The evening transitioned into the night. Owen felt like he didn't quite need to sleep. Perhaps he had finally become strong enough to no longer require it. Still, Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi did. When their training ended, Owen wandered the caverns, enjoying the usual, dim blue glow from gleaming mushrooms speckled along the dark walls.
Zena was training with Amia. She seemed awkward about it, simply telling Owen that she wanted to get better with aura-based powers. It took very little pressing for her to reveal that she, too, was learning the Suppression Aura that reset Owen countless times.
Owen just smiled. "You know, better safe than sorry." Not like he intended to be reset again anyway if he could help it.
But that also meant Owen couldn't stay near them while they trained, and he had to wander the caverns again. Should he sleep? He could. But he was too restless. He couldn't get the look of Rim's eyes out of his head, and, in hindsight, the feeling he had when he saw her. How in the world did he become so bold as to risk his very sanity to scare off Rim? Was he even strong enough to take her on in that state? He somehow doubted it. Rim commanded mutants.
So why did she run?
"You are in motion far too much."
Owen, startled, looked to his right. He forgot about Valle. The Shiftry statue was right next to him, so still that he had mistaken it for part of the cave. "Sorry," Owen finally said. "Just restless."
Valle rumbled angrily. "Cease your movement. The night is when I can know peace."
"Okay. I'll just find somewhere else to rest. I should meditate."
"Yes. You should."
Owen sighed. He headed further along the giant cavern until he spotted more Guardians.
Earlier in the day, Willow and ADAM had assisted Enet in finding a home. She took a liking to the one a few homes down from Rhys' side. It was easy to spot Enet's abode because of the perpetual darkness that veiled the insides. Only her eyes—glowing—were visible when looking inside.
"Enet?" Owen whispered, but the glowing eyes said it all.
"Small," Enet greeted.
"M-my name's Owen."
"Owen... Small Owen." Enet said.
"Are you okay?" He could sense her tense muscles.
"Okay."
"You aren't scared or anything?" Owen asked.
Enet didn't answer.
"Hey, it's alright," Owen said. "Friends. All friends."
Enet let out a strange growl. It didn't sound aggressive, but it wasn't one of comfort, either.
Owen felt someone knocking inside his mind. Hello? Is someone calling me?
Yo, Star greeted. Are you checking on Enet?
Yeah. Is she alright?
She's just antsy. New den and all that, and it's not like it was totally up to her.
Oh, Owen said. Well, I guess I don't wanna bother her.
No, no, actually, I think she trusts you more than anyone else here. Since Amia's training Zena the Suppression Aura stuff, can you do me a favor and spend the night keeping her company? She's not all that strong, so she'll be asleep for most of it.
Owen nodded. It was better than irritating Valle, at least. Okay.
Great. While you do that, I'm gonna check up on some Guardians. I want to see if the Bug or Ice Guardians are up for anything. I think I know where the Ice Guardian is, but she's a little cold toward me. Sorta a long story.
Like all the others. Owen rolled his eyes. I bet the Electric Guardian didn't give up peacefully, either. I'm starting to think back, and there was a huge thunderstorm in Nightshade, like, a year or two ago. That wasn't a normal storm, was it?
A-anyway, I gotta head off! Star said. I'm gonna hang up now.
Hang... up?
But she didn't reply. So distracted by the conversation, Owen didn't realize that Enet was mere inches from his face. He stifled a gasp and fell backward; Enet lunged forward and grabbed him just in time. Her paws were almost as big as his head.
"Okay?" Enet asked.
"Y-yes. I'm okay," Owen said, pulling himself up. "Enet... would you like me to rest with you?"
Even in the dark, Owen was able to Perceive her muzzle scrunching up. "Better father."
Owen tried not to sound exasperated. "Not like that. As... a pack. Friend."
"Small pack."
Why me?
