My body turns on a dime and faces into the forest beyond. There was very little in the way of ground cover and bushes and the like, but there was plenty of trees to hide behind. So even though I could easily see into the darkness beyond, I couldn’t see what was there.

“Everything okay Shade?” I hear Jennifer ask as the rest of our group looks in the same direction. I sense something moving about, not even quickly, but I can’t see anything. I suddenly hear some laughter from beside me and I dash away. And it seems I wasn’t the only one to hear it as everyone is now on edge looking down the road from where the sound seemingly came from. I stand there for a few minutes, listening, trying to detect something. Although now I could sense nothing

“I think we should get going.” Oliver says breaking the silence as he returns his two pokemon. Jen swiftly follows suit as I nod and we start moving on, warry that something is watching us.

[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/618692866566389772/795564484147544065/Alternate_Eyes-time_gap.png]

“So do we go left or right?” Jennifer asks as she looks over to her brother. There was a fork in the road with no sign to indicate which way we should travel to reach our seaside location. I mean, there use to be one as there was a wooden post with two arrows on it, one pointing down each road. Neither of them had their text though so they are a bit useless. Oliver pulled out his phone and looked at it for a minute or two.

“So we want to go left to reach the ocean route. Going down the right path would lead us to the Parfum Palace which is what I think we should do.” Oliver said as he put his phone away “It has been quite some time since we went there so I would like to visit it again.”

That name sounds familiar. Although I cant remember what it was. Our merry band started down the right path, with the twins leading. As we started to walk towards the palace, I suddenly felt on edge. It felt like a prick, constantly making me weary, but as far as I could tell, there was nothing to fear. Unless of course it was the same thing that made the laugh before. The feeling only got worse as we moved. Almost as if I don’t want to go to this palace.

Sune and Lumi followed me down the path, both also seemingly treading more carefully. I even noticed the forest was quieter than before. And the closer we got, the more I wanted to leave. Although it was still manageable and easy to ignore. Concerning none the less though.

An hour passed before I saw a figure running towards us. Despite the person just being far enough away that I could only make out they’re human, I could tell they were distressed. I speed up ahead of the group and reach the person. She was a young girl in a pale green shirt and a white skirt. She had pale skin, a slim figure, and brown eyes. The oddest part about her was her reddish-brown hair. It was above her shoulders and curved on each side of her head, looking like a helmet from some sort of armour. It also spiked up in two positions, one each side of her head. She looked very familiar but I don’t know why. I probably just say her at Lumiose city in the crowd.

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She was slightly panting and had a large burn mark on her left arm, a large red spot on her left leg, and lots of other smaller injuries all over her body.

“Are you okay!?” I hear Jennifer yell as she ran up to us, seeing the dozens of injuries over her body. The girl shakes her head and points back the way she came from, jumping up and down slightly. Jennifer reaches us with everyone else in tow and grabs her burned arm to inspect it. The girl pulls her arm back and then grabs Jens before pulling her forward as she tried to return down the path.

“Whats wrong?” Jennifer says, unable to keep up with the girl’s speed and struggling to run. The girl turns her head and has small tears in her eyes. I felt like something was wrong with the girl. Not physically or mentally. Just, something wasn’t right. But she needed help. She also increased the feeling to run away from this direction.

Sune, Lumi, stay with the twins. I said which caused the girl to stop pulling Jennifer, causing her to stumble and almost fall. I’ll go ahead with the girl and find out what’s wrong.

“Shade, I don’t need you getting lost or stollen again.” I hear Jen call back to us as the girl continues on again.

I won’t expose myself to being caught again. I argue as I start running after the girl. Jennifer is about to respond before I interrupt her. If it comes to it, I will run away okay. End of discussion. I call back. She starts swiftly following us along with Oliver and my adopted kids, but both me and this odd girl easily outpace them.

“Don’t do anything stupid!” I hear Oliver call out as I head along the road to help this stranger. But I can’t shake the feeling she isn’t at all she seems.

[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/618692866566389772/795564484147544065/Alternate_Eyes-time_gap.png]

I ran at my full speed without using my movement-based moves but using Detect so I could avoid the debris on the road. Of which there was an odd amount. Various rocks, branches, and even the remains of a tree were littered occasionally along the path, but we eventually reached the end. At the end of the path was a large mansion. It looked like some sort of nobility of even royalty lived her long ago. But the scene was tarnished by a rather distressing sight on the far right of the structure.

A large box shaped object with a large tied down tarp covering it was on the back of a large trailer that was latched to a black truck that had an obvious red R on it.

Team Rocket. I said with a slight snarl. I notice three members of the organisation walking around the truck. I go to the side of the path and hide in the forest while blocking out my rings. I turn back to call the girl over, but she is nowhere to be seen. I didn’t even hear her move.

I look back towards the truck and in the corner of my eye I see the girl standing on my other side.

How did you do that? I quietly ask, keeping an eye on the truck. I see her shrug in the corner of my eye. Can she really not speak?

Do we need to get in that box? I ask the girl to which she nods. I was about to rush out and start attacking the grunts before I felt a hand on my back. I look to the girl as she shakes her head. She crouches down and draws three lines into a patch of soft ground before crossing them out. She then draws 25 lines.

Are you saying there are more people around here?

She nods.

Wait, how can you understand me? I ask at the realisation that she was responding to my questions. I guess ive gotten use to Jennifer being able to do it. The girl doesn’t respond. Rather she just looks back over to the vehicle.

Look, I want answers, but I’ll help you out first. She turns her head towards me with confusion.

I look over to this intriguing individual and have a small smirk. I have a few ideas. To stall and distract them at the very least.