Archive of Our Own ^beta

The spring sun beamed down onto the marble streets of Lumiose City, enveloping the locals in a sparkling orange brightness that’d make even the loneliest of trainers have a good mood. It just so happened that on this day it is a lonely trainer we found, a young trainer just trying to find his way. He swerves and avoids, attempting to hide in the alleyways away from the rest of the Lumiose population.

His heart raced with each step he took, his breaths shallow and uneven. Everywhere he looked, he saw more of them, hundreds if not thousands of people, their presence sending shivers down his spine. He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, judged even, by every human walking past. His hands constantly twitched nervously at his hips, his legs routinely turning to jelly and forcing him to lean on a fake tree or wall just to keep balance and look normal.

This boy, Alex, was a young boy of relatively average height, his messy chestnut hair falling haphazardly over his forehead, looking awful scruffy. He had round, grey-rimmed glasses perched precariously on the bridge of his nose, not-so-neat sideburns tugging at his ears as if threatening to soon overtake them entirely. His clothes involve a neat dark blue blazer with grey trousers hugging his knees and fingerless black gloves protecting his delicate fingers from a nonexistent cold.

Alex almost knocked into an eager duo of young trainers rushing past with a respective Scatterbug and Combee at their sides, just barely having enough time to duck into a dim-looking alleyway to catch his breath for a little while. With a soft sigh, Alex glanced down at the Pokémon by his side, his faithful Chespin. The small Grass-type tilted its head curiously, its eyes filled with unwavering loyalty and understanding. It had a sort of dark green hat with small green pins in it, dark brown furry fur like a teddy bear stretching down its diminutive figure as its kind button eyes look up at me affectionately, more than used to situations like this.

“What’s up, buddy?” Alex murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, trying to hide his deep-seated anxiety gushing out in immeasurable levels. “C'mon, we don’t have time to be worrying and having an attack; we’ve got to help her.” Alex sort of half chastised Chespin, his words really directed at himself, just needing a soft cushion to punch against other than himself.

Chespin chirped in response, nuzzling against Alex's leg affectionately. The warmth of its touch sent a wave of relief coursing through Alex's veins, momentarily easing the tight knot of anxiety in his chest. Whether Chespin could actually hear what he said or was just used to it at this point, Alex couldn’t deny that he just felt fuzzy whenever Chespin nuzzled up with him.

Eventually though, he had to leave the safety of the alleyway; of course, he had to help her still. Alex, Chespin by his ankles, stepped out onto the red marble street once again, peering over at the thousands of people busying around as if they were cloning themselves in front of him. Alex walked down the street, still trying to avoid accidentally hitting and knocking into people. Chespin seemed to be having an equally difficult time, almost bumping into someone, Helioptile.

As Alex navigated through the crowded streets of Lumiose City, his anxiety began to reach a peak, the people in front of him only growing in number by the second. Each step felt heavier than the last, his senses overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, and smells of the bustling metropolis. The air was thick with the scent of street vendors cooking savory delicacies, people of all sorts of colors and creams seeming to pop up right in front of his face.

He passed several stores, a clothes store with neon futuristic blue decorations on its front, a perfume store that he’s always wanted to go into with a big pink sign at its head, a sports store with two bats crossing over at its front, and even what looks to be some kind of podcast studio. No matter how much he tried to distract himself from the people around him, it didn’t work. Each pair of eyes boring into his soul like the glare of a Mimikyu, nearly freezing him in place.

"Keep it together, Alex," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the din of the city. "You can do this. Just focus on one step at a time."

But the sea of people seemed to close in around him, their movements chaotic and unpredictable. He stumbled over his own feet, his breaths coming in short gasps as he struggled to keep pace with the relentless flow of foot traffic. Everywhere he turned, there was another Poochyena, another Absol, or another Furfrou. Everywhere he turned, there was another bright red sign, a neon array of lights, or a set of bass-boosted speakers.

Chespin seemed to notice Alex’s rising anxieties, quickly patting his leg in a silent show of support. It didn’t really do that much, though, just making Alex stumble a little more with his breaths only increasing in intensity. A few people sort of glance over at Alex like he’s infected or something, only making it worse, Alex now starting to stumble and fall over his feet even more.

Then, like a beacon in the darkness, he spotted a narrow alleyway nestled between two towering buildings. Without hesitation, he darted into its shadowy depths, the clamor of the city fading into a distant murmur behind him. This alleyway is less dim than the first one, having one of those old oil lamps in it. There was a bin with scorch marks on it in the distance, indicating that this place was lived in, Alex quickly refocusing, realizing that he’d have to move soon enough.

In the relative quiet of the alley, Alex sank to the ground, his breaths ragged and uneven. His hands trembled as he clutched onto Chespin, the Pokémon's gentle presence a lifeline in the midst of his turmoil. His arms wrapped around his partner Pokémon with a desperate urge.

"Sorry, buddy," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I just need a moment to... to breathe."

Chespin chirped softly in response, its small body pressed against Alex's side in a gesture of comfort and understanding. And as Alex closed his eyes and focused on the steady rhythm of his own heartbeat, he felt a sort of calm rinse over him; before he knew it, Chespin had climbed on top of him to snuggle up to him. He didn’t know how, but Chespin just always knew how to save him, how to protect him, in times like these.

As Alex sat in the quiet refuge of the alleyway, his racing heart gradually began to slow its frenetic pace. The cool embrace of the shadows offered a reprieve from the chaos of the city, and for a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to simply breathe.

But as the moments stretched on, a nagging voice in the back of his mind whispered doubts and insecurities. Why had he even ventured out of the safety of his home today? Wasn't it easier to simply stay cocooned within the familiar walls of his room, shielded from the judgmental eyes of the outside world?

"Maybe I should've just stayed home," he mumbled to himself, his voice tinged with self-doubt. "What was I thinking, coming out here? I'm not cut out for this."

But then, like a bolt of lightning piercing through the storm clouds of his mind, a memory flashed before his eyes. His mother, with her gentle smile and tired eyes, had pleaded with him to come help her get home from work.

"Mom needs me," Alex realized, a pang of guilt tugging at his heartstrings. "She shouldn't have to struggle on her own, not with her back injuries."

And then it hit him—the reason he had braved the overwhelming chaos of the city today. His mother worked at an office building, a mundane establishment that specialized in distributing paper, of all things. He couldn't help but smirk at the irony of it all, the name of the place echoing in his mind like a punchline to some cosmic joke.

“Slako’ Drifblim,” he muttered under his breath, a hint of amusement coloring his near grin. "Of course, leave it to Mom to have to work at a place from a mockumentary.”

With renewed determination, Alex pushed himself to his feet, Chespin by his side. Though the world outside may still be daunting and unpredictable, he knew that he couldn't let his anxieties hold him back—not when his mother needed him.

As Alex emerged from the safety of the alleyway, he was immediately assaulted by a sensory overload that threatened to engulf him once more. The bustling streets of Lumiose City surged around him like a raging herd of Bouffalont, each vendor and neon sign catching his eyes in a hyperactive wave. People still bustle past, partner Pokémon play around their owners, and soon enough a marble fountain springs to life, spreading fresh sparkling water all around.

His heart hammered in his chest, a rapid percussion that matched the frenetic rhythm of the city. He clung to Chespin like a lifeline, the Pokémon's warm body providing a small anchor amidst the chaos. It was quite a funny sight, watching Alex pass holding his Chespin like a teddy bear, though.

The buildings towered above him like monoliths, their glassy surfaces reflecting the chaotic ballet of the city below. Neon signs flashed and flickered, casting an otherworldly glow over the crowded streets. Each alleyway and side street seemed to stretch out endlessly before him, a labyrinthine maze that threatened to swallow him whole.

"Okay, okay," Alex muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the din of the city. "Just keep moving forward. You can do this. You have to do this."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of navigating through the labyrinthine streets, Alex spotted it—the Slako’ Drifblim building. It stood out amidst the sea of skyscrapers, its brick exterior a stark contrast to the sleek modernity of its surroundings. A large sign bearing the company's name hung above the entrance, its letters bold and unmistakable.

Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Alex approached the building's entrance. The heavy glass doors swung open with a soft whoosh, revealing the bustling interior beyond.

The lobby of Slako’ Drifblim was a hive of activity, with employees scurrying to and fro like busy Ariados. The air was thick with the scent of paper and ink as printers worked double time, and the receptionist balanced three phone conversations on three different phones at the same time. Small orange lights are pitted around the sides of the wall as a large chandelier that looks almost fancy hangs in the center of the ceiling, the floors lined with a thick blue rug, whilst neat rows of small stools with water machines on them fill out the rest of the space.

