The further into the Dark Lands Ayana got, the more terrified she grew. As they started going in, she was constantly screaming, looking for any form of help, but the screams soon dissolved into silent cries. All the while, she was holding a hand over her eye, trying to ignore the constant pain.

The Dark Lands were much more quiet than Axiom had ever been. Ayana hadn't seen a single person or Pokemon since the Knight had attacked Isa and fled. There was just more silence as they continued on through the Dark Lands.

As they continued on, Ayana heard some movement behind her. She turned her head, looking behind to see what it was.

Behind the two a large, wispy figure was starting to descend. The figure was majorly black, with traces of white and red near the top. Two spots of blue at the top of the figure seemed as eyes, piercing through the darkness and staring deeply at Ayana.

"Mister?" Ayana gently took a hand off her eye, poking the Knight. "What is that?"

"I'm sure it's nothing."

"Oh." Ayana put her hand back over her eye, looking down with the other to the ground.

"Are you so sure about that?"

The raspy voice echoed from behind them, echoing through the area. Chills travelled down Ayana's spine as she let out a shriek, turning to face the figure. The Knight was startled as well, nearly losing grip as he turned around.

"D-Darkrai?"

"So it seems you know who I am."

Darkrai remained unmoving as it faced the two, expressing disapproval by the way it spoke.

"Valencia was expecting much more of you. She specifically said that you were to prioritize the boy, not the girl. Yet you ignored her entirely, leaving the both of them alive and even giving the boy a sword to boot!"

"I-I deeply apologize for the misunderstanding, Darkrai! It won't happen again!" The Knight stumbled over his words, his whole body trembling.

"Now, isn't that what you told me last time?"

This time, it was the voice of an older woman. Ayana glanced around, looking for the source of the sound, soon finding a person standing in front of Darkrai. She had appeared suddenly, a cold look on her face that was partially hidden by long, pale white hair. "Honestly, I shouldn't have expected as much from you. It always is a shame to dispose of Knights. Maybe there will be ones in the future who can learn from your mistakes. Darkrai, Night Shade."

A dark cloud enveloped the Knight and Ayana, causing the latter to let out a scream. The Knight's grip loosened entirely, causing Ayana to fall to the ground. To her side, the Knight was collapsed on the ground. Another cloud came over the Knight, and he vanished. As Ayana watched, she scrambled away, soon bumping into the woman.

"So sorry you had to see that, young one." The woman stood directly above Ayana, looking down at her. "Stand up, let me see that eye of yours."

Ayana nodded, slowly getting up on her knees. She continued to hold a hand on her eye, finally removing it after the woman nodded to her. "Oh my... Who did this to you?"

"It was my friend, Isa. But he did it on accident, I know! He wouldn't ever try to hurt anyone!" Ayana whimpered as the woman placed her hand over the eye.

"Relax, child. You'll be quite alright." The woman looked to the ground, mumbling something. A greenish pink light crawled up her arm, until her hand let out rays of the soothing light. "Does that feel any better?" The woman slowly removed her hand from Ayana's face.

Ayana impulsively reached up to touch her eye, finding no pain when she lightly poked it. "Wha-ho-woah...." Ayana didn't know what to say as the woman simply laughed.

"That's a very common reaction I've gotten from people. I am Valencia, the Empress of Axiom. That magic was a gift from the Life Pokemon Xerneas. I'm afraid that you will most likely remain blind in that eye for the rest of your life, but it shouldn't cause you much pain."

"You're really the Empress?" Valencia nodded.

"I am. So, where do you come from? I'd be happy to take you home."

"Umm, Effervescent Village. I'm training to become a Saint of Xerneas there." Valencia's face dropped as she heard the mention of the village. "Is something wrong?" Ayana noticed Valencia shaking her head.

"Oh, you poor child... Effervescent Village is no more..."

"What? No... that can't be true! What about my parents? And Rika? And Isa?..." Ayana's words grew faster, her breaths becoming shorter and more audible. "How... who...?"

"The Knights of Darkrai didn't stand for such an invasion on their land, since apparently there were some citizens of Axiom who crossed the border. They unleashed a terrible on the village. I was called and got there as soon as I could, but they were already gone, leaving the village in ruin. No one survived. I'm sorry."

"No! But why would they?..." Ayana cut herself off, knowing the reason. "It's because Isa and I went over the border, right?" Valencia slowly nodded, causing Ayana to start crying.

"You seem like such a nice girl, so why would you ever go and disobey that rule? I thought all children were taught never to enter the Dark Lands from young on?"

"I did know it, but Isa and I got lost. We didn't keep track of where we were going and crossed over on accident."

"But why would two children go so far from their homes? Your village must have been far enough away where accidentally crossing over would be something far too unlikely."

"Isa wanted to go and see if some rumors about Knights being in Axiom were true. He and I want to become Duelists one day, so he thought that by seeing a Knight he could watch a duel, and I tagged along with him because I wanted to see if it was really true."

Valencia shook her head. "Did it ever occur to you that this friend of yours could be rebelling against Axiom by doing that?"

"What? Isa would never rebel against the region!" Ayana spoke firmly, finally staring into the Empress's dark eyes. To her comment, Valencia smirked.

"Then answer me this, say this friend of yours really was a rebel against Axiom, and he asked you for help in his acts of rebellion. Would you help him?"

Ayana thought for a moment before slowly answering. "Isa's my best friend. He understood what I wanted and became my friend when none of the other kids in the village would. Even if he was rebelling, I think I would help him in whatever way I could. He's like a brother to me, and I don't think that I would place the importance of Axiom over my family."

Valencia shook her head. "Oh, you poor, naive child. What is your name?"

"Ayana."

"Well then, Ayana, I have an offer to you. Your village and your friend are no more. You have nowhere to return. I could leave you here to die, as a fitting punishment for one who disobeyed such an important, easy to obey rule." Valencia let a hand crawl up Ayana's back, sharply poking her in the back of her neck. Ayana jolted up, senses tingling. "The Pokemon of the Dark Lands are fearsome ones with a lust to kill, unlike anything that you ever could have seen in Axiom. Or, you could come with me, and help me. You see, I need quenching the attacks on Axiom similar what happened to your home, and I get help from my Patrons. The Patrons are servants to the Pokemon Zygarde, and go around protecting the land that we were so generously given by the Order Pokemon. To make up for the village you helped destroy, you could become a Patron of Zygarde, and make sure no villages are destroyed again."

Ayana was silent.

It wasn't my fault that we traveled too far. There should be more clear borders, especially in the forests.

But it wasn't me who started this.

It really was Isa's fault, wasn't it?

"...Okay, I'll do it." Valencia smiled.

"Good choice." Valencia stood up, reaching out a hand to Ayana. Ayana took it, standing up, almost an ant in size to her. "Thank you for being so willing to help. It'll be only a short trip back to the capital."

Valencia began to lead Ayana back the way they had come, finally approaching the forest where she and Isa had been playing only hours earlier. She noticed something shiny on the ground, picking it up quickly before Valencia noticed her pause.

It was a bracelet, adorned with a simple blue rose. Isa had always worn a bracelet of the same style, so she couldn't help but wonder if it was Isa's. Either way, it made Ayana smile as she slipped it on her wrist.

As she was led on, Ayana continued to smile.

Well, maybe the life of a Patron will be kind of like a Duelist. Then that way I can fight in your honor, Isa.

Either way, I'm gonna miss you.