George had plenty of time to contemplate during the flight back to safety, preferring his thoughts over Blitzer and Terez’ conversation. They kept themselves busy talking about the mission and the performance, and their growing skill at battling and exploring Mystery Dungeons.

As enthusiastic as Blitzer spoke about conserving resources, picking fights, staying focused and being driven by objectives, George only thought of the questions raised inside Mount Tenebrous. The tether and its origins, the red crystals they’d been tasked with fetching, what became of Sisu and their assailant, and the crowning mystery of all, why every last detail had gotten so foggy. How Blitzer and Sefonia remembered none of the above.

That he could swear Gareda had been on the mountainside when they departed was little more than a footnote in his mind.

Once they touched down inside the Smaugus-controlled village, having circled through the clouds above Snowviary lest they would be spotted, George peeked inside his bag. The crystal inside looked no different than a painted mineral, stripped out of a terrible mountain’s depths. No shining gleams of beauty or value, or even power. He sighed.

‘All this effort can’t have been for a shiny rock…’

“Alright, guys! Me thinks you can take it from here. Allora will be right happy to see you!” Sefonia said, undoing parts of her harness. She resembled any ordinary teenager getting ready to crash on the couch after a long school day, if said teenager was a dragon.

Speaking of dragons, Blitzer stretched his arms well above his head, then dropped them back to tail height. “Don’t you want to be there? You did great, too! We’d never have gotten into the mountain if you didn’t give us a ride!”

Sefonia chuckled. “Aww, don’t be silly! I only ferried you back and forth, what’s that compared to you going into Mystery Dungeons, eh? I’ve got my talents, you’ve got yours! And no one bests Mystery Dungeons quite like you and Mr. Pancakes over there, eh?”

George grumbled under his breath while the dragons laughed it up. “Mr. Pancakes… come on now.”

“Now you’re just talking yourself down!” Blitzer replied, with a flick of his tail. “Like we’d be able to just march straight through the cold, right into that ol’ mountain like it’s my house!” He paused for a moment. “Or well… used to be my house.”

“True!” Sefonia shrugged. “Buuut I have some other stuff to deal with. Terez said she wanted to see me when we got back. Don’t know why, said it’s got something to do with the future. Got all the permissions sorted out and everything.”

“...Wait, Terez? Really?” George’s ears had poked up once he caught wind of the Gardevoir’s name. “She’s barely talked to us since we got here.”

The Dragonite gave George a funny look. “Huh? That’s weird… isn’t she special to you guys? Here to keep an eye on you, at least.”

George clicked his tongue while slowly nodding along. “In theory, yeah. Not that she’s come back on that much, outside of wrangling us by the ear occasionally…” he said, then groaned, “....aand a few psychic practice sessions. That’s about it.”

“Strange… maybe she’s working on something behind the scenes, and she hasn’t had the time for a proper sit down with you guys. It’s not like she’s abandoned us, anything but!” Sefonia fluttered her wings. “In fact, I’d best not keep her waiting right now. If she’s that adamant to talk, well, it might not be according to the code, but it’s probably important.”

“Mhm,” George hummed.

“Hey.” Blitzer pointed one claw at the Dragonite’s arm. A clear scrape ran across it. “What’s that scratch?”

“Scratch?” Sefonia looked, then grimaced. ”Oh, that’s uh… maybe I sat down awkwardly while waiting on you guys. It was a pretty long wait, remember. Anyway, I’d best get going. Totally down to talk with you more later, though! See you!”

By the time Blitzer had said “see you” himself, Sefonia had already taken flight, not so much as sticking around for George to say goodbye. The Dragonite headed into the nearby woods, away from the area of settlement and deeper into the cold, despite her dislike for said cold.

If the whole Smaugus code required Pokemon to meet up in uncomfortable environments, then Terez would’ve had to agree with that. Much as she’d straddled the line with George, this wasn’t something she’d have backed down on.

Whatever the purpose of their meeting, George and Blitzer had their own to attend, which is where they were headed next. Into the main lodge, searched the offices, the main hearth and the mess hall, then the offices and sleeping quarters, the latter usually deserted in the afternoon hours. They didn’t find Allora; rather, Allora found them. She took them back to her classroom with a wide smile and slight bounce to her step.

Their meeting was short. Allora accepted the crystal, congratulated on a job well done, and dodged George’s lone question about what the crystals represented. All she revealed was that they were old heirlooms, and that history had a value greater than all the money in the world. After the crystal, she explained that their next mission was their ultimate objective.

