I stared out the window at the dark stormy clouds above. Glancing over my shoulder, I looked at Kyle. His peaceful demeanor, while he slept, was comforting. My claw shifted the object of my concern back and forth, across the window sill. I closed my eyes again, reflecting on the memories.

"Does he really need to know?" I asked myself for the hundredth time, as I fought against the rolling tide of painful memories. It was bad that I had endured things. It was bad that I had done unspeakable acts. Letting Kyle see just how bad things had been, would turn him away from me forever. Yet, he wanted to control himself and wanted the best chance at things. I wondered how far he would be willing to go for those dreams. Taking a step back from the window sill, I looked at the solid orb one final time. There would be no going back once we made our decision.

I jumped off the bed stealthily and snuck out of the room. Lula comforted Kyle in his sleep with her body pressed up against his. Her assets were more present, which made her a better candidate for sex than I was. I shook the thought off as I knew I was avoiding the inevitable.

"Can't sleep?"

Defensive, I turned on the voice ready to attack. I relaxed as Olivia came into view. Her hair was wrapped up messily in a bun. Her orange fluffy robe was wrapped tightly. At first, she provided a small smile but her lips twisted into one of concern.

"I-"

"Follow me," she said. I took after her as she strode down the steps barefoot. She seemed to glide over the wood, avoiding creaking or loud spots. When we finally reached the kitchen, she pulled out the gallon of milk and cookie dough. She placed several small orbs on a baking sheet and then preheated the oven. We waited in silence, during which she never prompted me for what was on my mind. She let me stew in my own negativity until at last the oven let out a soft beep. Putting the cookies in, and setting a timer, she pointed to the kitchen table where she and I could talk.

"Rose. Your sister and I were so close, I never had to ask her what was going on. You on the other hand…stubborn to a fault. So. I'm going to ask. What is on your mind?"

"Nothing," I lied, only to notice the mirth-filled smile which she expressed.

"Come now. I wasn't born yesterday. Kyle's finally getting over things, and I think he's over the hill. It's my biggest hope. That means now I can divert my attention to you."

I remained silent for a minute before I passed the object of concern over to her. She looked it over for a minute, and her expression was one of shock before melting into sympathy.

"Sweetheart. We talked about this after you and Kyle returned from your first real argument."

"I know," I replied quietly.

"Then why's it bothering you?"

"This time I'll go all the way. This time, he'll get to see the things I hid from him. Not because of anything he did but because even I tried to forget they happened. There are memories that I don't want to visit again. What if he hates me after this?" My breathing hitched as I realized what I had been too scared to say this entire time. I wasn't worried that I would upset him. I was worried he would turn me away, and reject me.

"I doubt that. If his actions are anything to go by, he values your life and friendship. As much as Lula's."

"You don't know the things I've experienced, Mom," I stated in a grim and dark tone. My eyes watered as I felt the urge to vomit. Brilliant flashbacks of events best left forgotten returned to the light, and my chest constricted with angst.

"You are my daughter. Your past experiences won't change that. My son loves you. So do I. Emily on the other hand hates what you did to her big brother. I swear there are times that girl loves him more than I do."

Her jest made me chuckle a little bit, as she leaned in and kissed my cheek.

"You are worrying too much. Only Kyle knows what he wants. At the end of the day, we are simply just here for the ride. Support him as your sister did."

"But what if-"

"What if's aren't going to be grounded in fact. I know it's hard, Rose. You just...have to trust me." She said, standing up and moving back over to the oven. She was deft, as she put on a single oven mitt and pulled out the cookie tray. The warm scent of chocolate and vanilla wafted through the air. I waited patiently as she plated three desserts each, and set them in front of us. Despite knowing the danger, I wanted to engulf the cookies whole. My mouth started to water at the intense flavors as I glanced back to Olivia. She appeared content to simply watch the steam roll off of the pastries. I waited patiently as she sat next to me.

"Despite your differences, you remind me so much of Katherine," Mom spoke, picking up a cookie. At first, she blew on the baked good, before placing it in front of my maw. I looked into her eyes, seeing nothing but the utmost respect and love for me. Taking a small bite, I let out an involuntary moan of glee. The sweetness, melted and soothed any worries I had away.

"How so?" I asked as I took my time savoring the treat.

"You have both have similar quirks."

