"Yes you do, your dad used to be human, remember?"

Kin froze, he couldn't believe his ears. What had Soul just said?

Evie stepped forward with a confused expression. "Uh Kin, what's she talking about? I thought you never knew your dad?"

"I... I didn't. My parents... I don't know them."

Soul looked confused now. "You were pretty young, you mightn't remember."

"Soul, I was born in a mystery dungeon, I don't know my parents." Kin said forcefully.

Soul's brows furrowed. "But I do. I know your sister too."

"Oh really?" The sarcastic tone in Kin's voice was violent, he'd spent his whole life without a family, the thought of having one other than Evie... He didn't know what to do. "Okay, if you know them, go on, tell me their names. My parents and my supposed sister, what're their names?"

"Your father was a human but is now a Lucario by the name of Azure, your mother is a Blaziken named Ember. Your sister you already know, she is the Torchic known as Kira."

Kin sat down heavily, it felt like he'd been hit by truck. "That's impossible." Kin whispered.

"It's the truth, I knew your parents before you were born, they even asked me to watch over you and Kira when you were eggs!" Soul said trying to make Kin understand.

"How'd you know my parents?" Kin asked confused, he was still struggling to understand this, but something about what Soul was saying, it felt right, he wanted to believe her, but didn't know how.

"Your parents were good friends with mine." Soul said, Evie thought she may have been mistaken, but it sounded as if Soul was trying to keep sadness out of her tone.

"Your parents were good friends with mine? I don't know Soul, all this, it just... I can't believe it." Kin finished sadly. Snivy looked at him in disbelief, her blue eyes were wide, she stared at the ground.

"Believe it Kin; your parents are alive. Kira is your sister."

"How do you know?"

"I... I'm not sure, but when I look at you and Kira, I see them. Look Kin just be glad, somewhere out there you have a family. They love you, they're looking for you Kin, I'm sure of it." Kin shook his head in disbelieving silence. "Kin you should be happy, you have a family, they're still alive. Some of us aren't so lucky."

"You're alone?" Evie asked Soul gently. The Snivy nodded, still staring at the ground. Evie wrapped her friend in a big hug, Soul was surprised to say the least.

"What? What're you?"

"You're not alone anymore." Evie whispered. Soul broke into tears and held Evie tight. Kin was staring at the ground trying to process everything that Soul had said, he abruptly looked up and glared at the females.

"Come on, we've got to keep moving." Kin said in a voice completely devoid of emotion.

Evie looked at Riolu in stunned silence before conceding his point. Eevee released Snivy, the grass-type dried her eyes and nodded with a small smile. Soul turned and began following the river away from Mistveil city, Evie and Kin followed her without a word. The trio trekked tirelessly, barely talking, but Kin had something to say. The Riolu had been gradually slowing his pace allowing Soul to pull farther and farther ahead while Evie walked beside him, she sensed his desire to speak and was growing curious. "What's up?" Evie asked her friend.

"Who is this Snivy, where does she get off saying that stuff about my family?" Kin said angrily. Evie was taken aback.

"Kin... I thought you'd be happy about this, you've got a family, they're looking for you Kin, they're trying to find you."

"Yeah right." He replied sarcastically.

"What?"

"Evie, there's one thing that Pokémon have taught me time and again in life, and that is that no one wants me. No one wants a scruffy Riolu with anger issues. No matter how hard he tries, it doesn't make a difference. No one will ever love him."

Evie stopped walking, Kin turned and looked her in the eye. He could see the pain all over her face, but he failed to understand it. "What's wrong now?" He asked in an annoyed tone.

"Seriously? What's wrong?" She grew angry, her muscles tensed and she glared at Kin. "'No wants me, no one loves me, woe is me.' Then you have the nerve to ask me what's wrong? Are you game or stupid because I honestly can't tell!" Evie replied almost shouting.

"What are you so angry about?!" Kin yelled frustrated.

"No one wants you? No one loves you? What about all the Pokémon that do, what about them Kin?"

"Like who?" Kin laughed sarcastically. "Like who Vee?"

"Like Stoutland! Like Audino! Like Me! We're family Kin and you being incapable of loving anyone doesn't mean that I don't love you."

"We're not family Vee, we are two children who are scared and are looking for safety wherever we can find it. You don't love me, and I don't love you." Kin regretted the words the moment they were out of his mouth.

Tears filled Evie's eyes, without a word she pushed past Kin and ran to catch up with Soul. A miserable Riolu followed at a distance. He'd finally done it, he'd pushed her away, he'd lost his best friend. He used to think that he was two different Pokémon, one was a kind Riolu, and the other was terrible beast, but now he realised, they were one and the same.

When Kin caught up to Evie and Soul they were waiting outside a mountainous dungeon. Evie didn't look at him, Soul wore a neutral expression. "This dungeon looks tough, you ready?" asked Snivy. Riolu merely nodded his response. Without another word the trio turned and entered the dungeon.

Soul was right. The dungeon was tough. Flying and electric types bombarded them, the trio struggled through, floor by floor, not talking. Soul and Evie were a unit, Kin fought alone. Evie was distracted, a Magnemite rushed forwards and rammed her, she was sent flying backwards, she hit the ground and rolled. Soul charged at the Magnemite, she tackled it and bounced off, one Vine Whip later her foe lay unconscious. Snivy ran to Eevee and fed her friend an Oran berry, they all needed to be at full strength if they were going to clear this dungeon. Looking across the room Soul saw Kin, his eyes were cold and distant, his intensity was fierce, he was angry, and he was taking it out on everyone around him.

