Chapter 137 – One Hour

It was more awkward than he'd wanted, but soon, he was nodding at guards and walking into the castle. Cipher City was behind him, and Qitlan was just ahead, like he knew he'd be back, smiling wryly.

"Good to see you. What wonderful timing," Qitlan said. "Your prize with Mhynt is ready. Would you like to redeem it now?"

"…Yes," Owen said, figuring any time overthinking this would lead Qitlan to getting even more information, somehow. "I'm guessing I'll be redeeming my servant prize last?"

"Of course. Whatever happens in there… I certainly won't pry." He chuckled. "Do at least have some decency. I know how primal you can get, and such a reunion would be very tempting."

Owen's flame sparked several times and he tried to steady himself. He was glad Qitlan's element was Water, because he may have been tempted to incinerate him otherwise.

His chest hurt a little.

"Show me the way," Owen finally said.

"Of course."

This time, Owen got to ascend this castle and take ornate, carpeted stairs to an upper floor. The stairs went up in a zig-zag pattern, and he idly wondered if this was inspired by something from the human world or an old Kiloan invention. Perhaps, in some ways, it was both.

The upper halls were lined with little bowls of candy that made Owen wonder how often they were secretly picked from, and why they were there. Was it for Aster? Probably for Aster, if his vague memories of the Mewtwo were anything to go by.

"Just this way, that door." Qitlan pointed. "She's waiting. Once the door shuts again, the timer will begin. Don't squander it… Make every moment count." He winked. "Of course, if you wind up asking her to be your servant, you'll have all the time in the world."

Owen suppressed an eyeroll and thanked him with a hum. He reached up to the door handle, briefly wondering how Mhynt did it when she was so much shorter, and turned.

The inside of the room was lined with colored stone and wood, appearing more like a cottage, and a red-and-brown carpet in a square-striped pattern. Brown rhombuses decorated a few of the squares. Standing on the opposite side of the room, which would take Owen a full thirty seconds to pace across, was Mhynt. She was reading a book, seated by a small table meant for her size, on a stool meant for someone a little larger.

He closed the door. To the right, there was a little timer that turned on, counting down from sixty minutes.

"So, you're here. You played his little game. How do you feel?"

Her words were icy. Owen couldn't keep the cold off of him; Step would be jealous.

"I feel, uh, confused and frustrated, I guess," Owen replied numbly. "But we have an hour to talk and he said that nobody's really watching us right now. He kept everything else as the truth, so maybe that's true here, too?"

"I suppose it is," Mhynt replied. "…But I have nothing that I want to say to you."

"I—I figured that might've been it," Owen lied, eyes searching for some hidden signal. But it seemed they were both in agreement that Qitlan was probably still listening to them. They couldn't afford the risk. "Then… if that's the case…" He sighed, sitting down. "Can I just be with you?"

"Hmph. You've already moved on to another."

"No, no," Owen said again, "I… I know that. I can already tell that no matter what we used to have, things are… different. For both of us."

Mhynt scoffed, but Owen noticed her hand tense against her arm. He'd said something that hurt her. He wanted to apologize, but couldn't find the words.

After a silence where Owen didn't follow up, Mhynt replied, "Then why would you bother asking to be with me? Why did you prioritize that over the others?"

"I don't know," Owen said. "It just… happened. I can't even remember how. Maybe Qitlan…" He shook his head. "I just wanted to ask you how this all happened. Why are you working with Alexander of all people? He was the one who… Even when I was working with Dark Matter, he was worse! I expelled him! He—"

"He was the one who ended it, Owen," Mhynt spat. "Alexander saved Kilo when you couldn't. The world owes him a great debt, even if he'd been eroded by the malice he'd been forced to absorb."

Owen flinched. Something about that didn't sound right. "Really?"

Mhynt turned her head away. "I… can't go against him for that reason. I pledged myself to him. That's how things are now. I don't intend to go back. Understood? Is that clear?"

Not even slightly. "Yeah. I won't fight it." Owen's shoulders sagged a little, but he approached anyway. "Well… so much for spending the full hour talking. I… can I still just be here?"

"I can't leave. So, fine. We'll… sit against the wall. In silence. And watch the clock. Maybe I'll get a board game. Qitlan left a few in case we wanted to do something like that."

"Oh. Sure."

Awkwardly, Owen took a seat, and Mhynt grabbed a few boards before noticing that one seemed to be a word game, getting random letters to make words on a grid. "Let's try it as a team building exercise," Mhynt said. "We play from the same set of letters… try to use as many as we can."

"Oh. Not against each other?"

"I'm tired of opposing. Besides, you'd prefer that, wouldn't you?" She scowled at him, looking up. But in her eyes, she saw a pleading glimmer that puzzled him.

