Chapter 32

Revelation 6:7

Sparks and wisps of embers trailed across the wooden floor. A thriving and hungry fire began to rise and lick against the walls and windows. Glass shattered as flames erupted from the house and absorbed the oxygen of the outside world, a plume of smoke trailing from the broken window into the blue skies.

Grunts and other sounds of a scuffle came from within the burning home. Moments passed until a door leading into the home burst open. A man carried out a child over his shoulders that flailed in his grasp, held down by a bleeding arm.

"Take out my guys, huh?" The man sneered. "I'll give it to you. You got your dad's spirit in ya."

Liam snarled at his words and pounded his fists on the man's back as his legs thrashed. His eyes were bloodshot and glued to the house, hot tears streaming from them as the flames continued to consume the home's insides. His desperate attempts to flee resorted to biting down hard on the man's shoulder. A pained grunt was heard as the arm wrapped around the boy's waist yanked Liam and forced him to halt his endeavors.

"Feisty little shit, aren't you? Settle down, 'cause the day's far from over."

The fire inside the house could not be contained any longer as it began to envelop the outside walls. Wood burned and blackened, the once vibrant flowers that lined the porch were reduced to embers, and a tower of smoke funneling out of the house smothered the once-perfect skies. Liam could only watch in horror as he was taken further and further away, incapable of preventing his home's destruction.

"Look at your old home, the old you... burning away."

The trunk of a car popped open as the boy was tossed inside. Liam seized any chance to fight back as he kicked his legs and threw frantic punches at the man. His fists were caught before they could meet his target, the man squeezing Liam's hands and overpowering him. The boy had no choice but to yield, resorting to burning a hole through the man with his glare.

"Me and your old man got some unfinished business to sort out first. But I got a place just for you, kid." The man placed his hands on the trunk's hinge. "Now… let's go and find daddy."

The trunk slammed close, trapping the young boy in darkness.

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Liam jerked his head and twitched as the memory came to an end. He panted, slowly regaining his bearings and returning to reality.

"Woah, kid, wake up call!" a suave voice next to him said. "We got a long and boring trail to walk here, y'know."

"Sorry, just tired," the Riolu mumbled.

Gloria strolled up next to him. "You need to get more sleep, Liam. Remember the last time you were too excited for a mission?"

Roark chuckled. "Kid was like a shambling corpse at the morning chant."

A small smile graced Liam's lips. "Can't help it. Expeditions always get me goin'."

Moonlight shined down on them through the canopies of trees rustling in the cold wind. The trail they were embarking upon took them from their guild to the forests surrounding Criss-Criss Creek. For hours they walked, getting ever so closer to their destination.

"Hey! You guys are being a bunch of Slowpokes! Hurry up!" the boisterous voice of Rockruff yelled from further down the trail.

Liam took the opportunity to blaze down the trail to catch up, Gloria and Roark exchanging looks before they followed after the Riolu. They slowed their pace upon merging with the greater group of their guildmates. Scizor led the band of Pokemon from the very front, seemingly unfettered. His posture was stiff, eyes staring straight ahead. The Pokemon behind him, however, found it more suitable to conserve with another.

"Ooh! Let's play a game to pass the time!"

"How about a game called 'quiet', Rockruff?" Monferno grumbled.

"Aw, c'mon! Anyone else wanna play?"

"What kind of game is it?" Braixen said.

"Don't encourage him, Braix."

"I say the color of a place, 'mon, or thing around us, and you guys guess what I see!" Rockruff explained. "Hmm, I see something green!"

Monferno rolled his eyes. "Is it the trees?"

"Nope!"

"Rockruff, you do realize how many things in a forest are green, right?" Braixen questioned.

The puppy laughed, "C'mon, just guess!"

"Um, a Xatu is flying above us. Is it that?" Gloria guessed.

"Nope! Try again!"

"A fern," Liam suddenly said, his eyes glued anywhere but the group.

"Uh... Liam got it! He wins!"

Monferno sighed, "This is a stupid game, Rockruff. Nobody besides Mr. Personality even knows what a fern is."

"Yeah, but we're making some time fly by!"

Scizor turned, "Everyone, please behave professionally. We will soon be arriving at the site and meeting with another group, and I require utmost attention."

Roark chuckled, "We're just having some fun, Scizor. What's got your shell so rattled?"

"Guildmaster's put him in charge for the first time," Monferno said. "Hell, I'd be nervous too if I was leading such an important mission."

Gloria nodded, "But it's great to see, Scizor. All of us are happy for you!"

"We should respect Scizor's wishes," Braixen added with a neat smile. "This is quite an opportunity he has, and I wouldn't want us to mess it up for him."

An invisible blush appeared on Scizor's cheeks. "T-thank you, Braixen. I understand most of you look to your Guildmaster for guidance, but hopefully I can offer that."

Roark peered up at the starry sky. "Hey, I also see something green. It's coming right this way."

Shaymin glided through the air with ease, wearing a wide smile and performing circling maneuvers around the tops of trees. She eventually descended to the group of Pokemon and landed in front of Scizor.

"Shaymin, what are the visuals? Did you see the ruins? Are the others there? Has the excavation been compl-"

"Mate, I'm only one 'mon, so cool it," she interjected. "Anyway, yeah me and Charizard found it. He's out there flappin' his lips with the head mole guy in charge or whatever. Looks like they cleared out most of the rock and other junk."

Scizor sighed in relief. "Thank you, Shaymin. You may return to guiding us."

"With pleasure." Shaymin was airborne within a second.

Scizor angled his head, a thump appearing in his chest. "Let's, uh, pick up the pace, everyone. We are near the site."

Lips were sealed, paws and other limbs focused on beating the paved trail ahead. Following the gliding Shaymin in the night sky, they broke off the pathway and headed into the dense forest. They brushed past wet foliage and continued their trek into the woods until they happened upon a clearing marked by mossy, crumbling pillars of stone and an old-looking mound.

A site of clear excavation was present throughout the ancient ruins as swathes of terrain were razed, rock and dirt piled up near the clearing's edges. Gurrdurr, Machop, and other types of burly Pokemon were clambering aboard carriages led by the ever-so-silent Mudsdales. Excadrill noticed the arriving group and halted his conversation with Charizard, an ear-to-ear smile on his face as he shimmied his way over to Scizor.

"I made a promise to Jack, didn't I?" the Ground-type said. "You need us? The Grit Ruin Excavators will be there bright and early."

Scizor gently clamped his pincer down on the extended pair of claws, shaking them. "Your dedication to our efforts is very appreciated, Excadrill. Without your help, none of this would've been possible."

Excadrill withdrew his claws and tugged on his tie. "Aw, shucks, you're gonna make me as red as a Razz Berry. As much I helped y'all, y'all helped me. 'Sides, it's all for a better tomorrow, like Jack says!"

Scizor looked around. "Have your workers uncovered anything that could lead us into the shrine?"

"Sure have." Excadrill began walking away and motioned for the Bug-type to follow. "You're gonna burst outta your exoskeleton once you see this!"

