Chapter 82- Loss and Reunion

A/N: This is an original Pokémon Fan Game made by Amethyst. If you wish to check it out and play the game, download it at Reborn Evolved. Search for it on your web browser to get to the website.

Location: Glass Factory

It was silent and dark… many people were knocked unconscious from the release of a Black hole. There was a giant gaping hole from where the Black Hole was, machinery and bridges were destroyed, and the PULSE was lost. As a result, several people had been swallowed up: Cain, Percival, Lucille, Nero, and Gardevoir… Though the void still remained…

"If you have ever walked into a class late, you will know what it is like. Heads turn, eyes peel," A voice rang in the darkness, in her own opinion of the situation. "You think of a thousand things that they did not but feel them all the same. At that moment, you are the sole star in the sky. And they are trying to sleep. Expectation and anxiety are frequent guests at an otherwise unplanned tea party, and while their sugar sits untouched, the sun is setting far too slowly." The girl took a step into the void. "Never soon enough, it will be time for them to go along their way. They will retire for the evening and be at home with their wives and children, children who grow tired, and children who grow up asleep. But still, you must peel their eyes. There comes a time in every child's life when they must lay down their teaspoon, Pinch the corners of fabric, and pull the tablecloth right away. Enough, she says and follows the lights out. When there is only one path, there is only one way to go. And when, in the darkness, the path cannot be seen at all, then you are free. For now, the time has come for me to follow my own infinity." Turning to see the unconscious man with a strange hat on the ground and the woman with pink and blue hair. She said goodbye. "Farewell, Mother. Farewell, Father. It has been like a dream."

As Luna disappeared, one got back up, staring blankly as everything was awry. His mental state had been fractured since losing two minds that were once in his. He whispered under his breath. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no... Why? Why?!"

Clutching his head, Zero hyperventilated as he forcibly changed his voice. "Why did—Control. Control, right? Incompetence." Before he started to inwardly laugh at himself. "This is always how it is—This is always how it was... Best is not good enough; best is not good enough..."

Grunting and readjusting his Glasses, Bennett looked at Zero. "I told you why, Zero."

"What do we do? What to do…Eve!" Zero shouted for a person he no longer had. "Tell me what to do!"

"Report back to Labradorra," Bennett responded. "Lin will want to know what's happened. I'll take the bracelets and finish from here.

"That's right, that's right..." Zero smiled crazily, "As long as we have the Sapphire Bracelets, it's okay... She won't be mad; she won't be mad... Will she?"

"Go!" Bennett didn't give Zero an answer, only to send him on his way.

"Yes!" Zero shouted and ran.

Bennett looked out into the black nothingness that Gardevoir had created. "Gardevoir... I'm sorry it had to come to this." Before running to the upper floor's south side, he saw his mother and Radomus collapsed on the ground. "Mother, are you all right?!"

"…" Serra begrudgingly got up, showing that she pulled Shelly from falling into the black hole in all the chaos. Looking up at her son. "Never better…"

"Good. And—" Bennett blinked, rubbing his glasses as he realized Luna wasn't on the lower floor. "Luna. Where is Luna." Though there was no response. "Mother, do you know what happened to Luna?"

"Luna… stepped into that black hole on her own," Serra hesitantly revealed.

"She—" Bennett took a step back in surprise as he heard that.

Radomus hefted himself off the ground, looked at the mess of a situation, and looked at Bennett. "Is this the end you hoped to achieve?"

"Shut up." Bennett snapped at Radomus. "I don't want to hear it from someone who couldn't even control his own Pokémon."

"Then from whom would you prefer to hear it?" Radomus said, somehow, in moments, changing his appearance to look similar to Elias. A man who took Bennett under his wing. "Is this the only person you listen to?"

"Don't kid me," Bennett said. "He and I used each other, nothing more. I have no respect for his beliefs or his goals."

"But you enact them all the same." Radomus countered.

