A/N: New travel partner means new logs! I hope you like these. I thought it was rather creative myself. Anyway, this one's a bit of a wild ride. Strap in and enjoy!

T-rated violence ahead.

– Chapter 5 –

Close Encounters (Strange Days)

Lucas's Log #1

[The page begins with a pencil sketch of Shaymin from multiple angles. Neat almost mechanical script sits below in a format mirrored by other entries.]

Shaymin - Land Forme Grass-type Gender: Female Age:Unknown

The Gratitude Pokemon Height: 0'08" Weight: 4.5lbs

Personal Observations:

Shaymin is an interesting Pokemon, to say the least. A Mythical Pokemon that lives on mostly in legends and ancient tales. Sightings of Shaymin are considered extremely rare almost to the point of disbelief. Having personally met one, I'm beyond impressed. Sasha, Shaymin's partner, was kind enough to allow me to examine Shaymin and test her current abilities. I would consider Shaymin to be a wildcard as far as her abilities go. A veritable Queen-of-all-trades so to speak. There are few that are know to preform equally well in all fields and Shaymin outstrips nearly all of them.

This specific specimen however, when compared to the only verified studies I could find, seems to be much physically weaker than others of her species. Unable to put as much power into physical attacks. While she won't be winning a fist fight with a Lucario anytime soon, she makes up for this weakness with nearly unparalleled strength in special powers. For example her Magical Leaf attack is close to being comparable to the one displayed by Pokemon during last year's Lily of the Valley Conference.

The most unnerving thing is that, Sasha is adamant that Shaymin has barely achieved a third of her potential. With her Skye Forme transformation supposedly making that strength exponentially more intense.

Then there is the Seed Flare. An ability that is purely unique to the Shaymin species. I can personally attest that it's power has little equal. I witnessed a concentrated, if weaker, blast of this attack turn a small tree into what was essentially splinters. I suspect that it would be possible on Shaymin's strength alone, that one could clear eight gyms and reach the Lily of the Valley. It would line up with rumors of someone who has a Darkrai on their team.

Another interesting note is that Shaymin can in fact communicate with a form of telepathy. She's either fluent in human language, or an innate ability of her communication allows the mind to decipher her intentions in a form that can be understood by the mind she connects to.

-Further testing necessary-

See Research Journal 1 – G for more in-depth notes.

/-/

The mid-morning sun shines through the windows of the house. Glameow is stretched out on the counter, watching us while her tail flicks lazily through the air. I glance over my list once more as Lucas sits next to me with his own list. Our bags are open and our supplies are organized across the table and floor.

"Alright Lucas. Let's see here... Anything missing on your end? I'm looking pretty good. Even managed to do some good food prep early this morning. Should be more than enough to get my Pokemon to Jubilife. I haven't had a proper chance to discuss Turtwig's diet with you yet either. I didn't expect to be traveling together ya know?"

"He'll be pretty good until we get to the city. Our team is far too thin for us to really specialize yet. Once we get a better idea of what he's actually capable of in a proper battle, I'll let you know. You know Sasha... I'm really glad that you're coming with me." He leans back and looks up at the ceiling. "You may not be the best trainer, but you're good with people. You also listen to me and are patient even when I fail at being a normal person."

"Hey ease up there Lucas," I reply and lean back to relax beside him. "Listen, the only thing about normal about being a person is that we all have issues and struggles. Sometimes, those struggles are found in losing people when you're too young, or maybe another is born with asthma, or maybe somebody's brain just works a little different. Don't be so hard on yourself... also, I'm a pretty good Trainer, brat."

"You've won one battle in almost a month," He replies with a shrug. "You're team composition is strange. There's not much room for specialization in your party and I know that you haven't even given thought to doing so."

"Hmm... in my defense though, I'm still at a hundred percent win rate. Not to mention, I beat Cynthia. That, technically, makes me the current Champion." Ha, that's kinda true. If only I had all of my badges already.

"That's a fair point... are you sure she wasn't going easy on you?" He wonders and I roll my eyes.

