PMD: The Dawn of Life

Chapter 17: Spirit Seekers

The next day, I awoke to the sound of an uproar in the village square. Me and Eden went to a place called Stone Field yesterday and I was so pooped by the expedition that I slept like well… a rock. But the size of this conflict roused even me.

"Ughh… what the hell is going on outside…?" I muttered as I forced myself out of bed and towards the window. I couldn't exactly make out what was going on thanks to all the buildings in the way, so I had to get down there myself. Carefully, I pushed my wooden door open and headed towards the exit. Glancing towards Nuzleaf's room, he was still sound asleep, despite the noise. Lucky, "A deep sleeper, aren't you...?"

Quietly, I pushed open the doors and went outside, covering my face from the blinding morning sunlight beaming down on me. Time to head down to the village square.

"You're curious about it too, huh?" Someone said behind me and I jumped, jerking behind me to see Eden standing there with a grin. How did he sneak up on me?, "Ha ha! Gotcha this time!"

"I-I was distracted by the sunlight. That doesn't count," I lied and Eden let out a hearty laugh, "Anyways yeah, I got woken up by the noise in the village. What's going on?"

"I'm as clueless as you," Eden shrugged, "Let's go take a look together"

"Right," I nodded and the two of us hiked down to the square, where many of the village residents were talking in hushed tones, "What happened here?"

"Oh, it's terrible! Poor Farfetch'd vat abducted in vhe night!" Hippopotas cried with worry, "Audino is by the school, talking with vhe sheriffs. Go and hear from them!"

"Abducted?!" Eden's happy expression quickly fell, replacing itself with one of fear, "Azri, you don't think it was-"

"-The ghosts. It had to have been the ghosts," I said slowly, feeling my breath go ragged. So the ghosts were evolving from simply scaring Pokemon. Now they were straight up abducting them. What could happen next?, "I thought Audino said she wasn't letting anyone get into the school. How could this happen…?"

"L-let's speak with Audino. Maybe something else abducted Mr Farfetch'd," Eden offered in a shaky voice, "Who knows? Maybe they're just a normal kidnapper and not some paranormal threat"

"Right. Like that's not any scarier," I rolled my eyes, "Perhaps they're taking advantage of the rumors to strike"

"Yeah! And then the sheriffs will catch them and all will be well! No kidnapping ghosts!" Eden squeaked, managing a weak grin, "Things are gonna be fine after they're finished"

Turns out, it was not fine. We hiked towards the school and spotted Audino talking with Officer Magnezone and two Magnemite. All the other school kids were around, listening to the conversation.

"What happened here?" I asked Deerling and she turned to me with a nervous look in her eyes.

"Farfetch'd disappeared during rounds last night, according to Audino. Apparently he left to investigate the classroom before Audino heard an sinister roar followed by an awful shriek. She passed out after that," The deer explained, "Espurr found her this morning and alerted the authorities"

"Y-you think there's some kind of monster around here? Audino mentioned hearing a really loud roar…" Goomy muttered, "The only people I know who can roar like that are my father and Carracosta"

"Hey! My dad is-" Eden interjected before pausing, "Actually yeah, he's totally that loud. But a monster's roar…"

Eden glanced at me, "Azri, you saw what happened to Watchog yesterday. Did you hear anything?"

I flashbacked to the day before, recalling that a massive shadow crept up behind Watchog before I passed out. Eerie voices chanted all around me, driving me mad with fear. Before I could truly grasp its form, I was already out cold and Watchog's shriek sealed the deal.

"I… remember seeing a gigantic shadow with spiked wings. That must've been where the roar came from," I deduced, "So these aren't mere spirits. It's definitely something much larger"

I felt my breath go shallow just thinking about it. The fact that such a terrifying beast lived so close to us was enough to plant a seed of terror in my heart. I knew that sooner or later, it would do something much worse than a kidnapping. This was just the initiation phase.