The reception desk was a small, cramped space built into the wall on the left, a little semi-circular, almost a wall sticking out like a sore thumb as the receptionist worked away. The desk had some sort of company logo in the center of its side of the ceiling, with a smaller logo on the left and right sides with a phone line to call on them.

Alex tried to take a few breaths, Chespin hopping down from his arms as he attempted to slouch his shoulders, to no avail. With a trembling breath, Alex looked towards the reception desk, knowing what he had to do. He approached the reception desk, where a middle-aged woman with a towering beehive hairdo sat perched like a Fearow on its nest. Her thick-rimmed glasses magnified her eyes, which peered over the edge of the laptop monitor with a mixture of curiosity and boredom.

"Um, excuse me," Alex began, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm here to... uh... pick up my mom?"

The receptionist arched a perfectly manicured brown eyebrow, her lips forming a thin pink line as she regarded Alex with a mix of confusion and impatience. "Name?"

"Alex... um, Alex Johnson," he stammered, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment and anxiety.

The receptionist tapped away at her keyboard with expert precision, her blue acrylic nails clacking against the keys like the pitter-patter of a Galvantula’s feet. After a moment, she glanced up at Alex with a bored expression.

"Johnson, Johnson... Ah, here we are," she said, her voice monotone. "Your mother's on the second floor. Take the elevator, turn left, and it's the third door on your right."

"O-Okay, thank you," Alex replied, his words rushing out in a jumble. "Um, sorry, I—I'm just... not great with... people."

The receptionist just shrugged and rolled her eyes, not seeming to really care too much. She glared down at Alex for a few moments before looking back at her laptop again, waving her hand dismissively. “Fascinating,” she droned halfheartedly, “Fourth time this year, and you’d think you’d remember by now anyway.”

Alex just giggled nervously, attempting to feign some level of social competence but somehow managing to fail fantastically. The receptionist gave him a sort of deprecating look, smirking slightly as if this is the first inch of joy she’s had all day before turning back to her laptop, seeming to forget Alex existed entirely. Alex takes the cue in his stride and quickly begins sidestepping towards the elevator.

The elevator was a small little box with one of those rusty old button consoles only on the left side of the wall. The elevator doors were a little cleaner, though; the aluminum was still reasonably pristine and shiny. At the top of the doors, arching, a small little orange sign lit up, showing the progress of the elevator;

3rd floor

2nd floor

Staff room floor

Ground floor!

A small squeaky ding sounded out as the elevator clanked onto the ground floor in front of him; the doors now just waited to open, Alex waiting in a sort of quiet enthusiasm for them to open. As he waited for the elevator doors to open, Alex couldn't help but replay the awkward exchange in his mind. He cursed himself mentally for his social ineptitude, his cheeks burning red with embarrassment.

As Alex stood in the elevator lobby, his heart hammered against his ribs like a Tauros charging into battle. He watched anxiously as the receptionist's partner Pokémon, a sleek Meowth with a mischievous glint in its eyes, scampered around her desk, fetching files and delivering messages to offices behind the reception with impressive efficiency.

Alex focused on the Meowth for a second, a sort of burning sensation reaching his chest. All he can feel is a sort of deep want, a sort of subconscious lust that he can’t quite explain. Must be nice to have a partner like that," Alex thought to himself, a pang of envy twisting in his chest. "Someone who's always there to help you out."

But as quickly as the envy came, so too did a wave of guilt. His mother had been the one who had always been there for him, through thick and thin. Ever since his father had left them to pursue his dreams of becoming the Kalos Champion, it had been just the two of them, struggling to make ends meet.

Alex clenched his fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white with the force of his emotions. He had sworn to himself that he would take care of his mother, no matter what. But as he stood in that elevator lobby, his anxiety threatening to overwhelm him, he couldn't help but wonder if he was doing enough.

The sound of the elevator bell snapped him out of his reverie, and he stepped inside with Chespin close at his heels. The doors slid shut with a soft hiss, enclosing them in a cocoon of silence as they began their ascent. The inside of the elevator was pretty nice, a sort of maroon rug lining the walls with neat blue diamond patterns on it. Another small metal console sits mirrored to the one outside of the elevator, the console still a little rusty but somehow blending in with the rest of the elevator in a rustic sort of way.

Alex reached a finger forward and hesitantly pressed the button with a big “2” written on it, his breaths beginning to steady slightly as he remembered how close he was to the comfort of his mother again. The elevator soon whirred to life; a sort of quiet electronic hum sounded out around him, reverberating like a soothing whale's cry.

As the elevator climbed higher and higher, Alex's thoughts turned to his mother. The poor bugger had her back injured by a rogue Druddigon just before Dad left, and ever since he’s had to care for her, she has had to work to keep a roof over their heads, so it’s the least he could do. At least it gets him out of the house, which his SAA worker told him was good for him.

And then there was his father—the absentee champion who had left them behind without so much as a goodbye. At this point, Alex barely remembered his face; he never usually stayed around much when Alex was a kid anyway. Normally he was outside the house training his Pokémon or going and having dinner with his trainer friends; the only thing Alex could remember about his dad was that he used to have silvery brown hair.

Soon enough the elevator doors slid open to reveal the second floor; Alex took a deep breath and stepped out into the not-so-dressed hallway. To his left was a plain-looking cyan wall with just a few tactically placed water machines and dead potted plants; on his right sat nothing but a few small outdated coffee tables with all sorts of leaflets and advertising material on them.

As the elevator doors closed behind them, sealing Alex and Chespin in their building-shaped prison, Alex felt the familiar sensation of heaviness push down on his shoulders. Sure, he was about to go and collect his mom like every other workday, but what if someone looked at him or someone judged him? What if they thought he was a trainer and tried to kick him out? Would he be too anxious to respond properly? Alex’s mind whirs with paranoia and anxiety, his emotions swirling around like a cyclone.

Chespin, ever attentive to Alex's emotional state, nudged against his leg with a gentle chirp. Its round eyes regarded him with concern, as if silently asking, "Are you okay?"

Despite the heaviness in his heart, Alex managed a weak smile, appreciating Chespin's efforts to comfort him. But try as it might, the small Grass-type's attempts were met with little success in alleviating Alex's deep-seated worries. First, Chespin attempted to mimic Alex's nervous breathing, puffing out its chest in exaggerated huffs and puffs. Then, it tried a more direct approach, hopping onto Alex's shoulder and nuzzling against his chest in a display of affection.

Chespin pokes Alex’s cheeks and again repeats its actions from before, puffing out exaggerated breaths in a slow but hesitant way. This managed to sort of get through to Alex as he began to copy the action himself, but for now it didn’t seem to really do much. It wasn’t until Chespin and Alex started doing more typical deep breaths with each other that Alex felt his shoulders come down slightly and his body relax a little.

It didn’t take long for Alex to feel his mind soothing to a slow ease, the train inside of his head coming to a relaxed stop outside the station and letting off all of its stressed-out passengers. With a long-held exhale, Alex looks back up, a more determined look spreading across his face. For the first time in a good few days, he steps first, then second, and even a third step into the hallway before him, more than ready to go and collect Mom.

Memories flooded back to him as he stepped through the polished linoleum floor, Chespin following closely at his heels. The last time he had been here, a kind office worker named Sarah had greeted him with a warm smile and a freshly baked cookie, her small act of kindness leaving a lasting impression on Alex. From what he remembered, she had relatively short hair tied into a bun and dreamy blue eyes with an affinity for silver jewelry.

A hopeful smile tugged at the corners of Alex's lips as he glanced around, silently hoping to catch a glimpse of Sarah or perhaps even another unsuspecting benefactor with a sweet treat in hand. But as the moments stretched on, he realized with a sinking feeling that there were no cookies, nor smiles, to be found.

"Come on, Chespin," he muttered, his voice tinged with self-deprecation. “We’ve got to hurry; Mom’s counting on us.”

Suddenly, as Alex took a few tentative steps into the main office area, a sudden chill ran down his spine, causing him to halt in his tracks. The atmosphere around him seemed to shift, becoming eerily quiet and oppressive, as if the air itself held its breath. A sort of voluminous purple smoke began to gather behind him as seemingly, without anyone operating it, the elevator door opened again behind him.

A sort of distant dead hum hit his ears as a certain unsettling breeze began to fluff around his ankles. Chespin sort of squeaked and tried to hide behind his shoulders, but nowhere Chespin was able to reach was enough to lessen the effect, whatever was happening keeping both Alex and Chespin in a near-permanent state of panic.

