"All right, open up, Rei!" Adaman knocked on Rei's door with a little more force than necessary.

He had heard from Irida, who had heard from Akari, that Rei hadn't left his room for over a week. Akari, along with Professor Laventon and even Captain Cyllene, were concerned for him.

"Rei!" Adaman knocked a few more times before he grabbed the door handle. He expected resistance, some kind of barrier that Rei put up to prevent others from entering, but found the door sliding open easily.

Inside, the room was empty. The only indication someone had been there recently was the smoldering hearth.

Adaman didn't want to step past the threshold. Even though the three boxes in the kitchen area looked harmless, he knew that there were Rotom inside each item. While very few ghost types scared him, the Rotom knew they made Adaman uncomfortable with their uncanny ability to possess the strange, mechanical objects and went out of their way to harass him as a result.

Tilting his head and angling himself a bit, Adaman made sure that Rei wasn't trying to hide from him. "Huh. He's gone."

"He's been gone since this morning."

Adaman startled at the voice and stepped back, closing the door.

Akari was approaching him, her scarred Pikachu on his usual perch on her shoulder.

Adaman relaxed slightly when he saw it was just Akari. “You didn't see him leave?”

Akari shook her head as Pikachu hopped down from her shoulder to greet Thyme and his siblings. "I don't know where he went."

"I see." Adaman rubbed the back of his neck and looked around. Everyone in the village was out for the day. Shops were beginning to open and the villagers were wandering around. "No one's seen him?"

"No. No one knows where he went."

Adaman blew out a breath, crossing his arms. He could use Thyme and the others to sniff out Rei's location, but that still wouldn't give answers about why Rei decided to hole himself in his house.

"Lea?" Thyme stared up at him with a questioning expression.

Adaman kneeled, rubbing Thyme's ears then rubbing Eon and Tempo's ears in turn so they wouldn't feel left out. "Well, while he's gone, I'm going to get some answers."

"Answers?" Akari repeated, tilting her head.

"He only acted this way after returning from Sinnoh Temple, right?"

Akari nodded, lowering her arm for Pikachu to climb up. "Uh-huh. He said he was going to talk to Sinnoh before he left."

"Something there has to give insight into why he began to act strange."

"Oh, I see!" Akari clapped her hands, a smile spreading across her face. "Do you think I could come?"

Adaman hesitated. He knew Akari could hold her own in a battle and he didn't want to hurt her feelings, but it would be faster if he went alone to the temple.

Akari's smile faded when she saw Adaman's reluctance to answer. "Oh."

Pikachu shot a glare at Adaman, small sparks dancing on his cheeks.

Adaman did not want to get electrocuted. He thought for a moment before he came up with a good excuse for Akari to remain in Jubilife.

"I think it'd be better if you stayed here, in case he returns while I'm gone."

Akari perked up at that. "Yeah, that's a good idea!"

Pikachu pinned his ears back, expression telling Adaman that he knew what the clan leader was doing.

"If you will not allow young Akari to accompany you, I would like to join in her stead."

"Warden Ingo," Adaman greeted as the man walked closer to him and Akari. "I wasn't aware you were listening."

"I only caught the tail end of your conversation, but I would like to join you as a passenger in your trip to Sinnoh Temple." Ingo touched the tip of his hat. "I, too, am concerned about Rei's wellbeing."

Adaman sighed. Even if he did say no to Ingo, something told him Ingo would just follow anyway. The expression on Ingo's face also said he wanted to speak with Adaman alone.

"All right," Adaman relented. "Can you call on Lord Wyrdeer with--"

Ingo held up a hand to stop Adaman. "No need. I have much faster transport than the Lord."

Grabbing one of the Poké Balls attached to his belt, Ingo flipped open the latch, releasing the Pokémon within.

Adaman stepped back as the Alpha Wyrdeer shook its head with a snort.

He had heard of Ingo's Alpha team from Rei. Three Alpha: Kleavor, Basculegion, and Wyrdeer. He hadn't seen them yet, but he had seen an Alpha Wyrdeer before in the wilds.

