Quinn wasn't keen on waiting around when a lot was going on right now, but Amanda was insistent. She had spotted a pokemon she hadn't captured before, and wanted to get it before they entered the cave. The fight was happening right outside the cave, so Quinn got a clear view of it. As Quinn watched on, however, an uneasy feeling hit his stomach. Watching Amanda bark orders to her pokemon; a small brown bipedal bear, as it rammed itself into the pokemon she was hoping to catch, a small, blue, four legged creature with a small horn and red eyes.

"Is she almost done?" Quinn turned to the sound of Genesect approaching. He shook his head.

"Looks it." Quinn was short, his uncomfortability keeping him from answering more. He watched one more tackle send the blue pokemon sprawling across the snow, unmoving.

"Alright, pokeball, go!" Amanda said, throwing a red and white ball at the downed creature. He watched the pokemon disappear into the ball, shake three times, then click shut. The little brown bear seem excited turning to Amanda with a smile, but Amanda was looking at her pokedex already "Sweet, Kubfu, return." she brought the brown bear, Kubfu back into the pokeball, Quinn noticed Kubfu frowning as he was brought back inside. Amanda picked up the ball that had the blue pokemon she just caught "Alright. I'm ready." she said, brushing past Quinn and Genesect with a content smile on her face.

"So...was all of that necessary?" Quinn had to ask the two of them finally making it into the Max Lair "Did you have to knock that...thing around to get it in the ball?"

Amanda looked back to Quinn, eyebrows raised "Um, yes? That's what trainers do." she said matter-of-factly.

"That just seems cruel...and unnecessary." Quinn shrugged.

"Yeah? And how did you get an Absol and a freakin' Genesect on your team? Did you just ask nicely?" she scoffed.

"Well...yeah actually."

"Right."

"No really." Quinn stood in front of her "Absol chose to come with me and Genesect after the anomaly attacked my house. And Genesect chose to come with me too. I even tried letting him go once." he noticed Amanda's expression softened when Genesect nodded his confirmation.

"I...have a hard time believing that." Amanda crossed her arms with a huff, not as much arrogance in her voice "Everyone I ever met did it my way. Battle them and take them."

"Take them from their lives?" Quinn asked, less accusatory and more curious. Amanda opened and closed her mouth, sighing and brushing past Quinn. How was he supposed to know what trainers we're all about? Based on what the others said, he came from a world without pokemon, he wouldn't know the first thing about being a real trainer. Of course all of her experience came from...she stopped herself before she finished that thought.

"You...you just wouldn't get it." Amanda said coldly.

The two of them made it inside deeper in the cave. The receptionist allowed another group of trainers even deeper into the cave. Quinn couldn't keep his eyes off of the other trainers in the room, all with their pokemon that he had never seen before, more excited when Genesect identified them all for him.

"When you're finished ogling." Amanda smirked "I'll sign us up for another raid. One run should be enough to get the ore we need for the carrots." When she noticed he didn't look at her for a response. She shrugged and made her way to the receptionist "Two for the raid, please."

"Only two?" The receptionist asked "You'll have to wait for an opening then." Amanda sighed, but didn't object further, walking away back to Quinn.

"Amanda?" she froze at the sound of a familiar voice. One that brought her stomach to knot up. She turned around and grimaced, three boys approaching her. One dressed in a white coat with blonde hair, one dressed in a brown coat with black hair, and the last one, the smallest one, dressed in a red coat that was too big for him. Her cocky demeanor gone, she seemed liable to curl in on herself.

"Hey, Amanda. It's nice to see you." The smallest one said, a big smile on his face, taking a step forward.

"You too, Luke…" Amanda said, short and quick.

"Been doing alright?" the boy in the white coat asked, looking behind her to Quinn, who was looking back at the interaction now "Made a new friend?"

"Not a friend, Dean." Amanda countered quickly, "Just...helping him."

"Guys, she's not interested." the third one in the brown coat said "Let's just leave her alone and get back to the cabin and wait for Dan." The mention of that name made Amanda shudder.

"C'mon Aaron, I know what Dan said, but I wanna hear it from her too." Dean nudged Aaron before turning back to Amanda "Amanda…-!?" but she had already turned back to Quinn and sat down beside him so that he was in their line of sight "But…" Dean sighed.

"See?" Aaron huffed, looking away, a little sad too "Not worth the time."

"Take it easy!" Luke said somberly, the three of them walking away slowly. Amanda had buried her head in her hands at this rate.

"Wanna tell me what that was all about?" Quinn asked "Who were they?" There was a long pause, Amanda keeping her head down, shuddering breaths in the silence. Quinn looked to Genesect, but looking at them didn't offer any answers.

"Nobody…" Amanda finally answered, surprising Quinn "They're...they're nobody."

"Amanda?" the two jumped to the sound of her name coming up over the intercom "An opening has been made available."

"That's our cue…" Quinn stood up, looking down at Amanda "You good?" Amanda finally stood up, rubbing her eyes and nodding wordlessly. Quinn let Amanda take the lead, lagging behind to talk to Genesect.

"What are you thinking, Quinn?" Genesect asked.

"I know Cody has his reservations about her...I do too...but there's something else going on here...she needs help."