His heart began to race once more, a sense of unease creeping into the corners of his mind. His thoughts raced like a Rapidash galloping across the plains, each one more paranoid than the last. Is this his imagination? Is he having a moment again? Is he overreacting? He couldn’t know.

Even Chespin seemed to sense the sudden shift in atmosphere, its tiny body tensing up beside him. Its ears twitched nervously, its eyes darting around the room as if searching for an unseen threat. Occasionally its eyes stop a little bit as if spotting something distantly but then snap back to fear, Alex meeting Chespin's eyes for a few seconds before returning to quivering.

But then, as if materializing out of thin air, Alex spotted them—a figure floating near the far end of the room, bathed in an ethereal glow. It was a boy, or perhaps a girl, clad in the most elaborate gothic attire Alex had ever seen. Their long, bushy purple hair cascaded around them like a shroud, covering half of their face with a thick black shadow. Their body was covered in a long, old-fashioned purple dress with a ribbon-like corset around their waist, their legs still visible underneath netted stockings, small boots covering their almost childlike feet.

But what truly unnerved Alex was the purple gas that seemed to emanate from their form, swirling around them like a sinister aura. It cascaded out from behind her as if guiding her form with a gentle breeze, the purple smoke engulfing everything from the elevator to the figure. Suddenly the figure started moving, not walking, but floating closer with their legs behind their back and their shadowed over eyes blank with no emotion.

As the figure floated closer, their blank expression never wavering, they whispered in a voice that seemed to echo in the depths of Alex's mind. Their mouth still relatively far away, but their voice somehow echoing about as close to his ear as humanly possible.

"You... are not the one..."

The words hung in the air like a sinister omen, sending a chill racing down Alex's spine. He felt rooted to the spot, unable to tear his gaze away from the figure before him.

As the figure floated closer, Alex couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gripped him like a vise. Their movement, though subtle, seemed to carry an air of recognition, as if they were drawn to him by some unseen force. Their shadowed eyes bored into his very soul, examining every thought he’d ever thought, every emotion he’d ever felt.

But as the figure shifted its head slightly, Alex felt a wave of panic crash over him like a tidal wave. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and his breaths came in short, ragged gasps. His chest suddenly started rising and falling at breakneck speed, his lungs pumping faster than they ever have before as his mind willed him to move, though his legs were rooted. Before long his chest began to hurt slightly as his lungs worked harder and harder and harder, Alex’s head starting to feel heavy and light at the same time as his eyes started to go slightly lax.

"N-no," he stammered, his voice trembling with fear. "No, this can't be real. You're just a... a figment of my imagination!”

And then, as if triggered by some unseen force, Alex began to shake uncontrollably. His entire body trembled with the force of his panic, his breaths coming in short, shallow gasps. He felt as if he were trapped in a nightmare from which he could not awaken, his mind consumed by a relentless onslaught of uncontrollable emotion and violent inner turmoil.

Chespin watched helplessly as its trainer succumbed to his panic, trying to shake him a little but being too weak as it soon began to feel Alex’s legs go wobbly and tight. As Alex's mind continued to whirl uncontrollably, his body began to lose its stiffness and began to give up, his legs turning into mush. His head began to hurt, his world began to distort, and his eyes twitched, everything so soon, so quickly coming unstuck.

Dizziness washed over him in relentless waves, leaving him feeling disoriented and lightheaded. His limbs felt both tight and light at the same time, threatening to give way at any moment, before Alex’s eyes, the world becoming less and less visible as his eyes twitched more and more aggressively. Through the haze of his panic-stricken mind, Alex saw the figure drift closer, their blank expression betraying no hint of emotion. But there was something in their eyes—a glimmer of disappointment or perhaps concern—that sent a chill racing down Alex's spine.

"Please," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the tumultuous storm raging within him. "Please, just leave me alone." But his plea fell on deaf ears as the figure continued to hover before him, their presence a haunting reminder of Alex's own fractured reality.

And then, in a moment of sheer desperation, Alex lashed out, his trembling hands flailing wildly as he attempted to push the figure away. But his efforts were in vain, as if he were trying to grasp at shadows. With a final, desperate gasp, Alex felt his world spin out of control. His head collided with the unforgiving surface of the wall with a sickening thud, sending a wave of pain crashing over him.

And then, mercifully, darkness enveloped him like a comforting blanket, pulling him down into its embrace. The last thing he saw before succumbing to unconsciousness was the figure, their blank expression still hauntingly present, their presence a silent specter in the depths of his mind no longer. Without another word, another whimper, nor any more shaking, his body slumped, his eyes drifting to laziness and his mind completely blank, no ghost in his sight nor mind any longer.

As Alex began to stir from his unconscious state, he was met with a sense of disorientation and confusion. His mind felt foggy, as if he were emerging from the depths of a long-forgotten dream. He felt something soft draped over him, cocooning him in warmth and comfort. The scent of scented candles mixed with aging wood filled his nostrils, a soothing aroma that enveloped him like a gentle embrace, though not without a sense of slight unease.

A soft hand brushed over his head and hair, its touch feather-light and comforting. It was a touch that was familiar yet foreign, sending a shiver of apprehension down Alex's spine. It made his muscles twitch and his shoulders shake, his legs tighten, and his eyes just force themselves further closed, not wanting to even see whatever was touching him and wherever he was.

As he drifted in and out of consciousness, Alex became aware of the sensation of a couch beneath him, its plush cushions cradling his body in a gentle embrace. A cool blanket or towel rested against his forehead, giving him a little bit of stability, his temperature remaining at a safe and comfortable temperature again. The hand became a little bit of a lifeline almost, the gentle stroking making his mind just feel at ease.

Though his eyes remained closed, Alex's mind began to piece together the fragmented memories of what had transpired previously. The figure floated behind him, their haunting presence etched into his memory like a scar. He remembered the purple gas, the soft whispering, and even the vague shapes of the hallways. His mind began to slowly awake from its dizziness, his thoughts becoming more coherent and his mind beginning to function like normal again.

Eventually his eyes began to twitch a little, his mind whispering to him in silent words that it’s time to wake up, time to face reality. As the stroking hand reached one of his twitching eyes, sort of poking it curiously, the almost familiar nail scratched against it like a soothing piece of sandpaper. Alex slowly began to open his eyes; the world around him swam into focus with a gentle, hazy clarity. Blinking against the soft light filtering through his eyelids, he found himself met with a sight that sent a jolt of panic coursing through his veins.

It was...them? They definitely looked similar to the figure in the hallway, dark purple thick hair brushing down to their chest, gothic purple clothes with a corset around the waist and see-through netted stockings, the exact clothes he remembered. Their eyes, now not clouded by shadows, are revealed to be a familiar emerald green color, their face now not so pale and ghostly-looking but now just looking like a normal human face, a young one at that.

Alex sort of jumped a little as his eyes focused in on them, his mind not having expected it at all. His breathing is a little panicked and ragged as his eyes rapidly begin searching around for Chespin, but finding no sign of it anywhere.

The figure quickly reacts, though, bringing their hands away from Alex’s head and holding up their hands placatingly, seeming to not want to aggravate his anxieties even more. “Shh, it's alright," they whispered softly, their voice like a soothing melody in the darkness. "You're safe now. Just relax."

But Alex's panic was already bubbling to the surface, his heart pounding in his chest like a Tauros on the brink of charging. He began to squirm beneath the figure's touch, his breaths coming in short, ragged gasps.

The figure's smile faltered, replaced by a look of concern. They reached out a hand to gently cup Alex's cheek, their touch cool and comforting against his heated skin. "Please," they said, their voice a gentle plea. "You're safe here. I won't hurt you. Just breathe."

Though his instincts screamed at him to flee, there was something in the figure's words that resonated with Alex—a sense of kindness and understanding that cut through the fog of his fear. With a trembling breath, he began to slow down his breathing and calm a little, his mind slowing down slightly as he at least attempted to see the figure in a different light. Slowly but surely his mind began to calm down a little, whereas before he felt as if he was about to be squished by a giant. He soon felt somewhat safe again, at least safe enough not to radically panic in the person's presence.

