Cassia gazed up at the intricate arc set within the door of the cabin. The heavy oaken door guarded the humble building, black slate making the sloping tiles, with a brick chimney puffing smoke form its top. Cassia's feet stood atop a low wooden porch, where firewood lay stacked under a shrouded window. The sunlight reflected off of it, nearly into Cassia's eyes with the bright noonday sun.

Grom stood behind her, thinking it best not to stand on the porch. "Haw-grawm." He nudged Cassia, waving his hand toward the door.

Cassia adjusted her bag, nodding her head impatiently. "I know, I know!" She sighed, looking at her feet. "I just…don't know. Do you think she'll care that I'm a Zoroark?" Given her ancestor's reputation and the reaction of those Pokémon at the Guild, she figured that Equivos didn't view her species too highly.

Grom shrugged. "Graw, graw grawm." He pounded his chest, then pointed at the arc on the door. "Gro-hawm."

Cassia studied the arc more closely, then realized it was an intricate circle in the shape of the Arc of Arceus. 'How did she get away with something like that?'

Knowing that she couldn't stand there forever, she rapped the door. After a minute or so, there was still no response.

Cassia knocked again, then exclaimed, "Hello? Is anyone here? I was sent by Matheus Lucario!"

Again, no response. Cassia slowly turned away and stepped toward the edge of the porch. "I guess she's out."

The door suddenly creaked open, seemingly inviting her in. She turned back around, disconcerted by what had just happened.

"Come in, come in! I've been expecting you," an elderly voice said.

Cautiously, Cassia stepped back onto the porch, then peeked her head inside. The cabin was a single large room with two doors to one side, separating them. A small table with two chairs stood in the center, in front of a series of cabinets, a stove, and a bucket filled with water. To the right were two cushioned chairs, with a shelf of books between them, and a small wooden board with a sack on top. A series of lanterns with large candles inside hung from the ceiling, unlit. Along the walls, elaborate portraits showing a variety of Pokémon and scenes hung, freshly dusted and polished.

The Zoroark treaded into the dim atmosphere, feeling a sense of peace going inside. She heard a massive creak behind her and saw Grom dare take a step onto the porch, the wood sagging under his weight.

"I'm afraid that your large friend will have to stay outside; my old house wasn't built for the likes of him."

Cassia looked back at him and sympathetically said, "Sorry Grom; you just wait outside."

Grom stepped off the porch and crossed his arms. "Hrm." He trudged to a large oak next to the cabin and leaned on it, the trunk bending upon contact. "Gaw!" he pouted, slamming his fist against it, causing several leaves to fall.

Cassia turned back to the house and stepped forward, studying the home. The door closed with a prolonged squeak, and darkness shrouded her vision.

She squinted up at the lanterns, noticing that the doors to the candles lay open. She held up her hand, causing a tiny crimson flame to come into it. She steadily threw sparks onto the candles, causing them to light with a somber orange light.

Satisfied with the light level, she peered at the portraits, noticing a young Gardevoir predominantly among them. Amongst her, many other species posed alongside her in a variety of landscapes, and in one picture, she embraced a Gallade.

"So, you're Arthus' kin."

Cassia whipped around her and eeped, meeting the gaze of an elderly Gardevoir. Her once-vibrant hair was striped with silver, and her face was lined with wrinkles. Her dress hung limply around her legs, and she stood with a slight hunch, supported by a wooden cane she held in her hand. Despite these infirmities, her eyes were still a bright scarlet, gazing at Cassia lightheartedly.

"Thank you for lighting my lanterns, but I'd rather wait for when I need them," she croaked. She focused on the velvet curtains covering the large windows of the cabin. They parted, coating the inside with vibrant yellow light.

Cassia stared in amazement as the Gardevoir turned back to her. "You're Psychic."

She gave her a curious look. "You haven't met a Gardevoir before?" she smiled softly, shuffling to one of the cushioned chairs. "Well, I wouldn't blame you, given your upbringing. The Guild is a wretched place to be raised."

Cassia gasped, pointing at her. "How do you know that? I haven't met you before."

The Gardevoir made a coughing laugh. "Us Gardevoir primarily use our psychic abilities for reading minds and seeing emotions. I can't read Dark Pokemon like you very well, but I can manage. " She sat on the chair with a groan, then set the cane at its edge. "Plus, Matheus came by here over a week ago as he was going to the Guild; he filled me on the details." She clasped her hands together. "As you said, we haven't met, so I believe introductions are in order. I'm Arianne Gardevoir, and given your little greeting, you're Cassia."

Cassia nodded, adjusting the bag over her shoulder again. "That's right. I came here with a Golurk named Grom. He, uh, doesn't talk much."

Arianne nodded sagely. "Well, all the better. Golurk don't usually have much useful to say." She held a hand to the side of her mouth and whispered, "To be honest, they're rather dense." She leaned back, acting as if nothing happened. "So, old Matheus sent you here. Wish he could've said a proper hello before he dropped you off, but I guess you'll do." She patted the chair next to her and exclaimed, "No need to stand there, I have room enough for you. Just mind the fur."

Cassia, assured that Arianne meant well, sat in the other chair, pulling off her bag and setting it at her side. It suddenly floated in the air, and Cassia reached out for it.

Adrianne reached over and grabbed her claw, saying, "No need to worry." It floated to a peg and hung from it. The lip opened, and the Arceist Tome hovered out of it, easing into Cassia's lap. Arianne added, "Just want to make sure you have the tome is all."

Cassia traced her claws over the cover, like she had done many times before. "I noticed that you had the Arc of Arceus on your door. Why is that?"

Arianne sighed, waving her hand. "I'm not in much a mood for telling stories at the moment. You happened to wake me up from my nap." She leaned forward. "However, I'm interested in hearing yours. It's a long way from the Guild, and old Matheus certainly wouldn't let things be boring."

"How do you know Matheus anyway? He told me he kept himself private."

Arianne laughed, holding her chest. "Is that what he told you? My, he had you good. You met him, so tell me, do you really think he's the hermit-y type? Living all alone and avoiding Pokémon?"

Cassia looked up in thought. 'Well, he certainly likes talking. He likes making food and training with others too.'

"Don't keep it all in your head; I may be a mind reader, but I can't do it so well with the likes of you," Arianne added.

