Hello all, I have returned. Apologies for the delay; I got a little too caught up in my break from writing. Don't get me wrong, I love writing this fic, and I LOVE reading your reviews, but writing takes up what little free time I have. Anyways, I am back to my frequent updates! I think that after I end each chapter I'll take a week off. That way, I can have some time to relax without leaving you guys wondering why I haven't been updating. Coincidentally, this next chapter will only be a couple posts long, but as a token of my regret for being away for so long, I won't take a week off after this chapter ends.I'll just dive immediately into Chapter 9, which will be more lengthy. With that said, let's begin the eighth part in this adventure!

Chapter 8. Ezra's Secret

The next day, Victini was helping Ezra and Carys prepare for the trip back. Lily Town was thankfully only a day and a half away from Destiny Ridge, so their long journey would finally come to an end. Ezra didn't really talk much during the preparation. She couldn't keep her mind off of the events the previous night, and how she fit into the scheme of things. She wasn't the Dark's Chosen, so she could lay that fear to rest. But why else would she be brought into this world? What purpose did she serve? Was she just an anomaly, brought here by mistake, or did someone—or something—have other intentions for her…?

"Next time you see Hoopa, will you tell him to visit me? I do sorely miss our conversations, and I need to give him his Prison Bottle back." Asked Victini, nodding to the bottle she held in her hands.

"Of course! Thanks for all you've done for us, Victini. We owe you greatly." Carys said warmly, slinging on their bag.

"You can repay me by returning here one day. I would be honored if I could test your battling skills." Said Victini, the ghost of a smile playing upon her lips.

Ezra said nothing throughout this exchange. She was lost in her own thoughts.

"Deal! Well, we'd better get going. The farther we travel today is the less we travel tomorrow. Bye Victini! Come on, Ez!" Called Carys, nudging Ezra.

"Huh? Oh. Bye." Ezra said, distracted, as she followed Carys out of the dungeon and back into the highlands.

Vaati, Kunoichi, and Ramaru were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they had accompanied the Hooded Brotherhood to the prison with Evan.

Although it was early in the morning, the heat was staggering. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, which was unusual for a high-altitude climate. The sun mercilessly shone on everything it could, well into the throes of summer. The humidity was tolerable, but doubtless it would rise as the day wore on. Ezra took no notice of the heat, or the blueness of the sky.

Why was I brought here? That's the question I've been asking ever since I came here. I'm not evil, which is good. Was bringing me here a mistake? Did the Dark's leader accidentally bring me here too when He brought Formora here? Wait, then she must have had her memories erased too! Yeah, she's said nothing about her former life. …Although, to be fair, our encounters haven't exactly been the most heartwarming. And her former life as a human isn't exactly something she'd tell just anybody. But if she remembers, then why don't I? And why was Formora turned into a Froslass when I turned into a Litwick? Was that on purpose, or did we turn into the Pokemon that closely fits our natures? Ugh, this is going to drive me insane! Voice, can you enlighten me? Ezra begged mentally.

There was no answer.

'I'm your guide', it said. 'I'll be there for you', it said. She grumbled, annoyed. It seemed that just when she needed Voice the most, it wasn't around. Suddenly it occurred to her that she hadn't said much all day to anyone. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn't realized she was being rude.

"Hey, Carys?" She piped up hesitantly.

"Hmm?" Carys looked back at her.

"I'm sorry if I seemed abrupt to you and Victini when we left Destiny Ridge. I've just been lost in my thoughts, but that's no excuse." She said.

"I wouldn't blame you for that. A lot has happened this past week. Truth be told, I'm still trying to accept the fact that A: we're safe now, and B: Formora's the Dark Champion. I know that you were worried about being the Dark Champion before, so at least now you won't have to worry about that anymore!" Carys beamed, ever the optimist.

"Yeah, I guess so. But I still can't figure out why I was brought here. That's still the big question, and now it seems like I'm further from the truth than before!" Exclaimed Ezra, feeling exhausted all of a sudden.

Carys paused, causing Ezra to bump into her. The small Pumpkaboo thought for a moment, then spoke.

"Maybe you're the Champion of Light? I can see you being that. You're kind, helpful, and make others feel better. And Sola did say that the Light Champion was once a human."

