Special Episode: The World Stops For No One

Part Two: The Mariner

'All right! The first day of my adventure!'

Gabite grinned as she took off down a dirt trail. The beaming sun shining overhead shattered over the jagged terrain. Trilling cries above alerted her to a flock of Wingull soaring through the skies alongside her. She smiled at them instinctively, though they did not see her adoration at their arrival.

They looked like freedom incarnate to her - perhaps a sign of luck in her favor.

She was out farther than she had ever been from the village. The wooden gate that she emerged out of a fledgling explorer seeking out her future was long past her now. It was a scary feeling at first, knowing she had nothing and no one to turn to anymore, but if anything it motivated her to find her mother and repair their relationship.

She still had her out there, and she still had her dreams now attainable to her.

The orangish terracotta plateaus eventually gave way to a cliffside that overlooked the vast ocean. Gabite came to the very edge of the cliff and peered out at the endless horizon. She had been walking, sprinting, and jumping off hills for quite a while now, and she had finally reached the South Alomomola Sea. But it was just now that a certain realization struck her.

She had no idea where to start searching.

Her heart dropped and her lively expression fell with it. A pang of uncertainty clouded her senses as she wondered truly what her next move was. It felt like her first true test as an explorer.

'What would you do, mom?' She sighed. 'Course you couldn't make it easier for me.'

Before her situation truly dawned upon her, movement in the sea stole her attention. Aquatic Pokemon from the restless blue depths resurfaced. A leading Dewgong led a small group of Seel and other Dewgong toward a shallow inlet just off the coast.

Gabite saw an opportunity and immediately took it, cupping her talons over her mouth. "Heeeeeeeeeeey!" she yelled, grabbing the attention of the Water-types. "Can I ask you guys a quick question?"

The lead Dewgong cocked its head in her direction. "Yeah, kid? What is it?"

"Have you seen a big, tall Dragon-type come by a while back? Looks a lot like me with larger, cooler fins and stuff!"

Dewgong appeared to rack his brain for an answer before nodding. "Believe I did! Dragon-type and a few other land dweller 'mons alongside 'em; looked like a couple of mariners to my eyes with all their gear."

'That has to be her. Mariners, though? Like Pokemon that work on ships? Wait. What if she already hitched a ship to another continent? I'll never find her then! Am I too late? AGH!'

Gabite cast aside these traitorous thoughts with a shake of her head. "Do you know where they were headed?"

"Headed east, looks like!" Dewgong shouted. "Where to? No clue, kid."

"Great! That's all I needed to know! Thanks, mister!" Gabite shouted back before she broke off into a sprint.

"W-wait! You're just a kid. Heading off alone like that is too dangerous!"

Gabite flashed a confident, toothy grin. "I just got banished from my village! There's nobody but me that can do this!" With her comment seemingly stunning Dewgong into silence, she continued her journey now heading eastward.

Minutes turned to hours.

A rising tide of foamy waters slammed into the rocky sides of the sun-bleached bluff. The squawks of the Wingull encircling the coast filled Gabite's ears as a sea breeze flooded her nostrils with its salty, floral scent. The afternoon sun was still shining overhead and blasting her scales with rays of heat. She momentarily stopped to take in the moment.

'I've come pretty far, but I just need one extra push until I can rest. Mom went this way - I'm sure of it.' She found her sights drifting toward the restless sea - doubt resurfacing in her mind again. 'But what if she did leave Celestic? Would she really do all of that just to get away from the village… from me?'

Gabite squeezed her eyes closed and shook nope. "Nope! Not thinking about that, brain. I'm not giving up yet!" She sighed. "I should… I should- oh, right! My map!"

Dropping her bulging saddlebag on the ground and opening up it, Gabite dug inside it to pull out a worn-looking scroll. She then laid the crinkly parchment onto the white rock and unfurled it to reveal a large, hand-drawn map of the Mountain Region. It was a large undertaking by both her mother and her father in the past to document much of the region. Gabite remembered dubbing it the 'Wonder Map' whenever her parents would pull it out to show her a location.

A white talon hovered over the map until it poked an area bordering the Alomomola Sea. 'So I'm around here - the White Walrein Cliffs! If I keep going east, I'll reach Iron Mountain and go through that to the, uh…' Her talon wavered midair before it poked a beach further east. 'Baroness Bay!'

She remembered her mother telling her about Baroness Bay; that it was an old port once destroyed long ago in a war with the Blaze Continent. While the port was abandoned after the conflict, many merchants would rebuild it and sell their wares to traveling explorers. But another group that happened upon its shores many times would give the bay an unfavorable reputation.

'Pirates…'

Piracy was always a problem that afflicted the coasts of the Mountain Region, apparently. Due to the lack of Council presence in the region, many outlaw gangs felt emboldened to stake their claims out on the high seas. Gabite was uncertain if all these any of these stories were true, but knew well to steer clear of certain areas of the region. However, there was little choice left for her if she was to find her mother.

'Psh, those are just rumors from eons ago,' she told herself. 'And it was Zweilous who told me that rumor. Like I'd ever believe a word she'd say!' Rolling back up her map and throwing it into her saddlebag, Gabite brandished a cocky smirk. 'Like I'd ever give up at just a little danger…'

Her saddlebag was thrown over her shoulder as she stretched her body. Her eyes caught the glimmer of the sun while she amped herself up, hoping to absorb just a fraction of its energy for the long journey ahead. She would sorely need it.

'Time to head out! Baroness Bay is calling to me!'

Gabite trailed the edges of the bone-white bluff as water from the tumultuous seas sprayed around her. She faced straight ahead, staring at the looming, tall mountain surrounded by wispy clouds in the distance that blocked her from her next destination. This would be her first major obstacle, and she aimed to crush it completely.

The sea-battered cliffs were soon behind her as she scaled mounts of earth and walls of rock in her path to the mountain. But soon enough, she stood before an entrance that surely would lead her into the heart of the mountain. Gabite gulped at what she was staring straight into - a void of pure darkness consuming the cavern's maw.

Never before had she entered a Mystery Dungeon; her one attempt long ago left a scar in her mind that still rattled her thoughts today. Her limbs stiffened, and the warm breeze coursing across her scales was now a frigid wind that made her shudder in fear.

'M-maybe there's another entrance?'

Looking around, sheer cliffs and slopes dotted the terrain, yet not a single other cavern or entrance was within her sights. She felt her heart thump before she scowled at her actions.

'What am I doing? Am I seriously this scared of entering a stupid Mystery Dungeon? The daughter of a great explorer?' She laughed at herself. 'Have I really been this sheltered?'

A fierce glare was directed at the shadow, yet nothing but cold indifference was returned. She had to be strong in the face of something still so unknown to her. Her mother, of course, told her of Mystery Dungeons, yet hearing a story was so much different than experiencing it.

'Whatever. I'm sick of being scared already. I'm just gonna go through and see what happens.'

Without any further trepidation, Gabite stomped into the Mystery Dungeon's umbrage and was absorbed into the darkness.

image [https://i.imgur.com/SybOisn.png]

Iron Mountain

BF 1

From within the inky shadows came a platform of glittering granite, walls of brilliant marble, and ceiling teeming with veins of rusty red iron ore. Gabite stared wide-eyed at the new environment that materialized around her. She could hear drips of nonexistent water striking the ground - an echo that rushed through the large antechamber that seemingly originated from the void of limitless space.

It was bizarre. So bizarre that she could not help but feel delighted at the sheer strangeness of it all. Everything was so basic and simple, yet slightly off.

Gabite tossed away her hesitation and ran around the room she was in. Her mother told her dungeons were all fake - twisted copies of the real thing - but could it actually be real? It certainly felt real to all her senses, but she needed to test out that theory for herself.

'Every new explorer has to figure out their environment first.'

She made her way through one of the maze-like hallways splintering off the chamber. She scraped her claw along the iron ore deposits along the wall as she walked, producing an echoed shriek that bounced throughout the dungeon. She certainly could feel the pressure in her talons - but she needed further proof.

