"Father Sabio..."

Claire remained still, as did the entire congregation standing in the theater room. This man, this massive yet mini giant, began his descent down the stairs, the long haired brunet that was Saria trailing timidly behind him. The way this man walked was with his head held high and his gut and chest puffed out; he was built like a barrel. His hair was held back in a low, very loose pony-tail, but his mustache and beard were left to flow as he walked. Even if she hadn't heard it from Claire, Evelyn could have guessed that this man was different from other monks. While they had robes of white bordered with gold, Father Sabio had a silver robe, laced with white.

"All of you," he spoke in a commanding voice, stopping just a few steps from the bottom of the stand's stairs, "go help to prepare supper, you're late."

There was no argument as the congregation disbanded and walked out of several archway exits of the theater. Claire was just turning to leave when Father Sabio closed the distance between them and placed a plate-sized hand on her shoulder, and she froze, petrified.

"You're not going anywhere," he said simply, then looked toward Saria and ushered her over. She grabbed Evelyn's wrist and motioned to Sly to follow as well, and together they followed Father Sabio across the broken stage and behind a veiled archway. As she pushed aside the thin, white cloth, Evelyn was met with a circular room filled with throw pillows and cushions, tapestries and rugs, incense and candles burning on the stone ledges surrounding the room. In the very center of the room was a strange, almost lamp-like devise with small hoses protruding from it, at the top smoke could be seen rising, light and wispy, and the smell of it was calming...

"Sit down, everyone," commanded Father Sabio, and they each took a seat, keeping the circular pattern. Draco sat down next to Evelyn, sizing up the man. He didn't seem angry...he seemed tired.

"As you have probably guessed, thanks to one of our members here," said Father Sabio, looking down at Claire, who he had personally placed next to him. She had her arms crossed and was leaning against her cushion while staring at the strange device in the center. "I am Father Sabio, the headmaster of this tower. You, young lady, must be Evelyn Yew, correct?"

Evelyn only nodded.

"I am pleased to finally meet you, young lady. I'm sure you hear this more often than you'd like, but you do look so much like your mother..." he said, his features softening just a touch. Evelyn gave him a small smile in return before he continued. "I must say, though, that you are very unlike your mother in the ways of your behavior."

Evelyn frowned at him and couldn't stop the curious tilt of her head.

"What do you mean? So far, everyone I've ever met who knew my mother tells me I'm almost exactly like her..."

Father Sabio chuckled and said, "Well, it would make sense if you were, but no matter what, everyone's their own person. Your mother would never own any Pokemon-" He swiftly raised a hand to stop Evelyn before she could protest the "owning" issue- "even though they mean more to you than that. If our Psychic medium hadn't told me about you upstairs, it would still be apparent that how you feel about your Pokemon is unlike any other. However, your mother despised battles and would turn them down at any cost. I do not fault you, please do not misunderstand. It's comprehensible as to why you battled, considering your...opponent."

He looked over to Claire, who by this point, was fiddling nervously with her robes. A moment of silence dragged on for longer than Evelyn desired; she had things to do here, after all, despite this digression. So she cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry about that Father, it won't happen again...I hope," she said sheepishly. Some loud, overly cocky voice in the back of her head hopped it did, and that Draco would kick all Claire's Pokemon's asses on his own, but she suppressed it and pressed on. "I do have a reason for being here, though. I think you might know more about it than I do, sir."

"This is true, child," said Father Sabio, "Do you have the Phantom Chest?"

Evelyn reached into her bag and pulled out the small chest before handing it to Father Sabio. The man took it into his massive, callused hands. She watched as he turned it this way and that, a wry smile playing in his beard and mustache. He ran his hand along the top, outlining one of the markings. He tapped on the one he had been examining and he leaned forward as he did so.

"Tell me, child; do you know what this is?" he asked. Evelyn raised an eyebrow.

"A chest...?" she asked dryly. She came for answers, not more questions (though she did have the feeling that she'd leave, once again, with far more queries than she had come in with.) Father Sabio chuckled.

"No, dear. This shape, right here," he said, pointing to the shape that resembled a raindrop.

"Looks like a water drop to me." She answered. Father Sabio nodded.

"That's right, though a tear drop, to be exact. It represents one of the elements your mother thought one must possess to be considered "human"."

"Which are...?" ventured Evelyn; she might as well pry what she can, since no one seemed willing to come with answer outright.

"Empathy, which is the teardrop, is considered important because it gives one the ability to understand and share an emotion with another being. The other three I'm not sure of..."

Evelyn looked at the chest, and the keyholes. One shaped like a paw, the other an eye, and atop the chest was the circular hole with a metal pin sticking out in the middle.

"When can I get the key?" Evelyn asked as Father Sabio passed her the chest once more.

"Later this evening, after you've had your bath and some supper. You will meet with our medium, who will decide if you deserve the key or not. Now, on to other matters!" he said with a smile, rising to his feet. Claire did as well, so Evelyn and Draco thought it best to follow.

"Claire here will lead you to the baths where you and your partners may relax for a while before supper. Claire, if you will...?"

"Yeah, sure..." mumbled Claire and she made a gesture for the duo to follow. She led them through another archway and into a corridor. It was eerily quiet in the tower now, but as they made a turn down some wide stairs, sounds of pots and pans and the hissing of oil and the smell of food met them. Draco's stomach managed to drown out the sounds of the kitchen and Evelyn chuckled, nudging him.

