AN: Sorry for the absence of updates for the past three months. School hasn't been friendly with my schedules and the second semester is nothing new either and is most likely worse in comparison lol. However, since it is Christmas right now, I have the time to write now but the only issue is my ongoing writers block thanks to the persisting research stuff for my academics.

Hopefully the second semester is not as bad as I think it will be.

Also, Merry Christmas everyone! Happy Holidays :D

"Remember this, Reyes. I will come back to haunt you," Verclan growled, his eyes glowing an unnatural red. His fur was ruined, his body a grotesque mutation—a twisted amalgamation of multiple Pokémon. "I will hunt you down... I WILL COME BACK!"

The air was thick with the sounds of war and violence. The ground was littered with bodies, the stench of rotting flesh and blood overwhelming. This was war. Disgusting, brutal, relentless. I hated it—but I had grown numb to it. This nightmare would end.

"My ass," I muttered, exhaustion dripping from my voice.

Summoning the last of my aura, I hardened the durability of my axe, infusing it with my life force. This monster, this so-called "mon," didn't deserve to live. There was no redemption for something like him.

"Goodbye, you bastard," I said, swinging the axe with all the strength I had left.

The blade connected cleanly, decapitating him before he could mutate any further. His grotesque head rolled down the hill, disappearing into the carnage below. I looked away, unwilling to watch any longer. I just wanted peace. Let that bastard rot in hell, if it exist, I hope he'll suffer and stay there forever in eternity.

--

Ring, ring, ring… Ring, ring, ring…*

My eyes snapped open, heavy with fatigue. "Ugh, what now?"

I groaned, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. What the hell was that dream? Why was I reliving the moment I killed that monster?

Ring, ring, ring… Ring, ring, ring…*

"Someone's calling me," I muttered under my breath, dragging myself up.

I stumbled over to the source of the noise and glanced at the screen. It was Mom. "Huh. I can already guess this is about Dad... and why he insisted on staying behind here," I said to no one in particular, sighing as I picked up the call.

"Mom?" I said tiredly.

"Reyes, how are you and Dad faring right now? You had us all worried," her tone filled with obvious and genuine concern.

"Doing good, though sleepy."

"Well, it is 4 a.m., and you're not exactly a morning person, so sorry."

"It's fine, Mom. Me and Dad had a conversation about something important—my future."

"What could that be, if I may ask, Reyes?"

I'm just going to leave out the isekai part and the fact Dad thought I committed something illegal. I'm not going to make Mom worry even more, and I'm certainly not going to make her mad. "I want to join the guild."

"What?! That is dangerous! You're going to get yourself into fights with god-knows-what beings! I know they pay a lot, but still!"

"No need to worry, Mom. I'm not that reckless. Besides, starting at the lowest rank, I'll basically do nothing but help out with community service. Literally."

"No."

"Dad agreed to it."

A moment of silence filled the air. "Are you serious, Reyes?" she asked, sounding like she refused to believe it.

"Completely serious. Dad had the same reaction as you at first, but I had my reasons," I lied. In truth, Dad thought I committed criminal acts and only calmed down after he figured things out.

"Mom, listen," I said, rubbing my eyes. "I know it sounds insane, but this isn't just me chasing some reckless dream. It's about… I don't know, doing something meaningful with my life."

"Reyes, you already do meaningful things. You're a good person—you don't need to throw yourself into danger to prove that!"

"I'm not trying to prove anything, Mom," I said, sitting up straighter. "I just… look, I've thought about this. Joining the guild isn't just about fighting. It's about helping people, protecting them. Isn't that what you and Dad always taught me to do?"

"Yes, but not at the risk of your life!" she snapped, her voice rising slightly. "You don't understand the risks involved, Reyes. There are monsters out there—actual monsters—and I don't mean the ones from your imagination."

"I know the risks, Mom," I said firmly. "That's why I'm starting small. I'll work my way up slowly. I'm not planning to throw myself into a battlefield on day one."

"And what if it doesn't work that way? What if something happens, and you're not ready? Do you think I could handle losing you?" Her voice cracked, and I could hear the raw fear in her tone.

That hit me hard. "Mom," I said softly, "I get it, okay? I really do. You've seen what the state of the world is like, and you're scared, but I promise you, I'm not doing this blindly. I've been thinking about it for weeks. Dad didn't just agree because I twisted his arm—he saw that I was serious about this."

"Reyes…" she started, but I cut her off gently.