"BZZT! OFFICER MAGNEZONE!" A voice buzzed from behind us before any of us could speak. I turned and saw a Magneton levitating towards us in a hurry.

"BZZT! YOU'RE FINISHED WITH YOUR QUESTIONING?"

"BZZT! YES SIR!" Magneton confirmed, "I SPOKE TO SOMEONE WHO CLAIMED THEY SAW MR FARFETCH'D LAST NIGHT. BZZT!"

"BZZT! IS THAT SO? WHERE WAS HE?" Magnezone buzzed and Magneton's three eyes glanced to the left.

"OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE. NEAR THE FORK IN THE ROAD. BZZT!" Magneton replied, "HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND SEEMED TO BE DRAGGED BY AN INVISIBLE FORCE. BZZT!"

"An invisible force… the ghosts!" Audino gasped, "So they really-"

"BZZT! THAT'S NOT ALL!" Magneton interrupted, "THEY SAID BLUE FLAMES WERE CIRCLING AROUND MR FARFETCH'D TOO!"

"B-blue flames?! That's exactly like the rumors Pancham told us…!" Goomy gasped, eyes wide, "What could they possibly want with Farfetch'd?"

"To scare us. I bet they want to drive all of us out of the village and take it for themselves!" Deerling piped up.

"No, that's wrong! They're kidnapping Pokemon to suck out their souls!"

"Maybe they want to possess our bodies and live as us"

"What?! No, no, no! Don't even say that, Espurr!" Goomy cried, shivering, "I don't want some ghost living inside me! I don't!"

"BZZT! LET'S NOT GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES!" Magnezone buzzed loudly, "THERE IS NO REASON TO START PANICKING NOW. WE'LL LOCATE FARFETCH'D AND BRING HIM HOME SAFELY. FOR NOW, I WANT YOU CHILDREN TO GO HOME AND STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL. BZZT!"

"BZZT! LEAVE THIS TO US. DON'T WORRY YOURSELVES ABOUT IT!" A Magnemite added, "AS LONG AS YOU STAY AWAY FROM HERE, YOU'RE SAFE. BZZT!"

I didn't believe that for a second, but I didn't bother bringing it up. I was already terrified of what I saw last night and I didn't want that fear spreading to the others, especially the more soft-hearted ones like Deerling, Goomy and Eden. Best that they remain in their bubble of security.

"What are you guys going to do about the ghosts though?" I asked the officers.

"BZZT! AFTER WE RESCUE FARFETCH'D, WE'LL CONTACT AN EXORCIST FROM LIVELY TOWN," Magnezone answered, "THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHASE OUT THE GHOSTS FROM HERE. FOR THE TIME BEING THOUGH, STAY OUT OF THE SCHOOL. GOT IT? BZZT!"

"Don't need to tell me twice," I grumbled before turning to Eden, who was fumbling with his scarf nervously, "Come on, Eden. Let's go. We've got work to do"

Quietly, all of us left the classroom and dispersed back into the village without a word. I suspected we were all too paranoid to speak with one another now that the rumors were confirmed true.

"There's no better time than this to leave the village," Eden muttered as we strolled back into the village square, where the residents were still talking in hushed tones. Normally, the village was lively and bustling, but today, the atmosphere was eerie and stilled, like a graveyard. It felt like I was standing among actual ghosts, "The ghosts are gonna kidnap more people before the exorcist arrives. I'm sure of it. And what's gonna happen to the Pokemon who are taken by the ghosts?"

"... I don't know. We've never encountered something like this before," I sighed, feeling fatigued from the stress and worry, "I guess it's best that we just… sleep with one eye open until this threat is done with. As long as the ghosts stay at the school, we'll be okay"

"But what's stopping them from attacking us in our homes? Why are they restricted to just the classroom?"

"How should I know? I've never met a ghost before," I grumbled, "That sounds like something you'll find in your mountain of books"

"As if I'd own a book like that! I'd never read ghost stories willingly," Eden protested, shuddering, "Ugh, this is making my head spin. If the ghosts can manifest a gigantic monster like you said, then why haven't they terrorized the village yet? Do they just want to scare us?"

