TEEN: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Instruments of Creation

[The Desert Cat]

Chapter 18: Wagon

Teleport wasn’t that bad once one got used to it, Absol thought, as Team ACT’s familiar courtyard resolved around her. Her stomach still didn’t appreciate the transition, but it was so much faster and easier and warmer than having to walk all the way back to Pokémon Square. Alakazam, Delphox, and Charizard were all there to meet them.

Alakazam looked gaunt and tired, Absol thought. He was an old Pokémon, but she didn’t remember him looking so worn out. Had something changed in the last four days, or had she just been too busy to notice?

“Where’s Team Charm?” Zorua demanded immediately.

“Still in Temple Ruins,” Charizard said, motioning them toward the door of the manor, “Teams Hydro, Dragon, and Mighty entered yesterday morning; we won’t have news until they come out.”

Four large trestle tables and a score of wooden chairs of various sized now occupied one side of the lobby, filling the room with the scent of freshly worked wood and Combeeswax.

Alakazam and Delphox followed them in, glancing at each other the way Mewtwo and Arcanine did when they were communicating telepathically. The two of them headed upstairs together, while she and Zorua followed Charizard into the library.

Zorua’s nose wrinkled as they passed Team Mighty’s room. The scent of Growlithe’s medicine was strong again, stronger than it had been since she’d moved down from Team Meanies’ old base.

Zorua sighed and glanced at Absol. “I thought we were making progress,” she said quietly.

Absol nodded in agreement. “With us gone, and Mighties too...”

Zorua knew what she meant; Growlithe was lonely, and that was when she turned to her medicine for comfort. Growlithe didn’t make herself an easy Pokémon to get along with, and everyone here had important work to do. She couldn’t fault them for letting Growlithe take care of herself for a few days. Still, in a town as big as Pokémon Square, there had to be someone who could keep her company while they were gone.

Team Arcana was in the library, working at the same table where they had been translating Instruments of Creation before their latest venture into Creepy Tunnel. Team Easy were both sitting on the table with them. Or rather, Zorua though, Pink was on the table. Grey was probably sitting in the third, apparently unoccupied, chair beside his Eevee illusion. Grey’s illusion, a pencil gripped in his teeth, was taking notes as Umbreon dictated.

“Is Alakazam alright?” Absol asked.

“He has a lot to worry about,” Charizard said, “have Mewtwo or Braixen kept you up to date?”

“Probably not,” Zorua grumbled. Mewtwo hadn’t passed on anything from his daily contacts with Pokémon Square, beyond continued negative reports about Team Charm’s rescue.

“Well, a lot happened while you were in Meadow Town,” Charizard continued, “the teams in Temple Ruins, of course. Poképals returned from Hidden Land and Spacial Rift; they were unable to find Dialga or Palkia.”

Charizard opened the door of the library stove; a fire was already laid inside. He lit it with a breath and began to make tea.

“Meowstic from Snowcliff Village has finally located your parents; they’ve left Mount Freeze and are staying at Braixen’s winery below Frosty Forest. You’re familiar with it?”

Absol nodded.

“They report that they’re well supplied and safe, but your mother is reluctant to travel any further from Mount Freeze. Alakazam told them that we’ve resolved our astrology question. You don’t think we still need their help, do you?”

Absol shook her head. The meadow where she’d had her vision was only a kilometer or two from the winery; they could assume that it was close enough to keep the spirit of their duty, at least temporarily. “It would be wonderful to have them, but Mother is right. One of us should be there.”

“Arcanine was right about refugees,” Charizard continued, “Pokémon are beginning to abandon some of the houses outside town, out of fear of bandits rather than hunger or the weather. It’s mostly locals, so far, but I think we’re going to see a lot more. I’ll let Grey and Team Arcana update you on their own projects.”

“We only got back last night,” Grey said, “I think we have three more locations.”

“That was quick,” Absol said, “I thought it would take a lot longer.”

“Chatot changed his mind about letting us use their records,” Grey said, “Treasure Town waited too long to begin preparing; they didn’t get nearly as much food in as you did here. The Pokémon who do have supplies are keeping them hidden for fear of Magnezone and the Guild, so everyone is suspicious of each other. Team Poképals has agreed to continue our research, though; Chatot won’t dare stop them.”

“Maybe Arcanine was right,” Zorua said.

Grey looked at her curiously, and Zorua remembered that he hadn’t been present for that conversation. “He wants to go back and fight Team Magnezone, and let all the prisoners go,” she said, “we told him he couldn’t until you were done.”

Grey considered for a moment, then shrugged. “I have no sympathy for Magnezone, but the Guild will get involved. Most of them aren’t bad Pokémon.”

“Let’s not worry about that now,” Absol said, “we have two weeks until he gets back.” She looked to Espeon and Umbreon. “How is your translation coming?”

“We’ve given up on translating the whole book for now,” Umbreon said, disappointment obvious in his voice. “We’re working on just the parts we’ve found which describe the mystery dungeons were the Orrery Fragments were placed. Their names are all different from ours, of course, so we’re trying to reconstruct them based on descriptions and geography.”

“It’s a slow process,” Espeon continued, “even with Team ACT’s and Easy’s help, but we think we have at least one more location.

“There’s one other thing,” Charizard said, “none of us like it, but Arcanine was right about refugees, and he was right about storing food. We’re going to have to start organizing defenses, especially since we’re going to need all the teams to explore the dungeons Team Arcana and Easy have found. With Tyranitar and Arcanine away, Alakazam wants you to take charge.”

It took Zorua a moment to realize Charizard was looking at her. “Wait, me?” she objected, “I don’t know anything about that, and why would anyone listen to me?”

“You’re a smart Pokémon,” Charizard said, “you’ve seen what Meadow Town is doing, and you’re the only one here who has fought them. People already respect you, even if you don’t realize it, and everyone knows you’re working with us.”

“Pokémon Square is a lot bigger than Meadow Town.”

“It is,” Charizard agreed, “and you’ll have a lot more resources. There are dozens of Pokémon here who have done time on professional teams.”

“But what do I do?” That was supposed to be reassuring, Zorua thought, but it was the opposite. All of those Pokémon were probably stronger and more experienced than her. Why would they want to listen to her? Why should they? She’d never done this before, either.

“Look around town,” Charizard suggested, “Razor Wind is here, maybe bring them too. Figure out what you need. We’ll call a meeting in the Square in a day or two, and I think you’ll get it.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

#Is everyone ready?# Mewtwo asked.

“Ready!” a dozen voices chorused back, Arcanine’s among them.

The wood ramp extended from the back of the wagon to the bottom of the sphere. Built from several heavy timbers, it was trough-shaped to prevent the sphere rolling off the side as they pushed it up.

#Remember,# Mewtwo said, #only to the first first notch in the ramp. Push on three.#

Mewtwo counted off, and the assembled Pokémon began to push together. Arcanine, at the back, leaned his weight into it.

The sphere rocked, and began to roll. The ramp creaked and popped as the weight of the sphere bore upon it. Mewtwo had estimated its weight at five tons or so; Incredibly light for its size, but still heavy. The sides of the sphere slid between the polished wooden rails. They fit almost perfectly, of course; Mewtwo had designed them.

The wagon rocked forward, away from them, but the chocks on each wheel held it in place. They had two sets of wheels, axles, and bearings for the wagon; a short, narrow set for inside, to accommodate the curved tunnel floor, and a larger, wider set for the road to Pokémon Square. Temporary outriggers on the sides of the wagon provided stability while they loaded the sphere, and the curvature of the tunnel would prevent it from tipping on the way out.

The sphere reached the first set of notches on the ramp, and Lucario and Wartortle slid wedges into place to prevent it from rolling back.

#And stop,# Mewtwo commanded, #now, gently, let it rest on the wedges.#

They had all rehearsed the procedure a half-dozen times under Mewtwo’s supervision before beginning, and everyone knew what to do. Still, Mewtwo’s direction was necessary. Mewtwo wasn’t just supervising; he had the most important job of all. If the ramp or wagon broke, or if the loading team lost control of the sphere despite all their precautions, Mewtwo was the only one who had a chance of stopping it before it crushed anyone. Arcanine could feel his tension through the subtle mental link they shared.

Carefully, the Pokémon pushing the sphere eased back, and the sphere came to rest on the wedges. Once it was clear that the wedges would hold, they stepped back.

#Good,# Mewtwo said, #rest a few seconds before the next one.#

Arcanine stretched and shook, and glanced over at the three Sawsbucks beside him. The elder Sawsbuck, Haze, had not only lent them his wagons, but he and his sons, Patch and Dapple, had volunteered to help pull them to Pokémon Square. Haze nodded in return.

Hippowdon was there too, on the other side of Servine. Snivy and Chikorita and a handful of other Pokémon from Meadow Town were loading the three normal wagons. Machop and Rapidash, who he had met playing Pawball with Absol, and several other Pokémon from Pokémon Square stood around the sphere as well. Tyranitar and another dozen were outside, clearing and widening parts of the trail so that Mewtwo would not have to carry the wagon as far.

The larger Pokémon would all take turns pulling the wagons, while many of the smaller Pokémon would join them as guards, and to help handle the harnesses and maintain the wagons. No one was forcing any of them, Arcanine thought, or paying them; every single Pokémon was there because they knew the job was important and wanted to help. He was grateful that Zorua and Lucario hadn’t allowed him to interrogate Bayleef his way.

There was prestige in being part of a group like this, he thought, and working toward something bigger and more important than all of them. I was a feeling he had missed, living alone for years in Haunted Forest. It felt like home.

#It does, doesn’t it,# Mewtwo agreed. Arcanine knew that the though was only for him.

#Positions,# Mewtwo commanded, #on three.#

It took them half an hour to load the sphere and lash it securely to the wagon. That was okay, because it took three hours to carefully pack all of the other parts onto the other three wagons. After a quick lunch, they hitched up. Hippowdon pulled his own wagon. Dapple and Patch pulled one of the Sawsbuck family wagons, while Haze and Rapidash pulled the other.

The sphere wagon had four leads. Because their sizes and morphologies were so different, each of the Pokémon who would be pulling had his own harness. Arcanine took one of the front two, waiting patiently as Lucario adjusted and fastened the straps and buckles around his shoulders and back. Aggron and a pair of Chesnaughts from Pokémon Square joined him.

Lucario took the driver’s bench on the sphere wagon. They were all equals here, but from his perch Lucario could see the whole team and the road ahead, and guide them. Mewtwo walked behind the wagon, ready to steady it with Psychic if anything went wrong.

The ramp and outriggers for the sphere wagon were abandoned; they could build new ones in Pokémon Square to unload. Someday, Arcanine thought, another team would rediscover Creepy Tunnel and wonder what they had been for.

The other three wagons fell in behind them, and the remaining Pokémon spread out around them to fight off the dungeon ferals they would encounter on the way out.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“I wish Lucario and Arcanine were here,” Zorua muttered to Absol as they left the courtyard. Zangoose, Sandslash, and Scyther followed close behind.

“So do I,” Absol agreed, “but Charizard is right; you can do this.”

Following the path along the hillside, the five of them circled around the north and west sides of Pokémon Square. There were a lot of buildings on the slopes around town, and she knew that there were even more hidden in the trees. Arcanine had said before that they couldn’t guard all of them, and he was right, but how did she choose?

There was nothing valuable in most of those buildings that couldn’t be moved, she thought. They were mostly just homes and team bases; bandits wouldn’t bother them if they were empty. Their stores were all in town, or in the manor, and Mewtwo would probably put the Orrery in the courtyard. The manor was the only building outside of town which had to be protected. Bandits could attack anywhere, but if the Ice-types came, the Orrery would be their goal.

Zangoose stopped beside her. “That hill and that one have a view of most of the valley,” he said, pointing, “if you put sentries there, and on the manor roof, and of the roof of Kangaskhan Storage, they could all see each other.”

“We could have fortifications built on both hills, and shelters on the roofs,” Sandslash suggested, “now that most of the work on Kangaskhan Storage and Ampharos’s bar is done, people have time to help.”

“We could have one patrol on this path and around the manor,” Zorua thought aloud, “and one on the west side of town, and one on the south and east sides to be sure they don’t come up the cliffs. That’s seven groups. If we put three Pokémon in each group, that’s, um...”

“Twenty-one per shift,” Absol provided, “or sixty-three a day, with three shifts.”

“Thanks.” Good thing that Absol was good at math too, Zorua though. “That’s a lot of people; do you really think we’ll have enough?”

“You’ll need another two or three teams on each shift,” Scyther added, “to respond if the sentries are attacked.”

“Tyranitar says there are five hundred Pokémon here,” Absol said, “and there will be more, soon. I think most of them will want to help.”

“You’ll get volunteers,” Zangoose said, “the difficulty will be finding enough experienced Pokémon to supervise them.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The trip out was relatively uneventful. Mewtwo let their escorts fight, saving his strength for the trip down the mountain. The tunnel grew lighter ahead, and with a brief disorientation, they left Creepy Tunnel. Arcanine hoped it was for the last time. The convoy stopped on the ledge in front of the dungeon, the sphere wagon in the lead. Mewtwo stood on the driver’s bench beside Lucario, and shaded his eyes with one hand as he looked down the slope. Tyranitar and Gurdurr hurried up the trail to meet them.

#Now,# Mewtwo said, #this will be the difficult part. Get the team unharnessed, and recheck all the ropes.#

Their helpers scurried around, detaching Arcanine, Aggron, and the Chesnaughts, securing all the ropes and tack, and re-tightening all of the lines securing the sun sphere. Tyranitar and Gurdurr reached them, breathing hard. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath, then began to explain.