But despite this, Enet turned around and curled up in the darkness. Owen sighed, shifting his body into his Grassy state. He had a habit of fighting in his dreams, and that always made the ethereal flame on his tail heat up. At least as a plant, he wouldn't accidentally burn Enet.
While he didn't rest, Owen spent the rest of the night meditating and calming his aura.
Owen's thoughts returned to Star. Hey, Klent?
Hm? There was a pause, and then Klent answered, Oh, Owen. Are you feeling okay?
Star just left, if you're looking for her, Amelia spoke up. When are you gonna come visit again?
Owen grinned. Sorry, I'm looking after Enet tonight. I was just thinking about... everything.
That's quite a lot, Klent said. Owen... you know we're a bit in-tune with your feelings, right? Being within your spirit, that is. We understand. We've been trying to get Star to tell us more, but she's obviously bothered by it. And she knows if she tells us, we'll tell you. And I suppose we don't want to trigger anything.
I think I'll evolve just fine, Owen said. I bet I can handle it now. Last time, I almost had it. And this time, I didn't feel like I was going crazy at all. I was just scared. So... what if I—
You promised, two days, Klent said.
Owen rolled his eyes. Fine, fine, he relented. But when I evolve... and I'm normal... I want her to tell me what made me go crazy in the first place.
I'll hold her to it.
<><><>
Gahi's kinda cute when he's a Trapinch, Owen thought to himself. He had Gahi ensnared in a simple vine around his torso where his tiny legs and massive head couldn't reach. He flailed and hissed and screamed in anger, but there was nothing the stubby Pokémon could do to break free from the relatively effortless hold.
"Lemme go!" Gahi shouted.
"Not until you say I win," Owen hummed.
"It ain't fair! Yer Mystic, yer evolved, nuh-uh!"
"To be fair, Gahi," Demitri said from the sidelines, "you were the one who wanted to fight Owen one on one."
Mispy nodded, nursing a cut on one of her vines. Demitri had clawed her pretty hard and her healing was taking extra time to repair the damage.
"I kinda remember always losing to you, Gahi," Owen said. "At least, that's sorta the feeling I get when I think about other times we've sparred. So, I dunno what to tell you. This feels like a great change. Are you gonna give up yet?"
"Not 'til I'm passed out an' broken!" Gahi replied defiantly.
The vines squeezed tighter around his body.
"Just give up," Mispy said, sighing.
"Yeah, Mispy's sick of healing you. Maybe this time she won't do it," Demitri teased. He tittered, glancing at Mispy. "Y-you'll still heal him, right?" he whispered.
Mispy shrugged. "Can't heal stupid."
"I ain't stupid! I'm determined! Rhys said so!"
"Hey, Rhys called me determined, too," Owen mumbled.
Mispy glanced at Demitri, who just shrugged.
"Yeah, if Owen's determined, then I'm not dumb!" Gahi said. "Now lemme down!"
"Not until you say you give up," Owen said. "The win doesn't even feel good if I knock you out, Gahi, You won't be able to dodge anything I throw at you."
"Mehh... fine."
Owen sighed, dropping Gahi to the ground.
He immediately rushed for Owen. "I never said I gav—"
A Vine Trap erupted beneath Gahi, tearing through rocks to ensnare him for a second time. The crush was so intense that Gahi squeaked and cracked like wood, tiny legs flailing weakly.
"I know," Owen said, smirking.
Gahi hissed but finally relented. "Okay, fine, fine... ya mrmff..."
"What was that?" Owen asked with a teasing lilt in his voice.
Mispy smacked Owen on the back of his head. He winced, expecting the blow, but still yelped at how hard she hit. "H-hey, I was just joking around!"
Owen helped free Gahi from the vines and Mispy patched him up with a gentle wave of healing energy. Demitri sighed and stretched, scratching at a nick in his tusks with a frown. "I messed up my tusk again," he said. "I need to be more careful. These things don't grow back, you know."
"They do with Orans," Owen said.
"I mean, yeah, but I don't wanna waste resources," Demitri said. "I'll just wait a while."