I gave no answer. I was just as confused as Eden was, but there was no way of figuring out the answers. Both me and Audino passed out before we could witness the assailants directly. The ghosts were good at covering up their tracks.

"Let's just… go on an expedition. That'll clear our heads," I decided, poking Eden's dungeon bag, "Bring out the gadget. Surely there's work for us to do"

"Oh alright…" Eden sighed, opening his bag, "Hope I can manage a good night's rest tonight...

…

The next day, it wasn't an uproar in the village that woke me up, but Eden himself. After another expedition which took us to a place called Uprise Range, I was dead asleep when I heard a rapid series of banging on Nuzleaf's door.

"Coming! I'm coming!" I heard Nuzleaf call from outside my door before opening it, "Eden?! What are you doing here?"

"Tell Azri to come down to the village square quickly! Farfetch'd was found!" The fox cried, "He looks to be alright, but well…"

There was a pause as I shuffled over to my bedroom door, cracking it open slightly.

"Just… tell her to come over. She needs to see this for herself," Eden pleaded, "Tell her I'll be down at the square, waiting for her. Farfetch'd and the others are down by the beach!"

Eden ran off and I opened my door to see Nuzleaf nonchalantly returning to his breakfast by the table. He didn't look remotely alarmed by what happened the past two days.

"You aren't going to go down and check what's happening?" I asked Nuzleaf as he casually took a bite out of a piece of plain toast, "Aren't you curious?"

"Not really. In my hayday, I've seen plenty more interesting things than this," Nuzleaf replied easily, "I'm sure whatever's happening, the village folk can take care of it. I don't need to get involved"

"Sure…" I didn't think being attacked by ghosts was something most Pokemon experienced in their lifetime, but Nuzleaf sounded genuine enough, "Well, I for one am intrigued by this, so I'm heading out. See you in a bit"

"See you, Azri. Be careful out there"

I frowned at Nuzleaf's warning, but simply took it as common courtesy. Pushing the door to the house open, I made my way down to the beach, where all the students and villagers were gathering around Farfetch'd, who looked relatively fine for someone abducted by ghosts. Pale as a sheet and a little dazed, but remarkably unscratched.

"There you are, Azri! Farfetch'd is about to tell us what happened to him!" Deerling called once she noticed me, "Officer Magnezone was able to recover him this morning and he's been getting his bearings since"

"Everybody's here, Farfetch'd. Are you alright to speak now?" Audino asked gently, eyeing the duck with concern. Farfetch'd took a deep, if not ragged breath and nodded, facing the crowd around us directly.

"Everyone, I'm sorry to have worried all of you with what happened to me. I can assure you nothing feels off besides some nausea and dizziness but…" Farfetch'd winced a bit, "I'm afraid that I remember nothing about what happened to me"

"What?! You remember nothing?" Lotad repeated, shocked and Farfetch'd nodded solemnly.

"Yes. Maybe it was the fear, but I hardly recall anything. I just remember hearing this ear piercing roar followed by a vision of blue flames…" Farfetch'd shivered in fear, "And then everything was black. When I came to, I was… in the forest with Officer Magnezone"

"Farfetch'd, you were out for a day straight. Are you sure you remember nothing?" Audino asked, concerned.

"Not at all. It's like I slipped into a coma"

That sent the crowd into a hushed panic. Pokemon quickly began talking amongst themselves.

"What did you think the ghosts wanted to do with Farfetch'd?"

"Heck if I know. I've never dealt with a ghost before. Maybe we should ask old Nuzleaf"

"I wouldn't count on it. Nuzleaf is a v-v-v-v-ery secretive Pokemon," Hippopotas piped up, "Ve never speaks about his past!"

"I suppose, but it couldn't hurt to try. What if the ghosts come down from the school and attack us at night?" Raticate replied, "We need to get rid of them now!"