Ingo's Alpha looked taller than that Alpha by another hand. One of the branched antlers on Wyrdeer's right side was broken. A ring of red bordered Wyrdeer's sclera, the typical sign of a tamed Alpha.

Professor Laventon had theories about the red eyes Alpha sported. They were indicators of strength and virility, attracting potential mates. Alpha appeared to commonly lead herds of Pokémon, acting as protectors to the young or sick. The red eyes of tamed Alpha were smaller, but they could flare up if the Pokémon felt threatened or was protecting their owner.

The latter, Adaman learned, had only been experienced once. Laventon never elaborated on how he had gotten that information and Adaman didn't ask more questions on the matter.

"Respectfully, Snowdrop is faster than Lord Wyrdeer." Ingo reached up to rub Snowdrop's muzzle when she lowered her head to him. "She can also support both of us."

"You want to ride a Wyrdeer bareback?" Adaman asked, gaping at Ingo. He looked between the massive Alpha and her owner.

Ingo was crazy. No one had ridden a Wyrdeer bareback before.

Ingo raised an eyebrow. "How else do you expect us to get to the temple?"

While Adaman tried to think of another way that didn't result in them riding an Alpha Pokémon bareback, Snowdrop knelt and lowered her head to the side so her antlers touched the ground.

Ingo grabbed the antlers, using them to swing himself onto Snowdrop's back. He stared down at Adaman from his perch then lowered his body, holding out a hand. "All aboard."

Adaman took a step back. He would rather walk to Sinnoh Temple than get on Snowdrop's back.

Snowdrop snorted at Adaman's hesitance. The black orbs situated in her antlers glowed and a psychic energy surrounded Adaman, lifting him off the ground.

He yelped as he was thrown onto Snowdrop's back, grabbing the Wyrdeer's fur to prevent himself from sliding off.

The last time he had been thrown using psychic energy was when Rei's shiny Ralts had tossed him into Lake Valor because he had somehow made her mad.

There was a small snort from Ingo that sounded suspiciously like a laugh as Adaman struggled to get himself situated upright on Snowdrop.

Once he had, Snowdrop returned to her feet.

Adaman glanced down at the ground and immediately regretted it. He turned his head away, staring at the space between him and Ingo as vertigo washed over him.

This was a different sensation than flying with Lord Braviary. Adaman wasn't scared of heights at all, but he would take flying with Lord Braviary over riding on Snowdrop any day.

"Our destination is Sinnoh Temple. All passengers accounted for." Ingo looked down to see Thyme, Eon, and Tempo staring up at him, tails wagging. They seemed eager to run. He pointed ahead of him. "Full steam ahead, Snowdrop!"

Snowdrop snorted, tossing her head and pawing the ground.

"Bye, guys!" Akari said, waving as Snowdrop started to trot towards the village gates.

Adaman grabbed onto Ingo's shoulders when Snowdrop broke into a gallop. Ingo was holding onto Snowdrop's antlers to steady himself.

Besides no saddle and the size difference, riding on Snowdrop wasn't that different from riding Lord Wyrdeer. Except Adaman realized one problem with Snowdrop: she was far too large to fit through the village gates.

"Wait, Ingo, the gates!" Adaman yelled.

The distance between them and the gates was shrinking rapidly with Snowdrop's massive stride.

"Do not fear. Snowdrop can clear them."

Ress, who was standing at the gate threshold, stumbled back at the approaching Wyrdeer. “H-hey, slow down!”

Snowdrop kept up her speed, planting her rear hooves against the ground and using a small amount of psychic energy to spring up and over the gates.

“Eep!” Ress covered his head when Thyme, Tempo, and Eon ran past him.

Adaman held onto Ingo's shoulders tighter so he wouldn't be thrown off as Snowdrop landed outside of Jubilife.

She continued galloping, gaze fixated on Mt. Coronet towering in the distance, stride never breaking from her rough landing.

"I told you not to worry," Ingo said, a faint laugh in his voice.

This guy was just as insane as Rei.

Adaman closed his eyes, pressing his forehead against Ingo's back. He focused on the rhythmic movement of Snowdrop's stride and the happy trilling of Thyme and his siblings, willing away the nausea rising up inside him.

