"I thought you said you knew where to go," Alex sighed dramatically. "Now we're lost."

"Can it blondie," Clara snapped at her. "I know where we're going."

If I was being honest, I would say she didn't at this point. Stopping Robert before he could say anything to escalate this further, I said, "Well, we're here now, so no use complaining about it. Let's just find our way out of here for now. Blaming can come later."

After having left Snowbelle City behind, Clara had suggested using a lesser known cave to get through the mountain she claimed was a shortcut. But after an hour's worth of walking, it seemed less like that and more of a hindrance.

"Just try Lucario already," Alex groaned. "I've had enough of being stuck in here."

I shrugged, recognizing it as a good idea. I let him out and he glanced around before looking at me.

"Mind seeing if you can find a way out," I asked. "Closest exit. I really don't want to go back to the entrance near Snowbelle.

Hrring, he nodded. He rested his paw against the side of the tunnel, his aura spreading. After a few minutes, he started walking forwards.

"Oh look," Clara glanced back at Alex, smirking. "He's leading us in the direction I was taking you all."

Alex rolled her eyes and pushed past her. We followed Lucario for a couple minutes, ignoring two side passages along the way, before coming to a halt at a dead end.

"Uh, I think your Lucario's broken," Robert piped up. Alex raised her hand in front of him and he went quiet. Lucario pulled back a fist, orange energy surrounding it. He slammed it forwards, breaking a portion of the wall and revealing another cavern beyond with sunlight visible.

"And you doubted him," I said to Robert, raising an eyebrow. Lucario broke more of the wall so we could all squeeze through into the cavern. It was decently sized and a small tunnel ahead of us lead to daylight. However, we weren't alone now.

"Seriously," a woman's voice said, exasperated. "You're lucky you broke through into this chamber and not the other one."

I blinked. "Sandra?"

The tan-skinned woman regarded us with brown eyes, and if she was surprised to see us, she didn't show it. Her shorts and gray t-shirt were caked in dust, but she seemed to not mind in the slightest.

"Well then," Sandra gave a slight smile. "I'm glad you all showed up. It's a perfect opportunity to fill in the gaps of your knowledge of Kalos history and legends."

"Well, we were kinda-," Alex started, but Sandra was already motioning for us to follow her as she crossed the cavern to a portion of the wall that seemed to have been carved out to form a narrow passage.

"Follow me," she said without looking back, squeezing through the tunnel. "You have plenty of time before the Lumiose Conference begins. And I have a feeling you'll want to know what I have to share."

"And what can you share?" Robert asked.

One of Sandra's eyes glanced back at us. "Chaos."

...

Once we were all through the narrow tunnel, we now stood in another, slightly smaller cavern with a single lantern providing light and casting shadows. However, this one contained scattered cave drawings and an eerily familiar symbol highlighted in the middle of the room.

"Chaos," I muttered in disgust.

Sandra nodded. "This is not one of their little hideouts. It is merely a place meant to preserve history. The cavern we just came from, it is known as the Chamber of Emptiness. Nothing can exist within. But here," she gestured around her at the walls. "I call this the Chamber of Chaos. Contrast to where nothing can exist, in here everything can exist all at once."

"I hope you know what you're saying makes no sense whatsoever," Clara pointed out.

Sandra shrugged. "If you fail to try to understand, then don't try at all." She then turned and spread her arms. "I've told you of Xerneas and Yveltal, Mistress of Life and Herald of Death. I told you that they would not be enough to save Kalos from the Cult."

"You sure as hell didn't tell me," Clara was starting to sound very ticked off.

I stepped back to stand beside her. "I'll tell you later, just please be patient."

She snorted and looked away, face now hidden by shadows.

"What I didn't tell you then was of the other two important forces at work in Kalos," she turned to face us, expression lit eerily by the lamp. "While we have Life and Death, both contrasting one another, we also know we have Chaos. And what would balance out chaos?"

"Order," Robert nodded slowly. "Order and Chaos."

"Exactly," Sandra said softly. "Long ago, before even the war of 3000 years ago, the entire world was still in creation. I'll assume you all know the story of Arceus, his children, yadda yadda. But, a story, a legend known mostly in Kalos is of Life, Death, Order, and Chaos. Given this region to protect, Life and Death ruled side-by-side, keepers of their domain. But there was a third. One that had been given the domain of Order and Chaos. You couldn't have one without the other and without one, the world wouldn't be right. However, one wished to spread more of their domain."