"With little alternative." Bennett looked away before thinking. "But now that you mention it... I can disappear from here. They will conclude I was lost in the damage. I can break free of this now." Muttering in realization. "Why did it cost Luna? And Gardevoir..." Bennett turned back down to Serra and Radomus. "Thank you. Mother, you may rest assured I will not meddle with this group again."

"You're still Grounded." Serra reminded her son.

"That's fine; I'm still not coming home. I need to destroy the surveillance footage here..." Bennett responded.

"And what about your cohort? He will make a report, correct?" Radomus reminded Bennett of his "friend."

Bennett's color drained as he realized that he had sent Zero off. "I'm a fool. I have to stop him immediately."

"Um..." as Bennett was about to chase after Zero, he was met with a woman with pink hair and a flower dress. This was Laura Belrose, an ex-captive of the PULSE Hypno. "Excuse me?"

"Oh—You're awake now. I'm glad you're safe." Bennett said in the realization no one had covered her in the blast. But Bennet had bowed to the woman. "Miss Belrose, I am deeply sorry for what has happened. I have heard that these once belonged to your family. Please take them." Bennett said, returning the Sapphire Bracelets to their rightful owner.

"I don't understand..." Laura blinked in confusion at Bennett's words and actions. Not knowing what happened previously.

"There's no time; I have to hurry," Bennett said impatiently.

"Maybe I could help you?" Laura inquired.

Your confusion is apparent." Bennett sighed in bafflement at Laura, wanting to help. "Listen. Because of me, you lost your position as a member of the Elite Four. Elias created a false notice of termination, and then we hypnotized you to handwrite a resignation letter. And then I took over your spot. I am truly sorry for what happened, but I must go right now."

"Does that mean I can't help?" Laura continued.

"You are a deeply concerning person." Bennett tried to dissuade her. "Let me put it simply: I've been your enemy. There's no reason for you to help me."

"I think there is..." Laura responded, following with the question. "Do people have to be defined by their flaws and mistakes?"

"Even if we are not defined by them, we cannot just ignore them," Bennett responded, understanding his guilt, probably understanding Nero for once in his life.

"I understand that you must have done some bad things..." Laura sighed, recalling some unpleasant memories. "But I also understand that you're doing your best to change. If I can be of any help, I would like to."

"You sound just like her…" Bennett muttered looking at the black area… "ugh…"

"I have two sisters, and they aren't particularly spotless either. Nobody is." Laura commented. "Still, I've learned that in order to survive, we have to work together no matter what."

"…Fine, do whatever you want." Bennett relented, giving her the details of what he needed help with. "There's a somewhat disheveled man in black is currently going on foot from here to Labradorra. Can you catch him?"

"If we can change the weather, my Pokémon should be able to outspeed anyone." Laura nodded. "I'll do it."

"Then I'll destroy the security footage here and meet up with you." Bennett planned also realizing. "And I'll see if I can bring some food. Despite our systems, you must be starving after sleeping for so long. We can work out the details with the Elite Four, then. Okay? "

"That sounds wonderful." Laura smiled.

"Deal. Let's go quickly." Bennett said, and they rushed off.

"So much for a happy little family…" Serra sighed as her son and Laura left. "Luna… Gardevoir… Cain, Lucille, Percival, and even Nero… Everyone always disappears."

"Let us not make a bad situation worse by exercising its extremes." Radomus still looked like Elias said to Serra before hearing a slight noise and looking at the void. Seeing on in surprise. As Nero, Lucille, and Percival flew from the void onto the ground, A visage of Shade held them. "Unbelievable... Amidst everything, look who it is once again."

"Uh…" Lucille looked confused, seeing Serra, a man who looked like Elias, and Shelly, who was unconscious on the ground.

"Are you all… Yourselves?" The man, looking like Elias, asked, a bit worried. Percival and Lucille step back in alarm.