"Fine," Owen relented, answering her plea with a puzzled look of his own.

She set the board down and sat next to him.

And the moment their scales touched, Owen felt a warm, electric-like shock run through him. Mhynt didn't say anything when Owen jolted. She was… a lot smaller than him. He shook his head and refocused on the game.

Seven letters. They were engraved, so he already knew what every other random letter was going to be depending on where Mhynt picked.

She scooted a little closer to him again. "Alright," she said. "You'll start. I'll pick the letters, so we don't cheat, hm?"

"Uh, sure. Right…"

Did you know I used to be the Psychic Guardian?

Owen froze. Those were not his thoughts. They were pressed against his head like he'd thought them, but he also recognized them distinctly as not his. He glanced at Mhynt, who glared.

"Come on. There are three vowels. Make something basic."

He steadied his breath. Kept things cool. He made a simple word first, 'bore.'

The voice continued. Necrozma shattered his power across all the elements. But of course, his own element was the strongest. Psychic and Dragon elements were imbued with more inherent strength. And all shards hold that Dragon resilience and Psychic prowess. The strength, telepathy, even that little glow… I have a bit of it, even now, separated from that power. I internalized it from my own blessings.

But do they know? Owen asked worriedly as Mhynt placed another word down. He followed up.

They believe I lost my light, and therefore most of my powers. I've kept it… hidden for a while. I had to. I've… done a lot to keep it hidden until the time came. Sometimes, I think I truly did lose it.

Owen's heart was pounding. He looked at the clock, which suddenly felt like it was ticking down much faster than it should have been. If only Dialga was here…

For what? Owen finally asked. Why are you working for him? What… did you do?

Mhynt didn't answer immediately. She was choosing her words, which meant she was probably responsible for atrocities of her own under his command.

Because I am under his control, Mhynt said. Even this is a risk. In a moment of weakness, I… submitted to him. He's cunning like that, Owen. And what I said… was a half-truth. He did save Kilo from Dark Matter, if only because he wished to rule it instead. That's all he wants, even before that power corrupted him further. He wanted power.

Then, he was always this way?

You know for yourself, don't you? Mhynt slid a long word in place.

That was true, Owen thought darkly. Even before he'd been involved in actually using Dark Matter's power, Alexander had acted on horrible thoughts during the war, against Owen's orders. That had been what led to his exile to begin with.

He put another word down on the board. What led you to following him?

Mhynt looked ashamed. He had Remi. I… freed her. But it was almost like a trade, because he claimed me after.

Had Remi. She's free?

…Yes. I think she is, even if she doesn't remember.

Owen's heart raced. All of the prizes so far had been real. One was Remi's location, which he'd failed to get. With that blank token in his mind, he asked, Do you know where she is?

I do now. Or, part of her. I think I met her a little while ago, and sent her away so Alexander wouldn't take her again. She took the form of a Salazzle wraith.

A Salazzle? Owen squinted. How?

She must have changed her form somehow. Void Shadows can do that.

Diyem had said part of her was in the Voidlands, but then got free. This was adding up. A Salazzle with dark powers… Owen didn't know anybody quite like that.

I only know one Salazzle. Her name is Spice. She has a sister; her name was… Sugar.

Mhynt tilted her head. Salazzle sisters, around the same age? That's incredibly rare.

I guess? Why?

Mhynt shook her head, like it was unimportant. Why do you remember them so well?

They run one of my favorite shops. Chocolates and other treats.

You aren't much of a sweet tooth, Owen.

Well, I guess… I just liked shopping there. Even across Resets, I tended to remember going there. I just figured it was a good place to get food. Why was he rambling about it so much? So fixated… Are you s-saying…

Did either of them have something odd?

Well… Spice… was… She had a lightning scar from… something… Owen rubbed his head. I think I remember… she had trouble healing with blessed berries, so she used natural salves and her own body's healing, or something.

Blessed… Necrozma's light, then.

You can't mean she's Remi. But she did, and Owen knew it. His heart was racing again. Then why didn't she… tell me anything?

She doesn't remember. She was Voided. She made a new life for herself. Remi is… gone. Maybe she might remember later, maybe that's why you remember her even across resets, but that isn't Remi anymore. And besides… it's only part of her.

Diyem told me something similar. She's—in parts.

I know another part of her. I had to get her out of the Castle before Alexander realized it. Thank goodness I did.

What? This was all too much. It was a deluge of information. Mhynt had been planning to tell him all of this somehow, all behind their backs. Owen wondered if this was planned, but he had to take this chance anyway.

When was this? Owen asked.

Before I went to Null Village for the first time, Mhynt said. The Zoroark. Her spirit… had the same essence. A powerful feral, cunning and proud. She had Remi's essence, even if she lacks the memories. I do not know how she wound up there. I suspect… she planned this, somehow.

