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The Riolu and the Garchomp sat quietly in the cafeteria eating their own plates of a BLT sandwiches that the Garchomp had prepared. No conversation came from either of them along the way since they were at the meeting room. As much as Jason had more questions that demanded and answer, he didn't feel like asking the Garchomp. If anything, he was worried that the Garchomp was starting to get annoyed with him.

Jason, along with the rest of his specie, could feel the emotions the lie within the Garchomp. The most prominent of which, at the moment, was annoyance, and it made Jason feel worried that he has overstepped his boundaries in assuming that Harrison would be a casual fellow.

"You don't like being with me, do you?" Jason asked after gulping down a spoonful.

"No." replied the Garchomp looking worried or surprised by the Riolu's statement. "If you've arrived to that conclusion based on my emotions, know that I am just tired. Being an agent doesn't really grant you a good night's sleep and this recent commotion has robbed me even of my short naps. If anything, I'd love to have casual conversations with people, try and get my mind out of my drowsiness. But you've been quiet for so long I decided to just leave you be."

"I see..." Jason mumbled, reaching to his cup of hot chocolate and taking a sip.

"You really have to start relaxing when you're with me." The Garchomp mustered a smile though his exhaustion was very much evident now. Jason felt guilty for not having to sense it earlier. Then again, he was rarely using his aura externally, hoping to avoid a migraine. Jason used his aura mainly to keep himself warm where his jacket could not, especially in his pajamas and bare feet.

"Heh... asking for people to relax near you is just tempting them to show just how despicable they are." Jason said with a chuckle, deciding to engage the Garchomp in a 'casual conversation'.

"Well, considering how we've had our eyes on you for some time now, I think I know just how bad you can get with people." The Garchomp smiled at the Riolu, taking in another spoonful of omelette into his mouth.

"Right..." Jason nodded awkwardly. "how long have you had your eyes on me... exactly?"

"Hm..." hummed the Garchomp as he gave a moment to swallowing the food in his mouth. "If you meant twenty-four-seven (24/7) surveillance, about a week... started after that terrorist attack. Don't worry, all information will be treated with utmost confidentiality and you haven't done anything utterly embarrassing since then."

"Sure... that'll sugar-coat the situation." Said Jason. As much as he seemed upset, that was just his way of playing with the people he talks to: by being melodramatic and sarcastic. "But... why are you guys watching me?"

The Garchomp gave him a sly, but obviously sleepy, smile as he took a sip from his coffee. "Well, you've eavesdropped on enough of their conversation." He said, referring to the meeting Ignatius, Aiden, Joseph, and the new face, Bernard.

"You should know how important you are to them by now. But, you should also know, that you are at least three times more important than they realize." Jason was almost startled with the Sceptile's jovial voice spoke from the cafeteria's entrance, though the Garchomp looked as if nothing would surprise him. "No pressure."

"Um... why?" Jason nervously asked, the news catching him unawares.

"Well... because getting stressed over it will get you nowhere." The Sceptile said as if the answer should've been obvious, slightly chuckling as he took a seat beside the Garchomp who stood up to prepare his superior a cup of coffee.

Jason couldn't tell if the Sceptile was being sarcastic with his answer or if he genuinely thought that Jason was asking why he shouldn't be pressured. "No, I meant... why am I THAT important?"

"Oh!" The Sceptile exclaimed jovially. Jason couldn't believe that this child-like man was dangerous in any way, but the Riolu knew that this was just hiding the deadly master assassin that Jason assumes that he is. "Well, look at it this way. I'm sure you are aware that your physical boosts come from your father's side and your analytical prowess from your mother's side. You, Jason, are the first known perfect hybrid mix of Avalonian and Arkhan blood.

"To Ignatius, you are a super soldier that would lead Avalon to greatness. To Haven, you are a symbol of peace, that there is hope that we can put an end to the cycle of hate between Avalon and Arkha. To the terrorist..." the Sceptile paused, his previous positive expression turning grim. "you are a potential weapon that they will use for their own nefarious ends. That is why you are at least three times as important as it seems."

Jason took a moment to let it all sink in, though it really wasn't that hard to process. He had already guessed back then that he'd be important considering how he can quickly analyse situations commendable even by his mother. But never did he realize that so many factions would want a piece of him... or something like that. "You keep mentioning that Avalon and Arkha might end up fighting... why?"

"That is the backlash that the Hypno mentioned about the Blood of Avalon." The Garchomp said. "Remember the benefactors that I mentioned before, the ones that would rather respect tradition?" the Garchomp waited for Jason's response and continued once he got a nod from the Riolu "Would you believe me if I told you that our benefactors are one of the great gods of old?" he asked with a grin on his face.

