For three days, Mewtwo had helped with Astra's recovery. The method had been far more straightforward than he and the villagers expected. It mostly consisted of pouring porridge, soup and other liquid foods down Astra's throat. Mewtwo's help consisted in psychically guiding the liquid down into his stomach, or more exactly, his bio-reactor. They had not cut him open to verify what was hidden beneath Astra's flesh, but Mewtwo was rather certain that Astra was human only in appearances.

The other humans mostly quieted down after a second round of questions that Mewtwo could only scarcely answer. He did acquire some interesting tidbits of knowledge during that second round. The most important was the existence of the two main groups of organized humans. One was focused solely on improving themselves through the massacring of pokemons or monsters. Their members called themselves hunters. The other group had been formed in opposition to the hunters and focused instead on raising pokemons to be as strong as possible and fighting teeth and claw to eradicate as many hunters as possible. This second group called themselves the league and had loose ties with a man called Aster Stradivii.

Knowledge of this man was the second most important piece of information Mewtwo gathered. Aster Stradivii was rumored to have been one of the first to train pokemons and had actually succeeded in bringing all six of his closest ones to their final stages of evolution. He had been advocating strongly for humans to stop their infighting and work together in finding a way back to their home. He was rumored to have truly died. The approximate date of his death however was concerning to Mewtwo for some reason. He had been recorded as truly dead sixty years ago, and if the veteran Hans was correct, then this had to have been Aster's last life. If not, he should have returned at most two months after his death.

The village they were in was one of the many that surrounded the Arrival plain. And this particular village had a guardian pokemon. A pokemon that had once been Aster's closest ally. His mightyena, Hound. He had been the one to constantly monitor Aster's arrival point. For each humans always came to the same arrival point whenever they were reset. And for sixty years, the point had never seen a single new human. This singular fact had convinced Hound that Aster might still return, and so, for sixty years, he had sent his most promising descendants to monitor and keep watch over the point, in the vain hopes that Aster would one day return.

And someone had appeared on that point. After sixty years, a human looking being had arrived, calling himself Astra. Hans had raised an eyebrow at the possible implications, and the six others had simply speculated. Mewtwo had focused on Hans when that point had been raised. The man looked clearly old enought to have lived during Aster's time, and the way he had started to look at Astra after that revelation had made Mewtwo suspicious, but he had not pushed the issue. He lacked context and information.

And speaking of Astra, for each of the three days, his body had been gently humming every time he was fed. The red blinking dot had turned orange on the second day and finally, blue on the third. Those rather minimal changes still had Mewtwo filled with relief. And the moment he felt that relief came an immediate question. Why was he feeling relief for a being he had barely known for less than a day and half at best?

He had questioned himself on that point multiple times during his ceaseless watch over Astra. But no real answers came. The more Astra laid deep in his coma, the more his anxiety rose, even with the possible sign of recovery in the small blinking light. And so, in the middle of the third day, while they were feeding Astra, when he finally stirred once more, Mewtwo concentration broke.

The porridge they had made for him that day immediately started filling Astra's entire esophagus along with his trachea. Which resulted in his cough, and his subsequent struggle between throwing it all up or managing to swallow it all.

"He's awake, he's awake!" Faraan, the farmer villager exclaims, quickly removing the bowl from Astra's mouth.

This gesture somehow allows Astra to swallow, and with a final cough he blinks. "Ack! Were you trying to drown me in soup??" He half-coughs.

They called it porridge. Mewtwo answers automatically and barely manage to keep his relief from his answer.

Astra turns toward Mewtwo, faux anger on his face. "Not the point" he snarls, but quickly mellows as he sees Mewtwo's face. Mewtwo does not bother to hold himself back. He jumps and almost tackle Astra in a tight hug, small tears streaming down his face. He does not understand his reaction, he simply bask in the emotions coursing through him. Welcome back.

"Yeah... I am back."

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

We stay like that, hugging each others for a good five minutes. After two, the stranger that was holding the porridge bowl excuses themselves and leaves the room.

"Can't have a second of peace in this god forsaken- OH WHAT THE FUCK NOW?" A gruff voice exclaims from the other side of the room we are in.

Okay hold on, hug time is over right now, analysis time. I am... in a large room, with multiple beds, at least ten on each sides if I am seeing all of them. The walls are made of wood logs, with windows carved into them. the roof is made of planks with resin visible between each ones. Okay. And there are other occupants beyond us two. Mewtwo is still alive and look healthy. I am alive and actually fed. I am going to assume we are in a safe location. Is it a good bet? No idea, but I lack information to make any better judgement beyond a paranoia influenced one.

"Ya a fuckin pokefucker? Do it somewhere private!" The gruff voice interrupts my thoughs.

Can I not express my joy at having my friend back? Mewtwo retort with annoyance. Although I believe I see a bit of a blush on his cheeks.

"Also I don't think we have much for that down there." I add. "Also, hello? I am Astra." I continue as I get up from the hug and the mattress. Why is the mattress on the ground? Oh wait, weight. Makes sense.

