The world of Pokémon was vast, unusual, and full of complex creatures of varying shape and size. Powers and abilities. Different species and natures. They were truly amazing creatures. Their power is truly remarkable.

In this world, Pokémon rein over the world, living in peace and harmony. They live daily lives, working to better their everyday life. They have made grand advancements in today's technology, ranging from everyday appliances to military weapons to combat enemy territories. So many achievements and goals met over years of evolution and growth.

Looking over this world was the gods of this world, or, more commonly referred to as, the Legendary Pokémon. These creatures possess extraordinary power that helped shape the world they now live in. Arceus shaped their universe, Mew created the world's Pokémon, Groudon and Kyogre formed their regions and oceans, and so many more.

Many have dreamed of possessing such power for their very own. Yet, many were aware of the consequences of having such almighty abilities. While they were used to create, they can be used to destroy. While it is fun to think about, no one wants any one Pokémon possessing that power for their very own.

This was their belief, their philosophy, for centuries. No Pokémon should possess such grand power over others. It has been prophesized that such power would bring about great destruction to their world. It would crumble from chaos and war, ensuing battle between these two beings.

And yet, for centuries, they were hiding in plain sight. Over a millennia ago, the first ever fusion Pokémon, or just Fusion, was discovered. Some believed it to be the spawn of Kyurem, the first known Pokémon to perform fusion, only that these Fusions were born this way. During these dark times, this was considered a sin among Pokémon, which led to trials spawned from fear, to keep them from using their newfound powers against them.

As years went on, more began popping up, leading to the 'Fusion Trials', where those who were accused of being Fusions were executed.

The Fusions protested against such hostility, pleading they were innocent and had no ill-intentions to take over the world or wrongfully use their powers. Their pleas fell on deaf ears, ignored simply out of spite and paranoia over the supernatural. They didn't ask to be born this way, it just happened.

This led to years and years of torment and resentment. Whereas fear grew within the Pokémon, hatred boiled within the Fusions. There was no place for them to hide without being hunted down. In retaliation, they decided to fight back to get the message across: they were not going to be treated like this.

This feud would go on for years to come, until the turn of the century where things began to change. Fusions would still hide from society, afraid to reveal themselves to the public. However, the warring between the two sides died down, but not the distrust.

They had nowhere to go. Some born Fusions were ostracized from society, sometimes disowned from their families. It was a horrible fate for them all. Born with such wonderful gifts and they were being treated like dirt because of it. They could never show their faces to the public, and they would never be accepted into society.

Until it all changed.

Twelve years ago, a Fusion gave the Pokémon a compromise that would allow Fusions to stay out of society without torturing them. An agreement to let the Fusions live in a tribe of Pokémon like them. He envisioned it to be a prosperous home for these poor souls.

At first, the idea seemed ludicrous. However, with the growing hatred of the Fusions, not to mention the increasing crimes that have come from Fusions for being discriminated so harshly, it was the ultimate last resort.

So, they allowed them to takeover a nice stretch of land, hidden within a thick forest. Big enough to start their own little village. And they came to an agreement that the Fusions, other than their leader for diplomatic reasons, were not allowed to enter the city without special permission, and vice versa. This is so there won't be an uproar with both sides. This is meant to keep war from ensuing.

This Fusion sought out around the land, bringing in poor, defenseless Fusions being ostracized around the world. Here, in their land, everyone is able to live in peace with one another, to be around those just like them.

It became a utopia for the Fusions.

But, like all paradises, something will always come and ruin the happiness. And that…is where the story continues.

It was a nice, yet busy day in Gappei Village, the Tribe of Fusions. Laying just out of the limits of a nearby city, it bustled with activity with hybrid Pokémon of varying color and appearance. Everyone was unique in their own regard. Everyone was free to be themselves. They didn't need to fear their neighbors or those around them. They trusted each other…they know each other.

The village was made up of wooden houses that, despite being made of mostly sticks and vines, were quite sturdy. There was a pit where they had an open fire blaze at night. Lamps were attached to each house, unlit as it was the middle of the day. They had dirt paths that connected to all the houses and buildings. Though, each house did have their own lawn to which they can do as they please.

Surrounding the village was a massive wall that kept intruders out, a necessity considering the amount of times they had Pokémon try to break in. Thankfully, it was constantly guarded by Fusions who did volunteer work on the watchtower. The two heads of security were the ones intruders needed to watch out for: a Lucario-Samurott Fusion named Lewis and a Pangoro-Spiritomb Fusion named Cade. If anyone was foolish enough to enter the tribe, pray to Arceus these two were the last Fusions they come across.

Today was especially busy for the Fusions, as today was the twelve-year anniversary of the tribe's creation. Everyone, big or small, was helping out in any way they can. No one was being left out of the fun. They all worked together to get this party ready for a night of fun. It was always a smash hit every year, with everyone cheering and celebrating. This was an event they look forward to every year. A big blow out to celebrate another year as Fusions.

It has been tradition since the first day the village was created. They plan to make this the best night ever.

Though, there was one Fusion in particular who wanted to be by himself for a bit. He sat in the trees, far from the village, but not too far.