"I hope I can be clear with you, Leader Adaman."

Adaman opened his eyes at Ingo's voice, but didn't move from his position.

"About Rei."

"All right," Adaman said. "What did you want to talk about?"

"As I'm sure you're aware, Rei and I are not from this time. We are from different times, different regions."

"I know that."

Adaman couldn't imagine Rei's feelings of being in a strange time, cut off from his friends and family. Ingo had no memories of where he was from, but sometimes Adaman saw him staring into the distance, expression vacant. Whenever Adaman had asked if he had remembered something, Ingo had always looked puzzled before shaking his head and saying he didn't remember.

"Are you aware that Rei has no memories as well?"

Blinking, Adaman straightened. "No. He never told me."

Adaman had just assumed Rei had his memories because of how he had acted. He was good at catching Pokémon, he knew their strengths and weaknesses. He had even spoken of a future in which 'gym battles' and 'contests' existed and people and Pokémon worked together. There was no fear, no fight for survival against the wilds.

"It is not something he talks about often," Ingo said. His voice had a hint of sadness to it. "As far as I am aware, he has only confided in me about it."

"Because you're both the same?"

"Fellow Space-Time outliers." Ingo nodded. "He is like...family."

Adaman chuckled. "Yeah, I get what you mean."

Rei was like a little brother Adaman didn't ask for. He was a good kid with a wild side and Adaman would do anything to make sure he was safe. Not that Rei needed protecting since he could protect himself just fine.

Snowdrop slowed down as she climbed the slope leading to Cloudcap Pass, the tunnel that separated Sinnoh Temple from the rest of the Highlands.

Adaman shivered, the cold wrapping around his bare arms. It never got easier visiting the Highlands and having to suffer through the cold. The only bright side was that it wasn't nearly as bad as the Icelands.

"We have an obstacle on our rails."

Adaman looked around Ingo to see that an Alpha Electivire was standing in the middle of the path that led to the cave.

From where he was, Adaman could see the scars across the Electivire's body and the missing left tail. Green eyes stood out against yellow fur.

It was the same Electivire that Kamado had run off during his blind rage at whatever Pokémon would emerge from the rift above Mt. Coronet. This specific Electivire would always retreat after a battle to lick its wounds then return a short time later to resume defense of its territory.

"I was hoping it would have stayed away a bit longer," Adaman muttered.

Ingo slid from Snowdrop's back, dropping to the ground. "I suppose we must scare it off again if we are to continue to our destination."

"I guess you're right."

Adaman didn't want to take the time to fight the Electivire, but perhaps this would also give enough time for Rei to return to his house.

Sliding down from Snowdrop, Adaman landed a little less gracefully than he wanted, stumbling a bit to catch his balance.

Ingo returned Snowdrop to her Poké Ball then grabbed another one, tossing it up. "Let's clear the tracks, Noctis."

A shiny Alpha Mamoswine landed on the ground with a thud. Noctis shook his head with a bellow, rearing up before slamming his front feet into the ground.

Noctis was an unusual name for a Mamoswine, but Adaman wasn't about to tell Ingo what he could and couldn't nickname his Pokémon.

Noctis' bellow attracted the Electivire's attention and it locked eyes with Ingo and Adaman.

"Vireeee!" Electivire stomped the ground, raising its arms and releasing a crackle of electricity.

Adaman looked at his Eeveelutions. Tempo was out of the question. That left Eon and Thyme. Thyme had a more versatile moveset that could help take down the Electivire.

"You're up, Thyme."

"Leaf!" Thyme leaped forward, landing beside Noctis.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Eon and Tempo trotted off to the side to watch the battle, sitting down. Their body language remained tense, ready to step in if Thyme was struggling.

"Let's start the departure with a Bitter Malice!" Ingo ordered, pointing towards the Alpha Electivire.

Noctis snorted then charged towards his opponent.

Bitter Malice? Adaman wasn't aware that Mamoswine could learn that move. He had only seen the Zoroark use it.

"Electi!" Electivire stomped a foot then rushed at Noctis, raising a hand as it became coated in sparking electricity.

