Even through the heavy rain and booms of thunder, only one goal stayed in our minds. No matter what happened, we would fight the forces that threatened our very way of life. There was only one question from it all: Would our lives be the same after all our efforts? Even with that large question in mind, we decided to take the risk... just the two of us. That way, if we failed, more could come and finish the job we started.
As we entered the dark abyss, we could feel each drop of rain slam into us, our bodies feeling like they were being torn apart from the rushing streaks of water. We seemed to be travelling the speed of light, but getting nowhere, getting pulled this way and that way from the sheer force of current surrounding us.

"Just don't let go! We will make it through this!"

"B...but I-"

"Don't give up! Just hold on and we'll--"

"A-Artomis! I can't-"

"Damnit! M...my hands are slipping!"

"Arti! Don't drop me! I don't want to lose you!"

"I'm...I'm trying! Shit! I... I..."

Even with my determination to make it through the hell of our transportation, no one could have held on to their partner after getting hit in the head like I did. I had no clue what it was, but when I realized I let her go, I could only scream out, feeling my consciousness beginning to wane.

"Kuro! I promise you! I will find you.. We will fix all this! I swear it..."


----


"Zaphiel!"

"Y-yes Xander?"

"We will have guests shortly. I want you to go and get them."

Looking at his guild master with a confused glance, the Pikachu stared at the Kadabra, his head slightly tilting to the side. "Guests? Who is coming today Xander?"

Watching as the psychic Pokémon started to stand up from his meditation pose, Zaphiel's ears drooped as he saw the look of concern on Xander's face. "I don't know who... or even what for that matter, but Xatu told me that there would be two beings of destiny appearing on the day of the festival."

"And you believed him?"

The Kadabra gave the small Pikachu a nod. "Xatu has never been wrong. He is much older and wiser than I am and he completely is in tune with his body, spirit, and the nature around him. His visions are almost always spot on."

Getting a little confused from the long talk, Zaphiel just shook his head as he let out a sigh. "Alright, alright already, you're making my head hurt. Where should I go to get these guys?"

Seeing Xander turn towards him, Zaphiel frowned, knowing what the answer was already. "I don't know. And that's your mission for today is to find out."
Blinking a few times, Zaphiel gave a small glare to his guild master. "They could be anywhere! How am i-"

"Just calm down Zaphiel, you will find them. When it is time, you will know exactly where to go."

Letting out another sigh, the Pikachu turned around, facing the doorway. “Alright, I’ll take a look around. I’ve lived near Kaltor Town almost all my life, so I should be able to pick out any newcomers if they come, even with the festival.”

“Zaphiel, one more thing!”

Turning back to Xander, the Pikachu nearly jumped out of his fur as he saw something flying right at him. Using his quick reflexes, he flipped his paws ahead and caught the item, his eyes shut tight to brace himself for impact.
Standing there a moment, Zaphiel slowly began to open one eye and saw in his hands their guild badge. He blinked, ears tilting as he looked over it and was about to ask what it was for, when he let out a shocked scream as another one was coming his way.

Letting go of the badge in his hands, he was forced to duck out of the way of the second. His tail lurched up as he bent forward, catching the small metal trinket tight. Inhaling deep and slowly letting it out, the Pikachu soon fell over on its belly. “T...That wasn’t cool man.”

The Kadabra showed a smile down at his guild mate, wondering if the little mouse even knew if it had captured both of them. “Keep sharp, my friend. Today isn’t a day to enjoy… it’s a day to be weary. Give these to our guests once you find them and bring them back here. Xatu and I will handle the rest.”


----


Eyes slowly starting to open, all Artomis could do was let out a deep groan. All of his senses were starting to slam into him at once, along with the sharp pain in his bones and muscles. He wanted to scream, but found he couldn’t. He tried to move, speak, do anything, but his body seemed to be locked up completely. He was numb from head to toe, but he kept the one thing on his mind that he knew mattered.

K… Kuro… I will find you…

Using all his willpower and energy, Artomis felt himself pushing his arms against the hard ground. He tried to sit up, giving a breathless groan from the heavy exertion, only to feel himself fall over on his side once he was even up a little.

His body felt alien to him. He couldn’t tell why, but he just knew something was wrong with him.

“H...Hey! Are you okay?!”

He tried to turn to the voice, but he had already exhausted himself from trying to sit up and just laid there. He tried and tried again just to do or say anything, let whoever it was know that he was alive, but he could hardly even catch a breath.

“Shit! You’re in bad shape… I need to get you to Xander! You have to be one of um!”

Feeling as the person started to help him up on his backside, he heard a questioning sound from them.

“Wait… where’s the other one? They not here with you buddy?”

The voice seemed to wait a few moments for him, but Artomis couldn’t even try to reply now. He didn’t care that he was even getting rescued, his mind could only linger on one thing.

...Kuro…



“Xander! He’s waking up!”

His eyes slowly starting to open, Artomis tried to get a grasp of what was going on around him. His vision was blurry, but he could tell the room was dark with an orange glow nearby, his guess was that it was a fireplace or a candle or something.

