I was once presented with a task. A task that—in all of my life—I've never wanted to do. Nothing hurts more than to see family hurt—no, dying in any form.

     This killing game continues—albeit in another universe. However, even if these universes aren't connected in any shape or form, there is still a mystery to solve.

     Can you?

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     Zantai's POV

     I tried to live life to the fullest—is what I normally say to everyone who thinks my life is perfect. Around this city littered with Pokemon, I knew everyone that passed by on the streets. Their names, siblings, hell—dare I say where they live. Blaziken normally are seen as rude, serious, and wise...but I'm none of those. I couldn't harm a fly.

     "Yo, Zants!" A Pokemon behind me called. Instead of Zantai, I was known as 'Zants', a cool little nickname given to me. I was known to give many nicknames to others as well, so in return, they handed me one as well.

     "Yo, Bigs!" I smiled back at the Midnight Lycanroc, who seemed to quickly trudge to me. However, his expression seemed worried—no, scared.

     "Heya...I'm sorry I seem off today it's just..." He began, his paws cupping together as he quickly shifted his gaze to the nearly empty streets, "there's something weird going on at my house..."

     "Oh, damn. You want me to come over and check it out...or?" I offered. I'd do anything for my friends; at least anything in my capabilities. This strange sound seemed familiar, almost like someone was breaking into his house, and it could be a threat. The red Lycanroc softly nodded and managed to break out a smile at my offer.

     "Yeah, that'd be cool. I can't really like...go there without hearing it so I came to you," he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, "sorry if I sound like a pussy." He chuckled, causing me to give out a hearty laugh.

     "Nah! It's chill, I get it," I uttered before pacing around the rock type and kept trudging forward, "let's go and head there now." I spoke with confidence as I heard the Lycanroc hum in agreement.

     It only took a few minutes to actually get to his house. It was a modern-looking house, nothing bad, nothing good. To Bigs, it was all he needed.

     "Aight, we're here," I murmured to myself before reaching for the front doorknob.

     "Hold up," Bigs hushed, his paw grabbing my arm. I hummed in confusion as I arched a brow. "Hear that?" He inquired.

     I did hear it. It sounded like machinery; almost like there was the mechanical whirring of a machine turning on inside of his house.

     "You got a fuckin' generator in your house, dog?" I scoffed lightly at the sound, his head shaking.

     "It's a different sound every time...Arceus!" He hissed to himself in annoyance as I shuffled my arm away from his grasp. Quickly, I turned the knob of his house and pushed it open, staring inside. There was nothing but the void staring back at me.

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     Hydra's POV

     Today felt wrong. Almost like the area I'm trudging in shouldn't exist...almost like I shouldn't exist in this area right now...

     Mountain Metaphora, a mountain with heavy snow scattered around its rocky base. Upon finally reaching a high area, I let my eyes finally glare down the nearly invisible ground far away below me. Lucario like me always end up meditating in certain areas like these. Places where other Pokemon would never inhabit, places where no one would ever think of visiting. We always had to choose empty areas like these for our safety—due to the fact we stop detecting our surroundings with aura, as we always stop using it to meditate. If a Lucario does not meditate, it can cause stress and utterly painful headaches.

     I cross my legs comfortably against the soft snow, my eyes finally coming to a close as I stopped using my aura. It felt nice for once; sometimes having too much information can be harmful to a Pokemon. However...

     Even with stress relief...some aren't up to par to handle everything...

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     Sammy's POV

     Tears dared to fall down my cheek and land on the moist grass below. Nothing could ever fix me, nothing could ever help me right now. I hiccuped, stammered, and even tripped against tree roots as I ran through the dark forest. The leaves above me didn't even let the sun attempt to shine through and give me any hope. I was left alone here to die, and as I tripped once again and didn't pick myself up...I closed my eyes in fear—no, disappointment. I disappointed everyone. I panted violently, letting my guard down as I curled up against myself, sobbing against the ground. Pathetic.

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     Luna's POV

     "Emma!" I called as loud as I possibly could, my eyes gazing deeply into the cave, "come outside, you're worrying me!"

     "Okay, fine! I'm out, I'm out," my little sister's voice reverberated around the darkness of the entrance directly in front of me. I knew I shouldn't have let her see the secret spot I usually visited, but alas, Emma finally left the cave. "Your rings look so cool inside of there!" 

     "Cool, right?" I sheepishly smiled at her as my rings—due to the fact I was an Umbreon—began to gleam slightly brighter as my head tilted up in pride, "I know! You don't have to mention it," I chuckled lightly, shaking my head, "come on...let's go back home."

     "Okay..!" The Eevee hummed lightly as I led the way through the dark forest. The unfortunate thing about trying to enter this secret spot of mine is passing through the forest itself. To me,  the area was so...quiet. "What's that sound?" The Eevee behind me hastily added as I felt her gaze track off me.

     "J-Just ignore it! I hear it all the time," I quickly began, flashing her a nervous grin. The sound itself was quite terrifying, in fact, something I've never heard before, "It'll be fine..!" I huffed silently, my stare locking in many unknown areas of the forest. The noise grew louder, something I feared was going to happen.

     "W-What...L-Luna!" I heard Emma gasp suddenly, and the second I turned around to at least try and face her...my world went dark.