"She needs friends?" Genesect asked. Quinn snorted in amusement, patting Genesect. Quinn watched Amanda deposit her pokeballs into a tray, four of them; one was Kubfu, the other was the pokemon she caught outside the cave. Quinn wondered what the other two were.

"You can't use your own pokemon here. Gotta use rentals." Amanda said, quick and quiet. Quinn looked to Genesect, uncomfortable at the thought of putting him back in his ball.

"I will be fine. Go." Genesect nodded, Quinn pulling out his ball and putting him inside. Handing his two pokeballs to the receptionist. The receptionist returned with four pokeballs. A display screen showing off the pokemon inside, the first one was a short green creature with flowers decorated all over its body; the monitor identified it as Liligant. The second pokemon was a large bat, at least larger than any bat that Quinn ever saw back in his world, with a heart shaped nose; the monitor identified it as Swoobat. The third one caught Quinn's eye immediately, a small blue and cream pokemon, eyes half closed and quite fat for its size; the monitor identified it as Munchlax.

"That one." Quinn smiled, snagging the ball that had Munchlax in it.

"Really? You're going for the baby?" Amanda asked.

"I'm sorry, the what?"

"Well, baby stage pokemon."

"Oh…" Quinn moaned, but admittedly it didn't sound much better "Well I mean c'mon." Quinn slapped his belly for effect. "Big guys gotta stick together."

Amanda snorted "Right." grabbing the ball that had Liligant in it "You're lucky we're here for the ore, otherwise you'd just be deadweight with that fella." Quinn rolled his eyes, being escorted with Amanda deeper into the cave via kart.

"I hope you don't mind, but the only available party is already at the end of the cave. It'll be a while before we reach their." The receptionist explained.

"Convenient." Quinn said "We're just here for the ore."

"And a chance at a legendary without the hassle. Bonus points." Amanda laughed, kicking back and enjoying the ride, only to jump up at the sound of a pokeball going off. She shot up and saw Quinn had let out Munchlax and laid him on his lap "Uh, what are you doing?"

Quinn looked at Amanda as if she had asked a ridiculous question "What? I mean, I gotta get to know who I'm working with." Quinn looked to Munchlax "Howdy, I'm Quinn."

"Munch." the pokemon responded. Quinn realized Genesect wasn't here to translate, so much for conversation. Quinn shook his head

"Looks like we'll be working together for a bit."

"Lax."

Quinn chuckled, "So what can ya do?" he asked, backing up in his seat when he saw Munchlax's fists light up, one with fire the other with lightning "Holy…-!" Quinn looked back at Amanda "You seeing this?"

Amanda sat there, an amused smirk on her face the whole time. It was admittedly kinda cute watching this stranger in their world reacting to the creatures...wait cute?

"Yeah it's…" Amanda sat up "Munchlax are pretty versatile. When they evolve into Snorlax, now you have a powerhouse."

"Evolve!?" Quinn's eyes lit up.

"You really are from another world, huh?" Amanda "Yeah, most pokemon can. You just got stuck with pokemon that can't." She kicked back again "Lotta different ways to do it too."

"What about your little bear fella...Kubfu? Can he evolve?"

"Mhm. One of two ways, Urshifu can learn two different styles of combat when it grows."

"How does he evolve?" Quinn asked.

"Growing stronger, like most pokemon. Kubfu's just a little slow is all...They battle other pokemon, grow stronger, and eventually they evolve. Mind you some pokemon evolve with different things, some react to special items. You wanna get a Runerigris, now that's complicated."

Quinn had no idea what that was, but he laughed all the same "What about lil Munchlax over here?"

"Friendship." Amanda said bluntly "Some pokemon can. Something that didn't really interest me."

"How about that…"

"What!?"

"Nothing!" Quinn averted his gaze, his thoughts turning back to Kubfu looking to Amanda for approval after their battle in front of the cave. He believed Amanda when he said growing stronger was part of making pokemon evolve and grow stronger. But maybe Kubfu needed something more?

"Oh, Quinn, yes?" the receptionist chimed in "If you're going down there. You're going to need this." She handed Quinn a wrist band, it faintly glowed pink down in the caves "It's a dynamax band. You can use the Dynamax Pokemon in certain locations. Just return it when you're done."

"Dyna what?" Quinn's eyes lit up again. The receptionist was about to speak, until Amanda shushed her.

"I wanna keep that a surprise for him. He'll love it." she winked at Quinn, making him smirk. The cart finally stopped, and the receptionist opened the door for Quinn and Amanda. The two stepped out and walked the rest of the way.

"Not ideal there throwing us into the deep end when I have to help you. So hopefully our help is someone good." Amanda said. Quinn shrugged, still holding onto Munchlax, seemingly content with the treatment "You know you don't have to hold onto him anymore."

"Hush, he likes it." Quinn rubbed and scratched at Munchlax's belly, a contented smile on its face "See?" The two were interrupted by the sound of its belly rumbling loudly "Oh...hang on." Quinn sat Munchlax down and opened his backpack.

"Are we really doing this right now?" Amanda asked.