N-no. No, it can't… How? How is Enet also—

And I found the final part of her, too. There are three pieces of her.

Owen felt faint. All this time, Mhynt had been trying to track her down, doing so much from under Alexander's orders. It was all a great ploy. But how could he get Mhynt out next?

Owen, you've had her the entire time, Mhynt said. I couldn't tell who, but she's within the tree you left behind in Null Village. That's her final piece. I felt it when I tried to connect. I'll never forget how her spirit feels… Though, clearly, you have.

The Charmeleon winced and tried to disguise it as placing a weak word on the board.

"You know," Mhynt said, startling Owen when actual sound filled the room, "I wonder why you are keeping yourself a Charmeleon. You can evolve, can't you?"

"Uh—" Owen blinked. "I… uh…"

"And you were always so obsessed with wings when you were in your Reset phase, too, weren't you?" Mhynt chuckled. "Ironic that you're in that form now."

"Y-yeah, well, it's just… it's more convenient to be this size right now. Less energy. Unsuspecting. A little more agile if I had to hide… And I don't really know how to go down a stage. I've never done it before on purpose."

"You'll get used to it. Maybe you should practice that," Mhynt commented.

"You can do that?" Owen asked.

"I can do far more than become a Sceptile," Mhynt said. Shadows crept beneath her, expanding into motes of darkness that clouded into a Lunala's silhouette behind her. Owen's heart filled with dread at the sight, but it disappeared before he could comment on it.

"Then… why Treecko?" Owen asked.

"Happiest memories," Mhynt said. "…For a time."

That wasn't the full story, but it seemed like she wasn't interested in elaborating.

A new silence fell as they filled out the word grid, and it occurred to Owen that they were vocalizing small talk so anyone listening in wouldn't get suspicious.

Owen thought back to the information about his daughter. They touched side by side again, and the connection renewed. What do I do with this? Owen asked. Why does it matter?

Alexander has some kind of obsession over Remi. Almost as much as he does with you. I think it's because Remi did something to him in the past that I don't know about… She might have a way to counter him the same way you do. That I used to.

Powers over light and dark at once… But Remi only had light…

That we know of. Mhynt glanced at Owen. Did Dark Matter tell you anything?

I… had an outburst when I learned about Wishkeeper, and how he was erased. Afterward, Diyem only told me that part of her escaped the Voidlands… I don't know how he knew that.

Mhynt seemed displeased, but placed a long word on the board. It was about half-filled by now with playable space, but they were running out of letters. That was a good thing, wasn't it?

"I lost track of time down here," Mhynt hummed.

"Oh? Well, I guess I also lost track of time, with how much I've been turned into a Charmander over and over. I'm still not used to how things are measured in 'sleeps' down here, even if you also have timekeeping…"

"It's natural to me." The Treecko sighed. "But to stay healthy, a lot of Pokémon go to artificial sun buildings to get something for their leaves. Thankfully, I have no need."

"Dark powers," Owen guessed, though he stated it like a fact.

"Mm. Just as you don't need to eat. But apparently, you went to a restaurant, hm? Trying to emulate mortal life?"

"A little. I wanted to know the city. But…" Owen looked at his bag, then pulled out the emblem. "This terrified them."

"Of course it would." Mhynt flicked Owen's wrist. "That means anyone who harms you would be facing Alexander's wrath… normally. I want to think that Qitlan gave it to you as a prank just to see you squirm with that power."

"Squirm," Owen repeated bitterly. "I hated it."

"That doesn't surprise me. You don't like being seen as a god. You never have." She gave him a wry, mocking smile. "Silly, when you still tried to command authority over the world's fate when standing against them."

"Maybe I didn't want to be seen as a god because I stood against them," Owen defended automatically, but then flinched at his own words. Where did that come from?

Mhynt gave Owen an odd look just then. "…Your eyes changed."

"My—what?"

"They got darker… when you said that. Maybe not physically. But I saw it." Mhynt placed another word down. 'Dreary.' "Just like when Wishkeeper became the emissary of Dark Matter. You didn't physically change. But everything else did."

"Sorry." Owen also didn't know, not immediately, why he'd said that. But a few seconds later, he knew why. Mhynt wasn't talking, so Owen put another word down. 'Spear.'

"I'm… I'm sorry. For… all of this," Owen continued.

And still, there were no words. Owen wondered how much time they had left, but he felt like it would be rude to glance at the clock.

"It's all my fault, isn't it?" Owen asked Mhynt. "I've… thought about it a lot in that cell. That if I didn't make that little wish to find a way to stop the world from ending, I wouldn't have found Dark Matter. And if I didn't align with him to try to convince Necrozma otherwise, you know, by force, to put things back… to let kids be born again… then the war never would have started.