As Alex's brain began to calm down, he found himself looking around the cabin in mild curiosity at his surroundings, the effort of processing the environment around him helping his mind calm down a bit more. The interior was dimly lit by flickering wax candles, their warm glow casting dancing shadows across the weathered but wet-looking wooden walls. The furnishings were sparse and rustic-looking, a worn armchair, a threadbare rug adorning the floor in the center of the room, a crackling fire located in a small part of the left wall of the cabin with its orange flames crackling thunderously, bringing escape from the freezing outside world. Alex's eyes continued to sweep across the room, taking in the sight of the secluded cabin; a wave of panic surged through him once more. Outside the dusty glass windows, dense trees loomed ominously, their branches swaying in the gentle breeze like skeletal fingers reaching out to ensnare him.

He realized, with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, that he was far from home, alone and vulnerable in the depths of the forest. The cabin was surrounded by what looked like bent trees, the sorts that you’d only find in wide forests in the outskirts of towns and cities if you were lucky. The rotting wooden door was locked with a thick plank held between two rivets, ensuring that even if he tried, there was no escape. Even past that, the cabin had a constant negative aura around it, the sort of aura that typically only the presence of ghost-type Pokémon tends to bring.

His mind brought him back to the figure, his eyes fixating on her face once again. His thoughts raced with a thousand possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. Perhaps the figure was a deranged hermit, luring unsuspecting travelers to their doom. Or maybe they were a mythical creature waiting to gobble him up. They could even be a Zoroark in disguise just waiting to torment him for the rest of his life!

With a mixture of trepidation and determination, Alex squared his shoulders and turned to face the enigmatic figure who had brought him to this secluded cabin in the woods. His voice trembled with a mixture of fear and indignation as he spoke.

"You... You kidnapped me," Alex accused, his words tinged with disbelief. "Why? What do you want from me?"

To his surprise, the figure merely chuckled in response, their laughter echoing softly in the dimly lit cabin. Their demeanor remained calm and composed, as if they were unfazed by Alex's accusations.

"Kidnapped? Oh, my dear boy, you have quite the imagination," they replied, their voice a soothing melody in the darkness. "I assure you, I have no intention of causing you harm."

Alex's eyes narrowed suspiciously, his mind still reeling from the shock of his unexpected predicament. But as he studied the figure before him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity mingling with his fear.

"And who are you, exactly?" He demanded, his tone accusatory. "And why am I here?"

The figure smiled gently, their expression serene as they extended a hand in greeting.

“I’m Raven," they said, their voice soft yet commanding. "And as for why you are here, well, that is a long story."

Alex's mind raced with a thousand questions, each one vying for his attention. But before he could voice his concerns, Raven continued speaking, their tone patient and understanding.

"I understand that this may be overwhelming for you," Raven admitted, their eyes filled with empathy. "But I assure you, I mean you no harm. In fact, I brought you here to help you."

Alex's eyes widened in disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend Raven's words. Help him? But how? And why?

"I understand that you're scared," they said softly, their voice tinged with sympathy. "But I promise you, there is nothing to fear. You are safe here with me, Alex. You’ve had a little bit of a rough time of it.”

And as Alex gazed into Raven's emerald eyes, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope flicker to life within him. The fact she spoke perfect English, elegant English at that, confirmed that this wasn’t a spirit or Zoroark at least. Her tone was at the very least somewhat apologetic and almost caring, far away from a harsh, sadistic killer or mythological cannibal. Raven seemed to genuinely believe what she was saying, and what she was saying seemed to be true, finally. Some good news.

Raven peered over at Alex now that he’d finally calmed down, her eyebrows rising to look like a sort of half smirk, her lips curling into a teasing but elegant smile. She pushed her large bundle of hair backwards and leaned back a little bit, shuffling away to give Alex a little bit of room. Alex sort of nodded in appreciation at this, his mind racing with too much thinking to think of a word of apologetics for his earlier accusations.

"Are you quite finished, darling?" Raven quipped, their voice laced with a hint of sass. "Or am I going to have to, going...to have to, beg on my knees?” Raven’s voice, through the sass, almost levels out into a typical tone before being forced back into a posh and elegant, almost Galarian, accent.

Alex's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as his social anxiety crept up on him like a persistent Weedle. He mumbled an apology under his breath, his gaze fixed on the stitchings of purple in Raven’s clothes.

Raven sighed, a melodramatic gesture that seemed to fill the room with an air of exasperation. With a flick of their wrist, they began to explain, their words dripping with their characteristic gothic flamboyance.

"Let me break it down for you, darling," Raven began, their tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "You were having a bit of a moment back there in the office—panicking, hyperventilating, the whole shebang. And I, being the paragon of compassion that I am, simply couldn't resist lending a helping hand."

They paused, allowing their words to sink in before continuing with a flourish.

"As it so happens, I may have seen someone who looked rather like you in a dream recently," Raven admitted, their voice tinged with intrigue. "Naturally, I was curious to see if you were the one from my vision, but alas, you started having a bit of a meltdown, and I froze like a Sableye caught in the headlights."

A wry smile danced across Raven's lips as they recalled the events of earlier. They shook their head in disbelief, their eyes sparkling with amusement.

"So, naturally, I did what any self-respecting denizen of the night would do—I brought you here," Raven concluded, their tone dripping with dramatic flair. "After all, it's not like I could have left you floundering in that office, now could I? And besides, I was rather curious as to why you were there in the first place."

They fixed Alex with a pointed look, their gaze piercing yet playful. Their smile pierces into Alex a little bit, appearing almost demanding, demanding an answer or something. Alex, feeling a little more relaxed after Raven’s explanation, gave a sort of polite nod to Raven and shrugged. After all, it was one thing to be nursed back to health by a stranger, but to tell them about his mom would be a different thing entirely; that just feels wrong.

Raven looked a little curious but oddly knowing at Alex’s silence, just standing up with a gothic flourish and gesturing around the cabin. Alex looked around the cabin again, sensing that Raven wanted his eyes to find something. It didn’t take long for Alex’s eyes to land on a small mat in the corner of the room, the corner revealing Chespin happily munching on Pokémon food alongside a playful Gastly. The Gastly was just like any other Gastly you’d see, with two big fangs, big beady eyes, and a trail of purple gas billowing out behind it.

Alex didn’t care much for Gastly, though; his eyes fixated excitedly on Chespin. “Chespin!" Alex called out softly, his voice filled with affection. "Are you okay, buddy?" Alex immediately stood up and, despite his legs still being a little wobbly, quickly rushed over to Chespin and gave it a big hug.

Chespin immediately squeaks and squeals with happiness as it’s hugged; its big eyes and spiny headpieces are damn near twinkling with admiration of Alex as it’s hugged. “Ches-Chespin!” Chespin called out gleefully, tucking its head into the crook of Alex’s neck a little bit.

Alex chuckled a little bit as he put Chespin back down, not wanting to disturb it from its snack for too long. The Gastly, though, doesn’t seem impressed, seeming to want the attention on it instead of Chespin. Gastly hovers up in front of Alex, making him cower and back away a little, feeling frightened of the ghost type, before lurching forwards and giving Alex a big lick. After the lick, Alex positively screeches at the top of his lungs, fear enveloping his entire body as his whole being shakes with fear.

Raven chuckles and steps over, her look a little teasing as she whistles at Gastly and points back to the back of the cabin. The Gastly sort of gives them a mean look for a few seconds before blowing a raspberry at them. Gastly floats off to the back of the cabin, finally leaving Raven and Alex alone as Alex still shivers and shudders in the corner with shock and fear.

Alex slowly but surely settles down a little bit, his gaze drifting upwards towards Raven yet again as she clears his throat. “That Gastly, yours?” Alex asks in a tentative tone through heavy breaths.

Raven chuckled softly, their gaze flickering towards the mischievous Ghost-type Pokémon.

"Oh, Gastly? He's mine," Raven explained, their tone casual yet tinged with pride. "I've had him for quite some time now."

Alex nodded along and went to say something else before his mind stopped him. His mind went into deep thought for a few seconds, a sudden spark appearing in the back of his mind. He remembers back to the office hallway where he’d mistaken Raven for a ghost; purple smoke billowing out behind her, the cold breeze feeling, and the levitation…

“Wait a second... Was Gastly the one making you appear so ghostly in the corridor?" Alex asked, his eyes widening with realization.

Raven nodded, a playful smirk playing on their lips. Her eyes shined a little with a sort of proud twinkle, as if she’d just been waiting for Alex to put two and two together for a while.

"Quite perceptive, aren't you?" they remarked, their voice laced with amusement. "Gastly has been practicing its psychic abilities recently, and it seems to have quite the knack for telekinesis now.”

