The sound of dripping water echoed past Auric's ears as he walked through the cave, using his aura to light the path ahead. They had encountered several pokemon, though most seemed keener to run than fight. They recognized his power, as well as that of his Manectric companion.
 
"No sign of the Flareon." he noted back to Volt as he glanced over his shoulder, "This is the seventh floor. I'd have hoped to either see her or the others by now."
 
"Perhaps this is a lesson for the future; stick together." Volt suggested as he sniffed at the air, "I think we've explored most of this floor by now, let's move onto the next."
 
"If you say so." Auric replied before pressing onwards towards the stairway. They had found it already, but the Lucario had been keen on checking the entire floor before they proceeded. "The pokemon of this dungeon seem timid."
 
"They're not particularly strong. I'd wager they came here in fear of what was happening in the Dark Woods." Volt agreed as they walked, his paw splashing a puddle of water as he stepped in it, "I've encountered a few wild pokemon during the nights I've spent out in the forest. They say the area has become too dangerous, and food too scarce." his eyes drifted to the shadows ahead of them, "They have lost their home, and are struggling to find a new one."
 
"You and Rune shouldn't be staying in that hole if it's that dangerous. We have a base now." The Lucario replied, looking back towards the Manectric with some concern.
 
"Our den is where we feel most comfortable, Auric. You needn't worry about us." Volt chuckled at the offer, "Rune is stronger than he appears. Despite our past differences, I'd like to think we've bonded as denmates."
 
"You seem close." Auric said, turning his eyes back to the path ahead.
 
"Not as close as you and I." Volt told him gently. As the Lucario turned to look towards his companion once again he found the dog nuzzling at his hand. The Lucario petted him affectionately in response, "We must meet outside of work. It’s been a while since we were last alone together."
 
"I hope you don't think I've been avoiding you." The Lucario said, a small smile appearing on his muzzle as he rubbed behind the electric-type's ears, "But yes, I would like to spend some time with you again."
 
Volt stared up into his eyes, allowing himself to get lost in them. He longed to kiss the Lucario, to embrace him in the darkness of the cave... but he knew they had missions. The missing Meinshao and Rogue Flareon wouldn't wait for their love. He chuckled and shook his head, "Let's not delay. We can talk later."
 
"I look forward to it." the Lucario replied with a smile as he followed after the Manectric, his tail wagging back and forth as he followed after him. They moved down the stairs to the next floor in unison, and even as the air in the cave grew colder, remembering the tender moment kept Auric warm.
 
* * *
 
Leaf tucked his ears back as he waited by the edge of the path. He and his new companion had managed to find a part of the cave with land off the edge of the path that linked the 'rooms' together, as opposed to the water that seemed to cover the rest of the cave. She had left him for a moment to 'freshen up' while he kept guard.
 
"All clear?" a voice called from behind the rocks.
 
"It is now." Leaf called back, his eyes drifting to the unconscious Dewgong on the path behind him. He had made sure to dress its wounds to ensure it wasn't too sore from battling him. His magical leaves were much stronger than he had anticipated, or perhaps the pokemon was just weaker than he had thought. "Nothing since that Dewgong."
 
"You handled yourself well, I thought I was going to be rescuing you again." the Flareon chuckled as she stepped out from behind the rocks, "I left your friend with his badge. I'll bet he warps out the second he realizes he's alone."
 
"That sounds like something Malus would do." Leaf replied, rolling his eyes before moving to the Dewgong to double-check his work, "And you're sure the Reviver seed is nearby?"
 
"You can check for yourself if you want." She suggested, stickingher tongue out at him playfully before glancing around, "Hey, can I have my bag back now?"
 
"Oh, sure." the Leafeon replied, picking up the bag and holding it out towards the Flareon. He was about to hand it over until he saw the handle of the crossbow poking out for it... slowly he began to move it away from her, "Although."
 
"Although what?" Pepper chuckled, "You're not thinking of stealing a lady's bag are you, Sugar?" she laughed, approaching him as though they were old friends. "Doctor, I'm surprised at you!"
 
"I'm surprised you'd leave me with your weapon." the Leafeon replied, snatching the crossbow from the bag and pointing it towards her. That stopped her in her tracks, and wiped the smile off her face at the same time.
 
"What is this? Are you holding me hostage now?" The Flareon growled, her playful nature disappearing behind her rage as the ember on her tail suddenly turned into a roaring inferno, "I thought you said you'd help me!"
 
"You're the one who forced me to work with you, Pepper." Leaf reminded her, continuing to hold the empty crossbow towards her. He held up one of his glowing magical leafs with his free paw, "I can light my way through this cave with Magical Leaf if I have to, but I'm finding that Meinshao."
 
"What about the treasure?" the Flareon yelled, stomping her paws on the ground before hopping about in a tantrum, "This isn't fair. You tricked me!"
 
