Flareon Light was in a dark, damp cave. Water droplets echoed on the ground. He turned himself around, looking to see where he was.

Lugia stood in front of him a few paces away. It was small; much smaller than before, even comparable to the size of normal species Light had seen. It faced away from him, gazing down over a small pool with tears streaming down its silvery face.

Light stalked up next to it. He stole a look at the pool. He flinched and glanced away toward Lugia's face. The pool of water was mostly red, with vile visions.

"Please stop," Lugia mumbled. "My friends. Stop hurting each other."

"He's waking up!"

Light blinked a few times. Sky-Forme Shaymin Ariel stared back at him. Her crystalline smile shone against the familiar cave ceiling. Her face got closer until she nuzzled his gray mane. He felt soft friction on his back and the sound of the rushing water in his ears.

Light's head cleared. He was in Ariel's lap while she sat against one of the rocks pointing up from the ground in front of the waterfall. His blood raced, but he took in a deep breath and smiled. Ariel lifted her head.

"You, uh, got a little intense back there," Ariel said. Her eyes gestured to his arms, covered in long patches of glass. He could see disturbing, rhythmic movement underneath.

"Oh," Light mumbled. "I, uhm, didn't do too great."

Ariel chucked to herself. Light blinked while she hugged him with her ears draping over his body. They felt like curtains that protected him from being fully seen from the pokemon approaching. After he wrapped his gray tail around himself, Light was mostly covered from their eyes; safer.

Buizel Zen, shiny Zorua Aaron, and Quilava Gawain inched closer while Lopunny Luke dragged his feet behind them. His body looked like a normal Lopunny again, but tired. While the others came close, Luke eventually just gave up walking and fell flat on the floor. Light zoomed around to different faces for reactions, but there weren't any. Furret Abigail stepped over his arm while he was laid out on the ground. She bent down to check on him.

"I have dibs," Aaron said.

"Yeah, yeah," Zen huffed.

Aaron walked up front with an ominous smile on his face.

"Okay," Aaron said, "so, the heterochromia..."

"What?" Light asked.

"Different colored eyes. Does it, like, affect your vision?"

"Uhm, no?"

Zen walked forward, taking a quick whiff of air with his head raised.

"Anyone else smelling sugar?" Zen asked.

"That's Light," Ariel said. "He, uh, needs to eat a lot of sugar."

Something warm shot through Light's head. The vibration of Ariel's deep voice in her chest felt strong. He liked it. A lot.

Light pulled up a bit and nuzzled her face, pushing down until his head rested on her shoulders. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and sighed with heat on his face.

When Light pulled away, Abigail was looking at him with an enormous grin going across her face. From Chad sharing some of his old memories, she felt extremely familiar. If it wasn't for the gold fur, he wouldn't be able to tell her apart from her mother at all.

"H-hi," Light said.

"Hi," Abigail said. "I, uh, don't think we got to properly introduce ourselves earlier. I'm Abigail Frisk."

"And we're her boyfriends," Aaron added.

Abigail's tail beat against the ground and then curled in front of her face.

"My name's Aaron Valor," Zorua said, "Abigail's future husband. Nice to meet you."

"Zen Verity," Buizel said.

"Gawain Acuity," Quilava said.

"My name's Light... Uhm," Light paused. He hadn't decided what to do yet. He might as well say all of his names. "My birth name is Angelo Bedivere Acuity, or Angelo Evergreen. But I just go by Light right now."

"Evergreen?" Abigail asked. "Wait, Charlotte...?"

"Used to have a sister," Zen finished. "Rosemary Evergreen. I don't think it's very, er, public… But, she married Lancelot Acuity."

"Which makes you my cousin…" Gawain said.

Light took a second to study the Quilava, from top to bottom. He had some kind of swagger, even though he didn't seem to say much. There was a strange prick in his brain when he was looking at him.

While Light stared, he felt Ariel squeeze his paw. After, he looked at Gawain again, calmer.

"Hi," Light said.

"Hey," Gawain said. "I, uhm," he cleared his throat, "I think my parents would like to meet you."

Light looked past him. Meowstic Markus and the strange Audino were both off to the side, but there were a few others that looked much older. A Typhlosion and Umbreon approached from the group, walking as if they were thinking about every step. Zen and Aaron stepped back with Abigail to give them room.

Umbreon gestured with his head for the Typhlosion to approach first. As he walked, Typhlosion bent down on one knee and looked right at Light's face.

