It's been a few days since I've been saved and settled at Bleak Cove. Life was rather... plain there. Almost boring.

Canberra and Iwes always seem rather preoccupied. Whenever I tried to talk to them, they often answer shortly. I always see them discussing something, which I can only assume is about me, though I'm not sure why they'd talk about me. My guess is that Merlot is telling the two what he knows about me.

Merlot, on the other hand, always seems cheerful and free-going. He's the group joke teller and comedian – to which Canberra and Iwes seem to hate – also being quite a chatty person. Every now and then he would try to persuade me to tell me more about myself, but I would always deny. I hated talking about myself. Strangely, he seems almost too eager to find out more about me. One time, I caught him holding my hand in my sleep, trying to read my memories. How much he knew, I don't know, but I do know that he tells it to Iwes and Canberra.

"Do you still miss Arthur?" He asked me one time.

"...Sort of." I replied to him, rather irritated by his constant questions.

"Don't you want to see him again?"

"I told you I don't want to."

"Why not?" He asked, tilting his head a little.

I scoffed and looked away from him. "What would be the point? Not like he'd accept me ever again."

"You don't know that." The incessant questioning was beginning to get on my last nerve.

I gave a sarcastic, almost delirious laugh. "Well... Even if he did forgive me, no good would come from it. What about the others? What about my trainer!?"

"At least you'd have Arthur..."

"Just shut up Merlot!"

That was the last conversation we had, just last night. I wonder if he'll continue to pester me with the same question the next day or two. After that, I simply asked me to pick me up and bring me to the top of Bleak Cove, where I told him I wanted to sleep.

I had always slept down below, on the grass, but this time I slept on top of the cavern, at the edge. It was rocky and dusty, sure, but I had privacy at least... if they don't fly up here. I was nuzzling comfortably in my tails, snoring, when my ears flicked. I thought I heard a noise. No, it sounded more like yelling and screaming.

Waking up, I groaned. "Grh... What are they yelling at each other now..." Walking a bit, I peered down below. The cavern was dim of light as always, plus it was still at daybreak. The wind blew through my fur and into the cavern, giving me shivers. I saw the Lake Trio; Canberra, Iwes, and Merlot, at the far side of the cove. They seem to be arguing about something. I tried to hear them, even bending my body forward, but they were just too far. But I didn't want to give up, I had enough of being left in the dark.

I closed my eyes, trying to focus. Directing my ears towards the voices, I did my best to make out words from the faint noise, but no avail. I continued to try. A minute later, and I still couldn't tell what they're saying. Just then, a weird sensation overpowered me.

A tingle went up both my ears. It felt like my ears suddenly turned to water. Strangely, I felt that they slowly elongated, streching upwards with every passing second. Shivers went down my ears. I didn't dare open my eyes. Soon enough, the feeling stopped, but my ears just didn't feel normal... What's even stranger is, I could suddenly hear more clearly now: the chirping of the Tailow in the sky felt much closer, the sound of the wind was louder, and I could hear several bug Pokémon buzzing down in the forest. Still not opening my eyes, I tried to listen again to the Lake Trio's conversation. Their voices were crystal clear now.

"So... he's... no..." That was Canberra's voice. Her voice was shaky, as if terrified by something. "That's not possible!"

"And yet, his aura matches." That was Iwes's voice, calm as ever. "He has to be."

"We don't know for sure, Uxie!" That was Merlot's voice. He sounded just as unsteady as Canberra. "H-he can't be..."

"Why would you say that?" Iwes responded.

"Because h-he... he..." There was a long pause before Merlot finally picked up again. "We've tried to find the new Mew for years! A-and, he's just here now!?"

'The new Mew?' I thought to myself. What did that mean? Were they talking about me?

"No, that's impossible..." I whispered to myself. I thought back to the past, long ago. I am a hundered percent sure that I was born as a Vulpix. I came out of that egg as a Vulpix. Although... my parents? I found them dead at the black market, being sold for fur a year later. I shook my head, thinking there was something strange about that. That didn't make sense; I've never even seen my parents... So how did I know it was them?

Strange things were going on with me recently... My reflection in the mirror moving a bit, hearing words that were not said, people reacting strangely around me, that note that I supposedly wrote back at the apartment...

Could it be...?

"Anyway, Merlot, I want you to find out more about him," Iwes said. Dammit, I hadn't been paying attention! I missed a bit of conversation. "this is crucial. We finally might be able to confirm our suspiscion." She continued.

"So... you want me to..." Merlot murmured quietly.

Now the three of them were huddled up together, whispering. I couldn't hear them anymore, just faint noises. I leaned closer to hear what they're saying... but then my front paw slipped.

"UWAAAAAAH!"