"The treasure will be there when we're done saving a pokemon's life." the Leafeon replied, his ears tucking back. Despite everything, he couldn't help but feel guilty about betraying the Flareon. "Come on, Pepper. There must be some way we can both get what we want."
 
"If I agree to this, are you going to give me back my crossbow?" She asked, her ears pinning back against her head. Despite her best efforts at calming down her tail ember continued to burn brightly, leaving Leaf sweating as he stood before her.
 
"Can I trust you with it?" the Leafeon asked back, lowering the crossbow slightly as he reached towards the bag, "I've got a degree in berry science, Pepper. I know what all of these berries do, and I've seen what this crossbow can do with them."
 
"Hmph, of course you do." the Flareon replied slowly, her eyes narrowing on the Leafeon. There was a moment of silence as her eyes darted back and forth, as if discussing her decision with some unseen council. Finally she smiled, "I guess my paws are tied... well played, Leaf. You've got yourself a prisoner."
 
"Really?" The Leafeon blinked in disbelief. Pepper just smiled and nodded as she moved a little closer to him. He tucked the crossbow into his bag, "Alright... then let's look for the Meinshao."
 
"Of course you know that without my weapon, I'm not going to be much help, right?" the Flareon asked as she followed after him. He paused for a moment to hand her bag back to her, "I mean, unless we find something for me to throw, you're pretty much escorting me."
 
"I know, and I don't mind. This dungeon doesn't seem as dangerous as I thought it was... not for a grass type, anyway." the Leafeon replied, tucking his ears back as he grinned sheepishly. "I hope you don't think badly of me, Pepper. I'm just trying to focus on rescuing the pokemon. I'll keep to my word and help you find the treasure afterwards."
 
"You'd better. I kept to mine." the Flareon replied with a grin, seemingly playing off the whole event as a minor inconvenience, "I'm surprised you didn't shoot me the second you got it, I know I would've."
 
The Leafeon just smiled awkwardly in response, though as the Flareon continued to stare into his eyes and grin he eventually broke his straight face, "Heh, well... honestly, I'm not entirely sure of how it works."
 
"Oh, it's easy. I'll show you." Pepper grinned widely, reaching out her paw for the crossbow.
 
"Nice try, Pepper." the Leafeon chuckled in response, handing the Flareon an Oran berry instead as he continued along the path, "Come on, the next floor shouldn't be far."
 
Pepper just smiled to herself as she slowed down, returning to her spot behind the Leafeon. She slipped the Oran berry into her bag, allowing it to join the many others. Once she had the treasure, she'd get her crossbow back by any means necessary.
 
* * *
 
"There's the next stairway." The Lucario said as the light of his aura illuminated it, "No sign of Leaf or Malus though."
 
"We haven't found a Rollcall Orb either, I'm afraid we'll have to continue without them." Volt replied, tucking his ears back as he looked up at his friend, "Don't worry, Auric. We can regroup at the end of the dungeon."
 
"Let's hope they make it that far." Auric agreed as he took his first step into the next floor. The step was cold and wet, and the Lucario gasped as his foot slipped off of it and the edge barely caught the next one. Before he knew it he was rolling down the ice cold steps, bouncing off each before finally landing on his front at the bottom.
 
"Auric!" Volt gasped, running after him only to slip on the steps as well and tumble down the stairs. He landed on Auric just as he was attempting to stand up, the two of them laid against the cold floor of the cave and groaned.
 
"Are you alright?" the Lucario asked, pulling himself out from under the other pokemon and taking a bite out of an Oran berry. He tossed the Manectric one as the canine got to his feet, "I suppose we should have expected the steps to be slippery in a water dungeon."
 
"They weren't just slippery, they were cold." Volt replied, devouring his berry in one bite as he looked over his shoulder. Of course the stairs that they had descended had disappeared, as was the nature of stairways in Mystery Dungeons, "It was almost as though they were covered with..."
 
"...ice." the Lucario finished his sentence. The two pokemon stared at the ice-covered walls around them, the light of Auric's aura bounced off each of them and quickly lit up the entire hallway. The jackal reached over to one of the walls and ran his hand over it, unable to believe what he was seeing, "We may have been wrong about this place being a water dungeon."
 
"I wouldn't be so sure, Auric." the Manectric replied, brushing the frost off one of the walls to reveal the terrified face of a Kingdra, frozen behind the wall of ice, "I think it's far more likely that a pokemon has frozen these tunnels."
 
"What kind of pokemon would do such a thing?" Auric asked, punching at the wall in an attempt to crack the ice... only for his fist to bounce off of it uselessly, "It's tougher than steel. I can't break through it."
 