“It’s about twenty meters to the first switchback,” Tyranitar said, pointing ahead to where Mudsdale and Golem were rolling a boulder off the side of the path. “Below it, we can pull for about four hundred meters, but there are several spots you’ll have to lift the wagon over bumps. After that, there are two more narrow points where you’ll need to carry the whole wagon. There’s about a kilometer of good road, then it crosses the rubble, and you’ll have to carry another fifty.” Tyranitar pointed toward the base of the mountain, where the spoil pile from Creepy Tunnel had slid down across the road.

“The road is clear below the rubble,” Gurdurr said, “and we’ve staged the road axles and wheels there.” He hesitated, then continued. “That wagon is awfully heavy. Are you certain you can handle it alone?”

Mewtwo nodded calmly. He sat on a boulder near the edge and closed his eyes. Unhitched, Arcanine came to sit beside him. He could hear Mewtwo’s breathing slow and deepen as he prepared himself for the strenuous task. Arcanine didn’t know what to expect. The wagon and sphere together weighed eight or nine tons, and no reasonable Pokémon could possibly lift it. He knew he had seen Mewtwo perform similar feats before, but he couldn’t remember them.

He could feel power gathering around Mewtwo. Both of their fur began to stand apart, as from a static charge, and Arcanine stepped back. Mewtwo’s eyes glowed violet with power. It flowed outward to encompass him and the wagon, and they both lifted slowly from the ground.

The wagon drifted slowly along the trail, a meter or so above the rocks. Mewtwo floated beside it, limbs and tail dangling limply, as if he had forgotten they existed.

Arcanine, Tyranitar, and Lucario followed at a safe distance behind, and the rest of the crew, except the teams still hitched to the other wagons, trailed behind them. They would all have to go back up to help the other wagons down the path, but right now, no one could look away from Mewtwo and his cargo.

The wagon settled to the ground in front of Mudsdale, creaking as the axles assumed weight again. Mewtwo’s feet touched down beside it. His knees buckled for a moment; he stumbled, then recovered. Arcanine ran to his side.

Mewtwo’s hand rested on his shoulders as Mewtwo steadied himself. There was real weight behind it, not Mewtwo’s normal light touch.

#I’m alright, old friend,# Mewtwo assured him, #that was more difficult than I expected. It’s...slippery. Like it doesn’t want to be held, and the noise doesn’t help either.#

Mewtwo’s hand still rested on his shoulders. Mewtwo didn’t need support, Arcanine thought, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t comforting for both of them.

“Can you make it the rest of the way?” Tyranitar asked.

#Yes,# Mewtwo said, #I need to rest. By the time we all reach the next narrow part, I’ll be ready.#

Arcanine, Aggron, and the Chesnaughts allowed themselves to be hitched to the sphere wagon again, and pulled it to the next narrow segment. They unhitched and sat or lay down to rest while the remainder of the convoy carefully negotiated the narrow section over which Mewtwo had carried the sphere wagon.

They traversed the next two sections in the same manner. One of the smaller wagons broke a wheel on a protruding rock. Gurdurr and his helpers were prepared with spares, but the repair still cost them an hour. Arcanine didn’t mind; Mewtwo was having more difficulty carrying the wagon than he let on.

By the time they reached the last narrow section of the trail, it was late afternoon. Everyone was tired, but Mewtwo looked particularly worn.

“Mewtwo, let’s wait,” Arcanine suggested.

#No,# Mewtwo said, #we need to get down the mountain so Gurdurr’s crew can change the axles and wheels before dark.#

Mewtwo’s voice sounded tired and strained. His shoulders sagged, and his footsteps were heavy. If any of the rest of them faltered from exhaustion pulling the wagons, Arcanine thought, there was little harm; they could pause and switch another Pokémon in his place. If Mewtwo faltered for an instant with the wagon and sphere in the air, it was a disaster; they’d need a new wagon, and who knew how durable the sphere was.

“An hour or two,” Arcanine insisted. He hated disagreeing with Mewtwo. “No risks, remember?”

#I’ll make it. I’m quite strong, you know.#

“I think Arcanine is right,” Tyranitar agreed, “Mewtwo, you don’t look good.”

“Don’t worry about changing the wheels,” Gurdurr said, “we can do it in the dark. It’s nothing we haven’t done a hundred times, just larger.”

Annoyance flickered across Mewtwo face, and disappeared. He sighed. #Alright. An hour or two.#

Snivy and Servine passed out Apples, while Wartortle filled cups and bowls with water for everyone.

“Mewtwo, I’m sorry-” Arcanine began as they sat down side by side to eat.

#No,# Mewtwo interrupted, #you’re right, no risks.#

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

#You made the right decision yesterday,# Mewtwo said the next morning as they ate, #I think I would have made it, but it was an unnecessary risk.#

At least Mewtwo was speaking telepathically again, Arcanine though. His powers had been so exhausted after the last section that he had to speak verbally for the rest of the evening; his voice was awkward and unpracticed, and he was obviously uncomfortable conversing that way. Arcanine didn’t like it either.

“I’m heading back to Meadow Town with the others,” Lucario said, after they had finished eating and inspecting the wagons one more time, “I’ll be more use there than on the road with you. Stay safe.”

“You too.”

Arcanine leaned his head against Lucario’s chest, and Lucario’s arms wrapped around his neck.

“Thank you for taking care of Zorua for me. When this is all over, if we survive, I want to go exploring with you guys.”

“Yeah,” Arcanine agreed, “me too.” He felt like there was more that he should say, but he didn’t know how. Instead, he wrapped a foreleg around Lucario’s back, pulling him closer. Lucario understood what he meant, Arcanine thought. Lucario was a good, solid, dependable Pokémon, and Luxray and the others were fortunate to have him.

It could be a long time before they saw each other again. With the sun sphere and all the other parts removed from Creepy Tunnel, there would probably be nothing to bring them back to Meadow Town until the crisis was over. He wanted to invite Lucario along one more time, but he already knew Lucario’s answer, and the reasons behind it, and it would only be uncomfortable for both of them.

Arcanine and Lucario released each other, and Lucario readjusted his harness again. Tyranitar was next to him in the other front harness, being fastened by Machop. Aggron and Excadrill filled the other two harnesses, behind them. Tyranitar’s old friend from Northern Desert had reached Pokémon Square too late to help them breach the door, but volunteered to help pull anyway.

As Lucario and Machop finished and stepped back, Tyranitar grunted, catching Arcanine’s attention. He turned to look up at the taller Pokémon.

“Hope you’re not still mad about that incident in Haunted Forest,” Tyranitar deadpanned.

At first, Arcanine wasn’t sure how to answer; why bring that up now, when they were going to be working side by side the rest of the day? Tyranitar’s expression was unreadable. It had to be a joke, he decided.

“Hope you’re not still mad about that Orb.”

Tyranitar broke into a toothy grin, and Arcanine decided he had guessed correctly.

Aggron and Excadrill’s helpers finished harnessing them, and it was time to go. Arcanine leaned into the harness, and he could feel the ropes tighten as the others joined him. The wagon began to roll.

All of the other Pokémon who weren’t currently pulling or driving a wagon spread out around them in a protective gauntlet. The chances of encountering bandits, especially with such a large group, were slim, and there had been no further sightings of the strange Ice-types around Meadow Town, but no one wanted to take chances with such an important cargo.

As they began, Arcanine kept looking back over his shoulder. Lucario and the other Pokémon returning to Meadow Town waited, standing still, watching them go. He didn’t know why, but there was something solemn and grave about their departure. Before they passed out of sight through the trees, Lucario raised his hand and waved. Arcanine answered with a puff of fire, then turned away for the final time.

They trudged through the snow for an hour, silent except for the occasional warning or command. The sphere wagon was in the lead Liepard and Persian, who had both played Pawball with them in Pokémon square, scouted ahead. There were no others tracks on the road ahead of them. It was warm enough that the snow was soft and wet, and the ground beneath was still muddy, soaking through the fur on his legs and clumping uncomfortably between his pads. The harness chafed on his scarred back and shoulders, despite the care with which Lucario had fitted it.

At a wide spot in the road, Chikorita directed them to pull to the side and allow the other wagons to pass. They were the largest and heaviest, and their ruts in the muddy road were difficult for the other wagons.

Now in the rear of the convoy, they resumed. Arcanine daydreamed for a while, allowing Zorua and Absol and Lucario to mingle with the Pokémon from his dreams. Mewtwo said most of them had survived, he thought, and were living with Humans. What was that like?

He didn’t really know how Humans lived. Even back in the other world, with all his memories, Arcanine didn’t think he had known. They had watched them on the television sometimes; Human movies and news, and read their books, but he could only remember bits and pieces. What was real and what was fiction?

Eventually, he gave up. He would have to ask Mewtwo about it later, unless it was something that he wasn’t supposed to know yet. It was easier just to focus on the mechanical act of walking and stare at the muddy snow in front of him. It was going to be a long trip back to Pokémon Square.

They stopped after lunch to switch places with their escorts. Rapidash took Arcanine’s lead, and Mudsdale took Tyranitar’s. Audino came down the line, applying her Heal Pulse to sore backs and torn paw pads. Arcanine could smell his own blood; he looked himself over. The straps had rubbed through the skin on some of his scars, where there was no fur to protect them.

“Those are going to re-open every time, you know,” Audino said. Her hands pressed against his back and pink light flowed from her fingers, closing his wounds and dulling the pain.

“Thank you,” Arcanine said. He knew she was right, but they had a job to do. He’d had far worse injuries, and he wouldn’t let it slow him down.

Audino sighed and patted his shoulder. “You’re not the only one. I’ll see if they can teleport us some more padding in the morning.

They made camp after dark, in a clearing where the wind had scoured away most of the snow. The pullers, exhausted, immediately found places to sit or lie down within the four circled wagons, while other Pokémon gathered firewood, tended to minor injuries, and passed out food and water.

Chikorita had taken charge of their preparations. Like father, like son, Arcanine thought. Despite his youth and diminutive size, most of the Meadow Town Pokémon readily deferred to him, and the Pokémon Square Pokémon followed their lead. It was simple and organized, and he couldn’t find fault with Chikorita’s instructions.

Tyranitar sat beside him, leaning back against a large tree, and Mewtwo on his other side, with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

“You okay?” Arcanine asked.

#Yes,# Mewtwo answered simply, without looking up. He’d been reserved all day, Arcanine though. Carrying the wagon yesterday had been a much greater strain than he was willing to admit.

Servine brought them each dinner; Apples, an Aspear and Pecha Berry, to ward off the cold and its accompanying illness, and a bowl of cold Sleep Seed tea. How much of the planning was Luxray and Lucario’s, Arcanine wondered, and how much was Chikorita’s? Once they had a pile of wood that wasn’t too wet, Arcanine lit it with an extended Flamethrower and everyone gathered closer.

Liepard, Persian, Snivy, and Wartortle stood sentry outside the ring of wagons, where the firelight wouldn’t impair their night vision as much. Such a large party was in little danger from bandits, and the odds of the strange Ice-types returning and finding them at just this moment were low, but he was relieved to see that everyone was taking security seriously.

All Arcanine wanted to do now was sleep; he knew he would regret it in the morning, though, if he didn’t stretch first. Arcanine rolled onto his back, wriggling side to side in the snow as he stretched out to his full length. The cold felt good on his sore back, and he lay there a minute or two, enjoying it.

#You’ve assembled quite a team,# Mewtwo said quietly.

Still on his back, Arcanine looked around to see whether Mewtwo was speaking only to him, or to everyone nearby. Tyranitar, who was closest to them, seemed to be listening, but no one else was paying the three of them much attention.

“They’re good Pokémon,” Arcanine agreed. With a yawn, he rolled over onto his belly, hindlegs stretched out behind him.

#How did you find them?#

Arcanine considered for a moment before answering. Mewtwo didn’t want details right now, he thought; this wasn’t story time, it was another one of the Psychic-type’s guided conversations.

“Zorua got lost in Haunted Forest,” Arcanine said, “made it nearly to my den at night. Lucario was her friend in Meadow Town; helped us fight the Ice-types. Absol was in Pokémon Square, helped free me from Magnezone.”

#How much do you remember about your old team?#

“Some.” He lay down again, on his side and curled around until his nose touched his hindpaws. Several vertebrae popped, and he sighed in relief. He could remember moments with them now, when two months ago, he had nothing but a vague feeling of loss.

Tyranitar shifted toward them to listen.

“Vaporeon. Vulpix. Sandslash.” Arcanine named them slowly, savoring the memories as he did so. Vaporeon, swimming with the other aquatic Pokémon, then joining the rest of them sunning on the rocks. She had an incredibly deep knowledge of both Human history and Pokémon legend. Arcanine wasn’t particularly interested in the stories, but he had loved to hear her tell them.

Vulpix, who had never really found an interest of her own, but knew enough about everyone else’s studies to discuss them intelligently.

Sandslash, who could spend a hundred hours on a woodcarving to throw it out for a flaw no one else could see, and be excited to begin a new piece the next day. He was just as meticulous in everything he did, whether it was the slow expansion of the tunnel complex within Mount Quena, or making tools and gadgets in the workshop to make tasks easier for the quadrupeds in the family.

Ninetales, discussing mathematical theorems that none of the rest of them could understand with Mewtwo and Golduck or reciting dozens of her twentieth-level wizard’s spell descriptions from memory.

All of them, laying together in the sun after training in the evening, or in the library, sharing a book aloud or each reading their own. Vulpix in Doctor Farr’s cabin, staring unmoving out the window at something only she could see.