"Of course not. She was using borrowed pokemon though... so I don't really count it." I drum my fingers on the couch and make a small noise. "Huh... I guess I do look like a pretty bad Trainer right now. I can't very well battle you though. It wouldn't be a fair match. Johanna doesn't battle. Cynthia is just out of my league... Man. That settles it. I'm going to challenge the first Trainer we come across." The balls on my belt wiggle excitedly. "Looks like everyone's excited at that idea."

I toss a spare pokeball up and down as we relax into a comfortable silence.

"..."

"..."

The only sound for what seems like hours is the ticking of the clock, our light breathing, and the pokeball falling into my hand. Unable to suffer the silence any longer I speak, "Want some tea?"

"Ew, Petilil tea?"

"No dude, like actual tea."

"Oh... Nah."

"That's cool... Me neither."

"Then why did you offer?"

"Because..." I pause and think for a long moment. "I'm bored..."

"Same."

"..."

"..."

"Do you think Cynthia will be much longer?"

"I have no idea."

"Touché... Hey do you feel that?" I stand up as the hairs on the back of my neck rise. A heavy sense of foreboding settles in my chest and I look around wildly. "Lucas, something's wrong."

"I don't feel anything. What are you talking about?"

"Above the training field, I can sense it! Something... something wrong. It doesn't belong." Her voice is thick with panic. Glameow has turned towards the back yard, her hackles rising with a yowl.

"Sasha, what is Shaymin talking about? What's going on?"

"Come on. Outside now!" I hop over the items piled on the floor and sprint out the front door. With familiar ease, I launch myself over the porch railing and come to a halt as I see it. The rainbow crack in the sky. No... it can't be... It's not possible!

"Sasha! What's go- W-what is that?!" Lucas's voice is filled with surprise and fear. Not nearly enough of either.

"It's... It's an Ultra Wormhole. Lucas, I need you to get away. Run!" The pressure in the air intensifies. I gasp and clutch my chest as the air seems to leave my lungs. "Run, I said!"

"I'm not leaving you here alone!"

I reach out and grip his shoulder tightly. "Listen to me. You. Are. Not. Ready. Whatever comes out of that portal is beyond either of us, but it's going to come after me and only me. I can't focus on defending myself with you here. Go get help. Call Cynthia. Do something! I'm trusting you to get help!"

A call distorted and dark echoes from the hole. My vision frays and cracks with dark pulsating fissures. Flashes of memories flicker behind my eyes. Pain. Light. Endless Dark. DarLikght. Pain. Lucas is running and I slowly turn towards the portal.

I see IT.

The beast... Nihilego... it squeezes out of the hole and I can hear my voice cracking with maddened cackles that scratch at my throat. An ancient terror burns like fire in my bones. "MiNe... mInE, MiNe!" The Nihilego screeches and I scream back at it like a raging, mindless beast. "GivE. mInE!"

It's so strange to watch, as all of this happens. Like I'm looking through a kaleidoscope. Is that really me screaming? Am I doing that? No! Don't charge at it!

I reach out and... and, I'm back in my own skin. My vision is normal again and only regular old terror drives me to action. I jump to the side as the tentacles swing through the now empty space. "MiNe!" The Nihilego cries out in a childish rage. As I roll to my feet, I toss out Shaymin's pokeball.

– Battle 2 –

(SaShA) OOO***

vs

(NiHIlEgO)

"Shay-butter! Magical Leaf!" Shaymin lands in a flash of red and immediately summons forth a veritable storm of glowing leaves. They slam into the -the thing's- screech of pain echoes through the depths of my mind and I fall to my knees with an echoing scream of my own. My vision starts to crack again, but I manage to shake it off with gritted teeth. I look up in time to see it's tentacles speeding towards me again.

I fall forward onto my stomach as one of the massive appendages brushes against the nape of my neck. Too close! The attack hits the ground beside me, throwing up dust and stone, as I shout, "Shaymin, Leech Seed! Hold it down!"

"Shaymi!" She shouts and a spread of seeds burst from her back and dig into the training field. As it retracts its tentacles, a swarm of vines grasp onto the floating appendages and start draining its energy.

