Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Phantasmagoria

Chapter 29

Lone Star

Dunes. Cacti. Shrubs. Wildlife.

These were all the sights Liam saw momentarily as the world whizzed past, bountiful landscapes that extended miles reduced to a blur. Even when the motions and rumblings occurring around him began to cease, his eyes were still glued to his surroundings, utterly captivated. Only the rhythmic taps of a finger on the window from the outside world broke his daydreaming.

The car door swung open as the figure behind the reality check revealed himself. Weary and distant hazel brown eyes would meet the boy's own identical yet jubilant pair.

"We're here."

Liam reacted instantly to this information, fiddling with his seatbelt before nearly launching himself out of his seat. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he jogged out into the open, only stopping so he could get a closer look at their surroundings. The man watching him run off chuckled a little as he slammed the door to the pickup truck closed, walking after the excited boy.

Vast, beautiful, seemingly empty to the naked eye, yet teeming with life and nature hidden among the scorched earth; this was how Liam would describe the Chihuahuan Desert. A warm wind blew through its arid lands, swaying bushy shrubs and thin yuccas, parting Liam's hair as he soaked in this new environment. The setting sun watching over the desert proved a remarkable sight as its influence washed over it, oranges and sharp blacks of cast shadows most visible throughout one's gaze.

"Amazing, isn't it?"

Liam glanced over to see his father beside him. "Yeah… It really is."

They were finally here. He was still finding it hard to believe.

Robert swept his gaze across the desert. "Used to own a book about sightseeing back in my early teens." He scratched behind his neck sheepishly. "Well, more like a picture book, 'cause reading wasn't my strong suit back then." A smile of remembrance replaced his embarrassment. "I always loved horses; wanted to ride one someday. Then I saw a bunch of photos of this part of Texas, and well… then I wanted to live out here, heh! A nice, simple life of ranching."

"It was worth the long drive here. That's for dang sure," Liam murmured.

Robert began walking forward. "We're a bit late, but I'm sure the owner of the ranch will understand."

"I hope so."

Liam rubbed the itchy bandage across his nose before following his father, who was also fiddling with the cloth bandages wrapped around an arm that was noticeably more stiff in movement than the other. Traversing paths of course dirt, it was not long until they reached their destination, the wails of distant creatures picking up as they neared.

Stretching miles across the desert, a wooden fence was erected that encased dozens of acres of land. Other than the singular ramshackle house and assortment of rundown-looking byres, the area was predominantly littered with cows, many either roaming the barren plains or grazing along with their calves and other animals in their pens.

Robert opened the gate leading into the ranch before jostling the shoulder of Liam. "Hey, why don't you head on down to that stable over there." He pointed to a modest structure at the far corner of the fenced property. "Gonna have a little chat with the owner first, and I'm sure those horses would enjoy the company."

Liam grew a wide smile at the idea. "They sure would!"

"I'll see you down there when I'm done, son."

Taking their separate paths, Robert headed over to the home in the middle of the ranch while Liam began his trip over to the stable. The boy meandered through dry and hilly fields, occasionally being approached by curious bovines. He would happily give each that crossed his path a caress under their chins before continuing on his way. After a few minutes of through such a large area, he stopped before a wooden outbuilding that was messily coated in chipped gray paint, the large double doors leading into it wide open.

'Oh shoot, I hope they won't be afraid of me,' Liam thought, his heart almost racing from newfound anxiety.

But he knew better than to be a quitter.

Putting his fears aside, the boy entered the building and was immediately assaulted with darkness. The straw-covered floorboards creaked and groaned as Liam cautiously walked further in, a small lightbulb dangling from the ceiling drawing him to the center of the expansive room. From here, he could see each pen on opposite sides that held a different equine, of which many would take interest in his arrival.

The large horses' swung their heads over the openings in the rails to investigate the young boy, a short huff or scrape of their hooves across the floor heard around the room. Liam interacted with each horse that was more welcoming towards him, rubbing their necks or scratching behind their ears. He did this all while wearing a smile for a few minutes until he happened upon one pen and its occupant in particular.

A pure white horse, almost pale.

The horse seemed wary of his presence, retreating to the back of its small enclosure and eyeing the boy. Liam moved carefully, mouthing the words of advice he had read about earlier under his breath.

"Watch the ears, watch the ears…"

Splaying his palm outward in a gesture of friendliness, he trained his eye on its twitching ears, noticing that they never were pinned back as he got closer. Knowing this was a good sign, he placed a hand onto its firm white coat, gauging its reaction to his touch as he slowly moved his hand up its neck. While he was not an expert on equine behavior, it was not hard to tell it was less afraid of him now.

"See? I'm a friend." The horse nickered softly and pushed its head into Liam's hand as he ran his fingers through its ghostly mane. "You're a really pretty horse... I wonder if-"

"Liam."

The boy perked up at the voice of his father, angling his head to see the man standing in the doorway, a curious look on his face.

"Oh, dad, look! This one is-" Liam was cut off as the white horse gave him a rough lick across the cheek. He laughed as he pulled his face from the affectionate animal, who attempted to lash him again with its tongue. "Hey, stop it!"

Robert grew a warm expression. "I see you picked your horse."

Liam's jaw almost dropped. "Wait! He really said we can…"

Robert smirked. "We'll have a few hours to ourselves, but we gotta bring 'em back before it gets too dark."

It took the boy a lot of willpower to contain his excitement, a wide smile visible on his face as he looked back at the horse who put its trust into him. However, something more pressing would surface in his mind as he looked around the messy stable, losing his joy-filled expression.

"The ranch owner, does he take good care of the animals as he should?"

"I wouldn't have come here if he didn't, son. I know you care."

A smile would return upon Liam's face.

It did not take long for them to get prepared for their outing. Two horses would emerge from the stable, affiliated with bridles, metal halters, and dusty leather saddles. While Robert proved more than capable in keeping himself steady atop his rust-colored steed, Liam found it quite difficult with his smaller stature to keep his body balanced. It was especially more daunting now that he sat on such a tall and majestic creature, the view of his surroundings from such a height a bit overwhelming. A stray thought entered his mind that he was not ready for such a task as horse riding.

But he was vehemently against giving up such a dream of his.

Liam gripped the reins of his horse, locking his feet in the leg straps of the saddle. He took a deep breath, psyching himself up for what was next to come.

"You think you've got it?" his father questioned.

Liam swallowed down his reluctance. "Uh, yep!"