"That'd make me your uncle," he said. "My name's Percival."

Umbreon walked next to him with a stiff face. Light couldn't tell what he was trying to show or express, but it wasn't a normal resting face.

"I'm... your grandfather... Amadeus Acuity," Umbreon said. "I'm glad to meet you."

"Hi," Light mumbled.

There was an awkward silence. Light wasn't sure what to say to them. They shifted around as they stood.

"Can you feel the Acuitan blessing?" Amadeus asked. "It's more... subconscious in our family."

Light wasn't sure if he could or not. He knew because he told him who they were, but wasn't convinced he could tell on his own.

"I don't know..." Light mumbled.

"It's alright," Amadeus said, "it's rather tricky."

Light turned to Ariel when she put pressure on the muscles in his shoulders. His muscles relaxed, making him realize they were tense. The silence continued on a little bit.

"I, uuhm, hate to change the subject," Amadeus said, "but I would like to know what all has happened."

The group turned to Lopunny Luke sprawled out on the ground. He just barely raised his arm with a finger pointing up.

"Can someone flip me over?" Luke asked.

Meowstic Markus walked forward to him. He grabbed his arm and gave a firm pull, flipping Luke onto his back. He grunted and sighed.

"Thanks," Luke said. "So... Uh, Scions."

"We already told our parents what happened and what you told us," Zen pointed out.

"Oh... Right. Uh... What do you guys want to know?"

"How about how we got here and where we are?" Markus suggested quietly.

"Well," Luke said, "if I had to guess, I think Hannah kidnapped us. In our sleep. Well... At least I was sleeping."

Light leaned back and rested in between Ariel's shoulder and neck. Ariel rested her head on his while Luke mumbled through his thoughts.

"Okay," Luke said. "So, Legendary species like what we just saw are all… kinda like that. And, uh, angry?"

"Where do they come from and how do we deal with them?"

"You have to beat them straight on, I think. Their bodies are affecting their minds, somehow, so right now it's likely that Lugia is gonna' start slowly coming to its senses. Become sane again, probably along with Hannah."

"You said Light is one of these 'Scions' earlier," Ariel said, "but he's sweet as a cookie. What's the difference?"

"Well," Luke said, "Reshiram wasn't able to sneak broccoli in."

Light cringed a little.

"Scions to a Legendary species while they're insane aren't necessarily going to become Conquerors like what Hannah almost was. They have to choose to listen."

"Almost?"

Luke stretched out on the ground, sighing when his back cracked.

"Yeah... I have the feeling she was never serious about the whole 'execution' thing. If she was serious, there'd be a few of us down for the count. Just kinda my opinion, though."

"Soooooo, who are you?" Markus asked.

"I'm… a historian," Luke said. "Information like this has been passed down in my family."

"What kind of historian? Mega Evolution is some old stuff for fighting."

"Ancient historian, yeah. If I told most people this stuff, they'd just call me crazy, so, uh... There you go."

"One more question," Amadeus said, "what does being a Scion entail?"

"Well, Hannah's exhibit A," Luke said. "And Light's arms being sowed together by glass is exhibit B."

The air in the room blew in Light's direction. He stuck his arm out from behind Ariel's ears to show it. Everyone glanced towards it, and their eyes got stuck.

"Nice," Aaron said.

Audino curled her lower lip and gave an acknowledging nod. Zen and Gawain made weird facial expressions between grossed out and sympathetic.

"It's a theory," Luke said, "but I think Scions used to rule the whole world together. So, uh, if you meet a pokemon with strange powers, either call for help or be careful in whatever you do next. Hannah was probably the least dangerous we could've come across."

"What does rule the whole world mean?" Amadeus questioned.

"Like your crown but, uh, king sized."

Light snorted a bit. Amadeus turned around and caught different reactions.

"Just," Amadeus grunted, "how do we leave?"

"First," Luke said, "I'm gonna chill for a few minutes so that I can have you guys leave without passing out. Then you just have to tell me 'Thank you, Luke' and I'll get you all back to where you came from."

Lopunny Luke pushed up to his feet, swaying back until he got his balance back.

"And I'm not tucking anyone in," Luke said. "I am so tired."

For whatever reason, Abigail found it difficult to question Luke very much. He seemed earnest, somehow. She paid attention in the battle. He didn't fake anything.

He staggered to one of the long rocks and collapsed leaning on it with his feet out in front of him. His eyes looked almost dazed in the light of the waterfall.