There was a standard form Fusions took. They possess the body type of the Pokémon they were born as, but their other half altered their appearance. Sometimes they have added features that make up the other half, while others have a completely altered appearance, such as different colors, extra limbs, different skin texture, or any other added features.

This Fusion was a Charmeleon-Darkrai fusion. His skin was pitch black and his underbelly was white. His eyes were an icy blue, piercing down at the ground with a sharp expression. His tail flame burned a white flame. Around his neck was a flowing white mane, acting similar to a scarf. Then there was the red collar around his neck, similar in design to a Darkrai's jaw. It was small and wrapped comfortably around him. It was part of his body, so he couldn't remove it. Not that he ever had a reason to.

He was sitting by himself in the trees, looking up at the sky. It's not that he hated the party or anything. On the contrary, he always looked forward to it. It was a fun time for everyone, even a loner like him. But, he wasn't in a particularly pleasant mood. He would help out later, but not now.

One would think the nightmare hybrid wouldn't have bad dreams, but they'd be surprised. He didn't sleep well last night and was trying to quell his pounding headache. He doesn't normally have bad dreams, but this particular one was a recurring dream he had that he wasn't too fond of.

That dream…always that one. He sighed and rested his hands behind his head, crossing his left leg over his right as he stared up at the clouds. The sun will set in five to six hours. He'll probably go help out in two or something. Right now, he needed some rest. It might help his headache.

His chance for sleep may have to wait, as he sensed a presence nearby, trying to sneak up on him. He sighed. He had a pretty good idea who it was and he wasn't sure if he should be glad or annoyed. An odd mixture of both, perhaps.

He closed his eyes, feigning sleep as the figure crawled above him in the trees. It narrowed its eyes with a smirk spreading across its lips. It flexed its claws as it prepared to pounce on its prey, confident that it will catch him off guard. It crouched down and ricocheted off the tree, barreling downward with a wide grin.

The hybrid Charmeleon, without opening his eyes, formed a shadow hand from his shadow and extended out, grabbing the mysterious figure just inches from tackling him. One eye opened as a smirk spread across his face. "You need something?"

The figure in his grasp snickered. "Can never fool you, sweetie."

In his grasp was a female Sylveon-Scrafty hybrid. While she looked normal, it's what's on her body that defined her as a Fusion. A membrane, rubbery-like hoodie. It might look like a piece of clothing, but it was, in fact, part of her. It was yellow and had orange sleeves and a black oval shape on the front, like a Scrafty's belly. She also had the signature hood with intimidating eye holes. On her head was fluffed up, red fur going down the middle of her head and ending just above her nape.

"There a reason you tried tackling me, Artemis?"

She smirked. "What? I can't surprise my little sweetie? You're no fun, Spooks." She stretched her head out a bit and kissed his nose. "I like that about you."

He smirked back. Artemis was an interesting member of the tribe. He actually found her wandering the streets five years ago. She wasn't suspected of being a Fusion, thanks to her appearance merely looking like she wore a hoodie. Why was HE on the streets? He tends to fly out and explore, hiding in the shadows, of course. The tribe leader normally dishes out labor for him as punishment for disobeying their rules. Though, he had no regrets sneaking out that particular day.

He caught her stealing food from vendors and confronted her about it. She was smug in their first encounter, not giving a crap about the legal system with the way she has been treated. So, she figured, why should she be nice to them?

It was an interesting first encounter as the two didn't quite get along, although that's mostly because the female Fusion wasn't very trusting of strangers. Still, the nightmare hybrid was quick to diffuse her anger before it got them caught.

He decided to take her to the village, telling her it's a place where they can be who they are. She was quite shocked by how welcoming everyone was and, after some convincing, decided to stay.

The two became fast friends and stuck by each other's side for five years, with those feelings slowly blossoming into a mutual admiration for each other. They've been dating for the last two years.

Artemis was a mixed bag of personality. One moment, she can be as sweet as sugar, the next, she's a mischief maker who loves causing trouble. It was hard to keep up with her change in attitude. He never minded her antics, but he's usually the one to keep her from doing anything rash that would upset the other Fusions or their tribe leader.

The Charmeleon set her down to his side, scooching to the right a bit to give her some room. "How'd you find me?"

"This is the same spot you go to when you need alone time." She traced her paw around his chest, smirking. "Being the considerate girlfriend that I am, I was stalking you so I can keep an eye on you."

He rolled his eyes with a smirk. "You always do the sweetest things," he said jokingly.

She snickered. "Oh stop it." She looked into his eyes with a cute face. "So, what brings you out here, Spooks? Party planning giving you a headache?"

He sighed and shook his head. "No, it's not that. It's something…personal."

"And you didn't bother telling me?!" she gasped in faux shock, taking on an expression of offense. "How absurd!" She smiled and crossed her forelegs. "Seriously, though, what's up? I'm your roommate and girlfriend, Quinn. Anything that's bothering you is my problem, too."