Gabite entered another chamber and felt her gaze immediately drawn to a large, blue object resting on the floor. Wandering over, she realized it was a perfectly plump Oran Berry. She knew various items lying around in Mystery Dungeons were commonplace, yet the idea of actual food being manifested into existence from nothing was quite shocking.

'Is it… edible?'

She gave it a curious poke; it certainly felt like a real Oran Berry. Picking it up, she sniffed at it. It smelled like a real Oran Berry as well. She inhaled deeply before taking a small nibble of it. It tasted strange: the flesh was perfectly fine at first but ended with a sour aftertaste unlike any Oran Berry she ever had. She thought of tossing it away, but her growling stomach convinced her to quickly scarf it down.

'Ough, that was really funky,' she muttered in her mind, wiping the juices from her mouth. 'Do explorers really eat this stuff in dungeons?'

Looking around the room, Gabite spotted more assorted items - seeds and Wonder Orbs. She gathered them into her saddlebag before continuing on down a hallway. Another room, another oddity. This time, a set of rocky staircases jutted out from the center of the room.

Gabite smiled. 'The stairs!' She approached the staircase, inspecting it. 'Mom always loved finding the 'stairs' in dungeons, but I never thought she was literal.'

A hesitant foot ascended one of the steps as Gabite carefully made her way upward. When she made contact with the final step, her vision darkened.

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Iron Mountain

BF 2

Gabite's vision returned as she glanced at her surroundings. Another room, another set of winding corridors.

She frowned. 'I'm on another floor, everything looks the same.' Her frown settled into a pout. 'Uggghh, is it like this for all dungeons? I better reach the end of this fast before the boredom kills me.'

Gabite trudged around the empty chamber in a lull before a sudden noise alerted her senses. Footsteps. Loud and heavy throughout the floor. Crouching, Gabite snuck over to one of the hallways she heard the sounds of movement. Peeking into the dingy corridor, she quietly gasped at what she saw.

A Lairon.

It was lumbering across a room, clearly heading toward one of the dungeon hallways. Its eyes were dull and sunken; completely lifeless from what Gabite could infer.

"A dungeon 'mon," she whispered to herself. "Maybe things really aren't so boring here…"

Gabite knew that Pokemon found within dungeons were not normal; that they were not even real Pokemon at all. Merely constructs designed to ward off any actual Pokemon that entered. This Lairon would surely attack her if it was aware of her presence, which was a scary yet exciting thought.

Fighting in Dragging Claw was always encouraged but she never understood the purpose behind it. But here it was different. This construct - this Lairon - was blocking her goal.

'I can get the drop on it. This'll be a piece of cake!'

Purplish energy built up in her claws as she stealthily inched toward the slowly moving Lairon. Like a hunter stalking her prey, she came close to the Steel-type before raising her glowing talons and delivering a swift strike upon its back.

"GA- OW!"

"Wha- ah!" Gabite was caught off guard by the sudden yelp the Lairon made and stumbled backward, falling onto the ground.

The Lairon whirled around, fuming. "What's the deal, ye eejit?! I know ye drakes are real ornery, but attackin' me for no reason?" He stepped forward and pointed an accusing foot at his foe. "Sleekit lil' outlaw I'll bet, but ye ain't gonna try robbin' me!"

Gabite scrambled to her feet. "W-wait! I wasn't trying to rob you or anything!" A pink blush formed on her cheeks as she tapped her talons together. "I, um, I didn't know dungeon 'mons could speak."

"Dungeon 'mon?" Lairon appeared bewildered for a moment before he burst into spontaneous laughter. "Ye really…" He paused his laughter to breathe. "Ye really thought I was one of those husks, did ya, lass?"

"Y-you're not?"

Lairon scoffed, swinging the gray bag slung across his back into view. "Are ye blind, lass? Take a good look! Do I really look like one of 'em?"

Gabite shrank a little in place. "Uh, well, I'm really sorry I attacked you then. It's my first time exploring a Mystery Dungeon, and you're the first Pokemon I saw in one. I, uh, didn't hurt you badly or anything, right?"

Lairon shook his head. "Gotta be a bit stronger than that to dent my armor, lass. I didn't even feel a thing!"

Gabite rolled her eyes at the obvious lie. "You sure?"

"... Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a wee bite of an Oran Berry."

Gabite smiled. "Sure." She opened her saddlebag to pull out a single Oran Berry and extended it out toward Lairon, who consumed it with one impressive chomp. She quickly withdrew her talon after the frightening display of his jaw strength. "Hope that made up for what I did?"

Lairon was now smiling as well. "Aye! But one berry isn't enough to sate my belly. I still have to find some iron ore."

Gabite cocked her head. "You eat… iron?"

"Sure do! And by Terrakion's hooves it is delicious! Ye can really taste the minerals in some of the veins here! Have ye ever tried some before?"

"No. Dragons don't eat rock or metals; at least the ones from my village didn't."

"Missin' out, I'll say!" Lairon scrutinized her with apparent curiosity. "Say, you're from a village, but there isn't one of the dragon clans for miles. What are ye doin' all the way out in Iron Mountain?"

"I'm… looking for someone. Someone close to me," Gabite answered vaguely. She knew Lairon was not hostile by any means, but she did not trust him just yet. "I left my village just a while ago to track this 'mon down. Have you seen any Pokemon come through here? One that looks like me but bigger?"

Lairon appeared to mull as he tapped his chin with a foot. "... Can't say I have. Been more focused on bigger goals."

"Bigger goals? Wait." Excitement crept into Gabite's voice as she approached him. "Are you an explorer?"

"Nah! I'm tryin' to find some iron to eat!" he exclaimed with a wide smile. "Gotta stock up for myself and the other lads."

Gabite deflated, a bit disappointed. "Oh, okay." She straightened herself before looking around the room. "I should get going now. It was, uh, nice meeting you, Lairon, but I've got to get through this dungeon and out of this mountain." She began walking toward one of the rocky corridors before she heard loud footsteps behind her.

"Wait, lass! I… I might need your help, and ye could use mine."

Gabite turned. "Help? What kind?"

"At the end of the dungeon, there's a heapin' bunch of iron ore veins! As far as the eye can see!" Gabite could see the sparkling in his aqua-blue eyes. "I can't reach it myself, but with ye, I could!"

She crossed her arms. "And how would you help me?"

"I live on this here mountain, lass!" Lairon proclaimed. "I know it front to back, and ye did say this was your first Mystery Dungeon. Surely ye need some extra protection and knowledge to get through it."

While Gabite knew now Lairon was friendly and no threat to her, she did not exactly trust him as of yet. Her mother had drilled into her the idea of dangerous Pokemon deceiving others for insidious reasons.

"I don't know… I think I should do this alone," she said.

Lairon brushed off her hesitation with a smile. "C'mon! Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Only fair after ye decided mine was a scratching post."

Gabite stifled a snicker as she thought it over once more. 'Should I really trust this random 'mon coming with me? I do need to get through this mountain fast, and he knows the land, but…'

Realization struck her.

'Explorers help any Pokemon they can, and he needs my help!'

Now certain of her decision, Gabite flashed a smirk. "Okay! I'll help you get to that ore, and you help me get through the mountain." She extended forward a talon, and Lairon bopped it with his three-toed foot.

"Sounds like a deal, lass. I can already taste that sweet iron!"

Gabite laughed at his eagerness and turned to walk down the corridor. "You really like that stuff, huh? Why don't you just eat the iron in the walls of the Mystery Dungeon?"

Lairon was quick to stick behind her, huffing at her words. "The junk here? It tastes off - rusty and like licking a Stunfisk! But the iron outside of these Mystery Dungeons? You can really taste the metal in 'em! Oh, and the springwater near some of the veins? Hohoho - all the minerals you could ever drink! And another thing-"

Gabite soon regretted ever popping the question.