"Don't try and use hunger as a way out of a bath," she teased and Draco could only smirk and shrug. It wouldn't be the first time. Claire, much to their surprise, laughed a little too.

"Draco does that too?" she asked from ahead, turning her head to see them as they made it to the bottom of the stairs and into another corridor.

"Sometimes," Evelyn answered warily, not sure where this conversation was going. Claire just smiled.

"Toukon does that too," she said, and with that, the conversation died down. Evelyn and Draco exchanged glances as if to say "Well that was weird", because the fact was, any civility from Claire was weird.

"Alright, we're underground now. Down here water Pokemon help us distill sea water and put it into reservoirs. We built a big pool for the bath, and just to warn you; there might be some other people there too," she said as they stopped in front of a wide archway with thick curtains hiding whatever was on the other side. Though it was easy to guess what; the smell of soap and incense along with the warm breath of steam and the sounds of hushed gossip.

"Wait, what?" Evelyn blurted, just registering what her hostess had said. Claire just raised an eyebrow.

"Calm down; it's an unwritten rule that men and women bathe at different times. Tonight's our night to bathe first, then the men. Tomorrow is the other way around. The only males in there will be Pokemon, maybe. I know Toukon should be headed down here soon. Now come on..." Claire grumbled, ushering them in as she held the veil back.

The bath room was, without a doubt, exquisite. The marble floor and walls were polished and gleaming (though she wondered if they were just wet and she made a mental note to not let her Draco run.) The room itself was octagon shaped, but what dominated the room was not something as simple as a mere "pool", as Claire had said. It was enormous! It, like the room, was octagon shaped, and must have stair-steps all around its perimeter, because some girls and Pokemon were sitting just a few feet below the surface of the bubbly, steamy waters near the edge. Evelyn counted about twenty girls in the water, not counting the dozen or so Pokemon around the room.

The rest of the room was taken up by benches and stacks of towels along the perimeter. The ceiling was decorated with thin, gossamer white cloths hanging from the rafters, giving a very clean feel to the room; quite appropriate, considering what it was. Claire nudged Evelyn and jerked her head to the side as a sign to follow. She led them to a separate room off to the side where there was, finally, an actual door. She opened it and led them in. This room was well lit and resembled something akin to a locker room, except the lockers were several rows of wooden shelves with marble benches in the aisles between them. Things were folded neatly and placed on the shelves, and Evelyn could sum up what this room was for.

"Alright," sighed Claire with all the control she had. It probably wasn't easy to play hostess to the girl you just lost too, especially not for Claire. "Here's how it works. Take everything off and wrap up in a towel. We'll head out there and leave the towels on a bench near tub while we're washing off. You can keep all your stuff here."

Evelyn's grip tightened on her bag while Draco suppressed a small growl, though he did shake his head while sporting a good, stern glare. Claire rolled her eyes and sighed.

"You're in a tower full of monks and you're worried they're going to steal?" she scoffed. Evelyn raised an eyebrow.

"I wouldn't expect them to, but then again, I wouldn't expect one to physically attack me either..." she hissed. Claire frowned for a moment, then actually cracked a small smile (or, in Claire's case, something closer to a smirk.)

"Alright, fine, we'll leave your things on a bench out there, but keep an eye on it by yourself; I plan to actually enjoy my bath." She mumbled then turned away from the pair. Both Evelyn and Draco stiffened when she started to unbutton her robe, but she stopped and glared up at them.

"By the way, you may not want to let your Pokemon out, it looks a little crowded. Now will you stop staring and just get undressed? Sheesh..."

She then sauntered off to the other side of some shelves and they could hear her undressing from there. Evelyn turned to Draco. A very long... very awkward silence passed.

"Erm...Draco?" Evelyn said gingerly, "Could you, um...could you?"

"Wait outside?" he signed.

"Please."

Draco was more than happy to, though some part of him hated the idea. He was still drowning out the images in his head; images of possibilities that shouldn't be possible. He wasn't sure what he'd do if he saw her full-on nude at this point...not in his new body.

He closed the door to the dressing room behind him and sighed, leaning against it. He was just rubbing his temples, trying to rid himself of a building migraine when a chuckle caught his attention. He glanced over to see Toukon, the Combusken, sitting on a bench on the wall near the dressing room.

"You look bushed, my friend," he said as he stood up. Draco growled in warning, but stopped when Toukon rose his hands in mock defense.

"Woah! Down boy, down!!" he laughed as he walked over to lean against the door next to Draco, who stilled looked uneasy. "It was just a battle; I'm not your "enemy" or anything. Besides, you bested me! I respect that...and so does Claire, even though she doesn't show it much."

Draco gave a wry smile at that. He saw Toukon extend his clawed hands over, and Draco took it in his for a handshake.

"So," continued Toukon when that was all finished, "You must be Draco, the mute Shamma was telling me about. She told me quite a few...interesting things about you, Draco..."

Draco went ridged. Fucking pig! How much had she said to Toukon?

(I'm gonna kill her!) he growled in his own head, making a similar noise aloud. Toukon, however, only chuckled.

"Hey, it's alright. She only told me because...I have similar issues..." he finished awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. Draco rose an eyebrow.

"I'm not saying it's right for you, Draco, but I've had the same kind of thoughts about Claire. She's my best friend about as much as Evelyn is yours. It seems wrong, I know, and that's what I thought at first, but..." Toukon then shrugged. "Just don't entertain them if you don't love her, Draco; or if she loves you. It hurts when-"

Then he stopped abruptly and tilted his head so one side was flush against it.