"And if I took Necrozma's offer to let the world end, and then be rebuilt without Dark Matter's influence, then I never would have had to be erased. Alexander wouldn't have taken over; the Voidlands would be empty; everyone would have been spared."

Owen couldn't see the board anymore. His vision was clouded, but his voice remained even.

"There were so many times that I could have turned back and stopped all of this, and I didn't. Whole eras of people are suffering here… because of what I did."

He blinked at the letters, trying to focus on just a single one, but he had to rely on his Perceive to properly read them. He carefully put a simpler word down to pass the time. They were out of vowels.

"At least you recognize that," Mhynt said. "And now, you're focused on trying to fix it. Even more focused than before, perhaps? To repent? To absolve yourself of your guilt?"

"I… I guess so," Owen replied halfheartedly. "For the longest time, I didn't even know I did any of that. I was just doing it because it was the right thing to do. But now…"

"You need to?"

"No," Owen said. "I don't think anything's changed. I still need to do what's right… and I still need to save Kilo. Now I just… know more ways to do it wrong."

"Hmph." Mhynt put two of the five remaining letters down. "Nothing's changed, then."

A twinge of guilt and frustration bubbled up in Owen's chest. What was he supposed to do? All of this was thrown at him and he could barely remember his old self anymore. A small part of him wished he could go back to just being a naïve little Heart who wanted to evolve. He didn't know anything, but at least he was happy.

But a much larger part of him would never want to have any memory suppressed again. The pain it brought to recover them was too much, and even if he could be confident in it being sealed away forever… some significant part of him couldn't bear it.

One letter left, after Owen was finished with his turn. Mhynt had to find a place to put a 'Q' and nothing else.

Their legs touched again. You're right, but you're also too hard on yourself. Don't let Alexander's words fool you: he is the one who never had good intentions. You said you saved Dark Matter, or part of him, didn't you? Alexander has no interest in that.

Owen could register the words but not their meaning. Then, But I still could have stopped all this by just listening to Necrozma. He could have… killed everyone, removed Dark Matter, and then restored the world back.

And for the first time, Owen felt Mhynt smiling. It seemed like a sad smile.

Do you really think he would have done that?

He… he wouldn't have lied about that, would he?

Believe what you want. Mhynt seemed to lay off the subject quickly.

I thought you were loyal to him.

I was a lot of things. Look where we are now. Mhynt leaned against Owen, and he had a sneaking suspicion that she didn't realize it.

Necrozma used to be where all external spirits went, Owen said. Just… asleep, within him, until some time way later. May as well be forever. Is… would that have been better than what we have now? These Voidlands, where people wander around until they lose everything…

I don't know what's better… but Necrozma never gave you a choice. He was a god, making choices for mortals. And for that, a mortal rebelled. She took the final letter and placed it before an 'I' on the board. Or, as mortal as you'd count yourself, reincarnating over and over. Certainly less godly than him.

"Qi isn't a word," Owen said flatly.

"What? Yes it is."

"Just because Qitlan is spelled that way doesn't mean you can just—"

"It means life. Or… the energy of life, in some cultures."

Owen squinted. Perhaps it was something carried over by Orre or Kanto or some other human element. "Alright, fine. It's our last letter anyway. Let's look over the board so we didn't make any mistakes."

A deflating silence followed. Owen could breathe a little. Thanks for trying to make me feel better, but I still need to fix things. I'll… get therapy later, or something… again. Maybe this time I won't forget it all. Remi, Alexander, Necrozma, Diyem… I feel like if I can take care of those things, we might be able to fix all of this. Dispel the Voidlands. Make things right. One step at a time, right?

How straightforward, Mhynt commented dryly. Do you have anything else on that itinerary?

Well, I also need to—

Keep it to yourself. I was joking.

Oh.

He still needed to work on that. Sighing, he focused on the board, and then stood up to stretch. "Maybe we can try another game," he murmured. "Still have some time left… and, er…"

"Why not solitaire next?" Mhynt asked.

"The game with 'solitary' in its title?" Owen questioned.

"We're alone together, aren't we?"

"It was a prize." Owen rummaged through the bag to grab the deck of cards, grimacing a little at the feel of it on his scales. He had to wash the horrible thoughts of his last game with cards away with something more pleasant.

"Working so hard just to get me as a prize," Mhynt said, sighing. "You're hopeless."

They settled next to each other again, and Owen started to deal out the cards. But then, he stopped suddenly and frowned.

"We can't win this game," he stated.

"What?"

"The cards. They're in an unwinnable pattern if we play it out like this."

"How do you mean?" Mhynt pointed at the deck. "They're all just cards, can't you just stack them in order like any game?"