"Can't fight on an empty stomach now." Quinn left his response at that, pulling out some of the energy bars he had in his backpack. They were meant for the others, but he knew they wouldn't mind parting with one or two...until Munchlax swiftly went into his backpack and ate all of them at once, failing to stifle a loud belch as it sat back down. He glared at Amanda, failing to innocently look away and not laugh. Quinn looked back to Munchlax and smiled, picking him back up and cradling him "Feel better?" another belch was his answer as the pokemon smiled happily "Good boy." Quinn laughed, walking forward. Only to notice that Amanda had stopped, hands on her chest and eyes wide. Quinn followed her gaze, noticing she was looking at another person, waiting outside a deeper portion of the cave with their pokemon out; a pink and white pokemon that looked like it was made out of frosting, it even had strawberries on top of its head. Quinn could easily assume the pokemon didn't mean much to Amanda, it was the person. Leaning against the cave wall was a man, about the same age as him and Amanda, short brown spiky hair, red vest with a gray long sleeve shirt with black skinny jeans.

Quinn just accepted that people in the Pokemon world had very eclectic tastes in fashion.

Quinn knew Amanda was in no position to call attention to herself in this situation, it was nice to hear her not be snarky for once, but not when she was silenced in fear like now "Hey, I think we're your replacements for the cave?"

The man rolled his eyes, kipping himself off the wall to face Quinn, Quinn simply bit his lips, letting Munchlax down on the ground "Yeah, the receptionist up front thinks I need replacements after my so-called friends had to leave, buncha weaklings." he ran a hand through his hair.

Quinn bit his lip harder, threatening to make it bleed. Realizing he was probably talking about the three people that stopped Amanda earlier. This must have been Dan then. He had known plenty of people like this in the other world, and they were just as insufferable. Furthermore, he had the questionable honor of being one, once upon a time. And if this person made Amanda have such a bad reaction, first impressions were already abysmal "Wow. Alright. Let's make this quick then." Already brushing past Dan "Wouldn't want to waste your time, now would we?" Quinn looked grimacing when he realized Dan ignored him, going right for Amanda. He was quick to spin back around.

"And you think you can come back?" Dan glared at Amanda, making her shrink more. Quinn still wasn't too fond of Amanda, but no deserved to feel like that. He stood between the two of them, "This doesn't concern you," he said.

"It does. I'm not letting you treat her like that."

"Oh what are you her friend now? Do you even know her? What she does"

"I know enough." Quinn said dismissively.

"Then you know you shouldn't bother with her." Dan smirked. Quinn rolled his eyes, looking back to Amanda with an outstretched hand.

"Let's get moving, you don't need to deal with this." Quinn was surprised to see Amanda move past both of them, storming into the cave. Quinn stood there in shock, swallowing his gut reaction to how rude it was. He knew it wasn't him, it was Dan. He shrugged, ignoring whatever it was Dan had to say this time and following after Amanda.

"Amanda, you don't have to be here with him if you don't want to." Quinn whispered "I'll tell the others, they'll understand…-?"

"Shut up. What do any of you know?" Amanda hissed, a chuckling Dan short behind. Quinn sighed, noticing how Munchlax clung to his leg. He picked him back up and walked ahead, his mind lingering on what Cody, Terry and Vera told him. They all had less than ideal friend groups once before; demanding, neglectful, even downright toxic. He could wager just how much he knew about what she was going through.

Tensions were high as Quinn walked in between Amanda and Dan. A pink mist was beginning to surround them. Quinn remembered Amanda said the last room was home to a legendary pokemon, and so it occurred to Quinn that he planned to fight a legendary pokemon with a baby pokemon and two people with baggage for each other, he realized how woefully underprepared he was for this.

"Thank God we're here for the ore and nothing else…" Quinn sighed to himself, rubbing Munchlax's belly for comfort, which the pokemon found comforting as well, sighing happily.

"What's God?" Dan asked. Quinn sighed harder. Thankfully the pink mist began to coalesce more and more, forming up around the silhouette of a massive creature that appeared deeper inside.

"Finally…" Amanda sighed, less pep in her voice than usual, pulling out Lilligant

"Let's just get this over with." Dan growled, pulling out his pokemon, calling it Alcremie.

"Ya ready, bud?" Quinn gave Munchlax a little shake, looking at Quinn excitedly and hopping down, fists raised"That's the spirit." Quinn smiled, looking up at the shadow breaking through the mist, the giant pokemon beginning to reveal itself.

And it was Kyurem.

Quinn's heart sank, remembering all too well what happened not too long ago. Kyurem interrupted their passage to Blue's world and knocked them here in the first place. Now he was here to finish the job. And yet as Quinn stood there, trying to keep his stuff together, he realized there was no coming blizzard, no grand speech about singling them out to divide and conquer. This wasn't their Kyurem, this was the hybrid world's Kyurem.

"Try not to get in the way you two." Dan said, already ordering Alcremie to attack, colorful pastel stars launching and attacking Kyurem. Amanda called Liligant to summon a blizzard of pink petals to attack Kyurem. Quinn almost felt bad that his plan was to just punch it.