When Electivire swung at him with the Thunder Punch, Noctis darted to the side to avoid the strike, far faster than Adaman had ever seen a bulky Mamoswine move.

As Noctis lowered his front half, tusks touching the ground, his form wavered. Seconds later, a Zoroark stood in the Mamoswine's place, fur writhing. Ghostly energy surrounded the tips, lowering the already cold air temperature by several more degrees.

Now everything made sense. Noctis the Mamoswine was actually Noctis the Zoroark.

Noctis howled, fur launching towards Electivire and piercing its body in several places.

Electivire screamed, staggering back from the attack.

Noctis' fur whipped back, slicing cuts into his arms and side. Blood soaked into Noctis' gray fur.

Despite being pierced, there were no injuries on Electivire. Ghost attacks had a nasty habit of slipping past the skin and attacking muscle, bone, and organs. More than once, Adaman could see why Iscan was terrified of ghost types despite, ironically, being a Warden to one.

"Lea!" Thyme looked at Adaman impatiently.

Adaman shook his head. It was his first time working together with Ingo in a battle, but he couldn't stand there the entire time gawking.

"Magical Leaf, agile style!"

Thyme raised his head, leaf on his forehead glowing with blue energy. Swinging his head down, Thyme launched sharp leaves shaped like sickles towards Electivire.

Shaking its head, Electivire seemed to recover from Noctis' attack. Raising its hands, Electivire summoned a clear pane of glass in front of itself.

The Magical Leaf bounced off the Light Screen, leaves floating harmlessly to the ground.

"Get in close with a Crunch!" Ingo said. "Strong style!"

Noctis leaped up, opening his mouth. A second set of jaws, made from eerie purple energy, surrounded Noctis' face.

Electivire turned towards Noctis, Light Screen still active.

The extra jaws snapped on the top of the Light Screen, shattering it.

Noctis landed on Electivire, digging his claws into the electric Pokémon's shoulders to support himself, before sinking his teeth into Electivire's right arm.

"Vire!" Electivire grimaced then grabbed a fistful of Noctis' fur. Electricity surrounded its hand. "Elec...."

A thunderbolt came down from the sky, striking Noctis. Noctis screeched at the electricity coursing through his body, releasing Electivire's arm.

With Electivire distracted by Noctis, Adaman decided to take advantage to get in a strike.

"Hit with an agile style Quick Attack!"

"Feon!" Thyme darted towards Electivire, coating himself in red energy to boost his speed.

Electivire yanked Noctis off its body, swinging the Zoroark above its head once, then tossed him towards Thyme.

"Lea?!" Thyme had no time to stop or avoid Noctis and the two collided, sliding along the ground in a tangle of limbs and fur.

"Thyme!" Adaman called.

"Vire!" Electivire slammed its fists together, grinning like it was laughing at the attempt at a dual battle. "Electi!"

Thyme managed to get himself untangled from Noctis, shaking himself off.

"Noctis, are you all right?" Ingo asked.

Noctis staggered to his feet, glowering at the cheerful Electivire. He released a deep, throaty snarl.

"Lea!" Thyme stomped a foot, scowling up at Noctis. "Leafeon. Feon!"

Noctis stared at Thyme, scratching his cheek as he tilted his head. He gave a small growl, ear twitching.

"Eon!" Thyme pinned his ears back.

Noctis blinked at Thyme before a wicked smile crossed his muzzle. He snickered at Thyme which only made Thyme bristle.

"Thyme!" Adaman called. "Come on, let's keep battling."

"I apologize," Ingo said. "Noctis has yet to work alongside a partner and his lax nature can be off putting to some."

"No, it's not your fault." Adaman sighed as Thyme kicked some snow at Noctis before turning his attention back to the Electivire. "I haven't worked with anyone in a battle before and I'm treating it like a single battle."

Ingo nodded, tipping his hat. "Then perhaps we should start working together."

"That Light Screen is going to be the worst of our troubles since it blocks special moves like Bitter Malice and Magical Leaf."

"Yes. Perhaps..."

