Route 10 differentiated from the coastlines of Route 8. It was a direct pathway, with strange, bone-white stones engulfing the route. There must've been thousands of them. Chris approached one of the stones, focusing on the upper tip of the stone. He raised his right arm, clearing a patch of dirt at the top of it. Once it cleared, Chris took a step back.

"Jesus," he mumbled to himself. His Pokemon stared up at him, curiously.

"It's a tombstone," he said quietly. "All of them...they're all tombstones." Despite being newly evolved, Frogadier was shivering with fear. Chris' revelation was cut short when he saw a man dressed in a red suit with red hair and red shades. The man stared at the tombstones similar to Chris for a long period of time, then pulling out a phone, mumbling something that Chris couldn't hear. Shortly after, he took off, heading north towards Geosenge Town. Chris kept a good distance from him, but followed him nonetheless; he was easy to see in the crowd of passing by trainers.

Now in Geosenge Town, the red-haired man immediately dashed towards the northwest corner of the town. Chris got closer to him, hiding in a nearby bush. At the northwest corner of the town was a single rock with a similar shade as the tombstones. The man in red approached the rock, tapping the right side of it gently, which caused the front of the rock to collapse, revealing a secret doorway. As the man entered it, the doors closed, and the rocks arose, hiding the secret door and the man completely.

"What are they planning," thought Chris to himself.

"These are the same people Charlotte told me to avoid, but...why?" he continued to think to himself.

"Didn't expect to see you like this," said a voice behind Chris. The man's deep tone frightened Chris initially. As he turned around, he noticed it was Lysandre.

"Lysandre...," said Chris quietly. The orange-haired man reached his long arm out to Chris, bringing the seventeen year old to his feet.

"I don't know why you were in a bush," he began. Chris responded quickly.

"Well I was looking for a certain Poke-"

"You don't have to tell me kid," said Lysandre with a smile. He stared at Chris silently for a few seconds before speaking again.

"Did you just get here, Chris?"

He nodded.

"You mind if I show you something then?" asked Lysandre, gripping Chris' arm tightly. He agreed, being dragged uncomfortably by the spiky-haired man.

Lysandre brought Chris to the center of the town, presenting to him three bone-white pillars, all three of which curled inwards to create a, "claw" shape.

"Magnificent isn't it?" asked Lysandre.

Chris agreed with him.

"Amazing how through destruction, beauty prevails. There is an elegance to everything y'know Chris."

Chris slowly began to back away from Lysandre.

"Do you know the tale of the first Kalos King?" said Lysandre turning to him. He looked as if he were possessed.

Chris shook his head as Lysandre cleared his throat.

"3,000 years ago, a war began right where we're standing. Pokemon from all over the region sided with one of two parties before attacking one another. The King searched for ways to end this conflict, but neither side could come to an agreement. The fighting continued for years, decades even. When the King had found out that his very own Pokemon, a blue Floette with a black rose had been killed while venturing through his gardens, he went into an outrage. The man had conjured the powers of life and death, using there almighty powers to destroy both sides of the war with death, and reviving his Floette from the dead with the power of life."

Chris stood silently, gathering all the information.

"So...what makes where we're standing so special?" asked Chris. Lysandre smirked at the question.

"Where we stand...this is where the powers of life and death lay," he whispered.

"So what happened to the King?" asked Chris.

"The King...well the King suffered a fate worse than death...he was given immortal life."

"How is that...By who?" asked Chris. Lysandre shrugged his shoulders.

"It could've been God...I don't know...I've studied this tale since I was your age and I could never figure out what punished him..."

"So, he's still alive as of now?"

"That's what I've heard," responded Lysandre with a smirk on his face.

The two silently stared at the three pillars for a while. After around twenty seconds, Lysandre broke the silence.

"My, my, your Pokemon look exhausted!" he said. "Maybe they should rest up."

Chris agreed with him.

"You're right, they do deserve to rest up. They beat Grant back in Cyllage."

"Grant's no joke," responded Lysandre. "Anyways, rest up Chris. You got a long journey ahead of you. Just be careful, and don't do anything too stupid." He pat Chris on the head before leaving. Once he was gone, Chris took Lysandre's advice, resting his Pokemon in a nearby log cabin. He thought about staying there for the night, but his curiosity continued to nag at him.

"I need to see that rock, I gotta see if I can get inside," thought Chris to himself. He'd set the plan up while his Pokemon rested up. He would strike at midnight.