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Iron Mountain

BF 5

The pair blipped into existence within a claustrophobic room and slowly made their way through a hallway. "So what do you really do around here?" Gabite asked her temporary companion beside her. "Y'know, besides chomping on metal and all. Do you do anything for fun? Like, explore or something?"

Lairon shook his head. "Not a thing, lass. I've lived in Iron Mountain my whole life! Being a part of Aggron's pack is the whole package, heh. Ye are born in this mountain, and ye will most certainly croak here!" he answered with a wide smile.

'Well he sure seems happy 'bout the whole living and dying here shtick,' Gabite grumbled in her mind. 'Is that really how Pokemon of the outside world think? Has this guy ever dreamed of something more than living on a mountain and eating iron all his life?' She bit her lip to prevent her from saying something she would regret - instead asking more questions. "So you live in a pack? How does that feel?"

"Like brothers and sisters, we are! We love each other, and we most definitely hate each other too!" Lairon ended with a loud, echoing guffaw. "But all in good spirits. We share our meals, and Aggron will protect our territory from outlaws, pirates, the drakes-" He stopped mid-sentence as he saw the side-eye Gabite gave him, mouth agape. "W-well, except you, fine lass!"

Gabite giggled. "You get pirates out here?" Seeing Lairon nod, she continued. "And your leader - Aggron - he protects you from 'em?"

"Yep! Er, he did once. Till he got sent to Tyrantrum's Jaw, he did."

Gabite stopped in place, turning to face Lairon with a wide-eyed look. "Tyrantrum's Jaw? That prison?"

She had heard of it before; that it was the nastiest place you could end up as an outlaw in Celestic. It was even named after one of the most fearsome pirates to ever be sent there, who then escaped in a massive prison break. She never believed that story, however, attributing it to another one of Zweilous' exaggerations.

"That he did, lass," Lairon confirmed, sighing. "Big eejit thought a caravan crossin' through the mountains were disguised pirates. Clobbered them good - then they ran back to tell the Council."

"And I'm guessing they didn't appreciate that."

Lairon lowered his head. "Been gone for a year. Terrakion only knows when he'll return - if at all. But we Lairon have picked up the pieces, and we'll keep this mountain and its Pokemon protected in his absence."

Gabite felt her heart flutter at the resolve of Lairon and his pack. She felt her trust growing for the Steel-type a bit further. "Wow… That's very noble of you guys."

"Bah, we just want a peaceful life. Well, some of us do. I try to think of a life out of this mountain, but it's hard to imagine."

"I can relate, y'know? I used to think that, but now I know there's so much more of a future for me out here than back home."

"Maybe… Maybe," he contemplated.

Gabite smiled at his deeper thinking of the subject and pressed on. She entered a large chamber chock full of all sorts of items on the floor - berries, seeds, Wonder Orbs, gummis. It was an explorer's dream come true. Her eyes dazzled with instinctive, draconic greed as she moved to step inside the room; but a foot from Lairon stopped her.

"Hold up, lass! Your carelessness could throw us right into a Monster House!" he warned.

"Monster House? What's that?"

Lairon carefully inched into the room, throwing cautious looks at his surroundings. "Like a trap for greedy 'mons - anytime there are heaps of goodies lyin' about, there's always a group of dungeon 'mons waitin' to ambush ye." He stopped in the center of the room. "Huh. Guess it's our lucky day, lass; not a single one of 'em in sight."

The dragoness excitedly stomped into the room to scoop up her rewards, but the loud thuds of her footsteps ceased in a split second. Before Gabite knew it, she was tumbling down a pit of total darkness.

"AAAAAAAAAAAA- Oof!"

Gabite grunted in pain as she reached the bottom of the pit, the wind knocking out of her chest. She looked around in a daze at her dark surroundings, eventually glancing upward from where she fell. "Wha- what happened? Did I fall?!"

She could hear Lairon cackling up a storm as she saw him peer into the pit from above with a wide smirk. She wanted to wipe it off his face with a single swipe of her talons.

"Hohohoho- sorry, sorry," he said, halting his laughter. "It's a Pitfall Trap! Pretty common across some dungeons. You're walkin' one moment, then ye are face down in a hole the next."

"Traps…" Gabite muttered in a murderous tone. "Boy, do I not want to experience that again. Ugh…"

"Need a claw, lass?" It's pretty deep."

Lairon never got an answer as he watched her clamber up the rocky walls via her sharp talons. Once pulling herself out of the trap, Gabite shook off the thick dust coating her scales like a wet Rockruff would shake its fur.

Gabite squinted her eyes at the now hostile room. Everywhere could be a trap in the dungeon, and so she had to move carefully about it. "Let's gather these items and get out of here already," she said with an agitated huff. Taking a hesitant step forward, she had her sights on a Purple Gummi at the far corner of the room and made her way to it. But she did not get far before she heard a 'click' resound throughout the still air and glanced up at the ceiling.

A metallic hatch opened in the rock as brown chestnuts cascaded from the opening and battered her scales with prickly spines. When the trap finally ended, she was shaking not from pain but from blinding anger. Gabite needed to hurt something. And the hearty chuckling from Lairon behind her provided a nice outlet. She picked up a chestnut and threw it at Lairon. It bounced off harmlessly as he continued to laugh.

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Iron Mountain

BF 13

"On your left, lass!"

Gabite pivoted to her left flank and dodged the incoming swipe of a Honedge's sharp blade. She countered with a swift slash of her talons as a purplish energy built up in her tail.

"Draw the Cufant over here Lairon and I'll give it something real nice!"

"Sounds like a plan. All yours!"

Gabite stood perfectly still as Lairon dashed past her narrowed slits. The Cufant hot on his trail changed course to charge at her - in perfect range of her next attack. She waited for the right moment before whipping her tail around and swatting at the Cufant with her Dragon Tail. The heavy Pokemon was sent careening to a nearby wall, quickly fading into wisps of orangish yellow energy.

"Yeah! That's how it's done!" Gabite yelled proudly.

An impressed look found its way on Lairon's face as he walked back over, a defeated Honedge behind vanishing behind him. "I've seen your work moppin' up those dungeon 'mons on the previous floors, lass. For such a newbie, you're quite skilled."

Gabite felt her pride soar again as she smiled, but it was tainted with the reasoning behind it. She settled on a neutral expression. "It's because fighting was everything in Dragging Claw - my village. It's really all dragons care about in the Mountain Region, to be honest."

Lairon shook his head. "Fighting? Never understood why ye drakes are so hot-blooded. Why waste all that energy exhangin' blows when ye could just eat and relax?"

"Trust me, I never understood it either…" She glanced at the Steel-type. "But with all that eating you guys do, you could probably do with a lot less."

"Don't start with me, lass!"

Their collective laughter filled the empty rooms and halls of the dungeon until they found the staircase and headed up it.

Gabite felt her vision wavering as she took the final step up the staircase. She closed her eyes for a second before opening them. A vast cavern lit by hanging, glowing lanterns teeming with waterfalls and tunnel systems dotting the iron-rich walls was unlike anything she had seen in the Mystery Dungeon. A quick glance behind her proved her suspicions correct - a visible shadow they had just left.

She nearly jumped from the hefty foot of Lairon thumping her shoulder. "Look at that! You just made it through your first Mystery Dungeon!" he exclaimed. "How'd ye feel 'bout that?"

"I- I feel…" A giddy smile crossed Gabite's face. "I feel amazing! I thought it was all boring and stuff at first but then those traps, those dungeon 'mons we fought, and then-" She began to pace around and raised her talons high. "WOO! That was really, really fun! I wanna do it again!"

"Hold your Rapidash there, lass. Dungeons may be fun and all, but they're pretty dangerous."

Gabite rolled her eyes. "You sound like my mom."

"A reasonable dame, I bet…" Lairon muttered under his breath.

She scanned the vicinity. "So this iron vein you needed help with - wanna lead me there?"

Lairon nodded, now taking the lead as he hustled forward. "I know this here mountain like the back of my foot! Follow me - I'll take ye there."