"We've gone… For some amount of time… and you dress like Elias…" Nero groaned, a bit unsteady on his feet. "But we're not controlled, Radomus."

""Radomus?!"" Percival and Lucille shouted.

"Ah, yes!" Radomus said, ripping off his Elias disguise. "If you would be so kind, please pay no mind to my appearance before. It is one of my more, shall we say, esoteric headpieces. Perhaps I can explain in time, but for now..." Radomus turned to Serra. "Miss Voclain, have you seen? Not all is lost, after all. Not for good."

"…" Serra was silent. "Yeah... I see that... But too much has been."

"Lost?" Percival asked. Confused about the giant hole in the factory.

"A lot happened…" Nero grimaced, his right stump aching as the pain became more physical. "Fuck this hurts…"

"You really did lose an arm…" Lucille said, trying to be careful as she placed her hand on Nero, still partially in disbelief that he was alive, the other glad to see her brother again.

"Well, since none of us are doing so well. This will require some damage control." Radomus said, taking a Nurse Joy cap from out of nowhere. "Nurse Rajoymus is on the case. I don't promise to have medical qualifications, but I do promise to help as best as I can."

"A male Nurse Joy? Who ever heard of that?" Serra said, rolling her eyes.

"Now listen, my dear, we don't discriminate here in the healthcare industry." Radomus countered, "Besides, no one heard of anything until it was invented. So let us not be too quick to dismiss new developments."

"The new developments have dismissed themselves. I should've known." Serra lamented. "This is the only way things go…"

"…" Nero, despite the pain, looked at Serra.

"You certainly can choose to believe that if you are happier doing so," Radomus suggested. "But I suspect you are not."

"Of course, I'm not," Serra growled back. "No one would be happy knowing they'll lose everything sooner or later. At least, this way, we don't get hurt."

"Still hurts all the same." Nero muttered, "You've heard what I've said."

"Very true," Radomus nodded, "You are only taking on that pain now as opposed to later. And with no guarantee when or where "later" might arrive, you bear an awful lot of wounds in the meantime. Is that truly worth it, I wonder?"

"And what about you?" Serra snapped. "Aren't you upset over losing her? Over both of them?!"

"Of course I am," Radomus answered. "But for better or worse, I am a veteran when it comes to losing "hers". One might say I've been bearing an awful lot of wounds through some meantime. Another might say we often tell others the advice we need to hear. And yet another might say that it is better to focus on those whom we still have. For instance... Saving that girl was rather heroic of you. This pity doesn't suit your triumph."

"What "triumph"? I couldn't stop them... Any of them..." Serra looked down. Leaving Percival and Lucille still confused. "What's broken can't be fixed. Clearly, it can't be replaced either. There's no going back."

"And yet, these three have returned." Radomus motioned to Percival, Lucille and Nero. "Who knows if another yet might? But I believe we are being rude to our new arrivals. Percival and Lucille must be quite confused by now."

"Very much; what are you two doing here?" Percival asked, pointing at Serra and Radomus and then to the gaping factory hole. "And what the hell happened here?!"

"I will explain," Radomus said calmly, explaining the full story of their arrival. What happened to Percival and Lucille, their battles against each other, the arrival of Nero, Gardevoir's Black Hole, and the aftermath before their return

"…And here we are." Radomus finished his tale. Much to the chagrin of Percival and Lucille,

"Oi, don't look so down. Damage was… mitigated." Nero said, knowing a lot of damage was done. "It could have been worse. Especially if you two were kept in their control. Besides, we're far from finished."

"Yes." Radomus agreed with Nero, "I don't know by what means or madness Shade pulled you back into this world. But it would appear that you are not yet permitted to quit."

"…" Percival sighed but nodded in understanding.

"Maybe if we press forward… maybe Shade will get them out," Lucille muttered, still intaking what happened.

"Nero, if I may be so bold, how was it on your end that you managed to return?" Radomus asked him while Nero was in pain… He wasn't in shock.