"Never played solitaire in a while, have you?" Owen asked. "You have to make sure the cards alternate in the main field, and you can only start stacking from the lowest number. You can only cycle the deck three times, and draw three cards each. You'll run out. The king is—"

"Now that's cheating," Mhynt said, frowning.

"I just know how it'll go," Owen said. "Do you want to try?"

Mhynt huffed. "Fine. Let's see how it goes."

"Oh." Owen frowned. "Wait, we forgot to take out the jokers. That would change things to… No, still a losing game."

"What? Those are left in."

"What? Since when do you use jokers in solitaire?"

Mhynt gave Owen an odd look, but then shook her head and started to deal them out.

"Err… I'll watch you play this one," Owen said. "Figure out the rules…"

She was leaning against him again. Slowly, she analyzed the playing field, Owen knowing full well that there was an ace tucked away in the depths, and nothing but red cards to work with on immediate access, and a joker, whatever that would do.

So, who is Mew to you? Mhynt asked.

Owen gave Mhynt an odd look. Back to this, it seemed.

She's sort of the reason I've taken so long to remember everything, in a way.

Alexander seems pretty interested in her, Mhynt said. But I wasn't told why. Which makes me think… they do not completely trust me, even now.

Owen frowned at that, nodding. Well… it depends on how much they know. But it makes sense that they'd want to try to get control over someone like Star, right? After all, she's… one of the two remaining gods in Kilo. If they could control Star, then that means they'd be able to take down Barky, and… from there, Necrozma, right?

Yes. That's true. Mhynt began to play the cards out, drawing three. Predictably, there was no match to play anything on the field. She drew three more. But it bothers me. There's more to it, for them to keep it such a secret.

Owen tried to think while she played. He was glad the game didn't usually require much talking, nor input from him, so he could totally concentrate. What did Star have that would have them so keenly interested, and also keep it a secret from Mhynt? That could mean a lot of things… but Star hadn't been in the Voidlands for a long while. He also couldn't think of anything notable about her that they couldn't get from combined powers elsewhere.

Really, if they were able to detain Star so easily—or at all—that meant they could already overpower her. So, it wasn't power. Could it be the Hands? But that was related to power, and that wouldn't be much of a secret for Mhynt.

Was it knowledge? If Star was being interrogated for something, what would they ask her to give up? Perhaps they could try to read her mind, but if so, surely by now they would have gained knowledge of that. Hints, visual cues, body language… Qitlan was a master of that. He would have gotten the knowledge he wanted by now.

It had to be something Star had. But it wasn't like she kept anything on her person.

Something she had that Mhynt would act out if she learned about it…

Mhynt was leaning on Owen a little more than usual. She seemed comforted, in a small way.

The kings of this deck of cards were just Alexander in different poses. The queens seemed to be of four different Pokémon, but they all had the same eyes. Owen recognized one queen as a simplistic depiction of a Sceptile with golden eyes. It reminded him of Mhynt… well, the old Mhynt.

…Me, Owen finally said.

What? Mhynt asked, drawing three more cards.

Star knows more about me. She knows… He nearly gasped, but suppressed it. That's… that has to be it. Oh, gods, it's… the aura. The Reset key.

The… what? Mhynt asked, and for the first time Owen caught a sense of worry in her mind's tone

But Owen needed time to collect his thoughts. He noticed Mhynt had done something odd with the first joker card, placing it at the bottom of the field, away from anything else. "What's the joker do?" Owen asked.

Mhynt blinked. She'd been playing without thinking, it seemed.

"Oh," she said, "well. It's storage. If I find a joker, I can place it on the bottom of the field to hold onto a single card from anywhere in play."

"…That isn't how solitaire works," Owen commented.

"Two jokers, total," Mhynt went on. "It gives the game a little more strategy, since we can only cycle through the deck three times."

Mhynt placed one of the black nines in the storage spot, which freed up a the face-down card on the far right side to be revealed. That led to a chain of more reveals.

"Wow," Owen mumbled. "And you can just do that. Jokers are powerful like this…"

"You do have to be careful, though," Mhynt commented. "You can't take it out of storage until a place is on the field for it to go. That's a black nine, so I can't do anything until I see a red ten."

"What if you get a red eight?"

Mhynt shook her head. "Too bad. The nine isn't in play, so you can't place the eight on it."

"Then, you might miss your chance if you pick the wrong card?"

"Jokers are strong, but you have to use their powers right, even if they can hold onto anything."

"Right… That does sound more fun. Even if it's easier."

"It turns some hopeless decks into something possible, though," Mhynt hummed.

Owen smiled wryly, nodding. He tried to think about what was left in play, and realized that it was harder to tell what Mhynt would do, now. He didn't know if she would win this game or not. It all depended on how wisely she used her storage.