"Well, don't wait too long," Owen said. "If you let a wound settle in for too long, Orans don't heal it. There's this Salazzle, you know Spice? She got badly hurt during some outing and even though she took an Oran to heal the major stuff, it still left a scar behind because she didn't take a second one to heal it completely, or something. Guess they had run out since it was a rough mission... Why else would an Oran not work, y'know?"
"You mean from Sugar 'n Spice?" Demitri asked, unconsciously picking at the dent in his tusk again. Mispy wrapped a vine around his claw to pull it away, knowing he'd only make it worse.
"Yeah."
Demitri flinched. "W-well, I still don't want to waste it on a little chip. Maybe if we went on a Dungeon mission, I'll use one along the way? Then I won't feel so bad."
"Oh, sure," Owen said. "You guys can head on one if you like."
Demitri and Mispy exchanged looks. "Well," Demitri said, "we were actually thinking, and, um..."
"What?" Owen asked, returning to his Fiery form. He felt something in the back of his throat and coughed out a stray Bullet Seed.
"Can't you come with us?" Demitri asked.
Owen tilted his head. "With you guys?"
"Yeah. I mean—we're Team Alloy, right? And now that you know how you evolve, it should be totally safe for you to come with us. We're still in our lowest forms. No way we'll evolve all the way up on one mission."
"It's still dangerous to go out," he said, sighing. "Rim could try to kill me."
"What, like she did back in Nightshade?" Gahi said. "C'mon, she ran off when you just threatened ter evolve!"
"W-well, yeah, but—"
"It's safe," Mispy nodded.
"I'm still not sure, guys," Owen said apologetically. "Rhys and Mom would kill me. And Dad would probably explode again."
"Bah, he's a spirit, he'll come back," Gahi said. "We'll jus' say we kidnapped ya."
"Okay, first of all, I don't think I want you guys getting in that much trouble—and two, you didn't kidnap me!"
"How do you know?" Mispy asked.
As if on cue, Demitri and Gahi approached Owen on both sides. Mispy's vines emerged from behind her shoulders.
"W-wait, wait, wait, wait!" Owen said, raising his arms.
They all lunged at him. Owen crossed his arms, forming a shield of gold light that bumped them all away. He grunted when Demitri hit it particularly hard, and for just a moment, he feared that the Axew would somehow break his Protect barrier.
"Okay," Owen said, taking advantage of their brief dizziness. Mispy, who could have easily grabbed Owen after the barrier dropped, was patient enough to let him speak. "How about," he continued, "after I fully evolve—which will be tomorrow, by the way, that's when I plan to do this—we go out then. I bet if I can keep it together, we'll go on a mission. How about that? Huh?"
"So tomorrow, we're gonna go on a mission together," Demitri said.
"If, uh, if they let me."
"If yer a Charizard, they ain't gonna stop you." Gahi clicked his jaws confidently.
Owen twisted his mouth into a pensive frown. "I guess, but I'd feel kinda bad about taking advantage of my power like that," he said. "I guess as a last resort."
"We're sorta on the verge of evolving anyway," Demitri said. "I guess we should be careful, too."
"Mmh." Mispy nodded. "Fine."
Rhys emerged from his home. "Ah, Owen!" he called.
"Huh?" Owen spun around. "What? Something happen?"
"Nevren just called via the communicator," he said. "Come. I'm going to gather the others. Apparently, a Guardian has been found... but it is a strange location."
<><><>
"So, what's so weird about it? Where on the map is it?" Owen asked.
Everybody had been gathered together in the center of Hot Spot to speak to Nevren through his communication badge.
"It's a factory far off the coast," Nevren said. "Far, far south, on an old island, in fact. Quite difficult to get to normally. Only Mystics can approach it—it's protected by a special barrier set up by the Guardian within. We only spotted it from a distance and some Zoom Lenses and a team of flying scouts."
"Factory," Amia said. "I've heard that term before, but—what is it, again?"
