A world where, in a series of unfortunate events involving Relica, Link is captured by Ganondorf's forces and wiped of his memories. Now, as he resurfaces known only as Power's Retainer, his friends must fight back while trying to figure out who he is, but is all truly as it seems...?

Perhaps this too can be reflected in the story of the Anomalice, a month after many uncomfortable truths come to light, ultimately culminating in the creation of a Bad End World cluster in the MT multiverse as Mikado Yuga, the Vessel for the first Anomalice, Mona Artemision, chooses to betray everyone he knows in order to get revenge on his fake mother while attempting to kill himself off. Following the Ragnarök Tournament where they barely manage to scrape a victory to avoid being erased by the Creator Gods, the remaining six Fragmented Code Digimon finally resurface. This world is the eighteen to be visited, and the first one of the six is none other than ShatteredHopemon, who hailed from a Bakugan Battle Planet world where Marduk Jenkins lost his life to the Healing Core Cell's destruction at his hands. The countdown for the destruction of the MT multiverse continues, and the Dimension Keepers find themselves struggling through the issues that continue to arise. However, perhaps an old face may be able to lend them a hand, as a new story kicks into high gear for one Suguri Hannya...

"... So, any questions, Class?"

Yellow eyes looked out the glass windows as some familiar Pokémon swam by. Kieran yawned slightly, tapping his fingers impatiently on his desk. He couldn't wait to get out of this stuffy classroom... he had training to do!

"... and you're dismissed!"

Finally! Kieran jumped up to his feet, eager to get back to building his team up. He had been dealing with some issues beforehand but now he had everything he needed for the right strategy to hopefully become more powerful! (Against what or who is the real question...)

"Ah, Kieran, could you stay back for a while?" A familiar voice then cut those plans short, making him freeze as his pupils went feral. Okay, this was annoying!

Still, he kept a level tone when the teacher walked up to him. "M-Miss Briar. What can I do for you?"

"Well, nothing much, I suppose. I did notice you were spacing out during class," she admitted. "Is there anything going on, perhaps? I do understand that Ashley has had an... interesting influence on you, but I am concerned for you."

Yeah, in what world? He spat out internally, but maintained a friendly smile to her while saying, "Well, I suppose you can say that."

After all, she and Ogerpon still got chosen...

He still remembered, of course. How the Keepers had all met in another world, discussing some weird stuff in a different room while he, Ashley, Relica-san, and two other people sat in the meeting room. He would come to know the two as Monica November and Mikado Yuga, although the latter seemed to have done something really, really bad, if his gaze told him anything. (Just like how he had...)

Anyway, they had decided to accept the others in for training (in Yuga's case, they were actually keeping him in a different space cause of his actions and the absence of his Buddy? What did that mean?), but as for Kieran...

"Look, this job is very dangerous... and Anomalice are the only ones who can do something about it..." Areum frowned at him.

He bit his lip. "Yeah, I know, but from what I can gather, not all of you are 'Anomalice' right?"

"You're right on that. Sandayuu isn't one, but he's had training. With the announcement of a tournament between mortals and gods coming up, and the other Fragmented Code Digimon MIA, we need to take this time to prepare for whatever could come. We..." she hesitated.

But Kieran already knew. "You can't take more people in." There was a bitter undertone as he scowled slightly, even as guilt flared up in him. He knew that he was acting out of line, but...

He paused. He felt... weird. Like, really, really weird. Like something was fueling this anger, this hatred that wasn't, that he knew wasn't HIS. 

It had been happening a lot, and Asahi had said something, about-

Letting out a quiet sigh, Kieran looked down, unsure what to say. He really had gone out of line, hadn't he...? "I.. Aw man, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to sound like that. I genuinely get it, don't worry, so... you can send me back."

"Kieran, I..." Areum looked sad at that, but inhaled as a portal opened behind him. "I hope we can meet again some day, Kieran. I really do. You have potential. Immense potential for stuff, but... I'm scared you'll use it for the wrong thing..."

"That's... for me to decide on," was all he could manage before he stepped through. Not once did he look back to Ashley. Not once did he look back, no matter how much his heart wanted to, to Ogerpon and her new friend.

He had been nothing but an obsessed freak, just like what everyone else had told him. He had grown so obsessed, he had...

The trip back to Blueberry was a daze, and even when his sister asked about Ashley, he just told her that she would probably text her back.

That night, his pillow was stained with tears as he remembered how he had spent time with Ogerpon, how they had fought against Apophimon, against that Dan guy...

But Asa Jaycobe's words came back to haunt him, constantly echoing in his mind and making him feel even worse.

Am I... really so weak? Am I really just destined for the darkness...?

It really was a good thing that they didn't decide to take him in. Despite how he felt about it personally, he knew they had the right idea in mind.

He could really turn out to be a monster if he wasn't careful-

"-ran? Kieran!"

With a start, he jolted back to reality, seeing Miss Briar look at him with concern. "Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah..." he nodded, avoiding her gaze. "I-I was just thinking..."

He wondered if they were okay, when he could see them again to battle them...

"Well, that's fine and all, but do remember to stay healthy," she said with a frown. "Carmine brought up some concerns she has had about your routine."

"O-Okay..." he nodded, and Miss Briar smiled before walking away, leaving him in the hallway to his thoughts...

The sounds of arrows soaring through the air could be heard as Relica kept on shooting at Griánne, but the lithe Pokémon hopped off the rocky terrains to dodge before swinging her cudgel at her. The Rito barely dodged by taking to the skies, only for Ogerpon to roar, "Grrraaahhhhpon!"