"I couldn't be!" Ezra said, horrified. "I'm not suited to lead Pokemon to victory! And I just do the right thing; anybody can do that. Also, I'm too small to be of any use! A Tyranitar could crush me in one step! And….Sola also said that the Light and Dark Champions were destined to fight each other to the death. I'm…I'm not a murderer. I'm not afraid to defend myself from dungeon Pokemon, but I wouldn't take their lives. I'd have to kill Formora, and as evil as she is, I would never be able to bring myself to….finishing….her. She'd definitely kill me without a thought, making her the victor and subsequently leading the Dark to victory, so we'd be out of luck! No, the fate of the world has to be a 50/50 chance, otherwise why bother with a Light Champion? And especially me as the Champion?"

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens." Carys said in an odd tone, turning back and walking again.

They fell silent after that, walking out of the highlands and into a small forest, each preoccupied with her own thoughts. After a while, they exited the forest, and were shocked to find that snow was falling a few miles ahead! Indeed, the temperature was now noticeably cooler, even with the sun shining straight down on them. But what was most shocking was that the snow and sun were parallel to one another. The snow and clouds ended abruptly in a straight line, severing the landscape in half, and the other side held the grass and sun. It was as if there was an invisible wall separating the two climates.

"Tell me you see that." Said Ezra, mouth agape in awe.

"Yep. Are we dreaming?" Replied Carys, equally amazed.

"If so, we're dreaming the same dream."

They gingerly entered the snowy landscape, which eventually turned back into a coniferous forest, with mountains in the faint distance. The altitude shifted upwards again, and it was now quite cold, when it was blisteringly hot just a few minutes ago.

"I think this marks the place where Frostbite Taiga is. But…how is this possible? Taigas belong in the north, not here in the south." Objected Ezra, turning back towards where the sun had been. They were deep in the landscape now, and could no longer see the sudden weather shift.

"If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say it's a cause of the distorted dimensions. You know, natural disasters and weather oddities appearing everywhere, thanks to the Dark." Hypothesized Carys.

"I…see." Marveled Ezra, gazing at the landscape before them.

"Ugh, I'm tired of snow! Let's get outta here before I become a Pumpkaboo popsicle!" Shivered Carys as a large snowflake landed on her head.

"What flavor?" Asked Ezra as they searched for the dungeon.

"Chocolate." Carys answered as they traveled on.

An hour later, the shivering friends found the entrance to the dungeon. It was surrounded by dense pine trees that occasionally dumped large burdens of snow onto the ground.

"H-here we are." Chattered Ezra, reminded about their time up at the north. She was thoroughly sick of the cold by now. At least there wouldn't be any homicidal maniacs waiting for them at the end this time.

"L-l-let's be off." Agreed Carys, who wanted to be out of the fell weather.

Frostbite Taiga ( watch?v=ariyY4Iw0SU)

B1F

The area was still chilly, albeit a tad warmer than it was outside. The grass was a dusky greenish-gray color, and the walls were a light gray rock. But the best feature was the Stairs sitting a few yards away.

B2F

"We're almost home." Ezra said, surprised and grateful.

"We're almost home." Carys echoed, nodding.

"…What will happen once we get back?" Ezra asked after a moment.

"I dunno. Back to doing jobs, I guess. And searching for your answers, of course." Carys added. "But…after all that we've been through these past few days, going back to doing missions seems…odd. Like, we were on the run for our lives, and met the Dark Champion! And now we just go back to our daily lives?"

"I agree, it does seem odd. But I guess that's what will happen, unless something else needs our attention. That reminds me, I wonder how everyone back home is doing? I hope they're not worried." Fretted Ezra.

"Don't worry, after you went to bed last night, Victini hailed a Swellow and had it deliver a message to everyone at the Lofts. They know we're safe and on our way home." Assured Carys.

"Oh, really? Awesome. I'm glad." Ezra sighed in relief.

They spent the rest of the floor in silence.

B3F

They had just rounded a corner when a Medicham and a Delibird met them.

"Oh good. I need a good battle to warm me up!" Carys said mildly, Shadow Sneaking the Medicham just as Ezra used Flame Burst. The Medicham used Calm Mind as the Delibird waited impatiently, eager to get at the two. As Ezra sent out a Night Shade, the Medicham used Detect, rendering itself temporarily invincible.

"No fair!" Protested Ezra, watching as her attack did nothing. The Medicham grinned and used Ice Punch on her, making her see stars for a second but otherwise doing nothing. Ezra didn't even try to counterattack. She knew it would be useless. As she dodged a Force Palm, she noticed a Gravelrock soar over her and bonk the Medicham on the head, completely bypassing the Detect.

