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The bright orange light of the setting sun poured into the hospital window. Nurses rushed from room to room, checking on their patients. The hospital's lobby was rather calm considering the panic caused by the explosion earlier that afternoon. Then again, there were little injured that day. As much as most of the Academy's staff was slaughtered... there weren't much for the hospital to do about that. They are, however, making sure that those that were injured.

Jason and Sarah sat in the lobby earlier that afternoon, but Sarah's family took her back to where they're staying soon after. The Riolu didn't leave, however. People he cared about deeply were injured that day and he couldn't get himself to go home just yet, not before he's told that they're in stable condition. Especially since he could barely remember what had happened when he and Sarah rushed to the Academy.

No matter how hard he tried, all he could properly remember was saving Harrison, the Garchomp who was brutally mutilated. After that, the next clear memory in his head was standing by the Academy entrance as he watched the medics rush his parents to the hospital. As much as he tried over and over to pry the deepest crevices of his mind for anything else, all he could get was faint glimpses of events that would fade almost as soon as they showed up. It was frustrating, depressing even, how helpless he felt. They may have told him that he was the one who revived his father, but the fact that he couldn't remember anything filled him with the sense of helplessness and dread... that he was not fully in control of his own body...

"Oh dear, Jason, you're still here?" The voice of the Audino nurse brought Jason out of his self-pity. "You look dreadful. Are you alright? Have you eaten anything since you arrived?"

"I'm alright." The Riolu sheepishly replied. It was a complete lie. He hasn't eaten a thing since he arrived. Not only that but he's been keeping himself from succumbing to his exhaustion. Of course, he wasn't really able to fake how debilitated he looked, and the nurse knew exactly that Jason was not what she'd call "fine".

"Your parents are in stable condition now, thanks to you." the Audino nurse said to the Riolu kindly. "So is the Garchomp. You really should go on home. I'll go call someone to take you there."

"No need."

Both pokemon turned to see who was speaking, and Jason feels stupid for not recognizing the voice sooner. Then again, in his current condition, it would be a wonder if he could actually maintain a continuous thought. Coming down from the stairs was Jason's Charmeleon partner, Charlie. He too didn't look too healthy, having a few bandages and bruises around his body, but the Charmeleon's condition didn't warrant him a stay in the hospital.

"I'll take him home." The Charmeleon said as he approached the two pokemon and patted the Riolu on the shoulder.

"Alright." The Audino said. "Jason, make sure you eat a proper meal and get the appropriate amount of sleep. I doubt any of the recruits would be called in tomorrow so you shouldn't have to worry about waking up early."

"Alright..." Jason replied as he stood up. Standing up made him feel light headed, his vision blurring and darkening for a moment, and the Charmeleon had to hold him stead to keep him from falling down.

"Aw, having trouble walking?" the Charmeleon teased. "Want me to carry you home?"

"Depends..." The Riolu chuckled weakly, almost drunkenly, as he supported himself on the Charmeleon. "Will you really?"

"Ugh, don't count on it." The Charmeleon scoffed as he pushed the Riolu forward. They two may have been on good terms but their form of affection isn't really what others would call ethical. Especially if the Riolu decides to be a smartass about it; that's when the Charmeleon's short temper begins to show.

---

"So, what brings you to the hospital?" the Riolu asked as the two recruits left the hospital and walked through the streets of the Military District's residential area. "Was your father confined in there as well?"

"No." the Charmeleon replied. "Can't you tell? Doesn't your aura tell you who's around you?"

"I'm too tired to use my aura right now..." the Riolu groaned, trying to keep his heavy eyelids from fully closing.

The Charmeleon was quiet for a moment. He heard the stories from the medics how Jason used his golden aura to bring his father back to life. It concerned him every time he'd hear something about Jason and golden aura. Every time Jason used it, it seemed like he becomes a completely different person; and it worries him. "Hmph, it's gonna take a lot more than a supernatural explosion to take my old man down." The Charmeleon said with a chuckle, trying to liven up the mood a bit. "And the real reason I was at the hospital was because of Leaf..."

Jason somehow forgot about his exhaustion at the mention of the Gorvyle's name. "What happened to him?"

"Nothing he can't shake off." The Charmeleon may have said it with a smile, but the grief on his face was far from hidden. "We intercepted that Hypno when he left the building... I was stupid enough to fall under his spell... and I attacked Leaf..."

