I meant to have this up sooner, but I've been dealing with finals, Prom, my almost-boyfriend, and the Legend of Korra TV show.

My life has been complicated recently :(


"We are looking for our friend, a Marowak." Andra told the dark type. Erebus nodded slowly. "She was exploring this cave alone, and when she didn't return, we got worried and came looking for her."

"Her name wouldn't happen to be Eris, would it?" Erebus asked slowly.

"You know her!" Portsha practically screeched, tackling him to the ground. "Is she here? Is she okay? How do you know her?"

"I'm guessing you're the friends she was talking about. Yes, she's here, yes, she's okay, or well, at least from the last time I saw her she was. I met her in this cell and we escaped momentarily. The guards separated us and their leader took her to his bedchamber." Erebus explained, pushing the pink sun Pokémon off of him. "I haven't seen her since late last night."

A vicious growl erupted from Seer's chest and his red eyes glowed dangerously in the dark. "Their leader took her to his bedchamber?" He reiterated. Erebus nodded.

"Yes, is there a problem?"

"When I get my hands on him…"

"Don't mind him." Portsha cut in. "He's like her father figure, and… well, anyway, I'm Portsha and this is Andra." She introduced, waving a paw to the Gardevoir as well as herself. "And the sulky, melodramatic Absol is Seer."

Erebus nodded. "Nice to meet you."

"Are you positive that Eris is unharmed?" Andra asked. Erebus didn't answer for a few moments.

"They're planning on killing her because she's a human."

A large section of the wall exploded due to an overload of both Andra and Portsha's combined psychic powers. Erebus flinched back as dirt fell on top of him and Seer was the first out of the new opening.

"Let's go kick some as—"

"Portsha…" Seer warned, interrupting the young Espeon. She grinned at Seer sheepishly.

"Um, let's go rescue our leader." She tried, earning a receptive nod from her two team mates. Erebus stood in the cell, staring at the team of misfits in awe and terror. "You comin'?" Portsha asked, breaking the dark type from his stupor. Erebus nodded and jumped out as well, following the three members of Team Rescuers. They seemed like an okay bunch, and if Eris trusted them, Erebus had a feeling he could trust them as well.

There was also the fact that an extremely cute Espeon was a part of the team.

'Portsha…' Erebus said inside of his head, rolling her name around on his tongue. It was a very pretty name for the two-tail, he thought, and if he got out of the cavern alive, he'd court her. She was strong and pretty (her tackle had left him winded and momentarily paralyzed).

Andra couldn't help the small smile that rushed to her gossamer lips. Perhaps, after they saved Eris, she would help with the budding romance she could feel coming from the two Eeveelutions. She could read minds, for the record, and Erebus seemed like a decent guy.

But first things first, There were Marowak in this cave asking for their butts to be kicked and a semi-stupid Marowak who would get a definite tongue lashing. After they rescued her, of course.


"Who are we waiting for, Gyro?" Megar asked the Lucario. Gyro's eyes shifted around the cavern in search of the Ninetails. It was dark and the only trace of the fire Pokémon was the still burning message on the ground.

"A Ninetails named Brie who says she knows where Eris was taken."

Megar stared at him in confusion. "Hold up; Eris was kidnapped?"

"Yes." Gyro answered with a crisp nod of his head. Megar growled angrily and balled her hands into fists.

"When I get my hands on the people who did that…"

"Gyro?" a quiet voice tentatively asked from the shadows. Gyro looked up in that direction and smiled when he saw the beautiful golden fur of the Ninetails who would be their guide. Brie carefully stepped into the light, followed by a powerful looking female Mightyena. Gyro stared at the pair curiously.

"Who is she?" he asked Brie. Brie swallowed hard and glanced back at the dark-colored dog Pokémon before returning to meet the red eyes of the Lucario.

"This is Persephone. She knows the way to your missing friend."

Persephone growled slightly and motioned for the group to follow her. Gyro grabbed Brie's shoulder, eliciting a squeak from her.

"If this is a trap, I swear to you—"

"It's not a trap." Brie responded quickly, causing Gyro to narrow his eyes. "I-I just don't know the way to the caves that the Aieryun Clan live in, but my friend Persephone does. She promises to help and there are no tricks, honest."

Gyro stared at her for a moment before nodding curtly and strode on ahead. Brie sighed in relief and let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding in. Gyro was quite intimidating; not only was he powerful, but famous too. More powerful and well known than Alakazam and his team.

"This Marowak that was taken into custody is a friend of yours, correct?" Persephone asked. Gyro nodded.

"She's the leader of our rescue team and a good friend. She's rescued all of us at one point as well." He replied. Persephone nodded curtly before turning her head and continuing forward. Gyro watched her in curiosity. She was slightly odd, but Gyro wasn't complaining; at least she knew the way to rescue Eris.

"I think it's sweet." Brie commented from beside him. "The bond you all share must be really special if you'll risk your lives to save her."

"Eris is a great leader. We all care for her and would do anything for her, no matter what." Megar spoke up. Sounds of agreement came from the rest of the team. Brie bowed her head in embarrassment.

"'scuse me. I meant no disrespect."

Gyro placed a paw on her shoulder. "It's fine; don't worry about it."

"What's the plan, by the way?" Blaster asked.

Gyro shrugged his shoulders. He hadn't really thought about that. "I guess we run in and fight our way to the dungeon, rescue Eris, and get the heck out without dying or getting captured." He responded. Blaster nodded.

"Sounds like something we can work with."

"We can improvise if need be." Megar chimed in.

"BZT! BZT! I DO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HANDLE THOSE FILTHY COWARDS WHO KIDNAPPED OUR LEADER. BZT! BZT! WE'LL BE FINE."

Trennin nodded. "We're world famous Team Rescuers! We don't need to worry 'bout nothing."

