We finally arrived at the nearby human village. There were many different structures there, most of them looking about the same. However, there was one in particular that really stood out – the top of it was red, and it had a design I had never seen before. We decided to start our search for help there. There was an unusually large amount of humans, so I guess it's safe to say that most of them didn't live there. There were many places that were for people to be occupied, however, which was a pretty good sign. Maybe there was someone who came here regularly for whatever this structure was supposed to be for. Our theory was proven correct when we found a rather cheerful person with red hair and white clothes. Surely this person must know something, we thought. (A.N. – If you haven't already guessed, they're at the Pokèmon Center.)

We tried to tell them what was going on, but they looked at us like we were wild Pokèmon asking for human food. When we noticed that, we fell silent, and the person spoke in a sweet high voice. "Sorry, but… I can't say I understand what you two are saying at all. Anyone could easily mistake you for Pokèmon with noises like that…" This took us by surprise – had we really been using the language of Pokèmon rather than humans all this time and not even known it? Just then…

"Relax, Nurse Joy. I'll take it from here. Let me worry about them."

All three of us turned our attention to the front of the structure and saw a new person standing right behind us. They had dark hair and sea blue eyes. Their clothes were like nothing we had ever seen before!

"Ah, you again. Here to beg me for a job again, Oliver?" asked the red haired person, sounding less than pleased.

"Well, I WAS, but seeing these two fussing in Pokèmon language gives me… other plans. And please, it's Ollie," the other replied. Turning to face us, he then added, "If you two wouldn't mind confiding in someone who can understand you, like me… I'll hear you both out."

Upon recognition of our troubles needing to be heard, we took his offer and sat down at a nearby area. I think it was called a bench…? Anyway, we told the person our story, and they stayed silent until we finished.

"I see… so, if I'm hearing correctly, you two have been raised under a local Mew for as long as you can remember. Earlier today, said Pokèmon's been snatched by some Hunter and now you're trying to track them down. You came here to Geosenge Town to try and find someone else who might be able to help. That about the right message?"

We were in awe – he had understood us amazingly! The person continued. "I doubt it would be best to ask a Nurse Joy for help – those girls are just medical experts. If it's searching for someone is what you want, I'd take it to an Officer Jenny. But the thing that concerns me there is that your guys' backstory about being raised by a Mythical Pokèmon might not fly with any of THEM, either… On a side note, you said something about Flutes?" I think that last question was directed at me.

We showed them the Flutes. Their mouth was open larger than a Gulpin when they saw what we were holding. "You're kidding… The Azure and Quartz Flutes? Where did you get those insanely rare items?!" They practically shouted that as they slammed the… table, I think it's called. Next thing I know, everyone else was looking at us. Upon taking note of that, the questioner coughed. They sat back down and spoke in a lower voice.

"Sorry. I've never actually seen treasurable objects like these in person before. But seriously, where did you find them? Start from the beginning of that."

We continued to tell them everything. They listened very normally until we mentioned the Pokèverse, and then they looked shocked. We stopped to let them speak. "N-no way… That exists?! I-I thought the Pokèverse was just a figment of some fiction writer's imagination!" (A.N. – Am I breaking the fourth wall by saying that? I'm not sure… XD)

After finishing everything we had to tell, they fell silent. But a bit later, they finally spoke again. "The way you described the hunter… I think I might actually know her. Unless I'm mistaken, you just described a hunter who goes by just 'J'. Nobody really knows her true identity, but that's what she calls herself. If you want to take her down… I want in on this."

?! Me and King could barely contain our emotions. On one hard, we were excited that someone wanted to join our cause. On the other hand, surprise and confusion for joining us so suddenly. Was this person forcing themself on us? And why did they want to help us so eagerly, either? "Uhhhhhhh…" we both said.

The person wasn't one to be inconsiderate, apparently. "Oh, uh… Sorry if it feels like I'm intruding on anything. But I kinda want payback for that huntress as well. She once stole all of our prize Miltank livestock. I can't forgive her for that. Please, let me take her down with you!" After all that determination we could feel from him, how could we say no? We learned that the person's name was Oliver O'Zoek, but he preferred to be called Ollie for some reason. At that point, a voice echoed in my head…

"My power is thine, and thine is mine own. Thou hast acquired a new Confidant. It shall strengthen the will of rebellion that thou hold within to reunite with thine caretaker. With the birth of the Rebirth Arcana, thou can be granted even more aid that will eventually grant thee infinite power…"

That reminded me of that dream… Didn't Arceus say something about Confidants or something? What did it all mean, though…?

"Welp, time to get cracking!" The voice of Ollie had interrupted my thoughts. But what he said was rather confusing. Get cracking at what? Noticing my (probably obvious) bewilderment, he said, "That dream you had did say that you can change distorted people with the Pokèverse, right? I know the perfect place to start… I think. You two trust me enough to follow along?"

Well, it probably won't be getting us to this "J" character, but at least we'll be ready once done… possibly. We followed our new friend to an old, rusty structure that wasn't any taller than the previous one.

"Feels like it's been forever since this building was abandoned…" he said. "It used to be a place where people would use Legendary Pokèmon for some kids and of weapon or whatever. But I think that changed about a decade back. Some hero or heroine and their friend stopped the guy behind it. But that evil guy… I wonder where he is nowadays…?"

King just looked at me, and I returned the response. Our thoughts were interrupted again. "You said that those Flutes take you to the Pokèverse when you play them after saying some kind of keywords? Name, location, distortion and optional organization?" That sounded about right.

"Well, I think I have three of them from this building already. Name: Lysandre. Location: Laboratory. And group: Team Flare. All we need is a distortion, right? I mean, assuming this will work… Try 'war'." Nothing happened. "Okay, uh… Weapon?" Still nothing. We tried castle and research, still nothing. "Well, I got nothing. Still, I'm sure it must stem from that ancient weapon… The one that caused ruin over 3 millennia ago… Wait. Try 'ruin'!"

This time, something DID happen. Our heads pounded, and the atmosphere around us felt… off. About ten seconds went by before Ollie said, "W-W-W-What in the world?!" We turned to face him, then looked at the "laboratory" and… there it was. A huge, clean "building" with metal walls and towering height. At the top shimmered a huge crystal stone of something. "W-Was that th-there before?!" Ollie said, sounding pretty scared. Just when we were about to help him calm down…

"Hey! Over there!" A distorted voice came from the front of the "laboratory". We turned to see a figure dressed in white, but the skin color was abnormally black and the eyes were glowing red. Then it hit me – this was a Shadow entity. Just then, about ten more in red suits followed. They had us three surrounded on all sides in no time flat. "Restrain them!" said the one in white. That was the last thing I remembered before getting a whack to the back of the head.

…