On the farthest bed in the room, slowly bringing himself up is an old man. A really old man. His white hair falls around his face in a fierce mane, his piercing eyes stare at me with humor and caution. He looks frail, but it seems to be only looks. The missing leg does contribute to the frail impression. Before I can even read the little WAYLA window that pops above his head, a single name escapes my lips, straight from my broken memories. "Senah?"

The old man gapes at me. And I look at him in confusion. The name came so naturally. My broken memories, no, I now know what those memories are now don't I? Aster's memories. Aster's memories had reacted on instinct the moment I saw the man. Hans Senah.

Hans recovers quickly and humor leave his eyes. "How do ya know my name?" He snarl.

"I... Aster Stradivii knew of you. You were... close?"

He once more looks shocked at my declaration. Mewtwo, now upright and standing next to me looks at me with mix of curiosity and surprise. How do you know his name? He asks, echoing Hans repeat of his question.

I... Do I reveal it? Mewtwo I know you can read my mind, I have seen something similar to your nightmare last night.

Last night? Astra, you have been in a comatose state for three days. How are you even walking? The healer said it would be harder for you for each days that passed!

Three days?? THREE DAYS????? WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT TIME DILATATION?? No wait, it... it could have been three days. But it had felt so short... but also so long... Oh hello again headache. Why do I even have those? How does one makes a machine simulate a headache?

Astra what are you thinking about? I look at Mewtwo and am surprised at how distressed he looks. "Are ya two having a little secret conversation? Quit with tha mind speak. Use yer mouth!" Hans growls at us.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Aster's memories of Hans seems to indicate a positive disposition toward the man, however, the other six humans are completely unknown. All of them look like either teens or young adults. and they are intently listening and waiting for their time to send a barrage of question my way. I am unsure if they should hear what I might end up discussing with Hans.

Wait... Hold on... did Mewtwo just speak to Hans while also letting me hear? Damn he did not loose time on that. Mewtwo, do you think you could make some sort of conference call with only me, you and Hans? I don't trust the other ones here.

That... I think I might be able to.

Okay good. I sigh. "Sorry, I... need to sit back down." I half-fake dizziness and sit back on the mattress. I just woke up once more and again I can feel headaches growing by the second.

Try speaking. I think I got it.

"Mr. Senah?"

"We're doing this the weird way uh? I presume what you have to tell me is better out the ears of the kids?"

"Something like that yes. Let's get the obvious out of the way, I am and am not Aster Stradivii. He died and his remains were used to make me. Me and Mewtwo are pawns to a trio of gods? Yeah the title fit. We are both pawns for three gods. Our only goal is to prove them right."

Mewtwo remains silent, as does Hans at my declaration. After a minute of nothing, I continue. "I have parts of Aster's memories within me and they are the ones that allowed me to recognized you. This world feel alien and yet familiar at the same time. I did not get a good look at the one that was feeding me, but I know they were not humans like u- you. I am not human either. Just a construct of plastic and metal, barely able to survive."

Again, they remain mostly silent. What else is there to say. The few tidbit of knowledge I have I would rather keep to myself. The rewards and the matter creator in my left arm I also wish to keep mostly hidden here. Hans is the first to answer.

"So Stradivii truly passed sixty years ago uh? His little princess was right in the end. Sad for his closest." Hans audibly sigh, startling the six others. "So what are ya going to do now?"

Mewtwo also looks at me. I can see his uncertainty plain as day, I can almost hear his thoughs. What if I give up? What if I do not want to remain here now?

I smile at him. "I am not alone in this predicament. And I believe you feel conflicted too uh?" I gently bump Mewtwo's arm. "I say we continue." I whisper. "We keep going until the end. And then we see what we can do about our strings."

Mewtwo look at me with relief, and follows with a serious nod of his head. I get up once more and look around the room. "Hello everyone, I am Astra, you already met Mewtwo. We are here to be the first to escape the Ezian plane." I declare. Mewtwo manages to contain his surprise outwardly.

WHAT? What sort of declaration is that? His thoughs scream in my head and I chuckle a bit at them. The sort that could make us friends fast or make other run. And even if it does not, we could still try to argue for a pass. Aster's memories are pretty definite in this part. Everyone want to return home. And I believe the marble may be our gate out. But maybe we can make it this entire world gate out.

Mewtwo looks at me with actual awe. Yep, we are going to get busy once we get out of here. "By the way where are we?" I mumble to no one in the room in particular.

A booming laughter erupts from Hans, and Mewtwo start to wince in advance. "Bwahahahah. Ya're Aster's reborn alright. Damn kid, this right there were bold worlds to utter. They really took the best and worst parts of that annoying dumbass. Sixty years, and ya're still tha same dreaming moron eh?" He guffaws. "Listen all of ya. If ya wish to make this yer goal, ya will need to know one thing: Eziakophael will hate yer guts. The one who got the closes were the geeks that made an entire fuckin city for it. They made it on an island and now it's still a smokin wreck, sixty years later!" His tone turns darker with every words. "So get ready, cause ya're goin to get mushed by the raids."

"What, he has worse than a Praetor?" I smirk. I know the risk of the declaration, but the current ruler of this place knows my goal already. It can only get worse anyways.