As I climb to my feet. An ear splitting screech tears at my eardrums. "StOp! StOP! STop! stop! STOP!" The creatures screams and jet of purple liquid bursts from beneath its bubbly dome. The spray hits Shaymin and she's sent skidding across the ground with a high pitched cry of pain.

"Shaymin! Hang on!" I start to sprint towards her only for a jet of violet to shoot past, only inches from my face and shatter the ground it hits. I see Shaymin struggle to her feet, then the beast screeches again. I stumble backwards before I trip on a loose stone. A spray of white mist burns through the spot I was standing in. As the cloud expands outward, I scramble backwards. A tendril of mist brushes my leg. The pain is excruciating as the sound of sizzling meat fills air.

A raw scream of pain escapes my chest. I barely register the feeling of my fingertips tearing open from the force with which I claw the ground and scrabble to my feet.

As I sprint from the expanding cloud I shout for my partner, fearing for her safety, "Shaymin!" A faint glow appears through the smog and the white cloud is dissipated as fast as it appeared. Shaymin stands with a fierce look in her eye and wilted flowers. The beast screams again and starts to finally tear free of the vines.

Something deep with in me flares to life. Words begin flowing from my lips before I can wrap my mind around them. "Like the great mother Gaia," I feel a surge of energy in my veins at the same time as a bright green glow expands around the Gratitude Pokemon. "The seed of all creation!" The glowing Z-Energy lashes out and binds us together. We stretch our palms towards the heavens."We bare forth the infinite potential of Life! Bloom Doom!"

On cue, an explosion of flowers covers the field. Nihilego charges me. I stare and cackle as it approaches, inside I can feel something breaking... I think it's me. An explosion of energy floods out of Shaymin and a hUndre-ThOuS-InFiN- glowing blades of white energy encircle the alien presence. After an impossibly long moment, they flash forward and slam into the otherness. The noise of pain doesn't ring in my ears long, as the eldritch existence sinks claws into my psyche.

I see it all. Flashes of endless black.

The defeated being is on the ground, limp as its life-force begins to fade in a golden energy.

A memory of light. A hundred, a thousand, infinite lights twinkle through the endless empty sea. Then appears a raging void, darker than dark.

The impossibility of it tears at my sanity.

It consumes the light and the void brightens even as existence falls to darkness.

It destroys me.

My lips are moving and mad babbles escape my tongue even as a Pokeball flies from my hand. "Thief! Devourer! Mine! Give!" The words are mine as much as they are hers.

– Battle End –

Like flicking a switch, my mind becomes my own once more. I fall to my knees panting and gasping. My throat is sore and my face is wet with sweat and tears. Crimson droplets splatter onto the dirt. I reach up and drag my dust covered thumb across my upper lip. Wet crimson comes away and I look up at the sky. The Ultra Wormhole is gone. I glance down at the now motionless Pokeball, and then over at Shaymin as she comes limping up. "Are you okay?!" I gasp out and carefully scoop her into my palms.

"I should be asking you. It... it hurt you. It tried to hurt me." I shake my head and cradle the hurt Pokemon to my chest before walking over to the captured Ultra Beast.

"I-I'll be okay. Thanks to you Shay-butter." I kneel down and pick up the ball before attaching it to my belt. "It's nothing... some medicine won't fix."

She shifts until green eyes are staring into mine, "You don't... Sasha, it hurt You."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath as the incomprehensible images dig into my brain once more. "It... She... didn't mean to. She was just desperate... and scared."

"That thing... what was it?" I turn and face the voice. It's L-L-Lu... I grimace and grip my head, fingers digging painfully into my scalp as my head pounds like a... like a... I fall to my knees as Shaymin lays her paws on my chest and begins to glow. MiNe. ShE Is MinE.

"Shaymin!" She cries and a wave of ice cold energy suffuses me from head to toe. It pulses again but with intense heat. Cold. Hot. Cold... the energy fades and I blink away the stars that fill my vision.

