A/N: WARNING: character death, mentions and details of child neglect, abuse, bullying, torture and the like ahead. You have been warned...

1st Person POV, Melodia

My name was Mizumi Yagi. At least in my previous life before I got reborn, or more appropriately isekai'd, in another world after I died at a young age. The girl named Izumi had died the day her brother and best friend more or less killed her.

When I was just a girl, I thought I had it figured out. Despite being a "surprise" baby being born alongside my twin brother Izuku (somehow I have escaped the notice of the doctor who had identified my mother's pregnancy), I thought everything was going to be fine. I was foolishly optimistic.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. I'm not entirely sure how I'd even fooled myself even at the age of four years old. It was on the day of my fourth birthday that I learned the hard way that if you fail to awaken a supernatural power, aka a Quirk, you are immediately condemned to a lifetime of discrimination and misery. Plus social and emotional banishment from your own family and friends.

Not that I really had any friends anyway. Not of the human variety anyway. I always liked animals more than people, honestly. Which might have had me ostracized from others even at a young age. That and I was a bit of a nerd, preferring books over people as well. Even the neighborhood strays were better company than the kids my age. Something about being around animals felt more genuine than being with people. They were to easy to figure out, like mathematic formulas. People were more complicated. Corrupt, even.

My brother's best friend, Katsuki Bakugo, may have shown interest in me at one point, but I always felt something was not right with him, like he wasn't showing his true colors, which rubbed me the wrong way. Which led to me trying to avoid him at all costs as I couldn't sit next to him without my instincts telling me to either take him out or make a run for it, if not both. But more times than not, I was forced to hang out with him and my brother during their playdates. Bakugo would always try to make me out to be the "damsel in distress" in their roleplays of heroes versus villains or the like, which I did not like. But since my parents expected me to get along with my mother's best friend's kid, I merely tolerated his presence.

However, after going to the doctor to get our Quirks identified, Bakugo changed and not for the better. Same with Izuku as he got my mother's Quirk, if not more powerful than hers.

Friends, family, teachers, and everyone in between turned on me, their fangs sharp and glistening with foam at the mouth.

With that, this was how I had the manifesto "All Men are not created equal" forever hammered into my head.

By the age of ten, I had multiple bleeding wounds and severe burns of varying degrees upon my underdeveloped body, all of which was caused by my peers who wanted to bolster their egos.

I was starving as it had been many days since my last meal, and that's if you were an optimist, as it was nothing but stale bread crusts and the droppings off the oven grates as my parents had stopped feeding me, much less caring for my well-being, thus my undersized and malnourished body. I was treated lower than a slave in my own home, forced to do chores around the house and if there was even a speck of dust or the like left behind, I would be beaten by my father as my mother yelled at me for my screwup.

After being cornered in the schoolyard by Bakugo and his lackeys, I decided to run away and never return home (I couldn't even stomach calling it that as it became more of a prison).

I really hope he goes to hell, along with my family, and be tortured for all eternity. If anyone deserves it, it is those bastards who have hurt me and left me for dead. And many say that betrayal is one of the gravest sins that cannot be forgiven. Why else did Judas Iscariot end up in the innermost part of hell in Dante's Inferno?

I had been on the streets for several days now. I had lost track of time, and I didn't worry much about my family searching for me, as one, they never care to begin with, and two, nobody, even the police, was going to care about a Quirkless person going missing, much less being a runaway case.

I haven't a bite to eat. Any morsel I could find was given to a stray animal as I often put animals first before myself. I have tried scavenging for food in parks and the woods but I turned up empty as I couldn't hunt and was too weak to try and fight for my food. All the restaurants and most grocery stores wouldn't allow a street urchin of society like myself in thanks to putting their selfish reputation first.

I was also tired as my bed was nothing but cardboard barely even holding togather and ratty towel, barely a step up from my bed back at home, where I had the cold hard floor with half a bolt of cheap fabric that felt like burlap.

And to make things even better, I was also dying. My starvation was already making me succumb to the throes of death, making me not long for this horrid and rotten world.

I severely doubted that anyone would miss me once I died, which I found to be way more depressing as my vision began to fade to darkness even as tears ran down my filthy face.

My final thought as I closed my eyes for the last time is that I hoped that if there is a heaven, is that they can accept a Quirkless creature like me into their beautiful realm. Or at the very least, let me be reborn in a kinder place with an even kinder family.

The last thing I heard was an ethereal voice, telling me that my request was heard and granted.

Meanwhile, within another parallel world...

The Hisui Region

It was a normal day in the land of Celestica, also known as the Hisui region. The sun was bright and not a cloud was in the sky. The Hisui region was comprised of five diverse wild areas where fantastic beasts known as Pokemon roam and make their home. First there is the Obsidian Fieldlands, which was arguably the tamest wild area in the region if you were to ask the human locals. Complete with a grassy field stretching for miles, only those such as many Bug-types and Grass-types along with the Bidoof, Shinx, and Starly and their evolutions live in this area. Next there is the Crimson Mirelands, which was riddled with swampy areas filled with Ground- and Poison-types that often battle among themselves for food and territory, easily making it fairly hard to navigate even when you factor in the stifling muggy heat to boot. Then there is the Cobalt Coastlands, a somewhat pleasant place to take a trip to their beach... if you avoid some of the more aggressive Water-types such as the Buizel line and the occasional Alpha Walrein or Empoleon. It is recommended not to be in the shipwreck areas of the wild area lest you be hounded by the Ghost- and Dark-types that roam the area. And there is also the volcano area where many Fire-types live in and out of the lava that thrives there. Moving on, there is the Coronet Highlands, where the Temple of Sinnoh stands proudly at the summit of Mt. Coronet. Living in this mountainous region roams many aggressive and diverse evolved Pokemon, such as Electivire and their pre-evolutions along with the Rhyorn and their evolutions. Finally, there is the arguably harshest wild area known as the Alabaster Icelands, which has snowcapped mountains and many maze-like ice caverns that have both Ice- and Ghost-type Pokemon inhabiting the area. Living in this area is almost impossible for humans aside from a select few who can weather the cold weather.  

Wild areas aside, only one part of Hisui was made habitable for humans to live in. This place is called Jubilife Village. Within the village is a few facilities such as a clothier, a general store bazaar, a place to buy potato mochi, a crafting shop, and a big building that serves as a sort of city hall. Within that building is the main headquarters to an expedition team known as the Galaxy Team. The Galaxy Team is comprised of the Survey Corps, the Security Corps, the Medical Corp, the Supply Corps, the Agriculture Corps, and the Construction Corps. Running this building, and the village as a whole, is a man known as Kamado. A very severe man with a past just as severe. Because of this, he makes it clear that Pokemon are to be seen as terrifying creatures, which the vast majority of the villagers follows his lead, like mindless sheep. While it is true some species are not to be approached carelessly, it is unfair to see them as terrifying creatures as a whole. But we are getting off track here.

The Survey Corps, led by Cyllene, is comprised of members tasked with exploring the Hisui lands and their resident Pokemon. There is also a rank system for recruits, from No Star for the newbies to Full Star for the seasoned veteran. Their main members, aside from their captain Cyllene, is Professor Laventon, a jovial man from the Galar region who has an open-minded interest in Pokemon, and two promising young members named Akari and Rei, who are twin siblings. They are assistants to Laventon as they go out in the field to study and catch Pokemon in the devices the Professor had come across known as Pokeballs. Their main goal is to fill all of the pages of the Pokedex made by Laventon.

Next is the Security Corps, who is mainly focused on defending the village from threats, led by Zisu, the head captain of the security team. The members are often stationed throughout the village, acting as vigilant police. The members of the Security Corps that work under Captain Zisu are Beauregard, Dorian, Miki, Tsumugi, Clarissa, Ren, Wanda, Netta, Keaka, Bagin, Bren, Gared, Ichika, Kew, Ress, Wenton, Yoshimi, Perri, and Yojiro.

Then there is the Medical Corps, led by Peselle, who treat the wounded and sick and make medicines and remedies. Trained under Captain Peselle are Anise, Cea, Fujie, Pana, and Tomma.

Next, there is the Supply Corps, who are in charge of the village logistics and maintaing the supply of materials needed in the village, managed by Tao Hua, with Marli, Gully, Maris, Astair, Pippa, Brice, and Taeko studying under him.

Next up is the Agriculture Corps, who oversees the gardening of the village, growing crops and taking care of the village pastures. Led by Captain Colza, the ones tending the fields go by the names Rye, Bjorn, Kichi, Miller, and Almous. There is also Marie, but she is seen mostly in the pastures taking care of the village Pokemon.

Finally, there is the Construction Corps, who are responsible for construction and setting up base camps for the Survey Corps in the wild areas, led by Captain Sanqua, with Yorrich, Floaro, Bosley, Canala, Nawaki, Craig, and Kip in his employ.

While most of these wild areas were inhabitable by the people of Jubilife Village, that didn't mean that there wasn't any. For instance, the Diamond and Pearl Clans have set up camps in the regions, their main ones being in the Alabaster Icelands for the Pearl Clan and the Diamond Clan base being in the Crimson Mirelands. These clans were often at odds with each other, quite like the Capulets and the Montagues from the Shakespeare story Romeo and Juliet. Only with less blood being spilled.

Regardless, the Diamond and Pearl Clans, led by Adaman and Irida, often bickered who was the real "Almighty Sinnoh," the master of time named Dialga, the mascot for the Diamond Clan, or the space deity known as Palkia, the Pearl Clan's mascot. This arguing has caused a rift to grow between the clans and it somehow involved the leader of Jubilife village, making Kamado a mediator of sorts, though it was safe to say when the clan leaders go to him to resolve an issue, nothing really gets solved, much less agree on a compromise.

Some question how these clans haven't gone to war yet with this subpar conflict resolution process.

Within these clans, the residents pay their respects to Noble Pokemon, in which they refer to as "lords" and "ladies." These Noble Pokemon are looked after by Wardens, who are special Pokemon trainers attuned to their assigned Noble Pokemon. The Diamond Clan's wardens and respective Noble Pokemon are as follows: Mai for the Lord Wyrdeer; Arezu for the Lady Lilligant; Iscan for the Lord Basculegion; Melli for the Lord Electrode; and Sabi, the youngest future Warden in the Diamond Clan, for Lord Braviary. For the Pearl Clan, there is Lian, the rumored to-be youngest Pearl Clan Warden for the Lord Kleavor; Calaba for Lord Ursaluna; Palina for Lord Arcanine; Ingo for Lady Sneasler; and Gaeric for Lord Avalugg.

All things aside, everything was seemingly normal in this region, both in and out of the village. Little did anyone know, the humans especially, was that something extraordinary was coming.

The only hint that anyone knew was that the Pokemon in the region's Diamond and Pearl Clans began to act strangely as they were the only ones who could sense a fantastic anomaly was afoot.

And it was hurtling towards their earth at breakneck speed with a golden light enveloping them...

Alabaster Icelands

In Secret Hollow....

It was another harsh day in the Alabaster Icelands as a blizzard appeared seemingly out of nowhere, covering the wild area in yet another coating of white.

North of the Survey Corps Icepeak Camp and across the river is the largely unoccupied Secret Hollow; a frigid grotto with Bergmite occupying it. The opening is covered by a few boulders, as a privacy measure from the humans nearby and to keep predators of Bergmite at bay.

Unknown to the human populace of Hisui, it is also the secret meeting place for all of the Clan Nobles to congregate once a moon.

The last get-together was not even a week ago, as the new moon was upon them when they last met, as per usual, as it is a ritual for them to meet at the end of every moon.

The Nobles decided to "spruce up" the cave with a few items to give the place warmth, such as a simple yet plush handmade rug covering the center of the cave's ground, and a few blankets hanging up on the walls, to add some decoration. There was also a place for a small fire given a small ring of stones with some ashes and mostly burned out wooden logs in the center. Around this campfire site was a few old yet still in good condition cushions, all of them mismatched as they all had come from both the village and both Clans' camps.

Within this cave, instead of the usual few Bergmite who take shelter in here from their natural predators, was a different "guest."

Make it two "guests" to boot.

A mother Alpha Zoroark and her cub Zorua.

(A/N: okay, picture this but the Zorua is a shiny.)

The two fox Pokemon have been separated from their elusive pack due to the turbulent snowstorm, forcing both mother and child to seek refuge lest they become buried alive in the piling snow.

As if their kind don't suffer enough...

The Zoroark was sleeping silently on the pillow cushions as her cub hid in her fur, seeking warmth in the long white/red mane.

Speaking of, a pair of ears emerged from the mother Illusion fox's fur, twitching a bit before sticking his head out completely, blinking blearily as the cub tried to get their bearings, mewling a bit, catching his mother's attention as he slid out of her hair, making her stop his fall with her head.

The Zorua yipped happily as she began to nuzzle him, his tail wagging slightly as they basked in each other's warmth.

Only for the tender moment to be cut short when the Zoroark suddenly tensed, sensing something amiss. Something was coming. Standing to her feet, she quickly placed her cub back into her bushy mane, silently telling her cub to keep quiet.

She tensed as a light filtered through the cave, her claws out in front in case it was an aggressive Psychic-type Pokemon.

The light became blinding, causing the bipedal fox to shield her eyes with her arms before the glow dimmed down.

After a moment of nothing happening, the Zoroark lowered their arms, blinking a bit to be rid of the spots that affected her vision at the moment. Getting her sight back to normal, she looked around the cave, trying to pinpoint any significant difference within these four stony walls.

Seeing no change to the environment, the mother fox began to wonder if it actually happened at all.

Then a new scent invaded her nostrils. Following it, she found herself doing a double take at the sight that layed before her feet.

A small human girl.

What is a human doing here?!

The first thought the female Zoroark had was to kill her, as humans are the reason why her species are decreasing in numbers. But for some reason, the second that thought came to her, she felt something akin to being sick fill her entire being. Before she could question why she felt as such, her mind was suddenly assaulted with images, almost like watching an old film. Focusing her eyesight, she realized that she was seeing the human girl's memories. And what she saw was appalling. When the images finally ended, she had to sit on her haunches lest she lost her balance. Who knew humans can be so despicable, even to their own kind. And to be so to their own cub! How disgusting! Never had the Ghost/Normal-type thought she be feeling sympathy to a human of all things...

