-May-

Five years ago, the white walls of an underground shelter would have seemed terribly flat next to the greens and blues of nature. Its eerie silence would be an unfamiliar landscape when you were used to the laughter of happy townspeople and pokemon. The sight of the sun as it would sail its way across a calm sky would be a beacon in a dark sea, as natural as breathing air, providing light and warmth that a vault could only try to match with dusty old blankets and a generator loud enough to keep you up at night.

But, this wasn't five years ago.

Now, a vault was paradise when compared to the outside world. Its white walls offered the confidence taken away from the death and decay that plagued the regions' forests. Its eerie silence ensured that there weren't any fusions around, growling with hunger. The loud rumble of the generator at night might as well have been a lullaby, because that meant it still worked and would provide electricity the next day; enough motivation to forget how you missed the warmth of the sun and curl up in one of those dusty old blankets in preparation of tomorrow.

As I drove down the main route that led out of Slateport, I wanted nothing but to be back in that vault with Ellis and Moira. The only method of communication I still had with them was the radio installed into the truck's dashboard, which would stay silent until Ellis and Moira needed to tell me something, or until I needed their help. Or reassurances. The more I looked at ruins, the more I felt like I had returned to the streets of Enfer City, surrounded by the destruction the Chimera Virus had caused. Though Katherine Verdana was dead, her legacy lived through the nightmare all around me.

Through the Arbiter Corporation.

Through Jericho.

I looked over. In the passenger seat of the military truck, my blaziken kept a firm eye on the surroundings outside, peering through the gated windows. The past five years had aged her face a little and made her body more lean. When I had released her and confirmed that I was alive, her eyes had brightened, as if my resurrection had been the first piece of good news the world had seen in that span of time. But, now that we were on the road toward Dewford, she guarded me like a warrior, her gaze as dark as before. We both knew that there was no time for celebration or laughter, as the reason for our smiles could be taken away if we weren't careful and alert.

At that thought, I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. My wedding ring pushed into the skin of my finger. I had put it back on after we had left the vault, filling that empty void that came with Drew's absence; the acknowledgement that, though I knew that he was still alive, I had no way of knowing for sure that he was okay. Was he hurt? Was he depressed? How had the last five years affected him?

Had he moved on? Had he found love in someone else since I died?

My heart ached at the idea, but I knew that if he had moved on, it shouldn't stop me from caring about him – and from joining the Resistance to ensure a fate like mine couldn't happen to him, or anyone else I cared about.

I felt guilty enough that Soledad was gone.

Thirty minutes later, I was finally out of Slateport. I was surprised that Blaziken hadn't seen anything on our way to the city's southern gate. With the desertedness of the ruins, though, it wouldn't shock me if the fusions had moved on, thinking they had picked the place clean. The thought made me want to turn the truck around and drive to Lilycove without Artemis' help, but I knew that it was unlikely that every other city and forest in Hoenn would be just as empty as Slateport.

When I had still been in my early twenties, construction had finished on a bridge that connected Dewford Island to the Hoenn mainland, its route starting at the southern gate of Slateport. It provided easy transportation for trainers who didn't have enough money for a boat ticket, water pokemon to surf on, or any other method to reach Dewford Town. It usually took an hour to drive across, depending on the traffic, and people traveling on the bridge always had a good view of the sea during the trip.

With the bridge just as dead as Slateport, it would probably only take another half hour before I reached Dewford Town. Every now and then, I passed by an overturned car, its contents poured out across the road. There were no bodies, though, despite the presence of blood smeared across the concrete guards that traced the bridge's edge. I tried to keep my eyes away from the sight, knowing that the nausea in my stomach meant my brain had already seen more than it could handle.

The sea below was dark, like ink. It matched with the sky, obscured away by a mist that clung to the bridge like a lost soul. The headlights of the truck managed to clear the way for me, but without them I doubted I would've been able to see my hand in front of my face. Waves brushed up against the bridge's supports. Their shuffling, like whispering, was eerie, as if nothing existed in their midst. Were there any fusions in the water? If there were, I couldn't see them. I couldn't even see any mortal pokemon. I couldn't see anything.

I just kept driving.

Dewford Island came into view ten minutes later, a small chunk of land that was still large enough to support a town and its own gym. The town itself was also deserted, practically hidden away by the very same mist that rolled in from the ocean. But, on the other side of it, I could see lights, as if another town was just up ahead.

A survivor sanctuary? A community?

Since I wasn't sure that the survivor sanctuary was the reason why Artemis sometimes crossed over Dewford Island, I returned Blaziken to her pokeball until I needed her and parked my truck close to the ruins of town, so I could get out and survey the place myself. Like Slateport, there were no fusions in sight. Was the whole island fusion-free? If so, that would explain why the survivor sanctuary felt secured enough to not worry about hiding their lights. I couldn't find any signs of Artemis, but I also didn't know what she looked like. Neither had Ellis and Moira, so I couldn't call them for help.

