Connecting to Partners

by zcritic88

A few days after the war against chaos, something stirred in the cosmos once more. What was a mystery prior, is soon to be relieved as a particular boy and his band if misfits get swept up into the on going battle between Light, Dark and the Truth. New bonds will be forged, and older ones will be stronger than before as the conflict takes a turn

1. A Link Between Worlds

This a continuation of the story, Of Keys and Hammers. Either read that story when you get the chance or pick up on the call backs so certain things will make sense. Thank you.

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"Wrwr wrwr." At the melody of a flute, a particular red haired girl was standing on the top of a ruined tower, joining a hearty band she'd call family, as they sealed a cosmic moon shape heart away. Back to a slumber. With a vile old man and the chaos he wrought undone, the girl and two boys she's most closest too, finally had a moment of piece as they returned home to a cozy island. With fond memories of a woman with an aqua blue color to her hair, taking her in as an apprentice, a certain blonde boy to call a brother in arms and a particular, black haired girl that found a place of belonging. The vision turned to that of an ocean with a magnificent light on the horizon, a voice beckoned.

"Thou have accomplished much. You have regained holding over thine life and reached beyond the boundary. Dive with in the limit and see the bond you have with those you've traveled with."

Dip!

The dream changed to that of the girl diving into the water and swimming towards a strange light in the depths. Of a stained glass floor with the image of the girl, complimenting an endless sky and images of those she's most fond with. The descent into this unknown realm was rather quiet and a voice from with in, whispered. "It's calling to us, Kairi." That blue eyed girl, in a one piece, pink and black jacket with purple gloves and purple boots turned her head right and found a blue eyed, blonde girl in a white piece dress, having more of a curiosity than anything. Kairi smirked to her spirit sister. "There's something we need to see, Namine. That calling didn't come from nowhere." The other agreed with that. "Remember who you've traveled with on our journey to safe guard the worlds." She shook her head at a silly memory as Kairi recalled a journey to the very waters she called home. Having a misunderstanding with a fearsome, if loyal and courageous shark known as Sea Fang. Leading to a fateful encounter with a round, aquatic rabbit that made herself the heart of a team of creatures. Alongside a cautious pistol shrimp with a large claw. Finding a wandering, laid back, if wise barnacle. "Sea Fang, Azu, Shooter and Crinoid."

She remembered a funnel like tunnel of light. "Who fell to the sea, trying to get themselves home after saving it from a disaster. Once they knew what was going on, they couldn't stay put. They followed us across the sea, the darkness and even at the peak of madness."

The two were at the edge of the pillar, Namine looked pleased by the answer. "You all didn't know each other for that long, but that bond you shared made it feel like they've always been around. An Azumarril, Clawitzer, Sharpedo and Cradily from who knows where, made a bigger difference than it seemed." Kairi blushed lovingly. "And kept fighting alongside us." The two landed and heard a bubbly chirp, they looked around to find an Azumarril with an explorer bag, swimming lost and confused.

A light from above, whispered. "That bond, had lead that battle to victory and that victory has brought you all to another dream. In a sudden, three glassy stair ways materialize to three distant pillars the right is of a blue will, the left is an enlightening yellow and the middle was of a familiar red that struck a feeling. "Of a world that is tied together in a bond that's grown in time. Beyond the limits of this piece of space."

"Will thou face the unknown? Hand in hand with one another?"

Kairi and Azu walked towards each other and grew curious of the three paths, Namine put fingers under her chin in thought. "Interesting." She approached the yellow path. "Which way you go isn't going to matter too much, they're all connected in someway." Kairi found that bold and extend her hand. "Namine, remember where these dreams can take you." PEW! In her hand was a flowery, key like sword of an Embraced Destiny. Namine huffed in a pout. "I'm aware, what is shown might be something that is looking for a fight."

She focused an illusion and formed a similar looking sword, more akin to a linking Forgotten Chain. "But this will do in the dream." Azu puffed her cheeks, crossed her arms and gave up wanting to argue. "Is that going to be needed here?" Kairi focused and had a handle appear on her back, she placed her blade on it. "It might. Don't ever let your guard down when you know you're in a strange place."

The Azumarril shrugged in agreement and hurried to the blue path. "If you do, you're going to be mugged." Kairi giggled and hurried alongside the rabbit, while Namine took a step on the yellow path. The moment the red head and her partner stepped on the blue, it turned into something of a slide and caused them to slip in a fast ride, across a curve to the blue glowing platform. The two flipped a landing and caught sight of what looked to be a twin tailed, blue pixie that is taking shape. Showing a large, canine beast with a metal beak, keeping a stand as a young girl jumped off his back. The girl had blonde hair, two pig tails, green eyes and clothes mostly of red, blue and gray. Complimented with a baseball cap. Azu was completely bewildered as Kairi looked down to find the glass floor resembling that girl, having a smirk of courage and the back drop of a tropical realm.

Surrounded by images of strange creatures and a duo of humans. The girl whistled to her. "I saw those eyes! When you got a battle you won't walk away from, you push on until you learn something!" She stepped forward as the canine gave a distinct glow of electrical yellow. "Face off against the claws of Silvally and show me that will!"

Kairi was seeing the girl wasn't having a weapon, though Azu was ready to take the fight to the canine. She gave a charge and a battle cry as the strange girl ordered. "Multi attack!" The Silvally's claws sparkled as he charged for a fast claw. Knocking Azu to the side, the rabbit's attack was halted and she was seeing red. Kairi cringed. "That thing's fast! Try jetting around and getting at him from the flank!" The Azumarril shook off something that should have knocked her out and jet to the back side, ever closer as the Silvally turned around and raised a claw. Kairi ordered. "Roll back!" Azu did so to avoid the attack. "And get him!" The Azumarril lunged at the Silvally and played roughly, the Silvally took a step back, circled around and gave another swipe. The rabbit rolled a dodge and jetted above before flipping with ice in her fist and punch down at the foe.

PEW!

On the impact, the Silvally spirited to his partner, who petted him proudly and smiled at the duo. They gave off that glow into that strange pixie form which has a red gem like glow that complimented two to the side. "Things are going to get tough again, but if your friends have that kind of will power, then nothing's going to overcome you for long." The pixie disappeared and left behind a pillar of blue light. The ladies took a step in and found themselves back to the main platform.

At the yellow path.

Namine had a more cautious approach and found something that made her heart leap, a familiar looking glass Jellyfish that had a hue of yellow and looked to be wandering. The girl readied her blade as a feminine voice whispered. "Unable to find one's way; not knowing of ones whereabouts." Namine turned an eye to a shape of a brainy looking pixie that took the form of a girl in a hair bun and a shade of glasses. She had a blue vest with black clothes, oddly her eyes were closed shut. "Veeeeee?"

Namine heard the sound of the jellyfish that noticed her, looked like it wanted to approach. It noticed the sword and went backwards to disappear. Namine had a realization. "So, this alien is lost?" The girl nodded and hurried to what looked to be tall grass. Namine had a look to the glass floor, thinking about what to do, she saw the image of that girl, keeping calm to what ever was before her. Having a back drop of a white deck overlooking a sea to some islands and having the image of strange creatures and even a particular boy. She conjured a strap for her back and put the sword away, in a sudden, a warm pastry appeared in her hand.

!

She approached the center and found in the corner of the eye, that jellyfish materializing. Tilting it's bell in curiosity and slowly approaching. That danger spiked and the dreamer looked down to a plate. Somewhere for a treat to be placed in. Namine inserted the food and took a step back. The alien went to the treat and picked it up to stuff into what can assume is a mouth, that girl returned with another treat and a pink ball. She opened it to show an electrical mouse that hovered mid air and used his own tail as a surf board. "Safety! You want safety?"

The jellyfish paused to realize what that meant and jingled backwards, the girl use a sleigh of hands to show a ball that is more matching to the funnel of a wormhole. The Raichu had a welcoming smile and Namine took a deep breath. "Okay, I think I'm getting it. This jellyfish was lost and far away from home, not knowing any better other than she could be in danger. Someone who can figure that out, won't end up getting attacked." Glimmer! The image turned yellow and merged to that pixie with the three red gems. "The knowledge of where they're coming from, could turn a potential enemy, into a friend. When they know you don't mean harm, they will look upon you as a guiding hand and show their true colors." PEW! The pixie left behind a rift. "Then you will know what to do."

PEW!

Namine found herself at the central platform, where Kairi and Azu had an experience of their own. The spirit sister noticed she had to put her blade away. "Didn't find anything that was going to attack you either?" The blonde girl shook her head. "Thankfully, it was a familiar jellyfish that was lost." Azu eeked. "One of them again?!"

