Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 137: Divine Kitsune: Lord Willow, a pokémon fanfic

Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 137: Divine Kitsune: Lord Willow

No longer allowing defeat to stand in between him and his goal to cleanse the world of corruption, Willow watches from afar…

Location: Lord Mito's Paradise-Twilight's View

Yumi.

"…"

Braixen.

"…"

Lord Mito.

"…"

The three stood at the center-inside of the chamber with the greatest of Lord Mito's Alchemic influence in his Lost Paradise.

This was Twilight's View. The chamber was sleek and grand. It was otherworldly, like stepping into the gates of Heaven and asking to yourself if you've finally arrived at eternal peace. It certainly felt like eternity, appearing immune to the age that comes with the years coming and going in the world above.

The prize of Twilight's View? The stainless steel statues of Kitsune surrounding everybody. These Kitsune were moving, as if they were alive. It was intriguing.

Lady Anju, Summer, and Winter were all ready to accommodate with whatever assistance Lord Mito needed in bestowing the power of the 1,000 Kitsune to Yumi and Braixen.

Rose held Banette in her arms, while Chikorita was on the shoulder of Seth. They all stood together with Chapel, watching on.

In this room of pure Alchemy, Lord Mito no longer seemed like an aged mortal trapped inside the cage he called his rejuvenation pod. The pod was no more, and he looked as if he'd transcended life itself. His entire being was engulfed in the aura of Alchemy, making him seem like some distant spirit or God of sorts.

Expectantly staring at Lord Mito, was Yumi and Braixen.

"…"

Lord Mito smiled, "I thought you two would be more excited about the gift you're about to receive."

The twins' change in facial expression was near imperceptible. Their smiles were wry, as if saying , 'Please'. The moment was not to be ruined by the remarks they had cooking in their minds.

"What I am about to pass down to you, is a special power that can only be inherited once every hundred years: The Power of the 1,000 Kitsune…" Lord Mito's voice echoed throughout Twilight's View. It seemed as if the seemingly-breathing Kitsune statues were reacting to his words with delight. Perhaps the stainless steel statues have been waiting for the passing of the 1,000 Kitsune's power just as long as Lord Mito.

Momentarily, he placed his eyes on the helpers that were present. "The Twins of Kitsune's Millennium"

"Lord Mito."

"Lord Mito." Both Summer and Winter perked up.

Lady Anju walked up, and formally made an announcement to the Twins. "It is time. After all these years, the time has finally come to perform the Kitsune's Millennial Lullaby, for the passing of the 1,000 Kitsune's power."

They both nodded in understanding.

"Are you ready?" Lady Anju asked.

The twins did not answer verbally, nor did they give Lady Anju a second nod in understanding. Without pause, they slowly walked to the center of Twilight's View, to the point where they stood next to Braixen.

"Zen?" Summer was on Braixen's left, while Winter was on the right.

It was like the twins were a part of a perfectly matched set. They were complimentary, yet contrasting at the same time. Whatever words came from one's mouth, the other would say the exact opposite. This would prove to be very true, as the two would go off on some sort of tangent-the same as when they first introduced themselves to us.

Summer spun clockwise, enacting the same elegant dance as before.

Winter spun counterclockwise.

"We are the Sun."

"We are the Moon."

"We are the warmth."

"We are the cold."

"Day."

"Night."

"Fire."

"Ice."

"Yin."

"Yang."

"Onvitaikayan."

"…"

"Human."

"Kitsune."

"Futatsu Boshi-Twin Stars."

"La. La. La. La…Lalalala…Lala. La. La. La. Lalala. La-la…" This was the same lullaby as before lullaby, and it sounded just as amazing…It was as if peace and harmony were combining forces to massage my ears. The peace was harmonious in making me forget all the troubles in the world. "Lalalala…Lalalala…Lala. La. La. La. Lala." I closed my eyes, and began hearing an orchestra to compliment the twins. There were no living beings to perform an instrumental of the twins' lullaby, leading me to believe that this could only be done through the power of Alchemy. "Lalalala. Lalalala. Lalalala. Lalalala…"

"Zen?" Braixen's mouth hung open, as she herself began glowing some otherworldly aura that was a ghastly mist color. "Zen…" She looked to Lord Mito, who watched on with a warm smile on his face.

Was this some sort of dream? Yumi thought this to herself, as this wasn't what she'd think would happen to her in reality. She was usually left out when it came to the otherworldly powers.

"Laaa La La Laaa La…Laaa La La Laaa La…" Soon, the glowing twins were joined by Lady Anju, who was glowing an aura as bright as a winter solstice.

The four Kitsune, glowing…

"…" Willow's presence was not felt, as he continued to watch from afar.

"Braixen…"

Lady Anju, Summer, and Winter stopped glowing. And when they did, they were in their Kitsune forms.

"From Onvitaikayan to Kitsune…" Summer, the Vulpix with ruby eyes.

"From Onvitaikayan to Kitsune…" Winter, the Vulpix as white as snow.

"From Onvitaikayan to Kitsune…" Lady Anju, the one-hundred percent Kitsune who has lived her life as an illusionary onvitaikayan alongside Lord Mito.

Braixen was the only Kitsune still glowing. The otherworldly mist surrounding her caused her to begin ascending slowly, until she was eye level with the great Lord Mito.

"From Heaven, the Lords in white watch down on you and your trainer. Are you ready to receive the power of the 1,000 Kitsune?" As Lord Mito asked this to Braixen, the Vulpix and Ninetails floated right beside her.

Braixen looked down to Yumi, as Yumi looked up to her pokemon. Their looks were knowing.

"Zen." Braixen turned back to Lord Mito and gave him an affirmative nod.

"The Lords in White, and the Kitsune…In your quest to rid the world of great evil, we use the Alchemy to bestow to you, the legendary power of the 1,000 Kitsune." These were Lord Mito's final words. The ceremony of passing on the power of the 1,000 Kitsune was nearing its end, as the visuals begun.

"Zen?" The otherworldly mist surrounding Braixen seemed to take on a different form, and Braixen was caught off guard.