Scizor followed the eccentric mole as he led him to a dig site located near the large mound of earth. A wide plane of removed grass and dirt revealed a floor of solid, cracked cobblestone. There was a faded symbol still visible within the stone - a peculiar pattern. Scizor instantly recognized it as the pattern used to mark Entercard coordinates.

"You- You found an Entercard-" Scizor's breath hitched, realizing the magnitude of this discovery. "Mew and her team of Legendaries must have placed this long ago. It has to lead to the shrine and the artifact."

Excadrill tapped his head and winked. "Hit it right on the 'noggin. You sure are smart! No wonder Jack put you in charge. Could use at least ten of ya back home to replace these knuckleheads," he grumbled.

"Aheh, uh, thank you."

"Spent all morning tryin' to dig into the shrine, but those dang ole ley lines decided to prop up a barrier over the ground." The mole threw a claw at the faint pattern in the ground. "Looks like Entercards will be your only way in and out, I'm afraid."

"It's no matter. We have prepared well for this and many other outcomes."

"Well then… I guess my services are finished here." Excadrill raised his large claw for another shake, but instead changed his mind and wrapped the surprised Bug-type into a firm hug. "You be safe now and find that artifact, ya hear? Y'all know I'm lookin' out for the guild, and especially Team Moonlight."

"Er, t-there's no need to worry. Please, we'll be fine."

Excadrill removed himself, "Sorry, it's just this whole mess with those ancient Legendaries and the Council's got me stirred up. Makes ya wonder what's really goin' on in Celestic, but maybe it'll all be sorted out soon as Jack said."

Scizor bit his tongue, preventing his words from straying. "Let's focus on obtaining the artifact. We need to know what we're dealing with first."

"Right on. Find this sucker and we'll wipe out those dungeons for good. Just remember, my workers and I will always-" A loud snort of an impatient Mudsdale glaring at Excadrill interrupted him. "Bah, but enough of me yappin'." Excadrill started jogging over to the carriage chock full of Pokemon, throwing a look behind him. "Tell Jack I still wanna buy him a beer when this whole thing's over!"

When the Ground-type finally wiggled his way into a cramped carriage, the hooves of the Mudsdales began to beat the ground. It was only a moment later that the carriages were storming off into the night and leaving behind the ruins. Scizor watched them as they got further and further away, a thump in his chest reminding him that he was now the sole source of authority left. He suddenly felt a rush of heat and heard a loud 'thud' as Charizard landed next to him.

"Yo, Sciz, did visuals on the area and no 'mons are here beside us."

Scizor gulped. "Thank you, Charizard."

"No problem." The dragon grinned. "Let's get this show on the road, old friend."

The rest of the guild ambled over to where the duo was, casting curious looks upon the symbol etched into the stone slab. Shaymin strode through the air before she landed beside the others.

Gloria gasped. "This wasn't here last time Liam and I searched the ruins. Did Excadrill's team find this?"

Rockruff's eyes went wide as he investigated each corner of the pattern. "Woah! This is like one of those Entercard travel thingies, right?"

Scizor nodded. "You are correct, Rockruff. What we have here is an Entercard coordinate marker no doubt placed long ago by Mew's group. I theorize that this will bring us into the shrine."

Excitement began to bounce off each Pokémon of the group.

"Er, but I must inform you that not all of you will be. The Guildmaster has told me to split you all into two teams. One will investigate the shrine while the other will keep watch over the outside ruins."

Monferno held up his hands. "Woah, woah, woah. You're telling me not everyone was allowed to go on this expedition, and now we gotta split up again into another team? For what reason? Nobody's in this forest except us."

Shaymin huffed, "Yeah, this seems like a whole lotta junk. Why couldn't Leafeon come along?"

"And my teammates!" Rockruff cried.

Scizor sighed, "Listen, I understand your frustrations. However, these are direct orders from the Guildmaster, and he wanted it this way. Is this clear?" Forms of grumbled agreements reached his ears. "Good. Here are the teams; Myself, Liam, and Monferno will search the shrine. The rest of you will stay here."

Rockruff stomped the ground. "This stinks! We all wanna see the shrine, too!"

"Yeah, gotta agree with the kid." Roark chimed in before glancing at the frowning expressions around him. He moved to jostle Rockruff's side. "But right now if Scizor says 'jump', we say 'how high', right?"

"Yeah…" the Rock-type bemoaned.

Scizor unlatched his saddlebag. "Thank you, Roark. Liam, Monferno, let's commence the search." He pulled out an Entercard as the two aforementioned Pokémon stepped forward. Kneeling, he began to copy the symbol in the ground onto the metallic card winding frame before placing it down onto the faded pattern.

A pincer hovered over the indentation that would activate the Entercard. Yet, it was not pressed as Scizor stood and took a deep breath.

"Everyone, I wish to say something before we enter." Scizor swallowed, finding his next words hard to get out. "Yesterday, while I was gathering details for this expedition, I took the liberty to further investigate an incident that occurred within the guild over ten years ago. I must admit, I have managed to uncover the missing job details from this incident, and it is hard to say, but it is connected to this location specifically."

Rockruff tilted his head. "Wait... Are you talking about Team Hydra?!"

Scizor reluctantly nodded, "Yes, I am. Most of you have heard the rumors but were not around when it happened. More than ten years ago Team Hydra, a team from our guild, was sent an anonymous tip to investigate these ruins, which they set out on doing, and… Yes, three members of Team Hydra were found deceased not far from here. Their deaths undoubtedly due to foul play."

A wave of unease traversed many of the group upon these revelations.

"But I don't want any of you to think about that." Scizor clenched his pincers tight as he narrowed his gaze. "We must never forget our positions here. The Cosmic Quilt Guild has come so far and has overcome so many setbacks to reach this point now. Vaporeon, Croagunk, Minccino, and Sneseal; their losses will not be in vain. We must hold them in our hearts and minds as we venture into this shrine." His look fell upon the faces of his subordinates - his comrades - and felt his previous fears melting away. "All of you have sacrificed something to be here, and put your lives on the line to secure a better tomorrow. Know this, I will protect you with my own life if it comes down to it."

Silence reigned before Roark began clapping his claw-ridden paws. "Now that's the Scizor we like to hear! Am I wrong, gang?"

A chorus of supporting cheers then exploded out of the Pokémon, Scizor beamed as he absorbed their ferocious ovation.

"I won't stall any longer!" Scizor yelled. "We will return with the artifact. That is a promise I make to you all here and the Pokemon we left behind." He kneeled again to finalize the preparations of the Entercard.

As Liam stepped near this Bug-type, he felt the presence of a paw on his shoulder. He turned to see the sheepish smile of Gloria staring at him.

"Hey, um, be extra safe while you're in there, okay?" She bit the straps of her cream saddlebag against her side and held it up.

He smiled and grabbed the saddlebag before leaning in to give her a brief hug. "You know me - I'll try to. No promises, though."

A chuckling Roark walked over and lightly slugged the Riolu on the shoulder. "Yeah, nah, it's a promise to sis and a threat from myself."

