As we finally neared the edge of the forest, I started to see the density of tree fall, while their bark's hue slowly changes from the dark black to a lighter, more pleasant brown.

That was when Treek suddenly turned around to face me again.

Lightheartedly he started talking to me. "I think I've got an idea for where you could hide from the governments. - Remember how I talked about all of your kind fleeing to the eastern mountain range in Dararu? If we could just manage to get there, you could simply hide among the masses."

"Sounds like a good idea. But what's the catch?"

"Well... For one thing, I'm missing a leg", he said while nodding at the stump he had for a leg. "And while that's going to fix itself over time, it's not going to be easy to cross the border with it still missing."

After a moment he began elaborating on the state of the world.

"You see: tensions have risen between the nations ever since Korana claimed the new land in the south. Not willing to share their discovery with the world, Zatola and Sazari decided to take it all for themselves, because they believe it to rightfully be theirs. There is an old legend in Zatola, which talks about a new land that would be discovered on the other side of the world. With treasures that shall belong to those who live furthest away from them. And geographically speaking, Zatola would qualify for the description of the legend. With the exact point described close enough to the border of Sazari, to allow them to justify an alliance. And tensions are just about to burst, now that Korana claims to have the support of a Holder."

"Hmm. Now that I think about it: they must be lying, because never in history did more than one holder live. There are even centuries of records where no known holder existed at all."

"But my point is that both Zatola and Sazari have closed up their borders to Dararu and Korana, making it nearly impossible to get to where we would need to go."

Having listened to all of that, I began to get a better image of the world.

"But you wouldn't have said anything if it was impossible."

"I'm not saying it would be impossible, Quill. - Just very hard. We'd have to find someone who can get us across the border. - Someone willing to commit treason for reaching that goal. We'd also need a lot of money to pay them for getting us across. And neither me, nor from what I understand you have access to that kind of cash."

I didn't know why I already knew what money was. But I didn't question it back then, as I began stating my response to the plan Treek had come up with.

"It's a good plan Treek. But like you said: we don't really have any way of getting ahold of a lot of money. So we would either have to find a method of earning the money, or we'd have to find our own way across the border."

"Another problem would be getting to the border. You said that you found it odd that the government withdrew some of soldiers from the border. So I assume the border would be quite a distance away."

Treek tried to respond but I didn't let him as I continued. "But the most pressing problem is me. You said that this scar..." I pushed away the sticky fur on my forehead and pointed to where my scar was supposed to be, as I continued. "... is marking me as a holder of whatever lineage. So I just assume that with it other 'mons can identify me just as easily as you did."

I finished my sentence and finally let Treek utter what he was trying to say. "You're right. We have to get you a hat or something. But that's easier said than done, considering that it would have to be a fireproof one, so you don't just it burn into a pile of ash." While point at me again, he continued. "Not to mention, that you'll never be able to hide in a crowd looking like a serial killer."

It was early afternoon now, and the sun was already beginning its descend while we were still at the edge of the forest. It was one of the nicer days of spring and with almost no clouds covering the sky, I was able to let the sun bathe me with its rays.

But while continuing to discuss our next action, we didn't realize that company was only a few moments away.

"There he is!" The voice of Monster shouted to his companions.

Startled, we spun around to look a very angry Nidoking into his eyes, as he stood about fifteen meters away from us, ready to take his next action.

"RUN!" Treek yelled at me, something he didn't have to say twice. Though not wanting to leave him behind I knew that it was only me they were after.

I dropped down to all fours and began leaping back into the forest as fast as I could. Not daring to look back I kept running, still hearing the voices behind me.

"Leave the Treecko! We don't have time to deal with traitors right now. Just get me the Quilava", the voice of Monster shouted from behind me.

I started to hear the sound of breaking sticks and rolling stones, as the ground began to shake faster and faster. And I just knew that it was Monster who was only a few body lengths behind me, with the gap between us closing fast.

I was desperate and out of options. I knew I needed to keep running. I knew that I couldn't let myself get captured again. I knew at that point what their intentions were. And I wasn't planning on taking any part in their foul scheme to wage an unnecessary war against their neighbors.

I ducked under some roots, hoping desperately that they would hinder my pursuers even the tiniest bit while giving chase to me.

But to no avail. As I cut around the corner of a particularly big tree, I was cut off by Rip the Rhyperior.

Not being able to stop my movement or change my direction, I slid right into his arms as he grabbed me by the neck and picked me up, almost choking me while doing so.

