he so zealously sought after were buried at the very bottom of the Basin's deepest chambers… which had, at some point in time, become blocked by one of the longest, most difficult Mystery Dungeons known to this day. After trying unsuccessfully to send forces through the dungeon and claim the stones, he gave up. And now, finally, we have a chance to fulfill our promise to Jahzara's tribe. It wasn't easy to get this far, but we're almost ready to lead them back home and give them adequate protection while they settle in."

"Wow, do you think the Master will fight back?" Saura wondered. "That sounds like a difficult task, defying him openly like that."

"Oh, we already know he will fight back," Scythe said. "But we can fend him off this time. If we can just fend off the Master's first counterattack, and show him that the Sandslash intend to stay, he'll back off and leave them alone; after all, he doesn't even care about the canyon anymore. And believe me, to say that we've put a lot of thought and planning into this effort would be the understatement of the decade. Our master plan is flawless. We will win. Not even Adiel will stand in our way."

"So, seeing those soldiers today threw another whole kink into things, didn't it?" Char asked. "Now you have to postpone the settlement."

"Yes," Scythe said. "One of the most important things our plan hinges on is the size of the Master's forces in the surrounding area. This year, it's been at an all-time low, the perfect opportunity to execute our plan. But now… we will have to wait until we know for sure what the Master is doing with these soldiers. But, rain or shine, we're going to get this done."

"Well," Saura said, now with his eyes closed, "if there's one Pokémon in the whole division that can pull this off, it's you."

After that, the team drifted off to sleep to the sound of wild Kricketot and Noctowl from the surface above, and, of course, the ever-present gentle roar of Char's flame…

… … …

In the middle of the night, Char found himself awake.

Letting his curiosity get the better of him, he made the mistake of craning his neck against the dirt wall to take a quick glance at the world above…

…And what he saw horrified him. A cluster of hundreds of dark shadows, like a giant black cloud, floated slowly through the sky.

Watching.

It took him a while before he was able to calm himself enough to return to sleep.

*Chapter 23*: Chapter 21: The Greatest Treasure

Chapter 21

The next morning, Char awoke to the sound of Scythe's call, as usual. This time, he finally felt like his body was getting used to it… until he looked up and saw the sky past the roof of the ditch. It was nearly noon! They'd slept in for a long time!

"Well, I couldn't wake up the kids too early," Scythe said with a smile after Char had mentioned this. "Especially not after yesterday. That would just be irresponsible!"

So, when everyone was wide awake and ready to go, the team headed off on the final leg to Sitrus City. The kids were more eager than ever to see their auntie, and Char and Saura were more eager to know that another successful mission had come and gone.

---

Sitrus City

"Well, here we are!" Saura exclaimed as they entered the lively Pokémon community. "Sitrus City! What do you think?"

Char didn't really know what to think. For some reason, he'd expected something a lot different; something like a great big cluster of skyscrapers, streets, and vehicles. A human city. This, though, looked more like a giant garden or a city park. There were buildings, but in shapes he never thought were possible, and almost none of them were more than one floor tall. Decorative trees, plants, and flowers lined the sides of the wide, stone-paved pathways.

"It's pretty," Char answered. "Not what I pictured, but it's very pretty."

"It's a nice place to live," Saura said. "A lot of my brothers lived here at some point in time, and I stayed here a lot, too. It's so relaxing…"

As they walked through the town, they passed many Pokémon. A Ponyta tugged a cart full of stones somewhere. A Delcatty and two Skitty lapped water from a pond. A Pelipper flew down the street, stopping at mailboxes to deliver mail.

"It's almost like the Division," Char noticed.

"It is," Scythe said. "Pokémon who live in cities help one another out, just like the division. For most of us, it's vital to our survival to live in a community."

While Char could certainly appreciate the colorful and inviting sight of the city, he couldn't imagine living there. He knew he much rather preferred to be back in the Division base, surrounded by rocks and fire rather than plants…

They didn't stop to enjoy the scenery, although Char did his best to take in the strange and interesting sights. A lot of the houses were things like tents and teepees, but there were also a number of structures made of brick, stone, or metal. The architecture of some of these buildings was so odd, Char really had to wonder about the different Pokémon that lived in them and what kind of reasons they would have for, say, a house shaped like the head of a Totodile, or a house which stood upon two pillars with the entrance several feet up in the air, or a house shaped like a giant pyramid with slits down the sides, or one that resembled a giant, vertical arch with one window.

I know that Pokémon got the idea of building houses from humans, Char laughed to himself, but maybe something got lost in translation! This place is ridiculous! Or… maybe it's just… I don't know… fun.

Saura led the team quickly through the city he knew well and to the place known as the Pearl Dome. At first, it appeared to Char like a big, pink igloo made of polished rock. As he saw more of it, he noticed that it had several entrances around the circumference, which probably housed different Pokémon.

"That one!" Meary shouted, pointing at one of the dome's doors. "That's where Auntie lives!"

As soon as Teary rapped on the door, the Nidoqueen burst out. With a cry of joy, she gathered all the bunnies up in one big armful and gave them a big hug. Most of the children didn't look too thrilled.

"Ohh…. Children!" she gasped. "You all had me so worried! Your momma sent me a message that you were supposed to be here yesterday! I stayed up all night… oh… I'm so glad to see you're all safe! Oh, you're all so filthy! We'll have to get you cleaned up! Oh, Beary! You went and hurt yourself again, didn't you? We'll have to get you a good slice of Pecha fruit right away!"

When the eager Nidoqueen was done squeezing the living daylights out of the kids, she turned to their traveling companions.

"Sirs, I must thank you for all your trouble," she said amiably. "We can't tell you how much this means to us!"

"It was our pleasure," Saura said proudly.

"Well, well, I suppose I owe you something for your babysitting," she rambled, disappearing back into her house for a moment. "Here, wait just a moment…"

This is it, Char realized. The reward! I wonder what it will be?

Char and Saura were all smiles as the old Nidoqueen returned, holding something in her claw. Char preemptively stretched out his own claws to accept the gift…

"Here you go," she said kindly. "It's not much, but consider it our way of saying thanks."

Two little round coins, amounting to twenty Poké, fell into Char's grasp.

Words could not express the disbelief on Saura's face. Scythe even looked a little bit surprised.

"Hey, if you want, you can stick around for a while," the Nidoqueen said invitingly. "I'm sure the kids would be happy to have you around! I even made some poffins for them. You're welcome to share!"

"Uh… no thanks," Char said, clenching his claw around the money. "We've… got to get going. We've… got more work to do."

"Oh, too bad," the Nidoqueen said. "Well, thanks again for everything! Kids, why not say goodbye to your kind guides?"

After a barrage of adoring goodbyes from the five little kids, the adventurers turned and left. Their mission was finally complete… but it all felt somehow unsatisfying.

"Say, you two," Scythe inquired to the still-speechless Team Ember, "you didn't by chance take a mission with an unmarked reward… did you?"

"We did," Saura admitted. "Is that why…?"

"Well, when you see one of those, it means that the Division won't reimburse you for the mission, so the only reward you're going to get is whatever the client decides to give you."

"…Oh," Saura grumbled. "I wish I would have known that before. Oh, well, I guess the greatest reward was knowing the kids are safe and sound, right?"

Char opened his claw and stared at the two tarnished coins in his palm. Yeah, Char determined. That must be it.

---

Division Base

"Thirteen Sitrus berries?" Kecleon cried, examining the contents of Char's bag. "THIRTEEN whole Sitrus berries? Wow! Where on earth did you find these?"

"Uh… the Sitrus Orchard?" Char said awkwardly.

"Well, my young friends, you've certainly hit the jackpot!" he shouted, patting Char on the back. "These things are so rare, and even when Pokémon around here do get their hands on them, they're never willing to let me have them!"

Remembering Shander's advice, Char decided to try to sell his spoils to Kecleon to see if he could produce just a little bit more profit from the trip than he'd received from the Nidoqueen. To his surprise, Kecleon went completely mad at the sight of a couple pieces of fruit.

"I'll take them!" Kecleon proclaimed. "Seventy thousand for the whole bag."

"Wow, really?" Saura cried. "They're that valuable? That's amazing! I guess this was a profitable trip after all!"

Char smirked. "Seventy thousand for the whole bag, except one," he said. "We want to keep one. And that's our final offer."

"Well, you, my good sirs, have got yourselves a deal!" Kecleon exclaimed, bowing his head to Char and eagerly snatching the bag away. "Absolutely fantastic! Just wait until my brother hears about this! You two, my good sirs, may you have the best day in the history of Poké-kind. Incredible! Sitrus berries! Incredible!"

And so, Team Ember's perfect record continued with their third successful mission. It was the hardest one yet, but they persevered, defied the odds, and came through! As they did so, Char and Saura learned more about their world, the mysterious dungeons, and their lives as a resistance team.

After the victory had been reported to the registry, Team Ember happily stocked up on supplies. After all, they would just be getting up tomorrow and doing it all over again; a resistance team needs to serve the division each and every day. Making sure to steer clear of the unmarked bounties, they decided on their next day's endeavor and were all prepared before the torches even turned red.

Scythe was given a good talking to by Daemon for staying out longer than planned as well as dropping Team Absolution in his lap without coming back to give them the promised explanation. Then, at the evening's meeting, he described all the latest developments and broke the bad news that the Basin Canyon campaign would have to continue a lot longer than previously planned. Surprisingly, the team took it very well; they all seemed full of morale and ready to give their all, even though it would probably turn out to be their most difficult endeavor yet.

After a satisfying dinner and a glance at the evening news report, the torches changed colors and Team Ember retired to Scythe's room for the night.

… … …

"Hey! Wake up!"

Char stirred at the sound of Scythe's voice. He felt horrible. How early was he getting up this time? Was it because he slept in so long the night before?

That's when he glanced back at his tail flame—it was red. Red, as in, it was still late in the evening.

"What do you want, Scythe?" Char asked.

"Get Saura up," Scythe hissed. "You've been summoned."

"Summoned by who?" Char wondered. "High Intelligence?'

"No, Team Stripes!"

"What!?"

"Team Stripes has requested your presence down in their quarters," Scythe said. "Now, come on, we don't want to keep them waiting!"

So, Char woke up a very annoyed and grumpy Saura, and Scythe dragged them both down more stairs than they cared to count. Char could only wonder what in the world Team Stripes wanted with them…

Down they went, all the way down to the eighteenth floor of the base…

Through the dull, dimly-lit hallways of the training teams…

All the way to Team Stripes' headquarters…

And when they got there, they were in for quite a surprise.

… … …

"THREE…!"

Team Stripes had welcomed them at the door, then hurriedly ushered them inside…

"TWO…!"

Inside, they found the last thing they'd ever expect to see—a party.

"ONE…!"

The room was filled with Pokémon. All twenty-seven members of Team Stripes were there, cheering for Saura. There was even a huge cake, prepared by the kitchen masters for this very occasion…

And at the very moment the torches turned blue, the room erupted in one great cheer…

"HAPPY FREEDOM, SAURA!"

The last day before Saura was to be captured by the Master's forces and forced into servitude had just finished passing by. By the Scizor's promise, tonight was the night Saura was supposed to be lead away in captivity… but instead, he was at the very, very bottom of an underground cave, surrounded by friends, and with no intention of ever giving into the Master's demands. It was official: he'd escaped. He was free.

Saura cried tears of joy, thanking everyone for the wonderful surprise and friendship, as the whole of Team Stripes tackled him and gave him a big hug.

Scythe admitted that he'd planned the whole event ever since he learned when Saura was scheduled to be taken. Having served many terms in the Master's army himself, Scythe knew how precious freedom was, and felt it needed to be celebrated.

They spent hours into the night stuffing themselves with cake, telling stories, and conversing about all of their endeavors with the division. Nobody cared that they'd be dead tired the next morning, as the training teams were still restricted.

At one point, a Weavile came down and visited the party, requesting to see Saura.

"I'm Vazidor, of Team Dread," the Weavile said to him. "I heard a rumor that you were in the market for one of these."

He grinned, presenting Saura with nothing other than a mobile scarf. Already drained of all the tears he had, Saura managed to weakly choke out a "thank you" as he speechlessly accepted the gift.

"Happy freedom," the Weavile said just before leaving. "It's the greatest treasure you will ever have. Never let anyone take it away."

At last, the party ended, and it was time for everyone to sleep. Saura's head reeled from everything, and Char couldn't help but be happy for him.

As they gathered themselves and prepared to leave, one of the members of Team Stripes came to them. It was Ray.

"So, did you like it?" Ray asked. "We worked really hard on this! How was the cake?"

"It was all amazing," Saura said, his bright smile never leaving his face. "Thank you so much for everything. I can't tell you what this means to me."

"We knew it all had to be perfect," Ray said. "I'm really glad you liked it."

… … …

After they said their goodnights, Char and Saura headed for the door, but Ray stopped them again.

"Uh… listen, you guys," he said, a little bit nervously. "Since you're here… do you think… we could talk? There's something I've been meaning to say… and I thought now would be a good time for it…"

"Eh, why not?" Char shrugged. "What's the matter, Ray?"

As the rest of the team scrambled and clamored, cleaning up their room in the wake of the celebration, Char and Saura stepped out into the quiet hallway with Ray.

"I've been trying to work up the courage to ask you this," Ray said, fretting with his tail. "Could you… I mean, could I… Would it be okay if… you let me… … … join Team Ember?"

Char blinked. The question really took him by surprise.

"Y-you don't have to answer right away!" Ray said quickly. "If you… if you want to think about it for a while, that's fine!"

"Really?" Saura said in surprise. "You want to join our team? Are we… even allowed to do that?"

"Well, usually, the new recruits like me stay on the training teams until they either form their own team, which they almost never let you do… or until one of the other teams lets you join. And I was wondering… if you'd let me join. It's… up to you, really."

Char and Saura looked at one another, unsure of what to say.

"Listen," Ray said. "It's just that… Ever since I started working here, I've only had one dream: I wanted more than anything to be on Scythe's team. The heroic exploits of Team Remorse have always been an inspiration to me, and I've just… always wanted to be a part of it. I give my all every day, hoping that someday, somehow, they'd accept me. I even evolved as fast as I could so I could get stronger. I know that day is still a long way off, but… now you're here, and you're a team of your own, and it's… really a dream come true for me if I could be on your team! The thought of personally training with Scythe every day… just like you two do… it would make me really happy."

When Char saw the eagerness and hope in the Raichu's eyes as he awaited an answer, he knew he couldn't let his dreams down.

"We'll have to see if Scythe approves of it," Saura said. "But… we'd love to have an extra hand! What do you think, Char? You're the leader, the decision is up to you."

Char didn't wait a single moment to answer.

"Ray, we'd be honored to have you on our team," Char said gleefully, holding out his claw for a handshake.

Once again, no handshake was returned. Instead, the Raichu leapt joyfully into the air, sparks of static electricity buzzing across his fur.

"Sweet!" he cried. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You won't regret it! I'll never slack off, and I'll give ten hundred percent effort to your team! Thank you! I can't wait! Yes! I'm on Team Ember!"

It was really, really late as Char and Saura finally got around to sleeping that night. After talking to Scythe about letting in a new member—which he had no problem with, especially after he heard who the candidate was—they spent another hour wide awake, just talking about all the crazy events of the day.

"You know, we made a lot of Pokémon very happy today," Saura said. "The Buneary, and their mom and dad, and that Nidoqueen, and Ray, and even Kecleon!"

"Yeah, and you, too!" Char added. "Who would have guess they'd throw a party for us? I couldn't believe my eyes! I thought those kinds of parties were only a human thing!"

"Oh, Char, I can't tell you how much that meant to me," Saura said happily. "Last week, when I ran away from home, I was on the verge of despair. I thought it was all over. And now, look at me. I found you, and we found this place, and everything's… okay."

Maybe that's the real reason we fight the Master, Char thought. We spread happiness while the Master wants to take it away.

After everything was said and done, Char finally settled down and closed his eyes…

… … …

It's… it's happening again!

Char felt himself in the midst of another vivid memory. He floated in a realm of blinding whiteness…

It… feels so real!

The great blue dragon, Dialga, stood before him, its eternal eyes glowing brightly with power. Radiant beams of light reflected from its scales and blades…

This… is the clearest memory I've ever had!

Char tried to move, to turn his head, to cry out with his voice, but it was all futile. It was only a memory recorded in the recesses of his mind, unable to be changed…

The great Dialga began to speak. This time, Char heard its voice… although he could not understand it. It was too quiet, too distorted… or perhaps it was in a different language…

No! Dialga, what are you saying to me? I… can't understand!

But he saw the Dragon's face much more clearly than before. He saw how the great lord of time stared down at him, its eyes full of sadness, but at the same time, full of pride. It spoke as if it were about to do something reluctantly, yet reverently…

Suddenly, Char felt his vision change. Something else entered his line of sight. It was…

A bipedal dragon, equally as mighty as the first, lined with dark red stripes and adorned with great wings and pearls…

P-Palkia! Char realized, his heart erupting uncontrollably. Palkia is here, too! What… what does this mean? What's happening?

The great master of space bowed its head as well, its many jewels shining like stars…

And, holding out its hands, it presented Char with an object.

The little round floated before Char, shining brightly with the same supernatural light. It was the object of grave importance.

Except, this time, Char could see it so much clearer than last time…

It was such a strange little thing… so small, yet so powerful… so simple, yet so dangerous… it was something… something that shouldn't have even existed in this world…

And then he recognized it. He knew exactly what it was.

The realization made him jump awake. He gave a loud gasp for air as he sprung to his senses in the middle of Scythe's chamber.

"Char, are you okay?" Saura asked weakly, stirring from his sleep. "Nightmare?"

"Saura!" Char gasped, still in disbelief. "I saw it! I saw the thing in my vision!"

"What? What is it?" Saura asked, now wide awake.

"It was… a Pokéball!"

---

Elsewhere...

"Faster! Faster!" Dusknoir shouted to his servants as they wearily pushed themselves across the land, under the shadow of the Watchers.

"Erk… can't we just take a rest?" Croagunk pleaded, dragging the heavy bag full of salvaged valuables with them. "I think we've gone far enough for one night…"

"We're not safe until we reach the fortress," Dusknoir said softly. "Until then, danger could come out of any—"

"You're awfully late."

Dusknoir froze at the sound of the voice. A Scizor stood before him, watching the travelers from atop a rock.

"Adiel," the Dusknoir addressed reverently in surprise. "I swear, we were going as fast as—"

"I gave you your orders," Adiel said. "I expected you at the rendezvous point yesterday."

"Yes, I know," the Dusknoir replied confidently. "We are sorry. We will be there by morning!"

"Listen, Dusknoir," the Scizor said, leaping off the rock and approaching the ghost. "I intend, for once, to outwit Scythe. I only have once chance at it. I need your assistance to do it. You are not going to blow my one and only plan apart because you're too lazy to keep your servants under control. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly," the Dusknoir said. "You know I wouldn't miss the opportunity to help with his undoing."

Satisfied, the Scizor nodded at his answer. He was about to give his final comments and leave, but suddenly noticed what the Dusknoir held in its hands…

It was a small, round object the color of violet. The ghost had been fiddling obsessively with it ever since they left the cave.

A Master Ball.

"You know, we could just end the Scyther's efforts once and for all most easily with this," he said. "I would be more than happy to perform the deed for you, Adiel…"

"Dusknoir," the Scizor said, a dark anger seething behind his voice. "You know very well that ball was meant for one Pokémon, and one Pokémon alone. Do not do anything foolish."

The Dusknoir looked disappointedly at the Pokéball.

"Yes, Adiel," he said shamefully. "You are right. I would not want to displease the Master in that way."

"Good," the Scizor said simply. "Now, move yourselves faster. I expect to see you there by morning. Right now, I'm off on a little mission of my own. Unless I'm mistaken, there's a little Bulbasaur whose time is up…"

The Scizor dashed away into the darkness.

End of Season I

*Chapter 24*: Special Episode: Betrayal

Special thanks to EkaSwede and nightdragon0, whose comments led to the inspiration for this chapter.

---

Betrayal

When the young Scyther set out that night, he knew he was about to attempt the riskiest, most insane mission of his life. But he knew what had to be done, and there wasn't the slightest doubt in his mind that he would pull it off; after all, he was used to attempting the impossible. It was what he was trained for. It was what he was known for.

In perfect silence, he perched in the branch of a tree, hiding in its shadows. Watching the ground below. Waiting for the perfect opportunity.

Since the day of his hatching, he'd endured the harshest of training by his clan, and in time, the elite ways of the warrior had become second nature to him. He learned that it wasn't enough to see, hear, and sense, but also to understand and to predict. He learned that everything, everything, meant something—the rustle of the leaves in the wind, the scent of the air, the angle of the moonlight as it filtered through the branches—and he learned to interpret and understand the meaning of every slightest signal received by his senses.

The rustle of the leaves, and the pattern in which they stirred, told him that he was safely downwind from his unsuspecting predators. The scent of the air told him that the night-guards were nearby, and would soon be returning on their patrol. The angle of the moonlight as it hit the forest floor below told him that he would have the first chance to see his opponents before he would be spotted himself. He knew that understanding one's own limits and perceptions was not nearly enough; the truly skilled must also understand the limits and perceptions of the enemy. That was the true secret to formulating superior strategy.

Of course, there was a time when the Scyther could recite word-for-word the eighteen rules of duel tactics, the four greatest mistakes when deceiving the enemy, and the most efficient ways to disable an opponent without killing them, just the way his sensei had taught. But theory was entirely lost to him now; all those words had simply melted away into a sort of all-encompassing instinct that dictated his every move in any given situation.

In fact, he was constantly surprised at the omniscience of the instinct which lived in him, hidden beneath the surface of his consciousness. He couldn't even begin to understand how it worked or how it had developed to such a high level, all he knew is that he could command his body to take action, and it would simply comply with such impressive responsiveness and precision that he wondered if a foreign spirit were actually taking over his body and making his moves and decisions for him.

At first, the Scyther considered this instinct as a foreign beast; an alien. But it grew to be his best friend, a friend who never let him down in any situation, a friend he could always trust. As he grew, the instinct enveloped his entire being. It became him. It defined him.

Down below, two Mightyena came into view. He knew the window of opportunity was upon him.

With the agility of a Grovyle, the Scyther nimbly leaped forward through the trees, leaving behind a sound no greater than that of the wind.

Although the natural gifts of speed and cunning were always intrinsic to the Scyther's race, his had somehow developed to a level far above and beyond all his brethren. His skills among his clan were unmatched, and he proved them time and time again in battle against his enemies. He had garnered a powerful respect even from the oldest and wisest of his elders. When the clan leader had chosen him as a successor, it was no surprise to anyone.

But it was never meant to be. Fate, it seemed, other plans for him. He was indeed bound to a destiny as great leader, but not nearly the kind of leader he or his brothers had expected…

The Scyther leaped and flew from tree to tree, careful not to emerge above the treetops lest the night-watchers of the sky catch sight of him. As the end of the forest drew closer, the Scyther found it harder to jump as the trees grew farther apart. He stopped once again to catch his breath and to wait for his chance to evade the next round of guards.

As he glared forward, letting his subconscious churn the information and determine the best route to continue, his consciousness had to ward off a few stinging thoughts.

I can't believe I'm doing this. After the years I spent escaping this place, I turn around and return in a week? Am I mad?

No, his instinct told him. This was not madness. He was doing the right thing, and he was the only Scyther among his clan who would even have a chance. He knew these grounds. He knew every tree and rock in this forest. He knew every stone in the castle's wall. He knew every hallway, path, and secret chamber in the castle. After all, he'd lived there for fourteen whole years under the service of the Master. During those years, he'd gained an intimidate knowledge of the stronghold's layout, and for only one purpose: so that one day, he'd be able to lay it all on the line and execute his masterfully-crafted escape plan.

And it worked. After three long, patient years of manipulating his surroundings into a window of opportunity, he fled the master. His escape was clean and flawless, just as he had planned, and he soon found himself miles away from the horrible place which had held him captive.

But when he escaped, he became faced with this difficult mission. He knew how the Master's forces worked, what halls they walked and what patterns they patrolled. He knew what kinds of Pokémon were stationed there, and how powerful they were. Only he had the skill and the knowledge of the Master's forces, and he had to do it alone.

When the Master's dark castle came into sight, the Scyther's mind was filled with awful memories of the things that he'd done while in the Master's command. He forced them back, trying to assure that his instincts had enough room to do their work, but they burned like torn scabs…

He remembered his youth. His foolish, ignorant youth, when he didn't understand who the Master was and what he stood for.

With his talents, the Scyther was a prime pick for the Master's servants. When he was chosen out of all his brothers to be one of the Master's high leaders, to be the commander of his troops, he considered it an honor and eagerly accepted. He was taken to the Master's castle, where he was presented to the generals and branded as one of the Master's own. From that point forth, he lead legions of Pokémon under the Master's orders with the same cunning precision and efficiency that had his clan had known him for. He was, indeed, one of the greatest of the leaders the Ambera region had ever known. His name became known to all; enemies would shudder and allies would bow down at its sound.

The Scyther was very proud of his work. He ruled over entire portions of Ambera, staving off anarchy and enforcing the Master's law. Day by day, he became more satisfied with the respect he received from his fellow commanders. As he gained more of the Master's trust, he felt his life gaining fulfillment. He was happy.

But then…

The Scyther gritted his teeth, feeling the most painful of memories ready to rush in and pounce from the shadows. He tried to focus all his concentration onto the task at hand, but the memories could not be held back. Like his powerful instincts, they, too, had become part of who he was. They, too, defined him.

As the Scyther grew older and more mature, he started to see the world with a new perspective. He began to open his eyes, recovering from the rush of power that had brainwashed him. He realized that some of the commands bestowed upon him by the Master didn't seem… right, somehow. The cities of Ambera were not being treated with respect. The thought occurred to him that the way the Master ruled over Ambera was not that of a wise, compassionate leader, but a sadistic, apathetic child. The Master appeared to bark out orders, not because he had a grand purpose behind them, but just because he could. It was not unlike how the Scyther reveled in his own command over the Master's army, gleefully ordering them around. He started to suspect the Master's true motives; maybe he was, at the very core, drunken by his own power…

So, the Scyther, even in his seat of authority, began to grow suspicious of his Master. Utilizing his powers of intuition and his manipulative nature, he determined that he would somehow, some way, learn the Master's motives for himself.

But he did not have to wait for long before the truth was revealed to him. Once again, he found that his instincts had been doing all the work for him all along, and he only had to wait and reap the rewards; for not long after the Scyther started his campaign to unravel the Master, his superiors approached him. They told him how the Master was very, very pleased with his work, and the Master had chosen him to become one of his closest, most-trusted Pokémon. They tempted him, telling him that he would share all of the Master's deepest secrets, that he would be counted as among the most elite and powerful Pokémon in the country. That he would rule from the Master's side as one of his second-in-command, as a privileged member of his council.

Naturally, he accepted…

And that's when he began to learn the horrifying truth.

The Scyther had traveled a long way in such a short amount of time. It was the only way to infiltrate the castle without being seen. Soon, he found himself standing before the great black brick wall that formed the circumference around the fortress. It was nearly twenty feet high, ensuring that no pesky ground-dwelling Pokémon would be able to get in. But with the power of flight, and the knowledge of which areas of the wall were watched more closely than others, it was barely an obstacle to him. He crept along the wall, hiding deep in the shadow cast by the moon, and found his entry point…

His sharpened instincts rendering him immune to fear and nervousness, he took a deep breath, opened his wings, and leapt up and over the wall in the blink of an eye as a cloud floated across the moon.

…And once again, he found himself in the place he knew so well, yet the last place on the face of the earth he ever wanted to be.

His entry had gone off without a hitch. He had not been spotted, and he had not triggered any of the traps. However, it was only the first of the challenges. He knew he was likely to meet some resistance along the way. Wasting no time on bitter memories, he dashed forward to the Master's castle.

As promised, all the Master's greatest secrets had been entrusted to him that day. Even the Master's nature and true identity, something that remained unknown to everyone but the closest of his followers, was revealed to him. It was something that not even his instincts had been able to predict…

And then he realized… not once had the Master made a move to help the people of Ambera.

Beneath it all, the Master was leaving Ambera to wither. To die.

All along, the Scyther hadn't been helping to rebuild Ambera. He'd been helping to destroy it.

"Anyone who opposes the Master or his great plan… will perish."

The words echoed through his mind as he crept through the castle's corridors.

"Anyone who questions the Master… will be slain."

The words… even his instincts, which always kept his mind at the peak of alertness and sanity, abhorred them…

"This… is your duty."

That was when the Scyther realized it. He was not hired as a servant. He was a slave. All of Ambera… were slaves.

"Every morning, you will get up…"

The Master saw his mind. His inexplicably brilliant mind, the mind that could analyze and understand and accomplish the impossible. The Master needed that mind to further his ends. It was the only way for him to be unstoppable.

"And you will watch over the country with your unblinking gaze…"

The Master, all along, was using him for his talent. He was not even a slave, but a tool. A mere tool.

"And you will find those who seek to defy the master…"

The Scyther grunted, trying desperately to cut off the awful memory…

"And eliminate them."

At that moment he heard those words, he knew it in his heart: he would escape the Master.

But he knew, deep within the bowls of the Master's ranks, it would be near impossible to escape him. He could not simply run. He would have to cover his tracks. He would have to evade and confuse those who would follow him. He needed to leave without betraying himself, without leaving the slightest hint of a trail or any other clues that could betray his plan.

It was a long three years, but his brilliant mind did not once let him down. One by one, every piece of his plan fell into place. Every deception was planted flawlessly into his surroundings…

But, for every inch closer he came to freedom, he had to carry out another one of the Master's horrible orders… under penalty of death. After all, failing to obey the Master meant that he was only becoming one of the very Pokémon he had been ordered to eliminate.

A rebel.

The Scyther's silence threatened to fail him as he crept through the dark halls of the castle. The memories were overpowering… And the remorse… It was stronger than he'd ever felt it before. He'd already spent many days beneath the sun, shedding all his tears for what he'd done, learning to harden himself to his past… But it all seemed null and void as he once again traversed through the Master's fortress.

He caused so much death…

So much blood had stained his silver blades…

So many innocent lives had been destroyed at his command…

And every night, he had to make the same decision.

Either he could defy the Master and die, never to take another innocent life…

…or he could keep going, in hopes that one day he could escape from the Master's grasp and cause more good than he had caused evil. To perhaps even bring the Master down by his own blades.

He knew he was probably making the wrong choice. He knew that the remorse might overpower him. But, every day, he made the same decision: he chose life. It was what his instincts told him to do.

And the day finally came when he escaped. On that day, as he fled, he no longer felt satisfied with himself. He did not cry out in joy. Instead, his flight was silent, solemn…

The Scyther who had been inducted into the Master's service so many years ago was different. Changed. Changed by violence, by oppression, by death…

When he returned to his clan, he was met with another horrifying discovery: upon noticing his absence, the Master's forces had come for a replacement. A fellow Scyther, the one who would have been the heir to the clan's head in his absence, had been kidnapped against his will and taken to serve the Master.

So, he told the clan to disperse, to flee from Ambera. It was the only way they for them be safe. Meanwhile, he knew it was time to start undoing all the evil he had caused. He knew what he had to do as his first mission.

"By Arceus, it's him!" a voice gasped.

The Scyther froze, noticing a Houndour who had been traversing the same hallway and snuck up on him from the shadows. It was frozen in shock.

"Mawile!" it cried. "Mawile! Send for he—"

-Slash!-

Without a second thought, the Scyther attacked, and the Houndour fell with a pained squeal. Behind him was the Mawile, already running away, its huge jaw-like protrusion gnashing at him.

-Slash!-

And the Mawile's body fell as well, its huge jaws hitting the floor a couple feet away. It writhed on the floor in agony, clutching at the stump atop its head.

The Scyther knew that the attack had not been a silent one, and could already hear several crying voices down the hall and the sound of footsteps scuffling in indistinguishable directions. It would not be long before his presence was made known to the entire fortress. He knew that it was impossible to remain hidden the entire way, but now, he had to hurry to put his plan into motion.

He dashed forward as fast as his legs could carry him, opening his wings to propel at an even greater speed. Fast as he was, though, he could not outrun some of the Pokémon that attacked. A Kadabra, hearing the cries, attempted to block the hallway. The Scyther tackled it, slashing against its psychic barriers until they were pierced and he could knock it away. A Quilava latched onto the Scyther's shoulder, and he spun to throw it off moments before it could singe his head with a burst of fire. A Cubone swung its weapon and hit him squarely in the forehead, but he slashed back, unfazed, and put a bloody gash across its chest.

Once past the group of Pokémon in his way, the Scyther fled on down the hall. He could hear them screaming curses to the legendary dragons about his re-appearance as they hurried after him and barked orders to put the fortress on high alert.

All according to plan so far…

With the Pokémon hot on his tail, especially the quadrupedal creatures, he ducked around a corner, down a flight of stairs, through a doorway. Slamming the wooden door behind him and nudging the lock into place, he took a moment to catch his breath.

The room was a small, cramped one, like an empty closet…

-Boom-

The Pokémon pounded at the door.

"He's in here!"

"PUSH!"

"We've got him!"

"Nobody will believe this!"

"HARDER!"

-BOOM-

The door's hinges creaked. It wobbled weakly on its lock..

"EVERYONE AT ONCE! THREE! TWO! ONE!"

-SLAM!-

The door fell down, and several Pokémon poured into the room, all on guard to take down the famed hero-turned-fugitive that had inexplicably returned.

But the Scyther was no longer in the room.

"Of COURSE!" the Kadabra said. "Look! The hole in the ceiling! He took the secret passage. Quickly! Cut him off on the other side!"

So far, so good, the Scyther told himself as he dropped into a completely deserted room.

Indeed, his grand entrance had gone just as could be expected. Everyone and their brothers knew about the secret passage in the old water closet, but nobody seemed to know about the secret passage within the secret passage that lead all the way to the training room on the opposite side of the complex. So, while the entire base went on high alert and legions upon legions of Pokémon were most likely crowding around in the armory waiting for him to emerge, he found himself completely alone. It was a perfect distraction.

With just enough luck, it would give him all the time he needed to get down to the holding cells…

Almost there, he told himself, looking back up at the trapdoor in the ceiling to see if he could hear if anyone had followed him. Just… a little further, and this madness… will be over…

Mustering his energy one more time, the Scyther prepared to leave the room…

… but there, standing at the door of the room, was the silhouette of a creature he didn't expect to see.

"Adron…?"

The Scyther winced at the sound of his name. Worry mounted in his heart as the creature took a few steps forward, revealing itself in the torchlight of the training chamber. Its body was about the same size as his, but covered in a shining, red carapace…

It was a Scizor.

"Adiel?" gasped Adron, trying to calm his surprised heart. "Is that… you?"

The Scizor calmly took a few steps forward, squinting in the poor light of the room.

"Adiel… You… sacrificed your blades!" Adron growled in disappointment. "You have forsaken the code of the Adrellos… is this what it has come to?"

"I have become stronger," Adiel said simply. "I've always wondered what it would be like to be as strong as you. Now, I finally know. But… I… I cannot bring myself to believe that you're here. Why are you here? After such a spectacular vanishing act, you've returned?"

"Adiel," the Scyther said, shaking its head to orient itself. "I expected you to be in the holding cells. I don't know what you're doing here, but… If I am to rescue you, we've got to act quickly and flawlessly. There cannot afford to be a single mistake. I have it all planned-"

The Scyther found himself interrupted by the sound of an amused laugh. The Scizor stepped closer to him, their gazes burning into one another.

"Is this why you came back?" Adiel chuckled. "To 'rescue' me? Why do you think I need rescuing?"

"Adiel, you don't understand," Adron growled, growing uncomfortable. "The Master… he's… a monster. To serve him is the greatest curse in all the world… I do not want to doom a clanmate to that fate, no matter how dangerous it may be."

Looking oddly at the Scyther, Adiel stepped to his side, inspecting him from a different angle. The Scyther kept his gaze locked the Scizor's.

"Listen, we've got to get out of here," Adron said again. "My diversion won't last long enough for chatter. We can talk later."

"It looks to me like you're the one who needs to get out of here," Adiel said oddly. "I'm a servant of the Master now. I have accepted my fate. I don't intend to leave. And besides, that wasn't a very good diversion. They told me you were climbing through the secret passage. By secret, I assumed they meant the one that wasn't known to everybody and their brother."

Adron's heart beat a lot faster now. He felt his fight-or-flight instincts rousing within him, but he wasn't done yet.

"Honestly, I don't understand why you gave up when you did," Adiel said. "This is a glorious position of power. I spent my entire childhood thinking that my training would never amount to anything useful. I thought that my future was to command the clan… but now, here, I have an entire army to command… Just like you…"

"They… replaced me… with you?" Adron asked, surprised.

"They knew how powerful you were," Adiel said. "You left a pretty gaping job opening when you left, you know that? They needed someone of equal skill to fill the void. Of equal upbringing and credentials. Yes, they took me against my will, they held me down when I struggled, but then… they imbued me with this power… they made me a Scizor…"

The Scyther seethed. He couldn't believe it. His own clanmate was following the very same path he had. He was becoming drunk with power.

"Adron…" the Scizor said, "I renounce my status among the Adrellos. I'm happy where I stand. This is my true purpose in life. If you want to live, you should leave."

"No!" Adron screeched at the top of his lungs and whirled around, causing the Scizor to jump back. "I am not leaving you here to suffer! You do not understand, Adiel! The Master isn't… he isn't… what he seems! He's… a devil! A monster! Nothing matters to him. He will just use you for his own… amusement. He only wants to use you like a tool! Like a… scythe to cut down his grass. Is that the life you want, Adiel?"

"I still don't understand. Why should the scythe be unhappy that it is fulfilling its one true purpose?"

Adron pounced at the Scizor with blinding speed, slamming him against the nearest wall and looking straight into his eyes. The Scizor's eyes were indifferent. Complacent.

"Adiel, they told me things," the Scyther said with a raspy, desperate voice. "They made me one of their most trusted. They told me things! They told me of the Master's greatest plan... They told me all his secrets… If they tell you, Adiel, they will not set you free. They will bind you! They will bind you to slavery and misery and pain for the rest of your days! The Master… is not what he seems!"

The Scizor forced him off, but he stood still against the wall. Through it all, the Scizor continued to remain calm and collected, much to Adron's dismay.

"I know his secrets," Adiel said. "They already told me."

Adron reeled back, as if hit with a powerful blow to the chest.

"They… already told you."

"Yes," Adiel said. "I became part of the council the day I became a Scizor. I made my vow. They revealed everything to me."

"But… how…" The Scyther gasped. "It took them years to trust me… why you…?"

"The Master was desperate. He needed a replacement for you as fast as possible. I simply gave my word to remain loyal… and I was in."

"So… you… you know?" Adron said, now having to strain the words from his throat.

"I know everything," Adiel said. "And I still don't understand what your whole uproar is about. I'm happy to comply with the Master."

"You are happy with tearing Ambera down by its threads?! You are happy being a weapon of slaughter?!" Adron demanded.

"I am happy building the Master's kingdom," he replied simply. "Those with power are the ones who can choose the fate of the world."

The Scyther still could not believe his ears. His clanmate was truly betraying him. And, it was not by a strong sense of determination that he spoke, but only because he did not know any better. He was like a child. He was like an indoctrinated little child, like a trained little animal, raised by the way of the warrior and taught that power is meant to be used.

There was no changing his mind.

And if he tried further, there was no guarantee he would escape from this castle a second time.

"You want to know why I resisted?" The Scyther growled bitterly. "Because my instincts told me to. They wouldn't let me further my horrible purpose."

"Really? Is that it?" Adiel said. "Knowing you, I was expecting something more… complex. But… are you really so weak-willed, my brother, that you cannot resist the simple cries of your instincts?"

"WHO among us is the weak-willed?!" The Scyther snapped violently. "You are the one who can't resist the weight of your power. I was the one who resisted my fate! I was the one who fought and changed my future. And tonight, I was willing to do the same for you. I didn't want to see you fall prey to the Master's schemes. As a friend, I couldn't bear to let that happen."

"You are making less and less sense every minute," Adiel said. "I am no prey. I am the predator. You are the one who chose to become the prey."

Adron's instincts were unbearable now. Go, they said. Your window is closing! You will be trapped! GO!

The Scyther looked reluctantly at the door, then at the Scizor.

"Besides, you were the one who betrayed the Master," Adiel accused, his calm, gentle voice gradually gaining a sharp edge. "He trusted you with his secrets, and you walked out on him. You now must live with what you have done. How can you tell me that you do not want me to suffer the same fate as you? Are you not here, trying to convince me to betray the Master as well? No, Adron. I will not suffer the same fate as you. I will stay here and serve."

Adron did not reply. His mind was screaming at him so loudly now…

"But now, look at you," Adiel said. "Will you be able to keep the Master's secret within you for the rest of your days? Or will it burn you alive from the inside?"

"I will keep the secret," Adron growled. "I have to. There's no other choice."

"You can say that now, but ten years from now?" Adiel said pointedly. "You, who can hardly fight his own instincts… how can you live with something so powerful tugging at you from the inside? But you understand that if you were to let it out, you, and the rest of Ambera, would perish…"

"Yes," Adron responded quietly. "And so would you."

Adron felt the subtle shake of the ground as forces moved about the base. He took a step towards the door.

"They will order me to slay you," Adiel warned. "You are a traitor. If you value your life, you should leave Ambera. I will stop at nothing to hunt you and cut you down."

"Never," Adron solemnly proclaimed. "Not until I have seen the Master fall from this throne that we have all elevated him onto. I will oppose."

"So be it," Adiel said. "But, you know what this means. The next time we meet… you will be the prey."

"No," Adron said powerfully. "I will be the fellow predator who protects your prey. From now on, Ambera is my garden. I will take it from the Master and sow the seeds of a new age. I will be the one to protect it and watch it grow, untouched by the Master's evil hands."

Adron heard voices now. The guards were coming to inspect this part of the castle. Shamefully, regretfully, angrily, he stepped to the door.

Taking one last glance at his old companion, he uttered his final words…

"And if you try to harm it, I will be the scythe that will cut you down."

In the blink of an eye, the Scyther was gone.

Adiel had been right. The secret had burned. It burned a hole straight through his heart, and it did not stop there. It burned his entire being until it left him numb.

Like the memories, the secret had become an inseparable part of him. It defined him.

So much had changed since then. The Scyther had discovered the great resistance, something that changed him and gave him a brand new beginning. Adron was dead, replaced with a new Scyther that sought only to keep his promises and to undo the horrible deeds that the mighty Adron had once committed. A Scyther that played the role of wise leader to his faithful team of friends. A Scyther that kept no secrets from anyone.

…except for one, a secret he even wished he could keep from himself.

But, as he sat awake in his own personal chamber deep beneath the surface of the earth, hidden away in a place that not even the Master saw…

As he glanced at the Charmander, the Bulbasaur, and now the Raichu that slept peacefully in the far corner…

He knew the time was coming when the great, burning secret might finally be unleashed onto the world.

The Charmander…

…the human…

…had changed everything.

*Chapter 25*: Chapter 22: Storms Brewing

Season II: Emerald

---

Chapter 22

"Well? Are we ready?"

"I don't think it's possible to be any more ready if we tried. I know, because we did try."

"Are you sure we didn't forget anything?"

"We went through the bag at least four times last night. We're fine!"

"Plenty of food?"

"We got enough food to last us two days."

"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be worried… I'm just a bit nervous…"

"I know. I am, too."

Not two minutes after the all-clear had been sounded signaling that the world above was safe to travel, Char, Saura, and Ray stood at the southeastern doorway of the Division base. The hall was dead silent save for only a couple other early-bird teams who insisted on seizing the day the moment it became available. But, unlike Team Rattata or Team Firebolt, who were still blinking the flakes from their eyes and trying to walk straight, Team Ember was as alert and energized as if they'd already been awake for two hours prior. Actually, they had; it was a bit difficult for any of them to get a good night's sleep with nervous anticipation tugging at their minds…

Team Ember was ready to embark on their very first mission… alone.

"C'mon, guys, we'll be fine!" Ray said comfortingly, hefting the bag over his shoulder. "We're experienced enough. Scythe knows we're ready for this! Just think… months from now, after we've done hundreds of missions and become a famous high-ranking team, we'll be standing at this same door, and we'll look back, and think 'Wow, remember how scared we were the first time?'"

"Scared? Hah!" Saura laughed heartily. "I'm not scared! I just want to make sure we're not going to make some stupid mistake, like forgetting to pack our orbs, or... okay, fine. I'm scared. But that doesn't mean I'm not excited!"

"I'm scared just as much as you," Ray admitted. "This'll be the first time ever I've gone into a Mystery Dungeon without a trainer. You two at least have that Sitrus Orchard mission to look back on. Me? Nothing. Team Stripes had always supervised their dungeon explorations. But c'mon, we can't just dwell on everything that could go wrong! This is our day to show everyone how bright we can shine! Just think of how proud Scythe will be of us!"

"Yeah," Char chimed in. "We're a fully capable team, and this mission will be easy! As long as we give it half an effort, it'll be over before we know it." Then, under his breath, he added, "…And if I keep saying that, maybe I'll start actually believing it."

The team took a deep breath, trying to muster up the last bit of courage needed to begin the day's journey…

"Hey, you three," a Rattata yawned from behind. "Gonna move, or what?"

"Oh, sorry!" Char yelped, stepping aside. "We're just… getting ourselves ready…"

"Scythe's kids, right?" The Rattata said, eyeing them oddly as he and his team walked by. "First day on your own? Bah, you guys probably got nothin' to worry about. Just get it over with."

"He's right," Saura said with a surge of confidence. "Guys… it's time to go. Whatever happens, we can at least say we tried, right?"

With gritted teeth and heads held high, the team headed out.

It had been five whole weeks since the addition of Ray to Team Ember.

The day following Saura's freedom party, Scythe helped to complete the paperwork that would officially make Ray a member of the team. Scythe seemed very thrilled with the idea; he'd long since known about Ray's desire to eventually join Team Remorse, and agreed that letting him join Team Ember would be the perfect opportunity to bring him closer to his dream. Saura admitted he was a bit surprised at how willing Scythe was to allow the new addition to his group of personal apprentices, but Scythe shrugged and said that it was part of the learning experience.

"You are a full-fledged team, after all," he'd said, "so why shouldn't you be able to recruit new members from the training teams, just like all the rest? Deciding on new members is one of the most important decisions a team needs to make. A new member requires a heavy investment in companionship, understanding, and trust, not to mention resources. If you've chosen a poor teammate, you'll find that life can become very difficult, very fast. But, frankly, I don't think I could have picked a better choice myself for your new teammate. I think we'll all get along very well."

And he was right. Char and Saura soon found that it was very hard not to get along with Ray. The Raichu was constantly beaming with energy, and never once made even a tiny effort to contain his happiness. As he joined the team on their missions, he eagerly soaked in every lesson and piece of advice Scythe would give, and proved to be quite a formidable opponent against the wild Pokémon with his powerful electric attacks. Sometimes, it even seemed that Ray was giving more effort than Char and Saura put together, and the two were constantly surprised at how he never seemed to tire out, even after the longest and hardest of missions. In fact, Char was secretly beginning to think that Ray would make a better team leader than he ever could. But Ray never once complained about the team's leadership; he always had the highest level of respect for his teammates and especially his mentor, and it seemed that he wanted nothing more than just to wake up another day and face the world alongside his friends.

It wasn't long before Char and Saura started to experience the repercussions of having a new teammate. Even though Ray obviously never wanted to be unfriendly or bothersome, his overeager nature made him intrusive at times. Seeing that it was something that simply could not be changed, Char and Saura knew that they'd just have to get used to it. Ray had a very unique personality and always saw things in ways that Char and Saura could not, and his input on potential missions and strategies could be quite unexpected. His preferences for missions and even for items to fill the bag with were different than Char had been used to, and it often took a bit of compromising among the three to arrive at a final decision. The team's nightly planning sessions had never been the same.

But the negative was easily outweighed by the positive. Having an extra set of hands meant that shopping, packing supplies, and running errands were many times easier. Having a larger group meant that bigger and tougher challenges could be taken on, and having an electricity-wielding Pokémon on the team meant that they would be better suited to take a wider variety of tasks. But, most of all, having another close friend made the harsh life of a resistance team seem so much more comfortable and bearable. A feeling of fellowship quickly formed among the three, and it made everything seem worth it.

Even after just four days of having Ray on the team, Char and Saura began to understand what Scythe had meant. Even with just one new member, Team Ember was now a completely different team than it had been before. Char saw that accepting a new member was not a small matter, and one that he knew he couldn't take so lightly again in the future.

For the following five weeks, Team Ember fell into the daily routine of a resistance team. Each day presented a brand new opportunity to score another victory, to build upon the team's reputation (as well as their bank account), and to help make the world a better place beneath the shadowy reign of the mysterious one whom they all opposed.

Despite his overloaded schedule, Scythe somehow found the time to accompany the fledgling team on their missions, taking every opportunity to teach them what he could about all the different types of challenges and environments they met. Under his watchful eye, the team grew in knowledge, experience, and confidence…

…But, in what seemed like no time at all, a certain fateful day fell upon them.

"Listen," Scythe had said to the team as they planned out the next day's events. "I need to accompany my team to Basin Canyon tomorrow. They need me over there, I can't get out of it this time. So… you'll be on your own."

Although Char was able to smile and nod in reply, he felt a surge of panic erupt inside of him when he had heard those words. If there was one thing his adventures had taught him, it was that there was no such thing as a simple or easy mission. Many things could go wrong, and commonly did go wrong, and Scythe had always been there to get them out of their worst binds. Knowing they'd be on their first independent mission suddenly brought back horrible memories of that fateful day in the Sitrus Orchard; he could practically taste that feeling of despair and anguish he'd felt when he'd realized how badly they'd screwed up…

"Let's make this a test," Scythe had said. "If you succeed on the mission without me, I'll let you start taking real missions instead of using the training teams' agendas. And maybe, if I am so inclined, I'll stop taking half your earnings."

"Don't worry about us!" Ray had said. "We'll do it! We'll pass your test!"

Of course, it was always like Ray to be overly optimistic. This time, though, it didn't seem to make Char feel any more confident.

So, after the longest and most intensive preparation session yet, and after a rather restless night's sleep, Team Ember found themselves heading out on their very first unsupervised mission.

It was a rescue mission, much like a couple others the team had done. One of the Division's messengers reported the disappearance of a Pokémon, a Furret, outside of Iron Town. It hadn't come back before dusk, so it was safe to assume it had taken refuge from the Watchers in the caves outside of town and gotten stuck in the Iron Crevice Mystery Dungeon. The dungeon wasn't a difficult one, but being fifteen floors and filled with rock- and steel-type Pokémon, it would not exactly be a walk in the park, either. But with a handful of tactical advantages, a bagful of supplies, and weeks of training from a true master, they knew they were up to the challenge… even though it didn't really feel like it.

---

Cliffside Academy

The southeastern entry to the Division base was the most interesting of them all. Being the "main" door to the entire base, it needed protection from the most innovative and convoluted security system Metagross could come up with. And that's exactly what it had: the entire entrance was disguised as a business establishment on the outskirts of Iron Town, built into the edge of the great plateau that housed the underground base. It was a training academy, to be exact. The academy—and it actually succeeded in functioning as one, to maintain the most believable guise possible—stood in for the elite and prestigious establishment that once made its home in the very caves of the Division base. So, whenever legends spoke of this academy, Pokémon assumed it referred to Cliffside Academy, having no earthly idea of its true identity, or its fate. It was the perfect cover-up for the underground resistance force in nearly every way, and a very profitable one at that; tuition fees were a close match for the income earned by the Division's everyday efforts like missions, taxes, and piracy from the Master's trade routes.

After ascending a very lengthy staircase, Team Ember met with a Slaking who served as the keeper of the southeastern gate. After bidding them a good day (between heavy yawns, being so early in the morning), they proceeded through a fake dormitory building and out the front door.

Taking a deep breath of the chilly morning air, Char shuddered in anticipation of the day's events. He was thankful that it was Ray's turn to carry the bag, but he knew he'd have to be the navigator in exchange. Unrolling the map and trying awkwardly to hold it in the light of his tail, he struggled to see the path the team had marked in what could practically be the dead middle of the night.

"You know," Char commented, flipping the map around when he realized he was holding it upside-down, "one of these days, maybe we could sleep in and do our missions like everyone else, you know, in the middle of the day."

"We could, but then… well… wouldn't we just be like everyone else?" Ray said with a smirk. "Scythe is trying to train us above the standards of the other teams. I don't think he'd be too thrilled about seeing us break the sleep schedule he's been molding us into for the past weeks."

"Yeah, plus, this is a rescue mission," Saura added. "That Furret spent all night in that dungeon. We have to get him out as fast as possible! But I agree with you, Char. It would be nice to take a break and sleep in once and a while, especially if we're becoming independent from Scythe… but if we do, I think we have to consider how it would affect the missions we plan."

"I don't know about you two, but I wouldn't be able to sleep in if I tried!" Ray exclaimed. "Training is just too exciting. But maybe if we get a fourth team member someday, you two could take the day off from time to time…"

"Ray, that's not what I'm saying at all," Char laughed. "I'm not a wuss! I'm just saying… some sunlight wouldn't hurt for some of our missions."

"Luminous orbs are five hundred Poké a piece at Kecleon's," Ray winked. "Maybe next time, we could pack one."

Char grumbled. He could never win against Ray. With the Raichu around, Char and Saura found it much harder to even ithink/i about being lazy; they quickly learned that they could count on their new companion to push them hard and rebuke even the slightest suggestion of slacking. Beneath it all, though, he and Saura were thankful for every bit of it.

---

Route 325

"Okay, here we are," Char announced, squinting at the map as they approached the outer boundary of the campus. "We follow the cliff down south. But we should stick to the path if we don't want to wander into the wild Onix and Graveler. Six and a half miles, and there it is: the Iron Crevice."

As always, the crack of dawn always felt like the dead of night, and the homogenous landscape didn't help with the visibility. Devoid of any grass or trees, the badlands south of the academy were comprised of flat, barren stretches of clay-saturated dirt, riddled only with the occasional standing boulder or rock pile. Route 325 was the only true spectacle to be seen amidst the dull scenery: a wide, bright white walkway paved with fine gravel that wound its way down to the south. The small rocks that made up the road seemed to be cemented in place; they never shifted underfoot.

Char glanced at the eastern horizon, but wasn't surprised to see that there was still no sign of the sun. If it had started to peek over the horizon, there were too many distant hills in the way to see it.

"Walking is always so fun," Saura said, rolling his eyes. "It feels… weird, though… Scythe is always here to lecture us while we walk. But now…"

Letting the statement hang, Saura cast the group into the very thing he feared: a nervous, uncomfortable silence…

Ray started whistling a little tune. Char immediately recognized it as a children's nursery rhyme he often heard among the Division. He'd first heard it sung by Leo the Shinx on a long-ago mission, where it had gotten stuck in his head and stayed there permanently, much like the Resistance Creed. He started to sing along. What a great big world, a sight to behold...

It was a children's song, but it did the trick. Char always felt his spirit lift whenever he heard it.

Char had long since started disregarding how weird it felt to have Pokémon instincts and emotions, and even started to completely forget how he would have expected himself, as a human, to feel. It scared him a little, but he was honestly starting to feel comfortable as a Charmander, and starting to feel like he'd been a Charmander for his whole life. It'd been a whole month since his last vision of the legendary dragons, which was all but forgotten in Char's mind as he went about his day-to-day life…

"Something wrong?" Saura said quietly, as if to keep Ray, who was still whistling, from hearing. "Are you okay?"

Char cringed. He knew that reflecting upon his humanity had caused a change in his demeanor, which Saura instantly noticed. Char sighed, displaying a small, broken smile on his face. Saura was such a good friend. He was always so sensitive.

"Nothing, it's just…" Char mumbled back, reluctant to answer. "I… think I'm slowly forgetting that I'm a human."

"Oh…" Saura said, his tone changing, becoming more empathic. "That's right. You… haven't seen Dialga and Palkia for a while, have you?"

"No…" Char said.

"Well, I'll always be here to remind you," Saura said comfortingly. "Someday, we'll figure out your past. I'll never forget that it's our main purpose for being together. I did make you a promise, you know."

Char's smile brightened. Not only was Saura sensitive, he was compassionate. He always knew just to say to make him feel better.

As Ray started into another verse of the song, Saura looked back to Char.

"Hey, Char," Saura said, a bit awkwardly. "Have you… considered… you know… whether or not we should tell Ray about… you know… everything?"

Char was actually rather shocked at the question. No, he hadn't thought very much of the idea. Ever since Ray had become a team member, Char had started to consider himself a Charmander through and through. It never occurred to him to extend the intimate details of his identity and his fellowship with Saura to a third member. For the first time, he tossed the idea around in his head a little bit, trying to judge it. Ray probably already knew that he had the Call. In fact, he was sure of it; Scythe had since referred to his ability many times in casual conversation with both Team Ember and Team Remorse, and Ray never found it odd. But Saura, and probably Scythe, were the only ones who knew his deepest secret. How would Ray handle the truth? How would he react when he learned that Team Ember was something a little more than just a Resistance Team?

"Hey, what's going on?" Ray suddenly called forward. "You're not telling secrets, are you? I'm part of the team, too! I don't want to be left out!"

Although Ray was obviously just concerned and not trying to be rude, Char had to bite his tongue before he said something he'd regret.

"Ray, Char and I have a history together," Saura said politely. "Sometimes we just like to comment to one another. Can you blame us for that? We don't mean any harm."

Char sighed again, happy that Saura had found a good response. Yes, he realized, among the three of them, Saura was definitely the one who had a way with words.

Ray didn't respond, but a hint of disappointment flickered through his eyes. Again, Char considered the question of whether or not to let Ray in on the secret. Surely, he couldn't bear to hurt the Raichu, friendly and loyal as he was, by making him feel rejected or distrusted… but did he actually trust him enough? He'd trusted Saura on the very first day they met, but that was out of necessity. Yet, after knowing Ray for as long as he had, he was still reluctant.

I'll think about it, Char determined. This is a really big deal. On one hand, we're a team. We really shouldn't be keeping secrets from each other. But on the other hand… Ugh, I just don't know if he's ready to know.

Saying nothing more to Saura about the matter, Char simply fell silent as he and his team continued hiking down the path.

Rumble…

About half an hour later, an ominous sound from the sky above brought Char back to his senses from his thoughts and daydreams. Thunder? Just the suggestion of getting caught in the middle of a rainstorm made him start to tremble. He looked up and tried to scan the sky for clouds. Even though the sky had now turned from pitch-black to dark gray, it was still too dark to tell.

"Uh-oh," Saura said, also noticing the noise. "Think it's going to rain?"

"For Char's sake, I hope not," Ray said.

They kept going, hoping that it had just been a far-off roar or perhaps a Pokémon's electric attack. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

Rumble…

About one minute later, the sound once again echoed down from the invisible clouds. Char's throat started to tighten. He knew that Charmander were perfectly capable of braving a rainstorm—the tiny drops of water would all evaporate on contact with his tail—it wasn't a pleasant experience. At all. Having been on a few missions during some scattered showers, he liked to compare the experience to getting caught in a hailstorm and getting constantly pelted with painful chunks of ice. He would live through it, but the pain and pressure would impede his ability to produce powerful fire attacks, reducing him to a weary deadweight in the upcoming mission…

"Hmm," Ray said, a little disappointed. "I did check the weather report last night, and there wasn't any mention of a thunderstorm…"

"Well, as they say, I guess Kyogre goes where it wants," Saura said. "If it starts coming down too hard, we packed an Airlock Orb, didn't we?"

"We packed one," Ray said, "but it was supposed to be for the dungeon…"

There was a tiny sizzling sound as the first little raindrop struck Char's flame. Char winced, the sensation not unlike a pinprick to the skin.

"On the other hand," Ray said, noticing that the rain had begun falling, "I guess we see how heavy it gets. If it gets too bad, we'll use the orb. But, in the meantime… maybe we should pick up the pace a little bit?"

In unanimous agreement, the team's steady hiking soon became a jog.

To everyone's dismay, the rain never let up. Fifteen minutes and about one mile later, the rain was still falling at a steady pace, accompanied by the occasional lightless thunder that would erupt from the sky. It wasn't bad enough to warrant blocking the weather with the power of the orb, but it was easy to tell that the rain was—ever so gradually—getting heavier. Char remembered the law of storms, perhaps from his humanity: storms leave exactly as fast as they come in. Judging by that, he knew this storm would probably be hanging in the air for the remainder of the morning…

Having long since packed the map into the bag, Char resorted to dashing on all fours down the road as fast as he could. Ray and Saura had followed suit and did their best to keep up, Ray trying to balance the bag over his back as he ran. But, it was ultimately futile; with a rush of the wind, the falling rain soon turned from a drizzle to a moderate downpour, and they were still a few miles shy of their destination.

Trying to bear the stabbing feeling in his tail, Char glanced back at his teammates. Both of them seemed to be enjoying the rain, especially Saura, as it provided his seed with a fresh drink of water to absorb. He knew their concern was solely directed at him.

"This is getting heavier," Saura called. "If you want, we could try to move closer to the cliff and get some shelter."

"Not now!" Char answered. "We can't risk getting beaten up by wild Rhydon!"

"If this gets any worse, we'll risk having you pass out!" Saura cried. "Please, I don't want to see you faint before we even get to the dungeon!"

"I'll be fine," Char called back. "It's just an annoyance. It's not serious."

"Char, don't try to be courageous now," Ray warned. "The moment I see your tail start to flicker, we're heading for shelter, no questions! Got it?"

---

Iron Outskirts

Char's tail didn't last for ten minutes. It soon began to waver, sometimes appearing to go out for a split second before re-lighting itself like a gas-powered lamp, as it always would when Char experienced relentless suffering. There was no arguing with Ray, and soon, the team left the path and it was off to the shelter of the cliff-side. Thanks to a light breeze, the rain fell at an angle; getting close enough to the cliff would protect them from most of the downpour, but it would require treading on the territory of the local wild Pokémon. Although they weren't in a Mystery Dungeon and thus the wild creatures would not be constantly driven to attack them, the team knew from experience that many of the Pokémon would probably not like being disturbed at such an hour…

Char was the first to rush up the incline and to the cliff wall, hugging it for dear relief. He stopped to catch his breath and let his fire recover. Char gathered the end of his tail in his claws and held it against his belly, trying to protect it from the stray raindrops blown by the shifting wind. Saura cast a consoling glance of pity at him.

"Okay, now is the hard part," Ray said. "The dungeon is still two miles away. I guess we should stick to the wall and keep going. Just be prepared for anything."

Navigating the base of the cliff was difficult. The ground was nothing but a big, uneven pile of rocks, making it very difficult to keep one's footing. The team found that hurrying forward was no longer an option if they wanted to stay dry.

After twenty more minutes, as the sun was just starting to hint at granting some useful visibility, Char noticed why he couldn't see the sky before: it was completely, utterly covered in a dark blanket of clouds for miles around. The menacing thunderhead crawled across the sky, plunging them into the endless depths of a severe storm. The wind was picking up, the rain was worsening, and the lightning was starting to seethe within the clouds…

"Wow, I wouldn't be surprised if Kyorge actually was around here somewhere," Char commented in awe of the weather. "This is a pretty bad storm! You can't tell me that nobody saw this coming!"

CRASH!

Lightning struck somewhere over the top of the cliff, and Char jumped three feet into the air. It was so close by, there wasn't even a delay between the flash and the big bang. Char felt his ears starting to ring.

"How much farther?!" Char cried. "This is getting ridiculous!"

"A little more than a mile," Ray reported. "C'mon, if we keep moving, we'll get there."

Rumble…

Another alarming noise crashed through the air, this one even closer. As Char was starting to wonder just how it would feel to be struck by a bolt of lightning, he noticed Ray stopping dead in his tracks.

Rumble…

"What?! What is it?" Saura demanded, trying to yell over the noisy storm.

Rumble…

Fear flickered through his eyes. "I don't think that last one was thunder…"

Just then, the endless pile of rocks underfoot shifted, like something was crawling around underneath. Char and Saura both went pale for a moment when they realized it…

And then, the pile of rocks simply erupted in all directions, knocking the three off their feet. From underneath the rocks emerged a rather small-sized Onix—but a very angry one. The stones that made up its body had blended in perfectly with gravel pile it slept underneath, which it angrily tried to shove out of the way to confront the intruders who had the audacity to step on him during his rest.

"Ahh…" Saura cried, startled, trying to fill his lungs with air after the fall. "Well? Ray? Do we fight? Do we run? We were prepared for anything, but what do we do?"

"Hold on," Ray said, quickly standing upright and charging electricity in his cheeks. "I think I might be able to take care of this…"

"Ray, you know it's just going to ground your attack if you try to shock it, right?" Saura told him. "I don't think that's a good idea! You'll only make it more angry!"

"He can't ground it completely," Ray responded. "Onix is a rock creature. He can still take some damage! Now… stand back if you don't want to get shocked!"

As the giant rock beast shifted and glared crossly at the little orange rodent, Ray sidled away from his friends, focusing on his target…

Soon, an impressive positive charge had built up across his whole body. Bright white Static rippled across his fur and jumped from the tips of his ears to the end of his tail, some of it discharging into the rocks around his feet…

"Oh, and you might want to cover your ears," he warned with an evil smile.

Just as the Onix reared back to attack, Ray threw his arms up into the air, summoning a bolt of lightning from the storm clouds above! The air flashed brighter than day, and a soul-shattering KABOOM shook the ground…

Ray opened his eyes, ready to accept the raw energy of the lightning into his body and to discharge a mighty Thunder attack at the opponent, when he realized something was wrong.

"…Huh?"

As Char and Saura were uncovering their ears and opening their eyes, Ray saw that the scene had not changed. The lightning had not actually struck him or his opponent, and while the Onix was a bit fazed from the strike, it remained unharmed.

"W…what happened?" Ray wondered, his eyes darting around for any sort of explanation. "I thought I did a perfect thunder-attack..."

"Ray, what happened?" Saura cried. "I think that lightning bolt struck behind us!"

"What?! How's that possible?" Ray cried back. "I missed? That's… that doesn't make any sense! Lightning doesn't work that way! Besides, this is a thunderstorm! How did I miss during a thunderstorm?! What's going on?!"

Baffled, Ray turned his attention to the Onix once again. It was no use complaining about a failed attack when the Onix had almost recovered from the jarring surprise and was about ready to retaliate…

Focusing once more on his charged electricity, and this time relying on his own power, Ray's body started to shine with a bright yellow aura. With an angry cry, Ray discharged his Thunderbolt point-blank at the Onix's face.

To his horror, it missed.

Ray couldn't believe his eyes. As soon as the bright, zigzagging bolt of electricity left his body, it turned a sharp corner, flew right over the heads of Char and Saura, and into to the darkness.

"WHAT?!" Ray yelled in frustration. "What in the name of Zapdos am I doing wrong?! I can't be…"

It was then that he noticed that his friends were no longer paying attention to him. Their gazes were turned in the direction the thunderbolt had gone…

From out of the shadows emerged a truly massive beast, even more intimidating than the Onix. Its body appeared to be made completely of rock, adorned with orange plates of armor. A long, pointed horn protruded from its forehead.

A lightning rod.

Truly infuriated, the Rhyperior barreled forward, swiping its long, blunt arms at the trio of friends. Gawking at the sight of the incredible Pokémon, It took Char a second to realize he had to actually move his legs if he wanted to escape alive.

"RUN!" Char ordered, dropping to all fours and dashing back out into the pouring rain. Saura and Ray unquestioningly followed. They knew there was no way they were going to defeat two powerful Pokémon at once. Char barely even felt the agonizing pain on his tail as he ran for his life.

---

Route 325

So, it was back to the road.

The rain had become worse. Much worse. It was coming down in torrents, easily enough to reduce visibility. The wind had grown so strong, it sometimes made it difficult to stand upright.

I'm strong, I'm strong, I'm strong, Char kept telling himself, trying to hold his own in the merciless weather… I can do this. It's only a little tingling. It's only a little pain. Any respectable Charmander could make it through the rain... I just... I just have to take my mind off it and keep pressing forward... Oh, what a great big world... a sight to behold... what a perfect place... to...

Suddenly, Saura felt something snag him from behind. He turned to see that Char had completely thrown himself onto his back, and was hugging him tightly. Tears streamed down his already soaked face, his front teeth biting down hard on his quivering lower lip. With just one look into his eyes, Saura knew that he'd been reduced to a whimpering fool.

"Ray," Saura said flatly, "use the orb."

"Yes, sir," Ray said, looking sorrowfully at his broken friend.

It only took a minute for Ray to dig through the bag and find the proper item. He quickly produced it and held into the air, telepathically ordering it to activate…

Not even thirty seconds later, the last raindrop hit the ground. While the clouds still hung in the sky, exchanging bolts of lightning amongst each other, the rain had been sealed away by the spell of the Airlock Orb. It was an item that attempted to copy Rayqaza's legendary power of stopping any and all harmful effects of the weather, leaving them with a sky that neither rained nor shined. Unfortunately, using up the orb meant that one of their planned strategies for battling through the Mystery Dungeon would be a lot more difficult to pull off, but it was a price Char was happy to pay for getting there with his sanity intact.

"Thank you," Char whispered, dropping limply to the ground.

Char's friends waited patiently for him to recuperate, nurturing him whenever they could. Char used all the techniques he knew of to help re-light his Ember, to breathe deeply and hold his breath often, and soon, he was starting to feel much better. About twelve minutes and several Oran berries later, Char made a full comeback, and from then on it was smooth sailing all the way to the dungeon entrance.

But the day's troubles had still only just begun.

As the resistance team rushed down the road in hopes of making it to the Iron Crevice before the orb's effect would wear off, a pair of eyes watched them from behind one of the faraway boulders that lined the ground…

"Heh, there they are," Croagunk muttered, peeking around the side of the boulder. "Just like we planned…"

"Very good," said the Seviper, smiling with satisfaction at the remaining shards of the rain-orb they had just activated. "Now, it's about time we finally put this plan into motion."

"I still say it won't work," Croagunk groaned. "It's not like we can count on those kids to be stupid after they've been trained by that Scyther…"

"We've got to make it work," the Seviper hissed. "Boss is counting on us to do this. We can't let him down this time! Besides, we're not trying to make them agree to something stupid… it's something smart!"

"Heh heh, you're right, you're right," the Croagunk chuckled.

At that, Team X fled from behind the rock, closely trailing Team Ember all the way to the dungeon…

*Chapter 26*: Chapter 23: The Hard Way

Chapter 23

Iron Crevice B1F

The Iron Crevice was a relatively uninteresting place; it was just one of the many cracks in the wall of the great plateau. Unfortunately for explorers, it was expansive enough to provide a home for a good deal of dangerous Pokémon, and complicated enough to easily get lost in. The walls of the cave contained many heavy metals and minerals, giving the place its name, and making it an ideal habitat for the wild Pokémon who relied upon such things for food—namely, those of the rock- and steel-type. Civilized Pokémon races in the past had once tried to mine resources from the cave, only to get chased out when the local inhabitants violently expressed their disapproval of the disturbance. Eventually, the Mystery Dungeon curse had struck the cave, and ever since then it had been nothing but a dark maze of moderately powerful Pokémon and remnants of the failed mining operations. It branching corridors extended deep into the plateau and fifteen floors beneath the surface of the earth.

And somewhere down there was a poor, terrified Furret… It would be up to Team Ember, as a test of their skill, to find and rescue it.

"If Scythe were here, he'd be telling us to watch for the wild Pokémon," Char mentioned, leading the way by the light of his tail as he would normally do. It was something that Scythe made a point of reminding them about at the beginning of every dungeon exploration. Even though it was a painfully obvious point that there were wild Pokémon inside of dungeons, he'd been trying to show them how vital it was to learn to spot their habitats, recognize their cries, and expect them coming.

"He'd also be telling us to think about our formation," Ray noted. "We already know which Pokémon live here. In the upper level, there are Geodude, Graveler, Aron, Skorupi, and Paras. And if we go deeper, we might see some Onix, Bronzor, Rhyhorn, Rhydon…"

When a faint squeaking noise filled the air, the group instinctively halted to survey their surroundings. Not a second later, a fireball, a bolt of static, and a razor-sharp leaf converged on a poor Zubat that had been hanging from the ceiling nearby. It dropped to the ground, completely destroyed.

"Wow!" Saura laughed nervously, staring at the dead bat. "I guess we're a little tense at the moment, huh?"

"You didn't say anything about Zubat being in this cave," Char said dryly, also surprised at his own sudden attack.

"This is a cave. Zubat is a given!" Ray responded. "You know that! And Rattata, too, probably. Those things are everywhere. But we've grown so strong, they're practically not an issue. But, yeah… as I was saying… formation. We can't be wasting all our energy attacking at once. Saura, you should probably be the one leading the way, you're the best we have against Rock Pokémon. That, or at least be ready to back Char up if he needs it. Char, if we run into any Steel Pokémon, you're going to be our biggest hope, so you should follow Saura."

Char almost laughed. Ray was starting to sound like Scythe! But it was a sensible plan, so he complied.

"And what about you?" Char asked with a smirk, falling back to Saura's side. "I guess you get to stay back and watch us fight?"

"Well, we knew all along that I'd be a little bit out of my element here," Ray said with a shrug. "I'll just keep an eye out in the rear. And remember, we've got that Rain Orb. If you need me to use it, just holler. I won't even hesitate."

Right, Char remembered. The Rain Orb. Char had forgotten about that particular tactic, and probably on purpose, too. They'd brought one along as a backup plan to help support Ray's electric attacks in a pinch, but since they ended up prematurely using the Airlock Orb before they even reached the cave, they'd have no way to dispel the rain once it would start… leaving both Char and Saura at a disadvantage. It was definitely not something Char was looking forward to—he'd already gotten wet enough for one day.

The group commenced with systematic exploration of the first basement floor. Char let Saura lead the way, but stayed at his side just in case any of the potentially dangerous Aron or Bronzor would show up. Ray kept a watchful eye on the group from behind.

The ceiling, walls, and floor of the Iron Crevice were composed of shiny brown rock, somewhat resembling petrified mud. The path through the cave itself was unpredictable and difficult to follow, with a floor that never stayed flat and many sudden corners to turn. While Char had seen his share of caves during his time serving the division, he'd frequently find himself surprised at the effect the Mystery Dungeon curse could have on a cave. Some, like the Gravelrock Tunnel, had spacious and easy-to-travel corridors, and others, like the Fossil Pit, were hard to even call "caves" due to their perfectly flat floors and walls, and passageways that appeared to have been meticulously carved out by human hands. Not this time, though—the Iron Crevice was very deserving of being called a "crevice", and was quickly proving to be a true spelunking mission.

Scattered within the walls of the cave were shards and chunks of metal which formed odd protrusions as they jutted out from the surrounding rocks. Char saw how some of the formations sparkled like opaque crystals in the light of his tail flame, while others were as dull and gray as tarnished silver. A few times, he even caught sight of Pokémon-made steel beams sticking out of the wall, reminding him that the spatial anomaly was in full effect and sending a shiver up his spine. He started to wonder what the true Iron Crevice looked like, the one which existed underneath the curse…

As the team explored the floor, they started to unwind. Although the place was a little hard to navigate, things were going well. They encountered a few more Zubat, none of which posed any threat whatsoever, and quickly located the room with the staircase. In it, they were met with a new opponent: a Geodude, who'd been snacking on a pile of gravel that had avalanched from a nearby wall. A well-aimed Bullet Seed knocked it senseless before it had the chance to cause any harm.

So far, so good, Char told himself as he followed Saura down the stairs.

---

Iron Crevice B2F

At the beginning of the first hall on the second floor. Char thanked himself for not being particularly claustrophobic. The walls of this path were closer together than they had been before, and the deposits of metal jutting from the walls sometimes blocked the path enough that Char and Ray both had to duck or sidle up against the wall to progress. Still, it was scary to reflect upon how deep they were already under the surface of the earth in this forsaken place, and how deep they still had to go.

Midway through the hall, Char started to see something he feared he'd see: bite marks in the metallic deposits. Some of them very large bite marks, completely mutilating the surface of the rocks.

Char couldn't help but gulp.

"Hey, if all we meet are Zubat and Geodude, this will be simple," Saura joked. "Think we'll be so easy? Scythe says that sometimes, he's gone for dozens of floors in dungeons without meeting even one Pokémon…"

"I wouldn't be so sure," Ray said. "I think I hear something."

Stopping for a second to listen closely, Char noticed it too: there was a deep, raspy noise coming from the next chamber. Breathing.

"Okay, there's definitely something over here," Saura agreed. "We should get ready to fight…"

"What is that?" Char wondered. "What kind of Pokémon breathes like that?"

"Hmm… I can't tell," Ray admitted, listening closely. "It can't be a rock Pokémon. Most rock Pokémon don't even have lungs. Well, I guess we'll have to find out the hard way. We should be able to take it, whatever it is!"

Slowly and warily, Saura stepped through the archway to the next chamber. Char followed close behind with his light source, ready for anything…

But after a few more steps, the breathing stopped.

"Whatever it is, I think it saw us," Saura muttered. "But for a second there, It sounded like it was coming from the ceiling…"

Suddenly, a hoarse cry filled the air. The team froze.

-SLAM!-

Before anyone could tell what was going on, A large creature dropped from the darkness and slammed into Saura, sending him tumbling backward. It disappeared just as quickly.

"Waaah!" Saura cried, scrambling to get up. "I still didn't see it! What was it?!"

As Ray quickly leapt in front of Saura to shield him from another attack, Char stepped farther into the room to confront the creature. His fire had already swelled to a moderate size just trying to guess at the foe's identity, but seeing Saura get attacked sent his instincts into a state of elation. He was ready to battle.

Again, the roar filled the air. Char quickly turned in the direction the noise had betrayed, and could clearly see the creature hovering in the air before him in the now-brilliant light of his tail. Flapping its wings frantically and hovering in place was a Golbat.

"Yes! I see it!" Char announced, preparing to attack.

Char wasted no time in unleashing a wave of flames at the creature. It dodged, but the fire nicked the side of its wing and sent it careening wildly through the air.

Then, something very odd happened.

"Whoa!" the creature cried. "Hey! Easy, there! Watch where you're firing!"

Did… that Golbat just talk? Char wondered. Eh… I must be hearing things! I've got to take this thing out!

Char launched himself into the air at the Golbat. His attack struck, knocking the bat to the ground.

"Ow!" the bat cried as it struck the floor. "Cut it out!"

While Char thought it was weird that the bat was pleading for mercy, he wrote it off as some trick of the mind since the bat was still acting incredibly hostile. Char tried to pin it down, but it struggled and broke free, tumbling wildly around on the floor and gnashing at him with its pointed teeth.

Obeying his battle instincts, Char pounced onto the bat again. The bat performed an unnaturally swift maneuver and leapt backward, evading Char's claws. He pursued it, unleashing a stream of fire which hit the beast dead-on, stunning it. Closing in quickly, Char spun and broadsided the bat with his tail, slamming it against the wall.

"What are you doing?!" the bat cried. "STOP! I'm serious! This really hurts!"

"You started it!" Char yelled back, following up with another assault. With no second thought, he rushed to the wounded bat and started slashing at it furiously, leaving big red slices across its leathery skin…

"What are you TALKING ABOUT?!" the bat cried. "I'm… OW! OW! Stop! Please! Ow! Stop!"

That's when Char realized that something was very wrong. He halted his assault, taking a moment to realize the horrible truth…

Do I… recognize that voice?

"Char, I'm sorry for doing this," the Golbat said, rearing back…

-POW!-

Char saw stars. Pain rippled across his forehead. He backpedaled for a few steps, struggling to stay standing…

When the stars cleared, Char saw the truth. In the corner, exactly where the Golbat had been laying… was Ray. He was severely wounded, his orange fur covered in dark scorch marks and dripping with bright red blood. He glared up at Char, his fist still clenched from the punch he delivered.

"Ray!" Char gasped, rushing up to him. "I… I didn't… do this, did I? I thought… I was attacking the Golbat!"

Ray nodded. "It must have hit you with a Confusion Ray," he grunted, letting Char help him up. "You just went crazy on us all of a sudden. We didn't know what to do."

"Ray, I'm really sorry!" Char blurted. "I didn't mean any of this! I'm serious! I don't know what to say!"

"It's… okay," Ray sighed, his face clenching in pain as he moved. "You were confused… you couldn't help it…"

"Is Saura okay?" Char asked frantically. "I didn't hurt him too, did I?"

"I'm right here," Saura said, approaching Ray. Char saw that he was unharmed, but still a little shaken from the incident. "I'm fine. You gave me a good headbutt once, but I had to run and hide in case you attacked me with fire."

Char almost wanted to cry. Starting to feel weak from pure shame, he leaned against Saura and hung his head low, working to catch his breath.

