"We've arrived," Alakazam stated as the pair struggled to regain their bearings. Gradually, their senses returned. First, the scent of flowers wafted through the air, prompting Mane to sneeze, nearly igniting the serene village in flames.

  Rai was the first to recover, blinking away the lingering spots in his vision. Surveying their new surroundings, they found themselves at the center of a circle formed by flat stones, serving as a makeshift hub for the village. Various watering holes dotted the landscape, where Pokémon chatted leisurely.

  Homes and shops, entirely woven from leaves, comprised this quaint community. Shaymin Village, though considerably smaller than Treasure Town, possessed a unique charm of its own.

  "Welcome," a Shaymin approached them, its voice gentle but unmistakably male. "May I inquire if you've come to explore or visit?"

  "We're on a mission to find someone," Mane replied, extending his gratitude to Alakazam. "Lucario, she's here, right?"

  Shaymin blinked in recognition of the name. "Lucario? She was here, indeed. Ah, you must be Team Ion."

  "Was?" Rai questioned, his voice strained. "Yes, we are."

  Shaymin's expression darkened as he explained, "She left about a day and a half ago." His frown mirrored their disappointment.

  Rai and Mane wore expressions of concern. "She contributed to the mapping of more of Sky Peak and assisted some Pokémon in nearby dungeons. Team Frontier was quite enthusiastic about collaborating with her."

  "Which direction did she depart in?" inquired Mane. "We are in desperate need of locating her; we're on a critical mission!"

  "I'm not entirely certain," Shaymin confessed, wincing. "Lucario departed one evening when we attempted to host a celebration in her honor. She clarified that she dislikes being revered by Pokémon and left."

  "Any leads, perhaps?" Rai pressed urgently. "We believe Lucario might assist us in recovering Meowth and possess knowledge about Arceus!"

  "Arceus?" Shaymin's tone suddenly became sharp. He furrowed his brows for a moment, then scrutinized them. "You are Team Ion... I see." He glanced sideways, pursed his lips, and turned back to them. "I recall her mentioning that she was heading to Gratified Thicket next. However, I recommend speaking with Mawile before you proceed. She spent the most time with Lucario and may possess pertinent information."

  "Understood, Shaymin."

  "It's the most I can provide," Shaymin replied, shrugging as best as a hedgehog covered with flowers could. "Team Frontier frequently ventures into Sky Peak, but if they are around, you'll likely find them near Drifblim."

  They sprinted through Shaymin Village, passing numerous other Shaymin and a few other Pokémon.

  "There she is!" Rai exclaimed, his golden eyes quickly spotting their target.

  Mane, being more vociferous, shouted, "HELLO, MAWILE!"

  In a burst of energy akin to a Hyper Voice, multiple Pokémon leaped to their feet, including Mawile and her Ampharos companion. Team Ion quickly approached, almost like they were about to use a Quick Attack.

  "Um... Shinx, Litleo?" Mawile inquired, as someone who worked at Spinda's Café, she was familiar with them. "Oh, right, I think I know what's going on here."

  "Well, well, well," Ampharos, standing beside her, chimed in. "Is this Team Ion?"

  "Yes, it is."

  "Ah! I must—"

  "Lucario!" Rai gasped, catching his breath. "Shaymin said you might have information on her whereabouts."

  Ampharos elegantly straightened up, sensing the urgency in their eyes. This wasn't the time for casual conversation.

  Mawile, recognizing the gravity of the situation, fixed them with a stern gaze. "Alright. First, why do you want to see her?"

  Mane nearly snarled, but Rai placed a paw on his shoulder. "It's okay," he reassured his friend, then turned to Mawile. "We're trying to locate Arceus. Shaymin mentioned that Lucario might be our only lead. Please, it's not just about Lucario; we need assistance."

  Mawile frowned. "Yeah, alright, I understand."

  She spoke extensively about Gratified Thicket, far more than necessary in my opinion. It's not widely known, but she dislikes being trailed, so I suspect she deliberately disseminates such information to deter pursuit. I did observe her heading toward Dawn Town instead of the thicket. That route also leads to Dreamy Woods, which can be treacherous for the unprepared.