Kairi hurried to hold her by the hand as Namine assured the Azumarril. "It was more interested in trying to find safety and found someone willing to give it a home." Azu raised a brow. "A strange person was there to stop that fight?" Kairi guessed. "We found someone who was wanting a play fight or something. Until we found a way to beat them." She approached the final path. "So, where does this lead?" She lead the first step into an ascent, it caused her feet to hover and gave her the power to glide, with Azu and Namine following to a curved path of a pink light. A voice of a young boy echo'd. "All you need is to understand what the other is feeling and you become a pair."

They heard an applause from somewhere. "It will captivate others towards that splendor and guide them towards that familiar path. Making each moment a splendor in itself." The ladies landed on the platform and found a familiar backdrop of a tropical land. Showing a young, blonde boy embracing a red capsule and having familiar surroundings to the pig tailed girl. Before them was a glow of a twin tailed pixie in a pink glow, taking the form of a young, green eyed, blonde boy with short tousled hair. He was in quite the dashing, white and purple suit. By him was a large, purple feline with a chubby looking head and a blue gem. The feline rubbed against the boy and was petted in kind, Azu raised a brow. "Woah! Who knew this kind of Persian would be that nice."

The Persian took that as a compliment and approached with a sly voice. "Why else wouldn't I be? Until the show goes on and we use that play to rile up those emotions!" The boy aimed a hand to the ladies. "Show us that you can make something beautiful together, put every feeling into that stunt and shine against our bond!"

The Persian sprinted after the Azumarril and delivered a fake out before back flipping and whispering. "If you lot can even dream to compete!" Azu took that as an insult. "Why I oughta!" Kairi put a hand over the Azumarril's head. "Easy, that's just a parting shot!" She ordered fast. "Jet around for an ice punch and play rough!"

The Azumarril did so and tackled the Persian with an icy fist, the feline grappled the rabbit and flipped for a pile drive of foul play. "Catch that landing!" Azu held to the ground, kicked the Persian away into a flip and tackled for rough play. The Persian gave a meow and back flipped in dark jealousy, making an inferno. "Protect yourself with that screen!"

Azu braced herself as the flame washed around her for a light blaze. She rushed at the Persian who was completely off guard and finished the play with a play rough beat down. Surprising the boy as the feline was kicked to his side, the Persian caught himself as the boy put a hand to his cheek as an applause went to the victors. "Ah man!" The Persian smirked in defeat, kept an air of mischief and nodded gracefully. The two images shined in light and merged into that pixie. "Even the most unlikely of friends, share that feeling that forges into bonds. It can change you into someone better, than you would alone." The ladies had an agreement with that and Azu approached the pixie calmly. "You should have seen Sea Fang when he was a Carvanha!"

The spirit gave a silent giggle, shined three red gems and left behind a pink light. The tree took the light back to the platform and found something standing at the end. A crystal like gate with a yellow symbol. Of an inner halo reaching out in an x pattern and forming two distinct curves. The three children appeared before the gate, with the boy reaching for the handle. That voice returned ever proud. "Your friends are waiting for you, out in the bigger realm. Seeketh them and the greatest treasure of all will await thee!" The boy opened the gate towards a golden light, inviting the ladies to venture onward.

As the light glimmered to orange, Kairi found herself awake. In a well kept, purple walled bed room with a collection of books, supplies for personal comfort and a night stand with a group photo of her and her friends, along with a star shaped good luck charm. She felt her heart racing and was in a one piece set of purple pajamas, enough of a nerve to get up and head to a closet. As she was at the door way, a voice asked. "Since when was the last time we had a dream like that?" Kairi shifted her eyes to Namine, who was sitting on the bed. "We haven't had something like that in weeks!" She brought out a certain set of clothes that matched what she uses both day to day and in that dream. "Think we should go find Azu and say good morning to the boys?" Namine pressed her fingers together, had a sly smile that matched with the glimmer of a rising morning and approved. "I'm sure they'll figure this one out with us. What I don't get is... who were those three?"

At an early afternoon in a particular bamboo garden on a tropical island.

A particular trio of children had a meeting. A blonde girl with dual pony tail, green eyes and clothes that match the red and blue. A blonde boy with short tousled hair, casual wears of purple and a trilby hat, with matching facial features and green eyes. And a blonde girl who's hair was tied in a bun, had brown eyes behind a set of glasses and a blue vest complimenting black clothes, they arrived in a wide space over a pond. The energetic girl with the pony tails had a picnic set up. "Thank you for coming along, Poppy. Me and Leon were hoping you'd say yes to this catch up."

The brother waved meekly. "Alola Cous, I know you were having to wait for that acceptance letter from that Ranger Union!" The cousin crossed her arms and pressed her glasses in place. "I didn't want you or Daphne to think I'd disappear that easily. Not until you're up to date on Maka."

She showed a dusk ball as Daphne brought out a fast ball and Leon a dream ball. "So far, he's been a major help for Father and those at Aether Paradise. Between the research as a way to compare him to his cousin and managing the rowdier pokemon at the dex." She opened the ball to let out a Galarian Articuno that stretched his wings, crossed them and hovered in place before descending down to be side to side. Maka preened a little in a reserved attitude as Daphne felt like little changed beyond keeping the bird well exercised. "As for us, I've been keeping Wawae trained up for that shot at the Alolan league. In case I need to switch him for Hakakā." She opened the ball to let out an Galarian Zapdos that sprinted out and let loose some adrenaline. Looking around to realize there's only the fellow bird. He stomped and cawed. (Is this another challenge for me?)

The Articuno might have rolled his eyes and purred something dismissing as Daphne insist. "We're just having a chat. It's been a while since you and your brothers really had a chance to hang." The Zapdos listened and ohed as Maka gave a gesture to Leon. Who blushed in pride. "Well, it's taken a while, but ever since I trained Pō for that Grand Festival, he's been a lot less skittish around Kaipo and the others."

He twirled in style. "Check him out!" Fling! Out of a puff of pink, came the black Moltres with scarlet flames, twirling to the air and giving a dramatic pose while showing off a glimmering, rainbow colored ribbon with a golden trimming and tethers of yellow. He cawed dramatically and caused Wawae to take a step back and Maka to pause like he seen something outrageous. The Moltres flew towards his partner and chirped something childish. (People were cheering for my power, instead of cowering before it!)

Daphne and Poppy saw the ribbon as proof, the sister recalled. "Yeah, once you made the set up for that Fiery Wrath, there wasn't a lot that could compete with it! All you needed was a coach to channel out some of those vibes!"

Leon gave a wide, dorky smile as Pō encouraged his brothers. (Give that a try sometime and they'll know our power without consequence!) Wawae looked over to Daphne, who didn't look like the type who would be a show girl, as Maka bluntly refused. (I think I'll pass. Not when there are more important matters to tend to.)

The Moltres gave a light flap and a growl, Leon put a hand to his leg. "Be nice, sometimes a pokemon and their trainer take on a different carrier. It's just their own way to remembering who they are." The Moltres grunted in protest. (I am being nice!)

He sighed in defeat and flapped back as Poppy had an estimate. "Regardless of what is typical, I'd say-" She smiled. "This is a net improvement from how they were. With some time and discipline, this will be another closed report for those agents to worry about."

Daphne was relieved at that. "Thank goodness!" She looked to Wawae. "I guess the next big step is finding a way for us all to have fun in a way that doesn't involve constantly battling. Hakakā and Uha might want to join in on this idea I got." The Zapdos was eager to hear as Poppy shared another report. "Maybe if they have a partner to match that power, it can help them understand the balance between them and a more regular pokemon. You've kept up to date on what the Foundation has to say about your findings?" Leon recalled. "That someone might've picked up a lead and is willing to pass along a few reports?" Poppy approached closely. "And a friend is setting up an interview and everything. You and Daphne might lead to some data that will keep Father busy for a while." Blink!

The Zapdos flapped his wings to guess. (Worthier opponents?!) Maka looked to his brother and raised a wing. (There might! There's speak of powerful pokemon that look similar to a local and could match to our power! We don't know if it is certain or not though.)

Pō was completely at a loss of what to expect as Leon noticed a ripple of light by the tower. "Hey, over there." The band turned to see that light. Daphne covered her mouth. "Oh boy, I think that's a-" Ripple!

At the sudden, the light burst into an Ultra Wormhole with a strange shadowy funnel. The three readied beast balls and signaled the birds to back away. Leon answered the Moltres's question. "If they look anything like the pokemon in the pictures and are incredibly strong, then we can add some of that technique to our stunts. They might be harder to manage, but it's nothing a veteran won't be able to guide. Just be ready for what ever faller is on the way. Because I'm getting bad vibes."