"I… I think I need a minute," Char gasped. "I still can't believe I lost it like that. One minute, I saw the Golbat, and then it started talking! But… I couldn't stop attacking… and… Hey, wait. Where's the Golbat now? What happened to it?"

When his friends didn't answer his question, Char turned to Ray, wondering what the matter was. The Raichu returned an odd gaze, as if he couldn't quite think of a response.

"What? What is it?" Char begged.

"Char, it's… on you."

Char turned his head to find that the Golbat was still alive and well, and was, in fact, latched firmly onto his back with its teeth. Sucking his blood.

Char felt another wave of weariness wash over him, and realized that it had very little to do with his shame. He tried to lift his tail to burn the bat, but the flame was flickering, and he found it difficult to bring his muscles to obey…

"Hold still," Ray commanded, walking around to Char's back. "I don't know how much this'll hurt…"

The moment when Ray first touched the Golbat, Char felt it. Its teeth were really hooked under his flesh, sending a stinging sensation through his back at the slightest movement. His whole body cringed.

"Oh, man," Char uttered at the pain, squeezing his eyes shut. He almost felt like letting the thing stay on his back as long as it wanted.

"Wow, I barely touched it," Ray said. "Okay, so this could hurt a bit. But we've got to get this thing out, or you'll pass out from blood loss. We have to do this."

"But if you do it, I might pass out from shock!" Char gasped.

"Easy, Char," Saura said, sprouting vines and tying Char's hands to his own body to keep him steady. "We've got plenty of Oran berries in the bag, you can have as many as you want, okay?"

"B-but we've barely… even… We're only on the second floor!" Char stammered. "We can't waste them -YOWWWWWWWWWWW!"

Hoping to act while Char was distracted, Ray yanked on the Golbat as hard as he could. Char saw red streaks of lightning before his eyes, and his body uncontrollably convulsed from the horrible pain. Saura held on tight, keeping him from thrashing about.

"…It didn't even budge," Ray said regretfully. "Wait, wait! I know what to do. Char, sorry if this feels a little funny…"

"As long as it doesn't involve pulling harder," Char grunted, his body tensed. "Just…"

Char was suddenly cut off when a sharp buzz of electricity filled his body. A chilly feeling engulfed him, like he'd just been plunged into a sea of ice-cold sand. Char tried to comment on the sensation, but found that his mouth was not working. In fact, his entire body had become unresponsive. Unable to keep standing, he slumped down onto Saura's back like a ragdoll.

"Sorry," Ray said again. "I paralyzed you, and the bat too. Now, you shouldn't feel anything when I…"

-Schlork!-

Having gone limp from paralysis and not able to keep its mouth locked on Char's back, the Golbat easily slid out of place. Char felt nothing, only hearing the sickening sound of Ray separating the creature from him.

"Ooh, that went deep," Ray commented. "And it looks like he poisoned you, too…"

"Paralyzed and poisoned?" Saura said, setting Char gently onto the floor. "I think it's time to get out a Heal Seed…"

Char recovered from the incident in no time, as was expected with the multitude of medicinal supplies they'd brought along. Ray force-fed him a Heal Seed, then shared a handful of Oran Berries with him to help dull the pain and heal the wounds.

It was unfortunate that a Heal Seed had to be used so early in their mission. They were rare and valuable items, difficult to get from Kecleon's at a decent price and impossible to find in the wild. They were the result of science; to create one, a botanist had to graft together the twigs of several plants, including the Pecha tree, the Cheri tree, and the Rawst tree. These hybrid plants took incredible dedication to stabilize and cultivate, and if one actually succeeded in surviving, would produce a vile-tasting fruit which contained seeds that, although infertile, could be ingested by Pokémon to cure a variety of illnesses and harmful effects. It was a major convenience for doctors and Resistance Teams alike to carry around these tiny, all-purpose seeds rather than different kinds of medicine for particular illnesses, but they were so pricy that Team Ember had only ever gotten their hands on two of them, and hadn't dared to use one up until now.

When Char ate the seed, the paralysis faded away quickly, allowing him to move and feel. This wasn't necessarily a good thing, though; there was a terrible stabbing pain in his back where the Golbat's fangs had penetrated. He made a break for the supply bag where he proceeded to jam Oran Berries into his mouth until he started to feel better. Ray, who had also suffered his share of injuries from the fight, joined him.

"Practically not an issue, huh?" Char joked, biting into a berry.

"Um… yeah," Ray said, a little ashamed of himself. "I… guess I forgot that Zubat don't stay small forever. Well, that's the last time we make that mistake, huh?"

"You can say that again," Char said, wiping juice from his muzzle. "Maybe we should bring one of those Persim Bands next time…"

"Hey, Ray, what gave you the idea to use paralysis?" Saura asked. "That was brilliant! I don't think I would have even thought of that."

"Well, this sort of thing has happened before," Ray said, starting to smile again. "A while back when I was still a Pikachu, I was on a mission with my old team, and we… had a little incident with a Totodile. It latched onto my teammate, Shur, who was a very panicky Psyduck… Ha ha, I remember, it took us five whole minutes to get him to stop flailing around and calm down… But when we finally did, the Totodile would not come off, no matter what we tried. So… I paralyzed them both, and it worked like a charm."

"Well, we're glad to have you around," Saura said. "You're invaluable to this team, you know that, right? When you first joined, I don't think we realized what we were getting into. Now, we rely on you so much, I can't imagine how we'd get along without your help."

"Hey, what are friends for?" Ray said with a shrug.

After they felt ready enough, the team finished combing the floor. When they were certain that the Furret was not there, they proceeded.

---

Iron Crevice B4F

As they continued on their search for the lost Pokémon, they started to meet with more opposition as they got deeper into the crevice. Geodude were getting numerous, as were Paras. Zubat continued to be common, and the team met no less than four more Golbat along the way. Once, Char was even hit with another Confuse Ray, but this time knew better than to attack when he wasn't thinking straight, and learned how not to hurt his teammates. Ray had defeated it easily with a thunderbolt, and the team continued onward without incident.

When they reached the fourth floor, Char's eyes started to sting. He realized that the cave was a little stranger than he thought: while most caves he'd seen were cold and wet inside, this one was strangely dry and filled with clouds of what had to be rock-dust, making it a little difficult to breathe. When he started to see how some of the rock and metal formations had been sanded down smooth and flat, he didn't doubt it.

Soon, the team was fending off enemies left and right, and was getting used to doing so. Char found that the Paras would fall easily to a simple Ember attack, while Saura found that most Geodude couldn't recover from being whipped silly with his vines. Ray had a tough time since most of the rock creatures could ground out his electric attacks, but he could sometimes paralyze them to help out, and he was easily able to defeat the Golbat and Zubat that bothered them.

Soon, though, the team was met with their toughest challenge yet: a Graveler.

"Oh, boy," Saura said upon seeing the foe. "I think I'm going to need some help with this one…"

Char studied the Graveler as it stood its ground before them. The creature resembled a large, living boulder, complete with arms and legs. It was at least three times his own size. Even in comparison to some of the other rock Pokémon such as Onix, it was a strange sight to behold.

The Graveler stared back, waiting for the intruders to make the first move.

"Think you could pull off an Energy Ball?" Char suggested.

"Maybe," Saura answered. "But we don't want to overwhelm it with energy. It could self-destruct on us, couldn't it?"

"Right…" Char muttered. "Um… could you try a Sun-beam? That would probably knock it out in one hit!"

"Where's the sun?" Saura said. "I could try using my own energy, but without the sun here to help, I don't think it would work in one hit."

"Uh... how about you try wrapping it, so we can all attack?"

Saura bit his lip. "That's really risky," he said. "I can't always detain things on the first try, especially if they're… you know… that big!"

Char frowned. "Ray, do you have any ideas, besides just attacking it head-on?"

Instead of answering, Ray set his own idea into motion. Withdrawing from the bag, he chucked a seed at the Graveler. The boulder-beast winced as it saw the item coming, but didn't think to dodge. When it struck, a bright white flash illuminated the cave for a split second, and the beast fell onto its back, motionless. Ray had used a Sleep Seed.

"Ha-ha! It worked!" Ray shouted. "Problem solved. It's asleep!"

"Hmm, are you sure that was a good idea?" Char wondered. "We should save those things for when we really need them. We could have at least tried to battle it and learn how they act, right? That's what Scythe would have told us."

"You're right," Ray said. "Sorry, I should have asked you about it first…"

"It's fine," Saura said. "We have more of those seeds. It's asleep now, so let's get going…"

The group carefully slipped past the sleeping monster and into the next narrow hallway…

…and were immediately faced with a second Graveler.

This one was a little bit bigger than the last one, and didn't look nearly as patient. It emitted a strange growl at the team which almost sounded like an evil purr, and looked as though it was about to charge at any second. To make matters even worse, the ground had become rocky and uneven in the new area, and metallic structures which spurted from the walls started to resemble sharp-tipped deathtraps…

"Oh, great," Saura muttered. "Now what? What do we do?!"

"Just attack it!" Char ordered, his tail flame already bright enough to light the entire room. "We'll figure something out!"

The group complied; they'd let their battle instincts take over, and hope for the best.

Saura, being the most effective fighter against rock Pokémon, rushed forward to initiate the battle. He leapt into the air, extended his vines, and brought them down hard upon the beast. The Graveler staggered from the strike, taking a few steps backward. Saura followed by releasing a stream of seeds, all of which struck the beast's hide at incredible speeds and chipped away at the outer layer of its rocky skin.

The Graveler became furious. It roared loudly, barreling forward at Saura. Acting quickly, Char delivered the best pillar of flames he could muster straight into the Graveler's face, causing it to stop dead in its tracks and blindly swipe at the air.

Not to be outdone, the Graveler formed a mighty fist and slammed it into the ground, sending rocky shards and pebbles flying everywhere and creating a shockwave that could have shaken the entire cave. The earthquake took both Char and Ray completely by surprise, sending them off their feet. Char brutally struck the ground, feeling the light tickle of stray gravel falling on him as he moaned and took a moment to rest. When he tried to get back up, he found that he couldn't quite do it at first; the effect had left him too shaken and disoriented, and had also induced a serious headache.

Growling in determination, Saura once again launched a barrage of seeds at the enemy, but the Graveler avoided every single one.

"Aww… if only there was a way to make that attack more accurate," Saura muttered to himself.

As Saura stood at the base of the beast and tried to quickly contemplate his next move, a voice rang out from behind him.

"Look out, Saura!" Ray yelled out. "Coming through!"

Saura obeyed. He jumped to the side, giving Ray room to rush toward the beast. Saura noticed how the tip of his tail was glowing brightly, as Ray had focused enough energy within it to give it the strength of iron. He leapt and performed a very impressive somersault in midair, striking the rock monster with his gleaming tail and actually slicing into the beast, leaving a huge crack beside its face. He then discharged a surge of electricity into it, hoping to paralyze it, but it failed. He landed on his feet and quickly surveyed the effect of the attack: it had connected, but the beast didn't even seem bothered.

"Wow!" Ray cried. "This thing is impossible!"

Roaring like never before, the Graveler pounded the ground again, causing another earthquake and tossing Ray into the air. Char also lost his balance a second time and tumbled onto his side.

"Ugh! Stop doing that!" Char pleaded, curling up on the floor for a moment and holding his throbbing forehead in his claws.

Saura couldn't stand the sight of his friends suffering at the mercy of the earthquakes. "I'm going to end this!" he declared. "Just give me time to build up a good energy ball. Cover me!"

"I'm not sure if we can!" Char cried, climbing back to his feet but staggering as he tried to walk. He decided to drop to all fours.

"Char! Can you make a good smoke screen?" Ray asked as he charged his tail again for another iron attack. "If you could, it should give Saura all the time he needs!"

Char faced the Graveler, measuring the odds that a smoke screen would be effective. The beast seemed so much larger than before, now that he was down close to the ground… But he knew his skull would probably break in half if the thing caused even one more earthquake. He had to give it a try while he still had the chance. The Graveler seemed more focused most on Ray at the moment, who was dancing around just outside of its reach.

"I'll try," Char determined, preparing his fire.

Char bounded forward as fast as he could, hoping to get right in the Graveler's face and spew the cloud of smoke to confuse it… Unfortunately, he didn't catch the moment when the thing had started an attack of his own.

As he charged forward, he realized too late that the Graveler was coming straight at him. It had tucked in its arms and legs and started a forward roll.

For a moment, Char simply watched in horror as the giant boulder came upon him. It was too late. There was nothing he could do.

Char emitted a soundless cry as his entire body was crushed beneath the Graveler's weight. It rattled his entire sense of being, seeming for a moment to shut off every sense he had from pure overload. Even his sight seemed to flash white beneath his closed eyelids as the attack struck.

It was over in a split second, but when it ended, Char felt numb and senseless. He was sure that something in his body had broken. His leg seemed to hurt the most, having been resting on a misshapen rock when the Graveler had rolled across it. He tried to stir, but found that the muscle in his lower leg had been disconnected from the limb. He was crippled.

…And then…

A sudden flash of light filled the cave.

The Graveler no longer moved. In fact, it was out cold, settled in a little sloped ditch in the ground near the far wall. Ray stood near the bag, where he had produced and used another Sleep Seed… albeit a second too late.

Char could barely even see his friends as they came to his aid. It was too dark; his tail flame was barely even burning.

"That thing… crushed you!" Saura whimpered, rushing up to him. "That thing crushed you! We couldn't stop it in time… Can you… talk? Can you move? Please tell me you're okay! Say something!"

"I'll be fine…" Char managed to gasp, letting himself lie limply on the ground. "It just rolled over me. It wasn't big enough to crush anything, I think… Just… get me some more Oran Berries, please?"

… … …

Having found a nearby crack in the wall to hide from the monsters, and having helped Char to crawl there, the team once again sat down to recuperate. Char downed even more berries from the bag, thankful for the wonderful pain relief they brought and for the way they gradually started to make him feel alive and well again. He was thankful now that the team made a point of bringing enough food—especially the wonderful blue berries—to last for days. The temporal anomaly, too, helped him to recover even faster; his worst pain, the fracture in his leg, eventually started to fade as his body mended the broken bone he'd suffered.

"Wow… those Gravelers!," Ray said, eating some dried fruit from the bag. "I… don't know if we're strong enough to take them down."

"If Scythe were here, he'd tell us how to beat them," Saura said sadly. "But it looks like we can't figure it out on our own. Maybe… you're right. If every battle with a Graveler is going to end up like… like that…"

"Maybe we just need to learn some more techniques," Ray offered. "I'll tell you something, when I learned the Iron Tail trick, it made battling rock Pokémon so much easier. Before that, I was completely powerless against them. I'm sure there are a lot of other ways to take these things down. We just have to learn them. We all memorized the weakness web of Pokémon… but maybe that's not enough. We should go to Domo and learn more battle techniques."

A moment of silence. Char could feel that spirits were pretty low. Despite all they'd been through, they were starting to see that they were still a relatively weak and inadequate team.

"So…" Saura muttered, staring at the floor. "Do we… use the Escape Orb now?"

"No way!" Char answered, accidentally spewing an Oran pit from his mouth. "We're already four floors down! This isn't over until all three of us pass out! And the way it looks now, it's still a long ways away before that happens. We've still got plenty of supplies and berries… we're going keep going until we can't go any farther!"

"Agreed!" Ray replied. "This is a learning experience. If we've got to learn the hard way… that's fine. But there's no way we're giving up now! As long as we keep supporting each other, we've got a chance."

Saura smiled. "Yeah, you're right," he said. "We can't quit now. I was just… you know… making sure that… we all agreed."

As Char prepared to bite into what he convinced himself would be his last berry this time, something unusual caught his eye.

"Hey," Char interrupted, turning his attention to the deepest part of the crack in which they sat. "Is that… ours?"

"Is what ours?" Saura asked, trying to see what he was indicating.

"That," Char said, pointing into the corner. "There's an orb over there."

Not waiting for a response, Char stood up and approached the stray orb. It was half-wedged between a rock and the wall, making it difficult to spot except for the way it gleamed in Char's light. Char clutched it, easily pulling it out from its position.

This is an Evasion Orb, the orb said. Activate?

Uh… not now, Char replied. The orb said nothing else.

"Wow, that isn't ours, is it?" Saura said with surprise. "Was it just laying there?"

"What kind of orb is that?" Ray asked curiously. "Is it useful?"

"I don't know," Char admitted. "It's an Evasion Orb. I have no idea what those do."

"Hmm, I've never used one of those, either," Ray said. "Ask it what it does!"

"What?"

"Most new orbs are encoded with data," Ray said. "Ask it how it works, and it should tell you."

Char tried to telepathically communicate with the orb once again. Admittedly, it always made him feel a little silly trying to talk to an inanimate object.

Um… Evasion Orb, Char asked silently, what do you do?

Evasion Orbs stimulate the battle instincts of the user, the orb explained. After activation, the user will temporarily become more adept at dodging enemy attacks. Depending on the user, the effect lasts from ten minutes to forty minutes.

He repeated the data aloud.

"Sounds useful," Ray said. "Put it in the bag! I bet it'll come in handy later. Although… it makes me wonder how it got in here, though…"

The team's smiles suddenly disappeared, and a dark silence followed.

There was, after all, only one reason an item would be laying around inside of a Mystery Dungeon such as this one. It was a very important lesson that Scythe had taught them from weeks before…

When you fail a mission in a Mystery Dungeon, there's a chance… a very likely chance, at that… that a lot of your items will not be expelled from the dungeon with you. They will be gobbled up by the spatial anomaly, scattered among the dungeon for future teams to find.

…And sometimes, if Arceus was especially angry at you, you could even lose the entire bag. All your supplies… a week's worth of income… would be completely lost.

It was a sudden and brutal reminder that there was a price for learning the hard way.

---

Iron Crevice Rest Area

With a greater resolve than ever before, the team searched even deeper into the dungeon. Afraid for their lives and also for the security of their item bag, they opted to play games of stealth rather than attacking every Pokémon they came across. But with a flaming tail amongst the complete darkness, it wasn't too easy for Char to stay hidden, even when he tried to dim the light by holding it in his hands. Twice, the team found themselves having to run away from the more powerful Pokémon to get them off their tail, and it was always a challenge to keep their footing among the gravel and not to get separated in the narrow passageways.

For some reason, the wild Pokémon would never chase them down the stairs to the next floor.

After evading a young Onix, the group emerged onto the eighth basement floor. The rock snake roared at them one last time as it sat at the top of the stairs and watched them escape.

Char stopped to catch his breath. "Everyone okay?"

"We're okay," Saura reported. "What is this, the ninth floor now? We've come a long way."

"And we barely used any items on the past four floors," Ray added. "We're doing really well. Also… wait. What's this? Whoa! Look over here!"

Expecting yet another system of tangled corridors and vicious monsters, the team was discovered to find something completely different before them. A lone room, shaped like a peaceful little dome, opened up. The walls were completely smooth, and the floor was flat, unlike any of the surrounding terrain. There was something like a large crystal embedded in the ceiling of the room which acted as a light source, illuminating the chamber with an eerie orange glow.

But the most prominent and interesting feature of this room was the very large iron statue, depicting a Kangaskhan, positioned in the center. It seemed to watch the group with a warm and tender smile as they entered…

"Wow!" Ray shouted, running up to the Kangaskhan statue and inspecting it. "Do you know what this is?"

"A… Kangaskhan?" Char guessed.

"I remember hearing about these back in Team Stripes, but wow, I've never seen one myself!" Ray continued. "This room must be a rest area! It's a room in the middle of a Mystery Dungeon that's somehow not affected by the curse. We can stay here as long as we want, and nothing will come disturb us! Wow, I hear these rooms only exist near the end of the longer dungeons that have been extensively explored, never in any I've been in!"

"Interesting," Saura said. "I was getting a bit hungry, myself. How about if we stop to eat?"

The team wasted no time in settling down at the base of the statue and getting out the food.

"Hmm… but why a Kangaskhan statue?" Char wondered, fishing out a pear from the food stash. "How'd that get in here, anyway?"

"Oh, I think it's just something explorers used to mark the safe zones they've found," Ray speculated. "It has some symbolic meaning, I guess, like the love and protection of a mother or something."

"How'd they get in here?" Saura wondered. "You can't just carry a statue through a dungeon like this and drop it off!"

"You know, I have no idea," Ray laughed. "Teleportation, maybe? Maybe a skilled psychic pulled it off. I don't know… let's eat."

Saura was just about to bite into a big apple, when something caught his attention…

"Ray, are you sure we won't be bothered here?" Saura whispered.

"Uh… yeah," Ray said, munching on his food. "Why?"

"Because… I think something's coming."

The group went silent. Yes, there were noises coming from the room's entrance. Voices, even. Pokémon voices.

Wow! Who could this be? Char wondered. A different team? Why would another team be here? Did we screw up the registration or something? Or maybe it's Team Remorse coming to check on us?

But, of all the things in the world Char was expecting to see walk into the room, he would have never guessed which two Pokémon were now approaching them.

Both Char and Saura felt their breath catch when they recognized the visitors who'd suddenly invaded the rest area. A Croagunk, followed closely by a Seviper, meandered into the room. Something clicked in Char's mind, and he instantly recognized them as the two thieves he'd met on his very first mission ever as a Resistance Team.

What… in the name of… Char wondered, forgetting the name on which he was supposed to swear by. These two... Why would they be here?

"We found you!" The Seviper hissed triumphantly. "That was not a pleasant dungeon to chase you through. You're getting pretty strong if you can handle this place."

"Heh heh, nonsense," the Croagunk added. "It was easy. Unpleasant, but easy. But we knew we'd catch up to you in the safe zone if we hurried."

Char dropped his food and stood up to the intruders. He really didn't know what to expect from them, but, at any rate, he prepared for a battle.

"Team X," Char growled at them, remembering the name they called themselves back at the hideout at the Empirical Falls. "What are you doing here?!"

"Char, do you recognize these guys?" Ray asked in surprise.

"Yeah," Char answered rudely. "These guys are thieves. We busted open one of their hideouts once, and now they're out for revenge!"

"Heh heh, is that all?" the Croagunk said bemusedly, taking a few more steps toward the team. "Is that who you think we are?"

"What's wrong with being thieves?" the Seviper said coolly. "Resistance teams have got to make a living somehow!"

That line took Char completely off-guard.

"What?!" he and Saura spat at nearly the same time.

"Listen," the Croagunk said. "We followed you here because we need to talk with you in private, somewhere… but without that Scyther around, you see? We waited for you, but he always went with you on missions, so we could never get near. But now, you're alone, and it's time we had a little talk."

Saura frowned, clearly not following what they were saying. "Well, spit it out!" he snapped. "You have us where you want us. What do you want?!"

"Listen, and listen carefully, you three," the Seviper hissed slyly. "I know we didn't get off to the greatest start back there at the waterfall. That Scyther misjudged us, you see. But we're not bad guys. Actually… we're your allies!"

"Yeah," the Croagunk continued. "This is Seviper, and I'm just Croagunk. We don't bother with the whole nicknames thing, you see. Together, we're Team X, an independent Resistance Team. Now, we've seen you traveling around, and we know that you have connections to a large network of resistance forces in this area…"

Char and Saura both tensed up as Croagunk stepped closer to them, a confident and evil expression spread across his face.

"…and we want in."

Char gulped. Were they serious?

"We have information that could help you make severe blows against the Master," Seviper said. "We need to entrust this information to someone. Someone… who has the power to do something about it. That's why we need you to take us into your base with you, and let us join you."

They couldn't be.

"And we can't take no for an answer," Croagunk croaked, "so if you're even thinking about rejecting us, forget it. Operating independently without the safety of your base is getting dangerous, especially with all the forces in this area nowadays. We need a place to stay!"

"Hmm," Ray said suddenly. "…What's in it for us?"

Char felt his jaw drop when he heard Ray's question. How could Ray be trusting these… these sinister villains? He tried to respond, but part of him wanted to hear the answer. Saura was suffering a similar conflict.

"Well, as your friends probably saw when they visited our humble abode, we're… quite rich," Seviper said with a grin. "Take us in, and we'll give you a handsome… load of money."

"Hmm, well, we are a little low on funds at the moment," Ray said, rubbing his chin. "How much money?"

"Four million Poké," Seviper proclaimed. "Four million Poké, yours for free, if you let us into your base."

"Hmm… will we get the money first?" Ray asked. "Or… after we've finished our end of the bargain?"

"If you prefer, we will gladly give you a small down payment," Seviper said. "So… do you accept, or not?"

"Hmm, I like your offer," Ray said. "But… mind if I have a quick talk with my team in private? We need to discuss some of the… terms… of this agreement."

Croagunk batted a hand, and the three quickly retreated to the opposite side of the Kangaskhan statue.

"What do we do?!" Ray blurted in a whisper. "These guys are crazy! They're just trying to trick us, and they're not even trying to be believable!"

"You had me worried for a second," Char admitted. "I thought you were being serious!"

"No, just trying to get them to think we would comply," Ray said. "Otherwise… I don't know what they'd be doing to us right now."

"Okay, I got a plan," Saura said. "Ray, you talk to them again. Char will go grab the bag. As soon as he has it, we run for it. They can't find us if we go deeper into the dungeon."

"Sounds good to me," Char said, shaking his head. "Wow… Team X? Here? And now? I knew they would be back for us someday, but… not like this!"

"Well…" Ray said, wandering back around the statue and speaking to Team X, "We thought about it, and we made a decision."

"I hope for your sake it's the right one, heh heh," Croagunk said. "Spill it."

"We accept your proposal," Ray said. "On one condition."

Croagunk croaked, raising an eyebrow. "Which is?"

"We get to run!" Ray shouted.

Not skipping a beat, Ray pivoted and dashed away from the poisonous team with surprising agility. The rest of his team were a few steps in front of him, heading for the archway that would lead deeper into the dungeon.

"Oh, is that how it is?!" Croagunk roared in rage, dashing after him to deliver a Poison Jab. "You cheap little brats! If that's the case, we'll have to do things the hard way!"

"Croagunk, enough," Seviper said quickly, stopping him. "They've already crossed the point of no return, we can't get them now."

It was true. All three of them had escaped. Croagunk watched with hopelessness as they disappeared down the next tunnel. If he wanted to follow, he'd have to brave the second half of the dungeon.

"Well, that was a miserable failure," Croagunk grumbled. "I told you before that this wasn't work!"

"We can't just give up and call it a failure," Seviper said, shaking its head. "We must try again."

"Try again?! I'm not going in there!" Croagunk snorted. "We had enough trouble as it was getting this far. Do you know what lives down there?! We can't fight Steelix! Not by ourselves!"

"True, true," Seviper said. "In this case, we leave, and we try again later. Next time, we'll get them. Next time."

Team X turned and started their trek out of the dungeon.

*Chapter 27*: Chapter 24: Victorious Defeat

Chapter 24

Iron Crevice B8F

Having their rest period cut short, the group started to feel a little weary and hungry as they continued into the catacombs. The hostile Pokémon were becoming ridiculously numerous, and there were always more waiting for them around every turn…

And then the Aron started appearing, and they knew things were not going to get any easier. The little armored rodents were a huge pain to fend off; they attacked in a berserker style with head-butting and jumping, using their steely bodies as bludgeoning weapons as they ferociously pounced at the team. What made them more difficult than fighting Rattata, though, was that their steel armor seemed to make them impervious to any damage at all.

Char found himself in a standoff with an Aron. He'd engaged it in battle, but soon found it to be a very difficult foe to beat down. After a painful scuffle that left him with some bruises, he backed off to catch his breath and to figure out what his next move would be.

Physical attacks do nothing to it, Char reminded himself. Only my fire seems to do any damage. I've got to keep my distance and try to burn it!

Although the creature was slow and easy to outrun, Char didn't want to be chased into places he wasn't looking. He knew that he could stumble on an inconsistency in the floor at any time, or possibly bang his head into a metal protrusion that had been filed down to a blade by Aron.

"Okay, this one's down," Ray reported from across the room after having knocked out a second Aron. "Do you need any help?"

Char didn't respond. No, he didn't want help. He wanted to take this one all on his own. His instincts insisted. He'd been a liability for nearly the entire trip, and he wanted to prove his strength just once…

Char blasted embers at the little creature, making sure to spread his attack wide to make it hard to dodge. But he couldn't hold himself back, and his attack turned into a full-blown flamethrower. The cave passageway filled with light as Char's fire blasted through the air, the flames roiling and billowing against the rocks…

When Char paused for breath, the Aron was still standing, a black scorch mark burned into the rock under its feet and across nearby walls. The thing blinked as if to get the smoke out of his eyes, and struggled to remain standing…

But then, with an angry bellow, it charged forward again. Char flinched at the sight of it coming, having thought for sure it would have been weakened by the attack. Before he could do anything, the Aron pounced and tackled Char head-on, knocking him down and sending them both sliding across the ground. Char tried to throw the thing off, but it was incredibly heavy, and it struggled fiercely to keep itself attached. Char jerked back each time the small, toothy mouth underneath the creature's helmet viciously lashed at his chest, dodging it by millimeters.

Unable to free himself, and starting to panic, Char felt his instincts tell him to do something he'd never done before. He returned the Aron's attacks, lashing with his own jaws and biting down on its foreleg. The powerful taste of steel filled his mouth, but he bit as hard as he could… and he realized that it wasn't his teeth that were dangerous, but the internal heat of his body. The Aron cried out in sudden agony, its leg burning at a temperature that its body was never built for. As Char kept his teeth clenched, he thought he could even feel the creature's steel armor starting to liquefy and become malleable within his maw…

After several seconds holding the Aron hostage, it thrashed and struggled and bashed Char in the head, leaping out of his hold. Char was amazed when he saw the result: the Aron's leg was glowing red-hot! Yet, it wasn't down for the count quite yet. As Char was getting back to his feet, the Aron bounced back and delivered a mighty head-butt to his chest, keeping him from recovering his balance and sending him careening face-first into a nearby gravel-filled crevice. He roared at the sudden shock of having dozens of rocks covering and colliding with his face, and felt his energy level starting to drop once again.

No, I will not be defeated by a little rat, even if it is covered in steel, Char told himself. I've got to defeat it! I don't care how…

That's when Char got an idea. It was a silly, underhanded idea, but it was something that Scythe suggested in a past mission, and it had worked surprisingly well in fending off a small swarm of Ninjask that had moved so blindingly fast that they were practically immune to most conventional attacks.

-Ping!-

The Aron winced when a small piece of gravel collided with its faceplate. It blinked in confusion, as if wondering what had happened.

-Ping! Thunk!-

More rocks came flying at the creature. It blinked and glared at Char in sudden uncertainty, as if to ask "What do you think you're doing? That's not fair!"

Char grinned as he picked up another large chunk of gravel from the pile in which he lay, taking aim and hurling it straight at the foe.

-Thunk.-

The rock hit the Aron between the eyes, rattling it. It didn't have much time to recover before another one came, glancing off the end of his faceplate. As Char pitched and lobbed rocks at the thing, he saw its resolve, surprisingly, start to waver. It thought for a moment of what to do…

Ultimately, it decided that it wasn't going to be outdone by some measly pebbles, so it decided to keep attacking. But when it tried another charge…

-Schink!-

Char gasped, not even realizing what had happened. The Aron suddenly had a rather large blade lodged deep within one of the black spots in its armor. In his scramble for rocks to throw, he'd picked up a sharp metallic formation that had fallen from the wall and hurled it. The Aron gave up control of itself, falling forward from its momentum and twitching as it slumped to the ground. It had been defeated.

"Yeouch," Char whispered to himself as he stared at the sight.

Saura was there in a second to help pull him out of the gravel pile and congratulate on his victory, though he tried not to take too much notice of the gruesome and potentially fatal injury that had ended the battle. Ray, on the other hand, couldn't take his eyes off it.

"That was pure genius!" Ray cheered. "Wow! I never would have thought that throwing rocks at a rock Pokémon would be so effective! And, wow, what is that thing? A knife? That looks lethal!"

"Well, you did it," Saura said warmly. "You took it out all by yourself. Do you feel proud?"

"You bet," Char said with a smile. "But we should keep going. If any more of these things show up, this is going to get old very fast."

"Hey, wait," Ray said suddenly. "Look. Look in the rocks. I think there are more of those spike things. Think we should take some with us? They look like they'd make some great weapons in a pinch."

It was a good idea. The team dug through the rock pile, searching for the slim remnants of metal that had been filed down and broken off the walls. They managed to find four silver spikes to pack in the bag before two more Aron appeared and prompted them to flee.

"Okay, new rule," Char said as they raced down the halls. "No more fighting, unless something's blocking our way. We've got to take every chance to flee. I'm starting to think that this place is a little over our heads. We can't be wasting our energy and our supplies until there's just no other choice."

"Just as long as we don't pass up places to search because we're running," Saura reminded him. "That Furret could be anywhere."

"Yeah. Our mission could be over any time now," Ray said. "I mean, what are the odds that the Furret is all the way on the bottom floor?"

---

Iron Crevice B11F

A few floors later, it was clear that the team was reaching its limit.

Their continued efforts had almost drained the bag. Two of the silver spikes were used in an attempt to escape a Rhyhorn encounter, and the Sleep Seeds were used to disable Gravelers. On floor 10, it was the end of the Stun Seeds and Blast Seeds, too…

Once, the group finally succeeded in knocking out a Graveler. It took two fully-charged energy balls from Saura, but it worked; the second attack actually chipped away a large portion of the boulder beast's head, causing some kind of black blood to ooze out and draining the thing's desire to keep fighting. It was a short-lived victory as another one showed up shortly after, but a victory nonetheless, and it gave Char a twinge of confidence to know that the team could defeat one with their own power.

Char was getting exhausted. Opportunities to take a breather were becoming too scarce, and countless unavoidable battles left him covered in scrapes and bruises. Char didn't dare heal himself with an Oran Berry, as there were only three of those left in the bag, and he wasn't going to use them until it was absolutely necessary. As for the food, only one apple and one bag of fruit were left, and Saura had all but vowed not to eat a bite until the thirteenth floor. So much for having enough food for two days!

Indeed, as they journeyed into the deepest levels of the dungeon, Char knew that there was one thought on everyone's mind:

How long can we keep this up?

Unfortunately, they were about to find out the answer.

Between running from Onix, belching fire at Golbat, and calling out for the Furret, Char was sure to keep his eyes open for items laying around on the cave floor. That Evasion Orb he'd recovered earlier wasn't the only thing he'd found. He also spotted two more, one of which identified itself as a "Longtoss Orb", and another as a "One-Shot Orb". Both were gladly stuffed into the bag upon sight. If they were going to complete the mission, he figured, they could use whatever supplies they could get.

That's why, when Char saw another gleam in the corner of his eye, his heart leapt. Laying on the floor in an adjacent room were not one, but two orbs! They sat in the center of an empty room, free for the taking. Char was always overjoyed to see the little blue spheres; it seemed that there was no limit to the useful things they could do. Secretly, he was hoping to find one that could cure his hunger, or heal his scrapes and scratches, or maybe even let him fly… or anything, really, to make this dungeon exploration more bearable!

"Sweet!" Char yelled happily, running straight for them. "More orbs! Ray, come here! Look at this!"

"Wow, Char! You must really have eyes for these things, or something!" Ray said in surprise, hurrying over with the bag. "Let's see what they do!"

Char eagerly clutched the first one, demanding identification from it. When it came, he was surprised that the telepathic voice seemed… different, somehow, if that were even possible. The voice sounded more elderly, or royal, or mystical, than any of the other orbs that he'd heard.

Spellcaster of One-Room, it said.

Char scratched his head.

"One Room?" he repeated. "Interesting… I think this orb might be different."

How does it work? Char asked the orb.

There was no answer.

"Different?" Ray asked. "Here, let me see."

Ray touched the orb, and soon wore the same puzzled expression as Char.

"Oh, weird," Ray said. "That must be one of the really old orbs, back before they started mass-producing them. It's definitely not a standard one… and it doesn't have built-in instructions, either. Oh, well. I guess we have Kecleon inspect it later, or we save it for when we're desperate."

"I can't imagine what it would do," Saura commented. "One Room? Do you think it would do something bad, like, seal us inside of a room or something? We wouldn't want that!"

The memory of being stuck in the storage room back at the base came to Char. Indeed, he didn't want to be trapped in a crack in the earth with no way out, especially without Saura's cherished Mobile Scarf, which his friend had not yet brought on a single mission for fear of losing it.

Whatever was the case with the orb, it was not going to get left behind. Ray shrugged and put it in the bag as Char turned his attention to the second one.

This is a Totter Orb, it said. Activate now?

"A Totter Orb!" Char repeated. "Does this… do what I think it does?"

Instructions? Char asked it.

A Totter Orb will disrupt the sensory processes of all Pokémon in a nearby radius, causing confusion and increasing the likelihood of collateral damage. Sentient or highly intelligent Pokémon can easily see through the effect and will experience no negative consequences from the spell, leaving only wild Pokémon subject to the full effect. Affected Pokémon will fully recover in one to five minutes.

"Wow, this is a really useful one," Char said. "I can see this one really saving our hides! What if… uh, guys?"

"Something tells me we shouldn't have come in here," Saura squeaked.

Surprised by Saura's tone, Char took his attention off the orb and glanced at the surroundings. It was then that he took notice of the room they were now standing in. It was a massive cavern with a surprisingly high ceiling and an even floor, except for some shallow, circular stair-steps of flat rock flowing out from the center of the room. The ceiling was adorned with a huge amount of the metal deposits, which covered the rock like shining fish-scales or pearls.

The room was so big, it was impossible to see completely. The light from his tail, bright as it was, wasn't enough to see very far; the flame only cast a small circle of light around them on the floor, and everything beyond it faded into the shadows…

Char didn't even have to ask what was wrong; the subtle vibrations in the floor and the occasional sound of scraping rock told him that there was trouble.

Slowly, very slowly, the sounds became louder. Closer.

Eyes started to gleam in the shadows. Many of them. They approached the strange new source of light which the intruders had brought.

Eyes… of many shapes and sizes.

Then, when they started to enter the circle of light so that Char could make out the shape of their shadows, he became truly afraid.

He saw a Geodude. Two of them. Three of them. Five of them. Behind them, the silhouettes of no less than three Graveler. Around them on the floor, countless Aron and Rhyhorn, amounting to at least twenty. Above them loomed the distinct shadows of Onix.

…All steadily drawing nearer.

His breath starting to catch, Char instinctively took a step backward. He found himself almost tripping over Saura, who'd huddled up against him closely. Ray was also close at his side.

"Char, no wonder those orbs were laying here," Ray whispered. "It was a hoard. Wild Pokémon like to hoard stuff… This room… must be… some kind of nest…"

-Crash! Thump!-

The group collectively jumped as several Aron, who'd been enjoying a meal of metal deposits on the ceiling, dropped to the floor to confront the intruders. Three of them fell in front of the hall, sealing off the escape route.

Char could feel the panic escalating. The Pokémon were closing in. They were about to be brutally, brutally massacred, and they were powerless to defend themselves against such a huge force of opposition…

…Unless…

The Totter Orb was still in his hands, and now would be the perfect time to use it.

"I'm going to use this," Char announced. "Once… I activate… all the Pokémon will get confused, and we all run for it. That should give us time to escape. We get to the stairs as fast as we can, so they can't follow us…"

"But… we only just got to this floor," Saura said. "What if… the Furret… was here?"

The Aron encircled them from one side, and the Geodude from the other. All they were waiting for was one sudden move… one tiny little reason to be provoked… and Char and his team would find themselves buried alive under a monstrous pile of rock Pokémon.

"Char…" Ray said. "Do it. It's either that, or… we fail the mission for good…"

Char squeezed the Orb in his hands, contacting it telepathically…

The moment he issued the order, a pulse resounded from the orb, accompanied by an odd white ripple which spread across the entire room. As the ripple struck the Pokémon, they appeared to suddenly become unfocused and lost track of their targets. The orb's color quickly faded, and it then shattered into thin shards of glass which struck the ground and disintegrated.

The Pokémon which filled the room started to wander around in various directions, as if their sense of purpose had been suddenly destroyed. Char turned his attention to the door through which they came. It seemed so far away now that the room had revealed its true identity… and now that dozens of wandering Pokémon stood in the way. Char knew that the Pokémon were still fully capable of attacking in their state of confusion—he'd learned that from experience—but their attacks would probably be less than accurate. Either way, it was probably best to keep away from them as they made their escape.

But as Char was tiptoeing around a confused Aron, an awful feeling shot through his body. Before he could realize what was happening, he stumbled and fell to the floor. The ground was violently vibrating underneath, and wouldn't stop. Pulse after pulse tore through him, making him feel like his body would crumble and apart.

Dimly, Char could see that the other Pokémon in the room were also suffering from the problem. In fact, the room had erupted into total chaos as every Pokémon sought to unleash their rage onto one another for the collateral damage the earthquakes were causing.

"No…" Saura cried once he realized what was happening. "The Gravelers are so confused, they're causing earthquakes… We've got to get out of here!"

"I… I can't get up…" Char replied weakly, resigning himself to laying on the floor. "It's… too… much… I can't… see straight…"

The earthquakes didn't stop. Rocks and chunks of metal fell from the ceiling, further propelling the madness as the Pokémon all beat up on each other. Feral roars filled the air, roars of both rage and pain, as well as the constant sound of stomping and clashing…

Char felt himself being pulled in Saura's direction, and only barely realized that Saura had sprouted his vines and was trying to drag him across the floor to safety. But the relentless shaking sensation had also taken its toll on Ray, and Saura was finding it difficult to drag them both along at once. Char knew that he wouldn't make it before the confusion would start to wear off from some of the Pokémon.

"Saura… you've got to do something," Ray moaned, unable to even move. "We won't… make it out unless you do something…"

"I'm trying!" Saura cried, pulling harder.

"No, Saura," Ray said. "Use… something… another orb… something… anything… from… the bag…"

Reluctantly, Saura let go of his teammates and attacked the bag with his vines as fast as he could manage. Swearing to himself, he dug into it, looking for anything that could possibly help the situation…

And then, there was silence.

Even though the earthquakes had ceased, Char couldn't tell… his head was still vibrating at painful speeds, making it impossible to focus. But the pain started to subside almost immediately, and the cacophony of cries that had filled the room just moments before was replaced with total silence, save for the gentle sound of gravel raining from the walls and ceiling after the last of the earthquake died down. All the Pokémon in the room… were gone.

"I used our Spurn Orb," Saura reported. "Now, quick! Get up, before we lose our chance to escape."

Char understood. Spurn Orbs contained spells designed to tap into the spatial anomaly of a Mystery Dungeon, causing sort of funnel which sucks in surrounding Pokémon and scatters them randomly about the same floor. The enemies were far from gone, and their safety was only momentary at best; it would only be a matter of time before the Pokémon would recover from confusion and find their way back to their nest room. In fact, he couldn't decide whether using the orb had been a good or a bad idea, as it simply filled the rest of the dungeon floor with the same countless crowds of Pokémon that had once been confined to the single room… but what was done was done, and now, survival was the first priority…

Char tried to stir, and felt as an Oran Berry was shoved in his face. He gobbled it up, and waited eagerly for his head to stop spinning and pounding. Ray also welcomed the berry that Saura fed him, and did his best to find his senses quickly.

The moment Char got back to his feet, there it was: the sound of Pokémon cries echoing through the halls. They were on the move, and they were everywhere…

When the group was finally ready to escape, they began their all-out rush back to the hallway to search for the stairs and to be rid of this awful, unfortunate floor…

…but it was not meant to be. After only a few paces back into the hall, they could tell that the wild Pokémon where there, fully recovered from confusion, and in an all-out stampede. There was no way to continue onward.

Panicked, the team retreated back to the nest room, and quickly checked for another way out of the room. There wasn't one.

That's when they realized… even after all that, they would have to fight. There wasn't any other way out of it.

The Pokémon were coming. Nothing was going to stop them this time. Char, Saura, and Ray stood before the nest room's entrance, waiting for them to arrive.

"You know," Ray said feebly, "remember when Scythe taught us that it's a lot easier to fight enemies when they're funneling down a hall, rather than when they're surrounding you? Well, at least we have that advantage…"

It was true; fighting enemies as they practically came single-file down a hallway was so much easier than fighting them out in the open… but somehow, now that they were about to be faced with an entire wave, the tactical advantage didn't seem all that… advantageous.

For the next few moments, the team stood in silence as they waited for the Pokémon to arrive. In less than a minute, they would be there… Char could feel his heart pounding harder than ever before, anticipating, in horror, the hopeless and brutal scene which was undoubtedly about to play out.

"Char, I need to know something," Saura said, breaking the silence. "Before this happens, I just want to know what our resolve is. Do you want us to use the Escape Orb when all seems lost, or… are we going to… fight to the very end? Whatever you say now… it will be the final word. I just need to know what you want us to do."

Char thought for a moment. He recalled all of Team Ember's previous missions. They'd failed missions before, even under the guide of Scythe… but never this badly. Char saw in retrospect that he'd decided upon a mission that he was in no position to take. Why? Why, he asked himself, did he agree to this mission? Was it because it sounded easy? Or was it because he let Ray talk him into it, in order to impress Scythe? Or was it just because he overestimated his strength, and the strength of his team? Or was it because he was afraid of underestimating their strength, and wanted it proven to him? Did he get caught up in Team Ember's hype? Their popularity? The way that other teams praised them as prodigies? Why, oh, why, did they pick such a mission as their first independent mission, the one mission they would always remember as their first opportunity to truly prove themselves?

Honestly, Char didn't know. But, in thinking about it, one thing became abundantly clear. He didn't know whether to call it courage or insanity, and he wasn't entirely sure it wasn't just his inner fire speaking for him, but he knew the answer to Saura's question.

"We fight," Char said solemnly, even though his voice was wavering with weakness and uncertainty. "If we fail, we learn what failure tastes like, and just how badly it hurts, so we can become stronger and take our risks that much more responsibly next time. But if we have a chance… just… whatever slightest chance we may have to get through this… if the legendary dragons were to smile upon us and grant us the power to win… If there's even one chance we'll someday be able to look back on this mission and not see a failure, but an incredible victory against all odds, or a story to tell… we can't turn it down."

"Well said," Ray replied. "I didn't expect anything less from you, Char. Since the moment I joined this team, that's exactly how I expected you to feel. This is the Team Ember, after all! Well, whatever happens, I'll be right here, fighting at your side, until I can't fight anymore!"

"Then, it's decided," Saura said. "No using the orb. This isn't over until all three of us pass and get expelled from the dungeon. Whatever happens… we fight to the end!"

"To the end!" Ray cheered. "To the end! To the very end! We fight!"

"The fire will never die," Char said to himself, breaking a weak little smile, "until the last ember fades."

Char knew that Team Ember finally found its mantra. Just saying the words for the first time sparked something powerful inside of him, just like it had the first time he heard Team Remorse collectively proclaim why they rise each morning. It was a purpose, a phrase he could live by. He knew, now, what he wanted the team to stand for: they were united by a burning passion for victory, and they were in it together, no matter the cost… and it would not be over until it's over.

The grunting and grumbling of an agitated Onix sounded from down the hall. Char didn't see anything yet, but he could tell that the final moments were upon him.

"We… have to use everything," Char realized. "Now's the time. All the orbs… All the tricks we have … If we want to have a chance, we've got to use them all now!"

Ray dug into the bag. He produced the one they'd been waiting to use, the Rain Orb, and activated it. Immediately, a dark blanket of clouds formed just beneath the cave's ceiling… which soon produced a moderate drizzle. It was a truly impossible to sight to see a rainstorm inside of a cave, but the power of the orb could not be questioned. Even though it would weaken Char's power, it caused a great advantage over all the rock Pokémon, who were damaged by water, as well as gave Ray an opportunity to summon lightning bolts from the storm itself, his most powerful technique. Char did not welcome being covered in rain, but his tail fire was now burning so brightly that he felt barely any pain from it.

Next came another orb: the Evasion Orb, the first one they found in the cave. It would only work for one user, so Ray decided to give it to Char to compensate for having to bear the rainstorm. He used it, and he felt his reflexive instincts rise to a level he never thought possible.

Finally, Ray distributed the remaining supplies to everyone else: He gave the two silver spikes to Char, the Cross-Eye Seed to Saura, and he held the One-Shot Orb for himself. Then, he tossed the bag into the farthest corner of the room, and waited with his teammates in a moment of burning tension for the attack to begin.

The first wave came: One Onix, two Graveler, and four Aron. Char got up close to the Onix and blasted fire in its face. Whenever it tried to strike back, it seemed to Char that he could see the attacks several seconds before they actually happened, and was able to nimbly leap out of harm's way each time. Eventually, he found that he could use the spikes he held as slashing weapons, and that they were especially effective for damaging the beast. Brandishing the spikes like metallic claws, he managed to leap onto the rock snake's back and repeatedly thrust the spikes into one of its body segments until the rocky skin was pierced in multiple places and the weird black blood oozed out. After taking enough injury, the Onix crashed to the ground. Char was the victor.

Flashes of lightning illuminated the intense battle as Ray summoned the power of the thunderstorm, targeting the Aron and electrocuting many of them at once. They swarmed forth like rabid dogs, but they fell like flies to Ray's attacks, and he was able to cull the flow before they got any closer to him or his teammates.

Saura focused on the Graveler, assaulting them with a barrage of bullet seeds. When they were sufficiently damaged, he stepped back to prepare an energy ball. In the confusion of the battle, the Graveler were distracted and didn't seem to notice Saura much, giving him plenty of time to cultivate the ball to its maximum size, take aim, and release at the nearest one. When the attack connected, a shower of dust and rock shards exploded from the Graveler's side, knocking it out. The second one, he realized, was preparing a truly devastating attack—to self-destruct in protection of his home—so he cried for help, and Char pounced on it to drive the metal spikes into its body. Char figured that he'd struck a weak point, because as soon as the spikes were plunged in, the Graveler's eyes rolled into its head and it fainted, falling onto its side and settling motionlessly against its arms and legs. To Char's disappointment, he could only recover one of his spikes, the other was hopelessly wedged in.

When the last of the enemies fell, the team stopped to catch their breaths and to gaze upon the pile of defeated Pokémon which surrounded them. They gave a wholehearted and triumphant cheer, truly impressed with their own strength.

The next group came, composed of several Rhyhorn, Many more Aron, and two Onix. Ray began the attack on the Aron, only to find that the bolts of lightning he created diverged from their paths and were drawn harmlessly to the Rhyhorn. Cursing the existence of the biological lightning rods, he focused power into his tail to attack them physically. Running past the sea of Pokémon and barely dodging their attacks, Ray unleashed the Iron Tail technique upon it, missing his target but slashing deep into its face and mortally damaging it. On another one, he unleashed the power of the One-Shot Orb, causing its consciousness to leave immediately. On another he charged his tail once more and attacked, this time connecting perfectly and lopping off the beast's horn, disabling its bothersome ability. He repeated the process twice more with the remaining Rhyhorn, not resting until he could make his electric attacks work again, but taking considerable damage as he rushed through the sea of attackers to single out his targets.

Between batting away the pesky Aron with his vines, Saura rapidly launched his leaves at the nearest Onix which pierced the sides of its rocky flesh in many places. The snake took notice of him and descended to attack, But Char jumped in the way. He leapt onto the beast's head and plunged his spike between its eyes. The snake thrashed about for a few moments before collapsing onto the pile of beaten Pokémon and becoming part of it. Char retrieved his weapon, shuddering as he found it covered in the thick, oily substance…

Char turned to the second Onix, taking aim with the spike to attempt the same trick. However, when the Onix loomed near, Char was suddenly struck in the face by an angry Aron and tackled to the ground. Saura rushed into help, tossing the Cross-Eye Seed at the Onix to destroy its sense of vision. He grappled at the rock snake's head with his vines to pull it close, then launched an energy ball point-blank into its face. It couldn't recover, and slumped down.

Soon, after Ray had succeeded in his efforts to destroy the Rhyhorn, lightning once again rippled through the sky and brought a quick finish to the rest of the Pokémon that were not resistant to it. Before they knew it, there was another moment of silence when the second wave had been finished off.

The team gave another heartfelt cheer at their accomplishment, but a weary one. They could feel their energy getting drained as they repeatedly used their most powerful attacks, and their wounds were getting quite numerous as more and more wild Pokémon successfully connected attacks with them. But the rain continued to fall, and Char still felt the full effects of the Orb he'd cast on himself, and many of the attackers were still heavily damaged from the earthquakes earlier—Team Ember still had plenty of fight left in them.

But then, the third wave arrived, and it was much more than they were prepared for.

A fully-grown Rhydon, A rather large Onix, several Graveler, an entire swarm Geodude and Aron, of Golbat and Zubat…

And that's when the floodgates broke. The team found themselves having to fall back, letting the Pokémon trample over the pile of fallen foes and pour into the room. That's when Char realized that they were probably not going to win a third time.

Char charged at the Rhydon with his spike, but soon found himself in awe of how massive the beast was! It swept its tail forward, which Char easily jumped over, then bent down to swipe at Char with its claws. Char jumped onto its face and prepared to finish it with the spike, but the beast lurched and threw Char all the way across the room. He hit the ground hard and skidded across the wet rock floor, stopping when he collided with a large stalagmite near the corner of the room. A clang resounded as his spike hit the floor a few feet away.

… As he lay there, he felt strange, like he was falling out of reality...

...He was blacking out.

No, no, no! Char said to himself, feeling his senses fading. I'm not finished! I can't fall asleep now. No… no…

Char knew that his limit was drawing near. The battle that raged on the other side of the room seemed so distant, as if it was in another reality, or a memory. Char could barely feel his own body… He couldn't feel the rain hitting his face, or his tail… He winced wildly, fighting the urge to succumb to weariness…

After a while, Char had the horrible realization that he didn't have the slightest idea how long he'd been laying there.

They need me, Char told himself. I need to fight. I need to… get up! They can't do this without me!

Taking no time to recover his spike, he pulled himself up and dashed on all fours back to the front line.

But when he got there, he found that the wild Pokémon had all settled down.

…Saura and Ray were nowhere to be found.

Pure dread washed Char. He didn't waste a moment wondering what happened; he knew. While he was down, both of his friends had been defeated. They'd taken too much damage and gotten expelled from the dungeon, leaving Char completely alone with the army of enemy Pokémon.

"Orr?"

The Onix grunted in surprise as turned to Char, noticing that the intruders hadn't been completely eradicated. It scowled and assumed its battle stance once more, and the rest of the Pokémon congregation did the same.

This isn't even possible…

Char gazed upon his enemies. They filled the room, outnumbering him almost fifty-to-one. He was faced with dozens of Aron who'd been feasting upon their dead comrades, dozens of Golbat that lined the ceiling and stared at him, Several Graveler that stared back with their evil gaze… and, in front of them all, one giant Onix that loomed above them all, like some kind of leader or commander. The rock Pokémon waited and watched the little Charmander for a move that could provoke them…

I'm not going to win this battle…

Char felt very sick to his stomach. He'd never been faced with such overwhelming odds before. He was so little, and weak, and they were so numerous… And he was so hungry, and tired… For the first time, he noticed the stinging of the rain against his flame.

But… we promised to fight… Ray and Saura fought until the end… and now, it's my turn…

And then, Char felt something truly incredible. A sort of euphoria overtook him, igniting his fire and bringing it to a full-bodied blaze. A brilliant white light filled the room as Char's flame grew to a marvelous size. Char felt all his pain and discomfort fading away. His dizziness, his hunger, and the feel of the rain were all drowned out, leaving him with only the burning feeling.

When a Charmander is faced with its final moments, Domo had told him once in a training session, it will experience a sort of second wind, re-igniting its Ember and giving its fire unprecedented power. When you find that your energy is no more, when there is no longer fuel for your fire, you will start to use your very life force as fuel. It is during this time that you can reach your full potential as a Pokémon, able to overcome impossible challenges and insurmountable tasks…

Char clenched his fists. Even his fear was fading away now, giving way to the passion that engulfed him.

Once you feel the blaze of your second wind, he remembered Domo saying, don't hold it back! Let it all out, for it is your last hope for survival, and you might be impressed at just what it can do… Just let yourself go, and let Moltres take control!

Char couldn't really remember what happened next. He attacked, and it was like a fire spirit was taking over his body and discharging power he could not comprehend. Still under the effects of the Evasion Orb, he could dodge nearly every attack that came at him, and retaliated with incredible streams of fire. Every Aron that got close to him was burned. Every bat that got too close was singed out of the air. The Onix became infuriated as Char easily danced around his efforts to attack while spitting red-hot embers into its eyes.

As much as Char tried, he couldn't stand his ground. The Pokémon flooded in, pushing him farther and farther back towards the corner. But he kept dodging, and attacking, and dodging some more, not able to count all the Pokémon that fell… but the wave just kept coming.

The bag!

At the sudden realization, Char began an immediate retreat, lunging for the back of the room. It seemed to baffle the attacking Pokémon, and they approached a little more slowly, giving Char some extra time to gather himself…

He spotted the bag and dove into it. An Apple. The Escape Orb. No, no… that's not what he wanted…

He pulled out the strange Orb that he'd found in the same room. The "Spellcaster of One-Room". He hadn't the slightest idea what it did, but if it was something at all useful, he needed it now more than ever!

Activate! He cried to it with his mind.

As the Orb cracked and discharged its power, Char started to feel the very last thing he wanted to feel: an earthquake. Up and down, side-to-side, the ground shook violently. Char grabbed the bag and held on as tight as he could to the nearest stalagmite, still not knowing what to expect from the Orb's power…

To his amazement, Char watched as the walls of the room simply crumbled away, revealing the halls and corridors beyond the room. And those walls, too, were also soon destroyed, revealing even more corridors and halls. The walls seemed to unnaturally collapse in on itself, leaving an impossibly small amount of rubble behind… The chain-reaction continued until char found himself standing in a flat sea of darkness, surrounded only by the circle of light from his tail, and the faraway noise of collapsing rocks as the spell continued to work, and, of course, the gentle sound of the rain…

That's it! Char realized. One-Room… it turns the entire dungeon floor into one room! Yes! That's exactly what I needed! Now I can keep going! I can win! I don't believe this. I was right! We really did have a chance. Dialga and Palkia must really be smiling on us!

He hefted the bag onto his shoulder and made a mad dash away from the angry crowd of Pokémon. They were still very numerous and scattered all around the dungeon floor, but with no obstacles in the way, Char found it so easy to avoid them. Now, all he had to do… was find the stairs…

And he soon found them. They were at the very, very corner of the entire dungeon floor. There was just one problem.

Coiled around entrance to the stairwell, guarding it, was a rock snake more massive than any he'd ever seen before.

It was not an Onix. No, instead of having a rough gray hide, this one had a shining silver sheen. Its jaws mouth was many times bigger and filled with a large row of teeth… almost like a dragon's…

And when it spotted the tiny little fire-lizard, its evil eyes betrayed its resolve:

You will not get past me!

Char knew he had to defeat it if he wished to get past it. He could see in its eyes that it would not have things any other way.

Char dug into the bag one last time. He grasped the last useful thing he had, the remaining Oran Berry, and started to pull it out… But he realized that, if he ate it, his firepower would return to normal, giving him no chance whatsoever against the Steelix…

So, with a determined sigh, he tossed the bag aside and turned to the monster.

It was steel. Fire could melt steel. And he had fire. He had a chance.

Char focused his fire on the beast's face, deducing that it was the best weak point. He saw, though, that the rain did not seem to be bothering the Steelix as much as it did the other Pokémon, and was only helping to dowse his own fire attacks.

The Steelix responded by sounding a high-pitched screech and uncoiling itself, aiming its long, spiked tail at Char's position. Seeing the attack coming, he rolled out of the way, just to have the tail smash the ground beside him, barely missing his feet. Char somersaulted out of the tail's reach before it could glance him with a sweeping blow.

Seeing Char out of range, but not wanting to back away from the stairs in which it guarded, the Steelix reared its head into the air and roared, releasing a bright beam of light from its mouth. Char wondered if it was a Hyper Beam, and took special care not to get hit by it. He came in closer, prompting the Steelix to cease the attack and to try again with its tail. Like a giant mace, it snaked forward and tried to bludgeon Char's entire body…

But as the Steelix jerked its tail forward, it lowered its head and gave Char just the opportunity he was waiting for. He leapt over the tail as it passed underneath him and caught the ridges on the monster's face, quickly climbing out of the reach of its toothy mouth.

And he bit down as hard as he could.

The Steelix thrashed violently, slamming its head against the wall and trying to knock Char off. It roared in fury, working its tail up near its head to try to remove Char, but it couldn't quite reach, or it couldn't think of a way to unhinge the Charmander from its forehead without also hurting itself. It proceeded to uncoil itself and bash Char against the ceiling, then shake violently in hopes of throwing him off.

Through it all, Char's jaws held on.

He could feel, underneath his tongue, the steel starting to melt. He could see as the red-hot glow started to creep from underneath his maw…

The world seemed to turn in all directions as the Steelix contorted itself in unbelievable ways. It managed to squeeze Char between a segment of its tail to rip him out of place, but Char held on. It took huge bites of rock out of the wall and slammed its head into the craters, but Char held on. It whined and wailed as its faceplate actually began to melt, repeatedly slamming itself against the floor and shaking the cave with earthquakes, but Char, with all his strength, held on. His blazing Ember drove him.

Finally, when the metal between his teeth became too soft to grasp, when his face was practically smeared with molten steel, Char let go.

…And the Steelix crashed to the ground, unable to survive the impalement.

Char was thrown off and finally fell back to the floor. The battle was over, but he didn't feel all too well himself. After everything the Steelix had done to him, he felt like one living bruise…

I defeated a Steelix… with my bare hands…

An odd sensation came over him. He felt dizzy and lightheaded, but somehow, it felt… pleasant…

I don't believe it… I can't believe how powerful I am… I defeated… a Steelix…

Char stumbled around, his vision spinning wildly before him. His whole body tingled and responded strangely to his commands.

Why… do I feel like this? What's happening to me?

Char tried to keep walking, wondering about this new sensation that was overtaking him as his surge of fire was dying down. He welcomed it, wanting it to intensify…

No, it can't be! I… I must be… evolving!

A gleeful smile formed over Char's face as he looked down at himself.

Finally, I've exerted my strength, and I'm going to be a Charmeleon! I'm… so happy…!

Char's next step didn't connect with the floor. He slumped down onto his face, unconscious. Of course, he hadn't been evolving at all; he'd passed out from hunger.

---

Iron Outskirts

Blurry…

Muffled voices…

Light… it was light…

Hunger…

Pain…

Char began to stir, not having the slightest clue where he was. He deduced that he was lying on his back, and that he was outside. He was soaking wet, covered with sweat. No, not sweat, but the rain from the cave. A blurry blob entered his line of sight, and it took him a moment before he recognized it as Saura.

"He's waking up," Saura said.

"Finally," Ray said from somewhere else.

"Char, how do you feel?" Saura asked gently.

Unable to speak quite yet, Char simply shook his head. He felt a little better than before, but not by much.

"Ray is looking for food," Saura told him. There was a distinct sadness in his voice. "As soon as we are ready, we'll… head back to the base."

"We… lost…" Char struggled to say.

Saura nodded. Even Char could see that he was holding back tears. Yes, the dungeon had overpowered them. They had not succeeded on their mission to save the Furret. They had quite a story to tell Scythe and the others, but it wasn't one with a happy ending. Char just sighed and rested his body, watching the dark storm clouds in the sky shift by, reflecting upon the monumental effort he'd just given, and feeling proud of it, in a way. They did exactly what they promised to do—they fought until the end. For better or for worse, they fought until the end.

It had been a victorious defeat.

Of course, the bag had been left behind in the cave, so the team had no food or supplies at all. Ray searched around and found some odd little twig-shrubs growing among the gravel and bearing tiny blue berries. After Saura confirmed that they were not poisonous, Char filled his aching belly with them and eventually regained enough energy to stand. About half an hour later, after his body had regenerated enough, and after his team had taken one last look at the dungeon entrance, Char hung his head and took his leave with his team, heading back to the road to begin their journey home.

…But then…

"Hey! Hey! Come back!"

When they were just a few paces away from the dungeon entrance, a voice cried out. It was coming from the cave.

Surprised, Char turned… and could not believe his eyes.

A little brown Furret, in a state of absolute joy, bounded out of the entrance of the Iron Crevice. Tears of happiness flooded from its eyes as it rapidly approached Char's team. There was no doubt in Char's mind: this was the Furret they had been tasked to rescue. And now, it seemed, after all their effort, it had simply rescued itself…?

"Hey! You! Come back!" it said again, running closer.

"Not possible," Saura said, shaking his staring blankly at it. "If that's the Furret… the one we were looking for…"

In a state of speechlessness, the team allowed the Furret to approach them. Once it did, it jumped for joy in their faces and ceaselessly uttered words of thanks.

"You were in the cave, just now, right?" It asked, standing on its back legs and bowing before Char. "You were the ones who were exploring the cave?"

"Yes, that was us…" Saura managed to say.

"Well, you have my greatest, deepest thanks! Indeed, indeed! Yes! I had given up all hope, every last ounce! But now you're here, and I'm free! I don't know who you are, but I owe you everything!"

"Um…" Char said meekly. "What… happened to you? I'm a little confused…"

"Well, you see, I was out late last night," the Furret explained. "But it got really dark, and I was too far away from Iron Town, so I hid in a cave. But the cave was a Mystery Dungeon, so I got trapped there, and I hid in the shadows for my life, hoping that my friends would notice my disappearance and report me missing. But nobody came… I waited for hours, but nobody came… Well, at least it felt like it was hours, it's a little hard to tell how time passes in those dungeons, anyway."

"Yeah, but how did you get out just now?" Saura asked. "Why are you thanking us? The dungeon wiped us out!"

"Well, you see," it explained, "I was getting really hungry, so I started searching the floor for food. Rotten old berries, gummies, anything… And then, I found something that wasn't there before! A bag! And the bag had food in it! And not only that, but there was an Escape Orb in there, too!"

Char felt his jaw drop. It just couldn't be possible. Could the legendary dragons possibly favor him any more?

"I'd searched the floor dozens of times before, but it had just appeared there, so the only explanation is that you guys left it behind and it somehow got sent to me. So, you're the ones who saved my life!"

The Furret suddenly lunged forward and gave Char a hug.

Char was unable to say anything as he returned the sudden embrace. He held the Furret tight as it trembled from pure relief and joy, while he himself could only stare blankly at the cave entrance.

*Chapter 28*: Chapter 25: Return Home

Chapter 25

Route 325

It was a little after midday as Team Ember began the trek back home, the overjoyed Furret in tow.

Broken blankets of dark clouds still spread across the sky, but the rain no longer fell. The sun now found plenty of places to shine through, shedding rays of light onto the drenched landscape and making it sparkle. The ground had become a sea of mud covered in standing puddles, the wet gravel road forming an endless bridge through it and into the horizon. The morning storm had finally passed, and it was looking to become another warm and gorgeous spring day.

Char still wasn't feeling too well as he walked. He felt like half the muscles in his body had been pulled, and the other half paralyzed. The mission had been won and the day's work was over, but he was in no mood for celebration; nothing pleased him more than the thought of getting back to base, plopping himself down somewhere, and endlessly stuffing himself with food until he'd fall asleep. He figured that a visit to the doctor was probably in order as well; he had, after all, just come closer to death than ever before, evidenced by the brand new experience he'd felt of having his body activate its last-resort response. Surely Dr. Orde owned plenty of advanced regeneratives that could help him heal and make him feel better in no time, ready to attack the world anew the very next morning. But, for now, he took the road one step at a time and tried to find comfort in chatting with his companions.

To pass the time, Char exchanged stories with his teammates. Saura explained that he'd caught sight of Char's brutal encounter with the Rhydon, and in his distraction had gotten nearly smashed by a Graveler. He described how, in the last moments before the end, he'd also felt the final surge of power to give his all; that his body was growing so fast that he barely had time to release all his attacks, and that he was able to even produce and control six vines at once, something that he'd never been able to do before. But, it wasn't enough to save him, and the vicious little Aron eventually ganged up on him and finished him. Ray, left alone on the front line, met his end soon after. They knew they were finished when they awoke in the "real" dimension, and together, they waited around in the cave for Char. They knew they couldn't stay forever, or else they'd just be assimilated back into the dungeon and become just as lost and helpless as the Furret. But they stayed as long as they could, and sure enough, Char eventually materialized, beaten up and unconscious. He was easy to pinpoint, as usual, due to being the only source of light in the entire room, and Saura and Ray carried him out of the cave.

Char, of course, had a much more monumental story to tell, and had to assure his friends that he hadn't just dreamed it up—he could still feel the lump on his head from where the Steelix had repeatedly slammed him into the ceiling. Once he convinced them, they were quite impressed, and gave him a hearty showering of praise for his victory.

But in the end, it didn't really matter how Team Ember had gotten thrown out of the cursed cave; the mission was behind them, and it was time to look forward.

"So…" Saura whispered, trying to be discreet around the Furret, "I can't decide. Did we succeed, or did we fail?"

"We won," Ray said. "We accomplished the objective, right? If it wasn't for us, that Furret would still be trapped in there. We saved it. That's exactly what the objectives said. We got lucky, but we still did it. We get to report the victory and get our reward."

"Well, yeah," Saura said. "But…"

"Both," Char suddenly spoke up, his voice betraying his pain. "It was both. It was a win and a loss at the same time. We've got to learn from this… Now we know how weak we are in places like that. We've got to train… and get some better supplies… maybe even a new member…"

Char looked back to the Furret. It was a polite little creature, hanging back a ways to let the team converse in private. But its smile never faltered, and it seemed content to just gaze at the rocky wasteland through which they walked as if it was some sort of gorgeous natural wonder. Char knew that the creature had given up all hope of seeing the outside world again, and just watching the sunlight gleam off the murky puddles was a glorious sight for its little eyes.

"Hey, Furret," Char called to it, causing it to jump to attention. "Who are you, anyway? What's your name?"

It wasted no time in bounding forward, closing the distance between itself and the team.

"My friends call me Fern," it said, a little nervously. "I'm… Well, I'm nobody special, really. I was the only daughter in a family of twelve, so I came to Iron Town to get away from my brothers, and it took me three years to earn a feral-shard. There really isn't much to do around here, you know, if you're not a student at the academy. Just work, work, work… I have some friends around town, and we like to eat at the gardens sometimes, or go swimming , but… yeah. That's me."

Char shrugged. He hadn't asked for the creature's life story, only her name, but he wasn't going to sound rude and cut her off. This was obviously the most eventful thing that had happened to her in years, he figured he'd let her ramble and enjoy herself.

"Oh, come on, there must be something special about you!" Saura laughed. "Don't sound all depressed!"

"No, no, really, it's true," Fern said. "I don't have much in the way of hopes or dreams. Never felt much like starting a family… Never got interested in battling, or training, or exploring… My only real desire is to wake up each day and see the morning sun one more time… and maybe contribute a little bit of work to society along the way… I'm not going to lie to you, my heroes, but I'm about as boring as Pokémon come!"

It took Char off-guard a little bit to hear her answer. A Pokémon without hopes and dreams? Was she really content with just dwelling in some house or burrow day after day, never striving for something great? From the day he first awoke in the Gravelrock Tunnel, Char found himself constantly surrounded by Pokémon who shared a powerful sense of purpose, and rose from their sleep every day to further themselves toward it. Were the Pokémon who lived among the civilizations of Ambera different from the inhabitants of the Gold Division? Were they all such stagnant souls with nothing to do? Or was it just his humanity speaking within him again, unable to acknowledge that Pokémon didn't need the same ultimate desires for fulfillment or greatness that he always did?

"You only have one life to live," Char said. "You can't tell me that you'd just let it waste away without making something of it. When you close your eyes at night to sleep, do you ever dream about anything? Have you ever dreamt about having some sort of power that you could only yearn for? Or doing things you wished you could do? Or do you see people in your dreams you wish you could meet? Or maybe places that you could see?"

Fern smiled oddly, a little surprised at the questions. "Well, I think everybody dreams about flying," she laughed. "But I don't fret over it. Furret can't fly. All we do is stand around and feel jealous of all the Charmander!"

Char frowned, not at the horrible joke, but because the Furret still didn't seem to reveal any further depth to her character. Maybe it was just because of his pain and frustration, but he couldn't accept the thought of a sentient creature living such a shallow existence.

"Well, now that I think about it, maybe there are some things I'd like to do before I die," she said thoughtfully. "I've always wanted to meet a legendary Pokémon and ask them what it's like to be so powerful. Yeah, silly, I know. How many times does that happen? Pokémon spend their entire lives searching for Lugia and Ho-Oh and never even come close to catching a glimpse of them. But since you asked, I suppose that's been a little fancy of mine for as long as I can remember."

"Why don't you?" Char insisted. "Search for them, I mean? If your dream is to see Lugia or Ho-Oh, why don't you start on a journey to find them?"

"Eh, I suppose because it's dangerous," Fern shrugged. "If I stay here in a wealthy city, I know I can live out a good long life, and that's what I want more than anything else. Even coming here from the meadow, I had a few close calls. Traveling is dangerous, you know. Wild Pokémon aren't always safe to be around. And then there's the Master to worry about… never know what he's going to do next, and don't really want to be there to find out. I don't think it's all worth it just for a chance to satisfy some silly little whim."

Char closed his mouth tight, afraid that he'd lose control and start spewing impolite words. You say that now, Char said to himself, but I think you'd change your mind if you were standing face-to-face with Lugia. I can't believe you! You can't just live without a purpose! Settling for just the simple pleasures in life is called being simple-minded! Do you enjoy being simple-minded, Fern?

"Char, are you okay?" Saura whispered in a concerned tone, noticing his flaring tail flame. "She's not bothering you, is she?"

"Nah, not really," Char sighed back. "It's not her. It's just—"

Char's expression changed as he suddenly realized something. Like most of the Pokémon he'd met, Fern said she felt threatened by the presence of the Master. Perhaps… this was the ultimate reason she ignored any dreams she might have felt, writing them off as silly and impractical?

How many Pokémon like this have been robbed of their dreams because of the Master? Char wondered. How many Pokémon live trapped in their cities for survival like this, afraid to live life the way it was meant to be lived?

"…Just what, Char?" Saura insisted, still eying the flame.

"I just want to get home and rest, that's all," Char said. "It's been a long morning."

"Hey, but enough about me," Fern said. "You're the interesting Pokémon! Who are you, if I can ask?"

As Scythe had since taught them, it was best not to talk too much about the Division. Even saying your name could be pushing it, as it could give the Master's agents something to keep track of.

"Just Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Raichu," Char lied. "We don't really have names."

"Oh, I see," Fern said. "You know, until now, I didn't know that Charmander still lived in Ambera! I thought you all left a long time ago to go live in the human countries. So… are you guys all part of some kind of club? Maybe a rescue force or something?"

"We do this for a living, yeah," Char said. "But… it's a secret. We can't talk about it."

"Wow, a secret club!" Fern said. "I bet that's really exciting!"

"You're right about that," Ray laughed. "It really is!"

The rest of the walk was uneventful. Fern fell mostly silent after she learned that her heroes were members of a secret organization and couldn't afford to reveal too much about themselves. Through it all, something about her still deeply bothered Char; although she clearly appreciated the rescue, she was quiet, content, and unquestioning. She was resigned to her life, and truly had no regrets about anything. Char knew that he was probably just looking at it irrationally and it was probably normal for Pokémon to accept their place in life, but something… Something within him disagreed with her.

Of course, he realized, that's why he was on a Resistance Team in the first place: the state of Ambera was unacceptable to him, and the best way to change it would be to defeat the Master.

… … …

After quite a long walk, they finally arrived to Iron Town, an active truly impressive stronghold that spanned miles and easily outweighed the Silver Division in terms of population by at least twofold. The vast Pokémon dwelling was probably the most human-like city Char had ever seen in all of Ambera; buildings and structures were all composed of the area's most abundant natural resources—metals—and, despite their odd shapes and architecture at times, rose high above Char's head like miniature skyscrapers. The sight of the city always made Char happy somehow, sparking faint reminders of his humanity.

Fern lead the team through the network of paved gray roads, and they soon arrived at her house. It turned out to be a little, discreet building among a spaced-out neighborhood near the edge of town. The foundation and pillars of the house were made of some kind of metal, and cemented to them were walls made from the same material as the roads, a blindingly white stone that almost resembled sandstone, sparkling to the eye from every direction.

"Wait here!" Fern said before scurrying into the house. "I'll be right back! I really need to give you and your secret club a reward for what you've done."

Char had long since stopped exciting himself over most of the rewards given by the clients themselves; They rarely amounted to more than a hundred Poké, or maybe an odd possession or article of clothing every now and then. Most Pokémon of Ambera didn't really have much in the way of possessions, or at least that's what it seemed to him by the jobs from the training list he'd taken; he figured that he would probably start to see greater rewards when Team Ember became ready for the more high-priority jobs, but for now, he'd have to rely on the reimbursement set by the Division itself… something like two thousand Poké for this particular job.

That's why Char didn't quite expect it when he saw the Furret struggling to drag a huge, stuffed bag from her home.

"Here!" she declared. "It's all yours! Take it back to your wonderful club with you and keep up the good work!"

With one final yank, she plunked the large bag directly in front of Char. It was filled with coins.

It didn't take a psychic to tell what kind of a reward the Furret was offering them—it was her life's savings.

Team Ember didn't quite know what to say.

"No, really! It's yours!" Fern insisted, nudging the bag a little. "If it can help you save the lives of Pokémon, then it belongs to you! Arceus knows I don't need it. If I hadn't been rescued today, I wouldn't have had much use for it anyway, would I?"

"Listen... Fern," Saura said politely. "Our organization pays us for the jobs we do. We know you're grateful to us, and we thank you for your generosity, but we can't accept this."

"If you really don't care about doing anything with your life, why did we even bother rescuing you?" Char blurted.

Char bit his lip, wishing he could recall the harsh words that had escaped his mouth. He saw immediately that his words had hurt her. He also saw the shocked glances that his teammates cast him, which made him feel like burrowing deep into a hole and hiding from the world. He knew he wasn't in a polite mood; why, oh, why didn't he just let Saura speak for him? He was in no position to say something like that in the first place; Team Ember hadn't even rescued her by conventional means, by proving their skill or strength, but by complete luck. Her rescue was an accident.

"I'm sorry," Char said humbly after a moment of burning silence. "I didn't mean what I said."

At that, Char bent down and accepted a very small handful of coins from the bag, amounting to about fifty Poké. He knew that he hurt her feelings, but the least he could do was not completely reject her heartfelt gratitude. He clutched the coins in his claws and forced a weak smile onto his face, returning a polite nod to the Furret.

"Thank you," he said softly. "This will be enough."

Fern didn't reply, but managed to nod back in acknowledgement.

"We should get going," Saura said to both Fern and the rest of his team. "We're happy we could help."

And so, Team Ember began their final walk back down the road toward the academy in a sort of contemplative silence. Saura and Ray didn't bother to bring up Char's outburst; they all knew that it had been a long morning, a morning that finally needed to end...

However, when they were halfway out of the neighborhood, a familiar voice called to them.

"Hey! Wait! Come back!"

Char knew the voice belonged to Fern, but couldn't imagine what she wanted now. He'd just insulted her; why would she want anything to do with him now? He turned around and saw her approaching fast, gasping for air as she caught up with them as fast as her little legs could carry her.

"Fern!" Saura said in surprise. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"You're right," Fern gasped, grinding her dash to a halt right before Char. "I didn't want you to go away and think that you hurt me, because you're right about everything, Charmander. I'm selfish, and rude, and there's nothing for me here in Iron Town. I always knew that. I just… always… thought that… I mean, you're right. I should be doing something with my life. I owe it to you after what you did today. I just… never gave any serious thoughts to anything… I was happy here…"

Char noticed a pause in her speech and was about to respond, when she cut him off.

"Listen, Charmander, Bulbasaur, Raichu… There really isn't anything for me here in Iron Town. Could I… come with you?"

Char was absolutely floored. She wanted to… join them? He'd only said a few words to her, and now she was driven to change the direction of her life?

Incredulously, Char glanced at his friends. Their faces had both lit up. He didn't even have to ask them; he knew they both approved of the idea.

But Char had to think about it for a second. There were rules to the way recruitment worked in the Division. Resistance Teams were strictly forbidden from bringing civilians into the base with them, unless they were refugees who were under real and imminent danger from the Master, or unless there would be specific plans to induct the new member onto the team. He could not simply send Fern off to join Team Stripes, as that was against the rules; Fern would need to join Team Ember.

"I heard you talking earlier," Fern admitted. "I thought I heard you said you needed to find a new member. Maybe… that could be me? Could I be part of your secret rescue team? I'll… I'll be a fast learner, I promise! I always am!"

Char knew what he needed to do next: he needed to huddle with his team and discuss the matter. But, since he already knew precisely what his teammates would say, he figured he could skip that step this one time. Besides… he'd already made up his mind.