"Mom, I'm not running into danger for no reason. The guild isn't just about fighting—it's also about helping communities. You know how important those things are."

She sighed heavily, clearly torn. "You're still so young, Reyes. You've barely even had a chance to live your life, and now you're ready to risk it all?"

"I'm not risking it all," I insisted. "I'm planning to live my life fully, and this is part of it. If I don't do this now, I'll always regret it. You don't want me to live with regret, do you?"

She was silent for a long moment. I could hear her breathing on the other end of the line. The tension filled my body. Finally, she spoke, her voice quiet and resigned. "You're just like your dad, you know that? Stubborn as hell when you've made up your mind."

I smiled faintly. "Guess it runs in the family."

"I still don't like it, Reyes," she said firmly. "But… if this is what you've decided, I won't stop you. Just promise me you'll be careful. And call me. Often."

"I promise," I said, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Thanks, Mom."

"Don't thank me," she muttered. "I'm still mad at you."

I felt hurt just as she said it, but I chuckled softly to hide it. "Noted. Love you, Mom."

"Love you too," she said before hanging the call.

I stared at my phone for a moment, letting out a deep breath and screaming internally. I can't fucking believe I lied and guilt-tripped Mom like that. I am a disgrace, but… all of that for the world.

But is that enough? Is it a justification for lying to Mom like that?

I squeezed my fist, pissed at myself for even doing it. "FUCK! Why did I even do that…"

Calming myself down, I began to look at the still-dark sky. I gazed at the stars and admired them. I lay down on my bed, preparing to sleep again, but… I couldn't help but keep staring at the stars. They reminded me of my time stargazing with Xerxes and Flamey. Mudsdale joined a couple of times too, but part of me was missing…

Sunshine.

That name… Sunshine.

Sunshine…

The name wouldn't leave me alone, and my guilt took over me as it consumed me completely.

Sunshine… I'm so sorry for leaving you. I'm so sorry… I—I hope Sally is taking care of you well. I am so sorry as well, Sally. I'm so sorry for giving you the burden of me leaving Sunshine with you… I shouldn't have ignored you like that after all that time…

Tears began flowing as I closed my eyes. "I'm truly sorry."

I fell asleep once more.

"Thank you for saving the sacred flower from these fools," Sylvaris said gratefully.

"No problem, after all, they're after these things and I'd rather not know what they're planning to use it for," Flamey said, worried.

"Sup, guys," Mudsdale the Swampert came in, carrying Trace, the injured Luxray. "The silly goons escaped, unfortunately. I couldn't catch them, and Trace is hurt badly."

"That's fine," I said in slight frustration, clenching my paws at the thought that these idiots had escaped again. At least we successfully protected this strange flower. "For now, we need to treat Trace's wounds on his left front leg."

"I could help with that," Sylvaris said as he walked closer to Trace. "Put him down on the ground." Mudsdale complied with his request and gently placed Trace down.

"Ouch," Trace winced in pain but suppressed it.

"Um, sorry—sorry," Mudsdale said.

Sylvaris chuckled lightly. "Normally, you mons would be traumatized by this, but you look fine, it seems."

"To be fair, we're up against a conqueror megalomaniac who's making horrors beyond our comprehension, so we've seen worse than this," Flamey said humorously.

"I suppose that's true," Sylvaris said, gazing at Trace's injured leg to check what steps to take. "Reyes, come over here and help me by using Life Dew."

"Alright," I obliged.

Life Dew is a very convenient move. Having a damn Kirlia teach me and embarrass me in front of everyone was a pain in the ass, but I guess it was worth it in the end. The Life Dew began to take effect on Trace's leg, stopping the bleeding and helping soothe the pain. It didn't completely regenerate the leg, but it did speed up recovery.

Sylvaris took some kind of yellow flower into his paw and rubbed it against a rock to turn it into a tiny ball. It started to drip yellow liquid, and he slowly rubbed it onto Trace's leg. Surprisingly, it began to regenerate even further, making us all look on in surprise.

"Wow…" Mudsdale said in amazement. Same Mud, same.

"It feels weird, but… comforting, I guess? No pain at all…" Trace said in astonishment.

"That's the beauty of this garden, my friends," Sylvaris smirked as he watched our reactions. "Flowers here hold many properties, healing being one of them."

"Everyone would love to use this to cure sickness and injuries. But knowing you, you'd probably keep it all since we have a tendency to monetize it and make it expensive for the unfortunate," I said.