"A facility that is built for the purpose of mass-producing something," Nevren said. "We have something similar here, though not quite to the same level." The communication device was quiet for a while after that. "...Hello?"
"Oh! Sorry, I thought you would say something," Amia said. "I was just trying to figure out what this factory would be. But, um... What type is this Guardian?"
"Well, it's a factory, so, Steel," Nevren said. "He's quite at home there, from what I've gathered."
"How'd you gather that?" Owen asked suspiciously. "Did you visit there yourself?"
"I have," Nevren said. "Though, not to any success. It was quite a long time ago, though I feel now is an appropriate time as any to try our luck with this one. I recommend... someone with a more effective set of techniques, yes?"
"Steel," Owen repeated to himself, looking at the red scales on his arms.
"I can go." Gahi shrugged. "Ground, eh? That's real good against Steel."
"I can, too," Owen said. "Um... I guess Demitri and Mispy should stay back for this one, huh?"
The Axew and Chikorita wanted to protest, but they backed down shortly after. Owen figured they knew he had a point.
"Okay," Demitri said, "but what should we do while you're gone?"
"Spar!" Owen said, nodding. "Actually, y'know what? When I come back, I want to see you two as a Fraxure and Bayleef, okay?"
"D'you think we can get there so soon?" Demitri said, eyes brightening.
"Definitely," Owen nodded. "I can feel it. I'm a Charmeleon already, after all, right?"
"Yeah, but you're Mystic," Demitri said.
"Well... either way, I think you'll do it. Maybe spar with the other Mystics? The weaker ones, like Willow, or—"
"Weaker?!" Willow charged up for a Moonblast.
"I—I mean, th-th... the nicer ones! The nicer ones, who can go easy on them! R-right?"
"That's better," Willow huffed. The lunar sphere dissipated in a white-pink mist.
Owen sighed, holding his chest. At the very least, she was acting normally toward him. He thought she wouldn't talk back to him again after that incident with Azu...
"If you're going, Owen, then I should go, too," Amia said. "And as the Fire Guardian, maybe I can help in fighting, too? I may not be the best fighter, but I'm still strong..."
"Okay, so that's me, Mom, Gahi..." Owen frowned. "If I go crazy, d'you think that'll be enough, Mom? If you make me a Charmander again?"
Amia flinched. "Y-you're okay with that?"
Owen nodded. "I... I don't want it, but it's better than being crazy forever. But... if I evolve... can you make sure I'm crazy first?"
Amia nodded. "Of course! That's what we were building toward this whole time!"
Rhys hummed worriedly. "Just in case," he said, "I would like to accompany you as well. A team of four. My Fighting attacks will be effective."
"That should be enough," Nevren confirmed. "Now, hold out your maps. Do you see where Zero Isle Spiral is located?"
"No, um, is that...?" Amia unraveled their map.
"Start from Kilo Village, at the center of the map. Go south until you reach the ocean."
"Oh, I know that spot!" Owen said. "Zena and I washed up there after we, uh, you know."
"Hm, so we have a reference point," Rhys said. "What then, Nevren?"
"You have to fly from there and head further south until you can see the archipelago with Zero Isle at the center. From that direction, you should head diagonally to the left—that is, southeast. You should see another landmass. That will be your location; if you search by aura, you will sense a powerful barrier blocking the way. Anybody too weak in the spiritual sense will be turned around in the opposite direction without realizing it. Mystics, by default, should be strong enough to pass through."
"Eh, so what about me?" Gahi said, clicking his jaws. "I ain't spiritual Mystic sparkly."
"Your proximity should be enough. Perhaps ride on Owen's back."
"Wh-why me?" Owen said.
Gahi hummed. "I can do that."
Owen sighed. "Okay, fine," he said. "But, can I fly yet?"
"If you can't fly, you can ride on me, dear," Amia said.
"...Wait. Rhys? Can you fly for a long time?"