At first, he seemed to be without any pain, but the more he woke up, the more the pain began to build up again. He could tell it wasn’t anything near what he had felt before, but it was still uncomfortable.

“Take it easy, little one. You seem to have gone through a lot to get here. This is the first time you’ve woken up since we found you two weeks ago.”
Looking towards the voice, Artomis tried to see who was there with him, but found he couldn’t quite see them yet. All he saw were two forms, one large and one small next to each other looking down at him.

Where… where am i…? Wait, two weeks?!

“Sadly, yes. Two weeks. As for where you are, currently we are just outside the town called Kaltor.”

His eyes went wide. Both confusion and worry began to fill his mind as he had realized that his thoughts were being read by one of the two there. He could feel it. He couldn’t explain how, but he knew it was happening. The pressure kept building up more and more, but so did a different kind of pressure from within his body.

“G...get out of my mind!!!”

Reaching up and grasping hold of his head, Artomis let out a painful scream. He tried to get rid of the force in his mind, pushing it back and away from him, and as he did, he felt a burst come from his body just as the feeling left him.

Collapsing onto the ground and panting hard, Art could hear a frantic voice, but couldn’t make out what it was saying.it was only a few moments later where he could hear a grunt and some shifting movement, but soon heard the second voice.

“I’m… fine. He… he has quite the power… but more importantly... Zaphiel… this Riolu used to be a human!”

Before any of what he had just heard could register in his mind, Art could only see black as he fell over, feeling himself falling back into the darkness of slumber.


---


“Oh no, momma! Momma! A little fox Pokémon collapsed outside our home! I think it’s hurt!”

Her ears twitching, the female Luxray stretched herself out, having just woken up from her typical mid-day nap with her kit. It was unusual that Reic was awake before her, but the little girl had a lot of energy, so sometimes she knew she shouldn’t be surprised.

“Hurry momma! I… I don’t think it’s breathing!”

After hearing that on top of putting together what her daughter had said before, the Luxray rushed out of her den and looked around worried. Sure, the Pokémon wasn’t of her kin and may even be trespassing, but no Pokémon deserved to die.

“Where are you Reic?”

Looking to the west a little, the Luxray tried to see passed all the trees and branches hanging low there, but soon saw the blue and black shape of her Reic, along with the small yellow shape. Swiftly moving up the hill, she avoided the low branches and raced towards her daughter.

“I’m here Reic, is it alright?”

She could see tears in the little Shinx’s eyes as it stared at the small fox lying there. Judging from the fire coming from its ears and the glowing tail tip, she was sure this Pokémon was a Fenniken. Coming to that conclusion, she showed a smile to the young kitten beside her.

“Shhh, it’s okay. She’s going to be fine… Look.”

Watching as the watery, ever curious eyes of her daughter watched her, the Luxray leaned in closer to the small stranger and nosed just behind her ear. At first, Reic didn’t seem to understand, but this only made her mother smile more.

“This Pokémon is a Fenniken. You remember the Charmander you saw just the other day? How it had a fire burning on the tip of its tail?”

The little Shinx thought a moment, then gasped and gave a nod.

“Y… Yeah! You said the flame was its strength! As long as the fire burns, they burn full of life and energy!”

Proud of her daughter, the Luxray leaned in and gave her a soft nuzzle.

“Yes, that’s exactly right. Now… the fire seems to be weak, but she’s still alive.”

Reic’s expression went from happy and excited to instantly worried.
“B...but if the flame goes out…”

“We wont let it then, will we?”

Blinking up at her mother, Reic let out a soft happy murr as she watched her mother take the small fox gently into her maw to carry her, just like she had done to the little shinx. It made her almost cheerful and happy to meet someone new. She couldn’t help but wonder though… where did this Pokémon even come from?

Following her mother’s every foot step, the Shinx kept an eye around them to see if she could find any clues. As they started to near the house, Reic started to give up hope on finding anything, but she soon saw a shimmer that caught her eye.

Moving up closer, the Shinx tilted her head in wonder of what it was laying on the ground before her.

“Reic! Come inside! We’re going to settle in for the night!”

Without even thinking, she leaned forward and bit down on the item to take it with her, but her eyes went wide as she soon realized it was too heavy for her to carry. She knew she wanted her momma to see this, but knew that with the fox there, her momma wouldn’t want to leave the den.

Using all her might, she gave one last tug and felt it starting to move, and didn’t stop once she felt it going. It took all her might to drag the heavy thing around, but since she had never seen anything like it before, she knew it had to do with the new Pokémon somehow.

Just as he mother was walking up to the entrance to yell for her again, she saw the surprised look on the tall Luxray’s muzzle.

“W...Where did you find this?”

Trying to catch her breath and too tired to speak, the Shinx pointed a few yards from their home, and leaned into her mommy's leg.

“I… I think it’s the Fenniken’s.”

As she looked up, curious of her mom’s delayed reaction, she became nervous at the glare the Luxray held at the item before her.

“...That’s… impossible… A Styler can only be worn by a Human.”

---

Story--> <-- Art