"No," Char said simply. "Sorry, Fern, but I don't think it would be the right job for you. I don't want to get you into something you'd regret."

"Oh…" Fern said, dashed. "It's okay. I… understand."

Saura and Ray were both equally surprised at the suddenness and bluntness of Char's response. Fern cast longing glances at them, as if expecting them to respond.

"Don't look at us," Saura told her. "He's the leader. He has the final say."

"Don't get me wrong, it's great that you're looking for something to do," Char told her, "But what you need to find is a life's dream, not a moment's impulse. Besides, our job is not the kind of job you can back out of once you commit. If you join us, you're stuck there for a very, very long time, and before you know it, you'll probably be yearning for your old boring life here in Iron Town. You want my advice? You've got lots of money and you live in a big city. Form a team and go chase the legendaries."

Char really couldn't tell if she was taking his suggestion to heart or just disregarding it, but she politely bowed to him one last time, said her final thanks and goodbyes, and scampered back off to her house.

And then, just like any other client, she was gone, out of sight and mind.

"You know, Char, that was actually a very good decision," Saura admitted as they left the city. "I didn't even think about things like that. I was ready to welcome her to the team! But you're right. Now that I think about it, she wouldn't have fit on a Resistance Team at all."

"I guess that's why Char's the leader!" Ray said happily. "He knows these things by instinct! Just like Scythe!"

---

Division Base

When team Ember finally arrived to the academy, they checked in, recited the proper lines of the Creed to Slaking, and headed back to Team Remorse's quarters room to see if Scythe had returned for the day.

Upon knocking at the front door, they were greeted with a unanimous cry of relief.

"Finally!" he heard Markov the Feraligatr shout jubilantly from somewhere far behind the door. " They're here!"

"It's about time!" Raptor the Gabite grumbled. "Took them long enough. Any longer and I was getting ready to hunt them down myself."

Huh? Char wondered, waiting for the door to open.

"I got it," Ursa said with his deep voice. "Stand back, want to give them some room."

The door slid open, and Char found himself faced with Ursa, Raptor, Markov, and Raon all crowding around the door and standing at eager attention…

…Only to see their smiles immediately fade.

"Oh, it's you," Ursa said. "Sorry, we thought you were Bellossom. We're all starving to death. Oh, and congrats on your first mission alone, hope that went well and all."

"Hey, we'll come in and be hungry with you, okay?" Ray said as they headed inside.

For the past month, Team Remorse had continuously demonstrated just why they were the most hardy and capable team in the entire division. Every single day, the team pulled double-time across several ongoing missions at once, most notably Basin Canyon and Red Haven. Although they'd formed a strong partnership with Team Absolution to help lighten the load, the whole idea was still completely insane to Char. Members of both teams were continually coming and leaving at all hours of the day and night, staying only to take a rest, eat, or to discuss plans with one another. A lot of times, they even stayed multiple days and nights at the destination; sometimes groups left with massive bags stuffed with supplies, only to come back an entire week later. It was always impossible for Char to tell who was going and returning and when, but Char figured that all he had to do was focus on his own team. Through it all, until the most recent mission, Scythe had always been at Team Ember's side to continue their training, even through the backbreaking effort he and his team gave.

And the effort was certainly taking its toll on Team Remorse. Char saw how every member of the team was gradually showing serious signs of strain, both physically and mentally. One thing that never wavered, though, was their confidence; they were the Team Remorse, and they knew it. They would see the missions out until the end. They did not intend to fail. They did not make mistakes.

Char, Saura, and Ray lounged in Scythe's room, waiting lazily for Bellossom to deliver the food. Before the appearance of Adiel and the straining effort they gave in response, it was a service that Team Remorse had not abused; but now, they had requested a steady stream of four deliveries a day. Seeing how the team clearly deserved enough respect to not have to descend to the mess hall for every meal, the Division complied and sent them all the food they wanted. Although, Team Ember ended up getting themselves spoiled with the service.

Char wondered sometimes if Team Remorse was coming close to draining the Division's entire supply of Chesto Berries, as they devoured dozens of them many times per day in an effort to keep themselves awake and alert.

As Char lay sprawled on the rock floor, feeling his muscles throbbing back to life, he reflected upon the day's events, especially about Fern. What if she had joined the team? While he was convinced that he made the right decision, and had no regrets about doing so, he couldn't help but imagine the polite, withdrawn little Furret on the team. As he pictured her going on adventures with Team Ember, it only made him feel more of the same way; not just because he didn't think she was up to the task, but also for another reason entirely…

I don't even completely trust our third member yet, Char realized. How would I handle a fourth? I'm not ready for another member, not until I can bring myself to trust Ray like I trust Saura. But… that still means I have to tell him I'm a human. How would he react? Would he think I'm crazy? Even if he did believe me like Saura did… would he take it well?

Char's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knocking at Scythe's door.

"Hey, Scythe, I need to talk to you," a voice said. "Got something to ask you."

Char recognized the voice as a member of Team Remorse, but couldn't quite place it. It was one of the members he hadn't been as thoroughly acquainted to. Realizing he was the closest one to the door, he groaned as he climbed to his feet to answer it.

"Uh, Scythe's not here," Char responded, pushing the door open. "It's just us…"

Char's eyes nearly popped out of his face when he saw what was standing at the door: it was a Pokémon that he'd never seen before in his life! It was a brown-furred, bipedal rodent, almost looking like—if there were such a thing—a male, middle-aged Kangaskhan. Its head had the distinct shape of a dragon's, but also somewhat resembled that of a mouse or a rabbit, with small, cup-shaped ears and a long, toothy snout.

"Oh, then, sorry to disturb," the unidentified Pokémon said. "I thought I heard Scythe come in, but I guess it was only you after all. When he gets here, tell him that I… what?"

Suddenly, the strange Pokémon's eyes widened, as if he just realized he'd forgotten something. He grasped at his face.

"Oh, lovely," it groaned. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to startle you out of your wits. It's impolite of me."

"What… are you?" Char blurted out, not yet making the connection.

"Oh, it's just Marrow," Ray said, also approaching the door, amused at the sight. "Hard to recognize without his helmet, isn't he?"

Marrow? Char repeated to himself. The... Marowak? But... he doesn't have his skull!

"But… what… I mean…" Char babbled. "I thought…"

Marrow snickered. "Heheheh, yeah, I admit, I get this a lot when I forget I'm not wearing the thing," he laughed. "I'm really not supposed to show my face in public, but yeah, in case you're wondering, it's just a helmet. It's not attached to my head. Although, some Marowak wear them for so long that they do actually get stuck in there, and can't take them off without breaking them apart. Not me, though. It gets really sticky in there, I like to clean it out once in a while."

Char still couldn't stop staring blankly at the unmasked creature, which combed its claw through the matted fur on its face as if to illustrate its point.

"I thought…" Char started to say absently. "I mean… is it… really… your… mother?"

Marrow rolled his eyes. "What are you, a human?" it scoffed lightheartedly. "Maybe there was one Cubone in the entire history of the known world that killed its mother and tore out her skull, or something, I honestly don't know, but it gave the rest of us a bad name, and all the humans started spreading ridiculous myths. I mean, I knew both my parents, I grew up with them, I had a happy childhood… I don't quite understand what the big deal is. Just because we like bones. Char, you like fire, right? Well, I like bones. It's just my nature. They're lightweight, durable, make good weapons… and if you polish them, they can get as hard as ivory. My helmet is actually a Charizard skull. Scythe gave it to me when I joined the team, beats me where he got it, probably sent for it from overseas or somewhere."

"… … …Oh." Char managed to say after trying to digest everything.

There was an awkward moment of silence. Marrow snickered once more, and Ray looked like he was about to burst out laughing.

"Well, I really should, you know, finish polishing this thing before I forget again," Marrow said, starting to walk away. "Tell Scythe I wanted to talk to him, a'ight?"

"Yes, sir!" Ray said cheerily.

"Oh, that reminds me," Marrow said, suddenly doubling back and lowering his voice. "You know Scythe's got a pretty big gift to give you, right? Hope you've got good news to tell him from today!"

Ray shut the door as soon as Marrow was gone, leaving Char staring blankly at the wall. I just saw a Marowak's face! He realized. Have I just witnessed one of the greatest mysteries of Pokémon-kind?

"We had a Cubone on Team Stripes a while back," Ray said offhandedly, returning to his resting place. "That's how I recognized him, in case you're wondering. Though, I don't remember very much about that Cubone… except that he cried a lot, and we eventually let him go."

Thankfully, the food arrived soon enough. After fighting with Team Remorse over a tray of fruit and bread, Team Ember was rewarded with a filling lunch and a nice long rest for the remainder of the afternoon. The last thing to do was to wait for Scythe's return, so they could retell the day's events and possibly even find out what the big reward would be. But Team Ember didn't keep their hopes too high; depending on the work he had cut himself out, they knew it was very possible they wouldn't be seeing him again until the next morning.

… … …

That evening, Ray awoke from his nap. Having felt rested enough for the time being, he decided to leave the room and travel about the base. One thing that the team had completely forgotten about, ironically enough, was to record their victory at the registry. After he took care of that little technicality, he wandered around in search of other things he could get done while he was around.

He remembered something the team had discussed earlier that day, about better preparing themselves against wild rock Pokémon. He figured he could schedule another session with Domo, and ask him to teach them some new techniques to help them…

Ray was greeted by the sound of clashing blades as he pushed aside the curtain and entered the dojo.

Two Kabutops sparred in the center of the room, constantly yelling and conversing as they leapt around each other and lunged with their blades. They almost reminded him of watching Scythe's furious battles against his doppelganger, except with much less finesse and acrobatic skill than a Scyther match, and much more brute force and berserker techniques.

"YAAH! Nice try!"

"You were lucky!"

"There is no luck! Only skill! YAAAAH!"

"Your defense is faltering. You will not last much longer."

"Nonsense, I am only fooling your subconscious into thinking that I am weakening!"

"Your movements are so painfully obvious, you couldn't fool a rabbit into playing dead!"

"Perhaps not, but I could do THIS!"

"Your attacks are insulting to my intelligence. A blind Squirtle could defeat you."

"And a Cubone could defeat you! YAAH!"

"Oh! Excellent move!"

"Ah, it's all in the distraction, my brother!"

Ray waited for a few minutes, but the battle didn't show any signs of stopping. Eventually, he rolled his eyes and stepped forward.

"HEY!" He called to the combatants.

The two Kabutops froze stiff at the sound of Ray's voice, and for a second seemed like a pair of statues depicting an intense snapshot of the action.

"Um, yes, can we help you?" one of the Kabutops said, straightening up and addressing Ray.

"Uh… which one of you is Domo?" Ray asked. "I was watching you two fight, and I can't tell!"

"Oh, neither of us," the other Kabutops said. "Domo is actually not within this base at this moment. This morning, the base received word from a messenger of the Black Division that there's been a Registeel sighting down in the southern mountains, and Domo took off like a rocket."

"We can't blame you for not knowing about it yet," the first added. "It's going to be announced in the news post this evening."

"Hmm…" Ray said, disappointed. "Interesting. I guess we can't train, then… We were hoping to learn some new fighting techniques…"

"Well, we can't help you with that," the first Kabutops said. "Neither of us would have the slightest idea about the physical capacities of a Raichu such as yourself. But here's a tip: try going to Kecleon's and asking the Pink-colored brother for… Training Machines. He might be able to help you."

"Training Machines?" Ray repeated. "You mean, the human… things? We have them here?"

"Oh, of course," the Kabutops said. "Kecleon tries to keep them discreet, but yes, he's what you could call an expert on them. He can get you what you need."

"Whoa, no way," Ray said. "I had no idea. Well, thanks…"

Unfortunately, when Ray hurried over to Kecleon's market, the pink brother was nowhere to be seen, and the green brother refused to comment on his whereabouts. Not wanting to waste the trip, he took the opportunity to purchase some supplies and have them sent over to storage. As he was browsing the shop for the usual things, something caught his eye.

"Hey, Kecleon… are these for sale?"

"My boy, everything is for sale at the right price!" Kecleon answered, hurrying over. "What is it you have your eye on?"

The store was so cluttered and filled with merchandise that even after visiting time and time again, new surprises always waited… for today, just behind the enormous pile of Escape Orbs, Ray spotted a long pegboard filled with things that looked like long, gray nails. The items looked, somehow, strangely familiar.

"Ah, yes, the Silver Spikes!" Kecleon sang. "One of Iron Town's specialties. Each one is forged from pure steel from the caves of the Great Plateau. An especially popular item to use against those pesky Rock Pokémon, especially for those not naturally suited for fighting them. Your friend Char would fall under this category, yes?"

"Yes!" Ray said. "That's… awesome! I'll take them! I'll take… fifty!"

… … …

Later that evening came the moment everyone had been waiting for: Scythe's return.

The exhausted, frustrated, and ruffled warrior was met with a warm welcome as he marched through his team's front door. His meeting was short and to the point, since only a small fraction of the team was actually there that night, as usual, the rest all out on the ongoing missions. Char and his team waited patiently for him to finish his business, wondering more than ever how he'd receive their story.

The Scyther's weary scowl turned to a warm smile when he opened the door to find Team Ember waiting for him inside.

"Good evening, you three!" he said. "So, tell me everything! How'd it go?"

So, they all gathered around, and to the best of their memories, they told him of the torrential rain, the confusing Golbats, the ground-shaking Gravelers, their encounter with Team X, their last stand against an endless wave of feral Pokémon, and how they accomplished the mission against all odds. They told him about Fern, the way Char exploded at her, and how she was turned down from joining the team. Through it all, he sat and watched them thoughtfully, listening intently to every word, giving only a nod of understanding from time to time…

And when they could think of nothing more to say, they fell silent and awaited his response.

"Well," Scythe finally sighed. "I'm… disappointed."

Char gulped. He thought this may have been coming, but he was hoping the fact that they accomplished the mission would at least offset some of his trainer's displeasure…

"Ray," Scythe said, turning to the Raichu. "How many times do I have to tell you this? Even your best electric attacks cannot harm Pokémon with lightning rods!"

"I know," Ray responded.

"Then, what about that Onix you mentioned before you arrived to the cave?" Scythe asked. "What were you thinking, trying to hit it with a bolt of lightning in the first place?"

"It was storming," Ray insisted, "So I thought I could do some damage… I know that the rock Pokémon always take some damage, even if it's not a lot, so…"

"No, no. Wrong!" Scythe said vehemently. "The damage is negligible. You are not to waste your energy like that. Kain did not survive twelve days at Onix Mountain by the strength of his electricity, and neither could you. Do you understand me?"

"Yes… sir," Ray said, fidgeting with his tail as he would usually do when he got nervous. He hung his head, acknowledging Scythe's disappointment and taking his reprimands to heart.

"And Char," Scythe said even more angrily, "Getting distracted by some shiny orbs and running headfirst into a corridor without looking? Arceus knows all the horrible ways that could end up!"

"Sorry," Char said meekly. "I wasn't thinking…"

Char was cringing, expecting an entire wave of criticisms about his bad judgment or poor planning skills, when Scythe's frown suddenly turned into a gleaming smile.

"Well, other than that, I'm very proud of you. I can't say I have any other complaints. Congratulations on a job well done!"

"Wow, that's it?" Saura said. "You're not going to call us on how we basically failed the mission? We won by a complete stroke of luck!"

"I can't fault you for any of your judgments," Scythe said. "I probably wouldn't have done things exactly your way, but… I taught you how to think for yourselves, and you've made your own decent decisions. To be completely honest with you, if I'd joined you in the cave today, I would've questioned your final judgment to let yourselves be destroyed… but, then again, if I convinced you to escape, the Furret wouldn't have been so lucky, would she have? There's nothing wrong with being lucky sometimes. I can't count the number of times I've won missions due to dumb luck. I know Daemon would be quick to tell you that you can't rely on it, but, you see, the thing is, whenever you find yourself lucky, it usually means that, somewhere along the way, you really did something right."

Scythe then proceeded to congratulate them on all their good decisions, from the judicious use of their berries, to their idea to use the silver spikes to counter the rock beasts, to the triggering of the rainfall, to even the handling of Fern's sudden desire to join the team. Char felt his ego growing like a bonfire at each of his praises, convinced that it would be enough to see the big reward that Marrow had hinted at…

"The only part that confuses me… is Team X," Scythe admitted. "Just when I thought I had enough on my plate already, I can't imagine what they're up to…"

"What do we do if we see them again?" Saura asked. "They really freaked us out when they appeared out of nowhere. They were stalking us!"

"If they appear again, just… fight them off, don't agree to their demands," Scythe told them. "You could try tricking them if you think you can get them to spill something, but if you ask me, it looks like they're just some no-name thugs trying to get into the base—the least of our worries. You're strong enough; if they come back, I have no doubt that you could even be their rivals."

Char exchanged a glance with Saura. He never thought about it like that before. Rivals? Really? Could they really Rival the sinister poison team?

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm tired," Scythe finally said, changing his tone, "I think we should all get some rest. Oh… I had a good surprise in store for you today if you completed your mission, but… I'm not convinced you deserve it quite yet. You did basically fail the mission."

Scythe smirked as he said this, making Char really have to wonder why he suddenly chose to send the mixed signals.

"But, I think you're more than deserving of a second chance" he said. "Tomorrow, I've got to head out for Red Haven to check on the progress out there. You'll be on your own again. If you can succeed a second time in a row, Not only will I gladly hand over my prize, but I'll throw in something else, and it's something extremely valuable. I don't think you can afford to disappoint me."

Ah, typical Scythe, Char thought, shaking his head. He's just trying to buy time for himself out at Red Haven. Well, I can't say I blame him. We won once, we'll get up tomorrow and do it again!

"You'd better have those prizes ready for us tomorrow, because we'll deserve them!" Ray declared. "No excuses this time! We'll pass your test!"

And so, after an eventful, draining, but successful day, Team Ember finally settled down for a well-deserved night's—

"Guys," Ray suddenly said, breaking the silence just as the team was starting to float away into peaceful sleep, "Char. Saura. We didn't take a mission for tomorrow..."

Char blinked.

"Aww, nuts," Char grumbled, rising back to his feet.

*Chapter 29*: Chapter 26: Gaining Trust, Part 1

Chapter 26

The next day, nothing was going to go wrong.

Char learned from his experiences down in that godforsaken crevice. There was no use trying to act brave or strong by taking a challenging mission; he wanted Scythe's rewards, plain and simple, and he wasn't about to let another close call ruin the team's recent winning streak. So, for his second independent mission, he sought out the easiest and most straightforward mission on the list, not even caring about whether or not it had a nice reward. He wanted a mission that his team couldn't mess up unless they tried.

And they found one. In their rushed attempt to pick a job and get back to sleep, they found a mission that would, quite literally, be a walk in the park: a sentry mission at a place dubbed "Shadow Meadow."

There was nothing shadowy about it, though, except for how it was shaded on the map of Jirachi. Because of its landscape, it had been in the past a favorite perch for thieves to lay in wait for travelers on routes 412, 414, and 415 which surrounded it; the coloring on the map was an indication to travelers to exercise caution when in the area. The division regularly assigned missions to make sure it was clean of thieves, as these routes were commonly traveled by its members; but ever since the patrols started, there hadn't been a report of a single thief in months…

There were a few risks involved, but they were minimal. For one thing, there was a Mystery Dungeon nearby, but it was a "Wanderer's Dungeon"; that is, it was such a small and low-risk anomaly that a traveler could simply wander into it, and then out of it again, without knowing anything had gone wrong. This was a good, because it was unclear where it exactly started and ended. For another thing, the destination was a good distance from the base… it would be a day-long venture, for sure.

But, since the mission was essentially to wander around and explore nature for a few hours, Char didn't see how anything could possibly go wrong.

…And, for once, he was right. Fate had very little in the way of unforeseen complications to throw at Team Ember that day. But, that's not to say it didn't still have a surprise or two in store for them…

"Until the last ember fades…"

At the sound of the voice, Char stirred in his sleep.

"Until the LAST EMBER FADES…"

That annoying voice, it was getting louder this time. Char rolled over and covered his ears.

"Oh, come on! I'm not even supposed to be the one saying this in the first place!"

Oh, it's just Ray, trying to get me up, Char realized absently. It's too early. I feel like I just went to sleep. Even Scythe doesn't get us up this early, does he? Why can't Ray let me sleep in a little—

Char's body was sent into a violent spasm as a jolt of electricity filled him, causing his eyes to snap open and his arms and legs to involuntarily spring out to their full length. His breath left him for a second, and he could have sworn his heart even stopped for a few moments before gathering itself and starting up again. Ray was standing over him, looking disappointed.

"Awake yet?" Ray hummed, retracting his forepaws from Char's shoulders.

"Y-y-y-yeah," Char struggled out.

"Good. Scythe's already gone, and Brock's not here today to wake us up, so it was up to us this time. We still need to pack the bag and do some last-minute stuff we didn't do last night. Saura and I've been awake for awhile, now we just need you to catch up."

When the feeling flowed back into Char's muscles, he rolled onto his side and tried to force himself up onto his feet. It was hard, though, because he felt covered in pins and needles, and every little contact with the floor felt like cactus writing beneath his skin.

"You still need to say the response!" Ray said. "We're not going to let that awesome motto of yours go to waste. Until the last ember fades…"

"The fire will not die?" Char answered.

"Awesome!" Ray applauded. "Now we're ready for the day! C'mon!"

Char smiled. Ray loved his job so much. It was still hard not to like him, even when he was electrocuting you awake in the morning.

As he limped out of the room, Char once again wondered about a question tore at him lately, ever since Saura had brought it up the previous day: it was clear to see how much Ray desired to be a skilled and respectable resistance team member. Would Ray's impressions of the team change if Char told his secret? Part of him saw how Ray had proven himself as a friend and ally, and he was starting to think he should tell him everything. But… would it be like ruining his dream? Would it be like a betrayal? As Saura had assured him many times, the first purpose of their team would always be to help Char find his identity and his purpose, but that's not what Ray had signed up for when he joined the team. To Ray, it was just an opportunity for firsthand experience with Team Remorse, not some… secret club, as Fern had called it. Yet, in reality, it was more like a secret club than anything else. Would Ray want to be a part of it?

Enough, Char told himself. I won't let this bother me right now. Right now, we have a ridiculously easy mission to accomplish. Let's get it over with!

---

Route 410

Team Ember hit the road at the break of dawn, as usual, and set off down the paths to their faraway destination. The simple beauty of Ambera's countryside was pleasant as always, even as it faintly glowed in the tiny sliver of sunlight that escaped the horizon. The only problem so far was that it was Char's turn to carry the bag this time.

"Hey, Char, I'm getting hungry," Saura said. "How about some breakfast?"

"You read my mind," Ray said. "Want to stop for a second and eat? We've come a pretty long way."

Char groaned as he flung the bag off his shoulder and onto the ground, welcoming the chance to unburden himself. It was so heavy! He despised carrying the bag, especially at the beginning of the day when it was still jam-packed with supplies. He recalled the first time Scythe took him to the storage room and teased him about carrying the bag for the following mission, when he couldn't even stand up while holding it… Char realized too late that it hadn't been a joke at all; the bag actually was that heavy, and he found himself lugging it along on mission after mission. If anything, his arms were getting really strong.

As the team sat on the side of the road and enjoyed a light meal, Char watched the eastern sky as it turned various shades of blue and yellow. A few puffy clouds hung around the advancing sunlight, and a tiny but chilly breeze swept across the land. No stormy weather today. It would be clear sailing all the way out to the meadow. But, probably due to being only the second mission without Scythe, a thought popped into Char's mind.

"Remind me again why we go out so early in the morning?" Char asked, popping a raisin into his mouth. "Why can't we do our missions later in the day? It'd be the same, just with more sunlight."

"Weren't we just over this yesterday morning?" Ray laughed. "We do it because that's how Team Remorse does it. If we want to be as great as them someday, we've got to get ourselves into this habit. Someday, our team could be responsible for defending whole cities and directing armies and stuff. We can't be slacking!"

"Why do you care so much about how great Team Ember gets, anyway?" Saura asked jokingly. "We all know where you really want to be! You'll abandon us in a heartbeat when Scythe invites you to join Team Remorse."

"I've got to prove myself," Ray answered. "Scythe's not going to let me on his team until I help make this team the best it can be! Hah, by the time he finally invites me to join, Team Ember will probably be his equals. Or greater! Besides, I'll always consider myself one of you guys, even after I join Scythe's team. I promise!"

Char forced a smile. "That's great, but that's not really what I was worried about," he said.

"Oh?" Saura said, pausing his search through the bag for more food. "What's the matter now?"

"Well," Char said fretfully, "It's just that I realized something. Look at where we are. It's so dark out. There could be thieves waiting to jump out at us! Or the Master's forces could run into us, and we'd never see it coming. Traveling this early in the morning is just as bad as traveling at night."

Saura tilted his head. "I don't think Pokémon get up early enough to cause a problem," he said thoughtfully. "We've been out at sunrise dozens of times, and we've never seen an ambush."

"Yeah, with Scythe," Char said. "But now that we're alone… There isn't some big scary Scyther to chase away thieves!"

"I don't think we should worry too much about it," Saura said. "I don't think very many Pokémon get up at this time of day, anyway. And even if they do, we're powerful enough to resist them, I think. Just stay on guard, and we should be fine."

"Yeah, plus, you've got a big scary Raichu on your side!" Ray said evilly, letting some static sparkle across his fur. "I didn't evolve for nothing! Thieves better know to stay away, or they'll find out what it's like to get struck by lightning!"

"Struck by lightning? Oh, I am so scared!"

The voice came from nowhere. Dread filled the team as a pair of shadows approached from the wilderness off the side of the road.

"Big, scary Raichu, huh?" a second voice said. "I don't know who could consider a little rat to be scary."

Just as the voices clicked into place in Char's head, the newcomers came close enough to be seen: they were none other than the bothersome Seviper and the Croagunk.

"Team X," Char spat, throwing his pear onto the ground in disgust. "They're still stalking us! I don't believe it."

Saura and Ray had already assumed the stances for battle, and Ray's body was beginning to glow in the dark as he prepared a powerful discharge for the rival team. Char got to his feet quickly and joined them, sending a scowl at the poison Pokémon.

"Heh, heh, heh, heh. Relax, we're not here to hurt you," Croagunk said as it walked up to face Saura. "I told you before, we're your allies. Why'd we want to hurt you?"

"We're still not letting you into the base!" Saura said forcefully. "It doesn't matter what you say. We don't trust you."

"And just why not?" Seviper asked curiously. "What reason have we ever given you to distrust us? We've never even attacked you!"

"Let's put it this way," Croagunk said coolly. "What could we do to earn your trust? What could we do to prove to you that we're on your side?"

Char searched for a clever retort, and couldn't find one. He then searched for a serious answer, and couldn't quite find one either. He couldn't think of a single thing the poison Pokémon could do to clear their names from his book.

"…See? See?" Croagunk said, anger growing behind his voice. "You don't have an answer. It just goes to show how hypocritical you are. How can a resistance team like us operate like this? Answer that."

Char frowned even harder. "Do you serve the Master?" he demanded of them.

"We do," Croagunk said. "With all our hearts."

"Then how can you call yourself a resistance team?" Char exploded. "Resistance teams don't serve the Master! Resistance teams resist the Master!"

"Hey, hey, wait for a minute," Croagunk said. "You're assuming something. You're just assuming that the Master's forces are all on the same side. The Master's forces aren't nearly as… unified… as they might seem. In fact… there are whole legions of troops and generals that… betray him. And then there are the teams like us that resist them and try to bring them back under the Master's true reign. Honestly, did you think that the Master really wants all this destruction to be happening? What's happening now is that the Master's reign is out of even his own control!"

"That's a lie," Char challenged. "Our Scyther friend has seen the Master's forces from the inside out, and he says that the Master's forces never fight amongst each other."

"That's precisely why we couldn't afford to approach you while he's around," Seviper explained. "He would slice our heads off before we would have the chance to even make our case. Your Scyther friend knows very little about the Master's forces. If he once knew much, the information is probably obsolete. Times have changed"

"The Master is not evil," Croagunk tried to assure Char. "If we lived by his rules, there would be peace in Ambera that would even make Arceus smile. But these are changing times. Some Pokémon resist the Master, and so, we have war. Team X wants to do its part to resist the Master's forces who've gone astray, and we think we could help by siding with your base for the time being."

Char paused for a second to collect his thoughts, but he found that he couldn't. Their story was so ridiculous, so contradictory, that there were simply no words with which he could reply.

"Go," Char finally said. "Go away. Just go."

"What? Haven't we convinced you of anything yet?" Croagunk pleaded. "What more do you want?"

"No, you're not even close," Char told them. "If you really are our allies, then… just turn around and leave us, and stop stalking us. Don't come back until you figured out something much more convincing to say. I don't know. We just don't trust you. We can't. So leave. Because if you keep bothering us, I think you should prepare for a fight next time."

Croagunk emitted a loud croak, making Char jump in surprise.

"Well, if that's the way things are," Croagunk said, "Fine. Be that way. But we're not finished with you yet. Resistance Teams such as you and I don't just give up. We'll come back, and you'd better be prepared to change your minds. Because if you don't…"

Char waited until the suspicious team had turned their backs and were walking away before he ordered his own team to do the same.

"Well, that went a little bit better than last time," Seviper said. "I think we might have swayed them a little bit. I told you, the better strategy is to act diplomatic, not hostile."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Croagunk grumbled. "But we're still not any closer to making them trust us. I told you, that Scyther taught them good not to be idiots and fall for every scam they hear."

"You know," Seviper said, "I don't think anything we say is going to get us into that base… I think we must to do something for them. Actions do, after all, speak louder than words."

"Well, we've got to figure out what it is," Croagunk said. "We've only got until the end of the month to get into that base. Otherwise, Dusknoir will have our heads. And Adiel will have his!"

Team Ember picked up the pace down the road, taking Char's previous worry to heart. Ray's body sizzled with excess energy, Char's flame had grown sizable from his rage, and Saura furiously scanned the surroundings for more trouble.

"I can't believe those guys," Char said. "Yesterday they were trying to bribe us, and today they thought just acting friendlier would work better? They couldn't tell a convincing lie to save their lives. What do we do next time?"

"We do just like you said," Ray growled. "Next time we see them, we fight."

"Hopefully, they won't show up again," Saura said. "With any luck, tomorrow we'll have Scythe back, and they'll stay far away…"

---

Route 412

After two hours of walking and chatting nervously about things like what prize Scythe was going to give them, the sun was finally high enough to light the world and the birds were all giving their morning cheers. The team was able to relax a little as their path and surroundings became clearer.

After four hours of walking, Route 410 converged into Route 412, the road which would lead them right to the meadow. But as the excitement of coming down the final stretch started to set in, so did the anticipation of accidentally wandering into the dungeon and getting lost. They had to leave the path and head to the meadow eventually, but where?

"It's useless," Ray said, looking over the map. "This travel map doesn't even have the dungeon marked like the big one does. We'll just have to take our best guess."

"Bah, it's not like the dungeon is much to worry about, anyway," Saura scoffed. "Worst that'll happen is we get turned around and lose a few hours, right?"

"Yeah, I guess," Char said, yanking the bag back up to his shoulder to keep it from slipping. "But there are Pidgey and Spearow in there, and there's even… ugh… a slight chance we might see a wild Scyther."

Not to mention the fact that a few extra hours will probably do it for my arms, Char added silently.

"Oohh, okay, okay, point taken," Saura said, shuddering at the thought of feral birds attacking him. "Eh, we shouldn't worry about it. We'll probably miss it completely, right?"

---

Wanderer's Meadow

"…We're in the dungeon now, aren't we?" Saura groaned, suddenly noticing that there was no way to tell where they'd come from or where they were going.

Sure enough, when they picked a place to step off the road and head into the meadow, they got caught up in the tiny Mystery Dungeon. There was nothing to do now but find the way out. Char knew somehow that it'd been inevitable.

"Don't worry, this'll be a cinch," Ray said, surveying the cursed meadow. "We'll be out of here before you know it. The birds here don't stand a chance against me, and Char's a Steelix slayer!"

Char tried to give an awkward little laugh at the statement, but it was muffled by a grunt when he pulled the bag back up to a balanced level. He was tempted to exercise his authority over the team and designate Ray as the permanent bag carrier, as his larger body and taller form were better suited for the strain. He just wanted to get out of the dungeon and into the meadow, where he could set the thing down and set up the watch they'd hold for the remainder of the day.

The Wanderer's Meadow was as tame a dungeon as they came. A gentle, serene countryside spread out before them, a few rocks and trees dotting the landscape in places. There were no birds in the sky, or any feral Pokémon at all, to be seen. Char hoped that it would stay that way.

"Hey! Ow, that hurt!"

At Saura's cry of pain, Char glanced back to see that a Pidgey had appeared from absolutely nowhere and was repeatedly attempting to swoop down and peck at his friend's back. Saura waved his vines around like whips to try chasing the thing away, but the Pidgey was agile enough dodge them and zero in on its target.

"Ugh! Not fair!" Saura yelled at the thing when it raked its talons across his side.

Ray jumped into action, readying his electricity for discharge. He took aim and released what appeared to be an amorphous orb of static at the bird. It barely dodged the attack, and it gave a startled cry as it retreated higher into the air to avoid a further brush with electricity.

Then, with amazing agility, it switched targets, swooped back down, and nailed Char in the forehead with its beak!

"Augh! Oh, man, that hurts!" Char yelled, dropping the bag and clutching the fresh dent above his left eye.

Do that again, Char said to himself, feeling his Ember rise higher. I dare you. Do that again!

As if in response, the Pidgey doubled back and came at Char again. But this time, Char was ready for it. Just as the bird was about to collide with him a second time, he released a torrent of flames so powerful it halted the bird's attack in mid-air and left it struggling to stay aloft. It failed, and it tumbled down to the grass covered in flames.

"Good riddance," Saura said, watching the bird tumble around to put the flames out. "C'mon, let's go. I don't want to stay in here longer than we have to."

They wandered around for a few more minutes, looking for the exit. The Wanderer's Meadow was said to be smaller than a mile, so it was like a painful tease as Char watched the repeating landscape, knowing that the exit was just barely out of reach the entire time. Through it all, no more birds attacked; it seemed like they'd knocked out the only Pidgey in the entire dungeon at the time. Char once again hoped that the remainder of the dungeon would be peaceful.

… … …

Twenty minutes passed, and Char couldn't take the strain anymore. He had to pass the bag to Ray, grumbling that they should have been there already and that he'd pay him back later. Free of his burden, Char watched the meadow intently for the tiny details that would mark the end of the curse and allow them passage to Shadow Meadow. When he found something that looked like a new feature of the landscape, he rushed to it in hope that it was the way out.

A few minutes later, they were back where they started.

"I don't believe this," Char groaned. "I know it usually takes people an hour to get out of this place, but there's got to be some way…"

"Chirp!"

Although a little startled, Char recognized the sound as another Pidgey, probably trying to sneak up on him from behind. He turned, preparing to loose his fire again…

But when he turned, he did not see a crazed bird homing in for an attack. It stood on the ground just a few feet away, looking at him.

Odd, Char thought. It doesn't want to fight? I thought the curse makes them—

That's when Char took a good look at the bird, and saw that some of its feathers had been discolored. Black burn marks covered its body.

It was the same Pidgey that had attacked them before.

"Um, is that thing… following us?" Saura wondered, eyeing the little bird as it hopped closer. "It doesn't look like it wants to fight."

"It's the same one we beat!" Char said. "What's it doing here? Didn't we leave this thing behind?"

"That's really weird," Saura said, stepping away from the bird. "I wonder how long it's been following us like that. Maybe it's trying to attack us again, but it's too weak?"

Char decided to ignore the bird, focusing his attention again on finding the way out of the cursed meadow. But with every step he took, he glanced back to see that the Pidgey was hopping along behind him in procession, as if it considered itself part of the team.

Finally, it took off and flew over Char's head, landing directly in Char's path and presenting itself to him.

"Chirp!" it said again.

What do you want? Char wondered. Are you trying to tell me something?

"No! Wait!" Ray suddenly cried, his voice full of excitement and surprise. "Char! Do you realize what's going on? Char! You impressed it! I don't believe it! You impressed the Pidgey!"

"What's that mean?" Char asked, bending down to inspect the bird up close.

Ray rushed forward, nearly pushing Char out of the way to get a good look at the bird. The bird winced as Ray practically ran into him, but it stayed calm and kept its eyes fixed on Char.

"I heard stories about this happening, but I… I never thought I would actually get to see it happen!" Ray said. "Char, you beat it in battle, and you earned its respect. Now it sees you as its master!"

"What?!" Char cried in response. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah! That's why it's following you!" Ray said. "That's how resistance teams recruit wild Pokémon from Mystery Dungeons. But it never happens! Char, you have no idea how rare this is! I mean, I've even heard of teams in the resistance whose purpose is just to try to get wild Pokémon to join them. They use psychic tricks and even wear special pieces of cloth just to increase the odds of impressing the wild ones… but they're still lucky just to see it happen once a year! But just to have this happen to us, with no planning or anything… what a stroke of luck! It's like… being born shiny!"

"Chirp! Chirp!" the bird said, as if it were trying to communicate with Char. Respect glittered in the little bird's eyes as it hoped to be acknowledged. As Char looked at the bird, the little thing just tugged at his heart. It was adorable, like a lost little child looking for a friend. He smiled at it, and it ruffled its feathers in joy.

"So, what does this mean?" Saura asked. "Is it just going to keep following us like this?"

"It'll follow us anywhere!" Ray said. "It thinks Char is its master now. It'll follow us out of the dungeon, and all over the world, and even back into the base if we take it there. It'll even obey Char's every command if it can understand him."

Really? Char wondered. It'll do what I say?

Curious, Char waved his hand, signaling the Pidgey to come to his side. It instantly complied, then looked to Char for more orders.

"Whoa," Char said, just trying to consider all the implications. He wondered if this was what it was like to be a Pokémon trainer.

"You know what this means, right?" Ray said, still excited. "Impression is the first step for a Pokémon towards sentience! Char, if we wanted to, we could make this Pidgey smart! You know the day care center back at the base? They could help us raise it! And then, we could have it join the team! …Or, we could send it away. It's your choice, Char."

"Hold on a moment," Saura said. "Do we even want it to join the team? If we wanted a bird on our team, we could have our pick from anyone on Team Silverwing."

Char realized that Saura was right. Team Silverwing was a very reputable training team of the Gold Division, one that Char had the pleasure of working with several times on past missions. Its membership was limited exclusively to bird Pokémon, all of which had been given top-notch training and were ready and willing to serve on a resistance team. He knew that any member of Team Silverwing would probably leap at the chance to join Team Ember.

Yet, this little Pidgey which stood before Char, this wild, weak, inexperienced little Pidgey… couldn't be turned down.

"I… want to keep him," Char said, petting the bird on the head.

"Really?" Saura said. "We just turned down Fern, and now you want a little Pidgey chick? Fern might have been a better choice!"

"I don't know, I just… want to keep him," Char said again.

Saura frowned. While he didn't dislike the idea, he thought Team Ember could do better than just a little bird as its fourth member. But, like all Pokémon, he knew it had the potential to grow and become stronger, and maybe even become a good friend. Either way, there was no way of changing Char's mind. He was infatuated with it, like a trainer with his first Pokémon.

"Well, if that's really what you want," Saura sighed, "I guess I can't complain. If we were so lucky to impress him, I guess we should take advantage of it. I'll trust you on this one, just like with Fern."

"In that case, I guess we take him back to base and enroll him in day care," Ray said. "Hey, little guy! Welcome to the team!"

"Cheee!" it happily replied.

---

Division Base

And, just like that, Team Ember had a fourth member.

Well, what can be said about the rest of that mission? It came. It went. It was a cinch, as expected. But Char didn't do much in the way of watching for bad guys, as the mission required. He was too busy giving attention to the Pidgey. Something in his heart had snapped—whether it was with his human or his Pokémon instincts, he couldn't tell—but he saw the Pidgey like a brother or a son, and he just couldn't let the little thing down. He wanted to see the Pidgey through growth and development.

It was nearly evening when the team's watch time was up. When they returned to the base, Ray went down to the registry to report the mission completion (the area was clear, as expected) and Char and Saura took the Pidgey down to a wing of the base they never had much of a reason to visit before: the day care.

The day care was a facility composed of several spacious rooms, including classrooms, playrooms, and bedrooms, for the extremely young children to live in. Pokémon who were too young to actively participate in the teams, such as orphaned survivors of the Master's raids, were given a home there until they were old and mature enough to participate in the Division's work. Char had known about the day care for a while, but never knew it also served the function of raising wild Pokémon…

An elderly Kangaskhan greeted them at the front lobby. Its pouch was empty; Char figured that her baby was probably off playing somewhere.

"Oh, it's Team Ember!" the Kangaskhan exclaimed. "Well, now! What brings everyone's favorite team down here, dears?"

"Well, we found this Pidgey on a mission today, and it followed us here," Saura explained. "We were wondering… if… you could help us?"

Kangaskhan smiled as her eyes scanned over the little bird, inspecting it thoroughly. The Pidgey had looked a little scared and unsure of itself since entering the base, but it stayed close to Char and never stopped casting glances of trust at him.

"Well, aren't you lucky?" she said. "It's a handsome young boy! It looks nice and healthy, too! Hmm, wow, it's got some pretty big talons for its age, hasn't it? And look at that sharp little beak! He's an armed little fellow! I bet his attacks could really hurt!"

They do, Char wanted to say, remembering the still-healing gash in his forehead.

"So, can you, um… help us take care of him?" Saura asked.

"Of course, dears!" Kangaskhan hummed. "We'd be glad to; that's why we're here! As long as you pay the fee, of course."

"Fee?" Saura repeated. "How much is the fee?"

"For one hundred thousand Poké, we'll keep him here, and we'll raise and educate him until he's ready to meet the standards of your team."

Saura gulped. "…That's a lot of money," he balked. "I don't think our bank account can take that big of a hit right now! We might have to think about this!"

"Oh, not to worry, you don't have to pay all at once!" Kangaskhan assured him. "We'll bill you gradually. Raising children doesn't happen all at once, you know!"

Char and Saura agreed that it was a good idea, so they agreed to Kangaskhan's deal.

"You won't be disappointed," Kangaskhan said. "After all, we can't afford to disappoint our beloved Team Ember! We'll give him the best education we can manage, and when he's ready, we'll make sure he gets personal training by Team Silverwing."

"How long do you think all this will take?" Char wondered. "How long will it be until we can see him again? Years?"

"Oh, sweetie, you can come and visit him whenever you'd like!" Kangaskhan laughed. "But the whole process might take around… oh… two months?"

"Two months?!" Char repeated in disbelief. "That quick? Are you sure?"

"Of course, as long as we keep him on a proper diet of gummis!" she answered. "In fact, that's where a lot of your money will go to. Gummis aren't cheap, you know!"

"Um… what's a gummi?" Char asked. "I've heard of those, but I've never seen one before. Are they food, or something?"

"They're supposed to make you smarter if you eat them," Saura said. "I've never had one myself, but I've heard a lot about them. Kecleon once had some in his store, but they were really expensive!"

"Oh, gummis don't actually make you smarter," Kangaskhan said. "They don't feed knowledge or experience into your head, after all. But if you eat enough of them, they'll keep your mind stimulated and open, and let you learn new things faster! In fact, if your little friend here eats his gummis, we might be able to have him speaking in just a few weeks. Speech seems to come naturally to Pidgey."

"Interesting," Char said. "Do you think we'd get any smarter if we ate gummis? I wonder what they taste like."

"If you want, I can let you try one," Kangaskhan said. "Just a moment, I'll be right back!"

Kangaskhan leapt away and disappeared down the hallway, and soon returned holding some colorful pieces of candy. One was red, and the other was green. Char recognized them immediately: they were jellybeans!

"Here you are, sweeties! On the house!" she said, handing Char the red one. "Enjoy! I think you'll like them!"

Char looked over the small, shiny jellybean. He sniffed it, but couldn't discern anything unusual. He popped it into his mouth. It tasted like nothing, until he bit down and broke the glossy skin of the candy…

And then, Char felt his entire mouth erupting with flavor.

It felt like a bomb had exploded in his mouth! It was an extreme, ultimately indescribable taste: it had a subtle kind of sweetness to it, but it was drowned out by an overbearing… stabbing sensation that spread into every smallest crevice of his mouth as well as down his throat. Char thought it tasted like a combination of fire, which he was familiar with, and the hottest cinnamon he could have imagined. His taste buds felt like they'd all come alive and were busting at the seams, pleading for mercy from the intense onslaught.

…And he liked it.

When he finally, reluctantly swallowed the candy, his eyes were watering. His entire mouth was tingling.

"Well? How was it?" Saura pleaded, his own green-colored gummi sitting on the ground in front of him. "Do you feel any smarter?

"Not really," Char managed to answer, gasping for breath to cool down the lingering taste of fire in his mouth. "But I think I want another one."

Saura sniffed at the candy in front of him, then hesitantly gobbled it up.

Char watched amusedly as Saura's eyes widened. He chewed once.

But then, his face turned into a horrible, disgusted scowl.

"BLAUGH!" he spewed, spitting the candy back onto the floor. "EUGH! That's the most disgusting thing I ever tasted! It was bitter, and slimy! Eughh, I think I'm going to throw up!"

"Oh, no! I'm so, so sorry!" Kangaskhan cried, horrified. "I'm sorry! Oh, dear… I must have given you the wrong kind! That must have been one for the bug Pokémon. They're the same color, so I get them mixed up sometimes… Here… Here… I brought more… I think I have the right kind here…"

Kangaskhan dug into her pouch, and produced an assorted handful of colorful gummis. She sorted through them and picked out another green one. It was discernibly a lighter shade of green than the mess Saura had left on the floor. Kangaskhan handed it to Saura, who glared at it suspiciously.

"It's okay, you'll like this one," She told him. "Go on! Try it!"

Saura cringed as he took the second gummi into his mouth, but as soon as he chewed once, his face lit up with a big smile.

"Wow! Now that's more like it!" he exclaimed. "It tastes like… a really fresh salad! With honey! Wow, that's really wonderful! Do you have any more?"

"Sorry, but if you want more gummis, you'll have to pay for them, fair and square," Kangaskhan laughed. "Everybody loves them, but nobody seems to have a budget to eat a lot of them. So, we just use most of them on the younger children to help with their development. Speaking of which…"

She handed another gummi, a turquoise-colored one, to the Pidgey. The bird took it from her hand and tossed its head back to swallow it down.

"There you go, little guy," Kangaskhan crooned. "Better get used to eating those! Oh, that reminds me of something. One more important thing before you leave: do you want to give him a name? If you do, you should give it to him now, so that he'll be able to associate the name with himself."

"Otto," Char blurted out. "We'll call him Otto."

Saura and Kangaskhan both gave him a funny look.

"That's… an interesting name for a Pidgey," Kangaskhan said. "Any reason for the name?"

"No, not really," Char said. "It's just the first one I thought of."

"Well, whatever you wish," Kangaskhan said. "That'll be what we call him, then. Well, I know you two are very busy, so we can start getting little Otto acquainted with his new home right away…"

So, Char and Saura said goodbye to Otto the Pidgey. It was hard, but Char eventually got the Pidgey to see that he wanted it to go away with the Kangaskhan. The Pidgey looked sad to go, but its desire to please its master was strong, so it obeyed. Char told it that he loved it, and that he'd visit it as often as he could.

Then, he was gone.

… … …

"Otto?!" Saura said to Char as they returned to their rooms. "What kind of a name is that, anyway? That almost sounds like a name for an Oddish."

"I don't really know," Char admitted. "I just suddenly remembered out of nowhere. It might even be from my human life."

"A human name?" Saura said. "Interesting… you humans must have interesting names. Do you think… it could be your name?"

Char dug through his thoughts, but his memories, save for his visions of Dialga and Palkia, were still completely blank. He couldn't place the name anywhere, much less on himself.

"I don't know," Char said. "But… I think I need to have a talk with you. Without Ray here, I mean."

"Okay, sure," Saura said. "To the meeting hall, then?"

Char sat with Saura in the empty meeting hall, just like they always did when they wanted time alone. The grandeur of the hall and the sight of the dragons always gave Char a level of peace that he couldn't seem to find anywhere else.

"My team is four members big now," Char sighed, relaxing and spilling his thoughts out for his best friend. "But you and I are still the only real members. I think it's time we told Ray. Ray is… well, our friend, and our teammate, and I'm really starting to feel like I want to trust him as much as I trust you. But, whenever I think about it, I can't seem to get the courage to tell him."

Saura nodded thoughtfully.

"It's just… we have four members now. What about when we have five? Six? Or ten? I really feel like things could get out of hand. If we get more members, and I still only trust you, I feel like… our team won't be able to work. So, I want to tell Ray about my secrets. I think I owe it to him. I just don't know how he'll take it. What do you think? Do you think he's ready?"

Saura thought for a moment before answering. "Ray is… well, at least from what I tell… he's thrilled to be a part of something big," he speculated. "That's why he wants on Team Remorse so badly. That's why he sets such high standards for himself and us, too. He wants to see the legends as they happen. He wants to be the one making them happen."

Yes, Ray certainly had a clear purpose in life. To Char, that much was certain. Unlike Fern, who may have fancied seeing the legendary Pokémon but never intended to do anything about it, Ray was giving his all day after day to make his dreams come true. But Saura was right: he'd never really considered why Ray had the dreams he did. He always thought it was because he idolized Scythe and wanted to be like him.

"And, any way you put it, Char, you're a legend," Saura continued. "The way I see it, Ray would be honored to know you for who you are."

"Maybe you're right," Char said, "But… I still get butterflies in my stomach when I think about telling him. You'll have to help me do it. You're so much better at talking than I am."

"I'll be right behind you," Saura promised. "That's not going to change. Whatever happens, I'm right behind you."

They sat in peace for a while before deciding to head back to Scythe's room, remembering that they had a reward to receive.

*Chapter 30*: Chapter 27: Gaining Trust, Part 2

Chapter 27

Later that evening, the team congregated in Scythe's room to give him the day's news. They'd spent all day anticipating what his big reward was going to be, so they were all smiles when they reported that their second independent mission had gone off without a hitch. But Scythe had a rather unexpected response.

"Let me get this straight," Scythe said, almost laughing. "You chose the easiest mission possible, just so you could tell me you won, just so you could get the reward I promised?"

Somehow, the way Scythe said it made Char's smile fade. He hadn't considered that Scythe would actually disapprove of the idea!

"There's a word for that," Scythe said. "Cheating! That's not how I trained you! I expect you to take the missions you're capable of, not the ones better left for Team Stripes!"

"I'm sorry," Char said, his smile long gone and his head hung. "You're right. I just wanted the reward."

"That's just not how the division works," Scythe continued. "Imagine what would happen if my team took the sentry missions day after day. Not only would the training teams all be out of business, but… It would take us years to make any money! Plus, who would take the bigger jobs? Who would get the real work done? The Master would smash us in the blink of an eye!"

"We understand," Saura said. "It won't happen again."

"So," Scythe sighed, "I'm sorry, but this really was a cop-out on your part. I don't think I can give you the reward quite yet. Better luck next time."

Char slumped back, defeated. In retrospect, he really should have seen this coming. Scythe had every right to scorn them for taking the easy way out. Exchanging glances with his teammates, he saw that Saura and Ray both returned expressions of disappointment in acknowledgement of their failure. Ray, especially: he saw something fiery burning deep within Ray's eyes, a belief that it was mostly his fault for letting the team down by agreeing to take the easy way out, and a determination to never, ever let the team slack again. Honestly, it scared him a little; Ray wasn't exactly easy on him in the first place.

Oh, well, Char thought. At least we accomplished something today. We have Otto, and—

"Naah, I'm just joking with you," Scythe suddenly laughed. "The reward is all yours! You won fair and square."

The team froze, speechless. Char blinked.

"You should have seen the looks on your faces," Scythe chuckled. "I just couldn't resist. It's all good. Really, it is. You were being opportunists, which demonstrates good judgment. Some Pokémon with big egos actually have a lot of trouble lowering themselves for the sake of a good profit. Like Daemon, for instance. He'd be the one telling you everything I just said. But he's not here right now, so his opinions don't matter. Congratulations, you three. You've earned your reward!"

Team Ember responded with a weak, nervous laugh which shortly escalated into a hearty cheer.

Scythe took them down the hall, explaining the rewards he had planned. Team Ember was to move up in rank! They would now have free reign to take the more difficult missions from the division-wide task lists. They would be allowed to take missions up to the two-star risk level. But, best of all, they would no longer pay half their earnings to Team Remorse; only a miniscule ten-percent tax would be required from now on, since they were still apprentices and not completely independent.

This alone was enough to make Char and his friends leap for joy, but Scythe had something else in store.

As he lead them to the front door of his team's quarters, Char noticed that several other members of Team Remorse were falling in line behind them. Marrow was there, as was Raon, and Shander…

When Scythe reached the front door, he stopped to address them.

"As you can imagine, a higher rank implies greater responsibility," Scythe announced with his authority. "Since you have grown in strength, and in skill, and in number, more will be expected of you. That's why, as your reward for attaining a new level of reputability, I will bestow upon you… chores!"

Again, Team Ember fell silent and tongue-tied. When Char glanced back at the other members of Team Remorse, he realized why they'd chosen to come. They were all struggling to hold back laughter. They had expected this, and wanted to watch in amusement as it played out. By now, Char was used to being the subject of Scythe's good-hearted jokes, but he couldn't quite understand this one…

"Chores?" Char repeated. "You mean, like, manual labor? On top of doing missions?"

"Of course!" Scythe said, not even cracking a smile this time. "We all have our chores to do while we're not on duty. What, you think you can just spend all that time lounging around the base and doing nothing? You've got to make yourself useful! So, today, I'm assigning to you a chore which I expect to be done every day. As a reward."

"What's the chore?" Saura asked, with strangest expression on his face that Char had ever seen.

"I was just getting to that!" Scythe bellowed. "Now, you must understand that this chore is of utmost importance. If you ever fail, the Division's opinion of you might plummet. Understand?"

"Uh, okay," Char said. "Understood."

"Now, this is the chore: from this point forth, you, Team Ember, will be responsible for cleaning one of the division's halls downstairs. You must keep it swept, washed, tidied, and free of clutter. Every single day. Understand?"

Char couldn't stop his heart from sinking this time. He'd expected Scythe to surprise him with something positive, as he usually did. He was expecting the chore to be an honored privilege or something, but it turned out to really be a chore. A rather annoying and unpleasant one, at that.

"Now, come with me," Scythe ordered, opening the door. "I'll show you."

So, Scythe lead the disillusioned team out into the halls. Scythe's teammates still followed, as if still eager to see some kind of reaction from them.

They went down one flight of stairs…

And then down a hall that appeared similar, if not identical, to the one above it. In fact, it was a hall that Char and Saura had mistaken for Team Remorse's quarters a few times in the past.

He lead them down to the end of the hall. When the hall ended, there was a door, not unlike Scythe's door one floor above.

And then, Char saw it.

Above the door, adorned with four billowing torches, was a stone plaque. Etched into the plaque were five large human letters: EMBER.

Char was about ready to faint. Scythe was giving his team rooms all to themselves!

"And here it is," Scythe said, proudly introducing the door. "Do you like it?"

"No way! This is for us?" Saura cried. "Scythe, it's beautiful! I don't know what to say!"

"Wow, Scythe! This is too much!" Ray gasped. "I would have done ten independent missions for this!"

"Well, it's yours," Scythe said. "This old hall has been abandoned for a few years, ever since Team Flamewheel picked up and moved to the Emerald Division. For some reason, the Division wouldn't let anyone else take it for the longest time… but I convinced them, finally. So, here are your own rooms. Use them, abuse them, just try not to get them too messy, alright?"

"Scythe was waiting until he could get some rooms close enough to ours," Raon explained. "In fact, I don't think he's even planning on ever letting you become totally independent. I think you're stuck with us forever."

"Yeah, Scythe has loads of plans for your team," Marrow said. "One day, you'll probably wind up as our personal helper team. Imagine: you'll be training new recruits, running your own missions, and helping us with ours all at the same time. It'll be a blast, really!"

"You might change the world someday, and we will keep doing everything in our power to get you ready, as Alakazam instructed us to do," Shander said mainly to Char. "With this new home of yours, your team can enter a completely new phase. You are now free to expand your team as you see fit without overcrowding our rooms."

Char was so happy, he had to resist the urge to run up and give Scythe a hug. It was a marvelous, thoughtful gift, even if it was just another step in their development as a team. Char could already imagine the sweet privacy of his own room, of not having to be woken up by a Scythe or a blaring Exploud each morning, of being able to recruit some new members and giving them decent places to stay…

"Thank you," Char said sincerely. "It's perfect. It's just what we needed."

Scythe blinked. "Well, those are all very interesting responses for just showing you the front door. Want to take a look inside?"

Without waiting for an answer, Scythe rapped on the door. A moment passed before it slid open, revealing several members of Team Stripes standing on the other side, including Taka, an Eevee, and a Larvitar.

"You'd better like it," Taka pronounced. "Team Remorse had us working on this for two whole weeks just for you guys. It was not easy."

"Hey, quit your complaining! We paid you!" Marrow said. "We would have done it ourselves if we hadn't all been busy enough!"

"Yeah, as if Team Stripes even gets to keep more than ten percent of our money in the first place," Taka said. "But yeah, whatever. It's done. Go on in and look at it."

Ray hung back to chat with Taka for a little while, and Char and Saura eagerly stepped in to explore their new living quarters.

It was better than Char had expected. The personal hall had the exact layout as Team Remorse's quarters, complete with fourteen bedrooms, a long yet spacious main corridor, a meeting room, a planning room, an office, and an extra storage room. The hall was lined with twice as many ghost-torches as Team Remorse had, all in various, ornate kinds of containers that stood on the floor or hung from the walls and the ceiling—presumably in honor of the team's name. A bright red-and-orange rug lined the main hall's floor, embroidered with images of Moltres, Entei, Flareon, and Charizard. Char first wondered if the rug was custom-made for them, but figured it was probably left behind by the previous team who, judging by their team name, were obviously just as associated with the element of fire as his team was.

Taking in the visage of his new home, Char felt similar pangs of awe and joy to how he had when he'd first seen the interior of the base. The Charmander within him was deeply satisfied and wanted to live there forever, and the human part of him could barely keep up. He ran from one room to the next, inspecting them all and watching as the magical torches flared to life at his proximity. The rooms all had extremely simple furnishings, but no more than a Pokémon would need to be happy: a rug, a sleeping pad made of something like artificial straw and cloth, and a few bare shelves to keep belongings.

Finally, Char found the last room at the end of the hall: the team leader's room, just like Scythe's room upstairs. It was as big as two of the other rooms put together, and filled with many more pieces of furniture, including golden statues and crystal-imbued wall ornaments. The bed was bigger, too, and it was made out of a different kind of tough, cloth-like substance that had to have been fireproof, but still appeared invitingly comfortable. Char's heart leapt when he realized why the bed was so huge: it was big enough for a Charizard!

On both sides of the bed were huge, floor-mounted dishes of billowing fire. Upon further inspection, Char realized it was real fire, giving off warmth, smoke, and a forceful roar. The smoke was all filtered out by the many surrounding ghost-torches, leaving the air as clear as could be expected. Char leapt up onto his bed and let the bliss simply overcome him, relaxing and nearly falling asleep right on the spot. The fire calmed him in more ways than he could count, and he knew he never wanted to sleep anywhere else again, especially not on the hard stone floor of Scythe's lair.

…Come to think of it, he never noticed whether or not Scythe even had a designated sleeping place in his own room. He'd always sleep sitting upright somewhere on the floor.

"…Lucky!" Saura shouted as he wandered into Char's room, causing him to snap back from his blissful daze. "How come you get the only good room, huh?"

"You can always sleep in here if you like," Char said, sitting up on his bed. "We all stayed in Scythe's room when we were up there, right? You can stay here if you want."

"Oh, no thanks," Saura said. "I don't think I could feel comfortable with… those things… in the same room," he said, indicating the live torches. "I think it would feel like sleeping on the edge of a bottomless pit."

Char laughed. There was no way he was going to give up his torches.

"This place is just amazing," Saura said, exploring Char's spacious lair. "Scythe really outdid himself this time! I'm going to enjoy coming home to this place every day. Now, if only I could get some sunlight to shine in my room, it would be just perfect."

Char agreed, it was more than he would have asked for. But as much as having an entire upper-class hall to himself made him feel giddy, it also made him feel guilty. He knew full well that he didn't deserve any of it, that it was all due to the favor and generosity of the high-ranking team that trained them. He had seen the cramped, diminutive rooms that he'd always expected to have one day, the rooms the other teams called home; the hall of Team Stripes only had two rooms total, forcing most of the members to share, and even the fairly reputable teams such as Team Dread only had five tiny rooms to dwell in. He always figured that the rooms of the division base were not built for luxury, but judging from where he now sat, he knew that some exceptions were made.

"Do you think, one day, if we work hard enough, we might actually deserve this?" Char wondered.

"Hmm?" Saura answered absently, inspecting a wall decoration that had the likeness of Ho-oh.

"You heard Marrow," Char said. "Scythe expects us to become one of the best teams. So does the whole Division, probably. This is big. I knew from the beginning we had a lot to live up to, but this is getting a little scary!"

Saura was about to answer, but Scythe, Ray, and Shander all barged in.

"Ah-ha, you already found your place," Shander said to Char with a smile. "I bet you like the fire, don't you? We had to pull a lot of strings to get those. Don't tell High Intelligence about them, now; real fire was declared a safety hazard a while back, and we had to deactivate all of those things. Hmm, remember how furious Char was when he had to give up his fire? The old Char, I mean."

"Oh, don't remind me," Scythe said, shaking his head. "Yes, it was all because some poor Staravia suffocated somewhere downstairs when the fire was burning the air faster than the spiritual torches could replenish it. As you can see, we've made sure to go overboard on the spiritual torches, so you should have no reason to worry. But Intelligence may throw a fit if they find out, so don't let them in here if you can help it!"

"Got that," Char said, jumping off his bed.

"Hey, Char, nice room!" Ray cheered. "This even looks better than yours, Scythe!"

"Oh, you know that I don't care about things like aesthetics," Scythe said dismissively. "A room is for thinking and sleeping. The rest is just excess."

"Yeah, right, then why'd you go through all the trouble to make this place look so nice, huh?" Ray laughed. "Hey, Char, Saura, I was just talking to Taka. She doesn't want to admit it, but I think she's starting to reconsider wanting to join the team! I don't think she can stand seeing this place and not living here! Not to mention all the rest of Team Stripes, they all want in, too!"

Scythe took some time to explain a few of the details about housekeeping, such as how the locking mechanism worked on the doors and how they'd have to either use their Mobile Scarf or ask a ghost Pokémon for help if they would ever accidently lock themselves out. He explained how to get their own copies of the news posts, the registration documents, and the task lists. He explained how to turn on and off the ghost torches, and what telepathic commands they would respond to. He also explained that, while the food delivery service was available to them, it depended solely on the Division's willingness to grant it to them on a case-by-case basis, and shouldn't be abused until they were sure they'd gained enough of a reputation for it.

After all was said and done, the torches turned red for the evening, and Scythe was ready to give his final words and return to his own team.

"Well, I can see you're all eager to settle in, so I guess we can all call it a day," Scythe said. "But, I expect you all to report to my door tomorrow morning. Don't forget to take a mission for tomorrow, and have a good night's rest!"

"Scythe?" Shander suddenly said. "Um…"

Shander held up his claw. He was holding a strange sparkling object. It seemed to Char like a gold nugget, or some kind of jewelry.

"Oh, of course," Scythe groaned. "I almost forgot! I know I also promised I'd throw in something else… well, here it is."

Shander offered the strange object to Char, who accepted it and looked it over. It seemed like a glimmering pebble made of gold, but there was something strange about it that he couldn't place. It was incredibly lightweight, and it had a shell that was smooth and unbreakable. It almost seemed like the object was… organic.

"This, my friends, is one of the rarest, most valuable items in all the land," Scythe said. "It's also one of the best-kept secrets of the highest-ranking teams. Want to know how we really manage the impossible jobs? Well, sometimes, it can all come down to just a few of these."

"We call them Reviver Seeds," Shander explained. "Nobody knows where they come from, or how they form. We can't engineer them from plants like we can make Heal Seeds or Sleep Seeds. The only places they are ever found are in Mystery Dungeons, and they are incredibly, incredibly rare. You see, somehow, a tiny spirit has gotten trapped within this seed. The spirit is a benevolent one, and it's aware of its surroundings. If you have it in your possession, it will consider itself your guardian. In effect… if you suffer a fatal injury, the spirit will break out of the seed and it will heal you completely, curing every wound, poisonous effect, or even reconstructing your body from dismembered pieces if that's what it comes to."

"Say you're walking along in a Mystery Dungeon, and a wild Scyther jumps out and decapitates you!" Scythe roared, making a dramatic motion with a blade in illustration. "The seed would save you. Say you make a misstep and plummet to your death into a pitfall trap! The seed would heal you and lift you out. Say your food is depleted and you finally pass out from hunger. The seed would revive you, return you to full strength, and even fill your belly so you don't soon starve again. There is nothing the seed will not do to revive you! It is a lifeline for all circumstances. A second chance."

Char's grip on the Reviver Seed loosened as he heard what it was capable of. He held it reverently, in respect for its incredible power.

"There is a catch, though," Shander said. "It seems to rely upon the strange nature of Mystery Dungeons to perform its work, and so, it can only save you when you are within the confines of a dungeon. Outside of one, it cannot help you, and you will succumb to death as normal. Also, after the spirit has done its work, it leaves, so the seed loses its power and can never be used again."

"There are times when things happen that are simply out of your control," Scythe said. "A Reviver Seed gives you the ability to overcome those things. But never, ever plan on using it. You must pretend with all your heart that it is not there, and fight until the very end. Protect it as you would your very life, for someday, that's what it could become."

As Scythe and Shander left to return to their own rooms, Char was still staring incredulously at the priceless gift he held in his claws. He didn't notice Scythe's reverent gesture to him right before he stepped out the door.

… … …

After Team Ember had finished using their brand-new facilities to plan and prepare for their mission the next day, they lounged idly in Char's room. Upon following the instructions Scythe had given them to request the full task list, they were overwhelmed when the registry presented them with several pages of difficult tasks that were probably more than the entire division could accomplish in a single month. Feeling fairly confident in themselves, and still with some lingering shame of their arguably underhanded choice the previous day, they took a moderately difficult task of risk "B" and called it a night soon after.

"So awesome," Ray said, taking a good look at the Reviver Seed for himself. "No wonder the teams can take the really tough dungeons. I wonder how many they use? They'd probably never tell us. Well, now we have one of our own, imagine what we could do!"

Char took a really deep sigh. It was time. The mood, the setting, the sense of confidence it all instilled… it was all perfect, and he wasn't going to let himself escape it. So, taking a deep breath, Char asked…

"Hey, Ray… what do you think about… humans?"

Ray blinked, wondering where in the world the question had come from. "Um… what do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean, what do you think of them? Do you like them? Do you hate them? What's your opinion of them?"

Char glanced at Saura, who now held a serious and steadfast expression. He understood what was happening, and he was ready to back Char up at the slightest indication that he needed help.

"That's a really weird question," Ray said. "Um… well, I don't really know. I never met one, so I… really don't know."

"Really?" Char asked, worriedly. "Not even… the slightest little… anything?"

"Well, to be honest, I can't imagine myself liking them."

Char felt a jolt of horror shoot down his spine. He suddenly felt weak.

"I mean, don't get me wrong," Ray said. "If I met a human, and it was a nice one, it'd be a dream come true! But… It's just… it's hard to have a good impression of humans when… well, you know."

"What?" Saura said, stepping in. "When what?"

"Well, you know," Ray said again. "The only human that Ambera has ever known is… so horrible."

There was a moment of silence as Char tried to understand what had just been said.

"Wait!" Saura yelled suddenly, startling everyone. "Hold it! Hold on a second. You aren't talking about the Master, are you?!"

"Well, yeah," Ray said. "What other human would I be talking about?"

"You think the Master is a human?!" Saura yelped, surprised out of his wits.

"I thought that was common knowledge," Ray said. "How else would he have gotten so many Pokémon to follow him? He's a Pokémon trainer who turned evil."

"That's not what I heard growing up!" Saura gasped. "I was taught that the Master was a Pokémon! I heard he was a skilled psychic that could brainwash other Pokémon into doing his will."

"I've never heard that one," Ray rebutted. "There's no way we would have let just another Pokémon become so powerful!"

"Hey! Stop!" Char yelled loudly, putting a halt to the foreseeable argument. "Why don't we get this cleared up and ask someone who does know? Like Scythe? He met the Master himself, right? He would know."

… … …

So, out they went, back upstairs to the place they'd just moved out of, to clear up a disagreement that they hadn't until that point even known existed. Char felt his head spinning, no longer from anticipation of Ray's opinion of him, but of the possibility that the Master could be a human. He'd always just subscribed to the belief that Saura had fed him, that the Master was a Pokémon. But… a human? He'd never heard such a theory! He had to know for sure if he wasn't alone after all in the world of Pokémon, even if the Master was the most wretched creature in existence…

"Back so soon?" Scythe said with surprise, answering the front door. "Need something?"

"Scythe, we need you to clear up something for us," Char said. "We need to know—"

"Wait!" Scythe exclaimed, silencing him.

He looked intently from Char, to Ray, to Saura, not saying a word. The silence dragged on for several seconds.

"Gah, forget it," Scythe sighed. "I have no idea what you're going to say. Anyway, go ahead. Carry on."

"Scythe, we need to know something," Saura said. "The Master. What is he? I always thought he was a Pokémon, maybe a legendary. Ray here thinks that he could be a human. Who's right?"

Scythe's face changed.

While Char had always considered Scythe to be a close, albeit powerful, friend, the expression Scythe wore at hearing the question truly frightened him. Char was expecting a simple answer, but instead, the Scyther returned a gaze that could have meant "What business do you have knowing that?!"

However, after taking a moment to seemingly collect himself, Scythe opened his mouth to answer.

"The Master…"

Char clenched his fists in anticipation.

"…is a Pokémon."

"Ha!" Saura gloated. "I knew it! There you have it, Ray. That's your answer."

Ray looked deeply shocked. "W-what kind of Pokémon?" he asked meekly. "If the Master's a Pokémon, what is he?"

Again, a moment of burning silence. Char's stomach broiled as he watched Scythe's face betray something horrible within him, like a struggle was going on inside of his head. After seeing what kind of effect the first question had on Scythe, he knew the second question was wholly unnecessary and better left unasked, but he bore the torture and waited for the answer.

Finally, Scythe hung his head.

"…I don't know."

"W-what?!" Saura cried in response. "You saw him with your own eyes, didn't you? How could you not know… oh, I get it! He's a kind of Pokémon we haven't seen before, isn't he? A new Pokémon?"

Ray, however, responded differently. His ever-present smile faded, and his eyes wavered, looking betrayed.

"You aren't lying, are you, Scythe?" Ray asked sadly. "Please say you aren't lying."

"LISTEN!" Scythe suddenly roared at the top of his lungs, causing Char and his friends to jump in fright.

Char could see it: Scythe was becoming enraged. He wanted to just run away and say nothing more of the matter, but it was too late. Scythe stepped out, slammed the door behind him, and pulled the team into a corner.

"You will never, ever, accuse me of lying," Scythe growled. "There are a lot of things that I tolerate, but this… is not one of them. It hurts. It cuts deep into my heart to be called a liar. You have no idea. If ever you want to offend me, reduce me to a broken shell of a Pokémon, that's how you can do it. You can't…"

Scythe took a breath, recovering from his initial outburst. Char felt himself trembling.

"If only you knew how much I despise telling un-truths… It offends me… It defies my very nature. I do not lie. I never lie. Ever! Unless… unless I need to, for the safety of the ones I love. Do you understand? And even then, it's… it feels like I would rather die. Do I make myself clear?!"

"Yes," Char barely squeaked.

"I'm sorry," Ray said, starting to cry.

"Let me tell you something," Scythe said. "You've seen my team. You see how we work. Do you want to know what ties us together? What gives us the… the power to overcome the things we overcome? Trust. Total, complete, unconditional trust. My teammates trust me. They obey me because… because… I have given them reason to place their trust in me. Not just most of their trust, but all of it. To those I trust, I tell everything I know. I will not have it any other way. Without trust, this team… and even, to an extent, this Division… would fail."

He took another deep breath. Char saw in the Scyther's eyes how he regretted the show of emotion he'd just succumbed to.

"There are times," he said gravely, "when it becomes necessary to tell a lie. Or… to keep a secret. If I find that I must keep a secret… I try to keep the secret even from myself, to confine it to only the farthest reaches of my mind, to pretend, to act that it does not even exist. Do you understand, … Charmander?"

Char understood.

It dawned on him, for the first time, why Scythe refused to ever acknowledge Char's humanity. He knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, Char's secret. But it was a secret he'd forced himself to keep from the rest of his team… and, likewise, from himself. A secret he buried away in the farthest confines of his mind, to pretend that it wasn't there.

For once, Char understood the reasons behind Scythe's behavior.

"I get it," he answered.

Trust.

The backbone of friendship.

"What gives us the… the power to overcome the things we overcome? Trust. Total, complete, unconditional trust."

Char knew now, more than ever, that he'd made the right decision in choosing to tell Ray what he needed to tell him. Now… he just needed to do it.

… … …

Team Ember sulked back to their own rooms, thoroughly shaken by Scythe's reactions to their questions. They'd never seen their leader act that way before, and didn't really want to see it happen again. They took the message he sent, and did their best to just look forward. Ray, especially, suddenly looked really tired and intent on just heading to his room for a good night's rest.

Just before the threesome was about to split up and head into their separate rooms, Char stopped them one last time.

"Ray… I have something I need to tell you."

Ray already looked somewhat annoyed with some sparks of static escaping from his cheeks, but he visibly tried to swallow it and answered calmly.

"Yeah?"

"Ray… This is… hard for me to say," Char said, his voice trembling everywhere. "But there's something that I really, really need you to know if you're going to stick with us on this team. After what Scythe just told us, I know there can't be any other way. Scythe has his team, and I want to trust you the same way he trusts them. So… I need you to listen. Okay?"

Upon hearing this, Ray's expression changed. His anger was drowned out by an expression of sympathy.

"Char, relax," Ray said gently, his ears folding to the back of his head. "We're friends, remember? You can tell me anything you want."

Ray was listening attentively. Char swallowed hard, then opened his mouth to speak…

"Ray, Saura and I have been keeping a secret from you since the very beginning. The fact is… I'm… not… what I… look like. I'm a human trapped in the body of a Charmander."

For Char, time seemed to stop as he held his breath and awaited Ray's response. For long, too long, Ray didn't say anything. He blinked once.

"Are you… … sure?" he responded, his expression turned completely blank.

"Yeah, we are," Saura told him. "It's a long story, but we'll tell you the whole thing if you want. I found Char in the Gravelerock Tunnel dungeon, just laying there. He had no memories of how he got there, who he was, or even what his name was. All he knew was that he was human."

"And then… there was Dialga…" Char said nervously. "I've been having visions of Dialga and Palkia. I think they sent me here to do something… and Saura and I are trying to figure it all out. Then we got caught up in the Gold Division, and that's why Team Ember exists. And Scythe… he found out about it, somehow, and that's why he's been protecting me and giving us all the special treatment."

"Well, I wouldn't say that," Saura added. "I think we're getting special treatment because Char has the Call. You knew that, right? I don't see how you couldn't. Scythe mentioned it a lot."

There was another moment of heavy, expectant silence as Char and Saura waited for Ray to say something. Ray slumped down onto the floor and sat there, his eyes with a faraway look.

"Wow," he finally said. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"Dead serious," Char said. "I wouldn't lie to a friend. Not anymore."

"Wow," Ray said again. "That's… huh. Wow."

Ray's eyes shifted, his gaze locking with Char's.

"Um… am I supposed to bow, or something?"

Char and Saura both released their breaths with a little nervous laugh.

"Nah, you don't have to," Saura said. "Scythe likes to do that, though, but Char just thinks it's annoying."

"So, are we okay?" Char asked, already starting to let himself relax. "Are we still friends?"

"Are you joking?!" Ray said, wearing a bright smile and getting back to his feet. "You really expected me to say no? This has to be the most amazing thing I've ever heard in my entire life, Char! Having you as a team leader is like… being trained by a trainer! It's an honor! A real honor!… I'm allowed to call you Char, right?"

Char nodded, then held out his hand.

"In that case," he said sternly, "Ray, if we're still friends, I want you to shake my hand… er… claw, and say that you're still my friend."

"Shake your claw?" Ray laughed oddly. "Why?"

"Just do it," Char insisted. "Hold my claw, and shake it. The handshake. It's a human gesture of trust. I've never seen you Pokémon do it, but I want you to do it this time. Please?"

"Whatever you want, Char!" Ray cheered with his newfound glee. "Handshake!"

TZZAP.

A brilliant flash of yellow light filled the corridor as a giant spark of electricity rushed down Char's arm and filled his body. Char fell backward onto the ground, stars dancing before his eyes. Ray recoiled in horror, realizing that he might have gotten a little too excited…

"By Arceus! I'm so sorry!" Ray cried. "Char, are you okay?! Char?!"

… … …

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

In the dead of night, there was a rapping at the door.

Saura's eyes fluttered open. It took him a second to realize that he was now in a room of his own, rather that Scythe's. The night-light torch in his room was glowing blue. It was the dead of night.

Someone's visiting us? Saura wondered. Who could it be? Did someone get locked out?

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.

Okay, already, I'm coming! Saura thought, rolling to his feet and wearily dragging himself out into the hall.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The rapping was getting forceful. Saura wondered how long it had been going on before one of them had finally woken up.

When he reached the end of the hall, he limply extended his vines and slid the door open…

On the other side of the door stood a very, very tired and agitated Scythe, and a serious-looking Alakazam.

"Get Char," Scythe ordered.

"W—" Saura started.

"There has been an important development concerning Char's… abilities," Alakazam announced. "We must discuss things immediately."

*Chapter 31*: Chapter 28: Untimely Intrusion

Chapter 28

Char had never seen the inside of High Intelligence's chamber before, and got the impression that not very many Pokémon did. It was shaped like a large hall, or a throne room, almost. A calm white light shined from the ceiling and filled the room, not by a ghost-torch, but by a giant glowing crystal. Huge shelves piled high with books, orbs, and relics lined every wall, and several tables occupied the space in the center of the room. Metagross stood at the back and watched silently and motionlessly as the meeting took place, listening to each word spoken and committing it to memory.

Char knew he would have been in awe of the place if he hadn't felt so intimidated, not to mention sleepy. He felt especially uncomfortable since Alakazam forbid Saura from joining him in the meeting. Of course, that didn't stop him from resolving to tell Saura and Ray every single word spoken in that chamber, no matter how much Alakazam or even Scythe would insist against it.

"My most sincere apologies for this… untimely intrusion," Alakazam said with a bow. "But, as a service to you both, I have chosen to inform you of things as immediately as possible. You must also understand that we would not have the time or the coordination to hold this type of conference during the day; our plates are simply too full, just as I am well aware that yours are as well, Scythe."

Scythe responded with a gesture that somewhat resembled a half-hearted bow, but said nothing. Char copied his motion.

Alakazam lead the two over to a larger table. Char was too short to see on top of it, but soon noticed a convenient stone brick located near the base and stepped up. An extremely large map of Ambera, covered by a layer of glass, spanned the surface of the table. It was larger and more detailed than any map he'd ever seen before, and cluttered with countless small objects on the tabletop that undoubtedly represented things like locations of key efforts and known positions of the Master's forces. It appeared hand-drawn and shaded, and it was covered with enough hand-written notes and descriptions to make Char's head spin. He wondered if this was the real Map of Jirachi, which had simply been transcribed into smaller copies for ease of use.

"You must understand that the information I am about to impart to you is of the utmost level of secrecy," Alakazam warned. "Only a select few Pokémon share this knowledge. It will remain unknown to the remainder of the Division. And, although you might take me for a fool, you must remember that I am a psychic, and I can see your emotions as an open book. I have not even spoken, yet you both are resolute upon spreading the knowledge to your trusted teammates. While I feel that I must respect the relationships you hold with your associates, I must make a few things clear: first, that in the best course of action, you should keep this a secret even from them, that imparting it would be most unfavorable and dangerous, and could ultimately prove to be catastrophic. However, since I have nothing in the way of control over what you choose to tell them, I will simply impart the information to you and leave it to your own best judgment. Secondly, that, should you ultimately chose to tell those whom you trust, you must make them undeniably understand the gravity of the situation, just as I am making you understand now, so that they would never, under any circumstances, allow the information to spread farther than themselves. Do you understand what I am saying?"

Char felt himself gulp.

"I do, your honor," Scythe said, nodding his head.