In Twilight's View, the form that the otherworldly mist surrounding Braixen took, appeared to be many spirits. But what were these spirits? To Braixen and Yumi, the sheer number could not be counted with human eyes alone. They were…were these actually 1,000 Kitsune spirits?

"So that's the power…" Yumi whispered to herself.

…..

Watching From Afar…

"This is the Twilight of the Gods bestowing the power of the 1,000 Kitsune. Fitting that the passing is taking place in Twilight's View…" Willow whispered to himself.

All Willow could do was watch…with nothing but bitterness overwhelming his soul. He is still perplexed as to why Lord Mito-his father-would pick some random girl to inherit the power of the 1,000 Kitsune over himself. The goal of Yumi and Braixen was not something Willow thought was attainable for the two. This is why Willow will no longer allow defeat to keep him from ridding the world of greed and pride. This is why…why Willow must act now.

"Lord Mito's Alchemy will be passed on to me…" Willow's voice echoed through the sky of Lord Mito's Lord Paradise. "To let a small defeat allow the world to fall at the hands of pride and greed…THAT IS NOT THE FATE AWAITING THE WORLD ABOVE!"

Willow's voice was heard, and it was accompanied by action so fast, nobody was able to take in what had happened until it was too late.

"Zen?!" Braixen was the first to realize something wasn't right.

The otherworldly mist…it was no longer surrounding Braixen. This mist, a visual representation of Lord Mito's Alchemic power, was now surrounding Willow.

"What?!" Yumi was astonished. Willow had come in between Braixen and Lord Mito at the last possible second!

"!" Lord Mito's eyes were wide open.

"What are you doing?!" Yumi asked.

Willow had begun to glow the same otherworldly mist that previously surrounded Braixen. His wide eyes closed. They opened as he faced Yumi. His eyes and body were passionate, but his voice…when he addressed Yumi, his voice was alarmingly calm.

"I can't allow the fate of the world to be decided like this. Because…" Willow faced the sky, and as he did, he began to reminensce. "Because…"

The Life of Willow…Lord Mito, Lady Anju, Summer, and Winter

The story had already been told-The story of how Lord Mito was exiled from his homeland, how he traversed the world, found love, and eventually settled down in his own Alchemic creation: The 1,000 Kitsune Temple.

Lord Mito knew the day would come, when he would pass on the Power of the 1,000 Kitsune. It was on THIS day, that Lord Mito decided who was going to inherit said alchemic power.

Location: Lord Mito's Lost Paradise

"Many years have passed since I was exiled from my homeland. Religious protestants barred me from following my passion for Alchemy. For the many years that followed, my heart was full of resentment toward the world. But now…" Lord Mito was in an all white room, confined to the pod keeping him alive, "But now, I am well over a century old. The very people I've made myself despise are no longer of this life. I have been shut inside my world of Alchemy for so long, I have lost any sense of what the world above may be like. Perhaps it is a world different from the one I remember-A world that may very well welcome you: My seed."

It was heartwarming, but ironic at the same time. Lord Mito was staring at his seed from the other side of the glass. But his seed-his baby-was not on the side which needed the most hospitality. His seed lay cradled in the arms of his wife, Lady Anju. His seed, was his son.

"He he!" Behind every face, lies a soul that was once as innocent as a child. That was the case for Baby Willow. The baby was untouched by the flaws of the world above.

"What should his name be?" Lady Anju asked, a warm smile on her face as she embraced the baby.

Lord Mito gave a light chuckle, and his raspy voice echoed through the life pod, "He certainly takes after his father."

"His father…" Lady Anju thought to herself, before giving her husband her suggestion, "How about Willow?"

"Willow?" Lord Mito questioned.

Of all the names in the world, why did Lady Anju propose Willow? Could she have chosen a name more fitting for one who was part Kitsune, part human?

Lady Anju blinked her eyes slowly, but gracefully. A glint of her Ninetails spirit could be seen in those eyes, as she faced the entire world surrounding her.

"Our world is beautiful. You've spent a lifetime studying Alchemy. All the studying and practicing, has amounted to this world with an abundance of vivid verdancy. We can sleep on the clouds, and we can touch the sky. We can walk on water, and we can wish upon shooting star after shooting star. This vivid verdancy…I am in love with all of its willow on our trees."

Lord Mito smiled. Now he knew where Lady Anju was getting at.

"Our willow comes from you," Lady Anju said as she turned to her husband, "All the willow in the world is the result of your passion…"

And to think, Baby Willow will be aided my Lord Mito's Alchemy just as much as the rest of the willow in this Lost Paradise…

…

In their own world below the 1,000 Kitsune Temple-below the real world on the surface, Lord Mito and Lady Anju cared for Willow like they cared for no other.

"…" Baby Willow was crawling on the verdant grass surrounding him. He, Lord Mito, and Lady Anju were on a patch of green, surrounded by tall waterfalls that added to the natural ambience. "Mm." Baby Willow was young enough to have not learned how to talk yet. He was just wordlessly exploring the world around him, naïve to the world's Creator and the meaning behind his creations.

"Hm." A smile was on the face of Lady Anju as she was crouched down to as close to Baby Willow's height as she could be.

"…" While Lord Mito remained in his pod keeping him alive.

"Ooh." Just where was Baby Willow going? Even he didn't know. The question wasn't even on his mind…or WAS it? The mind of an infant is a mysterious enigma.

Along the stream and far away in the eyes of a baby, Baby Willow crawled until he was at the edge of a cliff.

"Ooh." There, he struggled to stand on his feet as he gazed into the endless expanse of land created by his Father's Alchemy.

"Willow…" Lord Mito was in his pod as it moved, following Baby Willow wherever he wandered off too. "I see you're starting to become aware of the world around you-the world of Alchemy."

Lady Anju watched as Baby Willow became curious of Lord Mito's pod. "Ooh." As slow as a toddler would, Baby Willow made baby steps toward the pod.

It was a warm moment of bonding between Father and Son-a moment that could be spoiled.

Lord Mito's smile disappeared, "…" As the closest Baby Willow could get to him, was touching the outside of the pod. Shame. Willow was the son of Lord Mito. Lord Mito loved him very much. And yet, Lord Mito has never made contact with him.