Cassia looked back down and laughed slightly. "Yeah, I don't see him living on his own for long." She cocked her head and frowned. "But why didn't I hear about him until I left?"

Arianne waved a dismissive hand. "Arthus believed he killed him way back when, so do you really think he'd believe anyone that told him he came back from the dead?" She shook her head. "He'd likely run 'em through if they even breathed a word about Matheus, so they just kept quiet about the whole thing if they knew."

Cassia considered her thought, thinking it made sense. She went to say more, but Arianne held up her hand. "Before we talk about anything else, there are some ground rules we have to set. While I trust you because Matheus sent you, we can't just have you doing whatever you please." She held up a finger. "One: unless I say so, you aren't to go out of sight of the house. If you see anyone coming, come straight here; your status as a Zoroark would make you a prime target."

She held up a second finger. "Two: read the Tome every day. I know you probably won't have issue with that, but by 'read', I mean mark and annotate it, so you can make connections between the verses. Your job as a teacher will be far easier if you do."

Cassia tried to interject, but Arianne stopped her. "Three: you are not to leave your bedroom when night comes. I've been taking steps to ensure Pokémon don't find this place, and that's part of my routine."

She lowered her hand. "And four: your big galoot of a Golurk has to help out with chores, just as you will. In case you haven't noticed, I'm rather old, so I shouldn't be doing things by myself if there are younger and stronger folks around." She clasped her fingers, tapping patiently against them. "Any questions?"

"Yes," Cassia blurted out. "What do mean I have to mark the Tome? It's too valuable for me to do that!"

"Really?" Arianne patted her lap. "Let me see. I have an eye for this sort of thing."

Cassia hesitantly obeyed, the leather cover scraping against her claws. Arianne bent over it and opened the cover, then chuckled. "Well…I didn't know you'd be bringing this copy."

"What do you mean?" Cassia asked, coming around the chair and staring at the Tome. Arianne's finger lay just under a faded, scrawling signature, the letters barely reading out to be 'Aleron'.

"Like many Gardevoir, I can see glimpses of the future. I saw you coming here and bringing the Tome and made sure to prepare for such. What I was not expecting, was the very first Arceist Tome to be in your possession." Arianne tapped the signature. "This was likely Aleron's final writing, as none of the others were signed this way." She reached for the shelf and pulled an identical book from it, except it appeared to be far newer. The pages were white, and the cover was smooth, the Arc of Arceus with the burning blaze still shining. She cracked it open over Cassia's copy and showed the front cover. Beneath the title, Aleron's signature was absent.

Cassia gaped at the connection. "I definitely shouldn't write in it."

"What gave you the thought?" Arianne slapped her playfully, flipping past the title page. Beyond it, various lines and circles scattered the page, connecting the verses together in what seemed to be a haphazard way.

"Listen to what you can do if you connect them," she added. She opened to a random page, then after scanning it for a moment, pointed to a verse.

Dictations 10-

And my work is to have my creations return to me by the hand of my prophets, my priests, and my teachers.

She traced her finger across a curving line, meeting with a reference to another verse. She turned to it, then said:

Proclamation 4-

For the world obeys me and shall return to me. My Legends came forth, and returned to the Tree of Life, as should my mortal creations do.

Cassia gazed at the words, astounded. "That was…amazing."

Arianne smiled, tapping her head. "There's only so much you can keep up here." She pointed to the tome. "So, write it down here." She looked out the window, noticing Grom leaning against the oak. "How about you tell Grom that he can come by the back window and have a talk with me; he looks so grumpy out there."

[~~~]

At the kitchen counter, Arianne offered a handful of walnuts through the window to Grom, who crushed them in his grip. He dropped the remains into Arianne's hand, chuckling.

Arianne put them into a bowl, then set to cutting lettuce with a knife. "Pokémon always seem to forget that other foods than berries exist in this world: bread, apples, cucumber, the whole like. I have some sent daily by a trusted Unfezant, along with plenty of berries."

Cassia watched from behind, sitting at the table. "Most everything I've eaten involved berries in some way. I even had some Basculin when I was with Matheus."

"Did you now? I've always wondered how one tastes," Arianne mused. She set the lettuce aside and started chopping Pecha berries, cutting their pink flesh cleanly. "I won't deny that berries are delicious and nutritious. I just feel that so much focus is put on them that Pokémon don't seem to notice the other good things in life." She set the knife down putting the chopped berries into a bowl.

"So, are there a lot of…farmers, I guess?" Cassia asked.

"Not as many as you'd think. Berry bushes are very productive, so many just start up a field near a town and make that their main food source." She opened a cupboard and took out a loaf of bread with a white cloth under it. "Berries also happen to be very travel-resistant compared to other foods, so it's little wonder that they're grown the most." She set the bread on the table, then placed the berries and lettuce with it. "Still, Pokémon appreciate having more than the powerful flavors of berries, so we thankfully still have them." She carried two plates and another knife to the center, then sat down with a sigh.

Cassia reached out to take a berry, but Arianne swatted it, giving her a scornful look. "Always thank Arceus for the food. We might grow it, but he's the one who created it in the first place." She clasped her hands and closed her eyes. Cassia followed.

"Great Arceus, let us be able to serve you in all your ways. We give thanks for your gift to us and wish to receive more until the final days." Arianne opened her eyes, then took a plate, putting a handful of lettuce on top of it.

Cassia took the other plate and took a handful of berries. "I didn't know you had to do that."

Arianne shook her head, cutting into the bread with the knife. "Well, I wouldn't blame you, given your upbringing. Even then, it isn't necessary; it's just a nice thing to do for the one who gave it to us." She took the slice of bread and placed several berries on top of it. "The Usurper is the one who raised you, yes?" Cassia nodded, memories returning to her of his care.

Arianne sighed, pulling lettuce from the bowl. "He could've been a great Pokémon. He did so much good before that dreadful Gregorius came into the picture."

"What do you know about Arthus?" Cassia asked, taking a leaf and nibbling it.

"Not much, but I don't desire to know more. He suffered plenty of grief in his youth, starting with his parents, then to his own wife, even with Matheus. It went on to his son, Erik, then to you, I'm sure. He is such a sad thing." She shook her head. "But I don't sympathize with him. Parents aside, he caused his own misery, but he blames Arceus for all of them, claiming that his decision to let Pokémon have the choice to do evil brought them away from him. He is terribly misguided."