"Understood!" Agathhos nodded, flying over to her as she put on her new mask, turning her into her new form. RH-Ashley had aptly named it her Good Angel mask, not that she fully agreed with it, not after what had happened with Kieran...

She shook her head. "Grah!" Her grip on the cudgel tightened. She was going to get stronger! Stop this threat so maybe... maybe he could forgive her...

(How could she tell him that she was scared of him? That Ashley, a fresh stranger, meant more to her than the person who had been visiting her cave for so long... )

She barely dodged a rain of arrows from Relica. Right, she had to focus! "Grrraaah!"

Vines stretched out from behind her, rushing at her opponent as she tried to swat at her, but she was too good. She managed to fly out of the way of most of them, even if she did flinch when the rest made contact. Still, she bore through the pain the best she could. She had to end this spar as soon as she could!

Ogerpon then spun around, smiling behind her mask while using Alluring Voice at Relica, surprising her enough to make her land on the ground. Perfect chance!

Rushing at her, Griánne held her cudgel above her head and brought it down on her. Wood Hammer was a really good move to have at times like these!

Relica grunted, falling onto one knee while panting. She had barely blocked that attack with her arrows, but it still highlighted her incompetence. Even if Mosse told her that she had to learn to love herself... She couldn't. Maybe she refused to because, at the end of the day, she had... people had died in her battles.

It just made the darkness in her eyes all the more painful to watch, reflecting the cruel reality one lived in.

Although, speaking of that...

Tsuchiyume's voice rang out as he walked over to the two, "Great spar you two, but Griánne hesitated a bit too much there and Relica relied too much on long-range combat. Both of you need to change things up a bit there."

"He's right," Mosse agreed while leaning on the wall, with Alge nuzzling her and RH-Ashley's cheek. "We need to be ready any time in case they strike back against us."

"We have yet to see any of the Fragmented Code Digimon ever since the countdown began, though," Agathhos pointed out as he emerged from the mask, Ogerpon returning to her normal self because of it. "It is quite unnerving."

"Yeah, well, you should know that Pascatmon's insanity knows no boundaries. We've yet to hear anything about Gargantua Dragon too, which is weird, considering his Buddy literally got possessed and then proceeded to, you know." Tsuchiyume gave a vague wave, eyes narrowed slightly just thinking about it. He still didn't trust Yuga. Sure, Wuliang had vouched for him, but until he could prove to be trustworthy, no one was letting him out of the room they had given him in Y Gakuen. Everyone knew by now what he had done, the repercussions of his actions, done to... to somehow make the Creator Gods see? Oh, all they did was get their "malice" cleaned and let off the hook! Milady had at least been kind enough to help, but whose fault was it that they were in this mess in the first place!?

He let out an aggressive sigh. His head hurt just thinking about all this. That stupid ******* should have TOLD people instead of keeping it to himself... "Regardless, I think you need to think about why you chose to join the group in the first place. If you keep on hesitating in battle, it could get you... well, killed. I think you two know that by now, right?"

It was hard not to, what with the battle in the Burning Ocean Digiverse, with so many deaths... Not to mention the tournament, people fighting for their lives to save everyone else.

He then walked out of the training room, leaving them there to process what he said.

Mosse sighed. "You guys good? I know that it's been tough adjusting to everything, but..."

"No, it's fine. I understand why he thinks that way..." Relica said with her own sigh. "I need to be better, anyway. I can't let anyone die anymore."

"Relica..."

"You... You can be so relaxed because you won in the tournament," her voice shook. "Your round was you basically overpowering the Princess, but I..."

The Sheikah couldn't help but scoff at that. "Relica, I didn't overpower Zelda. She did thrash me for a good amount of it. Not fun at all."

"Yeah, b-but you did so well! And even when we were facing that bear-"

"Monokuma, and for the record that wasn't me at my worst point," she admitted. "Trust me, back then, I... wasn't the best of people. Still do get nightmares for what I did. It warped me, Relica. It made pain course through my veins as I was made to do the work for someone not even in my multiverse, all because I wanted to find my boyfriend..."

(Her despair had attracted the criminal from another universe, the offer too tempting. Even now, she still shudders, remembering that when she looks at the face of their former leader. Fic hadn't done it, sure, but that face had been capable of... of HORRORS.)

"You don't have to compare yourself, either. Sometimes, putting your best foot forward is all you can do," Mosse decided to end it there as she placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I... I guess so," Relica mumbled, causing her to smile a bit before walking out as well.

RH-Ashley awkwardly adjusted herself. She had been given a nicer jinbei to use courtesy of Sandayuu, and she had also been allowed to return to Naruva Academy, but she was only here to find out about her father's involvement in the Anomalice situation and support Ogerpon. Nemona, Penny, and Arven had expressed their concerns about her health, heck, even Keita was asking, but she...

Could she afford to have that as her only motive for being a Dimension Keeper? She had seen the stuff they had to do, and there was... There was that countdown... The verses were slowly falling apart. Was it really the best time to want to investigate a private matter when her entire multiverse was at stake?

"Ponio?" She was jolted out of her thoughts by Ogerpon as Griánne hopped over. "Grahh?"

"O-Oh no, I'm fine," She reassured her. "I was just thinking, I guess."

"Poni?" She tilted her head in confusion. "Graahh, pon?"