"To an extent," Rhys said. "It may deplete my stamina a bit after some time, but, ah... I'm sure I will have time to rest once we arrive."
"If you're tired, you can always ride on me, dear," Amia giggled. "I don't mind."
"I... shall... consider it." Rhys turned his head away. "Though I would prefer not. I am not used to riding on the backs of others. They're always too soft."
"Soft?" Amia said. "You prefer... hard backs?"
"Er—yes. I suppose I do."
"Yer weird," Gahi said.
Zena quickly slithered over to Owen and gave him a reassuring nod. "Good luck, Owen."
He smiled, returning the gesture. "Hey, how's the Suppression Aura going?"
Zena winced. "Er, well—I'm getting better at it," she said. "I'm sorry that I'm training at all for it..."
"I said it was fine," Owen assured, shaking his head. "Okay. You guys ready?" He looked at Amia, Gahi, and Rhys. When they all nodded, they set off toward the exit of Hot Spot Cave.
<><><>
It was only a few quick warps and walks from Hot Spot to Kilo Village to the south. They wound up taking the Waypoint to Void Forest, though they were sure to steer clear of the Dungeon itself.
Void Forest seemed quite... normal, considering the name. Tall trees dotted the landscape, leaving ample room to walk around. While the ground was grayish, and it was mostly dirt and fungus, it wasn't something Owen would have labeled as void-like. Nothing like Void Basin to the southwest.
The lack of proper foliage was a bit unnerving, though.
"Usually don't like taking trips or missions to the south," Owen mumbled aloud.
"Don't worry, dear. We're flying right now," Amia said. "Oh, that's right. I suppose we should start giving you flying lessons. That shouldn't be too hard."
Owen's heart fluttered in some trick-of-the-mind instinct. "F-fly?" he said, his mind trying to flex wings he did not yet have.
"Aww, Owen, I'm sorry," Amia said, patting his shoulder. "I meant with your Mystic power. You remember us doing it before, right? Just try to mimic it. It's a lot easier than you think, once you get started."
"Okay, sure. Let me guess. It's sorta like when I think to switch from Fire to Grass, except this time for flying?"
"Kind of! I think? The way Star taught it to me was like this. You feel gravity pulling at you... feel your own weight. And then, well... defy it! Sort of." Amia levitated slightly in the air. "I suppose it's not too different from Psychic kinesis after that. Push yourself in the direction you want."
"I think I know how to describe that," Owen said. "I had a lot of dreams like this. Where I was flying as a Charmander, just going over town and looking down." A dumb smile spread across his face. "Uh—right. So, I guess like a dream, huh? Let me think..."
Owen felt weightless. He flailed his arms out of reflex; Rhys quickly held his back. "Now, now, hold still," he said.
"Whoa," Gahi said, churring. "His feet're off the ground!"
Owen looked down. He was a foot in the air. "I—I'm doing it!"
"I'm going to let go, now," Rhys said.
Once he did, Owen spun forward, upside-down after a few seconds. "Uh—wait—I've got this," Owen said, righting himself. He overcompensated, shooting several more feet in the air. "W-wait! Wait—oh—this is really—uh—sudden!" He kicked in the air, but he was laughing at the same time. "I—I'm actually flying! Mom! I'm flying!"
"Yes, you are, dear," Amia said, giggling. "Honestly, if I knew it'd make you this happy, I would've trained you with this earlier! But at least now you're strong enough it's not even hard to...Owen?"
He was flying in circles through the air, his ember a blazing blue.
"...Should we calm him down?" Rhys asked.
"Ohh, let him have his moment," Amia said.
Gahi watched enviously, grumbling to himself about his "stupid big-headed body."
Owen suddenly stopped his flying when he got high enough to see over the forest trees. He gulped, not realizing how close they were to the Chasm of the Void. It was always depicted as a big, black dot on the map, and was typically only restricted to Hearts to go near due to its ominous appearance. It was undoubtedly home to another Guardian, based on how anomalous it was, even by Dungeon standards. But it was also hard to approach, let alone enter.