Ezra turned to see Carys toss another one. It too hit the foe somehow.

"It was worth a shot." Carys said, noticing Ezra staring at her.

"If throwing items work, then I'm all for it!" Said Ezra, hurling a Silver Spike at the Medicham.

It fell after another hit from Carys's Gravelrock, and then it was the Delibird's turn.

This time, Ezra simply tanked the Presents that hit her as she used Flame Burst over and over again. Suffice to say, the second battle was much more quicker than the last.

B4F

"Ooooh, Stairs!" Gushed Carys.

B5F

"Oooooh, more Stairs." Breathed Carys.

B6F

Weather Condition: Snow

"Oooooh, snow." Mimicked Ezra as she saw snow lightly fall from the sky.

"Great. Now the ice-types will be faster." Groaned Carys.

This proved to be the case, as they came to a huge chamber guarded by a Piloswine, which moved much quicker than normal. Ezra, not wanting to deal with this nonsense, threw a Stun Seed at it, causing it to be paralyzed to the bone.

"Thank you." Said Carys as she and Ezra Razor-Burst it.

B7F

They had spawned with a Mamoswine and a Riolu. Carys was tangling with the Mamoswine while Ezra dealt with the Riolu.

"Why won't this thing faint?!" She heard Carys yell in frustration. Ezra nimbly dodged a Force Palm and finished her foe off with a Hex. Riolu defeated, she turned to help Carys, who had just been hit with a Mud Bomb.

"I keep Razor Leafing it, but it won't fall! I'm starting to think it's immortal!" Carys said, exasperated, as Ezra joined her.

"We could try a Flame-Leaf." Suggested Ezra.

"Sure, why not? I'll start. Razor Leaf!" Carys shouted, sending the razor-sharp leaves onto their foe. Ezra followed up with a Flame Burst, weakening the Mamoswine but not defeating it.

"I see what you mean. Hmm…I'll Hex it, and you Shadow Sneak it." Said Ezra.

"Flame Burst!"

"Trick-or-Treat!" Carys cried unexpectedly.

"Trick-or-Treat?" Repeated Ezra, confused. She watched as candy suddenly appeared around Carys and Mamoswine. A purple aura surrounded the Mamoswine, and it finally fell to a Shadow Sneak.

"It gives me candy?!" Carys shouted with glee, noticing that the candy remained even after the attack had ended. She dove into the piles of candy with great gusto. "Now I can satisfy my candy addiction while defeating my foes at the same time!" She trilled, gobbling mouthful after mouthful of candy.

Ezra shook her head in disbelief, wondering how to tell Franziska that her plans to wean Carys off of candy were now useless.

"So you finally admit that you have a candy problem?" Ezra asked, amused, as Carys finished snacking.

"I wouldn't call it a problem, per se, but I do know that this isn't healthy at all. …Don't tell Franzy I said that, though."

"Deal." Ezra laughed.

B8F

"Ahahahahahahahaha!" Guffawed Carys, noticing she had spawned right on top of the Stairs. Ezra laughed as well. It was a rare, but amusing occurrence.

B9F

Weather Condition: Snow

"By the way, what does Trick-or-Treat do, aside from giving you candy?" Ezra asked, remembering the events on the 7th floor. Snow was falling lightly, making her flame hiss as the flakes came into contact with it.

"It turns the target into a half-ghost type. When I used it on that Mamoswine back there, I turned it into a ice/ground/ghost-type. The effects are temporarily, naturally. It'll wake up as an ice/ground-type again." Explained Carys, shaking snow off of her head.

"Whoa. That's a thing?" Gaped Ezra, amazed.

"Yup."

"That is awesome! Wait, what move did you forget?" Asked Ezra.

Carys went through her moveset. Trick-or-Treat, Shadow Sneak, Confuse Ray, and Razor Leaf all worked perfectly, but she was unable to use Astonish.

"Eh, fair enough. It's not that powerful a move anyway." Carys shrugged, not seeming to mind.

"But it was replaced by an awesome one." Reminded Ezra.

"There is that."

B10F

Weather Condition: Snow

"Stairs are nice. I like Stairs." Smiled Carys.

B11F

They had come to a large chamber, which held Poke and an apple near each other.

"I'll get the Poke, and you get the apple?" Offered Ezra.

"Sure." Agreed Carys as they split up.

But as Ezra was walking towards the Poke, she felt something trip her.

