Sylphie! Take command!" Ondun shouted, immediately embodying his Medicus arts. The Spelliths flew out immediately as he began channeling healing spells to the slightly cooked avian Mon.

  Hiro Kaminari narrowed his eyes. "Marnie, the world's at stake. Target the healer, we have to take him down if nothing else." Immediately the Flamarmot launched a gout of flame at Ondun, only for it to be absorbed by an Eclipse from Sylphie. "Strudel, drop the ferret!" she cried.

  With a growl lower than anyone had heard, Strudel glowed a brilliant blue before unleashing a powerful howl. A geyser of water erupted the ground beneat Marnie, flinging the creature into the air. On the way down, Venus released a powerful blast of light from its tiny mouth. With a mighty leap, it flung itself at the firey ferret and sank its fulgent fangs in the monster's flank. With a pained cry of "Flaferret..." the Mon fell unconscious. Venus shook its head, as if in a daze at what they had just done before their form began rippling with an imminent evolution.

  The Yamato coach frowned. "Dammit, Flubber! Contain that Luxlynx. They're not used to biting, or something." A gelatinous pink creature materialized, and immediately began shifting, copying Luxlynx's evolution in real-time, before both the false and true Venus were facing each other in a dazed growl. Then, Flubber focused on Ondun, opened its mouth, and fired a beam of pure Light at the Draconian, shattering the shield.

  Sylphie saw her chance. Venus knew exaclty what was happening, so they leapt for Flubber, avoiding the jet-black wave of shadows that the coach fired from her greatsword. The wave slammed into the foreign coach, staggering him. "You will not hurt Ondun," she growled. "You will not stop us from going home and saving my father!" she yelled.

  With a groan he got to one knee. "You don't get it, do you? I have to stop you, or something worse will happen. Lord Shenlong is no fool. You're being used by this world's would-be destroyers."

  Ondun looked up, satisfied that Zephanie was stabilized. "We know. They want me to defeat any source of Darkness they create to help spread it faster. Worse, I've already shown this world what Astral summoning looks like, in order to save Cheng from their successful attack on the graveyard. If they do something similar to Liangjian, it could be cataclysmic in its own right - Light and Dark are polar opposites, after all. My guess is the Dark Ones want to destroy Liangjian because it's elementally tipped towards Light. If we do nothing they win; if we intercede, they tip the situation to their advantage in a different way."

  Venus and Flubber collided, both cloaked in a powerful sheathe of Light, flinging each other across the burning clearing. The two growled at each other.

  "There is another option. We alter the polarity of Liangjian's field of light," Aenora said. "Any big infusion of Dark energy will be repelled, not annhilated. There's a problem with that, though: that too plays into the Dark Ones' hands. By blasting Liangjian so changed, they can spread Dark anima more widely. The town will function not as a breakwater for dark power, but instead as a means of distribution. We need a different option than any of these approaches. Hiro, was it? This fight isn't helping. We can't solve this problem through you or us beating each other up."

  He snapped his attention to the Shamaness. "I beg to differ. You know you're being used, and you've just explained why you need to be stopped as much as these 'Dark Ones'." He materialized two more Mons, a Leveagle and a human-like Mon whose head looked like a wide-brimmed hat. Ariel narrowed her eyes. A Yamato-form Palapaladin...

  He nodded. "Palasamurai is the species, yes. Yasuo, target the cat-woman."

  Ariel sighed and strode forward. Young one, do not pick this fight. I sense your resolve, but I also sense your blindness. You believe you have all the answers; you do not. Lady Aenora is a scholar who understands the truth of type powers more fundamentally than you. Ondun is more than just a warrior. His is a frustration with seeing a path that he can find no ways off of. Sylphie fears for her family, just as you would if the Dark Ones had designs on your home. Your approach is as emotional and flawed as theirs.

  The young man growled. "Yasuo, drop the chatty Palasorceress, would you?"

  "Palasamurai!" came the enthusiastic growl. The Mon lowered itself into what looked like, to Ondun's eyes, a stance he'd seen a certain old, loud Xin-xian Samurai lord use. He was about to cry out to Ariel, but she held out a hand. Peace, Ondun. I have no love for the arts of combat, but I assure you: I am not a foe anyone wants to fight. This desperate young one is about to learn that the hard way.

  Ondun could barely make out the Iai-like attack that Yasuo unleashed. A moment later, the blade of Metal energy was held fast against a powerful white shield. That looks like Aenora's shielding magicks... Ondun recognized.