"You sure?"

"Definitely…"

Robert smirked at the boy's shaky display of confidence. "Then why don't we get out of here?" He used his unbandaged arm to reach a hand down and pat the withers of his horse. "I'm betting they want a good ride as much as we do."

Liam nodded as he lightly jabbed his foot into his horse's side, Robert doing the same. The experienced equines understood this subtle command and began to trot away from the stable. This calm walk would turn into a more refined canter as they traversed through the ranch, swerving around cattle and other animals in the open fields.

Liam bit his lip as he tried his best to maintain balance, observing his father's movements in an attempt to emulate them. With each beat of the horses' hooves across the rough terrain, his heart thumped in response. Yet, he could feel his anxiety melting away second by second, replaced by this sense of wonder he always seemed to chase. He used this newfound poise to squeeze the reins of his pale horse harder as it and its orangish counterpart broke into a gallop, dashing past the fence borders of the ranch and into the untamed wilderness.

The blazing sun came down hard on them as they rode forward without a clear path, trails of dust kicked up in their wake. The gale they whipped up battered Liam's skin with the desert's heat. He embraced this brisk feeling, jerking his head to the tune of his own horse's, leaning into each sudden movement it made. In such a moment, it felt as if he could forget every negative encounter and thought before this, his mind solely focused on reaping this fleeting experience.

The boy had no idea where they were going, and he would not have wanted it any other way.

Liam nearly fell off the moving Mudsdale as he jerked back into reality with a startled gasp. Frantic and sharp looks were cast around his immediate surroundings before his initial panic settled and realization began to set in.

The Riolu blinked. 'Another memory. This was one so different, but felt just like all the rest. Maybe…' He shook his head to free his thoughts from going astray. 'There could be more memories returning like before, but I need to stay focused.'

Regaining control of his Mudsdale's reins, Liam attuned his body to the sturdy equine's movements. Squinted eyes were cast up ahead as he tried to see where his Guildmaster rode off to, only to notice a Mudsdale standing motionless in the far distance, no rider atop its saddled form. Liam tapped the withers of his Mudsdale to redirect it over to its lonesome copy, a huff being its reluctant acceptance.

Upon reaching the other Ground-type, Liam hopped off his Mudsdale and looked around, eventually settling his gaze on a familiar Pokemon just a yard away from his location. The Shiny Lucario stood among an array of wavy, sandy dunes. He appeared to be speaking into a Minun-like device, yet his words could not be deciphered from this distance. Liam bit his lip before slowly making his way over to him.

As the Riolu got closer, Jackson suddenly stuffed the ELE into his saddlebag and pulled out a different object - a wooden pipe. He peered into its open bowl before placing the stem of it into his mouth. A paw was held to the pipe's bottom before igniting into flames, burning the underside of the pipe along with the contents inside its chamber. Jackson took a long puff from the stem of the pipe and withdrew from his mouth, exhaling a smoky vapor into the air.

"Great view, isn't it?"

Liam nearly stumbled at the gruff voice. He straightened himself and stopped in his tracks, staring at the Lucario as he glanced back at him.

Jackson analyzed the pipe in his grasp. "Met a group a long time ago that gifted me this. Stuff it uses isn't as strong as what I was used to, but it's good enough." He took another long puff of it, smirking. "Nothing can beat good ole nicotine…"

"Isn't that stuff bad for you?" Liam said as he took a few curious steps forward. "I mean, you're inhaling smoke and-"

"Why are you here?"

Liam was taken aback by his shift in tone, reversing his steps. "I could ask you the same thing. Why did you break away from the group?"

Jackson went silent for a moment, twirling his pipe in one paw. "It's over."

"… What's over?"

"We have what we came here for. We have what's needed to complete the guild's mission." He shook his head. "Twenty-five years… Twenty-five years that I've searched almost every corner of Celestic for this, and I'm finding it hard to believe that this is real. I needed some time to collect myself."

Liam felt a little bad for interrupting the Lucario's personal moment. "So, uh, what are these 'artifacts' that are so important to the guild? You said they could eliminate the ley lines, but you still haven't told us anything about 'em."

"You don't need to understand now. Just know all will be clear in time."

The Riolu frowned at the lack of an actual answer. "You really can't tell us? Why?" He threw his arms up in frustration. "How come everything around here is just one big secret?"

"Did you really chase me down to get answers out of me? You'll be disappointed."

"I was… I dunno, worried? You were acting weird after we found that hidden room, so I wanted to know if you were okay. Besides, you've always looked out for me, and it's only natural I do the same."

"You don't need to worry about me, kid."

Liam's frown deepened. "Your speech was really good, though. It got everyone - even me - a lot more excited at what we found, even though we don't know anything about it."

Jackson returned to smoking his pipe. "Took a lot of practice over the years to perfect my speaking skills. To act, to think, to be someone that commands through communication, not just force."

Liam cocked an eyebrow at his claim. "But it's still real, right? You actually believe the things you say."

Jackson finally turned to face him, a mix of emotions on his face. "'Course I do, kid. But… I'm not this type of Pokemon." Grey smoke departed from his lips and drifted upward. "I had to learn how to be a leader, when all my life I've been someone that only obeyed themselves." He turned back around and waved a free paw. "If you're not gonna go back with the others, then you might as well stay a while."

Liam took up on his offer and further approached the Lucario, now standing beside him. His eyes glazed over the land surrounding them with intrigue. It was expansive and seemingly empty, yet he knew it was brimming with potential life and mystery. Jackson gazed up at the sky, staring at the night's stars that were creeping into view among the sunset's colorful hue.

"You know, before I was a Guildmaster or even a criminal and a wanted man, I wanted to be someone else; an astronaut."

Liam looked at him funny. "An astro…naut?" he mouthed the alien yet strangely familiar word. "What is that?"

A rare smile grew across Jackson's face. "It's someone that breaks free of the limitations around us. Someone that's brave enough to go where no one has gone before." He rose a paw high into the air and clenched it tightly, as if he wanted to grasp the stars above. "Was my dream as a kid. Journeying across the stars and distant planets, not bound by anything."

Liam pictured in his mind such a life, how outlandish it seemed to be, yet how exciting it sounded. He would never have imagined that the Guildmaster, as rough and stern as he was, would dream of something so whimsical in his youth. The Riolu opened his mouth to comment, only for the swirls of blue and yellow consuming his vision to rip his attention away from the present.

