FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 8.

The actual matter of lifting the satellite up into the air took only about five minutes; three of Rook standing in front of the cone like device as he focused his power, and then two of watching the spire of rock and earth he summoned lift it steadily up into the air, the rocky ground just rising up as a cone continuously, changing colors as deeper layers of earth were dragged up.

Just as Rook was worried he was going to have to try and fill in more earth to use than what he had already infused, he finally got confirmation that the satellite was now adrift in the atmosphere of the planet. With a wave of his yellow glowing paw, the large spire began to sink back down into the ground just as fast as it had risen, filling back in the pockets of space below that it had left as it rose.

The nonchalant way in which he performed this feat had quite a few of the townsfolk in awe, watching the pillar sinking back into the ground as the Lycanroc approached Riley, Enzlo, and Ruli, who were pondering over a nearby computer that Riley had someone bring from the island the day before.

With a few light taps and presses on the computer's many buttons, Riley then pulled a hanging monitor off the side of the terminal and into view. "And behold, for the first time ever, your planet!"

One last press of the monitor's power, and the screen flickered on to show a bright blue sphere with three large land masses upon it. One was about twice the size of the other two, with large and bright blue oceans between them. With another button press, a small red light started to flash upon one the edge of one of the landmasses.

"Here's where we are." Riley stated, pointing at the red spot. He began to tap a few more buttons rapidly as he spoke, "Annnnnd by forcing a reverse correlation to Jack's DNA; because him being as control freaky as he was he put a backdoor into all of his systems that only he could access by feeding a hair into the scanner..."

On the planet, another small light, this time blue, appeared on one of the other landmasses. Blinking at the same time as the red one, though it shifted slightly deeper inland after a few seconds."And there's Jack."

Rook narrowed his eyes at the blinking blue dot, as Enzlo turned his head to Ruli. "Do you know anything about the other continent?"

The Lucario shook his head, "No, I've lived here my entire time in this world, it is not easy to travel far fast here. I tried to ask about other lands to many others but I get pretty much the same answer; When the pokemon came to this world so long ago many of the species went separate ways, packs of pokemon took up territory all across the land, some, without the assistance of humans care for them, died out naturally... No one could tell me who all are living on the other continents right now. There's no direct communication between this continent and them and it has never been asked for or needed, until now."

Rook examined the landmass on which the blue dot was on as Ruli explained this. The entirety of the continent was just as large as this current one they were on, but the area's significant difference was that the land was split into five parts by rivers of water that snaked their way through it to the center. It was covered in larger mountains here and there, and the blue dot that resembled Jack was currently located at the base of one of these.

"The only things that I know about this continent in particular is that it's been cultivated by those who decided to live there to allow the many rivers to run through to the center where you see this larger lake in the middle." Ruli would continue, pointing to the large circular body of water between the five land masses that made up the continent. "Many water types live there that can't survive out in the open ocean as easily, as well as the several others still living on the land."

"They don't live as clans like I've understood most families do here though." Ruli rubbed his chin, "The villages there are like the coastal town here, where pokemon of many different kinds have come together to create their communities. A lot of them are exiles from their clans or descendants of those who were exiled I bet."

"I thought exiled pokemon were not allowed to sire offspring?" Enzlo asked.

Ruli shrugged, "By the rule, yes. But when you're halfway across the world from your clan, who can stop you?"

"Fair point." Enzlo admitted, looking back at the monitor, just in time for the blue dot to suddenly blink and move to the base of an entirely different mountain on the continent.

Rook growled, "How-"

Riley interjected, "Vane is teleporting him around to the different mountains."

"Vane always said that he knew that my aunt hid the Mirrors they stole in a mountain, but that he didn't know on what one." Ruli nodded. "Of course, the Eeveelutions have since been to and searched the mountains everywhere on this land, at least as carefully as they could, but they've found no indication of them."

Suddenly the blue dot blinked again and this time placed itself inside the mountain it had just been at the base of.

"Seems he knew what continent they were on though. Shit that sleazy little..." Ruli stopped with a low growl as his paws clenched up into fists.

"Ghosts with things to hide will use any form of wordplay to keep their intentions to themselves." Riley mused, "he can't outright lie to his Mistress, but he can hide the meaning of what he's saying."

Epa would then suddenly appear next to them, the Elder Espeon teleporting into place next to Ruli. Unable to stand, she instead remained lying curled up on the ground. Her eyes scanned along the four of them as she asked, "So, what is the situation?"

After Ruli gave a quick assessment, pointing at the blue dot on the map as he explained that they knew where Jack was and that it appeared to be the mountain at which the Mirrors had been hidden those few years ago, Epa bristled.

"Why hadn't we thought to be specific in our questioning of Vane...He didn't know what mountain, but he knew on which continent." She sighed sadly.

"Well I mean, for me it was because his mind seems broken. I didn't think he could still be that clever." Ruli rubbed the back of his head. "What will we do now?"

"No Espeon or other psychic types here will be able to teleport you to the other continent, consistent contact with the other lands was never an issue before now. Our only option is to have the Vaporeon reach out to other water types who may ferry you across the sea."

Rook frowned, and he stared out across the endless blue beyond Coast Town."How long will it take?"

