Chapter 26

Deception

"This is an outrage!"

The warm, orange sunset reflecting through the fort's stained glass windows accented the crackling torches aligning the halls of the 'throne room'. A cup of tea hoisted by a green vine was twitching in restrained anger; Serperior's once prestigious expression alit with rage at the news delivered to by the two Pokemon before her. She shifted from her comfortable curled up position into an agitated striking one.

"Pray tell, what were you buffoons doing while all of this happened?!"

Roserade ducked into a bow, radiating shame. "Your highness, it was an ambush by a much larger group with Entercards tactics unknown to us and-"

"And?" Serperior argued, baring her fangs. "They are but lowly guild workers and bumbling, moronic miners! How could a Lord such as yourself fail your princess in such a way?!"

Roserade winced at her venomous tone, bowing further. "... I am ashamed of our failure, your highness. There was an attempt to gather more forces to fight back, but the arrival of Legendaries in their aid was unexpected."

"Lord Krokorok!" Serperior suddenly beckoned, shifting her attention to the sweating Ground-type beside Roserade. "Step forward and give your reasons for your lack of success. I am to assume you have another excuse as did your fellow lord?"

Krokorok shook his head, bowing as well in submission. "T-there is no excuse, your highness. The ambush we enacted at the keep was well executed… a-as you yourself planned," he quickly added, "but ended in an unexpected failure due to the actions of the two Alignment advisors. The Gallade utilized Mega Evolution and brought down my forces, but did not target any of the Razor Claws'."

Serperior's wrathful features were now wrought with shock. "Were they not prisoners of those barbarians? Why would they fight for one side and not for their own freedom?" A lone and scary thought entered her mind. "It couldn't be…"

Krokorok swallowed, choosing his next words carefully, and remembering the details of them that were drilled into his head over and over. If he messed up one part of it, he was certain there would be retribution by both sides. "Your highness… there is something of grave importance I must share."

"Speak your mind already!" an impatient Serperior hissed.

"… In the wake of the battle, I stayed a while in stealth to glean any information, and I did. The advisors spoke to the captains; something about contacting the Allfather and forming an alliance between the Alignment and Razor Claws to unite and destroy our kingdom."

"Impossible!" she shrieked, horrified at this outcome. "You are not deceiving my ears, are you, Lord Krokorok?"

"… No, your highness, I am not. In fact, I was able to overhear another detail; a meeting. One between the higher ups of the Alignment, including its commander, along with the Razor Claw's captains. It's taking place here - in this part of the Grit Region."

Serperior leaned in from her throne, flicking her serpent-like tongue. "Tell me more."

"I-in a few hours, your highness," he stumbled, yet recovered quickly. "I know where it is! Where they will all be at a certain time…"

This news was not good news at all. Her clan had suffered enormous losses and setbacks at two different intervals. Outsiders and a Legendary force had pushed her out of the Shrine of Landorus; Council guards had moved into Debillis Village, cutting contact with her Alignment source. Now her bitter rivals had defied her ambush and were now in talks with an alliance that was for sure meant to destroy her influence in the region. She had enemies on all sides, closing in on her swiftly, aiming to take away what was rightfully hers.

This seemed to be the perfect storm she was dreading.

Yet, there was one glimmer of hope for her plans - the meeting; it was near. A crashing of the meeting between her two enemies at their most vulnerable would be the crushing blow she sorely needed if her clan was to remain on top in the region. Once they were gone, she could focus on making sure Regi Castle's secrets were for her eyes only.

Her position of royalty was not going to crumble to two failures.

The tea cup hoisted by one of Serperior's extended vines was thrown from her grasp and shattered on a nearby wall as Serperior huffed loudly and coiled down from her throne. Her face shifted rapidly as she slithered down the hall's blood red carpet, expressing both smoldering rage and a smug smile of radiating confidence.

"Lord Krokorok!" she called out. "Accompany me and speak of the specifics of that location! Afterward, you two will be returning back to our home castle!"

Krokorok gulped again, following after the now fired up Grass-type.

From beyond the sight of the fort's stationed guards, a pair of binoculars followed Serperior's hasty movements through the reflective, stained glass windows until she was out of sight. The binoculars then dropped as the claws of the Weavile holding it tightened at what she saw through them.

"Hah! Looks like that cowardly little croc didn't wimp out on us after all," Weavile remarked with victorious glee.

"Don't be so sure," the Bisharp sitting next to her cautioned. "Wait 'til we see some more movement."