"Alright, bud. This guy loves ice, so melt it with that fire punch!" Quinn said, watching Munchlax nod and run forward, one fist down and engulfed in flames. Kyurem repelled the stars and petals with a gust of wind, but Munchlax was strong enough to withstand the wind, landing the punch square on Kyurem's head, watching Kyurem recoil from the punch. The glory was short-lived however, as he saw Kyurem fling his head back, sending Munchlax flying backwards. Quinn started running, huffing from exertion to try and intercept Munchlax from skidding across the ground. Quinn caught it, wind getting knocked out of him as he felt like he caught a heavy ball of lard "Ow...you good?" he asked Munchlax. Already standing up ready to go.

"Get up, idiot!" Dan shouted, enough cue for Quinn to scramble to get up while holding Munchlax.

"Let's try that again…" Quinn said "What else ya got?" he asked Munchax. Watching it slap it's belly "Look I bet you're hungry again but…" Quinn said, noticing Munchlax slap its belly again and point to Kyurem "Oh you like...slam it with your body!" Quinn looked back up at Kyurem, Amanda and Dan keeping it's attention "Alright, let's try it!" Munchlax, once again with incredible speed, charged at Kyurem.

"Cuz it worked so well the first time!?" Dan screamed, failing to notice Kyurem knocking out Alcremie. Amanda had been silent this whole time, meekly giving out orders to Liligant to follow, but the attacks she launched were barely catching Kyurem's attention. Meaning it clearly saw Munchlax coming. Nevertheless, it stood there taking the attack, it was then that Quinn noticed Kyurem had singled him out, not just Munchlax, he was looking at him.

"Is he possessed?" Quinn gulped, wondering if maybe the anomaly had gotten control of this Kyurem as well, maybe it was just doing a better job hiding it. Nevertheless, Kyurem swatted Munchlax back at Quinn, only this time, Munchlax didn't get back. Quinn ran for it, despite the protests of Amanda and Dan. He cradled Munchlax in his arms, sighing in relief when the pokemon finally stirred awake. "It's okay, you don't have to fight anymore if you don't want to."

"What are you saying?" Dan yelled "It hasn't fainted, send it back out! And don't be useless, Amanda. Have Liligant keep attacking!" Amanda watched wordlessly, looking at Quinn. Quinn realized that Kyurem wasn't making an effort to attack back either. It was...watching them, but that didn't matter right now.

"No, he's done." Quinn stood up, cradling Munchlax.

"You're the master. He's supposed to listen to you!" Dan kept screaming. It was then Quinn realized where Amanda got that mindset about Pokemon. How they're just things to use and not their own individuals. She got it from him. He might be new to the trainer business, but he didn't have to follow along.

"He doesn't have to fight if he doesn't want to…-!" Quinn screamed back, louder than he meant to. The whimpering of the pokemon in his arms brought him to look back down, Munchlax was beginning to cry, before it suddenly looked back to Kyurem, a new resolve in its eyes, and then it was enveloped in a blinding light "What!?" Quinn yelled, suddenly noticing that Munchlax was getting extremely heavy to hold; he regretted letting him drop like he did, but it landed on its feet. Quinn had to back up, noticing how Munchlax was growing taller, growing wider, growing fatter. The white light vanished, and suddenly Munchlax looked a lot different.

"Snore!" what was once Munchlax bellowed deeply.

"It evolved…" Amanda whispered in disbelief.

"Good, a Snorlax, something useful. Let me take over here since you're…-!" a stomp from Munchlax...or rather Snorlax, was enough to silence Dan. Snorlax looked at Quinn and smiled.

"You good?" Quinn asked, finding the nerve to step forward again, watching the pokemon evolution taking his breath away. When Snorlax nodded, it was enough for Quinn to look back to Kyurem, who only took a stance to fight. Quinn looked to Amanda and Liligant, Amanda dared a look at Dan, but focused back on Quinn, enough of a cue for the two of them to get back in the fight as well, ignoring the protests of Dan.

"Quiver Dance, Liligant!" Amanda began, watching Liligant perform a strange dance. Quinn wasn't sure what it did, but he trusted her to do something worthwhile.

"Snorlax, Fire Punch!" Quinn called out, watching Snorlax move even faster than before, dodging the spikes of ice that were launched at them. Snorlax jumped onto one spike in particular, using it for momentum to strike Kyurem. Quinn's eyes lit up when he saw Kyurem recoil hard at the attack.

"Alcremie, Dazzling Gleam!" Dan called out next, sending out Alcremie once again, who let loose a dazzling pink and white light to strike Kyurem, which it didn't like at all "Finally we're getting somewhere." The three watched Kyurem let loose a beam of ice, aimed at Alcremie.

"Petal Blizzard!" Amanda called out, more confidence in her voice. The petals came out faster and stronger now, strong enough for them to stop the ice beam.

"Keep up the pressure, Body Slam!" Quinn called out. Snorlax jumped on to Kyurem, aiming for the face with another firm, reeling smack. It was then Quinn noticed the wristband the receptionist gave him was glowing pink. He looked at it quickly, then back to Amanda. For the first time since they came down here, a smile returned to her face, looking at Snorlax. Quinn couldn't help but to smile back, and pressed the wristband.