It looked exactly as it did on the map. Black dot on the paper, a great, black crater in person. He couldn't even see the crater's walls. It was like a vat of pure, inky blackness. It vaguely reminded him of Enet's home the night before. Hidden in plain sight. The fact that it was still around suggested that not even the Hunters could approach easily.
Owen landed. "Sorry about that," he said, tittering. "Okay. Rhys, do you know how to fly?"
"Of course," Rhys said. "Though, not in the traditional sense, as I said before. Let me make sure I still have the technique in me, so to speak..." Rhys held his arms firmly to his side. Then from both paws, aura energy burst downward in a steady stream. Wind blew in all directions away from the Lucario and he flew into the air. "I seem to have it covered!" he shouted down, secondary blasts coming from his feet.
"Oh," Owen said, staring. "...He can do that."
"It's not very useful in Dungeons where you can't fly," Amia said, "and I imagine with his limbs occupied, he can't fight in that state, either. And with Waypoints for quick travel to most places, well..."
Owen shrugged. "Let's go."
"Oy! Don't go fergeting me!" Gahi chirped.
<><><>
The horizon seemed to go on forever. It was an endless expanse of the blue ocean along a pale sky, speckled with white clouds. The only real detail they could see from this height was that of the clouds' shadows cascading along the water below. Gahi clicked his jaws worriedly. "If y'drop me, I'm gonna kill yeh," he said, clinging onto Owen's back with the help of a few vines.
"Not if the fall kills you first," Owen murmured, adjusting his arm-vines carefully. "Rhys, are you sure that isn't too hard for you?"
The steady stream of aura energy made Owen think about Golurk and their propulsive abilities.
"I should be fine for quite a while," Rhys said. "This aura energy is produced as quickly as I spend it with simple flight."
"Oh, don't lie, dear," Amia said. "I can feel it depleting a tiny bit. Otherwise, you'd be flying like this all the time!"
"Ngh—perhaps by a negligible amount," Rhys said.
Amia looked at their map, and then ahead. "I think that's Zero Isle."
Rhys nodded.
"Goodness..." Amia said. Their flying slowed down slightly, and they veered away from the archipelago—which appeared to be a spiral of beige sand and tiny, light trees in the middle of sky-colored saltwater. "Do you feel that?" she asked.
Owen felt a horrible tightness in his chest, like the sheer radiation of power was stopping his heart. "What is that? It's... coming from..."
"Feel what?" Gahi asked.
"I guess only Mystics can feel it," Amia said. "Rhys?"
"...We should keep clear of Zero Isle for a while," said Rhys. "A powerful Guardian is there, and we are simply not ready."
"Wait! A powerful Guardian? A friendly one?"
Rhys shook his head. "Not to us, no," he said. "...Frankly, I'm not sure if the Steel one will be friendly, either."
"How do you know?" Owen asked. "Did... did you try to attack the Zero Isle Guardian before? When you were a..."
Rhys shook his head. "No," he said. "But I fought her predecessor, who was..." he shivered slightly. "It's not something that I like to think about."
Owen nodded. "Okay. But, what Orb is it of? Do you know anything about her?"
"Dragon, and yes, she's very hostile. We'll talk about this later," Rhys said, pointing ahead. "That's the island we're looking for, is it not?"
At the horizon was a grayish structure sitting atop a black ground. The water nearby had a dark residue around it. Owen wasn't sure what to think about the odd color—he certainly wouldn't drink it.
"That's... a factory?" Owen said, gulping. Nevren didn't seem too concerned or alarmed when talking about this place, but now that he saw it with his own eyes, it seemed... ominous.
"Hm, it appears to be one, yes," Rhys said. They lowered their altitude, heading for a firm trajectory right for the shore of this island, just beyond the dark water.
"What's the weird... black stuff?"