"Let's stop here for a bit, Liam. Give 'em a little rest."

"Aww… But yeah, they deserve it."

The speed of the two horses' began to reduce before they came to a complete stop. Robert quickly hopped off his steed to stretch his legs, Liam reluctantly following suit, giving a thankful pat on his pale horse's withers as he stepped away from it. He observed the tall and treacherous rock formations that surrounded them, wondering just how far they had ridden into the desert already.

Robert walked over to the edge of a modest cliff. "I'll be honest, I lied just a bit to you." He reached into the pockets of his pants and procured a small box, flipping open its top. "They probably don't need a break, but I do."

A cigarette was lifted from the box and placed into Robert's mouth as he pulled out a lighter and flicked it open to reveal its thin flame. A quick light of the cigarette was all he needed as he pulled it away from his lips and let loose a smoky vapor into the air, a relieving sigh escaping him not long after.

Liam noticed and scowled at the sight. "I thought you quit? Mom said-"

"I know," Robert interrupted, almost ashamed as he took another drag. "And I was, but… you know. Things happened."

A long silence overtook them, frequented by trails of smoke entering the orange and pink-hued skies. When the man was finished smoking, he instinctively flicked the cigarette butt onto the ground and stomped on it. Liam frowned and bent down to pick up the cigarette's remains, holding it away from him as if it was radioactive.

"You shouldn't do that, dad. These things do a lot of harm to the environment."

"Sorry, son, force of habit." Robert took the cigarette butt and stuffed it into a pocket, his eyes fixated on Liam. "Even after everything that's happened, you still want to be a park ranger, don't you?"

The boy smiled. "Of course I do! That's always been my goal! But…" He sat down next to his father, legs swinging off the cliff's edge. "I still have to go back to school and do all the stuff I missed after I was taken out. Do all those boring tests and junk."

"Thought you didn't like school?"

Liam rested his cheek on a hand, a pouting expression on his face. "Yeah, it was really boring, and some of the kids were really mean; calling me 'treehugger' and other stuff, but I think I miss seeing other kids. And I'm tired of staying inside that stupid apartment all day."

"I know. Trust me, I don't want you without an education out here; I know how rough that is from experience."

Reticence ruled again, but was opposed by the boy's natural curiosity.

"Dad, did you always want to be a cop?"

Robert took a seat and looked up at the sky, searching his memories. "Yeah. Ever since I was left in the orphanage, I kinda just gravitated to it over time. When you're with people that want to help you find yourself in this world, you want to help them back. Being a police officer is like that - well, besides the paperwork." He chuckled softly. "But you get the picture. I always wanted to help people, and it just fit."

"Yeah, I do."

Liam could draw many comparisons between his father's ideal job and his own. Nature was his calling, be it because of its beauty or its freedom. As much as he wanted to explore it, he wanted to protect and maintain its majesty. It was no doubt a dream of his to fulfill that role, but he had yet to attain it, certainly not with their current conditions.

Liam looked over at his father. "Dad… You ever think you could go back to being a cop?"

Robert was caught off guard at this question as he averted his gaze. "Liam, that's…" He sighed. "With the way things are now, there's no chance of me ever returning to the force. And even if I could, I just wouldn't."

The boy was disheartened to hear such a claim. All his life he had known his father to be a prominent member of the community; always returning home with a hearty smile and plenty of stories of his daily encounters to tell over dinner. He had longed for those days, not even realizing at the time how impactful they felt.

"So that's it? It's just... over?"

Robert nodded. "It's for the best, son." He returned the boy's saddened look. "But even if I can't go back and change what I did, it won't be the same for you. If you want to go back to school, then I'll make that happen when this is all over."

"When will this be all over?" Liam spoke up. "When will things be safe enough? When can we finally go back home?"

Robert stared at him for a while before he stood up, grunting as his stiff and bandaged arm moved with him. "... Let's get going. Better to not waste so much of our time."

Anger and frustration briefly flashed Liam's face before he relented to his father's words and got back up on his feet. They wordlessly returned to their horses' and hopped back onto their saddles, a light kick into their sides enough to spur a whinny out of them as they galloped back into the setting sun.

"Kid."

Liam blinked, glancing over at Jackson. "Huh?"

"I asked you a question."

The Riolu grew an embarrassed blush. "Uh, do you mind repeating it?"

"Before you were the Pokemon you are now, can you remember what you wanted to do with your life?"

Liam could immediately piece together both the recent memories and past ones that illustrated the ideals of his youthful self. "I remember… From what I can tell, I wanted to be some sort of park or forest ranger?"

Jackson withdrew the pipe from his mouth, blowing away wisps of smoke. "A park ranger… Yeah, I could see that. Maybe you'd become something like after the guild closes."

"The guild closing?" Liam was astonished.

"Once we complete the guild's goal and eliminate the ley lines from this world, there won't be a need for the guild anymore."

"Oh…"

"But tell me, when it does happen, what do you imagine yourself doing afterward?"

Liam contemplated such a question, almost unsure himself. He had been in the guild for nearly his entire time within Celestic, and it was hard to imagine his life outside of it, mostly since all his free time seemed to be eaten up by it. Yet, there was a yearning inside of him that grew each time he laid eyes upon the wondrous world around him.

"Well, there's lots of things I've wanted to do that you just can't do while you're in the guild." A smiling Liam spread his arms out. "Like, exploring all the parts of Celestic that I haven't been to yet, and I've only seen the Meadow and Grit regions so far!"

"And what about that girl you're partnered with?" Jackson took another puff of his pipe. "She okay with that?"

"Gloria? She'd be okay with it… I think. I'd still want for us to be a team, of course. We're great together, so why shouldn't we stick together?" Liam bit his lip, wanting to switch focus over. "So, uh, what about you? If the guild really does, what are you gonna do?"

Jackson's paw ring glowed as he gazed up at the dusky sky. "Once this is all finished, there's not much left for me out there."

"What do you mean? Isn't your exploration team, like world famous? You could probably be one of those 'astronauts' if you really wanted to!"

Jackson scoffed. "You don't need to worry about me, kid, only yourself. I'll be satisfied enough once this is all over, and only then will I rest." He dropped his wooden pipe back into the saddlebag slung around his shoulder. "Come on, there's something I want to show you."

"We're not going back to the others? Wouldn't they be worried?"

Jackson began walking over to the Mudsdales'. "Scizor knows. Let's get a move on before night hits."