Then suddenly, the pokeball that Munchlax came in began to glow. On instinct, Quinn grabbed it, and a beam of light shot at Snorlax, returning it to its ball. The ball grew massive and pink, startling Quinn into dropping it. It was enough to release Snorlax though, and he came out growing...and growing...and growing. Snorlax was big before, but now he was gigantic. What surprised Quinn most of all though was the massive tree that sprouted on Snorlax's belly, along with the grass and pink clouds around was watching the whole thing, observing.

"Holy…" Quinn gasped, looking at an impressed Amanda and an indifferent Dan "Snorlax, one more Fire Punch!" To Quinn's amazement, Snorlax stood up, everyone resting on the trunk of the tree as an inferno enveloped its fist, bringing it square into Kyurem once again, who exploded in a pink mist. When the dust settled, Kyurem was on the ground, significantly smaller, and unconscious.

"It's weak, time to catch it!" Dan said, while Snorlax returned to normal size "I call dibs." Quinn honestly didn't care, he was here for the ore. He just patted Snorlax on the side, hoping to look around for the ore.

"Dibs?" to Quinn's surprise, it was Amanda who snapped at Dan "After Quinn carried the team?"

"Oh there it is. You thought you could get me with that quiet and sorry act all this time. But I know deep down what you are." Dan snarled. Amanda shrunk back at that, before turning back to Quinn, who was watching intently. She coldly stared at Dan for a moment before walking towards Quinn "Don't you walk away from me…-!" Dan marched forward, only for Snorlax to intercept, causing him to fall on his butt.

"That's enough." Quinn said "I'm not gonna pretend to know what the history is between you two, but stop it." he patted Snorlax on the side, which caused it to calm down.

"You're gonna regret letting her get close to you," Dan hissed.

"Let me worry about that." Quinn shook his head "Kyurem's yours, I just wanted the ore."

"You…-?" Dan stuttered, only to laugh pulling out a pokeball for Kyurem "Passing up a legendary pokemon for some rocks...this place is lousy with them. Your loss, idiot." Quinn didn't bother to wait for the rest of his tirade. He looked back to Kyurem, just cognizant enough to be staring back at Quinn. The way he looked at him, the lack of effort in the battle today…

"You wanted us to attack you...why?" Quinn muttered, a question he'd probably never get the answer to. With Genesect not present there was no translator, and with Dan successfully capturing Kyurem in a black and yellow ball.

"Hey, Quinn." Amanda said, holding a couple of pieces of ore. Quinn smiled and grabbed some from her "Let's get out of here…" and the four of them left Dan in there to gloat over the capture.

Back at the front of the cave, Amanda returned Liligant to the receptionist quickly and easily. It was watching Quinn say goodbye to Snorlax that took so long. According to the receptionist, they could keep any pokemon that they caught in the lair, but the rentals had to be returned, and seeing as how Dan took Kyurem they had to part with the pokemon. They were walking home empty handed, save for the ore that they needed for Calyrex's plan.

"I'm gonna miss ya buddy." Quinn hugged Snorlax, Genesect out and translated between the three of them, Absol sitting not too far away, smiling at the exchange. Even Amanda found herself smiling at it too. All this time, she thought that pokemon weren't worth making friends over, just tools to use for battle, like how Dan thought. But Quinn...Quinn was proof that their way was the wrong way. Her hand traced over Kubfu's ball…-!

"Man, Snorlax had a lot to say." Quinn laughed walking back over to Amanda, who crossed her arms at Quinn.

"I'm sure you two had a lot to talk about...what with…" pointing at Quinn's belly. Turning away and walking out the door before she could see Quinn's reaction.

"Ah, back to the snark. I almost missed it." Quinn laughed, the two walked in silence for a moment before Quinn looked at Amanda "How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Amanda said quickly "Just fine...I mean it's not like I was forced to battle alongside an ex-friend and have my perspective on being a trainer be completely upended." Amanda said, the dread of what she said hitting her "What am I gonna do?"

"I'm not gonna force you to talk but...know me and the others are here for you when you're ready to…" Quinn stopped "We got the ore so...if you wanna call us even, you don't have to tag along anymore…"

Amanda paused, remembering how Quinn said that to Snorlax, said that to Genesect, and said it to her now. She saw how well the other operated, strangers in a new world but they still banded together despite it all. She didn't know a thing about being a good friend, or even having good friends. But maybe with Quinn and the others, she was willing to learn.

"I mean…" Amanda began, smirking "I have to tag along. I can't leave you guys alone without getting lost or stuck in a blizzard again. Frankly I'm doing you a favor." Quinn only smirked back, enough for Amanda to know he knew what she meant.

"Great, let's head back to the cabin and see how the others are doing." Quinn said, Genesect and Absol flanking Quinn as he walked back. Amanda took a step, her hand on Kubfu's ball again before she finally let him out. Kubfu looked around, before finally looking back to Amanda and shrinking a little bit. Amanda sighed, knowing she deserved that response. But she had to at least try again.

"Kubfu," she knelt down, looking at the small bear "Do you wanna go for a walk with me?" she reached out her hand to him. Kubfu looked to Amanda, smiling as Kubfu took her hand, only to be yanked up and placed on her shoulders. Amanda heard Kubfu laughing, even beginning to stroke her braids. She knew this wasn't going to undo the cold attitude she had towards her pokemon. But if it meant learning to be a better friend, she was thankful they were willing to give her a second chance, unlike…-?