But here she is having the unavoidable need to protect this one.

"No." she thought as she approached the small creature. "If anything, she's more Pokemon than human," she decided as she remembered seeing the girl being kind to animals and putting them first before herself, even if it did kill her in the end.

As she stared at her, she nearly forgot about her cub being in her hair, who had grown impatient with his mother's silence and no sign of any action taking  place.

The Zorua then stuck his head out of his mother's fur and jump out, deciding to see what was going on for himself.

His mother let out a low bark, telling him to wait, only for her cub to do the exact opposite, approaching the human girl and sniff her hair. The female Zoroark huffed but moved forward to look at the human for further inspection.

The child shivered as the Baneful Fox nudged her onto her back to examine their wounds. As she made physical contact with the small child, a barrage of images assaulted the vulpine creature, making her reel back a bit.

What she saw made the Zoroark see red, as she watched the poor child be hurt in many ways besides physically and be starved of both food and love by the ones who are supposed to raise her. Her species may be feared by many human and Pokemon alike, but they are not totally heartless as many like to paint them as.

It was then and there that the Zoroark decided to take the child as her own.

But there was just one problem, as the motherly fox had discovered come across something that needed immediate attention:

The girl is running a high fever.

Obsidian Fieldlands

The Starlies were out flying en masse to their hunting grounds full of Wurmple. A Ponyta was grazing out in Obsidian Fieldlands with a Rapidash keeping an eye out for predators. A pride of Luxio and an Alpha Luxray kept a watchful eye on their young Shinx as they wrestled each other in the plains. The Magikarp were jumping in the rivers, where some carnivorous predators eyed them as they thought about their next meal. Scythers battled one another as they try to claim dominance in their territory, their sharp bladed arms making slices on the trees nearby.

Within Grandtree Arena resides the Noble Kleavor, Lian's charge when the boy comes of age. The Rock/Bug-type was merely enjoying the weather after being fed by his young future Warden, and was left to his own devices as the youngest Warden was called to a Clan meeting, meaning the young lad will not be due back for a few hours at least.

Which was fine by Kleavor. If only he isn't so bored right now. There really any challengers these days as any that had entertained the idea of challenging him were often intimidated by the size of his axe-like arms.

The Axe Pokemon wandered around his favorite tree aimlessly, looking for something worthwhile to do. As he made another circuit around the tree, his entire being suddenly froze, almost as if he was hit with a Thunder Wave attack.

Before he could think to lash out, a regal voice filtered through his mind.

"Come to Secret Hollow...."

Kleavor blinked at this; Secret Hollow, which is located in the frigid Alabaster Icelands, is the meeting place where the clan Nobles of both clans gather and meet in secret in the dead of the night when their wardens go to bed. They always meet once a month as to avoid suspicion from their Wardens lest they report them to their clan leaders. Who knew that the clans' own Nobles get along better than their illustrous leaders?

So what is going on?

Regardless, if he were to get there before nightfall, he was going to need to move fast. It was a good thing Pokemon can travel faster than humans....

Though an Abra that knows teleport would be handy...

Almost as an answer, the aforementioned fox-like Psychic-type appeared before the Rock/Bug-type, making him start slightly until he recognized the scent from Jubilife Village, meaning this was Cyllene's Abra, who was an asset to the Nobles as he is a help with getting the Nobles to the meeting place and is often asked to sit in on the meetings in case something happens and they need to leave quickly. Abra is also their lookout, as there have been a few close calls at being discovered by the humans, be it one of the Pearl Clan members getting too close to Secret Hollow or one of those Survey Corps members trying to investigate the place in the dead of the night for any Ghost-types.

In any case, now that the Psi Pokemon was here, it made things considerably easier, as it turns out, the Abra informed him that he got a message from an unknown yet powerful source saying to gather the Nobles immediately in their secret meeting place. Thankfully, Cyllene was quite busy with paperwork so she won't be looking for him for awhile.

Shortly after the arrival of Abra, the Diamond Clan's Noble Wyrdeer trotted up, having already been informed to meet up with Abra and Kleavor so they can go pick up their fellow Nobles.

With a nod to the yellow fox Pokemon, the trio disappeared in a flash, disappearing from view.

Crimson Mirelands

The muggy swamplands of the Crimson Mirelands were abuzz with the activity of Stunky and Stuntank marking their territory while steering clear of the lone Alpha Hippowdon that had been hellbent on keeping them away from their mudhole.

The Pearl Clan's noble Ursaluna sat on the raised land of Ursa's Ring, sunbathing in the absence of their wizened warden, while the Diamond Clan's Lilligant danced idly among her fellow Petilil near Brava Arena as her warden Arezu was also not in attendance.

So nobody bore witness to an Abra suddenly teleporting in their territory suddenly with a Kleavor and Wyrdeer in tow.

Any aggressive Pokemon in the swampy wetlands thought twice about starting a fight with them as one glare from the Axe Pokemon was enough to deter them from attacking them. Kleavor set out for Ursaluna as Wyrdeer galloped off to find Lilligant so they can meet up with Abra at Scarlet Bog before they head off to Cobalt Coastlands to pick up Lord Arcanine and Lord Basculegion next. The respective Pokemon decided it was best that they see their fellow Clan Noble Pokemon so they don't get the wrong idea and attack each other.

As it turns out, while they set out to search for them, both Ursaluna and Lilligant had ceased their leisurely activity and were now a bit restless as a mental message from some higher power had invaded their minds:

"Meet at Secret Hollow..."

Did something happen? Had their clans declared war on one another? Their last rendezvous wasn't even half a fortnite ago and now they have to meet again before the next full moon?

Many possibilities, none of them remotely good, ran through the Pokemon's minds, making them feel restless and agitated.

Which was probably why Ursaluna nearly lashed out at Kleavor before the Axe Pokemon blocked the Normal/Ground-type's attack with their axe-like arms, deflecting the Lord's claws effectively as it registered on the final Teddiursa evolution that he had nearly instigated an unnecessary fight. With an apologetic grunt to his fellow Lord, Kleavor then spoke to Ursaluna, relaying the same message he and Lord Wyrdeer had received via telepathy and they had to hurry to Scarlet Bog to meet up with Cyllene's Abra with Lord Wyrdeer and Lady Lilligant. With a low grunt of acknowledgement, the two lumbering Pokemon then set course to Scarlet Bog, hoping to hurry there before their Wardens return from their meeting and see that they have left their assigned posts.

Meanwhile with Wyrdeer, he made haste to Brava Arena, leaping over the Croagunk colonies and dodging an irate Alpha Toxicroak along the way. It took about ten minutes for Wyrdeer to make it to Lady Lilligant's location, seeing the Grass/Fighting-type standing stock still, an unusual thing for the constantly moving Noble. Warily, Wyrdeer let out a low bleat to get her attention, so as not to startle her. She made no response, even as her fellow Petilil hopped around her feet, trying to get her attention as well. Seeing no other option, Wyrdeer decided to venture closer. As soon as he got within a few feet of the Pokemon, she lashed out wildly with a Leaf Blade attack. Expecting this, Wyrdeer swiftly dodged the incoming attack, missing by a hair as Lilligant slashed the ground instead. Whipping around to try again, Wyrdeer let out a low-powered Psychic to halt her movements and to hopefully clear her head.

It worked; the Lady of the Ridge blinked owlishly before she realized what she did. Looking sheepish, despite her nearly expressionless face, she let out an apologetic chirp, to which the Noble Steed responded with a bleat saying that all is forgiven. Gently putting her back on the ground and releasing her from his psychic hold, he quickly relayed what was going on, from the telepathic message to needing to needing to gather up the other Nobles to meet up in Secret Hollow posthaste.

Lilligant winced at the idea of having to teleport to a few more places before getting to their final rendezvous point; teleporting gives her motion sickness, so she always tries to limit the number of times of being instantly sent to places.

Regardless, she decided she could stomach it just this once in favor of getting some much needed answers.

Hopping on the back of her fellow clan Noble, they were off to the Scarlet Bog, where Abra along with Kleavor and Ursaluna were already waiting.

Cobalt Coastlands

Up in Firespit Island, Lord Arcanine of the Pearl Clan, along with his two Growlithe sons, were chatting amicably with Lord Basculegion, who's warden had left with Palina to a Clan meeting.

It was as they were discussing politics that they were interrupted of their usual banter with a powerful message:

"Go to Secret Hollow..."

Lord Arcanine's children lifted their heads in alert, sensing the unease as they had no idea what was going on as the last meeting with their fellow Nobles of Hisui haven't been half a moon yet, so what was happening that needed them to go there right now?

Almost on cue, a flash appeared off to their side, making both the Water/Ghost-type and Fire/Rock-type to tense and ready a Wave Crash and Flame Charge respectively in case it was a threat of an aggressive Pokemon.

Only for the tension to give way to befuddlement when they saw it was Abra, along with Wyrdeer, Ursaluna, Kleavor, and Lilligant, of which the latter looked as if she was gonna hurl judging from the blue lines hanging over her head as she held her stomach.

Abra told them there was no time to explain as time was of the essence that they get to Secret Hollow if they were to get the answers they were all seeking before their wardens return from their meeting, and they still have two more Nobles to pick up before they get to Alabaster Icelands and meet up with Avalugg and Braviary.

Seeing no other way around it, they let themselves get closer to the assembled group, with Arcanine's children behind them as Abra allowed to let them come, having a feeling they may come in handy.

Wyrdeer and Abra combined their Psychic to whip up a water bubble to hold Basculegion in so he could breathe above the water as there is no bodies of water inside the Secret Hollow.

With Basculegion safely inside his water bubble, the entire ragtag group of Pokemon were all covered in a white light before they were once again fazed out of existence, onto their next destination.

Coronet Highlands

Seated within the mountainous areas known as the Coronet Highlands, two Nobles idly sat in Heavenward Lookout. One of them being the Pearl Clan's own Lady Sneasler, the other being the Diamond Clan's Electrode.

Unlike their Wardens, the two get along as well as two peas in a pod. Just don't tell Melli, Electrode's (rather annoying) Warden. Ingo, Sneasler's Warden doesn't seem to mind their friendship, just as long as they don't get in trouble with anyone.

Sneasler was sunbathing atop of a standing broken pillar, enjoying the wind caressing her feathery appendage protruding from one side of her head. Her specially made backpack designed for transporting humans up and down the cliff faces was at the base of her spot.

Electrode was idly rolling to and fro in his arena, moving like that of an aimless Roomba. He bumps into one pillar before changing direction, repeating the process. Thankfully it wasn't harsh bumps so the arena or the cliffside area surrounding it was in no danger of collapsing or causing a landslide. Last thing either of the Nobles want is Melli trying to pin the blame of a messy arena on one of the innocent Pearl Clan members.

It was as the Nobles of Coronet Highlands were beginning to converse about the gossip amongst their respective Clans that they all froze in their tracks as a message filtered through their brains:

"Make haste to Secret Hollow."

What the....?

Before they could react, a bright flash entered the Arena, causing Sneasler to drop down from the pillar she was sitting on and brandish her long poison-filled claws as Electrode began to give off a few warning electrical sparks, preparing himself for an attack.

Only for their initial aggression to give way to confusion as they saw a familiar Abra and their fellow Nobles appearing before them.
Getting curioser and curioser....

Lilligant was lying face down on the back of Ursaluna, looking greener that a Doppel Bonnet that are often found on the cliffsides of the Highlands. Poor Grass-type; for someone so quick on her feet she's a glass tank when it comes to teleportation.

Abra was quick to tell the two Coronet Highland Nobles that there was no time to waste with small talk; as confused as he was as the Nobles, the Psychic-type knew that this was too important to be idle. Much like his wielder, despite what she may think of him sometimes....

Though it was obvious that the Poison/Fighting-type and Electric/Grass-type had a ton of questions, there was no questioning the urgency judging from their Noble counterparts and normally expressionless Psi Pokemon.

So with no better response, they both walked (or rolled in Electrode's case) to where the Nobles gathered and just like the last few times, they were gone wth a flash.

Alabaster Icelands

"Get to Secret Hollow...."

Those words kept repeating in Braviary's head, his feathers getting ruffled from the chills running through his gray-scale plumage.

The Psychic/Flying-type's was already on the way flying through the frigid air to get to Avalugg as he felt it important that he and his fellow giant Noble from the Diamond Clan get to Secret Hollow and meet the others at the entrance.

Since the two were the closest, Braviary had already flown out from his perch on the Snowpoint Temple to Avalugg's Legacy. Good thing Sabi, his own young warden to-be, and Gaeric, Avalugg's own intense and ridiculously jolly Warden (not much unlike the Pokemon himself despite his intimidating size and appearance) were both in a Clan meeting, otherwise this rendezvous may be considered a little difficult to achieve. Braviary only hoped that Avalugg isn't taking a nap at this hour. It is difficult enough flying through this raging blizzard, and waking up a giant like Avalugg is going to prove another trial on its own.

It wasn't long before Braviary had found Avalugg's arena; Braviary prided himself in his speed, which is what the Diamond Clan puts a lot of stock in given how their leader likes to save time on things, so the faster the better. And the Valiant Pokemon doesn't have the additional weight of anyone being carried in his basket, as he brought that along out of both habit and the feeling that he just may need it, whatever it is waiting in Secret Hollow.

Landing himself on the ledge overlooking the snow-covered habitat, Braviary tried to make out the lumbering Ice/Rock-type's figure even in the howling and icy winds. Not having much luck, he decided to use Future Sight to figure it out. The eyes of the eagle Pokemon flashed pink before he saw his fellow Noble of the Icleands. So he decided to bury himself in the snow again, huh? That sounds like him; he was probably planning a "playtime" session with Gaeric once he returned from his meeting.

But he's afraid that playtime will have to wait....

Braviary cawed loudly below him, where a few Pokemon, like a stray Glalie and a few Bergmite, looked up at the Psychic/Flying-type with confusion. That is, until, a low rumbling was heard throughout the Legacy. The Glailie quickly floated away while the Bergmite scattered as Avalugg suddenly emerged from the ground. As the snowy dust settled, there stood Avalugg, in all of his gigantic glory.