Across a narrow land bridge and through the veil of gushing waterfalls, the Steel-type proved true to his claims as the duo took every curve and bend in their path. When Gabite could keep her head from spinning at the constant turning, she threw curious looks at their surroundings. The tunnels from before stretched for what appeared to be miles throughout the mountain's interior all around them - looping and intertwining.

Other Lairon could be seen wandering through the tunnel system on their lonesome or in packs. Those who stopped their daily motions to glance at the journeying pair stared mostly at Gabite in obvious suspicion. Gabite clutched the straps of her saddlebag tighter at the sight of all their eyes upon her.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Ah, don't mind 'em, lass," Lairon said. "Just protective of this place. Pick up the pace - spot's just around this here pathway."

Gabite did not mind putting more distance between her and the wary pack of Lairon, following her companion down a narrow shaft. It was a tunnel still clearly under construction, affiliated with rickety wooden bridges and large piles of rock and other material.

"Here we are! The treasure trove, we call it!"

Gabite looked up to see long, splintering veins of red streaking across the gray limestone walls and stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Such a large deposit of iron ore was clearly befitting of the name 'treasure trove'. She knew merchants in Dragging Claw that would kill to melt down all of it for armor and weapons.

But all of this was for food instead, and she would not have it any other way.

"Okay, so here's my great plan for this!" Lairon cleared his throat. "I saw how ye pulled yourself out of that Pitfall Trap, and it got me thinkin'! Ye could scale the walls and slice at the deposits with your talons and weaken 'em! Then I'll headbutt the walls and all that sweet iron will come crashin' down!"

Gabite shrugged. "Not like I got a better idea. I'll see what I can do."

"I'll charge on your command, lass! That's what my noggin is made for!"

Gabite immediately set off on her duty, scaling the cavern cliffs until she could reach the deposits in the ceiling and stalactites. For the next thirty minutes, she carefully sliced deeply into the stones surrounding the metal.

"Keep at it, lass! You're doin' good!" Lairon encouraged from below.

'Yeah, says the one resting on his side below,' she remarked in her mind with a heavy pant. 'I never thought my talons could feel tired, but they sure do now. This one last cut should do it.'

"That's it! Keep steady there, 'cause I'm about to ram it!"

"H-hey, shouldn't I get down before you- WOAH!"

Gabite swore the mountain shook in its entirety as Lairon slammed his steelhead into the cave's walls. All the iron deposits she loosened up shifted in place from the reverberating quake. Pieces and stalactites began to crumble off the ceiling before an entire mass of rock and iron broke apart and fell to the ground, along with a screaming Gabite.

The dragoness landed in a mass of red and gray, opening her bleary eyes to see Lairon's own pair light up in complete joy. "Oh, by Terrakion's horns have I awaited this moment!" He exclaimed, quickly rushing in to scoop large quantities of iron into his jaw and began crunching it all up.

Gabite wanted to be angry at his carelessness, but she found herself rather amused at his boundless joy. She propped up her head with her talons and watched him gobble the iron down. "You're a strange Pokemon, Lairon."

Lairon momentarily paused from his eating to speak. "A very starving 'mon I was before, but not now!"

"So, I did my part. When you're done eating all the iron in this mountain, can you show me the way out?"

After a few more seconds of ravenous eating, Lairon appeared finished, stepping away from the pile. "Oh… Yeah! I did say I would, and I intend on doin' just that, lass! First things first, though…" He opened his gray bag with his teeth and started shoveling as much iron ore as he could into it. "Takin' some of this for the road. The rest is for all these other slackers' 'round here!"

Gabite lifted herself off the ground and smirked. "Lead the way, then."

image [https://i.imgur.com/4nknQEl.png]

The oppressive sun hovering above was a sight for sore eyes for Gabite. And yet it would slowly sink into the horizon as time passed; the sky awash with pink and orange hues. The dragoness could see the entire breadth of Iron Mountain from where they were, with its twisted peaks and treacherous valleys of serpentine tunnels.

If she were not dead tired and starving, she would consider the view breathtaking.

"So, I've got a question, Lairon. What is it with this 'Terrakion' guy? You keep mentioning him."

"The mountain's great protector, he is!" Lairon answered happily. "Nary a trace of him on this mountain sometimes, but he's there - always watchin' out for us."

"I thought Aggron is your protector- uh, was your protector," she said.

"For this generation maybe, but Terrakion has been here for centuries!" Lairon then nudged her in her side. "Ooh! I felt one of them vibrations just now; come and see this, lass!"

Gabite watched the Steel-type run faster than she had ever seen him run before. Taking that as a sign of something good, she hastily followed behind them. "Is it more iron?" she joked.

"Nah, lass! Just up this hill; you won't be disappointed."

The pair diverted from the current trail and scaled a nearby hill. Once at the top, Lairon pointed a foot at a large collection of dark, ashen mountains in the distance. Dark gray clouds and black smoke shrouded its form in a haze of foreboding mystery.

"Rumblecrag Volcano! And we're about to get the show of a lifetime!" Both of them waited silently. "Any second now…" he muttered before gasping. "There! It's starting!"

Gabite squinted her eyes at the volcano in an attempt to seek out this 'show'. "What are you talking about? I don't see any-" she gasped, "-whoa, whoa - what are those Pokemon doing?"

Atop one of the volcano's peaks in the far distance, a multitude of Fire-type Pokemon were gathered close. The air was still and soundless but then exploded into bustling noise. Geysers all across Rumblecrag Volcano began to erupt simultaneously and shoot spurts of steam and hot water into the air. Steady gouts of fire flowed from the Fire-types that swooped and swirled into the sky, coalescing into an orangish red glow that merged with the setting sun. The harmonized flames were synced with more erupting geysers until all fell silent again.

"T-that was amazing!" Gabite exclaimed.

"Wait! It's not over yet!"

She watched intensely as more collective fire rose into the sky, forming a giant 'O' that hovered over the volcano. A piercing screech echoed through the land as a flying Pokemon was coming in hot. Literally, Gabite noted, as the large, yellowish avian was coated in flickering fire.

"Moltres…" she whispered to herself. The Legendary started to twirl midair, nearing the circle of flames. "No way - is it gonna-"

"Oh yeah - it's gonna," Lairon confirmed, grinning.

A spinning Moltres spewed fire from its mouth that drifted and encased its rotating form in a mixture of warm colors. It shot through the middle of the hoop and it fizzled out completely into sparks and cinders. Moltres ended its display with a spread of its wide wings - a final series of erupting geysers to finish off the show.

Gabite was stunned completely. Never before had she seen something so awe-inducing yet beautiful at the same time. The closest she could compare it to were the Minior Showers she could see from Dragging Claw, but this showcase was so much closer and felt so much more personal.

'I've been missing out on so much of this world. All that stupid stuff they put in my head about the world being dangerous, when it was fear that was so dangerous.' She sniffled. 'Why wouldn't you want me to see things like this, mom?'

Lairon waved at the cheering Fire-types. "It's like a greeting of sorts. Every few weeks these 'mons and Moltres make a little show for us, and sometimes we make one back." He glanced at Gabite. "So, what did you thi-" He blinked. "Lass, are ye sheddin' a tear over there?"

"Wha- no!" Gabite swiped at her eyes and turned her face. "Just some dust in my eyes."

"You really were cryin'! I saw!"

"Shut up," she shot back, affixing him with a harsh glare. Her gaze would eventually soften. "But it was pretty darn cool. I've never seen something like that before. Dragons definitely didn't do fancy shows like that back in my village."

Lairon formed a thoughtful expression as he sat on his rump, staring out at the sunset. "This world… I remember cryin' when I first saw it, too. Lived all seventeen years of my life here, I did. Thought I could spend the next eighty more here, but now I'm not sure."

"Not sure?" Gabite took a seat beside him. "What do you mean?"