"No, no, it's fine," RH-Ashley chuckled. She was so cute like this, really. "Anyway, we should probably get lunch soon. I'm starving."

"I suppose so," Relica agreed hesitantly. She had promised Revali and her friends that she would at least try to eat regularly while she trained as a Dimension Keeper, so she had to keep her end of the deal. A warrior didn't break promises!

"Grraah!" Griánne giggled, hopping up and down as the three walked out of the training room for some food.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

If this was his boyfriend/childhood friend's way of annoying him out of the room, Kakogawa Ranma wasn't falling for it. The Lost World user leaned on the wall, staring at his amber eyes as Ranma inquired fully, "Why didn't you tell anyone about your plan? Or at least run it through someone?"

"It wasn't like I had anyone to do that with," Yuga said simply, even while he looked away. He definitely felt guilty, if his eyes told him anything.

"You didn't think to even bring it up? That the monster who had tortured Haneul-sempai for her own ego had saved you and made you promise to help her do something this May? All after dropping a bombshell on you and FORCING your hand?" He couldn't help it. He felt angry, pissed. He felt HURT, that Yuga didn't even trust him...! "You could have tried-"

"I did, I really tried!" The other finally snapped, eyes glowing blue as he glared hard at his boyfriend. "I genuinely did, but..."

His voice broke there. "*******s like her and Paruko, they... They ruin people. When I tried to tell anyone else, Blues-sempai, Uju-sempai, ANYONE, it... My mouth just shut. She made it impossible to do anything! I wanted to so bad, heck, I even tried cutting my own skin to get the message across! It didn't even work, those STUPID Codes healed me back up! So don't you ****ing dare claim that you understand! You don't! I HAD TO CARRY THE ****ING BURDEN OF KNOWING THAT **** AND IT'S NOT LIKE YOU WOULD WILLINGLY LISTEN TO ME ANYWAY!"

Ranma froze. "W-What do you mean, Yuga? I-"

"Just, stop lying. The entire reason you and Destroyer... I know it's my fault. I know you're still scared of me. I... I know you fake your love cause you don't want to get on my bad side..." He collapsed onto the chair he had been given, closing his eyes. He sounded... Exhausted. "I get it. I'm a monster. Paruko, she was right..."

"That's not true, Yuga..." This time, Mona spoke up, making Ranma flinch a bit. "Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you like that. But you are no monster. At least to me."

"Mona-san, you only say that cause you're in the exact same, if not worse situation than me. You didn't willingly let the Codes ruin you, I did!" He wasn't even trying to hide his despair at this point. "I'm the reason Ragnarök even happened! I don't... I don't regret killing Paruko, but..."

"She was a *****, but you're not her!"

"No, I AM! You know that, Ranma!"

Ranma grabbed his hoodie, making the other flinch before realising that the dark blue irises of his best friend/boyfriend were boring into his own eyes. "YOU don't get to decide how I feel, you hear me, Mikado?! Stop lying to yourself, stop gaslighting yourself into thinking you're like Paruko! You're NOT!"

His grip tightened, his fists shaking. "I admit I still have fear. It's hard to forget when you ruined lives. But it's mainly because I should have questioned it. I should have helped. Is it so hard to believe that there are people who love you, Yuga?! Huh?!"

"Well, at least Gangsan didn't **** up the worlds! My dads deserve better than a psychopath!"

"Well too bad! Ismaya-san was a psychopath yet he adopted a kid, had a grandkid and an in-law! He didn't let his past own him! Why can't you do the same?!"

"Wouldn't that only dishonour those who I hurt?! Wouldn't that make their suffering so insignificant?! I've pretended to be a good guy enough! I never was, never will! I ruined lives! At least you didn't do that when you were Vile Ranma..." His grip loosened, and he roughly pushed him aside. "You know what? I think we have to stop. This relationship, it was too one-sided. If this continues, I'll hurt you more..."

"Yuga-"

"JUST! JUST GO! STOP TRYING TO PITY ME! I DON'T EVER WANT TO HEAR OR SEE YOU AGAIN! I'LL... I'LL TELL MY DADS THE TRUTH MYSELF, SO JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, KAKOGAWA!" He all but screamed.

Ranma couldn't help but tear up. Anger coursed through his veins. His chest ached as he left the room. He didn't get it. Why was Yuga being so difficult? Why couldn't he understand that he was loved...?

Centuriomon and Wuliang watched this happen, and they both sighed.

"He's... Not doing great, is he?"

"Pretty much. I'm worried for him."

"Same here, Wuliang. Same here..."

There was a silence between the two standing in front of the two-way mirror, before the space-time keeper spoke again, "So. How do you.... Do this friendship thing?

".... Ne?"

"I'm back..." Kieran said as he opened the door to his dorm room in Blueberry Academy, which made his Pokémon look up from their activities. Cada the Dipplin had been dragging his stuff to make them neater AGAIN (He TOLD him to leave it to him! Seriously, he wasn't the kind to go back on a promise!), Aragog the Yanmega was resting atop his closet (was he actually a dragonfly or a spider at this point?!), Glimm (well, he did get the Gliscor's name mixed up with his Probopass' sometimes, but that wasn't too often!) was reading a book while using his pincers to turn the pages, Braze was chewing on gum in the corner (how did a Probopass even do that?), Boyle the Poliwrath was watering the plants on his windowsill, Bruce the Shiftry was fanning the rest of them because his air conditioning broke down (WHY, THANK YOU, POMPEII! SERIOUSLY THIS LITTEN SOME DAYS! AND HE EVEN SLEEPS ON THE BED UNBOTHERED!), Slyth the Dratini was right beside the Litten, Ink the Impidimp was trying to annoy the two sleeping Pokémon, and...