  "Be cautious."

  Rai ensured that Mane expressed gratitude to Mawile, and they readied themselves to depart.

  Alakazam committed to staying in Shaymin Village for at least a couple of days, and Team Ion set out. The locale was picturesque, but they couldn't afford to dawdle.

  Mawile intercepted them just before they left entirely. "I feel obliged to warn you," she said, catching up with them. "Lucario isn't... well, she's not exactly affable. If you idolize her in any way, she won't take kindly to it.

  Just remember, she's nothing like the tales suggest, so be cautious, alright?"

  With that upbeat message, they left Shaymin Village.

  "What do you know about Lucario?"

  "Very little."

  "Hmm."

  Scout had enjoyed two nights of respite – or was it torment – without Darkrai's presence. He pondered whether Darkrai was genuinely giving him space or if the teleportation had thrown him off balance.

  Scout's teleportation experience was rather peculiar. Unlike his companions, he didn't undergo the same disorienting shift, allowing him a partial view of the journey. He struggled to fully grasp it, though.

  Prior to the teleportation, Darkrai had been a nightly visitor. Typically, the Pokémon would ramble nonsensically until Scout's patience wore thin. However, Scout found himself increasingly tolerant of Darkrai's company.

  Now, in their current location, Darkrai was just as talkative as ever.

  "I must confess... I know very little about this mysterious Lucario. Even my predecessor had limited knowledge, having safeguarded the Time Gear for so long, receiving little information from the outside world. It was quite a surprise for me to discover towns and villages, Pokémon cooperating, trading, and bartering. A far cry from the world before Lucario."

  Darkrai hummed and added, "Where did she come from? Where does she go? Where did she come from, cotton-eyed doe?"

  Scout was puzzled. "What are you doing?"

  Darkrai emitted a wispy chuckle. "Just... peculiar things that linger in my mind from dreams." He shook his head. "I wonder what Lucario dreams about. Some claim she doesn't sleep, but I doubt that. Everything slumbers in one way or another."

  "Even you?" Scout inquired.

  "But of course."

  "And you don't... have nightmares due to your abilities?"

  Darkrai responded with another of his eerie, wispy chuckles.

  "Maybe I do. Perhaps I've never truly understood the concept of a 'dream,' to the extent that not even a nightmarish experience causes me any unease," Darkrai mused. Scout offered no response, so Darkrai continued, "I do wonder, though. If Lucario dreams, then nightmares must also visit her slumber. I can't help but wonder what she endures during those moments. A Pokémon with her longevity must have encountered considerable horrors. The weight of time, as they say, is vast and oppressive, even to the likes of Arceus. I wonder if she continually confronts these terrors or if she has grown so resilient that she defies them."

  "Seems like you're considering giving Lucario a nightmare. How considerate of you," Scout remarked.

  Darkrai chuckled once more. "You may label me morbid if you wish. You either succumb to your afflictions or learn to master your perception of them. If I could avoid causing others nightmares, I would. But since I cannot, I find myself intrigued by their experiences."

  "You don't just enter their dreams to see for yourself?"

  Darkrai raised an eyebrow briefly, displaying a look of surprise. "Occasionally, yes. Though it's not frequent. It's perilous for both parties. I am curious, indeed, but I have no desire to inflict further harm upon them."

  "I find that hard to believe." Scout's own doubt crept in, and he shook his head. No, Darkrai was the adversary. He shouldn't be present.

  Observing Scout's discomfort, Darkrai resumed the conversation. "Assuming your companions do locate Lucario, what do you anticipate her response will be?"

  Scout remained silent.

  "Do you think she'll offer her assistance? She represents their final hope, after all. We're all aware that there are no legendary leads that can be followed to yield results in a mere few weeks."

  "And if she can help?" Scout challenged, meeting the embodiment of nightmares before him with a defiant gaze.

  "In that case, I will genuinely rejoice for your sake."

