{Present day, at night}

I sat at the summit of Mt. Chimney near the crater. Even though the sun had already set, there were still some late-night tourists who liked to gaze upon the hot magma burning within the crater, contrasting the starry night sky. I had made sure to position myself out of public view. But I was positioned to take advantage of the magma's glow to read from my scrapbook.

I looked upon the page containing the Kalos Pokeball Factory schematics. I tried to memorize as much of the map as I could before I was to head out on my mission. "My partner already went ahead to the factory to scout the perimeter and provoke outer defenses. In response, Team Celeste posted more guards. This also made their other footholds weaker. Which in turn, allowed my other subgroups of Team Smear to make near-simultaneous attacks in the other regions that had secretly stored Dark Balls. For good measure, I also made some solo runs here in Hoenn at that same moment, pestering the secret Celeste base within New Mauville."

A small smile stretched across my face. "So according to plan, the Team Celeste numbers should dwindle to cover those other places hit. But the defenses won't be so weak for long." I pointed to one side of the map. "Now, my partner should be just keeping a lookout until tonight, when he'll strike the assembly lines in this building." Then I pointed to the other side of the map. "When that happens, I'll go into the storage building and dispose any Dark Balls I can find. And that should be the last of the Dark Balls for some time!"

Satisfied, I opened a small portal and tossed away the scrapbook. After a quick look around, I also glanced at the magma in the crater. "Thanks for letting me use your home as a trash can, Groudon." Then I opened a portal large enough to walk through.

I ended up in the northern forest of Kalos, as I pictured earlier. I climbed the nearest tree and jumped from branch to branch. Whenever there was a branch too far, I used the Kineti-Pack covered on by back to extend my air time. Within a few minutes, I could see the Pokeball Factory up ahead.

I got a bit closer before I stopped in a tree. The lukewarm air of the night cooled me off after being next to a volcano for hours. I remained completely still. As I planned, I waited near the back half of the Pokeball Factory. The orange-tinted leaves gave me enough cover to view two guys guarding the entrance to the storage half of the factory. To my half-surprise, the two guys were garbed in red suits, with fiery red hair and red shades.

"I guess Team Celeste got their hands on some Team Flare grunts. Better I deal with them than a bunch of their own goons." Minute by minute went by. The two Flare grunts stood idly by the door. I hardly moved either, except to adjust the hood of my brown cloak over my head. "I just need to wait for my partner to make his move from the front of the factory. Surely the two guards will make some sort of move when that happens. That'll leave me open to…"

Suddenly, I heard leaves rustling below me. I quickly reached for my right pants pocket, where I left three Sleep Powder pellets for my mission. I looked down to see a figure crouching in some bushes directly below me. For a couple of long seconds, I kept my eyes intensely on the person. "I don't think…this person knows I'm up here."

It took me an additional couple of seconds to pierce through the trees' overcast to get a better look at who was near me. The person remained hunched over and looked about my height. However, the person had a huge, pitch-black ponytail coming off the back of the head that reached down to her waist, effectively camouflaging the rest of the body from behind in this darkness.

"A girl? Who the heck is she?" By the direction of her ponytail, I could tell the girl was looking toward the Pokeball Factory. She had a fair view of the Flare guards through the trees, with a few sets of bushes between her and the edge of the forest. So I loosened my guard a bit, but kept switching my attention between the Flare guards and the girl on the ground. "What's she doing here? Does she…know about Team Celeste, too? No, I'm unfortunately the only person who knows they exist and antagonizes them. So…"

Then I saw one of the Flare grunts whip out some sort of communicator from his pocket. He ran over to the other grunt, looking frantic. "This must be my cue." I heard the girl mutter something to herself. Even with all the training I'd had to enhance my hearing, I couldn't quite tell what she was saying from up in the trees. But I could tell by her tone that she was angry. I looked down to see her tense up. She reached down to her waist and pulled out a Poke Ball.

"Oh no! This will not do!" I jumped out of the tree, as quietly as I could. I came straight down toward her at the same time as she stood up. Just as she was about to run, I threw a hard punch to the back of her head. She stifled a cry before she crumpled to the ground on her front. In the same motion, I reached into my pants pocket and threw a Sleep Powder pellet next to her. She tried to get up, gasping for air. Just as she turned her head to look behind, she fell back facedown.

I darted behind a tree trunk, covering the bottom half of my face with my cloak to avoid inhaling the Sleep Powder. Once the powder dissipated, I peeked around the tree to look where the Flare grunts were. I just caught a glimpse of the two guards running into the building. "Okay, that was likely the sign of my partner breaking in through the front." I look down to the girl. "But what to do with you?"

I bent down and gently turned her over. While holding her front half in my arms, I could get a proper look at her. She wore a light, short sleeve, magenta jacket over her white shirt. She also wore black shorts, a belt with five Poke Balls clipped on it, and some sort of custom white shoes I never seen before. Most of her straight, pitch-black hair was tied in a ponytail, but some of it framed her face and extended a little past her shoulders. She also had symmetrical bangs across her forehead that spread outward like thin wings.