The Moltres was envisioning some powerful pokemon that would compliment his dark storm and flapped in glee while Maka was having a shiver and Wawae was noticing. He tensed as the shadows fed to the ground and distorted into what looked like black insects. Leon had a Dex give a scan and had nothing on the read. It wasn't until the shadows made their way to Pō and emerge, that the band saw twitching creatures of yellow eyes emerge enmass and made an attack on the dark bird that leaped an ascent. Leon had a pause as Daphne cringed. "Hoo boy, these things are attacking on sight! Wawae, rush at them with a brave bird!" Poppy followed with an order to Maka. "And air cutter as many as you can!"

The Zapdos tacked a mass of the increasing swarm as the Articuno blew sharp air that caused the creatures to disolve. Another mass forced its way out of the rift and formed globes of orbs that gave a flash back to a previous assault on the region. Leon looked up to the Moltres that is realizing those things are after him. "I don't know about these monsters either, but flatten them with your fiery wrath!" The Moltres nodded, gave a caw and channeled a dark energy that made the orbs band together as a mass of dark tentacles with pink tips. FLAP! The dark inferno blew against the mass and scorched them into mist, leaving behind a cluster that merged into something that sparked a memory of a trial, a dark, humanoid giant with purple and white aura. Having tentacle like hair and a heart shapped hole. Something the boy gasped in horror at. "A Doom beast?! You mean to tell me that Mimikyu was dreaming about something that was real?!"

The giant looked upon the Moltres that gave him a glare in the eyes and charged up energy in the chest. Firing at the Zapdos and the Articuno that especially made the heed to avoid that. The monster reached a clawed had at the Moltres that manuvered around and thought of something violent in intent, doing more to distract it while Daphne recalled. "Mimikyu... that Totem Pokemon at the old shop? Didn't the spirits get a bit weird on you?" Leon tapped his cranium. "Yeah and that thing was part of the illusion! It got stomped when me and Pueo use a Z Move and follow with a shadow sneak finisher."

He and Poppy had an instant ding. The boy went for his bag and bright out an icium z. "Poppy, you can borrow this!" Fling! The cousin caught it as the boy hurried to change a crystal out for a firium z. "Come on, we got to give this thing some Z Power, all of them combined ought to do it!" Daphne was seeing an out break of the smaller shadows making a rush for her family and used a heal ball to unleash a Ribombee. "Ola'ola, keep that distracted for a while! Quiver dance and dazzle away!"

The bee fly spun out and is seeing the pure chaos that is ensuing. She gave a dance as ordered while Daphne readied an electrium z. The creatures emerged for a mass pounce and were quickly obliterated by the gleam. Poppy crossed her arms and gave a pose like a rising icicle. "Maka, use that chill you have and freeze that giant solid in a Sub Zero Slammer!" She shined in a light that fed into the Articuno that gave a cold glare at the Doom Beast as Daphne crossed her arms and made a pose like a Z. "Wawae, rush him a good zap with that Gigavolt Havoc!" PEW! Leon placed the fire type Z Crystal into his bracelet and gave a pose of a rising flame. "And we're blast him to smithereens in an Inferno Overdrive!"

PEW!

The combined light rushed into the three birds and caused the Doom Beast to halt it's attack, as if it had a realization of terror. The Moltres laughed proudly as he opened his maw and formed a fire ball, Maka flew to the air and formed a chill in his eyes as Wawae crackled into a great bolt of electricity. The fliers fired a combo of a glaciating beam and a mighty inferno as the Zapdos rushed after the Doom Beast's upper chest and jabbed a beak, causing a reaction that made it ripple with the wormhole and break apart. It reached for the Zapdos that back flipped and grabbed a hold, Wawae gave a vicious kick as Pō dived after the hand in an aura of his wrath and obliterated the arm while the Doom Beast disappeared.

Wawae was flung away as the wormhole begun to draw in, the Moltres tried flying away and was caught in the suction. Leon eeked, tried calling Pō into his ball with a simple beam, only for that to not do much. The Poppy ordered. "Maka, pull Pō out of there! That wormholes going crazy!" The Articuno used a glow of psychic power and tried to mentally yank against a suction that was still drawing the frantic bird in.

Leon cringed. "Hoo boy!" He sprinted after the Moltres and aimed the ball once more. "Pō, get back in here!" The beam made contact against the suction and did more to draw the boy towards the bird. Leon lost his footing against the suction and held on to Pō, who was flapping in desperation. Daphne was trying to find something in her bag and watched the two of them make a roll straight into the rift. The Moltres gave another burst of an aura as he and the boy were in the horizon and used a burst of power to blast the wormhole shut.

Daphne nearly dropped her bag and cringed. "OOOOOOH NO! She had a ding of an idea. "I got it!" She used a page to call upon a Charizard. "I know someone who can help me follow them! Poppy, go find Daddy, STAT!" Swoop! Wawae realized he was left behind and followed on foot as Maka let Poppy get on his back. "Good grief."

BURST! BURST! CRASH!

Before they knew it, Leon and Pō were shielding one another against the distorting lights and found themselves in a swirl of night and faint lights. They crashed to what felt like the pavement of a town and were in a complete daze. Leon rolled off of the Galarian Moltres and was on his side, disoriented while the bird flipped to his legs, flapped to the air and gave a haunting caw, bringing out that sinister aura. Leon woke up fast in a cringe. "ER! Pō!" He was hearing distant questions and aimed the dream ball. "Get back in here, those things can see that!" The Moltres was called back fast and Leon was trying to access where he is, some town under night and stars. Coincidentally, it was in a vacant cu-de-sac surrounded by simple buildings that are expected in a particular region. He put the dream ball away and readied for something in his pocket while a rough, feminine voice called. "There it is!" The voice stopped. "Wait, what's a kid doing over there?!"

Leon eeked and turned, bringing out a Hatterene. "Get away right now!" The witch like creature felt a lot of distress and looked upon a blue feminine, horse like lizard with a pink mane. On her back was a small, orange fur creature with a green sac like hat with a star. The witch sensed complete confusion in the two of them and raised her tentacle like hair as the furry creature was mystified. "How does he do that?" He jumped off and approached. "Excuse, me ma'am! Do you and your friend need a moment?"

The Hatterene lowered her upper eye lids. (What do you think?) The lizard had her hands to her hips in response to her companion. "Wander, that kid just sent her out with a ball in his pocket! Of course they're going to need it!" The Hatterene sighed, turned to her trainer and let him know. "Hat." (They're fine!)

Leon regained some sense and tilt his head to the duo. Realizing. "...Oh, well you don't look anything like those Doom monsters." He took a deep breath and kept to his companions side. "Sorry about that, once you get hurled across a Wormhole, it's kind of fight or flight. But if Kilokilo figures out you're not about to hurt us, then I guess I can breath."

He looked to the furry creature. "Is Wander really your name?" The creature took off his hat and gave a gracious bow. "Sure am!" He pointed a thumb to his grouchy looking steed. "And this is my trusty pal, Sylvia." The Hatterene gave a wave to the duo as Leon asked. "Names Leon and this is Kilokilo, my Hatterene." He asked. "Now, could you mind telling us, where are we? Where's where and anyone who has any idea on what any of this is?" Sylvia smacked herself in the face. "Hoo boy! Kid, I got bad news for ya!"

Flap! Flap! Squawk!

In a sudden, a large creature with the upper body and talons of an eagle, with the lower half of a lion, swooped down with a human looking woman in a knights helmet. The bird was sensing something amiss and landed by, letting his rider off. "Wander, Sylvia, did you find where that squawking was coming from?" Wander stared blankly as Sylvia mentally counted down, Leon ohed nervously. "S...sorry about that! Let me start from my end."

He coughed roughly. "Me, my sister and my cousin were minding our business in a place called Alola. Giving each other a report on these three powerful birds we've acquired a while back, when some Ultra Wormhole... or a light funnel, opened up with some strange black Doom Beasts... as I call them. They tried attacking us, and targeted my Moltres, Pō. We figured out how to blast them to kingdom come, but one thing lead to another to where Pō was caught in a reaction of a closing wormhole. I tried rescuing him and well... we landed all the way here. He's in a very, very bad mood and was definitely going to attack anything we thought was with those monsters."

The woman put together what the Doom Beasts are. "Some Heartless outbreak tried to sneak into a world to make trouble?!" Leon opened his mouth at the word worlds and the woman realize he's getting more confused. "I'm guessing, Pō's a magical beast or something that you were able to dismiss. Where is he?"

Leon showed the dream ball. "In here. I keep my pokemon in balls like these, for safe traveling. I'm also guessing you don't know what Alola or what Kilokilo is either?" The woman wasn't going to provoke something with a foul temper. "Nope, but I'm thinking I know someone who might help. What kind of place is Alola anyways?"