She looked back to Quinn, who was watching the whole scene with a smirk.

"Get over it." Amanda scoffed, walking by Quinn with a smile "Why don't we go check on your friends before they get themselves hurt out there?"

"I didn't know you cared?" Quinn egged her on, making her blush. Amanda thought about it, having friends like these people instead of the others from before. A fresh start, and a new chance to be someone worthwhile to others.

"...Maybe I do..."

~Meanwhile, in another part of the Crown Tundra~

Vera didn't like the idea that one of the plots Calyrex pointed out was a graveyard, but it was close to town and an easy walk. She never really believed in the supernatural and paranormal until she met Keldeo and the others; if strange and powerful creatures could come to their world from another reality, well anything was possible wasn't it?

"Hey, how's it going!?"

Vera screamed, legs giving out and falling into the snow, Terry's laughing making her more upset than she already was. She slapped away the hand that Terry offered to help her up as she stood back up. Hand tracing over her medallion, contemplating giving him something to be scared of.

"Hey, c'mon. I'm sorry, I didn't think I'd get you that good." Terry tried to lean in for a hug, but the look on Vera's face was enough to know he made a grave mistake in doing what he did. "So uh…" he cleared his throat "How's this place?"

Vera's glare turned back to the plot of land. "Well it's still intact, and the soil looks good enough for something to grow...I think...I'm not sure how things work in the hybrid world…"

"What makes you think it's good?" Terry asked.

"I used to have a garden at my house. You just get a feeling…" Vera muttered, the sound of distant pokemon, given the location, spooked her more "But...but maybe we can find somewhere else to set up. Calyrex said there was one more spot."

"Aw c'mon. This one's right here. I can see the town from here. It'd be so easy."

"But that also means a lot of people are going to see it…" I don't wanna think what'll happen when trainers see swordsmen and the King of Bountiful Harvests running around.

"Ugh. Fine." Terry relented, stepping out of the graveyard "I hate it when you're right, you get this look on your face and…-?" Terry turned to Vera, grimacing at the small smirk on her face as she walked by "Yeah that's the one."

"Hush. I know you like it." Vera grabbed Terry by the wrist, leading them down the path to the next plot. Terry hummed his response, leaning into her. Her mind wandered to the time she spent with Terry, separate from the others. Just him and her "Hey Terry?" he stopped humming "Do you think the others...know?"

A pause, and Terry laughed "I'd feel bad if they didn't. We haven't exactly been hiding it well."

"I mean sure…" Vera nodded "But I mean...how do you think they're going to take it?" she asked.

"Easy." Terry laughed "Cody's gonna be a know-it-all about it. Quinn's gonna be his usually nice self and congratulate us. Keldeo's not gonna know what we're talking about."

Vera hummed and hawed "I mean, you don't think they're gonna say anything more? The jock getting together with the prep class president?"

"I think we're well past those kinds of labels at this point." Terry laughed "Still having cold feet about it?"

"Cause we're in the arctic, hahah." Vera forced a laugh "And no. I don't mind. I guess I'm just nervous."

"Nervous about what?" Terry had to ask.

Vera stopped, making Terry stop to turn "I don't know...I just think about...going back to school when this is all over and everyone...seeing us." Vera looked at Terry "I like us being together...but I can't stop thinking about what the others are going to think about it."

"Then don't," Terry said.

"Easier said than done." Vera sighed "Sorry...sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up." Vera grimaced as Terry's brow furrowed. It took a lot to upset Terry nowadays, and being upfront about her doubts in their relationship definitely ruined his mood.

"Right." Terry looked away. "Well, maybe we should check out the next plot then." Vera opened and closed her mouth, hoping to have something to say to reassure Terry about how she felt, but she became afraid of making it worse, opting to just follow behind Terry as he trekked forward towards the next plot.

They walked in silence for a while, Terry taking the lead, hands in his pocket and huddled over as he walked. It stung Vera to see him so closed off to her now, worse so because of what she said. She opted to look around, the few trainers traveling around in the arctic, having pokemon battles, it wasn't enough to keep her mind off of the awkward moment. When they reached the Path to the Peak, the two noticed that there were fewer trainers around, enough for the to safely transform to make this process faster. Terry transformed and moved on ahead, Vera was about to follow when something caught her eye, on the peak not too far away, on one of the peaks of the mountain.

"Keldeo?" Vera muttered in disbelief "Hey, Terry?" Vera called out, still looking at the silhouette of Keldeo. Terry wordlessly came back, but his mood changed when he realized she was referring to something else.

"What's he doing all the way out here? I thought he was with Cody…" Terry asked, finally calling out to the shadow of Keldeo. The silhouette turned to them, before leaping and meeting up with them. Keldeo finally touched down in front of them, what surprised the two of them though was how different Keldeo looked now, his broken blue horn was gone, and the three feathers in his orange mane were gone. He looked like when they first met each other.

"Terrakion? Virizion? What are you two doing here? I thought you were with Cobalion..." Keldeo asked.

"Dude, I thought you were over calling us that? And what happened to you?" Terry groaned, Vera remaining quiet, thinking.

"What are you talking about?" Keldeo asked "Those are your names. I've always looked like this..." he began to glare at the two of them "And...why do you look so different?"

