She Befriends Monsters

by NovelOrange

After being reluctantly reincarnated into the Pokemon Universe, Uma and her Pokemon are transported into My Hero Academia. Now she has to choose: fight to return home or fight to save both worlds.

3. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Melemele Island, Pokemon Nursey: 00:01:02 AM

Past the cozy, tropical ocean air and past storm-weathered rocks scattered alongside the beach was something...more. In each sandstone and tree, river and hill, animal and human – all carried the substance of the island. From lush, green valleys that sloped the island's center to creatures that lived in violent, salty seas- the region had a way of tying an everlasting thread to every organism, creating a bond that sang throughout the isles.

It was because of this profoundly intimate connection that allowed the fauna and people, to hold a peculiar appearance.

Ever overflowing, all creatures follow and respect the law of the island set by the Guardian Deities, no matter the shape; as long as they respect it, the Deities grant harmonious peace. On Alola, most natives understood that the region's land ought to be cherished; giving back to the land they took from. The island was not just a place to chop down trees to build homes. Their needs should be met and so, too, does the land. The Alola area was cared for and needed care of; only then will the land care for her people.

Uche likes to say that Alola is self. A harmonious family wrapped and dressed in a pretty bow. Through this is a profound, almost soulful bond that Alolans allow a glimpse of, but never to share, with the tourists who visit.

And this is all overseen by the Pokemon who continued to live in the land, water, and sky.

It took her an embarrassingly long time to realize what world she had reincarnated in.

In her defense, the show was a distant memory, a feeling she recalled with nostalgia. She vaguely remembered the various plots, the main heroes, or the Pokemon themselves. There were so many of them, who could keep track of them all, let alone remember their names?

Sure, she noticed that the exotic creatures were unique compared to normal animals, but she pushed the observations aside. She was too busy dealing with the trauma of life after death to question much else.

Pokemon.

The wild, territorial monsters that inhabited the land; each species a reflection of the environments they survive in. For a long time, humans and monsters were at constant war with one another- a never-ending competition for resources. It was only recently (give or take 70 years) that the fighting ceased. A scientific miracle had been created: humans controlled a device that could tame the wild creatures.

In no time, a public sensation had spread: ordinary people could capture the monsters into their pockets and train them. Collecting Pokemon became the norm. Children competed in the prestigious Pokemon Trainer Championship League; genetic research centered around the creatures flourished; and the Pokemon themselves became a central aspect of one's everyday lifestyle.

The Alolan citizens, however, held a secret.

They coexisted with the monsters long before the Pokemon League was created.

The monsters are intelligent beings; while the rest of the world fought against them, Alolans fought alongside the beast. The island ties together all creatures- and Pokemon were not an exception.

Although some Pokemon had a deep understanding of the world and possessed unique abilities, most of them were simple creatures driven by their instincts of dominance. They constantly sought to demonstrate their skills and gain power by any means necessary. But, it isn't all that they are. They had families, cared for their young, and experienced joy and laughter.

Alolans respected not only the powers of the creatures but also the hope and strength they exuded. In what would have been a moment of insanity if the Four Guardians themselves hadn't overseen the union, the Alolans forged a pact.

The terms of the bond were simple. The monsters would share the burden of their instincts with a human partner. A bond that allows both partners to become linked, lending each other their strengths.

The more powerful the connection, the more likely it is that a Pokemon would unlock their innate talent, pushing past their previous limitations. The link would triple their strength, enabling them to execute special moves and potentially trigger a mega or legendary evolution.

The Elders worried, however. They feared that such a strong bond could lead to imbalance and chaos. Researchers would exploit the bond, poachers would harm innocent Pokémon, and fanatics would go to extreme lengths to obtain this power, even if it meant risking the world's destruction.

Therefore, the Elders created a rite of passage. A ceremony where Pokemon carefully chose their potential human partners through a trial that tested their compatibility. Only those who passed the trial would be granted the privilege of forming a bond with a Pokemon, ensuring that the power of this connection was used for the greater good. Each test was private and made by the Pokemon themselves, so only those deemed worthy by the Pokemon knew of their task.

Upon reaching the age of 10, four years after children discovered their partners and delved into the island's rich history, Alolans were allowed to embark on their journey as fully bonded trainers.

All Alolans were bound to secrecy and kept silent, ensuring that the psychometry between trainers and their Pokemon remained preserved.

Until now.

"Little one. Now that you know the extent of your foolishness you better explain everything. Clearly." The three Elders turned to her, demanding her to explain everything she knew.

The room fell silent. She fidgeted with her hands. Besides being unnerved by the attention, she was unsure of how to act. What was expected of a child her age in this situation? How much should she leave out, and what exactly did they want to know? Depending on how she spun her story, the result could either work in her favor or against her.

The piercing gazes of the Elders sent shivers down her spine, making her uneasy. The one on the left was a tall, stern-looking man with a cane, while the one on the right was a kind-faced woman with calming eyes. The one in the middle with a neatly trimmed beard seemed to be the leader of the group, exuding an air of authority. He was the one who had been seriously lecturing her for the past hour.

Numb, she sat in a creaky wicker chair. After rushing home to Uche, her not-mother had barely reacted before whisking her away to the Pokemon Nursery. Without a moment to adjust, she was unceremoniously dumped into the unfamiliar space.

Drained and overwhelmed, she scanned the room, absorbing the sight of the desolate walls and the dusty desk. The office felt cold and sterile, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of the resort.

She only had to wait mere minutes until three older individuals dressed in their night clothes clamored into the room. At that moment, as the door closed behind them, the realization dawned upon her that Uche had left her to face the Elders alone. The betrayal stung, but she had no time to dwell on it.

As they entered the room, their disapproving glances made her want to crawl into a hole. "I... I don't know what you want from me," she stuttered, her eyes darting around the room. "If it's about the Pokemon I bonded with you can have it. I don't want it."

She avoided glancing to her right. Said bond seemed content to stay in the stolen red and white ball.

"We can also assume you'd never meant to be given a mark by a Guardian Diety." drawled the Elder with the beard, eyeing the swirling white tattoo with distaste. She quickly sat upon her left hand, having forgotten the damning imprint was there. He sighed, "And yet, here we are."

The Elders exchanged a knowing glance, their expressions inscrutable."We know it wasn't by choice," the kind woman said calmly, breaking the silence. "The Deities act in mysterious ways. But now we must discuss the consequences of this…unfortunate accident."

She couldn't help the snort that escaped. Unfortunate accident was an understatement. Rubbing her palms against her dirt-covered face, she hoped that if they punished her, they would keep Uche uninvolved. The woman had too much stress (see: dealing with a too-curious for her own good cry-baby daughter) to handle.

After taking a deep breath, she knew convincing the Elders of her innocence would be an uphill battle.

"I left earlier this morning..."

With steel in her spine, she announced, "I'm leaving!"

It was early in the day, an unusual time for normal young children to be up. That said, almost everyone on the island knew she wasn't a typical four-year-old, so this occurrence wasn't as strange as it could be.

After six weeks of researching she had finally devised a plan to uncover the shard's location. After extensive questioning (or rather, interrogating) the resort's staff she uncovered a passage sat North of the isle which (in theory) led to the shards resting place.

Once she proved its existence and verified if the hypothesis of granting wishes was true, she would proceed with the second part of her mission. To ensure the safety of Uche's beloved Alola.

Her investigation revealed that the scattered islands contained not just one, but four fragments. Their locations remained a mystery. Uncovering the secrets of these fragments was crucial, not only for her curiosity but also as a final act of selflessness. It was the one kind thing she could do for Uche before she left. Unlike her previous life, she had left her family abruptly. She had been her family's primary source of income, and her sudden departure had likely left them in a difficult financial situation.

The shards could potentially be utilized by the Alolans to defend themselves against the escalating threat posed by the Aether Foundation. (Their efforts to settle on the mainland were growing daily; she eventually did heed Uche's warning to stay away from the South ports. The place was crawling with pristine white coats and their Pokemon). Finding the shards was a way for her to show that, despite leaving, she still cared deeply for Uche's well-being. In a way, it was her final gift to the person she had come to care about deeply.

This time, she aimed to ensure that those she left behind had a chance for a better future. With the confirmation of the shards' existence, Uche's cautions would be taken more seriously. She would persuade the locals to defend the island and eradicate the Aether's presence once and for all.

If one took care of Alola, then the isle would care for you in return. It was the phrase Uche loved to repeat. She didn't care for it, but it never hurt one to try.

The last part of her mission was the one she was looking forward to the most. Dying quickly and painlessly. It wasn't lost on her that to grant her wish, her life in this world needed to end before being sent back to her previous one.

It was a naive, hastily put-together plan, but with her deadline approaching, she couldn't afford to waste time.

Just as she was finishing tying her shoestrings on the steps of the porch, Uche poked a bed-mused head around the corner. "If you're going far, take Smeargle with you."

Oh, Deities, not him. She groaned.

Uche's bonded partner, Smeargle, was a mischievous and unpredictable little shit. His very existence irked her. He managed to turn any simple task into chaos. She once visited the baker next door for sweets. Smeargle had come along and in the end, they both were chased by giant bees from the nest he kicked. How did it escalate so quickly? She hadn't the faintest idea. Oh, how she'd tried to figure it out. In the end, she simply concluded that Smeargle was a simpleton who enjoyed how situations went from simple to comedically worse.

Said little devil came out of the kitchen, pausing its task of cooking once he heard his name.

"Smeargle?" He blinked wide-eyed, holding a wooden spoon and dressed in a silly, food-splattered apron.

"Can't Smeargle stay home? He'll just get in the way." She hated whining like a child, but she truly did not want to be shackled to the idiot.

Uche scoffed and walked back to the bedroom, probably to go back to sleep. "No Smeargle, no exploring."

"For fucks sake," she muttered under her breath.

A random projectile flew and hit her directly in her face. "Oi!"She yelped. Glancing down, she recognized Uche's slipper. No matter the life, mothers have an unnatural hearing.

"Language!" Uche's scolding voice resounded back.

She rubbed her smarting forehead, kicking the shoe back into the house. The constant need to have Smeargle by her side was tiresome. With him, her explorations would be far less productive. She would have to babysit him.

She supposed she was lucky enough to only take Smeargle with her. The strangeness of her new world constantly surprised her. She discovered that in this world, children were encouraged to embark on a journey of self-discovery and exploration after the age of ten. By themselves. For however long they wanted. Parental supervision was almost nonexistent.

Shock didn't begin to cover the emotion she felt when she first observed trainers who didn't look a day over eight haggling with merchants at the resort.

It was a stark contrast to her previous world, where helicopter parenting was the norm. Despite her initial concerns, she realized that this newfound freedom allowed children to develop independence and problem-solving skills at an early age. So, her need for independence wasn't completely unusual. It was highly encouraged.

She turned to the creature. Another thing that annoyed her? The thing was taller than her, almost 4 feet. "Come on, Smearg. Take the apron off and let's go."