  Ariel held out a hand. Young Yasuo, you are brave. Sleep now. Her eyes glowed purple and the Mon wavered before falling to one knee, already slumbering.

  Zephanie suddenly slammed herself into Hiro. Some of her wounds reopened as she did, but the effect was immediate: The young Yamato coach immediately fell unconscious with the force of the blow. The three Mons then turned their attention on Flubber and the Leveagle. The Leveagle, for its part, shrank back timidly. Flubber faced off against the three, protecting the flying mount.

  Flubber, you have fought bravely, yet this battle is won. If Ondun brings his strength to bear, even you would be sorely pressed. You seem reasonable. That's why I entreat you to convince your human to join hands with us, when Ondun heals his wounds and he wakes up.

  The feline returned to its gelatinous shape, then reformed into a mirror of Ariel. Very well. Will do. Much kindness. Do not hurt please?

  Sylphie still had her sword drawn. Ondun walked over and put a hand on Sylphie's shoulder. "It's okay, Sylphie. We've won; let's take the win and move onwards. Still...this makes us aware of a greater problem. The world's Legendaries are aware of the situation, yet they too are acting through catspaws like Hiro, here. Why?" he asked.

  Sylphie shrugged. "The Legendaries think differently than most other Mons or humans. I have no clue why Lord Shenlong wouldn't just find us and...you know..." she frowned as she pushed away the prospect of her own mortality.

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  Aenora rubbed her chin. "Then, perhaps..." she gestured to the prone young man, who was already being tended by Ondun. "Lord Shenlong knew that Hiro here would lose in an ambush on us. Ondun, Sylphie, and myself all have Mons we haven't brought to bear, though they are untrained and unused to working in our teams. Additionally, and I say this without bravado, Lord Shenlong didn't account for my magical prowess. Or perhaps he just doesn't know I am here? Or maybe, he doesn't see me as a threat."

  Sylphie, Ondun, and the Mons that were conscious all spared Aenora an odd look. She shrugged. "The first one would be foolish, which defies the premis of this entire exchange. The second seems questionable, as they know about Ondun and the threat of the Dark Ones. That would only leave the third one as a plausible option: If Shenlong knows about me, of course they would know I'm not a threat, because this isn't fundamentally a problem that combat can solve."

  Ondun and Sylphie frowned, and the Shamaness held up a hand. "That's not to say that fighting can't treat some of the symptoms of this situation, of course. There's a deeper problem, which is the plans the Dark Ones are realizing. That is what we must unravel and stop."

  The adventurer stood, having sufficiently healed Hiro's wounds, and began re-sealing Zephanie's. "We can take him with us, but you and Ariel will have to talk him around to our position. We do have to deal with the Liangjian situation, though, that's an imminent crisis that needs to be headed off."

  Ariel nodded. I believe I can do just that. Leave the matter of convincing Champion Kaminari to me.

  Sylphie sighed. "Strudel, would you mind doing something about the fires? We've already annoyed Guardian Alice with our way to throw off our tail; there's no need to add an ecological disaster to stuff she needs to hold against us."

  To her surprise Strudel and Venus nodded to each other and began flinging both water and dirt at the fires. "When did you learn Mud Sling, Venus?"

  They were able to use the move as soon as they evolved, actually. While Luxli tend to be a little on the weak side, the power of the noble Luxlynx are improved by gaining a bit more affinity for Earth. It's not that they're 'dual-typed' as humans think of it, more that they can draw on that type power a little bit more easily. It's not until a Luxlynx evolves into a Luxleopard that they gain a true Earth affinity, Ariel added helpfully.

  Sylphie was tapping one sabaton-clad foot. "Venus...congratulations on your evolution. I'm happy for you. It's just that...well...Olympus I feel like an awful coach and an awful person for saying this but..."

  Venus padded up to her coach. "Luxleopard." Her eyes were soft, and she rubbed her head against Sylphie's skirted thigh. "Lux-lux. Leopard." Ondun smiled. "I don't need the Wayfarer's Brand to know Venus knows you're worried about your father. I am too." Venus nodded vigorously.

  Sylphie knelt down and patted Venus. "Then...when we have a moment, I'm going to throw you a party, okay? We're going to celebrate. You're stronger now. Are you okay after...you know..."

  "Luxleopard!" they agreed. "Luxleopard...Lux-lux!" she finished. I'm okay. I'll be fine!

