Chapter 35

An Hourglass Shattered And Hubris Unleashed

"How are you boys doing down there?"

Garchomp waited a few more moments before she peeked down at what lay below from atop an Archeops' back.

The calm and still waters of the extensive ocean responded with silence. A second later, a pillar of water erupted from the sea as a gargantuan Wailord wearing a black eyepatch rose high into the air and let out a bellowing call that rattled the bodies of those present. Gravity then pulled the colossal Pokemon down as it flopped back into the water and continued on its journey. Its lengthy back protruded from the sea and revealed a large saddle with two drenched Pokemon holding on for dear life.

Garchomp grinned. "How does the Alomomola Sea taste, boys?"

Aggron spat out bits of seawater as he looked up. "Saltier than that team of thieves we clobbered back there!" His prideful expression soured. "Now tell me somethin' - how come ya get a personal pair of wings while we gotta wrangle an oversized Magika-" A spray of water splashed across his face. "Ah! Maybe that was a bit too far!"

Garchomp laughed. "You two lose some weight and I can arrange something!"

"Don't think I wanna return to the days of bein' an Aron, lass!"

Tyranitar nearly collapsed as his head was positioned over the thrashing ocean. "Seasick, I might be…"

Aggron let out a hearty chuckle as he patted the Rock-type's back. "Looks like even our swashbuckling pirate can't stand some wee sickness! Don't worry, laddie - nothin' a little Sitrus Berry can't fix, ha!"

Tyranitar could not muster a retort as he groaned.

"Don't worry, boys!" Garchomp yelled. "Home's almost in sight!"

After a few minutes of traversing the breadth of the Alomomola Sea, the horizon yielded the sight of dry land. Archeops sped off in the direction of it while Wailord steamed ahead, much to the chagrin of its battered riders. Once the sandy shores of a small isle were a blur beneath Archeops, it went into a sudden dive as Garchomp leaped from its back mere seconds before it struck the earth.

The dragoness took in the salty breeze with a toothy grin as she waited for her teammates - fully aware of what was coming next.

Wailord slowed to a halt before it could beach itself along the shore. Now a few yards away from dry land, Aggron and Tyranitar shot each other reluctant looks before trudging across the massive Water-type's back. They stopped near the blowhole and awaited their fate. Seconds later, a column of water erupted from the hole and blasted the two Pokemon high into the sunny skies. They then plummeted and crashed into the white sands in a twisted pile of interlocked limbs and pained groans.

"As I said, you both lose some weight and maybe you stick the landing next time," Garchomp said with a chuckle. She waved and saluted Wailord and Archeops as they sailed off into the distance together, a farewell cry from the Water-type echoing across the land. "Just glad those two are on our side now."

"There'll be a next time?" Aggron bemoaned as he stood himself and shook the wetness off his steel plates.

"Feel like I stumbled out of a pub," Tyranitar muttered, staying put on the ground. "Or hit with a dozen Totter Orbs, I feel..."

Aggron chuckled as he knelt to pull the Rock-type up. "Save the blowhole blastin' for emergencies only next time, lass!" He shot a glance at Tyranitar, who was currently heaving over the sands. "Ya tell a 'mon not to gobble down a whole barrel's worth of Chople Berries like some stockpilin' Greedent, and that same 'mon goes out to sea on a full stomach."

Tyranitar glared at the Steel-type. "The loudmouth who ate an entire mountain's worth of iron ore back there is talkin', is he? A bit rich."

"Ole rockface wants another tussle, does he? Aye, I can oblige."

"Still whoop you I could with one hand behind my back and sick as can be, metalhead."

Two talons latched themselves on the shoulders of the quarreling Pokémon as Garchomp pushed herself in between Aggron and Tyranitar. "Boys, save the fire for our next battles." She jostled them as she grinned. "Besides, you two should be happy! No longer do the Pokemon of Pastureposy Town need to worry about Team Nightmare and their cronies. And there's a team right here that can take all the credit and fame for it, right?"

"Aye, but did we have to travel all the way to the Grass Continent for days just to lay the smackdown on some thieves?" Aggron asked.

"I agree with lead for brains here. Thrashin' some bad guys is nice, but not swimmin' across entire continents," Tyranitar said,

Garchomp sighed. "Look, I know this whole trip to the Grass Continent was on short notice, but I thought we needed a little distraction."

Aggron crossed his arms. "Did we need a little distraction, or did you need a distraction, lass?"

Garchomp sighed again as she averted his gaze.

"See, now I've got ya pegged! C'mon, spill your guts out for us!"

Tyranitar scoffed. "Shouldn't it be obvious? This whole trip of nonsense stems from that guild, it does. And that Lucario," he grumbled.

Garchomp crossed her arms. "Hate to say it, but Tyranitar's right. This whole situation with the guild, with those mercenaries, and with the Alignment… Well, I've been having a difficult time keeping my head straight through it all."

"And our temper managed," Aggron interjected. "That Jackson… What a nasty gowk he's turned into! I have to give credit to ya for not pullin' his head off durin' the whole expedition."

She smirked. "I was close. But no - I couldn't be the one to stand up to Jackson. It needed to be someone else. Scizor understood what I wanted from him, and now that we're back in Celestic, we're gonna see some changes at the Cosmic Quilt Guild. With hopefully Scizor taking some proactive measure."

Aggron shared a look with Tyranitar. "You really put your hopes in Scizor to make that ice block of a Lucario stand down? Even for a Bug-type, he's rather skittish."

"Trust me, I know he went through with it. Jackson is Scizor's best friend, and he wouldn't want him to go on this path he's leading the guild into. All I hope is…" She slowly inhaled and exhaled. "All I want is for things to go back to how they once were, and for Team Moonlight to make a resurgence when the Mystery Dungeons are dealt with. To how they once were when we first met them. You both know how much I look up to those guys. Everything that I've gone and done is partially owed to their actions back then. "

"A tall order that is," Tyranitar said. "Not everythin' will be like when we were kids again."