"He was so nice to me though. I just…haven't seen anything for myself. I've only heard about what he did." Cassia set down the leaf, twirling a length of her mane around her claw.

Arianne looked away for a moment, then looked back at Cassia. "You've only seen his good side. You're unsure of his true identity." She massaged her temple. "I was hoping to avoid this, but it appears I will have to show you what he's done to be the Usurper."

After finishing their lunch, Cassia sat on a chair, now situated in between the table and the bookshelf. Arianne stood behind her, closing her eyes and hovering her hands over Cassia's head.

"I can give you a brief vision of what he did when he returned eighteen years ago. I'm warning you now: given your experience with him, it may come as a shock. Are you sure you want to continue?"

Cassia nodded. "I'm sure." She felt Arianne's hands set on her head, and blackness overcame her sight.

[~~~]

Bodies of Pokémon littered the streets of Lucario Guild, the buildings streaked with blood and what inhabitants remained shivering in their homes. Darkness overcame the Guild, the marvelous tower a beacon of a gruesome victory.

Between the hovels of the Pokémon, a figure slunk in the shadows. Its mane crept into a home, and in a flash of red light, slayed the Pokémon inside. It crept back out with a cackle, its claws scraping against the stone.

Something cracked, and it turned, revealing the pale, blue eyes of the Usurper. "I said no one leaves," he seethed, sprinting toward the source. He found a Tangrowth ambling toward the gate of the guild, alongside a gathering of Tangela, wailing at the sight of Arthus.

Arthus held up a claw, crimson flame enveloping it. "Traitors!" He threw it at the Tangrowth, and the vine Pokémon erupted in flames, shrieking and rolling in an attempt to be rid of it. The Tangela scattered, only to be struck by the Usurper with the same deadly weapon.

Moments after, he walked amongst the ashes of his victims, tsking. "What a shame. I had to waste my Life on fools like you." He looked up at the raging clouds, the rain halted hours ago.

"Now to kill those traitorous Lucario…just like Matheus." He stabbed the ground, tendrils enveloping him and dragging him underneath.

The scenes blurred together, and Arthus now stood outside a cave, breathing heavily and looking up to the sky. His claws were still covered with blood, his Life still pulsing into the air.

He slowed his breathing, then searched the area around him. "I can't let her see me like this." He dove to a nearby stream and splashed his claws into it, rubbing them free of the crimson marks of murder.

He held them up, satisfied with his work, then proceeded to wipe away the rest of the remains on his fur. Rubbing a particularly large stain, he muttered, "I will make sure she loves me, no matter what it takes. Arceus took Erik from me; I won't let him do the same with her." He looked up, washing his claws in the stream once more. "She won't need to see any of this. She can live a perfect life, free from all the pains of the world—even if I'm part of it." He looked down for a moment, then ran to the entrance of the cave, winded from the sudden burst of speed.

"I'm here! I'm here!"

[~~~]

Cassia gasped, standing up from her chair. She turned to Arianne, who closed her eyes and grimaced.

"I…I know now," Cassia croaked. She imagined all the other atrocities Arthus had committed, from the death of all the Lucario, to him standing up to Arceus and absorbing him into the Seal. The fond memories of her past were crowded out by these vicious thoughts. Tears fell from her face.

Arianne hobbled over and embraced her, patting her mane. "I shouldn't have shown you that. It was too much."

"No," Cassia sniffed, "I needed to see it. I know that now."

After an afternoon of silence and reflection, Cassia sat on the bed in her room, her bag at her side. She stared at a blank page in her sketchpad, the lessons from Arthus returning to her. The sparse furnishings in the room reminded her of the many belongings she had in the Guild, never to be seen again. The fresh air throughout smelled nothing like the iron-filled dust of the canyon, and the morning light shined over the plains instead of a vast wall. She was in foreign territory, away from what she had known all her life, and only now did she feel pangs of homesickness.

She took a black-smudged sack from the bag, a length of charcoal poking out of it. She reached to take it, but pulled away, setting down the bag. "Arthus drew all the time. I don't want anything to do with him." She lay the sketchpad over it, closing the cover. "Not after all he's done."

A knock came at the door, and Arianne stepped in, taking a brief look at her surroundings. "I meant to put more in here, but—" She stopped herself, noticing the drawing supplies. "I didn't know you were an artist."

Cassia shook her head. "Not anymore. Arthus taught me everything about it, and he's a horrible Pokémon. Why should I do what he did?"

Arianne sat on a chair next to the bed, leaning over her cane. "Is that what you think? That because an evil Pokémon drew pictures, that you shouldn't?" She looked down at her cane. "My husband, Samuel, was raised by a neglectful father. He often beat him as a Ralts, and forced him to work, claiming that he needed to be disciplined. At night, his father often went to town and fought the local Guild Pokémon while in a stupor. He rarely lost." She stared back at Cassia. "What do you think my Samuel did?"

"Ran away? Promised to never fight like his dad?"

"No. He became even better!" She stamped the cane. "When he finally evolved to a Gallade, he snuck out at night to train with the guards, then returned before his father ever noticed. He finally grew strong enough to restrain him and get him into prison. He saved many Pokémon who regularly suffered at his hand!" She gave Arianne a stern look. "Do you think his father would have been stopped unless Samuel decided to train himself?"

Cassia shook her head reluctantly. "No, but what does that have to do with me?"

"It has everything to do with you! Tell me, in all your lessons, what did you learn?"

Cassia struggled to remember, the memories of Arthus difficult to remain with. "He always said for me to put my full feeling in my drawing, so that it can make others who look at it feel the same."

Arianne nodded, then said, "And tell me, why do you think Samuel fought his father?"

Cassia made no reply, only cocking her head curiously.

Finally, Arianne finished: "Love. He saw the Pokémon in the village and how his father affected them. He trained because he wanted to protect those Pokémon, because he loved them." She tapped the pad with her cane. "Draw for your love of the world, for the Pokémon, and for Arceus."

Cassia smiled, closing the pad. "I like that. I just…I just don't want to be the same as Arthus."