Leon answered fondly and homesick. "A collection of tropical islands that make up a region. Can you point me the way Miss..." The woman introduced herself. "Wanda. Mayor, Wanda." She looked to her steed, who is seeing that Kilokilo is not intending to be a threat. "That's my companion, Stalwing. A Gryphon from a realm that's stranger than yours." Then directed to her cohorts. "And these are some of the towns good doers that help keep the peace." She went for her pocket. "Wander, Sylvia, I think the word, Island, gave me an idea. You mind being that escort? I don't want something setting off these lads before we get a clearer picture." The two didn't and Wander gasped. "Hey, maybe the folks at those Islands can help!" Sylvia snapped her fingers. "Hey, that could work!"

Leon held Kilokilo's tentacle hand and let her hover in a follow. "That would be most appreciated. You mind telling me who I ought to look for?" Wanda had Stalwing take flight and lead through a busy looking street. "It's not sounding like much, but it's some kids that are a tad bigger than you and look older too. You mind telling me what your friend tends to do?"

Leon looked over to the charmed Hatterene. "As my friend or as a Pokemon? She and five others keep by me while we travel the region together and have some adventures. A Pokemon is both a companion and a handy battle partner, who can do all kinds of things if someone knows what to say. Kilokilo is a pokemon known as Hatterene, a slow pokemon with the typing... or attribute of psychic and fairy."

Sylvia guessed. "Psychic... you mean like reading minds or making things levitate?" Leon nodded. "That and more. While fairy is something you find in stories where something magical glimmers around... or plays cute while beating you up." Kilokilo gave a mischievous smile as a way to tease as Leon continued. "We call those attributes a type and each of the 18 have one you can spot. They come in all kinds of combinations, so some aren't always obvious. Take for instance... normal. They either look mundane or unpredictable, but can access moves and abilities that are just outside the box. From a simple tackle to faking you out or shouting a hyper voice."

Wanda guessed. "An everyday person who has access to simple but effective things. Like an angry farmer who picks up working tools when they get raided." Leon nodded. "Or picks up a tool of a different element to get by. Normal type pokemon often have access to all kinds of moves from the different types." That made quite some sense and Sylvia ohed. "So that's why you said, unpredictable. They can look weird and be called normal if you can't figure out the other types. My buddies hat can bring out all kinds of things if you ask it." Leon raise a finger and moved it left to right in a metronome. "That's using a move that can be any move you wouldn't expect." The band found themselves at a train station and Wanda brought out a ticket. "Here we are, you'll need this to access the train way." She gave the boy the strange color slip. "Just sit in there until you see some tropics out of the window. You'll figure out the rest from there."

Leon obtained the train ticket. "Thank you." The Mayor smiled proudly. "If they don't solve this problem in less than a day, then that would mean you'll need more help. But I'm thinking, with what you're talking about, they'll know what to do as soon as possible."

Wander might be misinterpreting somethings said as Sylvia knew. "It's probably going to make sense eventually. But at least we get what you're talking about." Leon didn't mind. "I wasn't expecting to get that far! But as long as we find something we can understand, then we can communicate better." He gave a wave. "I might be back here, pretty soon. Tell the locals that noise isn't a problem now." The band made that promise and watched the duo make for the station. Out of hearing, Wander admitted. "Seems like a smart kid." Wanda agreed to that. "If there's anyone who can talk on his level, it's definitely those three over at the Isles. We'll wait until we have that report back and see if we can be of a better help. So let's make this our patrol after we let Resira know, nothing worse than keeping her waiting." Sylvia shivered. "I don't want to see that look on her face anytime soon."

At the Train

Leon and Kilokilo were allowed a seat and waited until it was time to take off. The boy was relieved of his luck and was given an embrace of hair from his partner, Kilokilo rubbed his head in affection while the boy resembles something of a burrito. "I don't get what's going on either. Daphne's quick to think and act, she'll be getting help eventually."

Toot!

The boy closed his eyes and let the sound of train tracks calm him down. Like a distant memory of a family trip to the Galar region. Kilokilo looked out the window and to see the movement out of town, eventually finding it going in a ripple in between a star glow. She eeped and tapped Leon to get him to notice. The boy opened his eyes and is seeing that effect. "Whu?!"

He freed himself and looked around to see the train going by something of a ripple, before turning around and giving the Hatterene a shrug. "That's just going to raise more questions, but at least we're going the right way." Ripple! The two turned to the sound and found traces of a sandy shore of somewhere under a morning sun. Very familiar grounds that gave quite the hope. "Okay, really going the right way." The Hatterene agreed with that as the train was making it's stop to the station. The duo took off to the sandy beach of a shore line town that has a handful of islands nearby. One in particular, resembles a club house.

The two were completely confuse at where to go and Leon took a deep breath of salty air that reminds him of home. "Haa! Now this is somewhere we can travel. Now, what is a popular place for people to go to when at the tropics?"

Kilokilo snickered and hovered towards the beach, close by the island with the club houses. Leon followed in a stroll and giggled. "I know, Kilokilo, it's very obvious where we should go. But if we approach uninvited this early in the morning, then we can forget about finding our help. We just gotta get into an intersection and we'll be fine."

The duo made it to the shore without much hassle, Leon brought out a net ball and brought out a Swampert that was waking up. He noticed unfamiliar lands and gave a sniff. The boy pat him on the back. "I know Mahi Mahi, this isn't Alola. Something happened and we've somewhere across Ultra Space or something. We just need to make enough of an impression and someone a bit older than us will come around to ask." The Swampert hmmed and raised a brow. He was seeing the boy was stressed and went to the muddy sand to dig something, something deep enough to splash in. In a sudden, something splashed and squeaked in surprise. "Azu?!" The Hatterene and Swampert turned around to something that swam from the club house area.

An Azumarril with a carrying bag. The two gasped pleased while Leon turned around to something of delight. "An Azumarril!" He gave a quiet cheer. "Yesssssss!" He giggled to his partners. "If that means there are pokemon here, then we can talk to someone that much easier!"

The Azumarril could tell the three are lost and leaped out of the water, puffing her chest and giving a cherry vow. (Never fear, Team Seafarers are here to lend a hand!) The Hatterene clapped in glee as Mahi Mahi smiled and gave a deep grunt. He sensed a vibration and looked left, Leon followed that sense fo direction and spotted a teenage girl with red hair, in a one piece pink dress that complimented a set of purple gloves and purple boots. The girl asked in confusion. "Azu, what are you doing?"

The Azumarril cheered. (Kairi!) Leon's eyes gleamed at who is clearly the Azumarril's trainer, pressed his hands side to side and rose them up to wave them like a rainbow. "Alola!" The girl noticed the boy hanging out with strange creatures and waved. "Hey ya, you look like a couple of strangers around here." Leon stood up politely in apology. "Sorry if we stick out, we got lost through a wormhole after fighting back some weird monsters. Can you help me figure out where I am?" The girl blinked for a moment and had attention at the term wormhole and especially more at the term monsters, she started at the less confusing detail. "A wormhole?! Does it look like a funnel with a bunch of cracks?"

The boy let her know she was correct. "Those things can take you to places you wouldn't even imagine and are dangerous as a result." The teenager is surprised, took a deep breath and lowered her hands to blow out stress. "That's how Azu and the others got stuck here in the first place. These islands haven't had visitors like them until a couple weeks ago." That answer caused Leon to realize. "Ah man! Azu's a faller too?! So that means no one around here knows about what I'm talking about?"

The teenager crossed her arms, not pleased that she wasn't much of a help there. "No one but me and my closest friends have any idea who or what they are." She and Azu passed a smile, willing to help anyways. "But when the worlds needed help, they can count on these Seafarers to get the job done. So, what do you know about these pokemon? How are you able to manage?"

The boy readied a poke ball, eager to explain. "Well that's easy. I came from a world where people and Pokemon live together. Some of us taken a calling to become Pokemon Trainers and fight along side them." He opened it and brought out a man sized owl with a leafy hood. Resembling an archer, the owl was half asleep and woke up to the rising sun and unfamiliar territory. He flapped and hooted in astonishment as the boy continued. "Together, we find ways to explore the unknown world and see what there is to see. Some pokemon are brought up to be companions at home, while others are trained for the battles we find."

He looked to his trusty Decidueye. "Pueo, Mahi Mahi and Kilokilo are just a few of the friends I have with me and we have some experience under our belts. The names Leon and who might you be?" The girl hmmed in thought. "That would explain why Azu and the others are strong fighters." Azu looked at the balls in complete confusion. (The balls are new, but it can't be any weirder than how we traveled a while ago.)