"They're coming out in a second; we should save them a spot in the tub, c'mon..." Toukon mumbled before leading Draco off toward the massive pool-of-a-tub. Draco had to admit; Toukon was a pretty okay guy...now that he wasn't trying to maul him. They stopped at a spot, one totally empty side of the octagon pool and stepped down into the hot water. There were, indeed, a few steps in the water; maybe three, but since Draco had to keep his tail above water, he stuck to the first step, which was a mere three feet underwater. Toukon sat in the second, which was just a few inches more so that his head stuck out of the water while Draco's whole chest did. There must have been a drop-off point somewhere after the steps, because Draco saw one woman step down a few steps before holding her breath swimming forward, stopping midway across the pool to tread water and chat with a friend.

"Ah, there they are! 'bout time, too..." grumbled Toukon, lazily moving his head to one side. Draco turned toward the door as Claire and Evelyn made their way out. Each was wrapped in a towel and Evelyn placed her bag on a bench just behind where Draco and Toukon had claimed their spot in the tub.

"Saved us a spot, Toukon? Thanks," Claire said with a genuine smile toward Toukon. It was shocking since it was spoken in a gentle tone that neither Evelyn nor Draco had heard from her before. Evelyn glanced at Draco and raised a brow. If Draco was paying any attention, he would have probably done the same, but as of the moment, he was staring at Evelyn. The towel, white and pure (so unlike his thoughts as of late that it was a blatant slap to the face) barely went to her mid-thigh. Her hair was down, which was something he always loved seeing when she took it down to sleep at night, but somehow it seemed different now that more of her ivory skin was showing in that towel than it would in her PJs.

"Alright, let's do this before it gets any more crowded in here," muttered Claire before she slipped her towel off. Draco wished he had the decency to claim he looked away out of respect, but he didn't. Claire was quite a looker, and whatever feelings Toukon claimed to have with Claire that was "similar" to his own for Evelyn were tossed out the window. Draco knew he loved Evelyn; she was the soul of his world and that terrified him, but Claire...ah, that had to be lust. She was just as fair-skinned as Evelyn was, though she had a few freckles here and there, and here strawberry blonde hair came down in slight waves to the small of her back. Ah, but if only her hair was what caught his attention. Nope; it was the ample, soft-looking, and quite impressive chest she sported so well.

On a scale of chest size, Draco had managed to narrow things down. In dead last, bless her heart, was Lisa, who had possible A-cups going for her. Following her, the most recent addition to his list, was Fiona. Enemy or no enemy, she had an okay pair of breasts. Following her was Evelyn, though Draco reserved where she went on the list, since he hadn't Evelyn's since she had barely hit puberty, and they were sure to be different by now. Claire, on the other hand, left them all behind. Not the largest in the world, no, but they were the pair that just stole your attention. Claire walked into the pool, waist deep on the first step just a few feet away from Draco.

"The egg will be fine for a while, just leave it," she said over Draco's shoulder. He frowned and turned to see who he was talking to.

The water was warm, but he suddenly had shivers.

Evelyn stood near their bench and tucked her towel around the egg before walking toward the pool in all her naked glory. There were things in this world one needs to be eased into, not suddenly thrown into. Things like marriage, parenthood, the military, and Draco seeing his female best friend bare-ass naked. It was official, though; Evelyn was just about tied with Claire on Draco's scale, perhaps above. Claire's had a slight size advantage, but Evelyn's still had a nice amount, plus perkiness. Through the steam in the room, Draco was sure her little pink nipples were hard only to stare at him and tease him for what he wanted to do to them.

"Oh, wait! We forgot to shut the door, can you close it?" Claire said over her shoulder, too busy having her hair scrubbed by Toukon (both parties seemed rather distracted.)

"Yeah, sure," replied Evelyn, turning around just a few feet from the pool...

(WHY, LEGENDS, WHY?! WHAT DID I DO?!) Screamed Draco in his own head as he watched Evelyn walk toward the dressing room's door to close it. He hadn't even looked at Claire's backside, but now he knew he couldn't, for every ass he saw from that moment on would forever be compared to the cute and well-rounded one he watched saunter away just then. Mental restraint was the only thing that kept Draco from enacting what was playing in his head. What would it be like, if he could just bend her over one of these benches and have her? If only she had to get something from her bag; she would kneel down to get it, bending over to rummage through the bag. He could bend himself to mold her and from there feel that ample ass enveloping his-

"So did I miss anything?" Evelyn cut through, throwing Draco violently from his daydream. He shook his head as Evelyn stepped into the water, sitting on the second step so that her shoulders were just above water. He thanked the stars above that she sat with her back to him, where he couldn't see cleavage. That is, until she sat with her back between his knees, so very close him. He groaned and plopped his head backward, resting on the floor outside the bath. He wished the water were cold...

"Draco, you alright?" Evelyn asked, turning toward him a little. She brought a hand to rest on his knee and Draco felt himself jump.

"Woah- seriously, Draco; are you tired? I'm sorry; if you needed to nap, go ahead, but give me your tail so you won't accidentally give it a bath," she offered, holding her hand out. Draco relaxed and shook his head, holding up a hand to turn the offer down. Instead, he sat up straight, back against the wall, and tried to keep as far away from her as possible. She gave him a small smile, but she still looked worried as she turned toward Claire and Toukon. The pair didn't look half as awkward as they did; Claire was on the second step now, Toukon on the first with Claire resting between his legs as Evelyn did with Draco, the only difference being that Claire was leaning fully against Toukon. Draco felt sympathy for him; poor guy looked tortured and Claire only smiled a rather...knowing smile...