Mewtwo was silent for a while, allowing him to remember.

#You’ve recreated your old team,# Mewtwo said eventually, #not the species, but the personalities. The relationships. Even size. They’re too much alike to be coincidence.#

“But I didn’t pick them,” Arcanine objected, “just chance we met. They picked me, really.”

#Maybe.# Mewtwo shrugged. #Maybe, out of all the Pokémon you’ve met here, you responded favorably to them because, subconsciously, you remembered.#

Arcanine thought about it for a while. He didn’t know. He wasn’t sure that he liked Mewtwo’s theory, but he couldn’t refute it, either.

“There was something between you and Absol the first day, in Aromatisse’s hut,” Tyranitar joined in, “she wants to help everyone, but she had a soft spot for you in particular.” Tyranitar chuckled. “Alakazam wasn’t happy at all when she and Aromatisse made us untie you for tea.”

Arcanine grinned back. “Alakazam was right; was an unnecessary risk. Appreciated it later, though.”

#You asked two weeks ago why you were remembering now, after five years,# Mewtwo said, #and I think that’s why.#

Mewtwo was right, Arcanine thought. Whether it was a subconscious instinct or just chance, they were remarkably similar. Was that good or bad? Did it mean he was making the same mistakes all over again?

#It’s not good or bad,# Mewtwo said, #it’s a pattern...a habit. We fall into habits because they work for us. You and I...we’re a little older, since then, a little more injured and tired, but we haven’t fundamentally changed.#

Arcanine though back again. He remembered what had happened to Vaporeon. Mewtwo had told him about Sandslash and his new family. Ninetales had survived the battle relatively unharmed. There was one thing he still couldn’t remember...

“What happened to Vulpix?” Arcanine asked.

Mewtwo sighed. #You remember what she was like when I sent you?#

Arcanine nodded.

#She made her stand in the nursery, of course. She was still conscious when they smashed all of the eggs. I could feel her pain, even in Giovanni’s machine.#

Arcanine looked away. Vulpix had loved those eggs more than anything. He could only vaguely remember the eggs, but he remembered how excited everyone had been, and all the nights they had slept in the nursery with the other expectant teams.

#She hasn’t changed much,# Mewtwo said sadly, #she hasn’t said a word in five years. Farr still cares for her every day. She’s still in there, barely, but I don’t know how to bring her back.#

“Maybe...,” Arcanine said slowly, “when this is over, you could bring her here. It worked for me; maybe it would help her too.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Did you see Grey writing earlier?” Absol asked Zorua as the two of them walked back to the manor alone.

Zorua nodded. They’d never talked about what Grey was, she though, but she had assumed that Absol already knew. She shouldn’t say anything. It was really rude to give away another Zorua or Zoroark’s secret. Absol was a special friend, though, and Zorua knew she wouldn’t take advantage of it. Besides, Grey had used his illusion to help capture Arcanine; that meant that, at a miminum, Team ACT, Team Hydro, Team Mighty, and Aromatisse all knew what he was. It wasn’t much of a secret.

“He makes it look so easy. He writes almost as fast as Charizard.”

“I know how he does it,” Zorua said, “but it’s a secret, and if I tell you, you have to pretend like you don’t know, okay?”

Absol nodded solemnly.

“He’s Zoroark.”

“Oh.” Absol thought for a moment. “So, they’re really Team E.Z.” she said, pronouncing each letter separately. “But, how did you know?”

“He just doesn’t move right,” Zorua said, “just like my mom when she was Sylveon.”

They spent the remainder of the day helping Grey search through Team ACT’s collection of books and notes on mystery dungeons, trying to match the scraps of description which Team Arcana translated to contemporary dungeons.

Absol couldn’t stop watching Grey, trying to imagine what his real, two meter tall body was doing each time his illusion jumped up on a shelf for a book or turned a page. How had she not figured it out before? She had known all along that there was something odd about how Grey moved, but she’d never considered why.

It was several hours after dark when Team Arcana, and Team Easy, who were now staying in the manor as well, decided that they’d had enough for the night. With both Arcanine and Team Mighty away, there was no question about where they were going to sleep. It was dark in Team Mighty’s room, but with their Dark-type vision, they could see Growlithe curled up half-buried in the pile of ragged blankets, and several bottles on the floor.

Propriety stopped both of them at the doorway. “Growlithe?” Absol called softly.

The odor of Growlithe’s medicine was strong enough that neither of them expected an answer.

“Growlithe?” Zorua tried at a normal, conversational volume.

Growlithe didn’t stir.

“She’d want us to join her, right?” Zorua asked.

“I think so,” Absol said.

A door to one of the other rooms creaked open behind them, and they heard footsteps across the lobby floor. Zorua and Absol both turned at the same time to see Scyther approaching in the dim light. He stopped beside them.

“She started again as soon as you and Team Mighty left,” Scyther said quietly, looking at Absol.

“And no one helped her?” Zorua asked, “she’s lonely.”

“People tried to help. Team Arcana tried to stay with her. Sandslash. Zangoose’s cousin, Lopunny. She wouldn’t let anyone in.” Scyther shook his head. “If it were anyone else, Alakazam would have thrown her out days ago.

“She knows Alakazam won’t throw her out,” Zorua said, “in this condition, she’d die. But why does she try so hard to be disagreeable?”

Scyther and Absol both shrugged.

Growlithe didn’t respond at all as they lay down on either side of her. Her breathing was shallow. Her mouth hung open, and the blanket under her muzzle was wet with saliva.

Absol rested her chin on Growlithe’s shoulder and looked across at Zorua. “This isn’t good.”

“No,” Zorua agreed.

“What do we do?”

“We talk to her in the morning,” Zorua said, “...or whenever she wakes up. We know she can control it, but she needs help.”

“She needs company,” Absol said, “someone she trusts. That’s not enough though; she needs a purpose.”

“But what?” Zorua wondered, “we can’t trust her with anything important.”

“I don’t know,” Absol admitted, “but we have to find something.”

“Yeah,” Zorua agreed. She wriggled up against Growlithe’s side, and lay her muzzle down on her forelegs. It wasn’t as good as cuddling with Lucario and Arcanine and Absol, she thought, but it would do for now.

That last though reminded her of something, and her head perked back up to look across at Absol and grin. “You and Arcanine mated last night,” she said. It wasn’t a question; the smell had been obvious on both of them this morning.

Absol nodded.

“So tell me all about it!”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was just before sunrise when Arcanine woke, damp and cold. The ground around their camp was soggy with melted snow. Arcanine wasn’t sure whether the fire, which the guards had kept blazing through the night, had helped, or made it worse. Fire was a psychological comfort, though. Most Pokémon enjoyed its warmth and hypnotic light; even Grass- and Ice-types, though they kept a cautious distance.

Servine and Snivy passed out food again; Aspear Berries again, for the cold, and Chesto to rouse them. Arcanine gulped them down. He hurt everywhere, muscles knotted from the cold and the unaccustomed exertion of pulling the wagon. Rolling onto his back, he quickly went through his morning routine of stretching.

He’d gotten spoiled already, he thought, with a bed to sleep on and a pile of warm bodies to curl up with. This wasn’t so different from his cave in Haunted Forest, and he had survived a thousand and a half mornings there, or on the ground outside a mystery dungeon. Tyranitar was watching, and so were some of the others, but he ignored them. With a groan and gritted teeth, he pushed himself slowly to his feet.

Audino and Machop joined him at the wagon; Machop with his harness, and Audino with a blanket. They must have already contacted Braixen this morning, he thought. Yawning, he crouched down so that they could reach.

Audino’s fingers traced gently across the scars on his back, and the pain eased as she touched them. It was only a temporary relief, Arcanine knew; magical healing couldn’t fix the shrapnel still lodged inside, or years of improper healing. Still, it was welcome.

“I’ve never seen scars like this,” Audino said as she worked.

The question was implicit and obvious, but Arcanine didn’t know how to answer. He wasn’t awake enough yet to try to explain artillery.

“They say you came from the Human world?” Audino tried again.

“Yes.” He would have nodded, if Machop wasn’t sitting on his head to reach the straps across his shoulders. With the extra padding of the blanket, everything had to be readjusted.

“That’s where you got these?”

“Yes. Human weapon. Pieces still inside.”

“I’m sorry.” Audino shook her head. “There’s not much I can do.”

“I know,” Arcanine said, “thank you.”

She patted him on the shoulder, and left Machop to finish with the harness. It was a few more minutes before the rest of the convoy was ready.

The second day was much the same as the first. The cold provided them with a sense of urgency. Arcanine was still familiar with the road, this close to his cave. It was difficult to compare their pace with the wagons to his ordinary rapid gait, but he felt they were making good time despite the mud and snow.

The sphere wagon got stuck in a particularly muddy section of road early in the afternoon, and one of the other wagons broke an axle in the evening. They had so many helping hands and paws that they made quick work of both problems.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Why’re...you here?” Growlithe mumbled slowly.

“You invited us in last night, remember?” Zorua lied immediately, certain that Growlithe wouldn’t remember either way.

“Oh.” Growlithe lay her head back down on her paws. “Can you get my medicine?”

Absol began to get up to fetch a bottle from the bag.

“No,” Zorua firmly.

Halfway to her feet, Absol stopped, looking at her for direction. Growlithe looked confused.

“I need it,” Growlithe objected, “It’s mine. You can’t stop me.”

“We’re not going to stop you,” Zorua said, “but we’re not going to help you kill yourself, either. You can go get it, but we’d like to talk before you knock yourself out again, okay?”

Growlithe didn’t answer. She didn’t move, either. Zorua decided to consider that agreement.

“You were doing very well,” Absol said, “what happened?”

“It hurt.”

“After Team Mighty left?”

Growlithe nodded.

“Team Arcana offered to stay with you, didn’t they?”

Growlithe nodded again.

“And Sandslash and Lopunny?”

“I don’t like them,” Growlithe said sullenly.

“You don’t trust them?” Absol suggested.

Growlithe hesitated several seconds, then nodded quickly.

“Is there anyone else you do trust?”

Growlithe was silent for a moment, then shook her head slowly.

So much for that idea, Zorua thought. Or maybe not; Growlithe had accepted her quickly after Absol had introduced them. She might accept someone else, too; they just needed to find the right Pokémon for the job.

“Well, it won’t make you feel better,” Zorua said, “but Alakazam and Charizard are worried about bandits, so we’re starting a town watch. Everyone else in the manor is busy, and I need someone to help me with the schedule. Will you?

Growlithe didn’t answer immediately; she was staring longingly at her bottles. She was smart enough to know that she was being asked to make a choice. How much of her need was for pain, and how much was just for comfort, Zorua didn’t know. She couldn’t know, and it wasn’t her job to judge, but she though she had a little bit of an idea what Growlithe was thinking.

There had been some rough nights alone after her mother didn’t come back, and their hut had been stuffed full of herbs and potions. She wasn’t an expert, like mom had been, but she had a pretty good idea what they did, and how much she could use and probably not kill herself. She hadn’t used them, but if Lucario and Treecko hadn’t been there for her, or if ahe’d been injured...Zorua didn’t know what she might have done.

“Fine,” Growlithe said eventually. Her voice was dull and hopeless, but she pushed herself to her feet and began to wobble toward the door. “Are you guys coming or not?”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Arcanine flopped down beside the fire the fourth night, too exhausted to care that he was caked with mud halfway up his flanks. Thankfully Persian, scouting ahead, had found them a dry place to camp.

It would have been easier if the weather just stayed cold, he thought. The mud was worse than snow and ice; it stuck to everything, but gave them no firm footing. At the rear of the convoy, they were pulling the sphere wagon over everyone else’s ruts.

Mewtwo settled beside him and began to scrape mud from between his own pads. Though he hadn’t been pulling, he was thoroughly splattered from walking and working alongside the wagons. After a few minutes, he produced a brush from his bag and began to clean his coat.

Arcanine watched lazily for a while. As much as he would have enjoyed the company of the rest of the team, he was glad Absol and Zorua had chosen not to come; Absol would be miserable in the cold and wet, and Zorua would be bored and frustrated.

After half an hour by the fire, and a meal, and another Heal Pulse from Audino, he was feeling better, but the drying mud itched and tugged at his coat. He raised his head and began to clean himself. After a few minutes, Mewtwo sat down behind him and began to help with the brush.

“The Humans who attacked us on the mountain. Team Rocket? Giovanni?” Arcanine began, unsure whether he was remembering the names correctly.

#Hmm?# Mewtwo prompted him to continue.

“Were still hunting us when you sent me here. What happened?”

#Oh.# Mewtwo’s hands, on Arcanine’s back, paused mid brush-stroke, then resumed. Arcanine couldn’t see his face, but he could imagine it; the frown and downward look Mewtwo wore when considering a difficult question.

#Arcanine, I misunderstood Humans again. I expected they would come together in defeat, like we would have, and return in greater force.# Mewtwo sighed. #What I mistook for loyalty at a distance was fear and greed, and a moment of weakness was all it took for them to turn on each other.#

Arcanine waited patiently for Mewtwo to continue.

#Giovanni didn’t trust his minions. He had video cameras everywhere. We recovered some of the footage afterward, and released it on Doctor Farr’s advice. Most Humans didn’t care if they killed a few Pokémon and bombed a wildlife preserve. It was the loss of face which destroyed them; the humiliation of being defeated by animals on international television.#

#Blackmailed politicians decided they might be safer disposing of Giovanni than appeasing him. Soldiers began picking up Rocket thugs on the street. Merchants stopped paying protection. His suppliers began demanding payment up front for weapons and equipment. His generals were arrested or disappeared.#

Mewtwo wasn’t brushing him any more. Both hands gripped tightly to his mane, as if he was running and Mewtwo was afraid of falling off.