"Like?" I leaned forward and took another bite of the cookie. She watched me for a minute as her smile grew wider.

"You both wear your worries about Kyle on your sleeve. You both are easily comforted with chocolate chip cookies. You both love hard. Don't get me wrong. Lula cares for my son, but she's not…aggressive about it. She goes along with his wishes, despite wanting to voice her concerns. Finally, and this is the most important…you both have good hearts. I'm glad you will be guarding him in the school."

My cheeks flushed as her praise hit me harder than I expected. Tears poured down my cheek, as I realized just how much I missed her. Katherine being safe had been something that had kept me going for a long time. Before I could wipe my tears away, she was quick to dab them up. She pulled me in close, feeding me another cookie. The chocolate melted in my mouth and soothed away the heartache bit by bit.

"I miss her too."

It was strange how she seemed to read my mood so easily despite me not saying a word. She rocked me back and forth until my tears faded before letting me go. As I started to eat the third cookie, I knew I had to ask a question. I knew this would be a hard one for her, but I felt that it would give me clarity on what drove Kyle to the lengths he went.

"What was his father like?"

There was a brief pause as she moved her hand into the light. She fingered a small gold wedding band with a red gem inserted into it. She fidgeted with it before she spoke again.

"He was a good man. Not the best. He always surprised me. It wasn't even the big things. One day he came home from Alola with some of the freshest seeds for my store. I still have some of those plants and they are thriving the most. I do my best to prune and care for them as much as possible. It reminds me of the moments he was home. We rarely argued, but when we did it was usually my fault. Yet he always apologized. He was supportive of the kids and me. He was sympathetic. He never got angry, but he had moments where he had doubts. He loved strongly. He'd come home from the Safari and sweep me into his arms. Kyle gets his strong morals from him. He was the best thing in my life."

She took a large gulp of milk before she inhaled shakily.

"I miss him so much. Between the two of us, he was definitely the better parent," she whispered. I could hear the longing and remorse in her sentiment.

"I doubt that's true. You do a lot for everyone here."

She laughed a little and took a bite of her cookie. I could see she was bitter about it and felt guilty for not reassuring her more.

"I know. Can I ask you a question, Rose?"

I nodded in acknowledgment and braced myself for the worst.

"Are you afraid of my son?"

I contemplated the question. While I had seen what he was capable of, it didn't mean that person under the facade wasn't there. I had been afraid of almost dying. It was something that haunted me and I couldn't help but wonder when or how it would happen. I wanted to live this happy comfortable life for as long as possible.

"No. His attack was not his fault," I replied softly. I couldn't hold him accountable. Willing or not, that thing had manipulated him for his benefit.

"I see," Mom replied, draining the glass and popping another cookie into her mouth. "It was so hard for me not to get upset. At first, I was in denial. Delilah described everything in detail over the phone. I didn't think he was capable of that."

I understood what her point was. As we sat there in the nighttime, it was comforting to know she supported me and Kyle being together. As friends. Yet…

"How would you feel if Kyle dated…A Pokemon," I asked, warily. A large smile overcame her face as she glanced back at me.

"Do you mean dating, or making love?"

I blushed hard at the latter and took the last cookie into my mouth. She took my action as a response and provided her thoughts promptly.

"As we discussed prior to the fight with Mewtwo, I don't agree with the pokephilia laws. They are set in place for people who would exploit Pokemon for that reason. Nonetheless, I want you to know that while I'm sympathetic, I'm protective of my son. It's a mother's job to protect her child from predators."

I chuckled at her term, as her smile grew broader.

"On that same token, I want Kyle to be with someone who is understanding and kind. Someone who will treat him with the same dignity and respect that he uses for Emily. Had she been there that night there is no doubt in my mind he wouldn't have attacked her."

I closed my eyes and contemplated the traits she had just described. They were traits that went against who I had been. Who I was. I felt possessive and needy. A bad luck charm wherever I went. I only caused pain to those who got too close. I was a thorn in everyone's side. I couldn't see myself fulfilling her ideal woman for Kyle. But…Lula had those traits. My heart yearned for Kyle yet I couldn't be the things that they both needed me to be. Biting my lip, I hopped off of the chair.

"Rose."

Her voice called me out of my thoughts and drew my attention to her face.