"Chaos," Alex threw out there, though we were all thinking it. It wasn't hard to figure out where this was all going.

"Chaos," Sandra shook her head sadly. "Wielder of Chaos as she's called in some old legends. Or in some, Zanarchggon." She turned and pointed to a particular drawing on the wall. It showed a frightening beast, drawn misshapen upon the rough stone, curling up out of a different body. I stepped forwards almost as if in a trance, images of dreams I remembered oh so well. A curling body, claws dripping with venomous liquid, the feeling as if everything was going to descend into chaos.

"Chaos tried to rise further than she was meant to," Sandra continued. "To engulf not only Kalos in endless chaos, but the entire world." She then gestured to a new picture, one that showed dozens of streaks, all converging on a single massive entity rising above another drawing of Chaos. "The Keeper of Order, Zygarde as he is called, tried to reset the balance. He and Chaos battled, a war to rage on for years. Finally, Chaos was pushed into a weakened state and trapped within her own realm, unable to spread her chaos. Though, despite that, much chaos had already been left in the world due to their battle."

"Until now," I gripped a fist. "The Cult has been working to bring her back."

Sandra nodded. "This part of Kalos history, the one of Chaos, is well hidden and those who do know of it choose to keep silent."

"Except you apparently," Clara rolled her eyes.

Sandra ignored her. "Zygarde spread himself far and wide, beyond the limits of Kalos. He is the one who keeps leftover chaos in check, providing his strength when the world most needs it. The order that maintains the balance." Sandra's hand, which had been resting on the cavern wall, slid off. "But even so, I fear that what is to come may even be too much for him."

"Sandra," I let out a breath. "Who are you?"

She didn't turn, merely stood with her back to us, staring silently at the wall. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she said in almost a whisper, "I am merely someone who has seen too much. Someone who fears what is to come." She turned. "There is still hope. Hope that Chaos can be encaged once more, this time for good."

"Oh don't say it," I groaned.

Sandra smiled weakly. "Yes Hero Born of Darkness, a Prophecy. However, unlike that one you dealt with, this one is much older and is merely something I stumbled across."

"Well what is it?" Clara folded her arms. "We don't have all day here."

Sandra raised an eyebrow at her. "You young people. So rude to your elders." She sat, crossing her legs and resting her head against the wall. "I did an expedition into Terminus Cave years back when the mine was still operational. Found a hidden chamber with a large green lake." She closed her eyes, smiling. "Not a single ripple upon the surface. Orderly as could be..."

...

Sandra's footsteps echoed off the walls as she skidded down the rocks, coming to a stop on flat ground. She held up a torch, it's flame flickering, however, she could see she wouldn't be needing it here. Dropping it to her side, she took a step forwards, overlooking a green underground lake, completely still. The green hue lit up the large cavern, acting as a light source.

She knelt, extending a finger towards the water. She tapped the water gently, a ripple spreading several feet before disappearing. Suddenly, the green light grew brighter and she heard heavy footsteps behind her. She turned to see a canine Pokemon, black and green, crouching as it stared at her.

"What business do you have here?" A voice said, seeming to have come from all around her.

"Zygarde," she breathed. "It's you, isn't it? The Keeper of Order?"

The Pokemon growled and the voice spoke again. "I asked you a question, human."

Sandra held up both hands. "I am merely looking. I will do nothing to taint this place." She glanced around. "I must ask however. What do you know of Chaos?"

The Pokemon ceased its growling and if an expression would have been given to it, it would have been shock. A bright glow from a dark corner of the caver, and another dog appeared, stepping up close to Sandra.

"We are Zygarde," it's voice was softer and less threatening. "Why do you seek Chaos?"

"I don't," Sandra shook her head. "I seek knowledge on Kalos' history for I fear dangerous times lay in Kalos' future."

This Zygarde extended a green hue of light and it gently enveloped Sandra before pulling away. "You are a strange human, Sandra. I do believe though, you are someone I can trust."

The other Zygarde growled at his partner. "You aren't seriously-!"

"Quiet," barked the other Zygarde. "We were both waiting for the right time for this to happen. And now is as good as any." He turned back to Sandra. "We have sensed a disturbing future ahead, not just for Kalos. So I must ask you to safeguard something for us."

"What is it?" she asked.

