I dreamt of nothing. My senses were full of pleasant smells and comfort. A deep, peaceful rest like never before. I could hear a small murmur and sometimes I felt something brush my face gently.

I awoke, the feeling of softness beneath me. The smell of earth and plants hit my nose along with a pleasant aroma. It looked to be twilight through the trees, but large glowing mushrooms lit up the area. Trees were all around me and when I sat up, I saw much of the roots and forest floor were covered in moss. I moved my hands down my body, realizing I was wearing a new set of woven leaf clothes.

An ominous melodious cry directed my attention to a rather tall Pokemon. Her long hair flowed down her body, her head the only part visible. Her eyes were pitch black, her white slitted pupils staring at me. What looked like a witch's hat seemed to be a part of her hair, an appendage hanging down from it. 

I held my breath. I knew this type Pokemon. And her being here wasn't good. Not good at all.

Another hauntingly beautiful sound emitted from her as her appendage stroked my hair as she leaned in close. Her eyes inspected me, before making another cry. Immediately, something small and pink emerged from behind a large green mushroom with its tongue sticking out. 

"An Impidimp," I thought as it handed a berry to the Hatterene. She held it out to me and I was hesitant to accept it. A psychic force pried my mouth open and forced me to chew and swallow the purple berry. 

Immediately I felt more aware. The soreness and drowsiness I hadn't been aware that I had suddenly disappeared.

Hatterene made a happy jingle like sound before moving away over to where I saw another person lying.

"Luna," I realized and hurried to stand. On my way doing so, I snapped a twig with my foot. Hatterene whirled around, eyes glowing sharply. I froze, bracing for a psychic assault. It never came.

Hatterene calmed down and resumed her almost swaying over to Luna. I carefully walked over as well, kneeling next to Luna, who wore fresh clothes like me. Despite her skin tinged with purple and some unhealed cuts that were a little puffy, her face seemed relaxed. Around her were multiple types of glowing fungi, a sweet aroma coming from them, relaxing my soul.

As much as I distrusted Hatterenes, I had a feeling she was the only one able to heal Luna right now. Looking around, I spotted Xera sitting up against a tree not too far away, new clothes on as well. When I got over to her, she stood and jerked her thumb behind her.

"So," I said once we could no longer see Hatterene. "What exactly happened."

She shrugged. "I know as much as you do. Last thing I remember was falling unconscious while you were still fighting in that poisonous forest. Next thing I know, I wake up here, my injuries healed."

I nodded. "Hatterenes are excellent healers, but..."

The auburn haired girl must've seen my expression, since she asked, "What's wrong?"

"Hatterene," I looked back, afraid she was there, watching. "Back where I live, we call them the Forest Witch. They are not to be trusted and any sudden our loud noise may lead them to attack you."

"Wonderful," Xera muttered. "I take it you had personal experience?"

I shook my head. "Thankfully no. I've only heard stories of unlucky developers trying to cut trees in their forests. Most never survived."

"Well," Xera looked back the way we came. "She seems to be the one who rescued us and healed us. I'm willing to trust her."

I didn't really know how to feel about that, but I had a feeling I had little choice. "So, where's Z and the rest of the Pokemon?"

Xera pointed in a direction. "In a clearing not far from here. I don't think Luna will wake anytime soon, so we can go for now."

Nodding, I followed her. As we walked, I would see the occasional Impidimp, even a Morgrem staring at me from atop a blue glowing mushroom. A cloud of Morelull floated by on the breeze, a Ponyta prancing around up ahead of us in a clearing.

She stopped, staring at us as we entered the clearing. The sky could be seen now, the colors orangish and indigo. Twilight.

"Awake finally?"

Z was leaning against a nearby tree, looking totally fine despite what she had been through in the Miasma Forest. Then again, I felt perfectly fine as well. Yanmega buzzed from overhead and practically knocked me over when he zoomed into my chest. Leavanny gave a cry and joined the hug.

"Hey there," I grinned, rubbing their heads. "Thanks for all the help you've given us. I don't know if we would be alive without either of you."

Yanmega buzzed happily while Leavanny gave a cry and I looked to see Xera smiling with her Dewpider and Grovyle.

"I'll admit," Z smirked, fangs showing. "You weren't half bad yourself in that fight."

"Really?" I was surprised.

"No," Z snorted. "You were totally helpless it would have been funny if not for the situation we were in."

"Oh," my face dropped, but Yanmega buzzed his wings, trying to distract me. 

"You know," Xera looked up from her petting of Dewpider. "I've been wondering about that forest. How were you not affected, Liam?"

"I..." I thought back. It was true. I remember wondering why I was actually feeling better while Xera had been getting worse in the Miasma Forest. "I don't actually know."

A melodious cry resounded from behind me, nearly making my heart stop. I turned to see Hatterene there, floating around her our supplies and weapons. For a second I thought she was going to attack us with our stuff, but she set them down on the mossy floor and left.

"She said Luna will be better soon," Z announced once Hatterene was far enough away. "We'll have to leave the Twilight Forest tomorrow."

"How'd you get that out of nothing?" I asked, shocked.

"She communicates through her psychic abilities," Z answered. "She could probably talk to you too, if she felt like it."

I shuddered. I really didn't want that.

Despite my instincts warning me to stay away, I said, "I'm going to check on Luna. See if she's awake yet."

Xera nodded. "We'll all be here."