"It may be remnants of decay," Rhys said. "Factories tend to produce waste products like trash quite a bit. If it's been here for such a long time, perhaps some of that product is simply leaking into the water..."
"That can't be good," Owen said.
"Well, it is a small factory in a large ocean. It shouldn't be too bad... I imagine," Rhys trailed off. "Hrm. Well, regardless, it doesn't seem to be spreading beyond this point. Perhaps we can look into cleaning it up later."
They landed in the sand. There was something that felt... dirty about it. Owen winced at the ground, lifting his foot. "That's a weird feeling. It's... heavy. No, not heavy, but..." He dug his toes into the dirt and lifted it up. The sand stuck together with some sort of tar. He didn't sense any strange properties from it, even with his Perceive. But it certainly wasn't sand he'd want to make a mini building out of.
"It feels like it's more than just dirt and rock," Amia nodded.
"We should wash in cleaner water when we return home," said Rhys. "Particularly you, Gahi, since you aren't Mystic."
Gahi tilted his head down. "Ehh, I'll stay on yer back fer now," he said.
"W-wait, what?" Owen was already lugging the giant Ground and bug-like Pokémon on his back, holding his hands behind him. "G-Gahi! You're a little bulky to be carried around like that!"
"I ain't walkin' on tainted ground! I got standards! Carry me!"
"Nngh... okay." Owen sighed. "But give me a second to...." He carefully pulled Gahi around his body until the bug was in front of him; Owen kept his arms around Gahi's abdomen, holding him gently against his chest.
Gahi leaned his head back, bumping it against the bottom of Owen's neck. "Don't squish me."
"I won't," Owen said. "Let's go. I'm gonna set you down once we're on that solid ground, the... that's a steel floor or something?"
"It appears to be a special kind of stone," Rhys said. "It's called concrete."
"Concrete..." Owen said. "I thought that was just a word that meant 'really solid'?"
"Yes. The word came from that material, I believe. Or the other way around... hmm. Now I'm not sure," he said. "We usually just use Protect insulation to reinforce buildings."
"Concrete... Like a Conkeldurr?"
"Somewhat, yes," said Rhys.
Owen breathed slowly, conscious of every sound they made. It was too quiet here. It wasn't a Dungeon. No labyrinthine environment set up around them, even upon entering the tall, gray, imposing structure. That somehow made it worse. The lifelessness left Owen searching for an inevitable specter in the walls or the ground. But then Owen remembered that the Ghost Guardian was Anam. His hands ached again.
Their steps began to have sound. Owen looked down, puzzled at the new noise. So familiar. The feeling of claws on concrete. He then looked up at the factory—less familiar. In fact, he'd never seen such a structure before. It was many stories high, taller than the giant heart in the southern point of Kilo Village. Owen nearly fell backward from craning his neck so far; eventually, he had to stop to look into the entrance.
It was too dark from the outside to tell what it was. There were only a few windows at the top of the large room, and they were small. He saw many strange structures inside of the factory; horizontal platforms that had little wheels and cylinders embedded into them, contraptions that looked like strange, new Steel Pokémon. It vaguely reminded him of Kilo Village's more advanced technology that Nevren made. Owen had a vague, blurry memory of once visiting a printing press. Perhaps that's what these contraptions reminded him of. Some of it looked quite shiny like it was being sustained and washed—not dusty. It must've been the Guardian.
The Guardian. Was he here? Where? He couldn't sense any imposing aura yet, and there was still the feeling of being watched. The lack of sensation got to him again. He needed to feel something. If he at least knew how threatening this Guardian was, he could put himself at ease. But an unknown power—an undetectable power?
Gahi bumped his head against Owen's chest. "Stop squeezin'."
"Sorry."
Amia hummed. "What... is this?"
On solid ground, Owen set Gahi down. The Trapinch tapped his head on the concrete. "This place ain't too bad," he said. "Good echo. I can tell where everything is here, heh..."