"You use Life, don't you? As well as Arthus? Does that make you the same as him?"

"No, of course not!" Cassia exclaimed. "He uses Life to kill and control! I just want to help Pokémon with it!"

Arianne pointed at her with a grin. "There's your answer. Just because someone bad shares a trait with you, it doesn't mean you'll end up like them." Arianne lifted the charcoal sack with her telekinesis and held it in front of Cassia. "Now how about you draw something for me; I couldn't make a tree for the life of me."

[~~~]

The wind rushed through Arianne's pale green hair as she stood, looking to the right. Cassia sat on a chair, scribbling carefully on her pad. Grom remained near the house, taking logs and prying them apart, splitting them perfectly.

Arianne sighed, looking at a large depression in the plains. "Samuel and I often had picnics down there, on days like this. I haven't done anything like that since he passed."

Cassia rubbed away a line, taking a glance at Arianne. "What was he like?"

"He was like no one else. He was…smart. Strong, brave. Everything you'd want in a husband." She held up her cane, rubbing the aged surface. "He gave me gifts. He saved Pokémon in danger. He used to work for the Guild before he died; he was the captain of the outpost down in Hereb, a village not far from here."

"Really?" Cassia asked, holding up the drawing and comparing it to her subject.

Arianne sighed deeply. "Yes…before Arthus returned. After he murdered the Lucario, he sent Gardner to handle the Outposts, to ensure they were loyal to him. One day, Arthus came to Hereb disguised as a captain; that's how he's managed to avoid having others find out about his return. He came to Samuel and demanded him to swear loyalty to him." She cringed, closing her eyes. "That night, the villagers returned with his body."

Cassia covered her mouth. "I'm so sorry!"

Arianne waved her hand, shaking her head. "No need. They buried him on the hill behind the house. I go visit him, of course, but…" She took a deep breath, leaning on her cane. "I just wish I could see him again. Eighteen years is a long time to be without the one you love."

Cassia stopped drawing, thinking of Arthus. 'Corrina died over two thousand years ago, and Arthus is still pained by her death. He…he must want to see her again.'

The Zoroark thought for a moment, then said, "I…I could maybe look at your memories, then make—"

"No. I…I couldn't bear it." Arianne cleared her throat, then said, "Are you done?"

Cassia nodded her head, then Arianne steadily walked to the house, leaving Cassia on the chair.

She entered the doorway, and Grom halted his chopping and stepped toward his master. "Gra-hawm?"

Cassia closed her sketchpad, looking up at the sky. "An illusion's purpose is to trick the mind…" she muttered. She looked back to the pad.

"But drawing is a way to show what you think of someone…"

[~~~]

Cassia peered over Arianne's shoulder, watching the Gardevoir cut carrots. The sun sank over the horizon, the lanterns now lit to provide their light.

After several moments of gazing, Arianne finally turned and said, "Despite my age, I am fully capable of making dinner. Why don't you read the Tome, or…something of the sort, while I finish up?"

Cassia backed away and said, "Sorry." She began looking at the many pictures that lined the walls, taking in the scenes that lay within.

Most of the pictures showed a young Gardevoir with a handsome Gallade, standing in front of some exotic location: a coastline, mountain, ravine, even a jungle. Some showed them sitting together, while others with them dancing.

Cassia came to what seemed to be the central picture, framed above the bookshelf. It showed Samuel Gallade looking up at the moon at a starry night sky, with Arianne sitting at his feet. Surrounding the moon, the Arc of Arceus appeared in silvery traces.

She continued to study it, amazed by the artistry. 'That must have taken hours to make…I don't think I could ever do something like it.' She studied their faces in particular. 'They're so…detailed. I can see their wonder and happiness, like it's really there.'

"Dinner's ready!"

Cassia blinked, shaking her head. She went to the dinner table, thinking of how she could help Arianne.

Later that evening, after dinner, they took to reading the Tome, finishing with Arianne reading a verse:

And so, we learn that through my gifts to my creations, my works are brought forth. Let them be used for the benefit of all.

Cassia carefully underlined the verse in her tome, while Arianne closed her own. The Gardevoir nodded appreciatively and said, "That should do for tonight." She stood up, placing the tome back in the bookshelf. "I expect that you'll take care of the lanterns?"

"Uh-huh," Cassia said, flicking her wrist. The lanterns extinguished, their Life-borne light drowned by their master.

Arianne yawned, then shuffled to her bed. "I'll see you in the morning." She entered her bedroom, then closed the door.

Cassia smiled, then dashed to her own room, gently closing the door and hopping to her bed. She lit the candle on the nightstand, then pulled out her sketchpad, taking a length of charcoal from the bag and scraping across a fresh page.

At the window, Grom's eyes shined through. He pushed it up with a finger, then craned his head inside. "Graw?"

"Not now, Grom, I'm busy," Cassia replied, her eyes darting across the page.

The Golurk hmphed, then took a look at the page. "Hawm?"

"I'm making something for Arianne. Just watch and listen, okay?" Cassia grumbled, erasing a portion of the drawing with a bit of clay.

Grom hmphed again, closing the window and tromping off.

Hours later, Cassia crept out of her room, her sketchpad in tow. The moon half-full, it barely illuminated the floorboards as she opened the door to Arianne's room. She peeked her head inside, finding that her bed was made, with her nowhere in sight.

She shut the door, bewildered. 'That's strange. She wouldn't go to sleep elsewhere, and there's no lights on.' She looked out the nearby window. 'Did she go outside?' She stared out of it, but found nothing but bare, grassy fields.

She went to the kitchen window and studied the hill behind it. A gentle blue light shone at the top, the source blocked from view.

Her curiosity piqued, Cassia exited the house, disregarding Arianne's third rule. She walked carefully through the grass, the blustery gales of before now no more than a gentle breeze. It held a peculiar air to it, however, causing her to shudder occasionally.

She began climbing up the hill, passing Grom, who peacefully slept standing up. As she climbed the hill, the chilling wind grew colder, while the ethereal blue light grew brighter.

Cassia cocked her head, hearing a voice emanating from the top, and fighting the growing cold, heard the words clearly: "You worry too much; no one has come to hurt me for years."

Another voice whispered in low tones, and Cassia shivered, feeling that somehow, she was being referred to.

