Zey: Amaki, I have an idea! I believe that in order to truly get in touch with the characters of this story, we must invite them into our pre-chapter chats! What do you think?

Amaki: No.

Zey: Too bad, I've already invited someone! Say "Hello" Hanryu the Serperior!

Hanryu: Hello! Hello! Pleasure to meet you!

*Loud applause*

Zey: So, what's it like to be in Torn?

Hanryu: Well, it's okay. Can't say it's anything special considering I have been in ONE CHAPTER!

Zey: o.o

Amaki: -_-

Hanryu: FOR ARCEAUS SAKES! WOULD IT KILL YOU TO MENTION ME A LITTLE MORE?! THIS IS GOING ON THE FOURTH BLOODY CHAPTER AND I'VE APEARED ONLY ONCE! I'M SUPPOSED TO BE YO-

Zey: Sorry, but that's all we have time for!

Hanryu: I'M NOT FINISHED YET!

Amaki: Yes you are! *Turns the heat off and closes all blinds*

Hanryu: What have you done?! *Starts going into hyperventilate*

Zey: Join us next time in PokeTalk: Where we aren't just authors and characters, but we're family!

Amaki: DIE YOU SCALY ATTENTION-HOG!

Chapter 4

"Here we are." Kel stops in front of the mouth of an expansive cave. Stalagmites hung from the top like the fangs of a feral Pokémon, ready for the next unlucky traveler to walk into its jaws. I must admit, it sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine. Yet there was also another feeling. A strong feeling of fear. For some reason, my body was telling me to flee as far away as I can, but then what kind of hero would I be?

I ever so slowly crawl off of Keldeo's back, landing on the warm rocks that marked the entrance to this cave. "Well, no use dawdling out here, right?" With all the courage I could muster, I ran recklessly into the cave believing that if I could move fast enough, it would be over with much faster. "Try and keep up Kel! I don't want to be in here any longer than I have to be!" I turn my head to see how far behind Kel was. What I saw astonished me. Kel was still behind me, and dangerously close if I might add, but behind him was nothing. Rather than seeing the entrance to the cave, nothing but a large rock wall took its place.

I quickly come to a halt and stare at the wall. "Wh-what happened to the exit?"

Kel gives a nonchalant glance at the wall. "It's gone."

"Obviously it's gone! But where did it go?! A cave mouth as large and horrifying as that doesn't just disappear!" I shoot a fearful look at Kel. I don't care about being brave right now. All I want to know is what the fletchling is going on! But instead of offering any kind of explanation, he just stared at me with that same stupid look like I was some kind of alien! "Kel? Kel answer me!"

"Y-you've never been in a mystery dungeon."

"Mystery what?!"

"A mystery dungeon." He glances around the room we were in and suddenly falls quiet. In my state of panic, I didn't even realize the large, ugly cat that was snoozing just a few feet away. Its puffy fur was a light purple and white color, and its tail spiraled into the air like a spring. Her sides rise and fall with each long breath. "Keep quiet. If we can we should try to sneak around this purugly." I strain my ears to listen to his barely audible whispers. "This is a rescue mission, so I believe we should preserve our strengths for any unavoidable confrontations."

"But the exit-"

"This isn't the time to discuss that!" He glares at me, his voice giving off a powerful tone that I can help but to obey to, and his blue eyes show a shimmer of determination and focus. "Stay close to me, and whatever you do, do not leave my side." I nod slowly. Although I was still slightly afraid, it felt like my fear was starting to ebb away.

We silently sneak pass the snoring purugly and into the hallway behind it. After we were an appropriate distance away, I tried to spark a conversation again. "Does the Pokémon live in this cave? I could never enjoy living in a place as hot as this with all that fur."

"I'm not sure. I've seen hundreds of Pokémon live in other dungeons hotter, colder, larger, and even smaller than this. I don't know why they're here, or as to why they seem to attack anyone from outside of their dungeon on sight, but not each other. There are so many things mysterious about these… Mystery Dungeons, but all we can do is just go along with it."

"So, what about the entrance?"

"It just happens. Just like the stairs."

"The stairs will vanish too?! Wait, why are there stairs?!" I can feel my breath pick up again. What have I gotten into? This is all too strange! Vanishing stairs, hostile Pokémon, out-of-place staircases!

"Calm down." I look up at Kel. He returns the look with tender eyes. "Everything will be okay. Just stick by me. I'll make sure nothing hurts you." My chest suddenly starts pounding harder. Not out of fear, but for something… else. "Are you ready to go?" I nod once again, heat rising to my face for reasons I can't quite understand.

He smiles warmly then leads the way down the hall. It didn't take long before we reached another room. Thankfully, the staircase was also located in the room. Quickly we climb the stairs, and to my surprise the stairs were in the same room! As it was on the following floor, and the next, and the next! If this keeps up, we'll be done in no time. It was fantastic until something hit me.