Now that Jason thought about it, Charlie doesn't usually call the Grovyle by his first name. He usually addresses Leaf as "Anderson", his family name. Without having to use much thought, Jason could tell that Charlie was truly guilty for what had happened. "It's not your fault..."

"But it is my fault." The Charmeleon said with a hint of rage in his tone. "I knew full well that our enemy was a Hypno and I let my anger get the better of me. Had a given it some thought and calmed down a bit, the battle might've been over sooner and Leaf wouldn't have to be confined in the hospital."

Jason couldn't really think of a way to sooth the pain of the guilt, mainly because he's too tired to think properly. Especially knowing how strong the Charmeleon is. In fact, had Charlie used his full power, it would be considered a miracle for Leaf to have survived flames that intense. "Maybe I'll pay him a visit tomorrow... speed up his recovery."

"Sounds like a plan." The Charmeleon said. "By the way, hope you don't mind that I stay at your place for the meantime right?"

"Why? What's wrong with your place?"

"Nothing really." The Charmeleon said. "Except my dad will be staying there for Arceus knows how long so I won't have as much liberty as I used to." He chuckled. "Besides, with both your parents at the hospital, someone has to keep you company."

"I can manage staying home alone."

"With one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations openly expressing interest in capturing you, it won't be long now before my dad assigns you a bodyguard. And leaving you home alone wouldn't really be the smartest thing to do when we're trying to protect you."

Jason felt that this should be the moment where he complains. But with all the trauma he's been through earlier that day, being alone might not be the best idea in the world. In fact, he actually wished that Sarah was there with him... being with her made him feel... safe. He couldn't explain why... it just did.

---

"For an advanced race 'superior' to humans, Avalon sure likes hoarding all the firepower." The Kirlia chuckled as she used her psychic powers to twirl the Garchomp's pistol in the air.

She "sat" floating in mid-air next to the window, watching as the sun slowly set behind the towering, but damaged, structure that is the Academy. She and her adoptive family stayed at an apartment that they were provided for their stay. It was a simple apartment ornate with a flat screen TV, a couch, and a coffee table for the living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and two bedrooms. Outside the door stood two of Joseph's agents which are serving as their bodyguards. Jason may have been initially assigned as Sarah's personal guard while the two Gallades were working, but given the current situation, nobody was taking any chances.

"Sarah, didn't I tell you to return that?" Jacob, Sarah's stepbrother, was less than pleased with his little sister playing with a dangerous weapon that she took without permission.

"The fact that you had no idea I had this with me is a little hilarious." Sarah chuckled. "Besides, weren't you the one who told me to nurture my curiosity?"

The Gallade snatched the gun from the air and distanced himself from the Kirlia. "I'm also the one who told you not to play with dangerous objects. Remember what happened four years ago when you tried juggling the knives?"

"How could I ever forget if you keep reminding me?" the Kirlia sounded more irritated than guilty with having been reminded of their little Christmas fiasco.

"I keep reminding you so you don't forget." The Gallade sternly replied.

"Now's not the time for arguing." Matthew, their father, intervened. "Jacob, you can dispose of that weapon by handing it over to the agents outside. Sarah, if you wish to know more you need only ask. We raised you to be more civilized than this."

"Because being _civilized_is how everybody should be." The Kirlia hissed. "Nevermind individuality or fun, we must all be proper--" Sarah paused mid-sentence as she turned to see the worried look on her father's face. Both she and her father knew that whenever the Kirlia feels helpless, she starts pushing her boundaries and going into a "rebellious phase" to give herself the sense of control. It's become a habit of hers, but she herself feels guilty for being so disrespectful to the people who care about her. "I'm sorry..." she looked away in embarrassment.

"I know how you feel." The older Gallade remind compassionate with the troubled Kirlia. "I myself am afraid as well. Truth be told, I don't think I'll ever feel safe until I have seen with my own eyes the lifeless body of that Luxray."

"I know..." the Kirlia's voice slowly grew softer as tears began rolling down her face. "It's just... seeing that Garchomp... and all those dead people..."

"That Riolu should've known better than to take you somewhere dangerous." The younger Gallade said as he returned.