Alex looked aghast, his mind open with awe. He knew that Gastly’s were known for floating themselves, but he’d never guessed that they could lift humans before; he almost felt silly for being so scared earlier now. Though he soon pushed these thoughts out of his mind as his eyes drifted back to Chespin, Gastly appearing out from the wall beside it and giggling as it lifted Chespin up telekinetically, Chespin’s leg dangling and its arms wobbling as it’s held up in the air.

Alex smiled a little, feeling a lot less afraid of Gastly now that it seemed to be almost entirely harmless. Gastly bounced Chespin up and down in midair, making it squeak a little, Chespin flailing its arms around wildly. Alex notices a slight amount of fear on Chespin’s face, clearly not enjoying being juggled, making Alex tense up a little. He wanted to intervene but felt too nervous to have a confrontation with Gastly.

Raven stepped forward and clicked her fingers, Gastly immediately freezing and letting Chespin down gently, soon floating back off and turning invisible, out of sight, out of mind. Raven turned to Alex as he stood up a little groggily, stepping backward and gesturing towards the kitchen. “Tea, dear?" Raven called out from in front of Alex as she backed away towards the kitchen, their voice tinged with warmth. "I think you could use a bit of relaxation after the ordeal you've been through."

Alex hesitated for a moment, his mind still reeling from the events of the day. But the thought of a comforting cup of tea was too tempting to resist, and he found himself nodding in agreement.

"Yes, please," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, Raven."

Alex stepped forward and followed Raven into the kitchen, the kitchen looking equally as gaunt as the rest of the cabin. A small handmade clay oven sat on a rickety-looking shelf, one of those old-fashioned wooden teapots sitting upon a little kindled flame, the walls looking quite gothic decked in black curtains and spider webs. The door was a black-painted curved door, presumably hand-shaved, the floor being covered in almost green-looking shaved wood.

As the two stepped into the kitchen, Raven immediately went over to the teapot, placing two minty-smelling leaves into it before stepping back and staring at the wall decorations, whistling to herself. Through all of this, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that there was something vaguely familiar about Raven—something that tugged at the edges of his memory but remained just out of reach.

She crossed her arms and just looked around, seeming to be waiting for something, her eyes dancing around in a sort of bored but oddly familiar daze. Her general mannerisms just triggered something in Alex’s brain, just something familiar that he couldn’t fully kick. Alex had barely noticed the time passing before a sudden whistling sound caught his ears, a harsher whistle than that of Ravens; his eyes followed Raven as she soon hurried over to the teapot and took it off of the improvised stove, turning around to a small open cabinet that Alex didn’t really know was entirely bacteria-free or not.

Before a minute had passed Raven filled two old-looking ceramic cups with a minty-smelling green tea, the smell dancing around the tips of Alex’s nose with a delicate and persuasive scent just tickling up at his nose hairs. Raven smiled a bit to themself, leaning closer to both of the cups before giving both of them an unnecessary and deep sniff and letting out a proud chuckle.

“I believe that they’re ready, my dear Alex.” Raven sounded out in an almost whispered tone.

Alex sort of nodded a little, going along with it, as Raven pushed past him and almost skipped out of the kitchen out into the main room yet again; Alex began to soon follow behind them. The walls had little handmade shelves filled with all sorts of knickknacks; handmade wooden sculptures and little hand-shaved tools, dusty old jazz records and dysfunctional-looking toys, and even pictures placed just out of view, seemingly of Raven when they were younger.

As they entered the main room again, Alex was met with the sight of Raven reaching over to a small compartment underneath one of the chairs, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. Soon Raven pulled out two seemingly handcrafted coasters, their edges perfectly rounded and/or squared off. They placed the first two coasters on the nearest surface, then two more, then another two.

"Ah, Alex, I almost forgot!" Raven exclaimed, gesturing towards the coasters with a flourish. "I have quite the collection of hand-carved coasters. Take your pick!"

Alex's eyes widened in surprise as he took in the sight before him. The coasters were unlike anything he had ever seen—each one intricately carved from bone, with delicate patterns etched into their surface. Some were adorned with glitter and other decorations, lending them an otherworldly charm.

Despite the undeniable craftsmanship that had gone into their creation, Alex couldn't help but feel a shiver of unease creep down his spine. The thought of using coasters made entirely of bones was enough to send a chill racing through him.

But as he glanced up at Raven, he noticed the look of anticipation in their eyes, their expression almost hopeful. It struck him then that perhaps these coasters held a deeper meaning for Raven—a passion or a hobby that brought them joy in the probable endless boredom they experienced living in a place like this.

With a hesitant nod, Alex reached out and selected a coaster that seemed to him the least creepy—a small, unadorned piece of bone with a simple, elegant design. It seemed to be two jawbones strung together at the hinges with a cross of small wishbones filling out the center, some painted glittery teeth dotting around the rim. He couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort that lingered in the pit of his stomach, but he pushed it aside, reminding himself that he was a guest in Raven's home.

As he settled back into his seat, Alex couldn't help but wonder about the person behind the enigmatic figure before him. What drove Raven to create such macabre works of art? Maybe she had dark experiences in her past or was feeling some deep darkness within her; perhaps it’s because she’s being controlled or influenced by dark forces?

With a sigh, Alex took a sip of his tea, the warmth spreading through him like a comforting embrace. And as he glanced over at Raven, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the lonely soul who had welcomed him into their home with open arms.

As Alex sat on the couch next to Raven, sipping his tea with slightly trembling hands, he couldn't shake the persistent feeling of anxiety that gnawed at his insides. Despite Raven's efforts to make him feel at ease, he couldn't help but feel like an outsider in this strange and unfamiliar place. His mind played tricks on him with every careful sip of tea he took; sometimes he imagined eyes staring at him from every corner and every angle of the cabin; at other times the imagery on the walls twisted and contorted into deadly-looking skulls and patterns, scaring him to his core.

Raven must have noticed his unease, for they adopted a slightly sweeter tone as they quietly snuck back into the kitchen, reached into the cupboard, and retrieved a small plate of cookies before heading back to the couch. The cookies were a sweet and still lukewarm chocolate chip with what looked like grated white nut neatly spread over their tops, the crisp brown exterior creating a full aura of sweet chocolate all throughout the room.

"Here, Alex," Raven said softly, offering him a cookie. "I made these myself. They should be sure to lift your spirits."

As Alex reached out to take the cookie, he was suddenly hit with a wave of nostalgia so strong it felt like a punch to the gut. The sight of the cookie brought back memories of another time, another place—a memory that had been buried deep within the recesses of his mind. In his mind's eye, Alex found himself transported back to the bustling office building, the air thick with the scent of paper and ink. He could hear the sound of phones ringing and keyboards clacking, the din of voices echoing off the walls. And there she was—Sarah, with her warm smile and kind eyes. She stood before him, her hair a cascade of ebony curls framing her delicate features. Her skin was pale, her lips painted a deep shade of plum.

"Hey, Alex," Sarah greeted him, her voice like a soothing balm to his frayed nerves. "You look like you could use a pick-me-up. Here, have a cookie. I baked them myself."

As Sarah handed him the cookie, she offered him words of encouragement, praising him for his hard work and dedication. Her words washed over him like a gentle rain, soothing his troubled mind and easing the knots of tension in his stomach. But just as quickly as the memory had come, it was gone, replaced once more by the present moment. Alex found himself meeting Raven's concerned gaze, their eyes filled with worry.

"Are you okay, Alex?" Raven asked softly, their voice tinged with concern. "You seemed to drift off there for a moment."

Alex shook himself out of his reverie, forcing a weak smile as he accepted the cookie from Raven's outstretched hand.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just lost in thought, I guess."

As he bit into the cookie, Alex couldn't help but notice how it tasted exactly like Sarah's homemade treats—the same buttery richness, the same hint of sweetness. The soft but somewhat crunchy outer texture melted between his teeth, the soft and decadent doughy cookie with wonderfully melty chocolate within just melting on his tongue. Alex’s eyes closed with a mixture of nostalgia and pleasure, the cookie having been everything he needed to loosen up a little.

As Alex nibbled on the cookie, savoring its familiar taste, he couldn't help but notice the similarities between Raven and Sarah. Both had a knack for baking delicious treats, and both had a gentle yet reassuring presence that made him feel at ease. It was almost as if... No, it couldn’t be; they couldn’t be...

Raven gave Alex one of those curious looks again, almost as if she was able to read his mind. She sort of brushed her hand through a loose strand of hair, untying a tight knot within their purple locks; Alex’s mind immediately began to drift back again.