"Then our question becomes what kind of a pokemon -could- do such a thing." Volt replied, raising an eyebrow as he examined the ice, "Unless we are dealing with multiple pokemon working together, the only kind of pokemon who could create this much ice..." he hesitated, watching his breath as it hung in the air. He finally found the courage to finish his deduction, "...would be a legendary pokemon."
 
"A legendary pokemon? Here?" Auric shook his head in disbelief as he turned back to the path ahead, "Impossible. What reason would a legendary pokemon have to come to a place like this?"
 
"Let's hope we don't find out." Volt replied lowly as he took out his badge, "Auric, you know I don't ask this of you lightly, but I think it's in our best interests to abandon this mission. We can tell your leaders what we've seen here and have them send their best team." the Manectric tucked his ears back, "I don't want to see you end up like these pokemon."
 
"If we do, we risk leaving behind the pokemon we're rescuing, as well as the rest of our team." Auric told him as he began to pace down the ice-covered path, shivering as the cold air of dungeon washed over his fur, "We need to press on, Volt... Arceus protect us."
 
_Arceus will not protect you_
 
Auric stopped in his tracks, the voice left a chill running up his spine. His eyes snapped to the darkness of the room ahead of him, "Who are you?" he called out, "I mean you no harm, I'm part of a rescue team searching for a pokemon."
 
_You have found her_
 
Volt moved to the Lucario's side and lowered himself, his fur sparking with electricity as he prepared to battle, though as light slowly filled the cavern his zeal melted away into horror.
 
The Meinshao was in the centre of the cave, frozen in a pyramid of ice. As their eyes drifted upwards they saw the source of the light, a crystal ball that slowly turned to shine beams of light over the room. Berries began to rise from the ground wherever the beams touched, feeding the timid pokemon who came to retrieve them. Auric raced forward towards the sculpture, his fists blazing with his aura.
 
"Auric, no!" Volt yelled, charging after the Lucario as he began to beat at the ice sculpture in an attempt to free the pokemon trapped inside. A blizzard whipped around the cave, pelting the two pokemon with snow as the Manectric tried to pull his friend back, "We've got to leave here, now!"
 
"Not until we've completed our mission!" Auric growled, punching the ice harder and faster as his fists began to spark with the power of his aura. Chunks of ice began to fall off the pyramid, and the Meinshao inside it began to twitch and shiver as the air finally hit her face.
 
"Nno... no..." she whispered, but the Lucario paid her no mind as he continued to beat the ice that held her. He would free her, he had to save her.
 
_The Jera Stone will not be stolen_
 
The blizzard picked up again, and ice began to cover their legs as Auric continued to pull the sculpture apart and Volt continued to try to pull the Lucario away. He had gotten most of the Meinshao's upper body free, and she was actively trying to pull herself free now. He beat the ice around her lower body to weaken it before reaching out his hand, "Grab onto me, Hurry!" he called.
 
The Meinshao did so without a second thought, and with a hard yank he pulled her out of the ice. He cradled her in his arms before turning back to the way he and Volt had come, only to see it blocked by a large golem of ice. Its seven yellow eyes stared down at the trio as it approached, each step causing the ground to shake.
 
_Trespassers are not welcome here_ it told them, its voice echoing through the cave as it moved closer to them. _You will not leave this place with the Jera stone. Another sanctuary will not be spoiled by your greed_
 
Volt stared up at the pokemon in terror before lowering himself, bowing in submission to the ice-type even as the frost continued to freeze his fur, "I assure you, we had no plans of taking it. We were just rescuing this pokemon, we will say nothing of what we have found here."
 
"The Jera stone..." the Lucario repeated quietly, turning to look back at the crystal ball as it continued to turn in the air, causing berries to grow wherever its lights touched. His eyes widened in disbelief, "Then that would mean-"
 
His body was frozen in ice before he finished his sentence, standing beside the Manectric as he held the lost Meinshao in his arms. The ice golem watched the trio briefly before moving to the nearby wall. He gazed at the crystal as it turned in the air and replenished the dungeon, waiting for the next pokemon who were foolish enough to step into his domain.
 
* * *
 
The Leafeon ducked under the jet of water and swiftly returned fire with his magical leaf, sending the rainbow-coloured leaves flying through the air. The Octillery retreated back into the dark pool of water to avoid being hit once again. After making sure it wasn't coming back, the doctor breathed out a sigh of relief, "I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up."
 
"You wouldn't have to if you gave me my crossbow back." the Flareon reminded him, playing with one of his ears, "But hey, you're the hero here. C'mon, champ! Let's go save a damsel in distress."
 
"Just give me a minute." the Leafeon panted in exhaustion before sitting down, keeping an eye on the pool of water as he rested. "I feel like we've been walking for hours... how many more floors could there be?"
 
"All I know is that the treasure is right at the bottom, and if the Meinshao came in here looking for it, she'll be there too." Pepper replied with a little smile before handing over a Leppa berry, "Eat this, it'll help get back some of that energy."
 