Anything he said to get her to drop the subject would only result in him being kicked out of the tree. With her being part Fighting and Fairy-Type, that wouldn't be a pleasant feeling for him. Giving in, he closed his eyes. "I…had that dream again."

Her demeanor changed from mischievous to concern. She was well aware of his nightmares. They, along with a friend of theirs, shared a hut together, so it wasn't hard for them to notice him waking up in the middle of the night. He would have to blast himself with Dark Void to get any decent sleep. It worried her deeply that he would have to endure those nightmares. It worried her more when she doesn't know about them.

Her ribbons wrapped around him, hugging him close to her. "How are you feeling?"

"Better…" He wrapped his arms around her and held her close as well. "I just can't get their faces out of my head…"

"Is there anything I can do, Quinn?"

He shook his head. "No…though, I guess I could use someone to talk to."

She smiled. "Then talk away, Spooks."

He sighed. "Well…I can't stop thinking about my parents…"

Artemis frowned. She heard plenty about them to have a pretty strong distaste for them. "Quinn, you don't need to worry about them anymore. You have all of us now. You won't have to be treated like that ever again."

"I know, and I appreciate your kindness. It's just…hard to forget, you know?"

"From what you've told me, I can't blame you." She nuzzled her head under his chin. "Still, that's all in the past now. You shouldn't be spending every waking moment of your life obsessing over two Pokémon who just couldn't see what was pass your appearance. Do you want to be that one guy who constantly says 'I'm a moody Fusion who had horrible parents! Blah, I'm dark and edgy'!" she said with a deep, graveling voice.

Quinn chuckled. "I do not act like that."

She smirked. "You get my point. I may have had a bleak outlook of the world simply because of the conditions I had to go through, but they don't define me. I think people would get VERY annoyed if I constantly reminded them of my late father and cruel mother."

He rolled his eyes with a grin. "Perhaps…"

She smiled back lightly. "We all came here for a reason: to escape the prejudice and be who we are. You are a nightmarish flame and I am a deceptively sweet fighter."

Quinn smirked and rubbed her head. "Deceptively sweet?"

"I can't be nice all the time, Spooks," she answered with a snicker.

He chuckled and tipped her head up to look at her. "You really are something, you know that?"

"Really? Haven't noticed." She leaned forward and kissed him, which he happily returned. She pulled back and smiled. "Come on, maybe helping out with the festival will cheer you up. After all, it's like you told me when I first celebrated: everyone has to play their part."

He smiled and sat up. "Yeah…that sounds like a good idea."

"Also, can you promise me something?" He looked at her curiously. "If the nightmares are bugging you that much, you may want to speak with the tribe master. He might clear your head."

He smiled. "If I have the time, I'll try." She smiled happily. He leaned back and fell off the branch, floating gently down to the ground. Artemis wrapped her ribbons around the trunk and shimmied down.

They entered the village and went around to see if anyone needed any help. The cook needed Artemis' help with the cooking, something she was getting good at lately, and Quinn was tasked with hanging the lights. After a quick goodbye and a hug, the two went off to do their assigned work.

Quinn, extending the shadow hands out, grabbed some lights and began hanging them at an efficient pace. Being part Darkrai gave him some control over the shadows, so this was a useful ability.

That was the thing with these Fusions. They're capable of doing things matching their hybrid species. In Quinn's case, he had control over shadows, dreams, and fire. Combining those talents together led to some interesting combos. In made battles in the tribe all the more exciting.

"Yo, Quinn!" He looked down and saw a Frogadier-Aegislash hybrid. He had a Frogadier body type with, of course, gold armor around his body, specifically shoulders, bracers on arms and legs, and plating on his torso and back. His skin and face were shades of purple, matching the shades as his kind's blue body. He had a scarf like cape draped down his back, shaped like the arms of an Aegislash. Also on his back was a sword and shield, also matching that of an Aegislash, only the sword lacks the eye and had the hilt shaped to be properly gripped.

This was that other friend that shared a hut with him and Artemis: Ren. He was one of the first Fusions to be taken into the village, at a very young age. He was an incredibly loyal companion and member of the tribe. You ever need a helping hand, he'll be there to give two. Quinn was lucky to have him as a friend.

"Hey Ren. What's up?"

"Do you require any assistance?" he asked, holding up some lights.

He shook his head and chuckled. He could say he had it handled, but the frog knight fusion was persistent. It was easier to just humor him. Floating down, he said, "Sure, knock yourself out."

He smiled and jumped onto the top of the huts. He threw the lights around the huts and hooked them on securely. He made swift work in hanging them up, unknowingly hanging Quinn's set of lights. The Charmeleon shrugged and let him handle the last load.

Ren landed back on the ground and dusted his hands off. "Phew, that was fun!" He looked at Quinn and crossed his arms. "You finished hanging your lights too?"

He chuckled. "Something like that. How you doing, anyway?"

"Oh, great! The party's coming along great this year! I haven't missed a single one!" He shuffled his feet, doing a little dance. "I'm gonna bust a move on the dance floor."

"You do that," Quinn said with a shake of his head.

"More importantly…how are YOU doing, Q? I didn't see you in bed this morning."