Before I knew it, I plunged sideways into the lake's cold water below. The shock of it made me swallow some water. Water gushed into my mouth, nose, and ears. The entire world seemed to swirl around me, and I felt like I was going to black out. 'No, come on, don't faint!' I screamed in my head. It took sheer will not to pass out from the pain I felt from hitting the lake's surface.

Funnily enough, amidst all that, I managed to somehow feel a slight tingle go down my ears. Soon enough, the feeling stopped, and my ears felt normal again. I ignored that sensation. I regained control of my body and swam upwards. I had sunk rather deeply, about three meters. The moment my face broke the surface, I gasped for air, but not before choking and coughing up the water I swallowed. It felt so good to breathe again...

"Hey, are you alright?" Looking to my left, I saw Merlot. He seemed rather worried. He flew towards me, picked me up, and brought me back to dry land. I shook my body vigorously, shaking water off my fur. "How'd you fall down?" He asked, looking up at where I had been sleeping earlier. "Did you slip?"

It was only a part of the truth, but the truth nonetheless, so I nodded.

"Well, be more careful next time." Canberra scolded. "You could have died!"

"But he didn't, Mesprit." Iwes interrupted her, smiling softly. "He's perfectly alive."

Canberra and Merlot stared at her, but their eyes widen at the realization of Iwes's words. "Y-you can't be serious..." Canberra muttered under her breath. "Uxie, look here..." She then grabbed Iwes by the shoulder and dragged her away, far from earshot. Merlot didn't follow, he just stayed with me.

I stared at him, confused and baffled. "What in the world have you three been talking about?" I asked him. It was rather tiring trying to figure things out.

The young Azelf shook his head, refusing to answer. "It's... important. Legendary-Mythical Pokémon business. You wouldn't understand." He gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, it has nothing to do with you."

I was about to ask him about the 'new Mew', but then it seemed like a very foolish question to ask. If I ask that, then he would know that I at the very least heard a bit of their conversation. I didn't want to alarm him or the others, so I kept my mouth shut. I gave him a reluctant smile and a frustrated sigh. "So... What now?"

"I dunno." He said, shrugging his shoulders. He did a small backflip while he was hovering, goofing around. "Maybe get some food. Mesprit's prepared some cereal already."

"C-cereal?"

"Don't ask." Merlot laughed. "She knows how to cook stuff out of her foraging."

Sighing tiredly, I approached the table (which is simply a large tree stump) and ate some cereal. How it was made, I don't know, but it was pretty good for something made out stuff in the forest. I looked over at Merlot and the others. They all seem to be seperated, pondering something. A shiver down my back told me they were thinking about me. 'Maybe I should ask Merlot just a little bit..." I thought to myself. Making my resolve, I walked towards him when suddenly –

I stopped. There was a strange sensation... A tiny tingling on the back of my head, no, inside my brain. It was like buzzing, drilling, boring, tapping; all at the same time, all of them minute feelings. I thought it was just a bug, so I scratched the back of my head, but it didn't stop, then –

"Keith"

I screamed and jumped back a little. Looking around frantically, I saw that no one noticed, but also that no one was beside me either. If so, who said that...?

"Keith, can you hear me?"

The voice sent chills down my spine. I breathed in a few time, calming myself down. That voice... Where did I hear that voice before... It's so familiar, it's at the tip of my tongue, come on...!

"Xera?" I gasped, finally remembering her voice. It was the Espurr from back at the Legend Hunters's guild! She had never ever spoken before and she had always used some form of body language, but I didn't know she could do telepathy! "Xera, how are you reaching me, and how come you know telepathy!?" I asked angrily, keeping my voice as low as possible.

"First off, I've known telepathy for a long time," She responded, her voice echoing in my head. "it's just that I've never used it in the guild. I... apologize for that. Now, about how I'm able to reach you: telepathy locks onto a person's psychic resonance, or aura, as the Lucarios at the guild call it. I've picked up yours since the day we met. What's strange is that, your aura is... unique, I guess. That's how I was able to get to you."

"Xera... You believed that I didn't kill Adam, right?" I asked, my voice shaking with rage.

"...Even now, I'm not sure... But I think so."

"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL THE OTHERS!?" I screamed inside my head, hoping that she'll hear that. "WHY DID YOU KEEP SILENT!?"

There was a long pause on the other line until she spoke up again. "Keith, I'm sorry, but no one would believe me. Would they belive me, a Psychic-type Pokémon relaying the truth, or the 'accident' report, that is official and acknowledged by the clan leader?" I stayed silent for a while. She was right; we couldn't have won anyway. "Judging by your silence, it appears that I am correct." She added.

"Y-you could've at least tried..." I mumbled, trying to sound as normal as possible.

"I did, Keith. With Arthur." The mention of Arthur's name made me snap myself awake. "When I told him so, he believed it. You had gone away – something you wouldn't had done if you did killed Adam. That was why he believed."