Nighttime had now fallen upon Geosenge Town, and Chris' plan began to unfold. He snuck out of the Pokemon Center, venturing to the north west corner of the town, where the single rock stood. He hopped into the same bush as from earlier.

Chris gazed at the rock, waiting for someone to either enter or exit the rock. Soon enough, it began pouring, thunder following shortly after. Half an hour had past, and Chris decided to cut it quits and just head back to the Pokemon Center. As he turned his head, Chris was clubbed in the head by a blunt object, knocking him out.

Immediately, Chris' Pokemon sprung out of their Pokeballs ready to fight the hidden person. The person sent in a Houndoom. The hound Pokemon stared at all six of Chris' Pokemon. It aimed at Beedrill first, firing a flamethrower which caused the bug Pokemon to faint immediately. Houndoom then surrounded Frogadier in a Dark Pulse, causing it to faint. Fletchinder landed its aerial ace attack successfully, but on its second attempt, Houndoom caught its wing, slamming the bird Pokemon viciously into the ground. Aron tried charging towards Houndoom, but the hound torched Aron before it could touch Houndoom. Tyrunt landed one rock move successfully, but Houndoom followed up, surrounding Tyrunt in a poisonous mist causing the Pokemon to faint. All of Chris' Pokemon that flew out of their Pokeballs had fainted, except one. Houndoom's fangs began to glow red as the Pokemon walked closer and closer to Chris' body. Houndoom opened its jaws moving closer and closer. At that moment, his last Pokemon rose from its Pokeball. Eevee charged at Houndoom, protecting its trainer.

Houndoom dodged Eevee's tackle, then biting down on Eevee aggressively and thrusting it back at Chris. The rain had now cleared and a full moon emerged. Eevee looked directly at it, and then roared at Houndoom, its voice much darker and aggressive than before. Suddenly, Eevee's fur began to darken. Its brown eyes began shifting to a sharp yellow. A bright aura began surrounding Eevee.

Once it faded, the newly evolved Eevee roared louder than it had ever done before. This caused the townspeople to awake, a crowd approaching Eevee and the Houndoom rapidly. The trainer called off Houndoom, now walking away, the sound of high heels clicking with the cobblestone pathway. The trainer was gone, and the townspeople had found Chris' body. By the time they arrived, Eevee had fled.

Chris woke up in a hospital around midday the next day. Upon opening his eyes, he saw Serena was sitting in a chair to his right staring at him nervously. Chris groaned as arched his upper body forward, but Serena urged he stay laying down.

"You have a concussion, you should rest."

"W-What happened?" asked Chris.

"You were hit in the head," responded Serena. Chris felt the back of his head, feeling the bandages wrapped tightly around it. Despite her request, Chris still continued to force himself up.

"Rest," she urged.

"Serena...," responded Chris quietly. "Where are my Pokemon?"

Serena was silent, nervous to answer.

"Where are they Serena?" asked Chris again with a more aggressive tone.

"They were found pretty badly beaten up, right next to you."

"That doesn't answer my question, Serena. Where are they?"

"Next room over," said Serena quietly.

Chris began rising to his feet, but couldn't. Serena had placed him back into the bed gently.

"Thank you," mumbled Chris quietly.

Chris had spent the rest of the day laying in bed, healing up. At around eight at night, he arched his upper body forward, this time getting out of bed on his own. He used a nearby broom to help him stay on his feet. Upon entering the room, he saw his Pokemon resting. Beedrill lay on a stretcher with its belly up, a distinct burn visible on its chest. Aron had suffered a similar burn, with marks on its head. Fletchinder's wing was fractured. The only two that were conscious were Frogadier and Tyrunt, whom approached Chris instantly. Chris raised his index finger, counting all his Pokemon.

"One, two, three, four, five...Where's Eevee?" he mumbled.

"Eevee, where's my Eevee!" shouted Chris alerting multiple doctors. Immediately, he was returned to his bed, where he continued to repeat that same question.

"Nobody saw your Eevee…," responded one of the doctors.

"That's impossible! Eevee has never left my side for the seven years I've known that Pokemon…Why would it leave now?" The doctor shrugged his shoulders.

Chris struggled to sleep that night, but his concussion had managed to clear up slightly. At six in the morning, Chris rose to his feet again. He made a good impression to show to the doctors that he was alright, and he was thus discharged. Immediately after being released, Chris gathered his team, all of which were now conscious. Chris stared at his Pokemon, regret visible in his eyes. He stared at the burns and cuts they received, all for him.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly with tears rolling down his cheeks. "I never wanted this to happen to you guys..."