Wide-eyed, Smeargle bounced with glee. "Smearg!" He ran, throwing the spoon and apron away, before reappearing at the entryway. He practically shivered with excitement. His paintbrush tail wagged and dripped furiously in his hand, ready to embark on the adventure (the idiot didn't even know where) that awaited them.

Mental note, ditch him before exploring the depths of the cave.

She rolled her eyes and took off before her mother could say anything else. With her small backpack filled with the essentials and a map in hand, she set off towards the road, her eyes quietly shining with resolve.

Setting an even pace down the hill, they amble towards the city. She says city, lightly. The area only contained three buildings larger than a tower (the Resort, Hospital, and Pokemon Nursery) and a smattering of colorful squatter shops in a plaza.

She looks down at her map, tracing a finger along the winding path. The Gurdian Deity's temple was located north. Thanks to her studies, she knew that she and Uche lived on Route 1. If she wanted to get to the ruins, she had to take the main road to Iki Town, leaving Hau'oli City behind, cut north through the forest to bypass the mountain trail, and enter the cave.

"Go deeper into the heart of the forest. When you see an out-of-place palm tree with a hollow trunk, take a left and follow the sound of running water," one kind merchant who pitied her attempts at interrogating the shopkeepers had advised.

Upon asking, one of the security guards at the resort said that going east to the west of the island took no more than a day's walk. If she was lucky, she would arrive once the sun settled high in the sky and would return home by sunset.

If she was unlucky... she looked down at her 'minder'. "If you can't keep up, I'm leaving you behind. Got it?"

Smeargle nodded, quickly giving her a salute with its dripping green paintbrush tail. "Smeargle, Smear!"

She sighed, neatly pocketing her map (didn't want him to get paint on it). She was grateful that Melemele Island was small. She didn't realize how small the island was until Uche asked her to run an errand in town. Reaching the bottom of the hill took less than eight minutes. The walk into town from there took ten.

As she reached the bottom of the slope, she was greeted by the grannies who lived in the houses at the crest. Something else that blew her mind? How unexpectedly friendly everyone was. They welcomed her with warm smiles and offered her homemade treats. As if kindness and hospitality were as natural as breathing.

It was weird (nice) and alien (genuine). Her skepticism and caution marked her as odd to the others. If she stayed in this world for much longer, she too, would barf rainbows while frolicking in the flowers.

When she reached the named road, small shops and buildings sprung up. Early-rising shop owners were setting up for the day with their Pokemon partners. Most greeted her by name.

"Alola, kid, where you headed?" asked one with an Abra.

"Alola, kiddie~ gonna get new paint for your mum? We got a sale here~" The man's Psyduck held up a sign to emphasize the point.

"Oh, dear! Be a sweetheart and grab some fresh bread; Uche isn't feeding you enough!" The young woman's Eevee chirped in agreement.

"Route 2!" she called without a glance back, continuing her walk. She had hoped to avoid the prodding questions by leaving early. She made sure to keep a firm grip on Smeargle's tail, dragging him. He started salivating at the mouth at the mention of sweets.

"Alola! If you're going to watch today's matches, take my son with you!" called the kind merchant who had given her the map, his Fletchling circling above her.

Hard pass on that one.

"Sorry, I can't! I'm already babysitting Smeargle!" She pointed at the creature, who pouted, offended.

Everyone knew of the infamous reputation the creature held. Just like his bonded partner Uche and Smeargle were a subject of awe and cautionary tales. Wide-eyed, most concerns and questions died, and the adults wisely decided to leave her be.

It looks like the idiot is good for something. With a sardonic grin, she continued on her way, leaving the over-friendly townsfolk behind.

Route 2 was famous for housing the Trainers School, and onlookers were allowed to watch the battles that took place there. Her journey required her to bypass the school, so her story would check out if anyone informed Uche of where she went.

Personally, she didn't understand the hype. The battles were sightly barbaric; crowds gathered to watch until a Pokemon passed out or willingly gave up. Their blood and bruises were far too realistic. And to her utter misfortunate, her small hometown wasn't significant enough to host the cutesy Pokemon pageants that were popular in the Kanto region.

Uche thought it was because she wasn't old enough yet, although that didn't stop most of the isle children from sneaking off to watch the mystifying fights. She was living on borrowed time, and getting interested in a silly child's game felt beneath her.

The hour it took to walk from Route 1 to Route 2 was spent in silence-mostly; she had to appease the idiot into silence by giving him treats from her pack. As the duo walked deeper into the mountains, the once familiar surroundings began to transform into an enchanting realm of towering trees, making her feel like she had stepped into a fairytale.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a magical glow on the forest floor. The air was filled with the sweet taste of wildflowers and the distant sound of birdsong. The gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional glimpse of a deer or rabbit added to the sense of wonder that enveloped her.

Dying in such a pretty world wouldn't be a bad thing, she thought, her eyes closing to anchor herself in the tranquility of the moment. She took a deep breath before letting it go. She needed to focus, she had a mission to complete.

As they continued along the path, she shifted her gaze from the map in her hands to Smeargle, stealing a glance at him from the corner of her eye. Unlike his usual cheerful self during their journey, he seemed unusually quiet. He walked closer to her, clutching her jacket with one paw, while his eyes scanned the darkening foliage as they ventured deeper into the mountain. He appeared vigilant, or rather, scared. It was strange, considering they hadn't encountered anyone or anything for hours. There was no reason for him to be afraid.

Looking around, she noticed that the further they went, the darker it became, with no light filtering through the dense thicket. She stole another glance at Smeargle. Could he be afraid of the dark? Perhaps it was a good opportunity to leave him behind and explore on her own, especially since he seemed so frightened.

"What's the matter with you?" she asked. "Too much excitement? If you're scared, you can go back home. Don't worry, I won't tell makuahine."

Smeargle's eyes widened. He held onto her jacket tightly, stepping closer to her as he vigorously shook his head. From his body language, she gathered that despite being scared, he didn't want to be left behind. It seemed she needed to convince him further.

"It's okay to be afraid of the dark," she reassured him. "Lots of people are. If you want to turn back, I won't think any less of you. Sometimes it's better to quit while you're ahead, as they say."

Once again, he shook his head, more determined this time, whispering his name. She glanced away, catching the sound of running water. The random palm tree should be in that direction. It would be ideal to leave him near a landmark she could easily find when exiting the cave. Taking a few more eager steps, she encountered resistance.

Smeargle had stopped and refused to go any further.

She pulled her jacket back. "Let go, Smear. We're almost there." Smeargle tilted his head, his fearful eyes darting around the forest behind them. His paintbrush tail remained still, standing straight up. His eyes widened, and he quickly tugged her jacket, attempting to pull her into a nearby bush for cover.

She resisted.

Why was the idiot trying to hide her? Granted, there was the possibility of wild Pokemon attacking them, but for the better part of their journey, the creatures stayed out of sight. As long as the duo didn't bother them, they were left alone.

She went to open her mouth when the beret-wearing creature placed a paw over it, silencing her. Seeing as he was met with resistance Smeargle's arms wrapped around her, clutching her for protection. She could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Using his unoccupied paw, he gestured above them, towards the dense foliage.

She didn't understand. Was there a flying Pokemon circling above them?

She strained her ears, trying to pick up any sounds that might explain Smeargle's sudden change in behavior. As she listened, she couldn't even hear faint rustling or snapping of twigs. It was too quiet. The absence of birdsong and the stillness of the air made her pause, wondering if something had disturbed the usual harmony of the forest.

All she heard was an eerie silence that sent a shiver down her spine. She was going to question the creature when she heard faint laughter, followed by a smell. A pungent, metallic odor filled the air, causing her to wrinkle her nose in disgust. The scent was unfamiliar and unsettling in this new life. It brought back memories of burning metal and charred flesh.

Lights pulsing; a generator kickstarting, illuminating the halls a burning, unnatural red. A steel door hurtling towards-

She jerked in Smeargle's hold, her eyes now frantically scanning their surroundings, searching for any signs of smoke or flames. The smell came from directly ahead, where the map led them to the shard. If it was a forest fire, they needed to leave. Immediately.

Let's take a detour and go east, she franticly thought.

They wouldn't go far. Once they left this area, they could double back and make their way toward the water source she heard earlier.

Hopefully, the detor they took was away and not towards whatever ridiculous thing caused the fire. If it was a battle, they might as well be sitting psyducks. The Pokemons causing it wouldn't hesitate to turn their fight onto them. Which would be simply unfortunate; neither she nor Smeargle hold their own.

For both their sakes, she would like to assume that fire was caused by a battle. Any other possibility led to troubles, and she wasn't ready to handle those yet.

She hurriedly pushed Smeargle off of her. "This way," she said. Walking quickly, she forced them to push through bushes and shrubs, painting them with cuts and needles. She didn't want them out in the open, knowing that any panicking movements could potentially give away their position if a rouge Pokemon were nearby.

As they ventured away from the path, the dense foliage provided some relief from the smell. She kept them as close to the footpath as she could. Getting lost would be a nightmare.

They had pushed their way through dense bushes and undergrowth for roughly ten minutes. With careful steps on the upward slope, the trees gradually thinned out. To her surprise, they found themselves standing at the edge of an expansive meadow that stretched as far as the eye could see.

She took a deep breath before carefully scanning the meadow for any signs of life. Having such a clearing felt rather odd to her. Such a blank space, in a tropical jungle; signs pointed to it being man-made. In the center, she spotted an abandoned campsite, with a worn-out, corroded tent and scattered belongings. Surrounding the tent were various cages. Her gut dropped to her feet. She hated assuming, but the width and height of the cages were similar to those they had at the zoo in her past life. If her hypothesis was correct, then she and Smeargle had just stumbled upon a poacher's campsite.

She glanced at Smeargle, putting a finger to her lips. The painting creature mimicked her, understanding the need to keep quiet.

The question that arose now was why the poachers had left in such a hurry; and if they were close. She remained crouched and approached the outskirts of the campsite, looking for evidence of fighting or running. Just because the site looked abandoned didn't mean it was. The sound of wood breaking caused her to freeze in place. She slowly turned her head towards the source of the noise, her heart pounding.

Smeargle had followed her. The idiot was face-planted into the dirt, with a box tilted on its side. A pile of red and white balls rolled out of it.

"Deities, Smeargle! What part of quiet do you not get?" She hissed, picking up a ball that rested at her feet. She recognized it as a Poké Ball (tourists at the resort often carried them around, and since she was shorter than most, they were hard to miss), which only confirmed her suspicions about the campsite.

It was her first time holding a Pokeball, and she didn't expect it to feel so dull. The red and white metal felt cold and waiting in her hands, lacking the pulse of life usually attached to trainers' hips. The mechanism of it was baffling, yet intriguing, and she'd puzzle over the techno-mystery with vigor later.