"Jason didn't want to bring me along." The Kirlia said. "He wanted me to stay behind and--"

"He was going to leave you alone!?" the younger Gallade exclaimed.

"Would you cut him some slack!?" The Kirlia demanded.

"Enough, both of you." The older Gallade intervened once more. "Let's not forget that Jason did more on his own than what the medics could. If he hadn't arrived, that Garchomp and his father would have both perished."

The room fell silent for a moment afterwards, all three pokemon left contemplating on what they had witnessed; the Kirlia about the deaths and the Gallades about the anomaly that is the Riolu. All three of them arrived at Avalon expecting to be neck-deep in research, a little less work for the Kirlia but even she thought all she would do was help with research. Being attacked by terrorists a few hours upon arrival definitely wasn't on the list of things they expected to do. And the Riolu... They weren't really sure whether the Kirlia knew about Jason's abilities, but what they saw at the War Room definitely wasn't normal.

"Go on, Sarah." The older Gallade gently pushed her. "Why don't you go get some sleep? Or would you like to eat some more first?"

The Kirlia shook her head. "No, I'm good..." her voice trailed away at the end as she stood up. "I'll go shower first though. Do any of you need to use the bathroom first?"

"We're good." The younger Gallade said. He wasn't facing the Kirlia though, as he was leaning against the wall, staring at the setting sun.

The Kirlia glanced at the older Gallade, who nodded in response, before proceeding to the bathroom.

The older Gallade let out a sigh, all the event of that day having drained him, and took a seat at the sofa. He closed his eyes and let his psychic energy flow through the room. "Just what have we gotten ourselves into?"

---

*knock knock knock knock*

The sounds of knocking broke the injured Grovyle out of his mediation. His eyes opened to be greeted by the orange light of the setting sun. It was strange for him to "awaken" inside a hospital room, not to mention the fact that he was covered in bandages. He was as healthy as could be in his mediations, exploring the deep crevices of his psyche and being at peace, so much at peace that, for a brief moment, he had forgotten that his body was severely burned by the battle earlier. He forgot that his body was wrapped in so much bandages that he could've been mistaken as a mummy. Perhaps he should joke about it sometimes.

"Who is it?" the Grovyle asked.

"I... it's me..." a familiar, hesitant voice sounded from the outside.

Leaf was surprised to hear Charlie's, the Charmeleon's, voice from the other end of the door. As much as he bore no ill will towards what happened, accepting that it wasn't Charlie's fault at all, he didn't expect the Charmeleon to be humble enough to visit him.

"Come in." the Grovyle said.

The door slowly creaked open to reveal the face of the Charmeleon, peering through the crack of the opening. Leaf gave him a warm smile and gestured for him to come inside, to which the Charmeleon opened the door fully and stepped inside the hospital room. Leaf had just noticed that the Charmeleon sustained some injuries. They were minor like a couple of bruises and scrapes, but this was the first the that the Grovyle had seen someone so proud of himself brought down this low.

"So..." the Grovyle chuckled. "what brings you to my humble abode?"

The Charmeleon made the effort to stifle his growl, but the Grovyle heard it regardless... he didn't mind it though. "I... I came to apologize... for... ruining everything."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that fight with the Hypno." The Charmeleon leaned against the wall, his toes nervously tapping the ground every now and then. "You wouldn't be in this hospital room if I hadn't been dumb enough to fall for his stupid hypnosis thing."

The Grovyle's smile faded as he saw the Charmeleon's pained expression. It was unlike the Charmeleon to look so depressed like this. Then again, this was probably the first time that the Charmeleon messed something up this badly. "Charlie, intelligence doesn't necessarily mean resistance to hypnosis." The Grovyle said.

"But still--"

"You were upset, you wanted to beat the living crap out of him, I understand." The Grovyle spoke sternly to make sure his message gets through Charlie's thick head, but kindly enough to make sure he doesn't sound like he's scolding the Charmeleon.

"But if I wasn't so--"

"Charlie, enough." The Grovyle raised his hand to dismiss the Charmeleon. "I don't blame you for what happened; nobody blames you for what happened. None of us were prepared for it. Don't beat yourself up over it, Charlie. It's very unhealthy to stress about things beyond our control and things that happened in the past. We learn and we move on, what's important is that we got out of it alive."