"I don't recognize her." Her face was calm as she laid in my arms sound asleep. She also looked about my age. "She is kinda pretty…but I don't have time to wait or talk." I put her down gently and fished through her jacket and pants pockets. All I found were snacks, a Holo Caster, and a Pokémon Association contact card. She quietly mumbled and moaned a bit as I reached for her stuff. "So she's not a Pokedex Holder, or a member of the International Police, or any sort of important status like that. She also doesn't have any gadgets or symbols that would immediately peg her with any evil organization. Maybe something to do with gyms based on the Pokémon Association card. But then what is she doing here?" I sighed and put her stuff back in her respective pockets. "Regardless, I can't let her get involved in this. Might risk complicating my plan if she's running around the factory."

I got up and looked for the sixth Poke Ball I saw her hold earlier. I spotted it a few feet away, along with a small silk pouch. "She must have dropped this as well when I hit her." I picked up the Poke Ball, followed by the pouch. "Maybe you hide something important in here." I looked into the pouch. I almost gasped. Inside were five Mega Stones; one of them being a Key Stone. "Geez, she collects these? She must be a very strong trainer."

I closed up the pouch and placed it and her Poke Ball in my pocket. Then I took her by her arms and dragged her a few meters further away from the PokeBall Factory.

Along the way, she continued to mumble in her sleep. "Get…Flare…" she muttered.

"Sorry," I whispered to her, in case she somehow heard me, "but I can't do what I want if I'm distracted by where you might be." I sighed solemnly, "And it's for your own good. You do not want to get caught in Team Celeste's affairs."

I left her leaning against a tree. Then I placed her Poke Ball and her pouch of Mega Stones next to her. Once I quickly covered her up with leafy branches, I sprinted off toward the factory.

I stopped momentarily by the forest line, making sure the coast was clear. Then I sprinted to the door, which was locked. I remembered the map of the place and used my Unbound Rings to get to the roof. Not too far off was a vent that I could climb into.

The storage portion of the building was divided into six rooms, with a hallway cutting between them. "The vent I went through only has access to the three rooms on the west side. So I'll have to cut through the hallway to check on the rest." The first three rooms went well for me. I found many Dark Balls in the first and third rooms. Using my Unbound Rings, I sent away those infernal balls to incinerate in Mt. Chimney's volcano.

After my business in the third room, I peeked out into the hallway. The two Flare grunts that were outside earlier spotted my door moving, and ran toward my room. Thinking fast, I chucked a Sleep Powder pellet at them. They flinched as the pellet exploded before them. Dazed by the Sleep Powder, I rushed in and knock them down to the ground.

I dragged their knocked-out bodies with me to the forth room. While there were no Dark Balls, I used a portal to pull out some rope, tied up the two grunts, and left them to the side. I moved on to the last two rooms, where there were more Dark Balls for me to dispose.

I brushed my hands together in satisfaction. "Nice! Barely a hitch in here." I took a breather for a few seconds. "I need to meet my partner before we leave together. I hope his run was as successful as mine." I climbed back into the vent. I headed southward to the manufacturing part of the factory. "According to the map, this vent should lead me to the Factory President's office. Should be a good vantage point, if the room's empty, to see my partner's handiwork. If not, I'll certainly hear about it!"

Sure enough, I could hear two people talking from the office room as I saw light shining from it through the vents.

"I thought you said you'd protect this factory?" said a male voice.

"We have tried our best, Mr. President," said a female voice. "Someone snuck in here with a Pokémon and retreated as quickly as it appeared. Let us survey the damage."

"Well, figured there be at least one Team Celeste grunt in the factory." I reached the end of the vent and peered through the slits. The panel with the slits were positioned high in the corner of the office. By peeking through, I could see the president behind his desk, talking to a man and a woman. "The two are not wearing anything that screams 'evil organization', so it's a fair guess they're both Celeste grunts."

The president blinked a bit before continuing. "Alright. But by the looks of things, our assembly lines are going to take weeks before they're operational. Some help you've guys been."

"Hey, we saved you from those two Team Flare scientists and sent them and their grunts out of this factory a few months ago," said the female Celeste grunt. "So unless you want to risk another evil team breaking in here, we're the best security you got."

"You're right," said the president hazily.

The male Celeste grunt stepped forward and held out his hand. "Since the thief might still be around here, I'd be wise for you to hand us that Master Ball so we can put it in a safe place."

The president blinked again. "Right…" He pulled open a drawer and pulled out a purple and pink ball.

"Oh no, that is not happening!" I grabbed another Sleep Powder pellet from my pocket. Then I busted open the panel and threw the pellet into the room. The pellet broke in front of the desk, releasing the powder.

"Go!" said the male grunt to the female grunt. "Get back-up! I'll get the thief!" The female grunt nodded and ran out of the office.

I jumped out of the vent and dashed to the president. He futilely backed off, but I grabbed him around the waist with one arm and clasped my other hand over his mouth. As he squirmed, I pulled him as far away from where the powder fell as I could. He still had the Master Ball grasped in his hand.

"You will…not…" The male grunt coughed as he inhaled the Sleep Powder. He clumsily tried to get a hold of me, but I kicked him in the ribs. He fell to the ground and groaned as he fell asleep.

"Now then," I turned my attention to the president. "Stop squirming!"

He abruptly stopped a second later. But he still tried to speak through my hand, regardless of how muffled he sounded.

"I'm sorry you've been caught by Team Celeste," I said to him. "But there isn't much I can do for you right now. You might not even make it out of their clutches alive. So save me the trouble and forget about stopping me."

"Mhm!" The president replied.