"Yeah, yeah, tinman, I get it." She scoped back in. "Let's just see…"

Minutes passed atop the sandstone cliff they were positioned on as Weavile swept her focused gaze across the fortress, holding her breath in anticipation. This moment of silence was broken after a commotion near the fort's front entrance was spotted by her binoculars. The entrance's rusty, iron bar gate was slowly hoisted from the inside. Dozens of breastplate wearing Pokemon then proceeded to march out of the structure's interior. Serperior herself was close behind her mercenaries, trailed by the ominous floating Aegislash behind her.

This had to be their plan working as intended.

"Hook, line, and sinker. What I would give to see the snake's face when she finds our surprise," Weavile said through a grin, stuffing the binoculars into her saddlebag. "All right, Bishy, time to wow me with your plan, since mine has clearly worked."

"Simple, clean, and stealthily. That's how we do this."

"We'll see, tinman," she murmured, casting a look behind her. "Look sharp, vermin. We're going in, so stay quiet and follow our lead. Especially you, runt."

Heliolisk seized up as Weavile stared him down, muttering some unheard curses beneath his breath. Gallade, however, remained vigilant as he peered at the fortress from behind rocky cover. He dropped a knee to make a prayer for victory to the Allmother, whispering unusual phrases to himself and placing a firm arm onto the armband covering his Mega Bracelet.

Weavile rolled her eyes at their behavior, slinging her black saddlebag over her shoulder. "Whatever. Let's go see what that snake is too stupid to find." She was the first to slide down the jagged cliff, smirking the entire way down. "Ladies first, Bishy!"

Gallade and Heliolisk were quick to follow the two captains as they descended down from their position. They trekked across the hot sands towards the looming structure of their desire. Carefully, as to not attract attention to them, yet fast enough to get in without a trace. Two Absols' were stalking the pair from behind, coming with the group to solely watch them in case they planned to run.

Gallade worried his plan of escape would have to wait after this operation, if that ever was to come.

Heliolisk shuffled over to Gallade's side, glancing momentarily behind him at the glaring Absols' before whispering into his ear. "How long until we can do something? The Allfather and commander have to know by now we're in trouble."

"We can't do anything with those two behind us," the Psychic-type whispered back. "If I can get to that Weavile's bag and take out the Absols', then we can use our Entercard to get back home."

His response seemed to ease Heliolisk's nerves, if just slightly. A minute later, the Electric-type spoke softly again.

"This place; it's what the Allfather said the mercs were supposed to leave from… If this place is important, and we're really gonna enter it, what do you think is inside it?"

Gallate didn't respond as the group neared the dug out boundaries of Regi Castle. They stopped to see the large group of Rose Clan mercenaries venture off into the vast desert wastes, no doubt in pursuit of the 'meeting' they would intend to crash. With the majority of the Pokémon guarding the fortress gone, it was left scarcely protected, ripe for their next plan.

"… What I hope is that it is clarity," Gallade said. "I do not want us to stumble around in the dark any longer, to not have friends and family live another dreary life of darkness." He looked up at the imposing fortress. "If it's true that this place holds secrets, then I wish we discover them for the benefit of our home."

He and many others back home were sick of failure, sick of their lack of discoveries, and sick of their suffering. As long as he lived and breathed, he would make sure the path to paradise promised by the Allmother would be found and followed.

It was what kept him going, truly.

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The sun setting in the distance over the encampment meant one thing - it was showtime. Huddles of guild members and workers of Excadrill were gathering near their tents and scores of equipment. One notable group of three was disconnected from the clamor, chatting casually as they waited for their Guildmaster's next command.

"Seriously, you two should've been at that shrine place while it all went down around us. I mean, Legendaries swooping down like that? It was a blast!"

Gloria frowned at Roark. "It wasn't a blast. It was very serious and you could've… died," she struggled to say those words. She did not want to harp so much, but it clouded her mind so much at the time. "You even got shot! Those Pokemon weren't playing around, y'know."

Roark chuckled as he bent over with a pained grunt to ruffle her wispy hair tuft. "When you get to my age and feel all rusty, sometimes you just gotta do it without question." He stopped to straighten his leg out, putting some more weight onto it. "And hey, I'm not a cripple, so you don't have to worry about that."

She eventually smiled at his antics. "I just don't want to be scared like that again, okay? I wish you didn't agree to going to our new operation…"

"You know I can't be dead weight and not do something risky, sis." The Zoroark cracked a grin. "Hey, speaking of risky; what you two did yesterday…" He broke out into another chuckle. "Liam told me all about how you ran from the mission and liberated that village all by yourselves. Ain't that right?"

A pair of snapping claws in front of the daydreaming Riolu's face jolted him back into reality. He honed in on Roark's amused expression and took a calming breath.