"Look, we'll talk more about it at base. One step at a time, Tyranitar. That's all we need."

Aggron nodded, "Aye. And speakin' of steps, let's get off this beach and return to base. I need some dryin' off to do."

"And some admirin' of his shiny, metal plates in the mirror, he does," Tyranitar said with a snicker as he walked past.

"Every day with this eejit…" Aggron grumbled.

Garchomp chuckled. "Don't worry. One of these days you two will get along. Eventually."

The trio took a trail leading out of the sandy beach and into a boundless field of vibrant, tall grass and assorted stones wedged into the earth. They climbed higher and higher up the seemingly remote island, now surrounded by rocky bluffs that extended over the choppy ocean. They walked carefully across the narrow strip of land provided to them.

"Watch your step, boys," Garchomp warned. "We don't need a repeat of last time."

Aggron growled. "My foot slipped, lass."

"I think he wanted a swim," Tyranitar interjected.

Garchomp grinned. "Don't worry about it; we've already reached the easy part."

Beyond the bushes and trees, and beyond the natural walls of cliff faces was a sight for their sore eyes. Piercing the skyline were tall spiraling buildings with ladders and walkways connecting each structure to another. Cliffs were carved into small homes or large, glowing forges ablaze. Steam wafted into the skies from pieces of molten metal dunked in cauldrons of cold water by blacksmiths. Tough and grizzled-looking Pokemon busied themselves atop the highest reaches of the village while others on the wooden platforms below went along their day; bartering at the markets or chatting with their fellow Pokemon.

All of them seemed to share a sullen look that never went away.

"Hornswaggle Valley… When you're gone, you actually start to miss it," Garchomp murmured.

"Well, I don't," Aggron said as he quickened his pace alongside the narrow pathway. "Let's get a move on before some blether tries to sell you an overpriced trinket he once stole from some merchant's unsold inventory."

Garchomp laughed as she followed him.

Tyranitar stopped as he surveyed the village. "Somethin' feels wrong. More uppity this dump usually is."

Aggron turned. "You were one of 'em before, pirate boy, so why don't you tell us what's with 'em?"

Tyranitar snorted and continued onward.

Soon the shrouded village was behind them, and before them were the treacherous cliffs and gorges drenched in sunlight. They ascended a long set of stone stairs. A tall and imposing mountain greeted them once they reached the top.

The entirety of it was chiseled into the semblance of a grand base. Open windows, balconies, winding staircases around the mountain, and colorful, detailed banners plastered onto the walls of bronze rock. Yet, the most eye-catching design was the three peaks of the mountain expertly sculpted to resemble the heads of Team Drarosteel. Their 'mouths' were outstretched and their teeth bared to appear threatening and resilient. Streams of water deluged from their mouths and created spectacular waterfalls that ran down the cliffs and into a river below that split the valley in two, leading into the vast ocean beyond.

Garchomp stopped and took in the sights of their base with a sense of pride and wonder. A certain childlike glee took hold of her. "But this place is really something. Straight from my mother's vision. Don't think I'm wrong in saying we've got the best exploration team base in all of the world…"

Tyranitar shrugged. "Beds are comfy, at least."

"And to think the 'mons who carved this beast of a mountain wanted us in shallow graves once." Aggron crossed his arms as a thought entered his mind. "Come to think of it, a lot of our close allies were dreaded foes of ours before."

"Call it our air of charisma," Garchomp's sharp talons slid off each other with a metallic shrill, "and some unmatched combat skills."

"Aye."

Garchomp strode toward a large opening in the mountain. "Let's go in and see what that 'Treasure Of All Wonders' those 'mons of Pastureposy Town gave us. Then we'll follow up on that anonymous request to explore some hidden Mystery Dungeon no 'mon has ever stepped foot in. Should be some impressive treasure at the end, or an impressive view - the view's always better."

"Ah, ah, ah! I think you're forgettin' somethin', lass," Aggron said. "Before you go draggin' us off on ventures into the unknown, we first gotta figure out what we're goin' to do with Jackson and the guild."

Garchomp sighed as her stride slowed. "Yeah, I know we do…"

As the sight of the base's large entrance came into view, they noticed the tiny wings of a Noibat flap as it frantically flew back and forth. Once its gaze locked with the bewildered trio, it flew toward them with great haste. The Noibat then came to a sudden stop nearly inches from Garchomp's face as she recoiled in shock, the bat's wings struggling to keep itself hovering as it huffed and attempted to collect its breath.

"Pipsqueak! What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be with your crew?" Garchomp questioned.

"I-it's an emergency, Team Drarost-teel!" the young Noibat screeched. "You lot have to come! I've got a ship ready and all to head off to the mainland!"

Tyranitar shook his head. "Don't think I've got more ocean sailin' in me, little fella. Next time, will ya?"

Aggron chuckled. "What's the emergency this time, lad? Not enough sweets in your plundered loot? Too noisy when you're tryin' to have nap time?"

Noibat waggled his pegleg as he fumed. "No! It's somethin' worse! Trust me here!"

Garchomp smiled at Aggron's jabs as she cocked a brow. "All right, pipsqueak, what's the problem?"

"It's about that big city on the mainland called Imperial or somethin'! The 'worst attack on Celestic in over a hundred years the big 'mons in charge are sayin'! Ya have to come and see!"

Garchomp felt a chill race down her spine.

----------------------------------------

The tall double doors of Team Drarosteel's groaned as they swung inward. Garchomp silently stepped inside, Aggron and Tyranitar trudging behind her loud stomps. The expression glued to her face was one of vacancy as her mouth gaped slightly.

Her shadow wandered across stone walls lit by the warmth of burning torches. She passed a row of statues resembling her team that struck heroic poses and stopped at a wall adorned with many paintings. Her golden irises flicked to each painted vision of a moment in their history and absorbed the rush of emotions and feelings of nostalgia it gave her. But she found her gaze focusing on a sole portrait.