#Arcanine, by the time I sent you here, it was already over. Team Rocket was finished, and no one was going to come after us. I just didn’t know yet.#

Arcanine twisted around to look back at Mewtwo, ignoring the protests of his back at the awkward position. Mewtwo’s eyes sparkled with moisture in the firelight, and his hands slid down to hold Arcanine’s muzzle.

#Arcanine. I...I’m so sorry. Everything that’s happened to you was my fault. I thought I was smarter and stronger than everyone else, but I made all the wrong choices.#

“Doesn’t matter now.” He turned his head to lick Mewtwo’s fingers. His fur was soft and fine, and the pads almost smooth. “Mewtwo...no one gets to always be right. Not even you.”

#But-#

“No.” Arcanine didn’t think he had ever intentionally interrupted Mewtwo before. “Did what you thought was right. All anyone can do.”

Mewtwo continued to pet him in silence for several minutes. #I know you’re not comfortable laying like that,# he said eventually, #why don’t you get comfortable and I’ll finish brushing you.#

Arcanine wriggled around so that his back was against Mewtwo’s legs. Mewtwo could have brushed him from across the camp with Psychic, of course, but that was too impersonal. Grooming was an inherently sensual act for both parties; the feeling of fur across one’s fingers or tongue was almost as enjoyable for the groomer as for the recipient. The warmth of the campfire and Mewtwo’s hands felt so good that they both began to doze off.

#I suppose I didn’t answer your question before,# Mewtwo said.

“Hrmm?” Arcanine yawned, and look up at him sleepily.

#What happened to Giovanni,# Mewtwo reminded him, #even after everything, I couldn’t bring myself to kill him. In the end, he did teach me about Human strength, even if that was never his intent.#

Mewtwo was silent for several seconds, fingers still stroking idly through Arcanine’s mane. #He works for me now. He doesn’t know, of course, but one of the corporations I control owns the gym he leads in Viridian City.#

Arcanine considered for a moment, then grunted in reply. He didn’t approve. It didn’t matter what he thought, though; Giovanni was Mewtwo’s god, like Mewtwo was his, and Giovanni was Mewtwo’s to judge.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“No,” Growlithe said, “Jolteon and Flareon have to be on the same post, and the Nidos can’t be together because they get distracted.”

“Right,” Zorua sighed, scratching their names off once again. “So, we put Jolteon and Flareon on the north path with Buneary, and one Nido each at Kangaskhan’s, the big hill, and the small hill?”

When she had asked Growlithe to help with the guard roster, she had meant it as a distraction; now she was glad for the help. This sort of planning and thinking wasn’t what she was good at. Growlithe wasn’t either, but between the two of them, they could catch most of their own mistakes before showing it to everyone else.

Zorua wasn’t sure whether Growlithe actually wanted to help, or had figured out her plan and was helping just to be contrary. In either case, it kept her off her medicine for a few hours each day. Sleeping with them on Absol’s bed in the library was helping too.

Just then, the main door of the manor slammed open. Everyone in the library started. Zorua had an instant of panic as she jumped to her feet; this was all the warning they’d had in Meadow Town when the Ice-types attacked. Then she heard Charizard and Blastoise calling instructions; their voices were tense, but not alarmed.

“Team Charm!” Absol exclaimed, “they’re back from Temple Ruins.”

The two of them, along with Team Arcana and Team Easy, abandoned their work and rushed for the library door. Zorua and Absol emerged first, and almost bumped into Charizard. The others crowded out behind them.

It was Team Charm. Garchomp from Team Dragon was laying Lopunny on one of the tables, while Feraligatr helped a limping Gardevoir through the door. Behind them, she could see Swampert and Medicham leaning against each other. Everyone looked battered and exhausted.

“Absol, Umbreon, Espeon, we need your help.” Charizard waved them forward.

Team Mighty pushed through the door behind Feraligatr, and ran straight for their room. All three of them were wounded, their fur charred in places and matted with blood. Salamence of Team Dragon and Murkrow, Pidgey, and Swellow of Team Flighty followed them in.

Halfway across the lobby, Team Mighty changed course toward the library. Absol moved to greet them, but all three Mightyenas ran past her without acknowledgment. There was a distant, feral look in their eyes that made her shiver.

Umbreon jumped up on the bench beside Lopunny, and Absol joined him. Lopunny was unconscious, with several deep gashes across her chest and belly which still oozed blood.

All of the others gathered around. Absol and Umbreon leaned against each other, shoulder to shoulder, like they had when Umbreon was teaching her to use Moonlight. Absol reached a paw onto the table, putting it in Lopunny’s hand, and closed her eyes and concentrated. She could feel the cool silver light shining down on them and flowing out over the gathered Pokémon. Espeon’s Heal Bell rang sharp and clear beside them, dispelling her worry, and she focused on the sound.

Zorua turned and followed Team Mighty back into the library as they passed her. Their eyes were dangerously empty. She didn’t think they were far enough gone to harm Growlithe, but there was nothing she could do to help in the lobby, and it was safer to be sure.

Growlithe hobbled toward them, whimpering in excitement. Zorua though they might slam into her, but the Mightyenas stopped just in time.

They yipped and whined excitedly around her, but none of them spoke. There were almost words in their noises, she thought. They wanted to speak. Maybe they thought they were - but they were still just feral noises.

Zorua’s eyes stung, and her throat was tight. Charizard was standing beside her, and Zorua turned to look up at him.

“They’ll get better,” she said, “right?”

“I don’t know.” Charizard’s voice was sad. “Ordinarily, they weren’t inside long enough for permanent damage, but they were so far gone already...”

“Why did they go?”

“They wanted to help.” Charizard shrugged and looked down at her. “I’m not sure they were sane enough beforehand to understand the risk, but they insisted.”

Charizard reached down and put a hand hesitantly on her shoulders. It was warm and comforting, and Zorua leaned into it. She and Charizard stood for a while, watching There was no danger of them harming Growlithe, Zorua thought, but there really wasn’t anything for either of them to do out in the lobby, either.

Eventually, Growlithe and the Mightyenas seems to reach some sort of consensus. Growlithe had been with them a long time, Zorua thought, and they had never spoken well; maybe, somehow, she could still understand them. They all stood at the same time and started for the door, Growlithe in the lead, and Team Mighty following at her pace.

Each of the Mightyenas met eyes with her as they passed, grinning widely, and Zorua could see that they still recognized her. She and Charizard followed them out.

They looked so content, Zorua thought, as the four of them settled together on their pile of blankets. They didn’t seem to notice their injuries. They had their mate, and their comfortable den. They had the manor full of Pokémon who respected them, and they knew it, even if maybe they didn’t know why any more.

Eventually, Dragonair from Team Dragon returned with Aromatisse and a bundle of herbs and potions. Zorua could identify some of they by smell; there were potions for healing, and pain, and relaxing. None of them were necessary, after Absol and Umbreon’s healing, but they would speed everyone’s recovery.

Once she had finished treating everyone in the lobby, Aromatisse pulled Absol and Zorua aside.

“You know, dears, I really do think I could help Growlithe. Do you think we could all see her together?”

Absol, Zorua, Aromatisse, and Umbreon all stopped outside Team Mighty’s room.

“May we come in?” Absol asked.

Growlithe and the Mightyenas all looked at each other for a moment before Growlithe answered.

“They say yes,” Growlithe said.

Umbreon and Absol used Moonlight again. The room began to fill with the same relaxing, invigorating scent which filled Aromatisse’s hut, and the Mightyenas all cooperated silently as Aromatisse cleaned their wounds, which were already well on their way to healing, and applied a bitter-smelling herbal salve.

“Growlithe,” Zorua said, “Aromatisse bought you more medicine. She’d like examine your legs, too.”

Growlithe looked uncertain. “It will hurt, won’t it.”

“A little bit, dear,” Aromatisse said, “Mama Aromatisse can’t know what’s wrong without a bit of poking, but I might be able to mix you a better potion if I do.”

Growlithe looked at Zorua, then Absol. “She’s a good Pokémon, right?” Growlithe’s voice sounded longing, Absol though, like she wanted to be examined, but really wasn’t sure if it was okay.

“She’s a good Pokémon,” Absol confirmed, “she took care of me when I arrived.”

“Will you watch?” Growlithe asked.

Absol nodded. “We’ll both watch, and Team Mighty too.”

“Then I guess it’s okay.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Zorua,” Absol said as they were leaving, “I know you don’t like sleeping alone, but...I’d like to stay with Team Mighty tonight, if they let me.”

“I can come too,” Zorua began, then realized what Absol meant; with Arcanine away, there was only one reason that Absol wouldn’t have invited her to join. “Oh. You want to mate with them.”

“Yes.” Absol nodded. “I wish I had...well, before. But they’re still the same Pokémon. If it’s still okay with you and Arcanine?”

“Of course.” Zorua grinned. “I think it’s good for you. For them, too. I don’t think Arcanine’s changed his mind either.”

Zorua almost wanted to join them, even if she didn’t know the Mightyenas that well. They were good Pokémon, and that hadn’t changed. She and Arcanine had an unspoken agreement, she thought, that they were going to keep it within the team. Absol and the Mightyenas had a preexisting arrangement, and that was different.

They gathered in the library, and Charizard brought a late lunch for everyone. Ordinarily, Tyranitar was the one who brought food, Zorua thought; how were he and Arcanine and all the others doing? Were they making good progress? She could ask Alakazam for an update later, when things had settled down.

Lopunny was conscious now. She would probably have a couple new scars on her front, Zorua thought, and Swampert would have one on his shoulder. All of Team Charm’s eye were vacant-looking, and none of them had spoken more than a few words since their return. They had been in Temple Ruins two days longer than Team Mighty. Unlike Team Mighty, however, they had all been healthy to begin with; the rescue teams had probably gotten them out quickly enough to avoid permanent damage.

“Temple Ruins was much larger and more difficult than we expected,” Blastoise began, “we chose to Escape Orb out after finding Team Charm, rather than continue to the bottom.”

“A wise choice,” Alakazam agreed, “now that we know what to expect, we can return with a larger expedition.”

Blastoise proceeded to tell their story, with occasional input from the others. Not knowing where in the dungeon Team Charm was, it had been a slow, painful search, even with four teams.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mating with Team Mighty was nothing like mating with Arcanine, Absol thought, sleepy and warm cuddled between Growlithe and one of the Mightyenas. What they lacked in finesse, they made up for in enthusiasm and endurance; she and Growlithe were both exhausted, and the Mightyenas had done all the work.

The closest Mightyena leaned over and began to groom her ears, while the other two groomed Growlithe. Absol didn’t know how any of them were still awake, after everything they’d been through in the last few days.

“You know they still love you,” Growlithe murmured quietly beside her.

“I know,” Absol agreed.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

He didn’t hurt quite so badly tonight, Arcanine thought as they lay around the fire the next evening. Maybe he was getting used to it. Maybe Mewtwo’s grooming last night had helped more than he thought, or today had just been slightly less strenuous because the road was drying out. In any case, it was a welcome relief.

“Thinking about our talk last night,” Arcanine said.

#Hrmm?#

“What if you hadn’t sent me here?”

Mewtwo leaned back against the tree and considered for a moment.

#We relocated to Orre after I returned from...# Mewtwo’s hand reached out to rest on his shoulder. #From losing you. You would have come with us. I bought large ranch with some of the money I had from investing in Human markets; it was a good cover, and we had enough space to try to maintain our previous lifestyle. It wasn’t the same, though. We saw how other Pokémon lived. How Humans lived. We talked. A lot. And decided that we were going to have to act if we wanted to live in a different world.#

Arcanine nodded, leaning into Mewtwo’s hand. The question Mewtwo was answering wasn’t the one he’d though he was asking, but it was one he should have though to ask.

#That’s not what you meant, is it,# Mewtwo said.

“Want to know everything I missed. But, not what I meant now.”

#You meant, what would have happened here without us?#

Arcanine nodded. “Too many coincidences; me here at the right time, helping Zorua and Meadow Town. You coming back for me, knowing what we needed to know...Not special somehow, are we?”

#Now,# Mewtwo said slowly, #that’s an interesting question. Why don’t you go first? What if you hadn’t been there outside Meadow Town?#

The first consequence was obvious, Arcanine thought. It hurt to consider, but he didn’t see any way to avoid it. “Zorua would have died in Haunted Forest.”

#Probably,# Mewtwo agreed.

“Ice-type attack the same, but no one to stop them.” He paused to consider. The scenario didn’t get any better. “Riolu and Luxio probably die, and some others in the Lodge. Maybe Bayleef, when he can’t open the door.”

Mewtwo nodded.

After that, things got more complicated. How much had the Ice-types known? What, if anything, did Meadow Town tell Pokémon Square?

“Group in Creepy Tunnel probably can’t open the door. Eventually they leave, Chikorita, Ralts, and Snivy send a letter to Pokémon Square. Absol and Team ACT know enough to know it’s important. They probably track the Ice-types to Creepy Tunnel, even several days later; it was an obvious trail. Or, Bayleef’s surviving family tell them about the discs.”

#But they can’t possibly solve the puzzle in time, even with Darkrai’s dream,# Mewtwo said.

“Yes,” Arcanine agreed, “think that’s where it breaks down.”