The Grovyle was certain that his words reached the Charmeleon, especially since he could see the slight glistening of the Charmeleon's eyes. Leaf hoped that he wouldn't have to deal with seeing Charlie crying. He didn't think he could handle two miracles on the same day. "So, now that therapy session is over, is there any other reason for your visit?" the Grovyle asked.

The Charmeleon closed his eyes and shook his head. The Grovyle almost cringed at the sight of the Charmeleon smiling. Charlie's supposed to hate his smart-ass attitude and his sarcasm, not entertain it. "No, I've done what I came to do. I'll let you rest." The Charmeleon said a bit shaken, but he seemed to be relaxing as he made his way towards the door.

The Charmeleon had just set his hand on the doorknob when it was turned from the other side and opened. The Charmeleon stepped back to avoid getting hit and was surprised to see his significant other walk inside. "Oh, hey Charlie." Veronica greeted the Charmeleon with a smile and a kiss to the cheek. "What are you doing here?"

"Just checking on some stuff." The Charmeleon chuckled softly.

"Oh, by the way, I think I saw Jason sitting in the lobby all alone. Be a dear and take him home, won't you?"

"Why me?" asked the Charmeleon.

"Because, unlike the nurses, you can yell at him. Besides, Jason doesn't look like he's doing so well. He could use some company, and being his partner, it's only fitting that you take up the responsibility."

The Charmeleon's mood dampened. He may have been unconscious when the medics brought the injured to the hospital, but he's heard gossip of what happened to Jason's parents... especially how the Riolu's father was reported dead until Jason showed up and brought him back to life. Charlie knew that it had something to do with that golden aura thing again, and it worried him even more. Jason wasn't himself every time that aura showed up, and frankly, Charlie didn't like whatever it was Jason turns into. "Alright, I'll see what I can do." The Charmleon said grimly as he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.

"So, Vex, any particular reason you're here?" the Grovyle asked.

"Just checking how my partner's doing." The Ninetails said with a chuckle as she walked towards and sat beside the bedridden Grovyle. "Hope the bandages aren't making things too hot for you?"

"Heh," the Grovyle chuckled. "I've been in hotter situations."

"Do you mean with Charlie or the time you walked in on me freshening up?" the Ninetails, though she was extremely upset about the incident in the past, chuckled at the joke.

"Don't even bother putting on your beauty products, Vex." The Grovyle chuckled. "I speak from experience when I say that Charlie will always be hotter than you."

"Hmph, like I could compare myself to the son of the most powerful pokemon in Avalon." The Ninetails chuckled. Looking back at the event, when the two of them were still new to each other's company as partners, she sent jets of flames towards Leaf when he knocked on her room's window to tell her that she's gonna be late. In her defense, it was trespassing on private property. "Speaking of beauty products, I hear your body was discolored by the flames. Want to borrow some of my makeup?"

"Nah. I can live with being brown." The Grovyle said. "It'll make me feel special."

"That's one way to look at it." The Ninetails pictured it in her mind, a brown Grovyle, and eventually a brown Sceptile. The thought made her chuckle a bit, and then she let out a sigh. "Who knew a bunch of fourteen year olds would save the day..."

"Fourteen year olds and a couple of adults."

"But we were the ones that stopped the Hypno and the Garchomp and Mr. Aiden would be both dead if it wasn't for Jason."

"Don't get too cocky, Vex. We wouldn't have defeated that Hypno if Jason's mother hadn't brought him inches to death beforehand."

"I know... I know..." the Ninetails said with a sigh before she stood back up. "Anyway, I'll let you rest now. Should I attend your secret club meeting for you?"

Leaf's expression turned grim almost immediately. Vex told him a few weeks ago that she was aware of his comings and goings to those secret meeting with his superiors from Haven, but the Grovyle knew that she knew beforehand... he just didn't like bringing the subject up. "Please keep what you know to yourself... or better yet just forget about it entirely. Bad things tend to happen when many people learn of our operations..."

"Maybe next time you should've been more discreet." The Ninetails chuckled softly, but her expression relaxed soon after. "But yeah, don't worry. Your secret's safe with me. Just rest and get well soon." She said as she left the room.