"There is one more trait I'd love in anyone who dates my son and it's one you have in spades," she said. I glanced over my shoulder and paused midstride.

"Anyone who dates my son needs to be supportive of him. I've seen what you have been doing. And I think you are making the right steps to earning his adoration. Get some rest, Rose. I love you. Always remember that" she finished turning back in her seat.

"I love you too Mom," I responded, my heart skipping a beat. Maybe I did have a chance.

The next morning I woke up at the crack of dawn. The bedroom was empty, minus Kyle who sat on the edge of the bed. Warm light filtered in past the bright curtains which did much to containLula and Bryan had apparently made their way downstairs. It was time for us to leave. Time for Kyle and I to train the last two weeks as if our lives depended on it. I approached him, as he held his face in his hand.

"Hey."

"Hey," he replied, his voice shaky. I watched him, quietly awaiting him to speak. "You know…this isn't going to be easy. I'm just not sure I'm ready to try again."

I wanted to give him comfort but knew that my words would offer little solace. Turning around, I walked away to go wait patiently downstairs. It was his dream and if he was serious about pursuing it then he needed to push past this small misstep. He'd had time to relax. Now it was time to get back to work.

Lula and Bry were deep in conversation as I arrived downstairs.

"Hey Rose!" the electric rodent called out as I approached. I stopped on the last step and glanced back upstairs. My jaw fell open as I could practically see the ghostly outline of Elaina as she observed me down from the top floor. My thoughts idled as I flashbacked to the night that Elaina had died. Her eyes had been so bright. So powerful. So full of life. In one stroke it had been snuffed out despite her superior training. I squinted painfully and tried to block out the screaming in my head. Something was telling me everything wasn't going to be okay. That I would die and this would all be in vain.

"se. Rose? ROSE?"

Shaking myself out, I noticed that my face was damp with tears. Reaching up with a paw, I wiped away the fluid and sighed. Forward. I had to ignore the past.

"What's wrong?" Lula asked, and I shook my head.

"Nothing."

"You were crying-" Bry started, only for my growl to silence him.

"I WAS NOT," I snapped, my claws coming.

"And…she's back," Lula said, smirking at me. I glowered at her, before pushing past without another word. I was bitter. I knew why and it didn't ease my conscience. I was about to take the final step down the road I had sworn off years ago. I fidgeted nervously, as my mind raced angrily without rhyme or reason. I was fighting a losing battle against myself. I trusted Kyle but the old me continued to argue that he wasn't worth it. That he would turn and the next time we might not walk away.

"Shut up," I growled at the inner voice, my claws shooting out.

"Hey. Easy now," a familiar voice spoke up. Looking over my shoulder, I noticed Kyle had finally arrived downstairs. His good arm was held up in surrender, with my Pokeball visible. At first, I was angry that he was going to break his promise. On the other, I understood, that I needed a moment. Alone to compose myself.

"Sorry," I whispered, before bowing my head.

"I was going to ask-"

"You don't have to. I'll go in," I said, in a small voice.

He stared at me and tilted my head up planting a kiss on my forehead.

"Thanks for the great times. I enjoyed them immensely. I wouldn't change anything at all. I think it's time we both pushed for the final goal. No more stops."

I nodded solemnly and closed my eyes. Warm light enveloped me and I was back to my sanctuary away from the confines of food, sleep, and needs. I was energy yet cognizant of the world around me. I listened as Kyle bade everybody in the house goodbye.

"Visit again any time you like, Kyle," Eon replied. I could hear the sincerity and joy in his voice.

"Of course."

"Master Kyle?" Lucia questioned, her voice extremely hopeful.

"Yes?"

"Please be careful out there. I know that things will get dangerous…just take care to keep in one piece if at all possible. If you can promise me that, I'll be able to rest well."

"I promise Lucia. Take care of yourself and Eon."

"I will!" she replied emphatically.

"Arren. Are you ready to head home? Mom?"

"Let's go. I'm itching to finally get back to sparring with you," Arren said with a loud yawn.

"You've always been lousing about the mansion playing games this entire time," Olivia chastised.

"I'm just itching to get back to fighting. It feels good. It's where I get to actually put some effort in something," he replied.

I returned my attention to myself and decided the best thing I could do was zone out. I needed to get prepared for what was coming. Time was of the essence. I closed my eyes inside the sphere and spaced out. Eventually, it would be time for me to face the demons I had locked away. For now, I waited patiently.