Gloria shook her head. "Just come back in one piece."

Liam gave her a mock salute. "Got it, ma'am," he said sternly, spurring a giggle from the Vulpix.

"Mr. Personality! Hurry it up!" Monferno shouted.

Liam momentarily glared at the primate as he positioned himself beside the Entercard, Monferno standing to his right. Scizor waited for everyone else to stand back before he pressed the card's indentation and straightened himself. A crackling noise filled the air as orange tendrils of ley lines spewed forth and lashed the air. A pillar of blinding golden light then consumed the trio where they stood.

In an instant, they were gone.

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"Got any visuals?"

"You bet your shiny metal ass I got visuals…"

Weavile tore the binoculars from her face and scowled at what she saw. Her cape fluttered behind her in the strong winds, the three scarves tethered to it flowing with it. She stood from her squatting position and waved a claw at a nearby bush. Two Pokémon emerged from it and heeded her beckoning - Glaceon and Simisear.

"All right, here's how this is going down. Ice queen, I want you to tell the others their positions. No fuss - you do it - got it?"

Glaceon whipped her icy bangs. "Hmph. Whatever you say, Weavile." She quickly sauntered away.

Weavile placed a claw on Simisear's shoulder. "Bisharp and I have seen your progress since you joined, and we think you've earned a little promotion."

Simisear's eyes widened. "No kidding. For real?"

"You'll be in charge of managing these bozos and keeping the place guarded as me and Bisharp head into the ruin. Don't fuck up or I'll pull your head off, got it?"

"Uh, y-yeah, I'll get right to it. Thank you so much, Captain Weavile." He immediately jogged after Glaceon.

Bisharp crossed his arms and smiled. "You look more fired up than yesterday. Safe to assume you'll be fine heading into this place again?"

A wave of anger passed through Weavile, causing her to shudder. "If anyone deserves what's inside that dump, it's the Razor Claws. If the Alignment hasn't already nabbed it long ago, now's our chance." She returned to scaling the grassy hill before her.

Bisharp followed. "This'll be more than a bargaining chip. We'll hold something that they've killed for."

"Yeah… And that means wonders for us, doesn't it?"

"Things will get tough, but we always persevere."

Weavile turned her head. "So answer me this. Why do we need half the clan here to sit around while we go looking? Waste of money if you ask me."

"The way I think it is... if those Alignment advisors we help capture blabbed off to the Allfather. He might know that we know something, and he wants these ruins guarded if we were to show up."

She cackled. "Man, you got everything figured out in that big head of yours."

"I told you how much this means to me."

"As long as this means the destruction of that shitty cult, keep plotting, tinman."

Weavile finally surmounted the tall hill in her path. From her vantage at the very top, she could see a wide view of the wet forest from above. Her eyes then caught a glance of a mossy structure deep within a clearing, a pang in her heart appearing at the familiar sight. She let out a sigh before she fished for the binoculars in her saddlebag. Peering into the lenses, she scanned the glade, only to gasp at what she saw.

"Arceus, Bishy, you may actually be right for once. There's Pokémon here that are not us and-"

Weavile's heart sank as she saw the black scarves the Pokemon walking around the ruins wore.

Bisharp followed her gaze. "What's wrong? Is it really the Alignment?"

She ripped away the binoculars. "No… it's not them. It's the fucking guild, Bishy. They're here."

"You have to be messing with me." He marched over and snatched the binoculars from her grasp, looking into them. "Fuck. You weren't wrong for once. What are the chances of this?"

Weavile frowned, "We should've known. Golisopod encountered two of 'em months ago." She gnashed her teeth and growled. "Of course, they would return to begin this nightmare all over again..."

"What do you think our approach is here? I'm not sure the troops are gonna like us fighting them, especially Glaceon with one of her sisters in the guild."

A battle was being waged in Weavile's head, but the victor was clear. She tightened her claws and sneered at the ruin far in the distance. "… It doesn't matter who's there, or who's in our way. All that matters is that we get what I- we deserve." She countered his stare. "We're going in there. We're defeating them, and we're taking the artifact for ourselves."

"How is this gonna work then, Weav's? You're in charge of battle strategies."

"Tell the ice queen she can kick rocks without explaining too much; she won't complain about paid time off. Then let the others know there's been a change in plans."

"You and I both know the guild is strong. They won't go down without a fight."

Weavile grinned deviously, "But we're stronger. You know that. Just one thing before you go, tell them…" She stole one more glance at the faraway ruin, a crestfallen expression on her face. "Tell them to go easy on 'em."

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A metallic card expanded into existence along with a burst of bright, orange light. Three figures emerged and stepped away from the Entercard as the energy around them expulsed into nothingness. Each of them looked around and adjusted to their almost pitch-black surroundings.

Monferno scoffed. "Well, at least we can say there is something down here. But did anyone think to bring a lantern? 'Cause I sure didn't."

Liam shook his head. "No lantern, but I got something close enough." He opened his saddlebag and procured a Luminous Orb. He raised it high, the translucent orb flickering before glowing a bright yellow that illuminated this new environment.

Crumbling stone walls of a hallway surrounded them, pools of murky water sinking deep into the ground as water continuously dripped down from the nearly caved-in ceiling. Scizor held his breath, taking careful steps forward as if he risked shattering what he saw.

"If this area is really what I think it is, then we are the first Pokemon to see it in almost ten thousand years..."

Monferno knelt to pick up their Entercard. "Neat. Now can we get on with it? This place is already giving me the creeps."

"Really? I think it's awesome," Liam said, waving the Luminous Orb around.

Scizor stopped his vacant staring as he dug into his saddlebag to retrieve a Minun-shaped device. He fiddled with a dial and flicked a switch before speaking into it. "Charizard, we have successfully been transported into a location underground that I believe is the inner sanctum. We will investigate further and report to the other team at the guild with any potential findings."

Moments later, a baritone voice emerged from the crackling static of the ELE. "Copy that, Sciz. Don't tell Jack, but I'm taking a little rest from scouting. Dead of the night; no 'mon is coming here."

"I think- Very well. I will report to the team at the guild now. Thank you, Charizard." Scizor turned the dial on the ELE and spoke again. "Minun! My team has managed to find a way inside the supposed shrine thanks to Excadrill. We will now proceed with the investigation."

"That's great!" the faint, young voice of a boy echoed through the device. "The Guilma… ster is nearby to offer any he.. lp."

"Minun, your voice is breaking up. Are there any problems with the electrical connection?"

"Oh, I'll have to fix th… at when you guys return. Long-distance communi… cation is finicky and all. But Leafeon is here to transcribe, so keep us inf.. ormed!"

Scizor turned off his ELE and stuffed it back into his saddlebag. "Right, let's commence the search."

"Finally," Monferno muttered.

The quiet hallway was by disturbed their resounding footsteps and trickling water. Liam swayed the Luminous Orb around in hopes of discovering something, Scizor keeping a keen eye on everything, while Monferno simply trudged forward and was more interested in dodging the mud puddles in his path. After minutes of traversing the barren hallway, they could hear the sounds of tumbling rocks and moving earth. A ravine had sliced the stone corridor and formed a great gash in the ground. A haze of dust settled at the bottom of an exposed chamber, though the only way to it was down the jagged cliffs.