"Some says he does. It wasn't the cult that destroyed Marble city some says. It was something big. Bigger than any other creatures many had ever seen." He then snickers, "Not that I would know, I was way too far to see it. I only heard the explosion and the rumors."

That does hamper down my excitement. But then again, I managed to survive the first raid. A raid meant to kill me. And I now had a few ideas to as to what to do, beyond advancing the quest.

However, before I could even start to formulate an explanation, the door opens and a mightyena followed by a familiar poochyena enters. The mightyena pushes the little one forward and she bow her head. She growls and yip and yaps for a second before looking up, directly at me. She... She just apologized for bailing on us right?

Mostly, and for returning late. She tried to return as fast as she could, but they were still too late.

"Don't worry, it's not like you could have predicted such a powerful opponent. We should also take part of the blame, we stalled too much. If we had just followed you from start to finish, we could have made it closer to the village. But it means little now in the end. Thank you for getting me here anyway. I do not think I would have survived otherwise."

I can see my answer wounds her at first, but then she agrees, in the end she still managed to help me survive. She nods and then both her and the accompanying mightyena beckons to follow. I raise an eyebrow at that. And Hans, having eavesdropped on the little talk, seems to know what is up. "That will be some awkward reunion here. Too bad I can't see it." He laughs weakly.

I look back to the mightyena and poochyena pair, both are staring daggers at the old man. But it seems he is right. Wherever they want me to follow, it seems there will be others that will know me. They turn to exit and I follow them. Mewtwo also accompany me and for the first time I behold the village.

It is a collection of stone houses with wooden roofs that greet me. As well as a small crowd of villagers. Most wear a sort of medieval leather tunic, with some having more garnements or accessories put on top. Those I know are the specialized ones. A small trinket at their belts denotes their level of expertise in their fields. I see a lot of iron and a couple of gold ones, most others are still novices. An iron golem is patrolling the streets in the distance, its reflective metallic body glinting above the villagers.

The mightyena gets my attention back with a growl and then lead us toward the church in the middle of the village. The building is made purely of stone, with colored glass windows all around it. We reach it after a few minutes of walking.

At the entrance, we meet with a pair of heavily scarred mightyenas. Their black and grey coats are criss-crossed with fleshy lines, one even has a blind eye. They both look at our approach with suspicion, even with our guides, but still let us pass.

The inside of the church is quiet, and this surprises me as the floor is almost covered in fur. It is a sea of mightyena all around. Little poochyenas can sometime be seen looking out from between or beneath the bigger evolved dog-like pokemons. There is single person here, a cleric villager, with an emerald amulet on his belt, almost the highest level one may reach. And next to it, on the raised part at the back of the church is a single mightyena. He lays alone, with the others giving him quite the space. The mightyena at our side guides us toward him, and once we break out into the empty space before the lonely one, they signal for us to wait.

The mightyena eyes the cleric and he shakes his head. The mightyena nods and gently nudges the laying one. Now that we are closer, I can see he is also covered in scars and old wounds. He whine gently at his fellow's touch and opens milky white eyes. And with our guide so close to him, I realize how washed his entire fur is. It is not a shiny. It is old. The two lines of black fur that go from his head to his tail are barely dark grey at this point. His coat is almost white. This mightyena is old. And then something Hans said return to the front of my mind. 'So Stradivii truly passed sixty years ago uh'.

This... This mightyena... I... Aster knew this mightyena. I can feel my eyes moisten a bit as the old mightyena slowly gets up, leaning heavily on our guide. With gentle and clearly strenuous steps, he approaches us. I slowly get myself down. The old hyena closes on us and I gently lifts my right arm. He sniffs it and some strength seems to return to him. He stops leaning and whine in joy, jumping against my chest. "Hey, Hound..." I whisper as tears gently roll downs my cheeks. "Sorry I took so long." I gently stroke his head. I can feel his heart beating against my chest. I gently trace some scars knowingly. I just let it happen.

For a few minutes, I am no longer Astra. I let Aster's memories take over. For a few minutes. I simply hold my first and oldest friend in this world. I hold him close as he too shed tears. He has waited for so long, so so long. After a few minutes, he calms down, and gently closes his eyes. I hold him a bit tighter, a part of me has waited for so long to see him again.

Once his eyes are closed, his breathe slows as he falls asleep. I guess you're too old to keep up anymore uh? His breath slows down a bit more, then more, and finally I realize what is happening. "No. No! No! No! Come on Hound! Don't go!" I panic. But it is too late.

For decades, Hound has been by the side of Aster Stradivii. And during his bestest friend last life together, he could already feel the weight of the age on his aching shoulder. And when he had passed once more, he had remained vigilant over the place he would one day return to. And he had waited. The first ten years by himself, the last fifty with his own family. When he had become too old to keep going, his children had, and finally, one had returned with Him, his bestest friend! Hound was happy. He had met him once more. He could finally rest.

And I could only watch, unable to do anything, as the first friend Aster had ever made breath his final breath in my arms. I cried as he breathed out his final breath. I held him closer, and in his death, a smile nether left his now frozen lips. He had seen his master once more, he was happy. And the chorus of howls all around me echoed for long minutes.