The Hatterene giggled as the Swampert grunted. (Then it looks like you really found a good one. You'll know about that real soon.) The girl answered the other question. "Just call me Kairi, and your name?" The boy answered gladly. "Leon, Leon Sun." The girl had that memorized. "Glad you said that, because there's a guy we know that's another Leon." The boy quickly puffed his cheeks. "Oh drat! Of all the things I could be away from-" He stopped himself. "there's a famous Champion I know of with that name. Like... really famous. Use to be unbeatable until he got beaten, you don't boast about that with nothing."

He went back to the topic and rummaged his bag. "Before I get ahead of myself. What ever happened, was enough to make the two of you really close. Enough that you've fought together." He found a dive ball. "There it is!" He pulled it out and saw the girl's eyes gleam. "That's pretty impressive to do, especially since you didn't have this with you." He tossed her the ball and kept silent at an idea, Kairi looked to the ball and swallowed in silence. "Wha...what is this?" Leon showed a delighted smile. "It's a kind of poke ball, it's a device you use to catch pokemon and make them yours to train." He gestured to a ball that a water type would consider an ideal home. "Just throw one at any pokemon that wants to test you and you'll see what I mean."

Azu jumped, took a step back and gestured in refusal, a request the girl respected while putting the ball into her pocket. "That's not needed around here." Leon was oddly charmed. "I'd figured as much."

The girl put a hand under her cheek and tapped her fingers, growing silent from something concerning. Leon worried he took a step too far and asked. "So... what goes on around here anyways?" The girl breathed out, looking glad of one thing. "You missed out on an ugly war that broke out around here. This island and the neighboring worlds got dragged into Chaos by an evil man and some psychos that wanted to make everything burn."

Leon and his companions were startled, the boy woahed. "Sheesh, that's got to have been frightful. Also this is the second time I've heard worlds?" The girl looked over to the train station, thinking on how to explain that mystery. "Places that aren't like this one and have rules in how things flow. Connected through the bond they have with one another and for some, by that train way our friends built."

Leon and his party turned at the impressive feat. "So that explains who those people looked different." Kairi added to the knowledge. "Me and my friends are on a task to keep the worlds defended from those who want to ruin it. Whether it be evil people or those monsters that tried to attack your world." She was quite impressed by an implication. "They didn't count on you and your partners being ready to fight back like how the rest of us try to do."

Leon had a new worry. "But my relatives saw me and Pō fall into that wormhole. They're going to have to find out how that attack happened in the first place and whether or not I'm even okay." He snapped his fingers to an idea. "You know what those monsters are and I have a hunch they're weak to a lot of things, especially something with a little dazzle" He half dropped his eye lids. "if you know what I mean." Kairi guessed. "Some light?" She nodded cool. "Some light? Yeah, that would work against those. It takes a strong will to fight the heartless back, but only a power of the Light can put them down for good."

She focused her right hand and conjured a flowery, key like sword. Leon and his band were completely astonished, with Kilokilo covering her mouth and nearly speaking profanity. (Holy-) Kairi lowered the sword in style. "Like one of these, a Keyblade holds a great power over the heart and let's out the Light we wield." Leon's mouth was akin to an o and he was caught off guard by a sudden splash and a bark. "Shar!" The boy turned fast to see the missile like shark. "Eek! A Sharpedo!"

Kairi and Azu found the arrival convenient, the girl requested. "Nice timing, Sea Fang, we got a kid that needs to get his feet straight." She got on the Sharpedo's back and hang on to the fin like one a sail as Azu went into the water, Leon put a few things together and squeed. "You've actually made friends with one of these!?" His eyes glistened as Azu dipped into the water and sighed, Kairi leaned by the fin and smiled proudly. "It's a long story, but Seafang's proof that just because you look scary, doesn't mean that you're mean. Me and my friends need to know what's going on before we help you get back home."

She tilt her head to the island that Leon was observing, the boy got up and readied two balls. "Pueo, Kilokilo, come back in!" Pew! The two pokemon were brought in by beam and the Swampert crawled to the water, letting the boy on. Leon hanged by the back and was quite proud of his display. "You can say that Alolan trainers are use to surfing around, but I suppose a sailing will have to do."

Kairi caught interest in a particular word. "Alolan?" Leon gave that greeting. "Alola! It's a region I was born and raised in. Sections of the big world that have all kinds of mysteries and pokemon to hide. It won't take long before we figure this place out."

BZZT!

Out of Leon's bag, was a phone with an orange film and set of blue eyes. The boy saw the text. "What happened?" and explained to his companion. "That's what we're going to figure out, Rotom. Get this recorded." He asked his escort. "So tell me a bit more about yourself and your friends. They got to be cool too." Kairi was flattered, yet didn't know where to begin. "That's going to take all morning, but Sora ought to have that wake up call." She giggled with an idea of a prank. "He likes to sleep in and now's a very good time to be waking up."

At a shack on the island.

Snoring away on a hammock, without a care in the world, was a boy with brown spikey hair, a black shirt, a black pair of pants with red straps. Put on a make shift desk was a set of black gloves with yellow straps, a black jacket with red Velcro and bellow it was set of yellow shows with black toe caps. The sun light readied to hit at his eyes when it was blocked by a vague, owl shaped figure. The owl was looking sleepy eyed from an adventure in a jungle.

Yawn!

He looked around for something and heard a hum, directing him to the boy with hair that could do for a quick nest. The owl glided over to the desk, hopped without making a noise and jumped to the head of the bed, he put his head close to the hair to feel something rather soft and turned his back to lean. At the sudden, the boy was stirring from the gaze of the light and yawned. The owl nearly fell over, ascended to a ledge and saw the boy sit up. With a quick glide, the owl landed on the head and was quite cozy. He positioned himself to not damage anything and closed his eyes for a nap, right as the sleepy eyed boy rubbed. He didn't notice anything off and reached for his jacket. "*Yawn* Early daylight. So early."

At the shore of the island.

Leon was guided along to a bent tree that resembles something of a hang out spot, with three stones raised up and shrubbery that serve as seating. The boy and his Swampert looked around to a place that would make a perfect secret base. "This place really is a club house!" Kairi nodded to that as Sea Fang swam by the shore and noticed someone resting by the tree. He gave a sharp bark and woke up a Clawitzer that was using a nearby water trap as a bed and a Cradily that was curled up under the tree. He wiggled and hummed a good morning, noticing the new arrivals and waking up more alert. "Cra?" (Who are the new guys?)

The Clawitzer gave a stretch and notice the strange boy giving a close approach, analyzing them with glee and a tad of envy, by him was a watchful Swampert that is envious of the spot and smirked. (Nice place.) Kairi kept a close watch and went on the topic about that particular spot. "Me, Sora and a guy named Riku hang out here all the time."

Leon ahaed. "So, if we give them time, they'll be here really soon." He asked as Mahi Mahi crawled close and asked if he could observe the hang out spot. "If Clawitzer and Cradily were apart of the Seafarers, then we'll have just about everyone present. How did you bring these four around off world?" Kairi recalled a particular charm she used and tried to think of how to explain that as she was distracted by the Swampert catching interest in something that the Clawitzer and Cradily explained. Azu joined in to explain something that quickly gained the mudfishes trust. Splash! Sea Fang splashed to the shore, noticing a wrist band on the Swampert, giving a glow of a stone. Mahi Mahi noticed the head band on the Sharpedo and his eyes gleamed, explaining a particular moment he obtained that.

The water types were caught up in a conversation and the Cradily noticed the two humans and waddled close. (Kairi, you made a new friend?) The girl had a pout of worry. "Kind of, he and his friends got caught in a mess and we need to figure out what we're going to do." She introduced the boy to the two pokemon. "Leon, this is Crinoid."

She gestured to the Clawitzer. "And this is Shooter!" The boy was quite charmed. "Nice nicknames." He brought out the heal ball and two poke balls. "These are the ones I'll let out." Fling! Pop! Out came the Hatterene, Decidueye and a big crab with white fur all over the body and claws that resemble giant fists. "Everyone, these are the Seafarers." The Hatterene waved charmed while the Decidueye noticed the grass type and purred a hello. The crab noticed Mahi Mahi flexing to show off and scuttled over with excitement. "Crab, crab!"

The Azumarril noticed the large size, aimed a hand and commanded him to stop. The fighter halted and asked something of the Swampert, who gave an explanation that excited him. He begun his introduction. "You've met Kilokilo and Mahi Mahi. They're among the pokemon I've captured on my big adventure across Alola." He gestured to the Decidueye "Pueo is a Decidueye and is my trusty starter." and to the crab. "And that is K'ui, the second pokemon I've captured and is a Crabominable."