"A bit silly, but exploring through this whole mountain with ye, it's stirring some dreams back I once had as a younger lad. Dreams of leaving Iron Mountain, exploring all across Celestic in the world, staking a claim and makin' history - that sort of thing. I have not a clue what you're after, but leavin' your own village to find 'em inspired me. What I'm jabberin' on about is… I don't feel satisfied here anymore, I think."

She pursed her lips - was Lairon really going through the same feelings she had before? Did he feel trapped here in this mountain as she did in her village? The relatability between them in her mind seemed to only flourish with his past dreams reignited. Had she really done that by just realizing her own desires herself?

"Seein' those Fire-types do their thing, it makes ye wonder what you're missin' out on in the world," Lairon finished.

And there it was. A confirmation of her own ideals through Lairon. She felt vindicated somewhat.

"It's not silly," she said. "It's living, I think. And to be honest, I didn't leave my village just to find a Pokemon, I left because… there was no future for me there. Exploring is my dream, and I was gonna be an explorer even if everybody told me I couldn't."

Lairon hummed. "Well then, maybe it's time I follow in your footsteps. This life thing is only once, isn't it?" He glanced over at the dragoness and smiled widely. "I've got nary a clue who you're after, but what do ye say about a stowaway?"

"You mean… You want to come with me?"

He nodded. "I've seen your skills in action, lass, but ye lack a little experience. Surely ye could use my assistance in findin' this 'mon."

"But what about your life here? What about your pack and all?"

Lairon snorted. "Those granite munchers can survive by themselves. They're strong and reliable - like me! So, what do ye say?"

"I…" Gabite bit her tongue. "I don't know. I don't think- I think I should do this alone." She stood up and looked away from the disappointed expression on his face. "I'm sorry, Lairon, but it's really personal, and I don't think I'm ready for a partner yet, and I don't think I'd be a good partner, either! And-"

"Lass!" he interrupted her frantic rambling. "It's okay. I'll escort ye off the mountain and we'll go our separate ways. I don't need ye to leave if I ever choose to."

For some reason, it stung her for him to say that. She could not understand her own words; why was she putting up walls between her and Lairon? Both of them had similar dreams, and yet she could still not bring herself to trust him fully. Her mind that feared fiercely battled her heart that desired. Was it a product of her mother's will over her?

Lairon stood, heading back down the hill. He stopped only to angle his head back at her. "Just think about my offer, okay?"

"Okay…"

Gabite remained still for a moment in thought before she began trudging behind him.

And she did.

For the rest of the journey, the pair remained silent, but restless thoughts warred in Gabite's mind. As they pressed on and conquered more of Iron Mountain, the thoughts only grew worse. She wanted to explore, to have fame, but she wanted a team above all. Close friends; ones she could call comrades that would stick by her side through thick and thin.

Could Lairon do just that? Even if just helping her find her mother? She had no concrete answer but was leaning toward one side. She could see the grassy plains not far from the rocky trail. There was no choice but to pick a side before the end neared.

A few more minutes passed of quiet walking before Lairon suddenly stopped. "This is it, lass. Keep going straight and you'll be out of Iron Mountain entire- Oh! Hey, all!" he suddenly exclaimed as he turned around.

"Huh?"

Gabite copied Lairon's actions and whirled around, almost jumping in shock at what she saw. Dozens of Lairons were observing them from various vantage points of the terrain. The smiles present on their faces eased her concerns as they lifted their legs to wave at them.

'No, they're waving at… me. They're saying goodbye to me.'

A warm smile wormed its way onto Gabite's face as she waved back at them. Though not a single word was ever exchanged between them, and though her time here was short, it felt like she was leaving behind family. It was a strange yet welcoming feeling.

Lairon then suddenly gasped. "L-l-lass! Look at the t-tallest peak of the mountain!" he stuttered out.

Gabite followed his gaze and froze. "Is that…"

Almost a mere black silhouette against the fading sun, a bovine-like quadrupedal Pokemon with curved horns stood its ground atop the mountain slope. Its steely orange eyes hardened upon seeing Gabite, almost as if it was judging her character from a simple glance.

"Terrakion!" Lairon blurted out happily. "He even came to see ye off!"

"Is he mad? Happy? I can't tell with him piercing into my soul like that."

"Oh, happy for sure. If he was mad you'd be at the end of his horns before you'd know it."

Gabite gulped. "Good to, uh, know." Her body jerked at her shoulder again being thumped by Lairon.

"Well, lass, was nice guidin' ye through this mountain. Many thanks for the help back there; a supply like that is gonna last these lads for months."

It was bittersweet. It could not end here, right? "Thanks for your help too, Lairon. Now I know not to attack every Pokemon I see in a dungeon. Just Lairons," she ended with a smirk.

Lairon chuckled. "As long as it's not my back, lass. See ye around if ye ever decide to come back!"

Gabite watched the Steel-type slowly walk back toward the mountain. She bit her lip and shuffled her feet together. A sigh was let out before she spoke again. "Hey… Lairon?"

He turned. "Yes, lass?"

"Wanna come with me?"

A huff. "Finally! I was waiting for ye to spit it out!" He quickly waddled back over to her. "You'll get killed out there if ye didn't have this Lairon here by your side!"

Gabite rolled her eyes before settling on a smile. "Don't make me regret this. C'mon, we're in this together now."

"And I'm more than ready to commit! Let's get goin' already!"

She could hear the cheers and shouts of encouragement from all the Lairon behind them as they turned their backs on the mountain and continued their trek. It warmed her heart, and she wondered how Lairon truly felt leaving them behind, if just temporarily. A final glance behind her made her take a double-take at what she saw.

The smallest of smiles was present on Terrakion's face. She smiled back.

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image [https://i.imgur.com/PCDBoXe.png]

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"Pick up the pace, lass. My hide is becoming brittle fae this cold!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming - keep your head on," Gabite grumbled as she carried the stack of dry branches to the fire pit. She dropped them unceremoniously into the center surrounded by stones. "All right, that was all the wood I could find around here."

Lairon shot her a look. "I know ye drakes can breathe a mean fire. Think ye could provide us some warmth?"

She smirked. "With pleasure." Bending over the fire pit, she took in a deep breath as purplish flames spewed from her mouth. The hot Dragon Breath instantly ignited the wood into crackling magenta flames.

Lairon smiled widely as he scooted closer to the fire. "Now that's somethin'!"

"Learned that from my mom."

Gabite took a seat near the fire pit across from Lairon as she gazed up at the sky. The full moon and the thousands of blinking stars were out, ushering in darkness across the barren and empty landscape the pair found themselves in. Iron Mountain was far behind them now. She was beyond exhausted but was so proud of what she had accomplished.

She had come so far in just a day. And had even earned a friend and companion at the same time.

A stick with Leppa, Greta, and Oran Berries skewered at the end was picked up by Gabite as she hovered the berries over the open flames. "We can camp out here for tonight. Tomorrow we should reach our first destination, and then… I guess we'll see what happens from there."

A gray bag had its contents of mostly iron ore spilled out over the dead grass. Lairon, too, held a chunk of iron over the fire pit, drawing a curious look from Gabite. "Want some?" he offered, shaking the heated rock.

"Nah, I'd like to keep my teeth," Gabite remarked as she withdrew her now-blackened berry. She licked her lips before taking a large bite from it.

"Missin' out, lass." Lairon downed the liquifying metal with one snap of his jaws. "Now, ye mind tellin' me where we're headed out in the morn'?"

"Baroness Bay," she said flatly, continuing to devour her meal. "Should be some 'mons there we can ask questions and get more answers on where to go."

His eyes grew wide. "B-baroness Bay? That place? Oh no, lass - that beach is a pitstop for many pirates out here. It's too dangerous for you- for us to go by ourselves!"

Gabite sighed. "Ugh, really? This again? All I hear from everyone is 'Pirates this' and 'Pirates that'. I've never even seen any of these 'pirates' around here. And I never saw any ships by the coast either."

