Chapter 6 – The Orb

"Ugh, what a weird dream," Owen mumbled. He rubbed his eyes; he still ached. He must have jumped improperly to avoid that Psychic attack and bruised himself.

Wait. If he ached, then that wasn't a dream, was it?

Owen chanted to himself, "Not crazy. Not crazy. Not crazy."

"Eh?" Gahi said, peeking out from his sand pit. "What're yeh mumblin'?"

"N-nothing," Owen said. "I think I just had a weird dream. That's all."

"Well, have 'em some other night," Gahi said. The Trapinch clicked his jaws. "…I don't smell breakfast."

"Does Rhys usually make it? Wait, you can smell? Where's your nose?"

"How should I know?"

Owen squinted. "…Let's just check the kitchen."

The kitchen had food on the table—a simple fruit salad, cold and not as easy to smell—and a note from Rhys saying that he had gone to speak with Anam, and to stay at home until he returned.

"Wait!" Owen said. "That's right! There was an Espurr that was trying to take the orb last night! I remember!"

"Eh?"

"What's going on?" Demitri rubbed his eyes as he wobbled out of his room with Mispy. For some reason, he seemed sore. "Are you talking about last night? I think I had a dream of Rhys whisper-yelling. He sounded angry."

Owen nodded incessantly. "Last night, while you guys were asleep, I think I woke up and saw a weird Pokémon enter Rhys' room. She tried to, like, get the glowing orb while Rhys was asleep!"

"Did she?"

"No, but she nearly twisted me to shreds with a crazy-strong Psychic attack. I think it was even stronger than Nevren's!"

"How d'you know how strong Nevren's is?"

"Oh, um—" Owen rubbed the back of his head. "Uhh… I read about it?"

"Wait, hang on," Demitri said. "An Espurr? That isn't even fully evolved. Why is it so strong?"

"The weird thing about that is that she kinda glowed, too. The same way the orb did, and the cave did." And the mushrooms did…

A sudden silence filled the kitchen. Realization washed over them.

"He left the orb alone!" Owen said. "Right? Did he?"

Forgetting about breakfast, the quartet rushed into Rhys' room. It was the first time Owen had a good look at it in the sunlight that bled into the shallow cave. There was a simple bed of leaves to the left corner of the room and a solid stone desk to the right. A strange stash of Pecha Berries was piled under the desk. Owen saw a small piece of parchment lodged inside the pile of berries in the shape of a heart. At first, Owen thought it was from Anam and his saccharine taste in themed shapes, but somehow, that didn't feel correct.

Artifacts ranging from shiny to dusty lined three shelves in a half-circle around the room. Owen only recognized a few of them: an Everstone in the far right, which Owen subconsciously inched away from; something that looked like a prototype Badge, lumpy and bronze; something that looked like one of Nevren's zany inventions, some metallic bracelet; and what looked like an old, faded edition of the Book of Mew.

The final item gave Owen pause. "Huh. Didn't peg Rhys as a Mew sort of person," he mumbled under his breath. "Seemed more like the Arceus type." His eyes continued to trail along the other books lining the shelves. There was even a book that didn't seem to have text on it at all. His gaze lingered on that book for a while before something else caught his eye.

And there it was, that pale green orb. Perhaps Rhys had forgotten about the orb in his rush to see Anam. For whatever reason, the orb was there, its glow significantly fainter against the morning sun peering through the cave's entrance.

Owen squinted, suspicious. Rhys wasn't the sort to be careless. Demitri mentioned an argument, perhaps after he had been put to sleep. Arguing with who? The mist? The orb itself? Maybe Owen wasn't the only crazy one.

That voice—was it the mist?—told Owen to touch the orb. But should he listen to that mist or Rhys?

And sometimes, Rhys is an idiot, Owen recalled. Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi wandered the room, looking for a way up. Mispy's vines were too short to reach on their own, and it was hard to pick someone like her up to begin with. She always did seem heavier than the average Chikorita—though, Owen had a feeling if he said that aloud, he'd face the wrath of her Solar Beam.

"But it's still so high…" Demitri lamented.

Vines wrapped around his abdomen.