"Stay awake here, kid! Sis here is too shy to tell the story."

Liam shrugged, smiling at the blushing Vulpix beside him. "There's nothing to say that I haven't told you. Her worry paid off, and we did it by the skin of our teeth."

"Man, we could've used a pair like you back in the Rescue Society," Roark said, focusing back onto Gloria. "… You never forgot that promise, and it shows."

She looked down in thought after his words. He knelt down as best he could, reaching a claw over to grasp the Never-Melt-Ice hanging from her necklace. A tender smile stretched across his muzzle as their eyes connected.

"You and I both know how proud your parents would be of you now. I don't need to overstate that, do I?"

"… No," she mumbled.

"Then I guess I'll say it for them. You make me very proud every time you prove yourself." He bounced the icicle with his claws. "You didn't have to waste your whole life to do something so special…"

She sniffed, shuffling her forelegs together, before tackling the Zoroark into an awkward hug. He stifled his groan of pain from her sudden embrace with a chuckle, wrapping his arms around her back as she melted into him.

Liam watched this heartwarming event between the two with a certain melancholy feeling bubbling in his chest. Before, when he lacked the memories of his past, an occurrence like this would simply be sweet to his blank self. Yet, now he could only think of his own parents.

Was his mother ever proud of him before she died? If his father was still alive, could he say he was proud of him?

The answers he knew and the ones he didn't were always out of his reach, and the small windows into the past he was given never seemed enough to his ever curious mind. Ever since that trip out to Criss-Cross Creek, it ravaged his thoughts, changing his perception of the world around him and what he believed in it. The Guildmaster was always there to help him when he bottled it all in, but his words only deepened his desires. He wanted to know the full story, and why he was in this world full of oddities and creatures that seemed beyond the realm of that small country boy's simple world.

Far from home he was. That's what it seemed like to his fractured brain.

Roark cracked an eye open and looked over at Liam, beckoning him over with a claw. "C'mon! This is a family hug, sidekick!"

The Riolu blinked, before grinning and stepping over to join them. He extended his arms and fell into the clinch of warm and slightly cool fur. They kept this moment of togetherness a moment longer, taking it in. While these two weren't family by blood to Liam, or were even from the same world as he was, he would be lying to say it didn't feel like it. They made him feel comfortable in this land, and he wished for their happiness and safety above all.

Liam held onto their bodies tight, feeling like never letting go.

Across the camp, another interaction between close friends was taking place - Leafeon and Shaymin. The Legendary was attempting to take off into the skies, her bandaged ear wings only allowing her bruised body into the air for a mere thirty seconds before she had to stop. A growl escaped her each time as he was forced to descend. But she kept at it, testing her limits further each time.

Leafeon was a few feet away, happiness mixed with worry in her expression as her eyes followed the gliding Pokemon. Even if the others weren't so happy to see her, they were willing to accept her again, and she herself was just happy her friend was alive and safe now.

"Are you sure you're fine to go with us?" Leafeon inquired. "Nobody is forcing you to go, Shaymin."

Shaymin grunted as her paws hit the sand again. "… Yeah, but I wanna go, Leafy!" She took a deep breath before launching into the air again. "If I could convince the Guildmaster and the others to let me back in the guild, then I can most definitely convince 'em to let me go!"

Leafeon frowned. "You don't have to prove yourself to the others. It wasn't your fault this all happened, and we would've done it for anyone else."

Shaymin managed to stay in flight for a solid minute before returning to the ground, landing near Leafeon with a sigh. "… What if I want to prove myself, huh? What if I'm sick of being looked at as a bastard here."

Leafeon was nearly taken aback by her words. The Shaymin she knew since they came to Celestic was always adverse to making friends beyond her. She had tried to make the Legendary be more rational and friendly, but it seemed to backfire every time.

"I was only in that fuckin' jail cell for a few days, but it felt like an eternity," Shaymin said, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth. "I had all that time alone to just think. About you, about my family… about me. I came here years ago, and all I've ever done is put others down here, like back home. I thought I was gonna die there with that memory of me in you guys' forever."

Leafeon shook her head. "You know I would never think of you like that." She smirked. "Besides, I think your attitude makes you look tough."

"You know I can't help it, Leafy." She inhaled. "But the truth is… I was a shitty friend to ya, and an even worse teammate. I wanna fix that, really. That's why I wanna go." She exhaled forcefully, cracking a smirk. "And also to kick their asses as payback… if ya let me, that is."

Leafeon pondered her claims with a knowing smile. "There's no Team Evergreen without a second member, so... no duh I need you."