"I was just…lounging around." Ren crossed his arms and narrowed an eye suspiciously. Fooling the frog knight was not an easy task, or possible. The Charmeleon fusion sighed and rubbed his face. "I…may have been experiencing those nightmares of mine again…"

"Seriously?" He nodded. Ren sighed and placed his hands on his shoulders. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't like burdening you or Artemis with my issues."

"Q, we've ALL been through some rough patches. Almost all Fusions have. We are a family. We're there for each other. Artemis and I are your family. If you ever have a problem, we'll be there to help you."

"I get that, I really do. But you didn't go through the same things as me. At least your family brought you here because they loved you."

Unlike Quinn, Ren's parents did care about his wellbeing. They knew having him in society would be a detriment to his health, emotionally and physically speaking. So, when they heard about this village, they decided to have him stay here so he can be with others like him. They're one of many few who have special permission to enter the village.

The frog knight rubbed the back of his head. "Well, true…"

"Me? I was left in a house they purposely set on fire, hoping I'd die in the wreckage." He crossed his arms. His teeth grinded against each other. "They wanted their 'demon' of a child to die."

Ren cringed and rubbed the back of his head. "Okay…so I can't justify something as horrible as that happening. But still, not all Pokémon are like that. Take my parents as an example. They only sent me here so I could be happy." He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "You may have had a rough start, but life here is so much better for us. You were raised by traveling merchants before coming here, so that's a plus."

The nightmare hybrid crossed his arms. "How?"

"Well, you're pretty smart and quick-witted. You did say they taught you a lot on the road. And now that you're here…well, look at everything you got."

He gestured to the village, spreading his arms out to emphasize its importance. "Secluded space for us to roam freely, others like us to interact with, great food…" He chuckled. "And, if it weren't for this place, you wouldn't have met me or Artemis~!" he sang teasingly. He tapped the Charmeleon's forehead. "I rest my case."

Quinn smiled lightly with narrowed eyes, shaking his head. "Once again, you always find some way to look on the bright side of things." He sighed. "I should really have told you and Artemis about my nightmares…"

He patted his shoulder. "Don't beat yourself up about it, Q. Besides, don't want you all mopey for tonight." He danced around the fusion, shuffling his feet. "We're gonna party 'til we drop tonight!"

Quinn chuckled and pushed him away. "Alright, alright, I get it."

Ren stopped and smiled kindly. "In all seriousness, just tell us if you have any issues. We're your family now. We'll always be there for you."

He smiled. "I know you will. Thanks."

He clasped his hands together. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I see some other Fusions in desperate need of my help!" He dashed off, leaving the Charmeleon hybrid to chuckle.

"Desperate?" He shook his head as he watched him help the hybrids who were 'in great need of help'. "You're just too excited for the party…" He walked through the village, passing by hybrids.

He glanced across the village to the very center. A large hut resided in the middle, where the village elder, their tribe leader, resided. His door was always open to, what he considered, his family. He created this village to welcome all hybrids that sought protection and a home to call their own. If anyone had a problem, they were welcomed to visit him for a friendly chat.

The Charmeleon-Darkrai sometimes considered speaking with him about his nightmares. He only ever talked with him a total of eight times about them. He knew he was an understanding creature, but old habits were hard to break. He didn't like talking about his issues. It was a pain to him and those close to him. Sometimes they'd just fade away as soon as they entered his mind, sometimes they linger for extended periods, haunting him for days on end.

The irony, a Darkrai infused hybrid who experiences nightmares time to time. Did the actual Darkrai ever feel nightmares? These were questions he asked, but never bothered to seek an answer for.

Still, if anyone can help clear his head, it was him. With Artemis and Ren busy setting up for tonight, he didn't have that many friends to converse with, or at least friends he wasn't deeply close with like those two. Plus, they were worried about his health, so this would be good for them, too. Help relieve his and their stress.

Finally making up his mind, he stepped towards the hut.

He pulled back the flaps when he was suddenly knocked over by a burst of wind. He spun in place before falling on his back with a grunt. He groaned slightly and held his head. Annnd, my headache is back…

"Whoops, sorry, Quinn!" a female voice apologized.

He looked up at the figure standing over him. A female Meowth-Accelgor hybrid: Tamara. She had the appearance of a normal Meowth, just with altered features to her person. A black four-point star on her charm and green lines running from the top of her eyelids to the top of her head. Her torso was dull blue with a propped up fur collar around her neck and two ribbons flowing out of it. Dull blue bandages were wrapped around her feet and ankles, and around her arms, from her wrists to her elbows.

Being a nimble cat with the grace of a ninja, Tamara was well-known for being the speediest of the tribe. She was constantly moving about at swift speeds, practically invisible to anyone who wasn't capable of perceiving such movement. She lived to be fast and quick, making her very prideful of her talents. While she was boastful, she was a friendly face to know and a good friend within Quinn's circle of interaction.

Tamara grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. "How's it hanging, Q?"

He dusted himself off. "Aside from our brief tumble, I'm doing okay."

"Okay, you say? Anything bugging you?"