"How? Most of us don't know how to fight ghosts," Carracosta countered, "And if Farfetch'd's word is true, then the roar he heard came from a very big Pokemon"

"If it's so big, we should've already seen it! But nothing like it is around here!" Lotad argued, "Argh, what do we even believe?!"

"People, settle down!" Simipour cried, silencing the panicking crowd, "There is no cause for unnecessary panic like this. Farfetch'd has been recovered and is alive and well. So is Watchog, even though he's still confined to his bed. The point is that the ghosts haven't officially harmed anyone yet"

"That and they never ventured past the school gates," Espurr added, "So as long as we avoid the area, we should be safe, just like Officer Magnezone said"

"Yes," Simipour nodded, agreeing with Espurr, "We should all avoid the school for the time being and see if the incidents stop. Mayhaps the ghosts will get bored and move elsewhere for more victims"

"Okay, but that doesn't make me any less uneasy…" Lotad murmured, with several other Pokemon agreeing with him.

"Just remain cautious. Audino, are there any signals to look out for with the ghosts?" Simipour asked the nurse, "We can avoid an incident like this if we know what to watch for"

"Uhm… let's see…" Audino frowned, trying to recall her memory, "The air suddenly grew uncomfortably warm. There was a faint voice on the wind that chanted, "So hot…""

"They always say something along the lines of "Gaze upon the death of your-"," I added, recalling the Watchog incident two days ago, "I heard them say "Gaze upon the death of your peer""

"I heard that too! So that means-"

"Logically, they would only say it with two Pokemon around," Espurr interrupted, "When alone, they'll probably say something like-"

"Gaze upon your doom," I said, repeating the words the ghost said to Watchog, "They screamed that before summoning the shadowy beast"

"Okay, so if the air suddenly grows hot around you, try to run and find help immediately. Maybe we can scare the ghosts with more than two Pokemon," Simipour suggested before eyeing Eden, Pancham and Shelmet, "And I want no pranks from you three. This is a serious matter"

"Why am I a part of this?" Eden complained.

"Because you're the only one who can generate fire here," Simipour replied simply, "I'm just covering our bases. In any case, sleep with one eye open until this threat is neutralized"

"Mm, that means I'm going to have to extinguish the candles around the house tonight," Carracosta grumbled, "This is going to be a pain"

"It's a change we'll have to adapt to for the time being," Simipour replied soothingly, "Now then, everyone return to your homes. Farfetch'd needs time to rest"

Reluctantly, everyone broke away and returned home. The ghost-like atmosphere still remained, chilling me to the bone. Suddenly, Serene Village didn't feel so serene anymore.

"I don't like that mischievous glint in your eyes, Pancham," Deerling said once the adults left and we all gathered together, "What are you scheming this time?"

"Me? I'm scheming nothing!" Pancham looked offended, "Just thinking about how awesome it would be to see these ghosts in person"

"Did you hear nothing of what Simipour said?!" Deerling cried, "He said to not go to the school at night until this issue is resolved! Everyone knows what happened to Watchog and Farfetch'd. And now poor Azri and Audino are traumatized by it!"

"Sheesh, calm down Deerling. I was just thinking out loud," Pancham grumbled, "Like, if these ghosts can scare even Watchog and Farfetch'd, they must be good. I just wanna see them for yourself, that's all"

"Then go down to the school at night. Nobody's stopping you," Espurr said flatly, "Not like the ghosts have shown aggressive behavior yet, so you aren't in any real risk of harm"

"Exactly! The ghosts can't harm a Dark type like me anyways," Pancham boasted, "So what's wrong with a good scare to spice up the summer?"

"Plenty of things," Deerling hissed, "What happens if you're abducted by them? These ghosts don't seem to repeat behavior, so you could end up like Farfetch'd or even worse!"

"Pfft, you worry too much Deerling. Maybe you should come along with me to keep me safe," Pancham winked and Deerling bubbled with a mix of anger and embarrassment, "The ghosts won't think of abducting two Pokemon, right?"

