Through the gangly trees of the misty forest was the tiny settlement known as Brume Village, a sleepy place nestled in a clearing. As Domino and his sisters led Janus past the threshold of branches, the Ninjask took the time to look around. The brick houses were neatly thatched with withered sticks that had fallen from trees, and cobblestones lined the narrow dirt trail that snaked through the clearing and into another stretch of woods. A light dusting of snow moistened the dirt underfoot, apparent from the shallow footprints Domino left behind as he hopped along.

Up ahead at the edge of the clearing was a building much larger and far more grand than the others. It looked nothing like the other houses; perhaps it wasn't even a house at all. It was an igloo-like structure, domed and white, with a straw roof and a blue curtain door. The windows were circular, with a thin line of wood across the middle for support. In a way, it almost looked like a face.

And perhaps it was, because from out of the building emerged a crab-like Pokémon who very much resembled the facade. He ambled out, a wide smile spread across his face and his large claws swinging back and forth, threatening to knock over any Pokémon that was in his radius. A tiny one was in the line of his swing, but it managed to jump back just in time, clutching the sheet of paper it had in its arms closer to its chest.

The large crustacean eyed the littler Pokémon, a bear cub with a runny nose, up and down, before letting out a hearty laugh. "Hohoho! Sorry to startle you, little one," he said. "Cubchoo, right? You were looking to make a request of the Legion?"

"Y-yes, Legion Head," Cubchoo replied. She sniffled and shuffled closer to him, holding up her piece of paper. "M-my friend Cetoddle… he went missing three days ago after exploring the Hazy Highlands, and the Legion hasn't sent a rescue team to find him…"

"Hoho, fret not, little one," the crab Pokémon replied. "I had assigned Team Lightning to the task, I thought. They are two of my best and brightest explorers, they're bound to be back with your friend shortly."

"If you're sure… thank you, Mr. Crabominable, sir," Cubchoo said. She bowed before running off back towards her home.

But Janus could tell that Crabominable didn't seem so sure. His face fell as Cubchoo left, becoming far more sour than the cheerful smile he had put on when faced with the little cub.

"Ghh. Lynette and Cam should've finished this mission by now," he muttered. It was at that moment he noticed Domino and Janus, and the little Shroodle Sisters trailing behind; his gleeful grin returned just then, and he wrung his claws together as he continued, "Ah, Domino and Company! Welcome back. And it looks like you brought a new friend, who might this be? He looks awfully familiar."

"Legion Head, meet Janus. He's fresh meat, we found 'im in a Dungeon," Domino said. A wide smirk was plastered on his already-smug mug. "Frida 'n Judith 'n I were thinkin' of recruiting him into Team Bullseye. Right, girls?"

"Yes, yes! Fresh meat!" said Frida, the Shroodle with purple eyes.

"New friend!" Judith, the one with green eyes, added.

"I'm sure Dice 'n Spade won't mind either," Domino continued, satisfied with his sisters' answers. He waved a dismissive hand. "So, Legion Head? Whaddya say?"

Crabominable did not answer. Instead, he approached Janus, leaning in and inspecting every inch of the Ninjask with excruciating detail. Uncomfortable, Janus backed up slightly.

"Legion Head, sir… you don't need to get so close," he murmured. "I'm fine with joining them, if they'll have me. They seem nice enough."

"Hmm…" The Legion Head still seemed deep in thought. However, he simply shrugged and retreated, patting Janus on the back gingerly enough as to not disturb his flight. "Alright, if it's alright with everyone! Come on inside, I'm sure the cold isn't good for your wings, little Ninjask. I'll get the official paperwork and get everyone some hot chocolate!"

Being inside of a toasty building was much more comforting than being outside in the chilly, snowy city or that foggy Mystery Dungeon, Janus found. The warmth from the crackling fireplace permeated the lounge, and the steaming hot chocolate on the coaster before Janus really made him think of home.

…Home. That Mystery Dungeon couldn't have been his home, could it have? It was full of hostile Pokémon, creatures that had lost themselves to the winding madness of the ever-changing labyrinth. Surely he couldn't have originated from there. But were there other Ninjask in there? Others like him, who had lost themselves like that Dachsbun had? Other Ninjask, so far detached from society that they, too, forgot who they were before…?

"Yo. Ninjask dude. You okay?"

"Huh?" The sound of Domino's voice shook Janus out of his thoughts. The Ninjask nodded and took a sip of his drink; though, he immediately regretted it as it burned his tongue. "I'm fine, yeah. Just… thinking about things."

Domino chuckled. "I could tell. Ya really looked like you were gonna blow a gasket there, I could see the steam comin' out of yer ears."

Embarrassed, Janus looked away, focusing on his drink. On the gently rippling surface, under gaps of whipped cream clouds, he saw himself, his reflection staring right back up at him. A sip of the chocolatey drink made the image distort just a little, before it settled right back on that picture of him . It looked unsightly and unnatural, but it was undeniably him.