Imagine never being able to embrace your own child…This was a cruel reminder of Lord Mito's mortality. For over a century, he has been in this world. Why was it that the twilight of his life had to come when Willow's life was beginning?

Lord Mito stared into the eyes of his son, "I won't be here forever. When I pass, the legend of Alchemy and the 1,000 Kitsune Temple will be forever gone…But it doesn't have to be that way."

"…" Lady Anju knew where Lord Mito was getting at.

"I would be honored for you-my seed-to inherit the power of my Alchemy and carry on the legend of this temple. When I pass to the next world, you will be my living legacy, Willow…"

Lord Mito love Baby Willow like he'd never loved anyone before.

….

Lord Mito, as he reached closer and closer to the twilight of his life, continued to fill Baby Willow's mind with the notion that he would be the once to inherit the Alchemic power. Even when Baby Willow wasn't such a baby anymore.

"You'll be my living legacy…"

"You will inherit the power of Alchemy, and carry on the legend of the 1,000 Kitsune…"

Those words rang through the mind of Willow every minute of every day. The world around him was destined to be his, and there was nothing to get in the way of this.

Until…

Willow's 7th Birthday

The celebration of Willow's birth was not too far in the rearview mirror. With everything he was set to inherit tomorrow, he had not a worry in the world today. This was his perfect life.

But once upon a time, Willow decided to wander the 1,000 Kitsune Temple above…

"Hm…" For the first time in his life, he was not under the supervision of his Mother and Father.

From one Kitsune statue to another, Willow wandered. But his wandering would always bring him to a certain location: The entrance that separated the 1,000 Kitsune Temple from the rest of the world on the surface-the real world.

Willow's hair blew in the wind as he stared into the sunrise in the distance, "The air is different up here. I can't believe it took me seven years to realize this." This wasn't the first time Willow has explored the 1,000 Kitsune Temple on the surface. "I wonder what the outside world is like?"

Lord Mito and Lady Anju were not here at the moment, but they knew that question would escape the mouth of Willow one day. It was a day the two would consider bittersweet. They were excited because Willow was finally beginning to grow up, but at the same time, they were unnerved that Willow was becoming old enough to form his own assessment and opinion of the world around him. Lord Mito, even after spending years in his own, Lost Paradise of Alchemy, still resented the world above that exiled him. Was he correct in his resentment?

"Huh?" Breaking Willow out of his thoughts, was a most unfamiliar sight.

There, outside of the Temple and in the distance, Willow spotted something. This something…was coming toward the temple?!

"Hey!" Willow was excited. Approaching the 1,000 Kitsune Temple, it was a human! Willow could not help waving hello.

The human stared at Willow, bewildered.

"Hello!" Willow ran up to the human with visible, altruistic glee. His eyes brimmed with curiosity for the strange fellow.

"Who are you?" The stranger retained his confusion. Honestly, what kind of person would waltz upon a stranger with their guard so hopelessly down? Apparently Willow.

The stranger had a peculiar look to him. He was tall, and dressed like what would be an ordinary Trainer in any other part of the world. He had a white had on to partially cover his spikey blonde hair and blue eyes. He had on a slim fitted, black t-shirt on. Her wore dark blue pants that were on the baggy side, and brown boots.

"I'm Willow!" Willow had the wonder of a young child-younger than he already was at seven. "What's your name?"

"Do you really let down your guard so easily?" The traveler asked.

"Huh?" Willow tilted his head in reaction to this question, "What do you mean?"

Willow was not so naïve as to forget the common sense teachings of 'never talk to strangers'. He never forgot these teachings because these teachings were never taught to him in the first place. He has not a clue what goes on in the world outside the 1,000 Kitsune Temple.

The stranger sighed, closing his eyes, "I am but a traveler, hoping to capture Pokemon and explore this region's geographical obscurities….But!" His eyes opened, closing coldly on the eyes of Willow, "Say I happen to be a madman hellbent on the destruction of the entire world, namely this temple. What would you do?"

"Hm?" Willow scratched his head in confusion.

Hopelessly innocent, that was what Willow was, and after asking a few more questions, the stranger caught on. He sighed in defeat, and sat on the staircase connecting the temple's entrance to the outside world, "Namu."

"What?"

"My name. You asked for it?" So, the stranger's name was Namu…

"I'm Willow." Willow sat next to Namu.

"I know, you told me already. Haha." Namu gave a dry chuckle.

Was that remark suppose to offend little Willow? Willow did not know, and the question crossed his mind.

"So, what's a kid like you doing all the way out here?" Namu asked.

"I live here!"

Namu was astonished by both Willow's answer, and the enthusiasm that came with it. "You live here?" But this part of the region has all but been forgotten, lost to obscurity. The nearest city is so far away, and nobody traverses here. "Are you sure you haven't just been lost for a long time? Where do you come from?"

"I'm from the Temple!"

"Okay, what about your parents?"

"My parents' names are Mom and Dad!"

It was official. Willow had no clue about the real world. But, arriving to that conclusion did not stop Namu from asking one question.

"Have you ever been outside this Temple?"

"Huh?" Willow's excitement turned into curiosity, "Well…" This is the first time Willow was asked that question. And because this was the first time that question was asked, this was also the first time Willow had ever given any thought to the outside world.

What was the outside world like? How did it look? Were there more strangers like Namu? Did these creatures called Pokemon really exist, like Mito once told him? Willow asked Namu these questions.

A smile found its way onto Namu's face. "The world outside is vast, seemingly endless. There are scenic routes similar to this one, and then there are cities."

"Cities?" Willow never heard of the word.

"Cities-large residential regions where thousands upon thousands of people live. Of course, Pokemon exist as well."

"No way. Pokemon are real?" Willow was amazed. It turns out Lord Mito's stories weren't made up fairy tales after all. "I wanna visit the cities one day!"

"Ask your parents. I'm sure they wouldn't mind." It was here that Namu stood up, and began walking forward.

"Huh? Where are you going?" Willow wondered why this Namu was leaving so soon.

"Like I said, the world outside is vast. So vast, that there is still a long way to the next city, and I need to make haste."