The expression on Ingo's face said he was already thinking of something. Whatever he was thinking was interrupted as Electivire got tired of waiting and unleashed a Thunderbolt towards Noctis and Thyme.

"Counter it with a Flamethrower!" Ingo ordered.

Noctis released a stream of flames at the oncoming bolt of electricity and the two moves collided. Fire and electricity mixed in a volatile impact before exploding.

Noctis knew Flamethrower? That was it!

"Thyme, Sunny Day!"

"Fee!" Thyme lifted his head to the sky, a golden glow covering his body. The glow expanded before shattering, sparkles showering upwards.

Above, the clouds dissipated, revealing the sun. Its rays intensified, shining down and melting the snow around them.

Ingo seemed to understand what Adaman wanted him to do.

"Flamethrower again, strong style!"

Noctis grinned, fur writhing as red energy moved up from the tips of his fur and gathered at the front of his muzzle. He unleashed a blast of flames at Electivire, the intense heat searing the ground.

Adaman was hoping that the Electiview would use Light Screen to block the Flamethrower. When it did, he would use that opportunity to attack.

As expected, Electivire raised the Light Screen in front of itself. The flames slammed into the barrier, causing Electivire to slide back from the impact.

"Agile style Quick Attack!"

Thyme darted towards Electivire, leaping to the side to get at Electivire's back.

"Vire?!" Electivire's eyes tracked Thyme’s movement but it was unable to drop its Light Screen to counter Thyme's incoming attack unless it wanted to get hit by Noctis' Flamethrower.

Thyme smirked, colliding with Electivire's back.

Electivire staggered, Light Screen dropping.

"Shadow Claw, Noctis!"

"Thyme, Shadow Ball, strong style!"

Noctis launched himself towards Electivire as it recovered its balance. He leaped up, claws dripping with spectral energy.

"Vire..." Electivire swung a Thunder Punch towards Noctis, but stumbled when Thyme hit its back with a ball of shadows. The swing missed Noctis and he dragged his claws down Electivire's chest as he landed on the ground.

Electivire dropped to one knee, slamming a fist into the ground to keep itself upright.

Noctis growled, baring his teeth.

"Lea." Thyme stared at Electivire as he stood beside Noctis. "Leaf, Leafeon."

"Electivire..." Electivire scowled at both Pokémon standing before it, obviously considering whether it wanted to keep fighting them.

"We can keep going if you're that intent on battling," Adaman said. "Or you can just leave."

After a few seconds, Electivire stood and leaped onto the rising hill behind Adaman and Ingo. It stared down at them for a while before turning and walking away.

"Well that took more time than necessary," Adaman muttered, kneeling so he could rub Thyme's ears when the Eeveelution came over.

The intense sunlight slowly abated, returning the area to its chilly temperature. Adaman would have liked for the Sunny Day to last a bit longer.

Ingo returned Noctis to his Poké Ball. "Yet, the path is now clear for a while. We should resume our original destination."

"I guess you're right."

They weren't too far from the temple. They were going to get answers soon.

"I'll just call upon Snowdrop again--"

"No, no, no," Adaman said quickly when Ingo grabbed Snowdrop's Poké Ball. "We can just walk from here."

Ingo blinked then returned Snowdrop's Poké Ball to his belt. "Right. Let's go then."

Adaman sighed internally, beginning to walk with Ingo. He did not want to get back on Snowdrop.

Thyme, Eon, and Tempo ran ahead of them, leaping over each other and occasionally rolling in the snow with happy chirps.

Adaman wondered if he would have had different thoughts on snow if he had been born into the Pearl Clan and lived his entire life in the Icelands. Would he have thought the Diamond Clan were the strange ones, worshiping a deity of time? Would he have argued with the Diamond Clan leader about who the true Sinnoh was like he argued with Irida?

Why did the clans break up in the first place?

The thought that crossed Adaman's next startled even him. He knew only the basics of the history of the clans: They were once one clan that came from a faraway region so they could worship Sinnoh. After that, it was kind of murky. How did the clans even come to the conclusion of two Sinnoh? Had they seen those statues in the Highlands and began to argue over which one was the Sinnoh they worshipped? If that were the case, then how did they come to the answer that Sinnoh controlled time or space? As far as Adaman had seen from the statues, they had no information on them. No clues that said that one controlled space and one controlled time.