"Thanks, Leafy."

"Did you apologize to Monferno and Braixen yet?"

Shaymin avoided her curious gaze and bit her lip. "Uh, nah, I haven't gotten around to that. I think I'll talk to 'em after we're done with the expedition."

Leafeon rolled her eyes. "They're not mad at you, Shaymin. Nobody is angry anymore. If you wanna put the past behind you, then maybe now's the time to start fixing things."

Shaymin really did, even if it was hard to swallow her distaste of the guild structure. The things she endured over her brief but grueling encounter with the Rose Clan showed her this was no game. If she were to really become a member of this guild, this seemed to be the first step of doing so.

It was either this, or return home, and she couldn't face that.

"I'm happy that you're finally making a change," Leafeon added.

Shaymin opened her mouth to reply, but a gruff shout from behind caught both of their attention. They turned to see their Guildmaster beckoning all the others with his waving paws and inaudible commands. Their operation was seemingly beginning now.

"Talk with ya later if we come out of this tussle alive, Leafy!" Shaymin snickered as she took to the skies, gliding over to the gathering Pokemon.

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Leafeon followed her friend with an amused expression, much less worried than she was before.

Jackson waited until every Pokemon in the immediate area was surrounding him. Over a hundred strong they were, and all looking at him, more determined than ever after their ordeal at the shrine. While he didn't expect an outcome like that, he was more than happy to capitalize on a success for their next big move.

This was it, and they were going to get what they were owed.

"Everyone!" Jackson bellowed, arms crossed behind him. "In just a few moments, our next and final blow against the Rose Clan will commence - a full scale attack on Regi Castle!"

Shouts and vivacious cheers from the crowd followed his announcement.

"Our scouting missions have concluded, and a plan of attack has been coordinated for this very hour! We have gone over the details in the morning, but hear your roles once more!"

Diverting his attention to a barren area littered with laid out Entercards, he swept a paw across them. "The first group will use their Entercards to spring up around the fortress, causing chaos and confusion, much like the attack on the Shrine of Landorus… However!"

His outstretched paw was then directed to the multitude of Mudsdales' that typically pulled their carriages on expedition. Except they now wore saddles fit for personal riding, with bridles hooked around their mouths. They stood silently next to one another.

"The Mudsdale have graciously agreed to take part in this operation. Not long after the first team arrives through their Entercards, the second team will arrive by riding the Mudsdales' towards the fortress, striking down any stray mercenary while riding. This flurry of action from both team's combined will swiftly bring our enemies to their knees. Afterward, Regi Castle will be in our control."

Murmurs spread throughout those gathered, getting themselves amped up for what came next.

Jackson took center-stage again, breathing in, his orange paw ring flickering. "This operation will be the most important encounter of this expedition. Our actions are to be impeachable if we are to obtain what we have come here for - the second location. The secrets buried beneath that fortress should not be stolen by criminals that care little for the future of this world!" He thrusted a paw into the air as he yelled again. "Today we're not just fighting for the guild, but for the futures of your children and their children! We fight… for a world free of Mystery Dungeons!"

"YEAH", screamed the crowd, more restless than ever after his speech.

"The second team will take off shortly! Let's go!" Jackson commanded as he walked away.

The meeting dispersed as everyone flocked to pack up their supplies and head to their chosen positions.

Liam felt more determined than ever after hearing his Guildmaster speak. He wasted no time in heading towards his team's area. A lone Mudsdale was chosen by him as he jumped up on its back. It blew some air in amusement as the Riolu struggled to gain balance and remain seated. He would eventually get the hang of it, only slightly wobbly as he grabbed the reins. While his inexperience showed he had never done this before, he felt like he had.

Despite the circumstance surrounding this, he was beyond excited, his heart thumping as he stared out into the flat, sunset stricken desert that awaited him.

"I guess I'll see you after we're finished."

Liam almost fell off the Mudsdale's back after hearing Gloria's soft voice beside him. He looked over, spotting her staring up at him. "Uh… I guess we will, heh."

She giggled at his lack of composure. "You were really excited about this. Are you sure you'll be able to do it?"

"I think you know the answer to that," he said confidently, casting her a look. "Now tell me how you're feeling about this."

Gloria took a moment, but her smile never faded. "I feel good about this. I feel… bold and unafraid now," she admitted.

Liam smirked, saying nothing in return as he looked back up front and gripped the reins. He took deep breaths, trying to channel some of that lack of fear and happiness battling between his anger and doubt creeping within his mind. Yet, now wasn't the time nor the place to worry about that, as if that mattered.

