A small crossbow bolt flew across the sky straight towards an ice patch on a large, brown tree. The small wooden bolt hit the edge of this ice circle, just barely cracking it. On the tree over there was a similar looking ice patch which a similar looking crossbow bolt heading straight towards it. This time the bolt completely missed its target and these ice targets were about the size of a dinner plate. This action continued for several more trees all in a row. After the assault was over there was a large sigh of disappointment.

"My aim sucks" complained a young girl, who looked roughly 17 years old. Her silky smooth hair was a brownish-red color; it was cut above her eyes in the back and it hung past her shoulders in the front. Her entire body was a constant tan and her sky blue eyes were gorgeous. Currently over her eyes were a pair of worn, brown leather goggles. She wore a white singlet on her thin body which was slightly covered by a thin, baby blue, cotton jacket. Her lower half was covered by a pair of skinny, blue jeans that fit closely around her legs and waste. To top off her outfit were knee-high, black boots that went over the jeans. In her hands was a fine quality, wooden crossbow. It was a regular sized crossbow, requiring both hands to fire. There was a short rope right under from where the arrows were shot out of. The lady grabbed the knot at the end of the rope with her right hand and then slung the weapon over her back. This sling required her to keep her hand on the rope at all times or it would just fall. She wasn't alone though, a few feet to her left was a tall male. The young lady pushed up her goggles to her forehead before turning to talk to the man. "Brycen maybe I should switch to close ranged weapons, that way I don't have to worry about aiming" she joked, chuckling and smiling at the end. The man she called Brycen long ice blue hair that was slicked back. Over his ocean blue eyes was a blue mask that just covered the areas right around his eyes but not the eyes themselves. He wore a long, black robe along with light blue slippers. Besides a pure white tie over his robe and a one handed, double sided axe tucked inside his robe that was all he wore.

"I wouldn't suggest that Madam. The toughness to last for close ranged fighting is hard to acquire. And the hit and run tactics your flying pokemon can pull off work best with you using a ranged weapon" he informed her with a completely straight face and deep, monotone voice. This just caused her to chuckle even more, putting up a hand over her mouth to cover her laugh.

"Oh I was just joking. Come on Brycen, I know I've said this before but crack a smile once in a while" the girl replied as she walked over towards him and playfully pushed on his shoulder.

"You know that I am incapable of smiling Miss Skyla" he again replied in his monotone style. He didn't take any steps to the side when he pushed her, just remained in place.

"Yeah yeah. You've told me this. I will make you smile and laugh, one day my friend. Now, I've had enough training. I can train whenever I want back at Castle. So let's go exploring now." Without even waiting for an answer Skyla began to run off with a hop in her step.

"As you wish Princess. You lead, I'll follow and protect you." The tall male then turned and walked to follow her though not long after she stopped her running and leaned up against a tree with her left hand. She glanced around curiously moving her head from side to side before letting out a large sigh. Around her and Brycen were just a massive amount of trees as far as the eye could see. And they were packed pretty densely so you could move around the trunks but you couldn't really see much past the branches and lush green leaves. The ground itself was dark, moist dirt with a lot of brown roots sticking up and about. The forest was quiet, no running water around or pokemon to make a sound. The only things in there making noises were Skyla and Brycen. This was the lovely Lostlorn Forest.

"This place is quite pretty, it's nice to see pure, untouched nature. It's a refreshing break from Nimbasa. But I think we've seen all that there is too see here in the handful of minutes that we took walking in. Not to forget that I have been here before and enjoyed the scenery. It's just been a while" She paused for a moment just staring off as he caught up to her. He didn't show any emotion period, not even enjoying the beauty around him. Suddenly she jolted upwards and her eyes lit up with a flash of brilliance. "Hey Brycen, can you cover me as I go into the Silph Plane? I was there last time I came here but pokemon migrate from areas so it'd be interesting to see the pokemon that are in this area right now.

"I can do that for you." The robed man stood right next to her now and she nodded before slowly moving down to set on the wet ground. The young lady crossed her booted legs before taking in slow and deep breaths. She then closed her eyes and began to mentally phase out of the plane she was on. Bright grey circles appeared around each of her shoulders and they glow could slightly be seen through her clothing. Suddenly when she opened her eyes again she was no longer alone in the forest with Brycen. There were pokemon, pokemon everywhere. Pansages and Sewaddle cluttered the trees as Pidove's cluttered what you could see of the skies. There were Venipede along the ground as well as a few Slakoth here and there. Brycen was still there but his image was very faded and it seemed distant. As Skyla pushed off the ground to stand to her feet a faded image of her stayed behind. As she moved around the ground and the trees were still very much solid. But so were the pokemon as she accidently tripped over a Venipede.