I awoke once we had arrived at the Pokemon Center. Released from my sphere, I took a moment to reacclimate to the scents and scene around me. The streets were flooded with Pokemon, Trainers, and other humans who bustled to and fro. It was so unusual as normally Kyle's hometown was usually quiet. Glancing up at my trainer, I noticed that he appeared excited as well.

"Seems like the Kimono Sisters will be Undella Town next week," Olivia read off a nearby poster. It depicted five beautiful women, each with a just as stunning Eeveelution. I recognized their name but didn't know of their claims to fame.

"Oh wow! Mom…can we go see them?" Kyle begged, grabbing her sleeve. I glanced to Olivia who appeared conflicted.

"The prices are really out there. And getting tickets this late will prove more than a tiny bit of trouble."

Looking at Lula, I noticed that her sorrow mirrored Kyle's as she stared longingly at the poster again. It seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Glancing at Delilah I wanted to ask what she thought, but she shook her head firmly. Divulging everything about the future had very bad consequences so it would be best to wait and see what happened.

"I would pull some strings in a heartbeat. However, would it be okay if you saw it without Emily? I think we will have to postpone for now. I'm sorry son," she said, with a heavy sigh.

"It's okay. You are right. Emily would never forgive either of us if we saw it without her. I should probably give-" he paused mid-sentence, drawing my attention away from Lula and to his face. Tears poured down his face, as he glared at the watch on his good arm. At first, I was concerned it was that he couldn't tap the keys to call her. However, something far more damning prevented him from making the call.

"I can't. I broke my promise to her. How can I look her in the face, after I failed to be there when she wanted me to?"

I empathized with his sorrow, as I moved to brush up against his leg.

"Son. She doesn't blame you. While you didn't see her off personally, every step with Chris is a reminder of you. She loves you dearly and I don't think she'd ever hold that against you," Delilah said calmly. Our group moved out of the foyer of the Pokemon Center and back into the street. Reorienting ourselves against the tile sidewalk, we walked leisurely towards home in the scorching heat. I watched as a young girl and her Mantyke played in a water fountain together. Retreating into my thoughts, I followed our family down the winding roads, ignoring the world around me. Kyle's training would have to be revamped. I knew that Kenzo was waiting for us at home. He had promised that after Kyle's little vacation we would continue as though nothing had happened. Glancing ahead, I noticed that my friend had managed to put some distance between us. Pushing off, I caught up to him. He immediately took notice of my approach.

"What's up?"

"I'm fine. I'm just worried about you," I lied.

"Honestly, having some time to reflect on everything that is happened…I've made up my mind. I need to do this to prove to myself that nothing was an accident. That my life choices mean something."

His words struck me as him accepting responsibility for everything that happened. There was a pure honestness that resonated with me.

"To be fair, Kyle-" I started, only for a loud explosion to ring out. My eyes snapped to the front as a large cloud of smoke billowed away from what appeared to be our house. Out of the billowing fog, two figures emerged.

"KENZO!" Delilah cried out.

The shout from behind us drew our attention, as Lucario clung to the front fence in our yard. His body was supported by his left arm, as he slumped against the wooden beams. From the few meters between us, I could make out the devastating wounds that afflicted his body. One of his arms hung limply by his side. One eye was swollen shut and bleeding profusely, and his fur was ruffled and muddied. A large gash on his back dripped with a viscous maroon liquid puddled beneath him. His breathing appeared extremely laborious. Taking off, Kyle and I rushed to assist the Fighting type. As he caught notice of us, he held up a paw. We stopped mid-track, as he tried to stand and face his attacker again.

"RUN!" He shouted, only to cry out as another massive explosion overtook his position. As the smoke cleared, a prone figure slumped over Lucario's body. My eyes took in the state of the girl who covered the Pokemon. She wore a white skirt, with black gym shorts underneath. Her legs which were sprawled beneath her, had two pairs of roller skates affixed. A single white helmet and gloves were affixed to her person. Out of the top of the helmet, a large blonde ponytail sprouted neatly. At least it would have, had it not been for the state she was in. Blood pooled underneath her, as she lay unmoving atop her Pokemon.

"Korrina. Korrina come on! Get up. We have to run," Kenzo pleaded as Kyle and I dashed towards the pair.