"N-no way! I can't do it!" Demitri's legs were already shaking uncontrollably.

Gahi chittered in disapproval. "Aw, c'mon, it's barely that high."

"I just can't do it." Demitri shook his head, little feet trembling in the air. "I—I mean, it's… it's just too high up!"

Mispy eyed Owen, sizing him up.

"What?" the Charmander asked.

Mispy brought two vines forward, wrapping around him.

"U-uhh—yes?"

Mispy lifted Owen. "Hmm. Half." She glanced at Demitri. She had a much easier time lifting Owen in the air.

"Well, ain't that something," Gahi said. "Owen, y'were the piece we needed, eh? Okay. Let's go an' lift 'im!"

Mispy nodded, but then nodded at Demitri. He went up to the wall and held his tiny arms against it; Gahi got behind Mispy and pushed his head beneath her. Using Gahi's front as a platform, she climbed onto Demitri's back, awkwardly maneuvering until her chest and forelegs wrapped around his head.

"W-w-wait!" Owen said. "Wait! What are we doing? M-move slower!" Was this it? He didn't expect his wish to touch the sphere would be granted in this way. He had been mapping the room in his head, looking for shelves to hop and Rhys' various knickknacks and books to use as footholds. Owen normally wouldn't disrespect a book by using it as a stepping stone, but it could have been a necessary evil.

"We're gonna grab that orb and take a look at it!" Gahi declared.

"O-oh, okay. But—but it wasn't my idea, okay?! I need to make a good first impression with Rhys, and I don't want him thinking I'm some—some delinquent!"

Gahi grumbled, "With vocab like that, I ain't gonna feel too worried 'bout that."

"And with a vocabulary like yours," Demitri said, "Rhys will probably think it was your idea."

Owen hoped that his parents wouldn't be upset if they found out. But then again—they didn't even show up for his acceptance of the Heart position! Maybe a little rebellion was warranted. Yeah, that was a good excuse.

Up close, the orb seemed bigger—he wouldn't be able to hold it with just one of his tiny hands. He saw what looked like a clump of grass swaying in the wind inside it. He'd need to grab it by both sides; it was almost half the size of his head. He saw little, flowing lights swirling around the grass.

"Just a little more, Mispy!" Owen called down. "I can get it!"

Mispy obliged, straining her vines. "Almost?!"

"Almost… got it…!" Owen took a break to let Mispy drift him closer, relaxing his arms. Then, he reached out one last time, feeling that Mispy was at her limit. He knew it, now—he could grab the orb! Owen reached out. "Okay, I—" Contact.

A blue light pulsed from his arms all through his scales, shining out of the ridges. Owen felt like a vapor, then suddenly oppressively solid, like he'd never properly had flesh and blood until just that moment.

And now, it was being taken away.

"O-Owen? Is it heavy?" Demitri called.

Owen felt himself falling into the orb. When he turned around, he saw his own body, glassy-eyed and emotionless.

The Charmander's tail went out.

"Hrrmmnnn, what a mess," Rhys muttered, walking through town at a brisk pace. His bag hung around his shoulder, the bottom bumping against the spike on his chest. He glanced down inside; he had a few items, along with a cloth wrapped around a large sphere, glowing faintly. He scanned the immediate area. Business as usual for most of the Hearts in Kilo Village. Missions, missions, and more missions. He spotted an Aerodactyl grumbling while posting papers on the bulletin board.

"Ahh, Rhys!" Nevren called.

The fur on Rhys' body bristled. He walked without acknowledging the Alakazam.

"Now, Rhys, that's no way to greet me," Nevren said, following Rhys without moving his legs. "What are you doing here? You don't often come to Kilo Village unless there is a ceremony." He looked at the bag. "…It's not exactly a good idea," he said, "to be carrying that around right now, don't you think?"

"I will take my chances."

"Are you sure?" Nevren tilted his head. "Rim might try to take it from you in broad daylight. Do not think a crowd will discourage her. The Hunters have been getting antsy."

"And what will she do if she sees me? Glare at my feet?"

"Now, Rhys, that was uncalled for."