Liam opened his mouth to retort, but it died in his throat as he moved to follow. However, the curls of blue and yellow would envelop his vision yet again.

"Woah! Check it out, dad!"

"Keep your distance, son."

"Oh, I know, but look at it!"

Liam's mouth was parted in fascination as he crouched low to the ground, getting a better look at the animal before him - a hissing snake. It was tightly coiled up in a defensive position, poking its head out from the bundle of rough scales and baring its venom-laced fangs. A rattling noise carried across the desert as the end of the snake's tail intensely vibrated, daring the two beings that disturbed it to come closer.

"A western diamondback rattlesnake," Liam murmured, wary of the length between him and the snake. "One bite and that could be it." He shot a look of amazement at his father. "Amazing, right?"

Robert gripped the boy's shoulder and reeled him back slightly. "Which is why you shouldn't get too close."

"Let me just sketch it first!"

Robert chuckled to himself and strayed away as the boy whipped out a notebook, flipping through full pages of notes on flora and fauna before finding a free page to conceive his drawing. Meanwhile, Robert walked over to the edge of the cliff they were on, peering off into the distance. He waited for Liam to complete his rendition of the snake before it slithered away, fighting off the urge to reach into his pocket for another round.

"Hey, you done over there?" he shouted. "You'd like to see this!"

"Finishing up now!"

True to his word, Liam appeared by his side a moment later to view what his father spoke of, and it did not disappoint. Like a true oasis, a grand lake of salt water formed between the ridges of tall and rigid mesas, shrouded by bushy oaks and thorny cacti. Colored a clear aqua blue, the sunset granted its surface an orangish sheen that sparkled in the dim light.

"It's not the Rio Grande, but good enough, you thi-"

The boy was already descending the cliff before his father could finish his sentence.

Robert chuckled as he followed. "Guess it is."

Liam strolled up to the rocky shore. "It's so peaceful…" Realizing the potential here, he bent down to search for a flat stone in a bed of pebbles. Once he found the perfect one, he cocked back his throwing arm before snapping his wrist, the stone flying from his grasp and skipping across the calm lake. "Twelve skips! That's my best yet!"

"Trying to beat my record?"

"You could only do eight!"

Robert watched Liam from the sidelines as he attempted to best his throws. "This lake reminds me a lot of your cousin's lake house. Do you remember that place? All those times we took you there?"

Liam halted his game as he racked his brain. He did remember - the countless joys and fun experiences he had there, even with people he barely knew. The sunny days of swimming in the lake to avoid the heat, the warm, muggy nights of dancing fireflies in the starry skies while he and his cousins played until dinner rang. He was always sad when he had to leave after the weekend was over, hoping there was just another hour or two to linger in the moment.

"It's been years since we've been there," Liam mumbled. "But it's still so clear in my mind, like it was just yesterday."

Robert nodded, "I remember standing from the porch with your uncle - a nice cold beer in our hands as we watched you and his kids swim in the lake. Oh, and your mother…" He shook his head. "She always wore the most beautiful summer dress. The auburn color and the way it swayed in the wind with her hair just accented everything about her. That-"

A muffled vibrating noise erupted from Robert's pocket, shattering his growing smile as he muttered an inaudible curse and pulled out the buzzing phone from its confinement. He flipped it open and placed it to his ear, before snapping it closed only a second later, letting loose a sigh.

"Who was that?" Liam asked.

"Work."

The boy frowned at the hollow tone in his father's voice. "Is it bad?"

"It's nothing you need to be worried about."

"… It's more dangerous stuff, right?"

"…"

"You can at least tell me about it. You can trust-"

"That's enough. Just drop it."

Liam whirled around, "But I want to know!" He scowled at the man. "After what happened, don't you think I deserve that?"

Robert avoided the boy's gaze as he looked away. "We came here to forget these things, son. It's best for you not to get involved."

"… Can we really forget if we have to go back home to it?"

"It doesn't matter. I have to deal with this myself, not you or anyone else. Please…"

Liam approached him, "How can you say that when it affects us both?" Tears began to well up in his eyes. "What about mom? Did she know about this before…" His last words were stuck in his throat, unwilling to come out.

Robert finally returned the hurt-filled stare, his silence palpable before he relented. "… Do you really want to know?"

Liam nodded with a sniffle.

"Then you'll get the full story, the true one I never even told your mother..."

"We're here," Jackson said, walking away and throwing a paw up. "Follow me, kid."

Liam leapt from his Mudsdale's saddle, a myriad of emotions flashing across his face. He managed to shove them all down as he trudged behind the Shiny Lucario, who stopped upon reaching a strange rock formation alongside a dusty trail. Surrounding it were numerous other remnants of stone structures and pillars crumbled into rubble, all except one statue. The rock of it was carved into the likeness of a Golem, its smooth surface long since eroded away by sand and time.

"It's, uh, a statue?" Liam said, a bit unimpressed.

"More than that, kid. Take a better look."

The Riolu moved in closer to heed his advice, his eyes widening as he now saw dozens of small scrawls upon the rocky plates of the Pokemon statue. "Woah! These are all the names of Pokemon and exploration teams!"

"You see anything familiar?"

Liam squinted as he scanned more of the rock, until his eyes landed up one etched in name. "Team Moonlight… That's your team."

Jackson nodded, "It's been a century-old tradition for Pokemon to mark their exploration names on this statue when they first arrive in this region." He slid a paw across the faux Golem. "Though, I wonder if it's still here after all these years…"

"What's still here?"

Jackson kneeled and began to dig through the cracked earth in front of the statue. Liam stared in bemusement as the Lucario kept digging until his paws hit something solid. Carefully, an old and worn wooden chest was pulled from the sands, thrust towards Liam.

"Open it."

Liam reluctantly agreed to the task, taking it off the Lucario's paws as he quite literally cracked open the box in an attempt to lift its crumbling hood. Inside were numerous trinkets and an assortment of seemingly junk. He sifted through rotting Blast and Stun seeds until he pulled out a rather large rectangular object at the chest's bottom, confused with what exactly it was.

"Flip it over, kid."

Liam realized his mistake and did just that, shocked at what he saw. It was a painting - a portrait of Team Moonlight in their younger ages. Though the colorful paint had been washed out or chipped off over time, he could still clearly make out its intentions. A satchel-wearing Scyther hovered in the middle of a sparsely lit wooden room, an almost blank but determined look across its face. On the Scyther's left side was a Chameleon wearing a confident smirk as it posed and crossed its arms. The last Pokemon depicted on Scyther's right was a Shiny Lucario that had thrown an arm around the Scyther as it smiled at the unseen artist behind the painting.