"The next city…" It was settled then. Willow decided that he was going to see the outside world. He was going to meet these people and pokemon for the first time. And he was going to visit the city.

"See ya around." Without looking at Willow, Namu made his farewell.

"We'll see each other in the city!" Willow waved.

Namu smiled. In the direction of the sunrise, he walked. He gave one last wave to the strange little Willow, before continuing on his journey.

…..

Location: Lord Mito's Lost Paradise

Through the 1,000 Kitsune Temple, to the Lost Paradise down under. Willow searched for his Mother and Father. Lady Anju and Lord Mito had to be somewhere, and Willow was going to find them. He wanted to tell his parents about the outside world, and how he wanted to see it.

People. Pokemon. Cities. These three words coursed through Willow's mind as he past a Kistune Shinto Shrine, went through the verdant forest, across the silver-bricked bridge above the river, and into Lord Mito's quarters. Riding the holographic-platformed elevator, Willow arrived in many floors, before finally spotting his parents.

"Mom!" an excited Willow ran off the platform and into the room, "Dad!" He stopped in front of his parents, whose backs were turned, "Mom! Dad! I…Huh?"

Willow was more ready to talk to his parents than he'd been his entire life…Until

"…"

Lady Anju turned around, revealing to Willow a couple of figures in her arms.

"What the…" Willow thought the figures looked familiar. They reminded him of his Mother when she wasn't in her human form. They were… "Kitsune?"

One Kitsune was as bright and red as the setting Sun during a twilight. The other was as white as the snow in a winter wonderland.

"Willow." Lady Anju had a warm smile on her face.

"Willow." As did Lord Mito from within the rejuvenation pod keeping him alive through 'life support'.

Lady Anju spoke to her son once more, "Willow, come meet your sisters."

In utter astonishment, the eyes of Willow widened. "Sisters?" But why? How? It was so sudden, Lady Anju and Lord Mito having more children…or maybe Willow was too young and out of touch with the world around him to realize that he WAS in fact having sisters.

"Sisters…" One could not blame Willow for failing to take in the sudden news so quickly. He whispered this word to himself once more, as he approached the baby Kitsune in his Mother's arms.

"…"

The Kitsune seemed to have the eyes of baby dolls as Willow stared into them.

"They're twins." Lady Anju spoke.

Lord Mito added, "And just like you, they have the forms of both Kitsune and Onvitaikayan."

Onvitaikayan was a more advanced, evolutionary form of the human species. Onvitaikayan looked exactly like humans. But unlike humans, Onvitaikayan possessed other forms, namely the Kitsune. Lord Mito once explained this to Willow.

While Willow was an Onvitaikayan born with the Kitsune form of Fennekin, these twins had the look of 'other' Kitsune. With Vulpix as their Kitsune, these twins certainly took after Lady Anju. Lady Anju is not an Onvitaikayan. Rather, she is a Kitsune in its purest form. As a Ninetails, she uses her honed ability to take the form of an Onvitaikayan.

"What are their names?" Willow was too surprised to be as excited as when he entered the room.

"The Kitsune whose as red as a sunset in the twilight," She looked to the red Kitsune, "Her name is Summer." She then gazed at the white Kitsune, "The Kitsune whose as white as snow in a winter wonderland. Her name is Winter."

"Summer…Winter…" Willow, while intrigued by the names of his sisters, was still in a contemplative state. While he was naïve, he wasn't naïve enough to ask a certain, lingering question without pondering it in his head. He gazed past Summer, Winter, and his Mother. To Lord Mito, Willow asked, "People. Pokemon. Cities. I wanna explore the outside world and see these things. Can I?"

"!"

Stunned silence befell both Lord Mito and Lady Anju as their mouth hung slightly agape. One as young as Willow could not comprehend the subtleties that lied beneath their change in facial expressions.

"Why, Son…?" Just what was going through the heads of Lady Anju and Lord Mito? Lady Anju found it difficult to answer her son. But then she thought it be best to not answer at all. She'd rather not lie to her own son.

"An outsider came to the temple." Willow remarked, "Father, the stories you've told me for as long as I can remember…they're true! This outsider…he told me everything about people, pokemon, and cities. I can't believe I've never wondered about life outside the Temple! But now…I want to see that world for myself. I promised Namu I'd meet up with him in the big city."

Lord Mito sighed. He could never find it in himself to turn down his son; he never has. However, stepping into the outside world was a subject that would not even be contemplated.

"You will inherit the power of Alchemy, and carry on the legend of the 1,000 Kitsune…" Lord Mito thought back to the day he instilled those words into Baby Willow. They were more than just words. They were the hopes and dreams of a man who knew his days were numbered. But at the end of the day, he did not wish to leave this world without leaving behind the power of Alchemy. If Alchemy were to be forgotten, the people of the old world who exiled Lord Mito would be proven correct-that Alchemy was a religious taboo, and was not needed by the world. If Willow failed to obtain the power of Alchemy, Lord Mito's lifetime of hard work would have been for naught.

"You will inherit the power of Alchemy, and carry on the legend of the 1,000 Kitsune…" Lord Mito voiced those words to Willow, with a tone that was somewhat stern and final. He looked the newborn twins in Lady Anju's arms, "Summer and Winter…These Onvitaikayan were birthed, and will live their lives protect Alchemy and the 1,000 Kitsune Temple. Once I pass onto the next life, Summer and Winter will protect the one to inherit my power. Summer and Winter…they will be your lifetime guardians, Willow."

Willow knew the day would come when he would inherit the power of Alchemy. It's a day Willow has been looking forward to since he was born, with impatience. But today his mind has slightly strayed from the path set in front of him. He still desired to inherit the power of Alchemy, but this wouldn't stop his young mind from wandering. Willow was always a curious child, and now he was curious of the outside world.

Asking his Mother and Father whether or not he could explore the outside world, Willow did not receive a straight answer from Lord Mito; only the foreshadowing of the eventual 'no' that would escape his lips if Willow rebelled and persisted.