Avalugg and Braviary only stared at each other, not making a single move. After a minute, no words were exchanged as Avalugg then began to make his way towards the Secret Hollow, Braviary following a moment later, by flying overhead, leading the way.

That was easier than he thought....

Back in Secret Hollow...

The mint-haired girl shivered as she huddled closer to Zoroark's fur, seeking warmth despite her apparent illness. Zorua yipped in concern, sensing the undersized girl's pain, a sad look in his golden eyes.

Zoroark, licked the girl's cheek, her own once-cold heart hurting for this child. To think her own kind would do this to such an innocent and warm-hearted creature! Zoroark swore if she ever had the displeasure of meeting her so-called Meema and Dada, she will tear them both a new one.

For now, she herself shall take the role of the caregiver.

But first, this pup needs medical attention, as she could feel the temperature of the child's skin rising, yet still shivering as if she herself was stuck out in that horrid snowstorm.

Zoroark knew with dread ingrained in her heart that if this cub doesn't get help, at least one with knowledge of a human's body and health, this child might die from both the wounds and the fever caused by them. Unfortunately, she doesn't know any healing moves, as that was more of a Psychic-type's forte than a Ghost-type's, at least for her ilk.

Either she goes to one of the Clan camps and steal some medicine (the closest one being the Pearl Clan's camp) or the Jubilife Village where she had heard rumors of a human who supposedly wrestled an Ursaring outside their village (to which she and many other Pokemon call Stantler shit on as Ursaring usually stay in the Crimson Mirelands territory and don't go into Obsidian Fieldlands, and the Hibernation Pokemon swear up and down that no such thing has happened) and try to get the remedies there. But that would mean leaving both of her cubs alone, and that would be very dangerous as this is one of the cruelest areas in Hisui, in both weather conditions and the Pokemon inhabiting the place. And she's not just talking about her species, as she and her pack were more than aware how aggressive an Abomasnow gets if you set as one toe in their territory. And don't get her started on the frequent Alpha Glalie that roams all over the wild area. So imagine what could happen if one of those said Pokemon, or Giratina forbid, an Alpha Mamoswine, would happen upon this cave, even in this turbulent blizzard. And she couldn't risk taking both to either place as the humans could misunderstand the situation and think she is either attacking the settlement or she had taken the human child as a hostage and try to kill both her and her cub Zorua. Even though the rumors surrounding the leader of that infernal Jubilife Village are mostly Tauros shit, she did not trust the air about him. 

She could use an illusion of one of those human villagers, but she didn't know anything about human medicine, so what if she gets the wrong thing and makes the illness worse?

Little did she know, help was on the way.

Meanwhile, outside Secret Hollow near the Survey Corps Snowpeak Camp....

There was a flash near the empty camp based near the bottom of one of the icy mountains of the Alabaster Icelands. The flash revealed the Noble Pokemon, save for Avalugg and Braviary, had just arrived. Lilligant, who had swapped from riding on Stantler's back to Ursaluna's, quickly leapt off and ducked behind some frozen grass to throw up as the motion sickness finally overcame her will and made her hurl as a result.

The others waited awkwardly as she finished emptying her stomach and came back with a slight shakiness.

Stantler bleated his concern for his fellow Clan noble, to which she waved away with a wavering leafy appendage, saying she'll be okay.

They paused as they heard a familiar cawing, making them instinctively look up at the sky to see Lord Braviary circling above them. In the distance they could see the massive Lord Avalugg making his way to the Secret Hollow. Seeing as there was no time to waste, they began to brave the now-lighter snow storm to get to Secret Hollow to see what was going on that needed them to show up so bad.

Upon closer arrival, Ursaluna let out a grunt, indicating that he smelled something off, and it was coming from inside the cave. This made the others alarmed, if only slightly. Did something make their secret meeting place their new home?

Braviary tensed sensing a Ghost-type presence within the cave. A powerful one at that. An Alpha?

"I smell blood!" Ursaluna warned making the others more tense.

Kleavor jumped forward to the blocked off entrance. "I'll get us in." With a couple of swipes from his Stone Axe, the boulders gave way to reveal a Zoroark (an Alpha one, as it confirmed Braviary's fears) and her cub. What's more there was an unconscious child with long mint green hair curled on her side, her breathing labor, and the smell of blood was originating from her.

Always the rasher one of the bunch, Electrode growled at the Baneful Fox Pokemon. "What did you to do to that poor man cub?!"

The Alpha Zoroark took umbrage at the Electric/Grass-type's accusation. "I didn't do anything! I found her like this! She just appeared in here when the blizzard was going on! My son and I were just taking shelter here until the storm passed! I don't know how or why, but this human cub appeared in here!"

"Oh yeah?" The Electrode challenged, not believing a word. "You expect us to believe that-!"

"She's telling the truth." Abra piped up. The others turned to him. "I have spent time reading others mannerisms, man and Pokemon alike. I would know if she was lying." Being the Survey Corps captain's Pokemon have given the Psi Pokemon ample time to study others' behaviours, on and off the field.

"So what is wrong with the child?" Sneasler asked, her own motherly instincts kicking in seeing the blood stainig the tattered clothes.

"I don't know," the Zoroark's voice was tinged with frustration as well as depseration only a mother can have in regards to their own cub. "She appeared in the cave like this. Wounded and her body temperature is that of an Arcanine's fire. She literally appeared in here, as if she was teleported in here. So I have no clue if she belongs to any of your Clan's twolegs or that accursed village outside of Obsidian Fieldlands." The others checked the child over to see if she were of one of the Clan's rugrats, but the scent, when one can get past the blood, was foreign, even to Ursaluna and Arcanine.

Speaking of...

Arcanine's twin children, who got tired of waiting, pushed past the other nobles to see what was going on. They perked their ears up in interest at the new scent enveloping the cave. Rushing over despite their father's protests, their tails wagged at the sight of the new human, but then their tails drooped when they saw the blood staining their weird clothes. They whined as they touched their cold wet noses to the mint-haired girl's cheek, only for her to wince at the coldness and curl into herself further.

"She needs medicine!" Arcanine stated, making some of the others roll their eyes at the obvious statement.

"I could have told you that, genius," Basculegion snarked, making the Rock/Fire type glower at the levitating Ghost/Water-type.

Before an argument could break out, Lilligant was quick to shut it down. "Now is not the time to be picking fights! If we don't act fast, then this child could die."

"She's right," Wyrdeer stated. "Whether she is from the village or the Diamond and Pearl Clans doesn't matter. We can find that out later. Right now, we have to make sure she lives."

Sneasler nodded; as a mother of four Sneasel kits, if a child on her watch, she'd never forgive herself. The others have the same sentiment, Braviary and Kleavor especially as they have man cubs for wardens and they have to be looked after, whether they think it or not.

"But what do we do?" Ursaluna asked. "We don't have any medical training aside from our own ilk, and even that is a bit spotty. Even if my warden is more well-versed in healing others...."

"I can go get some herbs from my fellow Petilil," Lilligant offered. "The leaves are a bit on the bitter side, but they have healing properties. I can also find some Bugwort to help make a Remedy."

"I can ask the Toxicroak in my territory if he could spare us some of his toxins," Sneasler suggested, "Their poison have been rumored to have medicinal properties according to the village healer..."

"I would like to go to one of the camps or the village to find something to help cure her." Zoroark proposed, speaking up for the first time in awhile. The others turned to the feral fox in surprise.

"Are you sure you are okay with that?" Kleavor asked, a tinge of worry in his voice. "I know you and humans don't mix, so please don't take offense-"

"I know where you are coming from," Zoroark broke in. "And no offense taken. I have to do this. My illusions is enough to get me in the village, especially if I pose as one of those Surveyors or someone from one of their village corps. I only ask you watch over my cub in my absence."

"Wait... cub? ...Where exactly is your cub?" Electrode asked, the others getting question marks appearing over their heads.

As if on cue, Zorua popped his head out of his mother's white/red mane, blinking his gold-colored eyes shyly at the sight of the new Pokemon. Lilligant and Sneasler aww'd at the fox cub's cuteness, making the cub blush.

"I can guard the place while everyone goes and finds a remedy for the man cub's fever and wounds," Avalugg, a Noble Pokemon of very few words of the group. Everyone turned towards the bigger than average Hisuian Avalugg.

"Are you sure, Noble Avalugg?" Braviary asked.

"I am," the Ice/Rock-type confirmed, his narrow yellow eyes full of determination. "Most of the Icelands locals think twice before thinking of challenging me. So I'm your best bet in terms of being the muscle while you lot get the necessary ingredients and whatnot to help this man cub. Now go!" He raised his voice, making the others flinch slightly at the tone. "If we dawdle too long, the cub won't be long for this world."

"He's right," the Abra agreed. "Avalugg with guard the entrance, and the Growlithes will keep the child and Zorua company by offering their body heat to tone down the shivering. The rest of us shall go to our assigned areas to gather the things necessary. I'll teleport everyone to their assigned locations, while Zoroark and I go to Jubilife Village to get medicine from the bazaar. Braviary, I need you to stay here and be the lookout in case the Pearl Clan officials make their way here. The rest of you, get the natural ingredients to make remedies and potions. If one of you can grab one of those crafting kits from one of the nearby Survey camps, then that would be great as we need one to make these items possible. We will also need to grab some things to make food for the child so she won't be starving. Now let's go!"

The others nodded, as everyone save for Avalugg, Braviary, and the Growlithes gathered near Abra before they were teleported out. Avalugg took a seat outside the Secret Hollow, making sure the entryway was blocked off with his big icy body. Even if Gaeric comes back and sees him missing from his post, he will have to fight him tooth and nail to get him to move from this spot. Avalugg could only hope that it does not come down to that.

In Jubilife Village, outside the village gates....

The Zoroark and Abra hid in a bush not far from the village gate entrance, looking at the security corps guard guarding it.

They looked at each other before nodding to the other. The Zoroark transformed to look like Cyllene, Abra's wielder. That way, this can give the Psi Pokemon a valid excuse to be outside and hopefully not raise questions. As long as Cyllene nor her boss Kamado doesn't make an appearance and draw suspicion to the disguised duo.

The disguised Zoroark then strided over to the security corps guard, who immediately straighten their posture at the sight of their supposed boss. No words were needed to be exchanged as the Zoroark strode past him, not sparing them a glance, even as the Abra floated behind her, keeping an eye out for anything.

"Okay, we are in. Now what?"

"Head towards the bazaar on the left. There's a male twoleg with light purple hair and round spectacles. You speak to him for any healing potions. Buy one of each just to be safe in case the others come up short with the ingredients. I'll see if I can swipe us a crafting kit." Abra then teleported away, with a quick telepathic "good luck!" to the Ghost/Normal-type. The disguised Zoroark felt a tick mark appear on her head as she felt a surge of irritation towards the Psychic-type.

"As if being surrounded by humans isn't nerve-wracking enough...." She kept her mask up, so as not to draw any suspicion at her breaking character. She quickly followed the Abra's directions, heading to the bazaar as the Psi Pokemon pointed out. Approaching the human, she was pleasantly surprised that after making her selctions (being that of a few varieties of Potions and some Full Heals and a few types of Remedies) that it was free of charge.

As she thanked the salesman and left the village to meet Abra outside near Prelude Beach, she felt something of a smirk cross her face as she dispelled her illusion.

"Maybe I should do this more often. Especially if it means getting free stuff. My child does like those weird yet enticing Mushroom Cakes so perhaps..." She nearly leapt out of her skin when she heard someone from behind.

"While normally I don't recommend following that sort of lifestyle I won't stop you." Zoroark just about jumped a foot in the air when she whirled around to see Abra himself floating in a sitting position.

"You just about give me a heart attack, you little whelp!" Zoroark held herself back from barking too loud lest she draws the attention of the Security Corps and rat her out.

If the yellow fox Pokemon had a more expressive face, she was certain that he'd be smirking at her. "A Ghost-type getting frightened by a Psychic-type? Now I've seen everything!"

Zoroark bared her teeth at him in anger. If the situation wasn't so dire, she would have punted him into the sun for that jab as you do not attack a Ghost-type's pride without suffering the consequences. If you think Dark-types were vindictive bastards then wait until you cross a Ghost-type as they are notorious grudge-holders and they can hold onto those for even hundreds of years before thinking about letting it go.

"But enough joking around. I think my mistress is going to get suspicious if I stay out too much longer, so the best I can do is send you and the others back to Secret Hollow and take the wheel from there. Tell the others to ask Braviary to send the others back to their camps in the meantime." The Abra then shoved the crafting kit into Zoroark's paws, before the Baneful Fox was enveloped in a bright light before disappearing from sight.

Little did either of them know was that one of the villagers hidden in a bush saw all of this and were now running back to the village to report this....

Back in the Alabaster Icelands....

Secret Hollow

The Growlithes whined sadly as the girl shivered violently despite being in the middle of their huddle. Avalugg had instructed them to curl up around the girl to keep her warm. But it would appear that their combined body heat isn't making any significant improvements. The Zorua cub also tried to help by resting himself on top of the dogpile (pun intended). His gold eyes were forlorn at the thought of someone dying. Like other Ghost-types, they can sense when Death is near.

While the Nobles promised to be quick about it, they were taking too long for comfort. Avalugg berated himself for not being able to do more than play guard dog as the Alabaster Icelands are not known for their bountiful vegetation, otherwise it be easier to acquire the ingredients to make the necessary medicines.

"If we pull this off, I swear I'll put aside some time to ask the Psychic-types about healing others. While I may not be able to know any healing moves and the like, I want to at least know what things can work when someone is hurt or injured..."

His thoughts were brought to a halt when bright glowing lights appeared in front of him, blinding him but making him instictively tense up and ready for a fight. He dropped the stance when he recognized his fellow Nobles and the Zoroark.

"Sorry for the wait!" Wyrdeer apologized holding some Vivichokes in a bundle of cloth. "Some of us nearly ran into a spot of trouble with the clans."

"Never mind that," Braviary then appeared, his feathers ruffled and eyes showing a bit of panic. "The leaders are on their way back to their base camps so we must make haste."

This made Avalugg and the others tense.