Monferno sighed. "Great, just great. Did you bring the stuff, Scizor, so we don't break our legs?"

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Liam smirked, "I got a way. Just follow what I do!" Without another word, he leaped off the broken hallway.

Adrenaline pumped through the Riolu's veins as his hind paws slid down the steep scarp. He jumped before he could tumble off and rolled onto solid ground. Liam exhaled and smiled, looking up at the Pokemon still standing by the ravine's edge.

"See! Just do what I did! Easy!"

A bundle of rope fell down the crevasse, the other side held firmly by Scizor. Monferno laughed while he began descending the rope.

"Not everyone is as suicidal as you are, Mr. Personality."

Liam frowned.

Once the primate reached the pit's bottom, Scizor fanned his papery wings and joined the two of them. Liam dispersed the darkness surrounding them with a wave of his Luminous Orb, his jaw-dropping at what was now visible. A grand statue of a Pokemon forged from marble was erected in the center of the room. It was quadrupedal in nature, an equine-like stature with long, pointy hooves. Its head trailed off into a wispy mane. An arc structure made out of yellow onyx was placed over the middle of the statue's body. A fracture split the quadruped into two, cracks in its frame threatening to crumble the entire stature.

Monferno raised a brow. "Hey, this Pokemon statue. It looks a lot like most of Arceus' depictions."

Scizor slowly nodded, his mouth remaining ajar. "You're correct, Monferno. This isn't just any Legendary shrine, it's a shrine dedicated to Arceus himself…"

Liam angled his head to look past the broken bust. "Hey! There's a Mystery Dungeon past this point!"

The three of them moved further to investigate the Riolu's claims, finding the shadowy void of a Mystery Dungeon entrance engulfing the path ahead.

"This statue of Arceus is confirmation of the shrine's existence here," Scizor said, taking a step toward the shadow. "In that case, there must be more to it past this dungeon."

Monferno sighed. "Sure is. Let's get this over with."

Scizor and Monferno merged into the shadow and vanished in an instant. As Liam walked over to follow them, he felt a twitch of pain rupture his senses, accompanied by a familiar, gruff voice in his head.

'Grim reminder, kid.'

Liam shuddered and attempted to ignore the intrusion in his mind as he went into the dark abyss. A debris-filled stone platform expanded beneath his paws, mossy walls manifesting themselves and boxing in the three newcomers. A single corridor connected to the faux room.

Criss-Cross Creek: Shrine Of Arceus

BF 1

Scizor took the initiative to lead Liam and Monferno down one of the narrow hallways. As they entered another chamber, Yellow-orangish light at every corner would bring into existence dungeon Pokemon that sought to attack the intruders. They fought back these apparitions with ease, making their way further into the dungeon via the crumbling staircases.

Criss-Cross Creek: Shrine Of Arceus

BF 2

'Sunder into dust.'

Liam grit his teeth as he scanned the dungeon surroundings. His gaze then fell upon an odd mural emblazoned upon the stony walls. "Hey! There's something here."

Monferno tucked himself into a wheel of flames and barreled into a grassy Wormadam. "More statues aren't 'something'."

"No! It's a painting of something! Gloria and I have seen this in the dungeon when we were here before!"

Chipped, painted colors stood out on the gray walls. While washed out, it was still visible and decipherable. It depicted Arceus separated from the arc structure on its back, surrounded by seven various Legendaries playing seven strange-looking flutes over the backdrop of a mountain. An altar was shown where Arceus stood. And what appeared to be the moon hanging in the sky was a deep crimson.

Scizor stopped to study the mural intensely but found his interest peaking upon seeing a slab beneath the painting with strange letters. "The dungeon must have saved some of the shrine within the dungeons. There are also transcripts here. Perhaps an explanation of this mural?"

"Looks like footprint runes; really old ones they don't teach anymore," Monferno said. "You're a researcher, Scizor. Are you able to translate this?"

"Footprint runes as ancient as these aren't my specialty, but I will make an attempt." The Bug-type knelt in front of the stone slab, Liam and Monferno protecting him from any dungeon Pokemon wandering over. He mouthed off any words he could infer. "Mountain… Arceus… First creation… Hall Of Creation. That's what most of this is saying."

"Mountain… Celestial Mountain?" Liam wondered aloud. "Don't most theories say it was the first place Arceus created in Celestic?" He ignored the spurts of electrifying pain occasionally shocking his senses.

"You're correct, Liam. The Hall Of Creation is spoken in many myths and legends as Arceus' main shrine and place of affairs for all Legendaries." Scizor placed a pincer under his chin, thinking hard. "The ley line coordinate supposedly rests beneath Celestial Mountain. I wonder if…" He sighed. "We need more information to deduce anything. Let's continue onward."

Criss-Cross Creek: Shrine Of Arceus

BF 5

The trio stopped before another mural on the wall and a plaque beneath it. It showed a lithe quadrupedal Pokémon with tall, multicolored antlers standing before a massive wall of orange light. Scizor moved his gaze to the slab of stone with footprint runes.

"Blockade…Hall Of Creation… Powers and past kinship weren't enough."

"Blockade, huh? That's Xerneas in this picture thing. So maybe this Hall Of Creation place is blocked off from her?" Monferno theorized.

"Possibly," Scizor said. "But I'm more interested that Xerneas is depicted here. Her 'demise' should be around the time of this shrine's creation, if Zygarde was correct."

'We are the same.'

Liam scowled at the voice in his mind. "Maybe, uh, maybe she has something to do with Arceus' disappearance?"

"It's becoming increasingly more likely," Scizor responded. "This 'blockade' is undoubtedly the ley line barrier Mew and her team couldn't get past with their Entercards atop Celestial Mountain. The Hall Of Creation… If it really exists, then it would be beyond this barrier."

Criss-Cross Creek: Shrine Of Arceus

BF 9

A Golett sailed through the air and smacked against a mural on the wall before dissipating in an orange glow. Scizor, Monferno, and Liam walked over to investigate.

This time, there were two Pokémon visible. Xerneas and what looked like a Lurantis were side by side in a field of blooming white flowers. The sun above them was black, and stars plummeted from the heavens. Scizor once again translated the runes of the plaque beneath the mural.

"Of those who once exuded eternal life… The Usurper… allies and friends once before." Scizor turned his head. "I believe we should contact the teams with our findings before we continue."

Monferno shrugged. "If it gets us out of here quicker."

Scizor retrieved his ELE and began to speak into it.

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"Charizard, we have gone further into the shrine and entered a Mystery Dungeon, where numerous murals were discovered within. We will continue forward."

Shaymin rolled her eyes and flew over to where the sleeping form of Charizard lay, his ELE still clutched in his claws. She pried the device from him and flicked a switch.

"Yeah, we hear you, mate. Charizard decided to take a snooze, but I'll be here for ya."

"Ah, thank you, Shaymin. I will contact the other team now."