"So... Arthur believes me..." It was so weird... Arthur finally believes my innocence, and yet I don't feel anything; no happiness, no relief, nothing. Maybe... I had finally gotten over Arthur. The thought was both miserable and relieving.

"Keith, Arthur wants you back." Her words made me stop. "He wants you back. He misses you."

I thought about it for a moment. I reminiscinced all the times I've spent with Arthur at the river, the beach, the manor, the apartment, and everywhere we've been. Somehow I feel disconnected from all that. The incident must have forced to let go of Arthur. But he's my best friend! How could I have let him go? Conflicted, I slammed my fist onto the dirt. Why don't I feel sad for Arthur? Why don't I feel any guilt? Why don't I want to mend everything back?

I thought even more. My lack of emotion... It's back... Just weeks ago I wanted to savour my every moment with Arthur and the rest, and now I want to leave it all behind... Why? Why!? Why can't I feel a damn thing!? Why can't I just pick something and get it over with!?

If I went back to Arthur... Surely he'll be happy, but I'm not sure about myself. The incident tore me apart. It made me want to die. Would I want to come back to Arthur in that state? Then he won't be happy and all, in fact he might get sadder. Plus, everyone else hates me, blames me for the death of Adam, even Sam... There aren't many Psychic-types back at the clan, only a handful, and most likely barely any of them know memory reading. Considering the best possible outcome, let's consider a few of them can... If they find out the truth, surely they'll tell the others. The Pokémon there will acknowledge it and I'm not convicted guilty anymore. Maybe they can even tell the humans with telepathy. That would be wonderful.

The worst possible outcome? Nothing works out and I'm hated forever.

The risk of the worst possible outcome was bigger than the best possible one...

"...I'd love to Xera, but..." I gave a long, depressed sigh. "Life won't be the same."

"You'd have Arthur, at the very least. Even in the worst possible outcome." Xera replied. I knew she would say something like that, so I prepared a counterargument.

"Xera, you don't understand. If I come back and Arthur's by my side, then everyone will hate him too. The impact on me will transfer to him as well. I can't give Arthur that life."

"But –"

"The risk is too great Xera. I... I'm gonna start fresh. Make a new life. And... I'll see you later once the storm has settled, maybe a few more years?"

"Keith, don't be irrasional! You have to –"

"SHUT UP XERA!" I yelled. I got up, looked around, and immediately darted towards the pond. I can still her yelling inside my brain, her voice ringing in my ears, but I ignored her. The pond, the pond, the water in there is cold. Maybe if I plunge my head into it, the shock will somehow 'kick her out of my brain'. It's a ridiculous idea, but maybe it'll actually work.

Stopping just before the water, I kneeled down. I could still hear Xera yelling at me to stop. "Keith, what are you do –" Before she could say anymore, I plunged my head into the water, breaking the pond's surface. My face was instantly hit with cold and my ears filled up with water. That annoying tingle in my head stopped. I felt my connection with her break. 'I can't believe that worked...' I thought to myself, smiling victoriously. I had no doubt that Xera will try and contact me again, but I'm pretty sure it won't be anytime soon.

"What are you doing?" I heard Merlot ask behind me. I turned around to face him. He seemed quite concerned. "You're... not thinking of drowning yourself again, are you?"

"O-of course not!" I stated, grumbling, though in my head I thought: not in front of you, at least.

"Sure..." Merlot said, rolling his eyes.

I gave out a long sigh. I just told Xera that I won't be seeing them again for a long time. I told her that I'll start over and build a new life.

I wonder...

...

"Hey, Merlot." I spoke up after a few minutes. "Do you think... I could leave yet?"

Merlot looked shocked by my question. "Leave? Wait, what do you mean?"

"I mean, leaving Bleak Cove." I repeated, pressing my tone to sound important. "Like, I was only rescued by you guys and not staying here, right? I still have a life outside, you know? So... am I allowed to leave yet?"

Merlot said nothing, but he glanced worryingly behind his shoulder at Canberra and Iwes, who were eating their breakfast. When he looked back at me, he seemed rather troubled. "Are you sure you don't want to stay here for a few more days? You sure you're healthy enough?" He asked, his voice sounding strained.

I stared at his large golden eyes, thinking. They're trying to keep me here, huh?

"Merlot, as much as I appreciate you three's hospitality, I'm sure you don't mind me leaving..." I paused, letting my words sink in. "...right?"

For a moment, Merlot's hovering shook. He smiled – nervously. "Well, I'll have to... ask Uxie and Mesprit, if you don't mind."

"Sure, go ahead." I smiled as well, sensing a small victory.