"Oh, and since I'm in trouble already, mind if I steal the Master Ball from you?" I reached down and yanked the Master Ball out of his grasp.

"Nh mhm!" The president whined, but relented.

I smiled as I let go of him. "Thanks! I'll take good care of it. And don't say a word until I'm gone!" I rushed out the office door and quickly tossed the Master Ball through a portal.

I ran down the stairs from the walkways when the security alarm went off. At the same time, the female grunt appeared with two more Celeste grunts when I reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Halt, thief!" She yelled.

I stopped in place. Her persuasion power didn't feel as strong as mine, but since I kind of wanted to stop anyway, it worked. I made sure my hood was still partly covering my eyes.

"You're part of Team Smear, aren't you?" she said.

I smiled before I turned away from her. "Guilty as charged."

"Then the boss is going to get me a promotion when we finally catch one of you scoundrels!" she growled.

"Who says I'd be caught?" And I rushed off in the opposite direction. I saw the main entrance door ahead, but three Celeste grunts blocked my way. Just as they were about to throw their Poke Balls, I reached to my pocket, grinning. "Ha! One last Sleep Powder pellet, and I'll escape once again!" But my hand reached for nothing. My pocket was empty. I stopped running to the entrance and frowned. "Oh right. I used one of my pellets on that girl. Damn it!"

The three Celeste grunts threw their Poke Balls. Before me were an Inkay, a Pumpkaboo, and Spinarak. I ran to the west side of the factory, but I was shortly cut off by another Celeste grunt and her Houndour. Another grunt came from the east side with his Stunky. "Maybe I can escape over them with my Kineti-Pack?" I looked up. Along the walkways were six Flare grunts, accompanied by three Zubat and three Woobat.

The female grunt and her two companions boxed me in. She threw her own Poke Ball and out popped a Klefki. "I've heard from my team how your team has been compromising our supply of Dark Balls all across the world. I don't know how you found out we manufacture them here, but your reign of thievery ends here!"

I sweat-dropped. "Shit! I got myself cornered…could use my partner right about now…"

{Approx. 11 years ago}

"William, son, I need you to meet your mother and I in the hangar room in an hour."

It had been about a week since my sixth birthday. A very strenuous week. Now, when my dad called me down, I was nervous. Not just for me, but for my parents. "This must be it. My parents looked so stressed out whenever they're around me this past week. Someone must be after them. They've kept me mainly confined to the airship and doubled down on their tutoring. And they've been teaching me additional things like how various security systems work and how bad guys are caught by groups like the International Police. I can barely comprehend all this. But it sounds like my parents are trying to hide the Alchimian Society with a passion. Or fear."

When I felt the hour was near, I left my room and headed down to the hangar. I was sort of shocked to see a group of thirteen people standing in a semi-circle around my mom and dad. Twelve of them seemed to be in uniform, wearing combat boots with belts, custom shades, and trench coats. The coats almost looked like cloaks due to them having a string tied around the collar and flowing behind them. I also spotted a symbol on the coats just below their left shoulders. It looked sort of like a Lunatone without eyes.

The thirteenth guy stood out in particular. He was huge! He stood at least eight feet tall, maybe more. He was so burly, his muscles had muscles, and nearly ripped through his shirt and pants. So it almost put me completely at ease to see my father giving him orders with such conviction and sternness. Although the burly man seemed a bit deadpan, with his bored eyes almost staring through my dad. He also distinctly wore two metal gauntlets around his wrists.

I stood to the side patiently while Raiden and Kailyn finished their instructions to the thirteen guys. Then the burly guy led the others toward the other side of the hangar. My parents walked toward me, as I to them. They put smiles on their faces, but I could tell they were just putting on a cheerful face to me.

My mom talked to me first, in a sort of somber tone. "Will, it is time. Your father and I have decided that today is the day we leave this island. I'm sorry your lessons here have been cut so short, but it isn't safe here anymore."

I looked down, crestfallen. "I guess. The AGB scientists have shown more hostility toward us by the way they look toward us now. But how is Hoth? On the very rare occasions I've been in the lab, my father had me wait just outside in the hall, and I never got to speak to Hoth. I see him peak around the corner or just pass by me, but he strangely glances at me and nothing more. Like he's conflicted between longing, confusion, and frustration all at the same time."

My mother looked to my father with an urgent look. Raiden then broke my thoughts as he spoke. "Now pay attention, William". He spoke in a stern, but calm tone. "What happens in the next hour is crucial. We're going to be recovering our experiment notes and equipment we left in AGB Labs before we go. But some of those notes have been locked away by Hathley. So it is going to be your job to retrieve those files by any means you can. It should read 'Project Portal-Bound'." He flashed me a card that spelled out that title. "Can you do that for us?"

"Yes, dad," I replied earnestly.

My parents smiled. "Good," said my father. "Then we haven't a moment to lose." He walked over to the burly man.

"This will be your first real mission for the Alchimian Society," my mom added enthusiastically. "Aren't you excited?"

"She's right!" I smiled back to her. "Yeah, I am!" "This will be my chance to show my parents all I've learned from them…for real!"

Then I glanced toward my father talking to the burly man and overheard some of what he says to him. "Be a bit gentle with Subject Zero, Temple," Raiden said sternly. "We need him alive for Project Portal-Bound."

Temple nodded plainly.