Rhys clutched at the bag. "…She entered our home yesterday."

"…Ah."

"I do not want her to endanger my students," he said. "I would rather take it with me while speaking with Anam."

"Hrm."

"Now, if you'll excuse me." Rhys made a motion to walk past Nevren, hesitating briefly, knowing that Nevren would say something. Yet, when he didn't, he continued past him.

Nevren watched Rhys walk. "Has Elder talked with you about any of this?"

Rhys hesitated, looking down at his bag. "Of course we talk."

Silence.

"…Where are you going, anyway?" Rhys said, looking back.

"Ah, well. I was sent on a mission to where Owen had gone the day prior. I need to take care of one of the mutant sightings there before anybody else gets hurt; it was already designated as a restricted zone until further notice. I plan to give that further notice."

"Ah." Rhys hummed, glancing down at his bag, and then at Nevren. "Will you need help?"

"Not at all. This will be trivial. Carry on with your duties so you may return home with that Orb, yes?"

"Mrm. Very well." Rhys continued up the stairs toward the gaudy red building.

The entryway, past the main, heart-shaped exterior, was a building of stone and wood, painted in various shades of pink, red, and purple. Pathways on the ground were painted in a dark violet to indicate which way to go in the main lobby; the walls were a soft, invigorating red, with white stripes separating the red from the purple and other colors. The ceiling was pink, and the upper half of the walls shared the same color. They were all solid colors with no real pattern, except for some floral designs lining where the colors changed.

The color scheme disgusted Rhys, but he didn't have the heart to berate Anam for his taste in décor.

To Rhys' left was a stairway into the in-house dorms, where Hearts that preferred to live directly inside Kilo Village slept. To the right was where official business took place, such as meetings, private assemblies, and administrative work. Rhys entered the right stairway.

A Decidueye emerged from the floor in a black mist.

"Rhys," James said. "Is this about the recent sighting?"

"Calm Water Lake? Somewhat. Where is Anam?"

"He is in his quarters." He motioned behind him with a wing. "I will see you there." He sank into the ground again.

Goodra Anam's quarters were at the very edge of the building, at the back of the Heart. The Heart of Hearts himself stared at a large map of the world on the front wall, above the entryway. Due to Anam's size, it wasn't easy to see the rest of his room. However, the gentle, strange, sweet smell associated with the Goodra permeated the atmosphere. It was like he bathed in Pecha juice.

"Oh, hi, Rhys!" Anam said, waving. "I was just looking at the map."

Rhys entered and inspected the map with Anam. The map was ancient and hand-drawn. Much better copies existed of the world, but this was Anam's copy. The original copy, apparently, complete with dried slime and illegible scribbles in the empty spaces. Kilo Village, and by extension Kilo Mountain, was at the center of this map, displaying a largely circular landmass.

"…Calm Water Lake," Rhys said, pointing to the northeastern river that fed into the reservoir. "We always suspected an orb would be hidden there. But we didn't find one, last we checked."

"We assumed it was a false lead," James said. "Previous signs lasted only for a short while, after all. But it happened again, and this time we have actual witnesses to prove it."

"Not good." Rhys sighed. "They might be taken by the Hunters… But perhaps we should also investigate."

"There were sightings of a Torkoal entering the lake," James said. "I assume you know him, Rhys?"

Rhys looked away from the map and toward the ground. "Yes, I'm sure that Elder attempted to speak with whoever held the orb. Anam… I wanted to tell you some extra information." He paused to make sure he had their attention. "It is likely the Water Orb—my students explored it, unannounced."

"W-wait, your students?" Anam said. "You mean… all four of them… together? Wouldn't that spook the Guardian?"

"Yes," Rhys said. "They are fine. Owen is, too. The Water Guardian may not have realized anything, thanks to their current state."

James' feathers puffed out considerably. "Those four are not supposed to be together, ever, Rhys."

"I understand," Rhys said, "but a… series of circumstances caused them to be together, recently. But that will be the end of it. Once I get home"—Rhys let out a defeated sigh—"I will… set things right. Owen will return home. The rest of Team Alloy will forget him again. He will train and meditate, and… things will remain as they have always been."