I made my way toward the sanctuary. In the distance, I could see the shapes of patrolling guards and pokemon. The vaults themselves weren't completely installed into the ground. In fact, they all looked like average houses, resembling a neighborhood where only the front half of each building was visible on the surface. If Artemis really did cross over Dewford Island every now and then, then maybe one of the survivors in the sanctuary had seen her – and could give me a description to go by.

As I approached the gate that marked the entrance for the community, I paused when I saw a red sphere bounce out from behind the gate's wall and into the grass not far from me. Another form – a humanoid form – ran out from the gate seconds later, chasing after it. The closer he got, the more his shape defined itself against the bright background of the community.

He was a boy, no older than five. He wore a tee shirt that looked one size too big for him, with shorts and sneakers. Tousled hair fell into his face, its color a mixture of purple and red, like mulberry. His forest green eyes brightened as he finally reached his red ball, a small smile on his face.

That is, until he looked up and noticed me.

He blinked. Then, his eyes brightened again, his smile now a grin. He waved happily.

"Hi!" he called.

I swallowed. "Uh, hi."

He made his way over to me, his ball in his hands.

"What's your name?" he asked.

A sense of recognition filled me as I looked into his eyes, but I couldn't place the source. I'd never seen this boy before, so why did it feel like I had?

"May," I said. "I'm May."

"Hi, May!" the boy said, closing his eyes in delight. "I'm Malcolm!"

I chuckled. "Malcolm's a pretty cool name."

"Thanks! Everyone calls me Mal. You can, too, if you want!"

"Okay." I looked back at the community. "So, Mal, do you live over there?"

Malcolm followed my eyes. "Yeah. I'm not supposed to go past the gate, but my ball rolled this way. I couldn't lose this! It's one of my coolest toys!"

I smiled. "Is it?"

"Yeah, my mom got it for me! She's so cool! She's a superhero!" He frowned. "I just wish she was here so she could play with me…"

"Oh…" I paused. A superhero? His vivid imagination made me nostalgic for my own childhood. "Is your mom okay?" I shook my head and rephrased my thought. "I mean, where is she?"

"I don't know," Malcolm said. "She's always gone."

He met my eyes. I hoped something hadn't happened to his mother, but my worries were cast away when his smile returned, as if nothing was wrong.

"I haven't seen you before!" he said. "What are you doing out here?"

I shifted weight between my shoulders. "I'm looking for someone."

"Then you should talk to my aunt! She knows everyone here! She can help!"

I smiled again. "That'd be great. Thanks."

Malcolm nodded and stepped forward. "Follow me!"

Malcolm led me through the sanctuary's gate and into the neighborhood. Patrolling guards eyed us as we passed by. They said nothing; despite the bewildered looks they gave me. Malcolm's large grin was probably enough to assure I was a friend, even if no one in the community had seen me before.

We stopped in front of a specific house toward the far end of the community. It had one story, though its curved backside implied there was another level beneath the ground. Apart from that, the house followed the stereotypical grass-covered yard with the white picket fence, as if the state of the outside world didn't exist. But, when death, monsters, and post-apocalyptic aspects surrounded you, having any memorabilia from a more innocent time probably helped with the confidence factor.

I looked at Malcolm. His childish innocence was palpable, unaffected by the decay beyond the sanctuary's gates. The entire design of this neighborhood had definitely helped him.

"This is where my aunt lives," he said. "I live with her, since my mom's away."

I nodded and followed him toward the front door, where he pushed it open and showed me the inside.

The living room and kitchen was visible from the front door. A hallway led on from the kitchen, probably connected to more rooms and, I presumed, the stairs that led to the vault story of the house. The living room itself seemed average, with its couch, TV, and multiple action figures scattered across the carpeted floor. The kitchen was average, too, its counters made of granite, and an oak dinner table placed not far from the fridge.

A woman emerged from the hallway. Her graying hair was tied up into a bun, and an apron covered her front. Her eyes were bright blue – a sense of youth among her aged face. She seemed more like a grandmother than an aunt, but the lack of resemblance between her and Malcolm hinted that "aunt" was just a title, not a literal blood relation.

"Hi, Aunt Cary!" Malcolm said. He put his ball into a basket by the door and ran up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist, since that was only as far as he could reach.

"Hello, Malcolm," the woman said, a soft smile on her face. She looked up and noticed me. She raised her gray eyebrows. "Oh? Who's this?"

"May!" Malcolm said. "I met her outside of the gate!"

Cary looked down at Malcolm, frowning. "Outside of the gate? Mal, you know you're not supposed to go that far."

Malcolm pouted. "I'm sorry!"

Cary sighed, as if she couldn't stay mad with the boy. "It's alright. Go play in your room while I'll talk with your new friend. I have your favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Squirtles movie on."