A Gabite, Lairon, and a Pupitar stood in the middle of the painting's frame in a craggy field, striking a stance. Close to them was another set of Pokemon - a Scyther, a Charmelon, and a Shiny Lucario proudly tugging and showcasing the black scarves they wore dotted with yellow stars.

Garchomp sharply inhaled as she walked over and shifted the painting from its position and held it in her talons. She exhaled as she scanned it once more.

Aggron approached her from behind, his head held low. "Lass. There was nothin' that we could've done there. For the city, for those Pokemon, for the guild, for Team Moonli-"

"No. No, we could've," Garchomp croaked out as she shook her head. "We- We had a chance to really change things, but we didn't. I did nothing while all of this was happening."

"But ya didn't know! None of us could've known that bastard Jackson was plannin' all of us this!" Tyranitar countered.

"I did… I knew it deep down. I know I did," she said. "Scizor kept it to himself for years that something was wrong with Jackson. He confided in me not long ago. I said- I told him to confront Jackson and make him retire, so things could be mended. I thought that would fix things." Her eyes welled with tears as the painting in her grasp trembled. "But all those years before this, I've turned a blind eye. I was only looking out for my own team, and not those that got me to this point."

A gray, metal claw latched itself on Garchomp's shoulder. "You're not carrying this burden yourself, lass. Tyranitar and I haven't done the best we could've for them."

"But this is my team, Aggron. I've led you guys for so long, trying to help Pokemon, trying to help Celestic, trying to find my mom." Droplets of tears splattered against the painting as she squeezed her eyes closed and clutched the frame close to her chest. "I… I don't think I can lead this team anymore. All this destruction and loss… It feels like I allowed it to happen."

"Quittin'? Out of the question!" Tyranitar barked as he stomped toward her. "Team Drarosteel can't exist without a strong and courageous 'mon like yourself leadin' us in! Not like Aggron and I can lead, either!"

Aggron's grip tightened as he spoke softly. "I know you're hurtin', lass - we all are." His eyes shimmered as he looked down. "Ya think seein' Charizard - that lazy and egotistical but fearless lad - bein' pulled out of the rubble as just a statue didn't tear this oaf of a 'mon up inside?" His next words came out warbled. "'Cause it did, and so did seein' familiar faces all across that city."

Tyranitar turned and hid his quivering face from them.

Garchomp pushed Aggron's claws off her as she placed the painting back onto the wall. As she stared at it, her talons quaked, and she desired to tear it into pieces. But her thoughts reeled back in her erratic emotions. "Jackson… All the way back then, when we first Team Moonlight, he said that he was looking out for them, and for the world itself." Her mouth opened and closed. "What happened? Was it all a lie? A trick? Twenty-five years he waits…just to destroy everything around him? Why?" she pleaded to the ceiling.

"Things aren't certain now, lass," Aggron said. "But we need to be as strong as steel if we're gonna survive this storm; if Celestic or the world is gonna survive this."

"I…I-"

The dragoness stumbled over to another part of the large chamber; one with shelves lining the walls that were laden with books and tucked-away maps popping out through slim gaps. Her stomps became muffled over the luxurious red carpet as she stopped before a crackling fireplace. "Almost every night when I was a kid, my mom would tell me stories from her adventures by the fireplace, and they seemed so fun and exciting. She'd show me her scars and where she got them from." She chuckled sadly. "Made me want to have those ugly scars. She had so much to share, I thought she was the greatest explorer out there. I always looked up to her - I wanted to be her. But…"

Garchomp turned to face the wall of portraits behind her. She looked at the one she had previously picked up and then found her eyes drawing upward at a new frame; one that dwarfed all the others in size. It was a vertical portrait of a Garchomp very similar in stature to her wearing many battle scars and markings across its scaly body. It grinned and showed its determined look to all that gazed upon it.

Garchomp stared at the painting. "But it feels like all the heroes I looked up to were frauds… And even me."

Aggron spoke up, "Lass… that's not true. The heroes we all look up to - they're just Pokémon - like you or me. But it doesn't matter what they've done if it got you to step up and succeed in your own life." He stepped toward her and threw an arm behind him. "Garchomp. You've already done so amazin' things. We've all done what we could to save Pokemon and help this whole continent. What happened now doesn't erase all of that, and if we're the only ones that can stand up now, by Arceus we're gonna do it!"

Tyranitar silently nodded as he quickly wiped his face.

Garchomp's mouth parted, "I…"

BOOM!

Garchomp dropped to the ground as a speeding projectile narrowly grazed her temple and sliced the side of her face.

"GARCHOMP!" Aggron and Tyranitar yelled in unison as they rushed to her side. They turned their heads as they ran and noticed the smoking barrel of a rifle poking out from an open window in the rock.

Mere seconds later, chaos erupted around them.

Over a dozen Pokemon flooded the hollowed mountain from its open balconies and entrances. Some wore simple breastplates while others were almost entirely clad in shiny, steel armor. Emblazoned across these defenses was the painted symbol of a red rose. Arcs and beams of built-up energy followed suit and shot toward Aggron and Tyranitar. They responded by shoving a statue of a flexing Tyranitar in their path to the ground and taking cover behind, as well as shielding an incapacitated Garchomp.

"Check Garchomp while I cover ya!" Tyranitar yelled.

"On it!"

Aggron crawled over to the unconscious dragoness and lifted her up, analyzing the small wound across her face. His worry spiked until her eyelids snapped open. She stared up at him in a mix of confusion and shock. "She's alive! They couldn't keep 'er down!"

"Good! Now focus on these mercenary chumps!"

Aggron laid Garchomp back down and jumped straight into the fray. He and Tyranitar emerged from behind the felled statue and made their presence known. Bullets merely ricocheted off them and the clinking of armor resounded as Pokemon swarmed them from all angles. A sweeping maneuver from Aggron's long tail sent many slamming into the rocky walls. Tyranitar smashed the heads of helmet-wearing Pokémon together as they crumpled to the ground instantly.