"Oh, thank you." the Leafeon replied, taking the berry. He began to examine it carefully, turning it about before leaning in and sniffing at it curiously.
 
"It's not poison, Leaf. It's just a Leppa berry." the Flareon grinned, her fluffy tail wagging back and forth, "All this time we've spent together and you still don't trust me?"
 
"I don't really know anything about you." the Leafeon reminded her before nibbling at the berry cautiously. Once he was satisfied it wasn't contaminated he finished it, He could feel his stamina returning to him before he even swallowed the last mouthful.
 
"Well, what do you want to know?" Pepper asked, sitting down across from him as she rested one paw over the other. "Ask me anything, I'll give you an answer."
 
"Alright... where did you learn to digest so quickly?" the Leafeon replied, perking his ears as he looked over at her, "It was one thing being able to eat Malus at your size, but you were able to digest him in seconds."
 
"That's your first question? Seriously?" Pepper grinned in amusement, "Well, I suppose I did say you could ask me anything. Alright, I'm a circus freak." she chuckled, "They call me 'Perplexing Pepper; the Flareon with the stomach of a Snorlax'."
 
"You're lying." The Leafeon replied bluntly.
 
"If I am or not, you're not going to believe me, are you?" the Flareon murred as she reached into her bag. After a moment of reaching around she finally took out a flyer and handed it to him. It appeared to be a picture of three Pansear holding her up as a charizard roared in the background among some other fire-type pokemon, the words 'Inferno Circus' were written in bright yellow letters above it. "We're travellers, I guess it makes sense you never heard of us."
 
"If you're travellers, then you were lying before." the Leafeon blinked, "You said you were getting the treasure to bring your town back from the brink of famine... so, which is it?"
 
"It's complicated, and it's both." the Flareon replied with a shrug before putting the flyer away and standing up. "You wouldn't understand."
 
"Try me." the Leafeon offered. He moved to stand up, only to feel a sharp tug on his tail. He gasped and gripped onto the stone path as he looked over his shoulder. The Octillery from before was slurping up his Leafy tail, and now that it had been seen its tentacles curled around to hold the Leafeon's legs in place, "Pepper!"
 
"Leaf!" The Flareon gasped, racing over and grabbing onto his forepaws. Try as she might, she couldn't pull him away from the Octillery's vice-like grip. The turret-like mouth was now rapidly reaching the Leafeon's waist, and sprayed ink over his body in order him go down easier, "I can't hold on!"
 
"Pepper, your crossbow!" Leaf called out, struggling to get his paws free long enough to open his bag. The contents spilled out onto the stone platform... some berries, his badge, and the Flareon's crossbow landed before the Flareon. "T-take it and get out of here. I'll be fine, I've got a Reviver seed."
 
"You've got to be kidding me!" the Flareon snapped, yanking the Leafeon's forepaws as she tried to get him free. The octopus began to pull back, determined to get its prey under the water, and with one final spray of ink the Leafeon became too slippery to hold onto. The Flareon's paws came free and the predator and its prey disappeared with a loud splash.
 
The Leafeon continued to struggle as the light of the path gradually disappeared from view. The tentacles moved about him, squeezing him tightly and lathering over his face as they pushed it down, forcing him the rest of the way into the hungry snout of the pokemon with a loud slurp. The warmth of the Octillery's body was almost a welcome retreat from the freezing water, but he didn't want to give up without a fight.
 
He pulled his head free from the snout once again, but a tentacle quickly moved to push it back inside as he felt the throat ripple around him and draw his back legs into the pokemon's stomach, threatening to take the rest of him with them with the next gulp. He closed his eyes and awaited it, feeling the pokemon sucking and slurping over him as it became convinced it wouldn't lose it's well-earned prey. Light began to shine on the other side of the Leafeon's eyelids, leaving him opening them to see what would come next. Through the murky ink around the Octillery, he could see a bright light coming towards them.
 
The glowing yellow bolt connected with the Octillery, causing it to squirm and splash in the water before spitting out the Leafeon in order to make its escape. The doctor watched as it fled, leaving a trail of black ink behind it, only to feel something new gripping him... a firm rope. He began to move back to towards the surface in short, jerking motions until finally a paw reached in and grabbed him by his labcoat.
 
"I've got you, Doc." the Flareon gasped, pulling the Leafeon onto the path and untying the rope. She began to feel him over, checking that he was still breathing before glancing into the water, "You alright? Where's the Octillery?"
 
"It's gone, it ran off after the first bolt." the Leafeon replied breathlessly, coughing up some water before shivering as he pulled his soaked labcoat around himself, "Th-thanks for rescuing me, Pepper."
 