An empty space, where a certain Sentret would once rest while he studied.

His hands shook. Even now, every time he looked at his Box...

He couldn't make himself open it. He couldn't make himself pull Merkins out after all this time, and yet, he felt even worse if he even considered releasing the Furret out into the wild. What if he didn't survive...? He admitted that Merkins had gotten used to eating a full meal, so going out into the wild would be hard... Plus, this was his starter, he... He had caught the mon after Miss Briar had given him a bunch of PokéBalls to catch a team before he went to Blueberry Academy. His very first catch, meant so much to him aside from Cada. 

Yet it was that very same catch he had treated like ****. He... He knew Merkins deserved a better trainer. Heck, he had half his mind to release all of them into the Terarium so they didn't have to suffer with him. 

He was... Scared of what he could do, actually, and mainly towards his starter. Everyone had called Furret weak, saying that Normal-types like them were useless and would not make it onto a strong team.

Of course, he had refused. The thrill of battling felt off without his friends! It had just been him, Cada and Aragog.

But it had taken Ashley's betrayal to ruin his mind. He had only been able to snap out of that state thanks to the adventure he had had for a while, verse travelling. It had changed his viewpoint.

For the worse, maybe. Kieran had come to realise that something was really, really wrong with him. Ever since he came back, for weeks he had avoided everyone. His sister, Lacey, Crispin, Amarys, Drayton (who he still thought had a thing for his sister)... He just went to classes and didn't do much. He was the living dead at this point...

He set his schoolbag down and sighed, but paused as his eyes caught sight of something.

A cream-coloured envelope sat on his desk. It was a simple one with a dark blue wax seal and his name written on it in the usual manner, yeah, and honestly it wouldn't be alarming, but he recognised that shade of blue. The exact same one he saw on the Anomalice...?

He strode over, taking it into his hands as he got a letter opener from his bag, cutting it open and extracting the letter from within. His Pokémon crowded around him while he slowly unfolded the letter to show a handwritten note, lilac ink dotting the crisp paper.

Dear Hannya Suguri (or is it Kieran? Gosh, verse stuff is weird),

Perhaps you know me. Perhaps you don't. But I definitely know you. I've been watching you for a while. Yes, I know about the whispers, about what really led you to steal the Teal Mask.

He froze. He came to realise his hands were shaking as he struggled to breathe. How did this person know?...

Still, he forced himself to take deep breaths, curiosity burning as he continued to read.

I admit, at first glance, you're a coward. People continually look down on you. The warmth you have in that fragile heart of yours has been ruined again and again, which ultimately led you to do some things you're not proud of.

"You got that right..." He muttered.

As you already know by now, the Anomalice are suffering through the same thing. I understand this is quite the delicate matter, but you are aware of the countdown, no? The one that could end everything? If so, then perfect. Skip the paragraph below this one.

He chose to skim it just in case it had important information, but all it mentioned was a tournament the Creator Gods had held out of anger towards the Anomalice, wanting to get rid of mortals but instead choosing to have them duke it out. Well, he was glad that there were people who had won. People like Ashley who were super strong!...

He shook his head, moving on to the next part before he ruminated again.

Regardless, the countdown still goes on. Things aren't looking great, and to make matters worse... Well, you remember Apophimon right? He was the first Fragmented Code Digimon. There have been others who were defeated and reborn, and Areum Rudi, whom you have already met, has also found a way to take down the Codes within her. But seven rogue Anomalice remain, and I fear that things will only get worse.

Therefore, I've decided to reach out to you.

Him? Of all the people... HIM?

"This person must be crazy..." he muttered under his breath, which made Cada nudge him a bit roughly. "Sorry, but it's true!"

Ignoring their gazes on him, he returned to the letter. Better not to have them pity him. Keep his distance.

(Maybe he should have returned to Kitakami, but he was scared of what he would find there.)

You have potential, as you no doubt have been told countless times. Held back by the mental shackles you place on yourself, scared of what would happen should you "apply yourself", no?

That's why I decided to give you a trial of sorts.

A trial?

If you check the final drawer of your table, there will be a PokéBall that I have specifically modified for you. You need to have a certain Pokémon occupy it, though, in order to be able to activate it. I do believe you will know which one it is when you see it.

However, regardless, the decision is yours to make, Kieran. Will you choose to wallow in the darkness, let the thoughts overtake you? Or will you choose to go down the harder, more painful, but ultimately better route? I eagerly await your choice.

Sincere regards, KS.

P.S. Don't tell the Keepers if you choose to join them about this letter. I'll reveal myself in time. But feel free to do your own research on me! I can't wait to see how you go about things!

His eyes moved to the bottom cabinet of his oak drawer. Now that the mysterious KS had actually given him this chance, well, who was he to refuse?

He sat down on his chair, and leaned downwards to pull it open.

DING DING DING!!!

"Oh ****! NOW?!" Mosse cursed as she, Relica, RH-Ashley and Ogerpon ran to the main room, where the others were already gathered.

Jinpei gasped. "They... they finally..."

Ranto gulped. "Yeah, they finally showed up."

"After a month of inactivity... But where had they been, and... and will we be able to free them?" Daun spoke up.

