Prompt: The hero arrives in the Pokémon world, but there's no partner to greet them: they were dropped into a wild, uncivilized region.

AN: Twisted this bit, as there are TWO heroes.

August was still embracing Grace as he came to, although he could tell that multiple things were wrong. He let go of his fiance, his hands feeling nubby as if he didn't have fingers, and rolled over on his back.

Eyes opened and were greeted by green hair blocking his view to his surroundings. He knew he had let his hair grow lately, but it shouldn't quite have reached that point.

The final thing that really had put him off was the fact that there wasn't any debris on top of him.

Last he remembers before being knocked out was sounds of a battle outside the store, he and Grace were in, when an attack connected with the building, causing it to collapse on top of them, him shielding his love as the roof went down.

Raising his hair with one arm, he could see the roof of a cave.

He looked to the side, trying his best to hold the hair back and saw a ralts which was slowly stirring. Looking to the other side he could see a large opening leading to a forest, and by the simple glance, he could tell that they weren't in Sinnoh anymore.

He looked back at the ralts that was slowly waking up, and decided to see if the context clues he'd gathered had been correct.

"Grace?" He quickly put a nub up to his mouth. 'I sound like a child.'

"Uh…" she slowly rose from her slumber. "Who's there?" Both her hands went up to her mouth afterwards. August imagined she was thinking what he had thought.

"It's me, August." the male replied as the female slowly got up.

"What happened to your voice? What happened to mine?" Grace brushed the dirt off of herself, her awkward movements telling August that she was piecing everything together.

"It's more than just our voices, honey." August replied as he reached out and removed the hair from her eyes, the girl's expression turning deadpan in a second. "I'm also a ralts, aren't I?" he asked her.

In response, Grace slowly reached up with her arm and connected with her front horn. "Can say with honesty that it is indeed us both." she said, a little smile brought forth. "Though the question is: How?"

"I'd rather we find a better place to stay before discussing the hows and whys, if I can be so frank." August replied. He noticed the smile Grace was wearing. "And why may you be so happy about this situation?"

"Weeeeeell." She made a side glance. "I'm a ralts. You're a ralts. It was like we were meant to be."

"Or we could be siblings separated from birth." August mused.

"Noooo, don't say that! Just because we are both natural greenheads." She playfully punched August on his shoulder.

"Anyway, let's try and find some civilisa...tion?" August saw some rustling from the large bushes right outside the cave as a blue four legged antelope/stag like creature emerged.

"Is that a cobalion?" Grace asked, as she awed the creature.

August just nodded in response, taking in the view of the legendary as a virizion and terrakion joined its side.

"Guess she was right again." Terrakion said as he stomped his way into view.

"Must admit, it was quite clever to drop them so far away from everything." Virizion followed. "But I guess they have forgotten just how dangerous this place can be."

"You can start gushing later, you two." Cobalion said as he approached the two ralts. "We have a job to do."

The steel/fighting type loomed over the two ex-humans, the look in his eyes betraying his warm smile. "Hello you poor things." he started. "I'm sure that both of you are rather confused right now."

"That would be right." the male ralts replied, his voice a mix of nervousness and admiration.

Cobalion chuckled. "I'm sorry to say that I cannot help you with any questions you may have, but worry not. You won't be needing any such answers."

His practiced smile then faded as glee took over and he couldn't help but look eerily smug. He saw the ralts had noticed, but by this point, it was too late.

"For what little it is worth," he continued. "I am truly sorry for what I'm about to do."

His horns started to glow as he swung his head back, large blades forming from them as he struck towards the ralts.

They jumped down, barely dodging the blades, but the power unleashed from the move threw them further into the cave. Virizion followed up by sending a barrage of sharp Razor Leaves towards the two base form pokemon, though with the way they were tossed, only the female got hit by a few strays.

"Why are you holding back? Just finish them already!" Terrakion growled as he raised his front legs.

"Terrakion, DON'T!" Cobalion yelled as his compatriot slammed his hoofs into the ground, the earth splitting from his feet straight into the cave, the earth shaking as the roof of the cave started to collapse.

From between the falling rocks, Cobalion could see the two ralts running deeper into the cave, and as such, away from them.

"Terrakion, you brainless oaf!" Virizion had started reprimanding the rock type before Cobalion had the chance. "We. Need. Proof. Of their. Demise!"

"At least I tried to kill them proper. You two are too scared to actually go all out." Terrakion said, pride in his voice.

"Let's see how They would accept 'blood on the cave floor which may have been them' as proper proof!" Virizion was not letting up.

"Maybe if you used all your strength, then perhaps I didn't have to resort to such moves?"

The two butted heads together as they snarled at one another.

"QUIET, BOTH OF YOU!" Cobalion yelled.

The two stopped for a moment.

"Help me clear the entrance. We are all in trouble if they manage to get away!"