Willow's purpose was to act as a guardian to Summer and Winter, until they were old enough to be his guardians. Not getting to see the outside world was a bitter pill for Willow to swallow that day, but he would eventually carry on, and even enjoy his role as Summer and Winter's guardian. However, the relationship between Willow, and his destiny to inherit the power of Alchemy would never be the same…

Three Years Later…

While Lord Mito was left in his quarters to slumber in his rejuvenation pod, Willow, Lady Anju, and the twins spent the day on the surface, within the confines of the 1,000 Kitsune Temple.

With Lady Anju enjoying the sunset from the entrance of the Temple, Willow was left to look after his sisters for the time being.

"Fox."

"Kitsune." Summer and Winter were staring into the eyes of a Kitsune statue, intrigued.

This was the first time Summer and Winter were in the 1,000 Kitsune Temple on the surface. But at three years old, they were allowed to traverse the surface at a much early age than Willow, who waited until he was five to enter the Temple for the first time.

"Strange?" Summer wondered as she continued to stare at the Kitsune statue of Braixen.

"Different?" Winter was always one to echo Summer's quotes.

At three years old, the minds of Summer and Winter were just as curious as Willow when he was their age.

"You will inherit the power of Alchemy, and carry on the Legend of the 1,000 Kitsune." Willow enjoyed keeping his sisters company, but that wasn't enough to keep his mind from wandering back and forth between two separate dreams, "People. Pokemon. Cities…I want to explore the outside world and see these things!" Since the day he met Namu, he has never been the same naïve boy.

Willow didn't know enough about the outside world, while his Father knew too much. Despite this, the two have never outright fought. If anything, their Father-Son relationship was stronger than its been.

"…" Everyday, Willow yearned to see the unseen. He was a boy who was untouched by the evils of the outside world. Even so, Willow was becoming old enough to make conscious decisions for himself. At one point over the last three years, he thought about simply running away. After all, he could always simply return to the Temple when it was time to inherit the power of Alchemy. "But…"

"Brother?"

"Willow?"

"Hm?" Willow was snapped out of his deep concentration as he looked to his sisters.

'That's right.' Willow's thoughts of running away would never come to fruition. Because every morning, he would look into the faces of his sisters. Summer and Winter were never very jovial, but whenever Willow spotted faint smiles on their faces, he could not help but smile himself. 'I love my sisters more than the world. There's nothing I wouldn't give to be with them everyday."

"What is it?" Willow asked.

Summer and Winter pointed to the statue.

"The Fox."

"The Kitsune."

In unison, they finished their question, "What kind of creature is it?"

"Well…"

The creature was Braixen: Willow's form when he transforms from Onvitaikayan to Kitsune.

Kitsune. Alchemy. Summer. Winter…Willow's desire to see the outside world was great, but the happiness that came with remaining at the Temple was even greater.

Three Years Later…

Three more years had past since the day Willow learned about people, pokemon, and the city. At thirteen years old, Willow had all but forgotten that childhood fantasy of seeing the world outside. He had accepted his inevitable fate of inheriting the power of Alchemy, and carrying on the Legend of the 1,000 Kitsune.

Location: 1,000 Kitsune Temple

Like six years before, Willow stood on the stairs, staring past the Shinto shrine and into the outside world that surrounds the Temple.

"The Endless Plains."

"The Endless Sky."

Summer and Winter were with him. Together, they asked their brother, "What interest do you find in them?"

At six years old, Summer and Winter were now being taught the life of the Guardians of Alchemy. That's right, the Twins were officially Willow's guardians. Lady Anju visits the Temple on the surface world to summon Kitsune Spirits to teach them. For 1,000 days, Summer and Winter have interacted with a different Kitsune Spirit, giving them years of study and practice. Bound by the destiny that chains them to both the Kitsune and Onvitaikayan, they will guard the 1,000 Kitsune Temple and the inheritor of Alchemy with their lives. Would it do justice to describe their roles as similar to the role of priestesses at Shinto shrines?

Willow wasn't a child anymore. He knew better than to tell his guardians what was on his mind. If Summer and Winter started to wonder about the outside world, their roles as guardians would falter. Willow would rather not poison their minds with the endless possibilities that lie outside. "It's nothing." He replied.

"Liar."

"Huh?" Willow should know better than to lie to his guardians. There was no getting past them, but they have always given him the benefit of the doubt.

…

No. Not this time. They continued to stare into the eyes of their brother with cold, stoic faces.

"You've been staring out into The Endless Plains everyday," Summer said.

"For years." Winter added.

They weren't ready…

"…"

"…Hm?"

"…" If Summer and Winter started prying, Willow would have to be vague to the point of misunderstanding with any semblance of a true answer. Of course, emphasis of if. The Summer and Winter's gazes appeared fixed on something. "…What? What is it?"

It was not normal for their stoic faces to be fixated on something. However, where they were staring was not at anything in particular-at least, Willow didn't think so. They were staring past Willow, seemingly into the distant nothingness of the Endless Plains separating the Temple from the outside world.

Curious, Willow turned around to see what his guardians were staring at.

"Bii." It was in the distance.

"A stranger." Summer remarked.

"A foreigner." Winter echoed.

In unison, they concluded, "A strange creature from an unknown land."

"Bii."

'What could it be?' Willow thought to himself.

It was a small, green, onion-like creature with translucent wings. Willow and the twins thought it to be one of those 'yokai' creatures that Mother and Father told them about in their old folktales used for bedtime stories.

'No. It's not a yokai creature.' It was another kind of creature Lord Mito told him about, "It's a Pokemon!" Willow's face lit up, his eyes bright and an excited smile on his face.

"A pokemon?"

"A pokemon?" Summer and Winter questioned.

Willow had never seen a pokemon before. He had every right to be excited. He was so excited…

…

"A pokemon…"

"Oh Brother?!" In a rare display of concern, Summer and Winter raised their voices…as Willow began walking. "Willow!"

'A real life pokemon…' With what Willow did, Summer and Winter's concern was warranted…when for the very first time, without realizing it, Willow was on the other side of the Temple's Shinto shrin-the side that included the Endless Plains leading into the outside world.

"Bii?" The green pokemon stopped as it stared at an approaching Willow.

Willow was just a few feet away from the pokemon and still approaching as he voice a question, "Hello. Who are you?" Willow thought the creature to be small and delicate, like Summer and Winter when they were toddlers. He knew that it took a delicate approach to get close to delicate things.