"It's not just hearsay, lass! They lurk' in the shadows; only comin' onto land when it's necessary. There are many factions out here, but none are more ferocious than the Mariner's crew…"

"The… Mariner? Like a shiphand? How is he so 'ferocious'?"

"She, lass," Lairon corrected. He smirked and took on an ominous, exaggerated timbre. "If ye dares to listen to the tale of this dreadful dame, ye will think twice of ever headin' to Baroness Bay."

Gabite snickered and relaxed her body. "Tellin' stories for hatchlings is pretty traditional for campfires, so lay it on me."

He cleared his throat in preparation. "Legend says the Mariner was once a noble 'mon of high class from one of those ritzy cities deep in Celestic - maybe even a member of the Council, perhaps."

"Wait. Shlike the governschment and shctuff?" Gabite spoke through a mouthful of steaming berries.

Lairon nodded, continuing. "Anyway, a great scandal happened that booted her from power, along with much of her Poké. She lost everythin' - her job, her status, and her riches."

Gabite lapped up the remaining juices slathering the stick. "Then?"

"She went mad. Abandoned her home and her child and roamed the continent. She eventually found work on a ship as a deckhand, and while that would seem enough for many 'mons, not her. This dame used her natural charisma and silver tongue to take over the ship fae the captain. All of the crew were made to listen to only her, and she turned that vessel meant for trade into one made for battle. That was when she became a pirate… and known to many seafarers as the Mariner."

"That's it?"

"I'm not finished yet, lass!" he scolded. "Over the years, hundreds of ships were looted and left to the depths. Many 'mons only saw the glint of her sharp teeth curve into a victorious grin before they were sent to walk the plank. Those that weren't sent to an early grave were assimilated into her crew. The word 'Mariner' was etched into the hulls of any ships she sunk. She was more rich than she ever was before as a noble, but only the thrill excited her anymore. Her soul was swallowed completely by the treacherous seas until…"

Gabite leaned in. "Until?"

"Until… until she woke up face first on a desk full of parchment; she was merely dreamin'!" Lairon let out an obnoxiously loud cackle as he pointed at Gabite's unamused look. "Look at your face! I totally got ye truly believin' at the end!"

Gabite huffed and rolled her eyes. "Hardy har har - you got me. You got any actual real stories you can share?"

Lairon wiped a tear from his eye. "Oh… Oh, if ye wish to hear me findin' a nugget of gold within one of the ores I've eaten, then listen well," he ended with another small chuckle and a shoveling of iron into his mouth.

She tuned out his loud crunching. "Wanna hear about a real story, then?"

"I'm not tired yet, lass."

Gabite took that as confirmation and opened her blue saddlebag. She pulled out two slips of neatly cut parchment and handed them over to Lairon. "Read these." She waited patiently and tapped her talons together as his eyes scanned the lines of text. "Ever heard of Team Moonlight?"

"Nope!"

"Gee, you really did live under a rock - or a mountain in this case. They're, like, a world famous exploration team and my biggest inspiration in life - besides my parents. When I grow older, I want to form an exploration team just like they did. Venture across the globe, solve mysteries, help Pokemon - that stuff."

"Lofty goals there." He handed back the slips of parchment. "And ye say I'm the strange one - carryin' around cut-up pieces of newspapers."

She swiped them back and shot him a mock glare before carefully tucking them back into her saddlebag. "Not just pieces of newspapers - they're, like, reminders. One day I'll be featured in the Celestic Cognizance if I try as hard as I can! And the only way I could do that was… leave my village and everyone there behind. Team Moonlight lost everything, and it feels like I did too, y'know Parts of it not really my fault and some parts were..."

The sputtering and sizzling of the fire overtook their conversation as Lairon fell silent. He looked up a moment later to catch Gabite's attention. "This Pokemon you're tryin' to find out here… Who are they?"

She knew this moment was coming. But it felt so hard to admit it.

"It's… She's… She's my mom. I'm trying to find her after she left the village without any reason why."

"Your mother?" His tone softened greatly. "Lass, I had no idea. I'm sorry that happened."

"Don't be sorry. I should've caught the signs; she was acting even stranger in the weeks leading up. Always locked in her room, barely eating, barely saying anything to me." Gabite scowled and bowed her head. "I yelled at her… At the festival, I got so mad at her that I told her I didn't recognize her as my own mother. I keep thinking… Could I have?"

An idea was gnawing at her from within. Could she have contributed to her mother abandoning her? Did her mother believe she no longer loved her? It could not be just like that, or could it? All these bad thoughts swirled around her like a dark storm. But a heavy foot resting on her shoulder sundered the brewing storm into nothing.

"Don't ever go thinkin' it was your fault, lass," Lairon said. "Nobody is responsible for their actions but themselves."

"I know, but… we haven't really been a family in so long. What if my outburst was a breaking point and she had enough? I have so many things I've wanted to tell, but she would just never listen!"

"And if ye find her out there, what will ye say to her?"

She threw up her arms. "I don't know! Hug her? Scream at her for being so stupid? Anything that wasn't what it was like back in Dragging Claw. I can't even return there because of that stupid, war-mongering, fossil of an elder banishing me from the village." That pathetic sniffle she hated so much reemerged as she rubbed her increasingly wet eyes. "Goomy, Swablu, even Zweilous - I told them I was going to find her; that I was gonna be some bigshot explorer out here." She gestured to their small camp. "I got everything I wanted but I still feel so alone and lost without my mom…"

Lairon walked around the fire pit and plopped himself by her side. "Ye are not alone, lass. I'm here. In the end, we'll find your mother. That's a promise - and it's harder than iron, that one."

Gabite formed a small smile. "Thanks, Lairon. I'm lucky to have you here, or else I'd explode in nerves right now." She yawned. "I think that's enough of spilling my thoughts out for today. I'm so tired I can nap longer than a Snorlax right now."

"Aye - we'll need our energy. But there's one last thing I wanted to share with you."

"And that is?"

Lairon stomped over to his bag, brushing aside the iron ore and pulling out a strange silver-colored cylinder that reflected the purple flames of the campfire. He rolled over for Gabite to stop with her talons as she picked up and inspected it. "It's called a Metal Coat! A very rare commodity in Iron Mountain?"

She gawked at it like it was an alien object. "What does it do?" she spoke with awe.

"Well, nothing for a drake like yourself. Certain Steel-types seem to love it, though."

"Oh."

Lairon formed his trademarked wide smile. "But think of it as your first treasure, and a gift fae me - your partner!"

Her heart swelled with newfound emotion as she clutched the Metal Coat to her chest. "T-thanks, Lairon… I'll treasure it always."

"Sleep well, lass."

With his parting words, Lairon plodded over to an area unlit by the fire pit to curl up and rest. Gabite chose to remain beside the warmth-providing flames. She laid on her back to observe the stars and wash her thoughts away.

'Lairon… What a cool guy. To think I didn't trust him at first. And now he wants to help me find mom. Maybe we just will. And then what?' A white talon was raised to the sky, curving around the tiny motes of light. 'Can we really start over? Can she accept me if I can accept her?'

There was no answer. She only succumbed to sleep when the fire beside her was completely snuffed out.

image [https://i.imgur.com/wowE20w.png]

"I think we're lost, lass."

"How would you know? You never left your mountain before till now!"

"And ye never left your village till now, as well! Open this 'Wonder Map' and let's take a gander."

"Ugh. Fiiiiiiine."

Gabite reluctantly rolled out the long scroll of parchment in front of her. Her talon trailed the creased map until it tapped a location in the northeastern reaches of the Mountain Region. "We're here on the beaches. Baroness Bay should be around here; just keep looking for the signs."

"Signs - what signs? Big neon flashing ones?" Lairon joked. "A place as abandoned as that bay, shipwrecks might be the only indicator."

Gabite sighed as she resumed walking. "Just keep looking out. My mom was last seen walking with two Pokemon that looked like sailors. I bet they came through her, or maybe even those sailors work in the bay."