"Second team go now!" his Guildmaster hollered.

With a rumbling neigh and kick of their front legs into the air, the Mudsdales' pounded their hooves against the sand and took off into the direction of the fortress, creating a trail of swept up dust behind them. Gloria watched them depart, her eyes fixated on Liam, a sense of worry and apprehension still clinging onto her senses.

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Heliolisk huffed out of tiredness, clinging to the grapple hook's rope and stopping to catch his breath. He was never considered the most agile out of his squad back home.

"Hurry it up, runt!" Weavile's voice called from within the structure.

The Electric-type growled a curse before pushing himself to shimmy further up the rope. When the cracked sandstone bricks were within reach, he jumped to them. He suppressed a yelp when he latched onto the bricks, his feet dangling well more than a hundred feet from the ground. Gallade noticed his predicament and immediately stepped in to pull his partner up. Muttering a 'thanks', Heliolisk stood up to witness their current location.

They were inside the perimeter walls of Regi Castle. Its crumbling and barren insides were dead silent, devoid of any Rose Clan mercenaries that usually patrolled it. The walls wrapped around the core of the building, seemingly leading inward at some point.

Weavile pulled up her grappling hook and stuffed it into her saddlebag, glaring at Gallade. "You better have had a good reason for needing to bring the runt along."

Gallade held an arm in front of a scowling Heliolisk, blocking him from talking back. "If what Krokorok said is true, then this 'barrier' is something my partner and I can overcome."

"Whatever it is, let's get somewhere quiet and empty," Bisharp said as he tiptoed through the hall. "Follow the plan and try to avoid being seen. If there's anyone in our way, we knock them out - no execution."

"Don't need to tell me twice, tinman," Weavile cackled, following him. "We'll be in there and out without a trace before the snake even realizes she got duped, with this place's secrets in our claws."

The group of four, including the Absol pair, slowly traversed the outer walls, searching for staircases or hatches that would lead them into the fortress itself. After a few minutes of walking, a series of muffled bursts could be heard all around them, followed by indecipherable shouts and the rush of footsteps.

They stopped and held their breath.

"The hell's going on?" Weavile harshly whispered. "Don't tell me the snake got second thoughts…"

"No, can't be," Bisharp said. "Maybe they're leaving through Entercards, or bringing more Pokémon here. If so, let's just be extra careful…"

Weavile shook her head and continued to walk down the hallway. "Whatever it is, we can use the chaos to our advantage."

Gallade and Heliolisk were hesitant to continue after listening further in on the obscured discord around them, but a dirty look from the Absols' made them move forward without question.

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They were near.

It was a journey that took them through desolate swathes of desert, tall valleys of natural clay and giant chasms. The galloping Mudsdales' blazed across the orange hued sands with no sign of stopping, sweat trickling down both their faces and their focused riders. The faraway setting sun provided a waypoint for them to reach, the imposing Regi Castle standing in their path.

Liam wiped his brow free of wetness with a spare paw as he hesitantly released his iron grip on the Mudsdale's reins. The fortress was dead ahead, and they would arrive in less than two minutes. He didn't know why, but his paws were trembling when they reached for the ELE attached to his saddle.

Flicking the switch on its side, he waited a moment to speak into it. "G-guildmaster! We're approaching the fortress now in just a few minutes!"

"Good. Full speed ahead, kid," the device replied.

As the band of equines and their determined riders got closer, it happened. Flashes of orange light began erupting all over the fortress one after another. Sights of ensuing battles between the arrivals and the mercenaries began shortly after the spectacle. Liam knew Gloria and Roark were in one of those Entercards, and that they were fighting within the fortress right now. If anything could give him courage right now, it was the thought of any harm being brought upon them. The anger that burned within him when his loved ones were threatened.

The Riolu steeled him as he grabbed the reins again, preparing for battle.

The Mudsdales' were immediately spotted as the few Rose Clan members on the ground fired at the approaching Ground-types'. A lightning fast projectile from a rifle whizzed past Liam's head. He ducked as more attacks of all kinds were sent their way. Yet, his spirit never wilted at their retaliation. The Mudsdales' broke formation and scattered across the lands surrounding the fortress. Beams and blasts of elemental energy chased them as many swerved around to charge at a mercenary standing out in the open.

Liam tugged on his Mudsdale's reign as a lone Stoutland came into his sights. His companion realized the Riolu's intentions as it dashed towards the shaggy canine. Purple energy manifested in Liam's paw as he held it outward, waiting for his moment. His Force Palm crashed into the Stoutland as he zoomed past it. Looking behind his shoulder, the large canine was slumped in over the sands, defeated. He grinned at his triumph, pulling on the reins again to steer Mudsdale towards another victim.