"Dad!" Bryan screamed. Glancing over my shoulder I noticed that Delilah and Lula struggled futilely to hold the squirrel back. Kyle immediately took off, and I gave chase ready to protect him from whatever was causing mayhem ahead. As we came to their aid, my heart stopped in its chest. I recognized the single figure which stood on our front porch. A growl rumbled through my throat, as Kyle lifted our friends to get them to safety.

"You," I glowered. The female took a step down the top of the balcony, with a sinister look written all over her face. Her hair remained unmoving despite the wind which blew fiercely in her direction.

"Long time no see."

The female took the last few steps off of our porch, as our family arrived at our location. Kenzo feebly tried to push us away, yet Delilah immediately set to tending his wounds. Now that the mastermind had revealed herself it was time to get answers. Unsheathing my claws and tensing up, I faced our attacker head-on. She met my gaze as her demented smile grew larger. Her white clothing was immaculate despite the massive battle which had just occurred. The front yard was littered with large chunks of grass missing and the concrete shattered from the battle. As I surveyed the battlefield, I knew this would not end prettily for anyone. The blonde-haired mother flipped her hair as she surveyed our group. Kyle started to move to attack her but I cut him off. If Kenzo had been taken down, along with what I could only assume was his trainer, then we had to approach this fight carefully. One small misstep and we would all meet an early end.

"Lusamine. What do you want?" Kyle demanded. Arren moved up, pulling his hands out of his hoodie. Delilah began to tend to Kenzo and Korrina's wounds, as we all prepared for a fight that was unavoidable.

"You've come at the perfect time. I-"

"HOW DARE YOU!"

We were all caught off guard, as a massive lightning bolt erupted from Bry. It blinded and roared past our group from behind. Despite the power of the attack, I managed to keep my eyes open long enough to watch its effect on the woman. The force was enough to make my ears ring, and the speed at which the Thunder erupted, made dodging it nigh impossible. Yet despite that, Lusamine didn't move a muscle. I watched in disbelief as the attack simply disappeared a mere inch from her face. She didn't flinch. Didn't speak. Didn't even dodge. Just stood there. I tried to comprehend what had happened, as I knew the energy had to go somewhere. But where? It hadn't been dissipated. It hadn't been absorbed. It just had…vanished. As though it never existed. Bry stared dumbfounded as I waited patiently for her response.

"If you can't calm down, runt, I can finish what I started. I'm not here for you," she said glancing down at her nails.

"Then who are you here for?" Olivia asked, her voice ripe with emotion. Focused on our opponent to the extent of all else, I knew exactly why she was here. Her single visible lime orb returned its attention to us as she affixed us with a nasty stare.

"I'm here for him….andddddd….her."

Her index finger singled out Kyle and myself much to my dismay. My heart beat faster as I grew even more anxious about the coming fight. We were her intended prey. We had walked into a trap without realizing it.

"Please. I beg of you. Take my life," Olivia spoke, her words filled with despair. I immediately recoiled at the words. Before anyone could protest, Lusamine shut it down immediately.

"Tempting but no. Killing without purpose brings me no joy. I just need to conduct some….violent experiments on them. Their suffering should provide me insight into whether or not they are worth my time. To be honest, I expected my partner wouldn't have let them live after the disruption of our plans. To see them still alive has my curiosity peaked."

My stomach churned and flipped in my stomach.

"What about them?" Kyle demanded pointing at the pair with his only good hand. "They didn't-"

"They attacked me. I reminded them of their place. If you want to continue to play 'hero', you need to learn that losing is a part of growing up. It's why dear old Chris, doesn't have any nightmares. Sometimes what is necessary isn't always good. Isn't that right Delilah?"

All eyes turned to the Gardevoir whose eyes were wide with fear, and animosity.

Lusamine cackled evilly, as Delilah's cheeks burned red with shame.

"You…bitch. How do you know about that?" she whispered. Her words were thick with emotion but filled with regret as well.

"Wh-what is she talking about?" Kyle asked, and I sensed that something unspeakable had happened with Chris and Delilah. Yet now wasn't the time for us to ask questions.

"Seems the Entei's out of the bag. But Kyle…I need you focused on me. Mewtwo betrayed me. He was supposed to kill you, and that pathetic excuse of an Absol. Katherine." the female taunted. My eyes widened, and I glanced to Kyle to see his fist clench angrily. She was riling him up on purpose.