FH-Cyber gulped. "I-I hope we can..."

"Knowing the order... it should be Marduk next... Meaning he's going for Exbloode," Mona then said.

That made Acheelmon gulp. "Well this is bad."

Miasma frowned. No sign of teasing fun could be seen on his face as the Coronamon said, "If it's Marduk... Oh crap, we need to go, guys."

Ludomon nodded. "Who knows what Pascatmon's done to them without Mona to intercede! For all we know, they've forgotten what they wanted to do...!"

"They probably have..." Gangsan finally said. Their voice was softer than how the other Keepers were used to, but could they blame them? They hadn't... they hadn't told Gao and Tasuku about their true identity, their partner disappeared after being revealed to be the one behind their entire predicament, and... and their twin had betrayed the side of good for petty revenge. Even if it had been a month, one couldn't blame them for being catatonic. "We need to take them out as soon as we can. No stalling."

"I agree, but how do we do that...?" BO-Monica asked.

"Let's look at the world he entered and we'll figure it out from there," Areum said while checking the monitor, bringing up the time disturbance report. "Hang on, this is..."

"World LOZ-8611... And it's when the war finally begun..." Daun paled drastically. "****.... They're getting worse..."

"Wait, why?" Yuga took over, and there seemed to be curiosity as he asked, "Is it another major world?"

"No, cause... It's pretty much a Bad End World already," Wuliang answered. "Considering, well..."

"What I did?"

"... Pretty much. It's encouraging the growth of more Forbidden Verses and worlds to the point that the balance of good and bad worlds are beginning to destabilize."

"50-50?"

"More of 70-80% good. It's... Complicated. But basically, if the number of bad worlds grow to the point it outnumbers the good ones..."

"W-What could happen?" Shamamon inquired.

Glasssweeper gulped.

What he said made Mona gasp and Yuga pale drastically while the others shuddered.

"It could mean the end of this entire multiverse, the death of Creator Gods, the death of EVERYONE in this multiverse, and maybe even beyond..."

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

~~ Triforce War Beginning, Year Unknown ~~

He stood in front of them. Hyrulian features looked back at them behind a mask as he readied his crossbow. "I will destroy you all, even if it costs my life."

"Sadly, we are not the kind to give in so easily," Mipha spoke with a sharp look in her eyes.

"We take you down!" Yunobo agreed.

But Revali's eyes remained fixated on the Yiga standing beside the masked figure. His grip on his bow tightened as he hissed out, "Your actions caused deep pain to my daughter. So much that she... She..."

(Watching his fledgling succumb to the darkness, giving up on the light in her heart and becoming a husk of who she was before had been so, so painful. And to think, that one mission had caused this. That he had to bury his own daughter, whose stress turned her into--)

Shilla laughed a bit. "Why so angry, Revali? Perhaps your feathers were ruffled? Tis a shame your daughter didn't survive, though. Oh, well, I suppose your teachings of being the best warrior there is and making her live up to your expectations drove her nuts! I just happened to be the final nail to her coffin, hehe~"

His blood boiled at that.

"YOU DID THIS TO HER! IF YOU HADN'T... IF YOU HADN'T DONE WHAT YOU HAD DONE! IF YOU HADN'T KILLED THAT LITTLE GIRL! SHE WOULDN'T BE DEAD! SHE WOULD BE ALIVE!" He screeched. Pure fury was all one could see in those emerald orbs, burning so brightly as he aimed his arrow right at her. "I WILL DESTROY YOU! I WILL.... I WILL DROWN YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!"

The one known as Power's Retainer stared at him blankly, even as his heart hummed in familiarity. Did he... know this man?

(Screams, echoes, ancient words in a different language, PAIN-)

He frowned, but aimed his crossbow at his fr- enemies. He was not about to lose this fight!

Shilla chuckled while activating her own powers. "First the daughter, then the father... Perhaps my luck is finally turning around! Finally, Lord Ganon will reign supreme over this world!"

Sidon spun his tridents in anger. "You will pay for what you have done to that child! You truly are a monster, Yiga!"

"I'll take that as a compliment!" She smirked. "My fellow soldiers, it is time to rise and take down these infernal warriors! Perhaps you would like to see your loved ones again?"

"W-What are you talking about?!" Daruk demanded. "You're insane!"

"Oh, really now? Well then, I suppose I have no choice but to prove it to you." Her eyes glowed as a dark mist filled the battlefield. "Retainer, do take them down when you can."

"Understood, Captain," he answered, slipping into the shadows while everyone stiffened, staying on their guard.

Shilla then began to chant something. One that if any Sheikah were around, would have recognised as a forbidden technique, sounding so foreign to anyone's ears (yet if one from another world were to hear, perhaps they would recognise as a language...) and echoing in the thick fog that surrounded them.

Then, it started.

"F-Father, it hurts, h-help me..."

Revali paled drastically. "R-Relica!?"

"Revali, my love, are you there? Please, it is painful, this curse I bear!"

His wife...!? W-What was going on!?

But all around them, voices began to chant and call. They begged for help, those who were long dead, long gone for eons and perhaps more.

Zelda cried out, her head pounding powerfully while she gripped it. This was too much! She couldn't handle this!

"You failed. Link didn't survive. It's all YOUR fault."

"Courage is no more. Power and Wisdom are all that remains of the Tri-Force!"