Suddenly, Cynthia is at my side, a hand on my shoulder and concern in her eyes. I glance back at Lucas and let out a long breath.

"Lucas," I breathe out his name with relief. I glance down to see Shaymin, extremely tired and barely conscious. "Cindy, I need to get Shay-butter help. And the... her too, it-she-it was... fading."

"I know darling. Come on, let's get them taken care of." I nod along with her words and cling to her for strength as I rise on unsteady legs. She reaches up with a cloth and wipes my nose. I giggle and look down as we start walking.

"Aww. I tore my leggings Cindy..." I pout as we walk around the house.

"Is Sasha okay?" Lucas questions looking past me at Cynthia.

"I'm right here you know," I bite the words out with a pout. He shouldn't ignore me like that.

"She'll be back to herself after getting some rest," Shaymin's telepathic voice even sounds exhausted. "That... Ultra Beast, I think? It hurt her, but I managed to fix the worst of it. She should sort out after some rest."

"She's acting similar to when we first found her. Like a child without a filter..." Cynthia muses but meets my eyes with a small smile. "Hey. You did good."

"You're wonderful too Cindy. I adore you. You're so great." I giggle at the words before focusing on the ground. I'm struggling to walk and don't want to trip. "I'm sleepy..."

"I know, let's go lay down okay?" Her words sound like honey, all soft and syrupy.

I hum and look back up as we enter the house. I stumble forward away from Cynthia and snatch a potion off the table. "Gotta heal em all, gotta heal 'em all..." I hum out and shift the sore Shaymin in my arms. "This is going to sting a bit, but it'll be okay. I promise."

I squeeze the healing spray and coat her with it lightly. Shaymin winces and I shush her softly as I set the potion to the side. "I know, I know it hurts. But you'll be right as rain in only a second."

I look up at the pair watching us. I beckon Cynthia forward and giggle out the words, "Hold out your hand." I smile playfully at her hesitance and sing song, "Its okay. I have a surprise for you!"

She holds out her palm and I reach down to my waist. I grab Nil's Pokeball and set it in her hand. "I caught her. Nil. She's minenow. But she's hurting and I can't fix her here. I trust you so fix her up really good for me 'kay?" I lay across the couch and curl up around Shaymin. "I'm sleeping now."

/-/

I wake up slowly, with a long yawn. As I blink away the blurriness of sleep, I push myself into a sitting position. The room I'm in is unfamiliar and sterile. Like it belongs in a lab. Don't panic just yet, it could still be Rowan's lab or something. I look down to see monitoring equipment strapped to my arm. The cords extend to a rolling vital monitor. I reach out and grip the pole of the machine before slipping off the bed and to my feet.

Ugh... what happened to me?

I look down to see that I'm dressed in Cynthia's sweat pants and tank top. How steady my feet are under me makes me confident that I haven't been under for too long at least. No muscle atrophy. I'm still functioning fine. Good signs, all things considered. Glancing at the door, I see it. A ghostly vision of Nihilego. It's small and bounces side to side in a slow dance. It spins before motioning me forward with a tentacle and slipping through the solid door.

Right... we fought and... and... I shake my head as a sharp pain pierces behind my eyes. Probably best not to think on it now. Let's just get out of here.

I step to the door and press a button to the right side of it. With a hiss, it slides open and I step out of the room. I'm on what looks to the second floor level of a lab. This doesn't look like Rowan's lab. The incorporeal Ultra Beast floats by the stairs.I stroll along the smooth metal walkway and peak into each window of the rooms. It's a relatively small seeming infirmary and all of the rooms on the second level seem to be empty except mine.

I pause at the stairs and look at the vital monitor for a moment then back to the stairs. I'm sure it'll be fine if I just... I press the power button on the machine and rip off the pads stuck to my arm and beneath my shirt. I shift the monitor to the side so it won't roll off accidentally and walk down the stairs. The chill of the metal flooring is starting to feel uncomfortable under my bare feet. I reach the first floor and see a few different metal doors. I glance to the one beside the stairs and then the one across from it and lastly one by itself back under the balcony.