#Maybe,# Mewtwo said, #I’ll take it from here. I said before that I had left Magnezone a means to contact me if you were found.#

Arcanine nodded.

#What I didn’t say, is that I had decided not to come. As much as I wanted to see you again, I decided that I couldn’t spare the time from our research on the orbital problem.#

The same choice that Zorua had forced him to make, Arcanine thought; helping a few friends, or trying to protect everyone. Mewtwo had made the right choice.

#Hours after I heard from Magnezone, Mew came to us. She convinced me to go. She even promised to protect the Family while I was away, and offered to bring me herself, and take us both back afterward; she’s still much better at it than I am.#

That didn’t sound like the Mew that he remembered, Arcanine though. She was circumspect in her advice, and preferred to let you figure things out yourself and then ask for help. She had never offered anything like a promise.

#She was worried,# Mewtwo completed Arcanine’s thought for him, #somehow, she must have known what you all needed here. She would have sent me anyway. If not me, someone else; maybe a whole team of Humans.

Arcanine was silent for a minute or two, considering the situation. He yawned and stretched. “So, without us, someone else takes our places, it works out the same.”

#Maybe,# Mewtwo said, #maybe not. Still, it’s reassuring, isn’t it?#

“Yeah.” Arcanine lay his head down on his paws, and stared into the fire. “The rest of the Family, they’re safe?”

#As safe as anyone; moreso that most Humans or Pokémon. We’ve a complex in the mountains north of Phenac City where the extended Family could shelter and work for several years, if necessary. Sandslash and his tribe chose not to come, but we’ve provided for them as best we could.#

 

[The Desert Cat]

Book 2 Chapter 1: Mount Mistral



#There are more than five thousand pieces here,# Mewtwo said, #and I suspect that every one of them is unique.#

The courtyard was cluttered with parts. They had begun by laying out the pieces based on the order in which they had been packed in the chamber in Creepy Tunnel, but had quickly realized that it had no relationship to how they would be assembled. Now they were laying them out based on size and apparent function.

They had spent most of their first day back clearing the courtyard of snow to give themselves space to work. The gears and bearings were arrayed in rows on one side of the manor, and the struts which ought to make up the gantries to support each planet and moon would make several rings around the inside of the courtyard wall.

“At least it should only go together one way,” Arcanine said.

There were no bolts or screws, or their legendary equivalents; grooved holes and studs on each piece of the gantry appeared designed to slide smoothly together. They had already found a few which seemed intended for each other.

#That’s true,# Mewtwo agreed, #I don’t think assembly will be difficult. It’s learning to use it that I’m worried about. There’s nothing here that looks like controls, or a drive mechanism.#

“Has Team Arcana made any progress?”

Mewtwo shook his head. #Not on that question.#



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



Ampharos brought lunch for everyone that afternoon. There were so many Pokémon working and living in and around the manor now that it took four Pokémon to carry all the steaming trays of Berries and Apples up from his bar. Tyranitar roared an announcement. As they set up in the lobby, Pokémon trickled in from the library and courtyard to eat.

Absol and Zorua waited for Arcanine as the others served themselves, but by the time everyone else had begun eating, he hadn’t arrived.

“Do you think he didn’t hear?” Absol suggested.

“He heard,” Zorua said, “everyone else from outside is here. He probably smelled, too.”

“He’s avoiding Growlithe, isn’t he.”

Zorua nodded. “Probably.”

Growlithe had come into heat two days ago, just before Arcanine, Mewtwo, and the others returned with the Orrery Fragment, and she was even more grumpy and aggressive than usual. It wasn’t just Arcanine avoiding her now; the rest of Team Mighty were gathered around her, but all of the other male Field-group Pokémon gave them a wide berth.

“Why did she have to pick now,” Zorua grumbled, “Arcanine just got back and we’re all stuck in the manor with her, plus we’re supposed to be saving food, plus if she gets fertilized now, the egg will hatch in the winter.”

“Zorua,” Absol chided, “I don’t think she has any control.”

“I know,” Zorua agreed, “I think her medicine messed up her cycle. But it’s still annoying.

Absol flicked her ears dismissively. “There’s nothing we can do. Shall we go eat with Arcanine outside?”

“Yeah!” Zorua grinned. “If you don’t mind the cold.”

“It’s not so bad today,” Absol said, “Mewtwo, would you like to join us?”

Arcanine’s face lit up when the three of them arrived with food. He set down the metal rod he has carrying and came to sit with them in the shelter of several of the larger Berry bushes

“Smells great,” Arcanine said, “thank you.”

Just because they were trying to be conservative with food now didn’t mean that they couldn’t enjoy it, Absol thought. Ampharos was a wonderful cook, and everyone licked their plates clean.

“Arcanine,” Zorua said once they had finished, “we can’t let Growlithe keep chasing you out. What are we going to do?”

Arcanine sighed. “Nothing.”

“Why not?”

“Some battles you win by not fighting.”

Zorua looked away, obviously unsatisfied. She licked her plate a few more times, then turned back.

“I don’t understand why she hates you so much, though.”

Arcanine shook his head. “Don’t think she does.”

“I don’t think so either,” Absol said, “but why does she treat you like that?”

“Because she can. Proud Pokémon, and she feels helpless. Something she can control.”

Zorua looked doubtful. “But why you?

“I’m the strongest, except Mewtwo, who could just hold her with Psychic. She can claim I’m a bandit. Zorua, I fight back, proves I’m a bully and a bad Pokémon, like she says. What she wants.”

“Oh.” Zorua considered for a moment. “I guess that makes sense, kind of, but what do we do about it?”

Arcanine sighed. “Just keep being nice to her. Until she wants to be helped, all we can do.”



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



For the first time since Arcanine had arrived in Pokémon Square, there was nothing that required Team Warmth’s immediate attention. Without hands, there wasn’t much that he, Zorua, or Absol could do to help assemble the Orrery. They wouldn’t be returning to Temple Ruins or attempting Destiny Tower until they were certain that Teams Charm, Hydro, Dragon, and Flighty were fully recovered from dungeon sickness. The other teams in Pokémon Square ought to be able to handle the other dungeons Grey and Team Arcana had found. There were enough other experienced Pokémon to defend the town and the Orrery, and Tyranitar would manage the watch.

Arcanine and Mewtwo sat together on the courtyard wall, where they had first spoken in this world. Below, the dozen Pokémon helping them set out the last few parts before they stopped for the night. Mewtwo already knew what he wanted, Arcanine thought, but was going to make him say it.

“Mewtwo, I’m going back to Treasure Town.”

Mewtwo’s tail twitched. He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t answer.

“Don’t want to fight the whole town,” Arcanine continued, “help me do it quickly?”

Mewtwo still didn’t answer immediately. Arcanine waited.

#What is your goal?# Mewtwo eventually asked.

“Free Electrike and the others,” Arcanine said, “and kill Magnezone and his team as a deterrent.

#Then I can’t help you,# Mewtwo said, #I’m sorry.#

“Why not?”

#You remember when we began experimenting with Human governments back on Cinnabar?# Mewtwo asked.

Arcanine considered for a moment, then shrugged. “Vaguely.” He didn’t see how that was relevant.

#I know you remember how it ended.#

“Yes.” Arcanine glanced down involuntarily and shuddered, remembering Sandslash’s claws carving into his chest.

Mewtwo leaned back, staring up at the sky. Arcanine’s gaze followed Mewtwo’s upward. The sky was clear, and the western horizon stained orange by the setting sun. It would be a cold night, he though idly.

#Mew warned us when we began that it wouldn’t work; that we would turn on each other like Humans,# Mewtwo said, #we thought we knew better. I thought I knew better.#

“And she was right.”

#Of course she was,# Mewtwo continued, #but that’s not the important part.#

He turned to look at Mewtwo. “What do you mean?”

#Arcanine, if Mew had come back with an army to try to force us to stop, what would have happened?#

“Would have fought,” Arcanine said immediately.

Mewtwo nodded slowly, and motioned for him to continue.

“Would have fought, even if we couldn’t win, because making our own decision was more important than making the right decision.”

#Yes.# Mewtwo nodded. #And afterward?#

“...would have hated her for interfering. No matter who won. Mewtwo, are you saying we can’t interfere in Treasure Town?”

#No,# Mewtwo said, #I’m saying I can’t interfere. I’m an outsider there, like Mew was on Cinnabar. I could help you free innocent Pokémon, but I can’t take away their right to choose, no matter how much I know that they’ve chosen wrongly. You, on the other hand, are one of them.#

Arcanine opened his mouth to disagree, but Mewtwo held up a hand.

#Magnezone went beyond any possible justification of self defense pursuing you. That makes you a citizen of Treasure Town, whether you like it or not, and you have as much right to judge Magnezone as anyone else.#

Mewtwo waited silently while he considered. He could see Mewtwo’s logic, even if he wasn’t sure that he agreed with it. If Mewtwo said he couldn’t interfere, then he wouldn’t; even if they were captured or killed. He was confident that they could do it without Mewtwo’s help, but he was risking his own team, and Razor Wind, and anyone else who joined them. They would be swift and brutal, and by the time the Guild arrived, the fight would be over. Team Razor Wind would understand. Zorua and Absol would accept the necessity of their actions after talking with the prisoners.

“Two week round trip if we walk,” Arcanine said, “more if we bring prisoners back with us. Help us get there?”

#I don’t see why I can’t guide you in, safely outside town,# Mewtwo said, #if you can find someone here willing to Teleport you.#



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



Mewtwo, Delphox, Team ACT, Team Arcana, Team Easy, and the rest of his team were all in the library that evening when Arcanine finally came in from working in the courtyard.

“Can’t wait any longer,” Arcanine said, “going back to Treasure Town.”

Everyone stopped what they were doing. Everyone looked around at each other. No one answered.

“Alakazam, will you Teleport us?”

Alakazam shook his head. “We can’t be involved. We won’t risk a conflict with Treasure Town, particularly now.”

“Going either way. Help me do it quickly.”

Alakazam didn’t answer. His face was unreadable. He wasn’t dumb, Arcanine though; none of them were. Even if they were willing to take bounties from Magnezone, they all had to have some idea of what was happening in Treasure Town.

“Helped you find the Orrery, didn’t I?” Arcanine said, “even after you attacked me. Still helping. All I’ll ever ask in return; help me free them.”

Alakazam looked to Charizard and Tyranitar. Charizard hesitated, then shook his head. Tyranitar nodded slowly. He looked at Mewtwo; their gazes locked for a handful of seconds. Something passed between the two of them, but Arcanine couldn’t guess what it was.

“Alright,” Alakazam said finally, “there and back, half an hour outside town. I’ll send Xatu to receive you, if he’s willing. But there’s one more thing we need from you first.”

Arcanine tilted his head to the side, inviting Alakazam to continue.

“We still don’t know whether we can open any of the other Orrery Fragment chambers, or how large the other spheres will be. Take your team to Mount Mistral while Xatu flies to Treasure Town; the three of you should have little difficulty. Delphox will arrange to have a wagon and team from Obsidian Village meet you there.”

“That’s reasonable,” Arcanine agreed, “Zorua?”

“Huh?”

“You’re team leader,” Arcanine reminded her, “it’s your choice.”

“We’ll do Mount Mistral,” Zorua agreed immediately. She hesitated before continuing. “Arcanine, this isn’t just for revenge, right? I mean, we’re really, honestly going because innocent Pokémon need help?”

“Yes,” Arcanine said, “Zorua, I’d fight Magnezone for revenge, but not now, and I’d go alone.”

“Okay, big guy,” Zorua said, “I trust you. I’ll help.”

“So will I,” Absol agreed, “I trust you, and I trust Team Razor Wind too.”

“Then it’s settled,” Alakazam said, “Arcanine, don’t make me regret this.”

Arcanine bowed his head in acceptance. It was another delay, but still, it was more help than he’d really expected. Besides, by the time they returned from Mount Mistral, the Mightyenas would have Growlithe out of heat.

They all talked for a while, about Team Arcana’s translation, and their supplies, and the other dungeons. Arcanine didn’t have much to add. He dozed in front of the stove, enjoying the warmth on his aching back.

“There’s something I’ve been wondering,” Absol said, “Rayquaza helped with the meteor incident, and of course there were lots of Legendaries involved in the Time Gears crisis. This is just as important, but besides Darkrai in my dream, we haven’t seen any of them.”

“I’ve been thinking the same thing,” Alakazam agreed, “we were unable to locate Darkrai or Kyurem, and Team Poképals was unable to contact Dialga or Palkia, despite having worked closely with them before.”

“Yeah,” Zorua agreed, “this is Palkia’s job, right?”

No one answerd for a few seconds, then Mewtwo spoke up.

#I think I can address this.# Mewtwo raised his mug and took a slow sip of tea before continuing. #You have to understand that Legendaries aren’t like us. Some of them, Arceus and his children, Mew, Darkrai, Cressellia, Celebi, they’re six or seven billion years old, maybe more. They don’t age. They can spend decades or centuries in their own realms between visits to our world.#

“But this is important,” Zorua insisted, “don’t they care?”

#Say you live in a hut in a field,# Mewtwo said, #each spring, thousands of wildflowers bloom in the field; they’re beautiful. One day you come home, and find that a whole herd of Bouffalant have trampled through your field, and eaten or trampled most of your flowers. How do you feel?#

“Mad,” Zorua said immediately, “they could have been more careful. Mom probably wanted some of them for potions, too.”

Mewtwo smiled and raised his eyebrows. #How mad?#

“Well, not that mad, I guess,” Zorua hedged, “if it’s a whole herd, I suppose they can’t help stepping on stuff. Anyway, they’ll grow back next year.”