"…You're lying," Anam said, nibbling on his slimy fingers. The feelers on his head twitched uncomfortably.

"Ngh." Rhys' head went lower. "Anam, don't start talking about any silly 'dark emotions' you may feel from me. I get enough of that from Owen's Perceive."

"S-sorry," Anam said, looking down. "But… it was just so obvious."

"We can't allow this," James said. "I understand your feelings on the matter, Rhys. But it's still too dangerous. Perhaps later. But not now."

"It has been that way for quite a while, hasn't it? Perhaps later. Perhaps later…" Rhys smiled bitterly at James. "That is all I wanted to say. Thank you, Anam. Be careful."

"Rhys…" Anam sniffed. "I… I don't want you to be upset!" He wiped gooey tears from his face. "Can I do anything to help?!"

Rhys closed his eyes. "Anam. A long time ago, you told me that you saw great potential in the bond that my students shared. If they could train their spirits to overcome their… weaknesses… they could perhaps tip this teetering scale in our favor. But to you, Anam," he said, turning around, "what is that favor? What then, if we win?"

"F-favor…?"

Rhys crossed his arms. "How do you plan to use my students, Anam?"

"I… I just, um…" Anam hesitated. "I don't know. But together, they're really, really strong."

"I see," Rhys said. His eyes were closed again. "Anam." He stared at Anam, right in his glistening, green eyes. "I'm sorry to hear that you don't know what to do with that power. But the world will not wait for your decision. And neither will they."

"What?" Anam asked. "What's that mean? Rhys…?"

The Elite Heart said nothing else and turned to exit. James, glaring from behind, assured Anam that Rhys was merely upset at his circumstances, and he just had to blow off some steam. While this was normally true, James sounded worried.

Rhys' ears twitched. He overheard their fading conversation.

"Anam," James said, "is he not always like this when he has that tone?"

"This time… he feels different." Anam sniffled. "He's telling the truth… b-but what's that mean? I dunno… I dunno…"

"Goodness. You're an angry one."

Nevren tilted his head to the right and stepped away, narrowly dodging a brutal swing from the muscular Snorlax mutant. In the close quarters of the wooden Dungeon labyrinth, it wasn't the easiest maneuver, but it seemed like Nevren knew exactly where to move before the strikes even began. The air that followed made the Alakazam's mustache dance with the flow. The strange creature made another brutal swing, trying to punch him in the torso next, but Nevren vanished in thin air.

The Snorlax stared at his hand, squeezing his claws dumbly.

"So unhinged. Is there even any reason within you?" Nevren asked. The question was rhetorical. He floated just above Snorlax's shoulders. He tapped a spoon on the behemoth's head, squinting at some invisible spot on his skull. "Yes, very disturbed. There may not be any coming back from this one. You're simply too berserk."

Snorlax roared and swung behind him; Nevren hopped on air, easily avoiding his arm, and then formed a small ball of light in his hands.

"It's a shame. I don't know how to dispatch someone like you most of the time. You're a danger to all life, you know. Yes, a true shame…"

Snorlax opened his mouth, orange energy concentrating at the back of his throat. The sphere emerged, aimed at Nevren.

"Ah. Hyper Beam. I should have—"

The blast cut through the ground and into the forest behind him; trees splintered near the top, and one of the labyrinthine walls of the Dungeon turned to ash, leaving a scorched hole into another hallway. Embers and smoke filled the air.

Wordlessly, Snorlax turned around and lumbered through the Dungeon, growling. His arms twitched and swung, and the Snorlax himself was breathing heavily and angrily. He roared and slammed his fist into the wall, leaving a crater as big as he was in it. Then, he continued forward.

"Yes. Too far gone."

Snorlax spun around, blasting another Hyper Beam through the smoke. This time, it didn't hit anything for a while. It struck the end of the hall with a distant explosion. The glowing eyes of an Alakazam shined through the smoke.

"Oh? You can blast them repeatedly? What drawback does that give you, hmm? Perhaps it takes up too much energy."