The two ralts struggled deeper into the cave as the sound of the Musketeers bickering quickly faded in the dark depths. They hit fork after fork after fork as they tried to get as far away from the legendary pokemon as possible.

Every so often they hear sounds coming from one of the many tunnels which made up the cave heading towards them, in which case they tried their best to hide in the shadows. Usually these sounds were of two or more pokemon fighting against one another as they tossed each other through the darkness.

"How are you?" asked August as they took another turn, away from any kind of sounds.

"I'm fine. It barely stings." Grace replied before leading her arm up to her shoulder where one of the leaves had made a clean hit, as she flinched. "Barely stings." She repeated. "But thanks for your concern."

"Hey, I'd rather that my soon-to-be wife not be a corpse." August laughed, nervously.

As they went further they could start hearing the sound of rushing water and feel a breeze go through the tunnels.

"I think I can hear our freedom, August." Grace said as she practically started skipping towards the sounds. August sighed, a smile on his face as he followed her.

"So… do we just jump and hope for the best?" Grace asked as they were faced with the rushing river.

The cave rumbled as sounds of fighting echoed all the way to them from wherever these fights were happening. August ignored it and took a look at the waterflow and felt the direction of the wind.

"I mean, it seems to lead outside from how the draft is, but since it seems to go through a tunnel which can pose multiple problems… Then there is also the problem of bacteria."

The cave shook once more as some loose rocks fell down from the cavern ceiling.

"I'll take the infection over the fighting happening in here, or Cobalion finding us." Grace replied.

"Good point." August said and reached his nub out to his love. "Then shall we?"

Grace didn't even hesitate to 'grab' it, as they went for a hug, each taking a deep breath before they jumped into the rushing waters, holding tight to not get separated in the currents and had fate carry them out of the cave and into the wilderness.

Leaving the cave, while making sure they had bought some time for getting away from the Musketeers, did not solve most of the duo's problems.

Washed ashore deep into the forest, they got on their feet and tried searching for shelter which also could work as a hiding spot, while also looking for anything edible. Walking through the bushes and crossing the clearings within the forest, the two saw what a world they had been thrown into.

Wild pokemon everywhere were fighting and it was not uncommon for them to walk past pokemon that were knocked out or slain. The few times they encountered a lone pokemon, they were attacked on sight. Not knowing how to defend themselves, all they could do was run.

Unfortunately for Grace, however, was that the cuts from Virizion were affecting her, slowing her down, leading to her getting more hurt for each unfortunate encounter they happened upon.

By nighttime they were both exhausted, and the injuries on Grace had caught up to her.

Thankfully they had managed to find a little hole under a large tree to rest in, not far away from some berry bushes. August went out to gather some of those along with some large leaves to make a bed for Grace to not dirty her wounds.

They both fell asleep, tired, still a bit hungry, and scared for what the world would throw at them the next day.

All they knew was that they had to stay together, survive together and find a way to learn how to defend themselves. But for the time being, they could relax.

Eight years later in the Nexus, the rain was still falling over Hub Town. Vei had been in the medical building since the day before looking over Sear, her eyes not leaving her wounded partner.

In the guild replica, Blaze and Summers were reading quietly next to one another while the other Summers had found a deck of cards to play together with Blair.

Meanwhile, Talon and Spike were sparring in the main hall to get their minds off the events of yesterday.

Across town in a tiny hut, Maho and Twine were embracing one another, appreciating one another's company.

But not far from them, in a hut of similar shape and size, a gallade was looking out the window, the somber mood making him think back to the early days of his pokemon world adventure.

"August, what is bothering you?" the gardevoir asked as she got up from the table.

"I was just… thinking." he responded, sensing Grace's worry. "Remember when this happened to us?" he gestured up and down himself.

"I remember you taking care of me for a week, fighting off that nasty fever." she replied, her knowing exactly what her love was thinking about.

"You were so helpless, and I felt equally so." August said, his eyes still fixated on the gloomy town outside. "Remember what we promised each other during that time?"

"That neither of us would allow the other to be left that helpless ever again." she replied.

"With what had happened to Sear yesterday… I feel like that promise is inevitably going to be broken." August turned around, looking Grace in her eyes. "I don't know how to cope with this."

"I know what you mean." Grace said as she leaned in on the love of her life. "But I think I know of a way to make you feel better if just a little."

With a tiny movement her chest spike connected with his, and a warm feeling washed over them both.

"You always know how to cheer me up." August said as he embraced his world's light.

AN: I was thinking of whether to place this one in it's own story tab or place it here, with the whole 8-years later thing being what made me choose what I chose.

Due to a prompt, that didn't win and never would, I had this idea about something happening to Sear and in response, Vei. So I decided to sprinkle in mentions about this certain event until a prompt would win in which I could tell that story. Worry not, we will be getting to it.

Also, I really like the idea of the Swords of Justice being villains. Could be really fun to explore. Because, I have like... three prompts with August and Grace as the focus, and only one more of these have the Swords appear. One day, that will be rectified... probably.