My dad stepped back next to my mom and I. "Okay, lower the hangar doors!" He shouted back across the room. Another person in a lab coat I missed earlier pushed some buttons on a panel. The half of the floor we stood on lowered slowly. Mechanical sounds grinded and hummed seamlessly as the ship door opened. Less than a minute later, the floor lowered all the way to the ground to form a ramp.

My father looked to me. "Alright, Will. You're up first. The rest of us will be inside shortly. Make me proud."

"Yes, dad" I replied with a smile. I ran down the ramp and across the grassy pathway. After taking in a deep breath of the afternoon air, I pushed through the main entrance doors. "I know this lab inside out, partly thanks to Hoth. If memory serves me right, there's a storage room with file cabinets. Even if it's locked, I know of a vent I can crawl through to get in!"

I got up a couple flights of stairs and ran down a few corridors. I passed by some scientists, who gave me suspicious looks, but hardly stopped me. "Just need to turn this corner and the vent should be next to the storage room door."

I turned the corner, pumped with adrenaline. But then I bumped hard into someone from behind. I crashed to the floor, dazed for a second. When I started to get up, I saw none other than Hoth fallen face-first to the floor in front of me.

"Hoth!" I shouted excitedly. "Where have you been?"

Hoth tensed up. "No…not here…" he mumbled in a frightened tone. He bolted to his feet and began to run off.

"No wait!" I pleaded. I got to my feet as well, stretching a hand out to Hoth. "Please, come back! I need to say…"

Hoth abruptly stopped in his tracks. "That voice…" He wheeled around and ran back at me. I had never seen him look at me in such a blind rage before. "Stay away from me!" he bellowed. He winded back a reckless punch toward my face.

"No, wait, what…?" I stammered. While his aim was thoughtless enough to miss my face, his hit connected with my right shoulder instead. I spiraled back down to the floor. "Wait, Hoth, it's me…Will!" I repeated frantically. I sat back up as I rubbed by hurt shoulder.

Hoth stood over me, breathing haggardly. His eyes burned with anger. For the next few seconds, he looked at me like I was a total stranger. Finally, his eyes flickered to a frightened and concerned look. "What in Arceus…Will?!" He clasped his forehead with one hand, and with the hand he punched me with he holds tight against his chest.

I slowly got back to my feet, still wincing in pain. "Yeah, it's me. Are you…okay?"

He kept darting his eyes to and away from me. I couldn't tell if he was distracted by his own inner thoughts, or if he couldn't stand to look at me. "I…I…don't know. I'm sorry…for…"

"I'll be alright…I think…" I glanced to my injured shoulder.

"No…I mean, yeah that, too…" He almost struggled to speak, like he had to force them out of his throat. "But…I mean, I'm sorry for…acting like this…keeping away from you…"

I looked down in shame. "I can understand after what happened. But why the apology?"

"I…don't know…I mean, I can't…remember…why I have to stay away from you. We're friends. My…best friend. Where did these thoughts come from?" He began to seethe in anger again.

"My father. He said some things to you. But…"

Hoth's eyes widened. He seemed to be thinking many miles a minute. Then he gripped his forehead with both hands. "Ugh! I'm…hurt…"

I worriedly ran up next to Will. I put a hand out to his shoulder, but I hesitated to touch him. "I'm so sorry this is happening, Hoth. I…I promise I never mean to hurt you! I promise!"

Hoth slowly calmed down. "…okay…"

I sighed with relief. "Good. So, I need to do something for my parents. You see…this is my last day here and…"

"Oh…" Hoth suddenly perked up and grabbed me by my upper arms. "Then…take me with you!"

I stood back, flabbergasted. "What?!"

He gave a shaky laugh. "I can sneak aboard your ship! We can go on more adventures together!"

I split between a smile and a grimace. "I don't know…if my parents find out…"

"Screw that!" He said emphatically. "I've been stuck on this island all seven years of my life now. If you leave, I'll be the only kid around. Do you know how bored I'll get if that happens?" He put a thumbs up. "Besides, we're partners 'til the end!"

I briefly cracked a smile. "Yeah, true. What about your parents?"

"Well, I'd miss them for sure…but I can write letters back. And when I'm ten, I'll travel the world with them!" He let go of me as he smiled to himself over his future plans. "Hm, I'm going to need my stuff. The essentials, of course. I'll be right back…" He turned and ran a few steps down the hall. Then he stopped. "Oh!" He ran back to me, giving me a look of concern. "Hey, Will? You said your dad told me to leave you alone, right?"

"Something like that," I replied.

"Your voice a bit earlier…when you told me to come back? It sounded like when your dad said…something to me. Almost hypnotic sounding. Like you two have some sort of special powers. Is it odd for me to notice something like that?"

"Odd…ish…?" I spaced out for a second to process what he said. "That…could be true?"

"Anyway, I better hurry. See you in a bit!" With that, he ran down the hall and out of view.

I snapped out of it and stepped up to the vent. I removed the grates by the screws and crawled in. As I made my way to the other side, Hoth's theory still rattled in my brain. "Could my dad have such a power? Could I? I mean, I do get away with a lot of things. But I always thought it was because I was the cute one. Did more than my good looks do anything? My dad dresses real nice, and encourages me to do the same. But my dad does seem to have a 'way with words'. But he's my dad…and the leader of the Alchimian Society…that's in secret to the world. Could Hoth be on to something?"