Approaching the crate, she crouched down in front of it. A fire-scorched logo was painted on its side: a sharp, pointed crest that looked like a burning torch. The logo belonged to the Aether Foundation. Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine. The Aether Foundation shouldn't be out here; it was too close to the ruins. As she looked around, she noticed charcoal rings and broken wood scattered about. The remnants of a fire pit suggested recent activity, long since felt too cool.

The foundation had been here recently, and the valuables left behind suggested a hasty departure.

She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease as she recalled the rumors she overheard—tales of strange cross-breeding experiments, kidnapping, and even extreme pokephilia. Suddenly, the stories she had overheard about the Aether Foundation weren't too far-fetched.

She glanced at Smeargle, who proudly admired a fanny pack in his paw. Annoyed, she snatched the item from him and stuffed the ball inside. "Smear, let's go. The foundation members who left this campsite might still be around."

Smeargle looked at her nervously, sensing her urgency. She fastened the bag to her waist and they hurriedly made their way back through the thick forest.

As they left the meadow, carefully navigating the slope and heading west, the trees came alive again. Before long, the forest's silence was broken by the sound of rushing water. A smile spread across her face. They had made it back on track without any problems! As she trolled the muddy ground, she kept her eyes out for fresh footprints; if they were too fresh, the Aether Foundation had to be nearby.

Sunlight was sparse, and the water looked gray and murky as they approached the outlet. With rocks jutting out of it, it looked like a babbling stream. Despite being narrow, it seemed deep enough to reach her chest. She blew out her cheeks; she hated how tiny and feeble her body was.

She pulled the map out of her pack. She was going to pinpoint their location. She wasn't very skilled at reading maps, and she had already strayed from the main path. When she attempted to retrace their steps, she came up empty-handed.

She had no idea where they were.

She cursed under her breath. They had to figure out a way back to the main path. Up ahead, there was a fallen log in the water, partially submerged, that she could use as a bridge. She led Smeargle towards it, hoping it would hold their weight and lead them to safety on the other side. With wild Pokemon and the Foundation near, she wouldn't risk leaving the idiot behind. Uche would be devastated.

As she cautiously stepped onto the log, she felt it wobbling under her feet. Putting most of her weight on it, she sighed in relief when it showed no signs of breaking.

It was durable enough.

"Smeargle, see if you can pick up the log so we can use it to cross," she asked but received no response. She looked up, glancing behind her. "Smeargle, what are you doing?"

The Pokemon had his back turned to her. He shook his tail, waving it back and forth while throwing paint into the air. In the gloom, the ground around them dyed bright red.

Exasperated, she called out to Smeargle again, this time with urgency. "Smeargle! Focus on helping instead of playing around!" Smeargle continued to ignore her, completely engrossed in his artistic endeavors.

She firmly grasped Smeargle's shoulder and turned the Pokemon around. "Enough with the paint! We have a deadline to meet, and we can't waste any more time! I know you don't care, but this is important to me- to Alola. Help me cross the bank, then we can leave the forest."

She knew she was being unfair. It hadn't been difficult to travel with Smeargle. But she couldn't afford any more delays, not when the fate of Alola and her previous life were at stake.

Suddenly, she heard faint laughter. She turned to see nothing but the dense trees. Nervousness crept into her chest, unsettling her.

Being reborn left one open to possibilities. As such, normal things didn't frighten her. Spiders or death? Don't make her laugh. Blank helmets or an elevator door? Irrational, yes, but her feeble human mind was simple, and yes, at this moment (she hated to admit it) childish. She knew that there were far more terrifying things lurking behind each

The pair swiftly turned their heads to the side as the sound of childish laughter grew louder, echoing near their ears. A chill ran down her spine as she realized that she could no longer see anything- barely even two feet in front of her. How had it become nighttime so suddenly? It was still mid-afternoon at best! The scent of burning filled the air, too close for comfort, and she felt a wave of nausea rise in her throat as the smell of brimstone and smoke invaded her nostrils.

They were not alone.

Smeargle positioned himself protectively in front of her, and as she peered over his shoulder, she could feel the eerie presence of two glowing yellow eyes staring back at her from the darkness. Surrounded by flames, those burning eyes emitted an ominous glow.

When their gazes locked, her breath caught in her throat. A profound sense of dread and emptiness washed over her, a powerful and wicked force that caused her body to tremble uncontrollably. It was a sensation she had felt once before, in that liminal space before rebirth, a feeling so hauntingly familiar that before she even realized it, her body had taken a hesitant step forward.

Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming desperation. There was an intense urge to reach out to the figure cloaked in shadows, to establish a connection with whatever was causing this overwhelming sensation. She needed to go to it, to claim it. Smeargle's firm grip on her shirt was the only thing keeping her from sprinting across the grove in a frenzy.

As the fire-lined eyes sparkled and then narrowed, the creature vanished into the shadows, its gaze fixed on hers. The echoing laughter they had heard earlier resounded once more, reverberating through the trees. Just as the laughing creature approached, Smeargle had had enough. Picking her clean off her feet and holding her above his head like a surfboard the art Pokemon took off, running without abandon.

They sprinted through the darkness, the sound of twigs snapping and leaves rustling behind them only fueled their fear. The childlike laughter chased them, growing more menacing with each passing moment.

She crossed her arms over her eyes, shielding her face from the branches that left stinging red marks in their wake. The Pokemon's speed felt similar to a bad rollercoaster going downhill.

"Smeargle, put me down! We're going the wrong way!" She cried, desperately hoping that the Pokémon would listen. Smeargle only tightened his grip, his pants growing strained as he ran even faster.

They needed to cross the river to find the shard and locate the path to town. They were running away from the river; she still had the map clutched in her hands! With every step, her heart pounded in her chest, matching the rhythm of the pursuing laughter. As adrenaline surged through her body, she mustered all her strength and yanked his beret, hoping to slow down.

The Pokemon didn't expect the assault and yelped, losing his balance. They both tumbled forward, rolling into a tangled mess on the ground. She didn't anticipate rolling into cold water or its strength as it pulled her under. Struggling to resurface, she accidentally let go of the map, causing it to slip from her hands and flutter away. As she twisted and turned in the water, the coldness seeped into her bones, tensing her muscles.

Tasting the river's grain and salt tang, she pushed herself up, breaking through the surface to gasp for air. Eventually, her feet met the ground. Even though her current body had no muscle memory of swimming, her memories enabled her to push up, her head breaking through the surface, and she gasped for air. She propelled herself forward until she was able to crawl onto the bank.

Breathless, she lay on her back, noticing that her soaked backpack, the pack that contained the Pokeball around her waist, and her clothes, now clung uncomfortably tight to her muddy body.

When that idiot finds me, I'm going to kill him.

She groaned, wiped the saltwater from her eyes, and then sat up. Despite the struggle, managed to take off her ruined backpack and positioned it in front of her. A gut feeling told her that she wasn't going to like what she found. Digging around showed her that all her remaining food had vanished, and the saltwater had ruined her flashlight and matches. All she had left was a full plastic water bottle and soaked clothes.

The idiot was gone. The map was gone. She had no food, and nothing useful. She threw the useless bag away from her.

Taking a shaky breath, she tried to calm her racing thoughts. She would not cry. Maybe there was another path out of the forest that she hadn't considered yet. Standing up, she uncovered the water, using half to quench her thirst and half to cleanse her hands and face of the unpleasant mixture of mud, salt, and sand. She threw the empty bottle at the useless bag.

She knew that getting angry wouldn't solve anything, so she forced herself to think logically. Her main focus now was finding an exit from the forest. She couldn't find the shard in this state.

The inlet she had arrived in lacked the familiar trees she was accustomed to seeing. Instead, she found herself surrounded by shrubbery and seaweed on a gray sandy shore. To her right, she spotted a tall palm tree surrounded by flowers. Beyond that, darkness obscured her view. On her left, the channel continued, winding its way. Following it might lead her to a way out. She could stay put and wait for Smeargle to stop panicking long enough to realize he could find her with his ability to track scents.

She had no desire to venture further into the forest where there was a possibility of a raging fire or rampaging Pokemon. After her encounter with water, going downstream was also not an option. She wasn't stupid enough to traverse the terrain without a light source either; she'd die of dehydration or starve.

Guess that leaves me with one option. Waiting for the idiot to find me.

With nothing left to do, she swiftly made her way towards the palm tree and settled down in the tranquil inlet. "What a disappointment this investigation turned out to be," she grumbled. "Protecting Uche's cherished Alola, and granting my wish was too much to ask, wasn't it? I nearly drowned before I reached that stupid crystal."

She started at a patch of indigo flowers. Unlike her, who was alone and lost in the forest, the flowers were vibrant and flourishing. Why did she think this would be a good idea? She nearly faced a battle between wild Pokemon and stumbled upon a poacher's campsite. She also fell into the river after being chased by that...?

While her mind struggles to think of a term, her body instantly recalls the soul-crushing sensation. It was the first time she had experienced anything like it in her new life. For her mental well-being, she hoped Smeargle outran the shadowy figure so she could put her thoughts and strange feelings behind her. There was already enough on her plate.

"Marshadow."

In hindsight, she was proud of herself for not screaming. Instead of running, or nearly punching the thing, she froze (something to work on later) as the creature she had just written off appeared directly before her.

She felt the chill of a breeze brush against her skin as she heard the low whisper. The hair on her back stood on end. The creature's eyes glowed with otherworldly intensity as clouds and sunlight illuminated its shadowy figure. Its form seemed to flicker in and out of existence.

Although she wasn't a Pokemon trainer, she had never seen a Pokemon type like this before. She was familiar with normals and water types. Was it an escaped creature from another region? Or perhaps an ultra-rare?

The creature stood no more than two feet tall. Adonored by a wispy black helmet fastened by a poofy collar on its head. It reminded her of the brave heroes from Greek myths that didn't exist in this world. Its body was covered in shimmering shadows that reflected the night. But its eyes glowed with a fierce intensity that was all too real. Eyes that appeared to pierce straight through her soul.

Senses of familiarity filled her body as it approached slowly, making her want to reach out. She fought hard to restain the urge, gritting her teeth. The creature regarded her silently. The Pokemon seemed as if it were searching for something within her, something she couldn't quite understand.

On the outside, she gazed back, sharp and guarded. She had looked at the abyss once before, and she wasn't going to let a small Pokemon frighten her. She was determined to die, yes, but not before finding the shard, and not before protecting Uche. On the inside, she was rapidly anticipating her next course of action. If the Pokemon in front of her decided to attack, she would throw herself into the river, letting it take her once again—she had no chance of fighting back. Smeargle could barely outrun the thing and it had already found her here.

That left her with one option.

"I'm not a trainer and I'm not here to fight you." She felt stupid, but she was going to try reasoning with the Pokemon, er, Marshadow. If it failed, well, into the water she goes. Marshadow simply blinks. Was this Pokemon considering her words? She plowed ahead. "I'm on a mission. Something important, for Alola. My friend and I were separated after you chased us. I'm waiting for him to find me."

"Marshadow." The Pokemon tilted its head, its tone soft but stern. From its body language, she got the feeling it was saying, Don't care, hurry and leave now.