"Yes, sir," Char said simply.

"Good, now," Alakazam said, sitting on one of the blocks and folding his hands on the table, "over the past month, my colleagues and I have devoted over four hundred hours to the research and study of the phenomenon known as the Call. Through it all, we have found… nothing."

Char and Scythe both listened intently, knowing full well that Alakazam didn't bring them for nothing.

"The Call's power changes with each new incarnation," he continued. "The legends and history books speak of its effects. But never, in the history of the recorded world, has the Call's power matched that which we witnessed that fateful night thirty-nine days ago. Analysis of the Call is also rare among the records, amounting to nothing but flimsy and useless speculation. In effect, we do not have an answer for what triggers it, or how it could be manipulated to call upon the servants of Arceus. The appearance of the Call was untimely. We wish only that our ancestors had kept better records, so as to help Ambera in its time of desperate need."

Arceus. Char kept hearing that name, over and over and over, and from every Pokémon he ever knew!

"What is Arceus?" Char asked. "I keep hearing the name, but what is it, and why do we swear by it?"

Alakazam grunted, not expecting the question. Char could tell that he was not amused by it, as he expected it to be common knowledge, but Char really wanted to know the answer.

"Arceus is a Pokémon," Alakazam said. "Arceus was the first Pokémon. Arceus created the universe. Arceus created Dialga, to tend to the river of time, and Palkia, to tend to the void of space, and from their powers combined, the universe came into being. By the power of Arceus, Mew was born, and all other Pokémon came into being. Arceus is the legend of legends, the god of gods, the omnipotent, the supreme. If we succeed in using the Call to evoke the sympathy and the wrath of Arceus' most powerful servants, you will see with your very eyes why we swear by the name.

Incredible, Char thought, trying to digest the words. A Pokémon that created the universe? Could it really be possible for a single Pokémon to be so powerful, to have total control over existence itself? What about humans? He said that Arceus created Pokémon, but did he create humans? And since Arceus is a Pokémon, could he be caught, like any other Pokémon? What would happen? What would happen if the god of all the universe came under the control of something lesser than himself? Would the universe collapse? This is so mind-boggling! How can the creator of the universe be a Pokémon?

"Please, try to focus," Alakazam requested. "Believe me, I know your head is now filled with silly questions, but you would be hard-pressed to find a Pokémon to answer any of them. They are mysteries to us all, and will probably remain that way until the end of time. You see, Arceus has never been seen. While Dialga, Palkia, and every other Pokémon of legend has made appearances throughout history to demonstrate their powers and to conform our world to the will of Arceus, our great and powerful father has never once visited us. Because of this, we must assume that Arceus is somewhat detached from creation, choosing instead to delegate power to the various legendary Pokémon and simply choosing to sit and rest in whatever plane of existence it calls home."

Oh, I see, Char thought. That makes sense. Arceus uses other Pokémon to do his work instead of dealing with the world directly. Guess we don't have to worry about him getting caught, then… yeah, that was pretty silly of me to worry about… But still, wow! An omnipotent Pokémon! I knew Dialga and Palkia were powerful, but Arceus sounds… absolutely mythic!

"But I am deviating from the matter at hand!" Alakazam said, shaking his head. "I must move on to the purpose of this meeting. Just this evening, we received word of the impossible. It is something that signals the changing of the threads of fate, something that suggests the legendary dragons could be on the move as we speak, and it is something… that could have everything to do with you, Charmander. Xatu, in her meditation this week, sensed something amiss, and flew far out to the north to investigate. It was then that she met with a group of Pokémon who had come all the way from the Emerald division in pursuit of a similar inkling, and they told her of their discoveries, and she returned this evening to share her tale…"

THUNK.

A brass cylinder hit the table, completely without the aid of Alakazam's hand. Char watched as Alakazam moved it with telekinesis, sliding it across the map of Ambera, around the countless other blocks and coins used as markers, and to the very northern boundary of Ambera itself. There, he released it from his hold and returned his attention to Scythe and Char.

"Temporal Tower has been revealed," Alakazam announced. "It can be found in this vicinity, north of the Emerald Division near the border of Zerferia, obscured by the surrounding—"

"Temporal Tower!" Scythe gasped suddenly, cutting Alakazam off. "We did it! We called upon Dialga! Could he be coming to our aid…?"

"What's Temporal Tower?" Char asked shamefully, hating himself for not understanding what were probably the basic legends of Ambera. "I'm sorry, sir. I was sheltered…"

Alakazam sighed again, stopping to explain things.

"Temporal Tower is a symbol," he explained. "It is a symbol of Dialga's power over our realm. Just as the very bodies of the legendary dragons are, themselves, symbols, since the servants of Arceus are, in actuality, pure spirits. While most Pokémon associate the form of Dialga with a great, sapphire, diamond-studded dragon, and Palkia as an equally majestic pearl-laden beast, those forms were merely chosen by Arceus so the Pokémon of the temporal realm, you and I, could more easily comprehend their existence, even when their beings far transcend the physical boundaries we see. For we are but creatures of flesh with no comprehension of the astral plane, and we can only believe what we see…"

"And, just as the dragons show us symbols of their beings, they also show us symbols of their authority, their power, and their connection to this world," Alakazam said. "In the history books, we can glimpse at some of these symbols, these monuments which represent the roles they play in governing time, space, and the other forces that control life itself. One such monument, spoken of in countless legends, is known as Temporal Tower, which represents Dialga's control over the time stream of this planet. It is said that, when Dialga visits the physical realm to intervene in whatever way it wills, Dialga's body, its physical form, dwells at the top of Temporal Tower to watch over the Pokémon down below. It is also mentioned in the legends that, in the times of greatest need, Pokémon have climbed to the top of Temporal Tower to beseech the aid of the time god."

"So Temporal Tower is where Dialga lives?" Char asked, his heart already starting to beat faster. "So that means Dialga's here? We could visit him?"

"This is the idea, yes," Alakazam said. "Although we must be wary of jumping to conclusions and rushing headlong into the affairs of the dragons, I fear we may have no choice. Temporal Tower is not a stable phenomenon. In the blink of an eye, it could be gone, hidden again from the eyes of mortal Pokémon. Legends even suggest that its location is not constant. Some speak of the Tower hovering above the ocean, others miles in the sky… To us, it appears inconsistent, not rooted to any location at all. For Temporal Tower is not actually a place, but something far more significant; it is a state of being, an expression of authority, given the appearance of a place."

"What now?" Scythe rasped. "What step do we take now? Do we… attempt Temporal Tower?"

"You shall," Alakazam said. "But again, it should not be a public affair. Because we have reason to believe that your ability has caused this, Charmander, it involves you and no one else. Scythe, you may choose to oversee his journey if you wish, but this is not an official mission. This is off the record. If word of Temporal Tower spreads beyond a simple harmless rumor, it could cause a wave of panic that would entice the Master to take drastic action, destroying everything we have. Do you understand?"

Char had to wonder if he was dreaming. It all seemed so… unreal. Alakazam wanted him to travel across the land, climb a mystical tower, and seek the aid of Dialga? Without the help of his team or even any of the Division? …Seriously?

It all happened so fast, Char knew it was going to take a while to sink in. Already, in his weary, half-asleep state of mind, he felt scared. Truly scared. Too much was expected of him. He'd just gotten used to being a Charmander, to facing risks and dangers that were at his level, and to feeling comfortable with his new friends in his new home. But now, as he was called upon to face the consequences of his supernatural ability, to unravel what was perhaps another milestone in his journey to find his purpose, he knew he would buckle.

For a second time, he wondered if, deep down, he really wanted uncover his past.

"You will take three days to prepare," Alakazam dictated, standing upright once more, "And on the fourth day, you will leave for the Emerald Division. I will try to arrange a viable means of speedy transportation for you. In the meantime, pack your supplies, and do everything you can to prepare yourself."

Saura is coming with me, Char determined. I don't care what anyone says. I don't care what Scythe says. I'll defy Scythe if I need to. This is exactly what Saura wanted in the first place, to help me reach this point, and he's going to be there with me when it happens… because I need him.

"I see that you fear this task, little Charmander," Alakazam sympathized. "In the pit of your stomach, you feel a quiver when presented with this task. Yet, inside of you, there is also a pride that could be controlling your actions instead. Do not make yourself so vulnerable. Take pride in your glorious purpose! The very existence of Temporal Tower here and now means that something is happening behind-the-scenes, and you, little ember with the power to woo the gods, can play a role! One day, all of Ambera may sing songs about a little Charmander who summoned the gods and saved them from the Master's wicked reign. Besides… I sense another emotion in you. There is something… about Dialga that troubles you. Or maybe intrigues you. You look up to Dialga. You seek Dialga for… some type of fulfillment, or… some type of answer. This will be your one and only chance to satisfy this longing in your life. Seize it while you can."

He's right! Char thought. I can… I can meet Dialga… face-to-face… and ask him everything! I can ask him why I'm a Pokémon! I can ask him where I came from! I can ask him why I'm here and why I have the Call! But… still… this is all unbelievable, to be caught up in the affairs of the gods like this… I just hope that Dialga will be nice to us…

"You, Scythe, also seem troubled," Alakazam said. "But I will not attempt to intrude upon your mind; you are a grown Pokémon and are capable of consoling yourself."

When he said this, Char thought he noticed Scythe casting a rather dangerous glance at the Alakazam, but only for a second. It was apparent to him that Alakazam was right: the information and the assignment, although extraordinary, disturbed him somehow.

And that was that. The meeting ended with some awkward formalities, and Char found himself being lead by Scythe out of the Alakazam's chambers and back into the halls of the base.

… … …

Char felt himself stumbling. He knew he needed sleep, but he started to wonder if, after hearing the news, his body would even let him get back to bed, the thoughts throbbing as if a cold blade had been slid into his head and left there. Half of his mind was in a fiery debate with the other about whether or not he wanted these events to be happening in his life, whether he wanted to fulfill his role as a human or just settle down and live life as a Charmander, whether or not, in the end, he'd even have a choice in the matter…

But as he walked with Scythe up to the rooms, he soon discovered that Scythe had a lot more on his mind than he did.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," Scythe muttered, practically to himself.

"What?" Char asked, wondering if he was supposed to have heard it.

"This isn't supposed to be happening," Scythe said again with more certainty.

"What do you mean?" Char wondered aloud. "I thought this was the moment you were waiting for! Dialga could help us defeat the Master once and for—"

"Not now, not now," Scythe said. "No, not now. I had different plans."

Char was taken off-guard by the new tone in Scythe's voice. He almost sounded… crazy. It may have been his sleepiness speaking for him, but…

"I had it all figured out," Scythe said incessantly. "But then this happened. It was the wrong time. Do you realize how hard it is to conceive the perfect plan? Do you know many sleepless nights it takes? And then when it finally all clicks together, and you have a perfect plan, a perfect answer, something that couldn't fail… and then it's all thrown apart by…"

To Char's surprise, Scythe stopped walking. He slumped himself down in the corner of the hallway beneath a blue torch and stared into space, looking lost.

"Scythe, are you okay?" Char asked, approaching him warily.

"No, human, I'm not," Scythe replied. "I'm… disheartened. I'm not supposed to fail. Nobody expects me to fail. But I'm about to fail. Everything is about to come crashing down. Everything is…"

Scythe shook his head, as if to try, futilely, to break himself out of his looping thought patterns.

Char stood, wide-eyed. Scythe's weariness was making him drunk, making him say things that he would not otherwise say. Char realized that Scythe was being personal with him, that his innermost thoughts were starting to untie themselves and rise to the surface. Just how many nights had he been staying up?

"Basin Canyon," Scythe muttered. "I cannot lose Basin Canyon. I can't lose. I can't lose it, human. I can't. What do I do now? I had the perfect plan. But… It's…"

Char stood still, wondering if he should speak with Scythe or just walk away.

"What happened?" Char decided to ask. "Why… did your plan fail?"

"Because, I can't be in four places at once, I can't!" Scythe cried quietly, shaking his head. "It took me this long just to figure out how to be in three places at once. But now I have to be with you, at Temporal Tower, and it's all gone. All gone. It was the wrong time for this. It was the wrong time! The plan won't work anymore…"

"Scythe… No, don't say that," Char gasped, not knowing what else to say. "I can go to Temporal Tower alone. It's okay. As long as Saura will come with me, you can stay here and—"

"No, no, no, no, that can't work," Scythe whined, shaking his head faster. "No. I have to come. It is the only way. I have to come. I will come with you. It is the only way. But it… it will make me… give up… you…"

What is he saying? Char wondered, grimacing.

"I will… I'll have to lie to them," Scythe muttered. "I'll have to tell them we're at the Emerald Division. Visiting. My team... can't know… where I am… It's… the only way…"

Scythe shifted. Char knew that he was falling asleep.

"If you… tell Saura… don't tell Ray… don't tell anyone else… Just… you… and I… and Saura… or else… she… might know…"

His eyes fluttered closed, and his head fell. He was fast asleep.

Char stayed standing, frozen in place, wondering what had just happened. He knew now that it was true: Scythe respected him as a human. If all the times he'd shown Char the reverent bow-like gesture weren't enough to convince him, this definitely did. Even though he wasn't in his right mind, the fact that he'd offered such a deep and personal confession to Char meant something; Char had to really wonder if there was anyone else in Scythe's life that he could share his deepest feelings with, or if they'd all just been buried away, just like the secrets he kept…

Char's daze was broken when a wince shot through him, making him realize that he was about to fall asleep himself. He took a step away, then another, until he started to feel his heart rate picking up enough to allow him to complete the walk back to his room.

He knew, when he'd wake up the following morning, everything would be as normal. Scythe would pretend nothing happened, and so would he. But as he left Scythe on his own to sleep in the deserted corridor that night, he started to realize that, no, he couldn't just accept his existence as a Charmander. He couldn't seek to leave behind his humanity. Not when the world revolved around him. Not when Pokémon served him and respected him as the human he was. Not when gods answered to his Call.

The next step, he determined, was Temporal Tower.

When he returned to his room, he'd barely touched the front door before it shifted away in front of him, revealing a weary-eyed, but softly-smiling Saura on the other side. He knew that his best friend had stayed awake to await his return.

*Chapter 32*: Chapter 29: A Bad Day

Finally, a very special thanks goes out to rabidcatking and Sicarius Riuyoh for giving me assistance with parts of this chapter!

---

Chapter 29

A majestic Charizard soared across the sky, enjoying the powerful sensation of the wind whipping across its face and beneath its wings.

This is heaven, it thought. I could never ask for anything more.

The Charizard gazed upon the endless splendor of the sky which surrounded him. Towering clouds formed a landscape of mighty pillars and hills, casting the orange sunlight into streaming rays. The ground was so far below, it was invisible. But the ground was irrelevant. Only the sky existed, his gorgeous and eternal playground.

He danced in the heavens, swooping and spiraling and bursting through the mist of the clouds. He felt the way his course was changed at every little twitch of his wings, every little effortless flap propelling him faster and higher…

He had no idea where he was going, nor did he care; only the bliss of his momentum, his dominance over the world of the sky, mattered to him…

But then, he beheld something unusual emerging from a far-away cloud. A shining ball of fire appeared in the distance, almost like a second sun, ablaze with a strange and glorious radiance as it hung in the air. The Charizard emptied his wings and dove closer, curious to inspect this new entity which had joined him among the world of the heavens.

As he approached, the shape of the fire began to take the form of a great orange bird, whose perpetually ablaze wings cast explosions of flame across the sky with each flap.

Oh, it's just Moltres, the Charizard realized.

"Hey, Char! Good morning to you!" Moltres called, drifting around in a semicircle to fly alongside the Charizard. "Are you ready to head back to the base? We're all getting tired of waiting for you!"

Char felt a sudden dismay fill him.

"I can't," Char replied. "I would, but I can't."

"Why not?" Moltres asked concernedly. "Is something wrong?"

A horrible feeling began to fill Char's body. It was a feeling that Char knew well, but couldn't quite place. It felt as though someone was weighing his body down with sandbags, piling one after another onto his shoulders, until it took all his heart to even move a muscle. He found his flight simply slowing to a stop, and he couldn't do anything about it. He knew this was the end.

"Because… I can't move," Char said to Moltres. "Forget about me… Go on without me… I'm fading… away…"

Soon, reality itself seemed to disappear, leaving only blackness.

… … …

Aww, man! Char thought absently. What an awesome dream that was! So vivid! Maybe… if I stay completely still, and don't open my eyes… it'll come back!

… … …

Char the Charizard arrived back to the mountain range which he called his home. He soared between rocky cliffs, following a gorge that apparently lead back to his base.

"Hey, Char!" a Dragonite yelled from a cliff. "Good to see you back! Ready for the big day?"

"Hey, Ray!" Char called to it. "Good morning!"

Char flew on, disregarding the odd feeling that something about Ray wasn't right today.

After navigating over the craggy landscape and between the jutting mountains, Char found his home. It was a mountain cave crawling with Pokémon—his team. Dragons flew in circles around the peak, and rock Pokémon teemed across the slopes and cliff faces. They all gave a cheer when they noticed him.

Char crashed down onto the platform in front of the main entrance to his cave, and was immediately met with a small congregation who were waiting for him, lead by Dialga and Palkia. He was surprised to see them, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he expected them to be… well, bigger, as they were only about the size of himself.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Char asked the temporal dragon. "Aren't you supposed to be… um… somewhere else?"

"You recruited us, remember?" Dialga answered. "We're on Team Ember now!"

"Today's the day we head out for Temporal Tower," Palkia said. "Maybe we'll finally figure out why you're a human!"

A few more Pokémon joined the group, including Mew, Entei, and Groudon. At the end of the line, a Leafeon emerged from the cove, bursting with excitement as it stepped up to Char.

Whoa… Char thought, staring at it. Why does that Leafeon look so familiar?

"Are you ready to go, Char?" the Leafeon asked. "We have to get going! It's now or never!"

Oh, it's Saura, Char realized. Wait… SAURA?! Why is Saura a Leafeon? That makes no sense! Oh… wait! That's right! I remember now! I finally convinced him to evolve! Hah, this is the best resistance team ever!

Rayquaza flew down from the sky and stood at attention.

"Happy to help out, Char!" it said. "Ready, steady, go!"

Char stumbled. The dreadful feeling of heaviness was back, and was quickly spreading through his body. He tried to take a step forward, but collapsed to the ground and resigned himself to his fate…

Oh, why won't they last longer? Char whined to himself. I never have such awesome dreams like this! They always happen in the morning, right when I'm about to wake up… But usually… I always… get woken up… by…

Char and his friends were on the road to the destination, wherever it was. He didn't know where they were all headed, but it sure wasn't Temporal Tower. Instead, Char found himself soaring over oceans and prairies and forests that repeated themselves over and over. After a while, Char started to get annoyed, wondering when the journey would end.

They finally arrived to a small, secluded cottage which sat in the middle of a meadow. Some Nidoran and Buneary were dancing around outside. When Char and his friends crowded around the door, a large Nidoqueen stepped out and greeted them.

"Hey, you're back!" the Nidoqueen said merrily, welcoming them in with a wave of her arm. "We missed you! Hey, why not bring all your friends inside? I've got a lovely dinner waiting for you!"

So, they all went inside. Char had to keep from tripping over the countless Buneary kids which constantly circled around his feet and asked him questions about why he was so awesome. Char performed tricks to impress them, such as using his skills with telekinesis to pick up the children and make them float in the air.

Some of the other children were bothering the legendary dragons.

"Dialga! Can you send me back in time so that my head is on backwards!"

"No can do," Dialga said, shaking his head. "If I sent you back in time you might meet yourself and the world would explode! Want to be sent forward instead?"

"Hey Palkia!" another kid pleaded. "Could you turn me into Lugia! I want to fly! Pleeease?"

"Sorry kid," Palkia said. "I can't let you do that, you'd drown in the ocean! How about a game of tag instead?"

"Hey Rayquaza!" another child said. "Could you help us build a big tower of blocks?"

Suddenly, all the talking in the entire room ceased. Everyone froze in horror. A fork dropped somewhere.

"Oh, no," Char muttered, cringing. "He didn't… he didn't just say that…"

Rayquaza uncoiled itself and floated up to the top of the room, seething in anger.

"BLOCKS?" it roared. "You want me, the legendary dragon of the skies, to play with blocks?"

Char covered his eyes and peeked through his claws, awaiting the inevitable response….

"RAYQUAZA DOES NOT PLAY WITH BLOCKS!" it boomed, shaking the entire building. "RAYQUAZA UNLEASHES HYPER BEAM AND DESTROYS ALL!"

A brilliant yellow glow filled the inside of the house as Rayquaza charged its hyper beam…

But Char didn't get to see the end. As the yellow light increased in intensity, the heaviness had set in again, leaving him only able to close his eyes and drift away as the dream came to an end…

… … …

The dream was gone, but the yellow glow remained.

Yellow…?

Char's eyes drifted open. His body was finally satisfied with the sleep it had gotten, and it was ready to wake up for the day. A terribly blurry vision came to him as his eyes opened farther, flooding his sense of sight with yellow and causing him to squint…

Yellow… Char thought. This seems unusual. Usually when I get up, it's…

"W-AAAH!"

A horrible realization suddenly dawned upon him. He jumped awake, almost falling out of his new bed. It couldn't be!

He frantically scanned his surroundings. The torches which lined his room, as well as the two large dishes of fire which continued to burn away on either side of his bed, were all burning bright yellow… the normal color of fire.

It was already midday. He'd slept in.

"AHH!" Char yelled again, leaping onto the floor and out into Team Ember's hall. "The mission! Saura! Ray! We're late! We slept in! Oh, man, are we in trouble! The first day on our own, and we can't even—"

Char rushed into Saura's room, but it was empty.

"Saura?!" Char called, making sure he wasn't missing something. "Saura? Are you here? Ray! What about you? Are you here?"

Hurrying into Ray's room, he found it empty as well.

"You guys didn't leave me behind, did you?" Char demanded of no one. "This is horrible! I only slept in because of Alakazam—"

Another thought crossed his mind: he remembered that he really needed to speak with both his friends as soon as possible! They had to hear about what happened the previous night, about Scythe and Alakazam and Temporal Tower, so they could start preparing for the expedition. It was the first thing he had intended to do that morning, before even the mission or anything else… and now, it seemed, it was a little too late.

Char looked around at the empty corridors, feeling seriously confused. Why had his friends abandoned him like this? Why didn't they wake him up, like normal?

Maybe they didn't leave on the mission yet, Char speculated as he trudged to the front door. Yeah. I bet they're just up with Team Remorse. Or maybe, they're having lunch! Yeah! I bet Ray finally took my advice, and we're running our missions in the sunlight now!

As he soon found, none of it was true. There was a note tacked to the wall by the front door, surely left by Saura and Ray to explain their absence. He tore it off and held it before his eyes, squinting to read it.

Footprint runes.

"Grr…" he growled in frustration, rolling his eyes. "Why does everything have to be written in footprint runes?!"

… … …

It was understandable of Saura and Ray to leave him a note in the language he still didn't understand: to the Pokémon, his human writing ("Unown-script" as they called it) was non-standard and difficult to learn. Neither Saura nor Ray knew his language, so they did the best they could to communicate to him on paper, knowing that he'd be able to figure it out somehow. Char scanned the page and could make out his name written at the top, as well as Saura's name at the very bottom, but all the other words were gibberish to him, as usual…

"This is so embarrassing," Char moaned, crumpling the edges of the paper with his claws and hanging his head in shame.

"Uh… hey! Hey, someone! Anyone! Can anyone help me?"

Char stood at the balcony to the main room of the base and waved his arms, trying to catch the attention of any bird Pokémon that would come close enough to notice him. A Pidgeotto eventually flew near and heard his call.

"I'll help if I can," the Pidgeotto said oddly as it landed before Char. "What's the trouble?"

"Well, um, I'm having trouble reading my friend's handwriting," Char lied, trying to keep a straight face while he held up the note. "He left me this. Could you maybe read this for me?"

"Hah," the Pidgeotto squawked amusedly. "Nice try! Hey, don't take it the wrong way, Char, but everyone knows you're illiterate."

Char balked, and suddenly felt a little humiliated. He should have known. It wasn't a secret that Scythe would have kept from anyone. Wow, he thought. That that's sure to change the way I feel about all the other Pokémon in this base. This day is really starting out great, isn't it?

"Hey, now," the Pidgeotto said quickly, hopping forward. "I told you not to take it the wrong way! Besides, you can write human, how many Pokémon can do that? Now, let me see this note already."

Meekly, Char held up the note and turned it around for the bird to see.

"Erhm. 'Char—Ray was still feeling guilty about zapping you, so he convinced Scythe to let you have the day off. Enjoy your rest, and we'll see you when we come back from the mission! Saura. Postscript: the fire will never die!' Well, now, isn't that thoughtful of your team? He-he-he, I see your Raichu friend must be having some electrical discharge problems?"

"I've got to go," Char said, feeling like he was blushing. "Thank you for helping."

… … …

Char went to the only place he could think of to go: the meeting hall. For the first time as a Pokémon, he felt overwhelmingly lonely. Saura had always been by his side, and he could always talk to him, even in the middle of the night if he had to. Not only was Saura gone, but his other two most-trusted friends had gone with him. And now, more than ever, Char just really needed someone to talk to—and he figured that Dialga was as good as anyone at the moment.

"Well, Dialga, here I come," Char whispered humbly as he sat just before the great statue. "I'm coming to visit you in only three days. I have to tell you something: I'm really scared. I've heard so many legends about how… how mighty you are, and how great your rage can be… But I know that you had something to do with why I'm here, so... I hope you'll take me in and tell me what's going on."

The dragon, of course, didn't answer, but Char gave himself a moment of silence so he could at least pretend that it was listening.

"Wow. This is going to be a huge trip," Char continued. "I'm scared just thinking about it. We'll have to pack so much… I hope that Scythe lets us take some of his supplies…"

Again he paused, just to let his own words sink in. Yes, the trip was going to be insane. The thought of traveling so far from the base, his now-beloved home, made him feel unspeakably uncomfortable, especially when considering the Watchers and the Master which inhabited the overworld. He didn't even know the first thing about getting ready; he would have to trust Scythe to guide him through the plans.

"Scythe," Char whispered. "Something's wrong with Scythe. He told me about it last night. I think he's about to fail his mission! What can I do to help him? I can't do anything! I'm just…"

"HEY!" a voice suddenly screeched from one of the room's many entrances, echoing madly through the whole dome-shaped hall. "HEY! YOU!"

Char jumped up in surprise and stood at attention. A Ghastly had found him.

"What are you doing here?" it demanded. "Don't you know this room is off limits?"

"I—uh—" Char tried.

"Get OUT!" the Ghastly blasted. "NOBODY'S supposed to be here when there's no meeting! Besides, don't you know how much power it takes to burn all these torches? We can't run the rest of the base and this room at the same time! Go! Get out of here!"

Char was about to complain, but he felt the taste of fire escalating in the back of his throat. So, he shut his jaws as hard as he could and simply walked out of the room, speechless.

… … …

I'm going to scream! Char thought, clenching his fists as he crossed the hallway to go to the cafeteria. I can't believe I can't go in the meeting hall anymore. What am I supposed to do now?!

"Hey, whoa there, little guy," an Ariados said, grimacing at the sight of Char's swollen flame. "Careful with that fire…"

There's got to be some way I can calm down, Char thought, completely ignoring the spider. Maybe some breakfast will help.

… … …

"Sorry, we don't have anything ready yet!" Bellossom said. "Breakfast was over a long time ago, and lunch isn't for another hour! Could I get you a glass of water?"

"No, thank you," Char tried to say politely. "I hate water."

Char sat himself down on a nearby bench to mope. Even the cafeteria, he now realized, was mostly empty, save for a few Pokémon that were relaxing at other tables to read piles of documents. Setting his head in his claws, he took a deep breath and tried to console himself.

There's got to be some way to pass the time, Char thought, feeling the minutes pass by like hours. This place is always boring when there's no job to do. But there's a hundred Pokémon in here… I'm going to find someone to help. There's got to be someone.

After a quick walk downstairs, Char rapped on the door of Team Stripes. An Eevee greeted him.

"Hi, Char," it greeted cordially. "Can I help you?"

"Hey, Evan," Char said. "Hey, uh… I got stuck at the base today, and I'm kinda bored. Want to do a mission?"

"Sorry, I can't," he replied. "I got stuck back today, too. I've got work to do."

"Well, um… could I help with it?" Char offered.

"I don't think it's anything you could help with," Evan laughed kindly. "I got stuck with the accounting today. And they say you can't read, so…"

"Ah," Char said dismissively. "Well… that's okay, then. I'll find something else to do."

"Are you feeling okay?" Evan spoke concernedly, eying his tail. "We could talk for a few minutes if you want to... I think I could take a little break…"

"Nah, that's okay," Char said politely. "I shouldn't distract you from your work. I'll find something else to do."

… … …

Char trudged back down the hall, wondering if he was the only Pokémon in the base that felt left out of the resistance for the day.

Maybe I could talk to Team Remorse? Char wondered. No… not after how much they're straining themselves. They need all the peace and quiet they can get… Maybe Team Entei? No… they're probably out on missions… it's not worth the walk to their room…

That's when Char realized that there was one Pokémon in the entire base that he knew, with some certainty, he'd be able to talk to. With a light smile forming across his face, he took off down the hall.

Char waited anxiously on the bench of the day care lobby when Kangaskhan emerged from the door, guiding a little Pidgey with her.

"Here he is!" Kangaskhan sang. "Hyperactive little guy, he's been. He plays rough with the other kids. Bet he's happy to see you!"

When Otto noticed the figure before him, he gave a loud chirp in exaltation and launched himself into the air, fluttering and landing before his master.

"Have fun," Kangaskhan said. "Take all the time you need!"

Char cast a loving glance at his newest friend, giving him a gentle pat on the head. If he ever once assumed that birds were not capable of smiling, it was misconception totally expelled now: Otto was absolutely beaming.

"Hey there, little guy," Char spoke in a high-pitched voice, like he was speaking to a baby. "Did you have a good rest? Do you like your new—"

"CHAR!" it chirped loudly, catching him off-guard.

Char's blinked in surprise. It knew his name?

"You can talk now?" Char yelped in disbelief. "It hasn't even been a day, and… you can talk?"

"CHAR! CHAR!" it sang.

"Well… he learned your name, at least," Kangaskhan said with an amused smile. "The first things we always teach the wilds are the name of their master, then their own name. He knows his own name now, but he hasn't gotten around to speaking it yet. But he picked up yours really fast!"

"Wow, Otto!" Char congratulated the bird, affectionately ruffling the feathers on its forehead. "You're just a little genius, you know that?"

"CHAAR!" it squeaked.

"Oh, and another thing," Kangaskhan said, putting her hands on her hips. "This little guy won't stop eating gummis! And after he ate practically all our gummis for bird Pokémon, he started eating the fire gummies and the rock gummis, too! He just won't stop!"

"GOOOOOOOMII!" Otto screeched.

Char laughed, pleased to see that his new friend was making such great progress.

Char was able to pass the time for a while, just telling the bird whatever came to mind. He figured Otto didn't have the slightest clue what he was talking about, but the Pidgey listened intently, happy to be in the presence of its master. After a while, though, Otto grew unmistakably bored. Char saw that the little guy probably just wanted to run off and get more exercise, so he cut off the conversation and let Otto go, wishing it good luck.

For a second time, Char was pained to see Otto leave. His heart fluttered at the thought of the day when he'd be able to speak with Otto as an equal. Or fly with him in the sky…

… … …

Well, that put me in a better mood, Char realized as he crawled the base, looking for something else to do. I wonder how much time that passed? Eh, I bet it was only about half an hour. Hey… Domo's gone, but I wonder if the dojo is still open? I could use some exercise myself…

Once Char found his bearings in the confusing corridors, he descended some flights of stairs and made his way to the dojo entrance.

Along the way, he met a few other Pokémon on their various errands throughout the base, but one seemed to be following alongside him: a Graveler, and a pretty large one at that. Char figured by its size and the way it held itself that it was a member of Team Avalanche, the Division's most well-known Rock-oriented team.

"Excuse me," Char addressed the Graveler, "Are you, by chance, going to the dojo?"

"Yeah," the boulder Pokémon replied in a low and gravely voice. "Why?"

"Could I train with you?" Char beseeched. "If you're not busy, that is."

"Uh, sure," the Graveler grunted. "Can do. I was gunna practice alone anyway."

When they got to the dojo, Char found that it was still fully active even during the Sensi's leave of absence. He waited at the side of the room, watching curiously as a Floatzel instructed a class of Poliwhirl and Vaporeon in some water-based techniques. The class ended shortly, and Char took the floor with the Graveler.

"Name's Ged. Team Avalanche," the Graveler said. "I know you're Char. Team Ember. Everyone knows you. How should we train?"

"Well, I, um, I'm not too good at fighting your kind," Char confessed. "There were a lot of you in the Iron Crevice, and they just destroyed me. So I was wondering if you could give me some tips on… fighting you."

Ged snorted. "Reveal my weaknesses?" hechuckled. "It humiliates me. But fine."

Char stood at attention as the Graveler fell silent for a moment, as if to get his thoughts in order.

"First. I hate water," Ged declared. "It gets into my cracks and makes me miserable. Strong water pressure can wash me away. I have nightmares about Blastoise chasing me. Second. I hate plants. When plant Pokémon attack, they chip away at my skin somehow. Saura would be better than you."

"Yes, I know about your weaknesses," Char said. "But do you have any tips for me? How would a fire Pokémon like me defeat you?"

"Steel," it replied. "Harness the power of steel. Learn how to channel energy so your claws become hard like steel. Then you can slice through rock. Channel your energy so your tail becomes hard like Iron. Then you can break rock. Metal is harder than rock."

Char looked oddly at his claws. "Um… I don't know how to do that," he admitted. "I guess I have to learn a new technique…"

"Can't help you. Ask Pokémon who know the techniques or get Training Machines," Ged instructed. "Second. Learn martial arts. Martial artists learn the art of breaking rocks with their bare hands. Land a well-placed punch and you can crack me open."

"Hmm, I don't know that either," Char grumbled in disappointment. "I guess I have a little more to learn. Any other tips, or anything? Wait, no, I have a question. The reason Graveler scare me so much is because they can make earthquakes. I hate that! Is there any way to stop those?"

"Heheh," the Graveler laughed evilly.

Char should have seen it coming, but there was nothing he could do about it anyway. Ged raised a foot and stomped the ground, creating a minor shockwave that caused the room to vibrate. Char clutched his head, feeling a sharp headache coming on as his skull was rattled around.

"Ow ow!" Char moaned in pain, falling to one knee. "Stooop! Ow, that hurts so much!"

"Earthquake," Ged said as the shockwave subsided. "Good, strong technique. But it hurts friends and enemies too. Someday, you can make them. Charizard are big enough. But not now. Now you are powerless against earthquakes. You can't avoid them."

"Really?" Char asked sadly. "I can't stand them. I was really hoping you could help. Are you sure there's no way?"

"No way," Ged said, "but grow wings and fly. You can't feel the earthquake from the air. Become Charizard and you will be free from earthquakes."

"Well, in that case, it looks like I should just leave all the Graveler to Saura, then," Char sighed. "Oh, well. Thanks for your help…"

"Wait, where are you going?" Ged shouted. "What about a battle? You wanted to train. Let's train!"

"What good is battling if you'll just dominate me?" Char whined. "I can't fight you! Not as weak as I am now!"

"That is why we train, to get stronger," Ged said. "Even if you lose. You get stronger. No pain, no gain, humans say. So. Let's fight!"

Char grumbled. Yes, that was what he promised, so he couldn't in his right conscience just walk out on the Graveler. He owed the rock Pokémon a battle.

"Fine," Char decided, mentally preparing himself for a real beating. "But please, just don't use earthquakes on me. Okay?"

Char concentrated on igniting his fire for battle. It wasn't hard to do; he was already irritated enough by the day's events, and the thought of getting pummeled by his opponent put him in an even more profoundly bad mood. He glanced back at his tail to find that the flame had almost risen to eye-level, more than adequate for putting up a good fight.

He started the battle by leaping close to his opponent and choking out a cloud of black smoke. As soon as it billowed from his mouth, Char had to marvel at the depth and opaqueness of the cloud as it spread and reduced the visibility of the room to nearly nothing. It was his greatest smoke screen yet, he judged, and he knew he was going to need it if he wanted to stand a chance. Ged made a strange grinding noise that sounded almost like a cough, then began to wander through the fog in search of Char.

Jumping at the opportunity to strike while the enemy was impeded, Char scurried around to the rear end of the Graveler, backed up, and made a running start for the Graver's feet…

Thunk.

Char's head brutally collided with solid rock, sending him careening back in dizziness and collapsing onto the floor. He'd hoped to knock Ged off-balance, but he'd only succeeded in getting a bump on his head.

"OWWW!" Char cried, gritting his teeth and clutching his forehead with both claws.

"What was that?" Ged laughed. "A Headbutt? You should be smarter, Char!"

"I was trying to knock you down," Char groaned in frustration, managing to get back to his feet even though his sense of balance had been rattled.

"Hahah," Ged cackled. "You cannot knock Graveler down. Every way is up!"

To illustrate his point, Ged propelled himself into a roll, emerging from the darker recesses of the fog and stopping right before Char by throwing down his second pair of hands as brakes. Char saw what he meant: with six limbs, the Graveler was always in control of its balance. Knocking it into a roll would do nothing.

"Good black cloud," Ged admitted. "But it will clear soon. What will you do?"

Char replied by blasting the Graveler in the face with a very impressive burst of flames. Ged gagged and reeled as the flames drowned out his vision, forcing him to roll backwards in retreat. Even Char was surprised at the fire's magnitude; his Ember was not letting him down today.

Still with the cover of the cloud in his favor, Char rushed close to his opponent and jumped onto its head, holding on tight and biting down hard with his jaws into Ged's forehead. While he knew he couldn't melt the rock like he could melt steel, he figured he'd be able to do some damage by ingraining his white-hot teeth and maybe putting a few dents into the Graveler's hide…

Big mistake. No sooner did Char get a firm grip with his teeth than he heard a sickening crack, and knew instantly that one of his own bones had snapped apart. Ged had responded by rolling his entire body forward and flattening Char against the ground, sending him into the awful agony of being smashed between rocks that he'd prayed he would never have to experience a second time. When he felt the giant bolder roll off him, he let himself lay in place, not even sure if what he saw with his eyes was a vision of the room or just a colorful collage of stars.

Smack! Wasting no time, Ged struck again, striking Char's poor body with the sharpened edge of his forearm. Char tumbled hopelessly away, giving himself up for lost when he came to a stop, plopping down on his stomach and finding himself unable to get up.

"I'm finished," Char begged weakly. "I'm done. You win! Please! No more!"

"Nah, that's nothing," Ged insisted. "Charmander are strong. You can take much more. Take a break and heal, then we fight again. You will do better next time."

Ged pointed to the far wall of the Dojo, where there sat a long shelf lined end-to-end with Oran Berries. It was a necessity to have them on hand, especially to the serious trainers. Already more sore than having spent all day on a stressful mission, and with a fracture in his shoulder, Char fought the searing pain and dragged himself across the room to where the Oran Berries waited.

"You must truly fight!" Ged said encouragingly. "That is the only way you can become Charizard! You must fight! Don't be fragile!"

This is going to be a long training session, Char miserably realized.

… … …

Many painful bruises and concussions later, Ged decided that Char had enough and let him go, but not before congratulating him on his great matches. He insisted that Char's technique had improved a little, that he'd learned something from the experience, even though the only thing Char was sure he'd learned was how to take even more pain. Covered in tender spots from being slammed with rocks in more ways than he could count, and with at least a dozen Oran berries dissolving in his stomach, Char wandered out of the dojo.

This time, though, he didn't have to think hard about how to further pass the time. He knew exactly where he was headed; there was a thought stuck in his mind now, a thought that wouldn't go away:

Charizard.

"Heya, Char," Morrik said as he stepped out from the wall, sensing that a visitor had entered his lobby. "Whatcha need? Oh, wow. You don't look like you're having too good a day. Is that a black eye?! Maybe y' should see Dr. Orde. There's only so much those Oran Berries can do, y'know…"

"Get me my feral-shard," Char commanded. "I know I have one in storage. I got it from our first mission. I want to evolve now."

"W…wah?" Morrik cried. "You're joking, right? I've seen your area at least a hundred times… you don't have one!"

"I have to!" Char insisted, slamming his fists down on the counter-top. "It was at Empirical Falls. We stole it from Team X. I put it in the bag myself. Can you go check, please?"

"Char, there's no way," Morrik told him. "Do you realize what kind of commodity these things are right now? Nobody has them. They're locked out of the market. It's been a problem for a few weeks now. The Master's tightening his grasp on the market. Even Kecleon can't get any."

"Please! Check!" Char ordered. "I have one! I know it!"

"A'ight, I'll go have a look, since you insist," Morrik said. "But I'm telling you. Don't get your hopes up too high."

Morrik disappeared into the wall, then returned not even thirty seconds later.

"Char!" he yelled, a look of pure shock upon his face. "I don't believe this! You were right! There was one!"

Char nearly threw himself over the counter. "I knew it!" he cheered in joy. "Give it to me!"

"Ah, heheheheh," Morrik laughed. "So gullible, heheh. No, you don't have one."

Char sent a dangerous glance to the Gengar, then slumped down onto the floor, disheartened.

"Where did it go?" he wondered. "I'm sure I had one! I was keeping it for when I knew I could evolve!"

"Uh, this is just a hunch," Morrik said, a hint of curiosity now in his tone, "but if you're so sure of yourself, I could go check in Team Remorse's stuff to see if they, y'know, took it from you. Though, I think I would have remembered transferring it."

Char nodded an unspoken consent, and Morrik disappeared again. He returned very shortly, shaking his head.

"Nope, they don't have one either," he reported. "T' tell ya the truth, I don't think there's one feral-shard in the whole storage right now." With a wink, he added, "If there was one, I'd let y' steal it. Really! I would!"

Well, that's just great, Char thought. I guess I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up like that. Oh, but I want to be Charmeleon… so badly…

… … …

Char was sure that an hour had passed, so he forced himself back down to the cafeteria. Sure enough, it was now lunchtime. The kitchen was serving a light meal to those who were staying back at the base for the day, or those who had accomplished the mission early enough in the morning to be back by now. Char accepted his portion: it was a very strange-looking meal, something like globs of colorful gelatin with berries suspended inside. He took it hesitantly, not sure if his stomach was in the mood for something so unsubstantial or full of sugar. He sat down to eat all by himself, hoping that the food could do something to satisfy him.

Why does Pokémon food always need to be so sickeningly sweet? Char wondered, feeling the first serving wiggle around in his mouth as he chewed it. Everything they serve here is just… all…

Char felt the beginning of a gag reflex, and he knew he wasn't going to go any further.

… … …

After throwing his food away, Char was out of ideas. He decided that he'd head back up to his room and simply sleep the rest of the day away, as Saura's note had suggested of him. In hindsight, he realized that it would have been better if he'd never gotten out of bed, and wondered why he'd even left behind the soothing presence of his bedside fire. Already, as he ascended the merciless staircases back to his high-ranked lair, he could feel them… roaring away… flooding his exhausted body with warmth…

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.

Char pushed repeatedly, but the door wouldn't open.

He'd locked himself out of his hall.

"ARRRRCEUS!" he moaned, leaning his forehead against the solid tablet that stood between him and his room. "WHYYY?!"

… … …

Char awoke with a sudden start. Feeling the pressure against his forehead, he remembered that he actually fell asleep while leaning on his front door.

But something wasn't quite right. He'd woken up for a reason.

Something… changed.

He couldn't place the feeling, he just knew that something had changed. He wondered if his instincts were sensing something he couldn't see, or feel, or hear…

Or could he? The air was frozen in a sort of brooding, unnatural silence. It was very unnatural, he soon realized. This was the Gold Division's base, a place constantly alive and echoing with the voices of hundreds of Pokémon about their day's work. And now… it was quiet.

Curious, and somewhat disturbed by the unnerving feeling that the Charmander within him had picked up on, Char opened his eyes…

And the entire hallway was dark.

Black. Still illuminated, but… black.

It didn't make sense. "Black" wasn't a color in the cycle of signals the torches were programmed for. "Black" wasn't even a visible color. Yet, somehow, Char found that the hall was now filled with… as if such a thing were even possible… shining black light.

Char looked around. The torches themselves now burned with a bizarre black fire.

Is this some kind of signal? Char wondered, wandering back down the hall in awe of his surroundings, which seemed to become something new and different in the reality-defying light. Does this… mean something?

If it did, Char could tell instinctively that whatever it meant was not good.

Not wasting another minute in speculation, Char dropped to all fours and shot back to the nearest stairwell, heading upstairs to Team Remorse.

Char didn't go far before he found the team, or at least the members who had been home at the time, gathered in the hallway just outside their door. Marrow was there, as was Raon, and Markov. Char was at first taken aback by the sight of Raon: the golden rings on his body were glowing brightly, forming weird white rainbows as they mixed with the radiant black light which still filled the corridors. He knew, like his own fire, it was an indication that the Umbreon was experiencing some kind of elation; showing Char that Team Remorse was equally as upset with the phenomenon as he was. It filled Char with dread at seeing them arguing loudly and nervously amongst one another as he approached.

"What's going on?!" Char demanded as he rushed to their side, feeling his panicking instincts yearn for their company.

"This is bad," Marrow said. "Char, black means the entire base is on lockdown! Nobody can come or leave!"

"W-why would the base be on lockdown?" Char asked weakly, already imagining the answer.

"It means that the base is in danger of being infiltrated. Or attacked," Raon explained grimly. "This is very bad. They don't issue this measure unless the Master is literally on our doorstep. We need to find out what's going on, and now. Something must have slipped through the cracks."

"Char. Stay with us," Markov instructed. "We're going downstairs. High Intelligence should tell us what's going on."

Char didn't have to be asked; he clung to them as a child to his parents. After casting one last glance at his black tail flame and feeling a chill at the sight, he followed closely behind Team Remorse as they proceeded downstairs.

Down below, at least a hundred Pokémon were gathered in the main chamber of the base. But no voices rose above a solemn whisper; a terrified, yet reverent silence settled over the crowd as they awaited news of the development, or perhaps orders to carry out. They all looked lost and afraid.

"This is exactly why Scythe made sure some of us stayed back," Markov muttered. "He knew something like this could happen…"

"Then we need to do something about it," Raon declared adamantly. "What we really need to do is get out of this base before they set the traps. We need to assess the situation out there. Scythe needs to know what's going on."

"No, that wouldn't be too smart of us," Markov warned. "Let's find out why the alert was thrown in the first place, then we can think about what to do."

"By the gods, this came out of nowhere!" Raon gasped.

Char watched as more and more Pokémon filed down through the staircases and emerged into the chamber, most of them wide-eyed in fear and dead silent. He realized that the congregation was for a purpose. While he'd never been instructed of a procedure to follow, or even of the "code: black" at all, he figured the rest of the base knew what they were doing. Since most of the Divison's members were out on missions for the day, Char saw only about four hundred Pokémon attending that meeting, standing on the floor or at the edge of the higher floors' balconies, waiting for something to happen.

And still, that strange black light radiated from every torch, blinding yet invisible.

Char became even more nervous as the gravity of the situation continued to dawn on him. The base could be under attack. The base could be destroyed! The Master's forces could burst in from any of the entrances, leaving the Division with nothing to do but fight back… He felt like clinging to the nearest Pokémon for comfort.

A long, white bone appeared in front of Char's face.

"Scared?" Marrow asked, his eyes glimmering with sympathy behind his skull helmet. "I am too."

Char accepted the other end of the bone and held on, squeezing it tight to help calm his horrible anticipation.

"Remorse," a very deep voice suddenly addressed.

Kain the Luxray, leader of Team Absolution, appeared before Char and his companions. He, too, had the same look of uncertainty in his eyes as he approached Team Remorse with respect and bowed to them.

"Kain, I thought you were out at Red Haven today," Markov said. "Why are you here?"

"Today was my shift off," Kain explained. "Galavan and Arrow are with your team at the mountains. But even then, it only leaves us. You realize you and I have a grave responsibility to this division should things go awry? We could be the ones fighting on the front line in mere minutes."

"At this point, we just wish we knew what was going on," Raon told him.

"Well, I can inform you, at least to some extent," Kain said. "I heard why the alert sounded. As we speak, Adiel is stationed in Iron Town with a number of soldiers."

Char could feel the sudden tension escalate among the four of them as the news sank in. His heart felt like it was going to cramp. For a few moments, Kain and Team Remorse subsided into the same silence the rest of the room held.

"Not good," Raon choked, the rings of his body glowing brighter than ever. "Maybe it's just a random visit. We can hope that he has business there. He could be gone before evening."

"We can hope," Kain said. "Otherwise… worst case, we could see the end of the Gold Division this very day. And we would go out with a fight."

And then… the room went black. Pitch-black. The torch flames had all vanished.

A gasp rose from the crowd, then silence. Dead, uninterrupted silence.

Char could still feel Marrow's bone in his grasp, and he hung on to it for dear life, as there wasn't anything else in the room to let him know that he hadn't just descended into a spatial void. It was as if he'd gone completely blind. All light was gone, including his own flame and the markings on Raon's body. He trembled, wondering if he would soon die with his tail having gone out… or if the base was under attack…

"The traps are set," Raon whispered. "This is it… now we wait…"

So, Char waited.

With only the bone he held with Marrow for comfort, Char waited through the darkness. His world became the feel of the bone in his claws, as everything else had been taken away. Even his own source of light, which he could always count on, was now invisible; he'd never been in the dark before, and now, he realized, he was deathly afraid of the dark.

For what seemed like an eternity, nothing happened.

He focused on the bone, sometimes tugging on it involuntarily. He had to. He didn't want his imagination to take over, to think about or to realize what could happen to him and the entire base. To imagine Adiel, that wretched Scizor, destroying everything he ever knew.

Is this what Scythe meant? Char realized. He said it was all going to come "crashing down" because he couldn't be in four places at once. Did he see this coming? Did he know Adiel was planning something?

That's when it hit him: he remembered that his team—Saura, Scythe, and Ray—would have finished their mission by now, and were probably even on their way back to the base.

No.

…NO!

Char's breath caught.

They were on their way back to the base! They were probably returning to Iron Town at that very moment! They would walk right into Adiel's trap… They were… they were going to die!

Char released his hold on the bone, letting the end fall away.

His mind filled with horrible images of his friends fighting hopelessly against the Scizor's mighty army. Or evading the danger, only to be destroyed by the base's active security system. Or being captured. He couldn't force them away, because he knew every last one of them could be true. His friends were in danger. And he wasn't there with them.

They could be killed… or captured… or…

"Saura," Char gasped. "He's after Saura. He's after Saura! Adiel's going to take Saura! That's why he's here! That's why he's here! He's going to capture Saura!"

"Uh… oh," Raon muttered.

"Hold him," Marrow ordered.

Char felt two powerful Feraligatr claws wrap around his body to hold him still, but he struggled desperately to get away. His mind was in a full-blown panic. He had to help his friends! He had to be there! He had to save Saura!

"SAURAAA!" Char yelled, tears erupting from his eyes. "NO! SAURA! I PROMISED!"

WHACK!

Char felt himself get clubbed in the head with Marrow's bone. He fell silent.

"Geeze, get a hold of yourself!" Marrow hissed. "Quit your worrying. Scythe's got his back, alright? Actually, I'd dare to say Saura's safer than the rest of us put together at the moment! Now stand down. Don't do anything stupid."

Char knew he was right. Scythe was watching after Saura. If there was one Pokémon in the world he'd trust with his care, it would be him. Plus, they were free of the base, allowing them to escape to somewhere safe if they had to. He relaxed a little, and Markov loosened his grip until he was standing free once again. Char felt Marrow's bone thrust onto his stomach, and he grasped it again.

Saura's safe, Char told himself. We're the ones in danger. But there's nothing we can do. All we can do is wait to see what happens.

And waited, he did.

… … …

The lockdown lasted for two hours.

Char waited in the darkness, unable to move for fear of bumping other Pokémon. He kept his mind blank, like his vision, trying hard not to let his fear or worry overcome him again… To just remain still, and quiet…

Through it all, nothing happened. Absolutely nothing. There was no uproar, no horrible news that Adiel was destroying the city or preparing to attack the base. After a while, Char realized that this was the most promising sign that everything would be okay.

Finally, light began to fade back into the room. It started out tiny and hardly noticeable, presumably to go easy on everyone's eyes, but it became clear that the torches were re-lighting themselves and slowly bringing order to the sightless chaos of the darkness. Char thought it was his imagination at first, but he gathered his tail into his claws and could just barely see his fire returning to him. He realized that his flame was probably still there the entire time, just turned invisible due to the spell.

A relieved murmur arose from all the Pokémon in the room as they realized the lockdown was ending. But, just when it seemed that the division would erupt into a hectic pandemonium, an extremely loud voice suddenly silenced them all.

"Excuse me. May I have everyone's attention!"

Char looked up, and saw Alakazam and Xatu standing on a high-up balcony. The uproar soon quieted down as everyone gave High Intelligence their complete attention.

"Thank you," Alakazam spoke a little softer than before, now that the crowd was calmed. "I will fill you in on the day's events without delay. Earlier this afternoon, Our sources reported that Adiel the Scizor lead an army of approximately three hundred war-ready Pokémon into the limits of Iron Town. Two minutes and forty-seven seconds after the news reached my ears, I called for the lockdown. Understand: the alarm was not to signal that the base was in danger, it was to prevent any and all members of this Division from using the portal to the academy, as fast as possible. While the Master knows our base exists, he has not yet found any of the ways in, which is why it was critical to draw attention away from the Cliffside Academy until we would no longer risk the possibility of notice. Two hours and twelve minutes later, I received word that Adiel was leaving, and so now, the alert is lifted. His motives for the visit are as yet unknown, but will be determined shortly. I also heard that he spoke with the council of Iron Town, supposedly to make a demand of them, although this news has not been confirmed. I thank you very much for your patience and your adherence to our precautions, and I am pleased to report that things are, for the time being, back to normal. However, due to these circumstances, I must also re-instate the hold on the training teams until further notice, but rest assured that it shouldn't be long to expire as last time. Also, both the day watch and the night watch will be tripled, starting immediately. Thank you, once again, and may Arceus grant blessings upon us all."

"Welp, that's that," Marrow said, gently jerking his bone out of Char's claws. "This'll be an earload for Scythe when he comes back."

"I guess we couldn't have done anything," Raon shrugged. "Alakazam would've asked for our service if he needed us."

"Be glad he didn't have to," Kain said, turning to walk away. "It could have been a bloody day."

"Well, only five hours left until we head out again, guys," Markov reminded them. "We've gotta get ready to slay some Watchers."

"Hey, take care of yourself, Char," Marrow said, giving him a gentle punch in the shoulder. "Be strong."

Team Remorse left, and the rest of the Pokémon dispersed and wandered away in their various directions, leaving Char alone.

Char realized that he was crying. He'd been crying for a long time, too, probably since his panic attack. His face was completely drenched with tears, and the muscles in his cheeks were painfully cramping. But it wasn't out of fear, or pain, or worry over his friends that he cried, it was from the simple, pure, relentless stress he'd gathered throughout the day. It had grown so unbearable that his body was simply expelling it for no other reason than relief. So, Char stood there in the center of the chamber, ignoring all the Pokémon that passed him by, and cried until his tears had run out.

With nothing else to do, Char forced himself upstairs to the storage area. He needed to borrow Saura's mobile scarf if he wanted to get back into his hall.

"Whoa! What happened to you?" Morrik exclaimed. "You looked pretty bad earlier today, but now it looks like a Gulpin chewed you up and spat you out!"

"Morrik, I need—"

"Char?"

It was a voice Char had been waiting all day to hear. He turned around to see Scythe, Ray, and Saura coming into the storage lobby.

"Did you have a good rest?" Saura asked. "Sorry we're so late. We would have been back earlier, but we got locked out of the base, and we had to wait for them to…"

Now, it was Char's turn to tackle his friend.

Without warning, Char threw himself onto his best friend and squeezed with all his heart. Now that Saura was back, he knew everything would be okay.

Until now, he'd never realized just how deeply Saura's side of the promise really mattered to him.

"Owow, hey, watch the cramps, watch the cramps!" Saura yelped, but in a welcoming tone. "I spent all day dragging carts of food around. I'm a little stiff in the knees."

"Sorry, I'm just so glad to see you!" Char sighed. "You have no idea. Please, don't leave me behind like that again!"

"You're standing in the doorway," Scythe said in an unusually harsh tone. "Care to make this day any longer than it has been?"

Char unquestioningly backed out of the way and let Scythe pass, who proceeded to the counter with his bag of supplies.

"Um… Scythe, you heard about the lockdown, right?" Char asked.

"Yes," Scythe grumbled. "And I figure I'll spend all night hearing even more about it."

"Do we… go on a mission tomorrow?" Char asked.

"Are the torches still black?" Scythe asked.

"…No," Char replied.

"Did High Intelligence place a restriction on your team?" he demanded louder.

"No," Char replied again.

"Then yes, nothing has changed," Scythe said. "Work tomorrow as always."

"No, that's not what I meant," Char replied. "Shouldn't we be… getting ready?"

Scythe looked into Char's eyes, and Char saw just how annoyed and stressed he was. The Scyther's eyes were practically bloodshot.

"Pick a fast mission, and we will prepare once it's over with," Scythe growled. "Besides that, no, nothing has changed."

Scythe plunked the half-full bag of supplies on the counter and marched out of the room.

Char looked oddly at the door Scythe left behind, then at his friends.

"To tell you the truth, I couldn't wait to get home myself," Saura explained. "Scythe's been in a really dreadful mood all day. I don't know why, I think something's bugging him."

"Long day," Ray shrugged. "I love working with Scythe, but he really didn't make today easy on us. I guess when Scythe has a bad day, everyone has a bad day."

*Chapter 33*: Chapter 30: Without Saying

Chapter 30

That evening, Char sat upon his bed and tried to relax. His body was starting to seriously ache from the cruel workout he'd received that morning, his muscles throbbing from strain. He closed his eyes and meditated upon the roar of the fire which surrounded him, trying to let it soothe his thoughts and his pains…

But, try as he may, he couldn't settle his racing mind. He'd made a decision. It wasn't a difficult decision to make, but he couldn't begin to imagine the repercussions. It worried him, knowing what he was about to do without even a second thought, and not even caring about how it would affect the Division. He had no intention of giving it a second thought.

He was about to defy Scythe.

When Saura and Ray both meandered into the room, Char knew it was time. He opened his eyes and focused on his friends.

"Okay, we picked the mission for tomorrow," Saura reported, approaching the foot of his bed. "Blackriver City. Another thieves' bust. So... you wanted to talk to us? We're all ears."

Char began with a heavy sigh. He was exhausted, but it was the kind of exhaustion that came from adrenaline and stress, the kind that gives you a splitting headache and doesn't actually let you settle down to sleep it away.

"Oh, and Char," Saura said, lowering his voice to a very heartfelt tone, "I'm sorry for leaving you alone today. We thought it would be considerate to give you a day off. We didn't realize it would have been so hard on you."

"It's fine," Char said, trying his best to mean it. "I got through the day."

"We promise to never leave you alone anymore," Ray said humbly, fiddling with his paws. "Saura's right. Now that I know you're a human, I understand that… you chose to share your secret with us, and nobody else. When we leave, you're all alone. It must feel horrible."

"Thanks," Char said sincerely. "I really mean it, you two. Your friendship means everything to me. Without you, there really isn't anything for me here, even if all these Pokémon respect me for being Scythe's friend and leading this team. As a Charmander, I owe everything to you. If I ever find out why I'm here, and how I got to be like this, it'll all be because of you."

Ray offered a very reverent bow in acknowledgement of the complement, and Saura looked very touched. Char took another big breath, gathering himself to begin with the purpose of the meeting.

"That's why… I'm telling you everything I know," Char proclaimed. "I'm going to tell you what Alakazam told me last night. I'm going to tell you all of it. There are some parts that… Scythe told me not to tell you, but I'm going to tell you anyway, because… for one thing, Ray, I didn't go through all the trouble of spitting out my secret just so I could turn around and keep a different one from you. And for another thing… Alakazam didn't even want me to tell anyone at all. It's that serious. But… no. You two are all I have, and I need you to be at my side the whole way, or I won't… I won't be able to do it. But, once I tell you this… you can't tell anyone. Don't even tell Scythe we had this conversation. I trust you."

Char paused to review the reactions of his friends. He saw in their eyes that they both understood the gravity of his words, and were willing to accept anything he'd tell them, even though they knew full well he wasn't supposed to be saying anything. Saura gave a light nod, letting Char know it was okay to continue.

"Alakazam thinks that I called to Dialga," Char said after a heavy swallow. "And I think I did, too. I remember talking to him when the Call happened. But now… Dialga must be doing something about it, and now this place called Temporal Tower appeared up north next to the Emerald Division. Alakazam wants me to go there and talk to Dialga myself."

"So that's why…" Saura gasped. "That's… incredible! If we could talk with Dialga, that could mean the end of your journey!"

"I had no idea the legend of Temporal Tower was true," Ray admitted, gaping. "This is legendary. If you called to Dialga, there's no telling what we can do… Dialga could smash the Master to bits!"

"We have two days to prepare," Char explained, "then we leave for the Emerald Division. After that… I don't know what's going to happen. But I decided something: you both are going to come with me and Scythe. I don't care what he says, it's final. If I'm such a legendary Charmander, I should at least have enough authority to get him to concede to one little thing like this, right?"

"Char, it's an honor to be of service to you," Ray declared, bowing again. "I'll come. I'll stand by your side, no matter the cost. I would battle with Scythe if you only told me to. Your decision is the law I live by!"

Wow, Char thought. Ray really takes me seriously now, doesn't he? I hope he doesn't go overboard with this servitude thing…

Either way, Char felt relieved. They were taking it well so far. Yes, that was to be expected, but it made him that much more comfortable with himself; the hard part was yet to come.

"That was the part that Alakazam didn't want me to say," Char said, his voice losing a little bit of its strength. "But there's another part I have to tell you. And this next part… Scythe… gave me permission to tell you, Saura, but he specifically asked me not to tell you, Ray… But… I'll tell you both… and I hope that I'm doing the right thing… After Alakazam talked to us, we started to walk back upstairs, and then Scythe… he…"

Char's voice suddenly stopped working. He cleared his throat, hoping to jump-start it again. It took a few tries, but he eventually got it out:

"…he almost cried."

Char watched as faces on his friends changed. He noticed the distinct sign of concern and surprise in Saura, and confusion in Ray.

"Not only that, but he started talking to me like… like he trusted me," Char said. "He started telling me things that he didn't even tell his team. And he called me a human. But I have to tell you this. I think Scythe is starting to break down from stress. He tries to hide it during the day when he's with other Pokémon, but I think he's really hurting on the inside."

"I never… I never would have known," Ray said sadly, now looking very deeply surprised. "No wonder he was so angry today. I thought maybe it was because of us…"

"I'm scared for him," Char said. "Scythe is worried that he's going to fail his mission at Basin Canyon. He says that he can't be in four places at once. He insists on coming with me to Temporal Tower, but if it's going to cause him to fail one of his missions… I can't let him destroy his own work because of me! I don't know what to do!"

"I thought for sure he had everything under control," Ray said, looking at the floor and playing with the end of his tail. "He always does! Even when all seems lost… he always finds some way to win. Team Remorse always wins!"

The voice echoed clear in Char's mind…

"I'm not supposed to fail. Nobody expects me to fail. But I'm about to fail. Everything is about to come crashing down. Everything is…"

"We have to trust him," Saura resolved, speaking up. "He knows what's best. Think about it. The mission at Temporal Tower could be the mission to end all missions! It could end the whole war and solve all our problems in one fell blow! It makes sense that Scythe would sacrifice one of his missions for this. This is serious."

"I have a feeling that something else is going on, though," Char said. "The lockdown today was… terrifying. It made me start to think the Master is trying to do something. I think there's something that Scythe is planning that he isn't telling us. He told me… that… when we go to the Emerald Division, he's going to lie to his teammates and not tell them anything about Temporal Tower."

"Then we trust him," Saura said again. "That part doesn't have to change. If there's something we need to know, he'll tell us in due time. Right now, we should just go along with what he says. Let's start getting ready for this journey tomorrow! I'm excited already!"

Ray lifted his gaze from the floor, and Char's eyes met with his. It was clear that, while it wasn't devastating news, Ray hadn't taken it completely well.

"I told you because I trust you," Char told him. "Are you okay with it? I'm sorry if I hurt you at all. I didn't mean to…"

"No, no," Ray said, trying to force his smile back onto his face, but failing. "I understand. I won't let you down, Char. I'm your Pokémon."

Char nodded to him, but in truth, he was starting to feel uncomfortable by the way Ray's personality had changed. In telling Ray his secret, Char had hoped to deepen the relationship he and Saura had with him… not to alter it. Yet, even Ray's body language now suggested that his attitude toward Char had changed considerably. Of all the time he spent anticipating Ray's reaction to his humanity, he never figured it would be like this!

Hoping that it was just due to Ray's mood, Char didn't comment. Instead, he continued with his discussion.

Char discussed the matter with his friends until he was certain, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that he was on equal terms with them. It felt wonderful to not keep any secrets, and to hear both Saura and Ray continue to affirm their friendship and dedication to him, accepting what he had said.

I did it, Char realized. I defied Scythe. He was breaking down, and he was treating me as an equal, and he made one request of me… and I broke that request. I betrayed him! But… I had to! I think. I trust Ray as much as I trust Saura now, so… I had to. It's okay. I really shouldn't be worried about this, anyway. It's not like I just did something terrible… I hope.

Soon afterwards, they decided that they needed their rest for a big day tomorrow, so Saura and Ray retired to their own rooms and left Char to his privacy. Saura promised he'd make sure Char woke up in the morning as usual, and Ray gave one last bow to him before stepping out.

Char felt a tiny pang of loneliness as he watched them leave. Although he liked having a room all to himself, it was proving to be something to get used to; he was starting to miss that feeling of security from knowing his friends were resting only a few feet away…

The heart of a Pokémon is so powerful, Char realized again, laying down to rest. It's so quick to form these bonds… these deep friendships… It's only been… what, six weeks? And already, I have a relationship with Saura and Ray, and maybe Scythe too, that would have taken years for a human to have. But I can't fight it. I need it like food and water. Well, maybe not water. But I'm starting to wonder… do Pokémon need these bonds to survive? All around me, I'm seeing the same bonds in other Pokémon… in all the other teams here… even in Otto, and Ray, and Shander…

"Let's all be honest with each other," Raon had said once. "There's no breaking up this team. Where Scythe goes, we go. Right?"

All of Team Remorse has it… and really, so does this entire Division. We all trust each other, and we trust Alakazam and Metagross to make decisions for us…

…The Master's army is so huge… And his minions are so loyal…

I wonder…

… If they share the same kind of bonds with him?

Char closed his eyes and tried to get some rest for the night.

… … …

Some five hours later…

Char found himself wide awake, staring at the ceiling of his room. He didn't know how long he'd been awake, but his sore, throbbing body was refusing him any sleep.

I have to sleep, Char told himself, trying to get his eyes to stay closed again. Long day tomorrow. Need my strength. Why can't I sleep? Am I sick? I've had worse days than this, and I fell asleep just fine! What's wrong now? Maybe it's all this tension?

He knew, perhaps from his humanity, the body would still heal and recharge if he stayed perfectly still and relaxed, even while suffering from insomnia. Only, it wouldn't be the most refreshing sleep of his life, and it was boring laying awake for hours upon hours. And his body aches weren't making the experience any more pleasant, either.

He did everything he could think of to do… he cleared his mind of all excess thought, only counting his breaths to pass the time… he relaxed his body until it started to tingle…

His eyes snapped open again.

I must be sick, Char guessed. I just don't feel right. Do Pokémon even get sick? I didn't know that was possible. It must be, because I feel horrible…

Char sat up in his bed, wondering how many hours he had left to rest. His stomach felt funny. Queasy, almost, like he'd eaten something disagreeable, and his inner fire was having trouble burning it down. Or maybe it wasn't that at all; maybe it was just fear. Maybe the lockdown was haunting him. Maybe Scythe's behavior was haunting him. Maybe he just… for some reason… didn't feel secure.

He recalled all the nights he had back in Scythe's room where he had trouble sleeping for whatever reason… from his visions, or just from the simple nervousness of his piling responsibilities… He remembered fondly how, each and every time he couldn't sleep, Saura would always take it upon himself to stay awake with him and keep him company.

But now, Saura was in another room; he couldn't count on his company anymore. It would take barging into his room and waking him up, which would be incredibly rude, when previously Saura would always do it without being asked, whenever he noticed Char awake late in the night.

So now, Char found himself sleepless, with only his two blazing blue torches to keep him company.

Maybe it was out of pure boredom, or simple curiosity, or maybe desperation… but Char glanced at one of the torches at the side of his bed, wondering about it…

The torch was comprised of a large yet shallow silver bowl, supported on the ground by four curved, ornate legs. It was a pretty big piece of furniture, only slightly smaller than the bed on which he sat, and easily large enough to support a fully-grown Charizard standing in it. A pile of coal-like rocks filled the bottom of the dish, continually glowing white-hot and fueling the fire. The flames themselves were simply gorgeous, intense enough to be completely opaque, perpetually roaring and dancing and extending very high above Char's head.

Char began to realize… the fire looked so… inviting.

I'm a fire Pokémon, Char thought to himself, inching closer to the fire on his hands and feet. That must mean I'm fireproof… right? Could I… jump in?

He wanted to jump in. He wanted to inch closer and closer, and not stop until he was bathed in the flames. He always considered fire a close friend and ally, and couldn't imagine any negative repercussions from covering himself with it. Now, as his body yearned for comfort, he was tempted to give it a try.

Curious, he extended his front claw into the fire. As the flames licked at his hand, he received a sensation of comfort. It was warm and intense, like dipping his hands into comfortably hot water; it was the same as he'd always felt when handling the flame on the end of his tail, except much more. It sent a shiver down his spine, and he retracted his claw to inspect it. It was completely unharmed, and it tingled in displeasure from being pulled away.

He prepared to jump in.

Wait! the far corner of his mind suddenly cried. Are you sure this is a good idea? Don't you remember what happened the last time you decided to experiment with your physiology? Don't you think you should actually ask someone about it before doing it this time?

"That was with water," Char told himself. "This is fire. This is my element! I have a fire inside of me and on my tail. It doesn't hurt me! It's like my blood! What could go wrong?"

He pounced into the fire.

The first thing he noticed was that his breath had been taken away, quite literally. It was extremely difficult to inhale, as if there was no air present. However, it was still possible with a little effort, and it didn't really seem to bother him; it appeared that his body was naturally suited for such a situation.

Reality seemed to disappear, replaced by only the roaring blue flames. Char found himself completely surrounded by them, unable to see the rest of his room. All he saw was blue—dancing, vivid blue…

Then, like a delayed reaction, the warmth started to fill his body. He'd never felt a greater level of heat in his life, even when his Ember was ablaze in the heat of battle. This time, he fire poured across him inside and out, feeling like standing under a powerful waterfall that fell up instead of down. As he stood on all fours atop the burning coal, his claws, his belly, and the underside of his tail took the brunt of the heat, coming alive with the intense sensation.

He waited and waited for any sign of pain… but it never came. The fire didn't hurt at all. In fact, it felt a little comfortable.

See? Char realized. I knew it wouldn't hurt! This actually feels pretty good!

As he waited, he felt the sensation gradually intensifying. The feeling of the searing heat mercilessly engulfing his body became more pleasurable with each minute.

This feels really good, Char told himself. Wow… it's so relaxing… It's like I'm a part of the fire…

He curled up atop the coals, trying to make as much contact with them as possible, since they were the hottest part of the fire. His eyes drifted closed as he fell into a contented daze.

This makes up for all the bad things that happened today, Char told himself. I can feel… all my troubles… melting away… It's just me… and the fire…

Char decided he never needed to sleep in his bed again. Finding that his headache and his queasiness had mysteriously vanished, and he let himself go, feeling sleep approaching fast…

But then, Char felt something like a pop in his brain… and then he felt nothing.

He opened his eyes. Yes, he was still inside the fire. But now, he felt nothing of it. All the pleasure he'd enjoyed was gone. Instead, he felt… numb.

Whoa, Char thought. This is… weird. Maybe I overloaded my nerves? That's… nothing bad, right? I mean, since I'm a fire Pokémon, that could be some kind of natural—

Char suddenly started to feel the numbness subsiding, replaced by feeling. But this… was not the same feeling he had before. He felt the heat of the fire, but in a different way…

It feels… hot, Char realized.

It started out small, but escalated. Char wasn't sure what to think of the sensation, so he let it build, coming closer…

To Char's horror, he realized that the feeling was pain. It felt like the fire had turned into thousands of knife blades and pins, constantly raking his skin…

Whoa, now it's really hot, Char thought, wanting to see how bad it would get and hoping his elemental immunity wouldn't let him down.

He didn't last long. The pain never stopped escalating, until…

Char realized he was standing in a frying pan, cooking himself alive.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Char cried, jumping blindly out of the torch fire and hitting the floor head-first with a thunk. "AHHH! AHHH! AHHH! HOT! HOT! HOOOOOOOT! AHHHHHHHH!"

His vision tingling with pain, he glanced back at his body. It was not on fire, even though it now felt raw and sensitive as if he was still standing in the flames. He writhed around on the floor, wanting to caress the pained parts of his body but feeling them explode with sensitivity every time he did. Eventually, he simply laid on his back, moaning softly in agony.

Fortunately for him, the pain didn't last long. He was a fire Pokémon, after all, so his body was able to soon recover from the experience of getting burned, and he found himself feeling relatively back to normal.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh," Char still moaned, not having the strength to move, still feeling half his body tingling.

I guess I learned another lesson today, Char's exasperated mind told himself. I'm not completely immune to fire, just resistant to it. Too much, and I'll burn just like any other Pokémon. Only… it looks like my body is fireproof, so I'll never actually catch on fire, but… fire can still hurt. Ughhhh…

Char looked over his body once more, and noticed something amazing: his skin had all turned black on one side.

He'd been charred. Burnt to a crisp.

He slumped his head back onto the floor and fell asleep soon afterwards.

… … …

Char's consciousness stirred at the sound of a voice.

"Chaaar! Time to wake up!" it said.

He heard his door opening.

"The fire will never—AHHH! By ARCEUS, what HAPPENED to you?!"

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" a second voice shouted worriedly, hurrying closer. "CHAR! What on EARTH?!"

Still feeling a little woozy, Char decided to stir and lift his eyelids. Ray and Saura stood above him, both gaping.

"You didn't!" Saura gasped, rushing to his side and nudging him. "You rolled over into your fire, didn't you?! Oh, Char! Are you okay?!"

"I feel fine," Char said, trying to sit up. "I feel fine. I'm okay."

"Let me see this," Ray said, crouching next to him and inspecting the black streak that covered the entire right side of his body from head to toe. "Wow, that's a pretty serious burn. The worst they come… You're lucky you're a Charmander. Anyone else would need to go to the hospital ASAP. I think you'll be okay… you'll just look a little discolored for a while."

Char climbed to his feet and tried to act as though nothing was wrong, but Saura's gaze was still glued to him.

"It didn't hurt too much, did it?" Saura asked sadly.

"Not for very long," Char replied. "I'm just fine. I promise."

Saura was not convinced, and kept casting concerned glances at him.

"Well, let's get started on our mission," Char instructed, trying to shrug off Saura's worry. "Blackriver City, you said?"

"Yeah, that's the place," Ray replied, sharing a little bit of Saura's sympathy. "Okay, let's go get Scythe and get this over with…"

The team collected their items and ascended one floor to wait outside of Team Remorse's hall for Scythe. When he appeared, Char was dismayed to see that his mood hadn't changed much since the previous day. He looked better rested than last time, but that dreadful glare remained in his eyes…

"Ready to go?" he asked. "Two bags of items this time? Are you sure you'll be needing that much?"

"No," Ray explained. "We decided to split the load in half from now on instead of taking turns. It'll be much easier on both of us."

"Ah, smart," Scythe said with a nod. "Although, it could impede your ability to react quickly to a fight—"

Char cringed, realizing that Scythe had noticed his physical affliction.

"Char, you really have to learn everything the hard way, don't you?" Scythe sighed. "Please, don't abuse your fire. I worked very hard to give that to you. Don't make me take it away."

"It won't happen again," Char said ashamedly. "I'm sorry."

"If you want to have a greater capacity to enjoy fire, wait until you evolve," Scythe said. "Let that be incentive for you. Now… I hope the mission you chose today is short—"

Scythe stopped again, but Char couldn't tell why. Char looked into his eyes, and was surprised to see a little bit of the same vulnerability he showed Char the night in the hallway. He looked almost… hurt.

"You told them," he muttered, not angrily, just matter-of-factly. "They know everything."

"How did you know?" Char asked.

"It wasn't hard to tell," Scythe said. "They told me with their eyes. You'd be surprised at how much a Pokémon can betray of themselves without having to speak."

"Scythe, I—" Char started.

"Forget it, forget it," Scythe said, turning to look into the eyes of Saura and Ray. "It's none of my business how much you trust your friends, especially after what I told you the other day. Just… understand something… understand that you can betray things without speaking, without even meaning to. Are you sure you know how trustworthy your friends are?"

Char didn't answer. A very difficult silence hung in the air between the four of them, Team Ember looking especially guilty of themselves.

"The mission," Scythe said, reminding them. "Let's go. I guess all three of you are aware of how much we must get done today. Let's get it all started."

---

Blackriver City

The mission was a relatively dangerous one, but then again, most of them were; Team Ember was now choosing their tasks from the real task lists, the ones which involved real danger, required real effort, and offered substantial rewards. The mission that Saura and Ray had decided upon was at a place called Blackriver City, where they'd be tasked with finding a thieves' hideout. The hideout had been known about for a while, and was hopefully abandoned, leaving any remaining valuables free for the taking. In fact, of the three similar missions the team had taken in the past, only one of them—Team X's hideout at Empirical Falls—was still occupied.

But it would not be an easy journey. Blackriver City was a brutal place. Once a military-based town, it was destroyed by spatial distortions and now lay in crumbling ruins, inhabited only by Ghost Pokémon. The city was composed of countless, evenly-spaced square towers built from black bricks, with a grid of streets surrounding them. Unfortunately for travelers, Most of the buildings were crumbling, and a lot of streets were blocked off by rubble. It would be a tough area to navigate.

That, and a Mystery Dungeon began not one block into the city.

"This place gives me the creeps," Ray admitted as they entered the city boundaries. "I've been here three times already, and it never gets any easier. But I think I feel a little better now that you guys are with me, and you too, Scythe…"

"Have you done your research?" Scythe inquired. "Do you know what dangers lurk here?"

"Ghost Pokémon," Ray said with a shudder. "And some water Pokémon, since a river runs through the center of town. But the ghosts are the worst. It could wind up being just as bad as traveling at night."

"No," Scythe said. "Nothing is as bad as traveling at night. Believe me. The Watchers are not like normal ghost Pokémon. They're unnatural. They wield powers that no Pokémon should. When we travel at night, we spend little of our time fighting them and much of it running away from them. Don't fear normal ghost Pokémon as you would fear the Watchers. Just remember not to attack them physically. Just rely on the elements you are affiliated with, your fire, your electric power, and your vegetation, and they will fall like any other Pokémon."

"Alright, we'll give it a shot," Saura said with some confidence. "We always have you to give us a hand if things start to go wrong, anyway."

"Well, not so much," Scythe said. "I'm not particularly skilled at fighting ghosts. It'll mostly be up to you."

"Oh…" Saura said, looking a bit disillusioned. Suddenly lighting back up and forming a smug grin, shouted, "Well, in that case, bring it on! Ha-ha!"

---

Blackriver City S1

This was, admittedly, the most intimidating dungeon Team Ember had seen yet. It was a maze of city streets through an endless forest of ruined buildings. The sky was a strange color, like there was a weird transparent cloud hovering over the city and darkening the morning sunlight, reminding Char of the light from the black torches the previous day. Just knowing that there could be ghosts hiding around any corner didn't help to instill a sense of confidence, either.

As soon as Char entered into the anomaly, he felt his empty stomach groan in protest. He'd forgotten to eat breakfast. He quickly dug through his small, lightweight bag and passed out a meal to the group. He munched on a Rawst berry, hoping it would help his charred hide to regenerate faster.

An evil laugh echoed from somewhere nearby. The group froze.

"A ghost," Ray said, stepping forward and glancing around. "Get ready."

Char waited, holding his Rawst berry still and readying his fire for a fight. There was silence, all except for a tiny wind that blew through the town.

Nothing happened. Char shivered.

"I think they saw us," Ray said. "They're watching us. Be on guard."