Both he and his Pokemon were silent.

"Maybe Charlotte was right...maybe I should just look the other way...not do anything stupid."

Immediately Beedrill rushed towards him staring at him angrily. Chris stared into the Pokemon's red eyes, remembering the words his grandfather had told him seven years ago.

"You didn't give up..."

Chris stared down at the floor remembering Eevee.

"You're right Beedrill," said Chris. "We can't give up now, but this is dangerous, and all of you know that?" All his Pokemon stared at him confidently except for Tyrunt, whom was staring at Chris' Pokemon quizzically.

"Alright...let's go get Eevee back, and then...revenge," said Chris with same confidence his Pokemon had.

Chris returned to the northwest corner of Geosenge Town, calling out Eevee's name, but there was no response. He called out one more time, but he began feeling exhausted. The symptoms of his concussion began to remerge. He began breathing heavily.

"I need to lie down," he mumbled. Chris ventured past the rock, heading north of it to find a small, crystal clear lake. He lay down on the grass next to the lake, staring up at the sky. Upon staring at it, the landscape around him became completely silent. Chris closed his eyes feeling the wind blow past him gently. He lay relaxed for multiple minutes. This sense of calmness disappeared when Chris heard the grass rustling in the distance.

From the rustling grass emerged a black, feline Pokemon with gold rings around its body. The Pokemon approached the lake, sipping it before staring into it. Upon seeing its reflection, the Pokemon splashed the water viciously, gaining Chris' attention.

"Eevee," said Chris quietly. The Pokemon didn't respond. Chris then remembered the chart which held all of Eevee's possible evolutions. He stared at the yellow rings draped over the Pokemon's black fur.

"Umbreon," called out Chris softly.

Umbreon turned its attention to Chris, now walking slowly towards him. Behind Chris were all five of his Pokemon staring bewildered at Umbreon, especially Beedrill. Umbreon now sat directly in front of Chris, the bee Pokemon advanced in front of Chris, staring at its long time friend. Beedrill extended its arm, grazing Umbreon's black fur.

"Why'd you run away?" asked Chris in the background. Umbreon looked at the black fur Beedrill was stroking, despising it.

"You're ashamed of yourself, aren't you?" asked Chris. Umbreon was silent. Chris now lay down in the grass again, his headache getting harsher the more he stood up.

"Umbreon…," he began. "You always wanted to be an Espeon didn't you?"

Umbreon stared at Chris as he continued to speak.

"In life…we don't always get the things we want. We're mad, we hate that we can't get what we want…, but in the end the things we wanted were never meant to be. You never became an Espeon, no, but that's okay. What's wrong with being an Umbreon? I like the black look...It's sleek and the yellow is pretty cool as well."

Umbreon began to smile.

"You were always a better physical attacker than a special attacker as well…Your favorite move has always been bite…so...really, what's wrong with being an Umbreon?"

The Pokemon looked at its fur once more, taking in what Chris said. Umbreon then advanced closer to Chris, huddling up next to him. Chris began petting the Pokemon.

"Be proud of who you are," said Chris staring at Umbreon.

Chris returned to the Pokemon Center with Umbreon, reuniting his team. He rested for about an hour and a half, which helped to eliminate his headache for good. It was now two in the afternoon when Chris left the Pokemon Center, heading east which had taken him to Route 11. It was a short Route which connected Geosenge Town with Reflection Cave, which lay at the end of the route. Chris followed the route, entering Reflection Cave.

Upon entering, Chris immediately took notice of the mirror like crystals embedded in the wall, which spread throughout the cave sporadically. Eventually, Chris found a crystal which stretched from the floor to the ceiling of the cave. He stood directly in front of it, seeing his reflection along with his Pokemon. He smiled at the sight of it before continuing through the cave.

Half an hour later, Chris found a direct path to the exit, leaving behind a trial of defeated trainers in the cave. The exit would lead him to Shalour City. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a horde of Onix began charging down the cave in Chris' direction. Though initially scared of the Pokemon, Chris stared at the horde confidently.

"Aron, take the first," he called out.

"Tyrunt, take out the back one there."

"Beedrill, strike when they're busy."

"Fletchinder, create a firespin on that one."

"Frogadier…, you know what to do."

"And Umbreon…"

The Pokemon looked directly up at him.

"…Bite…"