Kairi could guess by the name. "Is it a good idea to bring something with that name here?" Leon didn't mind. "As long as I don't have him out for too long. There's certain spots on Alola where ice pokemon love to be in. He and Mahi Mahi are training buddies."

He showed two particular balls, an odd blue one and a pink ball. "I'll let these guys out once I'm sure it's going to be okay. Pilikia is a pokemon you all need to know about and Pō's in a bad mood since we got dragged into all this."

Kairi raised her hands to her face and waved them in sympathy. "If he was a pokemon that was getting attacked by the heartless and got yanked across home with you, I'll bet he was going to protect you and himself from thsoe monsters." Leon appreciated the understanding. "And that could have made things worse." The girl recalled. "These guys were on the same page when they fell out of that wormhole. I thought Seafang was something else and we almost had a fight. Azu broke that up and explained what was happening."

Leon shivered. "Being a Faller is pretty scary business, you have no idea where you'll end up and at best you'll just end up lost or fighting for your life at worst." The Cradily bobbed his head in agreement as the boy perked to the one positive"It's good that someone on the other side, found out what was going on and helped them when it was needed."

Kilokilo sensed something and faced a particular direction while Azu's ears twitched and she turned a similar direction. Finding something that made the two of them giggle. "*Yawn!* The two humans heard that and noticed someone approaching from a nearby shack, a sleeveless teenage boy with blue eyes and brown spikey hair, having his jacket on one hand like he was in a hurry to try and wake up. He rubbed sand out of his eyes. "M-morning."

He noticed the new arrivals in half a second and in the other, Kairi and Leon noticed the oddity on top of his head. A light brown barn owl with a leafy, bow tie on its chest, sleeping away in the morning sun. Crinoid and Pueo noticed the owl with astonishment while Shooter and the others noticed. The Clawitzer bubbled something bluntly as Azu had a smile that warned the boy about something. Leon was in amazement while Kairi was trying not to laugh and brought a phone to take a picture. "Morning Sora!"

The teenager stood blankly as Kairi took a fast picture. He reached up and felt something soft and feathery, it made a purr. Leon politely advised while the older boy that picked the Owl out and was having a look. "When the Rowlet's come napping, you always make sure there's a nest for them. Or they'll find the strangest places to sleep on." The Rowlet woke up and saw a confused, blank staring boy. The two gave a yelp, with Sora letting both his jacket and the Rowlet go. The owl was sent flying with the jacket and fell backwards, leaving the gap open for the bird to land in. The owl didn't want to wake up and fell asleep once more. It be rude to wake him up, even if getting that jacket back was a priority.

The older boy blushed as Kairi closed in to give him a quick kiss on the lips. Smooch! "Morning Sora, glad you got up this early." Sora was definitely awake and gave Kairi a fast smooch. "Heh! I'm getting the hang of that." He noticed the new boy and waved. "Howdy! Do you know what's going on." Leon shrugged in defeat. "I wish I do. How long was that Rowlet here?" Azu shrugged. (First time I've seen him.)

The youngster realize on a second inspection. "He looks young too." Kairi gave Sora the blunt of what has happened. "This kid fell into one of those wormholes we've heard about, while protecting his world and got lost before someone suggested he comes around here. He's got a hunch at what Azu and the others are, at least." Sora huhed as Leon nodded. "Among other things. I think I'm a little caught up as to why these guys are here." He gave a small flex. "So now we need to figure this mystery out and see if we can't uncover the Ultra Wormhole before my folks really worry."

There was a detail Kairi wished to know. "First things first, what causes them to open in the first place?" Leon put fingers under his chin. "They tend to open when the energies of Ultra Space intermingles and makes a chain reaction. It's pretty random, but they always open in places with a whole lot of that energy, a light that we call Z Power. Only a few pokemon have the power to open and control those things. If we can't make contact with them, we're kind of in the dark."

The word, light, was enough for the teenagers to put something together, Leon saw they were still quite lost. "If you see a lion made of Sunlight or a bat made out of Moonlight, those are the pokemon." He gasped to a detail her nearly forgot about. "Oh and be on the look out if they have some black prisms or if you spot anything looking like a Blinding-" Blip, Kairi had a message on her phone and perked. "Looks like we're going to be in for another one soon. Once Riku gets here, we can share the word to the others."

Sora found that a wise plan, carefully lifted the jacket with the Rowlet and took a seat at the center of the tree, seeing the Swampert make way with the strange looking crab. He figured the misfits are with the boy and placed the jacket on his lap as he asked. "So, what's your name?" The boy introduced. "Names Leon, absolutely no relations as I'm informed. Mahi Mahi and K'ui are just a few of my pals." He directed to the Hatterene and Decidueye. "Kilokilo, Pueo-" The Hatterene gave a mellow hello as the Decidueye was having a case of deja vu with the Rowlet. Sora had a look at the two owls and nearly jumped. "That's a full grown Rowlet?!"

The youngster corrected him. "You're not wrong. but a Rowlet at this stage is called a Decidueye. When certain pokemon reach a point in growth, they sometimes evolve into a different pokemon altogether." The teenagers woaed as the boy contemplated sharing more knowledge, Pueo was about to doze off when he noticed a raft sailing by. An older teenager with silver hair, a white vest with highlights of yellow, blue jeans and a matching beanie of white with yellow as a high light, was waving jolly. "Hey!" The band had a look to find the boy making his arrival with a far jump in style. He had a closer look to find the weird misfits and Sora having a Rowlet using a jacket as a carry strap. He blinked in complete bewilderment, rested his right hand to his hip and asked. "What am I suppose to be looking at?" Leon guessed. "Some meeting, names Leon. I'm guessing you're Riku?"

Sora advised to his friend. "If you'd listen, we'll figure out what we're suppose to do." Kairi raised two fingers and squinted her eyes to look serious. "Every option we got right now is beyond our reach. So we got to brain storm." Riku sighed and went to take a seat by the base of the tree, Kairi took the end curving upward and picked up Azu. The oldest boy looked over to the youngster taking a seat by his Swampert and asked. "Catch me up on what you told and shown these two and start from the beginning." Leon nodded and recalled. "Alright. It all happened when me and my relatives were sharing a report on some pokemon we've rescued a couple months ago and on an exploration project we had in mind. We were going to wait for an update when-"

At a forest, bellow a collection of great mountains.

Something of training session was about to begin. A woman with short blue hair, a sleeveless black top complimented by an x pattern pink strap, white cloth at the arms, waistline and a set of grey boots, had a dark blue keyblade in preparation. Before her was a girl with short black hair and was in a grey shirt that was under a black vest, complimented by a pair of blue jeans with black belt straps around the legs and side pockets. The girl readied a key blade resembling a twilight ocean and tensed as the mentor explained. "I'm aware you have the experience Xion, but I still wish to see how skilled you actually are. Try to keep up!"

The girl smirked. "I'm all ready, Master Aqua." The teacher glided in the blink of light and unleashed point blank magical missiles, Xion rolled left and countered with a great swing. Aqua gave a parry and was off guard by the sheer strength, she back flipped and fired glowing snowflakes. Xion activated a barrier and hurled a lightning bolt for a counter attack, Aqua flipped out of the way and channeled a crystal aura upon her blade. Xion let loose a battle cry and sprinted with the agility of a wolf. Aqua leaped over Xion and fired a light barrage of crystal arrows, dealing some damage as the girl turned, smashed her blade and made an eruption of geysers. Sending Aqua back by a foot, she glided right and flung a crystal arrow, the girl flowed to the trees and disappeared, bringing the teacher into the defense.

Rustle! Rustle!

Aqua caught a glimmer of light going for a nearby tree and watched Xion leap out with a sea shell bow with an electrical string. Spring! Aqua leaped above the rapidly launched stream of lightning bolts and sprouted icy wings, she unleashed a prismatic barrage of frosty crystals that Xion dived down and sprinted to avoid, making a roll as the mentor brought about a large prismatic arrow.

Xion turned fast as the mentor crystalized her blade and rushed at her, giving a fast pace collision before unleashing a pulse that sent the girl into a back flip. The two were in a sweat and they lowered their blades, Aqua phewed. "Not bad. You could use some finesse, but that will come in time." Xion dusted herself and gave a dorky smile. "I still got a lot to relearn, before then?"

The mentor nodded and recalled. "Everything you've learned were tricks that were handed down by your fellow Guardians, if not from your seniors. Ken's had that problem before when he thrown away all his short cuts and reached for the real skills he needed." The girl felt some enlightenment on what she has to refine. "Speaking of which, where has he and your friends gone?" Aqua recalled a fast call with one of her journeyman students. "He and Ven should be showing Terra around that Twilit Town as a way to get him to socialize more with the worlds. That could take most of the morning and we're just at the day break."