"Alright!" Malcolm ran off down the hall.

Cary approached me.

"Sorry 'bout that," she said. "Mal's quite the social beautifly. If he hasn't seen you before, he'll be the first in line to learn everything about you." She met my eyes. "Now, I can tell you're not from around here. Any particular reason why you came?"

I nodded. "Malcolm said you knew everyone in town. I was wondering if you…" I paused. "If you knew the person I'm looking for. Well, at least what she looks like. I was told she passes through here every now and then."

"Really?" Cary thought for a moment. "This is a pretty close-knit neighborhood. If someone passes through here regularly, then I'll probably know them, too. Do you know her name?"

I lowered my voice. "Artemis."

Cary froze. She met my eyes again, her gaze filled with shock. "W-what?"

I faltered. Maybe asking the townspeople about how to reach an assassin was a bad idea. "I mean-"

"Why do you need to find her?"

I stopped and looked at Cary. Her eyes were now dark, serious, and I suddenly felt as if I had intruded onto private territory. "I have somewhere to be," I said, "and I need her help to get there."

Cary turned away. "Then…I do know Artemis."

I blinked. "You do? Can you tell me-"

My words were cut off by a knock on the door. A single knock.

I looked back at Cary, who had turned her darkened eyes to the door. Silently, she passed me and opened it, where a briefcase lay on the porch step. Nothing more. It was as if the person who had left it had disappeared into thin air.

Cary's eyes didn't change. No confusion. No shock. Was this something she expected? Who had left it? I kept these questions to myself as she grabbed the briefcase, walked back inside, and shut the door behind her. She took the small note that had been taped to the handle and read it. I looked at it from over her shoulder.

For Malcolm.

Cary sighed.

"You said you needed to see Artemis," she said. "Well, here's your proof that she does pass through here."

My eyes widened. "That's from Artemis? But, why? How does she know Mal-"

I was cut off again as Malcolm rushed in from the hallway. He looked at the briefcase, and then at the note Cary held. His eyes brightened.

"Mommy was here!" he said.

I paused. I looked at Cary.

"Mother?" I whispered. "Artemis is Malcolm's mother?"

Cary turned to me. Her serious expression didn't change, as if she could read all of the questions in my eyes, but didn't care about any of them.

"If you really need to see Artemis," she said, "then you have to go now. You won't see her again if she leaves the island before you can catch her. Follow the charizard."

I blinked. I shook away my confusion, nodding at her words. I turned toward the door-

"May?" Malcolm said, his head tilted to the side. "Where are you going?"

"She just has to go, honey," Cary said, her voice soft.

I smiled. "It was nice to meet you, Mal."

Malcolm frowned. "Oh…okay. It was nice to meet you, too."

I left.

Follow the charizard.

I ran out of the gate into the community and looked up. As Cary had told me, Artemis was still on the island. I could see a charizard fly in the distance, heading toward the bridge. On top of it was a humanoid shape.

I ran after it.

When I was far away enough from the armed soldiers, I called out Artemis' name. She didn't seem to hear me, as her charizard kept flying forward. When I came across a large hill, her charizard dipped down, disappearing behind it.

I circled the hill. Rocks were scattered all over the ground on the other side, large enough to hide behind.

"Artemis?"

I called her name again as I looked around. I couldn't see any sign of her, not even in the sky.

"Art-"

I swallowed the rest of her name as a force pushed me down from the back. I turned around.

And I came face to face with the barrel of a rifle.

I froze. I looked at the person that held the gun.

It was a woman, though I couldn't tell her age. She was dressed in maroon-colored armor and black leather, which covered every inch of her body. Her helmet's visor seemed to be one-way, because despite that the only thing I saw on its surface was a reflection of myself, she had managed to aim her rifle directly at me. A cape swept over her thigh, attached to a waist belt that held a majority of pokeballs and knives. Overall, she looked like some science-fiction super soldier.

I closed my eyes and braced myself for the sound of gunfire. As an assassin, I wasn't surprised that Artemis had noticed me following her - and that she had snuck up on me without alerting me whatsoever.

But, the gunfire never came.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

The rifle was still aimed at me. However, I could see Artemis' hands shake as she held it. I couldn't see her face, so I couldn't read her expression. But, just by the awkward movements that hadn't been there before…

Was she nervous about something? Scared?

Shocked?

"You're not going to shoot me?" I asked, not knowing if I should be relieved yet.

Slowly, Artemis lowered her rifle.

"How can you shoot a ghost?" she said.

As I arched a brow, she dropped the rifle on the ground. Then, gazing around one last time, she reached up to the back of her neck, unlatching something. She removed her helmet from her head, as well as the clip that had kept her hair bundled together while she wore it.

Greenish-blue eyes met mine.

Long, pink-red-colored hair fell down her back.

My jaw dropped.

"Sol-Soledad?"