The more Pokemon that came, the more they seemed to fall.

"This all ya got?!" Aggron bellowed as he slapped the steel plates of his chest. "Was expectin' more!"

"Rights to brag, we've got! You're facin' the greatest exploration team in the world here!" Tyranitar added.

The tactics of the mercenaries then changed as they retreated behind makeshift cover of their own. Columns of scorching fire and pressurized water erupted from multiple corners of the room and slammed against them. They quickly retreated to safety behind the statue once more.

"They're goin' ranged! Any ideas?!" Aggron questioned.

"I'm not the planning 'mon here! I destroy, not create!"

"At least we can agree to that!"

"Then shut up and use that tiny brain of yours to..." Tyranitar's words trailed off as he witnessed Garchomp rise from the floor.

The Dragon-type opened her saddlebag to retrieve an Oran Berry and smashed it against her face, slathering her wound with it. Its healing juices dripped down her enraged features and bared teeth. "Tyranitar. You take my bag and give out seeds and Wonder Orbs to Aggron. Aggron. You take the orbs he gives you and knock them into the ones clustered together. You don't stop until they're all down."

"Aye, ma'am! But what about you, lass?!"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"I'm taking out as many as I can."

Garchomp threw her saddlebag at Tyranitar as she spread out her talons and dark blue fins, ducking slightly. A second later she was sprinting across the room at lightning speeds, jumping across overturned furniture and running across walls, slicing any mercenary before her.

Aggron and Tyranitar took up their new positions as the Rock-type tossed Wonder Orbs in the air for Aggron to send sailing through the air with a flick of his tail. Petrify, Slumber, Knockback Orbs, and even Doom Seeds began to burst all over the chamber; those not afflicted by them would be taken out by a swift Garchomp as she made her rounds.

Aggron surveyed the damage all around him. "Is that all of 'em?!"

Garchomp came to a stop. "Hopefully so. Now we need to find the leader of this amb-"

The ground began to shake. Team Drarosteel hit their backs against each other and looked around in confusion. The quaking intensified; bookshelves, trinkets, and paintings on the walls were crashing to the ground and chandeliers swinging uncontrollably.

"Be ready for anything!" Garchomp warned.

The shaking grew to the climax as the earth in front of them erupted and the enormous, winding frame of a Steelix shot up from a hole. Crimson paint was splattered over its spikes and rows of grassy thorns were thrown over its body. It glared intensely at the trio before opening its maw and spewing a powerful blast of purplish breath at them. Garchomp zoomed out of the attack's way while Aggron and Tyranitar stood and absorbed the gust, only flinching slightly at its paralyzing effect.

Garchomp ran forward to engage the Steelix but backed off as she noticed a crest hanging from the Pokemon's neck gleaming. Her eyes focused on a small rainbow-colored stone embedded within it - a Mega Stone that was pulsating. "Brace yourselves! This one's gonna Mega Evolve!"

Light came forth from the crest and engulfed Steelix in a sphere of white energy. The sphere then shattered with a forceful gale that forced the trio back as a much more threatening Steelix was revealed. The Pokemon had nearly doubled in mass, its lower jaw heavily armored, and its spikes were now prismatic crystals. The hexagonal patterns across its body flashed a deep blue as it let out a deafening roar and tunneled back into the ground.

Team Drarosteel collected their bearings as the chamber rocked again, followed by loud noises heard beneath them.

Garchomp cursed to herself. "Who knew mercenaries could get ahold of Mega Stones, and all this other equipment!"

Aggron scowled, "That Mega Steelix could bring this whole base down if it keeps tunnelin' through it!"

"And you don't think doin' that is its plan, metalhead?!" Tyranitar yelled.

Garchomp's eyes widened. "That's exactly what it's doing… We need to stop it right now!"

They ran across the chamber and toward a flight of stairs leading further up the mountain. More mercenaries began to clamber through windows and aimed their rifles at the trio. Aggron and Tyranitar shielded Garchomp by using their impenetrable bodies as she ascended and listened closely to the vibrations of the earth around her.

"It sounds like it's going up to our bedrooms!" Garchomp bellowed.

Tyranitar slammed the rock beside him and summoned a Stone Edge that ripped across the wall and ravaged their assailants. "That stupid rock eater better not mess up my beddings!"

Aggron guffawed. "You'd be lucky to have anything other than a pile of rubble to sleep on if this 'mon succeeds, rockface!"

Tyranitar grumbled under his breath.

Upon reaching the end of the staircase, the door leading into the bedrooms blew open with tremendous force and sent pieces of rock, bed frames, and sheets flying throughout the base. The Mega Steelix appeared through a cloud of dust and regarded the trio with a glare, glittery gemstones manifesting themselves around the Pokemon's body and shooting off in multiple directions. The Power Gem lashed the trio with cuts and forced them to retreat down the stairs.

Steelix then crunched into the ground again and continued its burrowing.

"We need a plan!" Aggron shouted. "It won't be long til this whole mountain comes down!"

Garchomp went quiet among the chaotic sounds and quaking earth that got worse with each passing second. An idea then popped into her mind. "We need to get it as high as we can, and in a room by the ocean."

"Ah! You're thinkin' of the training grounds!"

"You bet I am! We need to get it there!"

"Then let's wrangle this wee snake!"

Floor after floor they climbed, fending off the remaining squads of mercenaries that trickled in to halt their advances. Stalactites hanging from the base's ceiling cracked and fell down on them; even entire rooms came tumbling down as the monstrous, steel serpent punctured through the mountain at a rapid pace.

"We're close! My saddlebag - right now!" Garchomp yelled. Upon being thrown it, she took out a pouch from it that was chock full of red-hued seeds. "I'll grab its attention once it burrows up here, then you two make it angry enough to stay here. I'll defeat it real quick afterward."

"Say again?" Tyranitar questioned. "A strong girl ya are, but this 'mon is no joke, either."

"We have our own Mega Stones, lass! We could power up and give it a beatin' it won't ever forget!" Aggron suggested.