…Reset, Owen finally started. It's… it's the aura that turned me into a monster, but any time I went totally berserk, I'd be hit with it. It would turn me back into a Charmander and I'd forget everything, so I could be raised again. I only went berserk when I was fully evolved. As a Charmander, I just liked to fight a lot.

That was always the case, Mhynt said. Always a battleheart.

Y-yeah. Just, more pronounced…

And it… Reset you. With just one touch?

Like what you apparently can do to civilians, Owen commented, which made her tense. Er… but you don't take memories. My Resets did.

Down to being raised from scratch. Her fingers tensed. This was bothering her. Owen wasn't sure how to address it, but they both knew he could see it.

Star must be holding out on them, Owen said. But if her will breaks and she reveals that… Oh, and they probably told her that I lost the token that would've given her a month of breaks from whatever they're doing to her…

Of course. Mhynt was tenser than ever. …That's their plan. They want to take you the moment they are given that knowledge. Star has been… enduring so much just to keep them from getting what they want. She probably knows, in some small way, how important your position is as a free-floater in this war. You aren't strong yet, Owen, but you are the only one… with the potential to oppose everyone. You never took a side, yet were granted boons from both. The only person in all of reality… to claim rights to both powers, and yet be claimed by neither side.

That's it? Owen asked, surprised he was right, even if the details were a little off. The whole reason everyone has been trying to get my favor is… just because I got lucky and have both. That's… all.

Luck, Mhynt said, frowning at him as she placed another card on the second joker she'd acquired. I don't really know if luck is the only factor here. Not every person would… do what you did, so foolishly, yet so decisively. Not everyone can gain the favor of gods at their times of weakness, and not actually swear any oaths to them.

Never swear to them, Owen. You… are the only one who can break this balance, but not by choosing a side. Because if you do, you'll only… blend in with all the rest. You'll become a puppet. Mhynt hesitated, trying to choose between two cards that seemed, to her, equally important. Owen was tempted to show her the right card, but knew she would be upset if he did. It'd be cheating, wouldn't it?

Like you, Owen said. He tried to say it gently, but the frankness seemed to make her wince. Owen only saw it because he was so concentrated on her; to an untrained eye, nothing had changed.

Mhynt finally chose the card, but it was the wrong one. Winning was going to be more difficult now, but Owen sensed that it wasn't necessarily impossible yet.

So they are trying to Reset you. Probably so they can shape you as one of their soldiers…

Owen winced. No response.

The cards were more than halfway face-up. The deck was thinning, and Mhynt was on her final round through it. Things weren't looking good.

"So, you can place any one card on an empty joker at the bottom," Owen repeated. "But that doesn't seem to be helping a lot…"

"Sometimes a joker can get stuck with one card and nowhere to put it," Mhynt explained. "Then it's just a dead slot, and it can be useless for a while. But if I can just get it freed up…"

Owen nodded along. "Well… I guess you can try taking a risk with the other one. You're running out of draws, right?" He gestured to the field. "Look, there's a stack of face-downs on the rightmost column still."

"Do you think that would—" Mhynt growled. "Don't… give me hints."

Owen smiled a little. "Just pointing it out," he said gently. "Never said anything about what's in it."

"How would I even open that?" Mhynt said. "It's an eight with five more cards under it, down to four. I can't just put all that on a joker."

"There's the other eight here that's alone, aside from the ten above it," Owen said.

"…Fine. Not like I have much to lose in this game anyway." She pulled the lone nine down and occupied the second joker, and then migrated the other pile over. She flipped over the freed card, which quickly went to another pile. Another card was freed, then another…

"Kinda feels like you can breathe again, huh?" Owen remarked. "Field's almost totally clear now."

"…Thank you for pointing out the eight," Mhynt said. "That pile was bugging me, I suppose. I didn't notice it."

"Second pair of eyes?"

Mhynt continued the game, and they fell into a slightly more comfortable silence again.

I want to help you, Mhynt said. But I can't. I'm… a servant of Alexander. He can control me to my core if I go against him.

How is he controlling you? That… dark power that you submitted to?

Yes. Just as you can control your spirits as a Guardian, Alexander is a patron in the same way.

Owen paused. …I can what?

You're… you're kidding me. Mhynt stared at him, but then quickly looked back at the cards. All this time and you've never controlled your spirits?

Why would I do that?

Silence, both in the air and in the mind. Owen sensed a smile on the side of Mhynt's face away from his eyes.

Some things really don't change.

Mhynt looked at the final card in her hand, then at the field. Every single card was face-up; technically, she'd won. But, as was tradition, she slowly and meticulously began to move all the cards in ascending order into the winning pile.

So, if that darkness was removed from you, then he wouldn't be able to control you, Owen said.

Once power is granted, it can't be taken away, Mhynt said. Suppressed, weakened, maybe. But you can't simply take away power.

Power. But what about control?