"A Prophecy," Zygarde sat back on his haunches. "As Kalos is thrown into turmoil, evil will emerge from the darkness. Order will fall and Chaos will rise. To overcome the looming threat, the strongest of bonds must be forged and Life and Death united. But unless the foreign legend is awakened, all will be lost and the world consumed by Chaos."

Sandra sat there, pondering for several minutes before speaking. "Is there anymore you could tell me about this foreign legend?

Zygarde shook his head. "Even we don't know what is to come. That is why we have told you and only you this, Sandra, the Wandering Woman. We hope you will one day find the answers we seek before it is too late."

...

"Did you?" Alex asked. "Find out anything more?"

Sandra nodded and stood. "Barely anything mind you." She pointed to a different section of the wall. Lit by the lantern, it showed Chaos rising and what looked to be a beast shrouded by clouds. "This is what I assume the foreign legend is, though I have yet to find any more information after all these years."

"All these years?" I looked at Sandra again. "Sounds like you've been at this for all your life."

Another sad smiled. "It does seem that way huh." She collected her lantern and headed for the tunnel. "That is all that I know of what is to come. And I believe you all know what bonds is talked about. And how things are to play out from here, I do not know. I will merely be a witness, a wandering woman."

She left, leaving us in silence and little light. Then, "Can we please get out of this cave now?"

...

The whole walk to Santalune City, Clara was silent. Dusk had arrived, the sun setting and the skies colored beautifully. As we were getting our separate rooms in the Pokemon Center, Clara grabbed my arm.

"What is it?" I asked.

She looked unsure, then said after the moment's hesitation, "You heard what Sandra said, right? About when she went to Terminus Cave?"

I nodded slowly. "Yeah... Something about how the mine was still operational then."

Clara pursed her lip. "Here's the thing. Those mines haven't been operational for around 50 years."

That single sentence kept me awake long after I bid Clara goodnight. Just like the last time I had encountered Sandra, I found myself wondering who Sandra really was.

"What aren't you telling us?" I whispered, staring up at the ceiling in silence. "What are you still hiding?"

...

"I'm going to ask this one more time," Clara shook her head. "Why are we heading in the opposite direction of Lumiose?"

"My, uh, parents wanted me to visit them in Vanville," I said, still totally unsure why as well. "Anyway, we have a week still don't we? I'm pretty sure we have time for this."

It took us a while to reach Vanville. A long trek through Santalune Forest, skipping through Aquacorde Town, and finally onto the short path that lead to Vanville Town. As soon as we stepped into the town itself, I groaned, realizing what Jessie, James, and Meowth were planning.

"Oh dear Arceus," I groaned. "Why!?"

James looked up from the larger Meowth balloon, where he and Preston were finishing typing things up with a much larger basket, but gone with the Team Rocket symbol. "Hey, Zeno! You made it!" He was wearing a blue shirt with a yellow vest over it, a badge hanging from a cord around his neck and a bag around his hip. His blue hair was up in a man-bun of sorts, his three large bangs in front, and a one-sided earpiece with a mic.

Jessie grinned beside him, holding a camera on her shoulder. "Don't worry! There's plenty of room for everyone." She was wearing similar clothes to James, but with a pink shirt and jeans, along with an orange hat.

Meowth meanwhile was probably wearing a thick bodysuit complete with a brown wig covered by a beige cap. He held a large deadcat microphone and said, "Hurry up! We want to get there before it gets dark!"

"I am not getting in that thing," Clara was staring at the balloon wide-eyed, but Alex snagged her wrist.

"You can't refuse," Alex said wickedly. "Now come on."

"Your folks are awesome," Robert slapped me on the back as he headed over.

I shook my head, exasperated, but a smile appeared. "Yeah, I guess they are."

Not long later, we were in the sky, a course set for Lumiose City.

"Kalos League here we come!" Alex shouted as Clara hung onto the side of the basket for dear life. Preston groaned, complaining how he didn't feel safe leaving the house. I grinned, feeling the wind rush by as the city came into view. Once again, it was time to see just how far me and my team had come.

I glanced down at Greninja's pokeball and rubbed it gently. "Let's show them the power of our bond, Greninja."

And the Lumiose Conference begins on the next chapter! Oh, and the real name of Chaos has been revealed. Zanarchggon. Quite a mouthful eh? Pronounced Zan-arc-hogg-on. I'll let you all try and figure out the meaning behind her name. It does have several meanings, just like regular Pokemon names. So, until next time when the League starts. Toodles!