At the mention of day, something of a sunny brightness glimmered above, Xion looked up to see something burst into a comet of orange sunlight. Heading straight to a mountain with a castle. Aqua had the moment to notice a funnel of light that made it's way to the sky. The girl let her mentor know. "Uh oh." She sprinted towards the mountain as Aqua realize where the comet was going and followed.

Above

Daphne was riding on top of a white lion of light, the girl was wearing a particular, white uniform with details of blue, completed with a helmet. She used her set of visors to ward off the flashing light and had them raise to get a better look at the world bellow, one of trees, mountains and a castle. She pat the lion on the back and had her Rotom Phone give an estimate of light years. "Nice work ramming through those monsters, Solgaleo! That trial lead us straight here!"

The Solgaleo turned his head half way, showing an cranium resembling a swirl of cosmic stars and giving a proud smile before facing onward. Daphne noticed the big castle that has an up keep and pointed onward. It's got to be a place for locals to be living in. At least those who have an idea of any wormholes. The Solgaleo slowed his landing and caused a ripple, Daphne noticed a stranger in a black coat, having his hand on a gate. The stranger turned alarmingly fast and Daphne didn't quite notice as she jumped off in style. She took off her helmet and shook her pony tails to get a better breeze. "Phew! Sorry about the sudden arrival. Me and Solgaleo are in a hurry to find someone." The hooded stranger looked upon the girl then at the lion who was staring at him and squinting his eyes inquisitively.

He raised a fist in annoyance. "Didn't your parents tell you not to land on somebodies property?!" The Solgaleo snorted something deep, Daphne turned an eye to him, quickly realized what was happening and had a hand in her pocket. "Yeah, I think manners can wait for a while." She faced the man and pointed a thumb to the lion. "My buddy can sense emotions, ya know."

Solgaleo heard a fast heart beat and grunted to the girl, she was exactly on the mark of the suspicious behavior. A deep voice whispered into her mind. "He isn't suppose to be here either." Daphne brought out a heal ball right as the man raised a hand and backed away. "Easy, easy. I'm just dropping by to get something of mine fixed, so how about you be some good kids and-" Out of thin air and in a crackle darkness, he brought about a busted sword with a goat face on the hilt and fired at the Solgaleo.

The Lion jumped out of the way as the man rushed after the girl, ready to strike her down, Daphne hurled the ball at his head and caused him to tilt back. The girl stepped back as the ball rolled back and brought about a Morpeko. "Lil' Marn, let's get this looney!" The man had a moment to hear a squeak "peko!" and look down at the rodent, he nearly burst to laughing and snapped his fingers. "You think that's going to do anything?! You're dumber than I th-" Daphne barked. "Fake him out give a parting shot!" The Morpeko rushed after him for a fast clap and back flipped, turning into a darker, hangrier form. The Morpeko cursed. "Pek u!" And was called into the ball. Daphne and Solgaleo quickly noticed a group of humanoid creatures with familiar antenna and yellow eyes, emerging from the shadows. The girl used the chance and let out her Incineroar. "Keahi, intimidate!"

The man regained some vision and saw a large, bipedal, red tiger with a fiery belt. Giving a roar and crossing his arms menacingly. The man was feeling weak in the legs. "This can't be happening already." The Solgaleo looked at the monsters approaching, shined a third eye and let loose a burst of sun light that vaporized them on the spot. The man stepped back and fired wild projectiles at the Incineroar that gave a few stinging blows, but did little to worsen moral. Daphne gave a spin. "Fake him out and lairat!"

The Incineroar flipped to the mans face, gave a clap and twirled into a twister of dark fire, smacking him away from the gate. The man rolled and minded a foot step before warping to the girls side and firing. Solgaleo blocked the shot with a paw, Daphne gave a roll and crossed her Z Power Ring, crouching like a looming beast. "You done it now! You've stepped in the ring, son!" She radiated light that rushed into the Incineroar. "Give him the Malicious Moonsault!"

PEW!

The Incineroar radiated a strong aura that brought the man to teleporting out of sight and to an upper right, trying to get a clear aim at both the Solgaleo and the girl. The lion stood in the way and took the shots as the Incineroar noticed the man warping to get over a pillar and fire at him. The heel smirked, dashed left and right in a roll and Daphne ordered. "Solgaleo, stop him right there!"

The lion gave off a strange roar that caught the man in a psychic hold, long enough for Keahi to leap at the pillar, grab the man and toss him to the ground. Daphne raised a finger on each hand and cheered. "Moonsault, moonsault!" The Incineroar leaped above the man and rolled into a fire ball, the stranger was shaking off the sudden grip and had enough time to see the cat slamming at him and causing a burst of flames.

The Incineroar flipped over to the girl who heard a furious growl. "You little-" The trainer ducked a bolt that was aimed for her head and spun a fast kick to a leg, causing the man to hiss out in pain and leave him laying to the ground. Daphne and the felines stepped away at a battle that was won, the girl had a sweat as the Incineroar growled. (And stay down!)

The stranger cringed at something and looked around, finding something in particular that is at the sky, a glowing hole that the band came from. He aimed the sword and caused a beam to charge up. Daphne and Keahi stood there unaware as the Solgaleo realized what it was aimed for. PEW! The beam shot past the group and the girl had a moment turn and see what it was aimed at, it made contact with the wormhole and caused to burst a halo through the sky and causing various wormholes to open up. She realized what that is and was mortified. "AHHHH!" She turned fast. "Are you crazy?! That's way too many wormholes!" The scumbag laughed at her and disappeared in darkness. "Ha, good luck explaining this mess to the guards here, missy!"

He was gone and the three looked around, finding a bull headed, black haired teenager charging to the scene, with an older blue haired woman keeping behind. The girl's blue eyes looked completely astonished and she asked the visitors. "What the heck did that guy do?!" The older woman suggested the girl calmed down and addressed to the explorer. "Kid, do you know what that man was holding?"

Daphne shook her head. "Some broken sword that shoots stuff! Hoo boy!" She tried to fan herself from the stressful moments colliding, looked over to the wormholes and was given a pat on the shoulder by Keahi. The Solgaleo looked a tad nervous and gave a small bark to the girl. Letting her know these people can be trusted, Daphne pushed onward with that knowledge. "He's just caused an mass outbreak of these things after getting busted for trying to break in that castle. That's going to be bad if something falls out around here."

She had an idea and asked the ladies. "Hey, if your the real owners of that castle, then maybe you can help. Do you got a minute to listen?" The lady of blue could tell by the look in Daphne's eyes, that she was sincere, she looked to the nervous Solgaleo and thought out loud. "That man could still be around, but we're on to him, now that you blown his cover." She asked her companion. "Xion, lock the door to the Forge and I'll set a ward to keep him from trying that again."

Xion nodded and hurried to the gate, her superior approached and offered to let the visitors in. "What's your name kid and who are your friends?" Daphne was charmed by how quickly she was given permission and signaled that the Solgaleo waits outside. "Just call me Daphne, the big guy here is Solgaleo. Who helped me get a lead in a rescue mission while my cousin and my parents get ready. He's one of my Mom's." The Solgaleo snorted an apology and looked up to the sky once more, seeing the wormholes closing up on their own. Daphne pointed a thumb to the rather mellowed out Incineroar. "This is Keahi, my Incineroar and trusty partner. He's a lot nicer than he looks."

The Incineroar waved to the blue eyed woman who was intrigued. "That explains why you arrived in a blaze. It's a good thing you all came when you did, that man's a wanted crook." Daphne phewed as the gate opened. "Yeah, I figured that much out. I think I can explain this, if we all look away from this for a while." She and Keahi had a nervous smile they tried hiding, the woman could tell by the hesitation. "This is a big one that you haven't dealt with before." She put a hand to her chest and smiled in grace. "Just call me Aqua, I'm considered the Lord of this Land."

The Solgaleo grunted and flew to the castle as a way to perch as Daphne hurried on in. Once the doors were closed, she asked. "Aqua, we've been looking for a kid that fell into a wormhole because of some wacko yellow eyed monsters. Do you got a way to spread the word?" The Lady of the Land nodded and brought out a phone. "It might not seemed like it, but there's a whole network around here. Did those monsters look like anything that wacko has used?"

Back on the Isles.

Leon finished a recap that left Riku completely baffled and speechless. "And then when we stepped off to the islands, we met Azu and mistook Kairi for a pokemon trainer." He took a deep breath and showed off the beast ball and the dream ball. "But uncommon as it is, not every pokemon like being in something like this. So we had to introduce ourselves another way. Pō and Pilikia are to be kept in here for now."