He groaned. "It's a little personal."

Thankfully, the ninja cat was less meddlesome with personal issues, as she gave a light shrug. "Whatever you say." She flickered out of sight and appeared in a tree before he could blink. She plucked an apple off the tree and tossed it to him. "If you need anything, just holler and I'll be over there faster than the speed of sound."

He smirked. "Noted. Which reminds me, why were you in the elder's hut?"

She blushed suddenly, a look of embarrassment as she twiddled her fingers. "Well, uh…there was this mishap with the lanterns earlier that I may have…knocked over…" Quinn started snickering, irking the cat as she stomped her foot on the tree branch she was perched on. "Don't laugh at me, buster! I'll fight you, here and now!"

He raised his hands in defense as he chuckled lightly. "Ease up, speed queen, I mean you no foul. I'm just heading in to speak with the elder myself."

She huffed her frustration out in a single breath and crossed her arms. "Whatever." Quinn smirked. She was full of herself, but she means well.

"Hey! Tamara!"

The two friends turned to see two more Fusions walk up to them: Tamara's roommates.

One was a Reuniclus-Braviary fusion, Ulysses. Surrounding his body was a blue gel substance that took the shape of a Braviary, with three disk objects in the wings, two orbs in each leg, and one large orb in the head. In the center where the main body was, Ulysses had three large feathers sprouting above the eyes with a red three pointed design along the base. He had white plumage on the back of his head and long red feathers draping down his back like a cape.

The other Fusion was a Spinda-Mienfoo fusion, Juniper. Much like Artemis, there wasn't a drastic change in her appearance. Like all Spinda, she had red spots: one on her right eye, two at the top of her ears, and one on the back of her head. She had the black oval markings over her eyes, like Mienfoo, and whiskers on the far ends of her cheeks. She had a red band of fur around her neck. Her body had developed a red, robe like membrane over it with a solid, thick tan line going straight down the middle. The membrane ends at her waist. At her arms, she also had baggy sleeves.

Ulysses smiled politely at her. "I'm sorry if we're interrupting, but you need to clean up that mess you made, Tamara."

Juniper lazily smiled. "And you called ME a klutz."

Tamara pointed at her angrily. "Hey, when someone trusts you with flaming lanterns, do they expect you to be careful the whole time?!"

She stuck her tongue out at her with a cheeky grin. "Yeah, that's kind of the point." She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a soda, with the brand name 'Diet Cola' on it. She opened it and started gulping it down. She wiped her lip and said, "So quit dillydallying and come on. If you hurry, we might lend a hand."

The ninja cat huffed and crossed her arms. "I don't need your pity!"

She shrugged. "Suit yourself." She prepared to turn around, but…

"However, considering I have other chores to handle, it would be well appreciated." Juniper giggled to herself. Even Tamara can't do everything at once.

Ulysses smiled. "On, how wonderful! Let us hurry so we can get ready for tonight!"

"Be there in a minute!" she shouted. She looked down at Quinn and smirked. "Guess I have to go clean up my mess now."

He chuckled. "Right. See you at the party."

She plucked an apple for herself and took a bite, saying, "You too." She vanished, a ring of air briefly left in her place.

Ulysses flapped his massive wings. "AH! Tamara! Wait for us!" He took off into the air. Juniper simply walked with a mellow rhythm in her step, drinking the last of her soda, throwing the can into a nearby trash can, then pulling a second soda out of her other sleeve.

Quinn shook his head and chuckled. He then faced the elder's hut and sighed. He took a bite of his apple to calm his nerves. After swallowing, he wiped his mouth clean and stepped inside.

The hut was rather large, fit to house a large Pokémon. Or, in their case, a large Fusion. There was a table with short legs, a cabinet that houses personal items no doubt, and a small kitchen.

Sitting on the cabinet was a framed photo of all the current resident Fusions and the tribe leader himself: Liam, the Slaking-Arceus hybrid. A Fusion born with the DNA of an Arceus was astronomically rare, practically making their leader one of a kind, which was a safe bet since the chance of such a combination appearing twice was essentially nonexistent.

"Ah, Quinn…fancy seeing you here."

He turned to the large ape sitting in his bed, legs crossed, as he was taking part in a game of Sudoku. His sclera was green while his irises were red. His face, hands, feet, and belly were dark gray, the fur on his head and around his neck was yellow, and the fur that made up most of his body was white. Leaning against his bed was a staff, a gray pole with the Arceus cross-wheel adorning the top.

Liam breathed in gently and exhaled slowly, then offered a friendly grin. "Come, sit, my child."

Quinn bowed in thanks and sat on the edge of the bed, as the old ape continued with his game. The nightmare hybrid exhaled a shaky sigh before saying, "Sir, I wish for your advice. I have been-"

"-having nightmares again recently?" he finished as he placed a tile on one of the spaces.

The Charmeleon blinked. "H…How did you…"

He presented a sagely grin. "It is my duty to know what is troubling my children. When you come here for my advice, it is to help you through your fears." He chuckled. "Well, that and Artemis stopped by earlier to tell me."