Aaron and Zen both glanced left and right with a little awkward arm and tails swings. Amadeus, Gawain, and Percival gave Light space while Ariel seemed to calm him down.

"So, just one more time," Aaron said. "No vision changes at all? I would think there'd be something."

"Nope," Light whispered. He barely managed to get out the answer in between fawning over Ariel.

"I'm still confused on why we ran on top of a giant tree," Abigail said.

"Reality Shifts," Luke called out. "They helped create the world, so they can pull its threads, sort of speak. They use it to gain the advantage."

"But… how?"

"I dunno'. When they start breaking rules, there isn't always an answer."

Abigail fell quiet. Zen and Gawain just gave her a shrug.

"Sorry if I'm..."

Light's voice trailed off. As usual, he drew everyone's attention.

"I'm, uhm, really happy to meet you," Light said, "and I want to talk, but I'm just so tired..."

"We understand," Amadeus said, "by all means."

Abigail could've imagined Light's fur dimming all of a sudden. He closed his eyes, already settling into a slow breathing rhythm. While everyone else half-stared, Abigail noticed Aaron walking over to the side of the water.

Samurott, Serperior, and Mightyena all watched from the sidelines, joined by a Medicham. If Abigail had to guess, the Medicham was probably Gawain's mom. It was weird she hadn't met his parents before, now that she thought about it. She didn't talk to any of them much at all.

Abigail just stood while Meowstic and shiny Zorua Aaron talked with the Mightyena. From their quiet tones, it sounded a bit too personal for her. Instead, she was drawn to the strange Audino with prosthetic feet and covered with scars. She leaned back on one of the rocks with her arms folded.

She didn't start conversations too often, but she at least wanted to get her name. Curiosity pushed her forward to stalk close to her. Audino looked at her with a little anticipation on her face. Her back straightened as she pushed off the rock and stood up.

"Hi," Furret said, "I'm Abigail."

"Agatha," Audino said, "...is mine."

Abigail nodded.

Unsure what to do next, they both swayed from side to side dodging each other's eyes. Abigail didn't have much to say, but asking something came to her mind.

"Where are you from?" Abigail asked.

"Verity," Agatha answered.

"Oh. I've never been."

Abigail waited for a second before asking another question.

"So, uh, do you have any idea why you ended up here?"

"No," she said.

Abigail understood. She probably had an idea, but didn't want to say. It was fair, sort of.

"Yah," Abigail said, "me neither."

Abigail ran out of things to say. She quickly came up with an excuse to move.

"I, uh, have to ask Ariel something."

Agatha nodded. As Abigail turned away, she saw her lean back on the rock and folder her arms again with her head down.

Ariel was rubbing Light's back when Abigail walked over. She wasn't sure how to approach, but Ariel looked up at her before she spoke. Abigail gave a stiff wave back.

"Hey," Ariel said.

"H-hey," Abigail said, "so, uh, how is he?"

"Already out."

Abigail bent down a little to sneak a peek. His fur had definitely gotten a few shades darker, even though it was still glistening in the blue light.

"I have, a... question," Abigail muttered. "You only met him a few days or so ago, right?"

"Yeah," Ariel nodded.

"So, uhm... How are you dating him already?"

Abigail doubled back on her word choice.

"Not, that I'm judging or anything. I'm just, uh, curious."

Ariel cracked a smile.

"Everyone has their own pace," Ariel said. "For learning, friendships, relationships. Just because those paces are slow or fast doesn't make any one better than the other." Ariel looked down at Light, staring off into the distance

"Doesn't it feel, uhm... A little risky?" Abigail asked.

"There's always a little. But I didn't want to risk others getting a chance with him before I did."

Abigail thought about what she just said. There were still plenty of others who'd try to take Zen or Aaron if they got the chance, but it was hard to move any faster.

"Can I say something... uh, weird?" Ariel asked.

"Yah," Abigail said.

"Your..."

Ariel looked around, struggling to find words. She raised her paw pointing at Abigail, but it went down in increments.

"Nevermind," Ariel said, "it's nothing important."

"Oh. Okay…"

A few minutes passed until Audino Agatha noticed Lopunny Luke stand back up. As he walked forward, it called everyone's attention. He dragged his feet, but he seemed to be moving a lot more than before.

"Okay," Luke said, "I'm like, half-alive. So let me just explain how this works real quick."