(Oh-shit...Eve was right; she is something that rhymes with "Weevil Switch"...) Draco thought with a smirk.

"Hey Claire?" asked Evelyn as she was washing her ebony hair. Now that it was wet, it reached about mid-back, as opposed to when it was try and wavy.

"Hmm?" murmured Claire. It was odd, seeing her so calm. Hostility had always been part of her persona, and dare Evelyn admit it...her charm.

"Why are you being so..." she looked for the right word. "Nice" did cut it here... "Normal?"

Evelyn flinched as soon as it was out; not the right word at all. Claire frowned at her and Evelyn quickly held her hands up in defense.

"What I meant to say is...you're just acting differently," she corrected. Claire rose and eyebrow and sighed.

"You beat me," she put simply, as though that answered everything. When Evelyn only gave her a blank stare, Claire elaborated. "I shouldn't do it, but you know I'm not a nice person-"

"Claire, I didn't say tha-"

"Evelyn, will you stop trying to be diplomatic? Where was that fire I saw in you half an hour ago when I called you Draco's whore?"

Evelyn froze at Draco's feet, not meeting his gaze though he could see the blood pooling at her cheeks.

(So that's what started the fight...) Draco mused. Evelyn cleared her throat.

"That's different-"

"No, it's not," Claire continued, "Let me explain. I'm not a nice person- Shut up, Evelyn, I'm not! That's okay, because I can work with it. If you piss off people, they tend to genuinely want to fight you and not pussy-foot around. That's what I want! A real fight that pushes you beyond what you thought were your limitations...I'm not saying I'm a bitch on purpose. I've just made a purpose out of being a bitch..."

Evelyn frowned, letting this fact sink in before replying, "So you're just being nice now because you don't want to fight us?"

"Exactly...though I will fight you again, some day. Just not today..."

An awkward moment passed in the group before, surprisingly, Claire broke the silence.

"Are we...like, friends now or something?" she asked. Evelyn looked startled at the question.

"Erm...I thought we always were...sort of." She answered. Claire chuckled.

"Friends that throw insults at each other and fight constantly?"

"Is there any other kind?"

They shared a smile that seemed to clear the atmosphere between them. Evelyn then tilted her head to the side and frowned at Claire.

"You look like you have a question..." Claire mused. Evelyn nodded. "Well ask!"

"I want to, but I really don't want to pry and be rude," Evelyn confessed. Claire laughed.

"You can't get any ruder than calling someone a "weevil switch"," she laughed. Evelyn snorted.

"Good point..." she mumbled before choosing her words carefully. "Claire...what happened to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean...how did you get to this tower? Why do you fight like you do?"

"We just went over the second one; I'm a bitch! It's how things work for me!"

"No; that kind of technique is a means...not an end..."

"I wish you weren't so fucking smart, Evelyn..."

A moment passed where Claire glared at Evelyn, though not out of anger since her eyes seem unfocused. She was contemplating her answer.

"I guess I can answer both those question in one...huh," she said with a smile, as though this was the first time these questions crossed her mind. "It's a long story though..."

"I can handle getting pruned," Evelyn laughed, wiggling her already-getting-water-wrinkled fingers. Claire sighed.

"Alright...I guess it begins the day we left Fortree. I set out to find Moltres-"

"Why?"

"You know, this story telling bullshit doesn't go both ways," Claire chastised. Evelyn bit her lower lip, a silent promise to be quiet.

"Anyway- to answer that...Moltres is more or less my hero. It's said that Moltres only respects the most powerful trainers, and I wanted to be a powerful trainer. I wanted to meet Moltres, if only for a moment. I don't know why...maybe it was just my fascination with fire-types. Whatever it is, I feel drawn to it...so I pulled together a team as fast as I could. I think I was the first to have six, actually. I battle Blake- you remember Blake?"

Evelyn only nodded, still chewing on her bottom lip.

"Yeah, anyway, I kicked his ass and he didn't seem too happy about it. Haven't seen him since, but the point is that I had six, and he didn't. We were the two most competitive in the class; I doubt anyone else had six so I felt like it was time to move on to serious training. I knew Moltres wasn't going to respect me if I couldn't win any battle I got myself into, so I had to be ruthless. For years I waited, but it never came, so I went looking for it. That's how I found trouble.

"I went looking at obvious places. Mountains, volcanoes- shit like that. I came to Mt. Chimney to look. I remember every bit of it; because at the time, I thought I was gonna die. I was there late at night, or really early in the morning; hell, I don't know. Anyway, no one else was around and I had worked hard to get there and once more, no Moltres. So I was just about to leave when the ground shook, and by shook I mean gave a huge jerk, like being pulled by a rope. I remember falling and tumbling down the embankment and into the crater. A ledge the size of a fucking wheelbarrow stopped me a few yards from the lava. As happy as I was that I wasn't incinerated, my luck still wasn't that great.

"The ground kept giving these rumbles, but no huge jerks, thank Legends. The lava was way too close, and the air was too thick and hot. I swear the hairs on my arms were getting singed, and I was banged up pretty good from the fall. I was going to reach into my bag and get a Pokemon, but my bag wasn't there. I freaked out at first; I thought I'd dropped it into the lava. Thank Legends it was just out of reach, the strap caught on a sharp ledge. If it fell, it would have fallen toward me, so I felt better at that. Still, I sweat like a pig as it is, but the heat there was unbearable. I shouted for help, but of course, no one came.