Sylvaris frowned for a moment. "Very true. Though I do plan to share some of the seeds in the future, just not now because I really don't want Verclan using this for his goons or, worse, his morbid experiments with his filthy paws."

Silence took over the group for a few minutes. We were, of course, exhausted, considering we'd fought against maybe a hundred mons. What a taxing battle. I don't think they'll come back anytime soon since the Sky Garden moves by itself, so its location changes. And despite being a floating island this big, it's surprisingly stealthy and hidden from prying eyes. And yet the goons somehow found it, so that's worrying.

I shook my head in an attempt to shrug off the stress and tension lingering within me. What has my life come to? I wonder… I wonder how my family is doing right now…

Tears formed and began to slowly drip into the ground. Nobody seemed to notice, except one.

"Hey… You okay?" Flamey lightly tapped my elbow.

"I'm fine, just missing my family," I wiped the tears from my face with my paw.

My best friend sympathetically nodded. "Can't imagine what it's like for you. Feeling homesick, Reyes?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I do."

Flamey sat down beside me, his tail flicking idly. "You know," he started, his tone lighter now, "I've always wondered what human society's like. You've talked about it before, but you never go into details. What's it really like? What's so different compared to us mons?"

I chuckled softly, glad for the distraction. "You mons love to fight, right? Humans aren't that different. Except instead of claws and teeth, we argue with words—or settle things in courts. And trust me, court battles can be just as brutal as the physical ones we've been through."

Flamey laughed. "That sounds ridiculous. What's the prize for those kinds of fights? A fancy trophy? Freedom?"

"Sometimes money, sometimes justice, sometimes just petty satisfaction," I replied, smirking. "But honestly? Human society's weird. We're constantly building, innovating, and breaking things. We're obsessed with making life easier, even if it means making it more complicated."

Flamey tilted his head, his ears twitching. "Complicated how?"

"Okay, get this," I said, leaning forward a bit. "We've got these things called cars—big metal machines with wheels to get us from one place to another. Faster than walking, sure, but the downside? They cause traffic. And when there's traffic, we get stuck for hours, yelling at each other out of frustration. It's a vicious cycle."

Flamey burst out laughing. "You're telling me humans willingly trap themselves in those things? For what? A race?"

"Not a race, more like… trying to get to work or home. It's the most infuriating thing." I shook my head, grinning despite myself. "And don't get me started on taxes."

"Taxes?" Flamey raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Humans basically pay the government to let us live, and then the government spends it on stuff. Sometimes important things, like roads or schools, but other times on nonsense, my parents often complained about it."

"Sounds like you guys overthink everything," Flamey teased.

"Oh, we do. Trust me," I said, leaning back with a sigh. "Honestly, though? It's not all bad. We've got music, art, and food. God, I miss human food. Mons have berries and stuff, but we've got entire cuisines—spices, flavors, textures. It's heaven."

"Now you're just making me jealous," Flamey said, mock-pouting.

I laughed and nudged him with my elbow. "Maybe when this is all over, I'll try to recreate something for you. Assuming I can find the right ingredients."

"Deal," he said, grinning.

The mood was lighter now, the heaviness in my chest easing. I glanced over at the massive lotus flower glowing in the distance, its glowing pink aura radiating a sense of mystery. The Sacred Flower. "So, Sylvaris," I called out, "what is this thing, anyway? What's inside it?"

Sylvaris turned to face us, his expression thoughtful. "The truth is… I don't know," he admitted, his voice solemn. "All I know is that it holds incredible power and was created by one of Arceus's children."

"Which one?" Flamey asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Palkia," Sylvaris replied. "The master of space. This flower is one of its creations, but whatever lies inside it is a mystery, even to me. All I can see is the pink orb at its center. Beyond that? Your guess is as good as mine."

I raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you're telling me you've been guarding this thing for who knows how long, and you don't even know what it does?"

Sylvaris sighed. "Its power alone is reason enough to protect it. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could wreak unimaginable havoc."

"Fair point," I conceded, eyeing the gigantic flower. "Still, I can't help but wonder…" I paused, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. "How the hell are they even planning to carry something that big? It's bigger than their blimp!"

Flamey snorted, stifling a laugh. Sylvaris, despite his usual stoic demeanor, cracked a small smile. "That's a good question," he admitted. "Perhaps they think they can extract the orb or uproot the flower entirely. Either way, it's a fool's errand."