Oh fuck berries.

"Let's put some pep in our step then!" Arcanine barked, his mouth full of Pep-up plants and some branches with many types of berries.

"Let's!" Sneasler agreed, worried what will happen if their Wardens and their Clan leaders not only find out about their "secret" activities but how would they react to a foreign child with unknown origins. Sinnoh help the land if Kamado find out because if there was one thing that man hates is outsiders.

Sneasler nearly gnashed her teeth at the thought of that detestable man going anywhere near her kit (yes, she decided to adopt her, so what?). And she knew the Zoroark had the same sentiment, even if she doesn't know the human as well as their Clan officials do.

"Avalugg. Ursaluna. Stand watch. Don't let anyone in unless it is one of us!" Lilligant said, urgency plain in her tone as she and the others rushed inside the cave, hoping that it won't come down to a fight between the Nobles and their Wardens. That would only cement Kamado's beliefs on their species as a whole. And they are quite fond of their Wardens so having to go against them would break their hearts.

Zoroark bustled in with the crafting table and looked at the others. "What do I need to do? I already got a few different types of Potions along with some Remedies and something called a Full Heal."

"That's great!" Lilligant nearly cheered. "We'll take those for now," she said, as she exchanged her Petlil leaves for the said man-made medicines. "You take the Toxicroak venom and the Bugworts and Pep-up Plants. Just chew the plants up and mix it with the venom. Sneasler will begin crushing the Berries. This will be a nasty-tasting concoction, but it is our best shot to helping the child. At least until we find someone we can trust to take her in."

That made Zoroark pause as she spat the chewed up plant stalks into a pile next to the gourd full of Toxicroak venom. "What do you mean until we find someone we can trust to take her in?" she repeated. "I intend to raise her as one of my own."

That caused everyone to look at her incredulously. "With all due respect ma'am," Wyrdeer contradicted gently as to set the fox Pokemon off. "I don't know if that is a good idea."

"And why is that?" the Zoroark asked, her golden eyes narrowing at the Noble Steed Pokemon. The Diamond Clan Noble looked at his friends for help, but none was offered as they did not want to be the ones to incur the Ghost/Normal-type's wrath should they say the wrong thing.

"I better tread carefully or it could mean my life," the white stag Pokemon gulped silently before trying for a more tactful approach. "What I mean is, Pokemon do not raise humans..."

"Why not?" the contradiction did not come from Zoroark surprisingly, but from Lady Sneasler. "I treat my own Warden like they are my own kit. So I don't see this is much different..."

"But..."

"I too think of my Warden as one of my own," Braviary added, talking about his Warden to-be Sabi as he had established a connection with the small lass when she was only in diapers. "So I think it is entirely possible for a human to be raised like a Pokemon."

"I concur," Kleavor added. "As me and my Warden also have a bond different than others. Like that of a paternal figure with their offspring..."

At this point, Wyrdeer knew he was outnumbered in this regard. "Even so, the humans may have some... issues with the matter should they find out."

"Then we don't let them find out," Zoroark pointed out as if it were the simplest answer to give.

It took all of Wyrdeer's composure to not groan in frustration. "Whether or not we let them find out is not the issue. The second the rumor of a child roaming the wild areas reaches the man village's ears, their leader will warrant a search for the man cub. And I don't think we need to imagine what their reaction will be when they catch so much as one glimpse of your furry hide around the child. They'll either resort to lethal force over the matter of taking the man cub away from you. Now if you were living in one of the Clans or the Village then you would have some sort of protection to repel this..."

"I refuse to join one of those human packs. I rather thrust my claws into my throat than do that."

"Even though the cub you are asserting your claim over is a human?" the Electrode countered not maliciously, but not exactly gentle either.

"If you had seen what this cub had been through in her life, then you would agree with me that she is more Pokemon than she is a mere Twoleg." He rebuttal made the others pause as they took in her words.

The silence was broken when they heard soft and labored panting coming from the pile-up of two Growlithes and the Zorua.

"I know you guys must be busy, but we do need that medicine," Basculegion brought them back to the original issue.

"Giratina, you're right," Arcanine could kick himself for being so distracted as he sauntered over to add his own heat to the mix.

"I think I may have an idea," Braviary spoke up as the others hurried to make the remedy while a few prepared the already prepared medicinal potions so they could administer it.

"What might that be?" Basculegion asked as he offered some of his water from his bubble to wet a towel to place on the child's forehead.

"You know of the human that lives outside of the village and is not affiliated with either of the Clans?"

"The one who has a connection with the Land God of Love Enamorus?" Sneasler asked to clarify as she helped mix the Toxicroak poison and the Petilil leaves together.

"That be her." Braviary confirmed.

"What about her?" questioned Wyrdeer, wondering where this was going.

"Perhaps if I talk to her friend Enamorus, she can put in a good word for the child's sake to her companion and maybe offer her protection."

"What good that will do?" Zoroark questioned as she helped mix in the Pep-up plants for a poultice, her tone bitter at the thought of being forced to be away from the pure-hearted man-cub.

"Well that man Kamado won't be able to touch her if she is said to be her charge. And if you are also allowed to live with her, then that means you and your child can be protected from the man's interloping."

Zoroark had opened her muzzle to protest, but when Braviary put it that way, she had to admit, it was a lot more appealing than showing herself to the village or the Clans where she be more than likely be greeted with screams of fear and sharpened stakes aimed at her. And from she had heard of this female twoleg, she wasn't under that village leader's jurisdiction, meaning she has more freedom to do as she pleases. And if the fabled Enamorus can trust this human, then surely it be okay to at least check it out....

"Fine," Zoroark finally agreed. "But can we investigate this possibility after the cub gets better?"

"Fair point." Braviary amended before they heard some explosions outside the cave, shaking the place a bit from the impact.

"What is going on now?!" Arcanine barked, as the others grew startled at the sudden commotion.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news," Avalugg spoke up. "But it would appear we got company."

"What?!" Kleavor snapped. "Why didn't you say something sooner?!"

"I'm as surprised as you are!" Electrode snapped as he let loose with a Thunderbolt.

"Who's attacking us?" They did not get an answer until something flash in Braviary's eyes, the sudden knowledge making him go cold at the realization.

"It's the Survey Corps!" The others froze at this.

"You gotta be kidding me!" Sneasler barked out in aggarvation, slapping a long clawed paw over the side of her face.

"How did they find us?!" Basculegion began to panic. Even though he was safe in his water bubble, there isn't a lot he could do to offer help to his comrades.

"Cyllene had returned to the village and, after some confusion with the Survey Corps, someone was able to deduce that is was a Zoroark in disguise. This led their Corps leader on a rampage as he sent out reinforcements to capture the Zoroark."

"How did they figure I am here though?!" Zoroark snapped, very angry now and a bit fearful for her cubs.

"I don't know, but we can't sit around to find out." Braviary said.

At that moment, Abra appeared in the cave, their aura full of panic. "Am I too late?!"

"If by 'late,' you mean if the so-called calvary from your Arceus-forsaken village is here, then yes, as a matter of fact, you are," Zoroark snapped at the Psi Pokemon.

"I apologize. I did what I could to hold them off, but I'm only just one Abra. So I teleported back here as quickly as I can...."

"Well don't look now but I think the oh-fearless-leader of the village is heading this way." Avalugg chipped in as he shot an ice beam at the intruders outside. "And to make things worse, the Clan leaders are with him, and our Wardens."

This caused everyone in the cave to utter a colorful expletive out loud, making Zoroark wince as her child was in the presence of such foul language.

"Well this is bothersome, what do we do?" Kleavor asked. As much as he and the others despised the one known as Kamado, they don't like the idea of fighting against their designated caretakers. Even Melli, even though he can be a bit bothersome...

"I may have an idea." Abra said, making the Zoroark spin around to stare him down.

"Well spit out already! Sinnoh's sake, we are on borrowed time!" She barked wanting nothing more than to tear out of the cave with her claws and teeth bared and ready to shed her enemies' blood to protect her children from the humans.

"I'll go to the place known as Ancient Retreat. There's a human there who can talk some sense into the attackers and hopefully avoid any possible bloodshed. I'm going to need everyone to hold down the fort until I get her here." Abra said.

"Won't you get in trouble with your wielder?" Lilligant asked with a tinge of worry.

"You let me worry about her. I'm going to need Lilligant and Sneasler in here to protect the young ones, and the hard-hitters like Ursaluna and Kleavor outside to help assist Electrode and Avalugg. Wyrdeer and Arcanine, you're also our next line of defense so head outside and cover the others. Braviary, be on standby in case things get hairy. You too, Zoroark. Be sure to have that remedy ready too. One of you may have to hold her down to give it to her as it will be terrible to taste. I'll try to get back here as quickly as possible!"

"Go! Hurry!" With that, the Psi Pokemon had blinked out of existence, leaving the others to their orders to protect their stronghold.

"Please hurry...." Zoroark prayed to every Sinnoh god she knew of that she will see this through.

Ancient Retreat

A woman adorned in gothic attire and grey/silver hair sipped tea outside her abode as she decided the weather was pleasant enough to be outdoors. This woman is known as Cogita.

Cogita is a single woman that has no relations living in the same region aside from her nephew Volo, who works as a merchant in the Gingko Guild. She prefers to keep to herself as she isn't one to live in Jubilife Village because the private life is more to her tastes. That and she is not entirely fond of the leader of the village, Kamado. While she does pay visits to her friend Cyllene, who works as Kamado's second-in-command, she hardly cared to exchange many words with him. Something about him rubs her wrong, along with Beni, a man who works as a potato mochi salesman who seems to have an odd liking to Sootfoot Roots.

Living in the Ancient Retreat guarantees privacy as many villagers cannot brave the wilds to get to her home, thanks to their fear of Pokemon. In Cogita's opinion, the Pokemon living in the region are as scared of them as it is vice versa. But thanks to Kamado and his influence on the matter, there isn't really much she could do to change their mind as they pretty much follow him like mindless sheep. She rather be her own person and not let someone as narrow-minded like Kamado influence her decisions. Being a licensed Hunter as of several years before retiring to the Hisui region helped with acquiring her own place, away from the general public.

Now she is beginning to wonder if all of that privacy is even worth it.

While she does have visitors, they were only her nephew Volo, who is a major fanatic when it comes to the lore of the Hisui's legendary Pokemon and is often ditching work just to hear her talk about them, and Enamorus, the "sister" Legendary Pokemon to the weather incarnate trio Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus. Aside from them, no one else really visits, not even Cyllene thanks to her heavy workload as the captain of the Survey Corps. This made the silver-haired woman lonely.

As she gazed blankly out to the mostly clear skies, she wondered if there is more to this life to enjoy. She kind of missed the thrill of being a Hunter, as she explored many lands and met many interesting characters, both man and beast, before her beloved sister lost her life with her husband, leaving her son Volo in Cogita's care, forcing Cogita to retire to raise him until he was old enough to take care of himself and make his own living.

Little did she know, something new will be coming her way.... Something that will change her mundane reclusive life to something more exciting...

And right at that oppostune moment, a flash of light caught her eye, making her turn to see a rather familiar Abra.

That's odd.

"Why would Cyllene's Abra be doing here?" Cogita wondered before a more troubling thought entered her mind. "Could she be in trouble...?"

The Abra floated up to her, before pressing their claw-like hand to her forehead, transferring the recent memories that have taken place in the frigid Alabaster Icelands. Cogita frowned as she saw Kamado in the vision, en route to Secret Hollow where the poor child shown to her in the vision was laying within, sick and wounded from who-knows-what. She felt some admiration towards the nobles as they tried to hold off Kamado's forces while reluctantly keeping their Wardens at bay.

It only took Cogita a moment to put together what the Abra was wanting from her. "You need me there, don't you?"

The Abra nodded in confirmation.

"Very well then. Let me get my coat. And my supplies to help the Lost One." Cogita disappeared into her home for a moment before coming back out in a winter coat and a kit with medical supplies.

"I'm ready." She said to the Psi Pokemon. "Let us make haste to the Secret Hollow. There's no time to lose."

Abra nodded, placing his paw on Cogita's pale hand, before they were blinked out of existence, en route to the cold Alabaster Icelands.

Meanwhile back in the Alabaster Icelands

Outside Secret Hollow....

The Nobles were holding their own against the village leader's Pokemon. While they were obviously reluctant to take on the Clan Nobles, Kamado's orders were absolute, something the Nobles disliked about the man as he seemed to hold no regard to his own team's opinions and thoughts. Regardless, they fought well until the end, the Nobles still standing without breaking a sweat.

Things began to take a turn when the Wardens were forced to intervene. The cave was shaking a bit from the attacks launched by Kamado's Pokemon; if they aren't careful the cave could collapse on their wayward patient and some of the current Nobles occupying it as a second line of defense.

This caused for more extreme measures to be done.

If by extreme, the Nobles stationed outside rushed at the Wardens, knocking aside their fellow Clans people and some of the Galaxy Team members before they snatched their Wardens up and, before anyone could react, put them inside the cave with the others before returning their attention to their current enemy: Kamado.

Kamado wanted to rush forward and attack them head-on but Cyllene stopped him, pointing out that they have the Wardens inside the cave, and anymore damage to the cave could result in the Clan Wardens being buried alive inside. Too bad he couldn't bring his partner Beni here, as he was still at the Wallflower in Jubilife Village.

Laventon and his two protege Surveyors-in-training were at a loss. They have never seen the Noble Pokemon act like this. What was going on? Why are they doing this? What are they trying to gain from all of this?

Meanwhile with Adaman and Irida, the Diamond and Pearl Clan leaders, the two were at a crossroads themselves. Their Clan wardens have been taken inside and if the cave's somewhat shakiness is any indication, if any more severe attacks are launched it could mean the demise of several of their tribe members. And they can easily agree that they rather avoid collateral damage.

Then Irida came up with an idea. To anyone else human, it was a bit farfetched (not the Pokemon, mind you) but it was probably their best bet.

No harm in finding out, right?

"What if we just talk to them?" the blonde Pearl leader proposed to Cyllene as, despite being a severe woman, she's a woman who can also see reason. More so than Kamado.