#The older Legendaries feel the same about us, but that day they’re gone might be a lifetime. We’re so ephemeral that they don’t really see us as individuals; if most of us died, well, they’d check back in a few millenia to see whether the survivors had repopulated. If not, they can always make more. Maybe they’ll try something different next time. If the murals in Creepy Tunnel are accurate, and I believe they are, most of the Pokémon species alive today are at least the fourth batch.#

That shocked everyone into silence. Everyone knew that the ruins scattered around the world belonged to some previous civilization, and that most of the legendaries appeared only rarely. None of them had ever really considered why, Arcanine thought.

“Rayquaza did destroy the meteor,” Absol said, “I know it did; Mother watched it. She spoke to it.”

#Of course,# Mewtwo said, #the Legendaries are real. They do act, sometimes. Mew sent me. But they can’t be relied upon to intervene. How long did Ninetales and your mother see signs before Team Go-Getters came to Mount Freeze?#

“A few months,” Absol answered.

#But when they found Rayquaza, it didn’t know?#

“Well, no.” Absol shook her head. “It was angry that Team Go-Getters woke it, and Mother had to explain...” Absol trailed off, reconsidering something that that always seemed too obvious to question.

“...When Mother said they woke Rayquaza, I always thought she meant like waking a normal Pokémon at night; you’re saying it might have been hibernating for years, aren’t you, and that’s why it didn’t know?”

Mewtwo didn’t say anything, just nodded.

“What about the Time Gears?” Zorua asked, “like Absol said, there were lots of Legendaries there.”

#Darkrai woke Dialga, if I understand correctly,# Mewtwo answered, #though by the time he woke, he was already corrupted by Darkrai’s nightmares. Darkrai and Cresselia share a link, being opposite sides of the same domain. Dialga and Palkia share a similar link, and Celebi is closely attuned to the flow of time. Cresselia and Palkia didn’t arrive until months too late, though, and Celebi didn’t make it to the current time at all.#

“Well, who sent the Humans, then?” Zorua demanded.

#That,# Mewtwo admitted, #I don’t know.#

Everyone was silent for a moment. Charizard took the kettle from the stove, and refilled everyone’s tea. It was a lot to think about, Absol thought. Practically, it didn’t really change anything; they were already doing everything they could do. Still, it was frightening to think that if they failed, there might not be anyone else to save the world.

“You said Mew talks to you,” Absol said eventually, “are you a Legendary too? What are you?”

#That’s a complicated question,# Mewtwo said, #I suppose you all deserve an answer. Humans created me by combining parts of other Pokémon into a single egg. I can’t explain how; some of their science is so different that you don’t have the words to describe it. I’m more similar to Mew that any other Pokémon; I’m also part Human.#

That wasn’t quite true, Arcanine thought. Mewtwo hadn’t hatched from an egg any more than he had, but it was close enough.

“So, you’re kind of a Legendary?”

#Kind of,# Mewtwo agreed, #I’m more powerful as a Psychic than Mew, but I lack some of her other capabilities. I’m also mortal.#

“Do you have a family?” Absol asked, “other Mewtwos?”

Mewtwo glanced at Arcanine again.

#Arcanine and his compatriots were...are...my family. There are no other Mewtwos.#

Mewtwo’s voice sounded final. Absol had more questions, but she didn’t think that was a topic Mewtwo wanted to pursue any further.

It must be a lonely feeling, she thought, being the only one of his kind. She had thousands of years of ancestors carved into the wall in Mother’s cave back on Mount Freeze. They all had their own stories, even if some of the older ones had gotten muddled or forgotten over the centuries. If they all succeeded here, her children would carry on the tradition for thousands more, and tell stories about her. That wasn’t much compared to the billions that Mewtwo and Arcanine talked about, but still, it was a lot of years, and a lot of Absols who were all pretty much like her. There was a beginning, and there would probably be an end, but they were both so far away that she didn’t know how to think about them.

Maybe that was why Mewtwo was so distant sometimes, she thought. He didn’t have a history to depend upon. He wouldn’t have any children continue whatever traditions he and Arcanine and the others had back in their world. However long they might both personally live, his beginning and end were much closer than her own.

Arcanine stood and walked over to where Mewtwo was sitting. He lay down beside the chair, and leaned his head against Mewtwo’s leg. Mewtwo reached down to scratch his ear. They looked so comfortable like that, Absol thought. She stood and followed Arcanine. If she lay down, her head would be out of reach, so she sat instead, on the other side of the chair.

“Mewtwo,” Absol asked, “may I be part of your family here?”

Mewtwo smiled. #I would like that.#

Absol leaned against Mewtwo’s other leg, just like Arcanine was, and looked up at him. Mewtwo reached his other hand down to scratch her ears. It was the hand which wore the Ring Target, and when it brushed against her, she could feel a subtle, friendly presence in the back of her mind.

Zorua watched as her teammates settled beside Mewtwo. He was still hiding things from them, she thought; from Arcanine. Did it really matter, though? Arcanine seemed satisfied with their relationship. He hadn’t actually deceived them about anything. Absol was naïve, but she wasn’t foolish, and she trusted him.

Maybe she was being a little bit like Growlithe, Zorua thought, trying to provoke a reaction from Mewtwo to prove that she had been right about him all along. Lucario wouldn’t have told her that it was a childish thing to do, but probably would have thought it.

Zorua walked over and sat in front of Mewtwo, not touching, but close enough that she could have wagged her tail and hit both of his legs.

“Do you want to be part of Mewtwo’s family, too?” Absol asked.

Zorua’s tail twitched, and curled around her forepaws. That was as much as she was going to give today. “I’m still thinking about it.”

“If we’re your family now, you’re basically part of the team, too,” Absol said hopefully, “that means you can sleep with us, right?”

She looked to Arcanine and Zorua for confirmation. Arcanine nodded. Zorua hesitated a few seconds, then nodded as well. Zorua agreed with them, Absol thought; she’d been the one to invite Mewtwo to sleep with them first. She just had to agree at her own pace.

Mewtwo smiled again. #I think I would like that too.#



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



“But Arky” Vulpix whined, “I want to see it.”

“So do I,” Arcanine admitted, “but it’s Mewtwo’s private quarters. He doesn’t come into our rooms without invitation.”

“Well, we don’t have secret power armour hidden in our rooms, do we?” Vulpix countered, “anyway, it will take him at least two days to get to Hoenn and back. He’ll never know.”

Of course Mewtwo would know; Mewtwo always knew. It wasn’t long ago that he had believed that he needed to correct every mistake and punish every minor disobedience. Since Sandslash’s attempt at seppuku, he tried to give them more freedom. If they tried to be subtle, if they were polite, if they didn’t take advantage, Mewtwo would pretend not to know. That didn’t mean it was right.

“You can go see it. Not stopping you.”

“I don’t want to see it alone. What good is knowing a secret if we can’t all talk about it?”

Arcanine looked to the others for support. Sandslash wouldn’t offer an opinion, but he would go along with whatever the group decided. Ninetales and Vaporeon were always respectful and polite, though, and they would agree it was a bad idea.

“Arcanine, Mewtwo knows we’re all curious,” Ninetales said, “he doesn’t want to talk about it, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want us to know. If it was supposed to be a secret, he wouldn’t have let everyone see him bring it in.

“I think Ninetales is right,” Vaporeon agreed, “he carried it up in front of everyone, right before he knew he was leaving for a few days. He’s inviting us to peek.”

Arcanine sighed. He couldn’t argue with the whole team. He couldn’t even argue with Vulpix, really. He always gave in eventually, just because disagreement made him uncomfortable, and Vulpix knew she could outlast him.

He had been in Mewtwo’s office and quarters hundreds of times, but only once before without permission. The new latch was a simple handle with no lock, mounted at a height everyone in the family could easily reach, with a handle they could all operate with one paw. It wasn’t intended to exclude anyone, only to keep the now- crooked door from swinging open by itself.

Suspended from the ceiling in the center of the room by several cables, the armour stood well over two meters tall. Dozens of dents and scrapes marred the polished silver metal, and the mirrored visor seemed to stare back at him as he approached. Arcanine shivered. Maybe Vaporeon and Ninetales were right, he thought; maybe Mewtwo did intend for them to see.

“It does look kind of like in Fallout,” Vulpix whispered, “what if he’s really inside, watching us?”

They all knew he wasn’t; his scent in the room was a day old. It still made him shiver to think about Mewtwo staring out through the glass, like he had once stared at Mewtwo through the side of the cloning tank. What did the world look like from inside?

“Can you imagine living in it?” Vulpix continued, “you wouldn’t be able to smell, or hear...”

“Do you think it still works?” Vaporeon wondered.

“I think he’s planning to fix it up,” Ninetales said.

“Oh. You don’t think he wants to use it again, do you?”

“I don’t think he wants to,” Ninetales said, “maybe he expects to need it.”

Everyone was silent for a few seconds. Mewtwo spoke very little about his time with Team Rocket, but they all knew it was a painful memory for him. Until yesterday, the armour had been only a rumor. Mewtwo wouldn’t be preparing it for use unless he expected to need it.

Everyone started guiltily as they heard footsteps in the hall, but it was only Squirtle and Nurse Joy, come to look for themselves.

“See?” Vulpix said as if their presence proved her right, “eveyone wants to look.”



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



The wind whistled through the cracks around the doors and windows of the Obsidian Village town hall, and Absol shivered reflexively in anticipation of the cold outside. Inside the sturdy structure, built with logs the size of her torso, was pleasantly warm and cozy, but outside was a blizzard. She knew she should be listening as Abra, the Federation representative in Obsidian Village, explained the situation, but she couldn’t help staring out the window at the blowing snow. It looked just like a winter storm at home. They were at about the same latitude, only now it was summer and there should only have been snow on the highest peaks.

Absol didn’t know why she had chosen to come; of course it was colder here than in Pokémon Square. Now that she was here, however, it felt like the correct choice. There was something out there in the snow, she though, something important. Maybe it was a subtle feeling of danger in her horn, still too distant to identify. Maybe it was only her imagination, restless after weeks cooped up in the library. There was only one way to know.

“It’s two days to Mount Mistral from here in decent weather,” Abra was saying to Arcanine, Zorua, and Team Razor Wind, “probably four days, if the storm keeps up. Weavile has volunteered to guide you there.”

“Weavile of Team Icicle,” Weavile said, stepping forward to introduce himself. He exchanged scents with the rest of their party. Absol pulled herself away from the window to greet him as well. He wore a battered treasure bag across his shoulder with a badge pinned to the front.

“I can show you to the entrance,” Weavile said, “then, if you don’t need me, I’ll wait outside with the rest of my team and the sledge.

“I know Alakazam requested a wagon,” Abra said, “but there’s no way you’ll get a wagon up Mount Mistral in this weather. We have a sledge prepared instead. It will be difficult, but Weavile think you can make it.”

“Are you certain it’s necessary?” Weavile asked, “there’s snow drifted four meters deep in places; even the sledge will be difficult going.”

“The door is there?” Arcanine asked.

“Yes.” Weavile nodded. “I’ve been there several times. Just as Alakazam described, but only about three meters across.”

“Then we’ll need the sledge,” Arcanine said.

Weavile and Abra both nodded.

“Are you all ready?” Weavile asked.

Arcanine and Zorua nodded. The treasure bag around Arcanine’s neck bulged with supplies and the stone discs, and an extra blanket for Absol. If anything happened to the sledge, Arcanine didn’t want to risk losing their supplies as well. Zorua’s own, much smaller bag, held some extra Berries.

A blast of frigid air and snow greeted the seven of them as Weavile opened the door. Absol’s shoulders hunched, and she tugged the stocking over her horn down tightly.

“Absol, are you sure you want to come?” Zorua asked.

“Y-yes.” It was a lie, but Absol thought she sounded confident as she said it. She didn’t want to be here at all; she wanted to be somewhere warm and dry and sunny, preferably with a hot bowl of tea.

A pair of Mamoswines lay outside the door, both already wearing harnesses. The wind whipped through their shaggy coats, but they didn’t seem bothered by the weather.

“The rest of Team Icicle,” Weavile introduced them.

The Mamoswines looked at them and nodded in greeting, but didn’t speak. Absol got the impression that they ordinarily didn’t. There weren’t many Pokémon better suited to pulling the sledge through the snow, she thought.

Arcanine volunteered for the first shift pulling the sledge, and Zangoose, Sandslash, and Weavile hitched him up. He was still sore from the trip back to Pokémon Square with the sun sphere. While he enjoyed carrying friends, he never wanted to be a draft animal again, but he couldn’t ask the Mamoswines to haul it up the mountain in a blizzard if he wouldn’t do it first.

The Mamoswines took the lead, breaking a path through the drifts with their chests and shoulders. Weavile rode on one’s back. Arcanine followed the with the sledge. Absol followed behind him, then Team Razor Wind. Zorua, the smallest of the party, followed in the path that they had all cleared. The snow was a meter deep in places on the trail, and though the others had trampled it down for her, it was still exhausting. Absol began to shiver almost immediately, walking with her head and tail down, and Zorua could smell how uncomfortable she was.

Arcanine kept looking back to make sure that the rest of the party was keeping up. Absol looked miserable already, he thought, and the weather wasn’t going to get warmer or less windy as they ascended. Why had she chosen to come?