"I think it was the combined effort of Shade and Luna. While in there, Luna forged a path that led us back here." Nero grunted.

"…" Radomus was silent, this time to be in shock. "Luna herself showed you the way?"

"She did." Nero nodded,

"Luna did?" Serra smiled without realizing it. "Then…"

Radomus smiled himself. "It seems there are still miracles that defy our understanding. Will you still hold your wounds, Miss Voclain?"

"I don't know what to count on anymore." Serra looked off into the distance. "Maybe nothing."

"Now you're getting it. Let us presume to hope she will be back one day. After all, you never know who will stroll through the door next. Everyone is always coming and going," Radomus timed it very well as there was a rustle by the door. "…And coming right back."

"Percy, Lucy! You made it back~ not that I doubted Nostra or anything!" A girl with twin tails entered; she was a young girl; quickly, she looked at the other boy in the room. "Oh! Nero, you're finally starting to faintly glow again! Though your right arm is still black."

Behind the girl was a young boy of the same age, her twin brother. "What right arm, Anna? He doesn't have one."

Running up to Nero and placing her hand where Nero's right arm should have been, she found nothing. "What?! Didn't he have one before?!"

"Yeah, yeah, it's good to see you two," Nero said with a vague smile at Anna and Noel.

"Uh… Where did these kids come from?" Serra asked, unsure where Anna and Noel came from.

Looking at Serra, Anna gasped in worry. "Ohmigod! Are you okay?! What happened?!"

"I'm… sorry?" Serra asked in confusion.

"Those cracks all over your skin—" Anna worriedly stated. Seeing a non-existent thing again. This being cracks along Serra's skin, much like a shattered mirror. "Do you need help!?"

"On my… skin?" Serra looked at herself in a mirror. "Am I getting wrinkles again…"

"No, not wrinkles! Cracks!" Anna emphasized. Pointing at Serra's face and arms. "See, all over here, and here, and here—"

"I… don't?" Serra said, questioning the cracks.

"Don't worry about it. She always sees things other people don't." Noel interjected to quell Serra's confusion.

"That seems safe," Serra answered.

"It's not always! Geez!" Anna said to Noel.

"But really, what are you doing here? This isn't a place for children." Serra reiterated.

"Nu-uh! If this wasn't a place for children, why would we be here?" Anna responded.

"That's what I'm asking…" Serra sighed, placing her hand on her face.

"We're here for him." Noel pointed at Radomus, who was looking away from the two kids.

"What?" That statement broke Lucille and Percival from their stupor.

"Yup!" Anna nodded. "Nostra made us sleep so that poor Hypno couldn't! And then we came to meet him!" Anna walked up to Radomus, "Hi! Cute hat!"

"…" Radomus turned around, holding back tears.

"Have you been crying?" Anna asked, tilting her head.

"…" Wiping away the forming tears, Radomus scooped the twins Anna and Noel into a hug. "Not anymore. You really are just like her. Come here."

"Wait, don't tell me, you're—" Serra exclaimed in surprise. Turned to Percival and Lucille, who were surprised, and Nero with an apathetic face. "They're—"

"They're related…" Lucille muttered, almost in disbelief.

"That actually explains a lot," Percival commented in turn.

"What, like everyone didn't see that coming!" Anna shouted in response.

"…Yeah, I don't know how I would have come to that conclusion, having just met you and all," Serra admitted. While Lucille and Percival did have a short encounter with Radomus, seeing him being related to Anna and Noel explained a lot to them.

"Sorry to keep you waiting so long!" Anna told Radomus.

"It is so very, very all right." Radomus responded, "I'm just happy to see you again… You've both gotten so big. When I last saw you, you were just thiiis tiny! And if anyone should be sorry to keep someone waiting, it's me. You both deserved so much more."

"It's all right!" Anna smiled. "Nostra said this was the only way it could have happened."