"No, that can't be right. No one knows about this spot except you and me," the other said, the grass whishing as they stepped closer to Cassia.

The low whisper came again, and Cassia froze, reaching for her chest. She choked for breath, stunned by the sheer cold surrounding her. She felt the heat seem to drain from her body and flow to some other place, leaving her to freeze in the wind's grip.

The whishing stopped, and Cassia heard a gasp. She looked up and saw Arianne holding her hand to her chest. She turned back and cried, "Samuel, stop! She's a friend!"

Cassia gasped, the chill suddenly disappearing. She saw a blue ball of flame encompassed by a black frame, then passed out.

[~~~]

Cassia awoke in her bed, under her cover. She shifted her gaze to the left, finding her sketchpad on the side table, and Arianne sitting on a chair, her head lowered.

She looked up, and her eyes widened. "Oh, thank Arceus you're alive!" She embraced Cassia momentarily, then pulled back, shaking her finger at her. "I thought I told you not to leave your room at night!"

Cassia sighed, nodding her head. "I know, I know. I just…I just wanted to see you."

Arianne stared for a moment, then groaned, massaging her temple. "It was partially my fault that this happened. I should have introduced Samuel to you sooner."

"Samuel? Your husband?" Cassia asked, confused.

Arianne nodded. She turned to the door and called, "You can come in now!"

The door swung open, and a Lampent hovered inside, low whispers emanating from its flame. Its frame dull and metallic, it swung as it drifted toward them, the cyan flame burning low and the golden eyes mere slits. The glass encasing the fire radiated the light, filling the darkened room.

Cassia shuffled to the headboard, cringing. "W-Why is that in here?"

The window shot open, and Grom shoved his head inside. "Graowm!" he bellowed, his light growing brighter upon seeing the Lampent.

Arianne stepped in front of it, holding her arms out. "He won't hurt you, I promise!"

The Lampent whispered, drawing close to Arianne's head. She nodded and said, "He didn't know who you were, and started draining your Life when you came near. You lasted longer than usual because of your ability, so I was able to warn him."

"Him?" Cassia asked.

Arianne held the Lampent's arm, sighing. "Yes, him. Cassia, meet Samuel." The Lampent nodded his head, waving his other arm.

Cassia stepped out of her bed, giving Samuel a suspicious look. "How did this happen? How do you know?"

Arianne looked back to Samuel. He whistled in a warbling tone, then wafted back, waving his arms. She sighed, then said, "I was hoping to keep him a secret, but I may as well tell you now."

She sat on the chair and continued: "After Samuel died, I was miserable. I couldn't be comforted by anyone, and I blamed Arceus for my loss, wondering why he'd take my Samuel from me. Well, soon after that, at night, I noticed a strange light outside my window. I went out to check, and I discovered a little Lampent—at Samuel's grave.

"Naturally, I assumed he was just there to take the rest of Samuel's Life. But when I went to leave, the Lampent followed me. I couldn't shake him off, even when I entered the house. I was ready to fight him if need be, as I didn't want him waiting for me to die. But then he stopped in front of the portrait above the bookcase.

"He seemed…distressed. I was confused by this reaction, and it got me thinking: what if he was Samuel as a ghost? It wasn't unheard of for Pokémon who died to become one, even if it generally happens at Life deposits. Maybe this Lampent was?"

She caressed the Lampent, stroking his top. "I began to talk with him, and found that he remembered his previous life, including me. He wanted to stay with me and protect me, as he did when he was alive. Since then, he drove off any travelers that come by here, and when needed, took their Life. I didn't want you going out at night because he might think you're a threat. I should have introduced you sooner so this could've been avoided. Forgive me."

They remained silent for a moment, Samuel's flame remaining dim, and Grom's eyes continually staring. Cassia held her claws together, closing her eyes, while Arianne bowed her head.

Cassia turned to Arianne, then look the sketchpad from the table, turning it to a page. "I can see why you didn't want to tell me; I really should've listened to you about going out at night." Arianne remained still.

Cassia folded back the cover, holding the pad out to Arianne. "I wanted to show you something I made tonight. I didn't want to wait till morning." Arianne accepted it, put a hand over her heart.

The drawing showed a Gallade standing with a Gardevoir, holding their hands and looking toward Arianne with a smile. Every detail, down to the folds of the Gardevoir's dress, to the nicks in the Gallade's blades, were captured perfectly.

Arianne turned to Samuel, then back to Cassia. "I…I can't thank you enough for this. I have many pictures of him but," she stroked the picture, "I have nothing like this."

Samuel looked over Arianne's shoulder, making impressed, and sorrowful whispers. Arianne held his arm, lowering her head. "I know…you miss being alive. We'll be truly together again when I pass."

Cassia turned to Grom, who made a romantic sigh. She smiled, leaving Samuel and Arianne to share their moment together.

[~~~]

A week later as Cassia drew in her room, a knock came at her door. She closed her sketchpad and called out, "Come in!"

Arianne entered, holding a small leather bag. She sat down next to Cassia and said, "I have something for you." Cassia watched as she undone the drawstring on the bag, then slipped out a pure white, wooden mask. Its surface was completely smooth, and the eyes had a black gauze, allowing no light to seep through.

Arianne held it out to Cassia. "Try it on."

She did so, in awe of the handiwork. It fit perfectly over her face, and only slightly hindered her vision. She turned to Arianne and asked, "Why are you giving this to me?"

Arianne frowned, setting aside the bag. "Before you were born, I had that mask made for your father."

Cassia pulled off the mask and exclaimed, "You knew my dad?"

"Yes. Ryon Zoroark, and his wife, Rhianna. They lived in a little cave around the other side of Hereb. They enjoyed doing service to everyone there, especially to old Zaman Delphox. He was an excellent fortuneteller." She waved her hand. "But I digress. I had the mask made for Ryon as a late wedding gift. Unfortunately, after Zaman told him his future, he refused to let anyone in his home—even for me to deliver it." She clasped her hands and closed her eyes. "That went on for several months, until one day, Zaman came to me and told me to go to Ryon, despite the severe storm. I went with Samuel as a light, and saw smoke coming out of their cave." Cassia held the mask tighter, looking down at it.