"What if we passed Swanna?" Kel stops in his tracks. "Kel?" I run in front of him and wave a hand in front of his nonresponsive face. "I know it's a distressing thought but-"

"Lyn, get behind me." I tilt my head in confusion. Why does he want me to- "Move!" He shoves me out of the way of a blast of fire that just barely missed my head. When back on my feet, I face the direction of which the Flamethrower came from. Standing before us is a large, dragon Pokémon with blue scales and red wings. At the bottom of his four legs were three razor sharp claws and four fangs to match.

"Is that, a salamance?!"

"You remember it's species, but not what a mystery dungeon is?"

"I don't know why, I just- wait! I never said I had amnesia!" And I had no intention of telling him either! The salamance lets loose another blast of fire that I easily dodge. "How'd you know?!"

"Now isn't the time for this!" Keldeo's tail begins to glow a bright blue color as he charges toward the salamance. However, despite landing a direct blow, the salamance just shrugs off the attack.

"You started it!"

"Instead of chatting, how about you help me?!" I sigh and begin to concentrate on what move I should use to take this guy down, but no matter how much I concentrate, I can't think of what I can do!

"I think I've forgotten how to fight!" After dodging another Flamethrower, Kel gives me a face of disbelief. "I have amnesia, give me a break!"

"Seriously?! Of all the females to be stuck with-"

"I'm not a girl!" Out of the corner of my eye, I notice that the salamance redirected its attention from Keldeo, and was now coming after me. Its claws begin to give off a strange, reddish glow. Before I can react, I'm shoved out of the path of its Dragon Claw and Kel is standing in my place. I try to run over to him, but the salamance wasn't done yet. With a mighty swipe of its tail, Kel is sent flying across the room and slams against a wall with a loud thud.

Fear grips me again as I realize just how dangerous this Pokémon was. With only two attacks, he's rendered Keldeo practically useless! Kill it.My eyes grow wide as I suddenly hear a sinister voice in my head. Pass judgment onto this pitiful being. Sentence it to death for its crimes. I shake my head vigorously. I can't kill a Pokémon!

The salamance's focus once again is on me, its eyes filled with blind rage. If you can't kill it, then it will kill you! I back away from the salamance, my heart beating against my rib cage with the force of a hyper beam. Please! Don't! Another voice enters my mind. This poor soul is only confused and distraught. Knock it out! Try to escape! I grip my head and shake it vigorously.

"Get out! Get out! Get out of my head!" My eyes shut tightly and I fall to my knees.

Destruction! Creation! Valkyrie of Judgment, you must decide!

"Lyn!" My eyes snap open and I see a bruised, yet calm, Kel in front of me. "Are you okay?"

I stand up slowly. "I-I think so…" I glance around the small cave room. "What happened to the salamance?"

"I'm not sure." He looks away from me and begins to concentrate. "I remember seeing you screaming about something in your head and the salamance was right about to rip you apart. Next thing I know, the dragon Pokémon is gone and you, Swanna, and I are lying around on the ground."

"Swanna!? You found her?" He nods slowly, his eyes still looking off in the distance.

"I sent her back with my badge, and I was waiting for you to wake up. Thankfully, you don't seem to be hurt anywhere, inside nor out." My head tilts in confusion, but I soon realize what that meant.

"You touched me?!" I quickly scoot away from him. My face begins to grow warmer as I realize what I just said.

"Well, it's not like it's the first time I had to physically examine you. I was in charge of making sure you were healthy while you were asleep. I didn't think until recently that you were the same mawile I was caring for. Stress does a number on your senses."

My eyes fall to the floor. "Then you know the truth."

"Yeah. Personally, I don't see what the problem is. So what if you're a female? I see no reason to hide it."

"There is reason to hide it!" I snap at him. "The moment I woke up, I already knew that Pokémon would treat me differently, just because I was a female. I bet that's why you insisted on keeping me safe, or why you were so worried over your stupid signora!"

"That's not true." His voice retained the same level of tranquility. "I helped you out of the kindness of my heart. Even if Swanna was a guy, I'd still be worried because she's my friend, and as are you." He gives me a genuine smile.

I can't help but to smile back at him. Kel is very different than what I thought Pokémon would be like. He's not as oblivious and blunt like everyone else I've met so far. Even if it was only two others. "Can we… keep this between us?"

"Sure, if that's what you want." I nod quickly. However, that just causes my head to hurt, but I grin through it anyway.

As Kel raises the badge that he had kept hidden so well in his mane, I can't help but wonder what were those voices in my head, and what is this "Valkyrie of Judgment" they called me. There are so many holes in my memory, yet I know that there is something very important within my forgotten past that is the key to lifting this fog. I guess for now I'll just have to focus on one thing at a time, and right now being the hero is most important to me! Kel may have done most of the work- well, ALL of the work, but I deserve to get some credit too. If it weren't for me, he probably wouldn't have even came out here. So I'm still a hero! …Right?

A/N: All right! That is another chapter down! One mind-blowing secret has been revealed about Lyn, but only more questions arrive! What is a Valkyrie of Judgment? Will Lyn truly return a hero? Am I eating a burrito? Who knows! By the way, just to clarify:

This is for one voice.

This is for the other voice.

And this is for both!

Until next time! Cya!