The Riolu's eyes widened a bit, his face showing little surprise though that was just Jason's calm demeanor. The gods of old were nothing but myth and legend. Unless Harrison had meant that Avalon, Arkha and Haven were some religious groups, there was definitely something amiss here. "Not really, no..." the Riolu answered, shaking his head. "Those are just... legends... right?"

"Oh, they're as real as you and I." the Sceptile answered. "And I have a schedule to keep, so I'll keep my explanation brief. Anyway, Avalon's benefactor is Groudon and Arkha's benefactor is Kyogre." He quickly raised his hand to stop the Riolu from interrupting by asking a question. "Leave all questions until after the storytime, m'kay? Anyway, based on the legends that you were taught, you'd know that Groudon and Kyogre were once locked in a world-ending grudge match that was ended with the interference of Rayquaza. Now from this, you should be able to guess that Haven's benefactor is Rayquaza.

"The Blood of Avalon, with all the benefits that it gives, same goes for the Blood of Arkha, curses of that it blesses with that hatred towards the other. However, we mortals aren't really pure. Our mortal nature helps us resist the urge to just slaughter each other in sheer, primal hatred. Another reason why mortals were able to resist it better these days is because Rayquaza had sealed away both Kyogre and Groudon. Where they are, we don't know.

"I know what you'll be asking. Does Haven have any special abilities like Avalon and Arkha? No, we don't. But I won't delve into that for now, it is not important. Okay, that covers about most of what you need to know about the 'Ancestral Wrath'... well... that's what we call it anyway. You may now ask questions."

Jason just stared at the Sceptile, letting all the information sink in. To be honest, Jason didn't know what to ask. There were so many questions that rushed into his mind, so much that they all just clashed with each other. Jason decided to just settle with his initial questions, and hope that he could progress from there. "So... that's it? That's all this backlash was about?"

"Pretty much, yes."

"And none of us can have a say about it? We're just stuck with this primal urge to destroy Arkha and them with Avalon?"

"Yep."

"And we can't do anything about it?"

"You can at least resist it. After all, it is just an urge, an evil voice whispering in your head asking that you kill your rival." As grim as his statement was, the Sceptile sounded rather casual about it.

"Do Avalonians experience it on a daily basis?" the Riolu asked.

"Only when there's an Arkhan nearby." The Garchomp answered as he returned with a hot cup of coffee, which he set down next to his superior before taking a seat.

"So... do the people around my mom feel it?" Jason tone sounded worried, he was genuinely concerned whether his mother's presence was threatening her safety.

The Sceptile and the Garchomp exchanged worried glances. "We honestly don't know." The Sceptile replied. "We didn't risk asking random civilians about their opinions but nobody seemed to act hostile around her, thankfully."

The Sceptile's last sentence made a click in the Riolu's mind as one of the questions among the salvo of others popped in his mind. "Speaking of which... why haven't we been told about this curse? Why haven't any of these been mentioned in history classes or anything? Why the secrecy?"

"Think of it this way," the Sceptile spoke. "with all of the jobs that our agents receive around the world, all of the terrorists and drug lords taken down by Avalon's men, why hadn't the media spread word of it? Why doesn't the media spread word of ALL the confirmed terrorist groups and criminal underworlds out there? In fact, why don't we just tell the whole world the recent attacks that happened recently?"

The Sceptile paused and tilted his head, waiting for the Riolu's response. "Um..." Jason pondered. "To avoid the spread of panic and leak of security details?"

"Both are correct." The Sceptile replied. "The same concept applies for the history and details of your two nations. In fact, very little people, even within Avalon, are even aware that the blood of Avalon exists. As far as the world is concerned, Avalon is just a group of really elite military for hire."

"I see..." Jason said. "But... kept secret even from its people?"

"There were incidents where some of your agents would get captured by the enemy faction." The Garchomp replied. "Avalon would like to avoid having terrorists learn of their secrets. The best way to do this is when its people don't even know what those secrets are."

"Besides," the Sceptile jumped in. "As the years pass by, the why or how lost its meaning. All that mattered was that their people and its lineage are superior in terms of physical prowess."

"Does the same apply for the Arkhans?" asked the Riolu.

"As far as they've shared, yes." The Sceptile answered. "Although you must know that Arkha holds their secrets sacred and share only little, so we really can't be certain."

"Fair enough..." the Riolu paused, humming to himself as he took in what he was told. "By the way, why are hybrids like me rare? I'm assuming that I'm important to Haven because I'm immune to this... Ancestral Wrath thing, so why aren't Avalonians and Arkhan's making more of us?"

