"AHHHH!"
Sunflora's loud shout jolted all the guild apprentices awake. They scrambled out of their huts and cautiously looked around the surroundings.
"What's wrong, Sunflora? Is there an ambush?"
"N-no. They, they're back!"
"What?!"
Everyone followed Sunflora's gaze. Seeing the figures emerging from the forest's entrance, their eyes began to turn red.
"G-Guildmaster, everyone, you're alright!"
Tears welled up in Dugtrio's eyes. Seeing them survive, a huge weight that was pressing on his chest for 'abandoning' them was lifted.
"Heya! Our Guild Expedition is a success!"
Wigglytuff stepped forward, a cheerful smile on his face as he made the announcement. The apprentices cheered, running towards the five of them and jumping around in celebration.
…
"So it wasn't Groudon guarding Fogbound Lake, but another Legendary Pokemon named Uxie?"
At midnight, everyone in the Guild gathered around the campfire. Pikachu had just finished telling the story of what happened after Dugtrio left- how they defeated the illusion of Groudon, and then Uxie appearing and giving them 'puzzles'.
"Hey hey, if Guildmaster asked for the most delicious apple, and Chatot about how to make the guild stronger, what did the four of you ask?"
"Well…"
Pikachu grinned. His body zoomed to a nearby tree, circling around it then returning to the stump where he was sitting all within 3 seconds.
"Uxie gave me knowledge on how to better use Agility. If you guys have any questions about the move, then don't hesitate to come ask me."
Dante nodded in satisfaction as he looked at Pikachu's performance. After practicing Agility based on the knowledge Uxie gave him, Pikachu can already use the move without needing much preparation. The boost in speed also increased from the initial 20% to 30%.
And that was only after a few hours of training. If he can make full use of the knowledge Uxie gave him, Pikachu will be able to master Agility in no time.
"Hehe, and look at this."
Pikachu grinned as his body began to crackle with small arcs of electricity.
"Golly, what's that? You're glowing!"
"This is another use of my Lightning Rod Ability. I still can't fully control it, but according to Uxie, this should allow me to activate the Ability by myself."
"Amazing!"
"Oh, me next!"
Teddiursa hurriedly jumped from Dante's side when he saw Pikachu finish showing off. He scrunched his face in concentration before running around the campfire.
"L-look! I can run so fast!"
The guild apprentices looked in amusement as they saw the brown, bear Pokemon just running at a normal pace and doing nothing else. Still, they hollered and cheered him on.
"Psst, Dan. What did Teddiursa receive from Uxie?"
Chimecho saddled up next to Dante. She dotingly looked at the silly bear who was laughing at being praised by the other apprentices.
"Hmm, it's a method to activate his Quick Feet Ability without the need to be under a status ailment. It's a hard thing to do though. According to Uxie, only a few Pokemon in history could learn it."
"Is that so?"
Dante and Chimecho chatted until Teddiursa, who got tired of running, plopped down between the two.
"Azumarill, how about yo- ow! Hey!"
Loudred glared at Pikachu who slapped him on the back. However, the yellow rodent also had a dissatisfied expression. He looked across and sighed with regret when he saw Azumarill looking over.
"Hmm? What?"
On the opposite log, Azumarill and Sunflora sat together with almost no distance between them. Hearing his name, Azumarill looked up from his discussion with Sunflora.
"Erm, we're talking about what you learned from Uxie."
Loudred gulped as he felt Sunflora's baleful glare. Scary! He didn't know his fellow apprentice had such a frightening side!
"Ah. Hmm, I learned this."
Azumarill stood up and assumed a boxing stance. Ice covered his right fist and he punched at the ground. Azumarill made sure to control his strength, causing only a small pothole that was coated in ice.
"So, you chose Ice Punch?"
"No. Wait, I'll repeat it once more."
Azumarill returned to the boxing stance. His left fist was encased in ice, and he punched down, causing a slightly larger pothole.
"I asked for knowledge about Power-up Punch. And although it's a little slow right now, I can merge its effects with other punching moves."
"Oh my~ you're so amazing, Azumarill!"
Sunflora didn't miss this opportunity to compliment her crush. She pulled him to sit on the log beside her again, smiling in glee when he offered no resistance.