Quinn exhaled with an exasperated grin. "Of course she did…" She was always looking out for him. "Yes, it's true. I've been having nightmares about…" He looked away, still uncomfortable about reliving those times.

Fortunately, Liam had heard this tale before and knew of his troubles. "Ah yes, the memory of those who have brought you to this world, a new life to find your place in this world, only to have them torn down with flames fueled by their hatred towards our kind." He placed a hand on the young hybrid's shoulder. "It truly is a past one would wish to forget."

He smiled sadly. "Couldn't agree more…" The expression dropped and was replaced with a much darker form. "They actually tried to kill me…all because they can't see pass their bigoted ways…"

The elder Fusion shook his head. "Quinn, the pain you felt from their betrayal is one we accept and truly sympathize with. However, I do not condone hatred among my family, especially rage that guides one down the path of genocide."

His eyes widened in shock. He looked up at the elder. "Sir, I-I would never-"

He shushed the panicking hybrid. "Do not feel alarmed, my child, for I can see a good heart within you. While it is tainted with the flames of rejection, you must understand that we cannot reside within the past. That is why our kind is hated among the public. They look to the past for answers without seeing what is truly before them. Both Pokémon and Fusions must learn this if we are to achieve peace."

"I understand, but…argh!" He clutched his head tightly. "It's just so frustrating!"

"Please, do not shout." Liam breathed deeply and exhaled. "Release your aggression through rhythmic breaths."

The hybrid obeyed and exhaled deeply, leveling out his anger. He continued in a calmer tone, "…I don't like not doing anything. I want to be out there to show them that we aren't monsters. All we do is live here and let the hate fly over our heads."

Liam shook his head. "Accepting the hatred is difficult. Ignoring it is far worse. This, I can agree with. However, there is nothing we can do to change their minds. It is how the past operates. Our previous generations never bothered to make peace with the Pokémon. Because of this, a chance at acceptance is far from our grasp."

"So there's nothing we can do?"

"The peace of mind that you seek is merely beyond your current standing. However, if we were to advance forward, learning the obstacles that impede our goals…" He placed a '9' tile down, completing the top right corner of the board. "We might find a future we can all look forward to."

Quinn's eyes darted to the right. "A future where Pokémon and Fusions can get along, eh?"

"You never know. Times change. It has happened before. The Pokémon have simply accepted us as monsters and stick to their beliefs. I believe in a change. We are much more than they perceive. We may be Fusions, but we're still Pokémon."

The nightmare hybrid looked down. "I see…"

Liam smiled. "My only advice for your nightmares: have fun tonight. This is the village's twelve-year anniversary. Tonight is a time to reflect upon who we've become over the year and promise to succeed further." He slid off the bed and reached for his staff. "You have friends who want to spend time with you. Friends who worry about you." He smiled lightly. "You don't want to shove them out of your life, do you?"

Artemis, Ren, Tamara, Juniper, Ulysses…heh, as if he'd ever do such a thing. He shook his head and chuckled. "I suppose I need to lighten up a bit."

Liam smiled. "That's the spirit, my boy." He steadily hobbled out of his hut. "I have a few things to do. Carry on with your day. I expect you to be ready for the party."

Quinn gave a mock salute. "Yes sir." He jumped off the bed and walked out.

The tribe master was right. This festival was all about them, not the outsiders. Tonight was a time for him to cut loose and forget his worries. Delicious food, great games, battling…maybe it'll help clear his head a bit.

Outside the protected borders west of the hybrid village was a modern day city, with many Pokémon walking about, carrying out their usual daily lives. Massive skyscrapers stood so high that one would believe they can touch the clouds. This city had many locations for all to visit, such as restaurants, shopping centers, salons, and many more.

While the Tribe of Fusions pertained to a simpler lifestyle for their community, the city known as Grandis City made it their personal goal to advance the future to a brighter future.

One such company that made this possible was Profectus Inc. It helped with developing new technology throughout the city and the whole region. The company was constantly researching more efficient ways to make the world safer and more efficient, like creating state of the art security systems or designing new appliances that worked better than the old.

Inside the building, at the top floor, was the man who made it all possible: Julian Roteman. He was a Machamp. He wore a black suit with a white shirt, red tie, and black shoes. Being a Machamp certainly had its advantages, such as being able to multitask so well.

Unfortunately, that would prove to be a disadvantage, as well.

The company has been around for fifteen years, just before the Tribe of Fusions was created. The village wouldn't exist without the involvement of the company. Julian didn't originally have the intention to allow construction of the village, but the founder, Liam, changed his mind those many years ago. He personally funded it, providing them with the necessities they needed to live, like food, water, materials for huts, misc. stuff, and more.

The idea was to allow a place for all Fusions to be themselves and to separate the two sides that have been warring with each other for centuries. Keeping them apart assures that there would be no more bloodshed between them.

At least, that was the hope of the goal.

Fact is, many activist Pokémon protest against these 'monsters' because of the mark they've left on their history. Many would go as far as to sneak in and try to set fire to the village or something. Every time, someone was caught. This was the reason the village had their own watchtower to keep an eye out for intruders such as them.