"Definitely not three because I'm coming along too!" Shelmet piped up, "I wanna see these ghosts too!"

"Guys you- Ughhh…" Deerling groaned, "I guess I have to keep your sorry hides safe. Let's meet at the school at night then"

"Great! And if the ghosts will back off against three Pokemon, what about seven?" Pancham grinned and both Eden and Goomy gasped, realizing what he meant, "All of us should come tonight. Then it'll be twice the fun!"

"W-what?! Why?!" Eden cried, "I hate ghosts! You just want to see me look scared!"

"Me too! I'm definitely out of this," Goomy piped up before glancing at Espurr, "What about you, Espurr? Are you going along?"

"Well, I can't say I'm not curious about these ghosts. I always found the subject fascinating," Espurr replied thoughtfully, "I suppose it won't hurt to get a closer look. Digging through Azri, Watchog and Farfetch'd's memories doesn't bring up much"

My mind instantly went on a mental guard. I forgot to always be careful around this devious cat.

"Atta girl, Espurr! I knew you weren't spineless like Goomy and Eden," Pancham laughed and Eden growled in response, "Hey, the only way you can beat your fear is facing it head on. If you're gonna cower in bed all the time, you'll never get over it!"

"Oh, stellar advice from you, Pancham. Everyone's favourite role model," Eden countered and I flinched, surprised by the fox's sudden sass. Must've picked it up from me, "I know you just wanna see me and Goomy act terrified for a good kick"

"Well, that's true, but I'm being genuine. You can't conquer your fear without confronting it," Pancham shrugged, "But oh well. Once a coward, always a coward"

"Why you…!"

"Anyways, what about you, Azri? You in?" Pancham turned to me, "Maybe you have a spine compared to your fox partner here"

"Shut up!"

"I'll do it," I said decisively and Eden gasped. While I was terrified by the ghosts, I partially wanted to defend mine and Eden's honor and see them again. Like Espurr said, something was intriguing about them, "You're not wrong, Pancham. I can't beat my new fear of ghosts without looking it in the eyes. I'll join you and the others tonight"

"Ay, good on you, Azri. Nice to know someone has guts in your partnership!" Pancham grinned, "Alright, that's the plan. We'll all meet at the school gate by midnight and await the ghosts. All of us who have the courage to do it, that is"

He aimed those last words at Goomy and Eden. The slimeball dragon simply slumped onto the ground while Eden muttered incoherent curses.

"Sounds good. See you all tonight then," Espurr nodded, "I hope you all have a plan to get yourselves out of your houses"

I flashbacked to the first time I ventured out to the school. The window to my bedroom was just big enough for me to wiggle through. Guess I was using it again.

"That's our own problem to handle. You guys can spend the day figuring that out," Pancham replied before pivoting on his foot, "Anyways, I'm off to prepare. See you guys tonight!"

Pancham and Shelmet marched off, leaving us alone with a defeated Goomy and steaming Eden.

"Ugh, that jerk!" Eden growled, "I swear he wouldn't know real fear until it bit him in the butt! He thinks he gets how me and Goomy feel!"

"Mm, I would've worded it better myself, but I can't say Pancham is wrong, Eden," Espurr said as she tapped her foot against the ground, "If you don't experience that fear, you'll never get over it. Though I won't force you two to come along if you don't want to…"

"She's simply saying that this is a good opportunity to better yourself as a Pokemon," I added and Espurr nodded in agreement, "Besides, we're bound to encounter Ghost type Pokemon later in our expeditions, so why not get used to them now?"