"If ye say so…"

A layer of thick, obscuring fog had rolled out from the sea onto the beaches they trekked through. But it did not deter Gabite from searching for the elusive bay. As time passed and their findings remained barren, she needed just one sign - anything.

And then she finally got it.

"Uh, Lairon. You mentioned something about shipwrecks being an indicator?"

"Yup! I sure did and- by Terrakion's horns!"

Though difficult to see through the fog, the distinct shape of a beached wooden ship was lodged into the sands of the beach's shores. The vessel looked old and weathered; its hull was littered with gaping holes filled in with sand and water. A tattered, undecipherable flag near the ship's crow's nest billowed in the warm ocean breeze.

"This is it," Gabite deduced. "This has to be it! Follow me!" She sprinted off in the direction of the ship.

"Hey! Wait up!"

More shipwrecks appeared through the fog - each one more twisted and damaged than the last. They acted as beacons of sorts for Gabite as she pressed on.

"Heeelloooooo?" she cried out. "Anybody there?"

All she was met with was the creaking of decaying wood, the bells of ships around them croaking out dying rings washed away by the sounds of the sea meeting the shoreline.

"Lass, I've got a bad feelin' in my gut about this place."

She rolled her eyes. "You're probably just hungry again. This has got to be Baroness Bay. Let's see if we can find the docks." She sprinted away before he could utter another retort.

"Crazy drake," he mumbled under his breath before following after her.

Dotting the beach and stabbing the sands were swords of all kinds. Pieces of black cloth wrapped around each sword's handle drifted in the wind. The display did little to ease the foreboding tension that swamped Gabite's senses, but she pushed all those feelings aside to cling to the hope that remained. They happened upon a sign broken in two and lying on the beach.

'Baroness Bay' it read.

Gabite flicked Lairon's jaw with a talon. "See! We're actually here! Now we just need to find a 'mon to talk to."

"Ye believe anyone would inhabit this graveyard of seafarin'?"

He never got an answer as Gabite continued forward. A single glowing lantern amid the deep brume caught her eye. It illuminated a section of the bay's docks that stretched over the thrashing sea. She ran ahead toward the docks while Lairon stayed behind, his attention elsewhere. Her sights were then latched onto a figure at the far end of the dock. It appeared to be a small green-colored Pokemon with a black strap over its shoulder.

"Hey look - a little kid! We can ask him something!"

The Pokemon was fiddling with bundles of rope tied to the dock's posts. Her eyes trailed the length of the ropes and saw they were attached to what looked like ships covered in grey tarps. It was an odd thing to see, but the only thing on her mind was meeting this new stranger.

Meanwhile, Lairon approached one of the beached shipwrecks, swearing he could see something past the fog. As he encroached, something carved into the wooden hull was burned into his mind.

'MARINER.'

"Lass…?"

But Gabite could not hear him as she bent down and tapped the shoulder of the Pokemon she now recognized as a Larvitar. "Hey, little guy! Think you could help me and my pal Lairon out?" she asked cheerfully.

Lairon quickly rushed over to her side, a frightened look in his eyes. "We should get out of here - and fast," he urged.

The Larvitar visibly stiffened at their voices but slowly turned around. Scratch marks littered its face, and its single eye not covered by a black eyepatch was settling its smoldering gaze upon Gabite.

She winced. "Uh, hey there, not-so-little guy?"

The Larvitar did not respond as its tiny paws reached for the tube-like object strapped across its belt. It placed the tube into its mouth and blew into it, the horn producing a deafening wail throughout the entire beach.

Gabite covered her ears. "H-hey! What's the big deal!"

"We've got trouble, lass!" Lairon shouted through the noise.

Gray tarps flew off once concealed ships anchored to the dock. Dozens upon dozens of Pokemon emerged from hiding or within the depths of each ship and brandished their weapon of choice. Many remained near the sides of their ship, but some roared and cried out as they leaped off their ships and landed on the beach. They surrounded Gabite and Lairon. Sharpened steel from every conceivable angle was pointed at the pair, who remained deathly still.

It was during this dire moment of silent confrontation that Gabite was able to get a good look at these Pokemon. The unkempt features of their scowling, hateful faces told her one thing, and the menacing garb they wore was another thing. But the most damning evidence was when she peered up and saw the black sails of each ship billowing in the wind - a white feline skull prominently emblazoned onto them.

"Pirates…" she whispered to herself. "Why'd you have to be right, Zweilous?"

"I warned ye, lass!" Lairon whispered back.

"Shut up. Don't start with me now," she muttered back.

Miraculously, the fog in the area began to dissipate rapidly. Something odd occurring within the ocean caught their attention. Where empty space was between the ships, water fluctuated and swelled unnaturally. A reverberating echo could be heard deep beneath the waves. But nothing could prepare them for what happened next.

A gigantic Wailord with an equally colossal eyepatch breached from the ocean with a warbling cry that shook the bones of everyone present as displaced water rained down on the ships and the beach. The Wailord eventually settled and floated nearest to the shoreline. All was quiet; even the pirates ceased their jabbering once the Water-type emerged.

Gabite's jaw hung loose. "Are those… cannons atop that Wailord's back?!" she whispered incredulously.

"And a tent!" Lairon said back. "Look, it's openin'!"

Past the row of long cannons and gunpowder barrels was a dark purple tent erected at the center of the Wailord's back. A forcefield of pink energy over the tent vanished as soaking wet Psychic-type Pokemon stood away from the tent's entrance. Moments later, the flaps of the tent opened as a quadrupedal Pokemon stepped out. Gabite instantly recognized its feline stature and spotted markings as a Liepard.

The Liepard strutted forward across the Wailord before stopping atop the gargantuan Pokemon's head, near its pit-like blowholes. Gold and silver jewelry adorned the Dark-type's legs that clinked and chimed as it lifted a paw and placed it against its scarred, furry chest. A worn-looking buccaneer hat with the same feline skull design from before was nestled between its chipped ears. Three fragments of black cloth were tied to its long, flicking tail.

"The captain…" Gabite whispered.

The Liepard scrutinized both Gabite and Lairon with a curious if not pleased expression. "And what have my pets brought before me today?" it spoke in a decidedly feminine voice. "Hmm? A pair of random Pokemon that you have decided to disturb my rest for?"

"Boss lady!" the Larvitar suddenly yelled, saluting the Liepard. "Two intruders in the bay! Their presence made me alert the rest of the crew!"

Liepard raised her head high in an almost regal manner. "I see… But questions linger in my mind." Her predatory stare snapped to Gabite and Lairon. "Intruders! Do you know who I am?"

Lairon said nothing but Gabite shook her head.

A smug grin split apart Liepard's muzzle. Her wicked sharp fangs were revealed and glimmered in the sunlight. "I… am the Mariner! Scourge of the Alomomola Sea! Plunderer of all vessels! Isn't that right, ingrates?!"

Passionate cheers and screaming broke out all across the ships in agreement, making Liepard's grin grow even wider. When the outburst finally settled, Liepard spoke again - smugly. "And you two - you are my prey - fallen into this Galvantua's web of mine. Speak. Who are you?" Rage took her over face for a moment as she stamped a paw onto the Wailord. "Are you spies from that blasted Tyrantrum?!"

Gabite wanted to speak, and while the look Lairon was sending her silently told her to do anything but that, she chose to make a dangerous play. Despite her situation, she needed to build rapport with this 'Mariner' "We're not spies; we're explorers!" she shouted.

Liepard's anger subsided. "Hmph. A likely story. You came to explore this bay? A place rumored to be infested with pirates and thieves?" She paused for a solid minute before she began cackling loudly. Pirates all around soon joined in with laughter of their own. Liepard suddenly halted her joy with a derisive snort that quieted her pirates. "Tell me the real answer. Preferably before I send you both to walk the plank."

Gabite stepped forward. "I'm trying to find my mom! She left the village and I don't know why! The only thing I know was that she was heading east with some sailors!"