"Not if they bring in some ridiculous machine," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "With Verclan's resources, nothing would surprise me at this point."

"Well, we'll be here to stop them," Flamey said confidently, his tail flaring slightly.

I nodded, determination replacing the earlier doubt in my heart. Whatever the Sacred Flower was hiding, we wouldn't let it fall into the wrong hands.

Suddenly, loud sounds of propellers entered our ears. Looking toward the source of the noise, we saw a blimp—our blimp.

"There goes our ticket home, Sylvaris," I said. "Mud, carry Trace, we're heading out."

Flamey waved a paw at Sylvaris. "Thanks for letting us stay here!"

Sylvaris chuckled. "Of course, you are welcome to visit again."

"Am I going to see her again?" Trace said, his tone low and tired.

We all laughed in unison. "Yes, Trace, you're going to see your lover."

"Yeah-yeah," he muttered, too tired to even deny it.

"Got the things packed Reyes!" Mudsdale asked, carrying Trace and our belongings.

The blimp touched the ground and began to open the entrance inside. We saw Captain Pikachu at the entrance, waving at us to get in.

"Let's go see her, everyone," I teased Trace.

"Ugh, someone end me," was all he could muster.

We all laughed again as we went inside the blimp. There goes our mission, now over and a success!

--

Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.

"Ugh," I groaned as the golden rays of sunlight hit my eyes. Another dream, reliving my past experiences… I guess I'm just missing them dearly.

Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.

I groaned heavily in annoyance as I turned off my alarm on my iPhone, set to ring at 10 a.m., and began to rise from my slumber. I checked my phone to see it was 10:04 a.m. Deciding I'd eat first and take a shower later, I headed out.

As I entered the dining room, I saw my dad watching some sports match on the TV. Our dining and living rooms were right next to each other, so I could perfectly see and hear what was happening in both. The kitchen and dining room were practically fused into one space, which was convenient. Dad seemed to be watching a basketball match.

I grabbed a plate and some leftover fried rice from the kitchen, then plopped down at the dining table with a good view of the TV. Dad was glued to the screen, his arms crossed, occasionally muttering something under his breath.

"Who's playing?" I asked, shoveling a spoonful of rice into my mouth.

"Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel," he replied, not taking his eyes off the game. "Fourth quarter, two minutes left. Ginebra's up by one."

I glanced at the screen and saw the score: 89-88 in favor of Barangay Ginebra. Both teams were scrambling up and down the court, the intensity practically radiating off the screen. San Miguel had possession, their point guard weaving through defenders like a damn magician.

"Good pass!" Dad exclaimed as the ball was dished to their center, who immediately went for a hook shot. The ball arced beautifully… and rattled out of the rim. The crowd on-screen erupted in a mix of cheers and groans.

"Sayang!" Dad grunted, shaking his head in frustration.

Ginebra's star player snatched the rebound and bolted down the court. He pulled up just outside the three-point line, and the entire arena seemed to hold its breath. He took the shot, the ball spinning perfectly as it soared toward the hoop.

Swish. Nothing but net.

"YES!" Dad cheered, pumping his fist into the air. "That's what I'm talking about!"

The score ticked up to 92-88, and San Miguel called a timeout with 45 seconds left on the clock. The camera panned across the players on both benches—some looking exhausted, others looking like they were planning the heist of the century.

"You think San Miguel can still pull it off?" I asked, halfway through my plate of rice.

"They need a three-pointer and a miracle," Dad replied, leaning forward. "But you can never count them out. This is where it gets good."

As the timeout ended, San Miguel came back onto the court looking determined. Their shooting guard received the inbound pass, darted around a screen, and launched a quick three. The shot sailed high—and banked in.

"Ha! Told you," Dad said smugly. The score was now 92-91, with only 30 seconds left.

Ginebra had possession again, trying to run down the clock while fending off San Miguel's relentless defense. Their small forward found an opening and drove to the basket, only to get blocked at the last second. San Miguel grabbed the loose ball and called another timeout with 12 seconds to go.

"This is it," Dad muttered, completely absorbed.

San Miguel inbounded the ball one last time, and their star player took control, dribbling at the top of the key. He made a quick crossover, stepped back just beyond the arc, and launched a deep three as the buzzer sounded.

The ball seemed to hang in the air forever.

And then—clank. It hit the rim and bounced out.