Now, where did Nihilego disappear to? I pat my pockets and the lack of pokeballs starts to make me uncomfortable. Where are my babies? An almost ethereal call sounds from the lone door towards the back.

I pad across the room and the door hisses open as I approach. Relief fills my chest as my bag and three Pokeballs are sitting on a long steel table. Nihilego is dancing over the table. I step forward and slip the Silph Co. bag onto my shoulder and pick up the three balls. "Are you guys in here?" I question in a quiet voice. My eyes dart around the room. There's not much in here. Just a desk in the center of the back wall with a computer and several bookshelves lining the walls. Two potted plants are on either side of the door.

"Yeah we're here Sasha! Oh no, quick, hide!" Not one to disobey orders from the telepathic, mythical Pokemon, I flatten myself against the wall.

Sidling up to the thick fern, I take quiet breath as the door slides open and a pair of people walk in. A man with short brown hair and a long brown trench coat. The other is a woman with intensely styled blonde hair, it can only be Lusamine. They walk straight through the vision of Nihilego as if it isn't there and continue towards the computer while muttering back and forth. I quietly pad out of the open door, just before it closes with another hiss. "I'm glad to see you. We don't know who these guys are. We just woke up here a little while ago. It's been tough to keep Atlas from trying to hunt you down."

I really need to work on talking with her using telepathy myself. Nihilego swoops towards the door across from the stairs. I flick my eyes between the doors and opt to continue trusting the apparition. I pause beside the door and tap Shaymin's ball.

"It seems safe. Go ahead." I don't waste time in slipping through the door. A quick glance shows me that I'm in a long observation hallway. A sign sits at the end of the hall and Nihilego is nowhere to be found. That sign might be directions. I start off at a steady pace down the hall. Looking in the window to the left shows a large room full of different lab equipment that I can't place.

To my right is her... the one I caught, my Nil. I stutter to a stop momentarily. She's floating in a glass tube in the center of the room. There's no one in there and it looks like there's a console next to the tube. Her Pokeball is sitting beside the case along with a set of five Beast Balls. A door looks like it leads out of the room and into the hall just around the corner. I clench my fist and quicken my pace, determined to rescue little Nil.

She turns, seeming to watch me as I speed down the hall. I pause before turning the hallway and tap Shaymin's ball. "Clear again. Quick, lets get out of here. I don't like this place." You and me both Shay-butter.

I glance at the sign. Arrows point to the left marked as Lounge and Testing. Arrows to the right say Containment and Storage. I turn right and immediately go for the door to Containment. "Are you sure about this?" My answer comes as I hit the button by the door and it hisses open. What's with the awful security? I step in and almost sprint up to the console by the tube. An almost wet thump sounds and I look up to see Nil place one of her tentacles against the glass. I press my hand to the same spot and it strikes me that she's so much smaller than when we fought. "Don't worry little one," I say in a soft voice. "I'm getting you out of here."

"Save?"The question echoes in my ears but I nod with a smile. "Hurt. Apology. Sorry."

I shake my head and turn to the console, replying, "Don't worry Nil. It wasn't your fault. I forgive you." I tap the keyboard and the screen flashes awake. There's a password lock. "Nil do you know the password to this? Have you seen it?"

"Nil? Name?" I nod to answer her question. "Happy." She coos and presses closer to the glass. "Password? Symbiont."

I shake my head as the letters literally flash like images through my mind and type the name. The momentary fuzz of eldritch connection fades quickly. With a soft ding, the screen unlocks and the first option I spot is to open the containment cell. I press it and the glass slides open with a soft mechanical whir. I step around to the table and scoop the Beast Balls into my bag before picking up Nil's ball. I turn and see her float out of the tube and hover in front of me. I reach up and gently caress her glassy... head? Best not to think too hard on it right now. She coos again and I mutter, "Alright Nil. Time to blow this Popsicle stand."

"Leave?" I nod.