Sarah undid a hairband keeping her curls under control, brushing her long squared-off fingernails through her hair to undo some knots in it. Her lime uniform cooperated with her cheery demeanor, giving her a very bubbly appearance; her full cheeks and baker's body really completed the image of somebody completely in the wrong line of work. Beneath it all, it wasn’t hard for Alex to figure out that the constant hand combing, the cheery demeanor, all of it was just some sort of front to try and forget what she actually wanted to be, what she was somehow destined to do.

“Alex, Alex? Alex?” Raven’s voice sounded out again, Alex’s mind beginning to slowly combine Sarah’s and Raven’s voices together for some reason. Her voice was dripped with concern and oozed a sort of curious confusion, Alex having snapped back to reality pretty quickly after hearing Raven’s voice.

Alex shook himself back to consciousness, his eyes refocused on Raven, and he tried to play it off coolly. He looked down at the cookie he was eating, noticing how he’d accidentally crushed it beneath his fingers, and sort of gave a guilty and sheepish look. Raven just chuckled a little bit, her expression coming back down as she realized that Alex was actually okay now.

“You want another one?” Raven giggled a little bit, selecting another cookie from the pile and handing it to Alex. “I make them quite often; I don’t eat most of them, so they just end up going to the outside Pokémon.”

Alex just nodded along and took the cookie from her, taking a few tentative bites and immediately melting again. Raven finished off her cookie and just clapped her hands together. Raven quickly got up and walked off to put the cookies back where she’d initially found them, guessing that Alex probably wouldn’t end up somehow crushing another one in his hands.

Alex didn’t even notice Raven going anywhere, continuing to munch on his cookie until suddenly feeling the couch's weight shift; Raven, being beside him, sat down once again. Raven sighed a little bit, enjoying the moment, clearly having been alone for quite some time.

“So uh, you don’t speak much, do you?” Raven’s tone was measured and careful, as if she was testing something.

Alex just shrugged a little and shook his head, honestly not even having realized that he tends to be quiet before; most people just never mentioned it. Raven just sighed a little and looked around, her eyes fixing on a particular painting on a shelf to her side. The painting was of a sort of aging, old grandma-like figure chasing after a Fennekin with rabid and hungry eyes in the middle of a forest.

“Normally Chespin says stuff for me, makes squeaks, and stuff.” Alex finally added, his voice still quiet and a near whisper like always.

“Nice,” Raven agreed, her tone calm and lightly conversational. “Gastly's kind of the same for me; he always knows how to talk to the spirits of the forest to give me safe passage.” Raven’s voice was sort of half cheery and half dreary at the same time.

Alex looked a little weirded out for a few seconds, the thought of forest spirits shaking him to his core. By the sounds of it, these forest spirits were normally aggressive and territorial. What if Raven right now was the only thing between Alex and certain doom? Not just that, but the fact that spirits existed at all could only mean one thing: trainers died in this forest. How long ago or how recent? Alex didn’t want to even begin to think about it.

Alex tried to recollect himself, trying to think of anything but forest spirits, also wanting to move the conversation broadly away from ghosts in general. “Chespin has always been there for me," Alex explained, a fond smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Whenever I feel overwhelmed, it's like Chespin can sense it and knows just how to comfort me. I don't know what I'd do without it."

Raven nodded in understanding, her gaze softening with empathy. Her expression caught on to Alex’s intent, a sort of proud smile befitting her face as Alex took control of the conversation like a pro.

"It's amazing how Pokémon can sense our emotions and provide us with the support we need," she mused, taking a sip of her tea for the first time in a while. "They truly are remarkable creatures."

Alex nodded in agreement, quickly socially taking a few sips of tea, having forgotten about it for a while. For a few moments, the two just sort of sat there in silence, the room not filled with tension but still rather awkward. Alex just didn’t really know what to say, his mind starting to become blurrier with every moment that passed, his heart racing to try and force his brain to just come up with something to say. Anything would do at this point, anything.

“So Raven, I think I recognize you from somewhere.” Alex blurted out in a hurry, his tone not subtle at all and completely betraying everything he’d been trying to figure out the past half an hour.

“I think I recognize you too, from somewhere.” Raven, surprisingly enough, agreed; maybe Alex wasn’t crazy after all.

“You do?” Alex almost chuckled, absolutely flabbergasted by this; there was no way this could be real, right?

“That office building, it’s familiar to both of us. Correct?” Raven’s tone is measured and intentional, every word she says well thought out and clearly having an obvious story to tell.

Alex’s realization reached a peak, his face lighting up with awe. He couldn’t believe it; this whole time he was speaking and being scared of Sarah. The person who at one point, the first time he’d ever gone to Slako’ Drifblim, brought him comfort and security, but now had made him afraid. The whole realization got his brain thinking at a million miles an hour and his heart beating faster than a new car; after all this time, she’d changed a bunch. Or had she?

“Sarah?” Alex chirped out in a shy but meaningful tone; his mind already knew the answer, but to hear it, to hear her voice, would make him just feel safe. He didn’t know why, but just the thought and memory of her always made him feel comfortable.

“Yea idiot, it’s me. Or, was me.” Raven rolled her eyes as if this was obvious. “I can’t believe it took you this long to figure it out,” Raven rolled her eyes with a gothic charm.

Alex looks a little confused and curious, ‘Was I ’so different now? She had a new name and looked quite different, so she’d clearly changed, but how much? “You’re not Sarah anymore?”

Raven scoffed. “No, I’m not.” Raven said bluntly, her tone measured and explanatory. “A lot has changed since you first picked up your mother, about two or three years ago, I think.” Raven remembered in detail; Raven’s and Alex’s minds were almost working in sync for a few moments.

Alex just nodded along, sensing an explanation coming, like the universe was compounding for this one moment. It almost felt like this moment had been building up for years, like that moment in a TV show where the protagonist spouts out their entire backstory for dramatic effect. Obviously Alex wasn’t the protagonist, far from it; if anything, he’d be the side character that appears for two episodes and then disappears for the rest of the series.

“It was crushing, you know, working in that office job. It made me feel like I had to be a bubbly and talkative woman that made cookies for everyone and nobody could dislike; I just had to be what everyone expected me to be.” Raven began, her voice not filled with nostalgia but rather a sort of quiet vitriol. “I originally went to school for baking; it just makes me happy to make things for people, so I wanted to do it for a business like they do on TV, but it didn’t end up that way. I needed to get a loan to afford the only building in my area that was in my price range, but the bank wouldn’t give it to me because I was ‘too risky.’” Raven sighed, her hand coming to rest on the side of her head as she thought back somewhat nostalgically, Alex’s heart already beginning to ache just hearing the story. “I only took the job at Slako’ Drifblim because I was desperate... Before I went there, I had purple hair and wore cardigans and never really worried about being the only girl in the room; I never worried about people being creepy or having to please people, just being myself. Then they crushed me, the expectations, the soulless work, the dead conversations, and the constant need to be “positive” all the time; it just got to me. About a few months after I met you, I decided to leave, take off from society. I encountered a tunnel that had a Malamar in it, and that Malamar teleported me into the middle of the forest. I found this cabin and decided to live in it.” Raven shrugged, finally taking a huge breath after talking for several minutes worth of breath with no breathing. “Also, I don’t want to be associated with her. It’s not Sarah now; it’s Raven. Raven is they, because her would still be too close to that corporate clone.” Raven finished with an almost teenage flourish, her face dreary but awfully charming, like sort of intentionally dreary and mopey.

Alex took a few moments to take it all in, his mind working at a million miles an hour to properly process everything before finally, Alex nodded. “Right...Raven...They, not her, and… You hated your job...right?” Alex looked down, double-checking everything in his mind for a few seconds before looking up and spotting Raven leisurely standing up and stretching, turning towards him with the speed of a Blaziken afterwards.

“We should probably get going. Your mother still needs help after all; I remember that from the first time we met.” Raven extended a hand and helped Alex to his feet, not really caring that he stumbled a little before walking off to a small side room just out of the eyeline of Alex’s eyes corners.

Alex just waited for Raven to come back, fidgeting with his sleeves a little as he waited. His eyes drifted around the cabin again, not really fixating on anything but feeling a certain dark and evil aura around him. Suddenly he felt something wet touch the back of his neck, making him jump out of his skin and fall over his feet, landing face-first on the hard and mossy wooden flooring to haunting giggling from above him. He rolled over onto his back and looked up, only to see Gastly laughing wildly behind him, its eyes cartoonishly popping out of its non-existent skull and its tongue whirring around like a helicopter as it circles around him.