Her former incarnations, they were angry, she could tell. They hurled insult after insult at her. How could she have lost the man who meant a lot to her? Link had always protected her, had always fought for everyone, she had tried to save him too! But in the end... she had failed to save what mattered most to her. Link was lost, missing, gone, never to be heard from again! If only she hadn't let him go alone to the Yiga fortress to make Shilla pay. If only they had been thinking straight, but reeling from the sorrow of losing one of their own, a powerful warrior at that, Relica, had left them vulnerable, had led to Link's demise too.

But Retainer gripped his head too. The voices, they too were affecting him somehow. "M-Mistress! I-it hurts!"

That made the Yiga pause. Hang on, it shouldn't have affected him. Why was it? Unless... his past incarnations were trying to break him out!

She couldn't let that happen! "I reve-"

The mist suddenly dispersed on its own, allowing everyone to see Retainer screaming and pulling at his mask. It hurt, it hurt, it hurt!

"FIGHT IT! YOU ARE THE WARRIOR OF COURAGE! YOU DO NOT SERVE POWER!!!" The voices were still roaring at the brainwashed Hyrulian.

"W-Warrior of Courage...?" Zelda's eyes widened. "Then he's-"

BREACH.

The sound of a sword piercing someone's body echoed, metal hitting bone as blue goop coagulated behind the freshly dead corpse, a wilted apple glowing before consuming the body.

"Finally, a body to call my own." Broken wings shining like stained glass unfurled, revealing a butterfly Digimon whose antennae loomed over the group. "It has been far too long since I got to have fun."

Retainer collapsed onto the ground, coughing and ripping the mask out, revealing that indeed, Link Plone had been the one fighting against them. Blood splattered onto the floor once more, but he could only manage a weak grin at his en- no, friends. "I... I'm sorry for the trouble I caused..."

Zelda nearly collapsed there out of pure shock and relief. She couldn't begin to describe just how happy she was. The dread that had coiled around her stomach upon realising who it was behind the mask, dissipated as if it was never there.

Urbosa smiled, holding a hand out to him as she said, "Welcome back, Link."

He laughed, taking her hand and getting up. "I-I'm back, I guess. But we've got bigger problems right now."

"Yeah, that's true... Who the heck is that? And why did the mark that Relica have on her shine on them?"

"Maybe is Relica?" Yunobo asked hopefully, but the Digimon shook his head. "Sadly, your friend remains dead. I suppose all those souls were corrupted and made to say those words. Although it is a shame, it also allowed me to gain a body, so no harm done, I suppose."

Everyone still slid into battle stances, Revali's eyes narrowing as he demanded, "State your name and what you know of the Mark."

"Ah, introductions are at hand, I suppose," the Anomalice said, landing lightly on the ground before his body... morphed into what one could call a Hyrulian. Faded white hair and some red streaks on his left drooping down to show a white and red half-mask now embedded into his face indicated that there was something off about him. Sharp red eyes glowed, the pupils now in the shape of the wilted apple mark while the same wings from before unfurled behind him. "I am ShatteredHopemon, although... my old name was Marduk Jenkins. I was my own undoing, sadly."

(If one looks at his wings a bit more, maybe, they will realise that they seem a bit too crystalline, as if they were made of... made of a CORE CELL.)

"I just got rid of a huge obstacle for you, but the rest is up to you, how you fight, I suppose," he said, pulling up to the skies. "I have a certain antithesis to settle a score with. Exbloode, here I come."

"Hold it right there!" Revali unfurled his own wings, preparing to take off. "I want answers!"

"Not the time or place! You will find out soon enough!" He yelled back. "You have a war to win! Don't waste your time chasing me!"

The Rito champion hissed at him, but he knew that he was right. Yiga footsoldiers and blademasters were already rushing at them, now that Shilla was gone. They had to defend their home, so he had to cast this aside. 

Plus... Link was back, and as the newly-freed Hyrulian threw the armour he had been using at the enemy (probably to spite them), he knew that they could take on this army.

Relica... please watch over us! We WILL avenge you! he thought to himself before they all rushed into battle, ready to take Ganondorf down right here, right now!

Kieran stared at the Pokéball, unable to believe his eyes. His breathing hitched. Of all the Pokémon, this KS expected him to...!

The top part had a beige colour base, but it also had dark brown protrusions going upwards that resembled ears. Those ears were coloured dark teal inside, while a tree mark sat where the M would be on a Master Ball. (Kieran had seen Drayton's once, so he knew how it looked.)

This ball? He had never seen it, but its sheer existence made his stomach plummet down to the pits of anxiety. What the heck was this!? If this KS really knew him, surely he wouldn't make him...!

Alas, a part of him knew, perhaps by instinct, that this KS really did want him to do it. They had called it a trial, after all.

He sucked in a deep breath, but his eyes looked to the picture frame on his table, where he had saved a picture of him, Carmine and... and Ashley on the first day of the festival. He had been pretty shy back then, but his sis and Ashley looked so happy as they posed.

He looked at the frame on its right, where a slightly younger him, about 10 years of age, was snuggling a Normal-type Pokémon in his sleep. So peaceful and happy was the Pokémon, nuzzling him while Kieran himself looked blissful. Another picture showed the Pokémon standing up on his tail as he tried to assert dominance over Aragog and Cada in this very dorm, and he could see himself struggling to hide his laughter as the two new Pokémon stared back at him, no, Merkins, in utter confusion.

Cada made a small noise upon realising what he was looking at, while Aragog flew over to the picture, unsure why Kieran was looking at it.