She swims quickly through the air and towards the door. I follow with speedy steps and open the door as she floats through. She heads to the left and towards the stairway that leads up. I get the distinct feeling that we're not above ground. I keep pace and the sound of a hissing door echoes from the entrance to the hall. "Faster!" I hiss softly and Nil starts speeding forward. I'm hot on her metaphoric heels.

I climb the stairs as swiftly and quietly as possible. A concerned feminine cry sounds from down the stairs as we speed out into another hallway. As I'm led through various winding hallways, I fish my Pokedex from the bag and silence it before scanning Nil's Pokeball. After a few seconds, a list of her typing, and more importantly, her move pool appears on the screen. Wrap, Pound, Acid, and Tickle. Interestingly, there isn't a blurb about her species yet.

Something to worry about if we get out, though she's definitely gotten a lot weaker since our fight. A poker of hot guilt stabs my stomach. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to hurt her. I shake my head and try to ignore it for now. There's no time and I can't afford to try and think about that fight right now. The faint flashes of memory are already blurry. Probably for the best. "Anybody on our tail Shay-butter?" I question aloud as we climb another staircase.

"Huh... no, there isn't. That's weird isn't it? I know th-" The sound of an alarm begins blaring through the halls and the lights dim as a red lights begin spinning through the corridors. "Now they're coming."

"Thanks Shay," I state with an amused chuckle, before glancing up at the floating Ultra Beast. "Are we close Nil?" I question desperately as we turn another corner. A large door with an exit sign over it sits at the end of the hall. "Nevermind. Lets go, quickly little one." We speed through the hallway and as I reach the door I try to shove it only to find it locked tight. I stomp my foot in frustration and look back down the hallway. No one yet. Think Sasha, think...

"Aha! Nil, use Acid on the door!" She makes a bubbling sound and a spray of purple liquid connects with the metal. I watch as it starts corroding in real time. "Good job. One more time!" Another bubbling noise and another spray. I glance back down the hall. A couple of bigger men in sterile white clothes appear around the corner. "Nil, use Pound until the door is open!"

"Anomaly sighted, attempting escape on surface level! Moving to detain," I grimace and toss out Petite's pokeball. She lands with a practiced grace and bounces side-to-side like she's prepared to tussle. The sound of thudding appears behind me and I glance back to see Nil slamming away at the door with her long tentacles.

As the men approach I shout, "Stay back! We don't want to hurt you, but we will!"

The men hesitate and raise their hands in a calming gesture. "Anomaly zero-one. You are ill and need treatment."

"That's a load of crap. The help I need, I won't find here," I spit angrily. Never going to be trapped. Never again. One of the men takes a step closer and I jab my finger toward him. "One more step and we'll all get to learn what a powerful Magical Leaf will do to a human. I'm thinking that it won't be pleasant. I want five steps backwards... Now!" The men quickly stumble back as Petite shouts as well and a faint glow starts on her leaves.

The sound of tearing metal grates on my ears and Nil's voice trills out, "Open!"

I recall Petite and say, "Nil, use acid on the floor! Slow them down." I pause as she complies. A thick puddle of acid begins oozing along the hall as more people appear at the hallway junction. I turn and jump over the acid pooling in the destroyed doorway. With a hiss, I hold my hand over my eyes as I'm assaulted by bright sunlight.

Glancing around, I'm in some kind of forest clearing. A glance back reveals a decent sized single story brick building. Inside, they've begun clearing the acid with a water Pokemon. That is my cue to run. I return Nil to her pokeball and sprint into the woods. As I reach the treeline, the sound of pursuit reaches my ears. I ignore the pain in my feet as wood and thorn alike scratch and tear at them. I've grown so soft since I got put into the system. I risk a glance back to see that my pursuers are struggling to keep up on foot.

The sound of wing beats in the air doesn't inspire much confidence. "Sasha! Look to the right!" I do as instructed to see a Lucario appear, sprinting at my side. I'd recognize that handsome mug anywhere!

"You always have the most flattering thoughts," Lucario thinks in a wry tone. "I can't believe you managed to break out already."

I had help you know.

"Good, we'll need a bit more. Is that bird of yours still quick as the breeze?"