Snorlax fired again, this time directly at the glowing eyes, but they disappeared a split second before the blast could connect. Nevren reappeared upside-down in front of Snorlax, tapping a single, glowing finger to his forehead.

Snorlax stopped his blast; the energy that had been gathered dissipated harmlessly in all directions. But his mouth didn't close. His legs wobbled, but he didn't quite fall, so much as he leaned against the wall that hadn't been destroyed.

Nevren sighed, looking at the entranced mutant. "I apologize in advance." His eyes glowed brightly. Nevren placed his palm on the Snorlax's chest; the glow of his eyes channeled rapidly down his neck, into his arm, into his palm, and then into Snorlax.

After a brief spasm, the Snorlax disappeared from the Dungeon.

Nevren dug through the bag over his shoulder and pulled out his Badge. He tapped on the Heart symbol in the center twice and held it in the air. After several seconds of waiting for the safe extraction to be established, he disappeared from the Dungeon, reappearing near the entrance. While he fully expected to see the unconscious, or perhaps dead, Snorlax nearby, nothing waited for him at the entrance to the distortion.

"Hm." Nevren inspected the area halfheartedly but then shrugged. He supposed it was already taken care of, then. Efficient. Nevren spared a glance at a charm in his bag, glowing a dim gray. A few moments later, it brightened to cyan.

Nodding to himself, Nevren raised his Badge to return to Kilo Village.

Rhys' walk back home was a quiet one. He heard wild Pidgey singing in the trees. Rattata scampered in the bushes. Auras were wild or calm, rushing or resting. Wild Pokémon in this area weren't anything to worry about. That was one reason he enjoyed living in the forest to the side of Kilo Village's outskirts. The auras didn't overwhelm his senses.

It also meant that if a powerful aura was around, he could spot it instantly.

"Hello, Rim." Rhys stopped walking and lifted his head. To his left was the black, rocky Kilo Mountainside. To the right was the surrounding Kilo Forest, comprised of thin trees with thick, lumpy tops. And ahead and behind him, the thin, grassy field that connected the two.

An Espurr appeared in front of Rhys, ten of his paces away. She was floating at eye-level to Rhys, but she didn't look directly at him. She stared at his feet instead.

"H-hello…" Her voice was like a whisper, barely audible over the wind. Rhys had to strain his sensitive ears.

"I didn't appreciate your antics last night."

Rim didn't reply.

"Will you stop, then?"

Again, no reply came.

"I see," Rhys said. "So, it's begun again. Do not think that I am unprepared, Rim. Send that message to the others."

"The… orb… p-please…"

"This?" Rhys grabbed at the strap, pulling his bag up. "You intend to take the Orb?"

"P-please…"

"I will not allow it."

The wind died down. For a few breaths, the atmosphere lost its ambient sounds. Then, it picked up again. The leaves on bushes rustled; wild Pokémon, sensing the tension, fled. The wind stopped again. Rim's fur, however, continued to blow, energy swirling around her.

Air twisted around Rhys; in a deft movement, he jumped back, dodging Rim's first Psychic blast. The dirt where he stood warped into an oblong, spiral spike of grass and mud. Rhys countered with a bright ball of concentrated light from his paws, aimed at Rim. It was weakened by an odd, invisible barrier, but still passed through, making the Espurr squeak. She countered with another bout of twisting energy. Rhys dodged it again but felt the fur at the edge of his tail spiral into a corkscrew.

Rhys fired another Flash Cannon at her, its brilliance scaring off all spectating wild Pokémon. Rim vanished. Rhys cursed and glanced behind him; he sensed a powerful presence in front of him, but it was too late. Twisting energy surrounded Rhys. Bones strained and he lost the wind in his chest. He jumped away but dropped his bag in the process.

Rim readied another wave. Rhys ran in the opposite direction and then redirected himself. He fired another ball of silver light one last time; Rim dodged but had to close her eyes against the bright detonation. When she opened them again, he was gone, but the bag remained. Based on the dim glow it emitted, the orb was still inside.

Rhys watched silently from a rocky outcrop, eyes closed. He tracked her aura but tried to hide his own.