"It looks like... this person wants me to catch Merkins in this new ball, however he expects me to do that," he said quietly. "Do you think it has different properties to normal Pokéballs? Maybe I should ask Miss Briar about it, but..."

He looked down at the ball again, his grip tightening as fear coiled around him once more. "I can't bear to look Merkins in the eye. I... I can't do this. I was never as strong as Ashley, a-anyone would be better compared to me... I-I'm just a useless crybaby, I messed up back then, and..."

How could he ever see himself as Merkins' trainer after everything he had done to the 'mon? He wouldn't be surprised if Merkins refused to rejoin him after all this time...

A hand touching his cheek made him jolt (whispers of evil echoing, Asa's words remain) to see Ink with a concerned look. He knew that the kid usually preferred pranking others but right now, even he seemed worried about him. "O-Oh, Ink, don't worry... I'm just..."

Pompeii hopped onto the table and nuzzled his side, making him giggle. "S-Stop it tickles...!"

His hand moved to stroke his head-

"Do you like it, Merkins?"

The Sentret chirped happily, nuzzling him to show his love.

He flinched, as if struck by lightning as he retracted his hand. "I-I'm going to go to the Terarium to cool off!"

He didn't know why he swiped the PokéBall to take with him, but he needed time to think. He had been holding off the thought for a while, but now...

His hands were shaking as he passed his friends in the corridor, ignoring Lacey's call and Crispin's yell. He was all but running to the Terarium now, tears falling down his cheeks.

He couldn't do this. He couldn't take it!

"I have to release Merkins. I-I... I can't keep him, I have to give him to someone, m-maybe to Lacey! Y-Yeah, she loves cute Pokémon! She's perfect to care for him!" He told himself, even when his heart ached. It hurt. It hurt too much!

No, this is what I get! He's better off without me! I abandoned him for so long! I... I'm a loser for a Trainer... He tried to convince himself.

This was the best course of action.

No, it was the ONLY course of action he could take. Maybe he could trade the others off, give them a better life this way.

Or maybe, I could just quit as a Pokémon Trainer.

He gulped. It sounded so logical, it was probably that, actually. If that.... That thing wanted to fully ruin his mind, then he was better off having no other Pokémon to be corrupted with him.

(What of seeking help, though? Kieran perhaps knew to some subconscious extent about it, but refused to take that option. He had already been so weak. Lost over and over again.

... Why had he started working on his team again?)

But still, he... he enjoyed battling right? 

When had that changed? When had his love for battling been lost? Had the Ogerpon issue really killed the light inside him? 

Was he EVER a good pe-

Just then, a portal opened up in front of him, making him yelp and fall backwards as someone stepped out of the vortex.

Wait, was it...?

"A Litwick?" He whispered in surprise. "But it's frozen over...?"

The frost candle creature looked at him with a soft sigh, twin wick protruding out of it as it mused, "Well, that was a bit of a dud, wasn't it, Kirameki Sasuga? You forced him to think about this too early, but perhaps... A little nudge can help you pass his trial."

His eyes widened. Wait... Could it be...? "A-Are you a D-Digimon?"

The Digimon hummed. "You are quite perceptive. Indeed, I am one. Rousonkomon at your service, Suguri Hannya. Tester of Souls, Challenger of Minds."

His words died in his throat. Was she... Was she connected to this Kirameki Sasuga?

"Well, don't worry about it," She said. "You've found yourself in quite the pickle, haven't you? Somehow dragged into the Anomalice mess, made to question the darkness that had long been simmering within you."

Long been simmering...? "You know about...? How many people KNOW about it!?" he stammered. 

"A lot of people made speculations, I suppose," Rousonkomon answered. "And though it may be hard to believe, there is great potential in you. Perhaps, there is another route that you can take."

(Lost, broken, he worked to defeat someone he never had a hope to defeat. Nearly dying in Area Zero for his recklessness and desire for something to call a treasure, but what truly snapped him out of it was the call, the plea from the one he had always admired, only for the losses and betrayals to ruin his mind, showing him that he indeed could make a difference, that he WAS loved. All he had to do was to open his eyes and look around, to see the people around him who did care. 

This... 

Is not that story.)

"H-huh?" The black-haired teen looked at her in confusion. What did she me-

She held out a waxed hand, and the sounds of a whirling... something could be heard as he fell-

"Vortex of Beginnings."

"Ponio! Graaahhhh!!!"

RH-Ashley patted Ogerpon's head as they, Relica, Tsuchiyume, and Ranto walked through the woods. "I'm happy that you seem excited. It does remind you of Kitakami, I guess?"

"Yopon!" she giggled, hopping up and down. The air around her felt so fresh and beautiful! She loved it so much! "Grah grah pon!" 

"Hey, we need to focus on what's ahead of us," Tsuchiyume snapped, making the Pokémon freeze while looking away. "G-Grah..." 

"That was a bit too harsh. I think Ogerpon just misses home," RH-Ashley defended her with a frown. (Not that she didn't get it, honestly. She did miss her hometown.)

Tsuchiyume sighed roughly. "Whatever. Just make sure it doesn't get in the way of the mission."

As he walked faster ahead of them, Ranto rubbed his temple. "I am so sorry for him. He's on edge." 

"That was quite the burst, though," Agathhos pointed out. "Is there something else plaguing his mind?" 

