1st Person POV, Melodia

It all happened in a rush, not even my Nen could keep up.

One minute, I was playing in the backyard area of the Ancient Retreat under the indulgent yet watchful eye of Cogita, having just returned from my adventure in the Mystery Dungeon game, playing with my new friends I have made inside the confines of the game freed from the seal that kept them captive for who knows how long.

The next, a rift appeared in the air, causing alarm with Cogita as I was instantly sucked into it, my friends calling out to me in dismay as everything went black.

"So is this how I'm going to die... again?" I thought with acid, as my first death had made me a bit cynical, if not a bit sarcastic than someone my age. Not to mention my extremely dark sense of humor which only comes out when agitated or pushed far enough.

At least this time I lived long enough to see the age of thirteen, then sixteen, both ages a big milestone for a kid like myself.

Still doesn't erase the bitterness of being taken away from so many loved ones this time around. The first time I died, I had no one, leaving me alone. This time around, I had a family, even if we were not blood-related.

So when I opened my eyes, I was quite confused to see paper airplanes and pencils fly across my vision.

Is this what the afterlife is suppose to look like?

Before I could think on an answer, I felt a violent shove from behind, knocking me off balance.

"The hell?! How did I not sense someone coming up from behind?!" Whipping around, my heart dropped when I recognized the unpleasant face of the Bakugo Katsuki, the sole perpetrator of my death. My twin brother, Izuku, was hanging around behind him, lurking behind the mutt like the cowardly rat he truly is.

"Oh sweet Arceus, I'm in hell aren't I?" I thought with utter dismay, only to feel a flash of confusion when I realized something. "Why does it look like they are still five years old?" It was then that I realized as I took a glance at myself and realize with coldness that I while I may have not died, per se, I did get thrown back into the very place that caused me so much suffering and pain. On top of that, I'm no longer seventeen, but five years old again.

"Oh fuck berries..." I nearly cried in dismay, "I do NOT wanna go through puberty again...."

I was broken from my thoughts when I was shoved again, this time from the front. I landed on my ass, with me glaring at Bakugo, the offender, as I jumped back onto my feet and tried to activate my Nen to summon a Stayaway Wand from my inventory, only for nothing to happen. I then realized that since I have regressed in age, my Nen must have as well, as my nodes were unopened. Which meant I was in real big trouble right now.

I sprang away from a blow from Bakugo, which earned me a glare as I dodged. I didn't have to look to know the teacher in the room was turning a blind eye to the situation by reading a newspaper as all of this went down.

"How dare you dodge without my permission, you shitty pebble!" I merely glared at him, not even deigning him a response. This only served to piss him off some more, something I had once deemed impossible. He whipped around to look, or glare, at my twin brother. Izuku, while at first hesitated on ganging up on me, had gotten accustomed to making me his punching bag as well.

"Yo, Izuku! Get her!" Bakugo barked at him, making him jump slightly before hastily rushed at me, doing his bidding.

I glared at him as he clumsily charged at me; at one point earlier in life I had considered forgiving him for his actions against me. But now, after everything I have been through and experienced, even before discovering the beautiful power of Nen, I decided that he was not worthy of it, especially after Adaman and Volo educated me on what the definition of a true brother is. And suffice it to say, Izuku does not fit the bill. If he had actually defended me it would be a different story. But that is not the case here as he had chosen a corrupt power-obsessed society over his own blood.

Which is why I had no regrets when I roundhouse-kicked him in the middle of his chest, sending him flying to the opposite wall, making a mini crater as he slumped down to the floor knocked out cold.

"Thank you Gaeric, Zushi, and all of my Fighting-type Pokemon for honing my hand-to-hand combat skills..."

Bakugo looked shocked at this display before his signature glare resurfaced, sending a sneer at my twin's unconscious body. "Useless Deku...." He then fixed his sights on me, the arrogance in his aura visible and quite repugnant to my senses.

I only gave a dark smile, letting my bloodlust out, the familiar feeling of Ren trying to emerge, only fot my unopened Nen nodes to interfere. I spoke to Bakugo with enough venom to kill even an Arbok. "Come at me, if you dare, oh great one."

He then tried to attack me next, his hands lighting up with his Quirk, Explosion.

With a roll of my eyes, I sidestepped him before deciding to test out something I learned from Killua sometime before the Third Phase of the Hunter Exam to see if I can do it here as Bakugo ended up going headfirst into the wall behind us.