She stiffened. "No. If I go out there, I'm likely going to get lost and die. Either from the forest, wild Pokemon, or the Foundation, take your pick. I don't want that, and I don't think you do either."

Assuming the shadow-thing doesn't want to hurt me. I'm as threatening as an ant, so go away now.

Marshadow floated closer, its eyes narrowing. She could taste the apprehension in the air. She angled her body closer toward the water before tilting her chin up. "Threaten me all you want, but I'm staying." Despite her words, she silently prayed that Smeargle would arrive soon to save her from this standoff.

Marshadow took two ghostly steps toward her before raising a fist. As if saying, I warned you. She braced herself for an attack, cringing slightly. But instead of hitting her, Marshadow easily giggled before it vanished abruptly.

Just as quickly as he came, he left, leaving her alert and tense. "Where did he-"

"I freaking hate this tropical jungle!" A deep baritone shouted, cutting her off.

She hastily jumped into the water behind the tree, placing both hands over her mouth to lessen the sound of her breathing. Only allowing her head to slightly rise above the waterline, she used the cover of the tree to keep the rest of her body hidden. For the first time since she'd been reborn, she was glad of her small stature.

Two figures emerged from behind the sandy shoreline. Both managed to maintain their pristine white attire, untouched by any dirt. Behind the blond man stood a small monkey who tugged along a wagon. Its tail was engulfed in flames, emitting a constant whine of Chimchar.

"Lower your voice, Reed. I have a headache," replied the pink-haired woman, who had a large butterfly perched on her head.

Reed shot her an irritated glance before redirecting his attention to the monkey. "Chimchar, we should have let that Ariados devour Rose back at camp, huh?" Chimchar shook his head, continuing to whine and hop around.

Judging by their outfits, with the shining torch symbol on their white clothes, two scientists from the Aether Foundation had just stumbled upon her clearing. Now I know what happened at their campsite. She winced. Was it too much to hope that they were eaten? She needed to get out of there. But stuck in the water as she was, she couldn't move. They'd hear her splashing around.

Rose rolled her eyes and started walking towards the shore, clearly uninterested in any further conversation. Sensing the shift in attention, Chimchar quickly followed her to the water's edge, leaving the man to stew in his frustration.

"Are we even sure the damn core is here? We've been searching for hours!" Reed let out a frustrated sigh, watching as Butterfree flew off the woman's head and into the trees. He scanned the area, growing more impatient by the minute.

She stilled. Thankfully, the blonde easily skipped past her hiding spot.

The woman held a scanner in her hand, hovering it over the water's edge. "The readings are strong. What we are standing on now is," she stamped her foot. "The Guardians' summoning site."

Reed frowned. "Just because the readings are strong doesn't mean squat. Last time you said it was, and it was just a dimensional fluctuation."

Come again? Dimensional what-?

"See the palm tree over there? It's a tropical tree sitting in a small desert near saltwater. An outlier, yet it's thriving. Meaning? It marks the entrance to the ruins and home of the legendary." Rose sighed, not taking her eyes off her device. "Also the last known location of the power core before its disappearance."

I'm an idiot. She harshly bit her lip to refrain from cursing up a storm, her eyes becoming wider. The stupid shard is here. The inlet she landed in was the place she'd been searching for. She'd forgotten that the map was leading her toward the out-of-place palm tree she was currently hiding behind. Were they also searching for the wish-granting shard? But why was the Aether Foundation trying to summon a Guardian deity?

Reed let out a cackle, pumping his fist while retrieving two Pokeballs. "Finally! Let's beat the shit out of a Legendary! My crew is all here and ready to rumble."

Detecting the accusation, Rose corrected her companion. "Butterfree is warding off the perimeter. Why? To make sure nothing is coming in or out."

Shit. I'm trapped. I wish the stupid shadow Pokemon had warned me. If I left earlier I wouldn't-

She wavered. Marshadow had told her to leave. What she had assumed was out of hostility to harm her might have been a plea to guide her away from the impending danger. When they met near the bank, Smeargle had been led away by Marshadow, deeper into the trees. Essentially the opposite direction she had gone, being carried off by the current.

She was the one who ventured back on course; she was the one who demanded to stay, even if she didn't know at the time what the inlet represented.

That's why he laughed before he left, she realized. Laughing at her. Her stubborn foolishness. She had ignored the warning signs, too caught up in her mission. Now, she was trapped. Note to self, to learn how to interpret Poke-speak better.

Rose held a hand out, pointing. "Do not forget the assignment. Before subduing the Legendary, we'll extract the power-up energy. Set up the pumps and make sure—"

"Yeah, I got it." Reed cut her off, dumping the bag on his back. He pulled out a series of what looked like aqua bulbs, sticking various pieces into a wide, circular formation on the ground. "Deep enough not to spill the Shine and store enough for later," he mocked as he worked.

Rose nodded in approval. "We need to move quickly before anyone else catches wind of this," Rose reminded him, glancing at the surrounding forest.

Reed walked closer to the palm tree, shoving a pump close to the oddly fluorescent flowers she had noticed earlier. "Those isle fuckers are too busy splashing with the fishes to notice anything," Reed replied confidently, his focus unwavering as he continued to plant the bulbs. "We'll have killed three birds with one stone before anyone's wiser. Ha, get it? Stone."

She watched in silent horror as the water in the bulb drained before slowly filling up with an iridescent liquid. The once vibrant violet flowers now looked wilted and drained of life.

They're killing the island!

"I will not have Mistress President reprimanding me for your mistakes again should your overconfidence doom us." Rose snapped.

Reed smirked as Chimchar began to crow in excitement. Both walked away from the tree."Relax, Rose. Don't act like you're not as excited for this battle as I am," Reed teased. "Let's show the beast what Team Aether is capable of!"

Rose simply gave him a look. "That name is demeaning. See that you stay out of my way when I capture the Tapu." With that, she walked deeper along the shore, on the opposite side of the tree. Butterfree emerged from the jungle, fluttering back onto her head. The woman took off her pack and carefully placed fractured objects around the edge of the water. Slowly, the form took the shape of an altar, with the indents of a pyramid left in the center.

Get out of the water now! While they're both distracted! Slowly, she crept from the water with all the stealth she possessed. The Team Aether was keeping towards the water's edge; sooner or later they would spot her. She inched along the bank, crawling up to the palm tree before hiding behind it. Luckily for her, with the angle she was at, she could still see the Foundation members.

"The heart slate." Rose held a hand up. Butterfree dove and returned with a large, heart-shaped stone. Rose carefully placed the stone in the indent.

"Reed, the rune rilek."

The blonde grinned manically. Reed and his Chimchar turned to the wagon and picked up a heavier slate. Holding it above Chimchar's flaming tail, Reed let the stone heat into a deep red before smashing the scalding rock into the heart crystal. The newly fused altar emitted a bright light, causing ripples in the water and a glow to appear on the altar. Reed and Rose exchanged a knowing look.

"Fusion complete. Chimchar, Butterfree. Harvesting time," sang Reed.

Butterfree and Chimchar lept, both heading towards the now-filled pumps. Chimchar began to pull glowing pumps from the ground, tripping over itself in its excitement and attaching containers to the machine on his trainer's backpack one by one. Butterfree took one of the glowing pumps to the altar, letting it drop.

She softly gasped as the object halted before hitting the ground, hovering in midair. Turning head over tail, the liquid began trailing out, swirling and spiraling.

The liquid bubbled and hissed before finally seeping into the gem, settling into a soft, warm yellow.

"The ceremony has been accepted. Get out your reader and watch for disruptions. Why? So the moment it spikes, we'd assume beta formation to subdue the Legendary." Rose coldly declared. The excitement in her voice was callous, nearly sadistic.

She was sure at any moment she would be discovered hiding behind the tree with how loud her heart pounded. A million questions were jumbled in her head. They had just completed the ceremony to summon a Legendary (which she didn't even know was possible). Was this the reason why the Foundation wanted to purchase the sacred ruins? What the hell was Shine? Did the Alolans know about this glowing power that could be extracted underneath them? The Foundation knew, but how? How was the Aether Team going to defeat and capture a Guardian? What would happen if they were successful? What would it mean for Alola?

Another part of her, one that notably rang like Uche, asked; Are you merely going to sit back and do nothing?

What could I do? I'm only four! She mentally shouted. I can't fight; I'm a scientist! I like to do research and sit indoors. I'm alone without a Pokemon, and the only thing I have on me is wet clothes and a fanny pack. I'm not equipped to battle two experienced trainers!

But as she watched Chimchar continue to uproot extractors, an ache flared within her, engulfing and drowning her worse than water ever could.

The shard was hers. Her plan, her chance of happiness, hinged on retrieving it first. She couldn't stand by as her dream was snatched from her.

She needed to be clever instead of making the same mistake as before. Outsmart them and retrieve the shard first. To do that, she needed to open her eyes to absorb every detail, and see what could be useful. Slowly, she crept around the tree. Team Aether kept close to the water's edge. Inching towards the closet pump, she carefully pulled it out, keeping Chimchar in her sight. Her heart palpitating, she secured the bulb before returning to her cover unnoticed.

She turned the pump over in her palm. Whatever this Shine was, the scientist had called it a 'power-up energy'. The question was, for whom?

She carefully poured a few drops onto the palm tree, watching the slowly decaying tree readily drink the liquid. For a few seconds, nothing happened. If she had blinked, she would have missed how the decaying gray of the bark subtly lightened, shifting to dark brown.

Organic materials like plants can use Shine, huh? What about humans?

Placing a drop on her finger, she waited for her skin to absorb the liquid and feel power flooding her veins. When nothing happened, disappointment settled in her chest, and she rubbed her finger on a rock. Still, nothing happened to it either.

Conclusion: Humans and inorganic materials could not use Shine. That only left one option for the occupants in the grove.

She unzipped the fanny. Carefully, without spilling a drop on the liquid, she opened the stolen Pokeball and poured the Shine into it. Then, as quickly and carefully as she did the first time, she moved to place the empty bulb back where she found it before hiding once again.

Whatever plan she came up with, she needed to ensure that no Pokemon came in contact with the Shine. Assuming their reaction would be similar to the tree, they would instantly heal from wounds or fatigue and never stop fighting so long as the Aether scientist had Shine. The serum was both brilliant and damning.

Chimchar came up to her tree not a moment later. The flame monkey scratched its head, looking at the empty pump. She didn't dare breathe. A panicked Chimchar yelled his name while running over to his trainer to tug on Reed's pants and pointed to the tree.

"Chimchar said the last one is empty," puzzled Reed. How the hell did he manage to understand that from just the word Chimchar!? "I positioned all the pumps down tight- I swear, Rose!"

"It doesn't matter now," Rose sighed. "The reader's spiked; the portal is forming. We'll have to use what we have. Tapu Koko is coming."

Her heart raced as she heard Reed shouting, "Chimchar and Venusaur, it's time to play! Beta Formation!" She heard the sound of Pokeballs opening.