"I... I'm not sure. We only met him through Sasuga, and he's been MIA since the countdown began," the sea-green-eyed male admitted. "But he has always been a bit standoffish. It's just that we get used to reading into his actions as we go." 

"But you like him, though?" Relica asked, making him blush as RH-Ashley and Ogerpon giggled. "Your tone when you talk with him is higher than when talking to the others."

"I-It IS?!" he stammered, face going bright red. That explained why Félix, Belos, FH-Cyber, and FH-Badgerclops laughed every time he interacted with Tsuchiyume! (he knew Yuga would have, but he hadn't seen him crack a smile in an entire MONTH. Understandable, though, considering the circumstances.)

Relica couldn't help but chuckle herself. "That's quite funny."

RH-Ashley smiled, although it did drop as they continued to walk. Her mind drifted off to remember a message Carmine had sent her a few days back, which only made her heart clench all the more. 

"Hey, Ashley, do you know what's wrong with Kiki? He's been acting really scared. Like, even more scared than normal. He avoids everyone like the plague and most of the time, he's either training or locked up in his room. I... I don't know what's going on, and it scares me. I did try to apologize, to have a talk with him but he just avoided me. 

Look, I had time to think about what you said, and honestly? You have a point. I've been ignoring his issues for so long, and I genuinely want to make things right, but he won't let me... I'm really lost. I don't know how to handle this... 

Okay, yeah, I know you're busy, but... if you have time, can you come over and talk to Kiki? I think he would appreciate you being around. He IS your friend. 

Thanks, Carmine."

She hadn't replied, but she knew it was only a matter of time before she came after her again, begging for help. 

But she couldn't, not after what had happened between them. 

All the words spoken, and everything, the murders, the fights, she had seen Kieran fight tooth and nail, had seen him yell at his own Pokémon and threaten to box them. 

A part of her knew, she had pushed him down that route. She had been the final straw that broke him internally, shattering his self-esteem and ruining their friendship.

She had been running away, hadn't she? She had been trying to avoid thinking about Kieran for an entire month, but she had seen Ogerpon's look, the heartbroken eyes as he walked through that portal, not once looking back to say goodbye. 

She had... seen his shoulders shake. It wasn't hard to guess that he was purposely ignoring them, and she-

"Ashley?" Ranto's voice made her look over to him. "You okay?"

She nodded, trying to recover from his sudden call. "Pretty much yeah, why?"

"Thinking about Kieran again, huh?" 

Spot on... she couldn't hide the flinch as she looked away. "Is it that obvious?"

"I mean, you looked at him the same way I would my family growing up," he admitted. "At least when we were talking to him last month before we sent him back."

"Your family?" She hadn't heard about his family outside his current one in his Keisuke. (She was honestly very surprised that a version of Keisuke could balance manga writing and acting, but then again, she rarely talked to the Alolan champion, didn't know about his likes and dislikes. Could she truly judge from what she's heard alone? 

It would be wrong, but... regardless, she found herself doing it.)

He nodded. "My birth family, they died to a bunch of aliens, but I survived and would eventually find my way to Y Gakuen, where I would help take down the leader of the aliens who had done that to them. Hilariously..." a chuckle escaped his lips. "It was Jinpei who saved me from dying that night."

"W-What?!" Her eyes widened.

"Time loop that was always meant to be fulfilled I guess," he said, his eyes looking out to the vast world around them. "I... definitely wasn't the kindest to him, but he still reached out. I remain grateful for that actually."

He paused, but looked at her. "I... I don't know what Kieran and you have between you, but maybe you could try to reach out. His walls will break down eventually. Don't force it either. It'll only make things worse. Give him personal space and encourage conversation even if you're scared ****less."

"Is that even..."

"Possible? Yeah. I mean, it worked for me and a bunch of Jinpei's other friends. Just reaching out and being there for him even when he pushes you away... sometimes, it's just what he himself needs, even if he doesn't know it right now." He shrugged. 

RH-Ashley went quiet, thinking about it as they continued to walk, keeping an eye on their surroundings for the Digimon. 

Ranto had a point, didn't he? She... she could at least do that much for him, right?

(Would he even accept it? After everything they had been through?)

(Perhaps, as he falls, the new PokéBall in hand, something will happen...)

Little did they know, their target watched from above. 

Marduk closed his eyes. His plan was about to unfold, but... 

"Mona... Stay safe. Good bye."

Because there was no going back for them. 

A crystalline butterfly, Aura dripping down like rain soon hovered above them as he followed Exbloode's trail of Vestroian energy in the opposite direction.

While the Creator Gods were having their hissy fit...

Mardu- no, VESTRAMON and his friends had been forced beyond their limits, imbued with so much of the Codes that... 

That they evolved...

[The Doom Dimension is a gloomy place.

Vladitor closes his eyes while looking up at the misty sky above. His thoughts stray to that special brawler of his. Who sacrificed himself... To save the Diamond clan...

A tear... Escapes him.

If only life were kind enough to keep his partner alive... 

If only he... had a second chance, to help Marduk.]

(In a box, a familiar starter looks up, making a quiet noise as he sees a portal open up. Dark teal eyes brighten, and he gets up to waddle on his fours towards the vortex. Finally, he's free! He can finally see Rara again!

He does not notice the small glitches as Headmaster Cyrano shoots up, staring at his computer. Briar gasps, her computer powering down. NO NO NO! HER HARD WORK!

Watching the Furret inside the Box system network, Rousonkomon smiles slightly before disappearing. It is time to let fate work its course.)