Springing back up onto his feet, I began to use the Rhythm Echo, afterimages of myself "walking" circles around him as he froze in confusion and rage.

He began to freak out, having no clue on how to retaliate which gave me time to decide on how to put him out of commission, if only for a short time. While walking around him, I manage to grab a sharpened pencil from a nearby desk and with one fluid movement, I slashed at him with the pencil, like I was holding a knife. He leapt back, his demonic red eyes alarmed as I "missed" him by a hair.

If I really wanted to, I'd have killed him before he knew what was going on. I just didn't want to waste my time and get any of his blood on me. And since my Nen is not in commission, getting out of jail would be difficult here.

He tripped and fell backwards on his ass, giving me an opening as I threw the pencil at his head, embedding it in the wall right next to his ear, nicking it slightly. Then I performed a well-aimed kick to his head, hitting him hard enough to render him unconscious instead of killing him. Even if it was tempting, even for five-year-old me.

Guess blindsiding the stronger members of the Zoldyck clan and the Phantom Troupe had taught me something. Ha! Suck it, Illumi!! And a giant "fuck you!" to the creepy knockoff Joker known as Hisoka!

With that, the "fight" was over. Stepping away, I saw that the teacher who was reading the newspaper hadn't even put it down as the "battle" occured right under his nose. Probably thought that the crashes and whatnot was me having my ass tossed around like a salad. Looking around however, I saw that my classmates had started crying amidst the confusion and chaos.

Deciding that enough was enough, I booked it out of my classroom and got the hell out of the building.

Despite my victory of kicking my bullies into the dirt, the feeling of anger and confusion as to being returned to the very place that often haunted me in my nightmares was not lost on me as I ran through the city. In this world where the adults couldn't be bothered to spare a Quirkless child a glance it was very easy to get around and past any authority figures even with my gangly legs.

Finding a secluded park, I hid deep within the forest and found a hollow tree to hide out in as I then began to pour my turbulent emotions out, the echoes of my cries bouncing off the trees. It was all just too much. I missed Cogita and Volo already. Were they alive? A part of myself hoped that they were here with me, just sent to another location....

There was only one way to find out.

Like Killua being taught the Rhythm Echo by his family the Zoldycks, Cogita and her ancestors also have a very special technique that is often rumored by anyone in the know as one of the origin starting points for Aura users. And since her ancestry is considered the oldest one to still be in existence since they have been there since the beginning of Arceus' creation, it makes her bloodline the most powerful.

Before I was allowed to participate in the Hunter's Exam, she had trained me in the art of Aura. While it is not considered a Nen ability, it is something to take in consideration especially when entering a fight with an Aura wielder. I have also been trained by Rye and his Lucario to help with the history of other Aura guardians.

One of the first things I have learned is locating other's signatures, which everything in existence, even inanimate objects, have aura. Many people who refer it to something like Chi, as it is considered a life force in all living things. Though very few have been able to manipulate it.

So with that in mind, the first test of my Aura-wielding skills involved locating others without needing outside help. Riolu and Lucario are well-versed in this area as this is how they find one another, and find their designated partner to share their abundance of Aura, as Aura guardians have more than the average person.

Taking a few calming breaths and wiping my eyes of the tears that remained in my eyes, I began to channel my energy, picturing a calm body of water.

"Aura is with me...." I was feeling calmer; I began to concentrate, pushing out my Aura, similar to a bat using sound waves to locate one another, covering a lot more than just Musutafu.

My heart raced as I felt something react to my Aura pulse. I nearly cried with happiness when I recognized it as my adoptive mother's Aura signature; I held back, albeit barely, so as not to lose concentration. Her Aura signature was faint, but it was there; she must have been located in a pretty far place. Thankfully, there is telepathy.

"Milady!" I telepathed to her.

"Lost One? Is that you, my dear child?" Cogita's mental voice eased the ache in my heart and squashed the earlier fear of her and all of my other loved ones being dead.

"Yes! Where are you?! I'm in the worst place ever!" I responded frantically, remembering the stark dread of being back in this hellhole.

"Do you happen to know what this place is? I do not recognize this place from any of my travels..." She asked. "Though it does look quite a bit like Galar..."

"Unfortunately, to answer that, you might want to be sitting down for this..." I literally gulped, a lump in my throat growing, threatening to choke me as awaited her response.

"Why is that?"

"Well.... you remember when you first found me? And I was thinking that I was in the afterlife since I had died from starvation...?"