It finally clicked to Vera, they were in the hybrid world, talking to a Keldeo that didn't recognize them. This wasn't their Keldeo "Terry, we need to go, now!"

"Terry?" Keldeo asked "Is that a new cute nickname for your mate?" Keldeo asked, both of them sputtering a response. Terry probably would have laughed with it if the previous conversation didn't sour his mood.

"No!" Vera said too quickly, frowning at the snort of disapproval from Terry "Listen, Keldeo, this is all a big misunderstanding. We need to get going." Vera was already trying to walk past, hip checking Terry to move as well. His protests were ignored as Keldeo stood in front of them now.

"Now hold on!" Keldeo pointed his small horn at them "Cobalion and the others told me that there were intruders from another world. Everyone felt it, and it looks like I found them." Keldeo said, grinning like a child.

"Everyone?" Vera muttered, just who was 'everyone' to Keldeo?

"Listen, buddy. We don't have the time and I'm really not in the mood either. So let's just…-!" Terry stepped forward, only for the quick hoof of Keldeo to meet his nose, making him stumble back. Vera caught him.

"This is great. I get to prove myself to the others and take care of these evil duplicates!" Keldeo sounded like an excited child, a far cry from the more dour and stoic Keldeo they knew.

"We don't want to fight you, Keldeo." Vera pleaded, but that youthful arrogant look in his eyes, Keldeo plus the anger in Terry from the kick, they both wanted this, as much as she didn't want it.

They had trained with the Keldeo they knew, so they were familiar with his techniques and his attacks. Ever since he acquired his new form he was much more formidable in a fight, so this fight against a weaker Keldeo should have been easier. But she didn't want to fight this headstrong Keldeo.

"You know what. I'm really glad you're doing this. I got some shit to work through." Terry was more inclined to attack, between their argument earlier and a kick to the nose. He charged at Keldeo, conjuring small stones from the ground and firing them like bullets. A large torrent of water sent the stones flying, and striking Terry head on, halting the charge for only a moment. He redoubled his efforts and charged harder, his time as a football player paying off. Keldeo had to stop and jump away, waving his horn and sending stars towards Terry. Vera summoned rainbow leaves and sent them hurtling towards the stars to intercept, exploding in the sky.

"Terry, we shouldn't fight him!" Vera ran up to Terry, but he just charged past her, eyes locked on Keldeo as he hurled stones at Keleo. Keldeo ran along the mountain's wall, dodging the stones before jumping and about to kick down on Terry. Vera groaned, Keldeo wasn't listening because he was acting like a child. Terry wasn't listening because of what she said. Looks like she didn't have a choice.

She stood in front of Terry, angling her horns to catch Keldeo's hoof. In the pause, Terry summoned a stone from the earth to strike Keldeo, hitting him in the side and sending him flying away.

"Gotta say, you two fight just as well as the others." Keldeo laughed, the attack seemingly not phasing him "My Terrakion and Virizion are mated, and they're an unstoppable duo."

"Enough with that." Terry said, growling "She just broke up with me anyways!"

"Now wait, I didn't say that!"

"Well you might as well have!" Terry snapped back, both of them failing to notice the massive hydro pump coming at them, sending the both of them flying, tangling each other up.

"Get off me!" Terry yelled, carefully wriggling out from beneath Vera.

"Terry, would you just listen to me!?" Vera pleaded.

"You even argue like them." Keldeo laughed.

"Shut up!" Terry and Vera screamed back, both launching leaves and stones at him while he deftly dodged them giving them more time to talk.

"Terry, I didn't break up with you…"

"You just don't feel confident being together, right?" Terry snapped back, and Vera stopped talking, because that was mostly true. She was afraid how everyone was going to react, her friends, even the others back at school "So yeah. You might as well have." Terry huffed, summoning a large slab of stone to block another torrent of water from Keldeo "So just stay out of my way." Terry kicked the slab and charged at Keldeo again.

Vera shuddered, it was a side of Terry that she hadn't seen since before they all started hanging out. The aggressive bully that Cody mostly saw the short end of, and whether she meant to or not, she brought it out again. She wanted to stand in and fight with him, but with how he was acting now, maybe it was best to leave him alone for now. She stood there, quiet, like she was back at school, too afraid to speak up for herself, afraid of what others thought, and because of that, she pushed Terry away. She wanted to step in and fight, but she froze, just like a deer in the headlights.

Terry swiped at Keldeo wildly with his Sacred Sword, growing more and more annoyed as Keldeo kept dodging, laughing all the while.

"You had a better chance when your doppelganger Virizion was with you, faker! I can't even keep up with the two of them when they're in sync."

"Do you ever shut up!?" Terry growled, swinging his sword, causing Keldeo to jump back. He summoned stone from the earth to launch at Keldeo, knowing he was so focused on the first attack he wouldn't have the reaction to do so. Grinning, he watched Keldeo collapse to the earth with a thud "Finally." He huffed, walking forward to the downed Keldeo. A twinge of guilt shooting through him as he imagined it was his Keldeo. But with everything that happened between him and Vera today, he was over it. "Now stay down."