Nodding, I set off where Hatterene had left. Xera or Z didn't say anything as I left, so I assumed this was the right way. After a minute of walking, I saw a Rapidash leaning her head over, her horn gently touching Luna, who was still asleep. I went over and saw that she no longer had a purple tinge. With her white hair splayed out beneath her and her face adorning a gentle look, she looked so peaceful.

The Rapidash withdrew, neighed at me softly, then left, the Ponyta from earlier prancing from the bushes to follow. I looked back at Luna, whose eyes were open now.

Before I could say a word, she jabbed me in both eyes. 

"Ow," I rocked and fell on my back. "What was that for!?"

"You were staring at me when I was sleeping," she said, straightening her hair. "Not creepy at all."

Sighing, I blinked, the pain ebbing away. "Glad you're alive, Luna."

"It was a close call there," she winced as she held her hand to her head. "I assume we're in the Twilight Forest."

"How'd you know?" I asked.

"Z and I have been here before," she answered. "We're at the base of the Central Mountains. I say everything went well."

I blinked at her. "Went well? We all almost died!"

"Shh," she held up her finger to her lips. "You want Hatterene to come and kill you?"

That shut me up real fast. 

"Look," Luna held out her hands. "We're all here and alive. That's what matters..."

"Everyone is here and alive, right?" she asked, unsure now.

"Yes," I affirmed. "Xera and I both had to come and save you and Z. Nearly died. If it wasn't for the Pokemon that helped..."

Luna nodded. "We're going to have to rely on Pokemon a lot from here on out. This island is a dangerous place where humans could easily be taken out by the dominant species."

"I would assume we're to leave in the morning?" Luna asked.

Nodding, I asked a question of my own. "Yes, but how will we know. As far as I can tell, its only been Twilight since I've woken up."

She smirked. "This is the Twilight Forest for a reason."

Luna stood and stretched, wincing. "Still a little sore, but considering what I've been through, it's to be expected. Liam, lead the way. We should regroup."

"Fine," I stood. "Are you sure you should be moving around. You only just-!"

I muffled my cry as she punched me in the arm. "I think I'm good. My punch feels as strong as ever."

Blinking back involuntarily tears, I pointed in the direction I had came and led the way. Once we reached the clearing, Luna cleared her throat. "Alright, pack up everyone. We're leaving right away."

"Don't we still have time to kill?" Xera asked, eyes closed as she lay on the mossy ground.

Luna smirked. "Best not to waste time. We may just have narrowly avoided death, but that doesn't mean we should stop for too long. We're right at the entrance to the Central Mountains, so our destination is close. I don't know about you Xera, but I would have thought you, Liam, would be desperate to know your reason for being here. What the prophecy has to do with you."

"You can of course stay, Xera," Luna shrugged, gathering her bow, arrows, and spear. "But I hope you realize sometimes Hatterene unleashes psychic energy for no reason. Enough to blow the mind apart."

"And how would you know that," Xera sat up as Luna began walking away into the forest. "Huh? Answer me!"

Picking up my sword, I looked at Yanmega and Leavanny. Getting out of this forest appealled to me greatly. Sure, this place had wonderful aromas and an overall pleasant feel to it, and after the Miasma Forest, this place was perfect. But, the stories of all those people, those children who fell victim to Hatterenes... That alone was what made me want to leave, and fast. So when Luna said we were doing just that, I wasn't going to hesitate. 

"C'mon Xera," I said, rushing past her, Leavanny walking beside me and Yanmega flying just above my head.

"I hate you both," Xera growled, but she grabbed her spear and hurried after us.

Grovyle carried Dewpider as he jumped from branch to branch, Luna's pace a fast walk, Z matching her steps in Zoroark form. Part of me wondered if she had her own reasons for not wanting to be here. Another part wanted to ask, but the rational part of myself advised against it. At least for now. There was still a lot I didn't know about Luna.

The thought made me pause in my step. There was a lot I still didn't know about her. Why was she so determined to find out more about this prophecy? It couldn't be just for me. I may not have known her for that long, but I knew that couldn't be her motivation.

"Then what?" I thought as I resumed walking when Xera shouldered me as she passed. "Who exactly is she? Daughter of the Chief of the Moonlit Tribe, but that can't just be it."

"Answers..."

The word floated along the breeze, a soft whisper in my ear. At first I looked around, expecting to find Eric, but my blood froze when I saw Hatterene instead.

Her eyes glowed eerily white. "You seek answers. But for what purpose?"

Her head tilted and I finally realized I had stopped walking. I tried to move my legs, but they were stuck.

"William Walsh," she spoke, the sounds of the forest having gone silent, her voice the only sound. "Your fears, your pain, your sorrow. Never forget. He shall be the one who watches from your nightmares."

A shudder went down my spine as I heard a distant laugh. Eric's.

"Hold tight," she spoke, feet from me now. "That sword will guide your destiny. Your arrival brought change. The Forbidden Light awaits you. Secrets are always around you."

Her eyes slowly turned red. "The truth, if that is what you seek in all things, may be your downfall."

Her whole body began to glow and my eyes burned from the intensity. For a moment, time stopped in a sea of white, Hatterene's appendage caressing the side of my face, a sweet smile on her face.

"Remember, survival is key."

Bit of an odd chapter for me to write, don't know why. Anyway, coronavirus abound and now I don't have school until nearly May. Well, the upside is more time to write. So you all look forward to it. I may even get near to completion with this book, and get closer to the end for LDOC as well. Self-quarantining myself is hard, but I must do it... Who am I kidding? This is practically my life. Till next time readers. Stay safe and healthy. Toodles