I climbed out of the vent. "Okay, never mind all that. Where could those files be?" Looking around the room, I saw all parts of the walls lined with filing cabinets. Then I spotted a stack of papers wrapped in rubber bands. I looked at that first, and on the top of the front page I saw the words: "Project Portal-Bound". "Cool! That was fortunately quick!" The stack felt pretty heavy for my six-year-old arms, so I assumed that was all of it. I squeezed back into the vent and into the hallway.

I started running back to the AGB Labs entrance. "I can't wait to see my dad's face when he sees I did it!" Suddenly I heard a crashing sound not too far off. Curious, I turned around the corner and follow the crashing sounds. Then I spotted Temple standing in a doorway, his frame blocking nearly the whole door. From the other side of him, I could hear screams from people, something like metal being sliced to shreds, and some sort of cry that sounded like drawn blades, intermittently preceding those slicing sounds. "Is that…a Pokémon?" As curious as I was, my head spins as I developed a similar feeling to when I was led into the forest by Hoth and left alone.

"What could be happening with Temple in there? I should tell dad. He is in his employ." I rushed up the stairs to the top floor. "My mom and dad must be up where they usually worked." As I passed by other rooms, I saw some trench coat wearers from earlier running up and done the stairs, sometimes carrying various equipment and papers. I also heard violent pounding from a few doors I passed. I checked one, which turned out to be locked, and another that had its door handle completely ruined. I also heard a few loud bangs from distant parts of the lab. I continued on to the main lab room, with more urgency in my run. "My parents were right; something bad is going down as they feared. I have to make sure they're okay…."

I ran into the main lab. I stepped in a few paces and came to a complete stop. I was utterly petrified at what I was seeing. The room was a mess. Furniture was flipped. Equipment was broken. Loose electrical wires sparked sporadically. But my attention lied squarely in the center of the room. Heather leaned behind Hathley, who shakily held his arms out to shield her. Both of them had a petrified look on their face. And I could see why. Standing opposite the two was my mom and dad. Raiden looked toward Hathley with a very stern look, standing a few paces away. But standing between the two was Kaylin. Her hair, usually tied in a banded ponytail, was left loose and flowed behind her. Some small objects, like beakers and remotes, orbited around her through the air as she motioned one of her hands in front of her. She stared straight at Heather with a menacing sneer.

"You lie!" Kaylin screamed to Heather. "You knew who we really are, and threatened to terminate our partnership!"

Heather shrunk further behind her husband, gripping him tightly. "Please…this building is all we have left…"

"B-besides," Hathley interjected, "if we knew who you r-really were earlier, we would have p-politely declined our possible partnership."

"No, no, no," Raiden shook his head. "You guys were the best company for our project. Not only are you ahead of your field turning Pokémon abilities into usable technology, but you also are relatively obscure to the science community. I thought we were humbling you when we reached a helping hand out to you to bring you back into the fold…"

"…after you were responsible for ostracizing our lab in the first place?!" Heather blurted out. She covered her mouth after realizing what she said, but it was too late.

A beaker flew in Heather's direction. Hathley ended up taking the hit in the chest. He winced, but remained firmly in place. "You will not harm my wife!" Hathley bellowed, with much more certainty than I'd ever seen him.

"Hathley," Raiden said sternly but calmly, "step aside, and do not stop what we do".

A shocked expression appeared on Hathley's face. For a few seconds, everyone stood still.

This whole time, I stood off to the side. They were so focused, nobody knew I was in the room. "Why? Why are my parents attacking them? What is going on?"

Then, Hathley looked down and stepped away from Heather.

Heather looked mortified as she reached to grab Hathley. "No, Hathley! Why?!"

"No way! He just stood by his Heather's side defiantly a moment ago. How…"

Then another beaker whipped against Heather's face. Blood splotched across her face as she almost toppled back.

Kaylin stepped up to Heather. She waved her hand, as if swatting flies out of the air. With each wave, each one of her levitating objects whizzed toward Heather. They made deep cuts through Heather's lab coat, shirt, pants, and skin. Blood trickled from the direct hits. "Please…stop…!" Heather screamed, already to tears.

Hathley still looked down at the floor, openly sobbing. Both his hands were placed on his chest, and he leaned in the direction of his wife, as if he could stretch over to her from where he stood.

"Mom…how…why?" Tears began to streak down my face. My legs shook as if I was experiencing Magnitude 9.

Kaylin came within a foot away from Heather's face. Heather's eyes grew as wide as dinner plates and she held her breath.

"My husband has done everything for the science community, and the world…" Kaylin's pupils narrowed. "You mean nothing to us if you wish to impede our work!" Her hair began to rise into the air. It then extended outwards like wild tentacles.

I cringed. Heather made such a high-pitch scream that I nearly dropped the papers in my hands to cover my ears. But the scream was cut short by a stifled gasp.

Although her legs looked limp, Heather's body appeared fixed in a forced standing position. Her whole body twitched. Tears mixed with blood dripping out of her dilating eyes. Raspy gasps barely escaped her open mouth.

Just when I thought I'd throw up Hathley suddenly bellowed, "Leave her alone!" One look at him and I swear I almost didn't recognize him. His face contorted in agony, as if something else from within his head was breaking out through sheer will. Even more heartbreaking to me was when I saw the same crazed and angry look in his eyes as Hoth gave me earlier.