As Scizor's voice faded in the staticky shrill, Shaymin tossed the ELE onto the large belly of a snoring Charizard. She then sprinted toward the group of Pokemon encircling the Entercard symbol in the ground.

"Gonna be a while 'til they shoot back up," Shaymin said.

Roark stretched with a loud yawn. "Gotta say, This whole expedition's got me agreeing with Charizard here. What a snoozefest."

Braixen cocked her head. "I think it's better than us risking our lives, don't you think?"

A red claw waggled at her. "That's the best part, sister."

The Fire-type stifled a smile. "Maybe. But knowing we're helping Pokémon of the world, in the end, is worth the boring moments."

"Uuuuggh!" Rockruff moaned as he rolled over on his side. "You guys know what's bugging me? Team Hydra. Scizor confirmed all those rumors we heard from ex-guild members."

Roark tossed an Oran Berry into his mouth. "What about it? It happened already. Like Scizor said, we keep them on our minds and move forward."

"Nah, nah, like… What actually happened to 'em? What Pokémon would even do that, and why was it here? Maybe 'cause of the artifact thingy? And what if they're still here?" Rockruff rubbed his temples. "Man, all this thinking is making me paranoid."

Gloria tugged on her scarf. "Um, sorry, but can we please move on to a different subject? Maybe something a bit more light-hearted?"

Roark chuckled as he snapped his claws. "All right! Memorable moments from before you joined the guild - let's go! Any takers?" He looked around to the sight of wide eyes staring back at him. "Well, I'll go first then. About fifteen years ago, the Rescue Society booked us rescuers a little vacation to the Shore Region, and man was it a good time. Good drinks, white sand beaches, gorgeous waters, and gorgeous ladies." He grinned. "Got to know so many guys in my squad. Spinda, Granbull, Feraligatr, Crawdaunt. We spent hours gambling our meager paychecks hoping to strike big - never did, though. I still miss 'em a lot…" His grin dissolved into an absent stare.

Rockruff raised his paw high. "Ooh! Ooh! I got one! Can I go next?" The gaze of the others landing on him gave him the signal to continue. "Okay, so one windy day long, long ago, the Lycanroc clan was journeying across Thornpike Hallow. Me and another Rockruff were goofing off when the wind knocked me off those rickety wooden bridges we were crossing. No one but her saw, and while the clan continued on, she stayed to help pull me out of this ravine I fell in. We talked for hours and hours, and while it was scary, I really liked talking to someone, to her, y'know? We got to know each other as more than playmates. And she was so nice, and had the prettiest fur, too!"

Gloria giggled, "Sounds like you had a crush on her. Did you?"

Rockruff wrinkled his lip to hide the coating of red dusting his cheeks. "What?! N-no!"

Roark chuckled, "Trust me, sis has an eye for this sort of stuff."

"We were just friends," Rockruff sputtered. "But, uh, I'd like to see her again someday."

"That's a nice story, Rockruff. Maybe you will one day," Braixen said.

Rockruff swiftly changed topics. "So, uh, what about you Braixen? Got any cool stories before you became the assistant to that crazy Hatterene lady?"

Braixen smiled and shook her head. "Well… I do have one. It's not exactly eventful, but it plays again in my mind from time to time. When Mony- Er, Monferno and I were little, we used to play in this public lot my father owned. I remember one day in particular when he and I were lying under the shade and watching the skies after we were done playing. We used to ask each other a lot of things as we got to know each other. And we eventually came to the topic of professions, but he couldn't name one he wanted, so we brainstormed things he could be. Back then, I never thought I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to be a dancer, one that traveled all across Celestic to entertain. We talked about that a lot." She wiped away the mistiness in her eyes, rubbing her red armband. "I don't know why it makes me emotional, but it does."

"A dancer?" Roark questioned "Never, ever could I imagine you as that. No offense."

Gloria rolled her eyes. "I can see it! Braixen always composes herself very thoroughly. I bet she's great at dancing!"

Braixen blushed and held her cheeks. "Thank you, Gloria. That means a lot."

Gloria smiled, "I guess I'll go next. When I used to live in the Glacier Peak Mountains, we used to have this annual festival dedicated to Kyurem the mountain guardian. One time my parents were too busy to take me, so my nanny did. A lot of the children from my school were there. I didn't have many friends back then, and I was shy about making new ones." She fiddled her with necklace. "But my nanny pushed me to do so, even if I didn't want to. We had a lot of fun that day, and I met a lot of friends I wouldn't have if I never went!"

"See, sis? All you need is a little push to get things done. Even if you don't want to," Roark said before glancing to his side. "Hey, Shaymin, you've been quiet. You got any extravagant Legendary adventures to share?"

Shaymin scoffed. "Please, mate, nothing is exciting about those lugs. I like my times outside of being their underling."

"Which are?" the fox prodded again.

"Soarin'," Shaymin said with a cocky grin. "When you weren't put to farmin' or errands, nothin' beats gliding across perfect skies with your mates behind ya for fun. Some of the most beautiful locations in the whole world we went to. But besides that? Nah, everythin' else about the Shaymin Village is not worth rememberin'."

Braixen frowned. "Shaymin, not to sound pushy, but if you want to talk about it, we're here."

"Nah, I'm still sore about it. Hell, even thinkin' about it again makes my blood boil. When ya can't even-" Shaymin halted her words as a shudder passed through the bushes behind her. She immediately adopted a stance, gritting her teeth and throwing sharp looks around. "There's a 'mon here. I can feel it in the wind. It's-"

Shaymin had only a split second to react as she pivoted a white blur that sailed past and collided with a tree. An outstretched claw that had missed its target cleaved the tree in half, the perpetrator revealing itself to be a silent Golisopod.

Gloria recoiled. "A Golisopod?! Wait, is that-"

The Vulpix was cut off by the noise of rustling leaves and the pounding of footsteps as numerous Pokemon burst from the clearing's natural cover screaming a boisterous war cry. They stormed toward the group charging attacks in their paws and claws alike. Flying Pokemon now circling above in the night sky dive-bombed to meet their foes.

"AMBUSH!" Roark yelled, leaping to his paws. "Hold 'em back!"

Each guild member, though caught off guard, prepared themselves for battle as the shouting Pokemon drew near. Spurred by the sounds of chaos around him, a sleeping Charizard cracked a single eye open to the sight of charging Pokemon. A torrent of red-hot fire then erupted from his mouth as he stood. He pumped his wings and hovered before the invaders as flames licked his jaw.

"OKAY, WHICH ONE OF YOU RODENTS WANT A FUR CLEANING FIRST?!" he roared.

Just a few yards away from the ensuing conflict, Weavile pulled the binoculars from her face and smirked. "Looks like the Charizard still has that 'lazy strength' the others called it back then."

Bisharp tightened a gauntlet. "They'll need our assistance in bringing them to heel."

"And we'll provide. Let's go."

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"Minun, this is Sci… zor. We have exited the Mystery Dungeon and are now in another cha… mber of the shrine." Sounds of footsteps sloshing through water and stepping over broken glass were heard through the ELE's staticky speakers. "This appears to be the main hall of sorts… Ah, I see someth… ing rather strange. We will investigate further."