Adaman shook his head to stop the thoughts from spiraling. He rubbed his temple, feeling a headache starting to form.

The thought of I wish Volo was here rose into Adaman's mind next.

Volo was a walking encyclopedia of random knowledge and Hisuian myths and legends. He would probably know about the history of the clans.

Though now that he thought on it, Adaman realized he hadn't seen Volo since they had worked together to get the Red chain from the Lake Guardians.

"Hey, Ingo," Adaman said as he and Ingo walked through Cloudcap Pass.

The tunnel was mildly warmer than the weather outside and a part of Adaman just wanted to sit there and remain warm.

"Hm?" Ingo glanced at Adaman out of the corner of his eyes.

"Have you seen Volo lately?"

"Hm." Ingo folded his arms over his chest, rubbing his chin with one hand. "Let me see..."

The cold hit Adaman hard when he and Ingo exited Cloudcap Pass, causing him to shiver. Straight ahead, the imposing, broken pillars of the Temple of Sinnoh towered over them.

Ingo shook his head, dropping his arms to his sides as he sighed. "I'm afraid I haven't seen him."

"When did you see him last?"

"I believe I saw him shortly before Rei returned here to speak with Sinnoh."

Volo was a wanderer, Adaman knew that much about the elusive merchant who loved history. Not seeing him for a few weeks was unusual, though. He had to return at some point to Jubilife to replenish his supplies.

Then again, with the rumors swirling around the clans and among some citizens of Jubilife, Adaman didn't blame Volo for wanting to disappear as quietly as possible. Rumors were to be taken with a grain of salt, especially the ones that claimed it was actually Volo who had been the cause of the Red Sky and the Frenzied Nobles, not Rei like Kamamdo had accused. The rumors would remain rumors until they disappeared without proof or testimony that they were true.

"Hey."

Adaman startled when a hand clapped down on his shoulder, jerking him out of the thoughts he had dove into.

Ingo stared at him, concerned crystal eyes still unnerving. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah." Adaman shook his head, resisting the urge to smack his cheeks. He had to focus. They were here for Rei.

The temple still looked the same as Adaman remembered, pillars that once supported a beautiful roof carved from marble destroyed and broken by Palkia.

As they drew closer to the back, Adaman saw items strewn around the temple's floor and recognized them.

"This is all Rei's stuff." Adaman picked up the Arc Phone that Rei always seemed to have his nose in. Rei had told him it held a map of Hisui so he knew where he was going as well as instructions on what to do. Even now it baffled Adaman with its futuristic style.

The screen was black, spiderweb cracks spreading along the surface.

Adaman tapped the Arc Phone out of curiosity but it didn't do anything so he set it back on the ground.

Pieces of the Pokédex were scattered along the ground, pages damp from the rain that had fallen the night before. All the writing and drawings were smeared, making whatever Rei had written down illegible.

Shards of purple were scattered around a pillar nearby and off in the distance was the Celestica Flute.

Adaman went over to pick up the Celestica Flute, staring at it like it would give him answers. He looked at Ingo who was also investigating the discarded items. "Why would he leave all of this here?"

"I'm not sure." Ingo picked up one of the tools from the craft box. His expression was troubled and sad. "I suspect we can only get the answers from Rei himself. Whatever transpired here enraged him and yet..."

Ingo's gaze drifted to the Pokédex.

The Pokédex was Rei's pride, Adaman knew that much. He took a lot of time to study each and every Pokémon, drawing them and writing notes on behavior. Surely even in his rage, Rei would have taken the Pokédex with him.

"I think it also broke his spirit."

----------------------------------------

Something tugged at the back of Rei's skull, as if a rope had wrapped itself around his brain and pulled.

Rei stepped back, wind whipping around him, urging him to ignore whatever had caught his attention.

That sensation had been a psychic energy. Psychic Pokémon had the ability to unleash their powers, in defense or attack or even to just get attention from whatever was within a certain vicinity. Rei had felt the energy of a lot of psychic types and as a result, got used to their unique signatures. This energy wasn't one he recognized.