It took her only a moment to figure out where I was going with this. "You don't mean...?"

"I'm afraid so, milady. You are in the world where I was beaten and neglected in every sense of the terms...." I answered with abject sadness. Why did this have to happen?

She took a moment before speaking again; I could her the restraint even in her telepathic tone. "Is there anyone else with you?"

"I was hoping you could tell me that..." I answered dejectedly. "You're the only one I have found, but your signature is faint, meaning you are at a great distance from where I am...." Another thought hit me. "Where are you, exactly?"

"I have awaken in a place known as London, in a country I was informed that is called England. A young noble and his butler found me unconscious on their grounds and have taken me in..."

My heart dropped a bit hearing this; so my mother is currently in Europe. London, England of all places. Oh sweet Sinnoh, what did I do to deserve this?

"It would appear that our close bond is the sole reason that we are able to communicate even at this distance..." Cogita sensed my sudden drop in mood and was offering a bit of comfort for our predicament. While what she said is true, it doesn't change the fact there is a great amount of distance between us.

"Is there anyone else in the vicinity?" I asked, hoping that if anyone else has come through into this hellish world that they are safe.

"I sensed Volo and some of our friends in the Diamond and Pearl Clans in different parts of the world. I'm working on locating them with the people I'm staying with. They have some powerful connections, and as long as I help them over here, they are more than willing to return the favor whenever. Though I would like to get to you as quickly as possible." Her tone then became fierce though it wasn't directed at me. "Since if what you have told me is right, then those awful people who claim to be your parents are there, and I'll be damned to the Reverse World before I let you die by their hands a second time."

"Agreed. However, there may be a little problem..." I pushed my index fingers together in nervousness.

"What is it, my sweet treasure?" Cogita asked, her endearment making me warm in this cold and cruel place.

"I... I'm five years old again...." I finally said as I worked up the nerve to tell her. It was quiet for a moment before Cogita finally answered.

"So it would seem I'm not the only one that faced a few changes upon appearing in this place..."

"What do you mean?" I asked, a bit stunned she is taking this part well. What she said next nearly made me choke on my saliva in shock.

"I too have regressed in age. I look like I could pass off as Volo's older sister, even with my silver hair..."

"..... WHAAAAAATTTTT???!!!!"

Timeskip

It was a few hours later before we had ended our telepathy call, having gathered enough information from each other to have an idea of what to do. Cogita plans to convince her host to help locate our friends and then come and get me away from the people who have only done me harm in both the literal and figurative form. She also has Enamorus with her, so she's employing her psychic ability to help quicken the process of finding everyone. On my end, I'll be keeping an eye out for anyone familiar.

Cogita really wanted to come get me ASAP, but I told her that given the current circumstances, it may be difficult. If we do anything rash, it could result in the authorities showing up and taking Cogita, and perhaps anyone else we may find, away and locking them up. I didn't want my scumbag father to take away the only family I got. With his influence as the Number One hero, I wouldn't put it past him nor my sorry excuse of a mother to manipulate someone to do exactly that. Kinda makes me think Killua's mom could get along well with mine, should they meet (in which, Arceus and Giratina forbid).

So I had to do what I am best at until help arrives: Survive.

As soon as we ended our call, I ducked back into the hollow tree to begin reopening my Nen nodes. It was difficult, but in about over an hour, my Aura was leaking like a broken dam as my concentrated Aura was trying to mix with my Nen. Remembering how to use Ten, I halted my Aura from escaping and was finally feeling like myself again. My Aura was now amplified by my Nen, enamating around me in a soft blue glow, invisible to any normal person aside from any veteran Nen user.

GRRRRRRRRRRR......

I clapped a hand over my stomach, hunger gnawing at me.

Getting an idea, I decided to test my skills to see whether or not if I still got it.

I sealed off my Nen nodes before activating Zetsu, making me reopen my nodes which made me invisible to any normal person.

"Perfect." I thought as I began to hit up any convenience stores and mini marts to grab as much food as I can. No way am I gonna die again from starvation. That was bad enough the first time.

By the time the stars began to show in the twilight sky, I have acquired quite the bounty: onigiri, ramune, mini chicken wraps, pocky, jerky, chips, chocolate, and some cookies. I walked out of each place without the cameras or the cashiers noticing. The amount I got ahold of should last me about a month since I'm more than used to living off small portions (unless I'm put in a buffet, then it becomes a free-for-all feeding frenzy). At least until I find a more permanent place to hide out in when I'm not making appearances at my old family's place. I may need to steal an ice chest to store cold stuff... I wonder if I can power a mini fridge with my Nen instead of using electricity...?