Ruli watched the Lycanroc staring out across the water a moment, "A few days at most. We'll let the Eeveelutions know the situation and then take care of the specifics."

__________________

By that evening, the town was back to being quiet and calm. The computer station that Riley had used made quiet beeping noises just behind Rook as he stood at the edge of the cliffs, staring across the water like he had been before. He had assisted the others throughout the day in discussions, but eventually talking about the situation wasn't solving anything more and they dismissed themselves to rest.

Instead of going to bed in Ruli and Axel's home though, Rook stayed up to stare across the sea. The blue dot that represented Jack on that map hadn't moved at all from that mountain. Enzlo suspected that Jack would need to take certain measures to even try and attempt to break the Mirrors. "An attempt without the proper preparations will more likely kill him than destroy them." Time was of essence, but the Abra suspected they had plenty to spare.

Currently, the Vaporeon clan was reaching out to local deep sea water types to get a group together that would be willing to pull a raft across the sea. Speculation on this was that it'd a myriad of different Water types pulling it together, or at least a few of the larger species, but any exacts weren't possible. There was a chance none or not enough of them would be willing, but that would be addressed if it came to that. Others had also begun forging for food stuffs to last the group that was planned to go for at least three weeks, in case any worst case scenarios did occur.

An unexpected development during the discussions led to the Conkeldurr that lived in Coastal Town, along with their child Timburr, to volunteer in building a sizable raft for the journey. No matter who they managed to get for pulling the raft, the journey across was going to be a few weeks at most, perhaps longer if the weather turned ill. For this reason, the Conkeldurr used their knowledge of building concrete, and the stores of supplies they had, to begin building a reinforced raft. They already had a decently sized base that was sitting just a few dozen yards out of the town.

For all of this however, Rook was left with nothing to do. Building the raft and other things fell well out of his expertise, and so he was left with nothing to do but wait. He realized that even on the ride to the other continent he would be doing nothing but waiting too...and in an environment surrounded by water with no land or rocks around him...

Rook could swim sure...but getting surrounded by water was a big threat for the Lycanroc. Losing the coating of rocks that he had within his fur would mean he was defenseless until he could dry his fur and find another coating of dust to replace it.

"You're rather fidgety." Ruli commented beside the Lycanroc, and Rook jumped slightly at how quietly the Lucario had snuck up at him in the darkness of night.

The wolf huffed and turned back away from him to look out over the ocean again before saying, "It's just that being surrounded by the ocean is not a good thing for me."

"You are rock type correct?" Ruli questioned.

"It's been argued that I could now be Ground-Rock, but yes." Rook confirmed, "I'm Rock type in actuality, just with some ground abilities."

"Ah, so going across the ocean is quite the disadvantage for you. But I believe we should be fine. This world's oceans are typically very calm. There rarely are any storms. Use this time to train your mind and body calmly."

Rook chuffed and growled, flexing his paws as they glowed yellow. "I spent the better time of the last twenty years thinking of a day like today...not quite the same uh, situation, but of similar desire..."

"A desire to destroy and get revenge on Jack, yes?"

"Seems you understand exactly how I feel." Rook nodded, turning his eyes to Ruli. "I will use it in my righteous anger, to dispatch someone I know is capable of nothing but evil."

"I realize you word it to not mention protecting innocence and others." Ruli stated, not questioning but obviously asking for explanation.

"If others need protection, they should ask for it." Rook answered, shaking his head, "I have no intention of putting others at harm readily, only to protect myself and those I would care for. Would I be evil after...?" The Lycanroc paused, thinking for a moment, imagining if Jack were right in front of him, defenseless, crawling away. His paws flexed again and glowed a bright yellow glow while his purple eyes would start to brighten. "I am unsure...whoever I would also destroy in my lifetime would have to be half as evil as Jack to deserve it, and that's still quite considerably bad..."

"More of an explanation than I expected." Ruli chuckled and smiled, "but a reliable viewpoint for me to trust you. This world has become my home, I will not let anything threaten it, but I will trust whatever you decide to do regarding Jack."

Rook's ears flicked and he looked back at the Lucario, remembering that this was a person turned pokemon, a human turned into what was considered an animal at least from Rook's time. "You are from the distant future of the world I am from, what kind of lives did the millions of pokemon Jack killed give...?"

"Oh...um..." Now Ruli's ears flicked back and he looked very nervous, trying to think of what to say before he continued with a sigh, "I won't try to word the actions of certain humans in a way to mean that not all humans meant bad. In my time, pokemon went extinct about 16000 years ago, so you guys were still actually around in my world for another 4000 even after the gates had been opened."

"I don't question that there are not good humans...I did have a few, you just watched me having a breakdown over killing one of them." Rook snickered at the nervousness he inflicted. "I just...want to know if it at least did provide comfort for such a long time."

"It did..." Ruli answered carefully still, "The power of those life forces powered farms and plantations and provided food, energy, and other things for thousands of years. However, currently, those power sources are starting to die out. Mankind on the other side of the barrier is dying out slowly, starving. The earth itself was destroyed long ago, abandoned by the powers of nature when most Legendaries followed Arceus through the gate...those powered farms and environments kept pure by the life force were all that was left untouched by sheer poison and death."

Rook frowned at the ending of the explanation Ruli gave, "You mean the earth itself was poisoned?"

"A kind of pollution, tarlike in substance. It ate and destroyed whatever it touched, except for the lands protected within the bubbles of the life force fields, force fields powered by the life energy of pokemon."

"And with that energy wearing out, the tar is able to cover the unprotected fields." Rook finished ears pinned back, "Your world is starving."

Ruli nodded lightly at the statement and he stared out across the ocean himself then. "It is the inevitable issue that Jack created and failed to think of a solution to...and one that I now believe had no answer. Invading this world and taking its population would only be another 20,000 years...and then what?" Ruli shrugged, "I was given a second choice, and I decided I would bet my life on this world rather than the one that chooses sacrifices."

"Can one be assured the humans entering this world now are good?" Rook turned his head towards the schoolhouse in town, in which he knew the small community was housing about a dozen humans turned pokemon from the islands.

"They are from a time long before my own." Ruli said, "I believe they are too different from my time to be like Jack. I know your time in those labs was not the best, but you lived during a time in which most humans and pokemon were very good friends. Enzlo seems to have had that with his human, from what I heard him explain. The current humans of my world though...I do not think I could trust a vast majority of them."

Rook's ears flicked again and he hummed, "hmm, maybe." Rook knew the companionship Enzlo had with his human had been a good one, the way the Abra had described it. In fact, the Lycanroc was curious as to the "Corsova Clan" he had mentioned a few times and what they taught.

Rook shook his head lightly and huffed at the thought of Jack on the other side of the world, having his way currently and unable to stop him. "I'm just needing a distraction...I can't help but feel antsy and annoyed."

"A distraction...? Perhaps I can offer you one, how about a duel? A rematch of our meeting in the forest." The Lucario grinned, eyes glowing a bit.

Rook smirked a bit himself but for a different reason. "A duel? You think you'll have a different result than what happened back in that forest?"

"I was holding back and very tired, but now I am much better rested, and I believe I don't have a need to hold back against you, now that I've seen your power at work." The Mega Lucario flicked his paws and two green bone swords appeared in each of them, the ends broken apart into sharp points.

"Right here in the middle of town then?" Rook looked around. The Coast Town had a main path that went through it, with resident houses and buildings built on either side. Ruli and Axel's home was on the right side of this path when walking away from the tip of the overlook.

"Closer to the courtyard first, but yes." Ruli smirked, "Sparing in the courtyard is something I do with Pangaro pretty often, there's never been damage to the town in doing so. If we start to get too rowdy, we can take it into the forest instead."

"I think we should -start- in the forest." Rook returned with another grin of his own. "I was holding back on you too as you know, and if you're really wanting to go all out, we need to have the room for it."

"Hmmm...all right, fine. We'll go to the woods." Ruli smirked and he would think for a moment, that grin remaining on his muzzle as he continued, "I think I know a good clearing we can use."

_____________________________

About half an hour later Rook, Ruli, and now Enzlo appeared within a clearing at the foot of a large mountain, its imposing shape looming over them to nearly blot out the sky at a complete right angle. The only thing that stopped this from obstructing the view entirely was the pathway carved up the rocky faceside. There was a small wooden sign planted at the base of the mountain path written in a language Rook did not understand, the sign pointing up the pathway.

Rook stared up and gazed upon the snowy icecaps of the mountain far above them. He had never seen such a magnificent sight, a land so tall as to reach up into the sky itself, slightly beyond the clouds. What wonders may lie up there...?

"Ya all right there Rook?" Ruli asked from slightly behind him, where, with Enzlo between them as they had been holding onto the Abra's hands for the purpose of being teleported there. Enzlo had found them walking the cliff to the forest, when Ruli asked him if he would teleport them to a specific location by seeing it in the Lucario's mind.

"Yeah I'm just a little...stunned, I've never seen mountains like these." Rook answered, his eyes turning back up to look "I see now why you had wanted to travel so far away. You said this place is three days' travel from the coast town?"

"Three or four days of walking, yes, with maybe another day for rest." Ruli chuckled. "This is where my father had trained me a few years ago, and then my uh, other relatives invaded this world."

"You don't really need to talk about your time as a human with me." Rook said, turning towards the Lucario while shaking his head, "I couldn't give a damn about all that stuff right now. My mind is completely focused on finding and getting to Jack."

"Well that's why we came here, to have a bit of a distraction." Ruli smirked while he walked out to the middle of the clearing, and it was now that Rook noticed that there was a circle around the clearing, the grass and dirt raked up. Looking back to Ruli, he also noticed the two lines set about four feet apart from the other in the middle of the circle.

"This is an arena..." Rook observed, stepping after Ruli to the middle of the clearing. Ruli took one of the lines and turned to face Rook, grinning still.

"It's a makeshift one, yeah, but for our purposes it should work well. First to be pushed out of the ring loses."

"What? Not a fight to exhaustion?" Rook tilted his head. "I honestly have never fought in a ring..."

"What kinds of fights have you had so far?"

Rook took a moment to think on that before answering, "Fights to exhaustion, knock out, near death. I refused to kill any pokemon they pit me against in the labs, though I know Jack desperately wanted me to, if anything as a show of my power that he could brag about to others. It was rare for another pokemon to kill another, given the nature of our bodies and the like."

"I forget that you're actually from far in my time's past. You don't act much out of place ya know."

The Lycanroc thought on that for a moment. "Ya know..." He said lightly, "That's a good point..." Rook then folded his arms and he looked around at the thick forest that surrounded them. "This world is...so full of nature..."

"It's kind of suffocating." Enzlo's voice chirped in both of the other pokemon's heads while he was at the edge of the circle, floating in the air. "One thing I never understood about my clan back in our world, Rook, was why we insisted on struggling to build houses out of dirt and mud when there were cities built by pokemon and humans together."

"You hate nature that much?" Rook snickered at the Abra.

"I don't hate nature, but there's something to be said about comfortable living conditions." The Abra chidded, "Perhaps my travels spoiled me on what was available in the world, and on what is possible."

"Yet that same technology then brought my generation facing extinction." Ruli added, tapping his arm with one paw after crossing them.

There was a moment of silence before Ruli sighed and unfolded his arms. "All that aside, let's occupy ourselves with a battle Rook."

Rook again sneered at the Lucario while lifting up his arms. "If you're sure about that. I won't go easy on you this time."

"Me either." Ruli grinned while he flicked his paws, and two green colored bone swords appeared in each one, the ends pointed and sharp looking. Rook peered at the swords and he wondered. He looked down at his paw and flexed it a few times.

"That's hardly fair, I can't really do weapons."

"Why can't you?" Enzlo asked. "Have you ever tried? Your power is unique, the kinds of things you do are not what a normal rock type could hope to do, just the same as Ruli's power is not normal for a Lucario. You are on par with him, yet you are not Mega."

Rook thought on that and he shrugged, "Was never something I had to really worry about, but I suppose now I do. I need to hone my abilities and focus them. Up until now brute force has been what I depended on..."

"Then we'll train you into it." Ruli said while he twirled the swords in his paws. "Ya learn through experience, so perhaps if you feel the power used in creating a weapon, you can eventually learn to do your own."

Rook nodded and he took a fighting stance, the same he had taken when he first met Ruli in the forests on his island, holding one paw out in front of himself. The fur all along his body bristled as it tightened up in preparation. Ruli's gaze upon the Lycanroc focused and his eyes glowed. Rook felt a moment of trepidation. This wasn't how Ruli had been like when he'd first been on his island...back then the Lucario hadn't been focused, his energy sapped from the strange day of being on the islands and particularly with that Graveller.

This was Ruli at his most, and it no longer felt he could play games with the Lucario.

For about half a minute the two of them stared each other down, and it was only when Rook shifted one of his footpaws along the ground did Ruli suddenly dash forward. The Lucario shouted out as he seemed to fly across the ground at Rook, who barely had enough reaction and speed of his own to hold up an arm in defense and block the blow of one of his swords. The metal like bone made a large and dense sounding 'Clack!' against Rook's own metal like defense, and then Rook jumped back to avoid the following slash of the Lucario's other weapon.

Landing on the ground in a crouch a few feet away from Ruli, Rook growled and focused his power into the ground, sending a surge through it and under his opponents feet. The ground shook and a rock burst up from the ground just under Ruli shortly after, but the Lucario could sense the attack and jumped up into the air himself. While in the air, the sword in Ruli's right paw vanished in a sparkling of green light and he focused his energy into a blue Aura Sphere instead.

Ruli threw the orb at the height of his jump, and Rook, having just poured his power into the ground, wasn't yet able to react as it collided with his head and exploded, sending the Lycanroc tumbling across the ground.

"OW!" Rook yowled as the blast was felt even with his solid defense. He picked himself up from the ground, crouched on all fours with one paw lifted and the fur around his head scruffed and marked from the force of the blast. His defense had held, but he had definitely still felt that. Like a hard and sharp sucker punch, it left a slight ringing in his head. A cloud of dust hung in the air from where the attack had exploded.

"Don't hold back!" Ruli shouted out as he from where he had landed from his jump, another Aura Sphere came hurling through the cloud and straight towards Rook.

Rook snarled and he jumped up into the air to try and avoid the sphere, but it instead curved in the air and came at him on its own! Rook put both arms up in front of himself and the sphere collided with them against his hardened fur. The blast threw Rook through the air towards the encircling trees, and Rook barked as he slammed into one of them, his spiky mane of fur catching him but causing a hard concussive force that shook him just the same.

"You can't afford to hold back!" Ruli shouted, and this time, the Lucario was dashing at him while the Lycanroc was still recovering, his legs and feet like blurs as he moved so quickly. Rook was only just recovering and standing up when Ruli reached him, planting a palm straight onto his chest and his fingers gripping onto his fur where it was slightly puffed out. Rook's eyes widened as a surge of power built up under the Lucario's paw where it made contact with him. It lasted for only just half a second, but the moment felt hyper focused as a new sensation and emotion was recognized by the Lycanroc.

This was his match.

A blinding flash of light exploded from Ruli's paw as he Force Palmed him and blasted Rook back against the tree he had just hit a moment earlier. Rook barked again as he slammed into the poor plant, its outer layer splintered by the impact of Rook's defense. And, much like in his fight with Oscar, Rook now felt something in his chest break, a deep, hard pain lurching through him as he fell to the ground and slumped forward.

Rook panted and grit his teeth, his eyes glowing brightly as he squeezed them shut and gripped at his chest with one paw where the pain lanced through him. Breathing was painful, and he hissed and growled through clenched teeth. Ruli stood over the Lycanroc, pointing one of his swords down towards him.

"Is that really all you had in you? One attack?"

Rook snarled and his other paw's claws dug into the ground next to him as he shifted, clutching his chest still and wincing at the sharp pain that ripped through him. Ruli's power was like nothing Rook has ever faced up against before. All the fights Jack had put him into in the lab, testing his abilities against 'normal' pokemon. He had never fought someone whose power level was close to his own.

"You...You're stronger than you made yourself...out to be on my island." Rook huffed out, as he would blink in surprise. The pain in his chest was slowly receding. The quick recovery of pokemon wasn't something Rook had much direct experience with, but his own natural recovery was much, much faster than others. This made him realize just how quickly he had even recovered from his fight with Oscar, where he had actually coughed up blood. He'd broken several rips then, but they were healed by the time Rook came to face Jack...

No, no, this wasn't all he had in him, not by a long shot. It was time to stop holding back...and just...

"Grrah!" I won't!" Rook shouted as he suddenly sprung forward, his legs releasing a charged burst of energy as he launched himself off the ground and tackled the Lucario. Ruli gasped and grunted as they tumbled over the ground, and Rook's hardened fur impacted him into the ground as Rook rolled himself over the Lucario and up onto his feet. Rook didn't turn back to attack Ruli though, instead reaching out to the rock he had summoned earlier with his power, his paw glowing yellow.

The boulder shook in the ground and then suddenly shattered, breaking apart into several smaller rocks which then came around and floated around Rook. Holding his paws up as they both glowed yellow, Rook closed his purple glowing eyes as he let the rocks fly around him. The Lycanroc basked in the feeling of his power, the connection he had to the earth and rocks around him...

As Ruli now pulled himself back up off the ground, more rocks began to pull up from the ground around Rook to turn towards him and then opened his eyes, Rook's eyes glowed brightly enough that his irises were no longer visible, but he looked upon Ruli's weapon as the Lucario held it tightly in one paw.

Rook felt the urge and just followed it, trusting his power. He reached up into his mane of fur while hundreds of small rocks continued to float around him and kept Ruli at bay. Rook grasped his paw and suddenly felt something solid and firm within his mane, and then began to pull it.

However, it wasn't to be, as just as he began to pull the solid shape he had felt vanished. Rook looked at his empty paw as he pulled it out from his mane and flexed it, staring at its yellow glow like he was only just seeing it for the first time. In a way, he was. For so long he mostly relied on his defense to fight others. He wasn't used to it, he'd never experimented with it. What could he do in turns of attacking...? What could he do that wouldn't...

This realization, and the memory of Oscar, suddenly pulled Rook reeling back from his power and the glow covering his paws would quickly fade, the dozens of rocks falling around him back to the ground with soft thuds and thunks. Rook grimaced, the glow in his eyes also faded while he looked around himself.

Ruli, having watched this, blinked in confusion at the Lycanroc.

"I think that's enough." Enzlo spoke up from where he had been calmly watching this whole battle. Suddenly, Rook would feel weight upon his back, his fur for some reason relaxing into a sort of seat for the Abra to use.

Rook was thankful for Enzlo's ability to sense his emotions, taking control of the situation so that he didn't have to explain. Ruli didn't question the psychic type, and they were teleported back to the Coast Town.

Ruli left the Lycanroc and Abra alone after they returned, and Rook again spent his time staring out across the ocean. Enzlo floated and then sat himself down on the ground next to the Lycanroc to stare out over the water with him a moment before speaking.

"So uh...what was all that I felt back there?" Enzlo asked lightly, and the Lycanroc shuffled where he stood in thought.

"I am...unsure, but I just realized that I have no true control over my power; I shook a whole island..." Rook looked out across the ocean then as he continued, "I...I don't know if I'll be able to control myself in front of Jack..." Rook clenched his paws tightly as they glowed a bright yellow. "I want him dead so badly..."

"No one would fault you in doing it; many of the local pokemon in this world want him killed on sight, and that is the manner at which you should go at him if you would even expect to subdue him." Enzlo frowned as he floated beside the Lycanroc. "I felt your power back there, you lost focus, but if you had held it, you would've succeeded you know."

"I know..." Rook huffed, his eyes glowing brightly in the night that his irises were only just distinguishable by the Abra being close to him. He turned his attention to the psychic type and peered at him. "Do you know how I can control it?"

Enzlo smiled lightly in thought, "I could...help you learn control, perhaps."

Suddenly a loud bell began ringing in the coastal town, and Rook turned to see that an Espeon was ringing the bell. It was a summons to anyone who could hear it, and lights began to flicker on as the pokemon of the town were woken up.

Rook watched as the residents of the town came walking tiredly from within their homes, mumbling softly and they grumbled angrily at being woken up in the middle of the night. Ruli was there, arms crossed and his eyes closed in thought, the Umbreon Axel was beside him.

Rook approached the gathering and Enzlo floated along with him, the Abra floating up into the air over the Lycanroc to then setting onto his neck and shoulders.

The crowds muttering continued on until at last, the Espeon stopped ringing the bell when he believed everyone had gathered and he began to explain, "I am sorry for waking you all from your sleep, but this news is urgent and the fate of the world is at stake. The Mirror of Flames and Mirror of Ice have both been stolen, or at the very least, have vanished."

The crowd immediately burst into a flurry of panicked comments, asking how they had gotten past the natural turrian? Security? What happened?

"Unfortunately!" The Espeon's smooth voice sounded loudly within everyone's mind there at once, and everyone became quiet. He continued aloud, "The method can't be determined, one moment the Mirrors were there...the next they were not..." He said lightly. "The defenses of the remaining three Mirror has been increased.

"It's Vane." Ruli stated as confidendently as he could. "Casting illusions on everyone, you simply can't remember the event of him stealing it."

"That is what we have decided to work on the assumption of when you mentioned it, right now Umbreon groups are being dispersed across the board, we'll have ghost and psychic jamming in place quickly." The Espeon nodded lightly, and he seemed incredibly thankful for it too.

"I'm staying here to defend the Mirrors" Ruli said as he looked straight at Rook and Enzlo. "This battle...is now longer just ours, it's our world's. I need to protect the other Mirrors. I'll count on the rest of you to make your way."

"And should they steal more anyway despite your effort and then you're not there to help get them back too?" Axel growled at Ruli, "As if, you are going with them, we'll take care of the Mirrors, that's our job as Eeveelutions." Axel huffed, and then continued when Ruli began to argue, "That's been our duty for thousands of years and we will do it, you guys do the bigger uh...heavy lifting so to say."

Rook laughed at the sight of this and he just wagged his tail. "I was hoping you'd come along with me though too Ruli...as training partner and support. This was your world before it became mine too."

The Mega Lucario grinned and he kept his arms folded as he closed his eyes, "Fine then."

"And then that means it's time for us to kick into overdrive folks." Said one of the Conkledurss there, "We need to cut more wood for this raft. We want this to be a good, secure ship. It needs sails, riggings, the works, and then, it'll need people to sail it..."

"You can leave that to us." The Espeon said, "A specialized...group of individuals have been selected to escort you across the sea. The only issue they have is that they can only navigate by the stars..." He peered at the machine that was beeping several yards behind Rook, "They do not know how to read that contraption."

"Which means you need someone who knows how to read it, and so that'll be me." Riley said and he lifted a hand up, though the ghostly form of it was somewhat lost in the night, "Navigator Riley at your service."

"You'll...have to introduce yourself to the captain quickly so he can familiarize himself with your directions. You and I will teleport to him after this."

The pokemon all snapped to order and suddenly dispersed. It was somewhat amazing to see as a large group of pokemon would suddenly exodus town in the middle of the night to cut many trees, which the Timburr and Conkledurr used to plan and begin to construct a ship. Rook and Ruli both offered their strength to these efforts, and the act of gathering trees for what was needed was made simple with them both. Everyone else worked to complete the goals set before them, gathering supplies like food and other necessities such as bedding, furniture, and other crafting works.

By morning, as the sun began to come over the horizon, the waters were calm and smooth. Everyone had paused to look out across the water for a good few minutes as the sea sparkled with morning light. They felt as if they had a great blessing for this voyage, and that energy lasted them throughout the next three days to finish the raft. WIth planned breaks, the occasional four hour nap, and meals, what was once a two week planned job was done in three days. And then, the sailors were teleported in.

______________________

The team of sailors in question though? A group of a dozen Buizel with one Typhlosion leading the group. Rook was confused immedeatily. A fire type, in the profession of Sailing...?

Upon meeting him, Rook received his answer as the Espeon explained the Typhlosion's origins to the group who was going to be sailing; Rook, Enzlo, Riley, Ruli, and the Espeon with them. The possessed Timburr child was going to be going with them, as shipwright support if needed mostly, but the ghost he shared his body with would also act as a quick point of contact and council back to the mainland. The Espeon going with them would act as an intermediary for the Eeveelutions and the pokemon of the new continent they were going to.

The Typhlosion was known as The Unestinguisable Flame from where he was. Captain Nether could hold a ship in the roughest of storms together, with his Buizel crew prized for precise reactions to any situation. Captain Nether was a seafaring individual who made his life among that which could end it. He believed being surrounded by that which most of his kind feared made him stronger, and Rook had to admit, the imagery was admirable.

The name was given to him by pokemon near his usual sailing waters because Nether's ship had never been sunk by storm or even from combat, and the fire type kept a large hearth on his ship that glowed as a beacon during the night. If the ship was attacked by water creatures, the Buizel were potent and quick defenders underwater. By air? Streams of fire from his mouth to scare them away, or perhaps get dinner that day...

"He's a pirate, you were recently arrested for stealing food from a tribe across the continent just weeks before all this." Enzlo stated, laughing, when the Espeon stated that Captain Nether held no affiliation with land at all. "The Eeveelutions just hired a privateer to guard us, but I can tell from his memories, he knows his stuff, we're in safe hands, if his faith holds."

The Typhlosion put his paw on his chest, and the dozen Buizel standing around behind him, six on each side, copied it, their eyes closed. "You can count on me." The large lizard said, grinning slyly. "I don't want the world to end anymore than the next person, I couldn't keep living free like I do otherwise. Besides...the Eeveelutions have...offered me a deal I can't refuse."

The Espeon that had been assigned to go with them bowed his head. "I don't know why I bothered trying to keep that hidden. Not too long ago, yes, Captain Nether has been a thorn in the side of many civilian tribes across the coast. But now he has been asked to become the Admiral for a large fleet of ships...which will be tasked with carrying goods, pokemon, and other treasures between our lands. We've just discovered that the world is much bigger than we were used to. He'll be making a substantial amount of...cash..."

"It's about time you guys acknowledged the Outlands." Captain Nether said, "Their infrastructure works. Towns thrive and farms are making surplus, everyone has a purpose to their-."

"It was not until now that the possibility presented itself." The Espeon stated lightly, suddenly interrupting and staring at the other pokemon. "However, Captain, while we may make you our Admiral, and you will be in -charge- of them, you will not own our ships." The Espeon said.

At this, the Fire Type narrowed his eyes, then softened them. "I've already been promised this fine ass ship you've made in three days, I don't think I need anything more!"

This ship in question, was a roughly 100 X 100 ft raft in the form of a 'ship', the dimensions sharpened at the tip and along the bottom floor, or base, but it generally kept a square shape. The top floor was an open platform with several fixings of fruit trees, berry bushes, water containers set up to collect rain water, and a windmill to generate power; which Riley taught the pokemon how to create with some large leaves collected after the tree cutting. This forest of friolage surrounded a large platform on which Riley's satellite machine, powered by the windmill, had been set up on a large platform overlooking the trees, and where the Steering wheel was located. Under this platform the second floor under it was open, and on the bottom floor was an enclosed, large hearth space, keeping the fire within the hearth from endangering the rest of the ship. The fire's warmth helped keep the ship lit up and warm.

The second floor of the raft had a few windows that allowed one to see into the spaces there. One could not see the warm fireplace within the ship from these windows, but the rooms they were for were kept warm and toasty, you'd be able to battle any cold stormy night on this ship. There were four different rooms here. Made into 20 X 20 squares along slightly narrow hallways.These rooms had fully hand crafted desks and bed, with leaf bedding and pillows from the same piles of leaves prior. They even gave them curtains made of leaves...

The bottom floor was where it came down to business. Here was where all the work was done for the ship to move. Around the Hearth, there was no floor. It floated on logs that were connected to the boat by connected wires. The water of the sea spilled around it this way. Around the hearth, there were spokes tied onto it, twelve in all. Around this large open space in the belly of the ship, were six doors leading into six small compartments of 10 X 15 size each. The Town foraged as many berries, apples and other tasty things that were stored within large boxes in these storage compartments, along with other essentials, the ship was stocked with enough food to last many pokemon many months at sea. With the trees and bushes also on creating more, it was a self efficient ship.

Rook felt like he was going on a damn Vacation listening to the Conkledurr Harbor Master speak of every little detail. It was very clear he was pleased with the work he and his family had done. Here on the top deck of the ship, it was rather impressive, it felt like a small spot of forest between which was framed by the view of the sea and sky beyond.

"There are no sails..." Enzlo stated to the Typhlosion.

"Don't need, em." The Captain huffed, "It may be the biggest ship I've ever had pleasure to captain, but it will mostly weigh the same on water as what we've had."

"We promise the speed of four weeks' travel!" The twelve Buizel's all shouted at once, and all of them started to spin their rutter like tails rapidly. "We are born to swim! The Crew of Captain Nether!"

"Very loyal." Enzlo commented, floating up over the ship in the air.

"We all owe each other our lives." The Captain said, this time glaring at Enzlo. You're the most stubborn Psychic type I've met, trying to find every little angle at which to try and pry into my personal life." The fire type just slyly grinned. "How dare you force me to prove my reputation! All right boys, into position, we take off at fifteen!"

"Sir!" And with that, suddenly the twelve otter's scattered across the ship and flooded down its stairs, then dived to the waters below, and shot out quickly like little boat motors. It was suddenly very clear why the hallways were somewhat narrow. The Buizel had no problem skittering through them.

"Where are they going?" Enzlo asked, actually curious now.

"Scouting ahead for any issues that may come about." The Captain smirked and he growled out, "I'm a pirate for a reason, I get the jump on people by owning the sea. Letting those pokemon around here know we're coming through the area helps to keep those areas clear, everyone is aware of your purpose, and water pokemon are on our side."

"The Sea can quickly humble you...Captain...this is no ordinary person you are hunting for a bounty." The Espeon with them urged them, "And therefore teamwork is of key. We will let you do what you do, as long as you get us going in the direction Riley tells you as quickly as possible."

"There is one last thing this raft needs..." Rook rumbled, to which the captain tilted his head, and the shipwright Conkledurr did too.

Rook looked at them and he quickly said, "A training space."

The Abra beside him grinned widely at this, and so did the Captain. "It's been covered, Rook, you will get your training. You asked me to help you, and I know what you need for your training."