"Expeditions?" Deerling asked in confusion and I quickly explained what me and Eden have been doing for the past week, "Ohhh, so that's what you two were doing. Saving Pokemon lives huh? That's pretty amazing"

"If Pancham were still here, he'd remark that it was an excuse for Eden and Azri to have alone, romantic time," Espurr smiled deviously and Eden blushed, fidgeting bashfully, "But I'm not one to tease. In any case, I agree with Azri"

"If you're truly going to become a Expedition Society member like you want to be, you need to get over your fear," Deerling encouraged, "Just keep that in mind, Eden"

"Mmgh, I guess you're right but…"

"You don't need to make your decision now. We've got until tonight," I said before glancing at Goomy, who returned to normal slimeball size, "You too, Goomy"

"W-well, I'm not Eden, nor do I want to be an explorer, but what you guys said was right. I can't be a spineless coward forever," The dragon replied with a bit of a quivering voice, "I'll join you guys tonight. Maybe with us together, I won't be as scared…"

"We'll be here. You have nothing to worry about," Deerling assured and Goomy put on a weak, but brave smile, "Anyhow, remember the time we're going to meet. Midnight at the school gate"

"Right. See you guys then," Espurr nodded and walked off, heading home. Deerling and Goomy headed back too without a word, leaving me alone with Eden. The fox was still fidgeting, looking uneasy.

"We should hold off on expeditions today. We wouldn't want to tire ourselves before the main event tonight"

"Azri… is this really a good idea? Simipour and Officer Magnezone said we should avoid the school area," Eden muttered, shivering a bit, "If we do this tonight, wouldn't we get in trouble?"

"Says the guy who frequently defies his father behind his back and challenges his rules," I retorted and Eden only grumbled in response, gritting his teeth, "What's so different from this and following Ampharos into the Poliwrath River?"

"That's different! We had to save Ampharos back then and return his Connection Orb!" Eden protested, "We don't NEED to do this. We're just being manipulated by Pancham and will probably end up food for that phantom beast!"

"Then stay home. I for one want to see these ghosts again," I countered, "Nobody crosses me like that and lives"

"Ugh, you're ridiculous! Where did this sudden recklessness come from?"

"From you probably"

"Erghh, just wonderful. Freaking fantastic," Eden sucked in a breath through his teeth, "Fine. Whatever. If you wanna risk your life alongside the others, then go ahead. I'm staying home"

Before I could even respond, Eden stormed off home, muttering curses along the way. This whole situation must've shook him up pretty badly.

"Just like you picked up my sass, I got your reckless head," I thought to myself as I watched the Fennekin bound back home in a hurry, "I wonder who lost more of themselves"

On that note, I headed home myself to rest before tonight's event. Not like there was much else to do with Eden angry at me.

…

Eden's POV

I spent the rest of the day buried in books in my room. I was still mulling over the words Deerling, Espurr and Azri told me, while boiling over the snake's sudden reckless head. Why would she willingly visit the ghosts that nearly took her life two days ago? Even for me, that was beyond stupid. Was it just her stubborn pride?

"I won't get over my fear without looking it in the eyes," I repeated Azri's words as I nonchalantly turned the page of the book I was reading. I wasn't paying much attention to it since I was too frazzled by the morning conversation. Now that dusk was approaching, my heart was aching more and more, "We'll likely encounter more ghosts later in our adventures, so what's wrong with experiencing them early?"

"You don't know the nightmares I've seen, Azri," I sighed to myself, as if I was talking to her, "Trapped in a dark future with no hope in sight and wild Pokemon, more bloody and savage than ever, prowling around. Imprisoned in eternal darkness, waiting for time to take you, yet it never does…"

On that thought, a bloody flash burned through my eyes and memory. Me, staring down a massive specter with jaws wide and rows of long, serrated and gored teeth. The eyes of the terror were pits of endless darkness with trails of blood running down.

"AAAH!" I yelped, dropping the book and sparking a flame by accident. The flame scorched the tome and ignited, "Aah! No, no, no!"

Desperately, I blew on the fire to try and salvage my book, but strangely, the flame didn't die down. I knew my flames were potent, but this shouldn't be possible from just one little spark! I watched in horror as the fire consuming my book grew and began igniting the other tomes around me.