"This is you," Liam said. "And Scizor and Charizard."

Jackson took a look at the painting for himself, exhaling in thought. "Oh yeah, this brings me back... We had just completed our first few missions and made our team official after what happened at Areos Village." He tapped the painting. "A Smeargle who we did a mission for offered this as a reward instead of Pokè, and we took that offer."

"But why is this here of all places? And why is it buried beside a statue?"

"As I said, exploration teams came here to leave their mark, and we wanted to take that up a notch. We came here to this region to get that Excadrill's help to dig all the way to the ley lines, and this was our first stop." Jackson took the rest of the wooden chest from Liam, peeking inside. "We decided to come back for this box together at a later date, but more than twenty years later… it's just a forgotten memory now."

Liam continued to analyze the painting, noticing all the differences of the Lucario in the painting and the one beside him now. The past one that held such a contagious smile and lacked the stern, aloof visage of the Lucario now. Liam attempted to piece together the small bits of past that his Guildmaster would give to him, yet struggled to complete the full picture of the man in his mind.

Something felt off, and it did not make sense to him.

"Your wife..."

Jackson's demeanor suddenly shifted as he tossed what remained of the box into the sands behind them. "... What about her?"

Liam gulped, knowing to broach carefully. "You said that she, um, died. When was that? Did this all happen before Team Moonlight, or after?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"You only told me about her, right? That's what you said back then at the guild. So, what actually happened with-"

"You're crossing a line, kid," Jackson suddenly spat, baring his teeth. "Drop it."

Liam flinched in shock and took a step back as he reconsidered his next words. But after looking back down at the painting he held, he decided he would not back away. Swallowing down his respite, he doubled down on his intentions to learn more.

"I… I won't. I've shared everything I've known about myself, who I thought I was before I lost my memory. Don't I at least deserve to know about who you were?"

"You wouldn't like to know me, kid. And it's best you don't."

"But I do!" Liam shouted, regaining the step he initially took back, staring at the Lucario. "If I'm really the only one to know this side of you, then when will you stop being so secretive and just tell me the whole truth?"

Jackson went silent for a moment as he averted his gaze and stared at the nothingness of the desert encircling them. A flickering of the orange ring on his paw would spur him to finally speak. "You really want to know, don't you?"

Liam retained his flinty stare on Jackson.

"... Then we got to go all the way back. Before the guild, before Team Moonlight."

The many plateaus of reddish mesas and orangish cliffs were the predominant resting spot for a man and a child after a long hike up them. Their sore and resting feet dangled off the rugged edges that overlooked the desert's many valleys and plains.

"You remember when I told you about how kids from my orphanage would sometimes start forest fires?"

"Yeah, I do," Liam said, swinging his legs.

"That was me."

The boy whipped his head around to glare at his father. "You really did that?!" His appalled tone softened, posture slackening. "… Why?"

Robert wetted his dry lips as he formulated a response. "I was in that place for nearly seventeen years. When you're in these kinds of places almost your entire life, losing your precious years of childhood, you get mad. I was always angry in that place, and most of it was put onto my parents who I never even knew. So, I took all that anger out on the things around me - the staff, other kids, and yeah, even the environment." He shook his head. "No surprise that any family didn't want to deal with me, but that still wasn't the end of it."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I eventually began doing petty crime. Stealing things around the orphanage, maybe some stuff around the block. But that still wasn't enough; later on in my teens, I started getting into gang activity, robbing local banks - that stuff."

Liam was stunned. "And you did all of that stuff because you were mad?"

"It wasn't just anger, son. I felt… alive." Robert felt his gaze drawn to the blazing sky. "it was the first time I experienced what felt like a real life outside of the orphanage. It's hard to see that now, but when I was younger, that was how I saw it. I thought life was cruel and pointless, because why would any god leave me in a place with no reason? The crime for me was just an escape, until…"

"Until what…?"

Robert's face morphed into multiple expressions as his mouth opened and closed. "Until… Until I killed someone."

Liam's eyes grew wide, leaning back and staring at the man as if he did not know him anymore. "You k-killed someone?! Why-"

Robert settled him down with a raise of a hand. He then heaved a sigh as he began to recount his past again. "The dates fuzzy to me, but it was around May in 1987. Me and another guy had just finished robbing some small bank the day before. Think it was called Charleston First - whatever. But there was another person involved, some kid almost the same age as me. He was supposed to be crowd control, making sure it went all smooth and fast. But he never showed up on the day we were supposed to do it; apparently got cold feet or something - doesn't matter."

"What happened to him?"

"… The day after we did the robbery, me and the guy I did it with tracked him down." Robert rubbed his eyes, gritting his teeth at the coming thoughts. "Cornered him in some alleyway and grilled him for what he did. I… I remember being so angry at him that I pulled out the pistol from my pocket and…" He clenched a hand, forcing the next painful words. "And I shot him. He fell in an instant - not even a cry of pain. I only realized what I did a minute after, and we ran away before the police arrived."

"… Is that what made you quit?"

Robert nodded shamefully, "It was only after what happened that made me see what that type of life did to me. I did run away from South Carolina. I did change my name. I did meet your mother, and we did move back here to start a new life." His hand found the boy's shoulder. "I never lied about that, son."

Liam sniffled as fresh tears manifested. "But you didn't explain. If you did all of that to get away, then why did mom die?"

The man's sorrow-filled eyes fell upon the boy's. "It was because my past eventually caught up with me."

A gentle clopping noise could be heard as two Mudsdales' trotted side-by-side on the warm sands with a Lucario and a Riolu in tow. They would briefly give one another a wordless exchange, a roll of their eyes being a suitable response to their current situation.

"I was about seventeen years old before I really got into the game," Jackson said. "Before, it was just small shit you'd get a slap on the wrist for."

Liam blinked away traces of emotion in his eyes, looking over at Jackson. "'The game'? What's that?"

"Something you could never really stop playing," the Lucario remarked. "Organized crime - Getting your hands dirty the right way - that sort of game." He patted the withers of his Mudsdale, jumping off once it came to a complete stop.

Liam replicated his action as he also jumped down from the equine Pokemon. "You mentioned it a few times, but never really explained it. What did you do exactly? Steal Pokè from some caravan like most outlaws?"