"Bii?" The pokemon tilted its head. Was it able to comprehend the speech of human or Onvitaikayan?

Perhaps the pokemon was able to tell that Willow and his sisters meant no harm. It didn't bother moving as Willow closed in on it, and reached a hand in an effort to try to pet it.

"Stop."

Willow halted, just as he was about to make contact with the pokemon.

It was the voice of Summer or Winter. It came from outside the Temple's shrine.

"A stranger."

"A foreigner."

Once again, Summer and Winter voiced these phrases. This time, they were correct.

This human looked different than the Namu guy Willow met three years ago. He had sharp eyes, and a smile was not on his face. He wore a long, blue jacket and black boots. A strange machine-looking thing was equipped to this person's left arm.

"Oh?" Willow was caught off guard, as this human was not alone.

Appearing from behind him, were two more Pokemon!

"Umbreon." The first Pokemon had a sleek, black body with crimson eyes.

"Espeon." The second pokemon had a lilac body, with midnight purple eyes.

"I have searched far and wide for that pokemon. At long last, our paths have crossed." The stranger readied a strange, spherical object with the arm equipped with the strange machine, "You will be caught today." His eyes narrowed.

Willow had never seen before seen one of those red spheres. However, he has heard about those things from Lord Mito's stories.

"A Pokeball." Summer and Winter must've read Willow's mind by answering his question before it could escape his mouth.

A silence settled into the moment as the stranger held this Pokeball out, in the direction of Celebi.

The wind blows.

…

"For Rui."

"Huh?" Willow was confused. "For Rui? What does that mean?"

Hmph. The 1,000 Kitsune Temple was so secluded, they had no clue about the Shadows about to emerge in the outside world. A great story lies behind the words 'For Rui'- a great story that was still far from finished.

"Bii…"

"Um!" For Rui, the sleek, black pokemon lunged at the floating green pokemon next to Willow.

"Bii!" Try as the black pokemon might, he was not fast enough to catch a the swift green pixie.

"Woah!" Willow stood astonished, as the black pokemon landed right where Celebi was previously: next to him. "They're both so fast."

With the way the green pixie looked at the blue coated stranger, one would think they've crossed paths more than once. Especially with the stranger expressing that he'd searched 'far and wide' for the pixie.

"Bii…"

"Esp!" Next was the lilac pokemon's turn. She rushed in front of the black pokemon and I, and focused its gaze of the green pokemon.

"Psychic…" The eyes of the stranger narrowed.

"Es…" The lilac pokemon closed its eyes and began concentrating.

"Hm?"

Both Summer and Winter were surprised when the lilac pokemon began glowing a light blue aura, its eyes emitting the same color. That aura reminded the twins so much of the aura Lady Anju would glow when she would exercise her power in her Ninetails Kitsune form.

"Bii?" The green pokemon was bewildered when it began glowing the same aura. It winced as it struggled to make any sort of move.

"Now, Umbreon." With the green pokemon slowed, the stranger motioned for his black pokemon to make one more move.

"Breon!" The black pokemon lunged again, this time with success.

"Bii!" The green pokemon was sent to the ground.

"Aw!" Willow, Summer, and Winter all stood agape. "That pokemon is down!"

"Now!" That machine-like thing on the stranger's arm began glowing as he threw the Pokeball at the green pokemon, "Pokeball, snag it!"

When the Pokeball hit the green pokemon, it opened. It was as if an arm reached out and forcibly thrusted the pokemon into the Pokeball, before the Pokeball closed and landed harmlessly on the grass of the Endless Plains.

"It went inside the Pokeball." Willow commented.

The stranger watched anxiously as the Pokeball began to roll about.

One roll.

"Umbreon…"

Two rolls.

"Espeon…"

…

The eyes of Umbreon and Espeon widened when the green pokemon promptly came bursting out of the Pokeball.

"Bii!" The green pokemon turned its back, and was about to make a run for it.

"No! Not again!" The eyes of the stranger widened, "Celebi mustn't get away again! Umbreon, attack!"

He was in a noticeable panic as commanded the pokemon named 'Umbreon' to attack the pokemon named 'Celebi'. What kind of attack was never specified. It just needed to be something, anything, to keep Celebi from escaping.

"On!" The Umbreon launched a pulse of dark energy at the Celebi.

"Bii!" But without the lilac pokemon's Psychic energy to slow it, Celebi was able to avoid the attack by flying into the air.

"Ergh!" The stranger gritted his teeth. He must've known what was next.

"Bii!" The Celebi surrounded itself in a green aura, and promptly disappeared.

"What?" Willow was confused, frantically looking around to find Celebi, "Where's the pokemon?"

…

Willow waited for the Celebi to make its cry. But the cry never came.

Silence once again settled into the moment, leaving the stranger to cross his arms, close his eyes, and calmly remark on the encounter with Celebi, "Gone again…"

"Again?" Willow parroted.

"For five years, I've searched for the Purifier. My second chance to capture the Purifier-for Rui-has ended with its escape."

"For Rui…" Summer whispered to herself.

"For Rui?" Winter questioned.

Willow turned to the stranger and asked, "Who's Rui? And what were you doing to that pokemon?"

The stranger sighed as he opened his eyes, "Don't trouble yourself over it. This temple is so secluded from the region that cities in the outside world will envy how peaceful it is, especially with the Shadows ready to take over."

"The outside world sounds interesting and full of excitement." Willow commented.

"Hmph." The stranger, rather than taking in Willow's reply, found any further conversing to be unnecessary as he turned around and started walking away from the Temple. "I'll spend another five years looking for Celebi if I have to."

"Um."

"Esp." This was Umbreon and Espeon's cue to follow suit.

"Wait, where are you going?" Willow found it weird that the stranger would end the conversation so suddenly. When someone talks to you, you reply. Right? It was common sense taught to him and his sisters by their parents.

The stranger still did not respond, leaving Willow to simply look on. Away from the Temple, through the Endless Plains, and into the outside world, Willow watched the stranger proceed.

…

"Brother?"

"Willow?"