Kailyn turned her head to give Hathley an annoyed look. Then she closed her eyes. Her hair fell back down. Like a puppet cut from its string, Heather collapsed to the ground without uttering a sound.

Raiden slowly stepped up to Hathley, who barely looked him in the eye. He calmly sighed, "It's a shame, Hathley." He motioned a hand toward Heather. "Remember this as the last time you make a mistake like this. Because you know nothing about what it's like to be ostracized."

Hathley flashed a mean look as tears poured from his eyes.

"One last thing: you will stay in this building, no matter what happens!" With that, Raiden clenched his fist and swung a right hook at Hathley's face.

At that moment, I heard Hoth come rushing in behind me. "Will! Thank goodness I found you! We got to get out of here…" He gasped when he saw Raiden punch Hathley. He was hit so hard that he tumbled backward across the floor a few times before coming to a stop. He groaned as he flickered out of consciousness.

Raiden rubbed his knuckles that he hit with, then took a deep breath as he straightened his suit and tie.

"DAD!" Hoth ran over to his dad's side. But just as he reached for him, he glanced over to Heather, where she still lied motionless and bloody. "NO! MOM!" He ran over to her, tears pouring out of his eyes. He knelt to her side and hugged her tight.

Meanwhile, my mom finally noticed I was in the room. She stifled a yelp and gave me a surprised and guilty look; the kind of face I made when I got caught by my parents and felt bad for it. "Will! You're back already? I…we didn't expect you done so soon…"

My father also looked surprised. But then a small smile grew on his face when he noticed the large parcel of papers in my arms. "Well done, son! You did your part of the job well."

Hoth spun his head toward us. Blood from his mom's body splotched all over his face, as well as his arms and hands. My heart sank into my stomach when I saw the same hurt, confused, and angry expression he gave me earlier. His crazed eyes darted between me and Raiden. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!" He yelled wildly.

As Hoth started to stand to his feet, a small explosion rocked the building from somewhere a few floors down. My parents and I stayed standing. But Hoth fell over and stayed on the ground.

"Oh geez, didn't I tell them to hold off until we left?" said Kailyn.

"Then that means we must depart. Come on, son," said Raiden.

I barely heard him. I could barely move. I couldn't even think. My tears weren't even working anymore.

My father slipped the papers out of my arms. "We have to go, Will!"

Kailyn came over to me and scooped me up in her arms. "He must have seen too much…" She carried me out of the room and followed Raiden as he fast-walked down the stairs and out of the building. We briefly stopped in the hangar room, where the twelve coat guys waited with the stuff they collected.

"Everyone and everything here and accounted for?" Raiden called to the coated men and women. When they nodded back, he continued, "Then let's get this ship in the air! We haven't got much time left!"

Everyone got into position while my mom and dad took me to the panorama room toward the upper front area of the ship. It had a large glass window that had a great view of the outside. But I was hardly in any mood to do anything. My mom put me down, but I just stood motionless where I was placed.

For a while, the three of us stood around in silence. I could hear the hums of the Alchimian Airship as it took off the ground. My mother tied her hair back in her usual ponytail. My father flipped through the papers I got for him, but he kept glancing toward me. Finally, he wrapped the papers back in the rubber bands and shifted them under one arm. "Did you see when he came in?" He asked my mom.

Kailyn had a hand over her mouth, and looked like she could cry any second. "No…what if…?" She looked off to the side.

Raiden muttered a bit to himself. He stepped closer to Kailyn, but I could just barely here them. "Our daughter didn't have trouble comprehending what we can 'do' at this age…"

"But we told her first. She doesn't have our talents, and she acts so nonchalant about everything we do, even back then."

I half-snapped back out of my voided thoughts. "Huh? Who…"

Suddenly, a huge boom came from outside. I rushed over to the window before my dad stopped me. Hundreds of feet below, a huge fireball mushroomed from where the AGB Labs once stood. A billowing cloud of smoke quickly enveloped half the private island.

My eyes widened. I sniffled a bit, though my tears felt backed up in my eyes. "Hoth…" I whined silently to myself.

My dad gently pulled me away from the building. He bent down to my level and looked me straight in the eyes while holding me in front of him. "Listen, William. I'm sorry about what you saw. But this is for the best. For our survival. For your sake, and for ours, it'd be best that you forget everything you just saw this past hour."

I blinked and sniffled. I involuntarily nodded, which made Raiden sigh with relief and let go. But inside, the gears in my head were doing overtime. "We just blew up a building?! Hoth and the others…how did my mom say…'passed on'? My mom can make objects fly and her hair goes wild? Hoth was right about my dad making you do things he says? I have…a sister?!" I clutched my head with both hands, dizzy from processing all these events in such a short time.

My mom looked at me like she was staring through me. With a worried look, she turned to my dad. "We should tell him. I think…he's ready."

My dad raised an eyebrow. "Tell him after…?" But after the two stared at each other for several seconds, he nodded. "I suppose you're right. It would help him make more sense of things." He turned to me. "Son, come with me. I'll need to check up on something, but your mother and I also need to tell you so important things, too…about us."

I nodded slowly and followed him out of the room. I nervously walked between my mom and dad. As we headed to another part of the airship, Raiden spoke up. "I want to begin by saying that your mother and I are…special, in different ways. Not just from how our 'talents' work, but from our different backgrounds."