The final piece of the Azure Flute, locked away in a place known only as ‘The Bastion’. By the name alone, George’s imagination dawdled back to the prison-like complex on the edge of Tirasford, a suspicion Allora confirmed moments thereafter. The most heavily guarded location in all of Whitiara, with eyes on every inch of the perimeter. No surprise the flute piece would be kept here. Allora explained that an attack plan had been developed, and that they would learn all about it over the next few days.

Though George had no shortage of questions, Allora shut him down. Just like she shut Blitzer down when he tried to ask his own. Multiple times they tried, and little came of it besides the smile on the Carracosta’s face twitching like a bug’s legs. Kind as her tone may have been, its underpinnings were far darker than what she was letting on. As if she detested having to explain any of this in the first place.

Once the meeting concluded, George and Blitzer retreated to their lodge. It was on the outskirts of the community, a stone’s throw removed from the woods. The trip back and forth for supplies or business always sucked, a fresh layer of snow having fallen from the heavens every time. Apparently, God liked slapping people in the face. And each time, all they could do was roll their eyes.

Luxurious, the lodge wasn’t. Two beds of dried grass, a fireplace, some storage to last through a snowstorm, and a small place to wash. One step above a giant communal hall with zero privacy, sure, but that meant as much as beating a Snorlax in a race.

George crashed onto his bed, and stared at the ceiling while Blitzer got to work stoking a fire. One lick of fire from his jaws later, the hearth blazed. Blitzer laid down as well. George briefly considered laying next to him, but decided against it.

“I guess this is it, huh.” George crossed his legs. “Just the big one, and we’re done here.”

“Just the biggest assignment of our lives, yeah…” Blitzer groaned as he scratched his belly. “Not a moment too soon. Hate it here. Hate all the stupid rules, the rituals, the cold… can’t even go out for a walk without getting people on your case. No offence.”

“No offence taken,” George replied. “At least we got a room for ourselves now… but you know the foster’s home I used to live in? Even that gave more freedom.” He stirred on top of the bed, rolling onto his side. “Feels like it’s been two years since then.”

Blitzer groaned as he placed a claw on his belly. “Hasn’t been that long, can tell you that much… only seems that way ‘cause we keep getting into crazier crap.”

George scoffed. “Swearing, huh.”

The Charmeleon raised an eye. “What? It’s just a word.”

“Of course,” the Dewott replied. “Wasn’t expecting you to say that, though.”

“What were you expecting, then?”

“No swearing. You’re too wholesome to swear.”

Blitzer giggled. “Could throw a pie into your face right now and you’d probably be all like ‘yeaaah… that’s you.’”

George laughed right along with him, kicking his feet back and forth.

“Don’t blame me. I genuinely doubt anyone else would react differently if they’re in my shoes… well, feet.” ‘Not that I’d ignore a damn pie in my face. I’d smear it all over his face. Kiss it into his mouth if I have to.’ “But you’re right about-”

“Before you continue, what are shoes?” Blitzer asked with a grin.

George bit his lip. “Uh. Like a scarf, except for your feet so they don’t get dirty. Anyway, you’re right about getting used to the crazy. My life’s never been normal to begin with, let alone now. What’s a little more insanity on top of what we’ve already experienced going to change? Make it better?” ‘As if.’

Blitzer dropped his head back onto the straws. “You know, George… I wonder how you do it. No matter how ugly or stupid or terrible the situation is, you never seem to back down. Me? I’m just trying to fight through this all… hope there’s light at the end of the tunnel, sure, but other than that?”

He sighed. “Haven’t had a solid place to sleep, no real friends besides you, haven’t found out what happened to my parents… and you just power through all of that. Always ready to fight, always got a big mouth even to people who are on our side… how do you do it?”

George had to take his time to conjure up a response. It was as much of a shot in the dark as Blitzer was making; close as they might be, that Charmeleon knew far from everything. Heck, George knew far from everything. Some might say that years of toiling in that foster’s house gave him a thick skin. Some would say spite, after being pushed around by kids pretending to be his friends. Some might call it determination.

But in the end? Life finds a way even when all odds are against it, and that was the best guess anyone could have.