A moment later the Nidoking who was pursuing me before skidded around the corner and came to a hold without crashing into Rip.

"Bwahaha! You thought you could get away from me, didn't you?"

Rip help me even tighter as I struggled to free myself while showing my teeth to Monster and trying to create some sort of angry growl that must have not come out as something too impressive.

"Oh! You're a feisty one. Why don't we hit you with another hypnosis?" Asked Monster while looking at the Rhyperior.

Expecting to gently be put to sleep like the last time someone uttered those words, I was met the exact opposite as Rip held me up to Monster who continued by throwing his fist into my face, sending me unconscious.

I woke up to the voice of Monster, as he was apparently talking to me.

"They say you're the Holder of wisdom...", he began while I kept my face lowered as much as I could, not gratifying him with the knowledge that I had any intention of actually cooperating or was paying attention any to his words. "... But I think you'll find it pretty hard to find a way out of this one." Slightly opening my eyes, I was met with something I didn't expect to see. I was on the back of a carriage as it rattled across the landscape towards a destination unknown to me. The sky had become cloudy and I didn't know how much time had passed since the chase.

Monster, who was also in the back of the carriage, was sitting in front of me. I don't know how a wagon most likely only designed to carry crops during the harvest was able to sustain such a massive beast without falling apart.

"You're doing a great service to your country, son. With your help, we'll show those damn, dirty Koranians who's got the real holder and who's really destined to own the new world those thieves claimed for themselves. Like they'd have any right... But don't worry, you'll be able to tell 'em that yourself."

I wasn't able to move my arms or legs and heard the rattling of chains whenever I tried to do so, or whenever the carriage drove through a waterhole on the road. I was chained up, inside of a cubic metal cage with vertically iron bars between me and the Nidoking, who was currently enjoying an apple. My arms and legs were spread out and bound to the edges of the cage, hindering me from moving a single muscle.

I knew he was trying to brainwash me. Treek did a pretty good job explaining the state of the world and what they needed me for. So I decided to play along for the time being, starting with the role of the revolting and uncooperative 'mon I really was at that time.

"What did you do to Treek?" I uttered while keeping my teeth pressed again one another.

"What? You mean that Treecko friend of yours? - The traitor to his country? - He's dead."

My jaw dropped, alongside my act of trying to appear resistant and uninterested. I opened my eyes fully, to see the Nidoking leaning back relaxed and munching on an apple he was holding.

"I didn't know his name was Treek, but let me tell you: that's a pretty stupid name."

I couldn't believe my ears. The only 'mon who ever listened to me, who actually cared for me, was dead. He was my friend. With tears in my eyes I started to get a new feeling, as my ember flared. I didn't recognize it at the time, since it was only the second instance it ever happened to me and one of the only times it happened with this much energy.

"How could you!?" I screamed at the Nidoking, rattling my chains while a hot flame was leaving the top of my head, something I didn't even notice at that moment. But instead of receiving an appropriate response to my behavior, the Nidoking remained calm and continued the meaningless conversation while looking over to a pile of apples on his right.

"Want an apple?" He asked as he threw an apple between the bars of my cage, making it land directly in front of my spread out legs while knowing full well that I wouldn't be able to pick it up, seeing how my arms and legs were chained.

"You know..." the Nidoking said, as he moved up to the bars of my cell "... I could help you with that apple, if you are willing to let me."

Fueling my anger even further, I pulled on the chains holding me back to get as close to the creature as I possibly could. After coming as close to his face as I was able to, I let out a roar sounding even more infuriated than you could imagine.

"You know... I think you need to cool down", Monster said before backing off and throwing his apple core off the carriage and continuing by picking up a bucket that was standing in the corner opposite from the apples.

Without any warning, he threw the bucket's contents, some cold water, into my direction.

It was wet and cold and hurt like hell. Oh so very very cold, as I felt the water first hit my face and continue to splash all over my body. Some might image hell as a place of fire. - That would be heaven for a fire type. Our hell is the ocean, as even a single drop of water in the right location can do us terrible amounts of pain; something I had to learn through experience at that moment.

With no possibility of blocking the water from hitting me, I closed my eyes and bit my tongue while I could feel my ember dying down to its bare minimum within moments.

The Nidoking leaned back into its original position and grabbed another apple from the pile to his right, as the carriage continued on its way, keeping us up to date on its progress by driving through a particularly big waterhole.