"Do you know…Lopunny Garden was my idea? Nonetheless, your lives were ends to a means. Who else could have designed the potent aphrodisiacs that I did?" she asked with a broad smirk. Her diabolic attacks on Kyle's psyche seemed to have a discernible effect. His aura started to flare out, only for it to die down as sudden as it had come. His eyes closed and the power completely faded away.

"You had no part in her death," Kyle spoke, and I got chills down my spine. Lusamine frowned at his words as he reopened them slowly. His fist opened and I could see he was fully calm and relaxed.

"My friend died to protect me. I'm over it. I won't let you hurt my friends anymore."

Lusamine's smile turned devilish as she cracked several of her knuckles menacingly.

"I can't wait to see the results of this. Come, my little friend."

On cue, a massive wormhole emerged from behind the Aether Foundation President. Despite the darkness behind her, I could make out something swirling angrily from the opening. It emerged and let out a fierce shriek which sent us skidding backward. My head snapped to Kyle's Pokewatch as it started beeping ecstatically. Glancing back at my friend, I watched him drop to his knees in defeat.

"What is it?" Delilah asked as she stared at the creature in front of us. I didn't recognize the animal which floated menacingly in front of its master. With no face and no discernible center, it was unlike anything I had ever seen. Long tentacles hung to the ground. I stared at the beast, noticing the large spikes which were nearly invisible to the naked eye.

"It's-it's impossible. We can't beat it," Kyle sputtered.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, growling as it started to approach us slowly.

"Kyle! We need to run," Delilah shouted, but the boy refused to move.

"What's going on?" I screamed at the Gardevoir, placing myself between the Mon and its target.

"It's level 115."

My mind blanked for a minute as the information was absorbed. 115? Not possible. No Pokemon could reach a level beyond 100. There was nothing in the world that was that high…mega evolution, z move or otherwise.

"It's not a Pokemon at all. Our rules don't apply," Lusamine said with a psychotic cackling which made my spine tingle unpleasantly. Shoving aside logic, and focusing on the fight ahead, I rushed forward. I heard the screams behind me but knew they wouldn't let us leave. The duo wanted us dead, and levels or not, I wasn't going to sit idly by when they pounced.

My claws dug into the dirt, as I closed the ten-meter distance in a few steps. As I raised my horn to slash downwards, I lost track of my prey for a nanosecond. Depowering my attack, I searched for the creature.

Left, Right? NO ABOVE!

As my eyes rose up, I noticed a massive purple cloud seeking to engulf me. Unable to dodge, I inhaled and held my breath hoping to avoid the worst of the toxins. Before it struck, a single blur slammed into my side, knocking me out of the way. As I recovered mid-air, I caught a glimpse of Bry. The smoke engulfed him entirely, obscuring him from me.

"BRYYYYY!" Kyle screamed, only for the rodent to get pulled free from the smoke by Delilah. As she psychically pulled on the rodent, he stopped mid-air. I glanced between the beast and the Gardevoir, as I witnessed the tug of war. This thing was tearing us apart, one at a time.

"Nihilego. Restrain them. They are interfering with the experiment."

On cue, I watched as everyone minus me and Kyle were absorbed into a pink bubble of strong Psychic energy.

"You coward," Arren snarled, delivering a strong punch to the barrier which sent him sprawling backward. I circled back around to face the threat with my friend. Kyle glanced at me from his kneeling position.

"We can't-They'll-"

"Kyle!" I snapped. Placing a paw on his bad arm, I dug into the flesh gently trying to get him to snap out of his trance. His emerald orbs homed in on my face as he trembled under my touch.

"I won't let anything happen to you. But we have to fight. Don't hold anything back. Every ounce of power you have. Draw it forward."

My words had a profound effect, as his jaw set and his gaze grew angry. All of the things he had tried to hold in, I was telling him to let go. I was trusting him to not kill me. He faced our opponent headstrong, as we both prepared for battle.

"Nihilego. Kill."

The jellyfish-like creature blitzed behind us. As its first appendage rushed towards my face, Kyle kicked the attack away, giving me time to retaliate. Firing full force a massive Razor Wind, I watched as the blades of energy bounced off of its hide as though it were made of steel. Whatever it was, it was fast and extremely tanky. We both hopped away from each other simultaneously as a glob of poison fired at the position we were standing at. It lunged after Kyle, and I watched it carefully tracking its movements.