“Well… when you’ve got no friends or family, and the whole world’s out to get you,” George began, “then there’s no one who’s gonna stand up for what’s right, except yourself. If there’s anything I learned over the last five years, it’s that. And it hasn’t failed me so far. Not while going to school, not in the foster’s home, not while we were getting chased through the woods near Greenfield. Not while we’re alone on the road. Never, really.”

“But we’re not alone, are we?” Blitzer countered. “The Alliance picked us up when we’re down.”

George’s ears went flat against his head. He didn’t have it in him to look Blitzer in the eye, lest he’d break that innocent outlook he had, in spite of everything.

“They’re not gonna be around forever, Blitzer. And I don’t mean that in an offensive way. ‘S a big world we live in. A dangerous one, that’s certain. Imagine we’re on some far end, or deep underground in a dungeon. You can cry until the crows come flying home, but no one’s gonna get you out of there. Because there isn’t anyone there.”

Blitzer sat back upright, groaning. “…Yeah. But that’s if you stray from the path too much. Too far away from society, of course you’re going to get into trouble. But we’ve got the Alliance watching our backs, don’t we? We’re not alone in this world.”

Crossing his arms, George blew air out of his lungs. “I wouldn’t count on the Alliance too much, if I were you.”

“Why not?” Blitzer asked. George bit his cheek.

“Let’s see... Considering they dumped us in the middle of nowhere and told us to hike for four days straight, live underground in a giant bunker, send us out there when I’ve got a target on my back, then send us to go live with the world's creepiest society to make friends?” ‘I say society, but cult is more accurate…’ “Oh, and said society’s about to send us on a suicide mission. Just go attack a giant castle. What could possibly go wrong?”

He gripped at the straws underneath, a repressed bitterness stirring in his veins like black coffee in a mug. ”And that’s just off the top of my head. Ever heard Artanouk talk about me? Goes on these tangents about how I’m special, yet not special at the same time. Not that powerful, but important.”

“I don’t think he means it negatively, George.”

“Not necessarily, no… but you know what, Blitzer? I’ve spent several nights laying awake, just thinking it through. You know what I think he means? That I’m useful, but if I get killed or captured… then that’s that. No need to shed any tears.”

“Now you’re just pessimistic,” the Charmeleon said.

“No…” George softly growled. “Realistic. I’ve seen this attitude plenty. That lackadaisical, uninterested attitude. I recognise it when I see it. Just look at Terez. Or more accurately, don’t look at her. Hasn’t spoken to us since we left that damn bunker.”

Blitzer gulped. “O-okay, I give you that much, but geez… don’t you think she’s got a reason for that?”

“It better be a good one,” George lashed back. “Left us all alone while she’s off doing God knows what. No explanation, no nothing. Meanwhile, what are we doing? Attacking all sorts of crap by ourselves while freezing to death. Next up is a suicide mission. And that’s gonna go with flying colours, ain’t it?”

“Stop. Just stop.”

“Just telling it like it is.”

A growl in his throat, Blitzer got up, then stomped over to George’s side of the room, tail swaying wildly left and right with the flame on the end flickering up and down. George, feeling Blitzer was about to get physical, held up his arm in between them, to little avail. The Charmeleon swatted it away, then grabbed the Dewott by the shoulders, who squeaked as Blitzer’s knees pressed into his side.

“Stop with the pessimism already! Gods almighty, you’re acting like we’re going to get devoured alive any moment now! It’s actually starting to stress me out, George! If you think you’re having a hard time… w-well, I know you do, but I do as well! Do you think I’m happy like this? My parents are still missing! I don’t even know what happened to them! Or where they are?! And how many close friends do I have, outside of you?!”

The Charmeleon’s hot breaths landed on George’s face while he paused. All the while his grip tightened, frightened of what would happen if he let go.

“Stay strong for me, George… If we can’t trust the Alliance, who can we trust? Please… have some faith. Please.”

George’s face glowed red hot, from causes deeper than some hot air getting blown in his face. “O-okay,” he said after a silence that lasted far too long. “I’m sorry. It’s just… all the stress has been getting to me lately. It’s been awful the last couple of weeks, that’s all.” ‘Even though I don’t like to admit it…’

“Just… keep your cool for me, alright?” Blitzer said as he finally let go. “We’ll get through this. We’ll manage like we’ve managed before, right?”

“Right,” George muttered. His first act with his free hand was to place a hand over his heart, whose rhythm had skyrocketed for as long as Blitzer had held him down. “Have faith…”

For the next quarter of an hour, Blitzer kept on trying to convince George of his view. And it wasn’t as if George didn’t understand his point of view. To the contrary, it would’ve been liberating to adopt it, and be freed of all the anxiety plaguing him. But that was far easier said than done.