Finding the road blocked by rubble, the group took a detour through a dark alleyway.

"I've never fought a ghost before," Char admitted, keeping very close to his friends and lighting the way with his tail. "Domo let me train against all sorts of Pokémon, but I never trained against a ghost…"

"Ghosts have a habit of playing tricks," Scythe said. "When they fight you, they rely on your fear and uncertainty. They're less fond of attacking than they are of trying to confuse you, infuriate you, scare you, or use their spiritual power to disable you in unnatural ways. That's just their nature."

Um… why did we choose this mission, again? Char wondered.

"If you want to learn how to take down ghosts, that's one of Daemon's specialties," Scythe said. "There is a sort of dark power, some way to channel your energy, that the ghosts abhor, and Daemon has learned how to control that power. It comes natural to him, being the kind of Pokémon he is. But, if you're lucky, he can teach you some useful techniques."

Another haunting voice came from somewhere close. The group picked up their pace.

"Ghosts can also turn invisible," Ray added. "They're probably surrounding us right now, just laughing at us, and waiting for the perfect opportunity to attack. That's just what they did the last time we were here…"

---

Blackriver City S2

A little less than an hour later, the team was very deep into the city. Somehow, they'd managed to avoid enticing any ghost Pokémon to attack them, but that didn't make Char feel any more comfortable. He found himself nibbling on an apple, but mostly from nervousness rather than hunger. Sometimes, eerie howls and groans would emanate from the dark windows or cracks in nearby buildings…

"Remember, we don't have to go through the whole dungeon," Ray reminded everyone. "Just head to the southwest and we should come to the end, that's where the hideout should be. If they don't see us coming, it should be easy."

"Just like Team X," Saura said. "Hopefully it'll be that easy."

"Hey, Scythe…" Char said, suddenly remembering something. "Do you remember that feral-shard that we found when we raided Team X?"

"I do," Scythe answered. "Why?"

"Where is it?" Char asked. "I checked storage for it, but it wasn't there. Morrik said that you didn't have it, either…"

"That's because it was never put in storage," Scythe explained flatly. "It was returned to its rightful owner, just like all the rest of the items we pulled from their hideout. What, you think we would just take it for ourselves? We'd be no better than Team X."

"Well, that's dumb," Char said, folding his arms. "I was really hoping… I had one of those on hand, for when the time comes…"

"Hah, get in line," Scythe laughed. "Many Pokémon have been wanting to evolve lately, now that feral-shards completely disappeared from the market. If you find one now, it could be worth millions—"

"Eeeeeeeeeeah!"

A voice shrieked, starting Char out of his wits and causing him to toss his apple in a random direction. The whole group tensed, expecting a confrontation.

"Here we go," Ray said, looking up in the air.

Sure enough, a ghost Pokémon materialized in the air above them. It was small and purple, with hair-like tendrils covering its head and bright red eyes. A Misdreavus. It jittered and smiled evilly at the group, releasing another chilling scream and shifting around in the air in anticipation of an attack.

The ghost's eyes locked on Char, and he froze in fright. It had become interested in him. It grinned and circled around his head.

"Char! Watch out!" Ray cried.

Char heard the warning, but he was frozen in indecision. He really didn't know what to do. He watched as the ghost's body began to glow with energy, ready to release some kind of horrible attack… Char could only cringe and cover his eyes…

ZZZZap!

Ray released a great bolt of lightning from his body, hitting the ghost dead-on and overloading it. Its eyes drifted off into a daze, and it evaporated into thin air. When Char looked, the ghost was gone.

"Don't mess with Char!" Ray yelled victoriously.

"Thanks," Char said oddly. "I… guess I didn't know how to react."

"Don't let them intimidate you," Ray said. "They're easy. Just pretend they're Butterfree."

Scythe congratulated Ray on his good aim and reflexes, and Char went to retrieve his apple, resolving to actually be of some use next time.

Unfortunately, as they continued, there was still a feeling he couldn't quite shake… the feeling that he was being followed…

---

Blackriver City, S4

"Are we there yet?" Char wondered, wanting the haunting excursion to be over as quickly as possible.

They'd walked for a few more hours, but there were no visible signs of any more ghosts wishing to fight. There was only the looming feeling of danger just around the corner, the thought of fifty ghosts jumping out and swarming him at a moment's notice. They'd crossed through the center of town where the river ran and engaged in battle with a wild Buizel, but other than that, no other battles presented themselves…

"I keep forgetting, you weren't at the planning session last night," Ray said. "We're almost there. This should be the last block before we can ambush the thieves. I'm surprised we haven't met with much resistance. Maybe it's the weather?"

"Could be," Scythe speculated. "Sunny weather like this tends to chase away the ghosts."

Char looked to the sky. Sunny? The weird black clouds hovered over the whole city, casting everywhere the sun touched into dim shade. He wasn't sure what Scythe was talking about, it looked like a perfect habitat for ghosts to him…

And then, Char heard something odd. It wasn't the sound of a ghost, it was more like… a voice. A voice that suddenly yelled out it pain.

"Um… did you hear that?" Char asked. "That didn't sound right."

"Yeah, I heard it, too," Saura said. "That was weird. Maybe it's just another ghost… they make the weirdest noises, you know."

"I'm not so sure," Char said warily. "That didn't sound like one. Scythe? You heard it, right?"

"I'll have to agree with Saura," Scythe said. "Sounded like a ghost to me. It's their nature to frighten other Pokémon, so I wouldn't put it past them to produce any sort of sound. So… let's just move along, and get this over with…"

"One problem with that," Ray said, examining the path. "We're stuck."

It was true. They'd walked right into a dead-end. One of the buildings had downright collapsed across two others, leaving no open way forward unless there was to be climbing involved. Char was disappointed; by turning and trying to find an alternate passage, they'd run the risk of losing their sense of direction and getting lost in the dungeon, possibly trapped within the city walls until they'd braved its whole length. They had done a great job of walking to the south and to the west, they couldn't blow it now…

"We could climb," Char suggested, gazing up at the monstrous pile of rubble. It was jagged and dangerous; every visible foothold was slanted, and the top protruded far from the base, making it very clear that climbing would not be an option.

"Maybe Scythe could carry us," Ray suggested. "Can't you, Scythe? That wouldn't be too hard, would it?"

"Hah, yeah. Good idea. Here, hold my hands," Scythe said sarcastically, offering the sharp ends of his blades to Ray. "But no. I don't think that would be possible. I can barely keep myself in the air for long. I wouldn't try carrying someone."

"Well, that's stupid," Char declared. "We came all this way, and now we're trapped by this stupid wall… unless…"

Char walked over to one of the still-standing buildings that blocked the way. He peered inside the window.

"Oh, no," Saura groaned. "You want us to go in there?"

"It's a clear way," Char told him. "Just in one window, through a few rooms, and out the other."

"Awfully dark in there," Saura commented, peering up to the window.

"Since when has dark ever been a problem with Char?" Ray laughed. "It's a good idea. Let's go."

"What if it's full of ghosts?" Saura wondered. "That's where they live! They could ambush us too easily in there!"

"Then we fight back," Char said confidently. "C'mon! We're almost out of the woods. Let's do it!"

So, with a burst of courage, Char hefted up his bag, lifted himself onto the windowsill, and propelled himself into the building through the pane-less window.

As his friends were following his lead, Char took his tail in his free hand and explored the deserted structure. There wasn't much of interest to see; there were only empty rooms cluttered with small rocks, stairs leading up… and not much else. It was odd to imagine that Pokémon once lived in here, or even found any use for the structure whatsoever. Was it an apartment of some kind? Or something else? Char couldn't tell.

As far as he could see, there were no ghosts. Thankfully.

"Hey, wait up!" Ray called, leaping in the window. Saura was not too far behind, using his vines for support to pull himself up. Finally, Scythe buzzed his wings and perched on the windowsill, lodged both of his blades into the inside wall of the room, then ducked and thrust himself in.

"Weird," Saura said, commenting on the barren cells which made up the floor of the structure. "I wonder what this building used to be?"

"A storage facility, most likely," Scythe guessed. "Though, remember that we're still in a dungeon. This building could really be a combination of two or more. Also, keep an eye out for abandoned objects. If we wanted, we could try exploring this place to see if any useful items were left behind…"

"Let's not," Char decided. "We have to keep our sense of direction and get out of here. Go that way. Find a window over there somewhere."

Char lead the way through the darkness with his flame, walking through tiny corridors from room to room. He and the rest of the team always kept a wary eye at the darkest corners of each room, halfway expecting a Gastly or some other feral spirit to lash out and spite them…

After traversing a few empty rooms, Char was worried that he wouldn't find the desired way out. Was the building itself like a miniature dungeon, subject to the same rules of random placement? It seemed so; it didn't seem like any Pokémon, or even a human, for that matter, would have constructed a building to be so nonsensical and impractical. Doors led around in circles, multiple doors led to the same room, and Char even found a door that opened up into a solid brick wall. It started to get quite frustrating, as well as creepy…

But then, Char spotted something. At first, it looked like just another dislodged brick that had fell to the ground and sat in the corner, but Char saw how it glimmered in his light…

Remembering what happened the last time he was distracted by a stray item laying on the floor—and remembering to actually heed the warning of his gut instinct this time—he diverged from his path and, with the utmost caution, approached the item.

It was a small object made out of plastic, or metal, or perhaps both. Its main body was thick and wide, bearing two red-colored lenses. Two metallic tabs protruded from the sides.

A rush of familiarity flooded Char's mind. This was a human object! It was… a pair of glasses? No. It looked like glasses, but it was much more mechanical, heavy-duty…

"I found something," Char announced, drawing the attention of his friends. He picked up the glasses and felt them with his claws, amazed at the object's existence in the world of Pokémon. He bent down the flexible tabs in amusement.

"Incredible," Scythe marveled upon seeing the object. "Excellent, excellent find. This must be something left behind by a different team. Those are goggles. And what luck to find them in a place like this! Char, these goggles were designed for seeing the invisible. They're based on the sound-vision that Zubat use to navigate in the dark. But they don't use sound to work, they use something else, some kind of energy. But in effect… they should allow you to see invisible ghosts."

"Awesome!" Ray shouted. "How lucky! Char, try them on! Now we can see the ghosts coming!"

Hesitantly, Char fit the goggles onto his head and lined them up with his eyes. They were heavy, and they fell frequently, so Char dropped his bag and held them up with both hands. He tried adjusting the frame so that it would clamp to his head and stay on, but to little effect; the goggles were too large.

Curious, he peered through the strange red lenses. He saw the room as clear as ever, if not a bit discolored.

"Interesting," Char said. "Too bad I have to hold them up to see through them. Too bad they—oh, no…"

"What?" Saura asked. "Do you see something?"

Yes, Char saw something.

Char noticed a mischievous Haunter hanging in the air directly above Saura.

And behind him, there was a Gastly.

And another one behind that.

And next to that, a Duskull.

Gazing around the ceiling, Char saw that the entire room was filled with them.

Ghosts. Dozens and dozens of them. All watching the group amusedly. Evilly. Invisibly.

Char's heart fell into his stomach. The goggles struck the ground.

"WHAT?! What is it?!" Saura demanded, growing very worried. "You saw a ghost, didn't you?"

"Saura…" Char gasped, nearly without a voice. "We've got to get out of here."

But that was it. The joke was over. The ghosts sensed Char's fear and realized that they'd been spotted. In a matter of a few seconds, they all allowed themselves to become visible. Scythe, Ray, and Saura all gasped as they appeared to fade into reality, surrounding the group and outnumbering them at least ten-to-one, backing them even further into the corner.

Almost in unison, the ghost Pokémon descended from the ceiling and faced the team at eye-level. Many of them giggled and howled in sinister anticipation, their eyes glowing red in the dark…

"Char," Scythe muttered, eyeing the ghosts and trying to keep his calm, "now would be an excellent, excellent time to use the Escape Orb…"

Char couldn't argue. His hand scrambled into the bag and searched for the item that would save them all.

There wasn't one. Char couldn't find a single orb in the bag, only a pile of apples and berries.

"Ray," Char said quickly. "You have it. I only have the food."

"I thought you had the Escape Orb," Ray said, his face turning white. "…didn't you?"

Scythe succumbed to a cringe, hanging his head in painful despair.

"We have anything capable of clearing out a room?" Char asked desperately. "Spurn Orb? Foe-Hold Orb? Anything?"

"Uh, no," Ray said regretfully. "We used those all up… and they were too expensive to buy more…"

The group fell silent, realizing their fate.

"We fight," Saura spoke, trying to swallow his fear as he felt the many piercing, red eyes burn into him. "That's how Team Ember operates. We fight until the end. Because there's always a chance we could make it. Are you guys ready for this?"

Char clenched his fists and fueled his fire. It wasn't like he had much of a choice; they were trapped in an abandoned building, all escape routes blocked by the enemy. They had to fight, for better or for worse.

He felt it when his fire was ready. It filled his insides to the brim, hanging at the very edge of his throat… Then, stepping forward to confront the ghosts, he bellowed…

"The FIRE will NEVER DIE…"

"Until the LAST! EMBER! FADES!" His teammates answered at the top of their lungs.

"Heh, heheheh," Scythe laughed. "Right you are. Frivolous optimism can be fun sometimes… Alright. Let's see these ghosts bring their best! En guarde!"

Char started the battle by spewing a great stream of fire, sweeping it across as many ghosts as he could manage. The ghosts jumped back in shock, realizing they were being attacked, and they began to swarm.

Char had to halt his flamethrower to breathe, so he dove behind his friends for cover. Ray loosed a wave of electric power over the ghosts, missing all but two as they flowed aside like a gaseous substance to dodge it. Saura pelted them with all the leaves he could muster, but the ghosts' evasiveness was impressive, and they dodged his attack as well. When Char was ready, he mustered his breath and released a ball of embers from his mouth which struck the ceiling and exploded, but it had no effect. The ghosts moved like oil atop a pond, reacting to the slightest disturbance and impossible to touch.

Sounding a feral screech from the depths of his lungs, Scythe zipped forward and swiped with his blades, which were now shining with a strange dark power. With some impressive acrobatics, he sliced through one, two, three ghosts, all of which appeared to drift apart in multiple pieces with no interest in fusing back together. They faded out of visibility.

"Hey, I thought you said you weren't good at fighting ghosts!" Char called to him.

"I'm not," Scythe answered with a grin, "but I never said I couldn't do it!"

The ghosts were not amused, and several of them at the front of the crowd prepared a counterattack. A Haunter charged a dark ball of energy between its hands, while another zoomed forward with its hands opened wide to grab hold of its victim. With a snap of Saura's vines, the second was sent careening away, but the first let loose its attack upon Char, knocking the wind out of him. It was a weak attack, but it left him feeling shaky…

"Hey! I told you not to mess with Char!" Ray yelled angrily, discharging a spark that connected with the ghost and zapped it senseless.

Four more ghosts floated forward in replacement. At once, they began to circle around their prey, suddenly growing to twice their size and releasing a shriek to startle the team out of their wits. This time, Char held steady and took the opportunity to strike back, darting underneath the ghost before him, a Shuppet, and jumping into it to crunch down with his white-hot fangs. It screamed in disgust and vanished. Saura threw an energy ball, which took out a Gastly, and Ray leapt into the air and allowed his body to explode with lightning, frying the two remaining Misdreavus in the group.

"See?" Ray said, panting in excitement. "Easy enough! Just pretend they're Butterfree!"

But that's when the battle started to go awry. The cloud of ghosts was clearly displeased. After what looked like a unanimous nod, they all rushed in for attack. At the sight, Ray's expression of confidence turned to one of dread.

Char tried to blast fire at the first ghost he could see coming, a Haunter, but it was no use. He soon felt the whole cloud of ghosts piling onto him, and at once, he felt sick, terrified, and confused all at the same time. He tried swiping with his claws to get them off, but they laughed as his effort passed harmlessly through them. He tried backing away, but he was already backed into the corner. He felt as the long, sticky tongue of a Haunter was slapped across his face, and as multiple balls of shadow energy collided with his sides, and as his body began painfully tingling.

"Char! NO!" Ray cried. "Char! Fight! Fight it!" Burn them!"

Char blasted fire, only to realize a second later that his attack had only collided with a bare wall.

"I can't do it," Saura moaned. "I'm gone! I'm done for! I think I'm confused! I can't attack!"

Char wanted to help his friends, but his vision was filled with a tornado of ghosts, all taking turns biting at him, scratching him, licking him, and flying right through his body. His actions all seemed to happen in slow motion, and no matter what he tried, he couldn't fend them off… He was ready to give himself up for lost…

Scythe battled furiously and took down a dozen ghosts with his skillful agility, but he was ultimately powerless against them. They piled onto him and unleashed their supernatural attacks, causing him to slump to the floor in exhaustion.

"I'm finished," he announced grimly, feeling his consciousness fade away…

Laying on the floor, his last vision was that of Char, Saura, and ray covered in ghost Pokémon, suffering the same fate as he…

"SCYTHE!" Saura cried, catching a glimpse of him. "Scythe! Not you, too!"

And then, Scythe's vision went black.

It was over. Char resigned himself to the same fate, realizing he was about to be expelled from the dungeon and fail the mission… He simply let himself go limp and slump to the floor, covered in ghostly curses and spent from weakness…

What happened next was the last thing Char would have ever expected.

There was a flash of blue, black, and orange. The ghosts scattered.

"Alright, playtime's over," an unexpected voice yelled.

There were another flash. A clenched fist collided with several of the ghosts in rapid succession, pulverizing them.

The ghosts rose from Char, directing their malice toward the new threat.

A streak of red. It slashed a Misdreavus right out of the air.

It took Char a moment to comprehend what he was seeing.

"Enough of this!" another voice hissed. "Gahhh! Die, die! Die, you infernal…"

Char blinked. He didn't believe his eyes.

A Seviper and a Croagunk were fighting off the ghosts. And winning.

The Croagunk waited until a multitude of ghosts had attached to him. With an angry grunt, a dark shadow of energy pulsed from his form, annihilating the ghosts upon contact. The Seviper coiled and twisted, crunching upon a Gastly with his mouth while swinging his tail like a scythe to slice apart a Duskull.

Char gasped for air. He felt like there were fifty things wrong with him, but he was going to be okay, now that the ghosts were no longer interested in him…

Like a knife to a cutting board, the Seviper's tail took out the last ghost—a Banette—and the room was clear. The two newcomers proudly inspected their handiwork.

"Hey, you guys alright?" Croagunk said gently, walking up to the fallen team. "Take it easy, and you can still finish this mission…"

"Ugh… I don't know…" Saura answered absentmindedly. "I feel like… Whoa, whoa, whoa!"

Suddenly wide-awake, Saura leapt away from his rescuers. Ray's eyes also snapped open in reaction, and he scowled.

"What?!" Croagunk cried. "Look! We just saved your rears! Can't we have just a little hospitality for once?"

"How!" Saura stammered, looking very confused. "This is a dungeon! How did you find us inside of a dungeon?! How did you get here?!"

"We followed close behind you," Seviper said coolly. "Not only that, but we've been helping you the entire way. We drew all the ghosts away from you and fought them off."

"Here," Croagunk said, offering Char a Heal Seed. "Get back up. You'll feel better in no time. Here, you, too, Bulbasaur. We brought these just for you."

Char's fire broiled. For once, his view of Team X was fuddled. Why were they helping him? Why? To gain his trust? If so… Why had they chosen to do it this way? Char ate his Heal Seed, wondering how to react to this gesture…

"Look," Croagunk said. "We decided something. We understand that our efforts to get into your base have been a little… too forward, huh? So, no more of that. We don't want into your base anymore. Instead, we're just going to just hang around the region and give you a hand from now on, and in return, we'll ask for one or two supplies from you now and then, okay?"

"All we want is to fight a certain regime of the Master's forces that has been giving us trouble," Seviper said. "That is all. We mean you no harm of any sort. We mean your resistance force no harm of any sort. We simply wish to take advantage of your resources, however lightly or indirectly, to help further our ends. In return, we'll be happy to assist your team whenever the situation arises."

"And what… regime… would this be?" asked a deep voice.

Seviper and Croagunk turned to see… to their utter horror… Scythe standing at the far end of the room, perfectly healthy and uninjured.

"No…" Croagunk gasped, emitting a croak from his cheeks. "No, no! We saw you fall! We saw you pass out! Where'd you come from?! How'd you…"

"Apparently, my students have decided this mission was important enough to have brought their Reviver Seed," Scythe explained, looking extremely displeased at their presence. "So… tell me. What's really your business here?"

"Scyther, please hear us out," Croagunk pleaded like a baby. "We want to join your resistance force. Honestly. We're actually part of a faction that's about to split away from the others, and our master plan is to spring a trap for… you know… her."

Scythe's expression changed. Surprised, yet angered at their words, he stepped closer to them.

"Who's 'her'?" Ray blurted out.

"Enigma," Croagunk said powerfully. "Enigma, the Mismagius. One of the Master's elite commanding forces. She's corrupting the empire from the inside, and she needs to be stopped."

"Oh, really?" Scythe said, a strange and frightening evil force now behind his voice. "And what, exactly, are you planning to do about her?"

"We were… hoping… for your hospitality… of… your base," Croagunk said, shuddering in fear as Scythe's eyes gleamed at him. "We need cover… safety… supplies… but… we can't… let… her know… what we're doing…"

"QUIET!" Scythe boomed in anger, raising his blades. "Enough! Your voice is grating on my nerves! You're both about to get expelled from this dungeon. Would you prefer to go painlessly, or painfully?"

"Painlessly, if you would," Croagunk squeaked. "I mean, we did just help you out…"

"Fair enough," Scythe sighed. "Now, go away, stop bothering my students with your fast-talking lies, and never show yourselves again!"

Faster than light, Scythe zipped forward and thunked the Croagunk and the Seviper upside the head with the blunt ends of his scythes, knocking the consciousness right out of them and letting them to slump to the floor.

"Idiots," Scythe muttered to himself. "Talk about a misplaced effort. I don't know whether to laugh or to cry."

Team Ember looked oddly to one another, trying to wrap their minds around the series of events that just took place.

"Thanks," Char finally told Scythe. "I was almost getting ready to believe them."

"Not a problem," Scythe said. "That's why I'm here. But I'll tell you something: their story was convincing. It could very well be the case that part of their story is true. But in the end, it's not what they're saying, it's what they're not saying that really matters. If I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that their intentions were pure, I'd let them into the base. But… it's too risky to make that call. My instincts cry out to me that they're filthy liars, so I do what I think is right. Besides… I have a bothersome hunch that underneath it all, they could be working for Adiel…"

"Did you ever figure out what Adiel's up to?" Char asked him. "Did you find out why he was in Iron Town yesterday?"

"Oh, I've known what Adiel's doing for a while," Scythe said honestly. "I figured out his plan quite a while ago. It just took a little piecing together of the clues. The hard part is going to be trying to stop him… without letting everything else I've worked hard for fall to pieces…"

When the Heal Seeds had taken effect and cured all the nasty effects the ghosts had placed on them, and when the Oran Berries had healed them enough, they pushed forth to finish their trip. Now that the ghosts were finally assaulting them at every turn, they picked up the pace, and they soon arrived to the thieves' den.

It was empty. Not a single treasure remained. With a collective shrug, Scythe and the team turned to head back for the base, their trip completely fruitless save for the hefty bounty offered by the division as well as the mysterious pair of goggles that Char had acquired…

…All the while, Char had to wonder just what had gotten into Team X…

---

Division Base

After recording their victory at the registry and dropping the bags off for Morrik, Scythe told the team to return to their rooms and wait for him.

"I have to get some things straight with my team," Scythe said. "When I'm done, we'll start packing for the big trip. Be ready."

The mission had been brief, and it was not yet lunchtime, so Char retired to his room for a quick rest while Scythe took care of his business.

"Well, there goes our Reviver Seed," Saura sighed once they found themselves back in their hall and closed the door behind them. "Seems a little bit unfair that we used it on Scythe… think he'll give us another one?"

"I think we need to make sure we're not missing vital supplies next time," he said, showing his friends a lighthearted glare. "But, whatever, it's fine for now. We pulled it off. We won the mission, all's well. Good job, you guys. As usual."

"It's an absolute pleasure to be of service to you," Ray said. "I'm very ashamed of myself for letting some supplies slip through like that. But, it won't happen again! I promise! I can't let you down!"

Suddenly, there was a hard rapping at the door. The threesome spun around in surprise to answer it.

"Scythe's back already?" Saura wondered. "That wasn't very long of a rest…"

Saura shoved the door open, and sure enough, Scythe was standing on the other side.

"Guess what," he said. "Alakazam just contacted me. He told us not to worry about preparing for the trip. He's going to take care of everything for us."

"Sounds good," Saura said.

"So, the rest of the day is yours," Scythe said. "Do whatever you want. Tomorrow, we'll be getting our supplies from him. And, yes, I made it clear that he would need to pack for four travelers."

Char smiled.

"Have a good day, you three," Scythe said, turning to leave. "See you tomorrow."

The door closed again, and Saura sighed happily.

"Well, that's good to know," he said. "Makes sense that Intelligence would be providing for us since they're forcing us to go on this trip. And Scythe's been in a better mood today."

"Not really," Char said. "He was only doing better at pretending. He's still hurting on the inside."

"Really?" Saura asked. "He looked fine to me! How could you tell?"

"It wasn't hard to tell," Char said oddly. "He told me with his eyes. You'd be surprised at how much a Pokémon can say without even speaking…"

… … …

Deciding to take a short nap, the trio returned to their respective rooms.

Char found himself gazing at the brilliant yellow fire beside his bed.

He touched his burn. It was painless, and it was already starting to fade away.

He held no grudge against his fire for doing what it did to him. The fire was still his friend. Only, he had a slightly greater respect for it this time around. It was raw power, a force of nature, and it did not discriminate against friend or foe. It simply burned. Yes, it was his element, but it still had to be controlled. Just like the fire within him, his Ember, he couldn't get reckless with it.

Why Char found himself thinking these thoughts, he didn't know. He was alone again, with nobody but the fire to share his thoughts with.

"Ugh! … … … Urf! … … … Ugh!..."

Saura's voice came from outside his door. Curious, he dropped from his bed to see what the matter was.

"Urrrrrrrf!" Saura groaned. "Ugh!"

Before Char could cross his room, his door slid open. There was Saura, his vines fully extended… pulling something?

It was his bed.

"Saura, what are you doing?" Char cried.

"I'm… ugh… moving in!" Saura replied, focusing solely on pulling his bed through Char's doorway. "I decided it wasn't fair to… urrrrrf… leave you alone every night…"

"Saura, no," Char said. "You don't have to! Are you sure? I'm fine on my own!"

"But you're lonely!" Saura insisted. "I know you are. I saw you… yesterday… And I saw it… in your eyes… I know you… urrrh… too well…"

"Saura, really! I'm okay!" Char said. "I'm just getting used to being in my own room…"

"You burned yourself!" Saura grunted, pulling harder. "And I wasn't there! You were all alone! And you burned yourself! And I… wasn't there! I wasn't there… to share… the pain."

"Saura, stop!" Char commanded suddenly.

Saura dropped his vines and turned to face Char. Tears were welling in his eyes.

Char was suddenly flooded with… an utterly indescribable emotion. He stood for a moment, his eyes broken with something like pity and sympathy, looking deep into the eyes of his friend.

"Saura," Char said gently. "Why do you try so hard?"

"Because I want to," Saura answered, trying to pretend he wasn't crying. "I never had a friend like you. Ever! Not even… back at home… Not even any of my brothers… not anyone. And then you came… and… I really… I don't really know what I'm doing, Char… It's just… You did so much…"

Char smiled warmly.

"It means a lot to me, Char, just as much as it means to you," Saura said sincerely. "Since, you know, I'm your friend… I just want to be… I just want to make sure… I'm a really, really good one."

You are, Char wanted to say. You're a perfect friend. You couldn't possibly be a better friend if you tried. So stop trying so hard!

Instead, he knelt down by Saura's side and gave him a great big hug until he stopped tearing up so much. He said nothing; he didn't have to for Saura to understand him.

"I thought you were afraid of the fire," Char said humorously, glancing nonchalantly back at his giant torches.

"My best friend is a Charmander," Saura said with a sniffle. "I can't be that scared of fire, now can I?"

Once the bed was moved in, Char and Saura lounged in the room, half-asleep, Char telling the story of just how he got his burn, when Char heard another voice from outside his door.

"MMMMMMMMMMMPH!" Ray grunted, trying to silence himself but falling short. "URGHHH!"

Ray, too? Char wondered, jumping up from his bed to answer the door.

Yes, Ray was there, pushing his own bed into the room. When he saw Char, he smiled.

"Uh… hi," Char said. "You're moving in, too?"

"Well, yeah!" Ray said. "You expect me to, right? That's what Saura's doing, and you made it clear that you wanted me on an equal level as him, so I thought… yeah."

"Um… not really, but come on in," Char said oddly, giving a hand with the bed and helping to pull it through the doorway. "Well, actually, I think it's better like this. It's just like the old days with Scythe! As long as nobody snores…"

"Scythe is the one who always snored," Saura laughed. "Nah, we'll finally have peace and quiet now…"

As Char helped to lug the bed across the room to the position opposite of Saura's, he hesitated. With a gleam in his eye, he glanced at Ray.

"What?" Ray asked.

"Ray," Char asked, "Why do you try so hard?"

"What, me?" Ray said. "I just… do what I can, I guess."

"No, really," Char said, sitting upon the bed and waiting for an answer that satisfied him. "You're the most zealous Pokémon I've ever met. Why? What drives you?"

"I'm flattered," Ray said. "But really, I'm just working so that I can make as many Pokémon happy as I can. It's just what I always wanted to do. A long time ago, when I was a Pichu, my older brother took care of me. I guess he did something right, because one day, Team Remorse noticed him and let him join the team. But they wouldn't let me into the base because I was too young, so he pulled double-time, working for the resistance and taking care of me at the same time. When he was away, I learned to live on my own, and I got stronger. But when he was there for me…"

Ray grew starry-eyed, immersing himself in his memories.

"He used to say to me… 'There are a lot of Pokémon in this world, and a lot of them are unhappy. But it only takes one Pokémon to change that. To make someone happy. One Pokémon, and all that unhappiness can go away. And for a lot of them, that Pokémon can be you.' "

Ray smiled fondly.

"And he told me, 'There are hundreds of Pokémon in this world just waiting for you to make them happy. But it's your choice to make them happy. It's everyone's choice. Everyone has the same choice.'… And one day, when I was a Pikachu, he finally let me into the base. But that day, he told me he was retiring from Team Remorse, and he had to go live somewhere far away… I realize now, that he could have gone off to a dangerous mission, and died, and didn't want to tell me about it. Or he could have been telling the truth. But it doesn't matter now… He's gone, he left me here in good hands, and from that point on, I promised to say 'yes' to that question. I wanted to make lots of Pokémon happy. Because… that's just the way I am."

"Wow," Saura said. "That's very touching. I understand now why you want to join Team Remorse so much. Your brother probably made a lot of Pokémon happy, whatever he did. And I bet you are, too."

Ray laughed nervously. "Well, I'm not so sure anymore," he chuckled.

This caught Char off-guard.

"What do you mean?" He asked. "You don't want to make Pokémon happy anymore?

"No, no, of course I do," Ray said. "But I've been thinking a lot lately about myself, and Team Ember, and everything. And I… think maybe… I don't want to join Team Remorse anymore. I'm happy here with you."

Char frowned.

"Really?" Saura said in disbelief. "You're joking!"

"No, really!" Ray said. "I thought about it, and I realized that it's an honor to serve under Scythe, but it's an even bigger one to serve under a human! And besides, you heard that Scythe wants Team Ember and Team Remorse to be inseparable. So, it wouldn't really matter what team I'm on anyway. I figure, I stay here, and…"

"Stop," Char said. "Ray, stop."

Ray blinked. "Huh?" he uttered.

"Stop this," Char said. "For one thing… don't compare me to Scythe. Just don't. I'm not Scythe. I'm not better than Scythe. I never will be. He's wiser than all of Team Ember will ever be, put together! Just because I'm a human doesn't automatically make me a hero. Scythe is a hero. I'm not. Get your priorities straight! You'll go a lot farther in life working for him than for me. So don't quit on him! Join Team Remorse! It's been your lifelong dream! You can't change your lifelong dream just because I said something! That's… no better than Fern was!"

Ray bit his lip. He didn't know what to say.

"And for another thing," Char continued, his voice softening, "Look. When I told you I was a human, this wasn't the way I wanted you to react. Stop acting like this. Stop acting like I'm… your master. I'm not. I'm not a Pokémon trainer. I'm your friend. Your equal. Not your superior. But now you're treating me like a king, and it really makes me uncomfortable. I hate it when Scythe does it, and I hate it even more when…"

Ray nodded. He looked a little hurt, but he understood what was being said. He looked ashamed of himself.

"Okay, fine, so you respect me more because I'm a human," Char said. "In that case, can I make one request of you?"

"Anything," Ray said meekly.

"Could you be the Ray that I made friends with?" Char requested. "Could we go back to being friends?"

Ray hung his head and stared at the floor for a few moments. Then, he took a deep breath and nodded to Char.

"I'll try," he said. "You're right. I thought maybe you'd like it better if I acted more humble around you, but I guess I didn't really think about it like that. So… okay. I'll try not to be like that anymore."

Wearing a wide grin, he extended his paw.

"Handshake?"

Char didn't hesitate for a moment, despite his instincts telling him to. He grasped Ray's paw and shook it forcefully, this time feeling no electric feedback whatsoever. He returned the grin.

It's done, Char realized. Now this team is finally the way I want it to be, after all this time. Here we are, all together…

Nobody admitted to being hungry enough for lunch, and the team spent a good deal of the afternoon simply taking a lazy nap in the room that now belonged to all three of them.

Tomorrow might be our last mission together here at the Gold Division, Char realized, watching his two best friends sleeping peacefully. Tomorrow might be the last "normal" day I've ever known…

After that, who knows what the future will bring?

Char rested his head on the edge of his bed near the fire, knowing that, for the moment, everything was okay. He really didn't care what the future would bring; he knew he'd face it proudly and confidently, for he was anything but alone.

*Chapter 34*: Special Episode: Brave Bird

"Brave Bird"

"Everyone! Quick! You have to come see this!" shouted a Taillow as it burst in from the floor hatch and flapped wildly to get the room's attention.

The room was a small oval-shaped hall, its two long walls lined with tiny alcoves and long ledges. At one end of the room, a couple bird Pokémon where perched on the ledge and were chatting about the day's accomplishments as the Taillow barged in.

"Oh, great," a Pidgey said, rolling his eyes. "This had better be good."

"What is it?!" a Staravia replied in annoyance. "I'm not budging unless the entire wing is on fire."

"Relax, he probably just saw something in the news," a Spearow joked. "We'll see it tomorrow if it's anything important."

"No, no! You don't understand!" The Taillow said as it fluttered closer, not even stopping to perch. "Master Karow—"

"Look, do you have any idea how many miles I just flew today?" the Staravia shot angrily. "I had to fly to Fort Temper—and back—without resting. I'm done for the day."

"HEY!" the Taillow shouted. "The new kid beat up Master Karow!"

A gasp arose from the room, followed by stunned silence.

"You're joking." the Spearow said. "You can't be serious."

"No joke!" the Taillow insisted. "I just saw it happen! Guys, you have to come!"

"Master Karow?" the Pidgey gaped. "That can't be! No way!"

At once, the birds rose from the ledge and flocked behind the Taillow to come see.

"I always knew that new kid was crazy," the Spearow squawked as the group landed before the entrance to the team's training chamber. "I've always been scared to battle him. It's like he doesn't know the difference between training and trying to kill you."

"Are you kidding? That kid still thinks he's in the wild," the Taillow said. "Remember what he did to Midoh? And Spear? You can't say anything to him without getting his feathers ruffled. And now this?"

"He's crazy," the Pidgey said. "Do you ever look him in the eyes? Whenever he looks at me, it always looks like he's plotting to rake me open in my sleep. He's evil. And he's always so quiet…"

"Wow, look at us. We're getting all ruffled up over a Pidgey," the Staravia said. "This is actually a little bit sad. He's the one who should be scared of us."

"What happened to Master Karow?" The Pidgey said. "Is he okay? It wasn't too bad, was it?"

"I saw the whole thing," the Taillow said. "I was in there with Master Karow, and I was watching the catmatch he was having with Otto, Master Karow won, boom. Pulled a fairy glide over the top, got him in the tail feathers. Otto kept fighting like he didn't know he lost. And he just kept going. Knocked the old man onto the ground, kept mobbing him… He just wouldn't stop! I was too afraid to help, but I couldn't stop watching."

The group collectively shuddered at the Taillow's description.

"Wow," the Pidgey said, ruffling his feathers. "That kid needs help."

Preceded by an infuriated screech, an elderly Honchkrow half-tumbled, half-flew down from the training chamber portal. The birds' breaths were taken away at the sight: the old crow was missing many feathers, and patches of exposed skin were covered in fresh, bloody scratches, the white down beneath his black coat stained with patches of red…

"Master!" the Spearow cried. "Master, you're hurt!"

"Leg's broken," the large crow grumbled. "That little wretch broke my leg… And my left wingtip… I… need to see a doctor. Get me a berry. By Lugia, somebody get me a berry. Please."

Without hesitation, the Staravia beat its wings and made for the medicine stock. The other three gathered around their elder and tried to support him, but he angrily batted them away.

"By Lugia… what was he trying to prove?" Master Karow moaned, looking over his injuries and carefully preening out a few of the damaged feathers.

"What's going to happen to him?" the Spearow asked curiously. "Do you think we should throw him out?"

"From the moment I first saw him, ERK!" he yelped, accidentally hitting a raw nerve with his beak. "I never would have let him into the guild. Not even for as much as they're paying us. You can see it in his eyes… he has no sense of authority, no will to obey, no reason to… UUURK! By the blazes, how am I supposed to fly to Boulder Pointe tomorrow like this?… But no… it's not up to me… Syr was the one who let him in… and by the blazes of Moltres, He's going to need to do something about that wretched little demon…"

The Swellow, the Pidgey, and the Spearow were both frozen in awe. They had never seen their most respected leader and trainer so filled with rage, not to mention covered in wounds. They watched as he simply hopped and limped down the hall, fluttering sometimes to gain distance, but having to rest constantly due to his injuries…

Once he was gone, a second bird swooped down from the training hall. It was small and brown, much smaller than the Honchkrow. Its coat of feathers was ruffled and disturbed, but it seemed mostly unharmed.

Its talons and beak were spattered with blood.

The Pidgey landed on the floor and stared the other three birds in the eye… first the Spearow, then the Swellow… both of which shirked back at his glance.

"What's the deal with you?" the Pidgey screeched in his face.

"Otto, what did you do?!" the Spearow yelled. "Are you insane? That was Master Karow! Our team coordinator! He's the one who runs this place! You don't tear his feathers off like he's some kind of wounded prey…"

Otto said nothing. He continued to stare at them as if completely ignoring their words. He lifted a talon to lick it clean of blood.

"You're going to get expelled from the team now," the Swellow said. "You know that, right? Do you care? Otto?"

Ignoring them, the blood-stained Pidgey flew off down the tunnel and out of sight.

"He scares me," the Pidgey said.

"He doesn't even care," the Spearow said. "Look at him. He's probably just going to go take a bath, just like he does every night. He has no idea what just happened. What is he doing here, anyway? He's still wild. After all this, he's still wild. The daycare didn't do their job."

"The daycare did everything they could do," the Swellow said. "Believe me. I asked. They used all the tricks they knew to civilize a Pokémon. And I heard he ate five times his allotment of gummis. For all it's worth, he should have been a normal Pokémon by now."

… … …

That evening, as the wing's members rested in their nesting chambers, it seemed that every bird in the room had an eye on Otto. Word spread quickly of Otto's deed toward the team coordinator, and he quickly became the talk of the entire team even moreso than he was before. Otto perched on his designated ridge and rested, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he had lost the trust and respect of everyone in the team. He stood and stared, watching them all, like he would do every night, until his eyelids would seem to close all on their own…

Having an odd inclination, another Pidgey, a slightly smaller and younger one, came to rest on the ridge next to Otto.

"Hey, Otto," the Pidgey said carefully. "Um… I heard about what you did today."

Otto didn't reply.

"I know nobody likes you, but I thought… maybe we could be friends? You could tell me what's bothering you."

Otto briefly glanced at the newcomer, then back to the rest of the room.

"My name's Brace, if you don't remember," the other Pidgey said. "I'm next to you at the meetings a lot. Look… are you okay? Maybe it's just because we're brothers of kin, but I'm worried about you."

Otto glanced at Brace again, and then at the floor.

"Why don't you ever talk?" Brace asked. "Didn't they teach you how to talk when you were at the day care? Why don't you talk?"

Otto looked Brace in the eye, and surprisingly, he opened his beak to speak.

"Nothing to say," Otto managed to squawk out.

"I think you have a lot to say for yourself," Brace said. "You have to talk so that people can understand you. Right now, Otto, nobody understands you. You've only been here for a few weeks, and you already put some birds in the hospital. Why? What bothers you? The team's here to help you!"

Otto paused for a moment. Then, he opened his beak again, not to speak, but in a gesture of hostility. Likewise, he raised his wings above his head. It was a gesture with very clear, primal meaning which every bird knew—Go away, leave me alone, or I will fight.

"Geeze! Fine!" Brace cried in frustration, launching himself into the air and flying away. "Be by yourself, if that's what you want."

Brace returned to his place at the far end of the room. He glared back at Otto for a few moments before pivoting his body and facing away from him. Otto stayed awake for a few more minutes after that, then fell asleep when he couldn't keep his eyelids open.

… … …

The next day, when Otto awoke, he was surprised to see that the roosting chamber was completely empty. There was a call to attention each morning, which he was used to, where he would follow the flock out into the main team chamber for the daily meeting. But this time, it seemed, the rest of the flock was somehow ahead of him.

"Sleep well?"

Otto jumped in fright and turned his head upward. On the ledge just above him stood a massive gray and white raptor, many times his own size. The big bird glared down at him with piercing red eyes, unsetting him a little.

"I sent the wing on a field trip today," the bird said, fluttering down and landing next to Otto. "After you knocked down my best bird, I figured he deserved the day off."

Otto said nothing in reply, but watched the mighty raptor, and prepared himself to flee at a moment's notice.

"My name is Syr," the great bird said. "I am known as a Staraptor, and I am the leader of Team Silverwing, the team that feeds you and gives you quarter. And you… you are Team Ember's recruit. When you were first brought before me, I had very high hopes for you. You looked strong and capable enough to become a good bird. And such an unparalleled ferocity… Indeed, for such a legendary team as Char's, I knew from the moment I first met you that you would be perfect addition to our team, and theirs."

Otto tilted his head, but said nothing.

"But," the great Staraptor said, "It appears as though I was wrong."

Feeling uncomfortable with the Staraptor's proximity, Otto fluttered away and set himself down on the opposite side of the room, still watching Syr intensely.

"My friend Karow has lost his faith in you," Syr sighed, wondering how much of what he said was making sense to the little bird. "The rest of the team wants nothing to do with you, either because you frighten them, or because they simply don't care. Yet… this means nothing to you, does it? But I… I do not intend to give up on you. If I did, it would mean giving up on Char and his team, Scythe and his team, and ultimately the division itself. So… while I am usually not one to train recruits, I would like to spend some time with you today. I want to understand you, so that I may help you. I want to know who you are."

Otto began to preen his itching feathers, listening indifferently to the team leader as he continued to speak.

"But, apparently you do not want to tell me who you are," Syr said thoughtfully. "Maybe you don't want me to understand you. Maybe you don't think it's important enough to care. But, as they like to say, actions speak louder than words. And if there's something you have shown us that you can do, Otto, you can act. So… if you will not tell me who you are, I want you to show me. Take your time… make sure your feathers are all clean… I can wait. We have all day."

… … …

And then, as soon as noon had passed and Syr had fed Otto with his daily allotment of gummis and seeds, he led the little bird to the training chamber.

The training chamber was the most spacious chamber of Team Silverwing's lair. The center of the room boasted an extremely high ceiling and completely unobscured airspace, a perfect place to practice complex flight maneuvers. But the perimeter of the room was lined with pillars, crossbeams, fences, winding tunnels through the walls… obstacles of every sort, representing any complicated situation a bird in flight might encounter. It was a room used frequently by all the team's members… with the exception of Syr, who was not in the habit of working closely with the Team's members.

Otto and Syr stood face-to-face in the center of the room, Otto with a blank stare on his face.

"I have commanded many birds to battle in my time," Syr said, beginning to pace around Otto. "Every bird has its strengths. Pidgeot have the strongest wings of any bird. Fearow boast the strongest and deadliest talons and beaks. Staraptor like myself are known for their excellent sense of sight, and their undying perseverance through strain and suffering. Swellow have the lightest frame of any evolved bird, and thus are usually the fastest and most agile. Honchkrow are weaker in several areas, but possess the capacity to command dark power offensively, as well as psychic power, and can learn an entire range of specialized attacks, something that other birds can only dream of…"

Syr circled closely around Otto, carefully inspecting his form.

"But you are different, I see," Syr said. "Your wings are clipped… they are small for your size. You have difficulties flying long distances. And you have the talons and beak of a Pidgeotto. Nature has endowed you with great offensive strength… most likely something you have learned to abuse."

Completing his final circle, Syr stopped directly in front of Otto once more. Mere inches away, he stared into his eyes.

"And… you are a wild," Syr said in a deeper voice. "The wild has raised and trained you. That is all you have known. You do not yet understand why you are here, even though you came here by your own choice. Your instincts and habits serve you well, for the most part, so you see no need to change them… you see, I was also a wild. In some ways which I sometimes consider… I still am."

Otto's expression changed, as if something that Syr said had touched him on a deeper level than normal. He seemed captivated by the Staraptor's looming presence.

"To understand you, then, I must speak the only language you truly understand… the language of the wild!"

Syr opened his mighty wings and parted his beak, signaling that he wished to duel…

Otto reacted instantaneously, launching himself nearly straight up and then swooping at his opponent from an unexpected angle. Syr assumed the attack would fail to factor his own momentum as he rose into the air, but to his surprise, it struck… Syr witnessed a flash of redness replace his vision, followed by a searing pain across his forehead.

"Ahh, a well-executed hook dive," Syr proclaimed as he flapped to recover from the first hit. "But I am an old bird. You were ready before I expected you to be. But now that I am ready, how will you do?"

After waiting patiently for his instructor to finish speaking, Otto circled around for a second attack. Sensing an opening, he swooped low and zigzagged around to throw off his opponent's expectations before launching himself at a high speed straight at the raptor's underbelly. Syr dodged, but Otto predicted the move and deftly swerved toward him, plunging his small talons into the raptor's chest and raking them forward before breaking off and escaping.

Syr grunted. The attack had connected with feathers, and went no deeper.

I will learn nothing if I simply take damage, Syr told himself. What I need to do is see how he reacts to defeat. That's when his true character will rise to the surface…

Syr propelled himself quickly, taking the offensive. But Otto was small and fast, rapidly darting in circles just beyond his range of attack. He focused, letting his hunter's instinct detect a subtle pattern in his attacker's movements, and found one. Not hesitating, he banked sideways and dropped into a steep dive to gain extra distance… sending Otto tumbling through the air off the brunt of his wing. Otto screeched in protest.

Surprisingly, in the course of just a few moments, Otto had recovered and was once again in pursuit of his target, circling around him and waiting for a vulnerability to present itself. The same pattern coming to his attention, Syr banked and dived just as he did before…

But to his shock, he felt a pointed beak slam him in the chest. Pain flashed before his eyes again, and he found himself falling backwards towards the ground far below.

He learns, Syr realized.

Otto swooped down fast, his spiked talons aimed directly at Syr's neck. Syr pivoted and righted himself, quickly dodging the impending attack. But then, he thought quickly and pivoted again, striking Otto in the wing and throwing him off-course, foiling his attempt to change his aim at the last moment.

But so do I! Syr said to himself.

Otto darted away, but Syr followed his form quickly and tracked him. Pushing forward faster and faster, slicing the air with his wings just right to preserve his speed, he gained distance on the agile little bird. As he came closer, Otto started trying to throw him off with unexpected swerves and pauses in his flight path… none of which had much effect. Syr followed him closely, preparing to capture him in his front talons and detain him.

…But Otto was far from done. He escaped to the far end of the room, diving behind the cover of the pillars, swooping over and under several horizontal beams and other obstacles which hung in the air. Syr, being a larger bird, had to fly much more carefully; he lost ground on his target who disappeared into the maze of obstructions soon after.

"Smart," Syr called, banking out of the obstructed airspace. "But you aren't accomplishing anything if you just hide from me. You have to fight!"

Syr lazily flew around in a small loop, waiting for Otto to re-emerge, hoping that his predictable flight pattern would tempt him. Sure enough, Otto darted out from the maze, but Syr was ready. He positioned himself in midair and flapped his wings powerfully, creating a strong current of wind that engulfed the little Pidgey before he even had a chance to close the distance for an attack, sending him careening backward into a stone pillar. As soon as the wind died down, Otto peeled himself off and retreated once more into the cover of the maze.

He has an advantage in there, Syr told himself. He can out-maneuver me. But I can out-last him.

Thus, Syr made the decision to enter the maze and chase him. As soon as he saw a brown flash between pillars out of the corner of his eye, he made a quick calculation of his opponent's future position, and propelled himself in.

What resulted was a very long, tiring chase. With so many corners to turn and collisions to avoid, Otto did not have the particular advantage of flying in an unpredictable manner. Occasionally he took an unexpected turn, but Syr kept a careful eye on the Pidgey's tail feathers and eventually grew to expect how he would act in most given circumstances. Thus, he slowly but steadily closed the distance to him…

As they made a complete lap around the perimeter of the training room, Otto was starting to slow down. Syr knew, with his smaller-than-average wings, that they were starting to burn, while he could easily fly for another several hours without having to rest. So, he kept up the chase, noting how the Pidgey took nearly the same path through the aerial rubble as he did the first time…

Now… Syr told himself, it is time for this to end, so that I can proceed with Otto's lessons. It is time for him to accept defeat.

As Syr flew, he touched upon a stream of internal energy which seemingly flowed from his rapidly pounding.

It was his favored technique, one which he had learned while in the wild and carried with him for all his life. He didn't know how it worked, exactly; he just knew that he had to charge it, causing his body to be consumed in a flame-like aura of redness… and when it was ready, all he'd need would be a clear shot at the target… the energy would propel him forward and do the rest.

On the second lap, he knew just where his window of opportunity would be. Otto would opt for a long, curved tunnel… and if he could just maneuver correctly, he could use it to his advantage…

Not seeming to take any notice that the predator which chased him now resembled a flaming fireball, Otto dove between two pillars and banked a hard right, shooting down the tunnel just as Syr had predicted.

That's when Syr unleashed his energy. His bright aura of energy became blue, propelling him forward through the tunnel at an incredible speed, far faster than he was capable of flying himself… And with a left, a right, a hard left, and a difficult bank straight up, he channeled himself through the tunnel just right, gaining all the distance he needed on the now-helpless Pidgey…

And then, just as Otto was about to escape the tunnel…

WHAM.

Syr's charged field of energy broke as he slammed beak-first into an inconveniently-placed pillar. Otto flew away.

A moment passed before Syr found he could once again think straight, the brutal pain of the concussion rippling through his head with each heartbeat. He lazily drifted down to the ground, where he stood and waited for the world around him to make sense.

So close, Syr said to himself. But he outmaneuvered me at the very end… Ugh… a good fighter, this one… Ugh… I'm too old for this…

"Errrrrrrk!" Syr moaned in pain, teetering on one talon when he realized he was about to collapse to the ground.

What happened next was something he would have never seen coming.

As his vision regained its focus, he caught sight of Otto approaching fast. Of course, the little bird would fight in a crazed frenzy until the death, or close to it, just as he had done with Karow. But somehow, that wasn't the part which bothered him.

Otto's body was engulfed in a red flame.

"No," Syr mouthed. "No. That's not possible. How could that… be possible?"

The red flame burst, and Otto's body was suddenly surrounded in a field of ice-like energy.

Syr did not attempt to dodge. He didn't see the point.

As soon as the attack struck, reality became a blur to Syr, and the next thing he knew, he was lying somewhere… he had no idea where… sprawled out across floor of the training chamber.

SLASH.

How did he know that technique? Syr's thoughts looped. That wasn't supposed to be possible. How'd he know? How?

SLASH.

I was beaten by a Pidgey… I'm too old… I'm…

SLASH.

As Syr's consciousness finally began to return to him, the horrible realization dawned on him that Otto was not yet done. The little bird hovered just above his fallen form, continuously striking at him… Again and again, Otto raked his talons across the Starraptor's crumpled form, each time tearing out more flesh and feathers…

"EEEEEEEEEKE!" Otto cried triumphantly.

"Otto… stop," Syr pleaded.

SLASH.

Otto didn't seem to listen. He swooped again, putting a gash in Syr's thigh.

"OTTO!" Syr cried. "This is enough! Let me go!"

SLASH.

Syr was beyond pain. But such a situation, he knew, was the greatest strength of his species; he could endure pain and abuse far beyond what most other Pokémon species could handle... so he continued to plead…

"Otto…" Syr pleaded again. "If you don't stop… I think… you will… regret… yourself…"

SLASH…

Fine, Syr said. Don't stop. If that is your choice…

Out of nowhere, the entire training chamber was flooded with a brilliant white light. Otto found himself blasted backward by an unimaginable, incomprehensible force; a force he had never encountered in his life.

CRASH.

The strength of Syr's Hyper Beam cut through the air, tearing down at least two of the stone pillars at the opposite end of the room which collapsed to the floor with a mighty crash. Otto fell out of the air and plopped to the ground, completely spent.

… … …

A minute later, Syr lifted himself from the ground. Inspecting himself, he found his injuries to be, contrary to what he had believed in the heat of the battle, relatively mild. As soon as his heartbeat slowed and he was able to think straight, he found himself to still be rather strong and capable of sustaining himself. It was not nearly as bad as what happened with Karow, who'd approached him with body parts practically hanging by threads.

Otto was another story.

Syr crossed the room on foot, approaching the place where the little Pidgey was laying on the floor like a little lump of feathers. He was still awake, surprisingly, but he had no will to move. He was done.

"So," Syr said. "This is what you were looking for all along? You wanted to lose in a fair fight, rather than one with silly races or rules about touching tail feathers to win? There. You have it. You have lost, fair and square."

Syr took a step closer. Otto squeaked in pain, watching his every move.

"I understand the way your mind works," Syr said. "In a way, I always have. You are wild, and that is all you know. You are not stupid. No, on the contrary, you are intelligent. Perhaps too intelligent. Especially after hearing about the mountains of gummis you consumed down there in the center, I can't bring myself to believe that you are a stupid bird. No… in fact… I believe that you are a genius."

Syr stepped even closer, bending down to face Otto's cringing, pain-filled face in the eyes.

"When I was a hatchling, like you," Syr said, "They took me from my home in the wild and brought me here, and trained me to be a civilized bird. But as they trained me, I couldn't take it. I thought it all to be a lie. That's all I saw. A lie. A terrible, convoluted lie to cover up the rules of the wild, the rules which I had lived by up until then. For a long time, I saw through the lie… It's been so long, but there came a point where I began to accept the lie as truth, and I don't remember why…"

Syr lifted his right talon and placed it gently on Otto's chest.

"And you, in all your little brilliance…" he grumbled with force, "you see through the lie. You refuse to accept it. So, you continue to live by the rules of the wild. The rules of pride. The rules of survival. We have not yet given you reason to care. Well… now is the time, little Otto. Now, it is time for you to choose: what is the lie, and what is real?"

Syr brutally forced his talon down upon Otto's stomach until it pierced his flesh.

"KEEEEEEEEE!" Otto squealed in agony.

"If you wish to live by the rules of the wild, then so will I," Syr proclaimed. "If you wish to beat upon a fallen ally because they have hurt your sensitive pride, then so will I."

"KEEEEEEYAAAAAAAAAH!" Otto squealed again as Syr brought his weight down upon his lower legs.

"If you wish to believe that the victor makes the rules, and the victim suffers by them, so be it," Syr yelled louder. "I am a wild, just like you. I can live by those rules. But what do you say now, little bird? How do you like it when I am the victor, and you are the victim?"

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

After adding several fresh wounds to Otto's body, Syr simply backed away. Otto writhed on the floor.

After a second, Otto almost looked surprised at the fact that Syr was not continuing to inflict pain. Instead, he simply stared down at the incapacitated little Pidgey, as if waiting for it to make a move…

"Well?" Syr asked calmly. "Do you have anything to say?"

Otto did not respond.

"Fine," Syr said. "In that case…"

Syr rose a wing into the air, as if to beckon to some unseen presence. Immediately, another bird, a large, black-feathered form, approached and landed by Otto's side. It was Karow.

"You once lived in the wild," Syr said, "But no longer. Now, you live in civilization. And in civilization, The birds of a flock are there to help one another. We teach you to fight, not so you can preserve your pride, but because it is needed for the flock to survive. Your allies are one with you. Your strength is theirs, and their strength is yours. Their pride is also yours."

Otto cringed when Karow positioned his talon straight over his face, but no further harm came. Instead, a tiny item dropped from his clutch… an Oran Berry.

"See," Syr said, "how the one you have harmed yesterday has forgiven you, and does not desire revenge. Instead, he wishes for you to be stronger. And see how you have also harmed me, but I… I wish the same."

Otto looked baffled. He looked at the Oran Berry, then at Karow, then back at the berry…

"Do you think it will mean anything to him?" Karow asked skeptically.

"Yes," Syr said. "He learns."

Otto pecked at the berry and picked it up in his beak. Unable to fit it in his mouth, he bit off a chunk and dropped the rest to the floor.

"Now, Otto," Syr said, "What I offer you is a place among my flock. A place where we do not live by the rules of the wild, but by the strength of brotherhood. You must accept our rules if you wish to live here. After all, you were not placed here against your will. You came here by your own decision, and it's a decision you can't just change. So, join our flock. Help us, and we will help you. Fly with us, and we will make sure that someday, you can be called a good bird. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Otto answered.

"Well, then," Syr said. "If you desire it, my flock will teach you the avian arts. Do you want us to teach you? Do you want us to help you?"

"Teach me," Otto replied. "Help me."

*Chapter 35*: Chapter 31: To Hatch a Plan

Chapter 31

"You're awake too, huh?"

It was some undetermined hour of the early morning when Saura's voice rose from across the room.

For yet another night in a row, Char found himself staring at the ceiling of his chamber. No, he couldn't sleep. How could he? With the Temporal Tower expedition only a day away, and with the looming thought that everything he'd ever known was about to be challenged and overturned, it was impossible to relax. As the flames in his stomach violently churned, Char knew this time that he wasn't ill at all; it was only a manifestation of his repressed fear that was making him nauseas and sleepless. Trying to fight it would be hopeless; there was nothing left to do but lay awake, bearing the agony of his racing mind and pounding heart, until the sunrise would come…

Well, almost. This time, at least he had someone to talk to.

Rolling over in bed, Char turned his attention to the source of the voice which had just called to him. Saura returned his gaze from across the room, his weary yet sympathetic eyes gleaming in the blue firelight. Now that he was awake, Char knew he'd struggle against all odds to stay up as long as it took to keep him company. It was a rule he'd established for himself long ago, and as guilty as it made Char feel to see his friend woozy from exhaustion and fighting to keep his eyes open, he could never turn down this gesture of kindness. He appreciated it far too much.

"Yeah," Char replied quietly, peering over the rim of his large nest-like bed. "How'd you know?"

"You were facing the ceiling" Saura said, not repressing a small, weary smile. "You never sleep on your back."

Grunting softly, Char pulled his body up by the rim of his bed and slung himself over it, burying his face into his claws.

"I need to sleep so bad, but I can't," Char groaned. "It's like I'm too scared to sleep. I feel like I'm about to be thrown off a cliff."

"It's discipline," another voice suddenly said, catching Saura and Char by surprise. They both turned to see Ray lying comfortably on his bed with his eyes closed tight, even though it was obvious he wasn't asleep.

"You're awake, too?" Saura laughed in disbelief. "Wow, I wonder how this happened?"

"This is… what happens… when you sleep during the day too much," Ray mumbled. "You get… bad discipline…"

Char suddenly felt like banging his head against a wall. In his bout of self-pity, he'd completely forgotten that they'd slept most of the previous day away, ironically hoping it'd make the time pass faster. Indeed, his insomnia was no fault but his own.

"Somebody has to go down to storage and get us a few Sleep Seeds," Char joked bitterly. "We could use them right about now."

"Storage isn't open," Ray replied. "Besides, seeds don't cure sleeplessness…"

"Hey, Ray," Char said nonchalantly, in hopes a conversation could bring him comfort, "are you worried at all about going to Temporal Tower? You seem… so happy all the time. You don't seem as afraid as… I don't know… me."

"I'm really afraid," Ray admitted, still not moving any part of his body but his mouth. "But I can't whine about it. It wouldn't help anybody if I complained about it. Best thing to do is to get ready and keep trying to smile."

"Maybe it'd help you feel better," Char suggested. "Sometimes your feelings need to be discharged, you know? Kinda like your electricity, I guess. Sometimes you just need to tell someone else how you feel. I know how much it's helped me."

Ray stirred. He opened his eyes and sat upright in his bed, his gaze shifting from Char to Saura.

"Well, you have a right to do that," Ray said softly, surprising Char a little bit. He wasn't used to the Raichu speaking so calmly and straightforward. "You're Char, after all. When dragons start bothering me in my sleep and showing me Poké Balls, and when everything happens to me that's happened to you, then I can have the right to complain. But I'm the one who's supporting you right now, Char. It wouldn't be proper for me to whine about my own problems when I'm helping you with yours… does that make sense at all?"

A moment of silence followed, the gentle roar of Char's fireplaces the only sound filling the air. Char lifted his head and peered about the room, watching the gentle blue glow of the fire dance across the far walls, almost like a personification of the tension that filled the air and flooded his heart. His eyes eventually rested upon Ray, who was now returning his gaze in the same manner Saura was, his own sleepiness and displeasure apparent in his eyes.

Honestly, Char didn't know how to take the reply he'd been given. He'd made it clear the previous day he wanted to be treated as an equal, not as some kind of king or hero. But now, as Ray's words still echoed a sense of inferiority, he wondered if the handshake they'd shared had truly changed anything.

"You know, Ray, you sure know how to take things seriously," Saura commented, breaking the silence.

"Well, when you put it that way," Char replied, settling upon the words he wished to use, "if you ask me, it would make me feel a lot more comfortable to know that my friends share my fear."

"Wrong," Ray said simply, shaking his head. "It's always better to act courageous with a friend than to be cowardly. Being in the company of the confident makes it easier to be confident yourself, and it makes you feel more secure. Just having company for your cowardice doesn't accomplish anything. That's one of the lessons my brother taught me. Imagine if Scythe acted unsure of himself all the time. Do you think we'd feel even half as comfortable with him?"

Char was going to answer with a reluctant "no," but a disturbing thought struck him: Scythe wasn't acting like himself lately, either. Ever since he'd taken the chance – or, perhaps, was taken by chance – to reveal a little of his weakness to Char, something about him had changed. Some part of him was acting unsure of himself. He wasn't getting sleep. His voice wavered at times when speaking about the upcoming expedition. And that lingering, regret-filled glare never disappeared from his eye. Indeed, it was making Char less comfortable in his company.

Could Scythe be sitting awake right now? Char wondered. Is he sleepless, too? Could he be afraid?

"You could be right," Saura said. "But still, it doesn't hurt to be sympathetic. You know what they say, right? Courage isn't the lack of—Char? What's wrong? Where are you going?"

"I don't know," Char muttered, crossing the room and heading for the door. "Maybe upstairs. I haven't decided yet."

After exchanging a concerned glance, Saura and Ray unenthusiastically climbed from their beds and followed behind.

… … …

"I don't understand," Shander said, fretting his claws against the floor, his voice full of sadness and astonishment. "Scythe… what are you planning?"

Scythe stood at the opposite side of the hall, staring shamefully into space… trying not to look his best friend in the eye. Shander stood behind him, saddened and shaken. It was the middle of the night, and the two had retreated around the corner from their team's front door. It was a dark and secluded corner, with only one tiny torch casting a blue tint upon their forms.

"I can't tell you," Scythe said solemnly, drawing another heavy breath and closing his eyes. "I can't tell anyone. Not even Intelligence. If just one Pokémon knew… it could all come crashing down. And after everything that's happened… and everything that's about to happen… I just can't… afford any mistakes. This has to work. Against all odds… it has to work."

A pause hung in the air. Scythe held his breath, yearning to hear his friend's response… while his friend struggled to produce one. He was speechless.

"Scythe…" Shander gasped. "I'm sorry… I don't know what to say. I've always assumed you'd be there. For as long as I've known you, I've always known that you were the only Pokémon who could make this work."

"This team can handle it." Scythe asserted, gritting his teeth and straightening his spine back to its full height. "I did as much as I could. I helped set the stage. Believe me, Shander. If I could have it any different way… I have always factored Basin Canyon into my plans. It was always a top priority. Always. It was my promise. And I never overlook the promises I make."

After listening to his own words, Scythe gathered the courage to meet the Sandslash eye-to-eye. When he did, what he saw pained him. Shander gazed up at him, looking deeply hurt. Betrayed. Lost.

"I trust you," Shander said, clenching his claws and forcing a sincere tone into his voice. "If this is what you say must be done, then I won't stand in your way. You are the greatest Pokémon I've ever known, and there's nothing for me to say, but… thank you. Thank you, for everything you've ever done for my father, and for me. And for the land we both call home."

In reply, Scythe approached him. Then, he lowered his body, until he was kneeling before his friend in a gesture of deep respect.

"Listen to me," Scythe said with tremendous strength, his piercing gaze locked with his friend's. "Today, on the day I have broken my promise to your father, I will make a new one. Shander, by the veins of Ambera, by the sacred plate of Arceus, I promise you that Daemon and the rest of our team will lead you and your people back to your homeland."

"I'm afraid we might not be skilled enough," Shander admitted. "What if something goes wrong?"

"The rest of the team will be there," Scythe said, his voice rumbling in and out of a whisper. "Daemon, Marrow, everyone. Everyone but me. And Team Absolution will be there. All of them have been over the plan dozens of times. They will not let anything go wrong. I would bet my life on it."

"Fine, then," Shander said with a sigh. "Fine. So be it. I trust you."

"Thank you," Scythe hissed. "And tell nobody else about this. Don't imply that I told you anything. Act surprised when I announce I'm not going. Understand?"

"Yes," Shander said. "This talk never happened."

"Thank you for understanding," Scythe said, slowly rising back to his feet. "Believe me, keeping all this from the rest of the team hurts me more than I can tell. It's unbearable. I had to tell you this much. I felt you deserved it."

Scythe turned once again and walked deeper into the shadows, motioning for Shander to leave. The Sandslash gave a final nod of understanding, then plodded off back in the direction of their rooms.

"Shander," Scythe called once more, as they were parting. "I'm sorry. I'm very sorry."

"Scythe," Shander responded, "When I was young, I watched my father murdered before my very eyes. I have since come to terms with the fact that the life we live is not always pleasant, or ideal. There is nothing for me to forgive."

Shander said nothing more, and Scythe hung in the shadows until the last of his footsteps passed beyond the realm of his hearing. In truth, he did not know how to take Shander's last words; he knew, in his heart, that even though it had simply been an unfortunate accident, that the loss of Jahzara was on his own shoulders. He realized that his relationship with Shander had begun with a failure…

…and, perhaps, would end with one as well.

His heart too weary to return, Scythe stood for a while longer in the shadows, staring at nothing but his own thoughts projected into the darkness around him.

Then, he drew a deep breath, and sounded a quiet call down the hallway…

"Char... it's okay. You can come out. Saura, Ray, all of you. Come here."

Char jumped, feeling a powerful jolt of adrenaline rush through his system. It subsided a little as he realized he had nothing to fear, but the feeling of embarrassment at his own stupidity didn't budge. How, he asked himself, did he think he could get away with sneaking up on Scythe, a trained hunter who breathed the tiniest details of his surroundings like the air? In truth, he didn't know why he was eavesdropping, it just sort of happened. For a second time, he felt like banging his head against the nearest wall. Instead, he took a heavy gulp and reluctantly revealed himself in the light of the hallway, his claws still clasped firmly around his tail flame to repress its light.

"It's okay," Scythe said again, his voice exhausted and defeated. "Just come here. I'm not angry."

Saura followed behind Char. His expression was one of exasperation; through his unfaltering dedication to his best friend, he'd been dragged along for this silly and accidental eavesdropping, something he would have voiced his disapproval of if Char had taken the time to ask for his opinion. But Ray was a different story; he cowered behind, last in line, almost looking as hurt and betrayed as Shander had moments ago. He approached his hero with a trembling form and wavering eyes.

"How much did you hear?" Scythe demanded, but gently, as he stepped back out of the shadows.

"Enough to understand," Saura answered for the group.

"I'm sorry, but it really must be asked," Scythe said, approaching the group and shaking his head. "What are you doing awake at this hour? You should be resting for the tasks set ahead of you. All of you should be."

"I was sleepless," Char submitted, just a little bitterly. "Were you?"

Scythe didn't answer right away. He only closed his eyes and bowed his head a little, as if trying to wade through a torrent of emotions for the proper answers. Before he had a chance to respond, though, Ray broke the tense silence.

"Scythe… what's going to happen?" Ray spoke in a broken voice, slowly stepping to the front of the group. "You're going to be okay, right? Everything's going to go as planned… right?"

Scythe opened his eyes to glance at Ray for a few moments before falling closed again. He remained silent.

Finally, with a shallow sigh, he raised a blade to push past the three young Pokémon as he started back to his room.

"Whether or not you trust me is your decision," he finally said as he walked away. "Whatever you decide, it is not something I have the power to change."

"We trust you," Char called to him. "We always have, and we always will. But do we need to worry about you?"

Scythe stopped in his tracks to glance back at the Charmander, giving him an odd gaze for asking such a question, and wondering what kind of answer he expected. Somehow, the gaze gradually melted into a pleased smile, until Scythe was staring fondly at the three Pokémon companions whom he'd trained well enough over the past several weeks.

"Come," Scythe beckoned again, this time in a friendly manner. "Walk with me. I have something I would like to tell you."

So they walked. For a while, Scythe led the three in silence down some hallways on the same floor of the base, leaving Char with no idea where they were headed. But he knew the destination was not important…

"Do you want to know who I am?" Scythe said inquisitively, turning to the three once they were a great deal away from the door of Team Remorse. "Do you want to know who I really am underneath the masks I wear?"

"Who are you?" Char asked without hesitation.

"I am a servant," Scythe declared. "And that which I submit to… is Ambera herself. Everything I've ever done… every war I have ever fought, every… every lie I have ever told… It has been in the service of Ambera. When joined the Master, I did it in service of Ambera. When I made the decision to break from the Master's will, I did it in service of Ambera. When I began Team Remorse, I served Ambera. Everything… It's all for the homeland which I serve. The homeland strangled by such a force that… wishes to destroy it."

By the gleam in his eye, and the power of the statements he made, Char knew that Scythe could not have sounded more honest than he was now. He was speaking from the heart.

"You must understand something," Scythe said, taking turns looking deep into the eyes of the three Pokémon who listened. "Listen well, understand well, because this is important. This is the most important lesson I will teach to you. The nature of being a servant… when one is a servant, it is not their own well-being which matters, but that of which… whom… he chooses to serve."

Scythe stopped the procession in front of a small balcony which overlooked the spacious main chamber of the base. But Char never bothered to take notice of his surroundings, as the true purpose of the lecture began to dawn upon him.

"When you are a servant… you own nothing," Scythe continued. "Everything you own belongs to that which you serve. And everything… when the time comes, you must be prepared to sacrifice everything. In the end, a servant who is not willing to sacrifice everything… is worth nothing."

"What are you planning to sacrifice?!" Char blurted. "You sound as if you're headed off to your death! If something bad is about to happen, why do—"

"No!" Scythe snapped. "No, not me. What I am planning to sacrifice should be no concern of yours. The real question is: what are you willing to sacrifice… human?"

"You expect me to know that?!" Char snapped back. "You know who you are under your masks. But me? I don't even know who I am! I don't even know why I'm here! How am I supposed to know what I have to do?!"

"It is my hope that Dialga will be able to clear that up for all of us," Scythe muttered. "Pray to him, that we will reach him safely, and when we do, that he will have good news for us. At this point… It's all we can hope for. Let us hope that Dialga will have the answer to all of our problems."

After that, Scythe sent the bewildered team back to their rooms, while he himself stood at the balcony to the base's main chamber and watched the darkness below for some time.

… … …

"Who am I?" Char muttered out loud, staring at the ceiling again from atop his bed.

It was a question that bugged him every now and then, and one that most deeply mattered to him. Now, more than ever, as his confrontation with his destiny grew closer, he wondered about this soul that was trapped within these little red claws, this tiny yellow belly in which an endless fire burned, this little round head… these tiny confines he came to know as his body. Who was this human he had been? What kind of life did he have? Did anybody miss him? Where did he belong?

What, if anything, should he be willing to sacrifice? Or… had he already sacrificed everything he had?

"You're Char, the kindhearted Charmander. You're sensitive. You have a heart of gold, but sometimes you lose your temper when something bothers you. But even when you're angry, you always seem to make the right decision. You're not too brave and you're not too cowardly, your courage is about just right. You really hate doing things alone, so your friends mean a lot to you. You're learning about this world for the first time, so you feel lost almost all the time, but everything's better when you're with your friends. Um… Your favorite things in life are enjoying the beauty of nature, fire, and getting your reward for hard work. You hate the cold, you hate conspiracies and dishonesty, you… hate the idea of letting people down. And you hate peanut butter, even though you try to pretend you like it."

Char winced, and almost laughed at Saura's response. He sat up in bed and found himself in the same position he'd been in before visiting with Scythe; Saura's bright red eye gleamed at him again, a well-deserved smirk stretched across his face.

"I think that sums you up. Did I miss anything, Ray?"

"You're important," Ray, laying on his belly with his eyes closed. "You mean a lot to a lot of Pokémon. You're special. You're learning to be a very determined leader of our team. Um… I'm done. I think Saura covered it."

"Well, is that what you wanted to know?" Saura said, still grinning widely. "That's who you are. But, if you want to know who you were, I have no idea. But if you were anything like you are now, I bet you were a very good human."

"Then why'd I end up here?" Char wondered. "If I was a good human, why didn't I stay a good human? Why'd I have to turn into a Charmander? Was this some sort of punishment? Or maybe… maybe I made a big mistake."

"Or maybe you chose this," Saura offered. "If you did, I bet your human self would be very proud of you right now."

"There are a lot of legends and stories about people turning into Pokémon," Ray said thoughtfully. "Most of them were made up so we can just tell fun stories around the fireplace. I don't remember very many, but there is one that sticks out in my mind… It's about a Pokémon trainer who was so horrible to his Pokémon that Arceus turned him into a Pokémon himself, so he'd get some perspective."

"Hey, come on," Saura said with a scowl. "That doesn't help things at all."

"Hey, I'm just brainstorming," Ray said, offering a shrug even while collapsed on his bed. "But hey, even if that was Char's story… I think it worked well, don't you?"

"Well, I don't like it," Saura returned. "Hey, another idea: what if you came from the future? You don't have any memories because they haven't happened yet! Maybe you found out you had the Call, so you turned yourself into a Charmander and then came back to save the world from the Master so that your future could be better?"

"Wow, if that's what I did, I must have been a brave one," Char said. "I don't feel that brave. Besides, if I had the choice to turn myself into a Pokémon, I'd become a Lucario or… I don't know, something else. Why a Charmander?"

"Well, if you're going to learn how to be a Pokémon from scratch, maybe you thought it was best to start small and learn things just like everyone else," Saura said with a shrug. "You are going to be a big strong Charizard one day, you know. Maybe you had that in mind."

They were all very fun theories, but not one of them rang a bell. Char's memories were still as blank as ever, except for the recurring visage which haunted his dreams from time to time. And the Poké Ball. Why a Poké Ball? The question tugged at him endlessly. How could his destiny revolve around an object he had yet to see with his own eyes in the world of Pokémon civilization? His theories were endless. Was he supposed to find the Poké Ball? Was he supposed to capture someone with it? The Master, maybe? Where would he even find such a thing?

"I think we should sleep," Ray moaned. "Char, you should try to feel better. It's like Scythe said. Don't worry about things. We're going to Dialga. He'll have the answers for us. Try to go back to sleep. So that I can sleep. I know I'm supposed to keep you company, but… it's getting tiring."

Char flopped back onto his bed and tried to relax. Thankfully, in due time, sleep came.

… … …

When morning came, it seemed way too soon.

"Char, time to get up!" Ray called. "The torches are already orange. We're running late!"

"Ugh… I'm coming," Char moaned, barely moving. "Please, just don't zap me."

"Well, are you going to get up?" Ray insisted. "C'mon. We have a mission to run."

"Tired…" Char said, rolling over.

"Hey, that's your own fault, you know!" Ray said accusingly. "You're the one who decided to go and bug Scythe last night. But hey. No more sleeping in! This is our LAST DAY!"

Char's eyes popped open. He was right. It was the very last day at the Gold Division's base. He didn't want to waste a minute of it.

"Now… CHAR! WHY DO WE RISE?" Ray shouted at the top of his lungs.

Char squinted back at him. "So that he—uh…"

"Oh… wait. Sorry," Ray laughed, shaking his head. "Wrong motto! I just woke up from a dream that I was on Team Remorse… What I mean is… until the LAST EMBER FADES…"

"The fire will NEVER DIE!" Char shouted back excitedly, jumping up into a victorious pose. His grin turned into a frown, though, when he saw Saura's form still sprawled out across his bed.

"Oh, yeah, Saura's not up yet," Ray said, twiddling with his paws. "He's still out. I tried to zap him already, but it didn't do anything. Maybe you could help?"

… … …

Once Char managed to rattle Saura awake, the three grabbed their barely-stocked bag (there would be no Mystery Dungeons on the mission, so a few snacks would cut it for supplies), and headed upstairs to summon their overseer. Char was anxious to see if Scythe's condition had worsened or gotten better after the previous night's events, and hoped that letting him sleep in rather than getting him up on their usual schedule, an hour before the all-clear, would have helped him…

But as soon as Scythe emerged from his doorway, it became painfully clear to Char that his condition had worsened. His eyes were slightly bloodshot, and his posture was slouched. But, he greeted the team with a nod of the head, and came with them as if nothing was wrong.

"So, what's the mission for today?" Scythe asked, succeeding at sounding reasonably enthusiastic, as they made for the main floor and south-eastern exit of the base.

"A fun one," Char replied, trying not to sound worried. "We have to help build a house in Iron Town. We picked it because the job had a big reward."

"Sounds reasonable," Scythe said with a nod. "But how do you plan to help? We aren't exactly the best construction Pokémon…"

"Oh, the house is actually a burrow. And underground den, for some Phanpy, to be exact. Two of them, brother and sister. They hired some Pokémon to dig their den and help them move in, and we're included."

"Ahhhhh," Scythe said oddly, nodding his head. "Preparing an underground home for its inhabitants. I think I can help you with this. It has been my job for several years now…"

Char cringed. Completely on accident, he'd created an unsettling reference to Scythe's problem, and deeply regretted it. Indeed, he was right: their job that day would involve preparing a den for Pokémon settlement.

"Hey, who's hungry?" Saura quickly shouted. "Anybody want breakfast?"

… … …

After braving the impossibly long staircase once more, Char and his friends approached Slaking for admission to the Cliffside Academy, unaware that a disturbing bit of news awaited them…

"Eehhh, late start today, huh?" Slaking said warmly. "At least by your standards. Have a good 'un. I mean… hey! Wait!"

Just as they were about to leave, Slaking called them back. Char obeyed, turning to the gate guard in surprise.

"Uh, you should know something, before you go out today," Slaking told them in a concerned tone. "If you go to Iron Town… they uh… well, last night we found out what Adiel told the Iron Town council. Or at least part of it."

"What's the news?" Scythe demanded, his voice turning serious.

"Well, as it turns out, there's a new law, or something, a summons, I guess you would call it," Slaking explained. "There's an order that any Bulbasaur found in Iron Town should be arrested and thrown in prison. We don't know why. Arceus knows what they have against the poor things, hopefully they're just asking questions or something. But since this is that Adiel's doing, it can't be good for us, so just lettin' you know, especially since you've got one of 'em with you anyway. I can't believe I almost missed that. So yeah. I hear they already have some locked up."

Char didn't have to wait for the lump to form in his throat. His horrible suspicion had been right all along… Adiel was still looking for Saura!

"I see…" Scythe said. "Char, it seems that you now have a couple of decisions to make. What do you say to this?"