"No. We won't need Mega Evolution if my plan works."

The stairway ended as they rushed into another hollowed-out room filled with training dummies and wide pits of sand. They waited in total silence for Steelix to make its presence known. The light trembling of the rock beneath their feet signaled when it was near or far. They braced themselves when the quaking grew intense, a roaring Steelix bursting from the ground not long after.

Garchomp took out a red seed from the pouch and hurled it at Steelix before it could dig again. The Blast Seed exploded against its jaw and left nothing but a scrape on it. But the Pokemon's attention was caught as it turned and readied itself to attack.

"Aggron! Tyranitar!"

The two in question immediately went on the offense, surrounding the Pokemon on opposite sides and wailing on it with attacks. But despite their onslaught, it seemed only to anger Steelix further.

Aggron huffed as he slowed down. "My Iron Tail's are barely makin' a dent in this armor!"

"Speak for yourself! I've got this savage locked down!" Tyranitar spoke through a tired grunt. "Just a- oof!" A lashing of the Steelix's tail across his face silenced him.

Steelix roared as the floating crystals orbiting its body spun. Its jaw lowered as a blinding ball of white energy began to build up in its mouth, the hexagonal pieces of its body shining. Steelix fired its catastrophic Hyper Beam point blank at Aggron and Tyranitar, blasting them clean to the ground. Its rage-given power did not relent as the ray of destruction it continued to unleash slammed into the ceiling and swept across the floor.

Garchomp was able to narrowly duck underneath the beam. Seeing her fallen comrades incapable of putting up a fight, she decided to put her next plan into action. She twisted the pouch of Blast Seeds until they were tightly sealed and then tossed at her enemy. The sack flew into Steelix's gaping mouth and ignited instantly from the Hyper Beam.

A series of powerful explosions rocked the inside of Steelix one after another. When the smoke settled, Garchomp could see its jaw was loose and ajar. The Steelix's rage-filled gaze connected with the dragoness as she sprinted toward the wall. She came to a stop and turned, waving her talons back and forth.

"Come get me, big guy! Right here! Ripe for a charging!"

Steelix's aggravation heightened, its roars growing louder and louder as it charged the Dragon-type as fast as it could.

Mere seconds before the Steel-type could collide into her, she jumped out of the way as Steelix smashed apart the rock walls and tunneled through it - straight into the clear, blue skies hanging over the valley. Steelix's cries faded into nothing but an echo as it hurtled toward the ocean below.

Garchomp did not spare a second to savor the victory as she rushed to the aid of Aggron and Tyranitar. She gripped their shoulders and summoned all her strength to pull the two giants to their feet.

Aggron's pained coughs transitioned into a rough chuckle. "The lad sure could tunnel, but he can't fly now, can he?"

"Now I'm really pissed we don't have our beds anymore…" Tyranitar muttered, sore and weak.

Garchomp grinned. "At least the base is still standing… sort of. But right now we've got bigger problems."

"MISS GARCHOMP!"

The high-pitched shriek and the sound of tiny wings flapping alerted them to the opening Steelix created. Noibat fluttered into the room from the opening and flew toward the trio.

"Pipsqueak! You shouldn't be here!" Garchomp scolded. "It's too dangerous for you here, squirt. You should head back to your ship."

"But it's about the mercenaries! A few maties from Hornswaggle Valley captured the leader or somethin' of the group!"

Team Drarosteel exchanged looks.

The double doors of the hollowed-out mountain swung open as Aggron, Garchomp, and Tyranitar stomped out into the open. Garchomp's attention was drawn to the edges of the cliffs, where figures were visible. She marched over as two eyepatch-wearing Tyrogue flashed grins and walked up to her.

"Garchomp! Ma'am! I tied up that important lookin' 'mon over there!" one Tyrogue exclaimed.

The other Tyrogue shoved him. "No, ya didn't! I did!"

"Quit lyin'!"

"'Scuse me, boys," Garchomp said as she lightly pushed past the bickering pair.

An injured Zangoose in a decorated, bright red uniform was thrashing wildly against the iron grip a Swampert had it in. Garchomp scrutinized the Pokemon with disdain. The Zangoose countered her glare with its own.

"Me and these squirts 'ere 'eard the commotion from the village and found this scallywag tryin' to sneak away," Swampert explained.

Zangoose spat out traces of blood near Garchomp's feet. "You should be dead, Garchomp. I shot you - clean."

Garchomp ran a talon across the bandages wrapped around her right cheek. "Good thing you were a lousy shot so I have a scar with a story I can tell my children. Now…" She kneeled, her face mere inches from the Zangoose. "Tell me why the Rose Clan has decided to show up here and attempt a little assassination? Was this some petty revenge over what went down in the desert?"

Zangoose chuckled darkly. "You and your ilk haven't got the slightest clue of what Princess Serperior has planned."

Garchomp snarled, "Oh, really? Then why don't you first inform me of what was supposed to happen here?"

"Simple. We take you out and collapse the mountain - make it seem like an accident before news could reach our next target."

"Quite a plan. And the reason your princess or queen or whatever went through with it is?"

"Princess Serperior didn't send us - a client ordered us to target you at this location."

Garchomp did a double take. "… What?"

"You heard me. We were given supplies, more firearms, and Mega Stones. Whoever wanted you three out of the picture was sure of it. And not even just for you…"

"Who is this Pokémon that sent you?"

"The most contact we had were two Pokemon dressed strangely - lots of black and some orange colors - looked like guards or soldiers. They said they were there on behalf of their 'commander.'"

Garchomp snorted, "A bit ironic to call them strangely dressed, huh? Where did you meet these Pokémon?"

"Elysium City. The alleys near the square and the Arcadia District. We were told to go back there during sunset once we finished the job." Zangoose's eyes narrowed. "That's all I'm telling you… So if you plan on killing me or throwing me in some hole in the ground, get it over with."

"Pretty open for a 'mon in a clan full of crazies."