"A better question would be what I didn't do, kid."

They gravitated to the sunken bed of a river whose water had long since dried up, now a sandy pathway with stones lining it. It led nowhere in particular, the setting sun hitting their backs as they walked further down it.

"I was more than some common thief," Jackson elaborated. "I was someone that ran an entire city network from the shadows. Robberies, extortion, smuggling - anything. For a long time, I considered myself a king- No." He stopped himself, a proud pitch replacing his flat voice. "I thought of myself as a god. That I was invincible, and no man could reach what I built. It was never about the money to me, but the power and initiative involved. If you were not working with me, or under me, then you were to be removed in time."

"Is it, uh, normal to feel like that when you're an outlaw?" Liam said, feeling a bit unnerved after his recital.

"No, kid. But when I was young, alone, uncaring of the cruel world around me, that's what I felt." Jackson scoffed at his past self. "I turn fifty-six next month… All I see now is that young me was driven by adrenaline, chaos, chasing something pointless. But by the time I figured that out, it was already too late."

"But you're here now," Liam said. "So it wasn't too late to get out, right?"

Jackson shook his head. "It doesn't work like that, kid. No one leaves on their own terms, not alive at least. It'll chase you to the ends of the earth."

"… Did you ever hurt any Pokémon? Like, kill them?"

Jackson halted his steps. Liam did not need a straight answer to know the truth when he also stopped in his tracks to stare at the Lucario's unwavering expression. Yet, he would get one regardless.

"March 24th, 1989 - one of those dates you just don't forget." Jackson met Liam's gaze. "That was the day I first killed someone. One of my rivals out on the street - over in an instant - made not even a sound. He knew the risks of what he was doing, but even then, it still affects you. It eats away at you in the back of your mind, and it did to me for many years." He sharply inhaled and exhaled. "I still remember his face, how scared he was before I took my shot."

Liam's disturbed expression supplanted his confusion at the strange date his Guildmaster gave him, queasiness churning in his stomach. He was finding it hard to believe that the Pokémon beside him had taken a life, and perhaps many more over the years. He was not sure if he should be angry or upset, or if that even mattered now. He knew he was missing a giant piece of the puzzle that the Guildmaster held close, and that seemed more important to figure out.

He simply wanted to know the truth, which he was slowly getting.

Liam forced down these strange feelings like many times before, returning to walk the aimless road. "Can you tell me more about your wife?"

A smile began to grow across Jackson's face as his orange paw ring gleamed vibrantly. "My wife… My wallflower. She was that beacon of light through my own darkness."

"Your mother, Angelica, she was the best thing that ever happened to me. Well, besides you, son," Robert quickly corrected with a sad smile.

Liam huddled his legs close to his chest. "Did she ever know who you really were once?"

"No. She never knew, and I intended to keep it that way. My reasons were... selfish. I wanted this life between me and her to be perfect, something I could never seem to have before. But if I knew what would've happened to her had I continued the charade, I would've explained in an instant so you and her could be safe."

Liam's nostrils flared, his narrowed gaze focusing on the ground. "... The people that took mom from us, who are they?"

Robert glanced at him, sighing. "That's what this whole thing has been about, son."

"What thing?"

"My 'work'." Robert moved to position himself in front of Liam, making sure the boy's eyes were fixated solely on him. "I've been trying to find your mother's killers, and to guarantee your safety from these people as well."

Liam could not believe this information. "But I thought you said the police couldn't help us?"

"... I had my own ways, Liam. Past connections that could maybe help me figure out something I didn't."

It did not take long for Liam to catch on to what his father insinuated. "… You became a criminal again. Right? That's what you're telling me."

Robert stepped back. "In a way, yeah. But this wasn't- isn't for money or anything except promising your safety."

"Safety from who?" Liam insisted. "Why can't we just tell the police what's happening? You were one-"

"I won't." Robert shook his head. "They can't help us, son. These… 'men' that came for your mother, they're not afraid of the police or any repercussions."

"So what makes you think you can stop them?"

Robert hesitated a moment, bowing his head. "... And you're right, Liam. It was stupid of me to involve myself." A peculiar look was cast the man's way, who continued. "And it wasn't just me; you had to experience what happened that night, and I can never forgive myself for letting that happen in the first place."

Liam touched the bandage across his nose, a flurry of memories he tried so hard to bury resurfacing in his mind. All he could remember that day were windows being shattered by loud bangs, and stray pieces of glass slicing him as his father forced him to crawl along the floor to safety. Even now his limbs quaked at reliving that terrifying experience, a hitch appearing in his breath.

They had come here so he could forget that encounter, but it was apparent now that there was no escaping it.

"I know you're scared, son." Robert moved in to land a hand on Liam's shoulder. "… I'm scared, too. But I want you to get through this. I want you to come out of this stronger than before."

"I just," Liam's voice was choked up, "I just don't know why this all had to happen."

"Mistakes, son." Robert lowered his head again. "If I could go back and erase every mistake I made before meeting your mother, I would." His head rose. "… But I can't, and that's what makes us human."

Liam's paw slid off his bandaged nose as he stared blankly off into the distance. Wavy, sandy dunes stretched as far as the eye could see; bare and desolate, embraced by the lowering sun's wrath.

Jackson approached from behind, standing beside him. "My wife understood me; knew me inside and out. All the hate and ugliness that I was, she accepted that. At the same time, I accepted her own flaws, but… she was angelic in my eyes."

Liam wiped away his troubled grimace. "You said she tried to change you before."

The Lucario nodded. "She was passionate and determined in her ways to 'fix' me. She was like Peitho; tempting me to see something I just couldn't. But then," his eyes became glazed over, "she struck something in me. Something I can't ever get rid of."

"... Fatherhood, right?"

"... It was hard to imagine at the time, but there was a real chance. A real chance of me being a father." Jackson turned his back on Liam and clenched his paws as he took a few steps away, desiring a space to act out. "At first I was against it, but that… that fucking woman." His paws pounded his head, held against his skull. "She saw something in me, and I gave in to her words. I was hopeful, ready to put my past all behind me. I was ready to begin my new life, and then…" His voice reduced into a hoarse whisper. "And then he was taken from me."

"Your son - Apollo."

Jackson faced Liam, eyes brimming with restrained emotion. "What kind of god would just allow a beautiful baby boy to die… before he's even lived?" His head shook. "No god. No god at all."