"I discovered that everything inside had caught fire…and that Ryon and Rhianna had been in the blaze." A tear rolled down Cassia's cheek.

Arianne made a shuddering sigh. "After I returned, I learned that Zaman had caught pneumonia from being out in the rain. I came to him to help him recover, but he said it was his time to leave. He warned me that Arthus had returned, and that he had killed his descendants as punishment for their friendship with the Lucario. He even told me that Arthus had taken Ryon's child to raise it as his own." She swallowed and said, "I was distraught to hear that, but Zaman comforted me and said that she would grow strong in her belief in Arceus—just like her parents." Cassia smiled, still crying. Arianne smiled back and said, "You're more like your parents than you'll ever know."

Cassia embraced Arianne, whispering, "Thank you….thank you…" Arianne hugged her back and closed her eyes.

[~~~]

After several weeks of learning about the Arceist Tome and Arianne's life, Cassia now had her tome full of annotations, most suggested by Arianne, but all valuable for her next test.

She and Arianne packed a bag full of food, the morning light barely shining through the windows. "Laisha Unfezant didn't come today, so we'll have to go down to Hereb to pick up some supplies. We can also teach a few Pokémon down there as well."

Cassia gave a nervous smile. "You sure that's the best idea?"

Arianne nodded, placing a sack of coins in the bag. "Of course, it is. We have tomes, so it is our responsibility to teach them." She hefted the bag over her shoulder, then shuffled to the door. "Get your things; it'll be a long walk, and I don't plan on riding Grom there."

After an hour of walking across the plains, they came to a collection of low wooden buildings, surrounded by a wall made of timbers. Pokémon walked through the streets, crossing to stalls and huts to sell or buy goods. The air remained clear despite several chimneys poking in the air, smelling as fresh as it did out in the open plain.

Arianne stopped Cassia and pulled her to the wall. She looked back to Grom, he poked up his head behind a nearby hill, avoiding the gaze of the villagers.

Arianne took a glance to the entrance and said, "We can't have you going in looking like a Zoroark; you'll need to disguise yourself. Any ideas?"

Cassia thought for a moment, then nodded. She stepped away and waved her hand, and a Gardevoir with bright blue eyes appeared in her place.

Arianne stared for a moment, then laughed. "You could pass off as my granddaughter!"

Cassia chuckled, holding her hands behind her back. "Well…you're someone I'd like to have as a grandmother."

Arianne stopped, then held a hand to her cheek. "That's high praise for an old hermit like me." She headed through the gate, motioning for Cassia to follow. "Thank you for that."

Cassia followed her into the crowd, beaming. Her smile soon faded when she crossed by several Pokémon desperate to avoid their touch as to keep her disguise. She couldn't help but feel the same fear she did back in the Guild, of what the Pokémon would do to her, of how they share this reasonable fear of her species.

Arianne, however, acted nothing like this. She gracefully passed between groups of Pokémon, greeting them and offering to buy goods from them. Some complied, while others simply thanked and moved on. Not once did she falter in her movement or voice, completely confident in being in town.

Later, they stopped and ate at an outdoor diner, eating a small berry stir fry. Arianne calmly ate hers, while Cassia sat hunched over her food, still nervous about those around her.

Arianne gave her a bewildered look, then took a glance behind her. She returned her gaze and said, "You're shivering more than a soggy Meowth. What are you so worried about?"

Cassia looked down at her hand, seeing it shake. She grabbed it and said, "I just…didn't have the best experience back in the Guild. I never went out of the house because Arthus said so, and the one time I did, I found out he was an evil Pokémon." She cringed, remembering her time with Trias Alakazam and Searle Sawk. "I let my appearance show, and they were frightened of me. I never did anything to them, but because of Arthus, they thought I was going to kill them." She held her head up with her hand, sighing. "I wanted to stay away from Pokémon after that. Why would they listen to me if they're so scared of me?"

Arianne grabbed her hand and said, "You're Cassia, not Arthus. You're the sweetest young lady I've ever met, and anyone who doesn't see that is a fool." She smiled. "As for you being a Zoroark, that shouldn't matter. You can appear as you like, and no one will ever know the difference."

Cassia stood still for a moment, then smiled, standing straight. "Thank you."

They continued with their day, and soon, evening came down, and the village Pokémon settled into their homes, the restlessness of the alleyways before fading to a dull whisper.

In a disheveled home, Cassia and Arianne sat in front of a family of Gurdurr, their Timburr children resting peacefully at their feet. Arianne smiled proudly as Cassia read from the Tome clearly and passionately:

Let your strength and mind be used for the benefit of all, all while remembering the lessons I have given through my prophets. Remember your fellow creations, and cherish them, so that they may help you just as you help them.

Cassia closed the Tome, her eyes shining back the bright lantern light. "If you follow Arceus' word, you will receive many blessings from him, and will be promised a place with him at the Tree of Life." The Gurdurr couple nodded their heads and smiled, while the children began to snooze.

Arianne drew close to Cassia's ear and said, "I must leave now, but you stay and answer their questions; you're doing great!" She stood up and said, "I'll leave my student to teach you now; I have important business to take care of." She opened the door and stepped out, her staff clinking against the wood with each step.

Cassia continued the discussion for over an hour, until at last the Gurdurr had heard what they needed to and allowed her to leave. She went out amongst the other Pokémon with a newfound air of confidence, Arianne's words encouraging her to be herself even with a different appearance.

She went to Grom, adjusting her bag over her shoulder. "Let's get back to the house; Arianne will be waiting for us."

She clambered onto his back, and Grom said, "Gro-gro, haowm."

"It's good that you offered to take her back, but you know she likes doing things herself. At least you'll make it easier to get back," Cassia replied.

Grom trusted toward the house, the wind rushing past Cassia's ears. She let her Gardevoir guise fade. 'I love being with her; she's made a brand-new home for me.' She looked up at the sky, her smile waning. 'But…I'll have to leave…soon. As Arianne said, Pokemon that have the Tome have to teach; I'll need to go do that.' She shook herself free of the thought and smiled. 'But until then, I can have wonderful times with her. She can teach me, and I can give her company.'

She studied the grass rushing underneath them, then gazed up at the stars. 'She's the mother I never had. I want to stay with her for as long as I can.'