The battle for the fortress waged on, many mercenaries out in the open being incapacitated by the blitz of Mudsdales' storming across the area. Handfuls of Blast Seeds were lobbed from Liam at the mercenaries as he dashed past them - his favorite. Soon enough, many of their enemies on the outside were vanquished.

Their victory had to be near.

The sounds of fighting within the castle also slowed to a crawl as the minutes came by. Liam pulled by the castle walls to witness many of his friends pulling back from fights and overlooking the Mudsdales' from above. His heart thumped as he caught a glimpse of Gloria within the fortress, fresh out of a battle. She stood defiantly on the unconscious body of an Ivysaur - zero fear on her face. He smiled widely at this.

"All Rose Clan members appear to be down. Inform your teammates to wait until the fortress is swept before leaving your positions," his Guildmaster's voice reverberated through his ELE.

This retaking of Regi Castle seemed easy to Liam - too easy.

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Weavile took a peek down two opposite hallways. When the coast was clear, she and the Pokemon behind her continued on their way. They had gone further down into the fortress, passing by the few Rose Clan members left behind, who seemed more interested in running past them to seek whatever was occurring above.

None of them were complaining about this oddity. The fort's interior fell deathly silent as they traversed its hallways, which were increasingly becoming more grimy and filled with piles of sand or debris.

"We must be getting close," Weavile said, waving her lit Luminous Orb around her surroundings. "These annoying tunnels have to go somewhere."

"Somewhere they couldn't access apparently," Bisharp added, throwing a look behind him at Gallade and Heliolisk. "If this barrier thing is real, you sure they don't know how to get through?"

Gallade nodded. "I am positive. It was information my partner and I omitted from our Entercard training with the Rose Clan. If what we're looking for is past the barrier, then we will be the first to see it."

The smirk on Bisharp's face couldn't be erased.

Weavile whistled. "Happy birthday, Bishy, you got what you wanted. Now, let's just see if this is all worth our time in the first place."

The stretch of hallway ended at a large chamber. Muck and other pools of sand filled the room. It seemed all excavation efforts of the fortress ended here - a dead end.

"What about here? Can we place the card here?" Weavile asked the pair.

"Yeah, we can do it here," Heliolisk said. "Travel noise won't go past these walls."

"Then do it. And don't even think about escaping, because we're leaving at the same time."

"G-got it."

Gallade and Heliolisk got to work setting down their blank Entercard, inputting the correct coordinates for a transport straight downward, past the barrier and into whatever lurked below it. They then etched a symbol into the sands that would allow them transportation back.

"It's done," Gallade confirmed, pointing at the Entercard lying on the ground. "If we take this, then it will go straight past the barrier."

"It better," Weavile grumbled as she positioned herself near the Entercard, "because your usefulness depends on it."

The rest of the group also huddled near the card as Gallade reached down to press the indentation in it. In an explosion of golden orange light, they vanished.

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Serperior could see it clearly, even through her hazy perception.

She and her large gathering of forces trekked across the desert for what seemed like hours. The location of the meeting was somewhere called Dry Heat Ridge - a hilly area with many cliffs surrounding the dunes. Even when a distant sandstorm began rolling in on her location, and her underlings advising her to return back to the fortress, she would not budge.

She would bring an end to her two biggest threats right here and now - capture or execution. Her kingdom's future depended on it.

"In this area!" Serperior hissed. "Be ready to attack at your princess' command! Do not let the storm deter you!"

Orange and red clouds of dust whipped the scorched sands as they entered the ridge, the reach of the ravenous sandstorm acting like a fog over the area. Still, they persevered and squinted their eyes at anything they could see. Yet, no matter how much they traversed the ridge, not a single Pokemon was in sight.

"No, no, no!" Serperior seethed in frustration. "This meeting should have started here by now! Could they have postponed it because of the sandstorm? No… They have to be here somewhere!"

Through the howling of the storm around them, her ears singled out the tumbling of small rocks on the cliffs surrounding her regiment. A chill then ran up her spine as realization of her situation set in.

A ringing bullet fired from one of the cliffs and struck the face of the Passimian next to Serperior, dropping it instantly. On cue, Pokemon of all kinds leapt from their hiding position among the jagged rock and descended towards her group. She instantly knew these aggressors to be Pokemon of the Razor Claw clan.

"Defend your princess against these heathens!" Serperior screamed to her forces as they scrambled to get into combat.