     I couldn't move.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Hydra's POV

     I seemed to be in a dark void, one where breathing was impossible. I turned to move my non-existent body, and suddenly, I felt emotion and pain.

     "Are you alright?" My eyes shot open as I locked onto the other Lucario in the room. With absolutely no warning, I slammed my fist against his chest, causing him to stumble back and land on his haunches, "stop, I never did anything to you!" The Lucario panted softly, gazing up at me with distressed eyes, "I'm in the same stress as you are."

     "Where am I?" I lowered my guard, extending my paw out to the other Lucario.

     "I don't know...but there's a door here," he murmured before taking my paw and rose to his feet, "my name is Leon," Leon had introduced himself. I glared at the door for a few seconds and back to him, giving him a soft nod.

     "Hydra," I replied, slowly pulling my paw away and trudging away from him. The entire room seemed to be made out of a metal material, however, the door was entirely made of wood. I twisted the knob before shoving it open.

     "Look! More Pokemon!" A Zoroark called, complete concern radiated in her eyes. I took a good look around the area I was in. There were so much furniture and space, it was unbelievable.

     However, my attention soon spanned to an alarmingly large amount of Pokemon grouped up, so I decided to count them.

     Gallade, Zoroark, Sceptile, Infernape, Luxray, Umbreon, Midnight Lycanroc, Salazzle, Blaziken, Braixen, Greninja, Inceneroar, and Charizard. Counting me and the other Lucario behind me, there seemed to be two Lucario.

     "That's quite unfortunate," a large Charizard yawned, his accent muffling his voice very slightly, "I was hoping there would be no more newcomers."

     "Shut the fuck up, bitch! No one cares about what you think right now!" A very vulgar Infernape hissed, trampling violently up to the Charizard before being held tightly by a Salazzle.

     "Don't fight him, dumbass. That won't solve anything," the Salazzle spoke calmly before gazing around at the area.

     "I need everyone's names," I heaved a sigh, staring directly at the crowd as I awaited their answers.

     "Vince," a Greninja with seemingly a rough accent spoke as he raised a webbed hand.

     "L-Luna..." A very antisocial-looking Umbreon stammered, keeping his distance from the large crowd. The poor thing seemed terrified.

     "Zantai, pleasure to meetcha," he chuckled, giving me a soft grin. I don't know how he's keeping it all together in this situation.

     "Bigby," a Midnight Lycanroc rose his paw before giving me a determined glare.

     "Just call him Bigs," Zantai sheepishly grinned and wrapped his arm around the Lycanroc's neck.

     "Not right now Zants...I just want to leave," Bigby groaned in annoyance, his attention planted to the large ceiling of the room we were located in.

     "Nightshade," a Salazzle with wings rose her hand into the air and pointed directly at me, "and don't question the wings," she spoke in a threatening manner before focusing her attention elsewhere.

     "Xeonix," an Incineroar gave me an ear-to-ear grin, "oh, and ladies...stay away from my muscles," he gave a wink to a nearby Braixen, who groaned in annoyance and inched away from Xeonix.

     "Sammy," the Braixen waved her paw gently to catch my attention with a small smile.

     "Prince," the English Charizard frowned to me, a sly glare aimed directly at my pupils, "and we're not friends."

     "Luster," a serious-looking Luxray murmured his name to me, but suddenly, he offered me a small smile.

      "Loki," a Zoroark hastily began, her gaze locked onto mine, "and I really don't have a good feeling about this," she shuddered worriedly.

     "Galant," a Gallade suddenly appeared from the crowd, his blade extending to formally shake my paw. He gave me a determined nod as I took it, before focusing my attention at an Infernape.

     "Inu," the Infernape's snappy attitude I saw earlier seemed to calm down once she introduced herself.

     "Sherwood," a light accent muffled the words of the Sceptile's introduction, but nonetheless I understood his words.

     "That seems to be everyone..." I heaved a sigh, "I would say it's nice to meet you all but," I paused, gazing around as my eyes seemed to lock onto a staircase, "but we're not supposed to be here, are we?"

     Prince nodded to my statement, his gaze softening as he trudged away from the crowd and directly to the boarded-up windows.

     "If the windows are boarded, it would seem like someone placed us here on purpose," the Charizard placed a claw against his chin in thought. 

     "That's because you're correct, shit-for-wings," Inu hissed, crossing her arms, "you don't need to act so poshly and shit, we all know you're fucking terrified!"

     "Can we not fight for two fucking seconds? I'm trying to calm down here," Nightshade exclaimed from the crowd of Pokemon.

     "No one cares about your feelings," Prince gave a glare to the Salazzle before clawing against the planks pinned against the wall.

     "You think we can break them?" I softly murmured to the Charizard, who nodded swiftly.

     "You dare to do such a thing—I'll rip your head off!" An unfamiliar voice called into the room from an elevated point as the lights blacked out entirely.

     We were left in the void until a small light dimmed from the sky, and dropped down directly in front of the crowd.

     "Who are you?" Luna hastily called, backing away from an entirely different Braixen that had dropped from the ceiling.

     "Nice to meet you too," the Braixen's eyes seem to radiate with a feeling of evil I had never seen before, "to others...I am the mastermind!"

     "To you...I am Sam."