Taking a few steps away from the edge of the cape, Rei turned around, scanning the horizon. Nothing seemed different. The bird Pokémon still hunted for their breakfast, the sun's rays spread across the sea's surface like seeking fingers.

Where? Rei asked in his mind, hoping whatever had sent out the psychic distress call would respond.

After a few moments, the psychic pull returned, one strong tug before it retreated.

Rei snapped his head towards Spring Path. The distress call had come from Turnback Cave.

Part of Rei hissed that he should ignore the strange call and return to the Cape's edge. The other part told him to heed it.

Grabbing Artemis' Poké Ball, Rei released her.

Artemis shook herself, feathers fluffing, before looking around. Upon laying eyes on Rei, she cooed happily.

"Artemis, wait a second!" Rei said when Artemis flew up and promptly perched on his shoulders.

She wasn't a Rowlet anymore, but that didn't stop her from acting like one.

Rei staggered under her weight before dropping to the ground when he lost his balance.

Artemis didn't seem to mind, shifting her weight to further cover Rei, feathers fluffed to retain heat.

Normally, Rei wouldn't mind. Her sitting on him to use her body heat to retain his own heat worked well in the Icelands. Here in the Coastlands, though, the rising humidity and her body heat were making him start to sweat.

"Artemis, now isn't the time!"

Artemis craned her neck down to stare at her owner upside down.

"I need you to take me to Turnback Cave." Rei pointed towards Spring Path. "There's a Pokémon that needs help."

Artemis looked where Rei was pointing before she hopped off Rei, flapping her wings. Using her feet, she gently wrapped her claws around Rei's waist to lift him off the ground.

Braviary may have been able to carry a Golem without breaking a sweat, but Artemis had no trouble carrying Rei to Spring Path despite her different body and wing shape.

Setting Rei down on the top of the ledge that led down into the small spring where Turnback Cave was, Artemis landed beside him.

Even from where he stood looking into the hidden spring, Rei could smell the strong stench of blood. Different waves of psychic energy hung in the air, blended together into a single signature Rei couldn't place.

On the other side by the cave itself, Rei spotted two motionless forms, but couldn't quite make out what they were.

"Good job." Rei ruffled Artemis' crest feathers before returning her to her Poké Ball. He slid down the side of the rocky wall that rose up around the spring, dropping on the small patch of land separating him from Turnback Cave.

It seemed a waste to call on Lord Basculegion just to get across the small swath of water.

Rei released Wisp from their Poké Ball.

Wisp stared at Turnback Cave silently before their form shuddered. They shrunk back into the keystone with a low keening sound.

"Something in here bothers you, huh?"

Wisp shuddered again with another whine.

Rei knelt by Wisp, patting the side of their keystone to comfort them. "Can you use Icy Wind to create a bridge for me to get across? You can return once you're done.”

Wisp didn't move for several seconds before they finally nodded. They exhaled a blast of arctic air, freezing a sturdy pathway for Rei on the water's surface.

"Thank you." Rei returned Wisp to their Poké Ball then walked across the ice bridge.

Something caught his attention in the water and he slowed to a stop, looking into the water. Rei inhaled a sharp breath.

Poking out from a pile of rubble on the spring's bottom was an Arcanine, one paw outstretched as if attempting to free itself from its watery prison.

Rei turned his head away from the sight, continuing to walk. He didn't want to know how an Arcanine had managed to land itself in such an unfortunate position.

Once he had reached the other side of the lake, Rei could see what the two forms were.

Slumped against the tree to Rei's left was a Roserade, slash marks covering its body as if wind had ripped into it. One single cut across its throat had ended whatever fight it still had left.

Leaning against the left pillar outside of Turnback Cave was a Garchomp, holes piercing its wings, legs, and stomach. A thin layer of water spread out from its body, mixed with dried blood.

"Ice...?" Rei muttered, kneeling by the Garchomp to investigate it out of morbid curiosity.

Garchomp were extremely weak to ice moves and the water indicated that an ice type attack had been used, melting as time went by.