The two opposing sides clashed in a bout of gunfire from above and combat on the ground, one side clearly winning over the other. The sandstorm sweeping the area gave the ambushers as they began to pick off their blind foes - a sturdy Golisopod even barreling through the breastplate wearing Pokemon with First Impression.

A stray projectile ricocheted off of Serperior's crown, denting it as she fled urgently from her rapidly falling regiment. She knew this battle to be a lost one, and her capture or death was imminent if she were to stay.

Her trusty and silent Aegislash bodyguard followed closely, slashing any Pokémon that attempted to get near her with its mighty blade. It laid down an Entercard into the sands as Serperior slithered near it, flicking its indentation as it powered up to transport the two back to their clan's home base.

A raging fire burned in Serperior's eyes and mind as she watched her dreaded enemy mop up the rest of her forces and win over her again. She had been tricked, deceived by one of her own. The tendrils of orange coming from the Entercard merged into a blinding pillar that consumed her body.

Serperior had lost this battle, but she knew she would win the war. Her revenge would be inescapable, and her desires reached if it killed her.

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An hour had passed since their highly successful assault on Regi Castle had begun. After sweeping the fortress of any other remaining Rose Clan mercenaries, all of Excadrill's workers had taken up positions of defense against any potential reinforcements. However, all was quiet as the fortress appeared to be finally taken back.

The entire guild, Team Drarosteel, and Excadrill were currently inside the fortress itself, gathering in a large war room-like chamber with many outdated and deteriorated maps of Celestic and other continents adorning the sandstone walls.

"I-I can't believe it!" Excadrill sputtered. "Thirty two! I double checked the head counts, and only thirty two dang mercs were guarding this place. We counted at least a hundred of 'em a day ago."

Garchomp couldn't wrap her mind around it as well. "And you're for sure your workers searched the fortress entirely? None of 'em in hiding and waiting to spring on us?"

"There ain't nothin' in those winding tunnels 'sides sand and wreckage." The mole whistled cheerfully. "We wrapped up those mercs in just a few minutes! Like shockin' a barrel of Magikarp - that easy!"

Scizor shook his head. "It couldn't be that easy. There has to be a reason for their absence." He looked around the room. "We must be ready in case they return."

"Why's it matter that they left?" Shaymin said as she flexed her flight skills and flew around the room. "We beat the piss out of 'em! Who cares if they come back to save some face. We'll beat 'em again!"

"I agree with Shaymin!" Rockruff proclaimed, puffing his chest out. "We beat these guys twice! Who's to say we can't do it a third time?"

Majority of the other guild members seemed to concur with their logic. Scizor, on the other hand, continued to think about this situation. "Or maybe… maybe they have gotten what they came here for and left. If what Excadrill's workers are saying is true, there is nothing here pertaining to the second location, meaning they could have-"

"Fat chance!" Excadrill shot down with a wave of a claw. "Jack and I spoke to one of the mercs, and they claim they found nothin' here." A grin grew on his face. "Well… 'cept for a ley line barrier blocking their dig efforts."

The last part raised some eyebrows, most notably Scizor, his heart fluttering. "What you're saying… This means-"

"Means we're still in the race!" Excadrill interrupted again. "My theory is that the Legendaries' lil' workshop is deep below in the fort's labyrinth. But a ley line barrier forming above it over the ages kept the mercs from discoverin' it. Heck, it could've kept anyone from findin' it!"

Garchomp smirked. "But we know how to get through those, don't we? Tell me, can we use an Entercard to possibly get into that labyrinth?"

"Sure can! We can even do it right now! As long as Jack agrees to it, of course."

All eyes were on the Shiny Lucario as he finally spoke, an Entercard clasped in one paw.

"Today, we have defeated a foe that has stood in the way of the future. And now, the key to unlocking the secrets of this world will hopefully be found here. Our efforts in discovering the Magnagate Investigation Project at Celestial Mountain have been building to this moment, and I see no reason in stalling any longer."

He placed the Entercard down, pressing its indentation as it sparked in activation. A symbol was then drawn into the sands surrounding the card.

"Gather!" Jackson yelled. "We shall see its existence as a group together!"

The guild, Excadrill, and Team Drarosteel packed together closely by the Entercard. In just a few seconds, all of them were consumed by an orange radiance. Minds and bodies coalesced into particles as they traveled downward through the earth, piercing an impenetrable barrier below it and continuing through their journey. In a single second, they were someplace else.

Their feet felt ground.

Liam heard the crackling of fire as he opened his eyes. They were in a chamber unfamiliar to them, well lit by wall torches that strangely burnt brighter than normal. The walls encasing them were sandstone, just like the fortress, with connecting patterns etched into them. Chunks of missing stone in the ceiling above allowed sand to cascade from it and pool beneath their feet.