That's not to say the Fusions are completely innocent. There are still many who keep a hold of that hatred, likely from a miserable childhood dealing with the abuse. Rather than leave the hate behind and join the tribe, they continue to bring havoc to the lives of Pokémon, whether through a crime as minor as stealing to physically attacking them. The village does have members who were like this until they realized the true consequences of their actions.

This…was why Julian was so wound up now. Two or three times every week, he'd get a call about a Fusion causing trouble in some part of the city. The police do manage to apprehend the Fusions, but there are those rare few that manage to escape. The ones that escape…are the hardest to bring down.

Julian had a phone to his ear with his upper right hand while his lower right signed away at some papers. His lower left hand was typing away on his computer while he used the other one to sip at his coffee.

"Yes…yes, I'm aware that…Ma'am…Ma'am! I understand there's a large hole in the side of your house, but I'm not responsible for that type of…yes, I'm aware I'm helping Fusions, but not the sadistic ones. The whole city knows this. I can assure you I do not tolerate these rogue Fusions…I'm sorry they were causing you trouble, but you…Ma'am, you don't have to curse me out like that. I'm trying to be the mature one here!" He blinked, then groaned as he slammed the phone down on the receiver. "And she hung up on me." He pressed his fingers against his eyes and rubbed them tiredly.

"I assume you got chewed out again?" He looked up to see his secretary, who entered through his office doors. She was a Musharna who wore a pair of glasses and a pearl necklace. She carried a clipboard in her hands.

"What gave it away?" he muttered. He sighed. "Honestly, I try my hardest to keep this city under control and, instead, I get dozens of complaints about these rogues."

His secretary pushed her glasses up. "Can you blame them? Every year we deal with these rogue Fusions. As time passes, they learn to adapt to their mixed DNA and manipulate them based on the characteristics of both species. It's simply too much for the police to handle."

Julian narrowed his eyes before asking, "Have we gotten intel about what types of Fusions are running amuck now?"

She looked over her clipboard, then rubbed her chin. "We weren't able to identify all of them. Some of them are staying lowkey. However, one of the security cameras managed to get a clear photo of a more recent culprit." She floated over and handed him the photo.

Julian held the photo in his hand and…regretted asking for it. In the photo was a Golduck-Electrode Fusion. His torso was red and metallic-like, while a white band of color horizontally crossed over his face, acting as a mask over his eyes. Around his wrists were Electrode shaped spheres, likely half or less the size of a regular Electrode. The white half was the side that started at the wrist.

The Fusion possessed a wicked grin, as the photo showed him slamming his fist against a building. The photo managed to capture his wrist orb releasing a flash of light, likely due to the punch.

Julian set the photo down and sighed. "Let me guess…he's the explosive Fusion we've been looking for?"

His secretary nodded. "That'd be correct."

Julian held his face. "You've got to be kidding me…"

"Thankfully, despite having access to Explosion, he hasn't used it to detonate his wrists. We're assuming he has the ability, Damp, which is nullifying his ability to naturally set them off. It would seem they explode through physical contact, likely through a strong punch."

"Brea, the fact he has to get up close to set Explosion off is not helping us!" he shouted irritably.

The Musharna took her glasses off and wiped the lens with a rag she had clipped to her clipboard. "I'm only stating facts, sir. Despite the horrifying possibilities, we act least know the explosions are controlled."

"Even so, he's dangerous to have roaming around in public. Not to mention he's one of who knows how many of these rogues running around. We still have others to worry about, like that Toxicroak-Honchkrow Fusion from last week. He nearly poisoned the water supply, Brea!"

Brea placed her glasses back on. "Well, a logical solution would be to hire the Fusion Hunters."

Julian clenched his fists. The Fusion Hunters were specially trained agents who devote their career to hunting down rogue Fusions such as these and sending them off to a remote, top secret prison with little to no possibility of escape. There were many times he just wanted to hire them to get these rogues off his back. It was bad publicity on his part.

However, he and the Fusion tribe leader had an unspoken agreement about their involvement. If he did hire them, he'd have a bunch of angry Fusions knocking on his doorstep, foe or friend. Liam didn't trust the Fusion Hunters, especially since there's no information about the captured Fusions' treatment in this secluded environment. His issues lie with them apprehending Fusions who did absolutely nothing wrong, ones that haven't even caused crime waves.

Still, it pained the Machamp to have such a simple solution to his problem with a devastating consequence in the aftermath.

He sighed and rubbed his face. "The Fusion Hunters aren't the answer, Brea. We need something else…" He groaned slammed his fists on the table. "Dammit! If that fool, Liam, would just let me hire them, we'd have this whole mess cleared up! Letting those rogues run around is not only destroying MY city, but it's damaging THEIR reputation further!" He rubbed his temples. "I swear, that man can't just put his stubborn beliefs down for one second and consider the positives…"

Brea looked down at her clipboard. "Well, you better think of a solution soon before the city turns against you. Unless you can give the police the same special training as the Fusion Hunters, you might as well sell your business, move to Alola, change your name, and live the life of a salesman."