Radomus chuckled to himself. "I do know how that is." Smiling, he saw Anna and Noel still had their dolls. "So, you've still got it. That's a relief."

"Of course I do!" Anna yelled. "We would never willingly let go of something you gave us!"

"And that Cleffa, too." Radomus looked at Noel's Cleffa doll.

"His name's Nomos!" Anna said before Noel could.

"Nomos. Hello, it's nice to meet you." Radomus said to Noel and Nomos.

"…He says "hi"," Noel said hesitantly.

"Noel, tell him everything Nomos says, not just the first part!" Anna scolded.

"Noel, you said? And if I heard correctly, you go by Anna." Radomus said as he looked at the two kids.

"Yup, that's us!" Anna smiled.

"Shouldn't you already know that?" Noel turned his head, wondering why Radomus didn't know their names.

"Those aren't the names that your mother chose for you." Looking at Noel, Radomus stated. "Painter." Then to Anna. "Fantasia."

"Those are such cool names!" Anna cried aloud

Radomus Smiled. "She had some flair about her. But when I had to let you go, I purposely withheld your names so there would be no way they could find you."

"Who is "they"?" Noel Asked.

"Team Meteor," Radomus explained.

"Will you tell us why Team Meteor was after you?" Anna inquired from her father.

"It is not a simple story..." Radomus sighed. "But I will say it as clearly as I can. Mistakes are lessons waiting to be learned, And some might say I have been very well-educated indeed. During one such lesson, a certain person helped me understand that particular objects could be hazardous in that group's possession. So, I did what I had to and stole those particular objects. In order to disguise their origin, I asked a close friend to fashion each of them into jewelry. Jewelry was a passion of his back then, but he was unprepared for the energy those keys held, and one of them broke in half. He was able to recover it, and he did fantastic work with the others, so I gave him one of the finished pieces as a thanks. And with the others, I sought out buyers. In particular, I searched for strong Trainers who would be able to effectively defend the pieces, should Meteor try to recover them. Caroline and Monty were the first. With two Gym Leaders together, I felt certain they would be safe. They chose the Sapphire Key to match their eldest daughter's name. Next was Mr. Molinar. He chose the Ring for his engagement. And the last one I entrusted to the beauty who showed me the light. That was your mother. And so, I reinvented myself with a new name, a new personality, and a new history." Radomus turned his head to Percival and Lucille. "Percival, Lucille, I hope you will forgive me for deceiving you. My wealth has never come from my success as a chess player. It came from the sales of those Keys, and a few extra digits taken from Meteor's coffers. I always hoped to be able to fulfill your mother's dream of living in a castle."

"That's so cool!" Anna said, awestruck.

"I do not defend thievery," Radomus stated.

"Well, I do!" Nero shouted back. Where Lucille shook her head as her brother announced that.

"But I daresay it was a better use of the money than they would have found it for," Radomus stated over Nero. "And for a time, she was happy… I thought it would all end happily, But it turns out "happily ever after" just means the next story hasn't started yet. Team Meteor learned what I had done, who I was, and where the Keys were. And so, it began anew. Your mother was a walking miracle. But for better or worse, people often outlive their miracles. After her disappearance, I was scared, above all else, for both of your safeties. It was a long time ago, but I had done something that made them very angry back then. I didn't want any harm to come to you, so I had to ensure you didn't get mixed up with them. And just look how that turned out."

"It's okay; I know you were just doing your best!" Anna smiled.

"Whether it was right or not. Here," Radomus held out a familiar purple gemstone pendant. "You should have this back."

"You had it!" It looked like Anna had jumped five feet into the air because of her joy. "I was so sad after it was taken! I was so sad that I got sick and almost died of sadness!"

"Why did you give it to her?" Noel cut in.

"It was not one of my better plays, perhaps." Radomus scratched his head. "I was hoping Team Meteor would never find it if it was with you two, but instead, it gave them cause to seek you out. Perhaps sentimentality got the better of me."