"Saura stays," Char said without hesitation. "Saura, you stay back at the base. If there's anything we can get done before the trip, do it. But I don't want you to get captured."

"Fine by me," Saura said, shrugging it off. "That's actually a little bit scary. I wonder what they're doing to all those Bulbasaur? I hope they're alright."

Saura nodded and turned to head back, his only regret being that Char would have one less helping hand with his task.

---

Iron Town

Char kept a wary eye to the townsfolk around him as he followed the directions to the site of construction. He spotted no less than three Growlithe actively patrolling the streets amidst the early morning workers who were all headed for their jobs. The order must have been issued very recently, he determined, for the city's guards to be so vigilant, even in the first waking hours of sunrise. He did his best to ignore their presence; as long as Saura wasn't there, they didn't matter.

After navigating the sprawling city for almost a half hour, they located their destination: a city park, of sorts, where the quantities of steel structures parted to reveal a more serene landscape of green grass dotted with small trees and lakes. Char knew that it was not a city park at all, but a habitat for the type of Pokémon who dwelled in grasslands…

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

Char knocked on the door of a small, dome-shaped dwelling which sat in the middle of the grassy region next to a little pond.

"It's the right place," Ray confirmed, checking the directions from the job listing. "But I don't see anyone."

"They're probably not awake yet," Scythe grumbled.

Char sighed. Sometimes, no matter how many missions he ran or clients he served, he forgot that civilian Pokémon were ten times lazier than the division ever let itself be.

"Just let me in there," Ray joked evilly, letting his cheeks sizzle with yellow electricity. "I'll wake them up. Just watch."

"Good idea," Scythe said, laughing along and positioning his blades as if he were about to violently pounce at the house. "They don't need their door. They're getting a new house anyway, right?"

As Scythe and Ray joked around with each other, Char wandered around to the back of the house. Sure enough, there was already a trench dug at the lakeside where the new den would be. Char knew right away that it would be much more open and spacious than their current residence… but, as of right now, it was only about one foot deep. There was a lot of work to be done.

A lot of boring, back-breaking work.

Char rebuked his pride this time. It's worth it, he told himself. The reward is amazing. Twenty-five thousand Poké for just a day's worth of work, compliments of the client. We'd be stupid not to take this opportunity.

"Oh! … … … … … Hi?"

A new voice arose, and Char realized that the Phanpy had opened their door. He hurried back around to the front of the house.

"You're here to help with the burrow?" the Phanpy said groggily. "Wow. You're… … … … … really early."

"If you provide us with directions, we can get started any time," Scythe said. "By the time the others arrive, we might have it half complete."

"Uh… … I don't think you should," the elephant replied, yawning. "We can't do anything anyway until the Diglett get here. They're doing most of the digging. You guys have to help with the rest."

Ah… I get it now, Char realized. No wonder they can pay us so much. Diglett have no use for money!

"Come back in a few hours… when there's more sun… then we can… do stuff," the Phanpy said. "Sorry…"

With that, it shut the door and left Char and his team standing on the doorstep.

"What now?" Char wondered. "What do we do for a few hours?"

Char turned to Scythe for ideas, trying to ignore his burning, stress-filled eyes. Scythe looked thoughtful, and glanced around the field.

"Maybe we could find another mission?" Ray suggested. "If it's an easy one that we can get done in a few hours, we could do two in one day!"

Scythe didn't reply. He trudged around to the back of the house, just as Char did, and inspected the pathetic attempt at starting the trench.

"Hmmmmm," he sighed softly.

"What are you planning?" Ray asked. "You want to dig without them? Even without their permission?"

"No," Scythe replied simply, continuing to pace around the dent in the ground.

"Then what?" Char asked. "What are we going to do with it?"

"Nothing," Scythe replied. "Nothing. We'll do nothing. Just like they told us."

"Well, let's go find another mission, then," Char decided. "If we can get even more money today, great…"

"I have an idea," Scythe finally said. "I know of a mission we could do."

"Awesome!" Ray cheered. "What is it? What's the plan?"

"Well, it's not the kind of mission you might be expecting," Scythe replied. "There wouldn't be any reward. And we couldn't get it done in time to come back and help with this ditch. It'd take us all day to finish. And we might need more help than what we have now. But, if you'd like to do something more exciting than building a ditch, I do have an idea you could consider."

"Wait, you want us to neglect the job we signed up for?" Char asked. "Are we allowed to do that? I don't think the division would like us very much for that…"

"I think the division would agree that these are extenuating circumstances," Scythe said. "Besides, you don't have to if you don't want. If you want to stay here and dig, fine. Nothing wrong with that. I'm just saying…"

"Well…" Char said warily, "what do you have in mind?"

"Char," Scythe said, wearing his favorite smirk, "would you like to help me break the Bulbasaur out of captivity?"

… … …

Char felt absolutely elated. He didn't give a second thought about helping the Phanpy—his last mission with the Gold Division would be thrilling, substantial, and… perhaps best of all… worthy of Team Remorse. The threesome made a few visits around Iron Town to gather information, send some messengers back to the base, and plot their plan. All the while, Char eagerly did whatever was asked of him, and waited for the opportunity to witness Scythe's brilliance firsthand.

"A little quick to act, are we?" Markov laughed as he listened to Scythe's idea. "We just saw the report in the news this morning. Alakazam made sure to let everyone know as soon as he found out."

"Nothing wrong with catching 'em by surprise, especially this soon," Marrow remarked.

After summoning a few of his team members, Scythe called a huddle with them in an alleyway to discuss his plans. Char listened intently, and Ray also seemed very pleased at the sudden swerve the day had taken.

"Exactly," Scythe said. "The more I think about it, the more I'm sure that Adiel doesn't even care about the Bulbasaur he's locking up. I think he's just trying to direct a gesture of insolence at me. Perhaps tug on the heart strings of Char here for stealing his recruit."

"Besides, there's no way we'd just walk into something like that," Marrow said. "News like this spreads quick around the base. We're the first to know everything. Adiel couldn't have thought he could actually capture Saura like this. And even if he did, we could bust him outta trouble in two seconds!"

"Exactly, which is why I think this is nothing but an inconvenience, to us and any Bulbasaur that happen to get caught up in this," Scythe said. "Obviously in a few hours there won't be any more left to pick off the streets, and if the messenger guild does its job, Clefaria and Fort Loyal and all the other surrounding cities will know not to send their Bulbasaur to Iron Town. There'll be nothing left but a bunch of Bulbasaur senselessly locked up in some cells."

"All the more reason they deserve to be free," Marrow said.

"Wait, so Adiel really isn't still after Saura?" Char asked. "He's just trying to make fun of us?"

"If my instinct is correct, then yes," Scythe said. "I'm sure that he's still a little bitter over Saura getting away."

"Aye, and when Scythe has a gut feeling about Adiel, I tend to trust it," Marrow added. "Sometimes I think their minds are one in the same."

"Now… I'm certain that's not all he accomplished when he was here the other day," Scythe affirmed. "Odds are that part was only an afterthought. His primary goal has yet to be seen. But for now… we can throw the joke back in Adiel's face by blowing it open mere hours after it has begun. What do you say?"

"Sounds great," Markov said. "What's going to be our plan?"

"Well, from what I've garnered, the Bulbasaur are being kept in Iron Town's holding facility, which is positioned literally on the back doorstep of city hall," Scythe explained. "It's heavily guarded, both by Pokémon and technology, but most of the security is on the inside, rather than the outside."

"More concerned with keeping Pokémon in than out, I see," Marrow said. "Sounds like we can launch a good insertion with some effort… But how do we get the Bulbasaur out?"

"That's the hard part," Scythe said. "The Bulbasaur are being kept down in the third floor below the ground, one of their halls with weaker security. I'm thinking… we're going to need, for one thing, an electric Pokémon. Ray… how do you feel today? Think you can take a few hundred volts to your body?"

"Pah, that's nothing!" Ray scoffed. "I've taken whole lightning bolts before."

"Good. Also, we'll need a civilian Pokémon," Scythe continued. "We'll need to pull someone off the street. There are a few of our operatives already in this city, but they won't do. We need someone with no connection whatsoever to the resistance."

"Char and I might be able to help with that," Ray said. "We know of somebody. I think she'd be happy to help us out."

"Fair enough," Scythe said. "Char… I think I'm going to have a very special role for you to play. You'll need to come with me. Understand?"

"Whatever you say," Char said, drawing a heavy breath in excitement.

"Well," Scythe said, drawing a deep breath of his own, "I think we have all the resources on hand we need to accomplish this, so… here's our plan."

… … …

In the late hours of the morning, before the sun had reached its peak in the sky, the streets of Iron Town were filled with Pokémon going about their daily errands. The town was already abuzz about the strange proclamation which had gone into effect that morning; it was posted on every bulletin board and street corner that any and all Bublasaur should be turned in, no questions asked. It was a strange law, indeed, but there wasn't a Pokémon in all of Iron Town who was ready for their city council to openly defy the will of the Master...

In the streets, a figure quickly dashed behind the cover of a building.

Keeping a careful eye on the steady stream of pedestrians, the scared little Bulbasaur cowered in the shadows and waited for an opportunity to hide himself in a crowd and progress further into the city. Using its vines, it held a small white pouch secure onto its back.

"Just stay calm," a voice seemed to whisper into its ear, making the Bulbasaur wonder if it was just its own mind talking. "Stay focused. You'll be fine."

Taking the voice's advice, the Bulbasaur swallowed hard and emerged back onto the streets, quickly darting through the surprised crowds and into the next safe haven.

"Hey, what's this now?"

As soon as the Bulbasaur had ducked into the next dark alley and focused his sights on the streets, a voice suddenly arose from behind it, causing it to jump halfway out of its wits. The Bulbasaur turned in fright, meeting a large Raticate who'd been lounging in the alley.

"Bulbasaur, huh?" the big rat said. "I take it you know the new law today? I guess you do, why else would you be so sneaky?"

The Bulbasaur gulped even harder, his thoughts flashing wildly through several possibilities of an escape route.

"Hey, don't worry, I'm not gonna turn you in," the Raticate said, still lounging in its spot. "Why don't you just get outta town while you can? Why risk getting caught?"

"I… need medicine… for my mommy…" the Bulbasaur said. "We live in the outskirts… she needs medicine fast… I have to go to the store…"

"Whoa, poor little you," the Raticate said indifferently. "I wouldn't want to be in your place today, that's all I can say. My advice? Get someone to buy the medicine for you. It's not gonna be me, though. They'd never sell medicine to a dirty street rat like me… 'Course, if you ask somebody, you risk them turning you in… hmm… tough one. I'd say you're better off just praying to Arceus…"

In a flash, the Bulbasaur was gone again, quickly taking the first window of opportunity it found.

"Ehhh," the Raticate grumbled when he realized the Bulbasaur was gone. "Fine. Be that way. Leave a guy while he's trying to give you advice. See if I care…"

… … …

"Um… are you sure I can do this?"

"Just keep that tail close. Don't burn my wings. That's all I ask."

"How can I hold my tail when I'm trying to hold on?"

Char and Scythe were inside of a small abandoned building not too far from the holding facility where the Bulbasaur were being held. Char was wrestling with himself, trying to position his body securely on Scythe's back in a manner suitable for riding. It wasn't happening easily. Char tried holding his tail in one hand and holding onto Scythe's shoulder with the other, but he simply slipped off. He tried to hold his tail in his mouth, but it wouldn't reach in any manner that wasn't quite painful…

"You've got to stay perfectly centered," Scythe reminded him, kneeling on the floor as Char repeatedly attempted to mount him. "My wings move faster than the speed of sound. They could potentially slice you open if you came in contact with them from the wrong angle."

Char shuddered at the thought of being torn to ribbons at the slightest slip of his position.

"Scythe, I don't know. I don't think this will work," Char said, jumping down to the ground again.

"There's a way," Scythe insisted. "We can find it. We still have some time to figure this out. But now do you understand why I don't appreciate taking passengers? Even then, we won't be able to stay in the air for too long. I can't take the weight."

Char looked over Scythe's form once more, wondering if there was anything he was missing. No wonder Scythers are never trained to carry people, he realized. There's no easy way to do this! I'm smaller than a person, and I can't even figure this out…

Scythe peered around the room, analyzing it, as he would usually do when puzzled. He glanced out the window toward the far-away portal which was his ultimate destination—several floors above ground level.

"Char, try this," Scythe instructed. "Face me from the front. Hold my neck."

Scythe knelt down to Char's level again, and Char did as directed, hugging his short little arms tightly around the Scyther's neck.

"Good, now hold on with your legs," Scythe instructed.

Leaping up from the floor, Char tucked his miniature legs around behind Scythe's lowest body segment. To his relief, his grip was secure, even as the weight of gravity was constantly tugging down on him. As Scythe stood up, Char's flaming tail hung harmlessly out of the way.

The air seemed to fill with the sound of hundreds of angry Beedrills as Scythe suddenly opened his wings. Char cringed, hoping that his claws or feet wouldn't accidentally collide with the transparent field of motoring membranes that covered Scythe's back.

With a forceful grunt, Scythe thrust himself upward and succeeded in hanging in midair for a moment.

"I think this will work," he reported.

… … …

"Hey! You!" a voice barked. "Hey! Stop!"

At the sound of the voice, the Bulbasaur didn't waste a moment breaking into an all-out run.

The chase didn't last very long; the Arcanine pounced blindingly fast, and in just a matter of seconds, it caught up with the fleeing Bulbasaur and cut off its escape route.

"Hey there, little guy," the Arcanine said kindly, but forcefully. "You know I have to take you in, right? By order of the council…"

"Please!" the Bulbasaur pleaded. "Please… I just need to get some medicine for my family… that's all I want… I'll get out of here, I promise! Please, just let me go!"

"I'm sorry, little guy" the Arcanine said, approaching the cornered Bulbasaur. "Rules are rules. I'm sure we'll let you go in no time, but right now—"

The great dog paused for a moment, a puzzled expression dawning over her face. The Bulbasaur held its breath.

"Hmm," the Arcanine grunted, repeatedly sniffing the air. "Weird…"

"What is it?" the Bulbasaur asked oddly.

"I don't know…" the patrol dog admitted. "You don't smell right… You don't smell… like a Bulbasaur…"

"Uh… some Cubone live with me in my den," the Bulbasaur offered. "Maybe that's why?"

"Hmm, well, whatever," the Arcanine said. "Anyway, you'll have to come with me, sweetie. I won't detain you if you want to come peacefully…"

… … …

Knock, knock, knock…

A Furret opened her front door, and was suddenly face-to-face with a rather menacing Feraligar.

"Hello…" the Feraligatr said cordially. "Are you Fern?"

"Yeah," the Furret replied. "Why? Who are you?"

"Do you, by chance, remember meeting a small group of Pokémon, specifically, a Charmander, a Bulbasaur, and a Raichu?"

"I'd never forget them," Fern replied. "Why?"

"I'm here on behalf of their team," the gator said. "They want your help."

… … …

The containment facility was a very strange place compared to most of the other Pokémon architecture in the vicinity. While most houses in Iron Town, like the majority of Pokémon civilization, were lit using live torches or open windows, Iron Town employed a very human technology: actual electric wiring and circuitry which ran through the walls and powered things like florescent light bulbs and elevators. To Pokémon who were not used to technology, the glowing bulbs in the ceiling and the walls were a real spectacle…

As the Bulbasaur waited in the lobby of the prison to be checked into a cell, it gaped at the building's electrical system and wondered how many lightning bolts—or Pokémon—it took to sustain the entire facility.

The Bulbasaur nervously sighed as a burly Primeape confiscated his little pouch, which was revealed to contain nothing but a couple of coins.

"What's going to happen to mommy…?" it wondered out loud, appearing devastated. "Can somebody send her the medicine? Please?"

"I'm sure we can arrange something," the Primeape told it. "Besides, you'll be out in no time. I think that Adiel just wants to come back and look you all over…"

The Primeape led the Bulbasaur down a short staircase and into a long hallway. The gray bricks which made up the walls seemed to emanate a ghastly purple aura as the weird blue light from the ceiling reflected from it.

Near the end of the hallway, several doors began to appear in the walls. Using a rusty, mutilated-looking key, the Primeape opened the door and directed the Bulbasaur to enter.

The following room was a very frightening sight: it was a long, long corridor lined with steel panels for walls. Each panel had a small window, a hefty latch, and a keyhole. They were the holding cells. The Bulbasaur nervously peered into the tiny little glass peepholes, and his breath caught at the sight—staring back at him were several of his own kind, all looking distraught…

With a loud creaking noise, the Primeape opened the door of an empty cell.

"In yah go," it said. "You'll be number eight, I think. Hold tight in there…"

And the cell door closed, locking the Bulbasaur in the rather dark chamber, completely alone. The only light source was the tiny window in the huge metallic door.

The Bulbasaur blinked. Moments passed. Finally, the distant sound of a door slamming rose from down the hall. The Bulbasaur crept up to the door and peered out the window.

"Alright, he's gone," a voice reported. "You alright in there, Saura?"

"I'm fine, yeah," Saura replied. "It's kinda stuffy in here, though. What about you?"

"Almost didn't get to the bag before they did," the disembodied voice replied. "But we're good to go, I think."

"Hey, Marrow?" Saura called. "How do we know when to go? Is there a sign?"

"Oh yes, there's going to be a signal," the voice replied. "Just wait. Until then, might as well get these guys ready…"

The voice cleared its throat.

"HEY! LISTEN UP!" it blasted down the hall. "Yeah! Listen to me, the invisible Marowak! Believe it or not, we're about to bust every last one of you out of here, alright?"

Saura listened intently, and he could hear the faint, muffled voices of the other Bulbasaur as they voiced their surprise.

"But you've got to do exactly as I say," the Marowak said. "We only have one shot at this. Well, two, actually, but hopefully I won't get sloppy. But you've got to listen! Alright?"

"What do you want us to do?" a Bulbasaur called back. "Do you have a key?"

"Are you going to let us out?" another asked eagerly.

"No, no key," Marrow answered. "Afraid it's not that easy. But I want you to position yourself exactly as I tell you, and, just to let you all know, this might sting…"

… … …

It was a couple hours past noon as Fern approached the front entrance to the Iron Town city hall. She paused for a moment, taking in the gorgeous spring weather and the gentle breeze as it filtered through the city; she needed to calm down, her chest she was bursting with nervous excitement. She knew that nobody would believe a word she said if she didn't look like she meant it.

Once she thought she was ready, she held her breath and burst into the front door.

"Somebody! Anybody!" she screamed. "I need help! Police! Anybody!"

"What's the matter? Calm down!" a Growlithe on duty cried, quickly approaching her. "What's wrong, ma'am?"

"I just heard something horrible," the Furret gasped. "I was in my house, and then this Feraligatr came, and told me that a bunch of Pokémon were plotting to burst all the Bulbasaur out of jail!"

"I'm sorry, what?!" the Growlithe responded. "Slow down! What are you talking about?"

"The Bulbasaur that all the police hounds have been capturing today," she repeated. "They're going to bust them out of jail, unless you do something! You have to be quick, I think they're going to act quickly…"

"Ma'am… you're not making a shred of sense," the Growlithe grumbled. "What… why would a Feraligatr tell you this?"

"Because… a long time ago, I did some business with some Pokémon, and he… he wanted me to help them!" she rambled, jumping around in front of the dog. "But… I couldn't. It's not right. I don't want to be a criminal! I have to do my civic duty! I have to turn them in! You've got to stop them before they get away with it!"

The exchange went on for another few minutes, and as it went on, the Growlithe became more convinced that the Furret had simply gone nuts… until a Poochyena burst in the door, looking horrified.

"Something's going on at the prison," it said between gasps of breath. "Something knocked out the power generator! All the lights went out! We think there are intruders in the building… get backup over there, now!"

The Growlithe's eyes widened.

… … …

"Move! Move!" Barked an Arcanine to his pack of dogs as they pushed through the dark halls of the prison complex. "Third basement floor! We've just been tipped off that there are intruders trying to free the Bulbasaur. Guard that hall! Pack three, guard the rear entrance. No Pokémon enter or leave! Pack five and six, split up and search the entire floor for any signs of intrusion. Pack Alpha, guard the cells. As long as the Bulbasaur are still in there, we've got nothing to worry about."

Through the complete darkness, the hounds scattered to take their stations. In less than a minute, the alpha pack navigated down the stairs and into the hall where the Bulbasaur were held.

When they arrived, the lights flickered back on.

"Thank Arceus, I can see again," a Poochyena muttered under its breath.

"I heard it was a short," a Growlithe answered. "Something crossed the electrical cords. Live electrical cords. What could do that but an Electivire? Glad they fixed it…"

"Torturous human technology, so confusing…" the Poochyena said.

"Now, get to those doors and make sure nothing touches those Bulbasaur!" the Arcanine ordered. "Obviously, the intruders tried to shut off the lights so they could get down here without being seen. But it looks like they're too late."

The pack viciously guarded the Bulbasaur for a whole, minute, then two, then three… until the Arcanine, the leader of the pack, started to become uneasy. Something didn't smell right…

And then it hit him.

On an odd inkling, the Arcanine ordered all the cells checked, and to his horror, he found there were no Bulbasaur inside any of them. They had underestimated their enemy. They had been too late.

Their tracking skills were of no use; the scent of Bulbasaur still lingered all around the room, the same trail they'd followed to get in for the first time. After all, several of the creatures had traversed the same halls all morning long, leaving a powerful trail of the same smell all the way from the entrance to the hall in which they stood.

The Arcanine roared in fury, not able to believe his prison had been compromised so quickly and easily by unknown, unseen enemies…

And then, when it seemed things couldn't get any more confusing, a Growlithe found something strange inside one of the cells. A hole, about an inch and a half in diameter, had been drilled into the side of the solid steel, all the way through to the next cell. Upon further inspection, there were holes in just about every cell wall…

… … …

With a thrust of his feet, Scythe leapt from the open window of the building, Char hanging from his chest for dear life. Their target was an equally tall tower, several hundred yards ahead. Their flight would last for less than a minute.

"We Pokémon have a saying when we're first learning to fly," Scythe said. "Don't look down."

"We have that saying, too," Char muttered, feeling his arm muscles starting to cramp with terror just after ten seconds. He knew that if he fell, Scythe would have no chance to catch him.

"Do you?" Scythe said in surprise. "Then why are you looking down?"

Far below, Char saw the base of the prison compound, the building they'd just leapt from… it was absolute madness. Hundreds of Pokémon surrounded the building, frantically guarding it, ready to nab the intruders. He knew that somewhere inside, Saura and the other Bulbasaur were making their escape…

"Do you think any of them will see us?" Char wondered.

"You'd be surprised how many Pokémon fail to look up," Scythe replied. "Now, get ready…"

CRASH!

With a swing of his bade, Scythe shattered the glass window of the seventh floor of the city hall building. He ducked his head and zipped inside, setting Char down as soon as possible.

"Here we are," Scythe said, "This is the private room of Ervin the Arcanine, the head of security. Guess where he is right now?"

"Down in the prison, trying to figure out what the heck just happened," Char nervously laughed, glancing out the broken window. "Look at them all down there."

"Now do you know why Vanish Seeds are illegal in most of the known world?" Scythe laughed. "Because they're unfair, in every sense of the word. Oh, look. The cavalry has arrived."

Char looked up into the sky to see a flock of birds descending down to the entrance of the complex. The police force would notice them, but they'd be able to swoop down and capture the invisible Bulbasaur in their talons before anybody would suspect anything. They were, after all, the city's messenger guild, who secretly worked for the Gold Division. They were expected to arrive at the scene at the slightest hint of an incident and carry the news to the rest of the surrounding area—to the city's police force, they would simply be doing their jobs.

"Ah," Scythe sighed, smiling wide at the scene down below. "It is done. We got away with it, and everyone involved has a proper alibi. There is nothing more pleasing in this world than seeing a plan fall into place just as intended."

"That was brilliant," Char said. "I can't believe it. You did it just with a Pierce Band and… what, three Invisify seeds? Four? I had no idea Pierce Bands worked like that!"

"Ah, hah," Scythe said happily. "Yes, they're very useful, especially if you don't have as many supplies as you'd like. Just line up your targets, and throw something right through them all… If you've got good aim, multiplies the effects to every teammate. Granted, sometimes it's painful, but it works… You might want to consider investing in one sometime in the future. Very useful tool."

"Think Ray will make it out safely?" Char said, not worrying too much. "He had a dangerous job. That generator was, what, eight floors down?"

"Hah. Hahah. But he had Markov with him," Scythe laughed even more heartily. "Markov is what you would call a juggernaut when it comes to battling. Ever find it funny how the dog Pokémon who make up the police force in this place are all fire Pokémon? Heh, heh, heh, heh…"

"Wow, didn't think about that," Char said, returning a laugh of his own. "But wait… where are they going to take the Bulbasaur? To the academy?"

"No, that would actually be the worst place to take them," Scythe explained. "It would draw unwanted attention to us. No, we're taking them to a city about ten miles away called Clefaria. They can spend the night here safe and sound, and we can assign missions back at the division tomorrow to have them escorted back to their homes."

After watching the messenger guild fly away safely, Scythe and Char turned their attention to the room they'd just broken into. It was a rather prestigious room, reminding Char of his own in many ways. There was a large crimson-colored rug underfoot, several pieces of gold-plated furniture, a brick fireplace next to the outside wall, and a quite spacious worktable—which was currently covered with important papers.

"So," Scythe said, exploring the room and setting his sights upon the cluttered desk, "I brought you here because I need a pair of hands to work. Ervin is a member of the city council, the circle of Pokémon responsible for making laws in this place. In fact, just a few days ago, he, along with the other members of the council, met with Adiel himself and were forced into complying with his demands. I was hoping… to find… what those demands were. Char, if you please?"

Scythe motioned toward the desk, and Char jumped up onto the edge to wade through the papers. He began to individually present each one to Scythe…

"No," Scythe said, as he observed the papers and scrolls which passed before his face. "No, not that. No, no. Useless. Useless. THERE! That one! Show me!"

It was a shiny black book which had been sitting open on the desk. Char clutched the book and stood tall on the tabletop, careful to keep his fiery tail from touching the desk covered in flammables. He held the open book up to Scythe to read.

Scythe squinted at the page.

"This is it," he confirmed. "This is the council chamber log, conveniently opened to the last entry! Now, we will see… what he was up to…"

Char struggled to keep the book aloft for long, as it was quite heavy. After a minute, Scythe asked Char to turn back a page, and his eyes continued to scan across its lines…

And then, Scythe released a prolonged breath and bowed his head in shame.

"W—what?" Char asked concernedly, bringing the book to his eye level and trying, without the slightest hope in the world, to decipher the runes himself.

Rather than answering, Scythe walked past the desk and over to the solid brick wall, where he proceeded to slam his spiked forehead onto the hard surface.

Thump.

Char cringed.

"What? What happened?" Char cried, dropping the book back to the desk.

Thump.

"Scythe, I'm pretty sure that's not healthy for you to do!"

"I'm sorry," Scythe said, shaking his head in what seemed like humiliation. "I couldn't help myself. Adiel is… well, I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. You see… when he was here… he proclaimed that he'd return in… three weeks from now… to begin working on building his newest military fortress… right here in Iron Town."

"Oh, you're kidding!" Char cried. "That's horrible! What would happen to our base? How would we operate with the Master living next door?"

"No, it's not horrible," Scythe chuckled. "It's ridiculous. It's a joke. All of this was just one, big… It's a beggar's diversion. What do you do when you know your opponent is too smart to fall for a cheap trick? You throw their allies into confusion. You throw a stunt like this…"

"I don't get it," Char said. "How do you know it's a joke?"

"A base could never be built here!" Scythe squeaked, still completely incredulous, "For one thing, the Master could not lay the cornerstone without us sabotaging it. And for another thing… it's not about what, it's about when. You see, if we had remained clueless to this whole farce, and didn't have three weeks to realize that it was a farce, we might have found out about it, what, three days in advance? And then we'd be much more likely to fall for it. Then we'd be all up in arms, ready to defend Iron Town from Adiel's return, when in reality, there would be none…"

"And you're sure there's none?" Char said. "Are you absolutely sure?"

"Absolutely sure. Positively sure. In all the ways it would be possible to be sure, I am sure," Scythe said, his voice beginning to sound like an insane person's rambling. "Because if, if we would have fallen for this, it means Adiel would have just spread me thinner than I already am… because… three weeks… is when… Basin Canyon… settlement… is planned!"

Scythe sat down on the floor, looking both amused and distraught.

"Adiel," he muttered. "I don't believe you… Hah… you're going to be the end of me, yet…"

*Chapter 36*: Chapter 32: Don't Stay the Same

Chapter 32

Clefaria Town

Late that afternoon, a flock of Pelipper and Pidgeotto, members of the messenger guild, emerged from the clouds far above the humble town of Clefaria bearing incredible news about a small group of Bulbasaur who had escaped from Iron Town's holding cells…

…As well as, ironically enough, the Bulbasaur themselves.

There were eight of them in all, including residents from Iron Town, inhabitants of the grasslands in the southwest, travelers from far away cities, and, of course, Saura himself. Since other Bulbasaur had been rare to see in his line of work, Saura expressed a desire to fly with them to Clefaria and visit with them while he had time to spare.

After being dropped off at the entrance to the underground den where the escapees would be staying the night, Saura waited impatiently for the invisibility effects to completely wear off and for the other Bulbasaur to arrive.

The den was a cozy little place. It had a very low clearance, perfect for rodents and other small Pokémon such as Bulbasaur. A design of smoothed rocks embedded in the ground and the placement of a couple tiny candles in the corners gave the place a very homely feel, even though it was really nothing more than a rough ditch in the ground. It definitely wasn't a permanent habitat for any townspeople, Saura guessed, it was probably just built as an emergency shelter from the Watchers.

As he breathed the welcome odor of fresh dirt which filled the room, anticipating the company of the other Bulbasaur, Saura found his thoughts taken back to somewhere he once knew, a place which this little den reminded him of. Before he knew it, he found his mind led back to a distant thought he hadn't touched in a very long time: his family.

It had been many weeks since he'd fled from his home back at the Tiny Meadow, and he'd come a very long way. But through it all, he'd made a point, ever since stumbling upon Char and devoting himself to the resistance, to forget about it. Perhaps it was out of regret; it caused him a twinge of pain to remember everything he'd given up so eagerly when he and Char agreed to join the Gold Division. Suddenly, he remembered the days he spent exploring the meadow and the forest with his brothers, who helped him learn how to defend himself in the wild. He remembered the time he got too courageous and tried to go exploring without them, only to get trapped in a nearby Mystery Dungeon until they found him. He remembered the days he spent walking his little sister back and forth from Ivy Bluff, just so she could see her friends. He remembered his mother and father, both lazy old Venusaur, who loved and cared for their children more than anything. He remembered how he could always count on them for support, whether he'd scraped his leg on a thorn, or gotten his vines tied up in a horrible knot, or simply couldn't reach far enough to get the berries on the top branch of the tree. Yes, he could count on them for anything. Anything, that was, until one day when some Pokémon visited them…

No… Saura said to himself. I don't want to remember that part. There's no need.

He remembered his own friends, the Pokémon he liked to spend his time with. He remembered the Nidoran boy, who had no name, and all the afternoons they spent together trying to find the treasure at the bottom of Tenfold Pond, absolutely convinced one existed. He remembered the time the Nidoran somehow got wedged between a rock and a tree, and Saura had to defend him from a vicious wild Ekans while he struggled to free himself. He remembered the time they found a fallen Pidgey and spent the rest of the day getting it back into its nest, only to have the mother Pidgeotto suddenly fly home and relentlessly mob them. He remembered the Nidoran's wonderful yet twisted sense of humor, the most unique personality he'd ever met. He remembered all the adventures they had together, and how he could always just cross the meadow and visit him whenever he felt bored or frustrated with something… until one day, when he came to find that the Nidoran and his mother were not home anymore. He never saw them again…

I never even said goodbye, Saura thought sadly to himself. You, of all Pokémon, deserved a goodbye from me. I hope, wherever you went, you're okay…

He remembered Clari, the Chickorita who first showed him the secret entrance to Gravelrock Tunnel and dared him to find his way through the cave. He remembered her fiery, adventurous, daredevil personality that always had them into trouble with someone. He remembered how they always played hide-and-seek, but he never won once, because she always peeked. He remembered being endlessly jealous of her ability to sling razor-sharp leaves around, and how he unsuccessfully struggled month after month to copy the trick, relishing the thought of finally getting even with her. But not even that came to be, because one day, she said goodbye and moved far away, where it was safer for their family to be…

Everything ends, Saura reminded himself. Every sunrise ends with a sunset. I shouldn't be upset about what I left behind. I have a new life now, and I'm proud to have it. Heh… I knew, from the moment Clari showed me the Gravelrock Tunnel, that my future was somewhere on the other side! I just could never get the courage to enter it… and I never would have guessed that someone would have to chase me in!

Despite the significant effort Saura was making to convince himself he didn't have to be ashamed of anything, a strange sense of disgust welled up in his belly. There was still something he didn't feel comfortable about, and it wasn't going away.

I had to run away! Saura told himself harder. Mom and dad betrayed me! Well, I know they didn't think there was anything wrong with me joining the Master… they thought it would be a good future for me… but they… they didn't listen when I said I didn't want it… They didn't protect me… But if they protected me, they would have gotten punished… That's why I ran away…

But just then, Saura had to cut his painful reflection short as the first Bulbasaur entered the den. He knew the rest would be arriving in mere moments, so he put on his best smile and got ready to greet them.

The first one was very young—only a little sprout—and it looked scared to death. It made Saura's heart just melt looking at the poor little thing…

"Hi!" Saura said, quickly running up to the tiny Bulbasaur. "Are you going to be okay? You're safe now. Nobody's going to capture you here."

"Are you a bad guy?" the little sprout replied, backing away slowly.

"Hah, no, I'm not," Saura laughed, albeit a little oddly. "I'm a really good guy, I promise. I helped you escape!"

Seeing the little thing so shaken, Saura just wanted to give it a big hug and tell it everything would be okay. But as he tried to do so, the little sprout yelped and backed away into the corner, panting in fright.

"GO AWAY!" it screamed. "Mommy said I should NEVER let strange Pokémon constrict me!"

"That's… good advice," was all Saura could think of to say before deciding to leave the little thing alone.

Next, three more of the Bulbasaur descended the stairs and entered the dugout. They were a lot bigger and older than him; they were late-bloomers, Saura determined, being surprised that they were not Ivysaur yet. But then he remembered that evolution was currently not available, so he decided not to criticize it—especially since he, after all, didn't have any plans to ever evolve.

"Hey, guys," Saura said to the older Bulbasaur as they came in. "Happy to be out of that place? I know I am. That was a really stupid law, it just came out of nowhere."

"Yeah, and you want to hear the punch line?" one of them responded. "Bulza here was in prison for a week before that law even came out. He's a real criminal!"

"Nah, be quiet, I didn't do anything real horrible," Bulza insisted. "I just got caught stealing some food. No biggie. I won't make the same mistake again."

"Do you mean that, as in, you won't try to steal anymore, or you won't make the same mistake and get caught again?" Saura asked jokingly.

"Probably both," Bulza replied. "I'll probably quit the habit for a week, then I'll break down and go back to doing it, and I'll be better at it too! That's the way it always works."

"Oh…" Saura said, halfway disappointed, before brightening back up. "Well, you can't be a bigger criminal than me! I'm the one who helped break you out just now!"

"Oh, well, I guess we owe you some thanks," one of the other Bulbasaur said, nodding. "It was fun being invisible for a while. I wish I could'a gotten away and done something with it, though. But those stupid birds kept us…"

"Hey," Bulza said, his voice dripping with genuine interest. "Got any more of those invisible maker things, by chance? Huh?"

It was then that Saura decided he wasn't really interested in further conversation with this group of Pokémon, so he politely cut short the chatter and awaited the next newcomer.

When he saw the next Bulbasaur descend the staircase, his jaw hit the floor.

It was about his age, if not a little older than he. There was something truly incredible about it: the seed it carried on its back was the deep, dark color of evergreen, and its skin had an unnatural yellowish-green tint to it. It stared at the ground as it entered the den as if trying not to meet Saura's gaze, but it cast a glance at him as it passed.

"Whoa, hey!" Saura cried, finally gathering himself. "Look at you! You're—"

"Yes, yes, I know, I know, I know!" it exploded in Saura's face. "I get it! Okay?! I'm discolored! By Shaymin, you say it as though it was something new to me! Do you know how annoying it gets when every single Pokémon you ever meet greets you by pointing out your color?!"

"S-sorry!" Saura stuttered back, following it as it tried to walk away from him. "I-I didn't mean it like that! I was just—"

"You were just surprised at seeing such a freak of nature like me," it sneered flatly. "I know. Get in line. By Arceus, why me? I was actually glad to be invisible for a while back there, I'm so tragically sick of every Pokémon who sees me getting distracted by the shiny… Arceus, what a bad day this has been…"

It sulked over into a corner and said no more.

Saura started to eye the yellow-green Bulbasaur again to gaze at the spectacle, but then decided it was best to be polite and turned away. He was astounded that someone could have something so special and rare, but think of it as a curse!

Well, at any rate, I'm not doing a very good job of making friends, Saura realized. Let's see who's next…

"Saura?"

When the tiny voice sounded, it pierced to the core of Saura's heart. His breath caught.

For just a moment, it seemed to Saura that time had stopped, or that he was plunged into a dream. It was a voice he knew well, but didn't expect to hear, especially in a place like this…

"Saura! It's you! I knew it was you!"

He turned to the den entrance. He had to know if it was true.

It was. At the bottom of the stairs, overcome with just as much disbelief as he, stood a little Bulbasaur no greater than half his size—his little sister.

"Saurlee…?" he mouthed.

The two broke into a run and bounded across the floor towards one another, practically collided head-first. Sooner than he knew, his vines were squeezing her tightly and his forehead was tenderly pressed against hers. It was not relief, or excitement, or even joy that washed over him as he embraced her, it was something like pure love, mixed with the shame that came with knowing he'd been the one to withdraw that love from her. For just that moment, he didn't care why in the world she'd gotten herself in prison or why she was even in Iron Town to begin with, he was just happy to see her.

Although Bulbasaur were difficult to tell apart from one another, this was one that he'd never forget—it was Saurlee, his little sister, the second-youngest member of their family. Being a middle child and the one always stuck with the babysitting, Saura had become the best of friends with her, and she'd always looked up to him. This was the reason he felt regret for having run away from home, he realized: his family still loved him, no matter how much he'd try to convince himself otherwise. He knew in the back of his mind that, by leaving them, he had broken their hearts.

"It's really you!" Saurlee wailed, not daring to part with him. "I thought I heard your voice, but I didn't know it was you because you were invisible. Are you okay? We were all so worried when you just disappeared. We couldn't find you anywhere! You almost gave mommy a heart attack! I thought I was never going to see you again, Saura!"

"What in the world are you doing here, Saurlee?" Saura gasped, trying to avoid answering her questions. "You're so far away from home! How did you get here?"

"Me and Saurvor went down to the Seaside," she explained. "When we came back, we stopped to rest in Iron Town and they threw me in jail! I don't even know why!"

"You didn't do anything wrong," Saura assured her. "It's okay. It's just some stupid law they made up yesterday. You're safe now. You're okay."

"Saura, what happened to you?" Saurlee demanded, staring him in the eyes. "Why did you go away? Mommy and daddy are worried that you're lost! We searched for you for weeks! Even in the dungeons! Saura, we were so scared. It made mommy cry…"

"I'm just fine," He assured her. "I have a very good life now."

"Did you go to work for the Master?" she asked. "Just like the Flareon said?"

It was another memory he wished to repress as quickly as possible. Early one morning, his family woke to the summons of a Flareon, backed by a team of powerful soldiers, who picked him from the rest of his siblings to serve the Master. That day was like a nightmare to him; he already despised the Master, and felt that he would have rather died than given into his demands. And worse was how he spent the rest of the evening trying to convince his parents to help him, to say he didn't have to go, to shield him from such fate… and how they refused his every plea…

"Saaauraaaa!" Saurlee whined, drawing out his name just as she always would. "Did you join with the Master? Do they make lots of money there?"

"No, no, I didn't," Saura said, breaking himself away from his mental image. "But it's okay. I'm fine where I am. I make money, I have friends… I'm happy."

"You have a job now? What is it?" Saurlee inquired. "Is it fun?"

"Sometimes, yeah," Saura replied. "My job is… I help a lot of very important Pokémon do the things they're supposed to do."

"But what about the Master?" Saurlee cried. "Isn't he upset at you? Won't he punish you for running away?"

"Saurlee, I'm fine," Saura said again. "He's probably just going to pick another Bulbasaur. I think I'm off the hook."

While it wasn't completely the truth, it needed to be said.

"Oh, Saura, I missed you so much," Saurlee sighed again, leaning in again and resting her head against his neck. "C'mon, let's go back and get Saurvor, he's still in the city! He'll be so happy to see you! Tell us everything you did!"

Saura bit his lip. He just couldn't believe this. His heart leapt at the thought of spending all night with Saurvor, his older Ivysaur brother, and Saurlee, but…

"I can't," he sighed, "I don't have enough time. I have to go soon. Where I work, we're going to be taking a big trip tomorrow morning! And they need me there to help get things ready. I'd love to stay here all night, Oh, Saurlee, I'd love to. But I can't."

"Saura, please! Please don't go again!" Saurlee pleaded, wrapping her tiny vines around his leg to detain him. "I just found you! Don't leave!"

"I wish none of this would have happened in the first place," Saura grumbled. "I wish that Flareon never came to our home. But… this is how life is. Things don't stay the same. Even when they're the best things in the world"

"But I don't want you to leave again," Saurlee said again, on the verge of tears.

"Listen to me, Saurlee," Saura begged her, looking into her eyes again. "Please, don't cry. Listen. I want you to rest here for the night, and try to get along with all the other Bulbasaur. Tomorrow morning, some nice Pokémon will come and make sure you get back to Saurvor. I want you to go home with Saurvor. And when you do, I want you to tell mom and dad everything I just told you, okay? Tell them I found a place to live and they should be happy for me. Tell them that I'm safe and sound and there's nothing to worry about, okay? Can you do that for me?"

"Okay," Saurlee whispered reluctantly, starting to cry. "Promise you won't be gone forever?"

"I promise," Saura told her.

"I love you," Saurlee whispered.

"I love you, too," Saura whispered back, gently wiping away her tears with his nose.

He stayed with her as long as he could, until the sun in the sky started to dim and the afternoon began to turn to evening. Then, they said their final tearful goodbyes, and Saura was flown back by a Pidgeotto to the place he was obliged to be.

---

Division Base

"That… was… AWESOME!" Ray cheered loudly as Team Ember, led by Scythe, Marrow, and Markov, finally returned from the day's mission. "That was the best mission I ever did! Scythe, how in the world did you think of such a brilliant plan so fast?!"

"Well, to tell you the truth, it's not a new strategy to me," Scythe admitted. "I've actually done it once before, when we made a slight error in our plans and got Raon locked away for fraud in Boulder Ridge."

"Heh, but let me tell ya', that one didn't turn out all too well," Marrow added humorously. "We got Raon out, but Scythe forgot to think of a way to get himself out, so he ended up stuck in jail—with heightened security, even—for two whole weeks!"

"Well, we got it right this time," Scythe reminded them. "I figured the right way to pull it off was to have a civilian alert the police, that way their story isn't considered as suspicious. And besides, I only got caught because I had to suggest they open the cell door to check and see if Raon was still in there, so he could sneak out. But this time, those dumb mutts did that all on their own. And I think we have Ray to thank for it."

"It was nothing!" Ray laughed. "And besides, that was awesome feeling all that electricity. With lightning bolts, I can only hold them in for a second before I have to discharge. But that generator? I had to hold those wires for twenty whole seconds! I felt like an electrode about to blast off to the moon!"

"Wow…" Char said. "Turning the prisoners invisible, then getting somebody to open the cells so they could escape. It's like they let them go by increasing the security. That's so ridiculous, I can't believe it worked. But it did!"

"That's often the best type of plot to spring," Scythe said. "Let the opponent know exactly what you are doing—no tricks there—but then, make sure their attempt to counter you will actually help you. If set up properly, you end up with a scenario where you will succeed if they fail, or if they succeed, you will still succeed. Let me tell you, there is no sweeter victory than to watch your opponent cross the finish line for you!"

"Ah, but all the mere mortals such as me and you can't hope to concoct witty enough plots to accomplish that," Marrow joked to Char. "Only the wits of the legendary Pokémon known as the Scyther are great enough-"

"BLAST IT ALL!" a voice screamed. "Not one! Not one more! Where is the order from Porcelain Town? BLAST IT!"

They were passing by Kecleon's shop on the way to storage to drop off their excess baggage when a surprisingly blustered voice erupted from inside, shouting curses that surely Dialga could have heard.

"Not to worry, not to worry," said another, calmer voice. "In sixteen days, we will have more orbs. I contacted them today and they said they were behind!"

"AUGHH!" the voice shouted again.

The pink-colored Kecleon brother appeared in the doorway, looking a little winded. His put his salesman's face back on, though, as soon as he spotted the passersby.

"Uh… what's going on in there?" Char couldn't help asking.

"Oh, it is nothing, really!" the Kecleon assured in his usual cordial manner. "My brother is just a little red at the moment, mostly because somebody got away with robbing him earlier today, and in Iron Town, no less. Can I do anything for you this fine evening?"

There was a noisy clack as Marrow struck his bone against his skull helmet. "Oh, wonderful. Almost forgot," he murmured almost silently under his skull. "Scythe, might need your hand here. I might need backup."

"Uh-oh," Scythe said concernedly. "Is this going to involve a battle…?"

Hefting the supply bag, Marrow entered the store, followed closely by Scythe. His curiosity getting the better of him, Char peeked his head through the doorway to spy on the happening.

Marrow calmly approached the front counter where the other Kecleon brother was furiously flitting through things like papers and supplies, leaving boxes and crates littered all over the ground. Char noticed that the pink-colored Kecleon wasn't kidding—he really was red, as in, the color of his scales had changed, making his appearance resemble some sort of horribly mutated Charmeleon.

"Uh, Kecleon sir, if you wouldn't mind," Marrow said.

"Sorry, sorry, terribly busy at the moment," the Kecleon replied in a very agitated manner. "Very sorry. My brother will serve you…"

Plink!

Marrow dropped a small sack filled with Poké coins onto the countertop. Char recognized it as the supply of Poké they'd withdrawn from the treasury that morning, namely, the extras left over after putting some in the tiny pouch Saura used to sneak the Vanish Seeds into the prison.

Kecleon's head turned. He eyed the sack of money.

"What is this?" he demanded. "What are you purchasing with this?"

"Nothing," Marrow said calmly. "This is interest. And this…"

Reaching into the bag, Marrow produced the Pierce Band which had allowed him to throw the Vanish Seeds straight through the solid steel walls of the prison chambers. He placed it next to the money.

Kecleon was floored. He was still furious, but shocked enough to listen for a minute.

"Marrow, how could you?" Scythe said in fully sarcastic astonishment. "This poor salesman's served you unconditionally for years, and you have the audacity to betray his trust and steal from him?"

"Our team rightfully owns two of them," Marrow explained, "but I forgot that Daemon took them both earlier this week. And I needed one for our job today, so… I made do."

Char held his breath, and it looked to him like Scythe and Marrow were doing the same. The lizard picked up the Pierce Band and appraised it, as if to inspect it for scratches.

"Well, then," the Kecleon finally replied, "In that case, have a wonderful evening, and thank you so very much for your business!"

Whoa, he's letting them off the hook? Char wondered. I wonder if Kecleon's faking being all polite, or does he really have such a one-track mind?

"I'm very sorry if I've caused you any distress," Marrow said humbly.

"No, no, the pleasure's all mine, really," the Kecleon replied with a little bow. "It makes my day to know that I have customers like you, Team Remorse. A thief who willingly returns what he steals can hardly be called a thief at all. I can't thank you enough. Always happy to be of service!"

Oh, no wonder, Char realized. Right. They're Team Remorse. They can get away with anything if they pull some strings. They've probably spent millions and millions of Poké here over the years, no way Kecleon can turn them down. But it really makes me wonder… just a few moments ago, Kecleon was screaming like some kind of enraged, rabid… monster. Makes me wonder if they're always hiding such a horrible temper underneath those smiles that are always plastered over their faces…

… … …

Once their supplies were unloaded, Team Ember relaxed downstairs and had a nice big dinner, telling one another about their day's experiences. Char explained where Scythe had taken him, and how they discovered the underhanded trick that Adiel was trying to pull. Saura and Ray gave the same reaction that Char did at first, wondering how Scythe knew that it was a bluff.

"He thinks that Adiel somehow found out when he's planning the final effort at Basin Canyon, and even though Scythe wouldn't fall for the trick, he knew that most of Iron Town would, so it would be really distracting. He called it a beggar's diversion."

"Wait, what?" Ray gaped. "Adiel knows the settlement date? That's awful! That's one of the things he's been trying to keep hidden from him. If Scythe meets with too much resistance, he'll fail really bad! I wonder how Adiel found out?"

"If Adiel's almost as smart as Scythe, maybe it wasn't so difficult for him," Char considered. "But I think Scythe's got things covered. He seems to know what he's doing."

"You're right," Ray said with a nod. "Maybe he's pulling one of those win-win plots he was talking about earlier. If that's the case, I bet Adiel's going down!"

Next, Saura told of his meeting with his younger sister. Char was really surprised. For as long as they'd known each other, Saura never talked much about his family aside from some brief comments now and then. He figured, since the day they met, that Saura held some sort of repressed resent toward his family and simply preferred not to talk about them. But now, as Saura told of his relationship with Saurlee, Char's view of him started to change.

"She was the last Bulbasaur I expected to see in that room," Saura rambled. "She told me how scared I made my parents when I left. I almost wish I could just…"

Saura's expression changed, and he cut his sentence short.

"Just what?" Char insisted. "Stay with her for the night? Go see your family again? Do you… want to?"

"I can't," Saura said, giving the biggest fake shrug Char had ever seen. "I have prior obligations. Besides, I'll see them again someday."

"I had no idea you felt that way about your family," Char said.

"Hey, Char, I'm fine," Saura claimed, wearing a big smile. "Okay, I'll admit, I've always felt a little ashamed of myself for leaving them the way I did, but I think today I made it a lot better. Saurlee's going to go home, and let mom and dad know everything's alright. So now I can stop worrying so much about them, when I know they're not worrying so much about me. But there's nowhere I'd rather be than here."

Char decided to leave it at that. He knew that, regardless of what inner conflicts Saura was keeping to himself, he'd made his decisions and was glad to stick to them… not to mention that the thought of going to Temporal Tower without him was just nightmarish.

Finally, just as Ray was telling the story of how he sabotaged the generator, Scythe approached their table.

"Eat well?" he asked.

They nodded.

"Good," he said, "because it's time to come. High Intelligence is calling for us now. Let's go."

Team Ember promptly cleared their dinner table and followed Scythe downstairs.

… … …

The next thing they knew, Team Ember had been granted entrance to Intelligence's lair. They stood at attention near the room's central table as Alakazam gathered himself, preparing to address them. Saura was impressed at the room's grandeur, and Ray was spellbound by it all, unable to tear his eyes off the collections of books, instruments, and maps that covered the walls and tabletops of the whole room. Char eyed Metagross, still standing silently at the far end of the room and watching the meeting intently. It hadn't budged an inch since Char had last seen it.

"I can't believe we're actually in here," Ray gasped. "I don't know whether to feel honored or unworthy…"

"It is settled," Alakazam said from the other side of the table. "It was a challenge to get everything arranged on such a short notice, but it is done. It is all set in place for tomorrow morning. Your transportation will be waiting for you just outside the western gate. Be there at the first crack of sunrise, and you might make the flight to the Emerald Division in only two days if the winds are cooperative."

Flight? Char wondered. We're flying there?

"Scythe, I expect that you are prepared for this mission?" Alakazam spoke authoritatively. "The responsibility of this Charmander remains in your hands. Guard him with your life."

Scythe bowed. It had already gone without saying.

"This goes for you as well, Bulbasaur and Raichu, should you accompany him," Alakazam said gravely. "Your Charmander friend represents more than you will ever know. You must be willing to put yourself at risk for him. He must reach the top of Temporal Tower at all costs, even if it means it must be at your expense. Do you understand?"

"We know," Saura said. "We're going to give this everything we have."

"So be it," Alakazam said, motioning with his hand toward the table. "Now, the evening you arrive from your flight, you will present yourself to Team Regret. They are waiting for you. From there, you will spend a single night in the shelter of their base to further prepare yourself. They have been hard at work with researching Temporal Tower as they await you; they are able to offer you more specific help than I. The following day, once the Watchers have subsided from the sky, you will be flown north to the border of Zerferia. From there, you will continue by foot approximately seventeen miles north north-east, locate Temporal Tower, and enter it."

"Why not just fly all the way to Temporal Tower?' Char wondered out loud.

"The storms of Zerferia will not allow it," Alakazam explained. "Zerferia is a land of bitter snowstorms which never cease. No Pokémon can navigate in those winds, and even those who possess enough agility to ride the air currents would find their wings paralyzed from frostbite in mere minutes."

"Wait, waiiit," Char yelped. "This Zerferia place… it's… cold?"

"Devastatingly so," Alakazam said, pointing to the gigantic, white-colored landmass which lied north of Ambera on the map. "So cold, in fact, many Pokémon cannot survive there. Even those of an alignment to ice have trouble finding enough food or shelter to make a home there. Zerferia is barren."

Char felt his hopes drop just a little as he imagined braving the described place, slogging through a never-ending blizzard as sub-zero winds whipped across his body and numbed him until only a stabbing pain remained. He imagined his flame faltering in the wind, struggling to stay alive…

"Don't fear," Alakazam said, addressing Char directly. "You, of all Pokémon, will be envied by your teammates in that blistering place. You are the one with the endless fire broiling in your heart. It will keep you warm."

"Yes," Xatu added, approaching the table and standing at Alakazam's side. "You are a stronger, greater Charmander than you were weeks ago when we first addressed you. You have grown in size and stature, and the ember within you burns brighter than ever. It will sustain you well through this journey."

Next, Alakazam placed a very large travel bag on the table. It was bigger than any Team Ember had used before, and Char could see that it was stuffed with useful items.

"Your supplies," Alakazam said. "We have received the unfortunate news that Temporal Tower carries the properties of a Mystery Dungeon. These are the best items from our holds we could spare to you. We hope they will last you through your journey."

Scythe eyed the bag thoughtfully. "Hmm, may we see what is inside?" he asked. "We'd like to know what we're dealing with."

"Very well," Alakazam said.

He reached into the front pocket of the back and pulled out a bulging pouch.

"Ten Sitrus Berries," he announced. "Use them as liberally as you must to keep yourselves in one piece. And should those fail you…"

He reached in again and produced another bulging pouch, this one embroidered with shiny, golden threads.

"Ten Reviver Seeds," he said. "These are exceedingly rare, and they represent the majority of our stockpile. We hope they will serve you in your upcoming task."

Ohhh… Char mouthed, gazing at the bag. That's more Reviver Seeds than I'll probably ever see in a lifetime… I hope we don't have to use them all…

Another pouch was set before them, this one producing a very alluring aroma, making Char's mouth water even though he'd just stuffed himself with food moments before.

"Four Golden Apples," Alakazam said. "One for you each. If you do not squander them, it will be all the food you will need."

It didn't seem like there'd be any end to the wondrous items being placed before them. There came Heal Seeds, Vanish Seeds, Orbs that would petrify massive numbers of nearby enemies and render them harmless, rally lost teammates together, render the whole team invulnerable for a limited period of time, bewitch wild Pokémon into fighting on their side temporarily, and many more. Char lost count. Finally, he produced from the bag some odd accessories.

"X-Ray Glasses," Alakazam said. "to let you see enemies behind walls. A Detect Band, to increase your agility in battle. A Speed Brace, to give you a running start. A Mobility Scarf, if you find yourself cornered and unable to escape."

Char didn't see a reason to mention they already owned one of the latter items. He wasn't going to complain about having two.

In all, the bag was packed with forty-eight items, allowing no more to fit.

"If you wish to bring any additional minor supplies to suit your personal preferences, you must bring a second bag," Alakazam said. "But we have made sure you will not be left wanting. The hearts of all the resistance are behind you."

"This will work," Scythe said, smiling very oddly, in a way that almost seemed devious. "This will work very well. Thank you."

"There is one other issue I must bring up," Alakazam said. "Due to the nature of the tower, it is hard to say what type of Pokémon resistance you should expect within. You could be faced with anything. But, from various resources we have examined, we have constructed some ideas of what kinds are more likely to be there. For one, a mysterious Pokémon known as Solrock has been mentioned in the record books. I have never seen a Solrock with my own eyes, but it is said to be a normally-docile rock Pokémon with psychic potential. For another thing, like Dialga itself, you may meet some true dragons…"

"What does that mean?" Char wondered. "How can we prepare against them? I'm bad at fighting against rock Pokémon…"

"Precisely," Alakazam said. "Though you have your companions to rely on, you are the foremost concern, so you must learn to protect yourself. Thus…"

Alakazam slid a very strange item across the table. It was like a rock, but flat, and circular-shaped. And very, very shiny.

"Whoa," Ray said. "That's a TM disc!"

"Yes," Alakazam said, "And not only a TM, but it is one, among many, which has been personally engineered by myself. With the help of the Kecleon, I have periodically engaged in the hobby of recording TM discs that have not been previously created, even by human hands."

"That's amazing," Saura said. "How do these machines work, anyway? I've always wanted to know that!"

"It is a fascinating hobby, if I may speak my own mind," Alakazam said. "I only regret that I do not have the time to make more. Using Kecleon's equipment, a disc can be engineered by any sufficiently-skilled psychic, such as myself. I need to closely observe the mental impulses of a skilled Pokémon as they perform the technique, then repeat them back into the machine in a way it can understand. If successful, the disc can transfer the same patterns into the mind of another, allowing them to learn the technique as though they had practiced it their whole life."

"I don't have any idea what you just said, but it sounds awesome," Saura said. "I've always wanted to try using one myself."

"Wait," Char said. "What if it's not successful? Can you mess up a disc?"

"Yes, it happens very often, unfortunately. They are not always easy to record," Alakazam said with a nod. "I must thoroughly analyze each one I make, since a malformed TM can have very bad effects to the Pokémon who attempts to use it. At best, it will fail to work. At worst, it could blank a fair portion of muscle memory, turning a skilled warrior into a clumsy fool. But do not worry, I craft my discs to the highest standards. "

Char picked up the TM disc and gazed at his reflection in the shiny surface.

"Now, you must take this disc down to Kecleon to use it," Alakazam instructed. "He has the equipment necessary. He also owns a vast library of standard TMs for you to browse, should you desire to expand your current capabilities. Now, he has been known to charge a very large fee at even the mention of a TM, but you should make it very clear to him that I will cover any costs you infer at his market tonight. We cannot spare any expense for such a vital mission as this!"

… … …

"Hmmmmmm…" hummed the pink-colored Kecleon as he appraised the disc. "Looks like another one of Alakazam's works. Did he tell you what this one's good for?"

"Uh, no," Char responded. "I think he forgot to. He just told me to use it."

"Well, for the record, I take no responsibility for what the disc may do to you," Kecleon warned. "But, if you'd like to use it, I can help you with that. Follow me…"

Char held his breath as he, Saura, and Ray were lead somewhere else they'd never dared explore: behind Kecleon's counter. Careful not to touch a single thing, the threesome could only gape at the museum of packed, cluttered storage rooms which they passed through.

After descending a wide but short staircase, a few torches flickered alive to reveal a room lined with shelves, each containing a long row of TM discs. At the back of the room stood an extremely large metal machine. Upon closer inspection, Char saw that the machine was practically featureless, sitting against the wall like a giant steel brick.

"Well, Char and company, welcome to the fabled TM room!" Kecleon proclaimed. "Not very many Pokémon know this even exists, and it's better that way, if you ask me. Now, Char, let's get you set up! Oh, it always gives me chills watching this wondrous thing work its magic. Technology, glorious technology, crafted by human, perfected by Pokémon!"

Before Char could say much, the pink Kecleon yanked the disc out of his hands, and then led him to…

SLAM.

Char was locked inside of a very dark, cramped room. Complex circuitry ran up and down every wall, and the ceiling was lined with something that looked like a hundred tiny, opaque light bulbs. It took him a minute to realize he was inside of the TM machine. He suddenly understood that was a chamber, rather than a machine, which explained its dull exterior.

"You okay in there, Char?" he heard Saura's voice call from outside.

"I've loaded the disc," Kecleon announced, interrupting him. "Just say when, and I'll boot it up! And let me know what it teaches you, so I can categorize it."

Char clenched his fists, not knowing what in the world to expect. He gave Kecleon the word to continue.

The machine produced many loud whirring, beeping noises as it rumbled to life, making Char feel as if he was standing inside a roaring fire. Sparks flew from several wires as they filled with power, beginning to glow shades of blue and yellow.

And then, it all disappeared.

Char blinked. He was standing in the middle of nothing. Looking down, he could see his own body perfectly, but there was no floor underfoot. Squinting into the gray void, he could see hundreds of tiny kaleidoscope-like images, but couldn't tell if they were real, or just the effects of his mind's eye.

"It's turned on," Kecleon's voice reported. "Now to begin the program. Stand by, juuuuust a moment…"

Then came the very unnerving feeling that he was not alone, followed by the figure of a Pokémon standing in front of him. It slid out from behind the shroud of nothingness, standing on all fours…

Char's startled cry filled the room. Standing before him, staring at him with deep, sparkling eyes, was…

Eva?

"Do you see the Espeon?" Kecleon inquired. "If you do, it means the program is running smoothly so far."

"Y-yes," Char responded.

"Do you like her? Hmm?" Kecleon asked giddily. "Before, we just had a disembodied voice to give you instructions, so I decided to replace it a lovely young Espeon! Thought it would make the whole experience more pleasant. Now, here we go… Get ready, Char."

"Welcome to TM-X 024 AKZ" the Espeon said in a smooth, comforting voice that didn't resemble Eva's at all. "This training program will attempt to transfer the knowledge of the technique known commonly as Metal Claw. Do you accept this?"

"Yes," Char answered, wondering just what a Metal Claw was, but figuring he'd find out shortly.

"Before we begin, you must be made aware of the risks and warnings associated with Technical Machines," the Espeon said robotically. "Technical Machines must be used with care. Improper use of Technical Machine software or use of unapproved or noncompliant Technical Machine software has been known to cause, and may result in: memory loss, blindness, depression, loss of sanity, or paralysis. Do you accept these risks?"

"Y-y-yes, I guess," Char stammered.

"Technical Machine software operates by releasing precision-guided impulses of electric, psychic, or aura-based energy, depending on the type of technique to be taught, to imprint the recorded pattern into the mind. There is an inherent risk of corruption or erasure of existing muscle memory every time a Technical Machine is used. Do you accept this risk?"

"Yes," Char said again.

"Warning. This Technical Machine is not, in any way, authorized or approved by the Pokémon League Federation. The author of this Technical Machine software is not in any way licensed or affiliated by the Pokémon League Federation. Furthermore, the technique contained herein, Metal Claw, was previously deemed unfit for transmission through Technical Machine, and subsequent releases of Technical Machine software containing Metal Claw have been banned and destroyed at the request of the Pokémon League Federation. Do you understand, and accept the implied risks?"

"Yes," Char said once more, beginning to sweat.

"Very well," The Espeon said, "The program will now commence."

Char's heart was already beating rapidly as his surroundings became a strange, surreal cloud of purple and red. He tried glancing around, but whatever direction he looked, the Espeon always stood directly in front of him, like she was painted directly onto his eyes.

"Throughout the natural course of a Pokémon's life, a Pokémon will learn many ways to defend itself," The Espeon began to explain. "A Pokémon's physical weapons, such as its teeth and claws, are usually the most natural and intuitive forces available to them. Next, a Pokémon must learn about the elements they were infused with, and how to harness them to manipulate their surroundings inside and outside of battle. A Cyndaquil is infused with fire. A Totodile, with water. A Treecko, with flora. These strengths are essential for a Pokémon to learn and understand in the quest for self-mastery."

Makes sense so far, Char told himself.

"But, there is a third type of power which lives within every Pokémon," The Espeon continued. "This power mysterious, and not yet fully comprehended by Pokémon or mankind. It is a power that may come from the spirit, or it may stem from unseen facilities in the Pokémon's body. It behaves much like Aura, and may be a subset of Aura. With enough practice, any Pokémon may learn to channel this power, to unleash it in a variety of ways useful in offensive, defensive, or practical efforts. The technique you are about to learn—the Metal Claw—involves channeling this energy into specific points in the body, strengthening them physically. With the right application, the Metal Claw is capable of breaking rocks."

Of course! Char realized. This is what Alakazam wanted. Now, I'll have an extra edge against rock Pokémon like Graveler. I can't wait! Teach me this!

A large cylindrical boulder appeared in the void before Char, sitting on nothing in particular.

"You will now break the rock with your claw," the Espeon said.

Okay… let's give this a shot, Char said, looking at his claws. Now, how am I supposed to—

Unexpectedly, a streak of ice-cold energy shot up into Char's head from the back of his neck. It didn't hurt, but it made him convulse; it felt like somebody had impaled him with a long, thin icicle. The icy feeling remained, and a sizzling, tingling energy began to permeate his body. It spread into his chest, and through his arms, where it seemed to gather into the end of his individual fingers and… solidify?

Another insane sensation washed over Char, and this time, it felt like all the flesh had been ripped from the top of his head and dozens of needles had been stabbed into his brain. It still didn't hurt, but it felt really weird, and somehow, Char found he was able to mentally track the impulses he was receiving—no, not just able to, but he was being forced to…

Ching! Crunch!

The hollow sound of metal striking rock –and winning—echoed through the strange void. Char found that, by a strange impulse, he'd jumped at the boulder and dug his claws deep into it. The rough texture of the rock, and the way his fingernails had scraped across it, sent a chill up his spine. While it didn't cut like a knife through butter, it did good damage.

Ching!

Another impulse shot through him, and Char swung his other claw, striking the rock again. The dent in the rock became deeper.

Crack!

A third time Char assaulted the rock with the pointed blades at the end of his fingertips, it cut all the way through, causing the top of the pillar to come crumbling down. It soundlessly struck the invisible floor, and the entire broken pillar blinked and disappeared from existence. It was then that he noticed his claws… they were luminous, shimmering like silver spikes dowsed in the sun's rays…

"It is done," The Espeon said. "This is the Metal Claw technique. The method of invoking the technique should now be clear in your mind. Make note that the effect does not always wear off right away. At times, it may linger, allowing increased attack strength for a period of time."

-Pop!-

With that, the Espeon and the strange purple dimension disappeared, replaced with the cramped interior of the machine as it powered down. Char felt his legs tingle—they were both asleep, as he hadn't actually moved his body physically for about fifteen whole minutes while the machine was active. It was all a psychically induced dream.

The door of the chamber swung open with Saura, Ray, and Kecleon waiting on the other side, concerned yet eager expressions spread across their faces. Char stumbled out of the machine.

"Well? Well?" Saura begged. "How'd it go? Did it work?"

"I think so," Char muttered, sitting down on the floor in a daze. "It taught me Metal Claw."

"Metal Claw?" Kecleon repeated. "That's very interesting. That's been an outlawed TM since the beginning. Something about… something about, they couldn't get it right without making you lose all feeling in your legs. Since some Pokémon use the claws on their feet rather than on their hands, they couldn't figure out a way to differentiate between them. Something like that."

Char's eyes widened. He grasped his tingling legs, and didn't feel a thing.

"Actually, no, that wasn't it at all!" Kecleon yammered. "I remember now. I was thinking of Fury Swipes. The Metal Claw TM was the one that would turn you blind! Yeah, that's why it was so bad. If Alakazam finally made one that worked right, great for him! That's quite a significant accomplishment!"

Kecleon pulled the TM disc out of the machine from a small, previously unnoticed slot at its side. He put the disc in a strange box, wrote some symbols on it, and filed it away on the shelf.

"Ah, Metal Claw," he sighed proudly, "Another great expansion to the library, and probably a first in the known Pokémon world…"

"Wait… you mean you can use it again?" Char said. "I thought TMs only work once…"

"Hah. Well, for the humans, they do," Kecleon said with a wink. "The Trainer's Federation made it that way on purpose. They recorded the moves on these flimsy discs that only worked with these portable machines that trainers had to carry around everywhere. They made them so flimsy, that they'd get scratched and become unusable after just one use!"

"W-why would they do that?" Saura wondered. "Make something bad on purpose? What's the point?"

"That's so the trainers would have to buy new discs whenever they wanted to use them more than once, and so they'd get more money!" Kecleon explained eccentrically. "That's what you call underhanded, if you ask me! So some really smart Pokémon got together one day and they went and reverse-engineered them and made their own. And now, they work as many times as you want, and we even get to record little demonstrations with them! Plus, it's a lot easier to charge per use of the machine rather than per disc! Now, who's next?"

… … …

Saura and Ray also had their turns at the machine, but nobody was willing to go in more than once. Saura learned how to command his seed to produce a powerful poison which could be injected into an opponent, and Ray claimed he learned how to conjure glowing balls of energy which did not behave at all like electricity was supposed to. Not sure whether to feel proud of their new skills or just freaked out, the team decided to head back upstairs.

"Well," Saura said, "If we want any other supplies for the big trip, now's our chance. Is there anything we need that Alakazam didn't get us already?"

"Hmm," Char wondered, looking around at the merchandise. "Probably don't need a Pecha Scarf this time. Probably don't need to worry about poison on this trip. Maybe a Defense Scarf? Or… Aspear Scarf? Wouldn't that prevent freezing? That might be useful…"

"HEY," the Kecleon shouted from the counter. "WAIT JUST ONE MOMENT!"

Char rushed back to the counter, wondering what was wrong.

"I see here," the pink Kecleon said, holding a small note card, "that, according to my morning report, your team's bank account is… empty!"

"Wait, huh?" Char cried.

"Oh, my, that's a problem," the Kecleon said sternly. "That's a problem, indeed! I could have sworn, last time I checked, you were fairly wealthy, certainly wealthy enough to use my machine. But now, how will you come up with the sixty-eight thousand Poké you owe in fees?"

Char's mind began racing. Our bank account… empty? What caused this?! And… we've gotten Kecleon angry at us! What will we do? What will happen?

Char was scanning the room for an escape route when Saura spoke up.

"Oh, heheh, yeah, you have me to thank for that," Saura said nervously. "Yeah, this morning, when you left me behind, I figured I'd get some work done. And since you were going to come home with a lot of money from your mission, And since we were about to leave on a trip and all, I… I went and made a big payment on Otto's tuition."

"Hey, you wait a minute!" Ray spoke out to the Kecleon. "Those TMs were supposed to be free! High Intelligence said they'd pay for them!"

"And why should I believe that?" the Kecleon challenged. "I've had teams pull that on me before. 'Oh, yes, I'm buying this on behalf of Team Carrier, just send the bill to them!' Oh, yes, wonderful way to get out of trouble, wouldn't it be? I do not withdraw from somebody's account without their explicit, face-to-face approval! That's just good business for everybody! Especially High Intelligence! If they had reason to accuse my brother and I of defrauding them, do you have any idea how fast we would lose our reputation?!"

Oh, man, oh man! Char said, feeling even more nervous. How awkward! We're no Team Remorse, we can't get out of this as easily as they did! That, and they gave a re-imbursement… but we're broke!

"No, really, I'm serious. Swear on the hooves of Arceus, I'm telling the truth!" Ray insisted. "The TMs were on the house! How else would Char have brought you a disc that Alakazam made, huh?"

Kecleon stopped in mid-sentence, his mouth hanging open. "Oh, hmm," he said. "Well, you do have a point there, good sir. Hmm…"

"Yes, if you really must know, Alakazam is preparing us for a trip to the Emerald Division, and we leave tomorrow morning!" Saura said. "He's the one who sent us here with the disc. He said he'd pay for it."

"Well, then," Kecleon said, soon calming himself back down. "If that's the case, I suppose I will simply get their attention at the next possible chance to verify what you said, and… that would be that. I apologize for getting angry, my good customers. My brother and I can be loose cannons when something goes wrong, especially when we have reason to think somebody's defrauding us. Please understand."

Char nearly slumped to the floor in relief.

To make up for the incident, Kecleon offered them the Aspear Scarf he'd been fixated upon, plus a few other useful trinkets, free of charge.

… … …

"Well," said Chansey, "it's a little late, but I suppose…"

Char, Saura, and Ray were down at the day care center, ready to say their final goodbyes to the someday-to-be fourth member of their team. Char hoped the little bird would take the news well of how long they might be gone… that is, if Otto's mind had developed enough to understand anything he said. But even if it hadn't, Char felt obliged to give Otto a farewell.

The Chansey who had been watching over the empty lobby disappeared through the door, and moments later returned with the little brown bird hopping in tow.

"He was getting ready to sleep, but he came running when I mentioned your name!" Chansey said. "Have fun, little guy!"

"How's he doing?" Saura inquired. "Is he learning much?"

"As much as can be expected," Chansey answered. "Oh, but you know what? We already have his interview with Syr, head of Team Silverwing, scheduled for early next week! Once he joins the team, he'll learn so much it'll make his little head explode! Well, have fun! Don't be too long!"

Otto, though tired, was beaming with joy at the sight of Char. It was almost like Saura and Ray were not even there. He eyed them occasionally, but he danced and hopped around Char's feet, valuing his attention the most.

"Hey, Otto," Char said in a high-pitched voice befitting of a hatchling. "How are you doing tonight? Feeling good?"

"GRRR-OOOOOO!" Otto squealed.

Char wondered if he was trying to say "good" or "great", but he got the gist of it, and smiled back.

"Listen, Otto," Char said while he had the bird's full attention. "We're leaving on a big trip tomorrow, okay? And we're not going to be seeing you again for a while."

The bird cocked his head and blinked. Char wondered it if was actually listening.

"We're sorry," Saura added. "We love you, and we don't like to leave like this, but we have to. You take care of yourself, okay?"

"We'll come back as soon as possible!" Ray promised. "Before you know it, we'll be back! And maybe you can be on our team!"

"Okay," Otto said.

Char was overjoyed, and his friends were also very impressed. Otto had understood!

"Wow, you can talk!" Char cheered. "You can talk now, can't you?"

"Yes," Otto answered.

"But I bet you can't say very many things yet, right?" Char guessed.

"Yes!" Otto answered again.

"Well, hah! That's just great!" Char said, rubbing the bird's head affectionately. "Listen to you, you're growing up so fast!"

Char learned that Otto's vocabulary had expanded to about six words, and if he asked the right questions in ways Otto could understand, he could converse with the little guy. It gave him butterflies in his stomach just knowing that he had helped raised him, and realizing how much he wanted see his personality take shape…

…But, that would be for another day. After a short but pleasant interaction with Otto, he had to return to bed…

…And so did Team Ember. Tomorrow would be the beginning of their greatest mission yet.

… … …

"Ah, home sweet home," Saura yawned as they retired to their hall for the night. "It's always so nice to see this place after a long day, you know that?"

"Well, enjoy it while you can," Char muttered a little sadly. "This might be the last day for a long time we get to see this place."

"It's so exciting, I can't wait!" Ray said. "Scary, but exciting! I bet I'll have trouble getting to sleep tonight. Maybe Char's insomnia will strike again and he'll keep me company!"

"Hey, about that," Char said, remembering an idea he'd had. "Storage is still open. Want me to go get some sleep seeds? If we eat them now, we'll sleep all night."

After rejecting several offers from Ray insisting that he wanted to make the errand, Char finally won out when he reminded Ray about the handshake they'd made. Char turned back and left the team's quarters, heading down the stairs for the storage area which would be closing in less than an hour.

… … …

Char took the scenic route down to the storage area that night, not caring whether he'd get there before closing. In reality, he just wanted one more good look at the spacious, sprawling cave he'd come to know as home. The Gold Division base was his home, the only one he ever knew, and if something tragic were to happen on the mission, this would be the last time he'd ever get to see it…

On all fours, he dashed down the rocky spiral staircase, down the wide, torch-lit halls, past the doorway to the base's main chamber…

They were all paths he now knew so well. He'd memorized them, engrained them in his mind. He knew the shortest distance to every last destination, from the cafeteria far downstairs, to the storage area, to the team quarters where his old and new friends dwelled… he knew the way to Team Remorse's room, where Scythe and his teammates would always consider him welcome, and the way to the recordbook room, where Jay and her assistants would chronicle the day's events for him… He knew how to get to the long-beloved meeting hall, which he still intended to tiptoe into the next chance he'd get, and the bank, where he'd transfer funds into Kecleon's account… he even knew how to get to the lair of High Intelligence, who were always quick to remind him that the world's fate rested on his shoulders…

At last, Char stood in the central chamber, gazing up and down at all its different levels, bridges, and passageways, all being traversed by busy Pokémon running the day's final errands or heading to their designated chambers for the night, the room glowing bright red from the hundreds of ghost torches embedded in the walls and the guard rails…

He stood in the same place he had seen the base for the first time, when Scythe had guided him in. He remembered how awestruck and breathless the sight had left him, pleasing his Charmander heart to no end…

…and realized that it still did. All of it did. This was his home, the place he belonged.

Char!

Char twitched, thinking he'd heard something. He disregarded it.

Char…

It happened again. Something was calling him.

But what? Char stood up like a squirrel and spun around, searching for the source of the voice which had called his name. He saw nobody, not down the halls, or at the opposite end of the great chamber…

CHAR! Do you hear me?

Again, Char whipped is head around, but didn't see any hint of who was calling him. That's when he realized he didn't particularly know what direction the call had sounded from… it had been voiceless. Telepathic.

Oh, you do hear me, the soundless voice said. Good. Now come here. I'm a floor below you, and at the opposite end of the base. Come, quickly.

Wondering about the identity of the unseen caller, Char followed its directions down the stairs and around the halls.

Down to the end of the hall, the voice insisted. I want to talk to you.

Doing as instructed, Char soon found his way into a place he didn't visit very often. All the way down the hall and to the left dwelled Team ARK, in the middle lived Team Shepherd, and at the far right, lived…

Wait, Char realized. Nobody lives down there. That's another empty space, just like ours was before we moved in. I wonder…

Char made his way further down the hall to the unoccupied lair. When he turned the corner, the identity of the caller suddenly became clear…

He saw her crouched in the shadows at the end of the hall, her velvet eyes shimmering back at him…

"Eva…" Char gasped. "You're here."

Hey, no reason to speak, Eva telepathically asserted. Just send me your thoughts. We don't want anyone to hear this conversation. Got it?

"Why?!" Char blurted. "The last time I did what you—"

SHUSH! Eva blasted soundlessly. Listen to me, Char. Thanks to Scythe, if anyone finds me here, and I do mean anyone, I'll get forcefully removed from the base for treason, or worse, locked up down in the dungeons.

"And why shouldn't you?!" Char almost yelled. "You're—AUGH!"

Without warning, Eva attacked with a sharp psychic spell, sending Char to his knees as he clutched his forehead.

If you'll just listen to me for one moment, I might be able to tell you. Eva said angrily. I know what I did. I made a mistake with you. I refused to look into your mind because I didn't think it was worth my time. I was very wrong. It was a mistake of pride. I'm sorry. But I want us both to forget about that incident.

Hah. You hid for all this time, just to tell me that?! Char returned. Oh, by the way, I did tell Scythe what you did. So no, you're not forgiven, until you get forgiven by him.

I knew you would eventually, Eva said, nodding her head. But I knew your conscience wouldn't let you say it right away. All I wanted was to buy some time to get away. I meant no offense to you in the end.

Okay, fine, whatever, Char said with a grumble, sneaking closer to her. What do you want?! You hid out here for, what, a month? What are you trying to prove?!

Char… just now, I found something horrible, Eva said. It's something I thought you would need to know.

What's so horrible? Char asked. There's not much I can do right now, Eva. I leave for the Emerald Division tomorrow.

That's the problem, Eva said. Scythe is going with you. And I just now found out what he's planning to do when he gets there! It's the secret he's keeping from you and even the rest of his team. He loves Shander like a brother, but even Shander doesn't know!

Char felt very uneasy about the direction the conversation was going. How did you find out? He inquired.

I'm psychic, Eva reminded him, swishing her tail. I can read minds. And I got him just now while his guard was down. I saw everything.

And why are you intruding upon Scythe's mind? Char demanded harshly. Even Alakazam has the decency not to do that. Don't you think his thoughts should be kept private?

Eva blinked at Char. She sat in the corner with a very proud, regal posture, her expression betraying no emotion except for her desire to be discreet and stealthy. Something about her was strange, and Char couldn't put his finger on it.