---

"My agents have scouted the area, and so did my plants." Joseph, the Sceptile, said with a grim expression as he surveyed the city of Avalon from the rooftop of the Academy. "It seems that we are safe for now." The Sceptile turned to his side to face Ignatius, the Charizard who was seated on the edge of the roof, and waited for his response.

The Charizard remained silent; he has been ever since the medical teams have secured the injured and had the dead accounted for. It was embarrassing, infuriating, and depressing to think that their once pride organization was so easily breached and taken down from the inside. As the appointed head of the Military District, he felt crushing weight of the responsibility on his back; and what's more, his pride made the burden feel heavier. Out of worry for another incident, he's asked all his forces to retreat for now and defend the Avalon. It left him blind to the outside world to an extent, but Ignatius was running out of options considering they still do not know how to identify who their enemies are.

The Sceptile nodded his head and returned his gaze to the sunset-lit city. "I'm just as lost as you are here..." he said with a sigh.

"We were friends before..." the Charizard finally spoke. "Harrison's father and I. I mourned at the service when he was pronounced KIA... Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that he'd still be alive... and that he'd be with the enemy."

"He was a good man..." The Sceptile said. He wanted to point out that the Garchomp's affiliation completely throws off his previous suspicion about what ties the enemies together, but he decided to keep it to himself. For now, the Charizard needed a moment of peace.

"You wanted to say more?" the Charizard asked.

"What do you mean?"

The Charizard glanced at the Sceptile with an inquisitive expression. "I know you too well, Joseph; I helped train you, remember?" the Charizard said. "I know what your voice sounds like when you're hesitating. What else did you want to tell me?"

"But sir--"

"Hmph." The Charizard chuckled. "You haven't called me 'sir' in a long time." there was a moment's pause afterwards, with the Charizard staring at the District as he pictured events from the past, back when the Sceptile was but a young, enthusiastic Treecko. "I'm surprised you still hold sentiment--"

"It's not sentiment, it's respect of authority." The Sceptile spoke quickly to avoid having the Charizard finish his statement. "Anyway, if you insist on knowing, I was about to say that our previous assumptions about the criteria for their recruitment have been disproven by Mr. Walker's (Harrison's father) presence. Now we have no idea what links all their members together."

"Maybe if young Harrison had said more before he passed out..." the Charizard thought. ""How is his condition?"

"He's stable." The Sceptile replied. "The doctor's aren't sure when he'd regain consciousness though, he lost a lot of blood at that fight."

"Will you still be using him as an agent even in his condition?"

The Sceptile chuckled. "His father fought rather well for an amputee with only one eye. I would expect no less from Harrison. Besides, if ever Harrison wishes to be pulled out from duty, he can always remain here at Avalon as Jason's guardian. The two have grown quite close."

"Speaking of Jason..." the Charizard mumbled. "What do you suggest we do about him?"

The Sceptile pondered on it. "I will personally keep an eye on Jason... I doubt we have much room for error. I'll have agents doing some research. I'm willing to bet that Jason's fire affinity and his golden aura has something to do with all of this. It'd also be appreciated if you gave us full cooperation in the research; everything you can give us about Jason's past and lineage would be very much appreciated. And if Groudon says anything helpful, please share it with me. I swear to Arceus that I will keep it a secret."

The Charizard felt a weird tugging sensation in his gut. His past pride refused to consider breaking his personal oath of confidentiality to both his people and their master. But with the current situation, and how damaged his pride is at the moment... perhaps he has no choice. "Alright... I will give you as much information as you need... but nothing more. I will not share everything unless absolutely necessary."

"Thank you." the Sceptile smiled and nodded before turning around. "Well, I should be going... Have a good night... sir..." he said as he dropped down from the building.

"Take care of yourself, Joseph." the Charizard replied even though nobody was present to hear it. He stared mournfully at the Military District, fearing for what might happen. He had fantasized in the past about how their old team would have a reunion; himself, Aiden, Bernard, Joseph... and Lucius even. As much as he wanted Lucius punished for assassinating the former head, he knew deep down that Lucius did it out of good intentions. But this... what's happening right now isn't the reunion he had in mind.

Down below he noticed the tiny figures of his son and his partner, Jason. Seeing his boy alive and well and knowing that his wife is safe in the Market District filled him with confidence and the determination to keep fighting. And that's what he intends to do. He'll continue fighting, he will not let anything stop him from protecting the people he loves until his dying breath.