"Whether that was right or wrong~" Anna hummed along.

"No," Noel said. "I mean, why did you give it to her and not me? Why is Anna the one that's always special?"

"Ah…" Radomus' eyes widened, not realizing the burden he put on his son.

"Here." Anna turned to her brother, handing him the Pendant. "You can keep it."

Noel hesitated but turned it down. "No, that's okay. I don't want it. I just wanted to know. You deserve it more than I do."

"It's not about deserving it or not! Just take it!" Anna shouted back!

"Anna, I can't even hear Nomos. I never could." Noel shouted back. "I shouldn't hold something like that."

"I know you can't." Anna smiled.

"What?" Noel said, surprised. Confused about how many times Anna had told him to say what Nomos was saying,

"That's okay! You'll understand eventually." Anna smiled. "If you ever want to hold the pendant instead, just ask me, okay?"

"Okay." Noel nodded. Still waiting for an answer from Radomus, though. "So why did you give it to Anna?"

"It was your mother's before. I simply thought it would suit her better. But there may be some cause and effect in your similarities after all..." Radomus explained. "Still, I understand that was unfair to you. I hope you can forgive me."

"It's not like it matters." Noel dismissed.

"I don't understand any of you." Serra shook her head.

"I've ceased understanding them since I met them," Nero responded.

"However, do you mean?" Radomus Questioned Serra

"It's been how many years, and you all just go on like nothing happened?" Serra shouted. Nero and Lucille noted how this comment didn't include them. "You act like all of you knew the whole time that you would meet here."

"The future has a funny way of never being how we know it, isn't that right?" Radomus commented on the supposed 'deaths' of Nero and Lucille. "But we never had to know; all we had to do was Decide. The future cannot hold a candle to resolution."

"…" Nero was silent, glancing barely at the girl with the Jirachi doll.

"Ummm…" Anna scratched her head. "Well, to tell the truth, I knew all along! It was just a matter of waiting for the right timing~ And since I knew Daddy would be lonely in the meantime, I asked my friend to help!"

"I beg your pardon?" Radomus was puzzled to hear that. "To whom are you referring?"

"Mr. Shadow, of course!"

"Yes, it's the same Shade that Luna spoke of," Nero answered before Radomus even asked. "Shade was probably the reason Luna was here in the first place."

"How are you so sure?" Percival inquired to Nero, not really understanding how he knew that.

"Shade's the one who sent me here after all," Nero admitted.

"And just now…" Radomus sighed, "When Luna stepped in the black hole, was that in your plan?"

"She did what?!" Anna jumped in surprise. While Nero shrugged, still unsure what the plan was for this location.

"I see… In other words, she was never meant to leave me." Radomus was pained as he learned that.

"Because then you would have just been lonely again!" Anna explained. "Plus, I think she would have made a great older sister! Don't you, Noel?"

"I still don't know who you're talking about." Noel shook his head.

"But even when they're meant to stick around, no one does." Serra laughed cynically.

"Nobody's always there, but somebody always is! That means that there's nobody to miss!" Anna continued with impressive optimism.

"Considering something like the law of large numbers, it's only logical this would happen eventually if we kept looking." Noel briefly explained the odds of meeting.

"Plus, we had a little help~" Anna sang.

"You're unbelievable." Serra sighed

"What! I can totally be believed! Right, Noel?" Anna yelled for her brother's support

"Sometimes," Noel answered

"Noel!" Anna shouted.

"Despite that, here they are." Nero laughed at the unbelievable odds.

"If you find it that bad, then that just means you need to change your beliefs!" Anna smiled. "If how you see things isn't an accurate reflection of reality, then why keep looking that way?"

"You're the last person who should be saying that," Noel responded

"Or the first!" Anna snickered.

"A reflection of reality, huh?" Serra said, looking at herself in a hand mirror. "In that case… Maybe it's better to just put the mirror down. Let there be no reflection at all."