  Scout derisively responded, making a disapproving sound and averted his gaze. A hint of disappointment flickered across Darkrai's countenance, and he regretted the remorse he felt for causing it.

  "I would... prefer to be the one offering assistance, but I comprehend your reluctance to accept my help. Your lack of trust in me is entirely reasonable, even without considering what you already know about me."

  "What I've learned," Scout retorted, struggling with his unease. "I've learned you have dubious intentions."

  "Then why do you keep coming back every night to see me?"

  "Because you're causing harm to my friends!"

  Darkrai fell silent. He didn't need to verbalize it. Scout understood. Every time he urged Darkrai to depart, he did so with a parting comment. Their time spent together was entirely at his own behest.

  "It's not right that you're the only person I can confide in," Scout growled. He yearned for some kind of physical reaction to ease his distress, but there was no physical response to be had.

  "It isn't," Darkrai concurred. "And with any luck, you'll soon be free from my presence." Scout's lip twitched, or at least, he wished it had so that Darkrai could perceive his discomfort. They lapsed into silence before Scout issued a terse command, "Go." And so, as was customary, Darkrai departed.

  Once Scout was back at his friends' sides, he gazed remorsefully at their trembling forms. He had extended their conversation, staying nearly twice as long this time. Two days without any form of verbal exchange had taken a severe toll on him. He loathed that Darkrai had the power to alleviate his solitude, but at least it was something - a respite from the unending emptiness.

  Yet the price of his vulnerability was glaringly evident. Rai's tear-stained cheeks and Mane's injured lip, which remained silent even in slumber, displayed the torment they endured in Darkrai's presence. They suffered because Darkrai would always return, and Scout, in his loneliness, sought solace from their tormentor.

  "Guys..." Scout murmured. His voice didn't falter, as he lacked a larynx, but it quivered in the void. No ear flicked in response, so Scout refrained from further words; there was no purpose.

  He simply nestled between Rai and Mane, listening to their breathing for the remainder of the night.

  Chapter 5: Every Day They Spend

  "Thank you for your hospitality," Guardian expressed as the door silently sealed behind him. His massive frame forced him to stoop over in this humble abode.

  "Get comfortable however you can," Azumarill invited, seating herself and ensuring an open space between them. "We can begin when you're ready."

  Guardian melded into the floor until only his head and arms remained visible. "This works for me," he replied.

  Azumarill nodded and briefly reviewed what he could anticipate in this setting, echoing the same information she had shared with Sean, to which Guardian responded with nods, signifying his understanding.

  "Do you have any inquiries?" Azumarill inquired.

  "I have none."

  She acknowledged his response. "If you ever have questions, feel free to ask. These sessions are meant to be customized for each individual."

  With that, they delved into the session. Azumarill commenced gently, as usual. "Can you elucidate why you believe you find yourself here?" And this simple question was all Guardian needed to begin pouring out his thoughts.

  "I feel like I've failed as a father, unworthy of the title. I had countless opportunities and squandered each one. Now, all that remains is the knowledge that, for every terrible decision I made, rationalizing it as necessary for my son's sake, I still lost him. At times, I wonder if this is the darkest form of karma, yet he did not deserve that."

  Azumarill found it difficult to get a word in amidst the emotional outpouring from Guardian.

  "I find myself haunted by the memories of being powerless in the face of that dreadful entity every single night. How could I have ever thought of subjecting my child to such a life?"

  Yet, this was acceptable; there were times when Pokémon simply craved a willing ear.

  "I can't help but feel this overwhelming guilt... Striker and Saniya may not appreciate it when I admit it, but I believe I don't deserve forgiveness. I deserve punishment. But why must Scout bear the weight of my sins? I just... I can't wrap my head around it."

  Guardian managed to regain his composure in due time. "I deeply apologize. I hadn't intended to reveal so much. I can only imagine what you must think of me...."

  With Guardian appearing more composed, Azumarill took a moment to gather her thoughts and responded, "There's a lot to unpack there, Dusknoir."

  Guardian offered a feeble chuckle. "Yes, it's true. You don't realize the extent of your troubles until you start discussing them. I would give anything to have Scout back, even if it meant sacrificing my own life."