Minutes later, Grom landed away from the house, and Cassia slid down his back. She turned to him and said, "You go find a place to recharge; I'll see you in the morning." He went off to do so, while Cassia went up to the house.

She reached the foot of the porch and cocked her head. The door hung open, the wind whistling through the gap. Shattered bits of glass lay between it and the frame.

She gently pushed it open, and hoarsely gasped. Glass was scattered everywhere, Arianne's many portraits thrown against the ground. Her cupboards hung from their hinges, their goods gone, and the bookshelf sat smashed and empty, the books ripped apart, including the precious Arceist Tome. The mighty portrait that hung above it lay in shreds. The furniture and lanterns smashed to pieces; nothing remained of her home.

Fearing for the worst, Cassia called out, "Arianne? Are you here?" She turned to the door to Arianne's room, which lay in splinters beneath the frame.

She entered and put a hand to her mouth. All of the furniture lay demolished, from the dresser with its upturned drawers, to the bed, the bedding slashed and frame crushed. Underneath the remains of wardrobe, a pale white hand hung over two halves of a cane.

"Arianne!" Cassia cried. She ran to the wardrobe and pried her claws underneath it. She struggled to lift it, barely heaving it an inch over the ground. Red light enveloped her, and with a roar, she threw it aside, uncovering the elderly Gardevoir with a crash.

She fell over her, turned her onto her back. She lay still, her eyes closed and skin pale. No warmth radiated from her, no evidence of life. Dead.

Cassia cringed, bowing her head over Arianne's body. "No…not this." She cried over her, heaving with sorrow over the remains of her mentor. Memories of her discussion with her about Arceus, Samuel, and Matheus came to her, and the fact that she would never have them again. She thought of them preparing dinner together, drawing together, and everything that Cassia had ever imagined a mother to do, gone.

She looked up, her breaths heavy. Paw prints threaded across the ground, erratically fleeing through the open window. Beyond, a trail of coins and prints lead across the plains to a solitary forest.

Cassia shook. She set Arianne down, and stood up, tears continuing to stream. Red flame erupted from her claws, and she bared her teeth. With a yowl, she leapt through the window and ran across the plain, following the trail to who she knew were the murderers of her mother.

She bolted across the plains, all the peace and tranquility of Hereb gone from her mind. 'They killed her! They killed her! They're never going to hurt anyone else, not as long as I live!'

She halted upon entering the woods, their silent dominance holding the excited chatter of several Pokémon. Growling, she turned invisible and crept toward their location, finding a duo of Weavile huddling over a pile of looted belongings.

A Weavile with a missing tooth sniffed, rubbing his nose. "You think that doin' this was a good idea? You know a lot of Pokémon liked that old Gardevoir.

The other Weavile held up a golden picture frame, grimacing. "We had to do it, Tyron. We haven't had a proper bite to eat for weeks!" She lowered the frame, staring at the ground. "Wasn't expecting her to come home early. Now—"

"You killed her!" Cassia screamed, throwing herself onto the Weavile. The other leapt away, astonished by the assault, while the other dug his claws into Cassia's arms, scrambling to pulled her away from his neck.

The free Weavile leapt onto Cassia's back, rearing back to strike. Cassia released the other Weavile and grabbed hold of the one across her back, her eyes wild and glowing red.

The Weavile froze, realizing now what he was dealing with. "Y-You're Arthus—t-the Usurper!"

Cassia vigorously shook her head. "No! I'm Cassia, and you're going to pay for killing Arianne!" She reared back her claw, and the Weavile closed his eyes and cringed.

"Raul!"

Cassia snapped her head to the right, seeing two other Weavile carrying a bowl of berries. The two females gaped at her, with three Sneasel hiding behind their legs.

Cassia lowered her claws, their crimson fury fading. The Weavile's words repeated in her mind: "You're Arthus!" Then one of Arianne's last words followed: "You're Cassia, not Arthus. You're the sweetest young lady I've ever met."

She dropped Raul, letting him and Tyron run to their wives and children. She stood still for a moment, then disappeared, running back to Arianne's home, tears streaming down her face.

[~~~]

Two hours later, Cassia sat at the foot of the remains of Arianne's home, now nothing more than ash and dust. Smoke continued to rise in the night sky, invisible to all but her. Grom stood behind her, stamping down the earth of Arianne's grave.

He finished his work, then returned to Cassia, placing a hand on her back. "H-Hawm. Gro."

Cassia sniffed, wiping her eyes. "I know…but I couldn't live here anymore. Not with her gone." She turned to the patch of brown soil. "I…I shouldn't have attacked like that. I was…furious. Uncontrolled. I couldn't control myself once I saw the tracks." She looked down at her claws, closing their grip. "I think I know how Arthus felt after losing them…his parents…Corrina…Erik…even Matheus and…" She closed her eyes. "Me." She held up her claws, allowing mist to trail from them. "I don't want to be like him. I can't kill someone, no matter what they've done." She opened her eyes again. "But I can't let Arianne go like this."

Grom's light blinked, then he pointed at Cassia's bag. She opened it, then Grom gently pulled out the Arceist Tome and set it on her lap. She looked up at him, watching him nod.

She stood up, holding the Tome to her chest. "I know what to do."

[~~~]

Within the forest, Raul Weavile coughed, his wife handing him an Oran berry. "That Zoroark came out of nowhere. About killed us too." He turned to his Weavile companion. "Why do you think, Tyron?"

He coughed, rubbing his throat. "Can't say for sure. Maybe it had somethin' to do with that last job we did, with that Gardevoir? Wasn't she named Arianne?"

His wife sat with the Sneasel, embracing and comforting them to recover from their fear. "That Zoroark might've been friends with her." She reached over and punched Raul's shoulder. "I knew going there was a bad idea!"

Raul rubbed his shoulder, shrinking away. "If it was, I hope we never see her again."

Tyron tapped his shoulder, fearful. "L-Look over there." Raul turned and froze.

A Gardevoir stood at the edge of the clearing, her eyes closed and a large book in her hands. She opened her eyes, revealing blue irises, still shining with tears. "I want to help," she said in a wavering voice.

Tyron hissed and exclaimed, "Who are you? How'd you find us?"

The Gardevoir stood her ground. "My name is Cassia. I'm a priestess of Arceus and a teacher. I want to tell you about him."