"And see things however works best for you!" Anna smiled.

"…" Nero hid a grimace "(Maybe after everything has settled.)"

"Smooth talking runs in the family, doesn't it?" Serra chuckled, hearing Anna's silver tongue.

"They got it from their mother." Radomus denied it with a smirk.

"I doubt that." Percival laughed.

"Maybe we all did." Radomus dismissed. "And maybe we all have room to learn from them too."

"It's tough to lose people, but you can just lean on the people still around you!" Anna beamed. "So, depend on us now!"

"Hey, now, who's the parent here?" Radomus said.

"Oops!" Anna laughed, sticking her tongue out.

"But you are, of course, correct," Radomus said with a sad smile. "I only lament I had to say "goodbye" to Gardevoir and Luna to say "Hello" to you."

"Not to mention Cain…" Lucille sighed, looking into the abyss behind them.

"Luna will find him," Percival said, unsure if it was to reassure Lucille or… himself.

"I'll admit, it could have been much worse, given the circumstances," Serra commented, agreeing with Nero's opinion that damage was mitigated.

"Perhaps the only reason the damage was so minimal was that Gardevoir fought to control herself even through their hypnosis," Radomus hypothesized. While Nero was of help, it was agreeable he didn't stand a chance.

"Loyal to the very end?" Serra questioned. "That's something I'm not used to."

"Maybe it's time you changed that!" Anna smiled as the door behind them opened up.

Two small girls came out, one with blue hair and a purplish-blue jacket, followed by a girl with purple hair and a reddish coat. The one with blue hair spoke first. "Um, excuse us!"

The other one followed but quickly cut herself off, seeing one of the people there. "Sorry to interrupt, but—"

"…" Nero's eyes widened as he looked at the two young girls before him. Just as surprised as the other to see them alive.

"You did it, you did it!" Anna jumped as she greeted the girl, interrupting the surprise. "Great job, both of you!"

Meanwhile, in this situation, Serra, Percival, Lucille, and Radomus were confused at the appearance of two new girls. Nero jumped up, looking at the two in almost disbelief. "You're… Alive…"

"Um, hi, Nero. I think we could say the same to you." The blue-haired girl said with a half-smile.

"We've caused a lot of trouble for you. All of you." The purple-haired girl bowed her head. "Please accept my apologies."

"Rather, I'm sorry." Nero apologized, and the two girls exchanged looks with each other as Nero said that.

"Um… Nero, do you know these two?" Lucille asked, which was very surprising to her.

"Lumina and Evelyn Seijaya," Nero stated, where it was now Percival and Lucille's turn to be shocked. The two girls' names somehow fused in Person ZEL's personality.

Radomus picked up a curious look upon hearing the names. "I believe the man in black, the one that's not Nero, had called out to you?"

"That is correct…" Eve sighed, "If pitiable."

"It's kiiind of a long story, but basically, we were stuck together with him for a long time..." Lumi said with an uncomfortable feeling. "...In the same body. I wouldn't recommend the experience..."

"In essence, we've had to work for Team Meteor the entire time. I developed the PULSE systems used to create a nearly insurmountable degree of trouble." Eve explained.

"Oh. Thanks for that." Serra said sarcastically.

"Hey—" Lumi tried to jump to defend her sister but was cut out.

"They didn't do it because they wanted to. They were stuck out of their bodies." Nero cut in. "Eve forced an agreement that she'd build the machines, but for the safety of their actual bodies. Not to mention to research to get back to their bodies."

"But… how are they back to their original bodies?" Percival asked the apparent elephant in the room. No one but the two girls and Nero knew the answer.

"On an accidental success of evolving a Magneton to a Magnezone in the PULSE conditions, Zero, Lumi, and I were fused into one." Eve briefly summarized. "During the supposed "raid" on Devon. Nero had chosen his time to switch sides and try to release everyone who was captured. He found us with Magnezone. Zero gave us no choice, and Nero was forced to destroy the Magnezone. Which had a surprising effect of releasing us to our bodies."