Rose called out, "Butterfree and Surskit! Come out!"

The ground trembled as the whirlpool towards her right grew, creeping towards the water's edge and eating the sand. The wind picked up, swirling around them. She had to wrap one arm around the tree to stop herself from being carried away, fearing she'd be swept into the whirlpool. She held on tight until the wind died down.

When the wind stopped, the whirlpool churning remained, only without the bright glow of the portal. The plain sand inlet was abnormally dark, and the cacophony from the jungle was suppressed. The quiet calm of the aftermath was a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded.

I've seen this before. She thought, whipping her head to the side. Familiar muteness, a burning sense of foreboding that always accompanies the unknown, the smell of burning. It's not Tapu, but-

"What the hell is that?" Reed shouted, pointing towards the whirlpool. She squinted her eyes, already knowing what she'd see. Marshadow stood on the bank, his red-flamed eyes narrowed and expressionless. The small Pokemon was positioned in a fighting stance, fist raised, its aura pulsating with power. The air tasted like ash and ice on her tongue, making her shiver.

Rose smirks. "Can't you tell? It's the guard. Defeat him, and we get to the final boss."

Rose and Reed exchanged a predatory smile as Marshadow emitted a low pulse of deadly intent. A warning—a promise to destroy; to go back now while they still had the chance. The fighting ghost's eyes met hers across the distance, and she had a distinct feeling that he intoned, 'Stay back and hide. Don't get in my way.'

She nodded. She'll listen this time.

"Do you want him? Or should I take this battle?" Reed rushed, his voice taunt and strained, holding himself back from vibrating with the need to obliterate the Pokemon in front of him.

"He's mine." With a nod, Rose stepped forward, matching Marshadow's intensity. The two stood tense, neither flinching in the hair-triggering silence.

"Surskit! Mist." Suddenly, the field was covered in dense fog, obscuring both Rose and Marshadow from view.

She used the mist to prevent Marshadow from seeing her movements. Clever.

"Butterfree, Surskit, double Psybeam!" Butterfree, already high in the air over the mist, swooped down, unleashing a powerful Psybeam alongside Surskit. The combined attack pierced through the fog, aiming directly at Marshadow, who hadn't moved.

As the psybeam neared its target, Marshadow's eyes burned gold before vanishing into the dark.

But not clever enough. Looks like Marshadow is used to navigating in obscure spaces.

Too quick for her eyes to track, the ghost-like Pokemon flickered before reappearing behind Surskit, punching it. Surskit tumbled into the water, rolling before landing nimbly on its surface. The damage was minimal, but the spider was too far back to engage. Marshadow flickered again, reappearing before the butterfly and slamming a fist into its face.

Butterfree crashed into the ground, creating a crater. It took a moment to get back up, hovering unsteadily in the air. Surskit rushed forward. Marshadow jumped above Butterfree, fist-cocked and covered in a hazy shroud.

"Butterfree, dodge, and use sleep powder!"

Butterfree spun in a somersault, gaining air before fluttering its wings, releasing a cloud of sleep-inducing powder toward Marshadow. The ghostly Pokemon was caught in the haze and its movements slowed as it struggled to stay awake, allowing Surskit to decrease the distance and jump into the air.

"Surskit, use Mimick on Butterfree; then use Sleep Powder. Butterfree stay in the air and use Giga Drain!"

Surskit quickly mimicked Butterfree's attack, forcing Marshadow to stay locked in the shroud. Butterfree, still weak from the punch and having to gain ground quickly, only weakly managed to drain some of Marshadow's energy. The ghostly Pokemon grunted before disappearing into the shadows.

"Come back here and fight you, coward!" Reed called.

"He's regrouping." Rose straightened out, calling out to her weakened Pokemon to come forth to form a tighter ring around the team. Rose pulled a bulb from Reed's pack and bathed Butterfree in Shine. "By the time he's regained his energy, it'll be too late." All heads turned to the portal, where the light sang with the radiance of sunbeams. The churning water looked volatile and dangerous. "Why? Because Tapu Koko will be here at any time."

Marshadow's chilling, childlike laughter rang out in the gloom.

"He's trying to use the darkness and the portal as a distraction so he can gain control of the battle," Reed realized, scanning the area for signs of Marshadow. "We need to be prepared for anything," Rose warned, her eyes narrowing.

Suddenly, a blast of green energy sped toward Surskit, taking the large spider by surprise. The bug was drained of energy and returned to its Pokeball.

"Giga drain?" Rose shouted in surprise. Her eyes widened, and it was only through her years of training and her partner's trust that she reacted quickly, shouting out a warning. "Get down Butterfree!"

Butterfree tumbled to the side, narrowly avoiding a fist decorated in purple powder.

That looks familiar. Is he doing what I think he's doing? That looks like the haze from the sleeping powder.

"He's copying your moves!" Reed shouted. Looks like they both had the same realization.

"This could be a problem," Rose muttered. "We need to switch things up and catch him off guard. Delta formation, Reed?"

Reed nodded, his eyes flashing and a feral smile on his lips. "I thought you'd never ask!" he responded.

"Venusaur!" The Pokemon roared its name, charging straight towards Marshadow. Rose and Reed moved quickly to flank Marshadow from both sides. As Venusaur lunged forward, Reed shouted, "Use Vinewhip to bind Marshadow! Chimchar, use Ember to light this jungle up!"

Chimchar shot a slew of flames from his mouth, setting the dim shore ablaze. With the darkness eliminated, Venusaur's vines wrapped tightly around Marshadow, immobilizing it. Marshadow struggled, unable to move.

"Can't move without your shadows, huh? I noticed that when you teleported, you moved to the darkest parts, using shadows cast on the ground. Without it, you're powerless," Reed taunted, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. Marshadow's eyes widened in realization as it was left defenseless and defeated.

No, it's not over! Marshadow can still get out! She had fully emerged from behind the palm tree, uncaring if Team Aether saw her. Her gaze was fixed on the struggling ghost.

Rose confidently stepped forward, a smirk playing on her lips. "I'd love to catch you, but to reach Tapu Koko, you must be eliminated first," she declared, her eyes gleaming obstinacy. "You like to play dirty, correct? Then this is for Surskit. Butterfree, Special Move: Draining Kiss."

Unconsciously, her body took a step forward, her hands shaking. She's going too far! Even if she wasn't a trainer, she knew beating an already down Pokemon was as excessive as it was cruel.

Butterfree's wings shimmered with a pink glow as she flew towards Marshadow, enveloping it in a sweet embrace that drained its energy. Marshadow let out a weakened cry, falling to its knees. Marshadow's eyes met hers across the sandy plain. The fire within its eyes seemed to flicker and fade. The connection she had felt when they first locked eyes resurfaced, causing a painful ache in her chest. The flickering embers begged for her to run, to warn others before it was too late.

She recalls the keening despair of waking up and knowing her entire world was gone; the sweet, embracing kiss of darkness that was oh so warm, but empty; the cold, unwavering fear that crawls up her throat when she closes her eyes and simply remembers.

Suddenly, something in her snapped, and she was running, her body moving on its own.

The next few moments were a blur. She rushed forward, using her momentum to shove the unpecting Chimchar into Venusaur. The blazing chimp, still using its flames, redirected the blast toward his friend. Venusaur vines quickly caught aflame. Chimchar quickly doused his fire, sending the beach back into the shadows. The blue dinosaur cried out, letting go of Marshadow. She kept running, clumsily pulling the Pokeball from her waist.

She paid no mind to the two surprised scientists—their shouts—or the continued drainage from Butterfree. "Marshadow!" She wasted no time hurling the Shine-mixed Pokeball at the weakened ghost.

The Pokeball hit Marshadow full-on, covering him in a bright, blinding light. As the light faded, Marshadow's form was gone, and the glowing red and white Pokeball clicked shut, securing the Pokemon in its casing. Her running stop sent her tumbling, rolling on the ground near her capture. If she were taller, then within arms reach of picking up the Pokeball.

She didn't have time to enjoy her short victory before she heard a shout of "Venusaur, Vinewhip!" Before she could react, vines wrapped around her body, squeezing tightly as she struggled to break free. Slowly, she was lifted into the air and was staring down at Team Aether.

"Look, Reed, the natives found us." Rose idly drawled. She sounded bored, but her eyes gleamed with cold fury. As she dangled helplessly, she knew she was fucked. She decided to stay silent lest she tempt the pink-haired scientist's fury. Observing Rose's disregard for mercy had been one thing. Now, being on the receiving end made bile dance in her mouth.

"I thought you secured the area, Rose? Why the fuck has a kid managed to sneak up on us like this?" Reed's voice was calm, but there was a dangerous edge to it that made her shiver. "And she managed to capture herself an Ultra Rare! Shit is starting to hit the fan."

Rose's lips curled. "Ignoring your foul language, I disagree. We have extracted plenty of Shine, and the summoning remains active." A glance behind her showed that indeed, the whirpool was now dark and transient, and an outline of a figure started to emerge from it. "Also, that ghost Pokemon? It is also a Legendary. The child has captured it for us, so now it's ours for the taking. As for the child? We'll have to dispose of her later."

Her breath caught in her throat. They're talking about killing me. She glared down at the scientist, keeping her eyes focused and away from the flickering shadows behind them. "You're supposed to be a scientist who researches and restores the balance between Pokemon and humans! Capturing the Guardians undermines all that you stand for! I already told the town that you've broken the laws and are trespassing on sacred grounds! And illegally conducting experiments on nature! The elite trainers at the school—they're on their way!"

"Really?" drawled Reed. "Too bad for you, the trainers won't make it in time," he sneered, a sinister smile spreading across his face. He pointed in front of her, and she strained in her bindings to turn her head. A figure was emerging from the dark whirlpool, revealing an intimidating presence cloaked in bright light.

I'm out of time.

Lightening cracked overhead, and the air tasted of sulfur while reeking of burning salt. The Guardian Deity gently hovered above the water, standing over two meters in height. Overbearing and powerful, the Pokemon held a gaze that was too intelligent and far too calculating. If Marshadow's presence felt like the calm before the storm, then this deity's presence felt like an active volcano, ready to unleash its full fury at any moment regardless of any creature that stood in its way. This, she realized, was what true power felt like. Deep in her bones, she knew that Team Aether was completely outmatched.

None of them were about to survive this encounter.

"Chimchar, use Flame Wheel!" Reed commanded, desperately, as if he too realized that if the battle didn't end fast, all of their efforts were for nothing. The flames from Chimchar's attack illuminated the light-filled grove, casting shadows that danced ominously against the trees.

Tapu Koko's demeanor changed instantly. No longer knowing and apathetic but now hungry, almost excited. A Pokemon that thrived on the need to battle was a destructive one. It let out a low, rumbling growl as it slammed a shield in front of its body, stopping Chimchar's flame-engulfed body in its tracks.

"Don't let it activate its terrain attack!" Rose yelled across to Reed, who snapped back, "What the fuck else do you think I'm doing?"