"Do you hear anybody else here?" Owen asked. "I can't—my sense of my surroundings isn't strong enough yet. I feel like if I was fully evolved, I'd be able to find the guy, but I can't."
A metallic clinking noise echoed in the depths of the factory. Owen felt a cold chill run up his spine. The first sound that didn't come from them. "Th-that m-might've been—" And then he felt it.
The Steel Guardian finally revealed himself by aura. And that little bit released felt like a punch in the lungs. Even Amia rubbed at her arms out of reflex.
"What're you guys freakin' out about?" Gahi asked.
"It's nothing to concern yourself with," Rhys said.
Owen didn't believe him.
"Guess that's the Guardian," Owen said. "But hey, on the bright side, w-we don't have to deal with crazy Mods anymore! Oh, wait." He felt another aura—it was weaker, but he also recognized it. "I think Hecto's here, too..." he mumbled.
"What was that, dear?" Amia asked.
"Do you guys know Hecto? Star's, uh..."
"Ah, yes, Hecto," Rhys nodded. "If he's here, then I imagine this will be a safer area, in a sense. Hecto is not very strong on his own. Perhaps we won't have to fight, either. Let's keep going."
It eased Owen's heart at least a little, but he still kept on his guard. Everything was foreign here. There could be traps, or any number of hostile spirits hidden away, even by aura. They walked through a narrower portion of the factory, next to some of the odd platforms nearby. Owen saw strange objects on top of these platforms, but he was too short to see what they were at a good angle. "What're those?" Owen asked.
"What are what, dear?" Amia asked. "Oh! Those... things?" she asked, reaching out.
"Don't touch them," Rhys said quickly.
"O-oh?" Amia asked, flinching her hand away. "Okay. Are they... traps, or volatile Dungeon Orbs?"
"Yes, in a sense," Rhys said. "Now, let's keep going. Don't touch anything that doesn't look familiar; this is a remnant from another realm, and we can't be sure how it will react to us."
"That's... a weird way of phrasing it, Rhys," Owen said. "But—okay."
"Eh?" Gahi looked up. "What're yeh all talking about anyway? Weird li'l..." He trailed off. "What's this orb yer talking? What's it look like?"
"It kinda looks... I dunno. It's kinda pretty, though. But it doesn't look natural." Owen shrugged.
"'Sup." This voice wasn't familiar.
Owen felt that shiver again and stared ahead. He saw a bipedal figure with muscled arms and a shiny body. Metallic, indicative of the Steel Orb's influence. His voice had a ringing tinge to it, too.
"H-hey, uh..." Owen wasn't really sure how to acknowledge it. He said without thinking, "A Machoke, the Steel Guardian?"
"Not as dumb as you being the Grass Guardian."
That one stung.
"A-ah, um," Amia quickly held up her hands, "H-hello! Um... what's your name? I'm Gardevoir Amia, this is Charmeleon Owen, that's Lu—"
"Brandon Rezz," the metal Machoke replied. "I know who you guys are. Don't worry."
Owen blinked as if he was trying to piece together something in his head. "Rezz?" he asked. "What Pokémon is a Rezz? I thought you were a Machoke. And you said your name backward."
"No, I'm a Machoke, sure," Brandon said. "But my last name is Rezz."
"...I don't get it," Owen said. "Brandon and Rezz both aren't a species."
"Where I'm from," Brandon said, "everyone that talked was the same species. ...Mostly. So, kinda stupid if we all had the same first name. So instead, we had unique last names that followed our family line. So, the same way you guys take the first names of your mother, the same species, I got my last name from my dad."
"Oh," Amia said. "That's interesting! But—you came from a realm that was all Machoke? I don't know which part of your story I want to ask about first!"
Brandon gave off the smallest smirk. "No," he said. "Not Machoke." He turned around, staring at the dull ceiling. "I only have this form because it's close to what I used to be. I'm from the human world."
"Oh! So... a Machoke... wait..."
"While I gave it up a long time ago," Brandon said, "I used to be human."