The only thing I got now is a tent and some supplies I filched from a nearby camping store to sleep in. As I munched on a pocky stick, I wondered if my Nen type and ability be different here or the same since I'm basically starting anew (again). Grabbing a paper cup from my stolen stash, I hoofed it to a nearby stream where clean water ran and filled it up before placing a small leaf on top. I began to pour my Hatsu into it, the water beginning to bubble, before it added some impurities in, then finally solidify itself into an ice sculpture, before it exploded, some of it entering my mouth and leaving behind a honey-like taste.

Looks like once again, I'm the odd duck of Nen-users, as that was four out of six Nen categories occuring. Specialist, Transmuter, Conjurer, and Transmuter. Wing-sensei nearly had a conniption when we saw this during my time in Heaven's Arena with Killua and Gon. And that was before I told him about my Aura guardian training with Cogita. He just about shit a brick in front of Killua, Gon, and Zushi. So not much has changed aside from my outward appearance and age.

Cleaning my face, I went back to my makeshift camp. Crawling into the spacious tent I had camoflauged with both my Nen and foliage from the forest, I laid on my back on the plush sleeping bag I had carefully selected from the camping store and stared up at the ceiling of it. I didn't bother changing my clothes just yet given how exhausted I am after the day's events. I made sure to grab a few oversized t-shirts and comfy basketball shorts to conceal my girlish features, a trait I had used during the Exam as Cogita did not want me to get harrassed by any creeps in the exam.

Though it sadly did not stop Hisoka....

Shoving that thought down, I pushed my hands into my pockets, expecting there to be nothing. Only for my eyebrows to knit together when I felt something in one of them. Wrapping my hand around it, I withdrew it, before opening it up to see something that made me sit up very quickly.

No freaking way.

The Mystery Dungeon game card. Better put, it was the entire combined game card, holding all seven of the mainstream Mystery Dungeon games.

My fatigue evaporated like mist when I turned the object in every direction, before using my Nen and Aura to make absolute sure that this is not a fake.

My eyes widened further to see that it truly was the one-of-a-kind Hunter game I have acquired thanks to some helpful intel from my old dearly departed friends Pokkle and Ponzu.

And by the way my Aura senses are telling me, all of my friends I have freed from the game thanks to removing the Nen seal are all imprisoned in it. Checking my aura reserves, I found that while I could not free everybody (as my Nen still has to be retrained to be back up to the level when I had a hand in taking out those dreaded Chimera Ants), I can still free who I like to call the Starter Gang.

It took a great effort given that my stamina isn't what it used to be, but I manage to bypass the seal enough to bring out my first companions from when I first entered the game. Not only that Meema Zoroark and Lil' Brother Zorua appeared.

I was glad I stole the biggest tent in the camping store or I'd be having some trouble fitting everyone of these little guys in. Although confused at first, upon seeing me (despite my regressed age) and recognizing my scent, they all tackled me, crying as they worried that I had died. Meema and Lil' Brother were in hysterics as they tackled me as Meema began to look me over and lick any wounds she found on my body.

A few hours later filled with joyful tears, they all fell asleep laying on me in a dogpile. As I laid underneath them with Meema curled around us, I allowed myself a small smile. I pet their heads as I began to drift off to a peaceful slumber. Meema Zoroark kept a vigilant watch as Little Brother Zorua rested in my long hair, like he always have with me and Meema Zoroark.

Maybe things aren't as hopeless as I once believed when I more or less woke up in that hellhole classroom....

My new mission is to find all of our allies and then from there, we shall make our move.

With that happy and determined thought, I fell asleep.

AAAANNNNDDD SCENE!

Note, I own nothing, just this dingy Chromebook I won in a bingo game.

I apologize for the lack of updates. I have had studying for my NHA test, going to Michigan to see my girlfriend (shoutout to my girl yuki_no_fuyu, I love you so much!!), work and making up for lost time because of said vacation, and I also got to work seven nights back-to-back when I swapped a few of my shifts with someone else on the night shift crew. So yeah, I had a lot on my plate, both good and bad, and everything else in between. So I'm trying to upload a few chapters at a time to make up for it.

This is the ArtVampire signing off!

Ja ne!