"Sounds good, Scizor! Keep us updated!"

Minun paced around the stone Milotic fountain, ELE in his grasp as he wordlessly communicated to Leafeon with a head nod. The Grass-type quickly got to work scribbling something down on a large sheet of paper plastered over the ceramic tiles of the floor. The rest of the guild Pokemon in the building were resting on beanbags lifted from their chambers and onto the foyer. In the meantime, Indeedee would make rounds around the room and deliver cups of tea from her silver platter.

Purrloin took a sip of her tea and sank into the comfy chair, letting out a rumbling purr. "Mreow~ I must thank the Guildmaster for not letting all of us go on the expedition. Spelunking in dirty ruins is soooo not my forte."

Mightyena pouted. "I think it sucks! I wanna explore ancient, dirty ruins with my team! Think of how many relics there are to be sold- er, retrieved!"

"You do raise a good point," Purrloin mused.

Staravia flapped his wings erratically. "W-why is the G-guildmaster cooped up in his room, anyway? Why didn't he g-go with them? I mean, he hasn't even c-come out all day!"

"There's no point in trying to understand our enigma of a Guildmaster," Leafeon said. "We do our jobs, go with the flow, and try to come out unscathed."

Mightyena's snout wiggled as he sniffed the air. "Hey, Leafeon, are you cooking something?"

"No, Mightyena. Please don't tell me you're hungry again."

"But I smell smoke!" He sniffed again. "Maybe from the Guildmaster's room?" His ears swiveled to muffled noises traveling the still hallways. "Hey! And maybe glass or something shattering?"

Minun waved a stubby paw at the group. "Keep it down, guys! I'm trying to listen for more information."

Outside the purplish starry sky-themed walls of the Cosmic Quilt Guild, two carriages led by equine Pokemon in sturdy armor would roll up to a trail leading to the building in near silence. Slowly, Pokemon in dusty, leathery coats dropped down one by one. They tiptoed through flowers and tall grass, the metal of drawn rifles clinking against their coats as they surrounded the large structure.

A Rhydon among the formation turned and made a silent command with its claws to the others behind it. Five Council guards followed it to the back of the building while the rest kept a position near the main entrance and garden, rifles trained on the windows and doorway and anticipating any movement.

The Rhydon stopped near a window, where a white wallflower in a flower pot could be seen against obscuring curtains with odd noises heard beyond it. The Rock-type gave the signal for those who followed to hold still, then whispered harshly.

"The Guilmaster's quarters. We wait until the lights go off, then we make the arrest."

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"Woah, check this out!" Liam yelled.

The Riolu ducked under a partially collapsed stone column and emerged into a spacious room, followed closely by Monferno and Scizor. Swampy vines grew and clung to the decrepit walls, laden with mud that oozed into dirty puddles in the ground. Stained and ornate glass windows were seen all across the room, even the very ceiling itself. While most were broken or dirtied beyond recognition, some remained visible and intact. Muddy water cascaded through holes in the glass like a waterfall, drowning the flooring in paths of murky currents.

"Wow. It's kinda amazing how nature reclaims itself, huh?" Liam commented.

Monferno rolled his eyes in response.

Scizor stepped around the room and analyzed each stained-glass window he could find. "This is fascinating. There are more murals of Arceus and Xerneas here. How connected were they back then?" He looked at the ceiling. "And even... Yveltal?"

Liam and Monferno stopped to stare up at the window Scizor's gaze was glued to. It depicted a violent battle between Xerneas and Yveltal over the burning rubble of a town. Cowering Pokemon were shielded behind Xerneas as she appeared to absorb an incoming ray of red energy unleashed by Yveltal, her rainbow-colored antlers turning a stony gray. Likewise, a beam of blue and yellow coiled around Yveltal's body.

"So this is that battle or whatever between those two, right?" Monferno asked.

"I would assume so," Scizor said. "The Followers Of Life said that Xerneas and Yveltal 'perished' in what was known as the world's first civilization. That is…" His attention was drawn to something by their right. "Hold on, what is this?"

The Bug-type's intrigue carried him over to a wall with more footprint runes embedded into a layer of solid rock. More strangely, however, were an assortment of symbols jutting out of the stone-like buttons. Scizor studied the runes and translated them in his mind, mumbling it under his breath.

"Scizor, care to speak up a bit?" Monferno piped up. "What is this thing?"

Scizor became startled, "Ah, these are Unown letters. Legendaries used them frequently in the past to send out ciphers to other Legendaries or hide sacred treasures from common Pokemon. If I'm correct in my assumption-" he tapped the stone slab with a pincer, noting the hollow sound it produced, "-there is something beyond this."

Liam scowled at the rapid memories flashing across his vision. "You, uh, think this is some sort of puzzle to the artifact?"

"Possibly. But I require time to study these runes more and crack this Unown cipher." Scizor waved a pincer behind him. "Please, you two continue the investigation of this chamber. I will remain here."

Monferno shrugged as he walked over, Liam taking a moment to readjust before he followed the primate. They aimlessly walked through the shrine's grand hall, shining much-needed light on objects or statues of various Legendaries.

A sigh escaped Monferno as he moved pieces of rubble out of the way to scour glyphs and more stained-glass windows. He knew it all meant nothing to him, nor did it interest him, but it banished the more intrusive thoughts of his by doing so. He knew in just a matter of hours, he would have to break the news to everyone, including his best friend and partner.

Deep down, he knew he didn't have what it took.

"Lots of murals with that Lurantis again looking evil or something," Monferno said. "They must've really hated that chick… or dude."

"... Get out of my head," he heard Liam mumble quietly. "Shut. Up."

Monferno threw a confused look at the Riolu. "The hell's wrong with you, Mr. Personality? You've been acting weird this entire expedition."

"Mind your own business!" Liam snapped, before calming down. "Uh, sorry, Monferno. Just been troubled lately."

"Troubled… Whatever." Monferno returned to his distractions, but his clenching fists would force him to turn around again. "Actually, I got a question. You've been at this guild for more than a year. You teamed up with Gloria, been sent on special missions, favorited by our ice cube of a Guildmaster, and all these other great things. All I gotta ask is… How?"

"How? What do you mean?"

Monferno rested an arm on a broken pillar. "How does it come so easy for you and the others? All of you seem to just fit here. But I just…" He growled under his breath. "I don't have any of this 'magic' you guys seem to have."

Liam countered his stare with a drained expression. "Monferno, none of this ever came easy for me. You don't even know how much…" He clutched his head, exhaling. "I'm still struggling to figure this all out."

Monferno raised a brow. "What? You're telling me you and Gloria aren't the dream team everyone thinks you are? What do you got that me and Braixen don't?"

"Where is this all coming from?"

"Look, all I want to know is this; how are you so damn happy in this guild? How do you know you fit in here?"

"Monferno, I… don't. I don't belong here. That's the truth."

"Then what's stopping you from leaving then, huh? You talk a lot about exploring the world. Why don't you do that?"