Char, I want you to listen to me right now, she said, her telepathy strong and serious. As of now, there is no other Pokémon in this base I support more than you. Not Alakazam, not Scythe, not Metagross. You. I wronged you when I refused Scythe's request. You had the Call. It was a mistake. And now I need to make that up to you. Char, I'm offering my services to you as a psychic. I'll read anyone's mind you wish. Just say the word. I know you're concerned about Scythe. I know he's been bothering you for a while. I can see it in your mind. So, I have read his mind for you…

How… much of my mind have you seen? Char asked suspiciously.

Enough to understand, Eva responded. I know, for instance, that you're a human. That is another reason I wish to make penance to you. I am a Pokémon. Pokémon serve humans. And I have offended you. And now that I know you are a human, I am indebted to serve you.

Oh, come on, I get enough of that from Ray, and Scythe, Char said. You too, now?

Why, of course, Eva said in a gentle voice that sounded sincere. By now, you must have noticed that every Pokémon you've gone and revealed your secret to has vowed to serve you unconditionally?

Unconditionally? I don't know about that, Char said. Saura, perhaps. Ray… well, I told him that I didn't think too highly of him treating me like that… Scythe… Um… well, he does respect me…

That's because he serves you as his master, Eva said. Just like Saura and Ray do. And now, it will be my turn to assume the role of your servant. You are now my master.

Eva bowed her head to him.

But quickly! We are wasting time. You must know what I have discovered! Scythe's plans are very dark and terrible. I fear that you will not survive the upcoming events if you are not prepared.

Then why are you dancing around the problem and not telling me already? Char demanded, crossing his arms.

Because I respect your decision, Eva said. Scythe has told you he cannot afford to have another Pokémon know. I am already one who does know. Do you want to be the second? I will tell you, just so long as you understand the betrayal you are making. If not, I will stay silent. It's your decision. Will you hear it?

Blindsided by the whole situation, Char took a moment to think it over. Yes, Scythe was bothering him deeply, but now, was Eva suggesting that Scythe's problems could put him in danger?

He's never given me a reason not to trust him, Char thought to himself. I even told him, I promised him that I would always trust him. He's not going to betray me... is he?

I know the answer to that question, Eva interjected, startling Char and making him realize he had no private thoughts. I don't blame you for trusting Scythe so much. He has deserved your trust until this point. But now, you have to realize that Scythe is all about playing games. This time, you're part of the game. Ask yourself: do you want to let yourself be part of his game? Do you trust him that well? Or... will you take things into your own hands?

Char paused for a moment. Then, he shook his head, not wasting his time with any more thoughts that were like an open book to the psychic. He wanted to get away from her.

No? Eva responded, looking a bit saddened as she bowed her head. Very well. I will not tell you.

I already betrayed Scythe once, Char determined. I'm not going to do it again. And this time, it really counts. He asked me what sacrifices I would be willing to make. I'll make this one.

A good choice, Eva commented. But Char, please be careful. Scythe's actions on this mission will surprise you deeply. They may even change your opinion of him. If you will not hear the truth, that is all I can tell you.

Feeling very unnerved, Char began to walk away. Eva's advancements had intimidated him, somehow, and he didn't know what else to say.

If ever you need me, I'll be right in this hall, Eva said. All I ask is that you don't tell on me, and I'll serve you unconditionally. Because, after all, I can't serve you if I'm kicked out of the base…

Goodbye, Eva, Char said, leaving her behind.

Stay on guard, and return safely, Eva said. I'll be waiting for you.

… … …

At last, the long day came to a close.

Char managed to arrive late to the storage area, but after pounding on the door long enough, Morrik conceded and gave him the desired seeds.

But when he settled down in his bed that night, he found he didn't even need a seed to help him rest. He'd risen early, and put in a full day's work… he was ready to collapse. So, he placed the seeds down by Ray's bed, careful not to wake him, and climbed into his own.

He enjoyed his comfortable bed, and the glorious fire which surrounded it; it was the final thing he had to be thankful for. He drank in the comfort, feeling the hot currents of air sweep across him and lull him into a blissful peace. Yes, he would miss them so dearly when he left…

Yes…

… … …

It was happening again. He could feel it coming.

So powerfully… so vividly…

The vision came. When it did, it was so real, so colorful, Char couldn't believe he wasn't actually there…

It's like I can see everything, Char realized. It's like… the memory is perfect this time… it's like it's not holding anything back…

Dialga stood before Char's eyes.

He saw Dialga in full, ethereal glory. It was beautiful. So much more magnificent than anything he'd seen—his previous visions, the statues down in the meeting hall, or even when the Call activated…

Char felt like he was going to cry just gazing upon the visage of the time god. It was like a living gemstone, its powerful aura pulsing across its sapphire body, shining like many suns. He could feel its presence, how time bended around its body, bowing to its will. Char felt so small in its presence, as it was larger in size than a whole building, staring down at the tiny little creature which must have been him. Its eyes, like deep red flames, betrayed its emotion—a deep humility, or respect, or perhaps… lament?

Dialga began to speak. Char gave it full heed, hoping that this time, he'd be able to understand…

"This is not something we wish upon you," Dialga breathed, bowing its head. It spoke powerfully, but so very gently… "You bring this upon yourself, by your own actions."

What? What? What is it? Char begged desperately, though he could not move or speak. What have I brought upon myself? What have I done? Why did I come here? WHY AM I A CHARMANDER?"

But Dialga… fell silent. His words once more became incomprehensible.

NO! Char exploded in grief, still contained within his own mind. No! Please! Tell me! Tell me more! Please!

Again, his visage shifted. Palkia stood at Dialga's left side, equally as majestic. A red aura rained from its form, blinding white light gleamed from its silver hide. Its wings were spread, its tail swishing mightily behind it…

Char waited for the thing he knew was coming…

And it happened. Palkia presented Char with the tiny, circular capsule… The Poké Ball…

It floated in the air, hovering between the spatial god's great claws…

Wait…

Char noticed something… peculiar.

That Poké Ball… there's something… about it…

He stared at the object, clear as day before his eyes, yet he couldn't quite tell what the memory wanted him to see…

That Poké Ball… it's special. It's very special. It's… very powerful. I don't know why, but… it's… dangerous, somehow… But… why? What's so special about it? I don't know! I can't tell! Why can't I tell?!

That's when something happened in the dream that had never happened before.

The two mythical dragons took a step backward, as if having been startled. Did they look… scared?

His vision lurched. His field of perception panned down. And, to his horror, he saw…

Claws. Red claws. Pokémon claws. Charmander claws.

No! It can't be! Char cried to himself. In this memory… I'm still a Charmander! I'm still a Pokémon! I'm not a human at all! What does this mean? What happened to me? Did Dialga and Palkia just finish turning me from a human into a Charmander? And what's with that Poké Ball? Are they going to… capture me with it?!

Char's vision lurched again. He was scared. Or, his memory was scared. Either way, he felt deeply panicked. He tried to move. He tried to flee. But…

I'm stuck! Char realized. Not just me, but my memory! It wants to move, but… I'm stuck. I can't move anywhere. It's like my feet are nailed to the floor!

Char!

He struggled, but to no avail.

Why can't I move? What is—wait! I think I know! Something's holding me back, isn't it? Something's got me from behind! Something's holding me in its grasp! It won't let me go! Why won't it let me go?

His vision shifted… around…

Hey, Char!

And behind him, he saw…

A claw.

… … …

Car's eyes drifted open. It was the middle of the night… but it was dark. So very dark. The torches at his bedside had been put out, as had all the rest of the torches in the room.

"Muhh…" Char grumbled, blinking.

"Char," Saura's voice whispered. "It's time to get up."

Char looked about him. Saura had climbed into his bed and was gently nudging him with his nose. Ray stood at his bedside. Behind him stood Scythe, bearing a packed bag.

"Char," Saura whispered again. "It's time to go."

*Chapter 37*: Chapter 33: Can't Hold On

Chapter 33

Here I am, a candle in the wind
Just a gleam, a sparkle in the sea
Now I stand, my heart is overthrown
As I leave… all I've ever known.

Even now, it feels like yesterday
Found a home, a place where I could stay
And a life, purpose I could fill
Now I watch… as it fades away.

And my heart, it reaches for the sky
For the life, the dreams I leave behind
For the strength it takes just not to cry
For the strength… just to say goodbye.

---

"No…"

Char vaguely felt the tug of Saura's vine as it gently led him through the darkened corridor. With barely any sense of direction to call his own, he let it guide him forward.

It felt so surreal, like he was still fast asleep and adrift in his dreams. But there he was. The time had finally come. It was time to leave.

"Hey, don't forget the other bag," he heard Saura's voice say.

Now, as he saw his home passing before his eyes, the place he loved so dearly, it looked so cold and dead. The silver ornaments which decorated the walls no longer sparkled in the firelight—they were only shadowy cut-outs in the absence of the torch flames Char never imagined would ever stop burning. The rug which spanned the distance of the hall no longer exploded with beautiful orange and red—it appeared as featureless as the gray stone floor.

"No," Char whispered again.

The aches, the twinges of regret, all started to descend upon him as he watched it all go. He knew he wasn't all that sad about leaving his team's personal hall; after all, he'd only lived there for a couple of days. But somehow, it wasn't just a comfortable living space he was leaving, it was something far greater. It was as if he was leaving his life, his own self behind.

"Easy," Saura's voice hummed gently, so that the others couldn't hear. "It's going to be okay."

"But I… I don't want to leave," Char whined weakly, not even caring who would listen. "I want to stay. Can't we stay?"

"No, we can't," Scythe rasped, hurrying the group along. "This has gone out of our hands and above our heads. We have no choice."

"But… I'm so happy here," Char muttered. "I'm so happy here. I just want to stay here…"

"Control yourself," Scythe grumbled dismissively. "You did not come this far just to be a coward. Dialga would not be proud of you. Take charge of your destiny."

"We're all going to be in this together, just like you wanted," Saura reminded him. "We won't leave you for a minute! And besides, we'll be back someday. I promised my little sister I wouldn't be gone forever. I have to make sure we come back!"

"Do you have a habit of making promises you can't keep?" Scythe asked in an unusually harsh tone.

"Huh?" Saura gasped, a bit surprised at the response.

It was then that Char noticed Scythe's disposition that morning. A hard scowl was spread across his face. His eyes were almost completely red, darting around constantly as if to check his surroundings for danger. His entire form shook with uncertainty, as if he regretted every step he made. And… for a minute, in the light of his own tail, Char thought he saw a gleam from the Scyther's face. It was a gleam he recognized, one he'd seen before. Scythe had been crying.

"Make no mistake, Saura. This will be the hardest journey of your life," Scythe tried to say solemnly, but only succeeded in adding a cutting bitterness to his voice. "There is a very good chance that you, or any of us, for that matter, will not return alive."

Char gulped hard, suddenly feeling very afraid. He understood that whatever petty homesickness he felt was irrelevant compared to Scythe's despair. For some unknown reason he had chosen not to let Eva tell him, this was a hard day for the old warrior… perhaps the hardest in a long while.

…And why, Char wondered, did he sound so sure of an imminent casualty on this trip?

"Sorry… I apologize," Scythe mumbled, shaking his head. "I know I'm not helping the matter. I didn't sleep well last night. Once I have fully roused myself, I promise I'll be able to act a little more polite than this."

"Do you have a habit of making promises you can't keep?" Char shot.

Instantly, Char wished he could recall the words. He'd lost control of his tongue, and it wasn't the first time it had happened. Immediately, he felt his breath catch in his chest and his eyes fall to a close, wishing he could take refuge in the darkness with the dancing remnants of his vision. What was this personality flaw of his, he wondered, which let him stab at his friends with cruel, piercing words? What was it that he lacked? Was it Ray's friendliness? Saura's way with his words? Or perhaps Otto's virtue of silence and brevity? Was it just part of the Charmander, or was it part of his own heart, that let him disregard his respect for his companions? And why, oh, why, did it have to happen now?

Opening his eyes again, he glanced at Saura, if for nothing more than silent support. Saura returned a glance of sympathy, but there was nothing more he could do; he couldn't fix Char's mistake. Char did the only thing he could: he emptied his lungs and awaited the consequences of his words.

In response, Scythe turned a single, bloodshot eye in his direction, causing the trail where the tears had fallen across his face to once again gleam. He closed his eyes, and, after an exasperated sigh, opened his mouth to reply:

"No. I don't."

To that, Char had no desire to reply. His apology was implied.

… … …

Once the door was shut and locked behind them, Team Ember's hall became just like the rest of the unused quarters in the base: deserted. Barren. Devoid of life. Inaccessible, save for the occasional ghost Pokémon making its rounds. And it would stay that way, a memory behind a closed door, a reserved chamber for a respected team, until the day would come when Char and his friends would triumphantly return…

…assuming that day would even come. Char knew he wanted it to, and determined he would keep telling himself it would come until he no longer doubted it.

"Hey, what gives?" a familiar Treecko's voice shouted from just outside the front door as the group emerged into the hallway. "What kind of friends are you, leaving without saying goodbye?"

Char balked. Lined up in front of his door were several… no, many of his acquaintances and friends from the resistance, gathered together to see him off on his epic mission. There was Team Stripes, lead by Taka, Evan, Nohill the Nidoran, Genie the Clefairy, and many others he'd had the pleasure of meeting and working with during his time at the base.

"Have fun at the Emerald Division!" Evan cheered. "Bring back lots of good stuff!"

Behind them stood several members of Team Remorse, Scythe's closest confidants, and Team Absolution, their recent partners in business. There was Ursa, Shander, Kain, Nidoroch, Kyria, Marrow… Even Daemon was there. The dark hound stood in front of them all, offering Char a respectful bow.

"Don't disappoint us," Daemon told him as he passed. "Don't let your fire fade."

"Make sure you come back in one piece, alright?" Ursa said. "We don't know what we'd do without you!"

"You'll do fine," Marrow asserted cheerily. "Scythe's done his work and turned you into fighters. You've got nothin' to worry about!"

"Be sure to keep an eye on Scythe for us," Kyria said. "We don't want to lose him!"

"Please," Shander added, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. "Don't let Scythe down. He's putting his heart into this mission. I don't wish to see him heartbroken."

"Do not let your enemies stand in your way," Kain said in his deep, powerful voice that always sent chills down Char's spine. "If anyone dares to stand in your way, do not even hesitate. Burn them! Burn them to the ground!"

Finally, at the end of the weird lineup, was High Intelligence. Alakazam and Xatu stood at the end of the hall.

"Be off at once," Alakazam said. "All our hearts go with you this day. May the greatest graces of Arceus be with you, and may you bring peace to our ravaged homeland!"

Char sighed happily. His courage welled, and so did his pride, at seeing so many of his friends take time off from their busy schedules just to offer a fond farewell.

…Or not.

No, there actually wasn't anyone gathered in front of their door that morning. No Team Stripes, no Team Remorse, nobody; they had all been in his imagination. It was something he merely hoped to see, but something which did not come.

In truth, it was an ordinary day at the base. The rocky halls through which they crossed were almost empty, just as they were every other morning at the Gold Division base. Only the earliest of early birds were up and active, marching with their teams to be off for whatever jobs or journeys were in store for the day. Everyone close to Char's heart was either still fast asleep, or just too busy with their daily duties to notice. Even Team Remorse was told that Scythe and Team Ember were only setting off to an extended mission at the Emerald Division; there was not a single other soul in the base, besides for High Intelligence, who knew of Char's true destination. His mission was top secret. He was alone.

Alone, that was, except for the three Pokémon which meant the world to him, the three Pokémon whose companionship gave him more strength and comfort than he could ask for. They would be at his side, he reminded himself, and they would never stop being at his side. Realizing this, Char made the resolution to suppress his lingering sense of self-pity. He knew it was only a waste of energy and emotion, serving to hinder has fire and make him feel weaker on the inside. He knew it only made him more vulnerable.

The world doesn't revolve around me, Char told himself. Here I am wallowing in my own pains, when my friends have pains of their own… Look at Saura. He turned down an opportunity to be with his family just to come here. I bet that was hard, but he's not complaining. And Scythe… look at how miserable he is! He can barely walk straight! But he's holding on… Maybe that's why he's so much stronger than me. He's not just strong in battle, but he's emotionally strong, even under so much stress. He knows how to stop feeling sorry for himself.

This doesn't have anything at all to do with pain, Char determined. This isn't about my pain, or Scythe's, or any of our pain. This is about ignoring it and doing what has to be done. So, I've got to stop being so sensitive to pain, and the feelings that bring me pain. I have to start making myself stronger, like Scythe.

"I have a favor to ask of you guys," Char yawned, finally starting to feel halfway awake. "If I ever start to whine again, Saura, I want you to tie me up, and Ray, I want you to shock me as hard as you can."

"Hah, but I don't want to send you into a coma!" Ray answered with a smirk. "But I understand. I'll shock you just hard enough."

"Perhaps a shock is what I need right now," Scythe muttered to himself just barely under his breath.

"I think I can help with that," Ray said kindly. "Hold on for just a moment."

Scythe closed his eyes and visibly cringed, expecting at any moment for his body to be flooded with enough electric power to reduce him to a pile of ash. But after the shock did not come for a few moments, he peeked back at the Raichu… who was happily offering a blue, oddly-shaped berry to him, a berry which contained the power to ward away drowsiness for hours.

"You packed Chesto berries, did you?" Scythe said as a pleased smirk formed across his face. "Just what I was craving. Very thoughtful of you. Intelligence would be displeased if we stopped downstairs for breakfast this morning."

"We packed most of our favorite supplies," Saura assured him. "Last night, we thought about all of our missions and tried to remember which things worked best with our techniques, so we filled the bag with stuff we know how to use. That was after Kecleon decided to give us all the cheap seeds and berries we wanted for free."

"Very good," Scythe said with a smile, accepting the berry and balancing it on the end of his blade. "I'm very proud of you. I'll tell you, I find it hard to express how glad I am to see you three develop the way that you have. What I mean is, for as long as I've been around on this world, I've been a warrior. It's been my one and only role to play to Ambera. I have no regrets about that. And I don't think a minute has passed in my life where I didn't assume I would always be a warrior… I certainly never imagined I would end up as a teacher. I think it was a whimsy of mine from time to time, but never a possibility I took seriously. And then, when the time came for Char to appear in my life, it was dropped upon my shoulders… I knew I had to guard you with all my heart, the precious treasure that you are… and so, I would have to train you… Let me tell you, it was a new kind of challenge trying to pass my own experience to a new generation… And I was never convinced I was doing all that well."

"Who are you kidding, Scythe? You're the best teacher!" Ray interjected. "You always challenged us, but you always made sure we had what it took to pull through!"

"And you always set such a good example!" Saura added. "I'm sure we made ourselves a better team just by watching your team do its work. We always have to push ourselves hard just for the honor of living in your shadow!"

"Ah, hah hah hah, you flatter me," Scythe laughed heartily. "I suppose it must mean something that my students approve of my methods, even if some others don't. I really tried hard to do things the right way… many of my sleepless nights were dedicated to digging through my instincts for the answers to what to do with you. But… we're about to be put to the test, and we'll shortly find out just how good of a teacher I really was."

Char frowned. Despite Scythe's streak of cheer, there was still a dark tone lingering in his voice. It was something he wanted to ignore, just to pretend Scythe was being completely optimistic, but he couldn't…

"Let me tell you something else," Scythe continued. "When this trip was first in the works, I was deathly skeptical of everything. I planned for Char and I to travel alone. My instincts told me that taking anyone else would be an unnecessary risk that would just cause tragedy. I tried to think of ways to justify this to you, Char, and the rest of you, in a way that you would accept. But as I continued to mull over it, I realized that it couldn't be any other way. You three are a team. Your greatest strength comes when you work as a single entity, both in heart and on the battlefield. Especially after I saw how Char wasn't keeping any secrets, I realized I had to comply. I had to honor that. And besides… what business do I have tearing a human away from his Pokémon?"

Scythe flicked his blade to send the berry flying and snatched it from midair with his jaws. He bit down through the hard exterior of the fruit, eager to get the stimulant into his brain as soon as he could. With his mouth full, he eyed Char as if curious to watch his reaction.

"Thank you," Char said. "I don't know what else I can say. You've given me everything I ever needed… and I know I have a problem with being selfish. I can't really help it. I think it might be part of being a Charmander. But you asked me what I'm willing to sacrifice, and I think I have an answer for you. I'll try my best to sacrifice my pride."

"That's a good start," Scythe hummed, trying not to slur his words with his mouth full. "But I ask you something: if you have no pride, what will make your fire burn?"

Char didn't know how to respond.

"But we should stop with this rambling," Scythe said. "It's time to face what is ahead of us. Time… to see what you and I both can do."

Char decided not to take one final look at the spacious main chamber of the base as the team approached the long, darkened corridors which would lead to the top of the great plateau. He knew he'd had enough nostalgia for the time being. He needed to move on.

---

Great Flatlands

Team Ember didn't often get to see the top of the great plateau in the sunless hours of the early morning; the lands to the west of the division never seemed to have all that many tasks in store, particularly none of those so urgent the team needed to leap out from the shadows at the precise moment the Watchers dissipated. So, when the occasional chance arose to glimpse at the dark hemisphere overhead, obscured by no tree, faraway hill, or any sort of terrain but the flat, featureless ground, it was a marvelous sight to behold. The sun still nothing but a miniscule stain of discoloration on the eastern horizon, several stars still shimmered overhead, illuminating the dark void of space like the many twinkling torch flames down in the division base. One by one, they were going out, peering through the scattered clouds for as long as they could before drowning in the sun's rays…

The sight of the stars always touched Char's heart much more than he expected. They were something he knew, somehow; they were something he remembered strongly, even from before his transformation. Visions of the gorgeous night sky speckled with its sparkling rivers of constellations were imbued into his mind, like a beauty he had once known, a memory of pleasant nighttime walks or unobscured lookout points he may have once enjoyed. In a way, it made him sad, sad that the stars were objects of fear to the Pokémon of Ambera, their glory disregarded as a sign that danger was imminent, a reminder that the world belonged only to the savage ghost Pokémon in the hours of darkness. But no matter what the others told him, he knew that the stars were a thing of beauty, and he wished for the day when the Watchers would leave so that he might enjoy them more frequently…

As he followed Scythe across the surface of the plateau, taking in the pleasant humidity of the dawning spring day, it crossed his mind, just as it had done a few times in the past, that his memory of the stars might have been another well-disguised clue to his past. Yet, he was never inclined to give it much thought. After all, every human knew how beautiful the night sky could be… right?

"Oh, WOW!" Ray suddenly gasped. "Are those… what I think they are?"

Following the direction of Ray's attention, Char squinted at the eastern horizon. There, he spotted several silhouettes against the light of the rising sun. They stood tall and proud, some observing the sky as the last several stars blinked out of existence, their miniscule wings spread and poised for takeoff…

"Dragonite," Scythe hissed. "So this is the… transportation… Alakazam has arranged for us."

"D-dragonites!" Saura repeated, barely believing it. "Wow! What a rare kind of Pokémon they are! I was starting to believe that Dragonites were just a myth!"

Ray was absolutely wide-eyed. "This is going to be exciting…" he muttered. "I hear they fly really, really fast."

Wait, what? Char wondered. Flying…?

That's when it hit him. For some reason, it hadn't really occurred to him how exactly they would be making their journey. Even when Alakazam mentioned the word the previous day, his mind had only glazed over it, unable to comprehend it and forgetting it quickly…

He was going to be flying.

Char found himself feeling very uncomfortable , very fast. He wasn't ready for this! If there was something that he learned from hanging on for dear life by Scythe's neck for only a couple seconds, and seeing the ground so far below, he was terrified of flying. Too terrified for words. He'd done an excellent job of blocking that recent event from memory, as short an event as it had been, but… What now? Was he going to be flying for whole minutes? Hours? …Days?

"Be warned," Scythe said quietly while they were still out of the hearing range of the dragons. "Dragonite are known for their humility and good cheer. You can never tell by looking at one if it is offended by your words and actions, or even if it is burning with anger on the inside. They always have a smile on their face like they're in the best of moods, but that's because they bottle up their rage so well, you can never be sure when they are about to… release it."

"Uh-oh," Saura said. "The way you say that, it sounds as though…"

"…As though I've seen it happen?" Scythe almost laughed. "I have. Twice. I used to think I was a master at reading a Pokémon's face. But when I met my first Dragonite… never saw it coming. I can still give myself headaches just remembering the pounding it gave me… So just remember: treat them with the utmost respect, do what they say, and try not to be a bother. An angry Dragonite is not something you would be proud to witness."

Char was barely even listening; all he could think about was flying. Every step he made seemed like it was bringing him closer to the fateful moment, the moment where he would cling with all his might onto the Dragonite's back as it rose miles into the air… just one slip, and it would all be over… it would be miles away before it would notice it was missing a passenger… he would be lost among the clouds, never to be seen again…

Char cringed, trying to block the thought out of his mind.

"You alright?" Saura asked. "Still having some regrets?"

"Yeah," Char muttered back. "That, and… I don't think I'm all that ready to fly. Even just yesterday, when Scythe carried me, it was pretty bad. I don't know if… if I could survive something longer than that."

"Don't worry! It's going to be fine!" Ray assured him. "Sure, it's scary! But you have to slap yourself if you're even thinking about passing up this opportunity!"

"Yeah, and I'm sure that Alakazam wouldn't have called for them if they weren't good at flying," Saura added. "Me, I'm really excited to try this! I've always wanted to fly!"

"Oh, I don't know…" Char fretted. "What if I can't hold on? They don't even have any saddles on or anything! What if I just… slip off? I'm scared of heights!"

"Hey, Saura!" Ray barked. "Quick! Tie him up!"

"Wait, WAIT! WAIT! NO!" Char clamored, quickly backing away from Saura. "No! Okay, fine! Fine! I'll stop! It's just… not easy."

"Not easy?!" Ray cried, though very sarcastically. "Who are you, and what have you done with Char?! You stood up to fifty rock Pokémon all by yourself and beat a Steelix to death with your bare hands, was that easy? And now, you can't even let another Pokémon carry you through the sky? Dragonites are some of the most skilled flyers, ever! Where's the Steelix-slayer, Huh?"

Char took a deep breath, knowing that anything he'd reply with would probably provoke Ray to jolt him. Besides, Ray was right. He had to find some courage, and quickly. It was down there somewhere, he just needed to get it working.

Before he knew it, the team was closing the final few yards' distance between them and the Dragonite team. Curiously, he gazed upon the creatures, of which there were seven in all. They were tall, proud, and very majestic, towering much higher than even Scythe. Covered head-to-toe in bright orange scales, their forms seemed to glow like molten glass in the light of the rising sun. He couldn't help feeling jealous of the scales, given how they were strangely missing from his own body; he was often puzzled as to how he could classify as a reptilian creature when all he had for protection was a rather sensitive layer of red skin which bruised and bled not unlike a human's. He looked into their eyes and saw their pride, but also their purity of heart. Their faces betrayed such a kindheartedness and a sense of honor that Char wanted to trust them unconditionally, if it hadn't been for Scythe's prior words of warning. In all, they appeared to be very respectable, powerful creatures…

The only real thing that took Char by surprise was the size of their wings. They were laughably miniscule! He gawked at them, wondering how such a heavy, bulky creature expected to fly with wings that were not even a foot in length.

"And here they come. Good morning!" the lead Dragonite shouted cordially, noticing the group approach. "Your reputation precedes you, Scyther. I am Arshall. My fleet and I are under orders by Lucario to ferry you to the Emerald base."

"And good morning to you, and your fleet," Scythe replied as official-sounding as he could manage. "How are the skies?"

"In this vicinity, very friendly," the Dragonite replied, looking to the horizon. "Though, a wave of cold presses in from the north. Though we only noticed some tension in the clouds on the way here, we may brave some storms in our flight."

"The front carried a westward pitch," another Dragonite noted. "Luck be with us, it will avoid our course. After all, we won't be flying directly over the Master's lands…"

"True," Arshall said with a thoughtful nod. "It is a possibility. But, we can't count on Kyogre to cooperate with us. If we meet with tornadic weather, we have several points of rest charted along our course… Oh, and good morning to you! You must be the children Lucario mentioned! How are you on this fine morning, little dragon? Ready to fly?"

"I'm ready," Char choked out, not completely honest.

"Glad to hear so," it replied with a smile. "What about you, Bulbasaur? Raichu? Oh, well, I suppose Lucario was exaggerating a bit when he referred to you as children. I have no place referring to a fully grown mouse as a child. My apologies! I meant no offense."

"No offense taken!" Ray replied. "I'm really honored to meet you! I've never met a Dragonite before!"

"I suppose the honor should be all ours," Arshall said with a slight bow of her head. "Lucario seems very excited to meet you. And the Scyther of resistance legend walks at your side. You must be important! Though it's not my place to understand why. My greatest desire is just to see you through your journey through the sky."

"It is the Charmander who is the most important of these three," Scythe noted, trying his best not to sound awkward. "The others are his support. So, if anything should happen… his life means more than theirs. And ultimately, even more than mine."

"Oh, you underestimate us, Scyther!" the Dragonite laughed. "Nothing will go wrong on the flight. Nothing can! That's the beauty of flying; up there, there's nothing of danger! Nothing but the clouds, and the Pokémon perseverant enough to carry themselves through them. And besides, even if twenty Rayquaza stage an ambush from the stratosphere, our evasion skills are unmatched. You will all be delivered to Lucario without so much as a scratch. That's our promise!"

"And for that, we are most grateful," Scythe respectfully replied. "But, if you would pardon it, there's a nagging question I have… where did you stay the night? Did Alakazam grant you hospitality in the base without our knowledge?"

"Oh, no, of course not!" Arshall answered. "We found a cave not far from here, oh, about twenty miles or so, which gave us all the hospitality we required. When the sun rose, came here and waited, just as we were told to do."

"Oh, wow…" Saura gasped quietly to his friends. "Do you think… they could be referring to… you know… that cave?"

"What cave?" Ray asked. "Do you know one of them personally?"

"Yeah, the Gravelrock Tunnel entrance," Saura replied. "But that's kinda far away. There's no way they could have flown all the way up here just in the time it took for us to walk here… could they?"

"You know, I've heard that Dragonite can circle the whole world twice in one day," Ray gasped. "They could have gotten here in seconds! They're just that fast!"

"Can I ask a nagging question, too?" Char said out loud, unable to contain himself.

"Certainly, little dragon!" Arshall replied. "Although, we must depart soon, so be brief, if you may."

"How do you fly with such small wings?" Char asked curiously.

A moment of silence hung in the air, and Char could almost feel his friends shudder at his irrelevance, hoping that the Dragonite would not feel offended or annoyed by the question. Arshall, though, seemed endlessly amused by it, returning a beaming smile.

Then, something happened which almost made Char's head explode. Arshall jumped about two feet into the air… and didn't come back down

. To Char's amazement, the dragon simply hung there, supported by nothing! She held her position with effortlessness; not even her wings flapped to help stay aloft. She was levitating!

Char could hear the stunned gasps of his friends at the sight, and he struggled unsuccessfully to produce a comment himself.

"Dragonair fly without wings," Arshall explained, gently setting her body back onto the ground, "and so do we. Like the Gyrados and the Rayquaza, it isn't our wings that keep us aloft, but our hearts. Though, still, our wings are invaluable for controlling and stabilizing our flight. They are what let us steer our course with such precision! And we're thankful that they are so small; they're very unlikely to get injured, especially in an intense battle! You see?"

"I see," Char responded, full of awe.

"So indeed, little dragon, they aren't the laughable little appendages they seem to be," Arshall laughed. "Certainly, if they were, we wouldn't hesitate to laugh at them ourselves!"

"Not to mention the humans who try to raise Dragonites themselves," another added. "They teach them to flap their wings when they fly. Quite laughable, if you ask me, but also a little demeaning. It becomes such a force of habit that you can't convince them it's not needed."

"Wow, that's amazing!" Saura commented. "I never knew Dragonites were so gifted! But hey, does this mean Char will be able to fly like that when he grows up?"

"Oh, I'm afraid not," Arshall said with a wink. "No, Charizard have to support their own weight with their wings. But oh, it's not a curse! It's a wonderful gift on its own, too! In compensation, you'll be given such a limitless supply of endurance, and your wings will so strong—"

"Pardon me, captain, but time is fleeting," another Dragonite whispered. "We should be leaving soon!"

"Oh, I'm sorry! You're right," Arshall said, snapping back to attention. "Would you look at me, rambling on? Here, I was telling you to be brief, then I went and ended up wasting our time. Well, no more! To the skies!"

At that, the Dragonite team directed Char's group into getting situated for the trip. Two of the fleet members were assigned care of the bags, while the rest of them, save for the captain, took one passenger each. Char was admittedly a little disappointed and scared when the Dragonites refused to let him ride with Saura, but he clenched his fists, mustered his courage, and decided not to complain… even though he was shaking in his skin.

"Everything okay?" asked the Dragonite, another female, whom Char was directed to mount. "Nervous?"

Char nodded in response to the question as his limbs softly scrambled and panicked to find handholds and footholds on the dragon's back. Its back was as smooth as could be (except for when he happened to rub its scales the wrong way), with not even the slightest ridge or spike to grasp. Already, he could feel himself slipping down! Am I supposed to just hug with my arms? Or my legs? Char wondered, his throat tightening. I can't do it! I'm just not big enough!

"Let me guess… afraid of heights?" the Dragonite asked.

Again, Char nodded, saying nothing.

"If you ever feel insecure, you're welcome to hold my wings," the Dragonite said. "But only at the base, please. Otherwise I may not be able to control them. And if you feel like you cannot breathe, raise your head. It will help you avoid the vacuum. I'm Zahira, by the way. I'm not a member of this fleet. I belong to Lucario's team. He sent me to come with Arshall and oversee the flight. If you are who they say you are, I've got to make sure you see Lucario as soon as possible."

Laying on his belly, Char grasped the base of Zahira's wings as hard as he could. He hoped the position he had found was as secure as it felt.

"Don't be tense," Zahira assured him. "Arshall doesn't exaggerate when she says nothing is going to go wrong. Dragonite are not in the business of screwing up the simple things. Besides, there aren't any unknown factors to flying. Everything but the weather is calculated, and even that is predictable. Well… there's also the issue of betrayal. You're not planning to backstab us in mid-flight, are you?"

Char shook his head, as if to reply "Are you crazy?"

"Didn't think so," Zahira hummed. "In that case, there's nothing to be afraid of. Just relax. Enjoy the flight. And try to trust me. Can you do that?"

I can trust you, Char thought, But I'm not sure if I can trust myself!

"Pokémon! Prepare yourselves!" Arshall proclaimed. "We set a course to return home. Unlike the trip here, the return trip will be a two-day venture; we are now carrying supplies and precious cargo. Should all go well, our rest stop will be Nincadia, but if the time grows short and the weather is uncooperative, we will change course and settle in Redblood Desert before the Watchers catch us in the air. Set your bearings for north-northeast, by about three-and-a-quarter wingspan, approaching the Master's domain no closer than one hundred eight miles. Through the first leg, keep the elevation no farther than twenty-one geodes…"

The Dragonite's speech became gibberish to Char as she rambled off undoubtedly important numbers to her fleet, all of which meant nothing to him. He glanced at his friends, all comfortably seated upon their mounts and bursting with excitement. Scythe held on with only the strength of his legs, yet seemed surprisingly content with his position. Saura's vines were hooked around the base of the Dragonite's wings and held as taught as could be. Ray… didn't even appear to be holding on; it looked much more like he was uncontrollably jumping around and cheering for joy across the dragon's back.

"Ready for this, Char?" Ray cried. "Just look! Look up there! Look at the clouds! See them? In just a few moments, we're going to be up there with them! We're going to be above the clouds! Can you believe it? Are you ready?"

"Really, I'm not so sure!" Char responded.

"Oh, come on!" Ray cried. "Grit your teeth! This is going to be amazing!"

Char scowled and held on tighter to Zahira's wings, feeling a tiny wince shoot through her body as he did so.

"Char! Hey, Char!" Ray called back. "THE FIRE WILL NEVER DIE!"

When Char tried to respond, he found that he couldn't.

In fact, he could barely even breathe.

The sensation was like being pinned, face-down, underneath the weight of a Snorlax. He couldn't lift a muscle from Zahira's back.

From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the ground. It was shrinking. So terribly fast. In one moment, he saw the barren plain of land which was the top of the great plateau, the Goldenrod Meadow, and… and…

And in another moment, he saw the entire plateau, and all the surrounding civilizations, like Iron Town and Fort Loyal, all like tiny pebbles in a riverbed. He saw the forest next to Saura's residence, like moss growing on a rock…

And then, he saw only white.

If he'd had the breath to do so, he would have screamed in terror.

His eyes snapped shut.

---

The Sky

Some time later, after his heart had calmed down enough, Char snapped back to his senses. His eyes blinked open, revealing to him nothing but a bright orange hide of scales. Without having to look, he remembered where he was: hanging for dear life on the back of a Dragonite as it rocketed through the sky, miles and miles above the surface of the earth. Though now, a small wave of acceptance, and thus peace, started to diffuse through him. Yes, he felt much calmer than before, though his grip on the Dragonite's wings never loosened. He feared his claws would soon start to cramp.

As Zahira had suggested, he decided to try and relax, though it was easier said than done. The relentless whoosh past his ears didn't help matters, nor did the force of the wind against his body, threatening to tear him away from his handholds and send him tumbling hopelessly into the sky. Breathing was not all that easy, either, even while taking Zahira's advice and raising his head to breathe. No matter how hard he tried to inhale, his lungs always seemed to collapse under the force of the vacuum before it could surrender an acceptable amount of oxygen. It reminded him of the time he stood inside of the fire, feeling the air burning away before he could suck it down his lungs. When he tried to voice the complaint, he found that his throat held no words. Any sound he tried to make fell entirely flat against the wind, especially since he couldn't collect enough breath to add force to his voice.

Another odd feeling which soon settled into his perception was the tingling. His whole body tingled as if being poked repeatedly with pine needles, whether from adrenaline or just lack of oxygen to his head, but no part as bad as his tail. He realized that his tail was blowing and waving out behind him, the flame struggling to stay alive against the might of the wind. Surprisingly, it prevailed, but not without a constant stinging sensation. Char almost wanted to gather it into his claws and hold it against his body, but didn't dare for a second to let go with either claw. After a few moments of trying to bear the pain, Char realized that the stinging wasn't actually so painful. In fact… there was an odd sort of pleasantness to feeling the wind whipping past his tail, trying, yet failing, to snuff out his flame. The feeling was perfectly bearable, especially when he stopped focusing on it so much, and he let it drift to the back of his mind behind all the other loud, overbearing sensations surrounding him…

Struggling to lift his head, he dared to glimpse at the passing sky. Immediately, he spotted the other members of the fleet. They held a formation of three arms, presumably to help them stay on course, with the captain up front, and with Char at the very end of the rightmost arm. They were spaced out rather far; the next Dragonite ahead was at least twenty yards away, and the central arm was at least forty. Squinting at them, it brought a smile to his face to catch sight of a tiny speck of green atop the neighboring dragon. He couldn't tell if it was Scythe or Saura, but just knowing his friends were so close by in this insane venture caused his heart flutter.

Then, Char did the unthinkable… he looked down.

Layers of drifting clouds passed before his eyes, some bright white and opaque, others translucent. Far, far down below, wherever the clouds had parted enough, he saw the landscape glowing in the midmorning sunlight. Rivers appeared like scars across the ground, hills were like blisters… everything but the greatest, most prominent terrain features were invisible to the eye. The ground, the place where he belonged, now seemed so foreign… so alien…

Or did it?

To his utter awe, a jolt of familiarity flashed before Char's eyes. He'd seen this sight before! He knew exactly what he was looking at! In fact, it was something he saw every evening with the rest of his team as they plotted their missions. It was Ambera, as depicted on the Map of Jirachi! Gazing out from one horizon to another, he recognized the patch of land as part of the map, one that lay just north and to the east of the division. He spotted roads which he and his friend had walked once or twice, as well as a few cities and wild Pokémon habitats. He couldn't believe it. The map was so exceptionally accurate! All along, it had been like a photograph of the land, taken from the level of the clouds!

He gazed down at the surface, pretending that all the notes written on the map were superimposed upon his view. There was Route 412, winding like a giant white seam to the west around Shellwind Point, across the Quagsire River (the same river which ran all the way down into Blackriver City), and into the Orphaned Village… and branching off from it was Route 414, which ran far to the west into lands he had never explored… And Route 427, which forked southeast into the ominous land marked as the Onix Graveyard, and to the northeast into the mountains called Red Haven, an apparent location of interest to Scythe…

Too late, Char realized that his claw was starting to slip.

The ensuing cry which erupted from Char's lungs fell flat as a pathetic squeak against the rushing wind. Every muscle in his body cramped and became unresponsive, clinging like mad to the Dragon's back in any way he could. He knew he'd made the mistake of ever-so-slightly leaning too far to the side, just to get more of a glimpse of the ground. In doing so, he had shifted his gravity off-center, gravity which was now intent on betraying him and shoving him to his doom. Millimeters of distance began to slip away from his claws faster than he could believe, millimeters impossible to regain due to the wind's pressure and his body's unfortunate position…

Char's world erupted in unspeakable panic. It was as if his mind was no longer there; all that existed was acrophobia. Again, he gathered his whole heart into a cry of anguish to alert the Dragonite of his peril, but again, no sound came out. The vacuum of wind, the same vacuum which was causing him to drift from his mount at such an alarming rate, was just too strong. Soon, his right claw would be ripped away from her wing, causing him to jerk to the side with such force that his tiny left claw would be powerless to keep hold.

Sensing something amiss, Zahira momentarily glanced back. She met Char's terrified expression with one of indifference, as if not noticing that anything was wrong. Char silently screamed at her, unable to flail for attention at the risk of losing what little hold he still had. Just as quickly, she blinked and faced forward again, leaving Char on his own and shattering the last remains of his hope…

The awful truth hit him. There was no use in struggling. He was going to fall, and nothing, save for getting Zahira to roll in mid-air or slow down, was going to prevent it. He shut his eyes, taking refuge in his lightheaded imagination, attempting to accept his fate…

A majestic Charizard soared across the sky, enjoying the powerful sensation of the wind whipping across its face and beneath its wings.

It was his could never ask for anything more.

Char felt as his claw was ruthlessly torn from its hold, snapping his body to one side and sending him tumbling from the Dragonite's back.

Thump.

He could feel the wind rushing past his body in ways he could never comprehend. His chest was exploding, tingling, like his heart was being shoved into his brain… He was falling…

He wondered how long it would take for him to hit the ground. A minute? An hour? A day? Where would he land? Would his body shatter against a jagged rock? Would he be lucky enough to land in a body of water and live to tell the tale? … Or not, since he was a Charmander now, and it would spell certain doom… Would Dialga smile upon him again, and let him fall into a Mystery Dungeon, directly atop a Reviver Seed? Or maybe… could he gather enough heart to evolve to a Charizard before he hit the ground?

Did it really matter?

I knew this was going to happen, Char told himself. I don't know how, I just knew. All along, I knew. I would fall off…

"HEY!"

Char winced at the unexpected sound of a voice.

At first, he was unable to comprehend what he saw. Adrenaline was still pumping through his veins in place of blood, so his mind gathered the information in a slow, placated manner. The color of cream. A shining orange. Eyes, with black, beady pupils. A smile.

Char blinked again. It was unmistakable. A Dragonite. Zahira. She was holding him in his arms, smiling down at him, and looking quite proud of herself, too.

It hit him. He hadn't been falling at all. The thump he felt was the sensation of being caught in her arms mere moments after losing his grip. She had performed some sort of masterful maneuver, banking straight down into a loop and catching him instantaneously, without even so much as breaking formation.

"READY TO TRUST ME YET, OR DO YOU WANT TO FALL AGAIN?" Zahira screamed over the wind.

Char looked up at her like a helpless baby in a mother's arms, and nodded. He didn't really care which question he was answering, he just nodded.

"RELAX!" she shouted. "LET ME DO THE FLYING! STOP TRYING SO HARD!"

Thump.

In the blink of an eye, Zahira had pivoted in some complicated way, and the next thing Char knew, he was once more sitting atop her back.

As soon as the adrenaline started to subside and let his thought process take over, which wasn't actually all that soon, his panic died down exponentially. Clearly, Zahira was a skilled flyer, as skilled as they came, and probably knew how to catch a falling passenger in each of the thousand ways possible for one to fall. Somehow, falling didn't seem all that threatening anymore… in fact, he felt nearly as secure as if he were standing on solid ground. Still dazed and euphoric from his panic attack, but secure.

A moment after that realization set in, so did another one: he wasn't even holding on. No longer was he laying on his belly atop the dragon's back, holding onto her wings… he was sitting, almost upright, his claws both set down in front of him. Yet… the wind vacuum, vicious and merciless as it had been, seemed to have lost its effect entirely. In fact, if he was perceiving things correctly, it almost felt as though the vacuum was helping him, keeping his body firmly planted in place, giving him an impossible sense of balance.

His new position also allowed him a much clearer view of all the surrounding sights. Rather than having to shift his weight just to glance in a new direction, he found he could effortlessly see everything at once.

What changed? Char kept wondering as he looked toward the horizon, noticing the looming tower of clouds far in the distance. I feel so much better now. I can breathe. I can hold on. And I'm not being swept away by the wind. What made the difference? Is it just… because I'm not afraid anymore? Could that be it? It can't be! Confidence wouldn't help this much… would it? Maybe that was the problem. I knew I would fall. I expected it. But I had no idea I was safe all along…

"FEELING BETTER?" the Dragonite shouted back to him.

Char nodded in reply, then attempted once more to speak.

"YEAH!" he shouted, surprised that his voice could overcome the wind.

"IT'S REALLY EASIER IF YOU SIT UP," she said.

"I SEE," Char replied. "WHY?"

"WELL, BECAUSE IT'S MORE COMFORTABLE FOR BOTH OF US," the Dragonite said. "BESIDES, I LET YOU FALL ON PURPOSE, YOU KNOW. YOU WOULDN'T LIGHTEN UP!"

She WHAT? Char yelped to himself.

"SINCE YOU TRUST ME NOW, I'LL KEEP YOU BALANCED, SO IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN," Zahira promised. "UNLESS YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO JUMP OFF YOURSELF. I CAN'T STOP THAT."

"I WON'T JUMP OFF!" Char blasted, a hint of anger evident in his voice. "WHY WOULD I DO THAT?"

So that's why it suddenly got easier to stay on, Char realized. All along, she was trying to provoke me to fall in order to prove a point. Well, she did it! I hope she's happy. I really do.

Char felt his inner ember gradually getting inflated by his glowing ire. Though the stinging sensation in his tail was dampened as his flame became bloated, he realized he was making a mistake. He didn't want to turn himself into a loose cannon at a time like this. He had to swallow his pride. He was not going to accidentally release a sarcastic remark that would drive the Dragonite into rage! Not now!

"SO, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FLYING?" Char inquired, attempting to lighten his own mood.

"SINCE THE DAY I HATCHED!" the Dragonite replied. "WHEN A DRATINI IS BORN IN THE OCEAN, IT LEARNS TO SWIM, ON THE LAND, IT LEARNS TO FLY. TO SWIM IN THE AIR."

"I MEAN, LIKE THIS," Char yelled. "DID YOU GET TRAINING TO CARRY PASSENGERS?"

"WE CAN FINISH THIS CONVERSATION TONIGHT, IF YOU DON'T MIND," the Dragonite replied. "UNLESS YOU WANT US BOTH TO LOSE OUR VOICES YELLING!"

"YES, MA'AM!" Char responded, shutting his mouth immediately after.

Char fell silent again, trying for a time to occupy himself however he could. Though his fears were gone, and the view continued to be marvelous, Char found that his mind was so saturated and subdued with the fading fight-or-flight sensations that it was difficult to focus on anything. The tingling feeling in his limbs was more prevalent than ever, starting to remind him of the sensation of being paralyzed. Plus, aside from being momentarily traumatized, he realized that he was getting quite hungry. Dragonite apparently didn't believe in breakfast, or even lunch, and looked as though they were happy with letting their passengers starve to death for the sake of arriving on time. All in all, Char found his experience flying to be a rather unpleasant one, and started to look forward to landing.

After exhausting every pastime he could think of, including trying to find pictures in the passing clouds, imagining himself as a Charizard flying by his own power, and fantasizing about leaping off the dragon's back just to get back at her, Char fell bored. It was around noon by then, and there was still no sign of the procession stopping to eat. Char glanced down and tried to decipher the earth's surface, and vaguely recognized that they still were quite far from their destination. They had long since crossed from the south hemisphere to the north, marking only about two-fifths of their journey complete, and flew over lands of tropical forests and red deserts that Char had never thought to concern himself with. He'd been looking forward to enjoying the warmth of the sunlight while crossing over the planet's equator, but he figured he missed it; it was never too warm so high in the clouds, most of the time, it teetered on the edge of being uncomfortably chilly. He tried not to let it remind him of the cold wasteland he would soon be venturing through…

But perhaps the most frightening thought of all, even more so than imagining the numbing chill of snow and ice, was the fact that they would soon pass the Master's domain. Char knew the Dragonite team would make sure to stay far away from it, probably enough to ensure that it would not appear this side of the western horizon, but it still sent a shiver through him to know that the fabled and mysterious Master who dominated the land under an iron fist, the one whose reign caused so much pain and so many tears to so many Pokémon, dwelled in a dark fortress just out of sight. It was a place he never wished to go, a place he so dearly wished his destiny would never lead him.

Finding that he had nothing left he wished to reflect upon, and feeling as numb and sore as a stuffed animal, Char began to wonder if he could pass the time in a much more effective way.

"HEY," Char shouted to his mount. "MIND IF I TAKE A REST? CAN YOU KEEP ME BALANCED IF I LAY DOWN?"

"YOU TELL ME," the Zahira replied simply.

It was all Char needed to hear. Filled with a hundred unpleasant feelings, Char collapsed onto the dragon's back in hopes to satiate his exhaustion.

… … …

CRASH!

After what seemed like seconds since he had closed his eyes, a horrible, earth-shattering explosion made Char jump awake. He soon realized there had been no nearby earth to shatter, as he was still miles in the air. Instead, a dark curtain of smoke and mist surrounded him on all sides. The sound had been one he recognized—thunder.

"GOOD MORNING!" Zahira shouted over the winds, which were now more forceful than ever. "SLEEP WELL?"

"WE'RE IN A STORM, AREN'T WE?" Char asked, feeling the tension in the air.

"WE GOT NICKED BY THE EDGE OF THE STORM FRONT," Zahira answered. "ARSHALL ALREADY GAVE THE SIGNAL TO SLOW DOWN. WE'RE APPROACHING THE REST STOP."

CRASH! KABOOM!

There was a bright flash of light, followed by the deafening sound of splitting air as the surrounding clouds wrestled with one another and exchanged electric charges.

"ISN'T THIS DANGEROUS?" Char cried. "WHY ARE WE FLYING INSIDE OF THE STORM? CAN'T WE GET HIT BY LIGHTNING?"

"IT'S VERY DANGEROUS," Zahira answered. "DO YOU STILL TRUST ME?"

"YEAH," Char answered reluctantly. "YOU DO THE FLYING."

Char sat back up and observed the restless skies ahead. The clouds formed a kind of strange tunnel through which the dragons flew. All around, the shadow-colored formations churned and swirled in strange ways, almost making it look like the inside of a great beast's digestive tract. It was very dark, with only the glow of the masked sunlight behind the clouds and the occasional blink of lightning to guide the way. He wondered if the clouds would all suddenly condense into rain to come down upon him like a waterfall…

Before he knew it, though, something unusual was going on. The rest of the Dragonite fleet vanished, like they had been swallowed up by the dark sea of clouds when he wasn't paying attention. Then came a most unmistakable sensation—descent. Zahira had settled into a shallow dive in preparation for landing. It was the strangest feeling yet, producing a nagging fear that he would fall off in the most unlikely of directions: straight upward, rather than downward or backward. He reached forward to gently clasp the base of the dragon's wings, as he had been given permission to do, just to make certain he wouldn't become disconnected.

The feeling of descent soon intensified, re-igniting all the horrible feelings in the pit of his stomach he hoped he was rid of.

We're going to land, Char said to himself, shutting his eyes just as he had done on the ascent. In just a few moments, I'm going to be back down on land, where I belong. Just a little while longer… C'mon, I can do this. Then it's no more flying. Not until tomorrow. I can spend all night with my friends down on the ground…

CRASH! Rumble…

Another lightning bolt tore across the sky somewhere nearby. The winds became more intense.

Zahira's dive became steeper. Char cracked an eye open to see that they'd descended beneath the clouds, far enough that he could clearly see the ground, shrouded as it was by the shade of the storm. He did not have a clue what time of day it was, nor did he recognize the landscape below; he just didn't care. His mind was only in one place: the anticipation of having his feet planted back on the earth.

"THERE'S THE SIGNAL," Zahira notified Char. "I JUST RECEIVED THE SIGNAL TO BREAK FORMATION. WE'RE GOING TO LAND."

"I CAN TELL," Char replied.

"YOU'RE STILL AFRAID OF THE SKY," she noticed. "YOU HAVE A STRONG FEAR OF HEIGHTS."

"WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?" Char screamed back. "THIS IS MY FIRST TIME FLYING LIKE THIS! AND I'M NOT AFRAID SO MUCH. JUST ANNOYED. "

"IT'S ALRIGHT," Zahira said, smiling back at him, and slowing her flying pace. "YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE AFRAID. IT'S NATURAL."

KABOOM! A lightning bolt dropped out of the clouds less than half a mile away, zigzagging through the sky and striking the ground far below. Char had to wince at the sound of every lightning strike, imagining each time that he would be the recipient of the million-volt surge of energy. It was just another discomfort of flying to add to his long list…

But, for as many discomforts as he counted, he knew she was right. Beneath it all, he was still afraid of heights. He feared it because there was still so much outside his realm of comprehension. After all, he didn't have wings yet. The sky wasn't his place. Of course, there was the one fear that overshadowed them all, the one fear which couldn't simply be explained away. The fear of hitting the ground.

"WOULD YOU LIKE TO FACE YOUR FEAR?"

"WHAT?" Char responded. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"

"WANT TO KNOW WHAT A FREE-FALL FEELS LIKE?" Zahira asked. "I CAN SHOW YOU."

She… can't be serious! Char told himself. What is she saying? She wants me to jump off? No, no, no, no, no… no!

"IF YOU WANT TO OVERCOME YOUR FEAR, STARE IT DOWN!" Zahira proclaimed. "ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU FEAR, YOU STOP FEARING!"

"I DON'T WANT TO!" Char asserted as loud as he could, squeezing her wings even tighter.

"I KNOW," she answered. "BUT DO YOU NEED TO?"

"YES!" Char blurted. "I NEED TO!"

"WHY'S THAT?" she asked.

"BECAUSE…" Char cried. "I WANT TO BE STRONGER!"

CRASH! Yet another lightning bolt lit the world. In the flash, Char glimpsed at the ground down below, still far enough to appear like a woven tapestry…

"THEN JUMP!" Zahira shouted encouragingly.

"I- I- I…" Char started, his heart pounding just as hard as when he had first slipped off, as he peered over the edge of the Dragonite's back and instinctively shirked away from the edge. "I… I MIGHT NEED HELP!"

Without any further delay, Zahira twisted in mid-air, rolling her body in a complete circle. When she righted herself, she no longer had a passenger.

And Char fell.

It was a humbling feeling, dropping endlessly through the void of the sky, knowing there was no hope for him to save himself. His eyes snapped completely shut, his mind filling with a deafening euphoria which drowned out all other thoughts. He felt like a toy of the wind as it rushed past him more powerfully than ever before, stinging his skin and challenging the flame on his tail for all it was worth. He felt it rush past his face, rendering his poor lungs nearly inoperable…

At first, that was all he felt. The wind. And the sound of the thunder erupting about him.

When the initial shock faded enough, Char allowed his eyes to flutter open. He perceived his surroundings from a trance-like state… he watched the ground as it moved toward him ever so slightly… he watched as several little raindrops fell with him at his side, dancing like tiny, translucent, self-sustaining flames…

And then… before he knew it…

Thump.

He was staring into Zahira's eyes again as she cradled him in her arms. He'd fallen for just over a whole minute, convinced it had been no longer than a few seconds.

"Well?" Zahira said in a quiet voice as she hovered motionlessly. "How was it?"

"That wasn't so bad," Char admitted, cracking a little smile. "I think I could get used to it!"

"It's wonderful, once you learn to fly," she said. "If only you had wings…"

While the stunt hadn't completely vanquished his fear of heights, it certainly made it retreat and cower behind a rock. He felt very proud of himself for facing his fear, and exploring the unknown which it had hidden behind. He knew that it was a big step in becoming stronger.

As the storm continued to pick up, and as Zahira carried Char down to the designated rest point, he was already starting to look forward to flying again tomorrow.

---

Author's note:

Zahira the Dragonite was created by rabidcatking.

The lyrics are sung to "Don't Ever Forget" from Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky.

*Chapter 38*: Chapter 34: A Sunlit Story

Chapter 34

Redblood Oasis

The day's flight over, the dark of night swiftly approached.

The Redblood Desert was a dry and barren place, with a climate very comforting to Char, vaguely reminding him of the flatlands atop his faraway home. As he observed his new surroundings, though, he saw just how vague the similarities were. Unlike the pure, brilliant yellow of the plateau, the desert was a dark, rusted color. The land itself was broken and cracked from the perpetual heat, with networks of tiny black fissures spread as far as the eye could see, causing the ground to resemble the arrangement of scales on a reptile's hide. A small layer of dusty sand covered the terrain, kicking up in the downdrafts from the thunderheads which still hung overhead.

Far, far away, in a little window of the sky still untouched by the storm, Char glimpsed at the setting sun, marveling at how it painted the surrounding clouds with glowing, unbelievable spectrums of purple and orange, contrasting and almost complementing the dinginess of the landscape. For a moment, he let himself become hypnotized with the image before his eyes, which almost seemed to dance like a candle in the subtle waves of heat which rose from the earth. In his time working with the resistance, Char had witnessed dozens of sunrises come and go, yet none of them, he felt, held anything to the majesty of a sunset.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Char found Scythe standing at his side, taking a moment to appreciate the visage of the sky as the rest of the group went on ahead to the rest area. He looked just as pained as before, and perhaps a bit worse; it was obvious that he didn't enjoy the flight, which hadn't helped at all to soothe the hidden turmoil of his soul. Char knew that his sore eyes found immense comfort in staring at the sunset.

"Yeah," Char replied.

"Ambera is very beautiful," Scythe professed. "Even as the darkness of the storm threatens to choke the sun, it shines ever brighter."

Char craned his neck to observe the storm again. Overhead, it formed a seamless, absolute blanket across the sky, still flickering with lightning from time to time. Though it rained, not a drop fell to the ground; it all dissipated shortly after being formed, not allowing the dry, famished landscape a single sip of water. The front pushed to the southwest, bubbling and cresting like an ocean's tide as it surrounded the scant remnants of the daylight like a pack of hungry Carvanha about to feast.

"It always captures me, the kinds of pictures the storms can paint in the sky," Scythe said, almost to himself. "Sometimes, in the summer, if the air currents are just right, marvelous things happen in the sky above Basin Canyon. I can't count the times my team and I have simply stopped to watch the ebb and flow of the thunderclouds… It is a sight to behold, to see the storm front come in, billowing like the dust beneath a rampaging herd of Tauros, straight for you…"

"Is that why you fight?" Char asked, his heart still adrift in the western horizon. "For the storms and the sunsets?"

"No," Scythe said. "As long as the flow of time is not threatened, the sunsets will come regardless of what I say or do. No Pokémon, save for the legendary dragons, have control over such a thing, to stop the sunset… but… there are many who might silence it."

"Silence it? Char asked. "What do you mean?"

"When you see a rageflower bloom in the meadow, you might see a quaint little expression of nature," Scythe said, "but you have to realize something, that the petals are painted with the blood of thousands of Pokémon who died so that the flower could be beautiful…"

"But you don't need to fight for the flowers in the meadow," Char said, turning to Scythe. "They grow on their own, just like the sunset. …I don't get it."

"By itself, the sunset has no beauty," Scythe said, not taking his eyes off the horizon. "It is just a sunset. A natural phenomenon. It is… a rare combination of colors in an unlikely place. It only has beauty because you have eyes to gaze upon it, and it means something to you. It has a story to tell your heart. To me, Ambera tells her story in many ways, through the sunsets, the thunderclouds, the flowers in the meadow… It is a story of freedom, peace, and war… Of Pokémon who have slaughtered innocents, and those who have defended them… those who have prevailed over the oppression, and those who have paid the price… To you, it might tell a different part of the story… the joy of being alive, perhaps. But if the day comes when the sunset is just a sunset… Ambera's voice will have been silenced. And I will have failed."

That's one way to look at it, Char thought to himself, reflecting upon the interesting perspective. Beauty is something that speaks to you. It sounds almost like that saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". After all, a wild Rattata scampering across the meadow wouldn't see any beauty in the sunset…

Char stopped in mid-thought. There it was again: a tiny shift in Scythe's voice, a tone that betrayed something about the state of the warrior's mind that he didn't like—that his stress was more than just an obstacle to his success, but something that ran to his core. It was a measure of pessimism, a weakness of some sort. What was it, though? An uncertainty? A resignation to failure? Or perhaps… could it be… insanity? It was something which, he was certain, did not belong in the Scyther's character…

Biting his tongue for a moment, Char tried to find a good way to assemble his words.

"Scythe…"

Scythe groaned, knowing very well which tone of voice Char was using.

"Where is your stress coming from?" Char asked concernedly. "Why are your eyes always bloodshot? You shouldn't be hurting like this. What's wrong with you?"

"I'm an old Pokémon," Scythe sighed. "Every day, much is expected from me. Some days, when I open my eyes in the morning, I can't tell if my body is filled with energy, or just the determination to bear exhaustion. You will find, as you grow old, that you experience many different kinds of emotions. And you will learn to cope with them. You will learn to relish the pleasant emotions and harden yourself against the unpleasant emotions… And the more you harden yourself, the more you will know stress. "

"That's not what I meant," Char returned. "There's something wrong with you. You aren't acting like yourself. You haven't been for the past few days."

"Are we going to go through this again?" Scythe sighed, a hint of anger apparent in his voice. "I told you already, there's nothing I can say that will make you trust me. It's—"

"Are you scared?" Char insisted forcefully, cutting him off. "Are you afraid that your plan won't work? Are you afraid things will come crashing down?

"You won't stop pestering me until I have told you my secrets," Scythe's voice rumbled. "But I cannot do that. To reveal my plans would be to doom them to failure."

"Does the plan involve me?" Char demanded even louder. "What? What's so bad about it?"

"Char…" Scythe sighed, hanging his head. "I will say something. But if I do… you must promise me something in return. That, for the duration of this trip, you will stop bringing up this subject. Haven't I made it clear that I despise the act of keeping a secret? Every time you confront me, it hurts, like a blade to the chest. When I realized I had to accompany you here, it hurt. When I learned you spoke to Ray, it hurt. When you tried to spy on me in the hall, it cut even deeper. Even if I were to try, I cannot make you trust me. But if you are so concerned about my well-being, human, then stop trying to disembowel my heart with your meager curiosity. Am I clear?"

Char felt stunned, and his body began to slightly tremble from shame and intimidation. It was just as Saura had said… he should have simply given Scythe his trust, and left it at that. But, apparently, that was too much to ask. It occurred to him that he hadn't just betrayed Scythe once, but several times, including those which he had listed… and each time, though it hurt, Scythe continued to forgive him…

Unable to respond with words, Char took a hard gulp and nodded his head.

"Fine, then," Scythe almost spat. "No, I am not afraid that my plan will fail. My plan involves… doing something I will not enjoy. And yes… it involves you."

A sort of terror filled Char's heart.

"Another thing," Scythe added, the bitterness quickly fading from his voice. "You want to know why there is blood behind my eyes? You want to know where it comes from? It comes from you. And if you look behind my eyes, and you see something like hope… that, too, comes from you."

Feeling weak, Char found himself unable to stand. He sat himself down on the rough, grit-covered desert floor, his heart rumbling like an earthquake.

A voice echoed through his head.

"…he serves you as his master…"

"…by now, you must have noticed that every Pokémon you've gone and revealed your secret to has vowed to serve you unconditionally…"

"…Scythe is all about playing games. This time, you're part of the game…"

"We should return," Scythe said. "I am starting to feel hunger pains. And your friends are probably missing you."

Reluctantly obeying, Char lifted himself back to his feet and accompanied Scythe to the rest area.

She was right, Char realized. Eva… she was right about everything…

Of all the thoughts stacked in Char's mind, one thing was certain. It was time for him to stop questioning his leader and protector. It was time to let him carry out his plan… whatever it may be.

… … …

After a short walk, a cheery Dragonite admitted them into the rest area.

The "shelter", as much as it could be called that, was an exceptionally large depression in the desert's floor. It was like a miniature canyon, but with one of the cliffs sanded down into a ramp for easy access to the bottom. Though it was open-roofed, it seemed much like a real shelter; the depression was perpendicular to the sun and deep enough to cast the valley completely into shade. It was not lacking in room, either, as the canyon walls were at least ten yards apart. It reminded Char very much of the grandiose hall back at the base which led to the chamber of High Intelligence…

As Char inspected the place, noticing the colorful layers of sedimentary rock imbued into the walls, he spotted something truly weird: near the far end of the valley, there was a water source. A large puddle, surrounded by a shore of sloppy clay, was set against the edge of the stone wall. It ripped faintly, indicating that it was flowing, draining down somehow into the cracks of the earth while being replenished anew by some kind of tapped spring.

"Come in!" it said. "The sunlight won't last two more hours. We feared you wanted to witness the rise of the Watchers."

"Not tonight, of all nights," Scythe said. "Even if I were up for a challenge, they'll be out in full force tonight, judging by the weather. I'd be surprised if a single star appeared in the sky."

"Wait, if the Watchers come out, will we be safe?" Char asked. "This isn't a shelter they would stay away from, is it? We can see the sky from down here!"

"Oh, we have our ways of keeping them at bay," The Dragonite said with a warm smile. "You'll see, little dragon. You have nothing to worry yourself over…"

Char started to traverse the darkened valley, swinging his tail forward to light the way and taking care not to stub his toes on the scattered rubble that covered the ground. It wasn't the most homely place he had seen; chips and slabs of crumbled rock, mixed with even more lumpy accumulations of sand, were piled wall-to-wall in the space. As he dodged around the rubble, he felt a dusty layer of grit forming on the pads of his feet.

"How wondrous to have your own little candle, isn't it?" the Dragonite laughed. "Well then. I'm jealous enough. We won't have too much trouble getting the Sol-rock started tonight, will we?"

Solrock? Char wondered. Isn't that the Pokémon Alakazam mentioned? The one at Temporal Tower?

"Perhaps, but first, my companions and I would much like to eat in peace," Scythe said. "There is still plenty of time before you will need to borrow my Charmander."

"Oh, of course, by all means," The Dragonite said, bowing politely to the old warrior. "Your team has assembled itself right over there, and your supplies are all in your possession. If you need anything, don't hesitate to bother Arshall, or any of us. We'll be on the far side of the watering hole, in that direction. And you're always welcome to dine with us. We have plenty of meat to go around, if you're not ready to break into your own supplies yet."

"Thank you, but we will be fine for the moment," Scythe said, returning the bow, but obviously anxious to be rid of the company. "Char, let's go."

At that, the dragon left to rejoin his companions, whose chatter and laughter seemed to constantly echo between the valley halls.

"Finally," Scythe muttered with a little smile.

It didn't take very long for Char to find his friends. They were situated on the opposite end of a sizable slab of rock which stuck straight out of the ground, forming a wall of sorts between them and the rest of the valley. It was understandable, especially if Saura and Ray found it as difficult as Scythe to stay in the company of the dragons for too long. As friendly as the Dragonite clan was, Char couldn't wait to have some private time with his friends…

But as he approached them, ready to settle down and share his experiences of the day, he found that they were not themselves.

Saura was curled up very oddly, with his forehead pressed squarely against the ground, and a hard scowl set upon his face. Ray was propped against the rock, also not looking too happy himself. His fur sparked and glowed in the darkness, especially around the power reservoirs in his cheeks. Char feared he would need to discharge sometime soon, hopefully not upon him.

"Ugh… Oh, hi, Char," Saura managed to mutter, shifting his posture to greet him. "I heard your Dragonite say you liked flying?"

"Not really," Char said. "It was more like… I hated it, then at the end I realized I should have been liking it all along… what about you? Are you alright? What happened to you?"

"My belly feels awful…" Saura grumbled. "And my head hurts… I feel really sick… Daniel was nice and all, but... I don't think I like flying so much."

"It wasn't so fun," Ray groaned in agreement, not opening his eyes. "I thought it was going to be awesome… But I started getting dizzy. And then there was the lightning storm…"

"Uh oh," Char said. "What happened in the lightning storm?"

"You don't want to know," Ray muttered, his body visibly trembling at just the thought. "You really don't."

"You both have come down with some motion sickness," Scythe said. "That, and maybe a little altitude sickness as well. It just means you haven't learned to adjust yourselves to flying yet. Not life-threatening in the least."

"But I feel like my forehead is going to fall off!" Saura whined. "I can't think straight or anything."

"Your forehead will stay on, rest assured," Scythe said with a grin. "The worst it will do is cause you to expel your last meal… The three of you were lucky not to have eaten breakfast. Me, I wasn't so smart… I had a Chesto berry… lost it in mid-flight."

"Ugh, please, don't even mention the word food right now…" Saura said, burying his head in his paws. "This isn't fair! Mom always told me I would never have to worry about getting sick… Ugh… make it go away…"

"Well, enough wallowing in self-pity," Scythe ordered, raising his voice and clanging the tips of his blades against the ground. "It's time to get up. Let's go. Up with the both of you!"

"What? What's wrong?" Saura cried weakly. "I thought it was time to rest!"

"Yes… sir…" Ray replied, forcing himself upright, then falling onto all fours. "What do we have to do?"

"Eat," Scythe declared. "It's dinnertime. We ate nothing today. We must all get something in our stomachs."

"I can't!" Saura groaned in protest. "Are you joking? There's no way! I don't think my stomach will be able to handle food for another few hours… maybe not even until tomorrow."

"I'm not so hungry, either," Ray said. "Can I pass on dinner?"

"I'm sorry, but we must," Scythe said. "Stopping to rest is hardly effective if your body doesn't have the nourishment it needs to recreate itself. Find your resolve; it is time for us to fight our stomachs for supremacy. Char, bring the bag, if you would…"

While the rest of the team reluctantly assembled a lazy little circle, Char ambled over to the corner where the supplies were stashed. Though his intense shot of adrenaline had helped to weaken the effect, his stomach was in just as much of an uproar as his friends' were. Truthfully, he would have preferred to skip over to the oasis puddle and jump in tail-first than attempt to swallow any food… but there was no arguing with Scythe, especially after his recent conversation. He would have to choke something down.

Grasping his team bag, his mind started to recall its contents. There was some food in there for situations similar to this, but nothing terribly easy on the stomach. There was a mixture of seeds and nuts, a few hard-skinned pears, a large apple…

If only we had afforded some gummis, Char told himself. Those would have gone down smoothly… But Kecleon didn't let us have any of those for free…

"No," Scythe said, wearing an odd smirk. "Not that bag. The other one."

The other one? Char wondered. The one Alakazam gave us? I thought that was supposed to be reserved for dungeons…

Nevertheless, Char dropped his team's bag and took up the other, the one full of unimaginably expensive and valuable supplies. It was very heavy, taking both of his arms just to lift it off the ground so as to not drag it across the gravel-strewn ground and damage any of the treasures within.

"Uh oh…" Ray gasped. "What are we going to take out of there?"

"Char, if you would, release the strap and open the middle pocket," Scythe instructed. "You will find a rather large pouch."

"You don't mean the gold apples, do you?!" Saura asked in surprise. "Here? Now?"

"Ah, yes, you've caught on," Scythe hummed. "Char, one Golden Apple, if you would…"

Char did as commanded, searching through the masterfully organized travel bag for the sack of apples. When he found them, it was by smell… the bulging pouch produced an overpowering aroma, resembling something like the world's most appetizing fruit salad. He unfolded the cloth enough to untie the sack, then reached in and produced one of the apples—and for a moment, he could not bring himself to comprehend the thing he held in his hand. It was an apple, but it was nearly the size of his head! The skin felt smooth and blemishless, like glass, and glittered like a diamond in the orange light of his tail. His mouth decided to completely ignore the sourness of his stomach and started to water.

"Anyone ever try one of these?" Scythe asked.

Team Ember collectively shook their heads, their eyes glued to the sparkling fruit.

"Well, this is a Golden Apple," Scythe explained. "A siren song to any appetite, big, small, or already satiated. They are found only in dungeons, leading many to believe that they are blessed with the same anomaly as the Reviver Seed. While they are only half as rare, they're just as respected among explorers. You see, Alakazam was not exaggerating when said it was all the food we need. One Golden Apple is usually enough to nourish a Pokémon… for a month."

"Really?" Saura gasped. "This little thing?"

"Yes, but only if portioned responsibly," Scythe explained. "When you bite into one, it's all too easy to eat more than your allotment. Eat the whole thing, and your stomach will swell… you won't be hungry for weeks, but you may strain yourself. Unfortunately, I've seen many Pokémon unable to stop after just one bite… Even the mighty Snorlax is powerless to resist its allure. If it swallows just one of these, it will gladly forsake the other eight hundred ninety-nine pounds of its usual diet… Or so we like to say… Well? Everyone hungry yet?"

The team collectively nodded.

"Good!" Scythe said, eyeing the apple. "Now, Char. Set it down in the center…"

-Slice!-

Not a moment after Char's hands were clear, Scythe made a quick movement with both his blades which caused the apple to split into four similar-sized pieces.

Char didn't even have to be asked. He greedily gathered up his corner of the apple and bit down, closing his eyes to savor the flavor.

The taste which filled Char's mouth was indeed something like a fruit salad, the prominent flavor something like an apple both tart and sweet at the same time, wrapped in caramel, slathered in honey, and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Even the dripping juices from the fruit flowed down his throat and made his inner fire pleasantly tingle. Before he knew it, he was long lost in the sweet dreams induced by the delightful fruit. Unlike the red gummi, the flavor wasn't extreme; it didn't erupt in his mouth. Rather, it was like a warm fuzziness that eased itself in and made itself at home. Also unlike the gummi, it was satisfying, rather than addictive; even as the flavor brought tears to his eyes, he knew that, when he was finished, he would not be left wanting for a very long time.

It's so sweet, Char thought to himself, indulging in the large apple slice. And sour. And bitter. It's like every flavor mixed into one… oh, why can't they make the division's lunches out of these? It's… so… good…

Char was so lost in the meal, he lost some conscious control over his hands—and the apple slice slipped out of his grasp, breaking him out of the bliss and dropping him back into the real world.

Blinking, he scanned the ground underfoot, knowing it couldn't have gone far. But it eluded him; he saw nothing but gravel rocks and a giant puddle of juice which had erupted from the fruit.

"Hmm, where'd it go?" Char wondered out loud. "Anybody see my apple? I think I dropped it—"

His sentence came to a halt as he glanced up to his team members. All three of them, Scythe included, stared back with looks of incredulousness plastered upon their faces. Not one of them had taken more than one bite of their apple slice—they were all fixated on Char with wide eyes. Char wondered if he had accidently evolved while eating the apple.

"What?" Char demanded. "What's wrong?!"

"Char," Scythe said, his voice serious and surprised, "you ate it."

"Can't be," Char insisted, still glancing around on the ground. "I didn't eat the whole thing. There was still a huge chunk left."

"No, you ate the whole thing," Scythe told him. "And with startling speed. I was watching the whole time."

"Are you kidding? He didn't eat it, he breathed it in!" Ray cried. "Char, that was amazing! I've never seen something disappear that fast! We should enter you in a big eater contest! You could beat a Munchlax!"

Char felt himself blush from his own silliness, but soon broke down and laughed along with his friends. He patted his belly, which was now very stuffed and thoroughly pleased. His stomachache had left him at the first sight of the fruit, and it had yet to come back. Char wondered if the apple had healing properties among all of its special qualities…

After the entire apple had been gobbled up, and spirits had been lifted, the four partook in a brief respite, resting themselves upon the ground and professing their dislike of flying, gossiping about the Dragonite clan, and sharing whatever thoughts came to mind. Char described his experience in free-fall, telling how it had helped to subdue his fear of heights and escalate his longing for the form of a Charizard. Saura praised the gorgeous view of the earth, but cursed the ancients for letting him get sick. Scythe told him to cry a river, because any Pokémon who isn't regularly punished for swallowing the wrong variety of berry or making a misstep onto a Dragon's Eye had no right to complain.

After some goading, Ray told his crazy story. He'd been thrown off his Dragonite's back no less than three times, and had been struck full-forced by six lightning bolts, each time with no way of grounding out the charge aside from offering it back to the thunderclouds and hoping they would accept it. The Dragonite, for fear of attracting a lightning bolt to himself, had insisted that Ray neutralize his charges under penalty that he would keep lifting and dropping him until he did so. Though Ray always loved the notion of filling his body with electricity, this particular incident had left him feeling quite burned out, and with a splitting headache.

"Let me get this straight," Char said. "You rode dragonback at hundreds of miles per hour, you got to see the earth from up in the clouds, you got to free-fall and overload yourself with lightning repeatedly, and it wasn't the most awesome thing you've ever done in your life?"

"Actually, no, yeah, when you put it that way, I admit it. It was the most awesome thing I've ever done," Ray said with a smile. "You're right. It just hurt so much, I didn't realize it…"

"Same problem I had," Char said. "I guess sometimes, you don't know something's awesome until after it happens."

Char cherished such a pleasant moment with his friends, knowing that it could very well be the last of its kind for quite a while.

… … …

With a pleasantly stuffed belly, Char let his body sprawl out upon the sandy ground and felt the last of his day's troubles unwind. The apple did have a medicinal effect, he determined: it was a painkiller and a stress reliever, letting him relax and fade away into a good night's sleep…

…Until he was interrupted by a member of the Dragonite clan.

The Dragon's voice gave him quite a start from his wooziness, causing him to wonder if he had been out for a minute or an hour. He stretched his contented muscles and sat up, awaiting whatever message it brought.

"Good evening to you," The dragon greeted. "Is all going well? Ah, Saura, you're looking a lot better. Recovered?"

"Oh, hi, Daniel," Saura yawned, rousing himself from his own slumber. "I ate, and now I'm feeling fine… for the most part…"

"Good to hear," the dragon said with a nod, then turned to face Scythe in a much more formal posture. "How about you, Scyther? Is there anything you have been left desiring?"

"I have been well, as well," Scythe replied. "I suppose you're preparing the Sol-rock already?"

"Indeed," The Dragonite replied. "The darkness dawns. The Watchers will ascend in minutes."

"Then we'd better come," Scythe said. "Up with all of you! We have a gathering to attend."

Char turned a wary eye upward to the canyon opening. Past the aura of light his tail produced, there was nothing but an abyss of blackness above his head. The atmosphere, still shrouded by the thick layer of stormclouds, did not so much as glow…

This will be the first night I'll spend out in the open, Char realized. Will I get to see the Watchers for the first time? And what's all this about Solrock?

"Wait, what are we doing now?" Saura implored. "I was just getting comfy…"

"Rest will come in a moment," the dragon assured, "but not here. Come with us. And don't forget your supplies…"

Following the Dragonite's lead, Char's group gathered the two bags and crossed the crevice, past the watering hole, to the very far corner. There, just before the walls of stone converged upon an inhospitable heap of rubble which marked the end of the valley, the clan had established their space upon a flat, clean stretch of land which had obviously been cleared off by hand. Even in the darkness, the dragons laughed and conversed jovially with one another, tossing around their food and supplies to share. Two of them lay nearby, already fast asleep for the night, while the rest seemed to gather around in a group…

As Char drew near, all of the Dragonite gave a pleased glance to his flame, causing their eyes to sparkle with its reflection. Looking a little closer, Char realized that not all of the objects they held and passed around were particularly significant. Some were just rocks, it seemed, collected from the surrounding terrain…

"Hey, they're sleeping!" Saura said quietly to Char. "Why can't we?"

"Beats me," Char replied with a shrug. "Maybe it's just a meeting?"

"A meeting of necessity," Scythe said. "The Watchers will not stay out of the gorge on their own. If there is no shelter, travelers can use a fire to provide protection..."

A fire? That thought managed to pique Char's interest.

"Very good, you're here," Arshall called, standing first among her clan. "I'm sorry we cannot offer you any further privacy, but it's getting late. We'll be casting the Sol-rock now, and not a moment too soon. Ready?"

"We are ready," Scythe answered for the group.