The crowd roared as Ginebra's players threw their arms into the air, celebrating the hard-fought victory. Final score: 92-91.

Dad leaned back with a satisfied grin. "Close game, but Ginebra pulled through. That's how it's done."

"Damn, that was intense," I said, finishing the last of my rice.

"See? That's why basketball here's the best," he replied, turning back to the screen to watch the post-game interviews.

I rolled my eyes, heading back to the kitchen to clean my plate. Even though I wasn't as into basketball as my dad, moments like these made me appreciate the passion behind it. People have what they enjoy and whatnot. I wasn't a sports enthusiast like Dad, but I got it.

"Anyway, aren't you supposed to be doing something important, Dad?" I asked curiously.

"We're not needed right now. The unknown dungeon is currently being dealt with by the military, not us," he answered.

"Cool," I said nonchalantly.

Arriving at the sink in the kitchen, I saw multiple unwashed dishes, making me groan in annoyance again. Who the hell ate here earlier to leave so many plates?

Dad seemed to notice my reaction. "Had some visitors earlier, so have fun cleaning them," he said with a wink.

I rolled my eyes at his antics but went ahead and washed the dishes, tidying things up as best I could.

My dad's phone rang suddenly, its shrill tone cutting through the quiet aftermath of the basketball game. He picked it up immediately, frowning as he listened.

"Yes? … What? Are you serious? Alright, I'll check right now."

He hung up and grabbed the remote, switching the channel to the news. The vibrant chaos of the basketball match was replaced by a grim-faced reporter speaking urgently.

"Breaking news: The spatial rift on Mount Everest has expanded significantly in size, sending out a powerful electromagnetic pulse that has left over a hundred million people without electricity. Nepal, India, Tibetan China, and Bhutan are the most affected. Governments of the affected nations are urging everyone to stay calm and avoid panic."

I froze mid-dishwashing, a knot forming in my stomach. The image on the screen showed a massive pink-hued rift tearing through the sky above Everest. It pulsed ominously, its glow casting a surreal light over the surrounding mountains.

"In response, more funding has been approved, and the greatest scientists from around the world have been sent to investigate this alarming phenomenon and work on solutions."

Dad turned to me, his face a mix of curiosity and concern. "Do you happen to know anything about this, son?"

I hesitated, wiping my hands on a dish towel. "No, I really don't… but since the rift is pink, I'm guessing Palkia is behind it. Not sure, though."

"Palkia?"

I sighed, leaning against the counter. "Palkia is a Pokémon that controls space. It's one of three beings credited with creating the universe—well, their universe, to be specific."

"Controls space…" Dad's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "And what about the other two?"

"Dialga is the time counterpart of Palkia," I explained. "It controls time. The third is Giratina, the antithesis of the other two. It represents antimatter. According to Pokémon lore, Giratina caused trouble before, but I'm not sure if it's outright evil." I shrugged. "That's about all I know."

"I see," Dad said, his gaze shifting back to the TV.

The reporter continued, their voice unwavering despite the weight of the news:

"The affected nations are currently prioritizing the restoration of powerlines and maintaining order amidst growing civilian unrest. The United Nations has issued a statement urging people across the globe to remain calm and wait for further updates as scientists and officials work tirelessly on this issue."

I sank into a chair, staring blankly at the screen as my thoughts swirled. The enormity of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. A being capable of manipulating space itself had made its presence known in the worst way possible.

I muttered under my breath, almost too quietly for anyone to hear: "The world might really end…"

"Behold… the… TELEVISION!" my sister, Ruby the Espeon, declared dramatically, striking a pose.

I facepawed at the sight. "You don't have to do that, sis. You look ridiculous."

"Oh, come on, Flamey, have some fun! Your sister may be silly, but she's, like, the smartest on the continent!" Mudsdale said, his voice full of amusement.

"See! Even your friend likes it!" Ruby beamed. "Besides, we're catching up to human technology standards thanks to me, of course."

While Ruby is behind a lot of the technological advances we've made—and reverse-engineering some of the stuff Reyes talked about—her whole act makes me cringe. I always thought geniuses were supposed to be professional, not… well, this.

"Flame, I am not ridiculous!" Ruby huffed, pouting.

"Hey, stop reading my mind!" I shot back, irritated.

Her mischievous grin returned. "Your thoughts were too loud, Flame."

"Whatever. You're still ridiculous," I muttered under my breath.