"I have no idea how long I stayed there like that, but...things started to get hazy. I just remember how fucking hot it was. After a while, it was hard to breathe and everything hurt, so I sat down against the side of the crater and just waited to die. That's when the weirdest part happened. I've told others before, but they think it was just heat stroke. Out of no-where a huge...submarine-drill-thing comes crashing through the lava. It was black and had something written on it, but my vision was too blurry, so I have no idea what it was. Anyway, something came out right after it. It was...it looked like a spider, I guess, but with four legs. It was red and silver, I think, and it jumped onto the side of the crater just a few yards to the side of me and began climbing toward the top.

"The next thing I remember was a big net of some kind just wrapped itself around the creature and jerked it off the cliff and back into the lava. It must have been connected to that submarine-thing because when it went down, the creature went with it...and I was alone again. It was bizarre, and I'm starting to think I just went weird for a while. Maybe it was heatstroke. One thing that wasn't, though, was my rescue. The reason I'm here...I wish I could remember it better since I didn't know at the time, but I passed out some time in that crater so the images and sensations come and go with consciousness, so bear with me...

"I remember a lot of wind flowing into the crater, in beats and waves and a heart. Then a pressure like being wrapped up tight in a big blanket. Then the feeling like I was floating and I smelled the ocean, which was weird, cuz we were nowhere near the fucking ocean. Then I woke up here..."

She smiled, as if that was a perfect end to the story, but Draco and Evelyn exchanged glances before glaring at Claire.

"And...?" implored Evelyn.

"And what?" countered Claire, feigning innocence. Whatever it was, it was good...

"Who saved you?"

"Moltres."

A really long silence passed between the group where all Draco and Evelyn could do was stare and process it all.

"Seriously...?" whispered Evelyn. Claire's smile widened.

"Yep. I don't know why. Father Sabio said Moltres was fond of me, and had been for a while. I had no idea. He also told me, though, that I still wasn't ready to really meet him. I had to train, and understand "what the passion and fire of battle was meant for" or whatever the fuck that means. So I battle, and try and figure out what the point of it is...He said Moltres thought it best if I stay here for a while to recover and practice. I think if I beat the headmasters of the council upstairs, I'll finally get to see Moltres...but Father Sabio said I should consider other paths. I'm on an island; the only path here is in a circle!"

Evelyn chuckled and played absently with some floating bubbles as she thought. They stayed there, chit-chatting the suds and bubbles away until they were the last ones in the tub. Finally Claire had to end the party.

"We need to get to supper, we're gonna be late..." she sighed before standing up. Draco had promised himself to look away this time, so he stared at a floating rubber Psyduck as Claire and Evelyn got up to go get dressed again. Once they closed the door, Draco rose from the water and dried off.

In the dressing room, Evelyn went through her bag quickly, since she hadn't actually kept an eye on it. She was a one-track person, so watching a bag and listening to a conversation at the same time was a no-go. Without warning there was a sudden SNAP and a sharp pain on her right butt cheek.

"Ow!" she cried, turning around quickly, covering her ass with her hands as pressing her back against the shelves. Claire was there, smiling and holding her wet towel that she had just used to rat-tail Evelyn.

"Oh-relax! You need to hurry and dress, C'mon! I'll meet you outside." Said Claire. She was about to head toward the door when she stopped and gave Evelyn and up-and-down look, stopping near her navel. Feeling a little uncomfortable, Evelyn started to dress, beginning with panties.

"You look like you have a question, Claire..." Evelyn said. Claire smile, a hand on her hip.

"You shave?" she asked. Evelyn didn't need the specifics on the region in question, considering Claire was just staring at it.

"Yeah, why?" Evelyn asked, eyes narrowing. Claire smiled.

"Long story."

"Tell it then."

"I would, but I don't feel like answering questions."Claire said with a sigh and made her way to the door.

"I won't ask any; like you said, the storytelling doesn't go both ways." Evelyn tried to reason. Claire only gave her a very mischievous smirk.

"No, it doesn't," she said as she pulled the door open, and just before she left she added, "But I do."

Draco had no idea why Evelyn was blushing all the way to the tips of her ears when she came out, he was just relieved she was clothed and well. Food. Food and sleep and he wouldn't have to think about this again. Evelyn and Draco followed the pair along corridors and stairs, this time heading up a bit, until they came to the dining hall. At this point, Evelyn wasn't surprised by how grandiose the tower was. The hall was long, and kept to a very marble-Roman theme, aside from the four long tables set low to the ground and all the monks sitting on cushions along them. Claire led Draco and Evelyn to the front table.

It was thinner and shorter than the other four, but was faced so those who used it could look at everyone else. Evelyn and Draco felt their stomachs rumble with hunger at the smell of all the food that lined the tables. Claire sat down on one side of Father Sabio, who sat in the center of the head table. He motioned for Evelyn and Draco to sit on his other side. Evelyn unstrapped the egg pouch so that it could still sit in her lap against her skin, but did not restrict her. Sitting was rather uncomfortable with it. Once settled, Father Sabio implored Evelyn to release her Pokemon to fill up the other half of the table.

"Holy-Heracross, it smells good in here!" groaned Richard when he sat down next to Draco.