Of the team, she ought to be the most comfortable here, and the most capable, but with the curse of her vision, she was a liability. He wanted to send her back to Obsidian Village. If he insisted, Arcanine thought, she would go, but would that be the right thing to do? She must have a reason for braving the cold with them. Did she sense something? Did she know something that the rest of them didn’t? How much danger was she actually in, if her chill was psychosomatic as he thought, and her body temperature was normal? Arcanine didn’t know, but he knew he trusted Absol. He remained silent and kept walking.

This was a terrible idea, Absol thought as she trudged after Arcanine. Already her paws and face ached from the unnatural cold. What if she froze to death up here, despite having Arcanine and Zorua to care for her and keep her warm at night? What if she panicked in the darkness and ran off a cliff? What if the feeling was a premonition, and she ignored it, and something happened to her team?



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



As always, as the sky began to darken, Absol’s terror began to return. Arcanine was in the lead now, and she edged closer and closer until they were walking side by side. Arcanine looked over at her, and she could see concern in his face.

“Weavile?” Arcanine shouted, motioning for their guide to join him.

They needed to get Absol under cover soon, Arcanine thought. She was fidgeting and her eyes were wide, despite the blowing snow which forced the rest of them to squint. With the added stress of being cold, she was already beginning to lose control. If she panicked up here on the rocks, with the poor visibility of the storm, it could be deadly.

“Need a place for the night!”

“Already?” Weavile shouted back, “we have light for another hour!”

“Yes!”

Arcanine glanced down at her again, and Absol looked away, embarrassed. She knew she was slowing them all down. Maybe she really had been foolish to come.

“There’s an overhang in the cliff ahead,” Weavile shouted, “not a cave, but it will get us out of the wind!”

“Show me!”

Arcaine bent down, and Weavile climbed onto his neck. Holding fistfulls of Arcanine’s mane, Weavile leaned forward to shout directions into Arcanine’s ear as they continued.

Snow was drifted in front of the overhang three or four meters deep, but beneath the overhang was mostly clear. Between the snow and the rock was a narrow area which was mostly sheltered from the wind. Weavile dismounted and Arcanine waded into the drift, feeling ahead with his nose and forepaws. The outer layer of snow was fresh and soft, but underneath, it was older and more solid.

Arcanine began to dig, hollowing out a cavity in the snow bank facing the cliff. Team Razor Wind and Weavile, seeing what he was doing, joined in. Absol crowded in among them as they worked, eager to be under shelter.

When they had a cavity large enough for the seven of them to curl up in, they stopped. Arcanine directed a gentle Flamethrower across the walls, floor and ceiling. The snow melted under the heat, then hardened into a layer of ice as it refroze. Unloaded, the sledge wasn’t very heavy, and Zangoose and Scyther tipped in up in front of the entrance as a windbreak.

It wasn’t unpleasant in here, Arcanine thought, now that they were out of the wind. Absol looked calmer already, out of view of the sky. Weavile and Zorua folded their extra blanket and lay it on the icy floor. Absol shook the snow from her coat, and then each paw, and quickly curled up on it.

Arcanine lay against Absol’s back, and wrapped his legs around her. Zorua tucked the edge of the blanket around Absol’s paws, then wriggled in between to lay against Absol’s belly.

Team Razor Wind formed their own pile at the other side. Theirs was a practical sharing of warmth rather than cuddling, Absol thought; they were good friends, but they didn’t have that sort of relationship.

Weavile sat by the door alone. As an Ice-type, he wasn’t as affected by the cold. Inside their cave and out of the wind, he seemed comfortable enough. The Mamoswines burrowed halfway into the snow just outside. With their thick pelts, they didn’t seem bothered by the cold either.

“Th-th-thank y-you,” Absol said as she pressed back against Arcanine’s warm chest, “I d-don’t th-think-k I w-would hav-ve l-last-ted much l-long-ger.”

“I don’t know how you made it this far,” Zorua said, “cuz I’m freezing too.”

Just like outside Creepy Tunnel, Arcanine thought, Absol’s body didn’t feel cold; no more so than any other Pokémon’s would, under the circumstances. She probably wasn’t clinically hypothermic, despite having all of the secondary symptoms. That didn’t make her suffering any less important; it was real to her, and there was no way to know how much danger she was really in.

“I’m s-sorry,” Absol said, “I’m s-slow-wing ever-ryone d-down.”

“It’s okay.” Arcanine’s muzzle rested between her ears, and his hot breath blew around her horn and across her face.

“Yeah,” Zorua agreed, “we know it’s not your fault.”

Within a few minutes, Arcanine could feel Absol’s body begin to relax, and her shivering stopped. Weavile was watching them, his face concerned and uncertain.

“Know you don’t want to be here,” Arcanine said, “felt something, didn’t you?”

“I th-thought s-so. N-now I-I’m not s-sure.”

“We trust you,” Arcanine said, “you felt it, was important.

“Th-thank you,” Absol said again, pressing her head back into Arcanine’s mane.

Weavile was still watching them, Zorua saw. He was polite enough not to ask the obvious question: what was wrong with Absol. She wasn’t going to explain that, either, because it was Absol’s story, but still, he deserved their gratitude for leading them up here in the storm.

“Thanks for guiding us,” Zorua said, “we never would have found the trail in this weather.”

Weavile shook his head. “No one comes up here in this weather; it’s too dangerous. We never have storms like this in the summer, either; the trails should be melted out by now. Whatever is in the treasure room in Mount Mistral is supposed to fix this?”

“The Orrery Fragment.” Zorua nodded. “Well, one of them. You guys don’t know, though?”

Weavile shrugged. “It was an unusually cold spring, then Abra said the Federation said there was something wrong with the weather everywhere, and people from Pokémon Square were working on it. There was more about astrology I didn’t understand.”

“Oh.” She had though that it had only been Meadow Town which hadn’t gotten the message, because of Bayleef’s treachery. Apparently their communication had failed here, too. They would need to talk to Alakazam and Delphox about that when they returned.

“W-we h-have t-time,” Absol said, “l-let me w-warm up-p a b-bit m-more and we’ll t-tell y-you ev-veryth-thing.”

Arcanine began to groom her with long, slow strokes of his tongue, beginning between her ears, and working down her neck and shoulders. It felt wonderful. Zorua dug into Arcanine’s bag again and passed out food. They ate in silence. When they had finished, Absol began her story, speaking loudly so the Mamoswines outside could hear as well.



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



“This is it,” Weavile shouted, pointing ahead of them to where the trail passed through a narrow cleft in the rocks. “Those wood posts mark the entrance.”

It was morning on the fourth day, and they were nearly to the peak of Mount Mistral. This high up, the fierce wind had scoured most of the snow from the rocks, and the runners of the slegde scraped on bare patches on the trail.

Arcanine knew it wouldn’t be much more pleasant inside. After they stopped for the evening on the second night of their ascent, Weavile had spent several hours telling them everything he could remember about the mystery dungeon. They would be outside most of they way. The room with the fragment would presumably be enclosed, but since no one from Obsidian Village had been able to enter, they wouldn’t know until they reached it. Like most mystery dungeons, the static area at the end contained the exit.

The Mamoswines settled in the shelter of the rocks, with Weavile between them.

“We’ll wait for you here,” Weavile said.

There was a brief disorientation as they passed between the poles, and they were inside Mount Mistral’s mystery dungeon. Inside was a relative term; on the far side of the cleft, the trail continued to wind up the exposed face of the mountain.

The wind was just as bad here. Arcanine wondered why. Mystery dungeons didn’t seem to be physically contained within their borders in the normal world; they didn’t fit. Creepy Tunnel was far too long and straight not to emerge from the far side of its mountain, and from Weavile’s description, he didn’t think Mount Mistral could fit on its peak, either. It had to be some kind of pocket dimension, existing in its own space. Why should it have the same sky and weather?

If the door was three meters across like Weavile had said, and it followed the same pattern as Creepy Tunnel, the trail ought to be at least three meters wide the whole way. Presumably, someone must have brought it into the dungeon by the same path. Or maybe not - had the mystery dungeons even existed then? Were the Orrery Fragments and Time Gears placed in mystery dungeons, or had the dungeons formed around them from whatever arcane energy they emitted? Another unanswerable question.

Again Absol wondered why she had come. She could see the worried looks the others gave her; not only Zorua and Arcanine, but Team Razor Wind as well. She was shivering so hard that she didn’t even want to try talking, and the wind seemed to cut through her coat as if she were naked. The cold flowed down from her horn and up from each paw as it touched the ground. Her feet ought to be numb from the cold, she though, but they weren’t. She could still feel each pebble and ridge of ice beneath her pads. Her nose and cheeks ought to be frostbitten through the short fur on her face, but when she rubbed them with her paws, they felt undamaged.

She forced herself to keep her head up and keep walking. Whether or not she had made the right choice in coming, it was too late to change her mind. No matter how much it hurt, she thought, the others needed to focus on the dungeon, rather than worrying about her.

With Arcanine pulling the sledge and Absol too distracted to fight, Zorua and Team Razor Wind were left to defend them. Zorua fell to the rear where she could keep an eye on Absol, and Zangoose joined her.

Fortunately, the dungeon’s ferals didn’t seem to appreciate the weather any more than they did. The passed a pair of Drifblim huddled in an alcove, who screeched angrily but didn’t move to attack them. A Pidgeot dived at Scyther. It swerved to avoid his slashing blades, and by the time it turned around for another pass, the wind had carried it so far away that it gave up chasing them.

A Swellow startled out of a sheltered side path. Arcanine fired a hasty Flamethrower as it approached, but the wind blew both the attack and its target off course. Sandslash and Scyther dispatched it, and pushed it back in the corner where it wouldn’t tumble down the slope before recovering.

As they passed another alcove, something shiny and blue caught Zorua’s eye, half-buried in the snow. It was a Foe-Fear Orb.

“Do you guys want it?” Zorua said, offering the Orb to Zangoose, “none of us have hands to use it in combat.”

Zangoose shrugged. “Orbs are good for new teams. Once you’re strong enough, moves are almost always quicker and more reliable. Why don’t you keep it and sell it?”

Zorua tucked the Orb in her bag. Zangoose was right, she thought; they would want money, when this was all over and they were just a normal team again.

After several monotonous, uncomfortable hours, a cliff face rose up across the trail ahead of them. From Weavile’s description, they knew this was the end of the dungeon. Unlike the perfectly round opening in the mountain near Meadow Town, the tunnel at the base of the cliff looked jagged and natural.

Zangoose and Sandslash unhitched Arcanine from the sledge, and he took the lead. Team Razor Wind followed close behind him, while Zorua and Absol hung back together. Zangoose produced a Luminous Orb on a cord from their bag, and looped it around his neck.

After thirty meters or so, the tunnel opened into a large room. Arcanine stopped at the entrance. There were Pokémon in here, Arcanine thought, flying types. He could smell them, but he couldn’t see anything in the darkness.

Zangoose stepped up beside him, cupping the Orb in both hands to direct the light away from them. It helped, but wasn’t enough to penetrate the shadows at the far side of the room. Arcanine stepped cautiously forward.

“Above you!” Zorua shouted behind him.

There was a rustle of wings, and Arcanine ducked as something whipped by his face. He felt talons rake through his mane. Behind him and to either side he heard two more pairs of wings. There was a thud of something solid hitting flesh, and he heard Scyther grunt.

He sent a Flamethrower after the retreating shadow, illuminating the room and revealing their opponents. The Flygon which had nearly hit him was already out of range. Arcanine turned to check on Team Razor Wind.

Scyther was sprawled on the ground, with Sandslash and Zangoose standing protectively over him as a pair of Aerodactyls flapped upward away from them. He wasn’t badly injured, just stunned, and he was already pushing himself upright.

Arcanine, Sandslash, and Zangoose readied themselves as the Aerodactyls banked and turned back for another pass.

The left Aerodactyl dove, its thick skull aiming for Sandslash’s chest. Sandslash watched calmly as it approached. At the last moment he spun deftly aside; his claws raked upward, scoring two parallel gashes in his opponent’s chest. Aerodactyl shrieked, its clumsy Wing Attack deflecting ineffectually off Sandslash’s plates

The right Aerodactyl began its dive toward Zangoose. Arcanine sent another Flamethrower across its path. Aerodactyl passed through it, seemingly unaffected, and Zangoose spread his legs and raised his claws, preparing for the impact.

Zangoose grunted as he rolled with Aerodactyl’s Take Down. His claws tore into its wings in Revenge, tearing long holes in the fragile membranes.

Flygon hung back. Its wings beat forcefully, but it wasn’t gaining altitude. The wind in the tunnel began to pick up.

“Sandstorm!” Zangoose shouted in warning, as the wind from Flygon’s wingbeats grew more forceful.

Sandslash’s Aerodactyl circled upward out of reach, and a ball of orange energy began to form in its beak. Zangoose’s Aerodactyl wriggled free from his grasp and leapt into the air. It flapped furiously, but its torn wings couldn’t lift it quickly enough. It shrieked as Zangoose’s claws caught its wings again, pulling it down into Close Combat.

The glowing bars of Scyther’s Light Screen formed around Team Razor Wind. The three of them could handle the Aerodactyls, Arcanine thought, while he dealt with Flygon.

A blast of sand caught Arcanine in the face as he turned back toward Flygon, blinding him and filling his nostrils. He sent a Flamethrower upward toward his opponent, then another, but his watering eyes made aiming difficult, and they both dispersed in the whipping wind before reaching their target. Sand began to pool around his paws in a Tomb, piling up impossibly fast, and Arcanine found that he had to keep moving to stay on top of the mound.