Then a blast of water from Keldeo's hooves hit Terry in the face. At first it sent him skidding back a few feet. But then the force was too great, and it sent him flying upwards and crashing down.

"Not good enough, faker!" Keldeo laughed, approaching the downed Terry, struggling to get back up now "Just gotta let the others know I got one of you, then I gotta grab the other one, then we can put an end to this invasion!"

Terry groaned in the crater that he and Keldeo made, coughing as he looked back at the slowly approaching Keldeo. Anger giving out to resignation. He tried to get angry, like he did back at school, but a whole lot of good it did him. He just couldn't get that same level of anger like before. Too much had changed, he'd grown softer, and right now, that wasn't something he wanted to be. And so he just closed his eyes, bracing for whatever Keldeo planned next

"Okay, I'm out of excuses. He's going to seriously hurt Terry." Vera was already charging at the two of them. She knew Terry wouldn't want her getting involved with everything going on. But she didn't care anymore. It got this bad because of what she was afraid to say. She picked up speed, summoning her sword and attempting to thrust at Keldeo. She was intentionally loud, so Keldeo could hear her and back away from Terry. She stood in between the two of them.

"Get away from my boyfriend!" Vera proclaimed. It sounded tacky, but she hoped Terry was cognizant enough to hear it. She sighed to the rumbling behind her as Terry stood up weakly. The two locked eyes for a moment "I'm sorry I've been so afraid to say that…" another long silence, but eventually Terry smiled back.

"Don't think I'm going to back down because you two are working together again!" Keldeo laughed, charging once again at the two of them.

"The two of us together." Vera laughed.

Terry smirked "This won't be much of a fight." Terry took point, ready to meet Keldeo head on as Vera summoned a swirl of magical leaves to attack Keldeo, throwing him off his course, which allowed Terry to summon his sword and take a good swipe at Keldeo. With her speed, Vera closed the distance, using her own sword to send Keldeo flying back farther, skidding across the snow.

"Well, glad that's over with." Terry sighed, surprised Vera came back to his side and nosed him, blushing deeply "Oh…-!"

"That felt good...even if it was Keldeo…" Vera looked back at the unconscious Keldeo.

"Not our Keldeo though...So I guess it's fine." Terry frowned "Think it's best we just stick with the one closer to town. We don't want any more trouble."

"I think you're right." Vera said "Plus after all of this. I think we need a break." Vera and Terry began walking back to town until they heard the sound of shuffling in the snow. They turned around to see Keldeo, shakily standing back up.

"No…" Vera groaned.

"Come on…" Terry said, less fear and more annoyance.

"If you think…" Keldeo finally stood up completely "That you two fakers can stop me. You're...you're wrong!" Keldeo huffed "I will strike you down! And the others will…-!?" Keldeo's voice was crescendoing, that is until the sudden appearance of a pokeball flew from behind Terry and Vera, striking Keldeo. He turned into a red light, and vanished inside.

"Well there you two are…" the two turned around, relieved to see Amanda, Quinn and Genesect from behind and approaching.

"We finished our part and we're waiting for you...that wasn't…-?" Quinn dared to ask.

"No...no other Keldeo…-!" Terry sighed in relief, jumping back at the sound of Keldeo breaking out of the pokeball.

"Grah! If you think that's going to be enough to stop me…-!" Keldeo began, only for another ball to be thrown at him, capturing him inside for another moment.

"He did not look happy…" Amanda whistled.

"He wasn't. We're leaving now." Vera said, already scooping up Amanda onto her back and running off. Terry did the same for Quinn as Genesect shifted to hover alongside them. They all heard the sound of Keldeo breaking free of the ball, and the annoyed screams of a child that followed.

The five of them finally reached the cabin back in town, Terry and Vera transforming back to humans in a safe spot before actually stepping foot. Cody waited outside, surprised at the scene of them running back, gasping for breath.

"Hey guys…" Cody started hesitantly "Did you find the spot alright?"

"Yup!" Terry smiled, seemingly aching to get back inside, hurrying everyone along.

"Wait, before that..." Vera spoke up, surprising everyone. Vera looked to Terry, after everything that happened today, this was her chance to solidify it all. She walked up to him and held his hand "You know Terry and I are dating right? That we have been for...a while?" Vera looked between everyone there, afraid of their reaction still, but a squeeze from Terry was enough to calm her down.

"Ha!" Cody began "Called it!"

"Congratulations. Honestly." Quinn smiled. Amanda smirked, giving the two of them a thumbs up as she walked back inside first, followed by Quinn.

"I am going to have too much fun with this." Cody chuckled, "But we got more important things to worry about." and with that, he walked inside as well. Vera looked to Terry, smiling, that was far better than she had hoped would happen. She thought back to how angry Terry got, and how scared she was at their reactions. But this wasn't high school, these weren't some catty, selfish girls. These were her friends, and after everything they've been through, the near death experiences, the fights. She could handle a few words. She sighed in relief, leaning into Terry.

"Told ya so." Terry smiled, kissing Vera on the cheek, the two of them walking inside, holding hands as Terry leaned into Vera.

"Hmm. I don't like it when you're right…" Vera smiled "You get this look on your face and…" she turned to Terry, humming and nosing her as she looked to him "Yeah...that's the one" and the two closed the door behind them.