"What?!" Kamado barked, a vein sticking out from his temple. "You are seriously suggesting that we just walk up to them and ask what their big deal is?! Don't be ridiculous!"

Surprisingly, it was Adaman who spoke up in defense of his rival clan spokesperson. "Well it is better than standing out here with our thumbs up our butt. In case you have forgotten, there are people being held inside that cave. And launching any further attacks will for sure make matters worse, especially if that thing collapses on them." The blue-haired leader fixed the man in metal armor with a severe gaze. "And you don't want our people's blood on your hands... do you, Kamado?" His tone was challenging.

The others witnessing this were either in awe of the Diamond Clan's bold words or a bit concerned that he may have signed his death warrant mouthing off to the Galaxy Team's leader. Either way, this was not looking good in Kamado's favor. If he says no, he'll be admitting defeat and be saying he is wrong to many eyewitnesses from the village. But if he says yes, then he'll look bad in front of both of the Clan leaders and his own people. And he needs as much control over the people in Jubilife Village as he can get.

So for now, he has to play by the rules.

"Fine." He grounded out, returning his Golem back to his Pokeball. "Do what you will."

Adaman gave a stiff nod before grabbing the Pokeball containing his Leafeon, as Irida, scrambling to follow his lead, grabbed her Glaceon's ball before both of them released them. Getting down to their level, the two leaders explained the situation to their signature Eeveelutions. They also released their Umbreon, Vaporeon, Espeon, and Flareon in case they may need backup.

As they were explaining the issue to their partners, the Wardens are having their own meeting inside Secret Hollow.

Inside Secret Hollow

The clan wardens were in for a surprise when they were tossed inside the cave. The first thing they all realized was how... cozy the cave looked, with all of the decorations adorning the walls and floors.

"So this was where some of our stuff was disappearing to," Iscan noted, holding onto Palina's hand. "I thought it was some Ghost-types playing tricks on us..." He then noticed his Noble Pokemon in a Psychic-enhanced water bubble. "Lord Basculegion! What on Sinnoh's green earth are you doing in there?!" The said Noble only looked at him impassively, not responding as he deadpanned at his skittish Warden.

Melli, scared for his life, scrambled to the nearest wall to get some distance between him and the other Nobles the second they were all tossed inside.

"How could my precious Electrode do this to me?!" He wailed, making Mai roll her eyes at the purplenette as he rocked back and forth.

Gaeric stood at the entrance, trying to find an opening so he and the others can use it to their advantage and make an escape. Though even he had to wonder why on earth would his sparring partner be involved in this.

Ingo was a bit more impassive than the others. He walked up to his Lady Sneasler, who gave him an apologetic look before she turned back to her work. "So this is where you have been disappearing to every month?" Ingo asked, as Sneasler tensed at his statement; she thought she had covered her tracks well enough.

"What do you mean, Sir Ingo?" Mai asked.

"Every month on the full moon, Lady Sneasler always disappear into the night and she doesn't return until the next sunrise. I didn't think much of it as it was only once a month and it did not warrant any worries with anyone else so I left the matter alone..." Ingo rubbed the back of his head. "I sincerely apologize for not saying something."

"Yeah you should have said something!" Melli snapped at him peevishly, making the others, even the Pokemon inside the cave, glare at him for his words.

"Melli. That's enough." Lian snipped at the taller male.

"You wanna go, pipsqueak?" Melli challenged.

"With what, Electrode made it clear he wasn't going to fight anyone and given how Kleavor is having the same sentiments, my Noble is less likely to take up the challenge."

There was no arguing with that, which made Melli groan again, before a low and unfamiliar snarl fill the air, making the humans present stand stock still before looking over to a darker part of the cave, where at first glance, the sight was fairly easy to miss.

There was an Alpha Zoroark atop of some pillow cushions filched from the clans' bases, and, judging by the angry and eerie glow of the Ghost/Normal-type's eyes, they were not happy.

"EEEEEEEKKKK!!!!" Both Melli and Iscan felt fear overcome them, making Palina and Basculegion facepalm at their actions as they clung to each other in fear. The others stood up quickly and backed away to put some distance between them and the Illusion Fox Pokemon. They didn't seem to notice the young Zorua cub or the Growlithe pups in the same corner as Zoroark's big frame kind of concealed them from view as she was curled up around the human child.

All, that is, except for Ingo.

His eyes squinted into the darker corner trying to see what was the Alpha Zoroark trying to hide. His attention went back to Sneasler, who stood up from her position with the bowl holding the concoction that Ingo had recognized by smell contained Toxicroak poison and he smelled traces of different berries inside the paste mix.

"What is that?" Ingo wondered as the Sneasler approached the Zoroark, who had ceased growling at the others to bring her attention to the Poison/Fighting-type.

Before Ingo could warn his Noble, his eyes widened when he watched the Zoroark uncurl herself from her curled up position on the cushions to reveal a-

"What the-?!" Ingo mindlessly shot to his feet, not believing his eyes as he decided to get a closer look.

"Ingo!" shouted Mai as the others watched wide-eyed as the Pearl Clan member approached the two. "What are you doing?!"

Zoroark, hearing the man approach, growled at the man, her claws held out in a warning, until Sneasler said something to her, making her reluctantly withdraw her forearm, while the others watched in confused awe. Sabi, who had been watching the whole thing with an impassive look, suddenly smiled brightly before speaking, "No worries, everyone. Zoroark isn't trying to hurt anyone."

"Huh?"

"What?"

"What are you talking about, Sabi?" Lian asked his peer from the Diamond Clan.

"It's a child!" Ingo spoke with shock, drawing everyone's attention.

"Say what?" Palina gasped, coming over to where Ingo is standing. Her hand went over her mouth in surprise and horror; surprise because like Ingo said, there really was a human child huddled against the Zoroark, a Zorua cub and her Lord Arcanine's young Growlithe pups curled up against the kid, and horror at the sight of blood on the child's clothes and the red flush on the child's face indicating a fever.

"Calaba! Come here quickly! There's a sick child over here, and I think they are severely wounded!" Palina spoke urgently as the elder Pearl Clan woman quickly ambled over to see for herself.

Arezu quickly ran over to see it was true before she looked at her Lilligant, who seemed to be busy with the sorting the man-made medicines that Zoroark swiped away from the village. "So is this why you guys suddenly left your posts? You were wanting to help this kid?"

The Noble Grass/Fighting-type nodded in confirmation.

Everyone then understood the situation. Zoroark went to the village in disguise to get medicine for the child because they probably thought getting help from a human wasn't going to work out so they took matters in their own hands. And with the Nobles' help they went out to find the ingredients for a medicine to help with the child's fever... How or why they all got together is a mystery, but it was one they could all put aside for now.

"The poor thing..." Calaba spoke up as she examined the child's wounds. "Looks like the child has been severely malnourished too. I can see her ribs sticking out... And such awful wounds..."

Palina held the child's head in her lap, shielding her from view of the children at least as this was quite grisly to behold. Her eyes shone with unshed tears at the sight of the underdeveloped girl being hurt so badly.

"Who could do such a nasty thing to a poor child like this?" she wondered to herself, her insides churning with anger at the ones who would commit such an atrocity.

"How do we know the Zoroark didn't hurt the brat?" Melli opened his mouth to say, making everyone present, even the Zoroark in question as well, to glare at them.

"What are you, dumb?" Lian sneered. "If the Zoroark did it, they would have finished the job instead of going out of their way to help the kid."

"Lian has a point, Melli." Mai added. "Please think before you speak."

"Hmmph," the light blue/purple-haired Warden chuffed but conceded; he may be light in the head, but he's not cruel as his eyes shone with empathy at the way the young girl looked so hurt. For some reason, he saw himself when he was still a kid, years before he became a Clan warden....

Calaba took her bag off reaching inside to find some bandages. "I see now," the elderly woman spoke as she began to clean the girl's wounds and promptly bandage them. She took notice of the child barely wincing at the pain of the Hisuian equivalent of rubbing alcohol as that always brought even the toughest of men to tears. Even Gaeric noticed as he brought his attention to the scene behind him and was watching it all unfold. He frowned at this as he noticed the wounds on the girl's body was looked that of burns than slashed open incisions. Add in how scrawny the kid looked, it made Gaeric suspicious of what she have gone through. What happened to this poor kid?

"There." Calaba finished wrapping the child's wounds. "That should stop the infection from spreading further." She then notices the concoction Lilligant and Sneasler had made with the Petilil leaves and Toxicroak poisons. Knowing of their medicinal properties, she knew what she had to do to quickly stop the fever in its tracks.

"Palina. Arezu. I'm going to need your assistance." Both women were confused at this but didn't question her as Arezu hurried over as Palina was already holding the child up on her lap.

"Sabi. Lian. You two look away." She ordered in a tone that left no room for argument, making the two youngest Wardens comply. She turned back to Palina and Arezu. "I'm going to need you two to hold her down. Be sure you have a good grip on her. Chances are she's gonna put up a fight, but we have to get this in her system if she is going to pull through this...."

Catching on, the two women had grim sets to their mouths as this was not going to be pretty.

Calaba sighed as she picked up the gourd filled with the venom and bitter leaves. "Well as the kids say it, bottoms up!"

Meanwhile outside the cave

It was tense but quiet on the humans' side of things as the Clan leaders sent their Pokemon to talk to the Nobles. Irida was praying to her Sinnoh god hoping that this will turn out okay in the end. Preferably without Kamado flying off the handle. Adaman was watching the happenings go down as he eyed his and Irida's Eeveelutions speak to the Nobles guarding the cave of Secret Hollow.

Kamado was pacing in aggravation, burning a track in the snow as he waited impatiently for some sort of results. As he was doing so, a male in blue and yellow attire with a giant backpack appeared over the snowy hill. This young man is named Volo, a merchant of the Gingko Guild, a traveling merchant group (A/N: I almost typed mercenary for some reason lol!) that goes around the region of Hisui selling wares to villagers and members of the Galaxy Team.

"Hello there!" He called out to the crowd as he trotted up behind. They all turned to see the Gingko Guild merchant Volo himself, his bag clinking with wares and other merchandise inside. "What be going on here?" He then noticed the majority of the nobles assembled outside the cave. "Are those the Clan nobles?!" He asked in shock.

Irida nodded, very nervous from it all. "Yes. It seems they are revolting...."

Volo blinked. The Clan Nobles.... revolting? While he could see that being a possibility with Kamado in charge, he couldn't see it with the Diamond and Pearl Clans, even with the lackwitted Melli, as from what he have seen, the Wardens and their leaders have always treated their Pokemon with respect.

"Any reason why they are doing this?" He asked, hoping to get more details.

"We don't know," Adaman responded, a bit frustrated as his Leafeon and crew were taking quite a while to talk to them, along with Irida's Glaceon and her team. "We're trying to find out though."

Before anymore questions were asked, a scream was heard from within the cave, making everyone, even the Noble Pokemon jump at the sudden sound.

"What the-?!" Volo gasped, covering his ears a bit at the noise.

"Are the Wardens being attacked?!" Someone asked, causing a tremor of panic to ripple through the crowd of clans people and the Surveyors from the Galaxy Team.

"The wardens are in there?!" Volo asked in shock.

Irida sighed, seeing no way to sugarcoat it. "They got taken inside when Kamado sent his Pokemon out to fight them."

Volo nodded, choosing not to say that this looks a lot like a hostage situation as that will not help anyone's unease.

Kamado grunted, his eyes disapproving. "Negotiations are over. Golem, come out!" He sent the evolved Rock/Ground-type out, making the others balk.

"Kamado, no!!" Irida shouted, "the Wardens! They'll be-!"

"Rock blast!" Kamado ordered without hesitation, making even Cyllene blanch at his words. Even Volo knew that if that attack hits the cave, it will collapse on everyone inside.

They could only watch helplessly as Golem launched the attack.

"NO!!!" Adaman yelled, worried for his people and his Pokemon as a whole.

A flash of light appeared right in the line of fire of the Rock-type attack. Before anyone could decipher what it was, the attack made a cloud of snow obscure their vision as the attack continued, making everyone shield their eyes.

Many witnesses watched with dread as the cloud dissipated only to reveal...

"A-Abra?!" Cyllene's voice filled the air, saturated with shock as she saw a pink shield disappear as the dust (or snow) cleared to reveal her Pokemon and standing beside the Psi Pokemon was....

"Mistress Cogita?!" It was Volo's turn to be shocked as he recognized his aunt and parental figure.

"Hello, Volo. Come to join the party?" Cogita spoke in a joking tone, though everyone could tell she was quite unhappy with Kamado if the way she was giving him the death glare was any indication.

"Better him than me." Volo scoffed internally, as that was very reckless of the village leader to do. While Volo could admit that he is not close to anyone from the clans or the villagers, he had to admit that was a bit scummy of Kamado to endanger some innocent people like that.

"Can someone care to explain what is going on here?" Cogita demanded than asked as she gave everyone a critical once-over.

It was Cyllene who spoke up. "There was a Zoroark posing as me earlier today while I was out to a clan meeting. They took some items from the Jubilife general store and left the village. When it came to our attention, Kamado deduced it was a Zoroark that had been in the village. And we received intel that a Zoroark carrying a stolen crafting kit was sighted here, so Kamado put out a hunt for the Zoroark, making the Clan leaders and wardens come as well. It was reported earlier that their Nobles had gone missing in action by the clan's people. We were met with interference by the Clan nobles guarding the cave of Secret Hollow. We began to fight them, until they took the Wardens and brought them inside the cave. What caused that scream inside, I'm not sure, but Kamado decided to launch an attack at them, even though it was obvious the cave wouldn't hold up much longer if anymore fighting ensued, The rest is history." Cyllene finished her report though Kamado was glaring daggers at the blue-haired woman. Thankfully, Cyllene was a woman with a spine stronger than a Magnezone's steel so she wasn't fazed by his glare.

Cogita nodded to her old friend. "Thank you, Captain Cyllene." She turned to the Pokemon guarding the cave. "If you kindly don't mind, I'd like to help you." Everyone blinked at her words. "I have an idea of what is going on, and Abra had gone to the trouble of bringing me here. So please let me offer my assistance." She wasn't talking to Kamado for permission to enter; rather, she was asking the Nobles themselves.

