Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Quenched Torch

Chapter 47: A Week in the Life

"Look to the skies, Pokémon! The planets speak, and what has happened of late answers! On this day, the second of Zygarde's Moon, I tell you the end times are upon us! Repent!"

That was the first thing I heard as Rye and Mavy led me out of the infirmary and into the clear afternoon. How comforting. As a pair of Magnemites hurried over to drag the doomsday-preaching Drowzee out of the Guild, the three of us paused in the road for a second to look around the quiet Guild campus. I'd been cooped up in the place for a good couple of days now, and after the little chat we'd had with Arden the previous day, I was happy to see I wasn't alone in being a bit unsure of what to do.

"So," Rye said. "What now?"

"I danno. Bahse?" I asked. Rye gave me a quick look, immediately reminding me of the state I'd last seen our little abode in.

Hanging my head a bit, I stole a look down the road, where a couple of Ground-types looked to be clearing out the area. The little clay base had been the closest thing to a home I'd had this past month, and seeing it in this state... well, it sucked, to say the least.

"I-it's alright, they'll finish up in a couple days. Ms. May's letting us stay in their base till then," Rye reassured me. "Uh, we brought your stuff there, wanna go and check if everything's there?"

I gave a cry of approval, so I limped after my teammates as they headed out the Guild's gate. Before we could turn the corner to the big bases, though, my ears stuck up at the sudden sound of a horn from town. We stopped in our tracks, two out of three of us looking over confusedly.

"Wha dat?" I asked.

"Well, that's a horn, ya blow in it and it floots," Mavy said half-seriously. "Really, though, ain't that the type they got at the port back home?"

"Huh?" Rye asked.

"Yeah, they used to sound it before ah was born, whenever a boat came in before... well, before they quit comin' in," Mavy said. Rye quickly looked towards the direction of the sound with newfound vigor.

"A boat? I've never seen one come here! Come on, let's go see!" he said, jogging towards the town. Mavy started zigzagging after him, though stopped as he took notice of my limp.

"Ey, wait, he can't-" the Zigzagoon started, though Rye had already gone too far to take notice. "Well, then. Ain't that nice? Reckon ah'll hatchlin'-sit ya oer there."

"Shee, thanks," I groaned, hobbling alongside Mavy.

As we walked into town, the first thing I noticed was the general buzz that'd taken hold. What seemed like every Pokémon in Impetus Town were out on the streets, craning their heads curiously in the direction of the river as the horn continued to sound. After a decent amount of weaving through the small crowd, Mavy and I caught sight of Rye, coming up next to him and peeking our heads out just in time to see a trio of Ice-types freeze an impromptu dock out of the river's water. A minute passed before the ship causing the commotion revealed itself around a bend in the river. Yes, the ship; not a raft or something, a full-blown caravel, the type I'd expect to see human explorers discovering continents in.

'I... never actually stopped to consider if actual ships still exist, now that I think about it. I don't know, seeing one in this sort of society after all this time is just... weird.'

Its sails billowing in the wind, the word 'GALAHAD' painted in Unown-script on its side became visible. The Galahad dropped her anchors and ground to a halt, staying still for a moment before a figure came to view on her deck: a Lycanroc, Midday breed, with a bag around her chest and eyeglasses perched atop her snout. At the sight of the Pokémon, an exasperated groan sounded out from behind me.