"Ssssorry." Luckily the creature just glared before scurrying off away from Skyla. The young lady was smiling with her mouth open now as she danced around to visit all of the different pokemon. There were a few different species here than what she remembered. She went up to a Sewaddle climbing vertically up a tree and scratched the top of its head lightly. "I wish I could feed you a leaf, you guy seem like you'd enjoy one. But you guys just don't eat." The Sewaddle was happily enjoying being scratched but Skyla backed off so it could continue its climb. Despite being the only human around and thus sticking out quite a bit the pokemon didn't flock to her at all. They just seemed to treat her as part of the environment. After a while longer of just soaking on the plane and interacting with the pokemon she decided to return to her body. Brycen hadn't moved an inch and still had the same facial expression, not bored, not happy just Brycen. She danced back over to her body and sat down in the same spot again. She closed her eyes and began to breathe deep and slowly again. She then began to phase back into her body and the circles on her shoulders disappeared. She looked up to Brycen and smiled as she began to move around her body slightly. It was a weird feeling leaving her body and took some getting used to every time she returned to it. "Well that was fun!"

"How was it?" He had his head turned slightly to look at her as she rose to her feet and wiped off the dirt from her behind.

"It was amazing and beautiful. There are Slakings there now, I've never seen those before. Pokemon are just so amazing. How they live so peacefully and on a completely different plane as us humans. It's just stunning" she explained, not losing the happy look of amazement from her face. Still the older man showed no expression at all.

"Is it pokemon that are amazing, or is it us humans. We live on our own plane yet we have the ability to visit the other plane, a feat that I'm sure no pokemon has accomplished. And on top of that we have the ability to bridge the gap between the two planes by being able to open up gates and bring pokemon to this side." Skyla's smile widened as she looked into Brycen's eyes like she was proud.

"I think that is the most words you have ever said at once. Looks like you are expanding into a full human being soon. But maybe you're right, maybe it's the humans that are the incredible ones. We do have to give credit to the Silph Company of course. Since they were the ones that actually found out about the alternate plane. Generations lived without even knowing about pokemon. It's a crazy thought. Anyway, we should probably start to head back now. We don't want to get back after Elesa. How much longer until you think she will have returned to Castle?" Skyla began to walk back towards the ice targeted trees with Brycen following in tow.

"Oh I am quite sure she is back by now" he answered honestly. Her hair shot up as her eyes widened in shock and surprise.

"What!" she exclaimed loudly. "Why didn't you say anything? And wait she went to go do the final test for that prospective guardian. Final test, shouldn't that be time consuming?" Nervous sweat dripped down her face as she increased her pace.

"Not for Elesa. For anything involving you she makes her decisions fast, relying heavily on instinct and first impressions."

"Well that's just great. Aren't you scared? I mean she can just yell at me. But she can fire you." Up in the distance amidst all the trees and roots was the figure of a skinny blonde woman.

"No I am not scared. Elesa might have a short temper, but she is not stupid. She is fierce but I can take her mental beatings. I am your guardian, you asked me to come with you and so I am obligated." Skyla felt a bit relieved and heartwarmed by his words but they didn't magically fix everything.

"Brycen!" angrily shouted a female from off in the distance. The blonde woman was running even faster now that she located the duo. Skyla cringed up and immediately stared towards the ground. The happy go-lucky and loose girl was now shy and timid. "How dare you take her out." Elesa was still a few hundred feet away but that didn't stop her from starting the conversation.

"She is a princess not a prisoner Elesa" Brycen replied raising his voice so his words would reach her. That just made her clinch her fists even tighter and she pointed her halberd towards him as she ran. Skyla shook her head side to side and then looked up trying to break her fear.

"Elesa it was my idea. I just wanted a bit of fresh air. And besides, I wouldn't be Skyla if I didn't rebel against your orders once in a while" the redhead joked to try to lighten the mood a bit.

"Brycen it is our job as guardians to protect the princess. Not place her in situations where she is prone. At least we could've had all of the guardians escort her" Elesa said still closing the gap between the groups and panting heavily. Brycen didn't reply though, just looked smugly at the blonde, showing his first emotion in the entire trip.

"But then that makes me feel like a bother. I don't want to be a bother, I want to be a person" Skyla explained with some sadness in her voice. Elesa sighed as she reached the duo and scratched her head with her free hand. That last sentence by Skyla had gotten her temper to calm down a bit.

"Yes I understand that, or at least I try to. I know I don't always excel in relating to you. But I am your guardian, it is my duty to make sure you are always safe and I intend to do that. Now let us return to Castle. We can talk about setting some regulations to let you get out more. Of course whatever rules I set you will break them." Elesa was a bit satisfied yet a bit slightly upset still as she let out a sigh. Skyla just shrugged her shoulders at the comment and giggled.

"Oh you know me well."