Once the series of unafamiliar events passed them by, a wordless Willow realized something. The Shinto shrine behind him, the grass of the Endless Plains in front of him…

"This is the first time I've ever been outside the Temple." He looked into the sky with a longing expression on his face. He longed for the outside world, and now that he'd taken his first steps, this longing only intensified. "…" Willow slowly walked forward, fixing his gaze on the empty Pokeball that failed to capture Celebi moments ago.

"The Pokeball…" Summer and Winter were both intrigued by the Pokeball, but knew better than to step outside the temple.

Willow reached down and grabbed the spherical device. As the wind brushed up against his hair and the endless grass around him, Willow stared intently at the Pokeball. Until now, he'd never seen such a device-a device he's heard of many times through Lord Mito's stories. But that was the things, those stories were just stories. People. Pokemon. Cities. Willow longed to see these things in the outside world. But his destiny to inherit Alchemy and carry on the Legend of the 1,000 Kitsune made his dream of seeing the outside world seem like a distant fantasy. But now…

In the reflection of the Pokeball, Willow could see the vastness of the open world lying beyond the Endless Plains. He was now outside a capable of exploring the world and meeting people and visiting cities. He had a Pokeball, meaning that he now had a means to meet and befriend pokemon. The distant fantasy of seeing the outside world, was no longer a fantasy.

"I'm going to explore the outside world." This was Willow's resolve, for now he had a chance.

He turned around, allowing Summer and Winter see the magnitude of seriousness that was in his eyes. This was concerning.

Willow enjoyed his life at the Temple, and the destiny that awaited him. He enjoyed his guardian sisters, and he enjoyed his Mother and Father...But that was no longer enough for Willow to put off his dream of exploring the unexplored.

…..

"I want to explore the outside world." Immediately, Willow confronted Lady Anju and Lord Mito.

"Son…" The look of concern on Lady Anju was more evident than it was on the faces of Summer and Winter.

None was more concerned than Lord Mito, who was inside the rejuvenation pod keeping him alive. What was Lord Mito to say to his own son?

"…To inherit the power of Alchemy, and carry on the Legend of the 1,000 Kitsune. You will be my living legacy…" Lord Mito reminded Willow of his destiny.

"…" Willow's facial expression did not change.

Lord Mito sighed. Willow no longer a little kid. He wasn't asking his parents out of sheer curiosity. He was telling them-telling them something he's thought long and hard about as he's grown.

'He's made his decision.' Lord Mito thought to himself, 'And it appears he can no longer be swayed by destiny.'

Lord Mito supported the decision, but not without a hint of dejection lingering in his mind, "For years, you have wanted to see the world, Son. Well then, as your Father, I support your goal."

Willow's eyes lit up, as if they were about to water.

Willow wasn't the only one who was surprised. Summer, Winter, and Lady Anju were wide-eyed as well.

"What?" Lady Anju was truly caught off guard by Lord Mito's answer. It was as if she thought those words would never escape Lord Mito's mouth…She was always against the idea of Willow going away from the Temple, maybe even moreso than Lord Mito. It wasn't just 'Mother's Intuition', Lady Anju truly wanted her Son to embrace his destiny. She knew better than anyone, that Lord Mito was eventually going to move on to the next life.

Willow was excited beyond belief. Immediately, his voice was more jovial and lively as he smiled at Summer and Winter.

…

But what wasn't seen at that moment, was what went through the head of Lord Mito.

'Just know Son, the moment you step away from the 1,000 Kitsune Temple, you relinquish your destiny of inheriting the power of the Alchemy. If you're willing to risk being absent should I pass away, I can't take any chances.'

…..

Willow took his chance to see outside world, but not without realizing that in doing so, he had denied his destiny.

End Flashback

"In my venture into the outside world, I was hit with a cold reality: It is filled with nothing but greed and corruption. As the inheritor of Alchemy, I will change the world for the greater good!"

Willow continued to glow the otherworldly aura that once surrounded Braixen, before he intercepted it.

Lord Mito closed his eyes, eyebrows furrowed, "It was your decision to explore the world outside," He reopened his eyes, casting a cold but passionate glare at this son, "And it was your decision to walk away from the destiny that had been set in front of you!"

Yumi stepped up, and expressed pure passion with what she said to Willow, "You walked away from your destiny. You gamble with it in and lost it to me. Even so, you're doing this?! If you're willing to cheat your way to Lord Mito's power after everything you've done, YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A SPOILED CHILD!"

"..."

"..." Summer and Winter, could only watch with saddened expressions on their faces. It was best they said nothing. They did not accept Yumi's words as truth, nor did they deny them. They knew Yumi was correct, but they would never stand against the very person they were serving as Guardians.

"Son..." Whatever feelings of sadness the twins had, had more magnitude with Lady Anju. She was never for the idea of Willow exploring the outside world in the first place. She felt like she could have prevented this whole thing with Willow. But deep down, she knew there was no stopping her son from growing up. It was inevitable that Willow would want to branch out on his own. But she felt like she should've warned him that actions have consequences that come afterwards-whether or not those actions are pure-hearted.

Willow glared at Yumi, "I'm NOT a spoiled child. If anything, my father is the spoiled child."

Lord Mito looked on, as Willow called him out.

"Deep down, he hates my decision to explore the outside world! Father!" Willow looked to Lord Mito, "YOU were the spoiled child expecting the world to simply accept Alchemy. You had hopes and dreams that were not recognized as accomplishments by the world. How long has it been since you've visited the outside world? Too long! Countless years later, and you STILL resent the outside world for what they did. And now you resent me for exploring that same world."

Lord Mito gritted his teeth.

"You resent the outside world, and then have the audacity to call ME out for realizing the world is full of greed and corruption?! YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A LOUSY HYPOCRITE, FATHER!" The otherworldly aura surrounding Willow started to grow stronger, "You've looked down on me ever since I returned to the Temple. Well not anymore. I'll rid the world of its greed and corruption for both of us, whether you want me to or not!"

Were those fighting words? Lord Mito seemed to interpret that tone of voice as a threat, as he turned to his twin daughters. "Summer. Winter."

"!"

