"So is that the place?" Dan asked as they approached some sort of city.
"Yeah. This is the unidentified world. Still no info, just a name. Nine Wood Hills." Tails said.
"Isn't this supposed to be a city? Where are all the people?" Hope asked.
"Well uh… maybe they're just lazy, y'know?" Gemini asked.
"Somehow I doubt that." Jesse said.
"Hmm… I'm getting this weird vibe… I'll be back in a sec." David said as he headed towards a coffee shop. "Hello? Anyone in here?"
"Oh...a customer." a voice said as a young man came down with a strange white fox on his head. "What can I get you?"
David looked at the fox creature for a moment before looking back at the young man. "I'll have a regular, three sugars."
"Make that two." a voice said as David saw a woman in yellow clothing at the door. "Guess who?"
"Naomi? What are you doing here?" David asked.
"David? Is that you? Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" Naomi asked. "I was competing in this tournament when I saw how empty this world is. Weird, huh?"
"Competing? So, you have a Perfect Link too?" David asked.
"Yep. Come on out, girl! Don't worry. He's a friend." Naomi said as a Swanna walked in.
"A Swanna. Nice choice." David said.
"I know right? I saw her as a Ducklett injured at the lake in Lake Kawaguchi, and I just had to get her treated. Kinda weird how a Pokemon showed up out of nowhere in our world, right?" Naomi asked.
"Trust me. It's not the weirdest thing that's happened." David said.
"Word on the street is that you're a finalist already. Though, you always did have a way of working fast." Naomi said as a girl walked into the cafe.
"Oh...welcome. You'll need a water." the boy said.
"No. I need a pint- I mean one cup of coffee. And bring the whole jar of sugar. I'm gonna need it." she said.
"Right away. Oh, and you two said you wanted regulars with three sugars?" the boy at the counter asked.
"That's right." David said.
"That's three cups of joe coming right up. I'll get one of the big jars for sugar." the boy said heading over the the brewster. "Ugh… has nobody made the coffee yet? C'mon, guys… you three will have to excuse the wait, this could be a while."
"Don't worry. I am in no hurry." the girl said.
The boy made the coffee and then served it to the three. "There you go," he said. David and Naomi loaded their sugar in by their exact number, but the other girl kept popping it all in.
"Whoa, she must really be hooked on that sugar." David said.
"By the way, I've wanted to avoid the subject, but...you've got a...fox-thing on your head." Naomi said.
"Huh? What do you mean?" the boy asked.
"Does he really not notice it?" David asked.
"I don't think so." Naomi said.
"By the way, is everything okay with this place? We haven't seen anyone here besides you and that girl." David said.
"I know. It's strange. I came here cause I heard that a number of competitors were here. But I haven't seen one since coming here." Naomi said. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen anyone besides that boy and the customer."
"There you are! Lann!" a voice said as a girl ran into the shop.
"And now her." Naomi said.
"Keep it down, Reynn. Act your age a little more, why don't you?" the boy called Lann asked.
"Don't talk down to me, I've been a few minutes longer around last time I checked, little bro." Reynn retorted.
"Yep, definitely siblings." David said.
"Okay, okay. Sorry about that." Lann said to the three. "So, whats up? I'm all ears."
"You really are…" Reynn mumbled looking at the fox on Lann's head.
"What?" Lann asked.
"Uh...nevermind. Tell me, have you seen anyone today?" Reynn asked.
"Besides those three customers? Not really." Lann replied. "And I'm looking at you aren't I?"
"Customers? Ah!" Reynn said finally noticing the three. "You three scared me."
"Sorry. Thought we'd stop by while we're here." David said. "I'm David Ishihara. A pleasure."
"I'm Naomi Kirifumi. It's nice to meet you all." Naomi said.
"I'm Reynn. The guy behind the counter is my brother Lann." she said.
"Pleasure. How's the coffee, by the way?" Lann said.
"Lann! Forget the coffee for now, and come with me." Reynn said grabbing Lann. "Excuse us!" she said as she dragged her brother out, but not before David and Naomi eyed strange markings on their arms. One on Reynn's right arm and one on Lann's left.
"Those marks… Just what are they? You saw them, did you?" Naomi asked.
"I sure did. Just what is going on here?" David asked.
"I think that's our cue to follow them out." Naomi said.
"Good idea." David said as the two went after them.
"See? No one here, the place is empty! And that doesn't set off any alarms?" Reynn asked.
"I guess not." Lann said.
"You two really don't remember a thing, do you?" the white-haired girl asked as the two turned to her, David and Naomi.
"What was that?" Reynn asked.
"Reynn, manners." Lann said.
"Oh, sorry." Reynn said. "Look, you three aren't from around town, so I really don't know you all."
"Reynn…" Lann said.
"You really don't remember anything. You may call me Enna...Kros. Enna Kros will do." the customer said.
"Okay, but can you answer my question?" Reynn asked. "We woke up to a ghost town this morning. Do you know why?"
"Yes, you're quite alone. You always have been." Enna said.
"Huh?" Lann asked.
"What is she talking about?" Naomi asked.
"Well, this world is newly-identified, so… Nah, I'm just making speculations." David said.
"This world...it's always been those two. A world without time. One that ended before it began. But don't worry, just because this world ended doesn't mean it's going anywhere. I have been checking on them, they were nothing but blank stares, but I was surprised this morning when Lann took my order." Enna said.