Murmurings throughout the pirates were put to an end with the raising of Liepard's paw. Her wolfish grin returned with a certain flair to it that Gabite did not like; she had to have known something. "... I knew there was something more to you. And this mother of yours, was she perhaps a Garchomp?" she inquired, voice tainted with distaste.

"Yes! She's one of the greatest explorers out there! Team Scale! Maybe you've heard of 'em before?"

Liepard strolled across the Wailord and feigned an expression of contemplation. "Hmm. I can't quite recall." She smirked. "Oh, yes! Now I remember. I met your mother exactly here around two weeks ago! Yes, what a lovely, adventurous lady! Why, ten years ago I would've had a nice, elegant chat over tea with such a Pokemon!"

Gabite smiled. She was finally going to get answers, even if it was the Mariner of all Pokemon. "R-really? Why did she meet here with, um, you?"

"A very good question, young lady. Your mother and I penned a few letters to each other a while back. We planned an expedition to Rumblecrag Volcano together - her and my crew of ingrates here. I even bothered to send a few of these lost souls to escort her here."

Gabite was stunned. Her own mother collaborated with pirates of all groups to go out on an expedition to Rumblecrag Volcano of all places. What was her mother truly thinking? And better yet, she needed to know where exactly she was now. "My mom… Is she here?"

"Sadly, no. You see, when Garchomp arrived and I went over the details of our expedition together, she didn't exactly… agree with what I had planned at the volcano. She left this bay and abandoned the planned expedition."

"Well, uh, I'm sorry it didn't work out."

"Mmm… Yes, she left." Liepard stopped her pacing and thrust a paw outward at a distant shoreline, snarling. "But that wretched Garchomp only left after she destroyed seven of my most treasured ships!"

Gabite and Lairon followed the direction her paw pointed and saw numerous sailing vessels charred and riddled with holes. Both knew full well that at this point their chances of getting out of this encounter unscathed were near zero.

"My mom... did all of that?" Gabite croaked out.

"Indeed. That mother of yours intends to steal the secrets of that volcano herself - I know it! She seeks out the power of the Dyna Meteorites! She wants it but it's only going to be mine - for the Mariner only!" Liepard ranted maniacally. "But- but-" Her grin reemerged again. "But her daughter - naïve and frail - came to my doorstep wrapped in a nice little bow… You wish to find your mother, young lady? Then we shall venture off and find her together! Come and witness when I rip that dragon's heart out!" she cried to the cheers of her pirates.

Gabite knew this was bad - really bad. But there was nothing she could do at the moment. She was totally helpless and at the mercy of this crazy, capricious woman seeking vengeance upon her mother. Lairon quickly caught onto her rapid mental spiraling and reassured her with a nod. She felt a little more at ease.

Larvitar, hearing his captain's declaration, formed an unsure look. "B-boss lady! We 'aven't completed our repairs yet! There's still water leakage in some of the lower decks of the ships! And our masts are leanin'!"

Liepard looked almost offended by his warning. "Excuse me?"

"Er, I was just-"

"First Mate Larvitar! Please come up on my Wailord!"

"Aye aye!"

Larvitar heeded Liepard's command as he scurried across the connected rope as quick as his little legs could take him. He climbed the mast of one ship before jumping and grabbing one of the pulleys to swing himself over onto the Wailord. He then planted himself like a statue beside Liepard and awaited further instructions.

"I find it curious how these intruders were able to get so close to my ships without you noticing," Liepard mused as she walked circles around Larvitar.

"They caught me off guard - truly! The fog cover we created covered them up while I was-" A pair of lightning-fast claws slashed him across the face.

"You talk too much," Liepard hissed. She lifted his now bleeding face up with her paws. "You disappoint me again, Larvitar, and there will be no more face of yours to scratch. As punishment, you and another deckhand will escort our newest prisoners inside one of our ships and guard them. Be very delicate with the Gabite…"

"Y-yes, boss lady."

Liepard swept her fiery gaze across all of the ships. "We set sail for Rumblecrag Volcano now! Get to work on it, ingrates!"

image [https://i.imgur.com/4nknQEl.png]

The first thing that caught Gabite's attention as she was pushed into the lower decks of the ship was the smell. A combination of mildew, seawater, and rotten berries flooded her nostrils.

'Never should've expected a pirate ship to smell good,' she thought, suppressing a gag.

The Larvitar from before was in front of them, leading them through the grimy, dank underbelly of the ship. The heavy metal cuffs clamped around her arms and legs clanged together as she was forced to walk. Pirates all around them were sharpening their claws and swords; gearing up for what appeared to be a long voyage to Rumblecrag Mountain.

A Flareon behind Gabite pushed her again, preventing her from analyzing her surroundings too much. Her saddlebag was stripped from, taking with it the items most precious to her. It took a lot of inner strength for her not to lash out in a rage because of this.

"I can't believe it…" Lairon uttered. "The Mariner story Aggron told me long ago - the dame actually exists!"

"Unfortunately, yeah," Gabite said.

"A feline that enjoys gettin' wet… I've seen everythin' now!"

"Isn't the time for jokes either, Lairon."

"Be quiet, prisoners," Larvitar yelled.

"Yeah, shut up!" Flareon added from the back.

Their short tour of the ship ended when Larvitar stopped at a door. The Rock-type was forced to stand on the tips of his feet to reach the handle. Gabite had to swipe Lairon with a talon before the Steel-type burst out laughing. The door swung open and both of them were practically shoved inside.

To Gabite, the room almost looked like a cellar of sorts. Various barrels and shelves full of bottles of liquid lined the walls - undoubtedly alcohol if she had to guess. The groaning of the moving ship occasionally made the liquid inside quiver. Larvitar and Flareon would close the door before leading them to a barren wall.

"Flareon, keep watch on 'em!" Larvitar barked.

"Heh, sure - I got my eyes on them!" the Fire-type yipped. As Larvitar wandered over to another section of the room, Flareon stood guard with a cocksure grin plastered across his muzzle. "Oh, you guys were sooooooo stupid! I mean, you come to explore this spooky-looking beach and think you wouldn't encounter us? Hahaha!"

"Lad, back up a 'lil," Lairon said through a cough. "Your breath really, really reeks."

'At least Lairon isn't totally freaking out about this like I am.' Gabite's desire to think of anything else made her mind and eyes drift over to Larvitar as he approached one of the liquor shelves and ran his nub-like paw across the bottles. 'What's he doing over there? Can pirates not go ten minutes without getting drunk?'

Flareon ignored Lairon's jab and continued speaking. "Like, have you never heard of the Mariner or something? She's the most powerful pirate in the region - the whole world, even! Yeah, I used to be in another crew, but then the Mariner showed up and defeated our captain like it was nothing. She took us all in and made us part of hers! Hey, maybe she could do the same for you two!"

Gabite observed as Larvitar picked up one of the heftier-looking bottles and was slowly making his way back. The Rock-type stopped just behind Flareon as the Fire-type babbled on.

"And you guys are soooo lucky she wants you alive! If you weren't, man you'd both be some bodies floating in the ocean! Well, except you, fat-looking Steel-type. You'd sink right to the ocean floor! Hahahaha-"

The bottle came down and smashed against Flareon's skull as he instantly crumpled to the floor unconscious, tongue lolling out. While Gabite and Lairon were locked into a staring contest with Flareon's body, Larvitar hopped onto the Fire-type and placed his paws over his hips.

"I thought me ears weren't workin' back there, but ye said you're explorers, right? Take me with ye!"

Gabite and Lairon exchanged looks.

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Cherish these wonderful moments of breathtaking adventure and childlike freedom. These aspirations birth the excuses for sheer and complete annihilation.

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image [https://i.imgur.com/kAE1T3n.png]

Author's Note: Have some character art of the fearsome Mariner! Thank you for reading!

(Artist: znkd)

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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 below!

Discord: z2h2z

Next Special Episode Part: Where No One Goes