Liam held a bated breath, finding any response to be pointless. All he could muster was a sympathetic look as the Lucario ambled towards him in his stiff steps.

"It was never the same since. Our love was unbreakable but was silent. I didn't realize how much that broke me, but it did. I became only a weapon after that, fulfilling the role I created." Jackson paused. "She moved on, accepted it. But I… I could never accept something like that."

Liam bit his lip and took a single step forward. He decided that now was his chance to confront the man. "Even when I first entered the guild, you acted strange - the way you looked at me at times. And even before that, when you decided to take me and Gloria in, did you know something I didn't? And on Celestial Mountain…"

A noticeable growl came from Jackson as the Riolu took another step, his twitching eyes boring into Liam.

"You told me about the son you never had, his name. And when I think about it, all that training you did for me, why you only took me in your group, and what you said about pretending… It all makes sense now. You did all of that because you thought I could be your son; I could be Apo-"

A steadfast punch straight into Liam's chest forced him to drop to his knees and wheeze for air. His pained and confused look shot upwards at the culprit. Jackson knelt to meet the gasping Riolu's level, a furious and twisted scowl claiming his features.

"Don't you ever think you're comparable to him, YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!" the Lucario roared, words laced with venom. "You're just a naive and stupid fucking kid, who knows nothing! Some… husk she sent to haunt me!" After a moment of silence between the two, Jackson straightened himself and gave one last look at Liam before backing up and storming away.

Liam remained petrified for a moment. Only when the pain in his chest settled did he push himself back up. Yet, his breathing grew ragged as he watched Jackson leave. His paws were clutched tight, blinding anger visible through his gritting teeth.

Instinct called, and he answered.

Liam emitted a loud snarl and charged toward the Lucario, who did not take another step as the Riolu tackled into him, sending them tumbling down a sandy hill. Once at the bottom, grunts could be heard as they fought for control over one another, one clearly more ferocious than the other. Liam attempted to throw a wild punch, only for it to meet air. Every frenzied action of his was countered, eventually leaving him flat onto the ground, his arms pinned by Jackson, unable to budge. The area grew quiet once more, Liam resorting to calming himself as Jackson stared down at him, ultimately leaning in to speak.

"You are broken. You are cursed. You are everything that I am. Because we're the same." Jackson stood up, dusted himself off, and began to walk away again.

Liam laid in the sand as intrusive thoughts surrounded him, like many times before. He blinked, a sudden epiphany overwhelming his senses. He slowly stood up, wearing a dazed expression as he turned to the Lucario. His mouth parted, "All these cryptic things you say, the things you've told me about. I didn't understand any of it at first, but now I do. You say that we're the same, because…"

A deep breath was taken as Liam took another step.

"Because you're human... like me."

Jackson stopped, a rush of dusty winds sailing through the area before he glanced back. "So you figured it out. But that's not the only similarity we have, kid."

"So that's the truth, then. All this time... you knew. You knew about me, but you didn't say anything."

"I guess I didn't, kid."

"… Why?"

"…"

Liam anticipated a response as Jackson fully turned around.

Robert took a long inhale of his cigarette, a sigh following a billow of smoke. " Did you know that I'm only thirty years old, Liam? Turn thirty-one next month. You and I aren't so far apart in age, you know that?"

Liam lobbed a rock with a swing of his arm, watching it tumble down a sandy cliff in the distance. "Mom did always say you looked older." He managed a small smile, thinking of past memories. "I remember when I was really young and thought you were really angry with her."

Robert chuckled bitterly. "She always liked getting under my skin like that, but I enjoyed it. She was so lively; would brighten a room just by entering." He took another long drag. "Best believe she would've teased June as much as she did to you."

At the mention of his little sister that never was, Liam's fists clenched, fingernails digging into his skin. "She should've been here… June - her and mom. They should be here right now, enjoying this."

"I know, son." Robert smothered his cigarette into the ground, pocketing it and closing his eyes in shame. "This is all my fault. I've ruined that chance at a new life I was given, that perfect family we had. And I didn't stop there… I just had to ruin other lives. "

"What do you mean by that?"

Robert fought back tears as he threw his head up at the sky. "… When I got back into this twisted game, there was a kid working with me. Only twenty years old; throwing away his life just to provide for his sister all the way across the country, in Seattle. He wasn't like the others around him, but I could see their influence on him." He wrung his hands together. "I only wanted to help him escape this life, not be consumed by it, but when everything went to shit, and he needed help the most, I… I let him give in." He looked at Liam, almost staring past him. "He's dead now because of me."

"... How many people have gotten hurt since you got involved again?" Liam mumbled, horrified at his account.

Robert wilted at the boy's gaze. "Countless. The things I've done, what I've seen. I want to get away, get away from everything." He shook his head. "But I'm trapped, son. I've gone too deep, and there's no returning or running now, not like before."

"But that can't be true!" Liam suddenly yelled, shoving his father's unbandaged arm. "We… We can go somewhere! We can leave South Carolina, even! Go-"

"No, Liam. There's no escaping these people. There's no escaping from what I have to deal with."

A thoroughly vexed Liam whirled around at his words, knees hitting the sands as reality began to enclose him. The shimmering lake where they fished, the misty mountains of Appalachia that they climbed, and the vast desert that surrounded them; they were all just beautiful distractions, hollow husks of memories. No matter how hard the boy tried to forget and move on, he could never. Mrs. Lachaise had told him of this, how these feelings were understandable yet unavoidable.

But now he could not even see her anymore.

He picked up a stone and looked to throw it, yet instead squeezed it with all his might, releasing his frustrations into it. There were so many feelings rolling inside him - anger, sadness, fear. He was too weak to prevent anything that happened to his family, only able to watch as it crumbled before him. Not even a crack appeared in the stone as he attempted to compress it into nothingness.

A hand was then rested on his shoulder. "I've realized how much of a monster I am, Liam. If you choose to hate me forever for what I've put you through, I accept that."

"I... I don't." Liam sniffled, feeling the tears coming. "You're not a monster. You're my dad."

"And I wish I could be that till the end of time, son."

Liam did not realize the stone in his grasp was breaking until it was crushed into dozens of pieces. He watched the pile of newly created pebbles fall from his paws. "How long have you had all your memories?" he asked the Pokemon beside him.