Without waiting for his trainer's command, Chimchar used the shield as a launching pad, jumping into the air and being caught by Butterfree. Together, they soared above the inlet, and Rose took the opportunity to shout, "All Pokemon on the field! Let's end it in one move! Start Gamma Formation!"

For a brief while, she forgot she was being suspended in midair as Venusaur held her up in its vines, focusing solely on the battle ahead. With Rose's command, Venusaur unceremoniously dropped her to the ground, her forehead cracking into the dirt and her nose was stuffed with sand and mud. She groaned and struggled to push herself up, trying to regain her focus, her vision blurred by the likely concussion she just received from the fall.

Ahead of her, the battle raged, but her attention had narrowly focused on one point: the still glowing red and white ball an arm's length in front of her. With a desperate grimace, she crawled, reaching out and snatching the Pokeball, clutching it tightly in her hand as she slowly stood up, ignoring the throbbing pain in her head.

She felt comforted by the weight of the Pokeball. Instead of the dull, waiting orb from before, it pulsed with life. Full, whole, and waiting to burst. Her heart raced with a mix of triumph and relief. It symbolized not just a captured creature but also her ability to protect what she wanted in this new life. It was a small victory, and she was going to take advantage of her luck.

Glancing up, she took in Team Aether. The ones who were trying to steal her dream, her one chance of returning to her rightful family. The blonde and pink-haired duo had their companions surrounding the Gurdian Deity; apparently, she missed the sight of the duo trying to take the Tapu down with one hit. The glowing simmer surrounding the Pokemon let her know they were still using the Shine to continue the battle.

As much as she knew the Guardian could wreck the team, with the power-up on their side, it became not a battle of strength but one of endurance. And sadly, one which the scientist would win. She couldn't allow that.

She pressed the ball she clutched to her forehead. "I'm sorry for not putting my trust in you earlier. I'm listening now. It's up to you to protect us. If you can't, then I'll raise hell if these Aether idiots ruin anything else."

She pressed the opening of the ball, throwing it out into the distance.

She thought. Dear Deities, I hope this Pokemon listens to me. "Marshadow, protect Tapu Koko!"

Marshadow flickered into the middle of the circle, standing in front of the Guardian.

"Ha! Do you think that weakling can protect the Tapu? We already defeated it once!" Reed jumped back, with Chimchar and Rose following behind, jumping away from the shore. "Venusaur, get the girl!"

Vines soared at her, but she paid them no mind as she was captured once again. It was one less Pokemon Marshadow had to account for; now there was a break in the formation. An opportunity she seized quickly.

"There's an opening Tapu! Marshadow, smash the pack!"

Either the Deity heard her words or it realized the same thing as her; she would never know. What she did know was that the Deity darted from the circle and the clouds above them released a crack of thunder and an arc of electricity that licked the sand ablaze, surrounding the team.

"Shit, it's the terrain attack!" yelped Reed.

"We're trapped, but not defeated," intoned Rose. "Hold your ground!"

Mashadow, carefully encased in the lightning circle reappeared behind Reed and punched his pack, breaking all the collected Shine samples. The two scientists cried out before jumping into a synchronized attack of, "Chimchar, Flamethrower from below, and don't stop!" and "Butterfree, Air Slash from above!"

Marshadow stood between the two attacks, standing guard with hands raised in a fighting stance. The combined attacks created a flaming tornado blazing through the air. The winds were so powerful that Venusaur's vines went slack, catching aflame once more. She flew until her back hit the altar, knocking the wind out of her.

Raising herself on her elbows, she watched Marshadow be engulfed in a fiery whirlwind. As the smoke cleared, Marshadow emerged unscathed, its eyes glowing. The ghost pokemon had absorbed the attacks effortlessly, fist charged with red flames. Without hesitation, it flew forward, striking Chimchar, Butterfree, and Surskit with strikes too quick to see. The flames licked at their bodies, leaving scorch marks in their wake.

Rose and Reed both cried out for their teammates. But Marshadow showed no hesitation, knocking out all his opponents before they could get up again. Rose and Reed watched in horror as their Pokemon fell one by one, defeated and returning to their balls.

In fury, Reed called out to his last remaining Pokemon with a cry, "Fuck, it's not over yet! I'm not done! Venusaur, special move, Verdant Anger!"

Earth shook as Venusaur's roar echoed along the beach. Seeds rained from its flower, staining the sky green. Once the seeds began to fall, deafening booms resounded, cratering the ground.

Oh, the seeds are bombs, came the slow realization as she sat in muted horror. All around, the world began to burn and erupt in front of her. The once vibrant landscape was bleeding into a charred wasteland, with smoke billowing into the sky and flames dancing.

She distantly heard infuriated shouts from Rose as Reed cackled gleefully, almost drunk from the destruction he was causing. "Are you a moron?" Spat Rose. "This move will take out all of us, never mind the Tapu and the kid! Tell Venusaur to fall back or else we'll fail the mission!"

"Who the fuck cares!?" was the witty response.

In the presence of the devastation, there was nowhere to escape. She raised her arms above her head, her death inevitable. She braced for impact, waiting to feel the familiar wrath of flame, heat, and pain-which never came. She opened her eyes in shock.

Marshadow stood next to her, his fist glowing, having fought off the attack near her. Gurdian Deity Tapu Koko stood ahead of them, floating above the glassy sands. The Pokemon had withdrawn into its protective shield. The deity had encased the grass-type Venusaur in electricity, which prevented him from escaping. Hurt beyond means, Venuaur collapsed in exhaustion and pain; silently, enveloped in red, he retreated into its Pokeball. Her ears were ringing, but she assumed from the anguished looks of both Rose and Reed that Tapu Koko wasn't finished, and they too were being electrocuted until they passed out.

Once her ears cleared of ringing, she noticed that, in the aftermath, the beach was silent. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore, a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded.

Finally, it was over. She wanted to collapse and sob in relief, but she couldn't do so just yet. Her business wasn't finished. She slowly made her way to stand. She needed to retrieve the shard from the Guardian, bring it to Uche to carry out her next phase, and find Smeargle.

Child, a voice spoke directly into her mind. The urgency in the faint, raspy voice spurred her into action, despite her exhaustion. She jumped towards Marshadow, encircling him in her arms to protect him. The ghost simply gazed at her with a deadpan expression as if she were an idiot. Marshadow pushed away her clutching hands and nodded ahead of her.

Tapu Koko floated directly before them, looking at them with tired, knowing eyes. She flinched. Those eyes made her feel raw, exposed, and vulnerable.

The Guardian was appraising her and-based on the languid blink of its eyes-found her lacking.

I do not have time to explain, for my energy in this realm is dwindling. Know that I have seen your character and heard your thoughts. As much as I wish to choose another, I will now ask you and your bonded to carry out the duty. Are you willing?

Tapu Koko's voice echoed in her mind, urging her to accept the responsibility. But she was confused, concussed, and had a plethora of questions to ask. All she managed to utter was a slurred and dumbfounded, "Huh?"

Your people's Elders will explain more. Only they know the truth. I will bestow on you this blessing, for I can't say anything more. Good luck, child.

Tapu Koko glowed, much like the color of the iridescent flowers near the palm tree; iridescently violet and radiant. The deity then enveloped her and Marshadow in the same glow. For a second, nothing besides the warm glow enveloped her before an electricity spot up her spine. Every single nerve ending in her body lit up, and her mind blanked, her back arching as her body absorbed every arc and current, exploding the world into colors of turquoise, white, and gold.

She collapses in a heap on the ground. She couldn't open her eyes properly but she felt more than saw Marshadow retreat into the Pokeball she forgot she was still clutching in her hand.

Before she lost consciousness, she saw that Tapu Koko had disappeared. Rose and Reed were still unconscious, splayed on the ground exactly how she was. She heard exclamations at the edge of her peripheral vision, but everything sounded muffled as if she were underwater. The last thing she remembered before blacking out completely was the feeling of someone gently lifting her off the ground with a whispered 'Smeargle'.

Melemele Island, Pokemon Nursey: 00:03:23 AM

Which led her back to here.

She took a deep drink of water, her throat sore from speaking for so long, leaving no part of her journey behind. She had decided to tell the truth. Trust was hard to earn, and any stutter or pause would lead to her downfall. Which is why she opted for the truth. Plus, she sucked at lying under pressure, and with her exhaustion and spinning mind, making her outlandish story any more confusing would only make things worse.

The three elders before her held mixed expressions, all of which she was easily able to read. Disbelief, anger, weariness, and, to her, the worst of them all: fear.

The elder in the middle, who had taken charge of her interrogation, hissed with barely restrained fury, stepping up to her chair to lean over her. "It is not becoming a lie, girl. Your mother needs to discipline you more if you think—"

Heat spread into her cheeks and ears, easily rising to anger as she cut him off. Elderly or not, she would not tolerate the disrespect to her name or Uche. Consequences be damned!

She bared her teeth. "I have no reason to lie! Don't accuse me of something I haven't done while degrading the character of my mother!"

The bearded old man met her fury head-on, bypassing her personal space while towering over her. If he thought that his size imitated her then he was a fool. "Only a thoughtless mother would allow her child to believe that a Guardian Diety tasked someone, let alone a mere child to protect the Alola Region from dying!"

"Eustace!" The old lady gasped at her companion. The bearded Elder, Eustace, had frozen, his face pale as the color drained from his complexion as he came to a realization. It took a second as the stilted silence settled in the room for her to understand what was going on. The old man had said too much.

"What do you mean that I've been tasked with protecting the region from dying!?" She spoke, her voice edging to slight hysteria at the end, anger now held a bay. She only wanted to find a share; how could the situation escalate into this?!

The other elder, the quiet one with a cane, sighed. He slowly stood and calmly hobbled to put a hand on Eustace's shoulder. This elder hadn't spoken the entirety of her retelling. Her earlier assumption that the bearded elder was the leader was grossly incorrect. This man seemed wise and intelligent, but shrewd. A tactician who weighs every consequence and every word before making a move.

"What we say next never leaves this room. Do you understand, child?" She nodded, but his eyes flashed sharply behind his half-moon glasses. "I need a verbal agreement. You are intelligent, girl, so I need to hear you say it and promise it to us. Your word is crucial in this matter, and the consequences of your promise are significant."

She swallowed thickly under his gaze. She didn't want to promise shit; but, to get the answers she needed, she had to make sacrifices. So she held his gaze, despite her reluctance. "Yes, nothing that we discuss next will leave this room. I swear it."

He held her gaze for another heartbeat before he nodded, waving off the still-frozen Elder. "Sit down, man, and for the remainder of this conversation, do not speak. You've said enough." Eustace shut his mouth with an audible click and sat in the chair that the old woman proffered.

The elderly man with the cane settled himself comfortably in front of her, his gaze fixed solely on her. Feeling the weight of his kind yet calculating stare, she straightened her back, fully aware of him sizing her up.