Alex just groaned a little; his eyes followed Gastly around as it giggled and laughed at Alex’s expense, despite the bad aura around it, Alex not feeling anywhere near as scared as before. Luckily enough, though, Chespin soon arrived by Alex’s side again, grabbing one of his hands with its considerably smaller hands and helping him up to his feet. As Alex dusted himself off, Chespin looked up at him again; its eyes sparkled with a friendly sweetness as always, giggling and hopping a little, clearly having missed being at Alex’s side constantly.

Alex was just about to bend down and give Chespin some praising head pats before suddenly feeling a pile of cloth hit him on the shoulder. Alex reached a hand over his shoulder and pulled the clothes up to his front, peering at it. It seemed to be some kind of jacket or hooded raincoat, its color a gothic jet black with studded collars over its wrists.

“What are you waiting for?” Raven asked from behind him, out of the corner of his left eye, Alex being able to just barely piece together Raven leaning against the wall. Raven’s tone by now had returned to its more gothic, drawn-out, and measured manner of speech; Alex was able to practically hear the soft lip smacking in between her words.

Alex just squeaked and nodded, quickly putting on the coat and turning around to Raven. Raven was still standing there, Poké Ball in hand, pretty ready to leave already. Raven just whistled in a harsh and ear-piercing way, and Gastly soon passed out from the walls to appear beside her again. Raven gestured for Alex to follow as she began walking towards the door, Alex gesturing for Chespin to follow him as he followed Raven towards the rickety door and, for the first time in Arceus knows how long, heading outside.

The air outside was chilly, chillier than any weather Alex had ever felt before; all around them, hollow-looking grey trees bent inwards towards them. The branches forking out into ghastly-looking, bone-thin cleavers that attempted to claw at him. The ground was covered in small shrubs and moss; all around them, in-between the trees, lay thick shrubs dripping with clear moisture and a sort of odd smell.

Alex shuddered a little as the two began walking through the wet, misty woods, all sorts of strange noises sounding out all around them. Sometimes Alex could swear that he saw glowing red and white eyes in the distance, but upon any double-take, they’d disappear as soon as they appeared. Sometimes the crack of a twig would make Alex jump a little, or a surprise chirp from Chespin would make him squeak and gasp, all the while Raven just led the way in silence, pure silence.

Alex continued to jump at the slightest sound, squirm at the slightest leafy crunch, shake continuously no matter what, and constantly turn his head in every single possible direction to attempt to pick out every single paranoid noise his mind makes. It was almost a relief when the ground turned to cracked stone, the jagged, ancient-looking grey stone crumbling beneath his feet at every light step. Before them now stood, sinking into the ground, what looked to be almost some kind of ancient tunnel or subway; it had ancient-looking cracked stone forming an oval around its entrance, the sides lined with ancient-looking runes depicting some sort of strange-looking shadowy Pokémon with a cone-shaped head and detail-less clawed hands with a sort of fringe of sorts over its left eye, the right eye boring into whoever approached the entrance like a watchful owner.

Alex shuddered a little as he faced down the tunnel, his eyes roaming over it in pure fear. Raven seemed unbothered, continuing to just walk straight towards it until, out of the corner of their eye, they noticed that Alex stopped moving and sighed, now standing still. Gastly didn’t really get the memo and charged straight in, its purple gas just barely being distinguishable from the interior's blackness as Gastly ventured inside.

“What? Too Black for you?” Raven turned around and stared at Alex, looking a mixture of unbothered and deeply bored.

Alex shuddered and nodded, quivering like a leaf in the autumn winds; Raven just sighed and shook their head. Raven then turned around towards the forest, sticking her fingers in her mouth and whistling loudly, calling something from the forest like a pet. Before long, a lone Lampent, two bright yellow eyes and a bright purple flame glowing brightly in the darkness as its two lamp-like arms swung around happily at the sight of Raven, appeared, hovering through the forest like a cautious spirit.

Alex looked a little confused at the Lampent and Raven, his mind not really able to properly discern their relationship with each other; it seemed so random. Was Lampent Raven’s partner Pokémon? No, that was Gastly; it couldn’t be. Was Lampent another captured Pokémon? It couldn’t be; if it was, Raven just would’ve summoned it from its Pokéball. Clearly it’s a wild Pokémon; the question really then was if it was friendly or not. It seemed to be, but Alex wasn’t 100% sure yet.

“Come on, Alex dear, you have some light now. I guess I’ve been here so long I forgot that other people aren’t so liking of the dark as I am.” Raven called out, gesturing for Alex to follow her again.

Though he still had his reservations about going into this tunnel, even with a Lampent to provide some dim light, Alex began to step towards Raven again, knowing that if he was ever going to get home, he’d have to stick with Raven. It didn’t take long for Alex to catch up with them; Chespin now hopped up onto his shoulder, seeming nervous as well, with Raven silently turning around, Lampent at their side, and stepping inside of the structure. Alex hesitated a little at the entrance, really not wanting to do this, but a quick scare from Gastly licking him again quickly changed his mind.

The inside of the structure was ancient, to say the least. The walls were made up of almost fossilized-looking mosaic stones with all sorts of strange letter-like runes written all over the walls; the ceiling was a dusty mess of moss and overgrown vines, whilst the floor looked to at one point have been some kind of stone pathway but now was just a muddy and overgrown dirt path with some jagged remnants of stone poking through the moss and ferns occasionally. Some of the runes seemed to almost tell some kind of story, a tall squid-like figure commanding a legion of letter-shaped objects into tunnels whilst the same shadowy figure from the entrance hung over it like a puppet master.

Another of the runes deeper into the structure seemed to show the same almost humanoid squid-like creature creating a structure similar to the one Alex and Raven were in now and guiding tons of spirits into it. The only really consistent theming between all of the different ruined scriptures was the puppet master-esque cloaked figure and the squid-like figure, the both of them pretty consistently either commanding the letter-like figures or aiding spirits and ghost-type Pokémon into some kind of hiding place away from some unknown threat.

Eventually the structure opened up a little as the walls became less stony and the ruins less mosaic-y, instead beginning to look more like some kind of aging sewer with all of the moisture dripping everywhere. Moss grew more collectively around this area, the floor way more wet and muddy, a certain negative aura beginning to droop over Alex the further they went in this area. Gastly continued to hang around the edges, seeming to become more hyperactive the deeper they went, Lampent seeming to be almost communicating with Raven through mumbled ghostly mutterings. Chespin, though, like Alex, was shivering and shuddering, really not liking this area at all.

Seeming to have noticed this, Lampent broke from Raven and came to shroud more dim purple light over Alex and Chespin. Chespin, though, gulped and shrunk, trying to climb around Alex’s neck to hide from it. Lampent was undeterred, however, circling around Alex’s head, almost blinding him with its central light, until it could effectively reach out and pat Chespin on the head, making it pause slightly. Chespin looked up at Lampent, its eyes seeming afraid and cautious, but Lampent seemed to preside over it in an almost sisterly manner, tenderly mumbling in some unknown language to Chespin, which made Chespin suddenly begin to relax and nod along.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” Raven, as if having disappeared like a haunting specter, suddenly whispered in a hushed tone beside him, their shoulders almost touching.

“Huh?” Alex squeaked, jumping out of his skin slightly, looking around paranoidly before realizing that Raven was right next to him and calming a little, though still very on edge.

“Pokemon. You know, how they can just be friends like that.” Raven continued their voice, almost husky; it was that hushed, almost as if she was being quiet for a very specific reason.

“Oh yeah... It’s cool, I guess.” Alex spoke in a relatively not hushed, shy tone; Raven quickly began shaking her head at him, seeming worried his voice was not hushed and whispered like theirs.

“Shhhhh.” Raven urgently sounded out, looking around a little anxiously themselves. “Malamar is very sensitive to noises, especially voices. It’s used to my voice by now, but not yours. You wouldn’t want to make Malamar angry, trust me.” How Raven’s voice could be both gothic and mysterious and so oddly concerned at the same time flew past Alex.

Alex nodded and put his head down, not even noticing Gastly levitating Chespin in the air and Lampent hovering just in front of the both of them protectively to the side of him and Raven, before walking beside Raven again, resuming their trip through this creepy old place, whatever it was. Before long they took a rightward turn into what looked to almost be some kind of centuries-old marble pipe with dark green, swampy-looking water making small puddles across its floor. The walls here were still old-looking, but without the moss of earlier parts of the structure, all leading to another right turn into a slimmer pipe area containing a large figure shrouded in darkness.