"You know about psychic Pokémon, right?" said my mom. "Well, you could think of me as a psychic person. I can levitate objects, read minds, and…other things…" She looked away from me again.

"Your mother is quite the powerful psychic," Raiden added. "It's partly why I married her. Sure she may have her…outbursts…but I love her for all that she is all the same." A slight blush appeared on both their faces. "Anyway, what I can do is practically how our society started. The Alchimian Society is a secret operation to the world, as I have told you multiple times before. But within our society is a dominant number of us who share a particular talent. We call it a 'power of persuasion'. Kind of self-explanatory, although each one of us who has this gift has it to varying degrees of 'power'. And the one with the most control and power of persuasion is made the leader of the society." He proudly straightened his suit and puffed his chest. "That would be me."

"Hoth was right! So that 'voice' he sometimes has…he's used it on me!"

"And not only am I the head of the Alchimian Society. Those of us with the power of persuasion created another secret group within the secret group, consisting of just those talented individuals. Or rather, re-created. For those in the know, we call ourselves Team Celeste."

My head began to spin again. "Am I…in Team Celeste?"

Raiden smiled, "Oh yes. Although we keep our existence even more secret than we hide the Alchimian Society. Team Celeste used to exist thousands of years ago by our 'kind'. But time and stripped records have all but left us as nothing but myth and conspiracy to the rest of the world. And we intend to keep it that way for just as long. I do have a legacy to uphold, as my ancestors did. As do you…" He gave a bigger grin. "You, my son, are very special. Not only do you have the potential to have my talents, but your mother's as well. We expect great things from you however your talents are realized. Maybe even take my place as the new boss!"

I gave a half-smile. But my mind felt like it was splitting in half. "I have crazy abilities, too? Secrets within secrets? My parents…kept this from me?"

Then my parents led me into a lab room. It looked particularly busy, with people in lab coats and cloaked coats running in and out through its multiple doorways. The reason for this was what was in the center of the room. I saw Temple standing by a cylindrical, transparent container that looked like I could just fit in. But floating inside nearly made my mind go numb with all sorts of emotions: a Pokémon.

I'd never seen it in any of my many books I'd read. The Pokémon inside was purple and pink, and about half a meter tall. It had a gold ring around its waist area, while another gold ring hung on each horn sticking out the side of its head.

My mom's eyes sparkled as she looked toward the Pokémon. "It's so wonderful that Hoopa is now fully in our possession!"

"A real Pokémon…a real legendary Pokémon! I finally get to see one…"

"Let me out!" Said a shrilled voice.

I almost jumped when I heard it. Not just because of how sudden it was, but how clear I heard it…in my head. "Who…"

"You!" Hoopa banged on the glass, staring in my direction. "Let me out!" I just noticed its purple skin looking worn out, as if stressed by outside pressures.

I tries to look normal in the face of everyone else in the room. "You…are in my head?"

"Help me!" Hoopa angrily cried. "Let me out!" It tried banging on all parts of the container it was trapped in.

Raiden looked to Temple. "Is it still properly contained?"

Temple looked back with a blank stare. "Very. All parts still function as intended."

Hoopa reached for one of its rings. But as it did, a burst of electricity enveloped the container. Hoopa screamed in pain. "Help me! Help…me…!"

I stepped back a bit, hearing its screams in my head. "Why?"

Kailyn stepped up to the container, frowning. "Give it a rest, Hoopa. This container is programmed to shock you whenever you even think about trying to use your rings. And your telepathic shouts won't help you either."

"She can hear Hoopa's shouts?" I backed away a bit further, from Hoopa and my parents.

Kailyn turned around and smiled to me. "Don't worry. It won't harm you or anyone while it is locked away."

I cringed as I saw Hoopa fall to the bottom of the container, still weakly crying out.

"But it will help us with a greater purpose," Kailyn continued. "We've been studying its ability to create portals with its rings and how it travels through hyperspace. With this information, and the actual specimen present, we will soon be able to create our own rings with Project Portal-Bound!"

Raiden stepped up to Kailyn's side. "With this breakthrough, we can travel wherever we want in the blink of an eye! We could be ever closer to having Team Celeste step out of the shadows and…"

Suddenly, a guy in the cloak-like coat rushed up to my father. It was at this moment when I got a closer look at the symbol on the coat. What I thought was a Lunatone was actually a bold letter 'C', with a sideways 'A' cutting across the middle to look like a Lunatone 'nose'. "Raiden, sir! Oh, and Miss Kailyn! Somethings gone wrong with the Project Portal-Bound prototype. It's acting up…strangely…"

"What?" Kailyn immediately stormed out of the room. "You buffoons have better not have damaged it during transit!"

Raiden sighed, "I better check the malfunction." He turned to me.

I kept staring at the now unconscious Hoopa. "My first Pokemon…and it's being tortured…"

Raiden grabbed my shoulder to get my attention. "William, I have to go now. Leave the Hoopa alone." With that he ran out the same door his wife went through.

I kept staring at the container. "How could this happen? How could all this happen? My parents were hiding…horrible secrets from me. And my dad has been using me with his persuasion power. Can a trust them? Can I trust anyone here?" I still heard my father's words rattle in my brain. But his words faded the more I looked at Hoopa. I clenched my fists. "No, dad. I will not forget what happened. And I will not leave Hoopa alone!"