"Hey... you'd have done the same for me." the Flareon replied, pulling the Leafeon into a hug. While it seemed affectionate at first, Leaf quickly realized the practicality of what Pepper was doing as her fur began to get hotter and hotter, until finally it seemed to dry him completely. She let the Leafeon go and put her crossbow back on her harness, "I think I see the stairs up ahead."
 
"O-oh, you do?" the Leafeon blinked, trying to gather his things and put them back in his bag. He paused for a moment to look up at the Flareon, "You... still want to work together then?"
 
"Sure, We're going the same direction... plus we make a good enough team." the Flareon replied, making her way forward as the Leafeon stumbled after her, "Call me crazy but... I want to keep this up. I help you, you help me. Together, there's nothing we can't do."
 
"That sounds good to me." the Leafeon grinned in response, following after her with new-found confidence. They reached the stairs and both took their first step. "Together, there's nothing we can't accomplish." he announced proudly... only to slip on the icy step and fall down the stairs into the next floor.
 
His head hit the ground at the bottom, and the world quickly became cold around him. As his consciousness faded he felt a warmth washing over him, one that both keeping him safe and lulling him to sleep.
 
 
* * *
 
"Hey... Leaf."
 
The Leafeon stirred as the paw prodded his face. "Leaf, hey." the voice repeated. Leaf blearily opened his eyes, finding himself staring up at the yellow fluffy chest of the Flareon on top of him. "Oh good, you're awake... I can give you the good news." she grinned widely, "I don't need your help after all."
 
"Wh..?" the Leafeon mumbled in response, reaching up a paw to her. Pepper took the hint and climbed off of him, allowing him to roll onto his front and see the icy path ahead of them. His eyes widened in disbelief, "I-ice?"
 
"Yeah, bummer. At least you brought a coat though, right?" Pepper replied, taking a few steps forward before looking back over her shoulder at the Leafeon, "I wouldn't lay down for too long, without my fur you're going to freeze yourself to the floor."
 
"Ah!" Leaf leapt up in response before struggling to keep himself upright on the slippery ice floor. Finally he steadied his balance and made his way after the Flareon, "I don't understand... why would all this ice even be here?"
 
"I dunno... I had a hard time melting it with my fire though. Whatever made it is one tough ice-type, or a pretty severe freak snowstorm." she replied with a shrug, "But I found the treasure in a room up ahead, your friends are there too. Looks like they found the Meinshao."
 
"They did?" the Leafeon asked before breaking out into a sprint as he bolted up the corridor to greet them. Finally, he'd be able to tell Auric and Volt about his adventure, how he had managed to hold himself. As he turned the corner he could see three figures standing in the room ahead of him, "Volt, Auric!" he called out, only to yipe as he was suddenly pulled back.
 
"Are you nuts? There could be traps all over this place." the Flareon whispered, letting go of his coat before taking her crossbow off her harness. She loaded it with a yellow berry and shot it into the room, illuminating the frozen faces of Leaf's allies, as well as the unfortunate Meinshao, as it met its mark against the wall, "See what I mean?"
 
"Th-they're frozen solid." the Leafeon gasped, tucking his ears back as the chill of the cave began to fill him once more. "A-are they going to be alright?"
 
"You tell me, you're the doctor." Pepper replied dismissively, though as the Leafeon glared at her she shook her head, "They'll be fine. We've just got to get some Rawst berries to them. You can do that while I get my reward." she said, pointing upwards.
 
Leaf's eyes followed her paw beyond the frozen pokemon to the sculpture behind them. He continued to look up it until finally he saw the shining crystal ball at the top, turning in place and spreading light around the room. "That looks like..."
 
"It looks like the treasure I'm looking for." Pepper finished his sentence with a smile, "Most Mystery Dungeons seem to have them... I imagine the Guild is the reason for the ones that don't."
 
"R-right." the Leafeon replied, trying to act as if he had never seen anything like it before. He turned to look over at the Flareon, "So, with that, your town or... circus, won't starve?" the Leafeon asked. He never really had gotten a confirmation on which it was, though it hardly seemed to matter now that his friends needed him.
 
"...yeah." Pepper replied absently, lowering her head until her face was covered by her hat. She seemed lost in thought for a moment, though before long she was back to her old self, "You got Aspear berries?"
 
"Of course." the Leafeon replied, taking out three of the berries. Pepper handed him her crossbow before he could continue his train of thought. He took it nervously and looked it over, "I don't know how to work this thing, Pepper. You never showed me how to change the berries into bolts."
 
"There's a catapult attachment," the Flareon replied, flipping up a wooden panel before pulling it back. She loaded one of the berries onto it before nodding, "Point and shoot." she said, taking a few steps into the room.
 
"But the berry didn't change, it's not even glowing." the Leafeon replied, glancing down at the crossbow. It felt strange aiming a weapon at his friends, but even if it hit them, it was just a berry... right? He raised it cautiously towards Auric before squeezing the trigger.
 
