Sunlight filtered through the high window and shone gently upon Evie and Kin. They were both awake, but they didn't move; they just enjoyed the sun's warming touch. They lay in a bed much too big for them. On the massive mattress they felt alone unless they were like they were now, snuggled beside one another. Evie's head lay on Kin's chest, his arms were behind his head and a thin blanket covered them.

Evie smiled at him. "We can't lay here all day."

"Why not?"

"You'll get fat."

Kin chuckled. "We can't have that, now can we? Alright, I'm getting up."

Kin pushed himself into a sitting position and Evie was pushed up with him, but she promptly fell back onto the mattress. He laughed at her and she laughed back. Kin got out of bed and disappeared into the house.

Minutes later he came back carrying a tray; it held breakfast for two. Kin sat the tray on a bedside table and offered Evie a glass of water. She took it clumsily, drank some and offered it back to him.

"What's the plan for today?" She asked.

"Our first day as graduates? I don't know," he answered.

"Well, I seem to remember you once saying that you wanted to explore, maybe find some treasure one day and Soul did tell us to build our reputation."

"You want to go on a treasure hunt?"

"Yep."

"I'm down. Eat your breakfast so we can go."

"Yes sir," Evie said mockingly.

Kin rolled his eyes. "I say we pick somewhere off the wonder-map and just go."

"Agreed. You should go find the map."

"Yes Mam!"

Evie rolled her eyes with a smile as he walked from the room. Kin easily found the map. Upon moving into the house he'd placed it in a locked cabinet which was to be its home. Retrieving the map from the drawer he headed back to the bedroom only to find Evie licking her paws clean.

"Thanks Kin, that was delicious."

Kin looked at the tray. "Where'd mine go?"

"Yours? Oh. Hehe..."

Kin chuckled. "Now who's going to get fat?"

He stopped laughing when Evie shot him a deadly glare. She jumped from the bed dramatically and stormed past him. He gulped. Cleaning up the dishes and collecting the tray he followed her into the kitchen. He left the dishes to be washed up later and spread the map on the table.

"Where do you wanna go?" He asked.

She pored over the map for second before pointing to a patch of forest. Kin read out the dungeon's name.

"Shiftree forest. Seriously?"

Evie laughed. "Why not?"

Kin sighed. "Okay, let's go." He packed a few supplies in their bag, slung it over his shoulder and they headed for the forest. It didn't take them long to reach it; there was plenty of daylight left when they arrived.

"Why do you think they call it Shiftree forest?" Asked Evie.

Kin deadpanned. "I wonder."

"Okay, but if there are no Shiftry in there, I'm gonna laugh."

Kin rolled his eyes as they entered the dungeon. It was a typical forest dungeon, trees everywhere, grass and bug types with the occasional flying type. Nothing special. Until...

There was rumbling sound and the ground suddenly shifted beneath their feet. Evie yelped as the trees started moving.

"Kin, what's happening?"

"I don't know! I mean, it is called Shiftree forest. I guess now we know why."

"Who even names dungeons? Could they at least be a little more specific?! Like, oh I don't know, the dungeon freaking changes while you're in it!"

"Behind you!"

Evie whipped around to see a tree racing towards her. She jumped aside, narrowly dodging several sharp-looking branches.

The rumbling stopped as suddenly as it had started. Evie looked around. Kin was nowhere to be seen.

"Kin! Kin, where are you?" She shouted.

She looked around frantically until she felt his aura. She calmed down; it was okay. He was okay. Words floated into her head as if he'd said them straight to her; 'Vee, relax, look for the stairs. If one of us goes up, we'll both be teleported to the next floor.'

Evie nodded, he was right. She didn't hesitate but immediately started looking for the stairs. She took a left down a long corridor and found an intersection. Hm, left or right... right. Right's always right. She took the right turn, but it was a dead-end. She groaned and doubled back. She continued straight and found the stairs but standing in front of them was a Shiftry. Kin didn't need to know about this.

Evie charged at the Shiftry. It jumped in surprise but then used Whirlwind. She was blown backwards off her feet. Evie stood and shook herself off. Her fur was a dirty mess and it puffed out in every direction. She glared at Shiftry.

"That was a mistake."

Evie charged again. Shiftry used Leaf Blade. She dodged and slammed an Iron Tail into Shiftry's face. The Pokémon collapsed in an unconscious heap. She sighed and tried to pat down her fur, but to no avail. Oh well, she thought, Kin could always brush it later.