The Nobles guarding the entrance stared Cogita down, and she unflinchingly stared back, letting them see into her soul as she let her Aura open up and let them search her heart.

After a tense moment of silence, the Nobles began to make a small opening, big enough for Cogita to fit through while Abra floated back to Cyllene's side. Kamado tried to move forward to force his way inside after Cogita, but a warning yet strong grip from Cyllene stopped him. He tried to glare at her, but was met with a glare fiercer than his own as she gave him her own signature death stare. Had it been a weaker man, they would have been dead six times over. And that wasn't factoring the glares from the members of the Diamond and Pearl clans.....

After all, nobody messes with their Wardens and gets away with it without paying the consequences....

Inside the cave...

Palina ran a hand through the hair of the small pre-adolescent girl as sweat poured from the girl's brow. Palina herself felt a bit winded from having to hold the child down as she thrashed wildly against her and Arezu as Calaba poured the concoction down her throat. She screamed and tried to gag the medicine out, but Arezu and Palina weren't selected as Clan Wardens just for their good looks. Arezu held the girl's jaw open as they made sure the medicine went down the throat as Palina held the girl down to keep her from reopening her wounds any further already.

Now the medicine had been taken, and the girl, while she seemed to still be unconscious, was panting with exhaustion as Palina held the girl's head in her lap, offering some form of comfort by running a hand through the girl's grimy hair. Mai was seeing if she had some spare ingredients to make some easy-to-eat food for their unexpected patient while Calaba and Arezu busied themselves with examining the girl's wounds and get the appropriate topical medicine and bandages to bind them.

"The poor girl...." Palina thought, as she saw some of the wounds Calaba and Arezu began to bandage up. "She looks so thin and those burns..." Palina felt a curl of nausea as she remembered how deep those wounds looked. Something in her gut told her that those wounds were not given by a Pokemon, but rather another human, if not a few. "But who would do such a thing? And why?" Calaba had a grim set to her mouth as she has firsthand knowledge of how deep a wound or severe a burn can be to take one's life, especially if said wounds are infected. She didn't say this aloud, especially with two children present, but Calaba knew the kid should be dead with wounds of that severity, and the fact that given how much her ribs stood out in her skin told her that this child hadn't seen a scrap of food for a good while.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she saw Lilligant and Sneasler approach with a makeshift poultice of snow ready. They laid it upon the girl's forehead, replacing the warm cloth they were using earlier. Sabi and Lian looked scared for the poor girl; she is probably around their age, but given her malnourished state, it's a possibility that she is perhaps older and her growth was stunted given the severe lack of meat on her bones. The others, mainly the male wardens Gaeric, Ingo, Melli, and Iscan, had looked appropriately horrified even when they had only caught a glimpse of the wounds the girl had sustained. Mai was trying to keep her emotions under control as she managed to find enough ingredients to make a few Jubilife muffins and some Old Gateau. Whoever had hurt this girl, she hoped they will have some serious bad karma befall them.

Everyone tensed when they heard some noise outside, like someone tried to launch an attack. But since the cave didn't shake, they figured something must have happened. Ingo was about to go and try to see what was happening outside, only to stop when Cogita entered the cave.

"M-miss Cogita!" He exclaimed, the others turning their heads in surprise at the woman's appearance.

"Greetings, Wardens," she responded with tight politeness; everyone noted the slightly angered expression on her face, though it wasn't directed at them, but they decided to play it safe so they get on the receiving end of her ire. "Might I ask what is going on here?"

"It is better that you come see..." Calaba spoke up, making Cogita turn her attention to the female Wardens as she walked over to see what the elder Pearl Clan member was talking about.

Upon closer inspection, Cogita felt her heart clench in dread and pain as she found the undersized girl in the female Wardens' arms. Cogita dropped to her knees beside them, pulling out her healing kit so she could assist Calaba, which she appreciated as she was in need of more salve for the burns and more bandages to bind the seeping wounds.

"What happened?" Cogita asked, her eyes fixed on the slightly pained expression of the small mint-haired girl.

"We aren't sure how this happened," Calaba began in a low voice as to not let Lian and Sabi overhear as Lord Arcanine's pups began to play with them, "but from what I can gather, she has severe malnutrition and the infection from these wounds have produced a high fever. And the burn wounds have been left untreated for a long time. While the edges of the burns seem old, it seemed that they kept being reopened, like someone had had attacked her in those areas repeatedly. Honestly, this child should have died from such severe wounds."

Cogita's breath stilled in her mouth at Calaba's serious words, Palina and Arezu covered their mouths in horror at this revelation. The two women had their suspicions after just glancing at those wounds, but to hear it come from Calaba herself was like a cold hard slap to the face. A snap was heard and everyone turned to see Mai had snapped a rock she was holding tightly in her fist, making the others sweat in fear as her face became shadowed and her aura a dark cloud of anger. Melli gulped at this. The others may not have heard Calaba's words but they knew it had to be very serious if Mai of all people were to lose composure.

Cogita then opened her medicine kit, where it was stocked up with all varieties of potions, remedies, and some ingredients that the Gingko Guild carries. Calaba felt relief at seeing this, despite her expertise, she didn't have a lot of supplies to spare as this was quite unexpected.

"Had she taken anything so far?" Cogita inquired, her face analytical as she brought her things out.

"We got her to ingest a concoction of Petilil leaves and Toxicroak venom." Palina informed her.

That got Cogita's attention. "How did you get ahold of those ingredients?" She asked.

"We didn't." Arezu replied, "Lilligant and Sneasler did. I think they wanted to help..." Cogita raised an eyebrow at the aforementioned Nobles before she quickly understood. It was rumored by villagers that Petilil leaves and Toxicroak venom had healing properties, so of course the Pokemon would have firsthand knowledge of that.

"Though I doubt it tasted any better than the bitter Remedies Choy sells from his stall in Jubilife...." Cogita thought dryly. "Ah. I see." Cogita then began applying some Potions on the easier to treat wounds, watching as they began to fade to white scars, forever embedded in the girl's body.

After awhile of Cogita assisting Calaba and the others, the girl was sleeping much more peacefully; her fever finally broke and the red flush on her face had gone down. Her breathing was much steadier now as she slept in their arms.

Everyone nearly jumped out of their skin when Zoroark let out a whine, a melancholic look on their face as she watched over the Wardens' shoulders as they wrapped the girl in some blankets they found inside the cave.

Who would have thought such an expression could exist on such a fearsome creature....

Cogita was the first to respond after a moment of shock. "There there, Zoroark. She's going to be just fine." Cogita approached the bipedal fox carefully, as the Baneful Fox eyed her warily as she began to reach for her. Cogita placed a hand on her mane, scratching the fox lightly behind her ear, a weak spot for Zoroarks. She leaned into the touch without thinking, feeling quite nice as Cogita made to run a hand through her giant red and white mane.

"You were very brave, you know," Cogita spoke in a gentle tone, surprising the Zoroark with her words. "Not many of your kind would go so far for a human, even a child. And the fact you went out of your way to pose as one of the villagers to get the things needed to help the lost one despite your dislike for humans in general says a lot about you.... And to work together with the Clan Nobles as well...." Cogita gave a genuine smile, paying no heed to the astounded looks she was receiving from the Wardens.

The Zoroark chuffed, a light blush painting her white muzzle as she grumbled half-heartedly while rubbing a paw behind her head in a bashful manner, as she was not used to compliments, especially from a human.

"So what now?" Asked Gaeric, breaking the moment.

"What do you mean, Gaeric?" Palina inquired.

"What do we do with the kid?" He asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Ingo answered. "We take care of her."

"But what if her parents live somewhere around here?" he pointed out. This caused the temperature in the cave to drop lower than that of outside, making the others aside from Gaeric shiver.

"If they do live around here, I'm gonna kick their teeth in," Arezu growled, her hands in fists. "Leaving a child in that sort of state... It's unforgivable..."

"Get in line, Arezu, cause I'm gonna get the first hit in," Mai spoke in a tone that promised hell worse than Giratina.

"Not to interrupt," Iscan spoke up nervously, "but do we even know if their parents are even alive?" That question made them pause; well all except Zoroark as she knew the truth and was trying her hardest not show any reaction as that would probably scare them more than she already had. So she focused on grooming the child's hair with her tongue as her cub Zorua rested in her mane.

"That's... a good point..." Palina said thoughtfully.

"Even so," Calaba spoke up firmly. "We still have to place the child somewhere until we figure this out." "Though I get the feeling there is something more to this than we are all thinking...." She thought to herself remembering how the wounds looked and the state of dress the child was in when they found her.

"So.... who's going to take her in?" Melli asked the question on everyone's minds.

Sabi was the first to raise her hand, waving it excitedly. "I will!!"

Every Warden aside from Lian deadpanned at her. "No, Sabi. You are too young. And she is probably your and Lian's age if not older..." Palina tried to let her down gently.

She was then seen facing the wall, a depression cloud hanging over her head as she began to grow mushrooms while Lian stood off to the side next to her, tilting his hat down to hide his own expression. The others, Pokemon included, sweatdropped at their youngest Clan members' actions.

"Don't look at me," Melli spoke up. "I have enough on my plate as it is with being a Warden and for Electrode."

Lian couldn't resist a moment to jab at the Diamond Clan member. "You're the last person anyone would ask to look after a kid, especially when your maturity level is that of a child..." That caused a glare to shot in the youngest Pearl Clan member's direction.

"Why you-!" Melli began to snarl, only to be cut off as Calaba barked out, "Enough!"

"Lian does have a point though," Mai spoke up, causing Melli to look betrayed.

"Mai, you too? Who's side are you on?!"

"Nobody's. And I was going to say that I'm not fit to be a parent either, as I'm too young myself and I do not know much about child care..." Mai looked disheartened as she said this, as she wished it weren't so.

"Don't be so down, Mai," Cogita spoke up, "There is no shame in admitting that. Better be now than later when it is too late." She still looked a bit saddened, but she took comfort in the woman's words.

"All of us as Wardens have no time to care for her," Iscan spoke up, looking a bit sad as he pictured himself and Palina raising a child despite their clan alliances (A/N: I kinda ship them honestly), but as Wardens they have to relinquish their titles, and not anyone can become a Warden, as the Pokemon basically chooses their Wardens not the other way around. "And I can't imagine anyone in Jubilife Village can take care of her. At least not with Kamado's approval...."

That made Cogita frown. After what she had seen of Kamado's decision-making skills, she doubted he would place the child with anyone who is capable of taking care of them. And that's not factoring in the possibility of him even bothering to have an actual heart to see the child cared for as judging by the girl's clothes (ratty and tattered they may be), she could be an outisider and if there is one thing Kamado hates, it is outsiders.

With her mind made up, she spoke up. "I'll do it."

The entire cave became silent, save for the mint-haired girl's soft breathing as Zoroark held her bundled up form in her arms, you could hear a pin drop. Even the fox was staring Cogita with an unfathomable look in her eyes.

"Miss Cogita..." Even Calaba seemed surprised. "A-are you sure?"

Cogita was more than sure; determined at that. "Yes, of course." She said her voice and tone leaving no room for debate. "I have a stable place to live in with enough room and food, not to mention medicine in case she gets sick or injured, and I can give her a proper education." It was no secret that Cogita is a worldly woman as she had traveled to many places and have learned many things such as cultures and languages on top of being quite well-off thanks to her excursions in other regions and countries and discovering many rare treasures and the like. There is also the fact she also took care of Volo until he was old enough to support himself and work for his own keep in the Gingko Guild, which also qualified as experience in raising a child. So if if anyone in the immediate area was suitable to take care of this kid, it would be her.

Cogita turned to the Zoroark holding the child. "You are more than welcome to come with me if you like, seeing as you are much attached to her like you are with your own cub." The Zoroark chuffed but didn't seem to refuse as she ambled over to her side, her Zorua sticking his head out to see what was going on now.

"Very well," Calaba spoke again as everyone else rose to their feet as they saw that their Noble Pokemon were making way to let them out as they heard their final decision on the matter and seemed to be satisfied with it. Cogita turned to the Zoroark and offered her arms to take the child from her, making the Ghost/Normal-type balk at her.

"Please," Cogita hastened to assure the bipedal fox, "this is so they won't misunderstand your intentions. And perhaps if you return that stolen crafting kit, they will come to understand you better."

This made the Zoroark pause, taking her words into mind. While she did not want to readily hand this cub over, the human is raising a fair point; if the humans see her carrying the child, they'll assume she's kidnapping her and perhaps attack her on sight. Maybe offering the stolen crafting kit is a way to extend the proverbial olive branch and make the humans get the point that she didn't want to cause unwanted panic, but she just wanted to help someone who truly needed it.

Seeing no better idea, she complied to Cogita's words, albeit reluctantly as her arms now felt cold and empty as the the man-cub was now in her arms. She made sure to stick to Cogita's side, if only to make sure the mint-haired girl stayed in her sights, and it will hopefully show the humans she can smell outside that she is with the silver-haired woman.

Picking up the nearly forgotten stolen crafting kit, Zoroark followed Cogita as she gestured for the Wardens to head out first and see their assigned Noble Pokemon to show that their are no hard feelings towards them. Zoroark had to raise an arm as the sun that had seemingly appeared after the blizzard ended nearly hurt her eyes as she stepped out of the cave.

The people gasped as they saw Zoroark be the last one out of the cave, many of them tensing up at the sight of how huge she was compared to the normal sized adult Zoroark. She heard a man wearing a purple hat murmur out, "An Alpha!" with some excitement in his expression, causing the two look-alike man-cubs to give the older man a weirded-out look. The she-fox ignored the exchange as she approached the stern blue-haired twoleg, making many make a wide berth as Cogita watched on from afar, ready to intervene should something happen. That "something" being Kamado judging how he was eyeing the fox like he was sizing up an opponent before attacking.

Everyone, save for the Wardens and Nobles and Cogita, were dumbfounded when Zoroark brought out the stolen crafting kit and placed it in the shocked Cyllene's hands before briskly walking back to Cogita's side.

Even Kamado was dumbstruck at the actions, but it was short-lived as he noticed the bundle in Cogita's arms.