The berry soared through the air and into the Lucario's side, bursting on impact and spreading its juice over him. Auric's aura began to glow as the ice was weakened, and he quickly shook off the remainder. His eyes fell on Leaf, only to shift to the Flareon. "You!" he growled.
 
"Oh hey, I remember you." Pepper grinned up at the Lucario, "Hey, I'd love to catch up, but I'm kind of in a hurry. Could we reschedule? How's Tuesday look for you?"
 
"I'm afraid I can't let you leave. The guild has declared you a criminal, and it is my sworn duty to bring you in." Auric replied solemnly as a pole of bright light suddenly appeared in his arm. He took on a defensive stance and began to move towards her, "This will be a lot quicker if you don't fight."
 
"Auric, wait!" the Leafeon yelled, quickly firing an Aspear berry to Volt before racing over to the Lucario's side, "Pepper has been helping me get through the dungeon. She's just here trying to get the treasure, she didn't mean anyone any harm."
 
"If that's so, then where is Malus?" Auric replied, looking down at the Leafeon.
 
"...Whoops." Pepper coughed into her paw and fiddled with her harness in a vague attempt at covering the pudgy stomach the Persian had left her with. "Sorry about that. If it's any consolation, he wasn't very good. I'd give him two stars, maybe a little more if he washed his fur."
 
The Lucario's aura flared as he growled in response, though as he moved to charge towards the Flareon he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Leaf's vines were firmly wrapped around his feet, preventing him from moving forward. "Malus is fine, Auric. He tried to eat me, but Pepper ate him before he could. He'll get out of here the moment his reviver seed kicks in, no doubt."
 
"He betrayed you?" Auric asked, folding his ears back in disappointment as he shook his head, "I see... That is unfortunate." ...the Leafeon almost regretted telling him, the Lucario looked crestfallen at the news.
 
"It's clear he needs more discipline, I'm sure you can administer it when we get back." Volt noted, carrying the Meinshao on his back as he made his way over to the rest of the group. "But we cannot delay this rescue any longer. No doubt this pokemon needs treatment immediately, and I don't want to risk getting caught in another blizzard."
 
"So we're all agreed, this place sucks." Pepper agreed with a nod before snatching her crossbow out of the Leafeon's paws, "It's been great working with you, Parsley. Try to stay safe, alright? Maybe pick your friends a little better." she told him before beginning to move towards the ice sculpture in the centre of the room.
 
"How did you all get frozen anyway?" Leaf asked, removing his vines from Auric's legs as he glanced up at the Lucario.
 
"We found the Meinshao frozen in ice... we approached her, and then a blizzard suddenly kicked up around us." Auric said, closing his eyes as he tried to remember, "It's strange... there was a presence in the blizzard. An aura I've never seen the likes of before." he paused, turning his eyes towards the Flareon climbing up the sculpture. His eyes widened in alarm as he saw the snow beginning to move through the air once more, gradually picking up speed, "No!"
 
"Huh?" The Flareon glanced over her shoulder as she heard the shout, only to let out a cry as the whirlwind engulfed her. Her orange fur quickly disappeared behind the wall of icy wind created by the blizzard.
 
"Pepper!" Leaf yelled out, moving to help the pokemon only to find himself stopped as a gargantuan figure emerged from the blizzard. The ice-like golem stared down at the small pokemon.
 
_You are not welcome here._ It spoke in a low, booming voice. _Leave this place_
 
"Regice..." Auric muttered, glancing over at Volt before dispersing his Bone Rush staff and taking his guild badge out from his bag, "Leaf, we need to leave immediately!"
 
"But Pepper's still in there!" Leaf yelled back over the blizzard, turning back towards the pokemon just in time to see its eyes lighting up. He gasped and leaped out of the way as the ice beam hit where he once stood, leaving sharp shards of ice piercing the floor. It slowly turned to look at him again.
 
_You will not take the Jera Stone_ it bellowed in a firm, monotonevoice. Its eyes began to light up for a second attack, but before it could release it the Leafeon leaped into the blizzard. _You will leave, or you will join the ice_
 
"We need to do something, we can't let him fight Regice by himself." The Manectric said, glancing up at the Lucario beside him. As he felt the weight of the Meinshao on his back he looked back towards her, "But we can't leave her unguarded."
 
"You can't fight legendaries... I fear Leaf will learn that soon enough." the Lucario tucked his ears back, his fingers digging into his badge, "I can retrieve him and warp him out if things get too bad, but I will not aid him in this heresy."
 
"Is following orders so important to you?" Volt shook his head in disbelief. The Lucario didn't respond, he only watched as Regice reached its arms into the blizzard, punching at random spots in the hopes of finding either of its targets.
 