Mhynt's snout seemed to crinkle in consideration. Then, she shook her head. Well, I don't know. It's not like that sort of power's been removed before.

It has. Jerry resisted Alexander's power, and he might've had darkness in his bloodline. But Alexander couldn't control him.

More silence. Then, Mhynt slowly nodded. Then… maybe it is. But Dark Matter isn't here, so—

Dark Matter gave me some of his power a long time ago. I didn't submit to him, but I did borrow it.

And you can't control darkness anymore, can you? Mhynt countered, frowning. I appreciate you trying to help, but—

You just said power can't be taken away. I'm going to try.

What—

Owen touched her shoulder. Mhynt tensed, but continued to place the cards, one by one, slowly, into the winning piles. Halfway. Owen searched… deep within himself. He thought back to his time as Wishkeeper, those divine javelins, tinged with darkness. His claws squeezed a little tighter around Mhynt's shoulder, and he envisioned how he'd touched Dark Matter's core. Ready to infuse it with light.

His chest tightened again, and he wasn't sure why. That had been happening a lot lately.

And then, he saw it, in his mind's eye. He forgot to breathe as he focused on the vision of a bright, golden orb floating within Mhynt, smudged and drenched in tar. He, mentally, reached toward this tar, and it sizzled in defiance. This was a malice that felt very different from Dark Matter. That was cold and reclusive, hopeless and pained. But this, this taint from Alexander, lashed out with anger and greed, demanding that it stay latched and curled around Mhynt.

You can't control her, Owen stated, and his arm plunged into that darkness. He tore and ripped at it, expecting it to be fruitless. The light dissolved some of it, but even more covered it up, threatening to seep onto his arms in this mental void. He thought it was too late to back out, but then his heart skipped a beat. His chest squeezed with an odd pressure against his heart, and then a cold, cold wave radiated from it and through his shoulders, down his back, and out his arms again. He wondered if his flame had darkened.

The tar listened to him. He peeled it away—

STOP.

And Owen suppressed a gasp, back in reality. Mhynt was staring at him with wide eyes, the emotional mask totally gone, but then she quickly gathered herself.

The final king was placed on the piles. The game was over.

He… he would notice, Mhynt said. He'd notice if he couldn't control me anymore.

Then, I can do it, Owen said. I can free you.

But he'll notice. If he notices that's missing, he'll know it was you. And—

Does he always control you? Owen repeated. Why? For what? Don't you just follow his orders? Maybe he won't bother.

And briefly, Mhynt looked like she was trapped. Owen had struck… something, something bad, terrible, just then. He was hesitant to press further.

I do, Mhynt replied. Short. Stiff.

Mhynt? Owen asked again. How far away can he control you?

Usually only up… close.

As Mhynt picked up the deck, a card fell down, fluttering among the others. Its papery rustle was the only thing that filled the air of the great, empty room. The Sceptile queen card.

Mhynt seemed so much smaller than everything else.

Owen had another question. But he knew the answer. It felt like ice water had been forced straight down his throat, settling there in his chest and guts.

Can we talk about something else? Mhynt asked.

Sure, Owen replied automatically. Sure, we can.

The minutes ticked by in complete silence. Thoughts swirled in Owen's mind and the flame on his tail was crackling with some strange, new depth of rage he couldn't remember feeling before. It was a heat in the back of his eyes and the center of his forehead, and it traveled to his arms and throat like whatever was in front of him should burn. They weren't even words. Something primal was twisting his insides around.

Leph, Aster, and Star. We're freeing them, freeing you, and getting out of here. Today.

Don't be silly, Mhynt said, but she was trembling against him. But she was also smiling, joyless. Or… be silly. I want to hear more.

How can you be so… Owen couldn't lash out at her. Please, one more time. I'll free you, and—

And then he'll only repossess me again. He'll do even worse to you. This is dangerous, Owen… Even if you can, you… can't.

So, I wait until Star breaks? Then I become Reset? Owen asked. Mhynt… you're stronger than that. You've waited for so long and now I'm here to change things, okay?

Mhynt tensed. She had no response.

I think you've become used to that cold, Owen said. …To… Alexander.

He shouldn't have said that. He shouldn't have at all. That was cruel. Mhynt's muscles were tensing in some kind of internal agony.

Sorry, Owen said.

He got no reply.

Will you help me? Owen asked. I want to help you. I don't care what it takes. But… this can't stand. We can't wait for him. That's how he wins.

What… do you mean? If we risk anything, he'll… If we fail, it's…

I'm done playing Alexander's games. Owen kept his mental voice firm, but gentle. Encouraging. Mhynt was teetering, and he couldn't let her back down now. But after what she'd been through, no matter how strong she was… that kind of helplessness could break anyone. I think… it's time I made my move. I still have one more prize left…

I… She was trembling again. Tentatively, cautiously, Owen reached for her again. She nearly flinched, so he stopped. Mhynt gave him an apologetic glance, and then returned the gesture by holding his hand. But then, she let go, like it was wrong, like she was confused with herself.