Getting closer to the end of the pipe, Lampent’s dim purple flame finally started to illuminate the figure, the towering humanoid squid-like Pokémon soon being revealed, its stationary eyes feeling like they were somehow able to stare right into Alex’s soul without even moving. It had two sharp white tentacles for arms and two white, almost curtain-like appendages for legs to stand on, its pink beak and purple tendril-y body imposing itself all over the shadows of the wall, making the Pokémon and only the Pokémon the center of the room, the only thing anyone could really look at.

Raven didn’t look too bothered, but Alex was terrified; he shook and he quivered, his breaths starting to speed up again, and his mind began to blur. Chespin seemed to notice and began trying to fight against Gastly's telekinesis, wriggling and squirming until Gastly let it go and allowed it to run off to the quivering and panicking Alex. Chespin quickly climbed on top of Alex and perched itself onto his shoulders, trying to grab Alex’s head to get him to focus on it and hopefully not pass out again.

Alex couldn’t really focus on anything; his vision was blurring, his chest suddenly started to feel tight, and his feet lost footing. Chespin tried its best to comfort him, its hands dancing all around him, trying to keep him in the present moment, but it was failing. Alex’s vision blurred completely, and his feet finally gave way, tripping him up and causing him to fall onto his knees, his breathing now coming out in ragged pants.

Raven quickly moved to intercept, trying to keep Alex somewhat grounded by holding his hands and trying to guide his breathing, but he couldn’t really hear her anymore. Malamar, as imposing as ever, just looked down at him, relatively confused at the display before him, not seeming too worried nor too angered, just neutral for now. Raven tried to keep Alex from passing out again, trying to keep his brain active and focusing on them.

“Come on, Alex, come on. Malamar won’t hurt you, not when I’m here. Just calm down; it’s ok.” Raven pleaded with him, trying desperately not to have him pass out on them again.

Alex managed to actually nod along a little, his ears tuning into their voice a little, the memory of Sarah giving him a cookie all those years ago beginning to play in his mind slightly. He wasn’t able to properly calm down, but at the very least his breathing slowed a little bit, his head not feeling quite as lightheaded as it was a few minutes ago. His eyes slowly but surely began to become a little less fuzzy and blurred, his sight managing to just barely focus on Raven’s flowing purple hair.

“That’s it, Alex, that’s it; it’s ok. Malamar won’t hurt you, I promise.” Raven continued, her tone soothing and measured.

Alex managed to nod again, just barely noticing Raven gesturing at Malamar a little, which caused it to slowly extend one of its arms onto Alex’s head and the other appendage resting on Chespin's head. Alex immediately squeaked and began to shake and quiver again until Raven quickly began squeezing his hands again, knowing that Malamar wouldn’t like it too much if he began panicking again.

“Don’t worry. Malamar’s just going to send you back home. You won’t feel a thing, I promise.” Raven’s tone is reassuring and soft, soothing Alex as best they can. “Just relax, close your eyes, and try your best to think of Sarah giving you cookies or something else; just hold onto that and count back from ten for me, ok?” Raven almost pleaded but held back too much of a whiny tone in their voice.

It took Alex a few moments, his mind reeling and his vision still blurring. Soon enough though, Alex nodded a little and just took deep, measured breaths with Raven for a few seconds and slowly closed his eyes. He soon thought back to those years ago, Sarah checking in on him and handing him the cookie; his face went from whimpering and tense to calm and subdued as he took bite after bite.

“Ten...Nine...Eight...Seven...Six...Five...Four...Three...Two...” Alex began, not noticing anything amiss at all, just focusing completely on the image in his mind and counting back from ten, just like Raven said.

“Goodbye Alex, we’ll meet again, I hope.”

“One...Zero...” Alex ended, his body suddenly feeling relaxed and his feet cradling themselves against a very familiar feeling carpet. One of Alex’s eyes slowly opened to reveal that he wasn’t in the weird tunnel sewer anymore; instead, he was inside of a nice-looking bright room. As his second eye opened, he began to realize where he was; he wasn’t just inside any building; he was inside of a house, his and his mom's house…

Alex looked around a little more and began to notice more and more familiar items; The small two seater grey couch that was pretty torn and worn down by this point since they’d owned it since Alex was still a little kid, the dusty orange lamps and ceiling lights creating a dim but homely orange glow over the house, the remnants of the old fireplace they had when he was a kid that they’d recently filled in since wood has become too expensive now that mom can’t work anymore than the low wage and low hour parts of her job, the brown rug that the family has had for three generations and of course the newly dusted and polished windows, mom always liked to dust and polish the windows since it was one of the only things she could do without Alex’s help.

Chespin already began running around and exploring the house again, seeming very happy to be home after all that they’d been through these past few hours. Though as quickly as Alex began to feel relaxed and happy, a sudden dread hit his head; his mind already began to race with anxiety and paranoia as he realized something, a pit appearing in the bottom of his stomach like a black hole threatening to swallow him whole… Where was Mom?

“Dear? Are you home?” The familiar croaky voice of Alex’s mom sounded out from behind him, the tone curious and caring as always. It couldn’t be, though; how the hell had she managed to get home on her own? Did somebody else help her? Did Malamar help her somehow? Was this all just one big dream Alex was having?

Alex stood up and looked around, trying to find the source of the noise. Eventually, though, his eyes settled on her, sitting on her wheelchair in the doorway through to the kitchen. As always, she had her tired-looking eyes with dark circles around them contrasted with her pale, wrinkly skin; her hair was charmingly greying around the edges despite still being a cream brown at the center, and she was still dressed in her work suit and tie.

“Mom?” Alex sounded about as confused and exasperated as he looked, his mind still struggling to properly process everything that’d happened in the past few hours.

“Yes, dear?” His mom answered back, chuckling slightly, her arms slowly propelling the wheelchair closer to him. “Some lovely ghost-type Pokémon helped me get home since you were missing.” She continued, her gaze a mixture of accusation and curiosity.

Alex sighed, weighing in his mind whether he should tell her the truth or not. If he did tell her the truth, she might not believe him or think he was lying, but then if he did lie to her, she’d probably see right through it. But then, it hit him. Ghost-type Pokémon helped her home; ghost Pokémon helped her get home… Did Raven send ghost types to help her home? It must’ve been Raven; there’s nobody else it could be. So, she probably could already guess and believe him; he didn’t have to be worried or anxious this time. Raven had already helped more than enough.

Alex took a deep sigh and just smiled shyly, turning away a bit before clearing his throat. “Uh, yeah, well, uh... I had a panic attack in the hallway on the way to the office, and a nice, uh, person helped me out, and I think they helped you out as well. They’re a ghost-type trainer, so, uh, I think those ghost types that helped you were sent by them; they helped both of us.” Alex explained as best he could, not wanting to reveal Raven’s identity but simultaneously knowing that telling the truth would ultimately be better than trying to hide everything.

Alex’s mom just smiled, seeming unbothered, and lowering her arms, her smile seeming almost proud that Alex was so honest with her. She rolled herself closer to him and just wrapped him in as big a hug as she could, her frail arms doing their best to envelop Alex in a circle of love and appreciation that he couldn’t help but always crave, even if he did get it more than a lot of other people in his opinion anyway.

“It’s ok to have your attacks, darling; what’s important is you talk about them. I just hope next time I can be there; you’re always there for me, so it’s only fair I at least give one thing back to you.” Alex’s mom croaked out, her voice filled with regret and guilt that made Alex’s expression harden slightly.

“No, Mom, you don’t have to do anything for me!” Alex’s voice for possibly the first time in his life wasn’t quivering or small and squeaky; it was strong and passionate. “You had an accident that wasn’t your fault, and you’re paralyzed from the waist down. It’s my job to look after you, and I wouldn’t want any other job in the world.” Alex smiled and hugged his mom back, her face curling into a wide and broad smile.

“Thank you, son. I don’t know what I’d do without you, just... You could never know how proud I am of you, how much I am so truly thankful for everything you do. Alex’s mom croaked with happiness and joy.

“No thank you, Mom, for giving me the chance to be better all the time. And do it all whilst working my favorite job in the world.” Alex smiled as they finally released each other, Alex looking down at his mom for just a few seconds and smiling softly. “Now come on, I bet you're really hungry after all that worry. I think we have some good soup left. After that I’ll get you your favorite clothes, and we can have a nice bath, huh?”

The two of them giggled and chuckled a bit, Alex now for the first time in a long time feeling hopeful. His mom was safe, he was safe, and just maybe with the protective aura of Raven and the ghost types hanging over them, they might get even just one lucky break soon.