"What might you have there, madam?" He asked in a clipped tone, making her return her gaze with a icy polite tone of her own.

"A child." She answered shortly, not offering any more information aside from that.

This drew everyone's attention from the Alpha Zoroark to the two in question as murmurs filled the crowd's atmosphere.

"What..?"

"A child?"

"Could it be from our village...?"

"Can't be..."

"I can't tell..."

"Maybe one of the clan's children...?"

"Can't be...."

"Wouldn't the wardens recognize them?"

Both Zoroark and Cogita restrained themselves from rolling their eyes at this, as their focus was on the severe man in Galarian armor.

Adaman and Irida ran over to them, their eyes widening at the sight of the child in Cogita's arms. Adaman and Irida got the details from their Wardens about what happened in the cave, but to see the child of the hour themselves.... Irida was horrified that the child had gone through such an ordeal, and Adaman promised himself that if he finds the ones responsible for hurting a child like that then he and Leafeon will make sure they show their "appreciation" for such treatment.

"Well?" Kamado spoke with impatience, making Zoroark glare at him. "Where did it come from? I don't recognize their face from the village, and judging that neither Clan are laying claim to it, it doesn't belong to either of them."

Cogita gave him a cold glare, if only calling the child "it." "She is an orphan. And I'm now her guardian." She added in a tone that was daring the Jubilife Village leader to challenge her.

This revelation had cut off whatever he was about to say in favor of having an expression that wasn't short of surprise. "You? Taking care of a child?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Why not? I don't see you or any of your followers make any offers to help take care of her. And the Wardens and Clan leaders have their own set of responsibilities, and I doubt you could be bothered to place this child in a suitable home."

"Now see here-!" He was cut off as Cyllene put a hand on his shoulder.

"May I remind you, Commander, that you are already on thin ice as it is." Cyllene spoke severely in a low tone.

"Given how you nearly took the lives of a few civilians had it not for my Abra's sudden appearance with that Barrier with Cogita, I am inclined to agree with her," Cyllene added, making the Wardens glare at Kamado as they recalled how they heard someone shout an attack earlier. So that was him, huh? Adaman and Irida also glared at the commander at the reminder how they nealry lost not only their beloved Wardens, but also their family as some have a relation of some sort with their leaders.

"You're lucky we aren't cutting you off for that stunt," Adaman hissed at the armored man his Leafeon brushing her head against his leg to calm him down.

"Can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Adaman," Irida added, her tone as cold as her Glaceon standing next to her with her other Eeveelutions.  "And judging from the Wardens' expressions alone, don't expect any brownie points from them either." Her words were punctuated with the said Wardens beginning to surround the man, their Noble Pokemon at their side, giving an equally unfriendly look at the Jubilife Village leader. Zoroark bared her fangs at the man, ready to sink them into his neck if need be. She has killed before and she will do it again. Volo was tense as his hand drifted to his Pokeballs holding his own team. They weren't fully evolved yet, but he's cofident enough that they can take Kamado in a fight, Pokemon battle or otherwise,

Kamado could sense the bloodlust coming off of everyone surrounding him, and if he called for backup he'll be exposed for his misdeeds to the other villagers who think that he was succumbing to the heat of the moment when he ordered his Golem to use Rock Blast earlier. The last thing he wanted is for the villagers to launch a revolt against him and he loses everything he has worked for up until now. Gritting his teeth, he gave the child in Cogita's arms one last hateful look before he gave in.

"Fine. Raise the outsider. Just keep it out of my sight. It will not be accepted in my village." With that he barked at the others. "Back to the village!" Everyone who had joined the "hunt" had began to leave with the Security Corps escorting them to make sure no harm befell them. Kamado turned back to give Cogita and the Zoroark in specific one last baleful glare before he followed the villagers back to Jubilife.

The Zoroark snorted derisively at his retreating figure as it disappeared from view before she flipped him off with her claws. Jackass twoleg. Volo sweatdropped at this; who knew that Zoroark can learn profane sign language...

Seeing Kamado gone, she turned to the Clan leaders and Wardens. "Terribly sorry for having you dragged into that mess." She dipped her head apologetically.

Irida shook her head, her eyes full of turbulent emotions. "No, Cogita-sama. We should be thanking you. Had you not shown up, our Wardens and a hurt child's lives would have been lost."

"To be fair, that was Abra's doing with putting up that Barrier. I just merely shown up and checked things out." Cogita was much too modest to take any credit.

"Even so," Adaman pointed out, "that was more than what Kamado did and we can't tell you how much we appreciate it." The Wardens nodded in agreement with the Diamond Clan leader's words.

Volo then hugged Cogita, surprising her but thankfully she had a good grip on the child in her arms.

"Thank Sinnoh you're okay..." Volo's voice cracked as he hid his face into Cogita's shoulder.

"I'm fine, Volo, really," she assured her nephew, though she felt a touch guilty for worrying him.

Adaman and Irida felt awkward seeing this; it felt as if they were intruding on a family moment.

Volo then took a moment to see the small bundle in his aunt's arms. "So who is this?" he asked, his visible eye showing interest at the sight of the child in her arms, unlike Kamado's cold hateful stance on the matter.

She chuckled. "I don't know." Her face became serious. "She was running a high fever and had serious wounds on top of serious malnourishment. It's nothing short of a miracle this child survived...." Hearing this made Adaman, Irida, and Volo look horrified. The Wardens nodded, confirming Cogita's words.

"The poor thing..." Irida gasped as Calaba filled both leaders in on the extension of the child's injuries and previous condition before they were able to break the child's fever.

"So you really intend to take the kid in?" Adaman asked.

"Of course she is!" Irida rebutted. "Did you forget what just happened with Kamado? Like Cogita would go back on her word!"

They then proceeded to glare at each other causing the others to facepalm and the Nobles to shake their heads. If their own Noble Pokemon can get along why can't their leaders?

"I'll be taking my leave," Cogita spoke up, catching everyone's attention as she readied herself to head back to the Ancient Retreat. "This child is going to need a warm place to wake up in and I'll need to prepare food for her so she be healthy.

Calaba nodded. "I'll come by and do a check in on the wee one. I'll see if I can request Pesselle to come by and examine the child."

"If Kamado gives you any trouble on such, give me a call," Irida said, her frown returning at the thought of the commander.

"Same for me," Adaman chimed in, his arms crossed just like his facial expression.

"Will do." Cogita nodded.

"Won't you need a ride home?" Ingo asked.

"I'll be fine," Cogita assured him, "my place isn't too far from here-"

"Maybe for you, but it'll be difficult with a child in your arms. And your Zoroark doesn't know where the Ancient Retreat is..." Arezu pointed out.

She had a point, Cogita realized. So how-

"I can send Wyrdeer to escort you," Mai suddenly offered.

"Braviary can perhaps carry you!" Sabi offered.

"Being up in the air with a sick kid is not a good idea, Sabi." Palina pointed out. "And Braviary only has room for one in his basket..."

"Mouuuu...." Sabi pouted, squatting down to draw in the snow with her finger. Adaman patted her head.

In the end, it was the suggestion of having Wyrdeer escort Cogita and her newest addition to her family back to her abode at the Ancient Retreat.

"I'll head back to the Guild before coming back to help," Volo said as Cogita was mounted on Wyrdeer (A/N: not like that you dirty-minded souls!). "I'll even bring some things to help the kid recover."

Cogita nodded to her nephew as he turned and headed back to the Gingko Guild to check in with his boss Ginter.

"We'll be seeing you," Cogita called out in farewell before nudging Wyrdeer into a trot in the direction of her home the Zoroark keeping pace easily as she ran beside them.

"Looks like I'll be getting my wish after all," Cogita thought wryly as she gazed at the sleeping child in her arms. "Things will definitely be interesting..."

Ancient Retreat....

After making it home and sending Wyrdeer back to his Warden, Cogita made her way inside as the sun had already set and night was almost upon Hisui.

Turning to the Zoroark as her cub jumped out of the safety of her mane, Cogita spoke using Aura. "If you want to come inside you can. I figure you'd want to watch over the child..."

The Zoroark was stunned that the woman before her knew how to use Aura, but she supposed it made sense on a few things since the Nobles from earlier had no problem listening to her and the air around her wasn't like the other humans. Which may explain why she felt more agreeable with her around as opposed to others.

"Fine with me," Zoroark telepathed. "Since we will be living alongside each other, are there any conditions you want me and by extension my cub to meet?"

"Just be there for her whenever I cannot." Cogita responded, shocking the Zoroark again. The female fox was expecting a fight on who gets custody of the man-cub, but was surprised by how quickly the human was willing to relinquish the matter to her should things go wrong.

"Anyway, let's head inside. I have to make some soup for when she wakes up." Cogita said heading inside, Zorua right on her heels.

Zoroark stood there outside as a slight breeze ruffled her mane, giving it a wispy appearance as it moved in the chilled wind. After a moment, she found herself moving forward to go inside the house.

POV Switch, Izumi

I felt hot and cold at the same time as I felt as if I was moving at a high-speed pace. I tried to open my eyes to no avail as I was forced to be sent to wherever it is the afterlife is wanting me to go to.

I felt so uncomfortable and so unwell, like I'm so sick I can't move. I couldn't even open my eyes as I heard voices and felt something hairy, perhaps fur, brush up around my small body. An animal?

Then I heard screaming from a dstance and something akin to explosions making me instinctually flinch and curl in on myself in fear as it reminded me of Bakugo when I try to hide from him and his Explosive Quirk. I felt something wet and kinda sandpaper-y touch my forehead, like a cat's tongue, as if they were trying to comfort me.

A little bit later, I felt my body move against my will as I felt someone, or more than one if the voices were right, maneuver my body. I couldn't tell what they were saying, as if my hearing was muffled. I felt someone force my mouth open before something bitter and foul fell upon my once-dead taste buds, making me wretch and gag as I tried to fight my way out of their grip. Whoever it was holding me were quite strong as I couldn't spit whatever it was they forced down my throat no matter how much I tried.

After awhile, I stopped thrashing, whatever strength I had before totally deplenish as I shivered and panted. I felt something touch my hair. It felt... gentle. When was the last time my mother played with my hair? Why did she have to hate me for something I had no control over?

My internal sadness was put on hold when I felt something bind my body, specifically where I have been wounded. I felt something like alcohol touch my open wounds, but I barely flinched at the feeling; I have been through much worse than that, so I have a higher pain threshold thanks to my brother and his friend. Then after some more talking, I felt something warm wrap around my body several times, bundling me up. I wanted to cry at the feeling of an actual blanket being wrapped around me. All I had at home was a ratty towel and a flat pillow to sleep on, and the alleys in Japan aren't exactly comfortable either. I heard more voices, one or two of them loud and harsh, making me cringe internally as it kind of hurt even though I couldn't understand them at the moment. Thankfully the owner of the harsh voice went away, making relief fill me. I was moving again, thankfully not at a nauseating speed before I felt myself lose consciousness.

The next time I awoke, I could actually open my eyes. Even though it was with a great amount of effort, as it felt as if they were sewn shut. My vision was blurry before I blinked it away, revealing a wooden ceiling above me. It took some effort, but I managed to sit up on my own, and then look at my surroundings. It looked like I was in a cabin, as the room had a rustic look to it, and there was a hearth in the middle of the room. I looked down to see that I was placed in a rather large bed, and it was like lying on a cloud from heaven. After being on the streets sleeping on smelly cardboard, anything that was off the hard floor or ground was good enough.

I heard a small yip from beside me, and my eyes widen when I saw the cutest little fox with blue tipped fur staring up at me with the cutest eyes I've ever seen.

The small fox ambled over to me, their tail wagging as they stretched up on their back legs and licked my cheek, making me smile and laugh (though it sounded like a cat choking if you ask me). They let out a playful yip and began to playfully nip at my fingers.

"So, you're awake." I jolted and, on instinct, tried to scramble away, only to fall off the edge of the bed, the fox clinging onto me in surprise. I clenched my eyes shut, waiting for the impact as I held the fox above me so they wouldn't get hurt. Only to feel something hairy break my fall. Opening my eyes, they widen when I saw a huge white and red creature that looked like a fox holding me. The fox cub barked at them, their tail wagging almost as if they recognized each other. Despite having a different color scheme, I had the idea that they were related somehow or another.

"I see you have met Zoroark and her cub, Zorua." The voice from earlier spoke again, making me turn my head quickly to see who spoke, only for me to grab my head in pain as it hurt from the head rush.

"I wouldn't move to quick if I were you," I can decipher the voice was female and rather pleasant to listen to. "You barely escaped death, you know."

I couldn't resist letting out a laugh, though it sounded rough from disuse. "Pretty sure I already have died, though I appreciate the concern."

"How are you feeling?" The voice asked as I was placed back in bed.

My stomach roared almost as if answering for me. "Hungry..." I managed out, holding my stomach in pain as tears gathered in the corner of my eyes.

"Oh you poor thing," A spoon with some sort of liquid in it was in front of me. "You must be starving. Here, you must eat." Looking up, I got a good look at who my host, or hostess, is and what she looked like. I gotta admit, she's beautiful. Silver hair covering one eye, gothic-style dress and hat, elbow-length gloves, she looked like an angel that stepped out of a Victorian model magazine (A/N: OML I'm so GAY for this woman!! We need more appreciation for this woman!!! Who's with me?! Let's go, lesbians, let's go!!). 

Without hesitation, I took the spoon up into my mouth, the liquid splashing onto my tongue. OH MY GOD!!! Real, actual food! Even if it is a simple soup with flavored broth. I let the mysterious woman feed me and eventually, after a few bowls of soup, I felt full, sloshy even, for the first time in forever (I swear to god, if anyone puts any Frozen comments in the comment section I'm gonna- *SLAP*). I laid back in the bed, my eyes tearful with happiness.

"T-thank you...." I whimpered out, tears in the corner of my eyes. Never will I take food for granted, or a soft bed with warm blankets, or a stable roof over my head.

Her visible eye softened as she reached out to me with her hand, making me flinch and clench my eyes shut on instinct, my thoughts going into overdrive as I instinctively thought she was going to hit me.

My eyes slowly reopened when I only felt the hand touch the top of my head gently, ruffling my hair gently.