He looked up at her strangely. "…please don't tell me you're serious."

She shrugged. "I have a back-up plan for any possible disaster."

"And yet you don't have an alternate solution to our current dilemma?" he retorted.

"No need to act snippy, sir. Again, your best solution is calling the Fusion Hunters."

"And I'd like to remind you that I don't want to die! The Fusion Hunters are my best bet, but there are many, many Fusions in that village who would take my head if I did that! The only other thing that can combat a Fusion is…" His eyes suddenly widened. He leaned back in his chair as his pupils dilated, having a stroke of genius surge through his brain. "Another Fusion…"

Brea raised a brow. "Sir?"

The Machamp rose out of his seat with a wide smirk. "I've been going at this all wrong! If I want to put an end to these rogues, we need other Fusions to do so!" He held his head excitedly. "My gosh, why didn't I consider this sooner?"

"Maybe because YOU made it very clear that they had to stay in their land and out of our hair so we wouldn't start a war. Sir, there's no way the tribe leader would agree to such an idea."

"I have my ways, Brea. Liam and I made a deal. I'm only going to raise the demands a bit and give his village something in return. It's that simple." He walked around his desk and headed for the door. "We can't afford to put this off for any longer. The rogues could hurt innocent lives, maybe even kill if we don't act now." He opened the doors.

Brea sighed and followed him. "You really think this will work?"

"I've been sticking my neck out for that godly ape. Now…he owes me." He slammed the doors shut with a loud echo sounding through his office.

Hello everyone! Hope you enjoyed the first chapter of 'Tribe of Fusions'. I hope to make this a fun, yet action packed story. I intend to have a lot of fun with this.

With that said, since this is a story revolving around multiple possible combinations of Fusions, you know what that means? OC Contest time!

This one is going to work a bit differently than previous ones. For starters, I'm only accepting five entries, because I can only handle writing for so many characters and giving them equal development. Plus, I plan to introduce them all in the next chapter, so I want to give them all equal amount of time to be introduced.

That said, for each entry, you will be submitting 3 OCs, who will be roommates in the village. So let your imagination soar with the possibilities! Here is the basic template:

Name: (Last name is optional)
Fusion: (Key note for this story. The Pokémon they were born as is capable of evolving, but not their other half. For example, if Juniper had a second evolution for the Spinda line, her Mienfoo half will not evolve into a Mienshao half. It would remain a Mienfoo half)
Personality:
Type: (Fusions in this story can have up to three types, matching their halves. If the two Pokémon you're mixing have dual types, you'll have to omit one)
Ability: (This can be any ability either half knows)
Moves: (Fusions can learn up to six moves from either move set)
Fusion Move: (This is a single move that combines the traits of both DNA and turns it into a powerful move. Try to be creative with them as these moves serve as an embodiment of the Fusion. Keep in mind Pokémon can do some crazy stuff as described in their description, like how Gardevoir can create a small black hole or Typhlosion can create explosions by rubbing its fur together)
Fusion Mode: (This is a special evolution style that acts like Mega Evolution, increasing their power and such, just without any special items. This is where you can go a little wild with their altered appearance)
Fusion Ability: (An ability they gain after activating Fusion Mode. You can make them strong, unique abilities, but within reason)
Backstory:
Love Interest: (Optional. Also, I will allow you to pair up one of your characters with the following: Ren, Tamara, Juniper, and Ulysses. If two OC's happen to be paired with the same character, I will have to choose which one I like more)
Strengths: (This is essentially what they specialize in during battle)
Weaknesses: (I do want you to look up what types they are weak to. Also, any personal weaknesses)
Hobbies: (Optional)
Likes: (Optional)
Dislikes: (Optional)
Job: (Optional. These are essentially non-profit jobs done for the tribe to keep it running. Some of the basic ones include cooking, manning the watchtower, tending to the gardens, mechanic/repairman, etc. If you happen to come up with a specific job for the village, I'll evaluate it and see if I'll allow it)

And that's pretty much it. You can add something else if you feel like it. Also, some limitations/recommendations.

-No overly powerful OCs. I don't mind powerful ones, just not…too powerful. No instant knockout Fusion moves, no OP Fusion abilities, or anything like that. Fusion Moves that do a lot of damage and have an interesting effect afterwards are perfectly fine. Powerful or unique Fusion Mode abilities that can turn the tide of battle are fine. But nothing that guarantees instant or definite victory.

-Don't use Legendary Pokémon as the main form for the Fusion (Example, don't make a Mew-? or a Victini-?). That said, I will allow them to have Legendary halves, much like Quinn, but you can only submit one out of your three, and you can't use Arceus in the combination as it's extremely rare in this universe. Also, I do recommend you try different Pokémon combinations for some less popular Pokémon, just for fun.

-Try and give each of your characters diverse personalities. Shy, bubbly, hotheaded, cool, lazy, etc.

That's about it. Leave your three OCs in the review section or just PM them to me (though, with the magnitude of this list, those with accounts would be better off messaging them to me). Hope to see some interesting OCs. Take care and thanks for reading!