The twins' eyes widened. They had a creeping suspicion what was going to come out of Lord Mito's mouth, but were hoping against the odds.

"Stop Willow."

Their suspicions were correct, and they froze as soon as those words came from Lord Mito's mouth.

"But."

"Master?"

They were Willow's guardians. All their lives, they've been raised by Lord Mito and Lady Anju to protect Willow-No...What Lord Mito wanted was to preserve Alchemy. If Willow was not worthy, was he really willing to go this far in order to realize this goal?

"STOP HIM NOW!" It was a rare display of frustration coming from Lord Mito that startled the twins and Lady Anju. Lord Mito commanded the twins to act fast.

Summer and Winter both had saddened expressions on their faces as they replied in unison, "If that is what you wish, Master." The twins charged into the air, transparent Kitsune spirits appearing and accompanying them as they aimed for a Willow still glowing the otherworldly aura containing the power of the 1,000 Kitsune.

"The power of Alchemy...It! Is! Mine!"

"Zen!"

"No!" Braixen and Yumi exclaimed in horror, as Willow stopped glowing that aura. "No way..."

"The passing of Alchemy's power has been completed..." Lady Anju whispered in shock, "It belongs to Willow now..."

It was then, Willow immediately began to apply his newfound-in the form of a transformation. He was engulfed in an aura that was solid red in color, and he began to change shape.

Was it possible for a human to perform an evolution? Hmph. Willow was not a human; he was an Onvitaikayan, and he was 'evolving' into something...something huge.

The colossal size was enough to intimidate Yumi as she asked herself, 'Is that another Kitsune?'

Yumi was only half correct. But with the power of Alchemy and the 1,000 Kitsune, calling Willow just another Kitsune would be unjust.

"The Divine Kitsune: Lord Willow...That is my name..." Willow was a giant, red Kitsune with two tails. With his red eyes, the Divine Kitsune looked to his charging Sisters, and the Kitsune spirits charging with them. "You two..."

"Haaaaa!"

"Stay...OUT OF THIS!" In the rage of his anger toward Lord Mito, the Divine Kitsune launched a beam of red energy that was powerful beyond belief. Just launching this beam caused an earthquake felt by everybody on the ground. The quakes were of such a magnitude that the artificial sky of the paradise started to rip, giving way to view of the Temple on the world above.

"GAAHHH!"

Summer and Winter were struck by the earth-shattering beam. They were sent to the ground, left behind by the red beam that continued at great speed before ultimately evaporating. Lord Mito's Paradise was left with one big gash in the beam's wake. It looked as though this lost world was cut in half by a sword.

The smoke clearing, Summer and Winter were down, and they weren't moving.

"Summer! Winter!" Lady Anju hollered their names, panic taking over her entire body as she ran to their aid.

"..."

"..." Their eyes were open, but they were blank.

"Summer...Winter..." Lady Anju knelt down, shaking the twins, "Summer. Winter." Still no response, "Summer! Winter!" Lady Anju's eyes began to water. No...this couldn't be... "SUMMER! WINTER!" Lady Anju kept calling the name of her daughters. There was no way..."SUMMER! WINTER!" She was not going to accept that they were gone. "Summer! Winter!" Her shouting turned into pleading, until her pleading became wordless crying. She was not going to say it; she was not going to give up and accept that her daughters were gone!

"FATHER!" The Divine Kitsune: Lord Willow hollered at his Father with a scream that sent shockwaves that could be felt by Yumi and Braixen.

The giant fox lunged at Lord Mito, and swung at him with authority.

"ZEN!" Braixen covered their mouths in horror, as Lord Mito was sent flying. He slid on the ground, before coming to a halt...right in front of Yumi.

...

Lord Mito was not moving. He was in a vegetative state, just like the twins.

"Lord Mito!"

"Zen! Braixen!"

Yumi and Braixen rushed to Lord Mito's side, in hopes to aid him somehow...But upon eyeing the downed man, they realized how difficult a task it would be to provide such aid. He was a man who exuded an aura that felt like it belonged to a person who was super human. But not like this...When Yumi first met Lord Mito, he was like a bird in a cage; he was trapped in that pod, using it for life support, for he knew his days were numbered. Could this be his last day? He was an old man of over a century, and he just absorbed a strike by what may be the most powerful Kitsune to ever exist. He was a blooded mess of a man, laying their and looking as vulnerable as a normal human.

"Lord Mito." Yumi knelt down to the old man.

"Ngh…"

"Haha!"

"Zen!" Yumi and Braixen breathed a collective sigh of relief as they saw the old man open his eyes.

But how? The old man must've broken every bone in his body, and he's losing blood at an alarming rate.

"...I suppose my last day in this world has finally come."

"Huh?" Yumi was aghast.

Every nerve in his body was in pain. Yet...he still managed to form a smile, "...Haha...my last day...is a little bit overdue...don't you think...?"

"No...don't say something like that!"

Lord Mito gave a long-winded, exasperated sigh, "...My son...wasn't wrong...about me. For decades...I've put a smile on my face...to mask the resentment...I felt for the world that exiled me. I created my own Paradise...found love...settled down...started a family...I thought I'd put my past behind me...But this Lost Paradise is living proof...that I was just finding an excuse to hide away from the real world...Willow didn't know enough about the world...but I knew too much...I wanted to prevent him from discovering the world's cruelty the way I did...But when I couldn't stop him from his desires...I became bitter, and began to resent my son the way I resent the world. I was a disgruntled old man...I should've known better..."

"But that was then!" Yumi exclaimed, "Willow has changed. He's become just as bitter toward the world. To get rid of greed and corruption...He's trying to inherit the power of Alchemy for all the wrong reasons!"

Lord Mito...he was beginning to fade. "Yumi...you are a beautiful young lady...as is the Kitsune you have...I wish...I could've met someone...with your convictions...when I was younger...You don't resent the world...Rather, you want to save it...as well as the people who are closest to you. I'm sorry...for dragging you into this...But I need you...the world needs you...to defeat my son and his Divine Kitsune..."

"Lord Mito…" Yumi's voice was beginning to shake, as she could see his body beginning to shut down.

"Farewell..."

Lord Mito died.

To Be Continued...