An Electabuzz roared a challenge, Kin's bored expression merely provoked it. Lightning sparked from Electabuzz's fist, it charged and threw a massive punch, Kin countered with a punch of his own, a shock-wave blasted outwards from the collision. Electabuzz turned and swung an Iron Tail at its foe, only to find that the Riolu was gone, Kin burst from the ground moments later, delivering a swift uppercut to his opponent's jaw. Electabuzz was knocked from its feet and hit the ground heavily.

Kin looked at Soul and Evie, upon seeing the two females ready they moved on, slowly making their way through the dungeon Soul grew uncomfortable with the silence, but she didn't know what to say. Soon however, the opportunity presented itself, no Pokémon had been seen for a while, the dungeon was quiet, stairs were just up ahead. Kin walked towards the stairs, Soul and Evie followed him into the room, then Pokémon swarmed in screeching horribly at the invasion of their home. Kin, Evie and Soul stood back to back in a triangle. There were so many enemies, Kin wasn't sure, he didn't know... if they could win this one. Evie and Soul, he could feel their fear, they were both so scared and their auras showed it.

They were all scared, and that's what made it so incredible when Soul ran forwards, when she broke formation and leapt into battle. She screamed loudly and unleashed a massive Leaf Tornado. She switched attacks and started whipping her vines in every direction, enemies tried to advance but couldn't make it past her barrage, until a Staravia came in high before diving low and striking with Aerial Ace. Soul grunted and was sent flying straight into a Magneton whose Thunderbolt fried the poor Snivy.

"Soul!" Evie cried. Kin finally realised, it took him so long, but he finally understood.

"Evie." The normal type looked at him with eyes full of fear, he stared at the ground, but then, he looked at her. "You told me once, that what I fear, more than anything, is myself. It was true then, but it's not true now."

"Kin I fail to see the relevance." Evie said nervously watching as a Hitmonchan pulled back a fiery fist before unleashing the violent punch in the direction of a helpless Snivy. In a moment Kin was there, the Fire Punch struck him in the chest, but Kin's eyes had more heat in them than that blow ever could. Kin's Counter saw the Hitmonchan drop like a sack of potatoes, Kin smiled sadly at Evie.

"Evie, I finally get it. All this time, I didn't know what I was doing, I hurt you, pushed you away, it was all because you meant more to me than anyone else. I was so stressed and scared of losing you that I lost sight of why we're doing this. Evie, when I went off at you earlier, it wasn't fair, I'm sorry. More than anything I feared losing you. Now I finally get it, if you're scared of losing someone, if you love someone, you fight for them. What do you say partner, will you stick by my side?"

Evie dashed in Kin's direction using Quick Attack, she slammed an Eelektross that had snuck up behind him. Kin looked at her in surprise having not noticed the stealthy foe. She grinned at him, "I've got your back."

Kin nodded and they went to work. Fighting side by side they protected the wounded Snivy which lay behind them. Kin Force Palmed an Electrike, Evie Shadow Balled a Blitzle. A Cranidos charged at Kin ready to deliver a powerful Headbutt, Evie jumped in, met the attack with her Iron Tail and Cranidos was slammed into the ground. They fought and fought, they defeated enemies one by one, until they stood victorious upon the battlefield, Evie fed Soul a reviver seed and moments later the trio stood around laughing before continuing on through the dungeon.

They had been walking a while and there was something Kin had to know. "Hey Soul?"

"Hm?" Snivy replied expectantly.

"What you said earlier, about my family, is it true?"

"Yep. Kin, I'm sure of it, Azure Lucario, Ember Blaziken and Kira Torchic, they're your family, and your parents are looking for you. I can't wait for you to meet them."

"Soul, please, don't mention any of this to Kira."

Soul didn't understand why he asked but she agreed nonetheless. "Okay. No problem."

Kin smiled, so did Evie, she was happy for him, she'd stay with him... but only for now. He needed a family, but when he met his parents again, he wouldn't need her anymore. Her heart hurt at the thought, but she smiled anyway.

Evie, Soul and Kin climbed the last flight of stairs in the dungeon and finally they found themselves outside. They stood high atop a mountain, before them sprawled a large forest, in the distance the sun rose on a new day. Kin realised how tired he was, and yet he couldn't help but smile.

"Would you look at that, it's the eve of a new day."

"The eve of an era." Said Evie.

"The eve of our era." Soul finished.

******

My my, that was all very dramatic.

Evie: Yes, sometimes I do wonder if you know exactly what it is that you're doing.

Me: I know! Somewhat... sorta... not really... but hey you can't judge! This is your story!

Evie: Unfortunately my story is whatever you make it.

Soul: Hey it's not all bad, he could set you and Kin up as a couple

Kin: Again with this?

Soul: Yes, I don't know what he's waiting for

Me: Hey I'm getting there! Actually, the next chapter, well I don't want to give anything away, but I had a lot of fun writing it. Hehehe

Kin: Does that mean it's going up soon?

Me: Yeah double upload this week, that is, if I survive the monstrous week I have ahead, everyone wish me luck.

Soul: Okay good luck! You promised us a double upload and I'm going to hold you to that! Time to get my wingman on.

Evie: Soul... stop, just stop.

Me: Agreed, Soul stop, until the next chapter

Kin: Until then, bye everyone! Have a good one!