"Uhh, so, how about you, Dante?
"Hmm, I only got this."
Dante smiled, the air beside him blurring before another Hisuian Zorua appeared with the same smile.
"Ohhhh! You can make an illusion outside of your body now."
"Well, yes. And it can also do this."
The fake Zorua walked around the fire under Dante's control. Its steps left footprints on the ground, and the light from the campfire gave it shadows.
Bidoof stepped forward in wonder, lightly touching the illusion. However, when his paws came in contact with it, he jumped back in surprise.
"Golly! I-is this really an illusion? I swear I felt something just now."
"Hmm. I learned Uxie's methods of making solid illusions. However, I can't make it use moves, or launch any sort of attack yet."
Dante flicked his tail, and the illusion shattered like glass, scattering in the air before disappearing.
"Wow! Can you make an illusion of me?"
"Oh! And me, too!"
Everyone continued to ask about what Dante and the others found on Fogbound Lake. However, since it was already past midnight, Chatot urged the apprentices to sleep for the return journey tomorrow.
…
Inside their tent, Dante, Pikachu, Azumarill, and Teddiursa continued talking about their adventures today. Seeing Dante was a bit distracted, Pikachu asked.
"Dan, are you still worried about what Uxie said? Don't worry, I'm sure the Federation can catch them soon."
"Huh? Ah, no. It's just…I'll tell you guys later. There's something we need to talk about. Come on, let's return."
Dante looked in the direction of Fogbound Lake where Uxie resided, his face grim as he remembered their earlier conversation.
*Flashback starts*
"By the way, Uxie, do you know why the time around the world is getting weird lately?"
On the rocky terrain where they battled Groudon, Dante suddenly asked just as they were about to leave.
"You've already used up your opportunity to ask…however, as you're an exploration team, I'll make an exception this time."
Uxie looked at Dante, then Wigglytuff and the others, before nodding in approval.
"A Legendary Pokemon from the future abused its powers and traveled back to this period. I don't know their purpose, but I know they have been responsible for taking the Time Gear in Treeshroud Forest."
"That was them?!"
Chatot and the others were surprised. They didn't expect to find a hint about the identity of the criminal Magnezone told them about. And their background being associated with a Legendary Pokemon and coming from the future wasn't something to scoff at, either.
"Yes. Therefore, it would be best to inform your higher-ups about this. The sooner they return the Time Gear and return to their timeline, then the sooner time will return to normal."
"I see. Thank you for telling us."
Chatot nodded gratefully at Uxie. Time becoming weird has become a problem that affects the entire continent. Not to mention Pokemon being unable to evolve, it also caused panic to grow in some Pokemon outside and inside the dungeon.
If they aren't able to solve these problems soon, then panic may begin to spread at a rapid rate. However, since they've already learned the cause and effect, the Exploration Federation now has an effective course of action against stopping those criminals.
And while Chatot and the others were thanking Uxie for the information, Dante dumbfoundedly stared at him.
When asking this question, his main goal is to know why Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf did not just take the Time Gear themselves and confront Dialga to repair the tower.
He didn't expect Uxie to not even know the real reason. Instead, he blamed Grovyle and Celebi for disrupting the time. The two who came from the future to repair it.
How come he knows so many things about the world but not about the God of Time becoming crazy? Or is it because Dialga was created much earlier and is more powerful than Uxie, that he became a blindspot?
And also, maybe the thought that someone as powerful as Dialga becoming crazy hasn't even crossed Uxie's mind.
Dante opened and closed his mouth several times, wanting to refute Uxie's statement. However, as he looked at the harmless-looking Legendary Pokemon, Dante decided not to risk it.
He's already thankful that Uxie kept his promise and didn't read his mind. There's no need to open his mouth and arouse this Pokemon's suspicion.
*Flashback ends*
After returning to the human world, Dante looked at Pikachu, Azumarill, and Teddiursa.
"Well then, it's about time I tell the three of you the God we will face in the future."
A/N: The Guild Expedition finally ended! Dante and his Pokemon got another power-up, but will it be enough to face the Legendary God of Time? Anyway, there'll be an interlude or two before we get to the next arc, which is their first venture into the Pokeportal. As always, thank you for reading!
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