"Okay...now you're scaring me." Reynn said.
"Now that they are awake, we have a story to tell. Which brings us to...Tama!" Enna said.
"Right the here." the fox said jumping off Lann's head.
"What the? Who put that thing on my head?" Lann said.
"You just noticed this now?" Naomi asked in a sweatdrop.
"You take things from here. I'll link up a path." Enna said.
"You the-got it!" Tama said.
"Wha? Hey, you can't just leave!" Reynn said before Enna left, leaving the four with Tama.
"Salu-the-tations! The name is Tama, and I'm the-here to help out. Does anyone have any the-questions?" Tama asked.
"Hmm… wait, I've got tons of questions!" Lann said. "Why were you sitting on my head? And how the honk can a fox even talk?!"
"That's the-seriously the first thing on your mind?" Tama asked. "Now I the-see why Enna Kros was just the-about to throw in the towel."
"We're not allowed to be confused?!" Lann asked.
"Whoa, take it easy there Lann." Reynn butted in.
"Let's start the-over. Let's let the customers lead us back to their the-ship and we can explain everything in front of everyone. I'll even make us some the-coffee." Tama said.
"Wait, you knew that I have a ship parked outside?" David asked.
"I saw it on the way while I was perched on the-Lann's head." Tama said.
"Don't know how he didn't notice it…" Naomi said.
"Still, that sounds like a good idea. There's a lot of people I want to introduce you to." David said.
Back on the Galaxy King, Tama explained everything to the five groups.
"Mirage Keepers?" Hope said.
"Yup! That's exactly what the-Reynn and Lann are!" Tama nodded. "The marks on their arms are proof. They were born to work the-miracles."
"Question! What's a Mirage again?" Eddy asked.
"I think I know, it's the soul of a monster or person given physical form. Something like that right?" Ace said.
"Yeah… hey, wait a second… we saw something like that before." Hope said. "Jexi, David, remember our trip to Tokyo where we got caught up in that adventure in the Idolverse?"
"Not the same thing, I think." David said.
"How could these two not the-remember. They used to command a whole the-legion of living illusions known as Mirages. In the-fact. Even the-Pleid answered to you and they are the seven strongest mirages. With the power, you could have ruled the world." Tama said.
"Maybe it's like you told us what Enna said, David. Since these two are the world and ended with it, and it began anew, it must've caused them to lose their memories." Ace said. "That's probably why they don't remember anything."
"So it's a sort of time loop?" SE said.
"No, I don't think that's the case." Alphamon said.
"If it were a time loop, time would still move on this world...but look." Tails said pointing to a clock that wasn't moving at all. "Time really doesn't exist here."
"So if this is a pocket in time that's not moving at all, then that means there's a world outside of here. And that's where we need to go." Peko theorized.
"That is the strangest theory ever. It doesn't even make any sense. There is no world outside. The world outside is every other world." Tails said.
"And the gate." Tama said.
"And the...huh?" Tails said.
"I will explain the-later. Now I need to the-teach these two how to use Mirages again." Tama said.
"I sense a lesson coming on." ZS said.
"(Now that I think about it. I just realized the Six Heroes are the same as Mirages in a way.)" Ace thought.
"So, how do we use Mirages exactly?" Reynn asked.
"Like the-this!" Tama said presenting Lann with a small glass cube. "This is my own prismarium. You can use it in the-battle."
"Excuse me, battle?" Double D said as a tannish fox appeared.
"I think he means we use Tama in battle against that." Reynn said.
"Are we supposed to fight too? I don't even have a weapon!" Lann said before his mark glowed and a gauntlet with an orange gem in the hand appeared.
"Whoa… That's amazing." Naomi said.
"Guess that's your weapon." Hope said.
"Okay then, let's do this!" Lann gripped his gauntlet as he attacked the new Mirage. It attacked back as Tama got into the battle as well, giving Lann extra abilities as they finished the fight and defeated the enemy.
"See? You are masters of the Mirages." Tama said.
"Dude. Seriously?" Lann asked.
"It's still a little hard to believe." Reynn added.
"I'm sure it is." a voice said as they saw Enna inside the ship. "As far as I can tell, those two have lost everything...all the experience and memories they ever accumulated. Oh...wait. Of course, that would have happened when you and this world were spliced out."
"Spliced out? What do you mean?" Double D asked.
"You mean like it was split off from this world?" Nero asked.
"Oh, so that's why they not only lost their mirages but also their the-memories of the mirages. Also explains why their other memories are un-the-affected." Tama said.
"I know. So strange…" Sachiko said.
"So, what do you mean by spliced out?" Hope asked Enna.
"I'll show you." Enna said as she led them all out into the town and to a strange gate. "This gate leads to another world called Grymoire. That...is where they'll find all the mirages they lost."
"And from what I guess...the other competitors too." Jexi said.
"You mean those people with those creatures? Yes. I told them if they wanted to do battle, it would be better in that world." Enna said.
"Don't know how WE didn't get the memo, but it's best not to split hairs." Naomi said.
"To that end, it's probably best if you come with us, Naomi." Hope said. "If you do, I bet you and Swanna will have a shot at going to the finals."
"Most likely. But the question is, can you fight?" David asked.
"I'll manage with what I can. You don't need to worry about me slowing you guys down." Naomi said.
"In that case… let's get going." Hope said as everyone passed through the gate.