I waited until a few minutes after Temple left the room. By this point, only a couple of other people remained in the room, sorting out the piles of recovered files and equipment. I took note of a particular object that looked like a sledgehammer, but the head had crystalline points. "Maybe that'll do." When the two were clearly pre-occupied, I got to the sledgehammer and dragged it closer to the pod. "Heavy…good." Stopping a few paces away from the container, I held the sledgehammer by the rubber-portion of the hammer and began to spin in place.

The hammer dragged on the ground for a bit. Then it lifted off the ground, sticking straight out from where I spun. My arms ached from the weight of the sledgehammer. The tug was so strong that I wondered if my arms would rip off. But I refused to stop. The sledgehammer spun faster and faster. I silently groaned from the pain, but I kept telling myself to push on. Finally, I let go.

I didn't throw the sledgehammer into the canister as intended. Instead, I ended up spinning so uncontrollably that I spiraled right into the canister. The pointy sledgehammer collided a little above the middle of the canister with a loud crash. The force of impact ripped the hammer out of my hands, while I tumbled across the floor. My head spun faster than my body did a moment ago. I struggled to look up, but I could hear just fine.

"What the…?!" the two guys shouted. They noticed me on the floor, while Hoopa fell limp on the floor right next to the broken canister. "Get the alarm, I'll get Hoopa!" said one of the guys to the other.

Without even thinking, I bolted to my feet and stumbled to Hoopa. I scooped him and up and kept running. In my haste, I tripped up something with wires, ripping them loose. The guy going after Hoopa and I leapt backward to avoid the wild sparks from the wires. This bought me enough time to rebalance my head and press on.

I ran recklessly out the door, with the guy still behind me. "Stop, kid! What are you doing?" He shouted. This got the attention of other scientists and Celeste grunts I passed. Within minutes, I was cornered into a dead end hallway; one of many traps designed for the Alchimian Airship.

"I did not think this through enough." I looked down at Hoopa, who stirred a bit, but still looked unconscious.

About twenty people walked toward me nervously. "Do we grab them?" said one guy.

"That's the boss' kid!" said a woman. "You don't what to rough up the boss' kid, do ya?"

"He's got Hoopa," said another guy. "If it wakes up, it could escape!"

"We can't let the boss' prized captive get away!" said another woman.

I held Hoopa tight against my chest. Tears began to form under my eyes. "Please…we can't do this to Pokémon…to anyone! We don't do this!"

The adults got closer and closer to me. "Please, kid…" said the closest one, who was almost within reaching distance of me.

I shut my eyes. "Leave me alone!"

Everyone in front of me backed away a smidge, looking at me with a stunned and confused expression.

"Will!" I heard the voices of both my mom and dad simultaneously.

I opened my eyes. But before I got a glimpse of my parents, I felt Hoopa begin to squirm in my arms.

Hoopa blinked twice. Seeing itself surrounded, it let out a loud warning cry. Then it tossed one of its gold rings directly below me. The ring expanded rapidly, circling around my feet.

The adults stood where they were, bewildered at the action before them. I could just spot Raiden and Kailyn over their heads. "Will, get…!" My father started.

But then the floor disappeared beneath me. And I fell in with Hoopa in my arms. I was no longer in the Alchimian Airship. The last thing I saw was my parents panicked looks before the portal closed.

I fell for a few meters until I knocked into the top of a tree. I hit at least a few branches before I finally hit the ground. During the fall, I let go of Hoopa. When I came to, I saw the gold ring return to Hoopa's hand. It floated shakily in the air, looking at its new surroundings.

I got myself upright on my hands and knees. "Hoopa?" I called out to it.

It turned around and gave me an angry look. "Stay away!" Its telepathic shout sounded frazzled but sharp.

Suddenly, a bunch of cries reverberated through the forest. Hoopa panicked and flew away from the noises.

I stumbled to my feet. "Wait!" I called out to it. "Come back!"

Hoopa threw its gold ring again, creating another portal.

I reached my hand out to try to grab it. "You have to take me back!"

But Hoopa dashed through the portal.

"Don't leave me here!"

The portal vanishes just before I caught up.

For a few seconds, the world around me felt frozen in time. "I'm…alone…"

Then the cries got louder. I looked up to see flying Pokémon cutting through the trees. But some of them noticed me and dove down. At the same time, some Pokémon scampered by my legs. All of them called out in cries of either fear or threats. Pidgey, Spearow, Tailow, Pikipek, Ledyba, and Vivillon dive-bombed toward the running Pokémon and I. I spotted Oddish, Sentret, Patrat, and Zigzagoon scurried by me, or tried to knock me out of the way.

My heart raced. I got flashbacks to the forest on the lab's island again. I screamed and ran away. I cut straight to a patch of forest that looked ticker and shadier. Even when all the Pokémon were behind me, I kept running. Under a minute later, my legs tired out and gave way. I crashed into the grassy dirt and skidded to a stop. Silence. Sweet silence. Just the wind rustling through the branches…and my tears pouring out of me. "I'm alone. I'm all alone." "Mom…dad…" I whimpered. Then I thrusted my head up and looked to the tree canopy above. With reality hitting me hard, I screamed at the top of my lungs, "HELP!"