"Crude, but I second that comment!" sighed Alvaro. Issac would have spoken, if he wasn't face-down in a large bowl of mashed potatoes. No one else was eating, but no one seemed keen on stopping him. The best comment he had was something along the lines of "Qua-om-nom-nom-nom-"

Draco laughed and turned to Evelyn and was surprised to see her looking worried, scanning the masses. He nudged her and gave her a frown.

"I was wondering where Sly is."

"Oh, no worries, child," rumbled the voice of Father Sabio next to Evelyn, clearly catching their conversation, "He's gone to the mainland and he'll be back in the morning. He brings us what we can't grown ourselves in our greenhouses further up the tower. He also brings new members for our congregation and takes those that think they're ready to leave back to the mainland. Now forgive me, but I must address my flock for a moment."

Father Sabio then rose to his feet and the room became hushed. Not shocking, since it was fairly quiet to begin with.

"My children, as usual, it pleases me to no end to see you are all healthy and with us this evening. Our dear friend Sly brought us a few guests to our tower and I hope you welcome them with open arms."

He made a sweeping hand motion to Evelyn and Draco and all the others. The room broke into jovial cheers and applause. Evelyn felt heat on her face, but smiled and waved all the same. Draco just grumbled and rolled his eyes before sitting back on his hands to wait until they could eat. He envied Issac...Richard nearly jumped onto the table and took the applause while Alvaro did his best to bow.

"Yes-yes, I'm well aware of why you lot are so excited. No doubt many of you witnessed the battle today, and it truly was an epic event, was it not?"

The cheering erupted again and Evelyn couldn't help but feel that they were blowing this way out of proportion. Father Sabio calmed them down before he continued.

"Furthermore, we've lost some members. Eric and Nessie left us for the outside world and take with them all they have learned. Let us have a moment of silence and wish them luck on their journey and that we have helped them on their way through life."

Everyone at that point bowed their heads and became still. Evelyn and Draco copied them, as did Richard and Alvaro. The room was silent...aside from Issac's "om-nom-nom-nom-" which, again, people seemed to just ignore.

"Alright! Now enough of that; let's feast!" declared Father Sabio, and the steady sound of silverware and clinking glass ensued as the congregation started eating. Evelyn and Draco followed suit. A few minutes in, and one would have thought they were in a battle zone. At some point, Evelyn grabbed Draco by the horn and pulled him back some. He cut her a look, but she countered with one just as fierce.

"If you were any further in your food, you'd be Issac," she said, pointing down to the Quagsire now blowing bubbles from the bottom of a soup-bowl. Evelyn handed Draco a fork and a knife. Grumbling, he begrudgingly ate like a gentleman. He had to admit, the food was good. He was used to Evelyn's cooking, which he still preferred. Evelyn was many things; clean-freak but unorganized, loving to others but forgetful, and last but not least, a damn fine cook. Draco tried to cook once...and he still felt sorry for setting half a forest on fire.

Evelyn smiled and watched her friends eat. Every so often she'd catch one of them doing something naughty, like Richard reaching for another steak. She grabbed her fork and smacked his little clawed hand.

"I haven't seen you eat a single green thing yet!" she hissed. "I don't care if it's borderline cannibalism; eat some veggies, damn it! If you don't you'll get constipated- Don't laugh at that word, sheesh! It'll travel up your spine and into your brain; that's how you get shitty-ideas!"

Draco snorted into his soup, nearly choking on it with laughter. He knew she was kidding, but that didn't stop him from enjoying it when she chastised someone else.

"Alvaro, being dead isn't an excuse for you either! You don't need bread and pasta; two starches? Eat some meat, damn it. Don't give me that look; yes, I know meat is dead. It's better than the other way around. It does NOT qualify as cannibalism anymore than Richard's- Richard! Stop feeding your peas to Issac!"

She was always this motherly, even if it was annoying. She was only forgetful when it came to her, which annoyed Draco sometimes, but he figured that was only fair. She looks after everyone; he should look after her. Finally, as is usually, Draco cut in by pinching Evelyn in the side. Big mistake...

"Ow!" she gasped at a sudden pain on her side, jumping a little and banging her knee against the table. Father Sabio looked to her.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Evelyn and Draco were looking at her side where his claws had left a good cut in her skin just below her ribs. The blood was beginning to ooze out, but Evelyn quickly flashed Father Sabio a very convincing smile.

"Nothing! My leg fell asleep, that's all!" she said quickly. Father Sabio frowned but nodded.

"You'll be off to bed soon. After dinner, we see the medium and then you can sleep. We'll talk about what to do from there afterward."

Evelyn nodded as he turned back to a conversation with Claire. Then she grabbed a cloth napkin quickly and held it to her side. Draco was frantically signing "I'm sorry!" over and over so fast it was almost a blur until Evelyn placed her free hand on his and stopped him.

"Hey! It's alright! New body, new catches, it's alright! You'll have to learn how to be gentle, that's all. Maybe pinch with the dull parts of you claws? The backs of them maybe?"

Draco just nodded, barely registering what she said as he moved the cushion he was sitting on to an angle where he could hold the cloth to her and leave her hands free, ignoring her protests of "Drake, I can do it mys- you don't have to-"

"Fine," she sighed in defeat, then frowned, "What'd you pinch me for anyway?"

Draco rolled his eyes. The same thing he always pinched her for at dinnertime. He glared at her empty plate on the table. As if to agree, he both heard and felt her stomach growl. Evelyn gave a small "oh..." before pulling some food onto her plate and eating like a normal person should. Draco just kept pressure on the wound.