"... Someone once taught me that running is pointless, and it's inevitable. The truth is, I'm scared to figure out what he really meant. But I have no choice but to accept what's happening and deal with the consequences. Because it's changing who I am, who I was once." Liam slowly shook his head. "Honestly, I… I can't remember a time when I was truly happy. I just keep asking myself where did everything go wrong? And how do I fix it?"

Monferno took a step back and reassessed his thoughts. His expression morphed several times before a small grin appeared. "Don't have a clue on what you're talking about, but you know what? I understand how you feel, Mr. Personality." He gave a bitter laugh. "Maybe we could've gotten along better."

"Maybe…"

A long silence fell upon the hallway, accompanied by constant drips of condensation. This was soon broken by the voice of Scizor bouncing off the walls.

"Liam! Monferno! Come quick!"

The pair immediately dropped whatever they were tinkering with to run back to the shrine's main chamber. They arrived just in time to see the large stone slab in the decaying walls begin to quake, a grinding noise filling the air, then the slab sliding back to reveal a doorway into another section of the shrine.

Scizor turned and smiled victoriously. "A message needed to be written through the Unowns. 'The Usuper'." He returned to stare into the now open passage. "Steel yourselves. This may be what we're after." As Scizor marched into the tunnel, Liam and Monferno trudged behind.

As they walked the halls of countless statues, stained-glass windows, and wall carvings, the rays of an unearthly yellow glow peaked through overgrown vegetation. Scizor sliced coils of thick vines in their path, determined in finding the source of the light, of which he caught a glimpse of.

"I see something!" he shouted.

A dead end marked the end of their travels and the end of their searches. Resting on a cracked pedestal was the source behind the intense glow - an artifact. It was colored a rich gold, a green jewel encrusted in the ridge between two intersecting metallic arcs that were cut off at its bottom. A large mural on the wall before it was revealed by the object's blossoming light. Arceus was illustrated once more, lacking the mystical wheel in his middle section. Four pieces of the artifact were depicted shooting off from Arceus.

Scizor's jaw dropped. "This… This has to be it. The artifact! It really does exist!"

Liam felt drawn to it as he inched closer to the object, the intense power it radiated carrying his aura tassels in an invisible wind. Before the others could warn him, his paws touched the fine, cold metal. He mustered the courage to grip it, lifting it from its spot. He held it tight against his chest, a wave of intense aura washing over him.

"Woah… Are you sure it's okay to hold that thing?" Monferno asked.

"I don't know, but I just had to, y'know?" Liam said.

Scizor almost dropped his ELE out of sheer excitement as his shaking pincers flicked its switch and spoke into the speakers on its 'cheeks'. "Minun! You won't believe this! We have located and retrieved what is undoubtedly the artifact!" He eagerly awaited the usual chipper response, only to be confused after not getting one. "Minun… Minun, are you there?"

Moments later, a garbled, gruff voice traveled through the static. "Scizor, I ha... ve heard. Please describe wh... at you have gathe... red."

"U-uh, right, Guildmaster. It's a golden, metallic object with an arc and a green jewel embedded within it. From the looks of it, it appears to be a fragment of a much larger piece."

The response was instantaneous and direct. "Get to the guild imme... diately. This is an order."

"Right. I will contact the team above ground and we will head right back." Scizor messed with the ELE's dial. "Charizard, are you there? Shaymin?"

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"Is anyone listening? We have located the artifact and are going to transport to the ruins above ground! Stand back and ready yourselves for what you're about to see!"

The voice of Scizor crackling out of the ELE lying on the grass was quickly drowned out by chaotic sounds of fighting and attacks striking the earth.

Braixen stood her ground, wielding a flaming stick and casting large fireballs at any Pokemon that crossed her vision. Fear strangled her heart as she knew they were getting closer to her each second. "Who are these Pokemon?!"

Roark bounded across the clearing, slashing any mercenary in his and Braixen's way. "Mercs I bet! Maybe it's those Rose Clan buffoons out for venge- oof!" A gut punch from a Hitmonchan made him snarl. "Okay, you asked for it!"

Orange wings flapped in the dark skies above the clearing, columns of magma spewing from the gaping maw of a raging Charizard. Any mercenary capable of flight swarmed the Fire-type, only to be sent hurtling toward the ground smothered in flames like living torches. An unlucky Yanmega caught up in Charizard's claws was swung over and over until it was finally released and sent careening into a tree.

"OH YEAH!" the dragon bellowed. "KEEP COMIN'! I GOT PLENTY OF MORE FOR YA!"

Shaymin flew around the clearing with a raging fury. She formed numerous Energy Balls around her and scattered them in any direction she found an opposing Pokemon. Her sights then fell upon Rockruff as he was being chased down by a Kabutops. She flared her nostrils and shot off in the direction of the puppy Pokemon.

Rockruff unwittingly backed himself against a boulder wedged into the ground, now face-to-face with his pursuer. "H-hey! Maybe we can t-talk about it? W-what do you say?!"

Just before the long, gray scythes of the Kabutops could swipe down on Rockruff, green orbs of energy slammed into the Water-type's back, dropping it instantly. Shaymin hovered over the area, her snarls and enraged shouts blared over the surrounding carnage. "I DON'T CARE WHO YA FIGHT FOR! YOU MERCS ARE ALL SCUM!"

Gloria ducked and maneuvered past the overwhelming amount of both physical and special attacks directed toward her. She thought herself free from the conflict until an Electivire wearing a wicked sneer made its presence known before her. Electricity jolted through its lashing antenna and bright yellow fur.

"Now what do we have here? The little girl who managed to take down both Magmortar and Rhyperior," he said. "Impressive. No matter, I'll take you out quickly."

Gloria had mere seconds to react before the Electric-type leaped and smashed the ground where she once stood. With no way out, she chose to defend herself. Volleys of sharp, crystalline icicles sailed through the air and pelted the Electivire, who simply shrugged it off and continued his assault. His antennae fluctuated as arcs of yellow electricity shot toward the Vulpix.

Gloria was able to narrowly dodge with only singed fur. As the Electivire raised a fist crackling with more electricity, she inhaled and breathed a twin beam of auroras that collided into his enclosed hand, freezing it solid. It took only a moment for him to shatter the ice and emit a loud, menacing growl.

"I see how you play now! Too bad it won't save ya!"

Electivire dropped to all fours as electricity coursed through his fur, a funnel of sparking voltage enveloping him. He then bounded after the Vulpix like a speeding bullet.

Gloria weaved through thickets and crumbling pillars that were smashed by the Electivire's Wild Charge. Only when the attack began to peter off did she stop running to take in ragged breaths, too exhausted to keep going. As the Electric-type closed in, she realized her predicament.

No items. No backup. No chance of escape.

Electivire struck a stance, his antennae going wild. A thunderous boom shattered the air as a large bolt of lightning raced toward Gloria. She attempted to flee, but it was too late. The devastating Thunder connected with the Vulpix and produced a shriek of pain out of her. The powerful voltage sapped her strength as she slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Electivire cackled, "Gahahaha! Consider that payback for-" He was interrupted by a dark blur darting past his vision. "What the… GAH!" He felt a painful sensation engulfing his back as he reached to touch it. His hand returned bloody; he growled. "Show yourself, coward!"