"The Rose Clan provides safety for targeted 'mons like me and provides a good supply of Poke. If the price to live is the cost of other lives, then I choose to live; even if I don't agree or believe in what we do." Zangoose leaned in. "Princess Serperior isn't just a mercenary - she wants to become more than that, and at all cost. Her price?" He suppressed a laugh and sneered. "Who's to say how many others have to be buried for her to achieve her goals."

Swampert jerked the Zangoose back. "Alright, ya had your talk, merc." He looked at Garchomp and grinned deviously. "What do ya say we make an example out of 'em and do some keelhaulin' with Noibat's ship?"

Garchomp shook her head as her talons latched onto Zangoose and lifted him high into the air. She then launched him over the bluff and watched as the Pokemon fell into the ocean with an audible splash.

"Toss the mercs overboard - they can swim back to their 'princess'," Garchomp commanded. "Then alert your elder that we may have some new threats on the island."

Swampert nodded and galloped away, ushering the Tyrogues to jog after him. Aggron and Tyranitar lumbered over and looked at Garchomp expectantly. The dragoness stared at them for a while before sighing.

"I don't know what I was thinking back there, boys… All that went down in the expedition, and now with Empyrean City's destruction, it just… I didn't think I could take up this position after I failed so many Pokemon out there." Garchomp glanced at the wrecked state of their base, her expression hardening. "But now I see that stepping down isn't an option when there's so much at stake, and so much we don't know yet."

A wide smile grew on Aggron's face as he slapped her shoulder. "See! All ya needed was a little eye-opener on things!" He crossed his arms. "But what 'mon would want to see us taken down so bad? Jackson, or someone else? We've made enemies before, but not on this level."

"What happened today wasn't just a coincidence - I'm sure of it. The appearance of Yveltal and Jackson's betrayal, the arrest of everyone in the guild, and now assassination attempts? This is starting to look more and more like a part of a much bigger plan, and we need to get to the bottom of it."

"And what you're sayin' is…?" Tyranitar's words lingered.

"We're going to Elysium City, and we're finding those Pokemon that sent these mercs here. And we're figuring out who this 'commander' Pokemon is."

"And yet another fuckin' boat ride to the mainland?"

Aggron chuckled and slapped Tyranitar's back. "You bet, rockface!"

Garchomp threw her talons around the necks of her two comrades and pulled them closer to her. "From here on out, our duty is to protect Celestic and even the entire world if it comes down to it." She puffed out her chest. "We're Team Drarosteel - the greatest exploration team out there! And what do we tell our non-believers, boys?"

"We go where no one goes, defeat those considered unbeatable, and never stop when the world turns!" the trio all shouted together.

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[https://i.imgur.com/JpLE0i5.png]

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A burning flame flickered that repelled the darkness surrounding it.

A Poliwrath wearing a brown and dusty coat swung its lantern around as it closed a heavy metal door behind it. It traversed a hallway of closed and empty cages before stopping at one that held the only prisoners. The Poliwrath dropped the lantern and then slid a metallic plate full of apples under the rusted iron bars of the cell.

"Dinner time," it said coldly before walking back down the halls.

Blood-red claws pierced the skin of one of the apples that was hoisted up to meet Roark's face. He gave it a quick look over before retreating to the back of the cage. His back hit the wall as he held out the skewered apple to the Pokemon beside him.

"You should eat," he said. "Didn't see you touch anything today or yesterday."

Monferno turned his head away from the fruit. "I'm not hungry. Too much to think about right now."

Roark rescinded his offer and plucked the apple from his claws. "I used to flake on dinner as well back in my heydays, too. When you see something so horrific, it stops you from functioning. On a lot of days, I woke up completely drained. Can't recommend it."

"I couldn't sleep at all yesterday," Monferno mumbled. "It still feels like some dream… or a nightmare I haven't woken up from yet."

"Neither could I. But you need your energy."

"I already said I'm not-"

An apple was shoved in front of the primate's face.

Monferno scowled as he grabbed it and took a bite. "Where are we, anyway? The carriages they put us on had barriers up. All I could hear was shouting."

"I tried to listen in on some guards as they passed. Didn't hear much, but I think we're in Elysium City. Been here a lot of times to know they prosecute a lot of outlaws in their big, fancy courthouse."

Monferno squeezed the apple in his grasp. "It's bullshit that they're pinning the blame on us. We've said we were innocent so many times and they just don't listen to us!"

Roark glanced over. "If the most respected Pokemon out there turned out to be working against you and summoned a Legendary to destroy everything, you wouldn't be suspicious of the cooks in the kitchen with him?"

"... Sorry, but I can't find any humor in all of this."

"No, don't be - just a stupid, old fox trying to keep spirits high."

The gentle hissing of the lantern and the sound of shifting earth above them filled in the darkness. Roark scratched the back of his neck as he let out another, more heavily drawn-out, sigh.

"I think we need to talk about what I did yesterday."

Monferno looked away and clenched his jaw.

"I'm not asking for forgiveness. I want to explain why I did what I did."

"... Then explain."

Roark peered up at the pitch-black ceiling. "I keep telling myself in my head that it was the right thing to do, the noble thing I would've done in the past. But that's not the total truth. It was... selfish, really." His stare into the ceiling's dark void deepened. "I made you all stop to help that orphanage because of how much it meant to me."

Monferno's gaze returned. "What do you mean by that?"

"That place. It's…" Roark smiled softly. "It's where I adopted Gloria. Just like her, that orphanage by extension became a piece of me. Of course, I wanted to save those children, and I'm sorry, but I would've done it again if I could. Pokemon like them have gone through so much already, and they didn't deserve a fate like that."

"I get what you're saying. Though, sometimes I wish I was an orphan myself." Monferno pushed himself off the wall and held his back against Roark. "But no. This isn't about that. You know what it's about."

Roark lowered his head. "You know, losing so many of my comrades before broke me up inside, but many times I understood because it was the risk they accepted when they took the job. But Rockruff? He was just a kid. Yeah, he joined the guild, but he never signed up for what we went through."