Rim hastily floated down and pulled the cloth out. The orb fell out of the bag, knocking against the dirt with a dull thud. She smiled in relief and hastily grabbed the orb with both hands.

Nothing happened. Her smile transitioned into a confused frown.

In another second, her big, purple eyes bulged with panic. She pulled her hands away and then touched it again. Nothing. She touched it yet again. Still, nothing. She whimpered and knocked her claws against the side. It made a hollow tink.

The glow inside was just a latent Aura Sphere; Rhys had mimicked the Mystic radiance perfectly, yet it was all a fabrication. It was simply colored glass.

Rhys swiftly left the battlefield, undetected.

"Got it, guys!" Owen said. "Ha ha, that was… what?" The orb wasn't in his hands anymore.

He stood in a clearing within a forest vaguely similar to the one outside Rhys' home. Sunlight poured through the treetops above, creating dazzling patterns on the ground. A large, open field sat to his right, beyond tree trunks wider than he was tall. More and more forest surrounded him in all directions. Tanned wood topped with bright green. There was no mountain and no nearby cave; Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi were nowhere to be seen.

"Okay. I'm crazy," Owen finally conceded, looking at his hands. He was certain that he was holding the orb, or that he at least grabbed it. But then, in an instant, it was gone, and then… What happened after that? He fell, and… his tail? Or did he… no, that wasn't right…

He had blacked out for at most half a blink. And then, he was here. It still felt like Mispy was holding him, but it was some sort of phantom sensation. He saw no vines wrapped around his abdomen.

"Maybe I shouldn't have skipped breakfast." But then again, he didn't feel hungry.

Something rustled behind him.

"U-uh—h-h-hello?" The flame on his tail brightened. Fire danced in the back of his throat. His heart was racing with onset panic at being thrown into a completely unfamiliar place.

More rustling behind him again, where he had once been facing—and to his left, and his right, and above him. Eyes everywhere, little dots in the shadows of bushes and branches. He caught sight of one of them.

"H-hey!" he said, pointing. "I saw that! C-come out! And—and do it in a… slow and non-threatening way! Please!"

After a few seconds, a Leafeon emerged. Owen deflated with his sigh.

A few other Pokémon revealed themselves, including a large Jumpluff. Another was a Murkrow—but instead of its iconic, black feathers, it was covered in sharp, green leaves. Another emerged—this one was a Cubone, holding a solid, wooden stick instead of a bone. Its helmet was made of the same material. The Jumpluff—an actual, normal Pokémon—helped him relax the same way seeing the Leafeon did. If there was anywhere for him to be placed randomly, a place of Grass-Types wasn't too bad.

"Hey," Owen said, lowering his guard. "Sorry. I'm just a little… confused. Um. Where am I?" He nervously nibbled on his tongue. "I'm sorry if I'm, um, intruding, or anything like that. I think I got here by accident, somehow. I'll go right home! When… I know where that is."

The Pokémon all looked at one another. They seemed to understand Owen and were murmuring to one another. Owen's breathing steadied. At least they weren't wild. Another ideal circumstance. He listened in on the words being said, sensing that quite a few of these Pokémon were tense and ready to fight or flee. He gulped. Was he about to become a Carnivine's lunch? Some Grass cult's sacrifice? Even if he had an advantage, he didn't think he'd be able to take on all of them. It would be the most humiliating way to die, really—a Charmander, eaten by a bunch of Grass-Types.

The mumbling slowly subsided; more and more of their eyes focused on something behind Owen. The Charmander almost didn't want to look back. He could feel it. A presence—a powerful, incredible, radiant presence. Perhaps it was the cult's leader, ready to cook him up. Charmander stew! With only the finest herbs and berries. It cooked itself.

He couldn't move; his flame burned brighter, ready to run and torch anything that stopped him.

"Yo," said a feminine, yet casual voice. "Took you long enough."

By some miracle, Owen heard this voice over the blood pounding in his head. This voice sounded familiar. Recent. Wait! It was the pretty voice!

He spun around.

His jaw nearly detached from the rest of his head. "M-M-M… Muh—Muh—"

"Nice to meet you in spirit, Owen," Mew said, smiling wryly. "How's life?"