(What have I done? The fuck happened- I...) Draco's mind was befuddled. He hadn't pinched her that hard, had he? Damn this new body! Thoughts he could at least ignore to avoid hurting her, but this was unexpected and unfair! Now he couldn't even touch her?

(Calm down, it's not your fault...) came an exasperated thought. Draco turned to see Shamma the Grumpig sitting behind Father Sabio, as if she was hiding. He frowned.

(What's with you?) he asked. She snorted.

(Nothing; now what about you? She already forgave you, what are you so worried about?)

(I didn't mean to! I did- I never wanted to-)

(I know you didn't. SHE knows you didn't, so what's the problem?)

Draco didn't reply. Shamma didn't seem please with his silence, so she got up and was about to walk past before she added.

(Oh...how'd you like the bathes?)

(Oh, why don't you go put an apple in your mouth and lie on a plate!)

She laughed hysterically all the way out of the hall. When the meal was done and Evelyn had covertly dabbed water on the now-clotted wound to eliminate dry blood before she re-attached the egg pouch, she and Father Sabio rose up. The monks seemed to be picking up places and carrying them to another room to clean. Father Sabio led Evelyn and Draco to the corridor outside the dining hall again and they followed him up the stairs. The stairs went up and up and up...Evelyn groaned. Not only was she tired, but she was still carrying her things. Whatever was up there had better be good...

"Try not to get too exited," Father Sabio said, as if he was reading her mind. "If you pass, you will only get one of the keys; it will not open the chest. Not until you have all of them. But we do have information you need..."

"If I pass," Evelyn edited in a tired voice. Draco grunted to agree with her tone. Father Sabio smiled as they reached a landing.

"Yes, if you pass..."

"Are we going to the top?" asked Evelyn.

"No. There's no stairs to the top in the tower."

"What?"

"No stairs. It can only be reached by a flying type Pokemon. That way, a human alone can't get there."

"What's up there that's so important?"

"Ah!" shouted Father Sabio with glee, coming to a halt in front of another veiled archway. "Here we are."

He led them into a room that was shockingly modestly sized. Cozy with warm colors of cream and red littered the room along with a few sitting pillows here and there. A new incense filled the room, one that made Evelyn feel oddly lightheaded and unsteady. The room was rectangular and at the very end was a small altar with a plump velvet cushion on top. Above that slept an Espeon. Father Sabio ushered them in and had them kneel on cushions in front of the altar. Then he too knelt, just to side of it, but faced the Espeon.

"Forgive me, Alkier, but the Lien is here," he said and the Espeon stirred. Evelyn frowned; there was that word again. The Espeon stood on his cushion and stretched before sitting back. His face was wrinkled and graying in a way that made him seem almost human.

Without warning, an echoing male voice spoke inside both Evelyn and Draco's minds. (Companionship...love...something incredible not yet untapped. You are, indeed, worthy of this test. First, I need to see you deeper; relax and let me into your mind. I will see what you have seen, heard what you have, and feel as you do. Close your eyes now, and relax...)

Evelyn could barely stay awake. Keeping relaxed wouldn't pose an issue here. There was something about this particular incense, she was sure. It made her body feel like dead weight, and her mind hazy. She did as she was told and closed her eyes. From there, the voice from before was so much clearer.

(Amazing...it is like seeing an old friend, yet not so. Oh, young one, you are quite promising, I assure you that. Now let us see if you have what is required for me to bequeath this gift unto you.)

Her head swarmed suddenly into a flurry of memories and snippets of her life. Until it came to an abrupt halt and her eyes flew open. The Espeon, Alkier, had a tired sort of smile, but a happy one too.

"Did I pass?" she murmured, feeling tired still. The Espeon nodded and hopped down from the cushion. Father Sabio then stood and removed the cushion to revile that the altar...was no altar. He removed the lid off of it to show the inside was hallow, then gestured for her and Draco to come forth. Inside were silk sheets and atop them were a strange little, blue-silver trinket and a twelve inch long cylinder.

"Take the key first," said Father Sabio, pointing at the blue trinket. Evelyn reached forward and picked it up. It was shaped like a tear-drop. It was just the size of the palm of her hand and had bulk to it. It was sky blue on the front and silver at the back and on its design. One side smooth and blank silver and the other with a raised silver swirl design down the blue drop, like water whirling from the tip of the drip to the center. Along its side was a faint line, as though it opened, but had no hinges. Then she turned it to see one small hole on its side, right on the line. She frowned and looked at Father Sabio.

"It opens." He said simply. "Bring out the chest."

She reached back and took it out while Father Sabio reached into the hallowed altar and plucked out the foot-long cylinder, before replacing the lid to the altar. Evelyn put the chest on top and gave the key to Father Sabio when he motioned for it.

"Now pay close attention. Forget all the archaic, ritualistic behaviors of this temple; we do that simply to stay focused on our work. This right here is a VERY complicated bit of technology, not some simple chest. Watch now, because this is how all the keys are opened and placed in, and I won't be there to help you."

He then took the key and turned it on its side so that the small hole was facing down. He brought it to the circular design atop the chest and pushed it so the pin in the center pushed through the hole. The keyholes and all their lines and divots began to glow and surge like a heartbeat, each a different color. The teardrop was blue, the paw was red, the eye was green and the circle atop was golden. It did this only for a few moments before the key Father Sabio held gave a small crack and the smooth back of it fell off. Along with it were a few scattered pieces of paper stashed inside that Evelyn recognized right away. She nearly dove for them.