Raul eyed her and gasped. "Those eyes! She's that Zoroark!" He backed away, pointing a shaking claw at her. "S-Stay away! We're sorry about what happened to that Gardevoir!"

Cassia sighed, and the Gardevoir faded, a Zoroark standing in her place. The Weavile and Sneasel backed away, fearful of her retribution. She simply held up the Tome and said, "I want to talk to you. I shouldn't have hurt you."

Tyron gave her a bewildered look. "Wait, what? A-Aren't you mad at us?"

Cassia took a slow step forward, causing them to jitter. "I—I was out of control. I didn't know what I was doing." She lowered the Tome, her voice cracking. "I nearly turned into him—into Arthus, killing Pokémon when they do something I hate. I promised myself never to do anything like that, but I was going to do it to you."

She fell to her knees, the Tome falling to her side. "She meant the world to me, and you killed her. I couldn't forgive you for that." She hunched over and said, "But I remember now that she wanted to be with Samuel again. She'll…she'll be happy now. Thank you."

Tyron and Raul looked at each other, then back at their wives. They sorrowfully gestured to the pile of loot, then to Cassia.

Raul sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Cautiously, he approached Cassia, then said, "Look…I'm…I'm sorry for what happened. Me and my brother shouldn't have taken your stuff. We just needed money to feed our kids. It's hard for Dark Pokémon like us to get jobs, so we have to take what we can get." He stepped away, gesturing to the pile. "We were just gonna take it and leave, but then she came back earlier than we thought. She attacked us, so we hit her back. We just wanted to stop her from following us, not…kill her."

After a moment, Cassia stood up and stared at the pile. "You did it to help your families? Not yourselves?"

Raul nodded. "We don't like it, but we had to."

The Zoroark remained silent, then shook her head. "Give the money to everyone else who needs help. It won't do me any good, and you don't deserve it."

Tyron ran around the pile and joined Raul. "But what'll we do for money, or food? Nobody trusts us!"

Cassia thought for a moment, then took out her sketchpad and wrote on it. She carefully tore the page from its binding, then held it out to the Weavile. "Hereb trusts me. I'll give you this, so you can show everyone that I trust you if you promise to not steal or kill again. Promise?"

Tyron and Raul looked at each other for a moment, astonished. They looked back at Cassia, then Tyron solemnly accepted the note. "Thank you. We promise to not do it anymore." Raul nodded in agreement, and their wives smiled and held their children tighter.

Cassia retracted her hand and smiled. "You're welcome." She slipped her sketchpad back into her sack, then disappeared and ran out of the clearing, comforted by what she felt to be Arceus' grace.

[~~~]

Cassia and Grom stood at the foot of Arianne's hill, getting ready to leave. She looked up at Grom and said, "We can't stay here anymore. It's time for us to go."

"Gro-gram?" he replied, shrugging.

Cassia pulled a folded piece of paper from her bag and opened it, revealing a detailed map of Equivos. She traced a finger from their current location to another town. "We'll do what Arianne taught me to do: bring Pokémon closer to Arceus." She showed the town to Grom. "Can you go there?"

He studied it for a moment, then nodded. She put away the map and climbed onto Grom's back. With a boom, he rocketed across the sky, away from Arianne's grave and Hereb.

Hours later, Grom stopped at the edge of a ramshackle town in a barren plain, littered with stray rock and trees of all sorts. Cassia climbed the edge the wall surrounding it, finding that dozens of Pokémon from the Guild patrolled it, ordering the citizens around and torturing them in subtle ways.

Cassia reached into her bag and took out the mask given to her by Arianna. 'Let's see how well this works…'

Later that night, she stood at the edge of the wall, wearing the mask. She cleared her throat and waved her hand.

"Testing…testing," she said in a deep warbling voice. She nodded. It would work to ensure that Pokémon wouldn't recognize her by voice, and thanks to the mask, not recognize her by her eyes as well. She stormed into the town and struck down the guards, draining their Life enough to make them faint. She went on to confront the rest of the Guild Pokémon, until all were incapacitated. Once that task was finished, she fled to Grom, where she would hide until morning.

When she woke, she waved her hand and made herself appear as a Gardevoir. She pulled a mirror from her bag and looked into it, memories of her time with Arianne returning to her.

"Graw-hawm?"

She turned, watching Grom carry a rock away from its rest in the ground and into the water, rolling in with a splash. She laughed, then said, "I want to remember her for all she's done for me. So why not look like her?"

She went into the town and taught them about Arceus, then when her job was finished, she wrote its name into an empty journal, then went on to the next. She continued this process hundreds of times across Equivos, keeping in mind the lessons she learned from Arthus, Matheus, and Arianne.

[~~~]

2020 AU

Cassia lay down on a plain, studying the sky. Grom did the same, crossing his hands behind his head. Below them, the town of Saunte stretched, waiting for her to free them of Guild control and have the message of Arceus spread to them.

"We've done a lot together…haven't we?" Cassia mused.

"Graw-graw."

"We've taught a lot of Pokémon."

"Hawm."

"And had a lot of Pokémon say we're liars."

"Haw-hawm."

She sat up. "At least we tried, right?"

Grom sat up as well. "Gro-haw!" he said with a salute.

Cassia chuckled, pulling out her drawing of Arianne from her bag. "I wish she was still here."

Grom patted her back, shaking his head. "Gro-gram."

Cassia nodded her head, putting the drawing back. "I know…she's happier now." She looked up and cocked her head. The clouds seemed to circle around a forest in the distance, what she knew to be the Kaena Woods.

The clouds funneled together, and lightning suddenly shot out from it with a boom. She fell onto her back, breathing quickly. She saw a black dot rocket from the center of the funnel into the woods with a crash, then the funnel swirled into nothingness, as if it had never appeared.

Cassia stood up again, turning to Grom. He gave her a blank look, pointing to the woods.

Cassia turned to them, furrowing her brow. "Let's see what it is." She and Grom walked toward the woods, passing by Saunte, unknowingly beginning another journey.

[~~~]

Over the remains of Arianne's home, a Lampent hung over it, swaying gently. Soon after another Lampent joined him. They linked arms, and faded in a puff of blue flame, returning to their almighty creator.