The Riolu felt the urge to explore the room.

"These torches…" Scizor muttered, staring at their impossible states. "Only very powerful Pokemon could create an everlasting flame such as these..."

Scizor could not help himself as he noticed an opening leading into a massive hallway. His insect-like wings carried him to it, with many of the guild following him. He peered into the halls, his mouth ajar at what he saw.

Beyond the chamber was a grand labyrinth of hallways and rooms. Many accommodations were scattered across the maze; tables with odd fixtures, large containers of seeds and berries, maps of an older Celestic, and messy scribbles lining the walls. All of it was in complete disarray, yet were unmistakably connected to something they desired.

"This is it," he mumbled. "This is the second location…"

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"It's been weeks without a proper end to this madness," Kommo-o grumbled. "How long will we continue to entertain their foolishness?"

"As long as it takes to end this peacefully," Empoleon responded, stepping from the window to sit down at the large oval table. "You know escalation would only worsen the matter."

Per their usual standards, another Council meeting among the chosen mayors and leaders of Celestic was taking place. It seemed a repeat of the last time, as the back and forth bickering over their choice of action in the Grit Region took centerstage once again. All Empoleon could do was mediate the situation, his mind somewhere else.

"And keep allowing our shipments to be attacked?!" Kommo-o growled with a slam of his paw. "Our lack of action is what is lasting this treason!"

Half of the heads sitting in the room nodded to his words.

"I am willing to dedicate a large portion of my region's supplies to the Grit Region," Primarina offered. "If that's what it takes to end this terrible event."

The other half of the heads took agreeance to the Water-type's offer.

"Thank you, Primarina, but that won't be needed," Empoleon said. "The conflict in the Grit Region will stay there, without an effect on other regions, and our guards will do their best to protect the caravans. For now, it is best to keep the tempers of the locals mild."

"This fence-sitting is absurd and cowardly," Kommo-o spat.

"We can discuss your much noticed disdain more in our next meeting," Empoleon remarked with a wave of his flipper. "That is all for today, everyone! Please, have a safe trip back to your cities, towns, and villages! The only Pokemon I wish to stay a bit longer are Kommo-o, Carracosta, Manectric, and Pyroar."

The rest of the representatives not called to remain got out of their seats. They shook paws or chatted with each other cordially as they exited through the double doors. At the same time, a Gabite guard walked in with a box filled with the binders, folders, and other documents, placing it on the table before leaving.

The five Pokemon left in the room sat in undisturbed silence for a moment.

"So… What has been the Alignment's progress with uprooting the Rose Clan," Kommo-o inquired calmly.

"That was not part of the discussion I had with the Allfather, sadly," Empoleon said with a sigh. "But apparently he has sent out a dispatchment of his advisors to negotiate with the mercenaries."

"'Negotiate'," Kommo-o snorted, reaching a paw over to comb the hefty box's contents. "And what is the reason for this dump of paperwork?"

"Right there is what was actually discussed. Inside are documents pertaining to the Cosmic Quilt Guild; its members, history and creation, and all of its documented expeditions and income forms."

Kommo-o knew instantly, breathing a sigh. "Arceus above… not this nonsense again. Why is this Allfather so enraptured by this particular guild?"

"I wouldn't know, Kommo-o, as he refuses to give me further information. All I understand is that he is gravely worried by the guild's recent actions, and more specifically, one individual from it. He wishes for our conclusion to be a blockade of the guild's expeditions, and even a dissolution of the guild entirely."

His words ignited some discussion among the three other Pokemon present.

"Just a week ago, he requested for us to send guards to their guild's location to pry information from them about their recent expedition," Kommo-o said, pointing at the box. "And now he wishes for us to investigate a meaningless fear of his that he won't even elaborate on? This is a waste of our time."

"... It is, but I wish to keep our relationship with the Alignment friendly, so we will entertain this request just like we had the others." Empoleon reached over the table to grab a folder from the box. "Now, let's hopefully get our conclusion before the night is over."

The other four Pokemon reluctantly grabbed their own helping of documents.

"As is typical, I must stress that any information of this investigation is kept confidential." Empoleon held up his document, flipping a page to reveal a painted portrait of a Shiny Pokemon. "This is an official investigation into the Cosmic Quilt Guild. And more specifically by the Allfather's request… its Guildmaster."

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Throughout our brief lives, we are deceived by the illusions of greater wonders and greater destinies, only to never see them realized.

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

Discord: z2h2z

Next Time: Entercard Research Station