"If you say so…" Brie mumbled. It was then that Persephone stopped short up ahead. Team Rescuers stopped behind her as well.

"Just up ahead lies the entrance to the network of tunnels the Aieryun Clan call home." She explained. "This is as far as we're taking you."

Gyro bowed. "Thank you both; your help is duly noted. We are eternally grateful."

"I'm coming with you." Brie stated. "I want to help. And Persephone is coming too."

"I just said—" Persephone started, but Brie bounded after Team Rescuers without acknowledging her friend. Persephone sighed before followed. "The things I do for you…"


"Aertex, I assume everything is going according to plan?"

The Marowak bowed to the dark Pokémon. "Yes, Lord Darkrai. The human is to be disposed of tonight and we shall commence with your plan to take over the clan as soon as she is dead."

Darkrai shook his head. "The human has powerful allies traveling here as we speak. You must kill Eris now and overthrow Strider before they get here."

"But my Lord—" Aertex tried to protest, but was silenced by Darkrai's menacing aura.

"You will listen to me! I am in charge here and if she is not dead within the hour then all our plans will have gone to waste. Gather your army and kill the human. It is that simple." Darkrai shouted. Aertex nodded, trying to refrain from cowering. "I trust you will succeed. We haven't much time."

Aertex nodded, bowing. "Yes, my Lord. I shall do as you say."

Aertex scurried out of the room, Darkrai watching as he left. The dark Pokémon shook his head in disgust. This wasn't what he planned. Eris should have been dead by now! He didn't calculate Strider falling for her. The sole reason he brought the human back as a Pokémon was to kill her! He couldn't harm her in her human body and frankly, it wouldn't be as satisfying.

Besides, Darkrai was not a patient Pokémon. Simply waiting for her to die would take too long. She had many more years ahead of her. Her body was strengthening each day after her trip as a Pokémon. Being transformed as a Pokémon for that amount of time allowed her body to recognize what it should do to keep her healthy. What he had told Andra about Eris' days being numbered was a lie.

One of many.

Andra no longer protected her from the spirit world. Eris was vulnerable. With her out of the way, the savior of the world and the only creature capable enough to stop him, he would be able to proceed with his plans to take over. He'd start with Treasure Town and work his way out.

It was all so simple, but it was slipping through his fingers. If Aertex failed, he'd dispose of the human himself.

Darkrai vanished from the room with a flourish, sending dark matter out as he left. He needed to make several more stops before resorting to the final plan. He appeared outside a small hut and an old, tall, blue duck Pokémon appeared.

"My Lord." The Golduck said, bowing. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I need to know if my plans will succeed. Tell me the future."

The Golduck's eyes flashed purple as he stared into what was to come. Several minutes passed and it only left the legendary Pokémon agitated.

"You wish to dispose of your greatest threat."

Darkrai nodded.

"With her out of the way, it will be easy for you to take over the physical realm." He continued. The purple glow faded from his eyes and he breathed in deeply, clearing his mind and body. "Should the human-turned-Pokémon be killed by Aertex, your plans will not succeed."

"What?" Darkrai shouted angrily. "How can this be? If she's dead I am sure to succeed!"

"You forget her team mates, my Lord." The Golduck said. "If they come to find their leader slain, their battle prowess shall increase tenfold. They will overcome your forces and you will be forced to start back at square one. A second attempt may be made, but the Marowak clan will be slaughtered. You will be forced to look for loyal subjects elsewhere."

Darkrai bristled. All of his planning, for nothing! He had been so sure he would succeed. He had planned everything out so perfectly: the notice for the new dungeon, causing Aertex to send out a patrol when he knew Eris was in the cave, playing on Strider's hatred for humans. He should not fail!

"What scenario will I win in?"

The Golduck shook his head. "It is hard to say. My visions are always not quite resolute and I can only see possible outcomes. If the human-turned-Pokémon is left alive, however, and you use her as a bargaining chip against her team, you will succeed. If and only if Strider is dead before everyone gathers will you be able to destroy Team Rescuers and begin your plans for the known world."

Darkrai nodded, realizing that he had to give Aertex his new strategy. Without even a simple thank you, he was gone, vanishing from the front of the elderly Golduck's home. The water Pokémon sighed and hobbled back inside.

Darkrai quickly tracked down Aertex and dragged him into an empty chamber. Aertex bowed.

"My Lord, how may I be of assistance?"

"There's been a change of plans. I want you to take Eris into your custody, overthrow Strider, and then kill him. We haven't much time for her teammates will be upon us shortly." He glared viciously at the Marowak. "Do not fail me, or I shall be forced to dispose of you."

Aertex nodded, fear tingling down his spine at Darkrai's cold words. He knew the Legendary was serious.

It was succeed or die. He had no other options, no third door.

"Yes, my Lord. It shall be done."

Darkrai vanished, but Aertex knew he would be nearby, watching. There was no doubt about that. The Second-in-command scurried down the halls, first to find his own second-in-command and tell him that they needed to begin the rebellion immediately.

Olaf was just around the corner, so Aertex didn't need to search for long. He conveyed their new orders and watched as Olaf rushed to inform the rest of their army. The supporters of Aertex were much larger than the supporters for Strider so Aertex wasn't worried about loosing.

He was worried about Eris' teammates. If they were in fact as strong as she said they were, the struggle for power would only get worse, more bloody, and take longer. Killing Strider and capturing Eris was his next priority.

"Junto, have you seen our leader and the human prisoner?" Aertex asked as he passed a guard. Junto nodded.

"Yes, sir. They are both within Strider's bedchamber the last I saw of them and that was not too long ago."

Aertex muttered a thanks and made his way to Strider's bedchamber. He would gather a small group of followers to come with him. It paid to be careful, especially when Strider was involved.