Both the young girls were breathing heavily as the glow in their eyes faded, wobbling stopping. They were speechless as they watched the golden letters engraved in the wall fade, returning to just etchings, scrawls of writing. They had almost forgotten about the figure behind them, until he swept up Zil in his huge claw.

"Tricky!" She squeaked.

"Zil!" Tricky cried out. She charged at the figure, about to use Tackle, when she was hit back.

"Ngh!" She gasped as she hit the wall. She could see, barely, that the Pokémon was a Golem. He held the writhing, golden eyed zorua in his hand. He had an evil grin on his face.

"Toodle oo! Sayonara and arigatou! Danke!" he cackled as he turned and began lumbering towards the door.

"Mom! Dad! Tricky! Somebody help me!" Zil sobbed as she was taken from her sister. Tricky tried to stand up, but her paws gave out. They couldn't support her after her ordeal.

"Zil..! I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry..." she whimpered as the Golem faded from her sight. Then her vision darkened as a shawl was drawn over her mind. Her eyes closed and she fell asleep.

〜

Zil was still twisting in the Golems grasp. "Let me go!" She cried out, but she squeaked when he squeezed her tighter.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, doll. I'm working for someone who would pay a lot for a Zorua like you. Exactly like you, actually! One who can unlock more of the prophecy, has golden eyes, pink fur, and even the power to detect lies! Sweetie, anyone would want that," the Golem cackled.

Zil fell silent, but only for a fleeting moment as she took the chance to glance around her surroundings. "Where are we now..?" She murmured.

"I'm taking you to my hideout. I'm sure you'll love it there! There's a cage for you and everything!" the figure carrying Zil cried out happily.

Zil whimpered. "Tricky..."

"Oh, don't worry. You'll see your dear sister soon!" He grinned maliciously.

＊

"Tricky? Tricky, wake up!" a voice shouted in the Zoruas ear. She turned over, appearing to be in a nightmare.

"No... no, let her go! Let her go!" She screamed. "Don't take her! Leave her alone!" Tricky shouted desperately before she opened her eyes, breathing heavily. Her mother was standing before her, looking at her with deep concern and worry.

"Tricky! Oh thank Arceus, you're alright!"

"W-Wait... where's Zil..?"

Tricky let out a wail and buried her face in her paws. She hiccuped, tears streaming from her face. Her small body was shaking with the force of her cries.

The Zoroark put two and two together. "Zil..." Trickys mother murmured.

"She's... gone..."

The female Zoroark fell silent as she gently lifted Tricky and, still silent, she turned to walk out of the ruins. The Zoruas father followed.

〜

Zil squeaked as the Golem shoved her into a metal cage. Next to her, a Fennekin was asleep in a cage similar to hers.

"This will be your roommate!" her captor laughed. "Until I sell you both, that is."

"Sell?!" Zil squeaked, and the Fennekin next to her woke with a start.

"Gah!" the Fire type cried out.

"Ah, and she's awake. Would you like to say your name?"

The fennekin glared. "No way."

"Tell is your name or I'll hurt you," the Golem growled.

"Amaya!" She squeaked.

"And you, Zorua."

"Never."

"Same principle."

"I won't."

The golem furiously flung open the door to her cage and reached in, quickly grabbing the Zorua and pulling her out. "You'll regret that," he said with a snarl, and threw her across the cave.

"Ngh!" She grunted as she hit the stone wall. "I... I won't tell you my name..!"

"Oh, come on, 'heart that flies'," He cackled, crossing the room to pick her up again. "You'll tell me." He strengthened his grip, squeezing the Zorua tighter.

"G-GAH! NO!" She shouted loudly, shaking a few rocks from the ceiling.

"Ohoho! You're feisty! Well then, I'll get your name later. For now," he threw her into the cage, "You're going back into the cage."

"You shouldn't let yourself get hurt..." Amaya murmured.

"I'm not telling... him what he wants to know..." Zil groaned.

"Oh, I almost forgot," the golem shoved a scroll into Zils cage. "Read this."

The zorua wanted to close her eyes and avoid looking at the paper, but she was already drawn to it. Words lit up as her eyes glowed.

"The flying heart
Won't fall apart
The monster lies
Decides who dies
The one who shines
Ignores the signs
The turn of fate
Won't end up late
Unless the heart
Chooses to depart."

"Good... so perhaps I can mess with the prophecy by stealing 'the flying heart'," the Golem cackled.

"Well, why am I here..?" Amaya asked.

"You don't matter to the prophecy, but someone is paying a lot for you," he replied simply.

Zil let out a cry of frustration and scratched the scroll. Light burst forth from it, and suddenly, the scroll crumbled to dust. The golden eyed Zorua was breathing heavily as she watched the paper shrivel and burn. "You won't use me," she hissed.

＊

"How could you leave our home without telling us?!" Trickys father shouted, outraged.

"That's enough," her mother snapped. "They are a week old! How could they understand?" She hissed.

The other Zoroark fell silent.

"It was a bad decision, but Tricky is young. She wouldn't understand."

Tricky was shaking, silent. She stared into the sky, whimpering occasionally. :Zil... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...: Anything else her parents said, she didn't hear. She wasn't paying attention. She just didn't care.

That night, when her parents went to sleep, Tricky was still catatonic. Suddenly, she shook her head, waking from her trance. Slowly and carefully, she moved her paws, one after another, so that she was silent as she left the den. :I have to go find Zil. I have to... I owe it to her. I have to. And I will.: