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“That’s uh, not a bad placeholder! What do you think, Maggie?”

“I am not so sure about this.”

“H-hey okay I know a lot of stuff sketches you out, but don’t some Ninetales develop powers kinda like what Psychic and Ghost types have? So maybe that guy’s name is Yin and this is just a uhhh…. what’s the word. A premonition! Either way, it’s all right. He’s our friend. It’s cool!”

Maggie hesitates.

…It’s hard to tell, but Maggie is no longer scowling.

“I-. Fine, we will change topics.

I have been told some things about those three (she gestures in Team Harmony’s direction) already, but I know less about you. Are you a part of their exploration team? What sort of work do you partake in?”

“...Look, I, uh...if you really want to know about the...the guess, I’m going to need a strong drink and...and not a lot of other people around for it.” Even this makes him waver somewhat in his seat. The Vulpix squints his eyes shut for a moment and takes a few breaths, latching onto Maggie’s other question.

“...I fell from the sky a good while ago. Team Harmony found me in these hills and brought me back here. I’m not very...v-very strong, so I just do errands around the guild. I mostly help Chimecho with the larder, but...I do shopping for the guild, too.”

As he speaks, he recovers somewhat. “More, uh, more importantly to the conversation, though, I’d interacted a few times pretty early on with Junko. That was while Team Harmony was on their trip to the Sand Continent. She’d started grilling me about them, but...I was getting a bad feeling about her,” he took this moment to shoot Maggie a quick glance, before looking back down. “So I clammed up pretty quick. I’ve started doing bits of digging every day, but it’s...h-heh, really starting to eat into my paycheck with how often I come here. I’m starting to get a reputation for, uh...being the wrong kind of regular here.”

“...So I know some other things. But I’m either going to need that drink or I’m going to pass out in the middle of talking to you guys about what I know.”

"You are close. It was regarded as a just a story in my world as well, but after the Collapse it became... believable. Problematic.

“The Bittercold, utilizing the harsh environment of its home, is an entity said to subject Pokemon to extreme amounts of trauma and instill in them a sense of despair. Its origin seems to be a strange crystal somewhere on the Mist Continent, inside a great Glacier Palace.

“With my world in an already broken state... while the Bittercold’s effects remain strongest at its core, its range extends far beyond. There is little to keep it in check. Pokemon under its influence can be found in more Dungeons now than just the one where it started."

"By the way... Campix."

"This 'Yin' has never spoken directly to me. In pursuing his allies, I never once heard them use his name. And I have gathered that Team Harmony was unfamiliar as well.

"So where did you learn it?"

Campix jolts upright in place, as if pulled by a marionette string. He lets out a hesitant ‘me...?’ as Maggie’s question registers in his head, and his face morphs into a strained smile.

“W...well, I mean...y’know! They’re counterparts! Like...Junko to Mallory, uh...u-uh, Layla to Aisling, I just...uh...Y-Yin to Yang! I thought...I thought it was...I thought it was just, kind of a cute, sort of, naming...convention...”

Campix began tracing a circle nervously on the table, avoiding the gaze of anyone who looked at him for the moment. He was somehow getting paler.

“See, I don’t...know if that’s his name...exactly, it’s...just a guess. Just a guess, whether that’s his name, just...I mean if it is, that’d...th-that’d be pretty wild, huh? I...”

Campix stops, supporting the side of his head with a paw. He looks towards Mallory for a moment, eyes desperate for some sort of help, before he lets his gaze fall back to the table.

“...”

“...I need a drink.”

“Hey, good to see you again! Also, um....”

“...”

“...............”

“Another friend of yours?”

“Haha yeah okay so, Campix this is Maggie. Maggie, Campix. Please don’t keep making that face you’re gonna scare him.”

“Ah, anyways though, basically Maggie is kind of my twin and she’s a lot nicer when you get to know her and also what is a steam punk?”

“Oh, uh....!”

“I mean, that’s...right, that’s just...”

“J-juuuust kidding...! I totally knew that wasn’t you, Dia...! I wasn’t under the impression that you were another Carbink that evolved too, or anything...!”

Junko paused, looked around the cafe with an exaggerated pout, stared into her empty glass… then dismissed the sad expression and laughed again.

“This like, totally counts as running errands, right?” she asked Phari, making dramatic air-quote gestures with her claws. “Really though, we’ve got like, a kinda loaded schedule for the next week…? Or two? I dunno, I’d have to ask Layla, she’s the big planner really. But once we’ve got all our missions and stuff out of the way, I’ll totally introduce you!”  

It was… basically a grocery list.

“I gotta stock up on items and stuff for them, and I was supposed to ask a few things around the Guild - but I already did that a couple days ago, so I’m like, ahead of schedule.” she explains. “They also, like, want me to train or whatever but I reeeeeeeeeeeally don’t wanna, you know? I know it’s just busy work. I’d rather just relax.”

The Absol looks at the last entry on the list, a note from her teammate about stopping by Marowak’s Dojo before they regroup later in the day. 

It’s barely legible, having been scribbled out more than once…

“Actually, I might…do I have any left?” She began digging through her bag, frowning as she put blue wrapper after blue wrapper onto the table. “Dang. I downed the last one, I guess.” Phari looked up at Junko apologetically. “I’d give you one, but…I ran out.”

Junko decided she’d have to look into it herself.

“Some what, now?” Junko questioned, squinting at the empty blue wrappers. “Also, like, if it’s some sort of candy, wouldn’t you be eating it, not chugging it…?”

She thinks on it, then shrugs.

“Oh well, it was, like, a nice offer anyways!”

The Flaaffy grinned at the absol expectantly. “If you’re gonna have to do it anyway, there are ways to make it a little less insufferable. And if anyone’s good at making dumb things less dumb, then it’s me!”

Junko paused, looked around the cafe with an exaggerated pout, stared into her empty glass… then dismissed the sad expression and laughed again.

“This like, totally counts as running errands, right?” she asked Phari, making dramatic air-quote gestures with her claws. “Really though, we’ve got like, a kinda loaded schedule for the next week…? Or two? I dunno, I’d have to ask Layla, she’s the big planner really. But once we’ve got all our missions and stuff out of the way, I’ll totally introduce you!”  

It was… basically a grocery list.

“I gotta stock up on items and stuff for them, and I was supposed to ask a few things around the Guild - but I already did that a couple days ago, so I’m like, ahead of schedule.” she explains. “They also, like, want me to train or whatever but I reeeeeeeeeeeally don’t wanna, you know? I know it’s just busy work. I’d rather just relax.”

The Absol looks at the last entry on the list, a note from her teammate about stopping by Marowak’s Dojo before they regroup later in the day. 

It’s barely legible, having been scribbled out more than once…

“Actually, I might...do I have any left?” She began digging through her bag, frowning as she put blue wrapper after blue wrapper onto the table. “Dang. I downed the last one, I guess.” Phari looked up at Junko apologetically. “I’d give you one, but...I ran out.”

Junko paused, looked around the cafe with an exaggerated pout, stared into her empty glass… then dismissed the sad expression and laughed again.

“This like, totally counts as running errands, right?” she asked Phari, making dramatic air-quote gestures with her claws. “Really though, we’ve got like, a kinda loaded schedule for the next week…? Or two? I dunno, I’d have to ask Layla, she’s the big planner really. But once we’ve got all our missions and stuff out of the way, I’ll totally introduce you!”  

“It’s…” she started, taking a moment to stare into the distance - contemplative. Needlessly dramatic. As usual.

“So like. If we just leave our world, whatever’s wrong will stay wrong. And there’s a chance it’ll start to effect this world too, and that’s like, assuming that it hasn’t started to already. We need to like… what’s the word you just said, amputate that whole timeline. But we’re convinced that something’s up with the Time Gears here too, such that like, we can’t break things off like we want to.” she explains, with a wave of her arm.

“Where we’re from, those things are laughable, like, you can barely even call them artifacts. Their protectors have all gotten weaker, and-or they don’t care anymore, and those are the ones that haven’t straight-up peaced outta here already - not to mention like, getting rid of a gear is way easier than it has any right to be. That’s not true here, though, everyone’s like, strong, and alive, and actually doing their job, you know? So my team has to figure out 1; how the heck we’re gonna disconnect our own world from this one, and 2; ‘cause we know this world’s Time Gears will probably be involved, how we’re gonna convince anyone to go along with our crazy plan.”

A drawn-out sigh from the Absol.

She picked up her berry shake and took another good long sip off the straw. “…I’d love to help you in any way I can, but I am not a strong sheep. Cappy, that guy I told you about? He’s a sailor, so he’s been around the block a few times. If anyone knew where a Time Gear would be, it’d be him. I don’t knwo if you’re, like, searching for them actively, or if you’ve already found them. But just ‘cuz I’m more looks than brawn doesn’t mean I can’t help you save the worlds, or whatever! Because…y’know, having something like that leaking over here sounds like it’d suck.”

“It sounds like you’re planning on doing something to the Time Gears. And yeah, that sounds fishy, but for what it’s worth,” Phari leaned back on her seat, “you’ve convinced me.”

“We have an idea as to where a few of ‘em are, for sure, but like… what I said before. Figuring out what to actually do with ‘em is gonna be the hard part. It’s not like this connection is like, anything visible or tangible or… y’know? There’s one in particular that I think is the problem one though, it’s not here on the Grass Continent, it’s actually waaaaaaaay far across the sea… like, I only figure you guys have one here because it’s the odd one out in our world. We could go to the Sand Continent ourselves to investigate, but I kinda wanna like, scope out the place first, make sure there’s nothing too dangerous going on - cause like, just because we’re powerful, doesn’t mean we’re invincible, you know?” she rambles on.

“And yes, that would mean that all of us would have to deal with that zelaous geeklord but, like, this is the world at stake, yeah? Some internal cringing isn’t gonna hurt us.” She fixed Junko with a look after she said that though. “Uh, that being said…you were prolly gonna do this anyway, but we should keep Cappy in the dark about the whole ‘Time Gear’ thing. He’s major into some stick-up-your-ass religion and I’m pretty sure he’d be a gnark about this whole thing if he heard about it.”

“Don’t worry, I like, know better than to go telling any ol’ mon about the plan. I just had a feeling you’d be able to, like, help me out - call it intuition, ya’know?”

The Absol stood abruptly, a confident grin on her face. “Layla knows how to Teleport, but between you and me, she’s been wearing herself out a lot, like all the time. If we need her for something more important than travel, she’ll be, like, way too tired to help us, you know? So it doesn’t have to be rushed or anything, but like, we’d totally appreciate a ride sometime.”

She looked towards the door. “I mean…I’m sure that Layla’s a barrel of laughs, but who else is on your team?”

“The rest of my team? Like, other than Layla, there’s only one,” Junko explains, “but unfortunately, he’s like, a major grump. Real big Infernape named Yin, doesn’t really, like, know how to smile, yells a lot, but he always helps us get the job done. Strongest on our team, like stronger than Layla and myself put together!”

A grin starts to creep onto her face, though she catches herself before it gets too wide.

“You should really see him in action, he’s like, got damage that could put a legendary Pokemon to shame,” she brags, resting her head on her paws. “Oh, but, we’ll probably have to do a bit of work to make sure he isn’t mean to you and Cappy… he doesn’t, like… really like new people, you know? He’s like, only comfortable with the team, but I’m sure we can work it out.”

She looked around the café before directing her attention back to the Absol. “I’m not really doing too much around here right now anyway, since I’m still avoiding Sailor Nerd for the moment, so whenever you need the ride, I’ll be pretty easy to find. I’ve got some time today if you want to get the whole ‘social’ thing over with with Tiny?”

He looked towards the door of the café. “I dunno, maybe I’ll do it. I mean, I can’t Tackle, but I can, like, run at someone fast and slam my head against their body? Isn’t that what tackling is? That sort of thing has to do something, right? And I should be able to breathe fire! I’m a Vulpix, for crying out loud, it’ll probably come if I practice enough.”

A smile began to show on Campix’s face. “Geez, maybe I can get better at this adventuring st-”

“The Final Maze…?” Campix repeated. “That sounds like, endgame level stuff. Have you ever been there? What’s the dojo like?”

“Oh, no, no I’ve never been in there, my sister and her teammates have, but I’m not strong enough for that yet. There’s really high level Pokemon in there, and they say it’s like, it’s uh, easily 40 floors, and normally each maze is only 5, and-”

He stammers a bit, shaking his head.

“My team and I haven’t actually been through any of the mazes yet. We keep looking, and we, we think it would be a good idea to start with the, the uh, normal-type maze. But even the basic stuff can be difficult when you’re low-level like us…”

“A-anyways, though. I’m sure you can figure out how to, to use moves and stuff if you just give it enough practice, right?”

“Yeah! I’m…jeez, I’m actually getting excited about this. Like, ever since I got here, I’ve wanted to actually get out there and make a difference, y’know? And… and if this whole Dojo business works…”

“I might even be able to make my own rescue team! I don’t know what I’d name it or who’d be in it even but…I could make a difference! Like, one that doesn’t involve literal subtracting numbers from numbers! I won’t have to do math!”

“Right, uh…”

The little Absol laughs.

“I think you’re uh, you’re making a difference even without being on a team. But if you wanna join one, or if you wanna, if you wanna start one, I wanna help!”

Campix slapped his paws onto the table and stood up. “Alright. I’m gonna do it. I’m going to go and train at that dojo and join-slash-make a team!” he said with a grin. “I…don’t know how effective I’ll be in stopping suspicious people that are very possibly ending the world as we know it…but I’ll try.”

“And…uh…hey, thanks for talking me up. I know I probably looked pretty stupid up there with my fiasco at the guild. I’m…usually able to keep up a good facade but being alone here just reminds me how much of an…um…alien, I am. And that kind of takes a toll on me. So thanks for being so encouraging.”

“Mew knows I needed it.”

“I think you already know this, but, um. Just remember that there’s uh, there’s a lot of cool Pokemon to hang out with in Treasure Town, even if you have to keep your powers a secret. I’m sure they’ll think you’re, that you’re pretty cool, too.”

As he finished his sentence he seemed to remember something, and suddenly flashed a goofy grin.

“Oh, speaking of other Pokemon, I have to, I have to go meet back up with my team! Be safe training but have fun, okay? You know where to find us!”

Seemingly inspired by Campix’s own burst of inspiration, Mallory’s brother was off and running before there was time for a response.

“It’s…” she started, taking a moment to stare into the distance - contemplative. Needlessly dramatic. As usual.

“So like. If we just leave our world, whatever’s wrong will stay wrong. And there’s a chance it’ll start to effect this world too, and that’s like, assuming that it hasn’t started to already. We need to like… what’s the word you just said, amputate that whole timeline. But we’re convinced that something’s up with the Time Gears here too, such that like, we can’t break things off like we want to.” she explains, with a wave of her arm.

“Where we’re from, those things are laughable, like, you can barely even call them artifacts. Their protectors have all gotten weaker, and-or they don’t care anymore, and those are the ones that haven’t straight-up peaced outta here already - not to mention like, getting rid of a gear is way easier than it has any right to be. That’s not true here, though, everyone’s like, strong, and alive, and actually doing their job, you know? So my team has to figure out 1; how the heck we’re gonna disconnect our own world from this one, and 2; ‘cause we know this world’s Time Gears will probably be involved, how we’re gonna convince anyone to go along with our crazy plan.”

A drawn-out sigh from the Absol.

She picked up her berry shake and took another good long sip off the straw. “…I’d love to help you in any way I can, but I am not a strong sheep. Cappy, that guy I told you about? He’s a sailor, so he’s been around the block a few times. If anyone knew where a Time Gear would be, it’d be him. I don’t knwo if you’re, like, searching for them actively, or if you’ve already found them. But just ‘cuz I’m more looks than brawn doesn’t mean I can’t help you save the worlds, or whatever! Because…y’know, having something like that leaking over here sounds like it’d suck.”

“It sounds like you’re planning on doing something to the Time Gears. And yeah, that sounds fishy, but for what it’s worth,” Phari leaned back on her seat, “you’ve convinced me.”

“We have an idea as to where a few of ‘em are, for sure, but like… what I said before. Figuring out what to actually do with ‘em is gonna be the hard part. It’s not like this connection is like, anything visible or tangible or… y’know? There’s one in particular that I think is the problem one though, it’s not here on the Grass Continent, it’s actually waaaaaaaay far across the sea… like, I only figure you guys have one here because it’s the odd one out in our world. We could go to the Sand Continent ourselves to investigate, but I kinda wanna like, scope out the place first, make sure there’s nothing too dangerous going on - cause like, just because we’re powerful, doesn’t mean we’re invincible, you know?” she rambles on.

“And yes, that would mean that all of us would have to deal with that zelaous geeklord but, like, this is the world at stake, yeah? Some internal cringing isn’t gonna hurt us.” She fixed Junko with a look after she said that though. “Uh, that being said…you were prolly gonna do this anyway, but we should keep Cappy in the dark about the whole ‘Time Gear’ thing. He’s major into some stick-up-your-ass religion and I’m pretty sure he’d be a gnark about this whole thing if he heard about it.”

“Don’t worry, I like, know better than to go telling any ol’ mon about the plan. I just had a feeling you’d be able to, like, help me out - call it intuition, ya’know?”

The Absol stood abruptly, a confident grin on her face. “Layla knows how to Teleport, but between you and me, she’s been wearing herself out a lot, like all the time. If we need her for something more important than travel, she’ll be, like, way too tired to help us, you know? So it doesn’t have to be rushed or anything, but like, we’d totally appreciate a ride sometime.”

She looked towards the door. “I mean...I’m sure that Layla’s a barrel of laughs, but who else is on your team?”

He looked towards the door of the café. “I dunno, maybe I’ll do it. I mean, I can’t Tackle, but I can, like, run at someone fast and slam my head against their body? Isn’t that what tackling is? That sort of thing has to do something, right? And I should be able to breathe fire! I’m a Vulpix, for crying out loud, it’ll probably come if I practice enough.”

A smile began to show on Campix’s face. “Geez, maybe I can get better at this adventuring st-”

“The Final Maze…?” Campix repeated. “That sounds like, endgame level stuff. Have you ever been there? What’s the dojo like?”

“Oh, no, no I’ve never been in there, my sister and her teammates have, but I’m not strong enough for that yet. There’s really high level Pokemon in there, and they say it’s like, it’s uh, easily 40 floors, and normally each maze is only 5, and-”

He stammers a bit, shaking his head.

“My team and I haven’t actually been through any of the mazes yet. We keep looking, and we, we think it would be a good idea to start with the, the uh, normal-type maze. But even the basic stuff can be difficult when you’re low-level like us…”

“A-anyways, though. I’m sure you can figure out how to, to use moves and stuff if you just give it enough practice, right?”

“Yeah! I’m…jeez, I’m actually getting excited about this. Like, ever since I got here, I’ve wanted to actually get out there and make a difference, y’know? And… and if this whole Dojo business works…”

“I might even be able to make my own rescue team! I don’t know what I’d name it or who’d be in it even but…I could make a difference! Like, one that doesn’t involve literal subtracting numbers from numbers! I won’t have to do math!”

“Right, uh…”

The little Absol laughs.

“I think you’re uh, you’re making a difference even without being on a team. But if you wanna join one, or if you wanna, if you wanna start one, I wanna help!”

Campix slapped his paws onto the table and stood up. “Alright. I’m gonna do it. I’m going to go and train at that dojo and join-slash-make a team!” he said with a grin. “I...don’t know how effective I’ll be in stopping suspicious people that are very possibly ending the world as we know it...but I’ll try.”

“And...uh...hey, thanks for talking me up. I know I probably looked pretty stupid up there with my fiasco at the guild. I’m...usually able to keep up a good facade but being alone here just reminds me how much of an...um...alien, I am. And that kind of takes a toll on me. So thanks for being so encouraging.”

“Mew knows I needed it.”

He looked towards the door of the café. “I dunno, maybe I’ll do it. I mean, I can’t Tackle, but I can, like, run at someone fast and slam my head against their body? Isn’t that what tackling is? That sort of thing has to do something, right? And I should be able to breathe fire! I’m a Vulpix, for crying out loud, it’ll probably come if I practice enough.”

A smile began to show on Campix’s face. “Geez, maybe I can get better at this adventuring st-”

“The Final Maze…?” Campix repeated. “That sounds like, endgame level stuff. Have you ever been there? What’s the dojo like?”

“Oh, no, no I’ve never been in there, my sister and her teammates have, but I’m not strong enough for that yet. There’s really high level Pokemon in there, and they say it’s like, it’s uh, easily 40 floors, and normally each maze is only 5, and-”

He stammers a bit, shaking his head.

“My team and I haven’t actually been through any of the mazes yet. We keep looking, and we, we think it would be a good idea to start with the, the uh, normal-type maze. But even the basic stuff can be difficult when you’re low-level like us…”

“A-anyways, though. I’m sure you can figure out how to, to use moves and stuff if you just give it enough practice, right?”

“Yeah! I’m...jeez, I’m actually getting excited about this. Like, ever since I got here, I’ve wanted to actually get out there and make a difference, y’know? And... and if this whole Dojo business works...”

“I might even be able to make my own rescue team! I don’t know what I’d name it or who’d be in it even but...I could make a difference! Like, one that doesn’t involve literal subtracting numbers from numbers! I won’t have to do math!”

“It’s…” she started, taking a moment to stare into the distance - contemplative. Needlessly dramatic. As usual.

“So like. If we just leave our world, whatever’s wrong will stay wrong. And there’s a chance it’ll start to effect this world too, and that’s like, assuming that it hasn’t started to already. We need to like… what’s the word you just said, amputate that whole timeline. But we’re convinced that something’s up with the Time Gears here too, such that like, we can’t break things off like we want to.” she explains, with a wave of her arm.

“Where we’re from, those things are laughable, like, you can barely even call them artifacts. Their protectors have all gotten weaker, and-or they don’t care anymore, and those are the ones that haven’t straight-up peaced outta here already - not to mention like, getting rid of a gear is way easier than it has any right to be. That’s not true here, though, everyone’s like, strong, and alive, and actually doing their job, you know? So my team has to figure out 1; how the heck we’re gonna disconnect our own world from this one, and 2; ‘cause we know this world’s Time Gears will probably be involved, how we’re gonna convince anyone to go along with our crazy plan.”

A drawn-out sigh from the Absol.

She picked up her berry shake and took another good long sip off the straw. “…I’d love to help you in any way I can, but I am not a strong sheep. Cappy, that guy I told you about? He’s a sailor, so he’s been around the block a few times. If anyone knew where a Time Gear would be, it’d be him. I don’t knwo if you’re, like, searching for them actively, or if you’ve already found them. But just ‘cuz I’m more looks than brawn doesn’t mean I can’t help you save the worlds, or whatever! Because…y’know, having something like that leaking over here sounds like it’d suck.”

“It sounds like you’re planning on doing something to the Time Gears. And yeah, that sounds fishy, but for what it’s worth,” Phari leaned back on her seat, “you’ve convinced me.”

“We have an idea as to where a few of ‘em are, for sure, but like… what I said before. Figuring out what to actually do with ‘em is gonna be the hard part. It’s not like this connection is like, anything visible or tangible or… y’know? There’s one in particular that I think is the problem one though, it’s not here on the Grass Continent, it’s actually waaaaaaaay far across the sea… like, I only figure you guys have one here because it’s the odd one out in our world. We could go to the Sand Continent ourselves to investigate, but I kinda wanna like, scope out the place first, make sure there’s nothing too dangerous going on - cause like, just because we’re powerful, doesn’t mean we’re invincible, you know?” she rambles on.

“And yes, that would mean that all of us would have to deal with that zelaous geeklord but, like, this is the world at stake, yeah? Some internal cringing isn’t gonna hurt us.” She fixed Junko with a look after she said that though. “Uh, that being said...you were prolly gonna do this anyway, but we should keep Cappy in the dark about the whole ‘Time Gear’ thing. He’s major into some stick-up-your-ass religion and I’m pretty sure he’d be a gnark about this whole thing if he heard about it.”

“It’s…” she started, taking a moment to stare into the distance - contemplative. Needlessly dramatic. As usual.

“So like. If we just leave our world, whatever’s wrong will stay wrong. And there’s a chance it’ll start to effect this world too, and that’s like, assuming that it hasn’t started to already. We need to like… what’s the word you just said, amputate that whole timeline. But we’re convinced that something’s up with the Time Gears here too, such that like, we can’t break things off like we want to.” she explains, with a wave of her arm.

“Where we’re from, those things are laughable, like, you can barely even call them artifacts. Their protectors have all gotten weaker, and-or they don’t care anymore, and those are the ones that haven’t straight-up peaced outta here already - not to mention like, getting rid of a gear is way easier than it has any right to be. That’s not true here, though, everyone’s like, strong, and alive, and actually doing their job, you know? So my team has to figure out 1; how the heck we’re gonna disconnect our own world from this one, and 2; ‘cause we know this world’s Time Gears will probably be involved, how we’re gonna convince anyone to go along with our crazy plan.”

A drawn-out sigh from the Absol.

She picked up her berry shake and took another good long sip off the straw. “...I’d love to help you in any way I can, but I am not a strong sheep. Cappy, that guy I told you about? He’s a sailor, so he’s been around the block a few times. If anyone knew where a Time Gear would be, it’d be him. I don’t knwo if you’re, like, searching for them actively, or if you’ve already found them. But just ‘cuz I’m more looks than brawn doesn’t mean I can’t help you save the worlds, or whatever! Because...y’know, having something like that leaking over here sounds like it’d suck.”

“It sounds like you’re planning on doing something to the Time Gears. And yeah, that sounds fishy, but for what it’s worth,” Phari leaned back on her seat, “you’ve convinced me.”