Jackson summoned a Fire Punch and held his flaming paw beneath the bottom of his wooden pipe, taking a puff of its stem not long after. "Right before the guild was created," he said, white smoke trailing his words. "The perspective it gave me of everything before that moment was… overwhelming." His orange paw ring flickered. "But I pressed on, doing what was necessary and required of me."

"You kept this entire side of you to yourself for two decades?"

Jackson slowly nodded, glancing over. "Tell me, kid. Have you told that girl you're partnered with about the true you yet?"

"Gloria? She…" Liam frowned. "She doesn't deserve to deal with what I have to go through."

Jackson scoffed, "Yeah, that's what I first thought, too. Pushed away every Pokemon I knew as a result, because I believed them knowing the truth would be too much. Sound familiar?"

Liam's gaze met the sands.

"You don't realize you've destroyed things before they're already gone, kid. Everything you've bottled up just... explodes."

Liam's head eventually rose. "So, what's it like to be human? Besides the fingers, clothes, and weird moving machines, what's really being one? Can you remember that?"

Jackson went silent to think. "To be human is to fuck up. To have every opportunity to change fly past you. And when you realize it, it's already too late." He took one last puff of his pipe before bringing the arm holding it back and tossing it over the hill in front of them. "But any Pokemon could say the same."

"So then what's really the difference between us and Pokemon?"

"…"

Liam did not need to hear words to know his answer. Moments later, the Lucario turned to stare at him, his distressed gaze seemingly looking past the Riolu.

"My soul is a cancer… I have lived, died, and lived again." He held out his arms, analyzing them like they were not his own. "This fur I wear, this creature I am now, it doesn't matter when the person inside it stays the same."

Liam swallowed, a certain dryness in his throat. "... Did you really mean it? That I was a 'husk'? That I'm just nothing, and unlike the Pok- human that I was?"

"I'd say that'd be up to you, kid, but it isn't. You're a husk of nothingness one moment, and then you're not."

"What do you mean?"

"You will remember your true self, just as fragments before have appeared. But soon... you will remember everything."

"I- I will?" Liam could tell by his somber tone that the Lucario did not consider this a good thing. "You really mean that, don't you?"

"Wouldn't say it otherwise, kid. And when you do, then it really begins."

The gears in Liam's head began to turn. "… Do you know why we're here?"

Jackson fell quiet again. "Kid, that's something you couldn't even begin to understand. No… I'll spare you from that. You deserve at least that much."

Liam gritted his teeth at yet another barrier the man set up. "What? What do you mean I wouldn't understand?!" Another urge to tackle the man again for answers grew, but he knew it was fruitless to attempt it.

"This is something I have to bear." Jackson straightened himself, fighting back his tears. "I've already accepted my place in this cruel world, and I can only hope it leads me to some sort of salvation." His sullen look bored into the dismayed Riolu. "We were promised that."

"... Wait. Aren't we in this together? As humans!" Liam tried to reason as the Lucario wordlessly trudged away. "Why aren't you telling me anything again? Didn't you say we're the same?!" he yelled desperately.

Liam took a step forward and opened his mouth to shout again, only to be pulled into another memory.

"You need to know something, Liam." Robert straightened himself as tears welled in his eyes. His good arm stretched forward, a hand lying on the boy's shoulders, who recoiled at the contact. "You need to know that whatever happens to me, that I never gave up on you. You and your mother were always in my heart no matter what."

"... Whatever happens to you?" the boy struggled to repeat.

Robert's next words were choked. "I had so much fun teaching you how to fish, hike, horse ride. Things I never had a father to ever do with me. I only wish that I could have done so much more with you."

Liam jostled the hand off his shoulder, lightly pushing the man to get his attention. "But you're not going away! We're gonna beat these guys! Right?" The lack of a response spurred the boy to push him again. "Right?! Tell me you are!"

"I… I can't, Liam. They'll get me - they will eventually - but I'll never let them take you. I need you to know…" Robert finally broke, tears streaming down his face. "I need you to know, and accept, that one day in the future… you might not have a father around anymore."

The boy ferociously shook his head. "No, no, no!" His sniffles turned into audible sobs as tears clouded his vision. "You can't just d-die! I already lost m-mom, and I c-can't lose you, too!" He moved in to pound the man's chest again, but instead fell into an embrace, his arms wrapped tight around his father as if not wanting to let go.

"I'm so sorry, son… " Robert wrapped his arms around him in a protective manner and held him close. A hand of his ran through the boy's short, brown hair. "I'm so sorry," he muttered, knowing it was never enough.

"P-Please don't l-leave me… Please!" Liam's shaky voice devolved into muffled crying as he buried his face into his father's side.

"I'm sorry…"

Liam stood speechless as the Lucario continued to stumble away, his expression permanently fixed with despair. A single tear escaped him, sliding down his cheek. All attempts to speak died in his throat.

Before Jackson could reach the patiently waiting Mudsdales', he glanced back to look at the Riolu one last time. Liam could tell there was pain, grief, and guilt lurking in his red orbs; an expression he had seen countless times in the Pokemon before.

"You will remember everything. You will remember every fleeting moment of happiness, every ounce of suffering you have endured. There's no escaping it." Jackson reeled back his look and peered up at the many stars now coming into view. "There won't be a time for us to talk in the future once you remember. But maybe when this is all over… you'll look at me in a different light, and we'll start over again."

With his parting words, Jackson hopped on a Mudsdale, waiting expectantly for Liam to follow along. Realizing there was nothing else to be said or argued against, Liam slowly copied the actions of his Guildmaster. Clambering onto the saddle of his own Mudsdale, Liam awaited the signal, and when it was sent, they started moving. Sinking lower and lower in the sky, the wavering sun highlighted the two equine Pokemon as they galloped across treacherous valleys, barren fields of cacti and cracked earth, and endless dunes of sand.

So many emotions boiled inside Liam's mind as they rode; anger, sadness, frustration. Yet, he never felt fear. The unknown was something that excited him, and even despite realizing he knew very little of the truth that was kept away from him, it stopped him none. If anything, he came out of this stronger than ever, more determined than ever to prove that he was not what the Guildmaster thought - a 'husk'.

'I am a Pokemon. I am a human... I'm alive, and I'm a person. I'm here for a purpose.'

Liam gripped the reins of his Mudsdale, eyes facing straight ahead. He was blind, naive, not knowing what lie ahead, yet was willing to see it.

To be human is to make mistakes, to be challenged in every way conceivable, and come out of it changed.

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Next Time: Castaways