Dark.

Closing my eyes, I charged my strongest Sucker Punch, waiting for it to lash out at Kyle. Within an inch of his position, I literally dashed to intercept. As three arms lunged at Kyle, I delivered a strong uppercut. My punch landed in the center of its body. As I flipped mid-air, I noticed the threat too late. The creature's arms had changed direction, forming a literal cocoon around my body. I searched rapidly for an exit, as the trap closed shut. Darkness engulfed me, as the air filled with a toxin. I could feel the powder which it released numbed my sensations and drew my strength which each passing second.

What is this damn thing? Normal. Dark. No effect….Okay. Psychic!

Sharpening my mind and sending the power along the edge of my horn, I unleashed a barrage of Psycho Cuts at point-blank range. As sudden as it had engulfed me, the light returned blinding me. I was released from my virtual prison by the beast. My vision blurred as I tried to reorient myself so I could land.

"ROSE! LOOK OUT!" Kyle screamed.

Before I could move, a massive blast of poison slammed into me, sending me rolling through the earth. I flipped head over heels before I came to a rest against the barrier. Shaking off the pain, I tried to stand. I felt drunk, as my body refused to respond to my commands.

GET UP! KYLE NEEDS US!

My legs trembled only for me to collapse back under my weight. My blurry vision tried to focus on the male, as he was assaulted by this beast. His screams of pain reached my ears and drove me to action. I started to rise again, putting my focus on reaching his side. Laughter from Lusamine drowned out the cries from our family to fight. Her cackling drew my anger, and I refused to drop out now. As I fully opened my eyes and shook off the effects, I watched as Kyle dropped to the ground. His body was unmoving as Nihilego's shriek of victory met me.

"No," I whispered horrified at the sight. He couldn't be dead. Not yet! I pushed off, as Nihilego went to attack him. Time stopped for a moment as an eruption of pure blue energy engulfed the male. Power unlike anything I had ever felt in my life pushed me backward. This new development was followed by a tendril of power that moved to swallow me. The poison in my system was leeched out and my wounds entirely healed, as Kyle started to float a meter above the ground. I stared at him, confused as his head turned to face me. His normally green eyes were colored the purest blue, and shimmered with power even I was unaware he had. The energy which held me lifted me up and faced me to the barrier. I stared at Kyle whose eyes focused on the barrier. Without a word or motion from the male, the hemisphere shattered into a million pieces. Whipping us around to face Nihilego and Lusamine, I noticed the female's expression was one of shock.

"Curiouser. Nihilego. The experiment is done. Retreat."

Before Kyle could stop the pair, they manifested a wormhole and faded swiftly from view. As our enemies left, Kyle dropped us both to the Earth. A scream caught my attention, as I glanced to watch Delilah collapse to the ground unconscious. Looking back to Kyle, my fear grew tenfold. The blue energy which encircled him, vanished as suddenly as it had come. The power ebbed and died out, like a storm. Under his own weight, he fell to the ground into a heap. Rushing to his side, I listened carefully. His heart beat slowly. Glancing back to Olivia, my confusion hit the group hard.

"Kyle? What…what are you?"

ULTRA SPACE

As the Jellyfish like Ultra Beast engulfed her head, Lusamine closed her eyes calmly. Their thoughts collided together and swirled as they compared information. Finally, she was released to the ground. Her heels clicked as she regained her footing on the solid ground. Her eyes looked up into the sky as she contemplated the data once again.

"That explains everything. The growth. The speed and power. I'd call that a success. I doubt the boy will be able to contain it for much longer. However, anyone who is truly out to kill him will have more on their hands than an average boy. He should be dead…three times over. Oooh. The things I'd love to do to him. However, with power like that, I can't challenge him. Let's go home, sweetie. You've done so well," she cooed at the Ultra Beast. It shrilled pleasantly at her words as another wormhole opened. Lusamine paused at the entry, wrapped up in thoughts of what could and would be. The future was a mysterious thing. Killing the boy would have terrible consequences for the world. Letting him live, even worse. She sighed before walking into the hole. This wouldn't be the last time she got to toy with her little test subject. He was hers to play with and she would.