"I am Elder Brine, the historian and lorekeeper of the Melemele. Beside me are Elder Flora, the healer and spiritual guide, and Eustace, the craftsman and upkeep of traditions. We were the only three who held the truth of this region." Elder Brine maintained eye contact, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "And now, you make it four. The truth is, child, that the Alola Region is fading as the power of the shards diminishes."

"What?! From my research, the shard is one of ultimate power and can only grant wishes; it shouldn't be tied to the region's livelihood." She instantly sprang from her seat, about to shoot off at the mouth in her disbelief.

Elder Brine frowned, "I afforded you silence when I listened to your story, not interrupting you. I hope you can hold the same courtesy for me."

Chastised, she bit her tongue and sat back down. Once she settled Brine eyed her once more before nodding.

"As much as I like to hear that our youth are enthusiastic about learning, there are certain bits of information that have to be left out. And due to those aspects being left unsaid, people took it upon themselves to fill up the holes. It is a myth that the shards can grant wishes, just as it is a myth that there is only one shard. There are, in fact, four, each a representative of our islands."

Elder Brine paused, checking to see if she was following. "From your story, we were able to confirm one of our worst fears. The shard representative for our island has been depleted and most likely destroyed. You said that our Diety, Tapu Koko, said its' power was nearly depleted; my guess is either due to the battle by the Aether Foundation to capture Tapu Koko or the excretion of this 'Shine'." She must have made a sour expression because Elder Brine chuckled before signing tiredly. "What the scientists refer to as 'Shine' is simply the essence of the Shard. The shard is a cluster of energy that sits in its own dimensional space and acts as a ward and a beacon for the legendaries. The dimension they dwell in is vast, and to return here, the Shard acts as a lighthouse, guiding and protecting them. The Shards themselves are natural energy barriers and their energy can transcend into our plane that protects all creatures who reside here. The shard is not so much of an 'object' as it should be referred to as a 'substance' or a 'concept'."

Elder Brine sat back in silence, letting her take a moment to absorb the information. In a way, it made sense. The power-ups that the Pokemon had from the substance came directly from the land, and it naturally protected and healed them. She didn't know much, but the little that she did know was that most recovery potions were synthetically made and that Alola couldn't afford the premium-grade products.

But, Elder Brine had said that the Shards protect all creatures; when she touched the Shine, nothing happened. Either there was an error in their knowledge, or Elder Brine was lying. The thought hurt, but she expected as much; they wished for her to show all her cards and fold, while they still kept their hand hidden. It reminded her of the cunning politicians from her old world.

She clutched her hands together, gripping her left hand with the tattoo of Tapu Koko's bastard 'blessing'. The white ink was similar to the outline of the summoning altar; a pyrmiad with a swirling heart inside. The 'blessing' felt more like a curse; a mocking symbol letting her know that her hope of returning to her past life had been crushed.

My earlier optimism had been in vain. There wasn't a Shard, and there were no wish-granting powers. I'm back to square one, and it hurts.

She is currently drowning, struggling to hold onto hope. Maybe, there was a way back; she only needed to pivot her thought process. The shards once held an immense amount of power and acted as a gateway to another dimension for Pokemon, although the power to do so was fading.

The conniving old farts keep mentioning different dimensions; who knew it was a thing in this world. If I can't return to my past life, maybe instead I could return to my old world.

Elder Brine sighed, misunderstanding her anger as she silently squeezed her left hand. "Because Tapu Koko has access to this plane via the shard, and with its remaining energy fading, I believe that as a final act, our Guardian has tasked you with finding the phenomenon that is draining the shard's power. Hence, the tattoo. It serves as a reminder, and maybe, the last tether it has to this dimension. It's only a guess, but what's your measure, Flora?"

Turning to Elder Flora, she flinched as their gazes met. Her eyes screamed of pity and sorrow, and she was beginning to feel ill. "Tapu Koko must have chosen you for a reason," Elder Flora said softly, and her tone held whispering of assurances. "We must seize the blessing that this opportunity is.

I don't disagree, but I think you're not clearly stating the magnitude of the shard's existence for the region, Brine." Fixing her with earnest eyes that made her want to scream, Flora spoke gently, as if she were reassuring a misbehaving child. "The shard's link to the region is still shrouded in mystery, but what we do know is this: without them, our region will collapse. Our history states that each isle was made in the image of each Shard; our legends foretold the ending of the world if they disappeared. We believed them mere myths, and our ancestors did the same as the Foundation members. They stole the Shard's essence from the island. They began to realize the truth as our realities began to unravel at the seams. Holes in the fabric of space began to open, and every natural disaster you can think of began to occur. Thankfully, the Guardians stepped in just in time, and our people wrote down the lessons, never to forget."

"But we have forgotten because it's happening again." Elder Esstice spoke up, voice pinched. "Even without extracting this shine," he spat the word, "Our islands are dying. Trees are bearing less fruit, temperatures are rising in the ocean, and our scientists are picking up more and more dimensional fluxes. That is why a mere child shouldn't be here or be involved."

"This is the will of our Deity, and it will not be questioned again," intonded Elder Brine.

Elder Flora nodded. "There is no point discussing what should or should not be."

"Only what is." Elder Brine chuckled before facing her again. "Now, I also understand that during your little escapade, you earned a bonded partner, no? It is uncommon for someone so young, but not unheard of. Do you know what a bonded partner means?"

Upon being addressed, her shoulders met her ears in a weak shrug. "I know that there's going to be a ceremony held next spring, but I figured out most of it. A trial to test your compatibility with a Pokemon and once completed, you've earned an intimate bond- one that lends each other strength." Elder Brine's eyes twinkled; if she didn't know any better, she would say pride sparkled in his eyes. But she did, and she recognized the gleam for what it was; interest. She was a dubious but oh-so-fascinating gem under a microscope. An unexpected discovery that delighted him, whose talents he wanted to nurture for himself.

Sorry Uche, I've stumbled into the owl's pen without realizing it. Looks like the Elder's caught me before the Foundation could.

She didn't know if it was a good thing.

"But sir, I didn't go through a trial; I don't even think we're bonded. I can't hear Marshadow's thoughts or feel an intense urge to battle as the stories say."

All the adults in the room chuckled, breaking the tense atmosphere. She twisted her lips. Not only were they bombarding her with responsibilities (that she didn't ask for) and world-ending knowledge (that she didn't want), but now they had the nerve to laugh at her. Her headache was in tandem with her heartbeat as she opened her mouth to snap at them.

"Dear child," intoned Elder Flora, still giggling with mirth. "All bonds are different, and trials can happen under any circumstances. I once met someone whose trial was counting sticks. Yours happened to be working together to defend Tapu Koko. That's why you were able to capture it in your Pokeball. The act of capture was one of trust, and thus a bond was formed."

That explanation... felt wrong. The simplistic act of saving one another wasn't what drew Marshadow to her at all. It didn't explain how upon immediately meeting the ghost-type Pokemon, she was instantly, almost unnaturally drawn to it; she recognized his existence and keenly sensed his absence in her life. If Smeargle hadn't pulled her back, she would have run headfirst into its fist. Like called to like and throwing herself into danger to protect Marshadow was a thoughtless act; it only felt right.

It was another set of questions to investigate on her own later. She doubted, based on what Flora was giving her, that they had any inkling of an idea.

"While one doesn't necessarily get to hear their partner," Elder Brine cut in, "there are certain feelings that come with it. Can you sense a connection beyond your thoughts and feelings, like a connection not originating from you?"

Sounds like nonsense. What the hell, I might as well try. Closing her eyes, she ignored her headache and the tiredness that seeped into her bones while pushing past her racing thoughts. She let her mind blank before moving inward, past her blood, past the eyes she could feel staring at her. She felt silly and stupid sitting there and merely breathing. After searching for what felt like several minutes passing by she was about to give up when she felt it. She felt amusement in her gut and a tug of impatience at her belly button.

Her eyes flew open, and she glanced at the sparkling Pokeball that sat innocently on the table beside her. As the ball shook slightly, she felt it again—that similar call to darkness and an echo of child-like laughter ringing in her ears. Marshadow was laughing at her, finding it highly entertaining that it took her this long to recognize his superior presence in their bond. He was granting her his patience, but it was shortly becoming limited; he wanted her to wrap up the meeting so he could get out of the cramped ball.

Oh Deities, please don't tell me I bonded with a Pokemon that has anger issues and a superiority complex. I can only deal with so much.

She quickly turned her attention back to the Elders, who had noticed her look of realization. "I found the connection; it feels like a thread." Hesitating slightly because she felt ridiculous, she said, "Also, Marshadow is a he, and he wants to finish the meeting so we can go home."

Elder Brine nodded, a smile sitting on his lips. "Very well, I understand. My old bones hate these chairs. Since you can feel the bond, that means you've already accepted it, but it's not completed. The feelings should start as faint, but over time they'll grow stronger, which comes with naturally understanding one another. The bond can never be broken. Marshadow could be your partner for life. Wherever you go, he goes.

Because your partner is legendary, your next choice becomes a bit more challenging. Legendary partners come with unique responsibilities and implications that you must consider. Your partner is a known sentry, a protector of our Deities. Normally, they never take a partner, I've never met a person who has, but it seems like for you he made an exception. Tapu Koko has tasked you with finding the cause of the Shard's diminishing power while protecting the region. Should you choose to complete the bond, know that this might be a life task, and Marshadow will be your guide."

"And if I choose to not complete the bond?"

Brine fixed her with a cold stare; all traces of his smile vanished as if it never existed. "While I hope my theory isn't true, I foretell that Marshadow will die, his purpose in protecting us gone, along with our ability to bond with our partners now that the Shard's power is truly gone. Tapu Koko's last blessing was to make you the intermediate for the Shard, and before you ask, no, you don't have any of its powers, but you hold the essence of it all the same. By not accepting the task, Melemele Island will die."

She was quiet for only a heartbeat before she deadpanned, "There's not much of a choice, is there?"

By choosing to accept, she'll have to fully embrace her new life and live on with the knowledge that she'll never be able to return to her past life. But the weight of the island's survival rested on her shoulders; she was left with no other option but to embrace her destiny. It implied that in some way, she was always meant to be reborn in this world. Accepting meant chaining herself down to the here and now.

"There's always a choice, child."

The internal struggle she faces in making this decision is evident in the way her voice wavers as she replies, "But sometimes, the choices we make are not choices at all." Choices are paths we take, the best option that compliments our morals. So, what choice did she have, picking a path that led to guilt, with the knowledge that every person's death would be because of her, simply because she couldn't let go?

She was a selfish creature. She is ashamed to say, even now, that she still couldn't let go, and if it wasn't for the guilt she'd prefer to throw the responsibility to someone else.

But since she couldn't, she'll suck it up and do it anyway.

So she looked into each of the elders' eyes. She wanted them to feel the weight of their role—the burden they were happily handing to her. She wanted to rage, to scream that no one fought hard enough to find something alternative, that there was another way. The responsibilities they were throwing at a child who seemed too young, too impressionable.