"..."

The Zoroark continued. "But you saw him, right? You saw how heroic he was at that moment. He saved all those kids he took with them. That's something I sure never thought I'd see Rockruff do."

"Yeah, and it makes me feel even worse."

The sounds of sniffling echoed throughout the halls. Roark shut his eyes and wiped away a forming tear. "You know I never intended for that to happen. All I can hope now is that we find a way to save him - to save all of them. And if there isn't… then- then I guess I'll have to live with what I've done."

Monferno absorbed his word as he paced the cell over and over. He clutched his head before gripping the iron bars that confined them inside. "Y'know… What you said then was true - I'm a fucking coward. Before Yveltal came, I could've run outside and pulled him into the tunnels, but I hesitated. I hesitated because I was scared."

"It happened, Monferno. Everyone was scared. I could put on a brave face, but I was scared."

"No. This was different. I just… I just don't understand why this all happened." Monferno smirked despite the tears running down his cheeks. "And just when I was starting to like that mutt. I was supposed to leave this whole guild behind on that day."

"You were?"

Monferno nodded as he wiped his face. "Once we were done with that trip to Criss-Cross-Creek, I was gonna start packing my bags and heading home. Guess that's not in my cards anymore…"

"But why? You were a great guild member. Hell, why do you think I went to you and Braixen to get Gloria and Liam in the guild?"

"Everyone always says that, but I don't feel that way. Compared to everyone else, I feel inadequate. I'm not a natural leader like you or a dreamer like Braixen or Gloria. I'm just me. Some coward being carried by his teammate."

"No, I don't believe that, Monferno. I might rag on you occasionally, but I never considered you a coward. I only said that at the moment because… well, you know."

"You might think that, but I find that hard to believe because..." Monferno's stance slackened as his hands slid down the bars. "... You join a place to try and find some purpose in your life and turn it around, but you just feel incompetent. You try to please someone who wishes you were never born, and even that doesn't work. I wanted to run - I still do. And now Braixen does, too."

Roark looked to the other side of the room and saw Braixen and Gloria cuddling up to each other. Gloria laid her head upon the Fire-type's lap and quietly cried as Braixen gently pet her in an attempt to soothe her. Braixen brushed her tears away while also wiping her own.

"She tries not to say it or think about it. To keep her appearance strong, but I can see it in her eyes," Monferno explained. "If we ever get out of these cells as free 'mons, then I know we're returning home."

"Monferno, both of you can't just leave. Even if we were freed from here," Roark said. "Think about what we went through in Empyrean. What if that happens to the town you live in, to your friends and family there?"

"It's out of our hands now, Roark. Without a guild, without any trust in us, what could we possibly do? How do we stop a Pokémon that's considered an actual god?"

Roark walked over to him. "We do something! Anything! Even if it means breaking out of here..." He jabbed a claw at his chest." Because I'm not giving up when I have so much behind me - we all do! We need to get out of these cells and convince the Council of our innocence."

"You can't…" a hushed, stark voice interjected from the far side of the call. Roark and Monferno's gazes were locked to Scizor as the Bug-type stood up from his corner. "None of us will be free until there is a trial. And the chances of us winning it are slim."

"How do you know there'll be a trial?" Roark questioned.

"Couldn't you hear it on your way here? The crowds are ferocious, and The Council is desperate. Since Jackson is missing, they need to appease the Pokemon of Celestic, which means someone - or a group of Pokemon - needs to be punished in his stead."

Monferno grit his teeth. "You aren't saying what I think you're saying, are you?"

Scizor's tired eyes swept across the jail cell. "There is a way that everyone's freedom can be guaranteed if the plan I have succeeds. But we need to wait, and you need to trust me."

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"Read your transcripts, Pokemon of Elysium City! See that such a catastrophe was foretold millennia ago! 'On the anniversary of Arceus' demise, a shimmering of black and red wings descend upon Celestic and sunder it into dust!' To give into eternal life and be promised security, we must remember our origins and call to Arceus himself!"

The preaching Piloswine's voice was drowned in the sea of voices from other Pokemon gathering en masse in the streets. Orangish skies and the flare of the setting sun blossomed over the horizon. Council guards stationed at every street corner attempted to calm down citizens and refugees alike but could do nothing to quell the unrest unfolding all over the city.

Anarchy appeared to be the only rule followed.

"'Scuse us! We have to get through!" a velvety voice rose from the crowd.

Garchomp had no choice but to push past Pokemon in her way. Many stopped and dropped to their knees, begging her team to help everyone or speak to the Council. The fact that she could do nothing to help them only filled her with anger and sadness.

"We're comin' up on the city square, lass," the voice of Aggron chimed from beside her. "The Arcadia District should be near it."

Tyranitar huffed. "These 'mons, ya think they're even gonna stick around when word-"

"We made sure no word has gotten to them yet about the Rose Clan's failure," Garchomp stated. "They will be here. We just need to find them."

Pokemon moving through the streets poured into the expansive city square and swarmed the large headquarters of the Council. Midway through navigating the packed square, Team Drarosteel found their path blocked by a convoy of carriages escorted by heavily armored Council guards. Black barriers bolted onto the sides of the carriages blocking anyone from seeing the occupants inside. Only when the carriages rocked or swayed could others see inside through the cracks.

"They've got Scizor and the others in there!" Garchomp cried. "Where are they taking them now?"

Aggron angled his head to view past the enormous crowd and beyond. "... That fancy lookin' courthouse, it looks like. They've got cells underneath it."

The dragoness paled slightly. "That means they're going forward with the prosecutions. They're going to try and convict everyone in the guild!"

"Ya see this crowd? How wild they are? They don't just want imprisonment - they want executions," Tyranitar spat.

"Scizor... I can't imagine what he's going through right now," she mumbled.