I tilted my neck upwards, looking up at the enourmous hole that allows sunlight into the cavern. The clouds appear a bit dark, and more wind than usual is flowing into the cove, so it's probably gonna rain, but not in a few hours. Hopefully Merlot doesn't use that flimsy excuse.

"They said you can go." Merlot suddenly said, appearing in front of me. "I'll lift you up now, okay?"

I stared at him, thinking something was suspiscious, but I didn't waste any time and let him pick me up and out of the cavern. I looked around, looking at the magnificent view of Lake Valor in the distance. That must be around about three kilometres from here. I pray that Xera won't be able to trace me back to Lake Valor, where I almost dronwed. Merlot carefully set me down on the grass. I laughed, strangely. Perhaps because I felt relieved to be outside. Or maybe I've gone insane.

"Thanks, Merlot." I said, smiling but not really smiling. "By the way, which way is Jubilife City?"

"Oh, um... Over there, opposite direction of Lake Valor." He answered, pointing. "It's east from here. Take care, okay?"

"Alright then."

Seeming pleased, Merlot headed back up the mountain and disappeared into the cove again. All alone now, I smirked to myself. Now I can finally start over. I'll go the opposite direction from where the unknowing Azelf pointed to: towards Lake Valor, namely west. I began thinking of the things I should plan out and do once I'm far enough from Jubilife City as I started walking...

...

...

Meanwhile, in Bleak Cove, Merlot the Azelf stared solemnly into the lake. A throbbing pain tortured his heart and he felt a lump of guilt in his throat. But he did what he had to. He had to point Keith in the 'correct' direction.

'Uxie said so herself,' He thought to himself, remembering the conversation they had a few minutes earlier.

"So... Keith wants to leave?" Uxie said, thinking.

"Should we consent? I know that you're theorizing that he's –" Merlot started when she raised a hand to stop him.

"Do not worry. I think I know what he wants to do." Uxie replied, looking down at the grass, deep in thought. "After the trauma he's been through, it's likely that he's going to begin a new life, with a new identity no less."

Merlot's eyes widen. "Y-you're that sure?"

"It is my belief, and it's a ninety-percent chance as well. So, I want you to tell him this." Uxie gripped Merlot by the shoulder, making sure he was paying attention. "If he asks for direction, point the incorrect direction to him. If you point east, he'll go west, which is towards Jubilife City. If he doesn't, simply tell him."

"But... why?"

Uxie smiled, though rather grimly. "In order to point him in the right direction, we first must point him in the wrong direction. Go on, Azelf; Keith is waiting."

Looking back now, he should've asked for a better reason for why she's sending Keith back to Jubilife, the place he despises. Is it because she thinks that whatever he'll face there will unlock his true potential? Or something else entirely?

Whatever the reason, it didn't matter. Merlot hated himself for it. He had read Keith's memories, saw and felt everything that happened to him during the incident, and spent the most time with him. Obeying Uxie felt like betraying Keith. His chest felt tighter now. "Forgive me, Keith..." Merlot whispered quietly, staring into the pond where he and Keith talked about his memories...

...

...

At the Legend Hunters' guild, Arthur waited outside the door. The aqua rabbit Pokémon was thinking hard. Xera had gone in there to get help from the other psychic Pokémon. She said that they could help give her a bit more power so she would be able to contact Keith through telepathy.

"It's been thirty minutes..." Arthur muttered to himself. "I wonder if she succeeded yet..."

Suddenly, he heard the click and sound of a door opening. He spun to his right, running up towards Xera, who just left the room. "W-well!? Did you reach him?" From the look on Xera's face, Arthur guessed that she had failed to contact Keith.

"I did, but..." The Espurr looked away, unable to say directly what she had to tell him. "He... he refused to come back."

"...What?" Arthur's heart sank. He feared for this moment. Each word Xera said next felt like a knife cut.

"He told me that he wanted to start over and begin a new life. Said that we probably won't be seeing him until a few more years." Xera turned to look at Arthur, her expression just as pained as his. "...I'm sorry Arthur."

Arthur laid his back against the wall and collapsed to the floor. He curled up like a ball and started to weep, almost child-like. Xera knew how much Keith meant for him, and she felt sorrry for him. She tapped his shoulder, speaking through telepathy again. "But... there might be a way to find him."

"R-really?" Arthur looked up at her, seeing her smiling a bit. He wiped his tears away and slowly got to his feet. "H-how?"

"If I do it repeatedly, I might be able to trace Keith to a certain extent." Xera said, heading back towards the door again. "I'll need serious help this time, because this is much harder than long-range telepathy. Don't worry Arthur, I'll find out where he is." Xera then entered the room, shutting the door behind her.

Arthur collapsed onto the floor again, breathing a sigh of joy. Clasping his hands together, he prayed. "Oh, Mew, please help me find Keith again..."