Flygon swooped down again, breathing out a Dragon Breath which illuminated the swirling sand a surreal purple. Arcanine didn’t think he could move quickly enough on the shifting sand to dodge, so he didn’t try. He braced himself and drew in a deep breath, nearly choking on all the sand in the air, and answered with a powerful Flamethrower.

Arcanine’s limbs went numb as Dragon Breath flowed around him. Flygon flapped frantically, trying to avoid his fire, but couldn’t pull up quickly enough. Arcanine couldn’t tell how much damage it had done, but Flygon stopped maneuvering and flew straight for several seconds, blinded. A fist-sized rock sailed past Arcanine and cracked against Flygon’s head. It wavered in midair, momentarily stunned. Arcanine struggled to free his legs from the sand. Another rock hit its shoulder. That had to be Sandslash, he though; no one else could have aimed so well through the Sandstorm.

The beat of Flygon’s wings faltered, and it began to lose altitude. Arcanine pounced with Extreme Speed, pulling it to the ground before it could recover. Flygon screeched once as Arcanine’s fangs dug into its back, then went limp.

The wind dropped off quickly. Arcanine turned to see Sandslash behind him, a grin on his face and another stone in each hand. He grinned back, and Sandslash bowed.

Behind Sandslash, Zangoose and Scyther supported one another. Zangoose’s arm pressed against his chest where the Aerodactyl had hit him, and they were each bleeding from several wounds and scorched from Aerodactyl’s Hyper Beam, but Arcanine didn’t think either of them were seriously injured. Both Aerodactyls lay unconscious at their feet.They were all cold, and exhausted, and now the added insult of sand in their coats and eyes and throats.

None of them looked as bad as Absol. She was huddled between a rock and the cavern wall at the entrance to the room, her face hidden under her paws and her whole body shaking. Zorua stood protectively over her, her fur still fluffed out threateningly. Arcanine bent to examine Absol. She wasn’t injured, he thought; the ferals hadn’t come near her. She certainly wasn’t afraid. After all she had endured in the last few days, the Sandstorm has just been the final stress that was too much to endure.

“Arcanine, we have to stop,” Zorua said, “she can’t go any further.”

“The door should be just ahead,” Zangoose reminded them, “we’ll be safer inside.”

Zangoose was right, Arcanine thought, but so was Zorua. They would be safer, and probably warmer, in the Orrery chamber, but Absol needed attention right now. She was a strong-willed Pokémon, despite her youth and innocence; perhaps even more determined than he was. If she could have gotten up, she would have.

Arcanine didn’t want to stop here either, but unless he was going to drag Absol the rest of the way, they didn’t have much choice. He ducked out of their treasure bag and lay down beside Absol. She didn’t respond. Arcanine pulled her against his chest and began to wash her face.

There were six competent Pokémon in the party, Arcanine thought, and the others didn’t need his directions to know what to do. Zorua opened her bag and passed him an Oran, and placed on in front of Absol as well, then jumped up on the rock to stand watch.

Zangoose grimaced as he bent over to pick up Team Warmth’s bag, his other hand pressing on his chest where the Aerodactyl had hit him. Moving gingerly, he spread the extra blanket over Absol, then sat down against her side. Without a word, Sandslash and Scyther headed back the way they had come. A minute later, Arcanine heard the scrape of metal rails on the stone floor.

By the time the two of them returned with the sledge, Absol wasn’t shivering so badly. She nuzzled against him, burying her face in his mane. Arcanine could feel her body jerk with each heavy breath, and smell the warm, wet scent of tears. Mewtwo was right, Arcanine though as he and Zorua silently groomed Absol; his new team was too much like his old team to be chance.

Zangoose passed out Orans to his team, and Scyther and Sandslash sat watch beside the upturned sledge. The three of them waited patiently, though Arcanine knew they were as anxious as he was to be done with this place.

After fifteen minutes or so, Absol began to regain control. “Arc-c-can-nine, I’m s-sor-ry,” she whimpered, “I c-can’t d-do i-it any-y m-more.”

“You don’t have to,” Arcanine comforted her, “we’re almost there. I’ll carry you.”

Zangoose and Sandslash put his saddle on and hooked his harness back to the sledge. It was more of a basket than a seat, with a cord to hold a blanket across the top at night and footholds for Absol’s paws.

His back, already sore and raw from pulling the sledge, protested at the extra fifty kilos as Absol climbed aboard, but he didn’t let it show. Zangoose didn’t ask for a heal, either, though his ribs obviously still pained him. He itched from the sand beneath the saddle. What he really wanted, Arcanine thought, was a bath and a good, long nap somewhere warm. He leaned into the harness, and the sledge began to grind forward once again.

The room at the end of the tunnel was just how Weavile had described; to one side, an arched stone threshold looked out at the snowy gap in the rocks where they had entered. Across from it was the door, a miniature replica of the one in Creepy Tunnel. Zangoose took the bag with the discs from Arcanine’s neck, and Team Razor Wind got to work.



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



There was no antechamber here; the first door opened directly into the room with the sphere. Arcanine was relieved to see that there were no piles of parts, either. There were four altars around the room, with the same images as before, and the sphere itself. It was about two meters across. He could feel something from it, like a sense of pressure, but it was much less intense than the sun. It was made from the same silvery metal, but instead of the sun sphere’s featureless surface, it was etched with what appeared to be continents. They weren’t Earth’s continents; at least, they didn’t match either version of Earth with which he was familiar.

With the extra weight aboard, the rails of the sledge shrieked and squealed loudly across the stone floor. It was much lighter than the other, Arcanine thought; probably less than a ton, but it was still going to take him and both Mamoswines in harness to get it safely down the mountain.

Before they left the dungeon, however, they all needed to rest. It had been late afternoon when they entered the tunnel, and it would be getting dark, soon. Absol still wasn’t in any shape to face the wind and cold outside, even in daylight. Zangoose needed to heal. He needed to sleep.

“I’ll go out and tell Team Icicle,” Zangoose volunteered, “they’ll worry if we’re in here all night.”

Zangoose started for the exit.

“Wait,” Zorua said, “I’ll go.”

“Are you sure?” Zangoose asked.

“Yeah,” Zorua said, “I’ve done less work than anyone today, and I’m not injured.”

Zangoose smiled, looking relieved. “Thanks.”



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



It wasn’t warm in the Orrery chamber, Absol thought, but cuddled up with Arcanine and her blankets, she wasn’t cold, either. She was fortunate to have found such a good Team, just like Mother had. By morning, the rest of the trip seemed a lot more manageable.

“Come c-close, everyone.” Absol motioned for Arcanine and Team Razor Wind to gather around her. “Let me heal before we go.”

Moonlight came easily now, despite the cold and itching sand in her fur. Zangoose and Arcanine each stood a little straighter once she had finished. She should have healed them last night, she thought. They were tough Pokémon, and didn’t like to show that they were hurt, which meant that she had to take the initiative and tell them when to stop and let her help.

As they began their descent, the sense of purpose which she had felt at the beginning of the journey returned. It grew from just a feeling, to a subtle vibration in her horn, to a constant hum which pushed back her chill as they continued. It was painfully slow going. Arcanine and the Mamoswines took turns, two of them pulling the sledge, and one harnessed to a rope on the rear to hold it back on the steeper slopes.

After a few hours, the path widened at the bottom of a draw which probably held a stream in normal summers, and Absol walked beside Arcanine in front of the sledge. He was working too hard for conversation, and she was shivering too hard, she thought, but that was okay; they could still enjoy each other’s company. Arcanine glanced over at her occasionally and smiled, and she knew he felt the same way.

The trail ahead curved around a spur of rock where their draw joined the larger valley below. As they passed the rock, the feeling in her horn became overwhelming. Absol raised her head, looking out across the slope in front of them, and suddenly she knew exactly why she had come.

“Arcanine, stop.”

He stopped immediately, mid-step, raising his head to scan the rocks around them for danger. Arcanine wasn’t lying when he said he trusted her judgment, Absol though. Mamoswine took two more steps before the slack in the leads between their harnesses ran out, stopping him as well.

They were safe here, Absol thought, but she wasn’t sure about Weavile and Scyther, a hundred meters ahead of them on the trail. She shouted for them to come back, but her shaking voice didn’t carry over the wind. Arcanine’s roar got their attention, and he motioned them back.

Mamoswine looked around as well. “There’s nothing here,” he said, “why are we stopping?

“The trails seems fine,” Weavile agreed.

Everyone was clustered around her now, waiting for an explanation.

“Just wait.” Absol said.

They waited. Arcanine sat down. She leaned against him, and he rested his chin on her head. Zorua leaned on her other side. Several minutes passed. The Mamoswines began to fidget, then Weavile and Team Razor Wind as well. Absol felt a sudden vertigo as the mountain seemed to begin moving around them. It wasn’t them moving, though; it was the snow on the opposite slope in front of them, slowly at first, then faster and faster, until the whole side of the valley was rushing down the mountain.

Living on Mount Freeze, Absol had seen avalanches before. It was still awe-inspiring. All nine of them sat or stood in place for the fifteen minutes or so it took for all of the snow to stop moving.

“That’s a lot of snow,” Zorua said. Her voice was quiet and almost reverent.

The others nodded in agreement. They were all thinking the same thing, Arcanine knew; without Absol’s warning, they would have been in the valley beneath it all. He wrapped a foreleg around Absol’s and Zorua’s backs and pulled them both close.

“How much snow do you think that is, big guy?” Zorua asked.

“Hmm.” Arcanine stared at the hillside for a few moments, thinking. “How large an area would you say that was?”

No one answered immediately, so Arcanine continued. “Say four kilometers by twenty, and a half meter deep, average...that’s forty thousand cubic meters of snow. Water is a gram per cubic centimeter,” Arcanine said, “ah, a thousand kilos per cubic meter. Say the snow was twenty percent water, the rest air.”

Everyone was staring at Arcanine, but he was used to that, now. Pokémon were intelligent, he though; many of them much moreso than Humans. Some of their natural abilities, the ability to observe the world from the air or underwater, or generate electrical current or change temperature, should have given them an immense advantage over Humans in developing a scientific system. For some reason, they had never progressed beyond a few basic measurements of weight, time, and distance. Maybe, he thought, they were just so capable, and so confident, that they didn’t feel the need for further explanation of how the world worked.

“Eight million tons or so,” Arcanine concluded.

Zorua gulped. “That sounds like a pretty big number.”

Arcanine nodded. He didn’t think any of the rest of them really understood what eight million tons was. He didn’t either. It was more reasonable than seven billion years, but still a large enough number that it was difficult to comprehend.

“And if you didn’t warn us,” Zorua continued, rubbing her head against Absol’s leg, “we’d be at the bottom.”

“And I would have led us all into it,” Weavile said. More than any of the others, Absol thought, he looked shaken. “Thank you.”

“It’s not your fault,” Absol said.

She meant it. He’d been a good guide so far. He was cautious, and knew the mountain well. She just had an ability that none of the others had; that was why she was here.

“Is it safe to cross?” Sandslash asked. He looked more than slightly dubious.

“I don’t feel anything else,” Absol said, “but it will be loose and rough.” She looked to Team Icicle. “Is there another way around?”



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



It took them four more days to get back to Obsidian Village. Weavile found them another route down, and Absol’s disaster sense was quiet for the rest of their journey. Going down wasn’t any easier than coming up, she thought. If anything, it was worse. She was just as miserable as before, though she tried not to let it show.

Now Arcanine and the Mamoswines were miserable too. It was a constant struggle for all three of them to control the overweight sledge on the steep slopes. Absol wanted to help, but she knew she wasn’t big enough or strong enough, and she would only be in the way.

Each night, when it got too dark for the pullers to see, Zorua, Weavile, and Team Razor Wind scraped them a shelter in the snow. Arcanine collapsed inside, too exhausted to stretch or groom himself. She ignored the cold as long as she could to help Zorua massage his back, then wrapped herself in both blankets and huddled against his chest for warmth through the night.

Each morning, Arcanine limped out to be hitched to the sledge again. Her back ached in sympathy just to watch him walk. He didn’t complain; somehow, he seemed to welcome the pain, she thought, as if he felt he deserved it. She didn’t complain either. None of them did; they all knew there weren’t any other options.

When they entered Obsidian Village in the evening, the street was empty. They could see the orange glow of fires though several windows. Weavile broke off from the group and disappeared into one of the smaller buildings. By the time Team Razor Wind had Arcanine and the Mamoswines unhitched in front of the town hall, Weavile was back with Abra and a half-dozen other Pokémon. The Mamoswines mumbled hasty farewells and departed; the rest of the party followed Abra into the building.

“I’m glad you’re all back safely,” she said, “everyone has been worried about you, and Alakazam has been calling twice a day for updates.”

Arcanine lay down in front of the stove where Weavile was starting a fire, and Absol immediately joined him.

“You all look exhausted,” Abra continued, “we’ll get your artifact into the wagon tonight. I’ll bring food over, and you’re all welcome rest here a day or two.”

“Thank you,” Arcanine said, “we’ll be ready in the morning.”

“No.” Zorua said.

“Hmm?” Arcanine asked. He wasn’t used to Zorua disputing his decisions.

“I mean no, you’re not pulling it back to Pokémon Square,” Zorua said. “Arcanine, you and Absol both look like you’re about to die, and there are dozens of big Pokémon in Pokémon Square not doing anything. Besides, Xatu ought to be ready for us. I’m going to make Alakazam Teleport us all home in the morning, and he can send some else to pull his stupid wagon.”

For a moment, Arcanine wanted to argue. Then he closed his mouth and lay his head back down, because he knew Zorua was right. She was getting pretty good at being team leader.