At Arshall's signal, the dragons ceremoniously tossed forth their held rocks, causing a medium-sized pile to form at the center of the circle of Pokémon. As the dragons turned to gather up more, Char took a close look at the rocks. They were partially black, partially orange, like some kind of creative desert that the Division's mess hall would serve. Char really had to wonder what was going on.

"That's the Solrock?" Char asked. "It's not… a broken Pokémon… is it?"

At the ridiculous question, the dragons simultaneously paused to give Char a funny look. Feeling his flame flare up a little bit from embarrassment, he turned to his friends for support. They all had nothing to tell him, but he found Scythe wearing a gleeful grin, not unlike the time he had witnessed their team named Peanuts.

"What do you mean by that?" Arshall asked very oddly. "Oh. Oh! You've never seen this before, have you?"

The dragons burst into a gentle laughter, causing Char even more shame. Scythe gave his own chuckle.

"Pardon my presumption, little dragon!" Arshall said. "I am a little slow sometimes. 'Sol-rock' is only a play on words, and truth be told, it's one we've used for so long, we sometimes forget about the joke that lies underneath. No, this sort of Sol-rock is not a Pokémon. It's a mineral abundant beneath this desert which behaves like coal, but not quite ordinary coal… would you like to see what happens when it combusts?"

"Sure!" Char answered interestedly.

"Among my team, I'm the only one who has learned to conjure fire," Arshall said. "But it stings sometimes, and I don't think I'm in the right of spirits at the moment to try. Would you do the honors?"

After a round of encouragement from the dragons, Char reared back, took a deep breath, and released his best stream of flames at the little pile of rocks. As soon his attack collided with the pile, the room flashed with an unexpected spectrum of colors, all in the span of an instant. A handful of sparks jumped out from the pyre, appearing to glow yellow and green as they faded away into invisible ashes…

When his lungs depleted, Char cut his flamethrower short and observed his work. All of the stones which bore the brunt of his fire were glowing white-hot, like no coal he had ever seen. Just as he was beginning to wonder if he needed to apply more fire, several flames jumped up from between the rocks, all of which shined such a bright white that they were practically colorless, miniature tears in the void of space. The dragons gave a friendly cheer.

"Well done!" Arshall congratulated. "I could not have done better myself."

"Wow, what kind of fire is that?" Saura wondered out loud. "Is that even real fire? It looks so powerful. It casts rainbows into my eyes!"

As the fire spread to every stone, the sight became like a bright white ball adorned with dancing flames. The light it cast was so pure, so full, that it felt slightly like the sun had dawned again in the depths of that valley. His eyes adjusted to the brightness before long, allowing him to understand the sight, but it never stopped leaving its glowing residual marks on the back of his vision…

"You see? When Sol-rock burns, it gives off light like the sun," Arshall explained. "It's very dangerous for any traveler to spend the night under the stars. But when it must be done, we can use the fire of the Sol-rock. The Watchers abhor it, so this little pyre will keep us safe until the dawn, so long as we don't stray too far from it."

"On the ground, you will see that we have cleared an area from debris," Daniel added. "That is the boundary line of the fire's influence. Or, if you happen to have wings, no further than three-and-a-fourth times your body height directly above the center."

"Five and a half for the Scyther, it appears," Arshall said. "But yes. Stay in the firelight, and sleep soundly."

"So… we're actually going to be sleeping with the Watchers out?" Saura realized. "You mean, they're just going to be right there, right next to us? I've never seen them that close before…"

"I have," Ray confessed. "I was on a three-day training mission once. We spent the night in a house at Kardon Crossing. I knew Team Remorse fights them all the time, so I wanted to prove I was strong enough to battle them. I… hid outside and waited… and I saw them. They were… horrible!"

"And you survived?" Scythe asked, plenty shocked by the revelation. "I hope you learned from the experience…"

"Oh, no! Of course I learned!" Ray pleaded. "I was just telling a story… Please, don't be disappointed with me…"

"I can't help that," Scythe replied. "I would commend you for bravery if you had a just cause. I would commend you for valor if you had spent ten hours a day training yourself against ghosts to prepare for such a challenge… But a foolish act like that can't be commended for anything. You put your life and the lives of your friends on the line, for nothing at all."

"I'm sorry," Ray said. "I was only a Pikachu back then…"

"I understand, but never knew you would have that sort of foolish streak running through you," Scythe said. "It is true that my team fights the Watchers on a regular basis, but our fear of them never, ever fades. I am sorry if my respect for you has dropped just now, but that's not something I have control over. You will just have to earn it back."

"Yes, sir," Ray said, very disheartened. "I never stop feeling ashamed of it! Every day I try to do better! You're always saying that your mistakes make you better—"

"Quiet!" Zahira hissed. "Here they are. Watch!"

The group held their breaths. In the quietness, Char could hear the sound of the white fire, which seemed to sizzle, rather than roar… he could hear the low whistle of the wind as it blew through the canyon… he could hear the faint rumble of the thunder far overhead…

…and he could hear his own heart racing, knowing that the Watchers were about to reveal themselves before his eyes...

Char felt Saura's body brush up against him, and he wrapped one arm around his bulb for an extra sense of security. Both hadn't a clue what they were about to witness, and Char knew that neither of them wanted to feel alone for the slightest moment. Ray stood nearby, with his fists clenched, as if harboring a disdain for the ghosts, and Scythe stood beside him, a look of worry in his eyes.

Everyone cast their glances into the surrounding darkness.

They came in silence, making not a sound with their voices, causing not a disturbance to the surrounding land. They came in numbers, dozens and dozens flocked together like a swarm, drifting eerily like dust particles in the wind.

As Char watched the darkness beyond the fire's reach, a mosaic of dark shapes faded into vision. Each, he realized, was a Ghost Pokémon. His body convulsed when he acknowledged their presence, much like the sensation of picking up a rock covered in black spots and realizing it's crawling with spiders. They were floating… drifting… shifting through the air, seeming to brush up against an invisible dome when getting too close to the firelight…

The ghosts formed amorphous silhouettes, their forms mostly nonsense against the darkness of the surrounding desert. They were discolored, not a deep purple like most ghosts he knew, but mostly shades of dark grey or black… most were translucent, revealing further layers of ghosts behind them… As more of them brushed up close to the light, Char recognized most of them as the Pokémon Misdreavus, but with awful, unnatural mutations, and blank, emotionless faces…

And their eyes… each Misdreavus watched with a pair of glowing, cat-like eyes, which brightened upon proximity to the fire, and reflected all manners of colors, lighting up the canyon like a starry night…

Char shivered in fright, hugging Saura as hard as he could.

"There are many," A Dragonite commented. "Wasn't expecting this much of a concentration…"

"They are the soundless type," Scythe said, a sliver of fear in his voice as well. "They are deaf. They can only watch. I only see a couple Shuppet, but they appear to be ignoring us… The rest are the complacent type. They will only swarm after sudden movements…"

"T-this fire is going to last all night, right?" Saura asked, his voice breaking. "And they won't get any closer than that? W-what if the fire goes out? Even for a second?"

"Oh, silly Bulbasaur. Lighten up!" Arshall suddenly laughed. "What have we done to cast us all into such a bad mood? Relax! Be merry! The Sol-rock will burn until it turns to dust, and by that time, we will have been gone from here tomorrow morning. It isn't easily put out. You could even dump a waterfall onto it, and the water would turn to steam."

"Even so, I don't know how I'm going to sleep like this," Saura said nervously. "Just look at them. Look! They're following us with their eyes!"

"They're worse than I remember," Ray muttered. "What kind of Pokémon are they? Why do they even come out at night? They don't belong here!"

"If we knew that, we would be rid of them by now, probably," Scythe said. "They've ruined many lives, Destroyed just as many opportunities… The sight of them makes my heart boil with rage…"

Char found he couldn't look away from the horrible sight of the ghastly swarm. He stared at them, as if waiting for the moment when he would realize they were not actually real, that nothing so terrifying or unnatural ever had a right to exist… but they remained, their eyes of evil burning through the shadows like shining crystals… Char saw how they swirled through the air at even the slightest movement, trying to file into the shadows cast by whoever happened to walk in front of the sunlight-fire…

"Don't let them bother you," Arshall said again. "They can't hurt you. If you want to sleep, now is the time to do so. They will all be gone in the morning."

"Look at them," Saura whispered again. "They're looking straight at me! They look like… nightmares…"

Snuggling together, to two of them did their best to ignore the looming monsters and find the same peace of mind they had only moments ago when the air was still clear. Somehow, unconsciousness could not come fast enough.

… … …

"I can't do it," Saura muttered, only five minutes later. "When I close my eyes, I still see them. I keep thinking they're going to invade my mind… I think I might need to use one of our sleep seeds…"

"Don't bother," Ray groaned, who was laying nearby, not daring to make contact with anyone for fear of accidentally releasing his charge. "I had one already. It's not working."

"Want to try moving closer to the fire?" Char suggested. "Maybe it'll feel more safe…"

"Typical Charmander," Saura half-laughed. "Fine… the farther away from them, the better…"

As they dragged themselves over to the white fire, careful not to cast a stray glance into the darkness beyond, it struck Char just how different the fire looked to him now that it stood as a true beacon of safety, warding off the terrors of the dark. The flame stood sharp and smooth, giving off a searing noise as it fed from the rocks underneath. A great warmth flowed from the blaze, striking his skin like dull daggers, drawing him closer. It was a more intense type of fire than any he ever knew, and it drew curiosity from him. In a way, it really was beautiful.

Though most of the dragons had turned in for the night, sleeping in an orderly row a few yards away from the fire, Arshall and two of her companions remained awake, discussing whatever important matters they had to talk about. She cut the conversation short as soon as she noticed Team Ember approaching.

"Can I help you?" Arshall asked, standing attentively at the other end of the fire. "Are you getting cold? The desert's temperature really drops in the evening, doesn't it?"

"Not really," Saura replied. "We're just having trouble sleeping. It's my first time seeing the Watchers like this."

"I see," Arshall said sympathetically, stepping over and sitting by Char's side. "Well, have you tried counting backwards from one thousand?"

"What?" Saura replied.

"That's always been my favorite way to trick my mind into sleeping," Arshall said. "The trick is just to take your mind off everything. If something's bothering you, you won't be able to sleep no matter how hard you try, until you can get it out of your mind."

"Really," Scythe said, also approaching the fireplace. "My favorite has always been to exhaust myself so far that the mind no longer functions."

"Oh, Scyther, I thought you'd begun your rest, too," Arshall said, quickly standing up again and giving Scythe her attention. "Is something bothering you?"

"Yes, but it's not your fault," Scythe said. "Lately, I haven't been sleeping as much as I would like… What about you, dragon? Are you going to sleep?"

Arshall shook her head. "As captain, it's my duty to keep watch until my team and everyone in my care retires themselves," she said. "Though, don't worry about me. Dragonite don't need as much sleep as other Pokémon…"

For a moment, the group stood around the fire, saying nothing. Char and Saura both looked nervous, Scythe looked angered at something, and Arshall wore an awkward expression, as if she considered it all her fault. They had all formed a circle around the fire they had started just minutes ago, and it was apparent that none of them would be sleeping for a while.

"Perhaps it would help if we all took our mind off things for a while," Arshall said. "I say we all sit down right here and share stories before the fire, just like Pokémon of old would do to lift spirits when they slept under the stars. How about it?"

"Fine," Scythe said, setting himself down. "I'll stay to hear some of your tales. But I'm not a storyteller myself…"

"Oh, undue humility, Scyther!" Arshall said with a grin. "I refuse to believe that you, of all Pokémon, don't have a story to tell. I know my brothers and I would be honored to hear a tale from you, regardless of what words you choose to tell it with."

Shortly enough, all seven of the present Pokémon had made themselves comfortable around the firelight, and Char prepared to immerse himself in whatever stories would be told.

"Well, if this is what we're going to do, first thing's first," Scythe declared. "Ray. Tell us all how you survived the Watchers that night. I'm very curious to hear it."

Char could tell how saddened Ray was at the subject. Ray had been so sure that Scythe, in his wisdom, would understand if he told a story of long ago… he never imagined it would hurt his own reputation in his hero's eyes. He watched as Ray answered out of obedience, rather than enthusiasm, his glowing fur still betraying his poor disposition…

"Well, I went outside and hid behind a rock so the rest of the team wouldn't find me," Ray explained. "When it got dark… a Gastly appeared out of nowhere, and it was three times my size! And it had huge fangs, and its eyes were like gold… That's when I tried to run… It was so horrible… I think it got me, because I felt like I was starting to float in the air, and everything was turning black…"

"You never told us this story," Saura gasped. "That's so horrible…"

"Seems to me like you were seconds away from death," Scythe said. "No way to tell what it may have done with you. How did you live?"

"Zeven found me," Ray continued. "A Sneasel from my old team. He did something to the Gastly, and the next thing I knew, he was holding me… And I was so scared, I shocked him… I made pretend that the whole thing was an accident and Zeven saved me, so that's the story everyone heard…"

"I see," Scythe said. "I've met Zeven. He's a good kid. Going to make a fine night-prowler someday. And yes, you are right. It is not a good memory. I can understand why you would hide it. Your remorse still haunts you."

"Worst part is, that wasn't the only stupid thing I did," Ray admitted. "I did a lot of stupid things trying to prove to myself how strong I was. I try not to talk about them very much. But ever since I became a Raichu, I've really tried to be someone I could be proud of. I changed a lot. I was more responsible, and I tried harder, and it worked, because I was different."

"That's right," Daniel the Dragonite said. "Evolution changes more than just what is on the outside. They say, when a Pokémon evolves, its spirit becomes what they always wished it would be. Like me. I have vague memories of my life as a Dratini. The only thing I can remember was that I was scared of Sharpedo. As a Dragonair, I changed. The fear went away. Heh, I laughed at them. I told them all how silly they looked."

"As a Dragonair, I was reclusive," Arshall said. "I was shy, I had no courage to speak with other Pokémon. When I changed, the gift of charisma struck me, and look where I ended up today! I went off to become the leader of a very dependable team of dragons. It seems to me that Arceus grants you a wish when you evolve."

"I don't agree," Scythe said, shaking his head. "That's not the way things are. Evolution only gives you more strength. From that strength, you change your perspective on life. The granted wish is only an illusion. For some, the strength will destroy life, not fulfill it..."

"Oh, oh! You would know, wouldn't you?" Arshall asked excitedly. "That's right! You and Adiel… now there's a story for the ages! Scyther, will you tell the story? It's an incredible part of the resistance legend. Every Pokémon should hear it!"

An electric silence shot through the air, as Scythe was unwilling to further comment on the subject. Scythe diverted his gaze from the Dragonite captain to the fire; it was easy to tell that he was displeased with the topics brought up so far. Char had to wonder if the storytelling, regarding the Watchers and now Adiel, was going to help anyone relax, or just make things worse. Besides, he had heard the story of Adiel a dozen times, or at least as much as Scythe was willing to tell; pressing the subject, he knew, wouldn't be such a good idea…

"I told you, I'm not a storyteller," Scythe said finally. "Besides, that story means nothing. If we are to talk about legends of the resistance that every Pokémon must know, tell Char and his friends the story of how the Emerald Division survived the great overtaking. Tell him the story of Prince and his team. Perhaps they will gain some respect for Lucario's domain."

"There's an idea," Arshall said approvingly. "The story of Team Flamewheel, and how they saved the Emerald Division. Daniel? You would do this better than I, you were there when it happened…"

"Well, nobody can tell the story better than Legend, the Ninetales," Daniel said, standing up and taking over Arshall's place of prominence before the fire. "But for the sake of the legacy, I'll try my best. Now… where to begin?

"Most stories begin with 'long ago and far away'… not this one. This is something that happened up north, and only a few decades ago, recent enough to still be fresh in many memories. The Scyther you sit beside had already established his team, which became known and respected among the resistance forces for the incredible deeds they did. The chaos which ensued from Team Red's betrayal from the Black Division was finally settling down. The scouts were busy searching for the next appearance of the Call, the Watchers had long since started their nightly reign, and the Master had not made a move for some time, giving the resistance a much-needed rest. In all, it was a peaceful time for Ambera and all her children, a time which we all wished would last forever.

"During this time, a team of seven formed at the Gold Division's headquarters, calling themselves Team Flamewheel. The founder of the team was a Pokémon by the name of Prince, an Infernape who hailed from the faraway city of Aronwood. He worked as a skilled martial arts instructor there. When he learned of the resistance, he gathered his faithful assistant and two of his most promising students, and gained admittance to the Gold Division base. Once inside, he appraised the training teams and added three more members, and so, the original seven pledged their allegiance to the Division and began their work.

"Now, it didn't take long for the new team to shine. Prince was a true leader, excelling in the art of battle, strategy, you name it, he could do it. His team worked like a machine. They passed every test, returned victorious from every assigned mission, and exceeded every expectation. Now, Alakazam saw how well the team worked, and he allowed them to rise in the ranks until they were just as privileged as your Scyther's team. And for a couple seasons, the Gold Division prospered.

"But one day, Prince packed up and moved his team north to the Emerald Division. He left on a very short notice, without even Alakazam's blessing. Nobody knows why."

"Huh," Saura commented. "That's weird. That explains how we got our room, I guess. I wonder why they left?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure," Scythe said. "We were decent partners. In fact, our last mission together was an unexpected success, and it was all thanks to him. I asked him to stay, but his mind was made up already. There was nothing I could do."

"Well, whatever was the case, Prince made the Emerald Division his new home," Daniel continued. "But when they arrived there, Lucario was not so convinced of their skills. He treated them as new recruits, making them prove their capabilities to him little by little. And righteously so; the standards of the Emerald Division are very high. If Lucario wanted to rely on Prince and his team for difficult tasks, he had to know they would not be a weak link which could cost hundreds of Pokémon their lives. So, Prince got stuck doing dungeon exploration missions and escort missions, and other such mundane things. His team name was not known among the Division's members like it was at the Gold Division; he found himself having to attain a reputation all over again.

"Now, one day, while Prince and his team were away on a routine sentry mission, a horrible truth was discovered. The Master had discovered the Emerald Division, and was silently planning to destroy it!"

"I heard the story a little differently," Scythe commented, ignoring the gasps which rose from Team Ember. "I heard Prince's team was on a piracy mission when it happened. And I heard that they observed the movement of some troops, but Lucario didn't learn the truth until later. Regardless, carry on."

"If you wanted to tell the story, you should have said so in the first place!" Daniel laughed. "But anyway. The horrible truth.

"A wave of tension swept over the Division when they learned the truth. The Master had his sights set on them, and all seemed doomed. Lucario held an emergency meeting of the entire Division to discuss the dire situation. The silence in that chamber was deafening. Spirits were challenged to the core. Lucario addressed the Pokémon of the Emerald Division, in very morbid way, discussing their options…

"That's when Prince took things into his own hands. He stood up to Lucario and faced him down. The argument between Prince and Lucario filled the chamber, rattling every heart inside, as Prince demanded that he acknowledge Team Flamewheel's skill, and to listen to them. Finally, he got Lucario to listen to them, and convinced him and the entire Emerald Division that he could lead a last stand against the Master's forces.

"And so, a great battle was staged northwest of the Division, near the border of Zerferia, where the Master had hoped to sneak into the Division from behind. There, Prince's team, backed with hundreds of the Division's best warriors, waited. And then, in a blistering snowstorm, they came. Prince stood atop the hill, watching as thousands upon thousands of the Master's best forces marched forward in ranks across the barren landscape… One by one, Prince could make out the identities of the troops. A hundred Snover. A hundred Weavile. Hundreds upon hundreds of Onix, Skarmory, Flareon, and many more… all bred and trained for killing and destroying the Master's enemies…

"Prince led his troops in a prayer to Arceus, watching them march closer… and closer…

"Then… the armies clashed… And Prince, with only a hundred under his command… won the battle."

"Wait, wait, What?! That's it?!" Saura cried angrily. "They just won? No legendary strategy? No act of Arceus? Didn't anybody die?"

"Oh, many died in that battle, of course," Daniel said. "Prince's side suffered heavy losses. But they managed to repel the enemies, and the Emerald Division still stands to this day. And that's the story!"

A moment of silence. Char didn't quite know what to say, and apparently nobody else did, either.

"Uh… so… is there a moral of the story?" Saura finally asked. "It's epic and all, I know, but why does every Pokémon have to hear that?"

"Of course, isn't it obvious?" Arshall spoke up. "The moral is that even a one-to-one hundred battle can be won! It's a metaphor for the entire resistance, and a story that gives the whole Emerald Division pride and hope! The Master sits in his castle, his enemies outnumber us in the thousands, but if we try, we can still win!"

"Oh," Scythe sighed, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "The way he told the story it, it sounded as though moral might have been something to the effect of 'Scream until other Pokémon listen to you'. No offense, Dragonite, but it seems you have a talent for taking a timeless tale, mincing it into unspectacular pieces, and discarding the best half. Even I could have done better than that."

Daniel and Arshall both frowned at him, and Scythe immediately wished he could recall his words. He unconsciously took a step backward. Char watched in amazement.

"You failed to mention the Abyss, the Evergreen Guild, or any of Prince's companions," Scythe said quickly in his defense. "And you told the story out of order. Prince learned the truth long before Lucario did."

Daniel and Arshall frowned harder.

"I'm sorry," Scythe said even more quickly. "I didn't mean to be harsh."

"Well, how about you tell a story now, Scyther?" Arshall challenged. "We would very much like to hear one of your great tales."

Scythe knew that it was a demand, not a suggestion. If he wanted to make up for insulting the dragons, he would have to think of something quick…especially before Arshall suggested telling the Adiel story again.

Clearing his throat, Scythe stepped closer to the fire, straightened himself out, and faced his audience.

"Well, since you insist, there was one particularly interesting day at Basin Canyon which I remember to some extent," Scythe said. "You see, we were venturing down into the caves, going to dig out a tunnel. We have to dig out the tunnels, you see, so that the place is easier to defend. And so that any intruders get confused. Well, we were digging this tunnel, you see, and we had to stop, because there was a giant sheet of unbreakable rock lodged into the earth. It was like a pillar. We thought about going up and around it. After an hour of pondering, we decided it would damage the structural integrity of the land too much. So we decided to go down. But when we started to go down, we found… to our shock… the rock extended downward as well! It was unbelievable. And the rock was so hard, it didn't even scratch. So, after much deliberation, we went left. And there we found that the big rock had a corner to it. I stopped to sharpen my blades on it, then we kept following it around, and it was shaped so oddly, we began to wonder what it was. I suggested it could be a human object. Shander thought it belonged to the Master. But no, we ended up digging it out, and it was just a big rock. Oh, but that's not the best part. Let me tell you how we got it out of the cave…"

…

Some ten minutes later, Scythe paused his painfully boring story and glanced at the ground. Char, Saura, and Ray were fast asleep.

"I wonder why I didn't think of that in the first place," Scythe said, shrugging to the un-amused Dragonite.

… … …

Late that night, when everyone was sleeping soundly the entire crew was startled awake by a deafening explosion. Char jumped a foot in the air, his heart mercilessly racing. The dragons were quickly sent into an uproar.

"BAAAH! What was THAT?!" Saura cried, his ears ringing from the assault. "What?! Are we being attacked?!"

"It's nothing," Scythe shouted from across the canyon. "Go back to sleep, there's nothing to see here."

Scythe stood near the very end of the fire's light. At his feet laid a very exhausted, yet very satisfied Ray.

"Thank you," Ray moaned, sprawling out on the floor with a beaming smile on his face. "I really needed that… it was keeping me awake…"

With some supervision, Ray had called down a lightning bolt from the storm far above, charged his body with it, and released a mighty jolt of power into the cloud of Watchers. Dozens of them had dissipated.

"Very nice execution," Scythe said. "You're skilled with your lightning. See, the main thing to remember when fighting the Watchers is to never let them make contact with you."

Ray soon fell asleep, content that he had finally discharged his electricity, and also that, at last, he had exacted revenge on the Watchers.

---

Author's note: The side story Emerald Chronicles: A Frozen Flame was first published when this chapter was posted. It is meant to tell the full version of Daniel's story using many reader-submitted characters I had asked readers to send in. (Before you ask, no, I'm not accepting them anymore.)

It is currently on hiatus and one-fourth complete; there are plans to finish it. Even so, I encourage you to check it out; in my opinion, Legend's chapters are some of my best writing.

*Chapter 39*: Chapter 35: Homesick

Chapter 35

"WE'RE HERE!"

At Zahira's announcement, Char's pleasant trancelike state was broken and he found himself back in reality, positioned on the Dragonite's back as she shot across the sky in formation with her clan. A shiver ran through him as the formation angled themselves into a shallow dive to prepare for landing, causing the opaque, fluffy clouds below to rise up slowly and threaten to swallow him alive. Char cringed as they grew closer. He really dreaded flying through clouds; they sent the strangest sensations through the tip of his tail.

The previous night's rest had not been a very long or satisfying one after all. Between the haunting, inescapable presence of the Watchers, the storytelling session, and Ray's unexpected summoning of a lightning bolt, Char figured he might have accomplished only about two solid hours of unconsciousness. The Dragonite didn't care, though; as soon as the sun poked its nose over the edge of the earth and vanquished the ghosts of the night, they insisted in their typical overly-polite-and-irritating way upon waking the party, throwing together their supplies, and taking flight without delay. After exchanging some nods with Saura, Ray, and Scythe, as there wasn't really much to say at the time, Char climbed onto Zahira's back and let himself go limp as she carried him along his journey.

Just as Char hoped and expected, the second day's flight was infinitely better than the first. For once, his stomach did not protest at the rapid changes in altitude; he still felt the Golden Apple dwelling deep inside, appeasing any groans and aches his belly would have otherwise made. Never once did it threaten to be heaved out; it was as if his body appreciated its presence and intended to keep it there at all costs. Char smiled contently as he realized, if an entire Golden Apple was enough to feed a Pokémon for a month, he would not fear the pang of hunger or the throb of a sour stomach for at least another week after eating the one-fourth.

The sky itself, as well, seemed much more welcoming the second time around. Char didn't know how to place it, but there was something about the temperature, or the air pressure, or the absence of any storm fronts, which made the sky seem like a beloved home he yearned to return to and relax within. With the air clear of such obtrusions as bad weather or opposing wind currents, Zahira and her clanmates seemed to double their speed and rise to a much greater altitude than before, so high that once he gazed in marvel down at an inexplicable landscape formation he simply could not believe, only to realize that he was looking at the puffs of the cloud tops.

For the first few hours, Char had enjoyed the simple exhilaration of the ride, watching as the clouds reeled past below and beside him like a majestic snow-drenched valley. After that, when the scenery did not change for a while, Char began to grow bored, but it was that happy, pleasant type of boredom where you know you have nothing to do, yet you don't want to have anything to do. He blinked in and out of consciousness as his mind fluttered between pleasant daydreams and making up for the sleep he had lost the previous evening. He wished and pretended that the flight would never end, that there was no Master to worry about, that he wouldn't have to trudge through a mountain of snow to answer the summons of a legendary dragon, that his trainer wasn't slowly driving himself to insanity from weariness, that Saura could be with his family, that Ray could earn the respect he wanted from his superiors, and that he had come to the world of Pokémon as some sort of reward from the gods, that his purpose there was nothing more than to enjoy his life and soar through the sky upon Charizard wings, that nothing of urgency sat upon his shoulders.

It was during one of these daydreams that Zahira had announced their arrival to their destination, the Emerald Division.

Char had the strange urge to hold his breath just before Zahira plunged him down through the layer of clouds. He closed his eyes just before it hit, and soon, his heart raced as he expected the tickling, stabbing feels of the partially-condensed vapor colliding against his flame. But this time, it surprisingly did not come; this cloud was not a storm cloud. It was only foggy, not wet with pockets of condensation ready to be dispersed as raindrops. Relieved, he blinked his eyes back open just in time to emerge from the cloud blanket and watch the landscape of northern Ambera open up before him.

It was dark.

That was the first thing he noticed about the land: the darkness. It genuinely shocked him; it was, after all, the dead center of the winter season in this part of the world, as it had been summer down south at the Plateau and the surrounding lands. He figured, this far north, snowdrifts would have accumulated across the ground as far as the eye could see… and that wasn't even to mention that it was only about three hours past midday, the sun still prominent in the sky…

Instead, the earth depicted a landscape of gray and brown, cast into shadow by the thick blanket of clouds which he had flown through. There were not even any forests or grassy plains to give the world the green tint he had seen in it for the portions of the trip the earth had been visible. It looked as though the land was leeched of its vitality, sucked dry by some monstrous predator or wilted by some unstoppable poison.

The second thing he noticed was that it was cold.

The whole trip had been rather chilly with the frigid winds of the upper atmosphere constantly whipping past his face, but Zahira's body had emanated a great warmth, and she flew in such a way that shielded her rider from the worst brunt of the wind. Whenever the temperature bothered him, he would only need to lay belly-down upon her back and all would be well…

But as they descended toward the surface, the tingle of vertigo nipping at the top of his head, Char suddenly found he could not escape the cold.

"It's… a bit chilly!" Char commented to the Dragonite, who had reduced her speed enough that the wind would not overpower his speech.

"It always is up here," Zahira answered. "Welcome to the high latitudes!"

To Char, the cold was certainly not something to welcome. In fact, it was quite new to him; the climate around the Plateau was always temperate and pleasant, even on the windiest or stormiest of days. The coldest feelings Char had ever experienced were on a mission to the core of a dungeon called Windswept Ditch, where he actually felt parts of his face starting to go numb as he led the team through the lower levels. It was not a warm memory—in fact, it was the cold that caused him to lose his focus, which ultimately cost Team Ember the success of the mission. Char hated the cold. He hated how it surrounded him, how it permeated his skin, how it stung and made him lose feeling, how it stifled his fire, and how it would just not go away. Dread filled his heart as he imagined, if this was the normal climate which northern Ambera expected, just how cold it would get during a winter storm…

…and how cold the notorious land of Zerferia would prove to be…

Far below, Char spotted a cluster of structures which the Dragonite clan seemed to be honing in on. From so high up in the air, it looked only like a little pile of blocks, no bigger than half a village. Surely, this tiny little settlement wasn't the renowned Emerald Division… was it?

---

Emerald Outskirts

The Dragonite clan shouted a merry cheer, a celebration of a task well-completed, as they touched down upon the stiff clay road which connected to the arrangement of uninteresting buildings Char had seen from above. Without much eagerness, Char clambered down from his comfortable position upon Zahira, feeling, as he had the previous night in the desert, the strange way his mind reacted to being anchored on solid ground after experiencing flight for hours on end. He remembered how it had taken him a whole six minutes before he was able to even command his legs to take him in a comprehensible direction, and even then, his stomach lurched at every step. Though he had been thankful for it, in the end; it had given him the opportunity to hang back and talk with Scythe, who had been experiencing similar troubles, while the rest of the party continued onward. Though Char now felt the blessed apple still inside of him squelching the unpleasant feelings of motion sickness, it still felt as though the entire mass of land sat upon a rushing stream which he could not see, carrying him in some direction at a high speed.

Having difficulty even aiming his feet at the ground, Char dropped to all fours and waited for his sense of balance to recover. It brought back faint memories of waking up as a Charmander and not understanding how to command his new legs. A sudden blast of cold wind rivaling the temperatures up in the stratosphere struck his face, causing him to close his eyes and bite down upon his lower lip as he endured it. Clouds of white erupted from his nostrils on every breath.

"Hey, are you alright?" Saura asked, already rushing to Char's side.

"I'm fine," Char assured him, gritting his teeth and trying, but failing, to stand himself up. "Just a little dizzy. And cold."

"Yeah, it's really freezing out here," Saura agreed, pressing his forehead against Char's stomach to help him up. "Let's hope the division is a nice warm place, huh?"

As Char righted himself, shuddering in relief as the wind died down, he caught ear of Scythe speaking at the other end of the Dragonite group.

"Better, yes," he heard Scythe say. He sounded groggy, as if he'd also taken the flight as an opportunity to recover lost sleep. "The apple didn't hurt much, either… I would have fed it to you on the first day, but I convinced myself that flying wasn't as bad as I had remembered. I regret having been so hopeful."

"Aw, don't worry about it," he heard Ray say. "It was nothing. I got through it, and that's all that matters."

Finally feeling some semblance of balance, Char stood and glanced about his new surroundings. Indeed, it was just as he had seen before from the air: the sky was blanketed with clouds, or perhaps one large cloud, hiding the dimmed sun and casting the land into a dusk-like darkness. The land was desolate, barren; only a few stray rocks and leafless trees jutted from the hardened dirt which surrounded the road. The only thing of note, he saw, was the place he was assuming was the Emerald Division: enclosed within a decorative stone wall stood five brick structures, the central one dwarfing the size of all the others by at least fourfold. He expected that, like the Gold Division, this resistance force lived underground, and these buildings were only a front for one of their many entrances. Still, he had a hard time believing it; there were no other Pokémon around except for the group; their only company was the howl of the cold wind through the tiny settlement.

"From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you," Scythe said to Arshall, offering a polite bow as he addressed her. "You have accomplished your task as well as anyone could have asked."

"It has been a pleasure, Scyther, to serve you by doing what we do best," Arshall responded. "And an honor, as well. My clan and I have ferried many important Pokémon around Ambera… but not so many as famous as you."

"The pleasure is all mine, of course," Scythe replied. "Saved us the trouble of walking. I hope Alakazam has paid you handsomely for your effort."

"Oh, ho, not yet, he hasn't," Arshall laughed. "We are not finished with you yet, after all!"

Scythe blinked, the statement catching him off-guard.

"Of course, what I mean is, we still have the return trip to take," Arshall quickly added when she spotted the unexpected look across Scythe's face. "Alakazam arranged the whole trip. Though, he didn't really make it clear how long you'd be staying."

A visible wince shot through the Scyther's form, as though he had just realized something terrible.

"Scyther, is something the matter?" Arshall asked concernedly. Behind her eyes, she looked terrified, as if she'd just offended her guest in a way she didn't understand. Some of the other dragons seemed to share her sentiment, not to mention Char, who had held his breath at Scythe's reaction, wondering what had gone wrong with his plans…

"Return trip," Scythe mouthed, just barely muttering the words under his breath. "Return trip. Return trip… Return trip…"

"You… may stay as long as you'd like, if that's what worries you…?" Arshall added, her face bewildered. "There will always be at least one of us here, it will not be difficult to rally us when you need…"

"No." Scythe suddenly said, straightening up. "No, forgive me. Nothing's the matter. I just had a thought stuck in place for a second. But yes, thank you for all your help. We will alert you when we are prepared to leave."

"In that case, then, since Alakazam made it clear how urgent this trip has been, Zahira here will guide you to Lucario's den at once," Arshall said, looking relieved. "Zahira, fine flying with you! Send our regards to Lucario!"

"I will," Zahira promised. "Well, Scyther, Charmander, let's not waste any time. Come with me. Lucario should be pleasantly surprised to see that we've arrived a little ahead of schedule."

It struck Char then, judging by the actions of the Dragonite clan, that this was not the Emerald Division after all. Rather, as he watched the dragons line up into some lazy formation and prepare to depart down the road and into the settlement, he determined it to be their team headquarters. After they had returned the luggage for Scythe and Zahira to carry, they waved their cheery goodbyes and set off for home. Char wondered why they hadn't flown the rest of the way to the division, but figured it was close enough that it would not have mattered.

A minute later, Zahira walked with them off the road to guide them into the barren brown landscape beyond. Ray walked at Scythe's side, while Saura and Char helped each other bring up the rear.

"Wow," Saura sighed loudly. "It feels so weird, being so far away from home! It's like, my mind is always drifting back to the Gold Division and the Tiny Plains, but I have to keep telling it that there's no way back right now…"

"Ah, hah, homesickness already?" Zahira chuckled. "Careful, homesickness has been known to eat Pokémon alive!"

"You're telling me," Saura said back. "That was the hardest part about joining the resistance. I kept thinking of my family back at home. But at least the Gold Division was in the same county as my home. This place feels like a whole new world! I feel like such a fish out of water."

"You feel like a fish out of water," Zahira said, holding back a long, hearty laugh. "You have no idea what it's like to be a fish out of water. Be thankful for that. Let me tell you, it shatters your whole sense of being when you find there's such a new dimension to life as the world above the surface…"

Char glanced to Scythe, expecting a reply from him. Scythe would always comment in these circumstances, offering his keen perspective on the issue or prescribing a remedy, but not this time. He kept his gaze averted, a frown covering his face, as if intent upon ignoring everything but his own thoughts.

"Aww, homesickness isn't too hard to beat," Ray said, glancing back at Char. "You just have to pretend that you have a new home for the time being. Like, hey! Team Ember's all here. Scythe is here. Anywhere you guys go is home to me!"

Another chilly breeze engulfed the group, sweeping across Char's face and taking his breath away. He felt as his flame flickered beneath the wind's weight, and he realized that his teeth were beginning to chatter involuntarily. Curiously, his heated breath continued to manifest itself as little clouds of steam as he exhaled it.

This is almost worse than being caught in the rain, Char told himself, clenching his fists and trying to hide his discomfort from the others. Saura's right… the Division better be warm…

"So… how far until we get there?" Char asked of the Dragonite. "Does the division live underground like we do?"

"The Emerald Division does things a little differently than you're used to, little dragon," Zahira explained. "We don't have the resources to build a big underground base like you have. You wouldn't have either, I think, but Xatu's ancestor who started the Gold Division found it like that, already built. Am I correct, Scyther?"

"Hmm, yes," Scythe barely managed to respond, still lost in his own thoughts.

"We don't live all in the same place," Zahira continued. "Our base of operations is in Fort Emerald, which is the place we're heading now. Our resistance teams live all over the place across these lands we call the Emerald Outskirts. For the sake of organization, Lucario considers them divided into a number of districts, but really, we just live wherever we managed to build or find a home at the time. To the outsider, we wouldn't look threatening. A hermit's dwelling here, a reclusive neighborhood there…"

"Hmm, Dragonite?" Scythe said thoughtfully, suddenly speaking up and cutting off Zahira's explanation. "If you don't mind, could you lead us from afar? I'd like to share some privacy with my team."

"…Oh. That's… fine," Zahira answered, looking a bit surprised and saddened at Scythe's request. "Whatever you want. Let me know if you need anything…"

Zahira gave Scythe a look of concern, acting much like Arshall had a few moments before when Scythe had reacted unexpectedly. Casting several last, questioning glances at him, almost as if she expected him to clarify or change his mind, her form rose a few inches into the air and she drifted off ahead of the group. Char also found himself wordlessly disappointed, as he was enjoying Zahira's company as well as her account of the Emerald Division, but he decided not to argue with Scythe.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Scythe spoke. "Alright, all three of you. Listen," he grunted. "We need to lay down some rules about your conduct here at the Emerald Division. The first rule, while we're here: do not speak. And on the occasions you find that you can speak, don't ask questions. Char, I'm talking to you. Given the chance, you're the one who can suffocate another Pokémon with nothing but your curiosity."

Char scowled. "But why?" he demanded. "Zahira had no problem with—"

"See? Already, you don't get it," Scythe interrupted him. "No questions. That includes 'why'. Especially 'why'. Of the six types of questions, that's the hardest one to answer. Do I make myself clear? I have spoiled you. I have let you treat me like a family member and ask whatever you wish. But you are not to treat any of Lucario's Pokémon in this manner. You are not to be rude. You are not to be nosy. Do not speak unless you are spoken to. Understand?"

"Fine," Char sighed.

Saura and Ray nodded their obedience as well.

"Due to certain circumstances, I forgot to reprimand you about your behavior toward Alakazam on the night he summoned you," Scythe said. "I'll tell you what, I almost died right then and there when you interrupted him to ask him about Arceus. And besides… and probably most importantly… the Emerald Division has a history that… they aren't completely proud of. Bringing it to the mind of any of the Pokémon you meet… you should consider an offense of the highest degree."

"I'm sorry," Char spoke sincerely, his voice breaking as his body continued to shiver. "I won't embarrass you again. And I won't ask any questions."

"Good," Scythe said. "Second rule: don't touch anything. Third: don't go anywhere unsupervised. Fourth: Lucario's word is law. You will do whatever he tells you. His lineage is responsible for the existence of the whole resistance, he demands your utmost respect. If he orders you to murder me, you are to obey him. Understand?"

"Wow," Saura responded, look of astonishment plastered across his face. "Whatever you say, Scythe!"

"Ah, but hopefully it won't come to that," Scythe said, wearing a tiny grin. "But yes, try not to step out of line, let me do all the talking, and I promise I'll make our stay here as painless as possible. After that, though… I don't know what else I can promise…"

Having said that, Scythe resumed his quiet brooding, leading Char to realize just why he had called off Zahira: he needed silence, and badly. There was something he had to think about, without the distraction of Zahira's dissertations to all the young and curious Pokémon eager to carry on a chat with her.

Squinting at Scythe's face, Char could just barely make out the motion of his mouth as he repeated two words silently to himself, over and over. "Return trip," Scythe whispered, glancing toward the eastern horizon. "Return… trip…"

The look in Scythe's eyes, the waver in his form, which bespoke of a horrible inner turmoil… even the flight had done nothing to expel it. Char thought he could almost see the threads of thought as they twisted and turned beneath Scythe's reddened eyes.

Just what was wrong with the return trip?

Char felt the question balancing on the tip of his tongue, but he managed to hold it back. After all, he had made a promise. No matter how pained he looked, he would leave Scythe to his own devices and not plead to know his secrets. This much respect he knew the Scyther deserved from him, and he intended to keep his promise.

Besides, Char thought. I've got to get in the habit of not asking questions.

"This is going to be so weird," Saura said to his friends, obviously relieved to be able to talk to them again. "Daniel told me all about Lucario. He sounds harsh! Heh, think he would really order us to kill Scythe?"

"I hope not," Ray laughed. "If he did, we'd be the ones going down!"

"Maybe," Saura added with an evil grin. "You could probably beat him with your lightning bolts if you tried hard enough. He wouldn't be safe in the air."

"You're joking, right?" Ray gasped. "Have you seen how fast he can move? Lightning or not, I'm no match for his agility. Isn't that right, Scythe? Hey, Scythe! If you and I battled, who would win?"

"I would," Scythe said absentmindedly, not even glancing back.

"See? Told 'ya," Ray said with a smirk. "Not a chance! I bet there aren't very many Pokémon who could fight Scythe and win, anyway…"

"Um, hey, guys?" Char spoke carefully, "I think we should stop bothering Scythe for a while. Give him some room…"

"… Oh," Ray said, interrupted in mid-thought. "Alright… Sorry, I didn't mean to be a bother… I'm just happy to be on the ground again, I guess!"

After glancing once at Scythe, Ray hung back and joined Char and Saura, allowing Scythe several yards' worth of solitude. He made a visible effort to act more polite and restrained. Char continued to watch Scythe; he did not appear to realize he was now alone, his searing gaze locked on some faraway point…

"Uh-oh," Saura said, radiating concern. "I know that look of yours. Is something wrong?"

"Yeah," Char answered, speaking under his voice. "Something is wrong."

Tearing his gaze from Scythe, Char glanced at his friends. Saura's expression had turned grave and serious, just as he always seemed ready to discuss important matters at a moment's notice, and Ray looked surprised.

"It's our return trip," Char explained, ever-so-quietly. "Something's wrong with our return trip. Didn't you see what happened to Scythe when Arshall said that? He looked scared. Honestly scared."

"Could be nothing," Saura shrugged. "The flight probably just stressed him out. I can tell he really hated it. If I were him, having the flight home mentioned so soon after the first one's over would give me some chills, too."

"It's hard to tell," Ray muttered. "Scythe is really stressed. But if he needs to tell us something, he'll tell us. Hopefully he still has everything under control."

"I'm… starting… to not be so sure," Char confessed, practically having to choke out the words as if he couldn't believe he was saying them. "I know we need to trust him… I know it… but… I'm starting to get really worried about him. Really worried. It's like… every time the light gleams in his eye… it looks like… he's… losing his sanity or something."

There was an unnerving silence as his friends failed to respond to his thoughts right away, still trying to swallow the possibility.

"He's keeping a secret," Char growled. "I just wish I knew what it was. It's a really bad one. It's something… that…"

Char froze dead in his tracks.

Realizing at almost the same time, Saura and Ray halted their paces and glanced back at him, wordless expressions across their faces, expecting him to explain whatever sudden horrific epiphany he had realized.

But Char did not see either of them.

Several steps ahead, Scythe had also stopped dead in his tracks. Glancing over his shoulder, he sent Char the most deathly gaze he had ever seen. It was a malicious, hateful gaze… For a split second, Char saw Scythe in a way he never had before, in a new, darker light; it seemed to him for just one point in time that he and Scythe were actually bitter enemies, something that Char wanted with all of his being to never be true. He could feel his face growing pale, locked in disbelief and shame and fear, as the gaze lasted for one second… and then two… and three… He could feel himself growing dizzy, as his lungs refused to breathe air, his fire growing intense in reaction…

And that's when he realized: there was only one thing in the world which would anger Scythe to his breaking point. Someone had broken a grave promise. Someone had broken his trust. And it was him.

"You must promise me something in return…"

"…that, for the duration of this trip…"

"… you will stop bringing up this subject."

As the words echoed in Char's mind, he knew now what they meant. Scythe had not just requested Char to stop bringing up the subject to him, but to anyone… As he had made so clear the previous evening, it broke his heart just as badly whenever Char went behind his back…

"Char… what is it?" Saura begged. "Do you… know something?"

"I… I can't… I can't talk about it," Char muttered solemnly. "Not even to you."

"W-why's that?" Saura asked, confused.

"I promised," Char simply said. "I promised I wouldn't."

Finally, Scythe averted his gaze and continued following Zahira forward as if nothing had happened.

It was a long, silent, cold walk into civilization.

Though Char had been stuck in a body that was not his own for a long time now, this was the first time he truly felt trapped. Trapped in a cold and barren land which could not, in any sense of the word, be called home.

For once, he had no say in the matter. There was no other option. The only way was forward. Forward to Dialga.

Again, Char started to wonder why they hadn't flown. But, again, that was a question. And there would be no more of those.

---

Fort Emerald

It was an understatement to say that the Emerald Division was nothing like Char had expected.

The group had re-united for their entrance into Fort Emerald, a stronghold city surrounded by a tall steel wall, the place which housed the Emerald Division. Though the road was paved differently, and the buildings had a clear air of strictness and uniformity to them, and it was a small settlement in comparison, the whole place reminded Char of Iron Town. Huge metallic structures, spacious avenues, paths leading into complex neighborhoods in every direction…

There was one major exception, though: the whole place was silent. Dead.

Char was honestly surprised to see a single Flareon pass by on their commute. It said nothing and seemed content to ignore them. Aside from that, it would have appeared to him, if he hadn't known better, that Fort Emerald was an uninhabited place. Though he took the chance to peer into any window, alley, and open door he spotted along the way, nothing helped to debunk his image of Fort Emerald as a ghost town. No teams huddling in buildings around a cozy fire. No bustling shops like Kecleon's emporium, filled with Pokémon eager to stuff their bags with valuable utilities for their missions. No friendly townsfolk stepping outside to enjoy their day.

...Well, it's not like this is enjoyable weather, anyway, Char said to himself, squinting to see well under the cloudy sky and cringing as he realized he had lost all feeling in his nose and the tips of his fingers. But there have got to be some Pokémon who would enjoy this weather, right? Snover? Glaceon? Sneasel? There have got to be a lot of those Ice Pokémon working here at the division, right? Where… are they?

"I bet everyone's out on missions," Saura commented, reading Char's observations. "That's usually how it is around this time of day back at the base. Or they could be in some sort of a meeting. Or, heh, a welcoming committee, maybe? That would sure be nice."

"It's because all the Pokémon live around in the districts," Ray noted. "That's what Zahira said. So if all the teams are home, just like Arshall's team, then none of them are here-"

Ray paused in mid-thought, and a charged silence suddenly overcame the group. Char glanced around, wondering what had provoked it, when he realized that Scythe had hesitated. He had stopped in mid-stride, as if something had just gone wrong.

Char followed the direction of Scythe's squinting glance.

Light. There was a bright fire among the shadows of the city, contrasting the surrounding gloom caused by the tall buildings and overcast sky. Char found it difficult to focus his sight, and had to wait until his eyes adjusted to the new light source…

And when they did, he realized that, like his own, this fire was coming from a Pokémon.

It stood near an alleyway, watching the group from afar: a tall, muscular figure, hunched over in concentration or perhaps weariness, the top of his head ablaze with a long fiery mane.

Char knew this Pokémon. An Infernape.

Scythe stared at the Infernape for a few moments, and the Infernape returned the gaze. No words were spoken, not even by Zahira, who only took notice of the onlooker for a few moments before returning her attention to the road ahead. Scythe's gaze lingered for a few moments longer, as if exchanging messages of telepathy with the Pokémon.

"Hey, who's that?" Ray whispered in awe.

Both Scythe and Zahira ignored his question.

The more Char stared at the Infernape, the more of an impression it had on him. The way the Pokémon held itself, the expression in its face… it was unusual, somehow. Imposing, but not in a way he understood. It did not betray pride, or humility, but something else… something he just couldn't place his finger on, but something he knew he just couldn't ignore. It was as if the Infernape stood for something.

"Prince," Char answered quietly, knowing in his heart the answer to Ray's question. "It's Prince. From Daniel's story. He leads Team Flamewheel. He's the one who saved the Emerald Division."

"Really think it could be?" Saura whispered to him.

"Come," Scythe suddenly ordered, disregarding the Infernape and gesturing to Char and his friends. "And you two. Remember what I told you not to do."

"Oh… right. No questions," Saura grumbled, scowling and biting his lip. "Sorry…"

Char could tell that Saura was already a bit annoyed, but nothing could be done.

"He was waiting for us," Scythe mumbled disconcertedly, turning to Zahira. Char had the impression he wasn't meant to hear the words.

"Figures he'd know," Zahira quietly answered. "He knew about the tower before most of anyone else."

"I knew he would show his face," Scythe said, "I was hoping it would be later rather than sooner. Just as long as he stays away from my Charmander…"

Though the group continued forward down the deserted city road, the Infernape didn't move. Char gave him one last look as they passed by, only to find that the Infernape's eyes were suddenly locked with his. Startled, he quickly averted his gaze.

Stay away from my Charmander? Char repeated quietly to himself. W-why? What's wrong with Prince? Is he a threat to me?

He turned to his friends, and found that both of them were just as weirded-out as him. They'd heard it, too. They nodded oddly to one another, saying nothing in fear of making known that they'd heard it, and silently agreeing that they would, for whatever reason it was necessary, keep a wary eye out for the Infernape.

After crossing nearly a mile of the practically uninhabited city streets, the city opened up into a relatively spacious area spotted with concrete platforms and small monuments. In the very center stood the ornate entrance of a very large rectangular building, its four front doors opened wide atop a respectable flight of stairs…

"Here we are, at last," Zahira announced. "Welcome to Rayquaza's Clutch!"

---

Rayquaza's Clutch

Keeping everything but his curious gaze to himself, Char followed his companions toward the compound. The exterior of the building was easily more ornate than any of the other structures in the whole fortress. Along the front wall at both sides of the entryway sat eight tall, riveted, gray pillars which didn't hold anything up. The walls of the building were made from huge bricks many times bigger than Char's body, some sparkling white like they were made of sandstone, others a blinding, reflective silver, as if they were made of metal. The two types of bricks formed "X" patterns all the way down the sides of the wall. The front doors were made of plain polished wood, but they were so huge that Char figured they must have been carved out from some thousand-year-old redwood trees.

But the most curious decoration Char noticed, and the most interesting, was a giant stone statue depicting the legendary dragon Rayquaza, the end of its tail coiled up like a resting serpent. The figure sat within the dead space off the path near the bottom of the staircase, the whole thing laying on its side as if the monument had been knocked off its pedestal but could not be discarded, the Pokémon of the division yet to get around to repairing it. It was clear that Rayquaza had taken serious damage: aside from the numerous chips and gouges everywhere, a couple of its head-fins were missing, both its arms were disconnected, and a giant crack ran straight down the dragon's forehead. Through it all, it still managed to imbue Char with a sense of respect for its figure, its wise yet ferocious gaze and its opened mouth reminding Char very much of the statues back within the Gold Division's meeting hall…

Rayquaza must be the division's guardian figure, Char determined, once again holding back a question. It has to be called the 'Emerald Division' for a reason…

Char and his companions followed the Dragonite and the Scyther up to the doorway, leaping up the stairs with the professional ease of someone who was used to climbing hundreds of them every day. With each step, he grew more and more eager to get inside and out of the cold.

At the top of the stairs, Zahira paused to introduce the setting.

"Rayquaza's Clutch is the core of the Emerald Division," Zahira explained. "Team Regret settles in here. This is where all of our resistance teams come to have meetings, receive assignments, and congregate. It's the backbone of all our operations. So, as we enter, you may see a lot of Pokémon in a hurry. Try not to get in their way."

"I can assure you, Dragonite, my companions will not cause any trouble," Scythe said abruptly, cutting her off. "Will they, Char?"

Char gulped and shook his head, eager to agree with anything just to thaw out his frostbitten parts somewhere where it was above twelve degrees and the wind didn't blow.

Zahira waited for a few moments, as if expecting questions or comments from her guests. When she realized none were coming, she gestured for everyone to follow her inside. Char happily obliged.

Once again, Char was faced with the last sight he was expecting.

Stone. Cold, dark stone. Cold, dark, dead stone. Hallways and corridors of it, as far as the eye could see. And that wasn't very far, because there were no lighting fixtures within Rayquaza's Clutch. No ghost-torches. No real torches, even. It was the most dull, monotonous building interior Char had ever witnessed.

Though, there was light. Char could see past the sunlit lobby and farther down the hall, so he realized there had to have been some light source… though it took him a moment to realize what it was. When he did, he emitted a gasp. A gasp of rage.

It was sunlight! A large rectangle had been cut out of the center of the ceiling, letting in the muffled sunlight. The whole room was open to the elements! The wind continued to blow in, aiming right for Char and sweeping past him and out the doors behind. A new shudder overtook him.

This is not how a resistance base should be! Char growled as he told himself, clenching his fists. This is… this is a dungeon! A giant dungeon! How can any team bear to live in this? Do they have a cafeteria? A meeting hall? Do they have sentries to keep out the intruders? Do they have a password, like the Creed? Do they have comfortable rooms to live in? Rooms that aren't just habitats for ice Pokémon?!

Char was on the verge of demanding answers. So far, he had felt very disillusioned and disappointed with the Emerald Division. We didn't have the resources, he remembered Zahira saying. We do things differently around here, she had also said.

Pah, Char thought. How are teams even expected to operate in here?

"Char… your tail," Ray whispered to him, noting the rapidly inflating light source at the end of his tail.

"It's the cold," Char said. "The cold is making me angry."

"Then let it," Saura said simply. "Remember what you learned in the Windswept Ditch…"

Char smiled as he realized that Saura was right. Though the cold had enraged him, his rage was fueling his fire, which was already giving him a measure of relief and comfort. He felt as his inner ember licked the boundaries of its confines, spreading some warmth through his form and bringing blessed feeling back to his numbed skin. It wasn't perfect, but it would let him survive for just a little while longer…

And then, when he followed Zahira around the corner and into one of the main halls of the building, Char found something else to smile about: Pokémon. Rayquaza's Clutch was not so deserted after all. Char counted at least three teams, or at least groups of division residents, traversing the hall. Though none raised a voice, it really gave Char a reassuring feeling that the place was a functioning and active resistance base.

A resistance team exited a dark corridor just ahead, filing quickly into the main hall just ahead of Char and his group. Char balked when he saw them: a Medicham, two Aggron, which were fully grown versions of the annoying steel rodents Char remembered from several dungeons, and a Camerupt bringing up the back and moving itself with surprising speed. The thing was, these Pokémon looked powerful. They were at least one-and-a-half times the size Char expected the respective species to be. They all reminded Char of Gebbit, a notorious Machamp from Team Impact back at his base, who dedicated himself to training and growing the biggest muscles any Pokémon would ever see. Likewise, this team had spent many years hardening themselves, honing their strength and endurance, and it really showed. Char's jaw dropped as he watched the Aggron. Their plating was inches thick. Their claws and horns were massive, looking as though they could smash diamonds if they wanted. The ground shook as they lumbered near.

"Hey, look, that must be Team Earthmovers," Ray joked nervously. "W-wow."

As the intimidating Pokémon crossed paths with Char's group, they gave a nod of acknowledgement to Zahira. Next, upon noticing Scythe, they gave him a much more surprised and respectful nod, practically bowing before him. Scythe politely gestured back to them, shrugging them off.

As they passed Char, they gave him a look of pathetic disgust. Char suddenly felt very small.

Hah, Char wished he could shout in their faces. I'll take you on. I'll take you all on. Just watch. I have The Call, don't you know? I can call upon Rayquaza and he'll swallow you whole! You don't scowl at me!

It helped to keep him warm.

Another group passed by, this one consisting of two Weavile and one Sneasel. They were in a real hurry, dashing hastily down the hall and taking no notice of Scythe or the rest of the group.

"Yeah, and there's Team Cutthroat," Saura commented.

Though it was just a joke, Char couldn't help but agree. Weasel Pokémon were not nice creatures. He remembered Team Dread back at the Gold Division, a team which employed three Sneasel and one Weavile, Vazidor, as their leader. Vazidor was level-headed and respectable enough, but the others, to put it lightly, did not make good teammates on the cooperative missions.

The halls continued on a bit, and aside from the occasional group of Pokémon he'd get to see, they didn't look all too different from one another. Occasionally, the ceiling would open and let the light in, or an entire wall would be missing, with only a row of thick pillars separating them from the streets of Fort Emerald, but the interior of Rayquaza's Clutch didn't look too interesting with or without the sunlight. It was as if someone had been given the biggest boulder in the history of the world and they carved out a living space inside of it. There were no swinging doors, burning torches, furniture, carpeting, or anything else to liven the mood. Everything was the same color. Gray.

Another team approached, this one noisily chatting amongst each other, pleasantly breaking the dreadful silence. Among them was a Houndoom which looked even bulkier and stronger than Daemon, a Glaceon, perfectly at home up here in the cold climate, a very serious-looking Lucario, an exceptionally long Arbok, a Typhlosion, a—

Wait… a Lucario?

Char blinked. Could it possibly be… the Lucario?

"Ahrgl-!"

Blinded by his sudden tension at being in the presence of the Emerald Division's leader, Char stubbed his toe into an unexpected crack in the floor and toppled over onto his face.

With a little help from Saura, who had tried to catch him, Char scrambled back to his feet before Lucario could catch him making a fool of himself.

"It's him!" Char gasped to Saura. "Lucario. I can't believe we just ran into him in the hall… I thought we were going to meet him in his room or something…"

"You sure that's him?" Saura wondered. "He doesn't look very… I dunno… leader-like."

Char took a closer look at the blue canine-like Pokémon, and saw what Saura had meant. The Lucario was rather short and diminutive compared to the Pokémon which surrounded him. He didn't appear bulky, muscular, battle-hardened like the other teams he'd seen; in fact, he looked a little scrawny. His facial expression betrayed discomfort and uncertainty, not the pride and sturdiness of a commander. Though his teammates rambled on to him, he made no comment, he only listened, as if he couldn't understand half of what they were saying. Char began to seriously wonder if this was actually another Lucario which worked at the division, and not the Lucario everyone else was talking about.

However, sure enough, when the Lucario glanced up and noticed Zahira, he spoke.

"Zahira," the Aura Pokémon grunted very gruffly, as if he was trying to shout but was unable to raise his voice. "You're early. And by about four and a third hours."

"Indeed, Your Excellency," Zahira spoke very respectfully. "And I have delivered Scythe, the renowned hero from the Gold Division, and… the Charmander, who is called Char. And his friends."

"Hey…" Saura quipped quietly into Char's ear, "isn't Zahira on Team Regret? And she's calling him 'Your Excellency'? Why's she treating him like that?"

"He's the leader of the division," Char guessed. "I guess you treat him with respect no matter where you stand."

"Yeah, but… I would think you would treat your team leader a little more personally than that, even if he is also your commander," Saura wondered. "These Pokémon sure must have a lot of respect for one another…"

"Hah, watch. I bet Scythe doesn't have to treat him special at all," Ray guessed. "Scythe's famous. He could probably say whatever he wants and get away with it."

"Since when does being famous mean you have less responsibility?" Scythe hissed back, surprising the three of them. "In my experience, it means you get more. Now… quiet! It is vital you remain silent now. Unless Lucario speaks directly to you, not a word. Understand?"

Char straightened and stiffened himself, anticipating the deep, cold stare the Emerald Division leader would give him, wondering how it would feel to have his aura probed by the Lucario's mind. But Lucario didn't yet seem interested in Char…

Lucario made a very strange gesture, shaking his head and batting his paws at the air, as if his head were covered in flies and he was trying to shoo them all away. "Well, this is an inconvenience. I'm scheduled to visit District Four this hour, but now I'm going to have to stay here," he grumbled in his low, gravelly voice. "I would not want to keep our guests waiting, even if they have inconvenienced me. Well, in this case… Excalibur, you travel to District Four in my stead. Zahira, you go with them. Team Cornerstone needs to discuss the situation with the trenches that block off the road to the civilian city, I don't know, they'll tell you all about it when you get there."

"It shall be done," the Houndoom answered in a deep and powerful voice, making Char wonder if it was really a legendary Pokémon in disguise.

Zahira frowned slightly. "Your Excellency, if you ever again require… supervision for the guests, do not hesitate to call on me. It has been my honor and pleasure to mingle with them."

"I understand, but I can take them from here, Zahira," Lucario answered, a tiny hint of displeasure in his voice. "Thank you for getting them here in one piece, but now I need you elsewhere. Do not forget the Terra Town campaign."

"Of course, Your Excellency," Zahira responded in almost a sigh. "Scythe, Char, Ray, Saura… it looks like this is where we part. It's been a fun ride. See you again sometime, hopefully."

Char nodded to her, but said nothing per Scythe's request. She smiled and waved as she followed rest of the group he presumed to be Team Regret as they marched down the hall, leaving Lucario standing alone with the newcomers.

The leader stood there in the center of the dark hall, his face cast toward the floor. His eyes were closed, or simply downturned, Char couldn't tell, his hands folded as his back. Char clasped his claws together and wrenched them tightly in nervous anticipation, his breath long since caught in the back of his throat.

It was Scythe who broke the silence.

"Hmm, those Houndoom make excellent partners, do they not?" Scythe spoke. His tone attempted a measure of casual friendliness, but Char could tell that he had spoken it very carefully.

"Hmmmmm," Lucario sighed, finally lending his gaze to Scythe, as if he had not yet realized he was standing in his company the entire time. "Scythe. Well met. You are well known around these parts. I have heard many great things about you. On behalf of all Rayquaza's Clutch, welcome to Fort Emerald. I shall try to make your stay here as comfortable as possible."

Char blinked. Lucario was speaking in a very unnatural manner, or at least one he was not expecting of such a powerful leader. He spoke as if he had spent the fortnight just trying to memorize those lines.

"I'm sure it will be fine," Scythe responded, offering a small bow. "This is not my first visit here, after all. I was on the Dark Excursion project, the Ocean's Levee, White Haven, and I was here for the Lapras gathering andTeam Flamewheel's barricade incident… I know my way around the place well enough."

And, at long last, Lucario's eyes rested upon Char. Char straightened his form one last time, making himself look as respectable and receptive as he possibly could. Though, moments later, Lucario's gaze shifted to Saura and Ray as well.

"And you have brought…"

"The one whom we believe to be responsible for the appearance of the tower," Scythe spoke, completing Lucario's sentence. "We intend to visit the tower as soon as we can. We were instructed to visit you for additional information before our journey into Zerferia."

"Hmmmm… so The Call has surfaced once more," Lucario spoke, staring at the floor again. "A Charmander this time, you say… I can show you the path we have plotted to the tower. Though, first… I think I would like to speak with the Charmander."

… … …

Char had felt terror before, and plenty of times. He had felt terror when he found himself trapped in the deepest, darkest dungeons and staring down the monstrous forms of wild, undefeatable Pokémon. He had felt terror whenever Adiel had appeared, especially on that dark day when the base was locked down. He was quite familiar with that feeling; it felt each time like someone had taken a knife and sliced his heart open, letting this lifeblood spill across the floor and weakening him, draining will to keep standing and fighting. In fact, he had experienced it enough times that he was starting to grow used to it and learning how to counter it, finding that he could always trust his Ember to rise to his cause and give him the strength and sense of focus he needed to pull through.

This, however, was not the same kind of terror. It was something else. It was like shame, embarrassment, uncertainty, awkwardness. And it was strong, strong enough to reduce him to a quivering fool, and as he felt his head swimming in the surreal-ness of it all, he hadn't the slightest idea how to counter it. Lucario had a different air about him than Alakazam ever did. He had an aura that demanded respect, but some sort of respect that was completely unfamiliar to him. He hadn't the slightest idea how he would be expected to act.

Or maybe it was his good old terror instinct kicking in, but with the Golden Apple shielding the pit of his stomach from the feeling of sickness. That seemed possible as well.

Char held his breath and let his fire grow, but it did nothing to stop his uneasiness. He was, after all, face-to-face with the most important Pokémon he'd met yet. He knew that saying the wrong word, insulting either Lucario or mis-portraying himself, would have disastrous effects.

The Aura Pokémon did not stand tall and proud like many others he had met. Visibly, he was quite short and weak, not even twice his height, looking like he couldn't even lift a rock the size of Char. Though, some little part of Char's mind told him that was wrong; something about him was respectable. As if his appearance wasn't something he had control over. As if, yes, he had won wars and witnessed firsthand the burdens of the resistance, but they were hidden from his form through no fault of his own. He could tell this by his focused gaze, or by the way he held himself. Though after a few moments, his expression started looking less like a knowledgeable warlord and more like the simple frustration of someone who had just spent ten hours trying unsuccessfully to find a dropped key.

After ordering Scythe to "wait here," Lucario had lead Char into his private den, which was not a very far walk from that hallway. Upon seeing the interior of his room, he found himself disappointed yet again. Surely, he thought, of all the places in the Emerald Division, Lucario's personal lair would be a sight to behold, much on the same level as Alakazam's hall… but no. It was a rectangular chamber, and a rather cramped one. An empty wooden table sat at one side of the room, and a haphazard pile of possessions rested in an opposite corner. A red, scratchy carpet spanned the floor, and a blue one covered the ceiling. There was no light source, yet the room was visible as if by magic. Char wondered if the blue carpet actually produced light.

"You're early," Lucario spoke, walking past him and positioning himself in front of his table.

Char fumbled with his tongue when he realized he was supposed to respond. "Yeah. I mean. It was smooth flying on the way here. The air—"

"Not what I meant, Charmander," Lucario barked, his arms supporting his weight upon the table and his eyes following the wooden grains within it. "You are early. The Call was not meant to appear for another few years."

Char held his mouth open, not sure of what to say. His ability wasn't exactly something he had control over.

"Tell me something, Charmander," Lucario spoke a little softer. "Do you understand your power?"

"I don't," Char answered honestly.

"Do you understand the implications of your power?" Lucario questioned.

"I—uh… uh… I can use it… to beat the Master…" Char struggled to say.

"As many say," Lucario said. "But I believe that the Call has as much of a chance to vanquish the Master as it would if I stood on the wall of Fort Emerald and hurled a javelin into the sky. Perhaps it would be a lucky shot. Perhaps, if the winds blew right, the Master would step out of his fortress one fine day only to have my javelin come down and impale him through the skull."

Char's body locked in place.

"What many don't understand is that I was there the last time we had the Call," Lucario spoke, force mounting behind his voice. "We tried to harness it, as we have always done in the past. Do you know what we accomplished in the end? We summoned a legion of the Master's soldiers which nearly trampled us out of existence."

Lucario turned and stared Char in the eye.

"Tell me. What makes you any different?" He muttered in a seething calmness.

Char could not say a word. He knew he had something to say in his defense. He knew it. It bit at his mind, but he just couldn't grasp it.

"Tell me," Lucario spoke again, his voice unchanging. "What makes you any different?"

"T—th—," Char tried. "I… Dialga. Dialga. He… gave me dreams… I called him! I called directly to him! My call is greater… than ever before!"

"Dialga," Lucario spat. "And what good will Dialga do for us, do you think? Do you, Charmander, have the power to wrangle a god into doing your will? You who refer to the god of time as male, do you think it would hold enough respect for you to obey your command? Or mine?"

Before Char could respond, Lucario crossed the room straight for him. Frozen in fear, he watched as Lucario actually picked him up by the arms and held him to eye level. He hung in the air, suspended by the Aura Pokémon's grasp, and stared into his scowl.

"You are perhaps the weakest Pokémon I have ever met," Lucario mumbled. "Do you think a god would respect you? I cannot even bring myself to respect you. So, you have caused the Temporal Tower to materialize. Would you travel to its summit? Would you hope that Dialga would descend upon the Master's domain and rend out his heart? Would you hope that Dialga would not see fit to disobey you and instead rend the whole of Ambera into five thousand time-shifted pieces?"

Suddenly, Lucario twisted his body, and before Char knew it, he had been hurled into the far corner of the room. Pain shot through his head as it rebounded off both stone walls and he fell, a pathetic tangled mess, onto his side. The wind was knocked out of him before he even had a chance to yelp in surprise.

"What a joke," Lucario spewed, "for the gods to imbue the Call into the weakest of Pokémon. What a joke that it gives us all such hope."

Alarmed and breathless, Char scrambled to his feet. As he righted himself, he felt a tickle upon his ankle… and looked down to find that his tail had set the carpet on fire in two places. He stomped them out as quickly as he could, leaving only a couple ash-colored smudges upon the red cloth.

"Rayquaza's Clutch has little to offer you," Lucario said, turning his attention back to his desk. "We have nothing. Everything we own, the Master has taken away from us. This is why we fight. But if you want a night's rest in our fortress, and some intel on the path to Zerferia, and perhaps a meal or two… that, I can offer you. But do not expect us to support you."

"No meal," Char choked out, hoping it would help the situation. "We have… Golden Apples... We won't be hungry…"

"Fine, then!" Lucario yelled. "Now go. Leave. Cast your javelin into the sky. Pray that it does not land in your own chest."

Char didn't have to be told twice. He ran out of the chamber on all fours.

… … …

His heart beating a thousand times a minute, and his fire beautifully lighting the hall with a bluish hue, Char scurried back in the direction he remembered being taken like a dog eager to return home. Only, he couldn't. Home was hundreds of miles away.

Char could now understand the emotion he had seen in the division's leader, yet couldn't place: bitterness. Lucario was a very bitter soul. It was something he hadn't seen in very many Pokémon, if at all. In comparison, the Gold Division was always so full of… hope. Pride. A willingness to go on. The Emerald Division was devoid of that. He knew now what kind of a character that Lucario was. He had been broken. The pain, the stress, the weight of his experiences as a commander… they had destroyed him. Taken everything he had held dear. And he resented it. He wanted the Master to pay for his deeds.

The Gold Division, he determined, was motivated by hope, and the Emerald Division by vengeance. And unlike hope, vengeance did not require luxury. Vengeance did not require comfort. Vengeance was hard and cold, like a piercing sword. Vengeance did not feel.

Char stopped to catch his breath, only to realize that he had taken a wrong turn. He was lost among the empty gray halls. If there was one thing he did not want, it was to be separated from his friends any longer than necessary.

Calming his racing mind, he began to consider his options. He could call for help. He could hail the next passing Pokémon in the hall and ask for directions. He could run around until he found one of those openings in the wall, where he could jump outside and circle the building back to the front door, where he could surely find his way from.

A red firelight appeared in the corridor before him, and Char realized he was not alone.

Prince.

The Infernape approached him quickly. Char shifted, wondering if he should run. The fiery Pokémon didn't appear malicious at all, but he knew that looks were often deceiving.

Still, he had to wonder about the way Scythe spoke the primate's name with distaste. As far as Char was concerned, Prince was a hero if the Emerald Division. Surely, he could not be evil, or bad enough to bolt away from at first sight.

Scythe and Prince are probably rivals, or something, Char wondered. Maybe they just dislike each other… I'll talk to him. If he walked all the way here, he probably knows where Scythe is. I'll ask him for directions.

Even then, Char braced himself for anything as Prince drew near. Prince looked amused, like he'd found a bird who had fallen out of the nest.

"So," Prince spoke. "What did you think of Lucario?"

"He's not so nice. He threw me at the wall!" Char answered, rubbing the side of his head for emphasis. "Is he always like that?"

"A lot of the time, unfortunately," Prince spoke, in a much gentler voice than Char was anticipating. "Lucario… is handicapped. He was born, or hatched, if you don't prefer the human expressions, without the power to use aura. Every day, the fact of the matter bothers him."

"Wow! Really?!" Char gasped. "I never even guessed!"

"Yes," Prince said, gesturing kindly to Char to walk by his side. "His mother before him, who headed Team Regret in the previous dynasty, she used all sorts of powers when raising him. Telekinesis. Telepathy. Even the ability to sense a subject's intentions. And devastating attack powers. Now, Lucario is here in his seat of power, and he is unable wield any of it. Only the strength of his muscle serves him. That, and the strength of every Pokémon under his command."

"That's horrible," Char gasped again. "I guess that explains a lot. I can't imagine what that would feel like. It would feel like… being born without your fire, wouldn't it? I can't imagine that. My fire is who I am. It's my soul."

"Ah, so you do prefer the human expressions," Prince said with a smile. "Do you know a lot about humans?"

"Yeah, a little," Char confessed. "They… well… I grew up with them."

"I did, as well," Prince said. "Humans raised me. I was happy with them. I never wanted to leave."

"So… then why did you come to Ambera?" Char questioned. "Why didn't you stay with them?"

"I was banished," Prince said simply.

"Wow… I'm sorry!" Char said.

"Trust me, little Char, if I hadn't gotten over it by now, I wouldn't be alive," Prince chuckled. "That's all in the past. The far past. But anyway… My name is Prince, of Team Flamewheel. Nice to meet you."

Char was delightfully floored to see Prince hold out his left hand to welcome a handshake. He happily obliged.

"I know," Char said with a smirk as he shook his hand, a measure of glee filling his heart to see another Pokémon understand human customs. "I'm Char, Team Ember."

"I know," Prince told him. "I've heard of you. I heard you made the tower appear. Out in Articuno's domain."

"That's what they say," Char nervously laughed. "Now I have to go out there. I'm not looking forward to it. It's going to be so cold."

"Yes, Articuno can be a harsh spirit at times," Prince said oddly, "But you are a fire-type. Fire-types don't get cold."

"Uh… yeah, they do!" Char insisted. "I get cold all the time! I hate it!"

"Then you haven't learned everything there is to know about your fire," Prince told him. "Did a fire-type train you at all?"

"Uh… no… yes…" Char answered. "It's… complicated."

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a shrill cry echoed through the corridor! Char was startled out of his wits. He was on the verge of panic, when a sudden recognition clicked into place.

He'd know that voice anywhere.

"DON'T! MESS! WITH! CHAR!" The voice cried. "AAAAAAH!"

The room flashed with white light as a giant bolt of electricity caught Prince off-guard and engulfed him. His warm smile turned into a ferocious scowl, and he spun around, only to be bashed in the stomach by Ray's forehead.

"CHARR!" Ray yelled. "RUN AWAY!"

"Ray…" Char tried to respond. "Stop! He's not—"

But it was too late. Prince began to demonstrate his mastery of the martial arts. Not hesitating for a moment, the Infernape performed a flip, capturing Ray between his two legs as they sailed over his head, and flung him far away. Saura, who wasn't far behind, unleashed the powerful move the TM had taught him: a giant glob of poisonous substance sprouted from his back and shot at the ape's face. In one deft move, Prince lifted himself by one hand and spun around, the poison attack sailing harmlessly under his arm, and his foot coming in for a brutal impact with Saura's body. Saura tumbled away.

"Char! Get out of here!" Saura cried. "Go! Now!"

"No!" Char yelled back. "Stop it! He's not bad!"

His friends wouldn't listen. Char watched in speechlessness as they came back for another round.

Ray was up and running again, and attempted to tackle Prince from behind. After one glance backward, Prince launched himself at the wall, then propelled himself from it, knocking Ray right out of the air with the full force of his body. Ray cried out in pain.

Saura, having hoped that the opponent would have been distracted, had charged up a sun-beam and loosed it straight at Prince's form. In an impossible maneuver, Prince dropped to the ground and ducked under it, then swung his front foot around to knock Saura off-balance and put a stop to his attack.

Now Char was panicked. He screamed out to his friends, but they were dead set on the battle, convinced that Prince was a threat…

Until another voice, one much more powerful and authoritative than his own, spoke out.

"STOP!"

Everyone froze at the sound of the voice, though Prince was hesitant to drop his battle stance. Scythe stood at the corner of the hallway, looking extremely displeased.

"Prince," he said angrily. "Leave them alone."

"Scythe, I did nothing," Prince returned. "They attacked me all on their own."

"They attacked because you stole my Charmander," Scythe growled at him. "Return him."

"He has a name, you know," Prince grunted a little bitterly, straightening up into a normal posture. "I'd think you of all people would have known that."

"Char," Scythe commanded, ignoring the pointed remark. "Come with me."

Char did as he was told without question, casting a confused glance back at Prince as he rushed over to Scythe's side. Ray and Saura gathered themselves off the floor and followed suit.

"Hey, sorry about that," Saura whispered to Char. "Ray and I decided to attack first and ask questions later. Scythe has something against him, and we didn't want anything bad to happen to you."

"I'm fine," Char insisted. "Are you alright? You just tried to take down someone they tell stories about. I'm sorry, but what were you thinking? He wasn't even attacking me! Are you hurt?"

"I'm a little dazed, but yeah, I'll survive," Ray said, rubbing his side where Prince's body slam had connected. "He hits hard…"

"Good day to you, Scythe," Prince said sincerely as he approached, though Scythe still did not look amused. "It has been a while."

"Indeed," Scythe growled. "Is your team well nowadays?"

"Yes, it is," Prince replied. "Sixteen members now, in fact. And yours?"

"We are what we are," Scythe said. "Not much has changed at our end."

"Oh! I heard stories that you would be getting back the canyon sometime last month," Prince said, trying to lighten the mood. "How did that work out?"

"Postponed," Scythe said, his face contorting in a strange way, as if to ask, "how would you know about that?"

"Aww, a shame," Prince sighed. "I thought it could be cause for celebration. Oh, but there is already cause for celebration, isn't there? The call! And the Tower!"

Prince cheered heartily, nodding at Char as he did so. "To think we could witness the great victory in just a week's time!" he said. "I don't think we could ever ask for anything more."

"Indeed," Scythe spoke. "Now, Prince, if you will excuse us, we must consult with Lucario. Time is of the essence."

"I'm coming with you."

Scythe bit his jaws down so hard, Char thought he had severed his own tongue.

"You can't," Scythe growled, true hostility arising in his tone. "Though I appreciate the concern."

"I can, and I will," Prince insisted. "I have already decided. You have no say in the matter."

"Prince, you do not understand," Scythe suddenly snapped, raising his voice and lifting his blades in frustration. "Under normal circumstances… yes. I would welcome it. But… I cannot let you. It's… not possible."

"I think you're the one who doesn't understand, Scythe," Prince said gravely, challenging him. "Though. There are not very many people I respect more than you. And I'm sure you are all great friends to little Char. I have to applaud you, Bulbasaur, Raichu, whatever your names are, for standing up for him. These are true friends you have."

"Prince!" Scythe shot, trying to silence him. But it would not work.

"Little Char is a fire-type!" Prince cried, now raising his own voice. "I'm sure you're great at looking out for him. But do you know what it is like to be a fire-type? Do you? Do you understand what he goes through at the core? Do you know what it will take for him to survive in Zerferia? Have you ever been there yourself? And if… if his fire were to go out, would you be able to re-ignite it?"

The silence for the next few seconds was deathly.

"Prince…" Scythe seethed, his tone now gentle yet downright malicious. "I'm not going to need to fight with you again, am I?"

"If that's what it comes to, yes," Prince growled in reply. "Besides, we both know who won the last time…"

Scythe watched in rage as Prince turned and bowed to Char. "I'm sorry you had to watch that," he said. "Scythe can be stubborn sometimes…"

And with that, he simply walked off.

"GIIIIIIIAAAAAAA!"

Scythe emitted a sound that Char had never heard him make before. He cried at the top of his lungs, like a crazed banshee sounding a battle call. He lunged forward and struck both his blades, in rapid succession, against the corner of the wall. Small dents appeared in them, and in his own blades as well.

He stood, panting, and gazing in disbelief at the damage he had done to himself. He then looked past his blades, at the three shocked Pokémon who had just watched everything take place.

A Vigoroth turned the hall corner. Paying no heed to the awkward congregation on the other side of the wall, it lumbered away on its arms and legs.

"Let's go," Scythe finally said, dropping both his blades to his sides. "We have things to do."