"Sorry," he eventually replied. "I just have a lot on my mind right now, I guess. It's kinda hard not to think when I'm not even sure who I am right now."

"Nah, I get it. It's tough," Domino said. "Just… don't hurt yerself, 'kay? Wouldn't want ya gettin' into trouble or fallin' in with the wrong crowd just so you can go 'n try and find who ya used to be. Catchin' my drift?"

"Yeah, I think I've got you." Janus sighed. "Thank you, Domino. I really appreciate all your help. You're… really sweet."

"Don't mention it, pal."

"DOMINO!"

From down the hallway to the right came an entirely new voice. It belonged to an orange Pokémon, slightly stocky with electric sacs on her cheeks, with a shock of orange hair between her long ears. She looked exhausted, on the verge of tears, and, frankly, just overall frazzled.

"I knew I heard your voice! Domino, you promised you'd bring him back today," the newcomer, a Pawmo, pleaded, exasperated. "And here you are, drinking hot chocolate in the lounge. With a stranger. You were supposed to bring back my partner, Domino, not a complete stranger! GODS."

Domino groaned. "Lynette, relax. The girls 'n I are just takin' a little break from our mission." he replied. "I'm sure Cam's still out there in the Highlands, you've just gotta be patient."

"You're killing me," Lynette emphasized, sighing. "Killing me! Cam's probably frozen to death right about now, he's fragile."

"Ye-heah, he's a little wuss," Domino said. The Shroodle Sisters giggled at their brother's response. "Lyn, I've got this. Dice 'n Spade'll be on the job in the morning. For now, my sisters and I are havin' a nice, relaxing cup'a Joe with our good pal Janus."

With a sigh, Lynette turned back into the hallway. "You guys better find him, before I take this up with the Legion Head. He won't take kindly to one of his members being gone for… what's coming up on three days now. Especially when we still have a mission to complete as a team. We can't complete it until you bring my partner back."

The distressed Pawmo stormed out of the room, grumbling incoherencies to herself. Janus, in response, rose from his seat, but out of the corner of his eye saw Domino shake his head.

"Don't bother with her," he muttered. "Lyn's always been a little nutty when it comes to her partner. From what I've heard, the two of 'em have been friends since they were little, 'n Lyn's always been real protective of him. She flipped her lid when she woke up to him missing the other day."

"She seems really upset though," Janus replied. "I think I should go check on her —"

"NO. No. I told ya not to meddle. You better not," Domino interjected.

"Oh. Alright then." Janus sat back down. "From the sound of things, you don't like her very much. Some sort of rivalry between you two?"

"Nah. More like between me and Cam," Domino said. "Little bugger's always been better than me at everything. It's infuriatin', I tell ya. I couldn't care less if he died in those Highlands, if I'm bein' real honest."

Something sank in Janus's chest, an odd feeling weighing him down much like a stone might. Nausea crept up within his stomach in that moment; he set the hot chocolate down on the coaster and just nodded in faux agreement.

The Grafaiai and his sisters sneered at the reaction. "What, freaked out by the idea?" Domino asked. "The first rule you'll have to learn about our gang, Janus, is that we cherrypick our missions. We make sure they're tailored specifically to our likin', see, and make sure the rewards are plen'iful and exactly what we need to get out on top."

"B-but why would…" Janus trailed off, unsure of how to finish his question.

Luckily, Domino knew exactly what he wanted to ask. "We only took Lynette's mission 'cause she promised us a bunch of Poké 'n Reviver Seeds 'n shit. We never gave a crap about her partner."

Anger rose to replace the creeping bile in Janus's throat the more Domino spoke. The Grafaiai was a rescuer. It was in the name to rescue . Sure, it was alright to be in it for the money and all of that, but to risk another Pokémon's life in pursuit of better rewards? Unspeakable.

But he didn't say that.

"...I see. Maybe it'd be best if I didn't partner with you, then." Janus's wings carried him back up into the air, and he waved a forcep in farewell. "It was very nice talking with you, Domino, but… I don't think it's right to just… straight up not care about your client, y'know?"

"Hmph. Fine then," Domino said. "Your naivety may look cute, but I promise ya. Actin' innocent ain't gonna get ya very far in the world of rescuin'."

Before Janus could get very far, an Oinkologne emerged from the kitchen, a dinner bell in hand. She rang it a few times, summoning Team Bullseye and the others in the lounge for the meal before trotting back into the mess hall she had emerged from.

"Oh, lookey. Dinner time."

Domino got up from his seat and smeared a slight splotch of blue paint across Janus's back. His glassy, full eyes shone with malice.

"We're gonna have a nice meal together, got it?" he said. "You, me, my sisters, and our other teammates. I really don't wanna make an enemy outta ya, bud. But you're really forcin' my hand here. You don't agree with me, I can see it in yer eyes. But I'm all you've got now."

The Grafaiai gave another smug chuckle as he crossed into the mess hall.

He turned back towards Janus with a grin.

"And you know it."