  Ondun slung Hiro over one shoulder and released Joyeuse. "Joyeuse, I want you on overwatch with us. We're going to be taking a risky path to reach Sylphie's home quickly. We'll be traveling through the night, too. Aenora, get Stumpy out too, we'll want our full force to bear. Maggie..."

  He looked back only for Maggie to complete an evolution of her own. "Levkite!" she cried. The bigger Leveagle flapped over to her. "Eagle!" it screeched kindly. Zephanie flapped over, also crying in support of the elder Mon. It turned to Ondun. "Leveagle?" May I carry my human?

  Ondun nodded, and shifted the unconscious coach onto his flying mount's back. "Of course. We won't ask you or Flubber to fight. Keep Hiro safe." He closed his eyes. "When we're done in Liangjian, we need to pay Shenlong a visit. We need to know what he knows and get some perspective on this situation. We know the how of what the Dark Ones are doing, loosely, but not the why, or more helpful things. We can't defeat them until we have more pieces of this puzzle. Trying to will only play into their hands further."

  Everyone nodded. As one, they set off into the off-Route forests heading to the south of Cheng. Ondun hesitated and took one look back at the odd city. I swear I'll come back with Sylphie, he promised himself. Then with a flash of cyan, his Dragon Knight armor materialized in place of his Medicus robes, and he joined his friends on their desperate plunge towards whatever waited for them at Liangjian.

  When Hiro Kaminari woke up, he smelled the familiar scent of Katori. He was lying at an odd angle. He slipped off amidst sounds of battle. It was then that the memories came back to him.

  The cat-woman, Ondun of Arcanis, and the black-armored coach were traveling about him. An animated blade - huh, is that what Rusblades look like here in Kongming? - was batting off an assault from a black-feathered avian Mon that looked a bit like a crow. Two Palasorceresses padded up to him. One bowed, and the other hugged him.

  He returned the hug. "Hey Flubber, thanks...why are we traveling with these people? I thought Lord Shenlong made it clear we needed to stop them."

  The one who bowed raised a shield over them as the cat-woman finished casting a spell that bathed the area in a powerful light, immediately dropping the crow-like Mon. Hiro's eyes went wide.

  Yes, the power of the people you were sent to 'stop' is great, but what's greater still is their compassion and wisdom. While the plight of Liangjian weighs heavily on their mind, they also considered your words, and will seek out Lord Shenlong. They don't wish to doom this, or any world.

  Ariel paused to unleash a violet beam at an insect-like Mon that was about to sneak up on Sylphie from behind, knocking it far back into the underbrush, where is crashed with a muted thud. The young monster coach nodded, and gave Aenora an Eclipse shield that soaked up some spines fired from somewhere else in the forest. A gust of wind from a Levkite and the Galebul that Marnie had nearly cooked protected everyone else from a second hail of spines.

  He narrowed his eyes. Since when does an enemy listen to someone who ambushes them? the Yamato coach asked himself. "I don't believe you. You could be messing with my mind right now."

  That's against a few international treaties. Also, Lady Alice would be most displeased if I did that. She is my coach, after all.

  Hiro blinked. "Then, why doesn't Alice do something about this? Hey, Katori, could you help these people out a little? The bugs are getting annoying," he added over his shoulder.

  With a screeching cry of "Leveagle!" she flew up, and blasted the area with a high-pressure wave of wind that made everyone's eardrums pop ominously. Immediately there were sounds of skittering as many attackers turned tail.

  The Guardian is putting out metaphorical fires across Kongming, and not just those caused by the Dark Ones. The aftereffects of Ondun and Aenora coming here are also particularly far-reaching. No amount of censoring will halt the knowledge that visitors from another world have reached ours. Other nations have already taken notice. What we are doing in saving Liangjian is therefore doubly important. We need to solve the Dark One crisis quickly and efficiently, lest other more mundane problems will arise. The question, Hiro, is: Will you join us, or hinder us? The choice is yours, but we need you to choose quickly.

  Ondun waved everyone ahead. Hiro blinked as he saw the ornate, violet armor, and the massive lance that the man was holding. He also looked around - despite the wicked-looking weapons that he and the woman had, every Mon they had defeated was merely unconscious and shrinking into their more defensible tiny form. They all began walking; Katori, Flubber, and Hiro joined in. With a sigh he answered.

  "Fine. I'll help, but if you do anything - and I mean anything - I don't like, I will stop you. Let's go save a city, I guess."