The agile culprit revealed itself to a Zoroark as it knelt atop a broken stone column. "Think you're so tough going after 'mons smaller than you, huh?"

Roark vanished from the Electivire's sights, who frantically looked around for the fox. Multiple Zoroarks then emerged from bushes and rocks and danced around the Electric-type, occasionally slashing at him while he was overwhelmed.

"You got another thing coming, buddy," their combined voices taunted.

Electivire growled again, "ENOUGH OF THE GAMES!" Electricity surged through his fists as he punched the Zoroark clones in a frenzied manner.

Roark, watching from the shadows, found his opportunity and raised his arms high. He squeezed his eyes shut and mustered enough energy from within to summon multiple Night Dazes. Eerie, silent waves of darkness crashed into Electivire, shadowy tendrils enveloping his body as he thrashed in pain. When the shockwaves finally ceased, Electivire's eyes rolled into his skull as he collapsed.

A tired Roark stumbled over, planting a foot atop the defeated Pokemon. "... And that's what you get for messing with my little sister."

Suddenly, an explosion of orange light manifested over the ruin's Entercard symbol. Three Pokemon emerged from it, who were deeply confused at the pandemonium surrounding them. At the same time, a Skarmory circling the area went into a nosedive, straight toward the new arrivals.

Weavile and Bisharp jumped off of Skarmory right before the Steel-type collided into Monferno and Scizor, knocking them away from a bewildered Liam. Weavile then latched her claws onto the artifact's metal arc, attempting to pull it from the Riolu. Liam resisted her efforts and gripped the artifact tight as the Ice-type snarled at him.

"Let it go, kid! It's ours already!"

"N-never!"

Bisharp intervened and kicked Liam square in the chest, the Riolu losing his hold and being sent tumbling a few feet away. Now in the claws of Weavile, she stared intensely at the mystical relic in her grasp before turning her head and screaming.

"WE HAVE IT! RETREAT! GO!"

Weavile and Bisharp quickly got on the back of Skarmory and took off into the night skies. The remaining mercenaries who were still standing heeded their captain's command and ran off into the depths of the forests, some dragging their unconscious comrades with them. With their withdrawal, the guild quickly gathered together to cope with what transpired.

"Scizor! What the absolute heck just happened?!" Rockruff shouted. "We got attacked by random Pokemon!"

"Yeah, and they just ran off with what we spent an hour trying to find!" Monferno added angrily. "The hell do we do now?! Go after them maybe?!"

"Not 'random Pokemon', Rockruff," Roark said as he walked over, Gloria gently cradled in his arms. "Those were most definitely mercenaries."

Braixen held a paw to her heart to steady its rapid beating. "Maybe… Maybe it really was that Rose Clan we fought in the Grit Region."

"Could be revenge," Roark suggested before glancing at the newly arrived trio. "That Weavile took something from Liam. Was it that artifact we've been looking for?"

Scizor was too appalled to give an appropriate response as his gaze was transfixed to where the Skarmory vanished in the sky. "I- They- they stole the artifact."

Rockruff blinked, "W-what?! We went through all that trouble to get it stolen?! We need to go get it back!"

Shaymin grit her teeth and jumped into a glide. "That's exactly what we're gonna do! These blokes aren't gettin' away with it."

"SHAYMIN!" Scizor yelled as she soared away. "Don't! Don't do it."

The Legendary scowled and reluctantly descended back down to the ground. "Then what are we supposed to do, mate?! What's your big plan, leader?!"

Scizor winced at her tone. "Uh, we need to… we need to-" His erratic movements halted as he opened his saddlebag and took out his ELE. He flicked a switch and nearly shouted at it. "Guildmaster! Minun! Anyone!"

The voice of Jackson erupted from the speakers, followed by a loud crashing noise. "Speak. Are you close to the guild?"

"Guildmaster, the artifact - it's been stolen from us!" Scizor said through panting breaths. "I- We don't know who they were, but-"

"I know who they were," the gruff voice replied, followed by another bang.

"You do? Please, we need to figure out a way to-"

Scizor was interrupted by a deafening shriek resounding through the forest that made everyone freeze from fear. A cold wind billowed across the clearing, shuddering trees and bushes in an unearthly silence.

"Get back to the guild. You… You have all done what has been required of you." A long silence followed Jackson's shaky words. "Thank you, everyone." Yet another loud crash was heard through the static until the signal was suddenly cut.

"Guildmaster… Guildmaster… Jackson!" Scizor frantically turned the dials and flicked the switches of the ELE to regain the lost signal, to little success. "Something is wrong, very wrong." He looked up from the device to see everyone staring up at the sky. He looked up as well.

Pokemon of all kinds were flying above the forest, their flight patterns abnormal and seemingly desperate, as if they were escaping from something.

"These Pokemon, are they coming from Empyrean City?" Rockruff wondered aloud.

Another ear-splitting cry rattled Scizor from his vacant gaze. His eyes grew wide as an epiphany enveloped his mind. "Everyone, we need to return to the guild - now!" His wings buzzed as he flew urgently back toward the trail in which they came, before turning to scream at the shocked Pokemon.

"GO!"

Incited by his words, the group took off into a sprint after the Bug-type. They cut across the forest, vaulting over fallen logs and wading through thick foliage to get back to Empyrean City faster. As Liam sprinted, he felt strikes of pain lash his senses like many times before. The dreaded, familiar voice wormed its way into his head yet again.

'Grim reminder, kid.'

The pain and influx of flashing memories in his mind became too great, forcing him to heel and stop his advances. He clutched his head, feeling a vision beginning to form that compelled him to watch.

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

Liam felt himself regain consciousness. He opened his hazel eyes to the view of total darkness. The ground was cold, looking like gray concrete in his hazy perception. His back was slumped against a wall, and any attempts to move his limbs were met with the sound of clinking metal. Confused, he looked down at his hands and was horrified to see what was attached to them.

Chains - iron and sturdy - attached to the wall he was up against.

He tried to remove them, to pull them off with his fingers, but they would not budge. Memories of the past few hours then flooded his mind. He realized where he was, what had happened, and who did this to him.

The squeal of a creaky metal door echoed throughout the room. A fuzzy yellow light pouring out of the doorway beamed Liam in the face. The boy stared into the exit to freedom, hearing the stomping of boots like thunder from beyond it. As the stomps grew louder, a figure emerged and stood in the doorway. They carried a limp body in both arms, appearing like a dark silhouette in the light.

"I remember my father holding my mother in his arms after he had killed her," the figure said. "And he looked at me straight in the eyes and said, 'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.'"

Liam's wide-eyed stare bored into the man.

The figure shifted the body in his grasp. "Let's begin... and put an end to this, so you can begin again, kid."

The metal door slammed shut.

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And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, "Come and see!"

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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: Grim Reminder