Luke slipped a gold ring off his wrist. Agatha didn't even notice it before with the cream color of the Lopunny's fur there, but it caught her attention now.

"This is an old device," Luke said, "and it lets you go between these kinds of twisted reality things as long as you're not being trapped by an active force, like Lugia."

Mightyena stepped forward. "How?" he asked.

"Well, you don't need to worry. It has to do with ancestry, so literally no reason to sweat those details."

Agatha shifted and twitched when he said "ancestry". She took a deep breath, as her lungs burned to question him right then. She decided to leave last if given the choice.

"Just give me a phone number on the way out," Luke said. "I'll remember and call it and stuff."

"But what about Hannah?" Mightyena questioned. "She isn't here."

"No way she's dangerous anymore. And I wouldn't be able to find her, anyways."

"But how do we know?"

"Uhhhh... Just have to trust me on this one. I mean, she helped us in our battle after all. Right guys?"

Luke looked towards Zen, Aaron and Gawain. They all glanced at each other and nodded.

"Well," Zen said, "she saved us from a lot of arrows in a lot of limbs, so... I'm not exactly too worried. Or I'm just too sleepy to think harder than that."

"Yah, I just wanna go to bed," Aaron said. "So, uh, gee gees. Ten outta ten dream, I hope. Very accurate Zen this time."

"This time? Wait, this isn't a dream."

"Dude, what do you think I've been thinking?"

"I'm sure we'll all remember this when we wake up tomorrow," Zen said. "I'd bet…. Well, I wouldn't bet on it."

Luke tossed down the gold ring. It grew in size, stretching out with colors swirling in it. Agatha was familiar with it, but everyone else gazed like she did the first time.

There were a lot of pokemon to go through the first one. Buizel Zen and Zorua Aaron went first with the Serperior, Samurott, and Mightyena following close behind. Typhlosion Percival and Quilava Gawain followed shortly after. They waited until there was room for the tiny drop down.

Agatha watched Abigail go last. They shared quick nods before she hopped down, landing with a gentle clink before the color faded away.

Luke bent over, picked up the ring, and tossed it on the ground again. He looked between Ariel and the ring, causing her to stand up with Light hoisted on her back. She walked slowly, keeping Light fast asleep.

"You said you're keeping in contact with everyone, right?" Ariel asked quietly.

"Yeah," Luke said. "We'll be able to talk."

Agatha didn't keep track of what Ariel said with her phone number, but she just stared off until she hopped down. When the ring closed, Luke bent down and picked it up. He turned to Agatha expectantly.

"Ancestry?" Agatha asked.

"We can talk about it Saturday," Luke said. "You, uh, held up your part. I'll hold up mine."

Agatha was too tired to push. Her back was killing her.

"Okay," Agatha muttered.

Agatha stepped forward as he tossed the ring down. The floor of her bedroom was just below it, but she shot Luke a last glance before hopping down.

Snow whispered in the air from swirling winds, chilling Cinccino Hannah's body. Her feet left a fading trail in the snow as she stepped high to keep moving forward.

"It's time to leave."

"I'm not ready."

Hannah was alone now. She turned her head up to the dull gray sky.

"We can't take everything with us."

"Then leave things behind. Hannah."

Hannah came to the edge of a cliff. The mountains extended near the horizon with a wall of trees under the sunrise.

"Oh, I know. Like those explorers in the old days. Their whole lives were about helping people. So let's make a Guild. Like in those stories."

Hannah stared as warmth started to come. The winds of the mountain were still whipping past her ears and through her fur, but the heat from the sun kept her standing.

"There's... redemption to be done?"

"You can do whatever you want to do, Hannah."

Hannah licked the tip of her paw and raised it to the wind. It blew northward.

"I love you, Hannah."

A Haxorous stalked along the beaten path of the woods back home. Over his shoulder, he carried a bag filled with a few different fruits for the rest of the day as he'd settle in. He was out for most of the day every day, using the cave carved in light brown rock only as a place to sleep.

Because of the altitude, he had a clear view of the tree line outside. He set his bag down by the front corner and stalked back to his other possessions covered by the shade.

There wasn't much point in using his phone anymore, but he kept it with him for emergencies and information. But today, there was a notification.

Haxorous' eyes glazed over the message, then started to sprint. The wind, the weather, and time took a pause for him. He nearly dropped the phone, but gripped it tight before it could happen. He needed to process it somehow.

"I have a nephew..." he said to himself.