Just then, a familiar voice chimed in. "Whatever you were thinking, Flamey, I have to disagree with you." I looked behind me to see Trace entering the room.

"Damn it, Trace, not you too."

Trace chuckled and sat down beside me. "Oh, come on, just give her presentations a chance. Besides, like she said, she's like the smartest on the continent. She's doing most of the work for us."

I sighed and lowered my face in mock surrender. "Alright, alright."

Ruby rang a bell from her desk to get our attention. "Alright, boys, the camera from Runner Town should be able to broadcast now! We should be able to watch it on this television I made."

Her tail swished excitedly as she flicked her paw at the screen. A few moments passed before the television buzzed to life, static filling the air. The picture wavered for a second before stabilizing—black and white, grainy, but clear enough to show the bustling streets of Runner Town. Pokémon of all shapes and sizes moved about, some stopping to glance curiously at the camera.

"…It works!" Ruby exclaimed, her voice practically bursting with pride as she clapped her paws together.

I couldn't help but gape. "Dear Arceus, you actually did it! But… where are the colors?"

Ruby shot me an irritated glance. "Flamey, do you even realize how hard it is to reverse-engineer human technology from what little Reyes explained to us?"

Trace chuckled as he sat back, watching the broadcast with interest. "Come on, Flamey, it's still progress. Besides, this is a huge leap for us. We'll catch up eventually."

I sighed, still watching the screen. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Sorry, Ruby."

The screen showed a Charizard landing in the middle of the town square, carrying a small crate. A Furret rushed over to greet them, and they exchanged a few words before the Charizard took off again, flapping its powerful wings.

"See? It's already useful! Imagine the possibilities—news, education, communication. All of it!" Ruby beamed, her eyes practically glowing with determination.

Mudsdale tilted his head, clearly impressed. "I gotta admit, this is pretty neat. Might even help with rescue missions."

Ruby nodded eagerly. "Exactly! This is just the beginning. Soon, we'll have color broadcasts, better designs, maybe even portable versions of these TVs. The possibilities are endless!"

Trace grinned. "Quite the vision, Ruby. Keep it up."

"Damn right I will," Ruby said, practically radiating pride.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. As much as her antics annoyed me, Ruby really was something else. This fuzzy, black-and-white broadcast was just a glimpse of what she could do—and I had to admit, it was progress.

"Human stuff is amazing…" I muttered, unaware that Trace had heard me.

Trace chuckled. "Yeah, it sure is."

I grinned slightly. "Heh, so much has changed in the past two years."

Trace nodded slowly. "True. Thanks to Reyes' 'education,' we've learned a lot about the phenomenon. It's good to know most of our storms weren't caused by Kyogre throwing a tantrum over lack of sacrifices."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, that sounds ridiculous."

"Sorry to interrupt, guys, but I gotta ask something," Mudsdale chimed in. "Trace, how's things with you and your Haxorus mate?"

I could practically smell the teasing in Mudsdale's voice.

Trace's face turned a shade of red. "Uh, pretty great. We'll be having our first hatchling in a month or two."

"Your hatchlings are going to be strong, that's for sure," Ruby added, turning off the television. "Once they hatch, you're going to have so many stories to tell them."

I chuckled. "Yep, they'll definitely look up to you. And look at you! You captured the heart of a strong dragon-type. That's a big deal."

Trace turned even redder. "Okay, okay, stop flattering me…"

"We're just stating the facts, Trace," Mudsdale said with a grin.

"Whatever…" Trace muttered, embarrassed.

"Heh," Ruby snorted. "Since we're on the topic, remember the time Princess Sally used Attract on Reyes?"

"Oh, that popular Sylveon from Eevendell Kingdom? I remember when she was kidnapped by outlaws, and Reyes saved her just before they were about to kill her," Mudsdale recalled.

"Yeah, I think she fell for him after that. And Reyes definitely had some feelings for her."

"Doubt it," I interjected, shaking my head. "Doesn't look like he had any feelings for her."

"Oh trust me, Flame. He definitely hid it well, but not from me."

"Hold on a second, Ruby," I said, narrowing my eyes. "Did you secretly read his mind during that?"

"Heh… Shhh."

"Ruby… You violated his privacy!" I exclaimed.

"Well, at least we know now, Flamey," Trace said, a smirk forming on his face as his earlier embarrassment faded.