I blinked in absolute confusion before I saw her expression that made my heart hurt; her visible eye held so much sadness and heartbreak that I could swear something in me just broke as I felt tears run down my face.

"You poor thing. You have been through a lot, haven't you?"

I didn't respond as it suddenly became too much to keep bottled up. I threw myself at her, catching her by surprise as she caught me and let me cry into her black dress, my sobs strangled and my throat raw. I felt the small fox nuzzle me as the bigger fox beast just looked on, her own expression unreadable.

Eventually after crying all the tears that had been locked up inside, I was tired and with a full stomach in mind, I was beginning to drift off. I only forced myself to stay awake as I was scared this was all a dream and I will wake up and I'll either be dead or back in the hell that I was starved and beaten in.

Cogita, the woman introduced herself to me when I have calmed down enough to listen, saw this and wrapped her arms around me.

"There, there, Lost One," I felt myself become as warm as the hearth's fire as she spoke softly to me, "You have nothing to fear as long as you are here with me. Rest assured I'll be here when you awake and promise you that this isn't a dream."

"Promise?" I croaked out, my throat raw.

She fluffed my hair again. "Promise." She confirmed.

That was all she had to say as my head hit the pillow and my eyes shut as she ran a gentle hand through my hair, like a mother would do with her child. I felt the fox cub and bigger fox beast curl up with me, their fur warm and welcoming to my slightly cold body as Cogita brought the bed's quilt up to cover me.

"I'll be your guardian now...." Were the last words I heard as I was taken into the arms of the god of sleep known as Morpheus.

Thus began my new life in Hisui.

Soon with Cogita's guidance and some visits from the region's best healers (one of which I like to call Calaba "Granny" as she had that sort of air about her that made me feel that comfortable with being around, and the other being Pesselle, who just adores me even when I stirred up trouble in the village after I recovered) I was back to full health. I had three square meals a day, plenty of rest, a proper education (courtesy of Cogita), and an actual family that loved me for who I am.  She didn't even judge me for knowing how to talk to Pokemon, like how others had given me weird looks for talking to animals back in Musutafu. She and my surrogate brother Volo seemed to love it. Volo and his Pokemon doted on me like how an indulgent older brother does to his younger sister. I would say he replaced Izuku, but then again, Izuku was never a brother to me to begin with so does that really count as competition? For those of you readers that said no, congratulations, you get a cookie.

I have also established a bond with the Warden's Pokemon, which they just adore me and always showered me with love every time I came to visit them. The Wardens also grew on me; the youngest ones Sabi and Lian became my honorary little sister and little brother. The Clan leaders also took a shine to me, though I wished the two would stop being so competitive about who's the better aunt/uncle figure in my life. Their feuds became less about who their "Almighty Sinnoh" is, and more about who is the coolest aunt/uncle for me. Even their wardens bicker with one another on about who's my favorite.

As for the villagers in Jubilife Village, let's just say I became a terror bigger than the Miss Fortune Sisters (which I became great friends with, and later on got in a relationship with all three of them along with another friend we met some time later), as I drove Commander Kamado and Beni nuts as I always found ways to stir up excitement in the village. Some of the villagers, like Anthe and the old lady with the Chimecho, seem to like me fine, as my antics has a way of livening up their usually dull day in the village. I have also helped villagers off and on with some things, like finding their sibling stranded in the wilderness, finding things for their medicine (Croagunk poison and Petilil leaves), finding lost items, so on and on. With these people, they have come to learn that not all Pokemon were as dangerous as Kamado made them believe. Which Kamado took umbrage at, along with Beni. He even tried to send Beni after me, which failed as Zoroark (the fox cub's mother and also my second mother when Cogita isn't around), aka "Meema Zoroark", kicked his ass into the dirt before he made it within ten kilometers of me. Since Kamado always have it out for me, I always make it a point to make his and Beni's life hell. One of my favorite ways of doing that is sneaking into the Wallflower with Zorua (the small fox cub that grew attached to me on the first day, aka "Lil Brother",  distracting Beni and stealing his potato mochi (I swore to myself that I will find the recipe for making those so I spite him by selling some of my own).

I told Cogita, better known now as "Mother Cogita" (or just "Mother") or "Milady", and Volo, aka "Aniki" or "Big Bro(ther) Volo", about my life before I ended up in Hisui, and it was through them that I can truly confirm that I really did die in that other wretched place, and from how Cogita saw my wounds before I was brought to her home, the healer was surprised that I was alive. Once I truly accepted my death in the other world (I learned that we weren't even on the same Earth as my birth land, meaning that I was basically isekai'd into this exotic and much more beautiful world), I decided to abandon my name as Izumi Yagi, as that person had died. I have renamed myself Natural Melodia Shirona, my first name was paying homage to one of my favorite heroes that Cogita had told me about during her travels who, like me, can talk to Pokemon and was solely focused on saving them from bad people, my second name (which I am often addressed as most of the time) being something of a nod to favorite said hero only a different word, and my surname in honor of Cogita and Volo's last name.

Thanks to them and my friends with the Nobles and Wardens (and a few of the Galaxy Team members), I was way stronger than I was in my previous life. When I was healthy enough, Mother Cogita taught me the art of Aura, as her and Volo's lineage belonged to one of the most ancient and powerful lines of a group of people known as Aura Guardians. With my constant pestering, I got her to take me on as her student so I can wield Aura as well she can.

When I turned fourteen, I passed a test from Cogita and with that rite of passage, I was allowed to take the Hunter's Exam. Cogita told me about her travels throughout the world and all of the things she had seen and found had brought stars to my eyes. From the creatures like Lil Brother and Meema Zoroark that roamed the land to rare and priceless treasures and artifacts that no normal folk could hope to get their hands on, and to think that the only way to see all of this was to pass a test known as the Hunter's Exam. Cogita took the test and, much to the shock of the examiners overseeing it that year, was one of the only ones to actually pass. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people apply for the exam every year, but only a handful of those applicants actually pass and get the license. Having a Hunter's License means absolute power, from free transportation, to unlimited access to exclusive information, to having the best room in the best hotels, to being treated as an extremely valued member or customer in banks and other financial institutions, not to mention the immunity the license will grant meaning you can get away with a lot of things other people can't, among other things that can be listed.

Thus I began my journey, starting with meeting and befriending Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, all of them with their own goals in mind when they get their license. Gon wanted to find his father, Killua just wanted to be free from his family's control, Kurapika wanted to avenge his clan by annihilating the Phantom Troupe who stole his clan's eyes after killing them, and Leorio wanted to be a doctor. I had also met Ponzu and Pokkle (to whom I played matchmaker with as I totally shipped them together), both of have them helped me during the Fourth Phase before we separated to complete our task for that Phase, and we kept contact after the Exam was over.

It was also the same Exam where I met one of my soulmates, Zinnia, and we hit it off pretty well in the first Phase, and she got along well with Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio (though she did have a few moments where she nearly beat the living snot out of Leorio during the exam, especially during the Third Phase). She was also okay with Ponzu and Pokkle whenever we got the chance to interact before the end of the Fourth and Fifth Phase.

After the events in the Fifth Phase (where I grew a general dislike for Killua's older brother Illumi especially with how he "influenced" Killua to kill one of the candidates and had him disqualified) and receiving my License, me, Zinnia (she was adamant on coming with me), and the Main Four decided to go save Killua down at Kookaroo Mountain. It was where I've met Killua's Zubat-shit crazy assassin family and we saved him so he could as he pleases with his life (in which I made an enemy in that psychotic bitch Kikyo and the fat pig Milluki) and impressed his old man Silva and his old man's old man Zeno with my ability to make Mike, their "guard dog", yield to me and get passed Canary, the apprentice butler-in-training, on my first try and without her landing a single blow on me as I slipped past her.

After saving Killua, I went home with Zinnia, wanting to take a breather before we did anything else to kill time before the Yorknew Auction. After introducing her to the family and showing her around, I reunited with the Bandit Trio, and along the way, the five of us (including Zinnia) decided to enter a polyamorous relationship.

While enjoying our "vacation" in Hisui, Zinnia told me and the Bandit Trio about a video game that is exclusive to Hunters that we should look into, which was named "Mystery Dungeon." While it was not as widely known or popular as "Greed Island," it was still a coveted item collection for die-hard Beast Hunters. And it wasn't just one game, but several, the number being seven games in total. After calling up Pokkle and Ponzu for more information, we found a set of copies. Only bad thing was that it cost a lot of money even as a bundle, even for our Hunter's License. Thankfully there was a way to get the cash and very fast. It was then Zinnia told us about the Heaven's Arena, where strong fighters go and gather to fight others and they also earn money as they climb the ladder with each victorious match. She herself have cleared the first two hundred floors before she stopped particiapting out of boredom as the fights got dull for her. Our plan was simple: earn money and get stronger, along with our Pokemon. And the Trio could use a change in scenery and get away from Kamado and his line of bullshit as he and Beni had been trying to catch the trio during my absence, so they needed to get away if only to throw those idiots off for a little while.

Little did I know that all of the training with Aura was going to lead me to be able to wield another special ability called Nen.

We got reunited (while it was the Trio's first meeting with them) with Gon and Killua after we cleared the first fifty to one-hundred floors within a few days; they were very surprised (though Killua was a bit jealous of this fact) that we made it to their level in considerably less time than they did.

During our time in Heaven's Arena, Gon, Killua, the ladies (Zinnia and the Bandit Trio), and I met a guy named Wing and his young protege, a kid in martial arts named Zushi, and after getting to a certain milestone by accessing one of the higher floors in Heaven's Arena by winning matches, Wing had us try to identify what ability our Nen was classified as. Gon and Clover got Enhancer; Killua got Transmuter; Zushi and Coin got Manipulator; Charm got Emitter, and Zinnia got Conjurer which struck Wing odd as he thought she would be an Enhancer given her physical prowess being on par with Clover's and Gon's. That is, before my Nen was revealed. As for my ability.... well, let's just say Wing nearly got a heart attack on the spot when my Nen was revealed to a combo of Specialist, Conjurer, and Transmuter. I also told Wing about my Aura training with Cogita, and I could have sworn he had gone three shades paler with that tidbit of information. Turns out Cogita, despite her reclusive nature, was a big influence in the world of Hunters. Many occupations, from the Gourmet Hunters to the Blacklist Hunters, have always looked to her with respect, as she was, and still is, a high class Huntress, and dabbled in many occupations (Blacklist/Bounty hunting, Gourmet, Beast, etc.) and worked with many Hunters in the association on special missions and numerous international crises (the Chimera Ant incident being one of them, making her come out of retirement if only so she could lend Netero and Zeno a hand).

So for Wing to realize that he's been training the protege of Cogita in the art of Nen was nearly enough to make him faint on the spot.

From there, we completed the Heaven's Arena challenge and, with a lot of cash earned from our fights, we went our separate ways from Gon and Killua to go home and rest and catch up with family (Mother Cogita had already accepted the Trio and Zinnia as part of our family, which made us all ecstatic, even when Volo teased me). Then when September rolled around, we have met up with Leorio and Kurapika to go to the Yorknew Auction to help the last surviving Kurta get the Scarlet Eyes back. We encountered the Phantom Troupe (and had a hand in taking out a few members before we encountered Chrollo) while helping Kurapika avenge his dead clan and retrieve the Scarlet Eyes so he can give his fallen clan a proper final farewell.

After helping Kurapika and neutralizing the threat known as the Phantom Troupe, the girls and I went back to Hisui to take a break and then begin our personal project in completing the Mystery Dungeon games, which we finally bought all seven game cartridges after the events with the Auction and the Phantom Troupe, but we didn't get to play the game until certain events in Hisui got resolved, then the Trio went to take their Hunter Exam with Killua so they could be on equal standing with me and Zinnia, and then after they passed and got their Licenses, there was the unfortunate stunt with the uprising of the Chimera Ants, where we lost our dear friends Ponzu and Pokkle as they ended falling prey to these flesh-eating monsters.

After resolving the Chimera Ant issue, the girls and I went back to Hisui to finally play "Mystery Dungeon," which resulted in us finding out that someone, a person who also uses Nen and Aura, had sealed a lot of Pokemon away inside the seven games. The seal could only be broken by someone not only playing the games silmulatneously on individual game consoles (which I managed to get all of them from Ginter and Tulli) and completing all of the games' main stories and post-stories, but also only those who could also use Nen and Aura skillfully. When we booted up the games on the individual consoles the game cards combined themselves as one before we all got sent into the blended game. We succeeded in completing the games and all that came with it, thus freeing several Pokemon and for my Nen skill come to life, which was summoning special items that are exclusively in the game, and also be able to use moves only Pokemon are capable of using (and not just Aura Sphere which was something I had down pat with Mother Cogita's training), and even when we got out of the game.

After those events, the girls and I began travelling to several regions, documenting our travels in my journals gifted to me from Volo and Cogita after I visited Hisui for a break from my adventures with the Main Four and after the Chimera Ant fiasco. I have travelled Kanto, the Orange Island Archipelago, Sevii islands, Johto, Orre, Hoenn, Fiore, Oblivia, Almia, Ferrum, Hoenn, Sinnoh (A/N: Hisui is a separate region governed by Sinnoh in this story, kinda like Cuba is a U.S. territory if that makes any sense), Unova, Kalos, the Alola islands, and Galar. I have seen and participated in battles, contests, tournaments, and even musicals, gaining popularity with many classes of trainers. we had also tackled many regional crime syndicates, bringing many villains with high bounties to justice, became an asset to the G-Men, the International Police, the Pokemon Ranger Association, among many other Pro Pokemon Organizations; we even stopped the second Darkest Day from happening (and later bought out the Rose Tower estate and renovated it into a battle tower/hotel before handing it all over to Leon, Galar's champion); we took down Team Rainbow Rocket and stopped their plans of world domination from becoming realized; we have conquered the Battle Frontier and Chateau; won many Contests in Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Kalos; and featured in Nimbasa City's Musicals and movies in Unova's studios.

If only we all could have prepared for the suddent freak accident before we all went on our next journey in a new region....

AAAANNNNDDDD CUT!

Whoo that's a wrap!

This is ArtVampire signing off!

Ja ne!