Rei wasn't aware that the cave even attracted Pokémon. The only Pokémon he knew of in the cave was Giratina who had disappeared the moment he had released it. Whatever had killed these Pokémon, Rei knew it wasn't Giratina's doing.

Wrapped around the Garchomp's tail was a ring of brown tumblestone. Score marks covered the surface of the otherwise smooth rocks.

"It can't be." Rei slid the necklace from the Garchomp's tail, staring at it.

"Why do you have that around his neck?"

"What, the tumblestones?" Volo asked as Gible happily gnawed on the tumblestones hanging from his neck. "He's teething. Tumblestones are the only thing his jaws can't break."

"Huh. I bet you went through a lot of trial and error to find out what would work for him."

Volo laughed. "You'd win that bet."

Rolling the mass of tumblestones in his hand, Rei looked back at the Garchomp in front of him.

It was Volo's Garchomp. That meant that the Roserade and Arcanine were his, too.

What had happened here and where were the others?

Shoving the tumblestone necklace into his pocket, Rei stood and entered Turnback Cave.

Inside was the rest of Volo's team along with Volo lying near the back of the cave.

Lucario hung off the ground, skewered by earth spikes bursting from the ground.

Nearby was the keystone that held Spiritomb, shattered into three pieces.

Togekiss was the closest one to Volo, her white feathers covered in blood and soot.

Rei cautiously walked deeper into the cave, observing the carnage. Something had attacked in a rage, but that icy, skin crawling sensation he associated with Giratina wasn't there. All that was there was the scent of blood, ozone, and death.

Something else had killed Volo's team.

Rei moved closer to Volo, keeping his hand against Ace's Poké Ball. Was Volo dead as well?

Lying on top of Volo was a Pokémon Rei didn't recognize. Yet, he knew its name.

Sigilyph. A Pokémon known for roaming ruins and having connections with ancient civilizations.

Why was a Sigilyph there? Had it protected Volo? The lacerations on its body suggested that it had.

Rei couldn't tell what blood was from Volo and what was from the Sigilyph or even Volo's other Pokémon. It was hard to tell if Volo was even still alive with how still he was.

Reaching towards Volo to check his pulse, the action seemed to awaken the Sigilyph which instantly darted into the air with a screech.

"Whoa, easy!" Rei held up his hands, taking several steps back.

The Sigilyph made a keening noise, glaring at Rei, before it sank to the ground with a whimper.

That psychic energy had been from the Sigilyph. It had been the one asking for help.

The Sigilyph glowered at Rei as he once again moved closer to Volo, but seemed unable to move, energy spent.

Rei set two fingers against volo's neck, feeling a faint, thready pulse. A fever was setting in and Rei wondered just how long Volo had been in the cave.

Any other person would just leave Volo to his fate. He tried to destroy the world and now he was here, injured from an unknown assailant and vulnerable to predators and the elements.

Rei wasn't any other person, though, and even if he partially considered leaving Volo, it left a bad taste in his mouth.

With a sigh, Rei grabbed Blaze and Ace's Poké Balls, releasing them.

The two Pokémon glanced around the cave, taking in everything, before they looked at Rei with confused expressions.

"We're going to take Sigilyph and Volo back home."

Blaze and Ace stared at the unconscious Sigilyph and Volo in turn then stared at Rei. This time, their expressions were asking if Rei was serious.

"Don't judge me," Rei said, crossing his arms and pinning his two Pokémon with a glare. "Wouldn't you want someone to do the same thing for me?"

Ace and Blaze exchanged glances before they nodded.

"Ty."

"Samu."

"Good." Rei moved to Volo's legs, grabbing them. "Blaze, help me put him on Ace's back. Carefully."

"Phlo." Blaze nodded, picking Volo up under the arms.

Together, Rei and Blaze set Volo on Ace's back, positioning him so he wouldn't slide off.

"Blaze, carry Sigilyph."

Blaze approached Sigilyph, hesitant. When it didn't move, he picked it up around the waist.

Looking between Ace and Blaze to make sure that they were ready to go, Rei took in a deep breath.

Hopefully, he could get Volo back to his house without attracting unwanted attention.