"…" Nero looked away. Inside, he was happy that he freed the girls, but at the same time, thought he had killed them. "Seeing how Zero was, it must have been difficult to get used to."

Lumi nodded, still trying to stretch her atrophied muscles. While Eve answered. "It was difficult at first, yes." Turning to Anna, "Thank you again for what you did."

"Totally!" Anna cheered.

"And… what exactly was that?" Serra asked the two twins.

"Noel and I switched places with these girls! Nostra said it would be really important for them to wake up right away!" Anna smiled. Explaining why the two disappeared from Calcenon.

"Thanks to that, after Lucille and Percival were forced to be stuck in the elevator, we were able to help them escape that. And eventually, reach this place." Eve stated. "Though what happened after they arrived could have gone better."

"Yeah…" Lumi agreed, but seeing Percival and Lucille's grimace. "Um, don't get us wrong! We're not trying to fault you! But we knew Zero would try to control you—So we tried to stop it!"

"We tried to cut the system's power as soon as he used it on you," Eve explained. "But unfortunately, the power supply had an Auto-reboot function. I hadn't accounted for this to preempt it, so all we could do was power cycle the system."

"…" Hearing that, Nero then grimaced. "I know we were never "friends" when you were fused with Zero. But I know I've warned you to expect the unexpected."

"It's okay," Anna distracted the two from Nero's glare. "You tried as best you could!"

"I feel really bad for Cain…" Lumi pitied Cain's circumstances. "He never even had a chance to act on his own from the time he came here to when he fell into the black hole..."

"Well… We came back, so he'll be out of there eventually." Nero stated to appease Lumi.

"Speaking of returning, it may be prudent for us to quit this place before too long," Radomus suggested as they were still in an enemy hideout.

"Um! Would it be all right for us to go with you? We don't really know who else to turn to to get away from Team Meteor…"

"Well, we are taking Nero with us, so how could we refuse." Lucille snickered.

"Glad you are thinking of that," Nero said.

"Wait, Nero, were you thinking of taking us along?" Lumi asked, surprised.

"Less you got a better place to go," Nero responded. "Even if it was by some stroke of luck, you survived. I tried to kill you, even when I didn't want to. I owe that much."

"…" Lumi and Eve blinked.

"Didn't know you were so honorable." Percival snickered as he heard Nero say that.

"Ugh… is this what it feels like to be good?" Nero shivered. "It feels weird." But still smiled, "But not a bad weird."

"Everyone will be waiting in Calcenon City!" Anna was engrossed with joy.

"I have some information about Team Meteor that will also be relevant to everyone." Eve declared.

"What should we do about this one?" Serra asked

Before Anna could attempt to wake Shelly, Nero stopped her. "She's been through a lot… probably with a lot more along the way. Let her rest a bit longer. Hela."

"Zor." Hela materialized before sneakily picking up the unconscious girl, holding her in the vast mane of the Zoroark Fur.

"With the PULSE gone, Agate City will wake up soon." Nero reminded

"Wait, there's still that boy sleeping in one of the elevators!" Anna suddenly shouted.

"That sounds like a cozy place," Radomus commented.

"They're cozier than you think." Nero jested.

"We tried waking him up after Hypno had been stopped, but he still wouldn't move." Eve shook her head.

"Even Glaceon's Heal Bell wouldn't work—" Lumi was flabbergasted as she saw her Glaceon' s move fail. "He just went right back to sleep every time!"

Crack. Ever looked over as Nero pressed his left fist into his side, forcing a loud crack along his knuckles. "Nothing a little brute force can't fix."

"Nero!" Lucille shouted.

"Can't say Hardy doesn't deserve it, though," Percival commented.

"Then what are we waiting for." Nero's signature devilish grin appeared on his face. "We're on a tight schedule after all."