She bounded up the stairs and straight into Kin. She held her head and groaned. "Ow..."

"What happened to you?" He asked.

Evie glared at him. "Let's just go."

Kin shrugged, helped her up and they continued. This was the last floor of the dungeon and it looked strange. There were very few trees and they were all badly warped. The trunks twisted at awkward angles; some trees even grew the wrong way with the tip in the ground and the trunk in the air. Their mighty roots formed an ominous canopy. There were no Pokémon. No wind. No noise. It was empty.

A skewed path led through the trees. They followed it and eventually came to a large lake, with crystal waters which seemed both inviting and ominous. Evie peered in the lake's depths, they seemed bottomless, as if they didn't end.

"Wow, it's pretty," Evie whispered.

"Yeah, pretty spooky," Kin replied.

She gave him a funny look and he raised his paws innocently.

"Every living creature has an aura, even things like trees give off a little energy, but not this place. This place is dead. I don't like. You and I are the only living things here and this place, in particular this lake just feels... wrong."

Evie rolled her eyes and smiled. "Fine, we'll go."

"Thank you."

As they walked Kin couldn't help but feel a little guilty. "I'm sorry we didn't find anything."

"That's alright. I had fun."

"Still... how about I make it up to you?"

"How so?"

"Well... if I remember correctly... I owe you a first date."

Evie's jaw dropped. She played it cool; smiled and nodded, but inside she was squealing with delight.

******

Soul trudged through the woods with no particular goal in mind. She had a bag slung over her shoulder. It carried all that she needed; a few coins, a map, some food and water. She didn't know where she was going, she just kept walking.

She missed Kin and Evie, wondered how they were going. She was so lost in thought she didn't notice the Pokémon sneaking up behind her. It got closer, and closer, and it pounced. Soul heard a noise and jumped forwards to avoid the oncoming attack, but a hand wrapped around her throat and pinned her to the ground.

"Don't struggle. Give me the bag and you won't get hurt."

The hand tightened around Soul's throat and she was pushed further into the dirt. She grit her teeth and lashed out with her vines only to receive a powerful blow to the head.

"What'd did I say?!" Her attacker bellowed.

The hand pinning Soul grew hot. A fist was placed beside Soul's head. It was alight with flames; a fire-type. Soul groaned, she was seriously sick of fire-types. She didn't know what to do; she couldn't use attract; from the sound of her opponents voice it was another female.

Soul's mind raced as she searched for options when a sudden jet of water shot from the trees. The attack knocked the Pokémon off and Soul scrambled to face her opponent. A very angry Monferno was glaring at her.

"That wasn't very nice, why don't you run along now?" The voice had come from behind Soul and Monferno was glaring at the speaker.

"Go on, shoo," the voice said.

With one final glare and a growl Monferno disappeared into the vast forest depths. Soul sighed and relaxed. She turned around to find a Buizel grinning cockily at her.

"Thanks for your help," said Soul.

"No problem," replied Buizel. "The name's Ty."

Ty put out his paw.

"Soul," she replied, taking his paw and shaking it.

"Well, Soul, it's a pleasure and I'm sorry to do this but I have a request. You see, I am very lost. Could you show me how to get out of here? You can't say no because I just saved you."

"Hm, no."

Ty frowned. "Why not?"

"Maybe try again, politely this time."

Ty grinned. "Of-course, my apologies." He bowed low and dropped to one knee before reaching out to her with one paw. "Fair Soul, would you please escort me from these heavily forested woods?"

Soul sighed but grinned despite herself. "Follow me."

******

Kin stood outside their house. A picnic blanket was laid out under the incredibly starry sky. A variety of cheeses and berries sat upon the blanket. Candles flickered with flame around the blanket and on the porch. An immaculate black tuxedo with coat tails was buttoned across his chest and a ruby-red tie hung from his neck.

Kin stood happily watching the stars until he heard her voice.

"Kin."

He smiled and turned. The candlelight framed her perfectly. She was smiling big; her emerald eyes sparkled and matched the dress she was wearing. It started around her neck and flowed down her back, trailing beside her flanks. Her purple flower pin sat beside her left ear. He wasn't surprised by her beauty. His jaw didn't drop, he just smiled at her.

"Wow."

******

Team Eve will Return