The Lycanroc peered at Enzlo, as he mentally reviewed all the space on the ship they'd been told about. "There's no space for battling..."

"It won't be battle training, it'll be endurance training, and mind training. You have power already, you need to wield it now." Enzlo told him steadily, losing some of the playfulness as he continued, "I intend to try and cram years of experience and knowledge of the Corsova's way of nature and pokemon into you within this month or so of sailing."

Rook narrowed his eyes in thought, both curious and a little annoyed, but then he had a different idea come to mind. "All right, then there's one other thing it is missing that I can think of to add in the space between the second and top floor." He said with a grin. If they were going to try and travel in such a style, they might as well go all the way.

____________________________

A half day later, the ship was ready to sail. Rook's addition to the ship was a hot tub. Situated and held in the air between the flames below it and the opening in the roof for the second floor's platform. Riley was a little miffed about this addition, because the platform for the machine had one hole centered in the middle he could see straight down into it.

"Feels like I'd be peeping on people." He said, "Doesn't sit well..."

"Like you didn't do that while you were a ghost haunting Jack's laboratories?" Enzlo muttered.

"It works better for me anyway because I love the idea and because I'll be sleeping in the fireplace." Nether followed up. "When not sleeping it'll prove to be a good way to have conversations together."

"That's even more weird." Riley stated.

Even so, the Buizels also kind of liked the idea. The waters of the ocean could get really chilly and having a warm bath would help to combat that.

"I like it." Was all Enzlo had to say about the hot tub itself.

And two hours later, the crew was ready to set off, with the sun just cresting over the evening and the sky just starting to turn an orange glow.

"Ready boys?" Nether would call down from the platform as he was standing next to Riley on his computer machine, with the steering wheel next to it.

"Ready Captain!" The twelve Buizel, currently each gripping one of the twelve spokes that were connected to the hearth, shouted back up. Rook and Enzlo both stood next to a grouping of trees and bushes out towards the open ocean before them, while Ruli decided to stay down on the bottom floor, checking stock one last time.

Their Espeon companion was in their room on the second floor, sending mental messages to Espa and the rest of the Eeveelutions of their departure. Their Timburr shipwright was in another, Ruli and Riley would be sharing this room with them. Rook and Enzlo would share the third room. The Buizels would sleep on the bottom floor close to the water and the warm hearth, while Captain Nether stated he would sleep on the hearth itself, since as a fire type its fire would not harm him but rather felt very nice.

"Keep a north eastern direction once we're out on open water captain." Riley started next to him, and the Typhlosion nodded.

"What's the ship's name by the way?"Enzlo suddenly asked next to Rook, as they both stood next to the platform.

"New Era." Nether answered. "Should you succeed, that's what it'll lead to, a new era for pokemon here, you've shown us that the planet is large, and that means cities and towns and goods can begin to distribute. One of the continents already has an established currency and local forms of government with guilds controlling the town. They adventure around the nearby areas and map out the land. This continent does not have one because the Eeveelutions have been protecting the mirrors, and no visitors are allowed, so only locals born on the continent are here."

"So that's why clans like the Lucario and Alakazam are also here, but you don't see many of the smaller and less powerful species...they've helped protect in their own way by keeping here." Enzlo pondered, "And now I understand why the Espeon interrupted you earlier. Before, global trade presented nothing but a threat to the safety of the mirrors, but even Ruli's arrival to this world and proof that the mirrors were not safe anyway, didn't dissuade the Eeveelutions from not allowing the rest of the world to populate this continent. What we are about to see on the other side of the world is probably nothing like what the coastal town was."

"It really won't be." The Captain nodded, "There is organized crime where there is money and valuables. There are millions of pokemon in this world, but most live on other continents, not many were allowed to live on this continent except the lucky few like you."

"So that's why the Espeon seems a little agitated on the subject like earlier." Rook noted with a nod of his head. "It sounds like an appropriate name then!"

"Ready Captain!" One of the Buizel's shouted again and then all dozen of them all began spinning their tail in the air rapidly.

"Good luck everyone!" Pangoro shouted from the shore nearby, waving along with most of the rest of the town. Even Infernape was there, though he looked annoyed and perturbed as always, the ape keeping his arms folded and looking mostly away.

The other pokemon children were waving next to their own parents and there was a representative to the other Eeveelutions clans that were there to see them off too.

"All right boys, let's crash the waves!" The Typhlosion then shouted out, and at once the twelve water types slipped their spinning tails into the water while still holding the spokes in front of them.

Rook instantly tumbled onto the floor as they suddenly sped off away from the shoreline, the water parted behind the raft as it tore through the ocean and left waves in its wake. Enlzo just began floating, but only just inches off the surface of the floor as he kept himself anchored.

"Holy heck!" Rook shouted out as he eventually managed to stand, the raft shaking slightly at the surprising speed of the otter's swimming power.

"Ha ha! Hang on boys! Keep the speed as hard as you all can for now!" The Captain shouted as he stood tall at the wheel, while Riley also fumbled a bit beside him on the platform and Ruli tripped and fell again as they would crest over a wave and the raft bobbed a moment. "We're off to the horizon!!!"