 
_You cannot hide. You can only run. Please, leave this place immediately_ it continued in its monotone voice. Leaf ducked as the fist smashed into the ice just above his head and groped around at the sculpture before retracting beyond the blizzard once more to prepare for another punch.
 
"Pepper?" Leaf called, carefully beginning to climb up the structure. He struggled to keep his footing on the slippery ice, and his vines became almost useless when it came to holding him up. He knew Pepper would be somewhere near the top, he could still see the treasure shining at the peak of the sculpture, a beacon of light in the terrifying darkness of the ice storm.
 
"Warp home, Leaf!" the Flareon's voice called back as she climbed, using her crossbow like an ice pick as she continued up the sculpture, "You've got what you came for. Get out of here before you get hurt."
 
"It isn't worth it, Pepper!" Leaf yelled, barely managing to scamper up before the fist connected with the ice beneath him and removed his way back. He climbed a little higher and finally saw the Flareon's fluffy tail in the icy chaos around them, "Just come with us, we can warp you out and get you back to Clearspring."
 
"I'm not leaving without the treasure." Pepper growled in determination, her paw finally reaching the top of the sculpture. She pulled herself onto it before tugging at her crossbow, only to find the Leafeon's paw grabbing onto it. She shook her head dismissively before turning to bask in the light of the crystal ball. "It's mine... finally. After all the crap I've had to go through, it's mine."
 
_It is not yours. It will never be yours._
 
The icy fist slammed into the Leafeon's back, causing him to let out an ear-piercing yelp as the pain shot through his body. He couldn't move, he could barely even hang onto the crossbow. The ice left over from the punch was rapidly engulfing his lower body and freezing him to the sculpture. He looked up at the Flareon weakly, "Pepper... please..." he begged, barely able to hang on as his body ached from the blow.
 
The Flareon stared down at Leaf, her inner conflict blazing in her eyes as she found herself caught between reaching for the crossbow to pull Leaf up, or reaching for the treasure. She bit her lip and turned her back on the Leafeon, taking the crystal in her paws. She sat down, her tail brushing against the ice sculpture as she reached around in her bag, probably just trying to make room for her new treasure. Leaf's ears wilted as the ice moved up his body, covering his paw and freezing over the crossbow. "...Why?" he whispered.
 
"Because," the Flareon replied, turning back to the Leafeon to reveal the bundle of Occa berries she held, still shimmering as the light of the crystal ball's magic faded from them. "I needed some ammunition for my Natural Gift."
 
"Natural... gift..?" the Leafeon asked weakly, frost rapidly covering over his face, though as he closed his eyes to give in to the ice, he felt a berry being shoved into his open mouth. All at once the ice began to melt off of him, leaving him clinging to the ice with his paws instead. He rolled the berry about in his mouth and tasted the sour juice of the Aspear berry, of which Pepper held the other half. She tossed it aside and took an Occa berry instead, which began to glow in her paw as all her crossbow bolts had before... and with a little smile she pushed his head to send him sliding down the side of the sculpture.
 
He burst through the blizzard and out the other side, narrowly avoiding being stepped on by the Regice as he did so. As he slid to a halt in front of the others he was treated to a view of the spiralling blizzard. Glowing Occa berries would fly out of the blizzard and hit Regice, exploding into balls of blazing fire on impact. It staggered back and the blizzard began to die down, revealing the Flareon standing at the top of the sculpture. She yanked her crossbow out of the ice and slipped the crystal ball into her bag before grinning widely.
 
_You cannot leave with the Jera Stone... you are not worthy of its power_ The Regice spoke, its voice shaking the cave as it crackled from the damage it had sustained, _Return the Jera Stone to the shrine._
 
"Hmm..." the Flareon tapped her chin as she considered the offer, only to take out an Escape Orb. "Nah." she replied, tossing the orb onto floor at her feet. The room was filled with a blinding flash, and Pepper was gone, leaving nothing behind but a broken orb.
 
"I hope you're proud of yourself, Leaf." Auric glared down at the Leafeon, "You've allowed a criminal to leave with a powerful treasure, and upset a legendary in the process."
 
"I'm not so sure he's upset about the criminal getting away, Auric." Volt replied as he looked towards the Regice. It stood there, motionlessly watching as the ice covering the cave began to melt. The pokemon that had been frozen to the walls were free once more, and soon the water began to rise in the small cave.
 
_I have failed to give you a sanctuary_ it spoke softly, moving towards the ice sculpture. It rested its hand against it, feeling the ice gradually becoming water between its block-like fingers. It turned to the three, its expression nor voice revealing any emotion, _Do you know what you have done?_
 
"N-no..." the Leafeon tucked his ears back, unable to comprehend what was happening, "What is the Jera stone for? Was it how you were able to keep this place covered in ice? The way you were able to freeze the pokemon who came here?"
 