‘What is Terez even doing right now… What is everyone even doing, really?’

* * *

“So, you’re back.”

Terez stood deep inside the woods, far removed from the Smaugus’ settlement to arouse suspicion. No guards had caught wind of her… so she hoped. The illusions she’d set in the terrain should be enough to throw any off the scent. She’d hidden herself underneath a cloak of snow, sneaking away to meet with someone no one would want to meet.

Before her, a Dusknoir rose from the snow, holding a darkened crystal in his hands. “It is done. This is the original. No one in the Smaugus should notice the difference.”

Terez sighed. “And the boys? You didn’t harm them, did you?”

“Of course not,” Hein answered. “Even if they’d sang that accursed song to me, I wouldn’t have. All I did was put them to sleep, ward them from ferals, then made sure they wouldn’t remember anything.”

Terez gently nodded . “And they won’t have any lasting… effects of this either, will they?”

The Dusknoir took a deep breath, and clasped his hands together while looking into the woods. Terez neither sensed nor heard anything creep up on them, and winced as a result. Hein’s reservedness didn’t come out for no reason whatsoever.

“That Dewott. George. I tried my damndest to replicate the same result. But I could only manage half. Don’t bother to ask why, I cannot tell you for certain. Only that his mind was far too alien to manipulate effectively.”

Terez folded her arms, now also looking away. “Take your pick. A psychic hidden power developing. His human soul. Or just being plain stubborn. He might be a teenager, but my oh my is he strong in the head.”

“...Fantastic,” Hein echoed, letting his arms fall. “We’ll have a hard time convincing him when the time is right, won’t we?”

“Correct. That we do…” Terez fiddled with a lock of her hair. “What more is a rock on top of the mountain? Perhaps it was meant to be darkest before dawn. Spiritually… and literally.”

“C’mon. You know fulwell that’s lame.”

“Mrph!”

A not-so-meek voice sounded behind the Dusknoir’s back. Hein groaned, arms swaying back and forth as something was climbing his back. Terez rolled her eyes.

“You know fulwell what I meant, Sisu.”

The Marshadow’s hands grabbed onto Hein’s shoulder, before she vaulted her legs right over. She sat on the protrusions coming out of his antenna, smiling. “‘Course I do. But you know, staying sane ‘n all that. When you start rationalising everythin’ like you’re a poet? ‘S the beginning of the end, if you ask me.”

Hein rolled his lone eye. “Did we not agree to stop climbing my back?”

Sisu turned her head towards him, then shrugged.“Yeah. Yeah we did. But you were talking. ‘Tis stupid to interrupt. Besides, you don’t like that either,” she said, then ran her hands through the ectoplasm flickering atop head, much like Terez would do with her hair. “So, what about that big ol’ Crest crew back there? Think you got ‘em?”

“Of course I did,” Hein said. “Same treatment as them. With some additional sleep. They should have enough time to make it back before freezing to death. You made sure of this yourself.”

“True.”

Terez took a deep breath. “We need to decide our next move… At this rate, it’ll only be a few weeks. Before everything unravels.”

“Scout out Luminity City. Prepare escape routes… and ways down Mount Stalwart as well,” Hein said. “Our main goal is to get him out of there. Sisu?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you do that?”

“‘Course I can. ‘S pretty easy, really,” the Marshadow said. “People never look inside walls. Should be able to map everything out.”

Hein nodded. “Good. Terez, you ought to find a way to circumvent this Allora somehow… and all the Smaugus cronies trying to block you from seeing the Othersider. Try to see if you can get to his partner in crime, instead. Any would work. They go together.”

The Gardevoir nodded. “Understood. I will do whatever I can… Is that everything?”

“For now, yes,” the Dusknoir said. “Stay in touch. We may have to meet once every two days or so from now on… This time, we will get it right. We will destroy them. I will not have it any other way. ”

With a nod and a wave, Terez and Hein bid each other farewell for now. She vanished into the snowy mists, heading back to her existence within the Smaugus, a weary look on her face. All the while, Hein and Sisu watched… well, the former moreso.

“Y’know… when we were flown off the mountain there, I thought you were that Dragonite for a sec.”

“Why?”

“You’re both equally round.”

Hein shook his head as Sisu smirked at him. “Very funny.”