"Stop!" hissed Father Sabio, "We'll get those in a moment, now look."

He turned the key, now missing its backing, so she could see the insides. It was true...it was all technology alright. It was filled with green chips and gold brackets and other such assortments. Evelyn wouldn't entertain the thought that she understood any of it, but she had a feeling of what to do. Father Sabio handed it to her and she placed it, ever so gently, into the teardrop keyhole, the green chips pointed inward. She gave it a small push and it clicked into place. The chest did the same glowing show it had before, but this time, when the glowing stopped, the blue teardrop key, Empathy, continued to glow blue, on and off slowly, fading off and on smoothly.

She smiled and looked up at Father Sabio, who had retrieved the bits of paper. He opened the cylinder as Evelyn took the papers on the altar top. Scurrying with excitement, she reached into her bag and pulled out the tin that started this whole damn adventure. She opened it and dumped the papers on the altar and tried to sort them into something that made sense. Disappointment reared its ugly head when it still didn't. No new words really helped. Things like "respect" and "LCM" had little meaning, but a few did catch her eye. Things like "DNA" and most importantly a two word piece- "your father". She felt her heart jump a beat. All the pieces, as usual, were cut from the same, poster-paper; hard and sturdy but bendable. Each cut specifically...like a puzzle.

She sighed and gave up trying to make sense of it. Father Sabio just gave her a gentle smile and held out the cylinder to her.

"What is this?" she asked. Inside was a just black velvet side. It was thinner than a thermos, but made of chrome and was completely empty.

"It's for the papers she left you. It's a hardy thing, better than a tin. You should put everything in there from now on."

Evelyn nodded and did as she was told. She kept all the pictures in the tin, though. No way in hell she was going to throw that out; not even the smallest gift from her mother. Father Sabio then handed the chest to Evelyn and sat atop the altar. Alkier jumped back to sit next to him.

"Now...I imagine you have questions. Keep in mind; we can only answer what we know, and we've lived on this island most our lives." Father Sabio said gently. Alkier nodded in agreement. Evelyn and Draco were staring at the steady glow of the key on the face of the chest, mesmerized, but contemplating. Finally, Evelyn frowned and looked up.

"What happened to the towers?" she asked. "I know there was corruption...but what could be so bad that it brings three of the four Towers of Knowledge down with it?"

"All consuming power, I think. It started in the Onyx Tower a few years back, maybe a decade or two. Someone inside was using the power of their knowledge as a means to an end, which was forbidden. The towers were created to learn for the sake of learning, not gain. The Onyx Tower was designed to research and discover the more...I want to say "magical" aspects of Pokemon strength. How they get stronger and how they do what they do, put bluntly. The fall of their loyalty came in one simple and abominable atrocity on their part; a crime against nature they created through their studies. It is something that's now been re-done and re-done since they've sold their research to power hungry factions."

(Shadow Pokemon) surmised Alkier psychically.

"The Onyx Tower discovered Shadow Pokemon?" asked Evelyn.

"No, no discovered; created. Monstrosities, really. Anyway, they used them for mostly monetary gain, but there was a deeper want, a bigger greed. Every dark person wants the world, and through the knowledge of all the towers, they knew they could get it. They attacked Granite Tower first, which surrendered quickly. They were the researchers of Pokemon health and welfare in order to continue populations and breed. They were the ones who began research on the proper cloning of Pokemon."

Evelyn felt her body go cold, and from Draco's sudden flinch, he did too. Shadow Pokemon were bad enough...but an army of them?

"There was a downside, though...the clones never lived quite right..."

"What? Cloning is done all the time now, how'd they screw up?"

"I'm afraid I don't know. Whatever they were trying to clone, it wasn't just Shadow Pokemon or normal Pokemon; something different. Something they needed Opal Tower's research for. Opal tower refused. They researched the Shinies, you know. They had made a breakthrough, last I heard, about why Shinies are so special, aside from color. Apparently, there is something important about them that can help the Onyx Tower complete whatever plans they have."

Evelyn sighed and placed the chest on the floor for a moment so she could rub her eyes. Exhaustion didn't help her focus any.

"What about...this tower?" she asked.

"What about it...?" countered Father Sabio.

"Don't they want anything from you too?"

"Oh, naturally, but they dare not approach a tower defended by the Legends...not yet, anyway. They grow in power. I don't how long we can live in peace and quiet here."

"But what-"

(Isn't it obvious...?) came Alkier's voice. He wasn't really looking at anyone. Evelyn could see just how tired he was; how long had he been guarding this key? Draco nudged her suddenly.

"They want the Legends," he signed. She felt the ice in her stomach again.

"Oh no..."

"Don't worry; it hasn't happened yet. Still, it is troublesome. Or, it would be if they could get whatever's missing from their plans, otherwise, we're fine."

The image was still in her head, though. An army of Shadow-Cloned Legends...the world wouldn't be able to handle it!

"Alright, that's quite enough for one night! I'll be sure to take you back to your room now and Sly will be back for you in the morning. Up now..."

They all rose to their feet. Evelyn gave Alkier a small bow of respect, very grateful for his patience and his approval. He smiled and bowed back. Just as she was walking out the door, however, Evelyn remembered something that was bothering her. She turned back and spoke through her mind, praying the Espeon was listening.

(Alkier, may I ask just one more question?)

(Surely, my child. What is it?)

(A word I want to know. Something I keep being called...What does Lien mean?)

The Espeon smiled a knowing smile and answered simply, (The Link.)