Atlas's pokeball pops open and he flutters by our heads, a smug look in his eyes. I dodge a tree and stumble momentarily before leaning back into the sprint with a light pant. "Two miles ahead, straight west, Cynthia is preparing to attack the facility. Once she sees you, I'm sure she'll know what to do. I'll protect Sasha. Go!" Atlas wastes no time in speeding forward through the trees like a bullet.

Two miles, huh? Think you can handle that old man?

"You know I can. It's you I'm worried about."

I grimace and glance back. They're starting to gain. A couple of Houndoom keep a steady distance about fifteen feet back. The trainers are around fifty and slowly closing in. My lack of shoes is starting to slow me down. I've got another half-mile if I'm lucky.

"It'll have to be enough. Keep going straight, I'll catch up in a moment." Lucario falls back and I don't waste time looking. The sound of minor explosions and high pitched yelps reach my ears.

Again the sound of wings fills my ears and a glance to the side reveals a Staraptor with a rider approaching to the left. I toss out Shaymin's pokeball and shout, "Magical Leaf on it's wings love!" She easily keeps pace with me even as she releases a hail of glowing leaves on the bird. It's enough to cause it to falter and slam into a tree. The rider is thrown a solid five feet before scrambling back up to check on the bird. "Good job!"

I'm not going to make it much farther. I spot a small clearing ahead about twenty feet wide. I come to a stop and turn to watch the forest we came from. I have to lean on the tree at my side as I gulp in air greedily. Shaymin stands in front of me and we watch as a large Pidgeot swoops down and lands near the other edge of the clearing. Lusamine is the one who climbs off of its back.

She walks forward toward the center of the clearing and I shift uncomfortably. There's no telling which Lusamine that I'm dealing with. I swipe at the sweat that drips down my face with little success. There's a long moment of silence as we stare each other down. Faint sounds of battle echo from the forest behind her, the only sounds in the long moment. Lusamine is the first to break the silence.

"It's nice to finally meet you face-to-face, Zero-one," She smiles brightly and touches her chest. "I'm Lusamine. I'm a friend, I promise that I don't want to hurt you."

I blink dumbly for a moment. "What- Dude, I'm not a child." I continue speaking, finally finding my voice again. "And my name is Sasha."

Her eyes narrow and she steps closer again. "Interesting... you seem to be serious. How..." I raise a hand as she takes another step, only five feet away now.

"That's close enough, Lusamine." I state firmly. "How did I end up here? Where even are we?"

"We're still in Sinnoh, at a research facility the Aether Foundation has in the area. We've been working with Interpol to track you down." She rests a hand on her waist and continues, "When that Ultra Wormhole opened over Twinleaf, we happened to be in the area. With the authority of Interpol, there wasn't much even Cynthia could do to stop us from acquiring you. You have to understand Ze- Sasha, that we only want what's best for you."

I curl my lips in a snarl and reply, "So you rip me from my home, trap me in some facility, and plan to experiment on me like some savage beast?! That's what you think is best for me?! If that's what you call friendly, you're already farther gone than I'd thought."

"Surely you don't believe those words. Why would we have left you under such lax security?" She searches my eyes and seems genuinely confused. "You... really have no idea do you? You're the first you know? An anomaly unlike any other. Those people from Ultra Space... the Recon Squad, they're adamant that you're a threat."

The Ultra Recon Squad! They're how Interpol found out about me! "I'm nobody!" I exclaim, exasperation warring with anger. "I'm just a random woman from a different world, if that's what you mean by anomaly, then sure. But, I don't know what kind of threat you think I am. I'm not. I just want to live my life in peace."

"She's telling the truth!" Shaymin exclaims behind my ears. "I don't know what those guys are telling you, but Sasha doesn't want to hurt anyone."

Thanks for having my back baby girl. I nod my head firmly in agreement.

"I want to believe you, I do," Lusamine sighs and starts pacing back and forth. "There's almost no record of Ultra Wormholes opening anywhere but the area around Alola. Then one appears out of nowhere, almost two months ago, just north-east of the League Castle."