  Sean had confided something similar to her on a few occasions, though Azumarill chose not to mention it.

  "Losing a child is a fear shared by all parents," Azumarill remarked, briefly thinking about her own children. "Would you like to discuss Meowth?"

  "I... no," Guardian shook his head. "I don't want to, but I understand I should."

  "Are you harboring anger?" Azumarill inquired.

  "Certainly," Guardian barked, his eye ablaze with crimson momentarily before it dimmed, and he slumped. "Indeed, I am seething with anger, Azumarill. The object of my wrath eludes me. Myself? Dialga? Arceus? Whom do I hold accountable for this turmoil? Ultimately, I did betray Dialga to seek redemption for my transgressions. I vanished, fully aware that I had made the righteous choice, even if it meant sacrificing myself and all that I cherished."

  Guardian vigorously shook his head. "Yet here I am, the manipulator, the traitor, the antagonist. Why have I returned when Scout did not? There is no rhyme or reason to it. One would think that an entity as omnipotent as Arceus could have restored Scout's health and body. It defies logic. Why me? For everything I perpetrated, he fought to the end to thwart. Why do I persist, while he does not?"

  Azumarill nodded, recognizing Guardian's inner turmoil. The same question puzzled numerous Pokémon worldwide, an abundance of 'whys' echoing without a solitary answer.

  "So, you're pondering why you've been granted another chance at life?" Azumarill inquired. Guardian nodded. "You feel as though you are undeserving of this opportunity?"

  "No," Guardian replied softly.

  "

  "Not me. My desire to live, of course, was the driving force behind all my actions. The fear of facing death once again was overwhelming, not to mention the prospect of losing Scout. Yet, I must admit, my actions were motivated by my own self-preservation as much as by my love for him. But now, I can't help but wonder, is this my retribution for my selfishness? I would willingly sacrifice my life for Scout without hesitation; that has always been my conviction."

  He sighed deeply and clutched his head, tugging at the sensor. "I'm just so perplexed. Arceus brought us back, and Sean didn't vanish. Why didn't Arceus directly resurrect all of us? Dialga provided only scant information, but surely, if three of us posed a risk to Arceus, how would two more make any difference?"

  "A risk?" Azumarill inquired, her curiosity piqued.

  Guardian paused but eventually nodded. "Dialga's explanations were limited, to be sure. However, it did emphasize that Arceus rarely intervenes in the world, as direct actions from Arceus have always resulted in significant consequences. This raises another question: what did Arceus see in us to warrant our revival? Striker and Saniya, perhaps I can comprehend, but why me?"

  Azumarill had no definitive response, merely transcribing the conversation, and they continued on their journey.

  By the end of the day, Guardian now grasped why Sean appeared so worn out. Vigoroth's training may have been physically demanding, but Azumarill's sessions were emotionally draining.

  Everyone was fatigued as they returned to the guild, and they opted for an early night's rest.

  They were unprepared for what awaited them tomorrow."

  Armaldo roused them from their slumber early that day, briefing them on the mission at hand. Their destination was the Treasure Town school, a place previously unbeknownst to the newcomers, where they were to carry out the teacher's directives for the day.

  Guardian displayed the most reluctance, but Saniya's curiosity was piqued. "I never realized that Pokémon had schools," she remarked, gazing up at Armaldo.

  "It's been a longstanding institution," Armaldo responded. "Though these schools tend to be tucked away. What did you think the young ones did all day?"

  Saniya contorted her face in distaste. Sean had mentioned it before, and she wasn't quite fond of the idea. "Not all day at school," she firmly stated.

  Armaldo kindly escorted them to a nearby waterhole and gestured vaguely in the direction of the trails. "That way."

  Guardian voiced his concern, whispering, "Is it safe for me to venture out this far?"

  "Of course. Team Go-Getters will be there too," Armaldo assured him. Just as he was about to guide them on their way, a rolling Azurill approached.

  "Hi!" Azurill chirped joyfully upon spotting the five of them gathered there. "What are you all up to?"

 

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