We'd been looking for information for a while now, piecing together the news from around the world. As we discussed our next moves, I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to take action. I had this overwhelming sense that I should invite the mysterious young man—or Pokémon—into the guild and form a team with him.

It didn't make sense. There was no logical reason behind it. But my instincts, my gut, were screaming at me to do it. I didn't know why, but I was going to follow my gut. Hopefully we'll be in good ter—

Out of nowhere, a sudden wave of emotions hit me like a freight train, interrupting my train of thoughts. Why was I so pissed? Why did I feel flushed all of a sudden?

"You okay? You've been staring at your cup for a while," my dad asked, looking up from the table.

"Uh… yeah, I'm fine, Dad. Just… pissed off for some reason."

"Your face is also red. Thinking about someone?"

"NO!" I quickly snapped, my voice a little more panicked than I meant.

"Whatever you say, son."

I let out a deep breath and tried to focus. "Let's just get back to the planning, Dad. We've got a lot of work to do."

My dad frowned. "Look, I know we've got a world-ending crisis on our hands, but you've got to take a break. You can't just bury yourself in it."

After a few moments of silence, I realized he was right. "I guess I should check in with Mom and Sis. See how they're doing."

"That's the start," Dad said with a nod, his tone more relaxed.

"Nothing worthy of note in the Eevendell Kingdom. Just the usual outlaws," Trace recalled, his tone casual as he reflected and answered me on his information gathering.

"Huh, seems like things are going great then," Ruby said as she sat down. "They'll have their fruits and love festival tomorrow, so how about we give ourselves a well-deserved break and have some fun!"

Mudsdale nodded in support. "I ain't refusin' that."

Trace and I snorted at the same time. "The reason is because you want to hit on more females," Trace said, clearly teasing, probably as payback.

"No…" Mudsdale muttered, shaking his head.

I couldn't help but chuckle in agreement. "As the team leader, I say we go for it!" I raised my paw in the air.

"The reason you're going for it is to gobble up all the festival food," Trace teased.

I shot him a glare. "I thought you were on my side?"

"I'm on the neutral side," Trace replied, completely unbothered by my reaction.

Ruby smirked. "Me too, and I agree with every word Trace said."

I sighed and threw my paws up in exasperation, not bothering with my sister's antics. "Whatever." Mudsdale muttered something similar, agreeing without much thought.

Just as I was about to complain and think of a comeback about this whole situation, Xerxes busted through the door, looking like he'd just been through a tornado. He was panting hard, his wings slightly drooping.

"Guys! Something bad happened!" Xerxes shouted, his voice dripping with urgency.

"Bad? What happened?" We all asked in unison, our attention snapping to him immediately.

"Sylvaris, he's missing!" Xerxes said, his eyes wide with panic.

Mudsdale blinked. "Sylvaris went missing? When?"

"A few hours ago, apparently. And that's not all…" Xerxes paused, glancing around like he didn't want to share this part. "The sacred flower—according to the mons who reported it to me and the guildmaster—it's now blooming with a weird pink thing, something that looks similar to a time gear."

"Similar to a time gear?" Ruby asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? Never heard of a pink time gear before," Trace added, giving Xerxes a questioning look.

"Neither have I," Xerxes admitted. "But the guildmaster believes it's something else. It looks similar to a time gear, but it has a different use."

"A different use…" I murmured, thinking it over. Something didn't sit right about this. "Hmm, Ruby, can you get us there?"

Ruby froze. "What?! I'm not an Alakazam! That's out of range for me, and I can barely teleport two mons to a far destination!"

Xerxes quickly waved a hand to calm everyone down. "Don't worry, everymon, we've got the blimp ready. Cap is there waiting for you all in the square."

"Alright, everymon, pack up your things. The Festival can wait," I said, my mind already racing ahead to the next step.

"Darn it," Mudsdale muttered, obviously disappointed.

Xerxes raised his head. "Eevendell Kingdom is also aware of this and is sending their own royal team."

I nodded. "Got it." The seriousness of the situation could probably be felt by everymon. The Shaymin, responsible as the guardian of the sky garden, was now located atop Mt. Reyes, which marked the border between the eastern point of Psychisia Kingdom and the north western point of Eevendell Kingdom. Hopefully, there wouldn't be any conflict over this…

This is sudden and worrying. Sylvaris did say the sacred flower contained something powerful. Did anymon or Verclan's goons do something without us knowing? Whatever the case is, Arceus, I hope it's nothing really bad and not a crisis in our paws again.