She looks at me pointedly and continues, "Shortly after, we receive visitors from Ultra Space, the Ultra Recon Squad. They inform us that a highly dangerous threat arrived through the Wormhole. In exchange for our aid in finding said threat, they would aid our science teams. Our understanding of Ultra Space and relevant technologies expand rapidly with the creation of the Beast Ball."

"Then mid December, we get news. The Champion suddenly has a new companion. An extensive search yields no results of anyone matching your description in known regions. Then, yesterday another Wormhole opens on the opposite end of Sinnoh. We arrive on scene to find you involved." Lusamine stops and stares at me from under her hair. "Not just that, but you caught one... an Ultra Beast. We luckily had the technology to bring it back from the brink but it was close."

Her eyes fall on the pokeball shaped bulges in the pocket of my sweatpants. Something dark and broken flashes behind her eyes. "Listen Lusamine, please. I know that you're obsessed with this, with Ultra Space." Her eyes flash up and green emotion filled orbs stare into me. "But you don't have any clue where this obsession is going to end. It will destroy you."

"I am being careful. I know that they're dangerous. I have to... to find my husband. To fix my family." She sags and tears fill her eyes. Her eyes fall to the ground. "For my children."

"Lusamine... You don't understand. My parents both died when I was child, barely ten years old. I would have given anything, anything, to even have one of them back." I clench my fists and take a long shaking breath. "The research with Ultra Space, the path you're on... It won't just kill you. It will break you and unmake you. We... we aren't meant to stare the void in the eye." A flash of shattered darkness. I shake off the vision with gritted teeth.

I step forward and reach out to gently touch her shoulder and those bright green eyes look back up at me. "Just... I don't know if my words are going to change anything. I won't stay here, I can't. But please, for Lillie and Gladion's sake." Her eyes widen at the mention of their names. "I'm not saying you have to give up on your husband. But... if you continue, please don't lose sight of yourself. The knowledge you seek... the more you learn, the greedier it becomes. It's hungry and consuming and it will take until nothing is left but a gibbering mess."

I step away and she reaches out to grab my forearm. "You... I've waited... so long to meet that Ultra Beast. You can't just... take it."

In a flash of rage, I grasp her forearm and squeeze until her hand releases me. "Nil is mine. Mine! Not you, or anyone else can have her!" It's with great effort that I don't dig my nails into her skin. "Never. Never try to take her again!"

Lusamine whimpers and I release the grip on her arm like it burned me. The fury has faded as instantly as it came. I glance down to see bright red mark on her skin in the shape of my hand and take stumbling steps backwards. "See?" I gasp out. "Already, it's changed me. I'm sorry... But please... don't come after me again." I recall Shaymin and turn to leave. Garchomp bursts through the forest depths with Cynthia on her back.

"Sasha!" She shouts as Garchomp lands with a graceful speed. Lucario appears next to me as if in a flash. "Quick! We have to go now!"

I sprint towards the pair and let Cynthia help me up. Cynthia recalls Lucario and stiffens as her eyes fall on Lusamine. I look over to see Lusamine watching us with wide eyes. She shakes her head and shouts, "I won't hunt you... but I can't help you. I.. I hope we meet again, under better circumstances."

I lean against Garchomp's neck and nod towards the Aether President. "We will. I'm sure of it. Take my words to heart, Lusamine." My voice drops to a whisper as Garchomp takes off. "If not for your children's sake, then your own."

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A/N: I know what you're thinking. Was Cynthia really about to assault an independent company to rescue her girlfriend? Honestly, I'd bet that she'd do more for less. She's always struck me as that kind of person. On a more serious note, I have to admit that I've been really anxious about this one. I want to do justice to the inspirations and the story itself. I feel pretty good about saying that I think I have so far. I sincerely hope that you enjoyed this chapter. It's crazy to me that so many people have enjoyed the story so much this far. In all honesty, we're barely getting started. See you next week! Remember to take care of yourselves. Maybe treat yourself to something nice. It's in season and you deserve it.