_Freeze... no. Keep safe. So I could prepare their new home._ The Regice replied, the water now reaching its ankles as the Leafeon found himself getting picked up by Auric just to keep him out of the water. Volt stood as tall as he could and adjusted the Meinshao on his back, positioning her closer to his head to keep her from the water. _The Jera Stone needed time to grow the berries... when it was done, I would release the waters and send the berries throughout the cave._
 
Leaf's eyes widened as he watched the berries that had previously been lined around the walls go back towards the tunnel, some floated into holes in the walls while others joined the flow of the water towards the rivers. It wasn't the chamber of a 'boss pokemon', it was a garden. "...You were growing the berries here." he muttered in understanding, "What will happen without the Jera stone?"
 
_The berries will run out. And the Sanctuary will cease to be... safe_ the Regice replied slowly, watching as the last of the sculpture was swept away by the water. He moved and stood in its place. _I will remain here. Perhaps I will be able to restore order should chaos ensue._
 
"I-I'm so sorry." the Leafeon tucked his ears back, his heart so heavy with guilt he couldn't even keep his head up. As the water began to splash at Volt's face he realized just how high the water level had become. He leaned away from the Lucario, reaching out towards the Regice in desperation. "I-I promise, I'll find a way to fix this. I'll find a way to bring it back."
 
_You cannot remain here._ The Regice told them, _If you wish to return, you must first leave before the water takes you._
 
"Leaf." Auric looked down at the Leafeon before taking out his badge. The Leafeon nodded in response, giving one last apologetic look to the Regice before the light engulfed the four pokemon and sent them back to Clearspring, leaving the cave to be completely submerged in water.
 
* * *
 
Leaf breathed out a sigh as he wrapped the last bandage over the Meinshao. She hadn't woken up yet, but her friend had seemed to be relieved to see her in one piece. They were a Weavile called Noir, a member of team Apogee, who were another adventuring team in Clearspring. They had come from Heart Isle, the same place as the Meinshao, apparently named 'Mina'. Leaf had talked to him for a while, but had to cut the conversation short as visiting hours ended... even doctors had to rest once in a while.
 
The memories of what had happened in the dungeon hadn't left him, and he had been avoiding going to his garden to keep himself away from the Rainbow Lense. How could he have been so careless with something so powerful?
 
"Hey..." A familiar voice came through the door, hushed to avoid waking the sleeping Meinshao. Cyn stepped into the clinic and closed the door behind him, "Malus just got back. He seemed pretty flustered about 'getting ditched', but given the circumstances he doesn't really get to complain about that."
 
"O-oh, I'm glad to hear he got back alright." the Leafeon replied, putting on the best smile he could muster... which was weak at best. The Liepard apparently didn't mind though, she chuckled and returned it with a slightly more believable smile.
 
"Auric had him over his knee for the way he treated you. If he hadn't been such a jerk, I might feel bad for the guy." Cyn told him before stepping closer and pulling the Leafeon into a hug, "I'm sorry it's been such a rough day. You tried your best."
 
"I got played for a fool. Pepper is out there somewhere with a Rainbow Lense, the Waterfall Cave is going to become another dangerous Mystery Dungeon, and the Winners are going to be the ones who get blamed." he looked up at the Liepard, hugging her back like a frightened child as he sniffled, "It's all my fault."
 
"Leaf... when you set out today, you had one mission." The Liepard told him softly as she began to rock him back and forth to sooth him, "You were going to go into the Waterfall Cave, and you were going to find the lost Meinshao and bring her back home, safe and sound."
 
Leaf looked up at Cyn, and then over to the bed where the Meinshao slept peacefully. The Liepard nipped at one of his ears playfully before running her paw over his back, before purring soothingly into his ear. "So what if the guild thinks we failed? We completed our mission, we rescued the pokemon we went in to rescue... if they're going to yell at us for it, maybe we're better off without them."
 
"H-heh... well, let's not go that far." the Leafeon smiled nervously at up her. She responded by giving him a gentle kiss on the nose, though it did little to comfort him as he looked out the window, "I haven't brought the lense in yet."
 
"I'll grab it if you want me to. From what I've heard, you could use a break from studying it." the Liepard replied, making her way towards the door, "Take the day off tomorrow, Leaf. I want you to put all your focus into your patients."
 
"Thanks for understanding, Cyn." The Leafeon breathed out a sigh of relief. He made his way over to the Meinshao and moved a blanket over her to keep her warm. "Have a good night."
 
"Goodnight Leaf." she replied, closing the door behind her. The Leafeon breathed out a sigh before looking over at Mina once more. What was she doing so deep in the Waterfall Cave? Was she looking for the same treasure that Pepper had been? ...the questions could wait until the morning, no doubt she'd have plenty for him as well.