"Wait! Stop!" I screamed, extending my paw to try and tame the inferno, but nothing was working. I felt powerless and for the first time, I was scared of my own element. The flames swirled around me, burning my collection to molten ash. Every volume I've gathered over the years, along with my mother's gifts were lost to the incineration, "STOP THIS! I DEMAND YOU TO STOP! AAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

"eDEEN! YoU'lL nevEr Be AbLE to eSCApe your FeAR!" A mighty voice resounded from behind me and I turned to see the original tome I accidentally burned. The flame transformed into a massive fiery monster, towering over me easily and singeing the fur off me with sheer heat alone, "ThE GHOstS wILL AlwAys FiND YOuuuOUUUUU!"

"No, no, no! You're just a nightmare! Y-you don't scare me!" I yelled, but my voice was quickly sliced apart by fear as my room and house burned around me from the raging inferno, "You aren't-"

"REal?! FOOL! I aM alWAYs REAL! In yOUr heAD anD yOUR HEarT!" The specter shrieked, "SooN you'LL FeAR yoUR oWN fiRe anD thEn yoU'lL NEveR sAVE yOuR mOtheR! NEVER!"

"My flames… my mother…" I repeated as I blinked and suddenly, I saw Carracosta in front of me. Pops, who was always strict, but treated me well. I watched helplessly as the flames washed over Carracosta and smoked him to ash without a fight. He couldn't even scream before being killed, "DAD!"

"yOUR fEAr alWayS wiLL eXist! Be cONSumEd by IT, EEEDDeEEENNN!" The ghost roared before lunging straight at me, "CONSUME!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" I screamed before jerking myself upward, panting hard. I blinked, confused before looking around myself. I was in my room. I was laying in bed and my books were nearly put on my shelf like they normally were. There was no fire, "Haaaa…"

"The only way you can beat your fear is facing it head on. If you're gonna cower in bed all the time, you'll never get over it," I murmured Pancham's words to myself as I regained my bearings. I was sweaty from head to toe, but now I understood what he and the others were trying to tell me. I was going to continue being plagued by nightmares until I fought it myself, "Mom and Dad will both be at risk if… if I don't conquer this fear. I… I have to do this"

Cautiously, I looked outside my window to glance at the moon. It was just rising to the apex of its journey across the night sky. It was nearly midnight. The others would be coming over to the school.

"Mother, watch over me. Please…" I prayed and hopped off my bed, grabbing my dungeon bag from the corner of my room. My window was just big enough for me to wiggle through, so I pushed myself through and landed on the ground without a sound, "Phew…"

Suddenly, I heard a rustle from around me and instantly went on guard before noticing it was Azri, sneaking outside her own house.

"Azri," I whispered as I approached the snake. She turned at the sound of my voice with the look of surprise, "I'm… I'm going with you guys"

"Eden, are you sure? You look terrible," The Snivy replied, concerned, "Your fur is disheveled and you look like you've been rolling in hay"

"I know and… I had a nightmare when I went to sleep. Let's just say it's why I'm coming along," I replied uneasily, "I can't… I can't hide in the darkness anymore"

"It's okay, Eden. Me and the others are around. We'll protect one another," Azri suddenly hugged me, patting me on the head. I was taken aback by the sudden affection, but I guess that rubbed off from me to her as well, "We'll take on our fear together, alright?"

"Y-yes. Together," I tugged on Azri's Harmony Scarf and she did the same before breaking apart from me, "We're in this together. As long as we have each other, nothing can hurt us"

"That's the spirit. Now come on," Azri smiled warmly, "It's almost midnight. We shouldn't leave the others waiting"

On that note, we trudged to the school gate, preparing to confront the summertime spirits once and for all…

Our team:

- Azri, Snivy: Paranormal Fascination

Level 17

Abilities: Overgrow and Contrary

Moves: Leaf Blade, Vine Whip, Twister and Attract

- Eden, Fennekin: Spiritual Resolve

Level 16

Abilities: Blaze and Magician

Moves: Flame Burst, Psywave, Psybeam and Ember