"Oof!" She mumbled, falling flat on her face and causing her Stamina Band to dislodge itself from her neck. It bounced a few feet before resting a few paces away from her. She rolled over to see that she had triggered a Trip Trap. She sighed, annoyed, but was grateful that this particular trap wasn't overtly dangerous.

"Walk much?" Laughed Carys, coming over to help her up. But as Carys was coming over, the floor beneath her gave way to reveal a Pit Trap.

"Uh oh. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Wailed Carys as she was pulled down to the next floor.

"Carys!" Ezra cried, feeling herself being tugged at by an invisible force. She scrambled to her feet, trying to get her Band back before it was lost to her.

Her hand was a centimeter away from the Stamina Band when she was teleported to the next floor.

B12F

Weather Condition: Snow

"No!" Ezra screamed, stamping her foot. Her precious Stamina Band, which had given her an endurance boost—gone!

"Ooh, what happened?" Asked Carys, picking herself up.

"I couldn't get my Stamina Band in time, and now it's gone!" Wailed Ezra.

"Awww, I'm sorry about that. When we get home, I'll see if the Kecleon Brothers have one for sale." Sympathized Carys, nuzzling Ezra. "In the meantime, would you like mine?"

"No, no, that's okay. I'm just mad that I was too slow to grab it. Thanks for the offer, though. Now I guess I have to tough it out like normal explorers." Ezra smiled wryly at Carys, who grinned in return.

"But just think about how strong you'll be after all that walking and fighting when we get home! Team Siren'll have nothing on you!" Carys laughed.

Ezra laughed as well, feeling better already.

"How did you fall, by the way? You can fly." She said after she caught her breath.

"I felt something pulling me down. I guess whoever designed the trap didn't forget use levitating Pokemon." Carys explained.

"Well, he or she could've done us a huge favor and not make any traps." Grumbled Ezra.

B13F

A Medicham had spawned with them, along with the Stairs. Their foe was between them and the prized destination, though, unfortunately.

"Hex!" Ezra started the fight off. The Medicham countered with Detect, smirking aggravatingly. The two were prepared, though. Knowing that using moves was useless, they instead switched to their Gravelrocks and Silver Spikes, pelting and puncturing the foe until it was down.

B14F

Weather Condition: Snow

"Let's try out Trick-or-Treat again!" Suggested Ezra, noticing a Delibird and Swinub.

"Oooooh, sounds fun! I'll obliterate that Delibird!" Laughed Carys, using Trick-or-Treat. The candy appeared, and the Delibird looked startled at the purple aura that was rising from it.

"You can't escape my candy-summoning!" Carys grinned wickedly as Ezra one-shotted it with a Hex. Doubtless it would have taken more attacks had the enemy not been made into a ghost-type. The Swinub feebly used Mud Slap on Ezra, which drew her attention. The Swinub fell to a Flame-Leaf. It honestly should not have attacked Ezra. It probably would have been spared.

"Aw, if I wasn't a ghost-type already, Trick-or-Treat could be so much fun! You could turn me into a ghost, and I could walk in the walls alongside you!" Ezra was saying as they got going again.

"Haha, yeah, but I'm glad you can do that normally. What if you met another ghost-type in the walls and got knocked out? You'd revive without the type, and what then? Would you suffocate?" Wondered Carys.

"…Good point. I take back what I said." Ezra said wisely.

Frostbite Highlands

They exited the dungeon to find that they had passed through the taiga and were just about to reenter the mountains. On the other side of this particular range lay Lily Town. The snow had stopped, and the sun was peeking out through the clouds. It was only midafternoon, judging by the sun, so the two decided to keep on going. They'd cross over the mountains, set up camp for the night, and arrive home in the early afternoon. Up ahead, the weather was acting strange again. The clouds were severed completely in half upon reaching the beginning of the mountain range, which seemed to have sweltering sun and heat waiting for them. It was almost as if this little out-of-place biome was in its own little dimension. Seeing as how things were in this world lately, the idea was entirely plausible.

"Okay…I think if we get through Mt. Zephyr—which must be in this mountain range here—we can set up camp for the night, and tomorrow we don't have to worry about any dungeons." Said Ezra, gazing at the scenery ahead.

"Sounds good! I can't wait to get back home and back into my cozy bed!" Carys sighed in bliss.

With that thought in mind, the two traveled out of the highlands and into the mountains.

So, it looks like our heroes will be enjoying a short trip through the mountains and arriving home with absolutely no problems, right? Haha, WRONG! The next post shall have: mountains, Ezra's secret, and the Unknown.