He showed the dream ball. "Pō is just not in the mood and you don't want a pokemon like a Moltres to be set off." and the beast ball. "while Pilikia will spook some of the locals." The older boy pressed his fingers together. "I see. Do you got a way to show us what these two look like?"

Leon nodded and had his phone show a dex log, starting with the purple, draconic wasp. "Naganadel: The Poison Pin Pokemon: Poison/Dragon. One kind of Ultra Beast, it fires a glowing, venomous liquid from its needles. This liquid is also immensely adhesive. It stores hundreds of liters of poisonous liquid inside its body."

Riku asked on the instant. "What the heck is an Ultra Beast?" Leon raised a pinkie. "A type of Pokemon that lives in a place known as Ultra Space. They look strange, come from worlds that are just as and sometimes fall into a wormhole and end up somewhere else. That's when they can be at their most dangerous. Dex, if you could show them Moltres."

The Dex gave a blink and showed an orange bird with wings of flame. "Moltres is a category known as a Legendary Pokemon. Very rare and incredibly powerful." "Blip! Blip!" The trio had a read. "Moltres! The Flame Pokemon. A Fire-Flying type. There are stories of this Pokémon using its radiant, flame-cloaked wings to light up paths for those lost in the mountains." The boy explained. "There's a cousin from the region of Galar, that takes the name because of the close similarity." He spun a finger and had the Dex show the darker looking variant. Riku widen his eyes as Sora cringed. "Hoo boy." "Galarian Moltres! The Malevolent Pokemon! A Dark-Flying type. The sinister aura that blazes like molten fire around this Pokémon is what inspired the name Moltres."

The spikey haired boy sighed. "It's no wonder the Heartless went after him, just how mean is this bird?" Leon tensed, raised a finger and took a deep breath. "For starters, he likes to show off a lot and express that power in a spectacle. That much, you blame on me. Because I introduced him to Contests that are all about that spectacle. His power, will wear you down and he isn't afraid to make a point. But that is also why bad people went after him and his brothers, they hurt him in ways-" he pressed his lips together. "I don't wish to talk about. It's only been recently, that he started opening up to the others, especially to one other that helped me introduce him to Contests as a way to recover." He groaned. "I wish I have Kaipo with me right now. He'd help clear this misunderstanding."

The trio looked to each other, wondering about the details as the boy promised. "I definitely made the right call to call him back, because even if he's just trying to defend himself... that could have ended badly for the both of us. I'll let him out when I feel like it's a good time."

Kairi took a deep breath and looked to the Sharpedo and Cradily, recalling her own reasons to keep them hidden. "I get that. Someone would assume the worst out of Seafang and Crinoid, just by their looks. Never even trying to get to know them first." That much, Riku agrees with, he readied a phone and concluded. "This looks like a good excuse to get the gang back together. Once they know what's going on, helps going to come."

Leon calmed down as Azu felt something off and looked around, she noticed a distant light in the horizon and covered her mouth. (Oh that's not good!) Ripple! Sora and Pueo turned around to see a funnel of light appearing above the island in a curve. Sea Fang dipped into the water and jetted around to have a look, finding a funnel appearing right over the town. He returned in a splash and barked at the astonished group. (Wormholes showing up!)

Pueo readied an arrow as Riku was completely blank and asked. "What are those and why are we in danger?" Leon cringed and readied Pilikia's ball. "Those are Ultra Wormholes and a lot of them. If they stay open for too long, we can have just about anything drop off, from Fallers to the Ultra Beasts I've talked about. Who knows what they'll do around here." He looked to Sora and Kairi in particular, putting the dream ball away and going for his bag. "We need to go see what's going to come out and catch any pokemon that gets lost. Sora, Riku, do you have those key swords as well?"

The boys demonstrated, with Sora bringing about a sword resembling a skeleton key and Riku bringing out something with angelic and demonic wings. Leon cringed. "That's what I'm afraid of. They'll be handy if you got to defend yourself, but these pokemon would just get more scared if you run after them with those. We need to try something else."

He found what he was looking for, brought out a collection of the strange balls and a poke ball. "Sora, catch!" Fling! The spikey haired boy caught a pokeball as the Rowlet was trying to stay asleep. Kairi blinked at the complication. "Wait, what are we suppose to do about this?"

Leon readied a mass call back, to demonstrate how easy it is to store a pokemon away. "The only way to capture a pokemon is to weaken it enough for one of these balls to capture them. If not, use a ball that's really good at capturing them. Sometimes both." He directed to the Seafarers that were confused about their friends disappearing. "That's what your pokemon are there for, unless you can sneak a ball where they're not looking."

He jumped and pointed at the Rowlet, giving a quick shout that caught Sora off guard. "Hurry, catch that Rowlet!" The owl was woken up by the surprise and started flying off, especially when the phone blew a whistle. Sora was completely lost at the moment, aimed a throw at the Rowlet's back and tossed it, causing a glimmer of a bonk as the ball opened and caused the bird to envelope into energy. It went into the ball that gave a flip to the ground and shook.

Shake...shake...shake... click!

Kairi and the Seafarers caught on to what happened and weren't amused. "Come on, that isn't cool." Leon smiled and raised a finger. "It wasn't, buuuut Sora's got a buddy now." He requested as the trees gave a light shake. "Pick it up and let the Rowlet out, if things get dangerous for him, you can keep him somewhere safe."

Sora was dumbfounded and focused more on getting the bird out, picking up the ball and aiming it, causing it to open and let out a bird that turned in a flap and gave an angry hoot. (Hey, what was that for?) Sora shrugged. "Beats me! But this means we can handle what ever is on the island." He smirked with a one armed flex. "Stick with me and I'll let you know if I need some help." Flicker! Flicker! As sudden as it was, the Ultra Wormholes closed up, the sense of danger lessen as Leon aimed a beast ball and called out. "Pilikia, we got some rescuing to do!"

Pop!

Out of the ball came a Naganadel that was larger than expected, giving a playful spin and giving a giggle like shriek. The Ultra beast looked around in confusion of the new faces as Kairi guessed. "He can help us sense if any Ultra Beasts or fallers are nearby?" Leon nodded. "Yep! He can pick up that residual energy that comes from being exposed to those wormholes. Most Ultra Beast see that as a way back home, if one is close by, Pilikia can pick up on that as quickly as they can pick up on me."

He presented the half a dozen empty beast balls along with a variety of pokeballs. "You're also going to need these. Use the Beasts Balls for anything that's shining in the kind of light the Wormholes give off, if everything else isn't obvious enough. Beast balls are the only kind that works on an Ultra Beast. If you find any other pokemon, use any other ball that fits. Dive balls work well for pokemon that are in the water. Quick balls are good if you want the capture over with and net balls are good for water and bug pokemon. Great balls and Ultra balls simply work better than the regular balls."

The boys considered that helpful advise as Sora went to get his jacket. Leon looked over to the closest to a trainer and advised. "If you see anything that looks like a bunch of live wires or thin as paper, do not get into a fight with them. Azu and the others would just get hurt and that would only make the Ultra Beasts that much more dangerous."

The girl heeded that as Leon focused on the boys getting ready and taking what they need. "As for you guys, focus on catching any pokemon that might be roughed up. Pilikia and I can handle most of the Ultra Beasts ourselves." He had the Naganadel lower himself and got on his back for a fast flight. Riku had a connection of common sense and pleaded in protest. "Come on, we fought scarier things than a bunch of smart animals. Are we seriously going to change how we approach this?"

Sora crossed his arms to his friend. "Come on, the kid's got a point. How would any of us feel if we get attacked on the spot when we get lost in some new world?" That was something Kairi raised her hand to. "We're going to have to hold back a bit, but anything that isn't a pokemon is fair game."

Leon looked over to the high tree and had Pilikia take flight. "If any of those monsters try to attack the Pokemon, then you should let loose. That ought to be handled as soon as possible." Riku shrugged. "Now that sounds more like a plan that can work." Leon nodded as he had Pilikia fly to the shrubbery of the tree, leaving the oldest boy to give the order. "Kairi, you and the Seafarers check out that sea. Sora, go check the island while that kid is distracted and bail him out if he gets into trouble. I'll go check that town."

The Destiny Trio gave each other a fist bump and took off, Kairi got on Seafang, Riku headed to the raft and Sora was left with a Rowlet that is tilting his head side ways, puzzled by the day. The boy tilt his head in agreement. "I don't know either. But if someone's lost over here, we need to guide them back." He dismissed his blade, dusted the sand off his jacket and put it on, he stretched an arm to invite the bird a perch. The Rowlet nodded and flew over for a hop, giving a confident purr as the boy headed over to the small jungle.