You won't have to listen to him anymore, Owen said. Isn't that enough?

Owen tried again. Slowly. She didn't flinch. In fact, she leaned into it, so he leaned back. She leaned harder. He could sense tears bubbling up in her eyes, but he made no comment.

It's going to be okay. No matter how little Owen knew about the truth, she needed to hear that.

Silently, she nodded. No words from her mouth or her mind, but the way her eyes moved meant she was thinking a lot in her head. Maybe about everything that could go wrong, or what Alexander would put her through.

Let's work on something.

That finally snapped her out of it. She always was a fixer. Mhynt glanced at the clock. She was compensating for her fear with exaggerated nods and glares at nothing. We only have fifteen minutes left…

That'll do, I think. So, Mhynt. Are you ready?

Silence again. There was something else in the way she moved just then. Her chest swelled, her eyes brightened, and Owen saw what felt like years wash away from her soul.

Alright. Fifteen minutes. Let's make the most of it. Mhynt held a breath, then released it. But if we start, it's a final gamble. Failure means Alexander won't give us even the slightest freedoms.

Owen smiled wryly. Then we have nothing to lose.


The door creaked open, and out stepped the Charmeleon and Treecko.

"Well, you two look happy," Qitlan said.

Owen had a small smile, while Mhynt only crossed her arms and started to walk away.

"Oh, hold on, little Mhynt," Qitlan called. "I think you'd want to hear this."

"What?" Mhynt asked, sounding bored.

"Actually, I was wondering if we could see each other again like that," Owen said. "It, um… was nice." He avoided looking at Qitlan and his flame sparked.

"Oh? Nice, was it?" Qitlan asked with a drawn-out lilt, like he knew what Owen was talking about. "Maybe next time, I'll include a bed, too. I'll be sure to inform Alexander."

Owen nearly slipped, nearly slipped, but he put on a confused face instead.

Qitlan dismissed it with a wave. "Nothing, nothing. Tell me, Owen. Have you decided on a servant?"

"Oh, right." Owen nodded. "I have, actually."

"Well, don't hold me in suspense!" the Inteleon urged, hands on his knees as he addressed the Charmeleon. "Who will be your servant?"

"Anyone in the Castle, right? Or under Alexander's guard?" Owen asked.

"Of course, of course." Qitlan nodded, like he already knew the answer.

"I want my servant to be Remi," Owen said, nodding confidently.

And then Owen saw it. That brief pause that Qitlan couldn't hide. Maybe it wasn't even for a tenth of a second, but Qitlan couldn't take it back.

"She isn't a servant," Qitlan said. "She doesn't qualify. Is that really the most you could think of?"

"She's not in the castle?" Owen asked. "Not under Alexander's command?"

"She doesn't qualify for this prize," Qitlan said evenly.

"Right, okay… Then I pick Star."

"Star," Qitlan said. "No, of course not."

"Why? Isn't she under your command and control?"

Qitlan stared at Owen like he was an idiot. He glanced briefly at Mhynt, who was wearing the thinnest of smiles, and then back at Owen. "How is that relevant? She is not employed under Alexander's guard."

"Employed? Wow, I didn't know I'd get paid. How much?"

"Salaries are on the job postings," Qitlan said. "Star doesn't get one, obviously. She's a prisoner, not a servant."

"You said, in the castle," Owen pointed out.

"A worker in the Castle. Do you really think—"

"Okay." Owen nodded, and then marched down the hall.

"Where are you going?" Qitlan asked. "Aren't you going to redeem your prize?"

"Just a second," Owen said, turning and walking down another hall, and then down the stairs.

He made it all the way to the great hall at the entrance to the castle, where he finally spotted a guard walking in, looking like he'd just gotten out from a swim. A large, bulky-build Swampert, more gut than muscle.

"Him," Owen said spontaneously, pointing at Swampert.

"Eh—uh?" Swampert asked, blinking.

"He's my servant."

Swampert's cheeks darkened like a bruise.

By now, Qitlan's expression told Owen he was somewhere between befuddled and irate. He was barely hiding it anymore when his cutting question was, "What game are you playing here?"

Owen mimicked the smile Mhynt had made. Polite, with an undertone of mocking. "I'm serious. He's my servant."

"Do you think this is some kind of joke?"

And Owen's grin only became wider. "This… isn't a joke," he said. "Go on. Make it happen, Qitlan."

He could feel Mhynt's smile, though he didn't look at her as she walked away again, shrugging at Qitlan.

But I guess in some ways, I'm a little joker.