Garchomp watched the carriages roll further and further away, the reinforced sides of them being pelted with stones and other objects - while others verbally assaulted those within with harsh words and swears. Some Pokemon even attempted to board them and were repelled by guards. When the convoy vanished from her sight, she scanned the crowd in a lull. The crowds of restless Pokemon became a blur - except for two sets of eyes intensely staring at her in the corner of her vision. She snapped her gaze to the alleyways of the Arcadia District.

She saw a Linoone and a Magmar dressed in a strange garb of solid black and stripes of goldish orange that split into different lines running across the entire 'suit'. A grayish bandana concealed most of their face. Once Garchomp connected with their gaze, they nonchalantly walked away into the darkness of the alley.

Garchomp's body moved faster than her mind as she kept staring at the spot they vanished. "... They're here. They just went into the alleys by the Arcadia District! Follow me!" she exclaimed as she sprinted through the crowd.

"You're kiddin', lass! Tell me ya are!" Aggron yelled.

"Just do what the boss lady tells ya to do!" Tyranitar shouted. "Figured that out twenty years ago, I did!"

Puddles of murky water splashed beneath their feet as Team Drarosteel ran through the narrow, dingy corridors of the alleyways.

"They can't be far!" Garchomp said, squinting her eyes - they then widened. "There they are! To the right!"

The Linoone and Magmar were now in a full-fledged sprint. They cut across corners and tipped over cans of trash to slow their pursuers' advance. Garchomp vaulted over each obstacle they created while Aggron and Tyranitar lagged behind. Her speed increased as she was getting closer and closer to her targets.

Linoone and Magmar then suddenly stopped at the door of a small home and threw it open, stepping inside and locking the door behind them.

"They're not gonna be able to hide while we're here!" Garchomp roared.

The dragoness came before the door and sent it crashing down with a forceful kick. Aggron and Tyranitar finally caught up to her, speaking in between gasps for air.

"Chasin' down loot and 'mons used to be as easy as a Larvitar…" Tyranitar grumbled.

"Those 'mons… they're inside this wee hut?" Aggron asked.

Garchomp nodded. "We're finding out who this 'commander' is - right now." She stepped inside the home as Aggron and Tyranitar followed.

The light emanating from a lantern on a desk washed the small home in a warm, orange glow. Crates and oblong-shaped bottles containing elixirs of all kinds filled up much of the empty space. The wooden floorboards creaked under Garchomp's weighted steps as she stalked the insides, her talons twitching in anticipation. She peered under tables and cots, opening cabinets large enough for a Pokemon to hide in, but it proved fruitless. She flared her nostrils and smelled the air for a whiff of their scent, but picked up nothing.

The Linoone and Magmar were gone.

Aggron scratched his head. "Lass, are ya sure they went in here? Sure feels like we broke into some poor lad's home about now."

Garchomp growled and stomped a foot. "They were here, but they must've been pretty fast. Almost like…" She kneeled and inspected the floorboards, noticing a ring of charred wood. "Figures. They used an Entercard to make their getaway."

Tyranitar crossed his arms. "Great. Just peachy. Now what do we do? Hike it back to our base that's got more holes than a nest of Digletts?"

"We start investigatin'!" Aggron proclaimed. "We've claimed so many secret treasures by just observin' our surroundings and seein' what was left behind." He walked over to the desk and picked up a rifle leaning against it. "Look at this firearm! No doubt more advanced than those dilapidated rifles the Council uses!"

Garchomp stomped over the desk and picked up a stack of papers, skimming through each one. "This is all just paperwork that merchants fill out for the cities. This whole place is just their cover story." She tore up the papers in a fit of frustration. "Gah! This can't be it! There has to be something here!"

"I think you're forgettin' somethin', lass…"

"Forgetting what?!"

Aggron pointed at a map unfurled on the desk and obscured by various items. Garchomp brushed them all away and gazed at the map. Small sections of a roughly outlined region were circled. "This looks like a map of the Grit Region. Or at least a very specific part of it. Could just be trade routes for their 'merchant' identities," she deduced.

"It looks a bit familiar, doesn't it? That giant pit there looks like the same one that Excadrill lad showed us."

"... You're right, Aggron! This is the location of Excadrill's second base for his workers. But why do they-"

"Zangoose!" Tyranitar erupted as he slammed an arm onto the desk, greatly shocking them. "He said we weren't the only targets, ya eejits!"

The gears in Garchomp's mind began to turn. "Oh no… The Rose Clan is going for Excadrill next!" She immediately opened her saddlebag and took out the ELE from within. She turned the dial on it to a specific number before flicking a switch and speaking into it. "Excadrill… Excadrill, are you there?!"

Seconds passed, and her worries amplified, but were alleviated when harsh static crackled through the ELE's speakers, and a drawled voice piercing through it.

"Miss Garchomp, I take it? You couldn't have popped in at a worse moment!"

"Why? What's going on?"

"What ain't goin' on, is what you should be askin'! Right now I'm trapped in my own base while my workers and I fend off mercs comin' through the Mystery Dungeon! They've got us all surrounded above ground!"

Garchomp scowled. "The Rose Clan! That's who is attacking you, right?"

"Pardon my language, ma'am, but you bet your scaly behind they are! First they were tryin' to put me in a cell, and now it's a grave! This whole situation has turned rotten!"

"Just hold your ground! I and my team will be there right away!"

Loud booms wracked the speakers. "Y'all better hurry, then! These varmints are gettin' closer and closer each second!"

"Do you still have that Entercard symbol near the base?"

"Sure do!"

Garchomp switched off the ELE. "Okay, boys, put on your game face. We're going into a battle that's already turned hot."

Aggron frowned. "We're ready, lass. But how do ya expect us to travel to an entire region in such a short period?"

"Sometimes you're just as hard-headed as Tyranitar, Aggron."

"Hey!" the Rock-type in question yelled.

Garchomp procured an Entercard from her saddlebag and held it out for them to see.

"This is where we get to surprise them in return…"

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Drowning in flowing sands and unraveling hubris. The hand that grips this shattered hourglass has tipped the world upside down in their favor.

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