A too-curious, smarter-than-she-seemed child who foolishly put herself in this situation. Who had no one to blame but herself.

By the knowing smirk in Elder Brine's eyes, from the moment she spoke, she knew that he never really considered her as such; to him, she was a convenient fail-safe that he'd be able to use shortly. She respected his tactual nature as much as she resented him.

"I'll complete the bond," she whispered, and Elder Brine's eyes twinkled dangerously.

"Wonderful," he cheered. "We need to get a few things done before the ceremony can begin. Oh, and child?" She felt sick looking into those too-joyful, too-serene eyes. Like a cat who caught not a mouse, but the whole freaking pie. "You will not tell a soul about your task, not even darling Uche. Our people love our paradise, and we would like to keep it as such. Now, would you like to meet my great-granddaughter, Burnet? She'll be a great mentor for you; she has a wealth of knowledge in alternative dimensions and a passion for research. Lots of knowledge, especially because you've got a lot to learn, and lots of work to do with you. I know Flora and Eustace are eager teachers.

"This is all so exciting, yes?" Elder Brine brightly beamed.

The words were the final nail in the coffin.

"Mah, chibi~chan," Uche hummed, with a look she couldn't decipher dancing in her eyes. "Time to stop reading; let's go to the ocean today for a change, hm?"

The ocean? She slid her eyes from her book, glancing from her sprawled place on the wraparound porch to the right, where below the sloping cliff sat the gentle sea. She's never allowed me to go there before. Why now?

A corner of her not-mother's mouth lifted, and she held a finger up, glancing at the sky. "It's the last day before the season changes. It'll be too cold to swim starting next week."

Ah, so that's the reason.

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow on the ocean below. The waves crashed against the shore, creating a soothing soundtrack that beckoned one to venture down to the water's edge. Uche couldn't resist the temptation any longer and decided it was finally time to experience the ocean's embrace.

"No, thank you. Don't wanna."

She turned her eyes back to her spread of workbooks, picking up her pen and focusing where she left off. Never would she have imagined the language she was speaking, a mixture of Japanese and English, would make it almost impossible to write. The strange mixing of han characters with letters was downright diabolical.

But, dammit, she was too stubborn to fail at something as simple as learning how to write.

"And why is that?" Uche, unlike her usual self, decided to be persistent today. How unlike her. Normally, she'd never push, content with letting her daughter have her freedom. Today, she wasn't going to take no for an answer.

It was slightly annoying. Ever since the freshly dubbed 'incident' she never got any alone time. She was in the second month of her self-imposed grounding, and she did her damnest to disregard everything around her since then. She was still slightly upset at Uche for leaving her to face the wolves alone. She ignored the amused tug in her stomach; a small reminder that she'd never be alone again.

"You can go by yourself. I'll stay home." She didn't glance up, but she could tell that Uche began to frown, and her internal thoughts could be heard in the wind. 'You always want to stay home!'

"I need to study, you know the Elders made it clear."

She felt a mix of frustration and guilt as she contemplated Uche's persistence. She knew that her not-mother only wanted what was best for her, but she also understood that she was not in the most ideal situation currently. She had too much work to do and too much responsibility on her shoulders (or, maybe, just too much of everything but what she wanted). She was set to meet her new potential mentor (15 days left) right after her bonding ceremony. Elder Brine emphasized the importance of meeting certain expectations, and she knew she had to leave a positive impression.

She thought that was the end of the conversation. She began to tune her mother out, dismissing her existence and focusing on getting her grubby four-year-old fingers to work and stay steady as she went over a particularly hard kanji symbol.

Uche's voice grew louder, filled with frustration. "It's not healthy to isolate yourself like this, Chibi."

As she concentrated on her studies, deep down, she knew Uche wasn't wrong. Uche wanted her to experience new things and make memories. However, the allure of solitude and uninterrupted time to think kept pulling her back to the comfort of home.

Arms come out of nowhere and grab her by the waist. Then she's thrown over a shoulder, and she's looking at the ground, watching dirt and grass blur underneath Uche's shoeless feet.

"Hey! Put me down!"

Her heart races as she struggles against the unexpected assailant, her pleas for release drowned out by echoing laughter. Panic set in as she realized she was being carried further away from the safety of their home, with the sound of water getting closer. The smell of the ocean fills her nostrils, and the sound of seagulls adds to the clamor.

"Makuahine, please!"

She desperately searches for an escape route, hitting and pulling at Uche, who just didn't get it and could never understand. The sound of rushing water grows louder, and she whips her head forward, seeing Uche approach a pile of rocks that jut out towards the ocean. Instead of attempting to wade in by the shore like a sane person, Uche keeps running.

And running.

Before taking a flying leap into the air on top of the rocks and submerging them under the cool surface.

As they plunge into the water, a surge of adrenaline courses through her veins. The shock of the cold water takes her breath away momentarily, but she quickly resurfaces, gasping for air and treasuring the feeling of the sun's heat on her head. Arms come around her middle again, and Uche's face comes into view.

"Wasn't that fun, Chibi-chan? The cool water is refreshing as it- says, hey, Chibi, what's wrong?" Uche cuts off her rambling, concern creeping into her voice. Uche pushes her out of her face, her hands clutching her smaller body to hers as they both tread water.

"What the hell?" Eyes wide, she couldn't hold back her dumbfoundedness.

Because seriously, why? Why would Uche do this? What prompted the sudden urge to throw her about-to-be five-year-old daughter, whom she didn't know if she could swim, into the goddamn ocean?

Uche chuckles understanding (she doesn't) her reaction. "I know, right? That was intense," Uche replies, her astonishment mirrored in her eyes. She scoffs at Uche because that bullshit comment was the biggest understatement of both her lives.

"J-just...why...?"

Uche frowned. "I love you, Chibi-chan, but I worry for you. You're always so serious and focused on your studies. I thought this would be a fun way to get you out of your comfort zone and experience something different. Life is so beautiful, chibi-chan. I just want you to live. Have fun. Explore." Uche tucked her close, cradling her toddler in her bosom like a newborn. Then, in a hushed tone, as if she's been too afraid to utter the thought aloud, "Don't be so afraid of life that you never learn how to live. Please, live for me, Chibi-chan."

That was the root of the issue.

After dying once, she was afraid to live again.

Her fear of living came from her past encounter with death. The thought of going through the pain again had paralyzed her, making it difficult for her to fully enjoy her new life. Uche, although she didn't know much, knew on a fundamental level that she had to help her daughter overcome this fear and find the courage to live again.

"Can you do that for me?"

She hesitated. And she knew from the way that Uche's eyes held grief that she could see the fear in her eyes.

Despite the sorrow she felt, Uche, with a reassuring smile, said, "Look down, Chibi-chan." With a blank look in her eyes, she did as she was told, only seeing their feet treading water.

Laughing, Uche said, "Take a breath and look beneath the water."

Intrigued, she took a deep breath and slowly submerged her head.

Once her eyes were able to adjust to the burn of salt, she was greeted by a breathtaking world of vibrant colors and graceful marine life. Coral reefs stretched out in all directions, teeming with fish and Pokemon of all shapes and sizes. Neon-colored fish darted in and out of the coral, their scales shimmering in the sunlight that filtered through the water. Sea turtles glided gracefully through the depths, and schools of tropical fish swam in synchronized harmony. The underwater symphony of colors and movement was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

A curious fish approached her. She dove a little deeper to see it up close. With orange scales and gold whiskers, it was an interesting mix of a large goldfish and a catfish. Meeting its eyes, she thought, "This Pokemon has a dumb look on its face."

She reached out, trailing a hand along its burnt-red scales. The simple-looking Pokemon blinked, then took it upon itself to smooch her entire head, effectively engulfing her head in its mouth. She had to fight to pry the damn thing off! Once off, the Pokemon bubbled happily and swam away before she was able to catch it.

If I ever see that idiot-looking fish again, I'm eating it for dinner, she sputtered, losing her breath from the shock and hurrying to the surface.

Popping her head out, gasping, she exclaimed, "Were you just going to sit there and let a giant ass fish eat me?"

Uche smirked, amusement coloring her tone and ignoring her daughter's language (she'll scold her later). "He wasn't going to eat you, Chibi-chan. That's just how that particular Magikarp likes to say hello."

Ignoring the ache in her chest, she shot a glare at Uche. The fear that once consumed her began to fade away, replaced by a sense of wonder and awe.

"I'm going back under."

After spending some time under the surface exploring, and swimming with the water-type Pokemons Uche led her daughter to the shore.

As they walked along the beach, Uche pointed out the various Pokemon that lived in the sea or on the beach, greeting each one that announced their name. It was during this time that she found herself marveling at the women's strength again. Despite having a difficult child, Uche never once took her anger or sadness out on her. Instead, she met her with patience and kindness that only a mother who truly loved her child could possess.

Uche had a pep in her step that she never realized was missing until she saw its appearance. Uche sparkled and glowed like the sea they walked beside.

"...Makuahine?"

Uche stopped. "Yes, mai chibi-chan?"

"Why don't you hate me?"

It wasn't the words she meant to say, but the thought came unbidden anyway. And like a damn, the floodgates poured and tossed her like the current she nearly drowned in two months ago.

"You should hate me. I'm a terrible daughter; there's nothing childlike about me. I speak too well, I cry too much, I ask too many questions; I'm weird, I'm different, and I see it in the way you look at me sometimes when you don't think I'm looking, but I am; I'm always seeing, and I should have never been born."

Hands easily scoped her up and hushed her, wiping away the water that dripped from her hair onto her face (no, those were tears; she was sobbing), and past her blubbering words, she heard echos from her past mother being whispered in her ears (no, it was Uche, her current mother, and she was crying too) telling her that she "loves you; I love you so much; all I need in life are you and the island chibi; please don't ever forget that; you're perfect; I'm so glad you were born; I love you."

They held onto each other until the sunset. Curled into Uche, her current life's mother, puffy-eyed and exhausted, she turned to her. And just like the tattoo on her hand and the whisper of a connection she felt in her belly button, she made a promise that solidified her existence in this world just a little bit further.

"Makuahine, I'll try. I'll try to live. Thank you for caring so much about me."

"That's all I ask, mai chibi-chan."

She knew that her mother's love would always be with her, guiding her through life and encouraging her to grow. She still wanted her life from before and likely always will, but for now, she'll move forward and accept everything as it is.

Her life now held a new sense of purpose, and she had a person who she cared deeply for, try as she might to deny it. It was terrifying; she'd have setbacks, but Uche reassured her that she'd always be there for her.

And that was enough.

With a heart full of promise, she looked at her mother and smiled for the first time in this new life.

"All I need are you and the island, Makuahine."

"And all I need is you, Uma."

Terms.

Japanese: Mai chibi-chan= My small child.

Hawaiian: Makuahine-= Mother

THIS TOOK ME A YEAR TO WRITE AND I'M SO GLAD ITS DONE AND I CAN MOVE ON. ****screeches in victory****