"Because it's almost impossible." The Sceptile replied. "The odds of a successful baby between Avalon and Arkhan blood are presumed to be one in seven-hundred-billion. Some of us even believe that the birth of a hybrid is a decree of god as the would-be-savior of this world."

"And my importance?" Jason asked. "You say you believe that the terrorists are after me yet you claim very little are aware of the bloods of Avalon and Arkha."

"I don't believe that the terrorists are after you..." the Sceptile said, shaking his head. "I KNOW that they're after you."

"How can you be sure?" Jason asked.

The Sceptile let out a soft chuckle. "Care to explain your nightmares then?"

The mention of the word 'nightmare' made Jason's heart jump in fear. 'How had he known about it?'_Jason wondered. _'No, it's just because I writhe and thrash around in bed... no... no more denying.' Jason steeled his nerves and took a deep sigh. "The Luxray... from last week..." Jason spoke. "He... torments me in my mind... or... trains me... I don't know."

"Trains you?" wondered the Garchomp, glancing ever so slightly at the Sceptile in confusion.

"What do you mean he... _trains_you?" the Sceptile asked.

"I don't really know myself..." Jason replied. "But... in my nightmares... he'd try to make me submit to his will or something... then when he has control over my dream body... he gets pissed off and demands that I resist him... that I get stronger." The Riolu paused for a while, assuming that the Sceptile and the Garchomp had something to say. When the two gestured for him to continue, Jason spoke once more.

"Then, I end up fighting him and I learn new skills or get stronger in the process. And... a creature made of light... that helps me... gives me strength... That's it, that's all I know about it."

The Sceptile and the Garchomp were at a loss for words. The Garchomp couldn't say anything because he had completely misjudged the enemy's intentions. The Sceptile was quiet because he was piecing together the information that they were given.

"So... the Luxray controls you... releases control over you... then asks you to get stronger... why?" the Garchomp mumbled softly. Jason couldn't tell if he was speaking to himself or otherwise.

"How could the Luxray have power to control me in the first place?" Jason asked.

"Perhaps he had training." The Garchomp assumed. "Years of strict meditation could grant any pokemon psychic capabilities. That is how most of Haven got--"

"Years of meditation grant any pokemon psychic barriers. And at a very rare extent, mind reading." The Sceptile corrected. "How was this mind control done anyway? Hypnosis, drugs, others?" he asked the Riolu.

Jason looked back to his most recent nightmare, hoping that he'd remember the details better than how little he remembered about performing ranged fire attacks. "He just... grabbed me in the dream... then just commanded me to submit to him... then slowly, I did... until he nearly crushed my throat and smashed me against a rock."

"I see..." The Sceptile hummed. "Perhaps you were looking at him in the eyes... it could've been hypnosis... regardless, it'd be unbelievable for a Luxray to learn hypnosis, not through known means anyway. But that's not what matters right now, what matters is that my guess was correct."

Jason stared at the Sceptile. "You just... guessed... that my nightmares were mental assaults from some psycho?"

_'Not just any psycho'_the Sceptile thought as a grim expression formed on his face. "Look, just... forget about it. We'll do our best to keep you safe, you have my word. Excuse us." the Sceptile said as he swiftly yanked the Garchomp out of his seat and dragged him all the way to the kitchen where the two had a private conversation.

The Riolu tried spying on their conversation, his curiosity getting the best of him. He may have been discovered the first time he tried spying on the Sceptile, but he thought that using only a 'thin mist' of aura would at least lessen the odds of detection. His attempt was immediately faltered once he felt a rather powerful mental barrier blocking the kitchen. 'Amazing... he can block me from an entire room...' the Riolu thought in awe, deciding that prying too much would get him in trouble and that waiting would be the best option now.

Soon, the double doors to the kitchen swung open and the Sceptile and the Garchomp emerged. "Well, I really must be going." The Sceptile picked the cup up from the table and finished his coffee in one big gulp. "Dawn's but a few minutes away and I still have to contact Arkha for our proposal."

"Do you think it'll work?" Jason asked. "Your plan to contact Arkha."

"I know it'll work." The Sceptile replied proudly. "It all comes down to waiting for their arrival."

"But won't they risk getting killed here?"

"Like I said before, other than what I've told your father and the others: it is easier to resist the urge these days because Kyogre and Groudon have been sealed away." The Sceptile replied. "And besides, leave those details to the adults."

Jason nodded in agreement, feeling a bit embarrassed that he pried that much. What was he thinking, involving himself with the plans of his superiors when he's well aware that they know more of the variable at play than he does? "How long will it take though?"

"It may take months..." the Sceptile replied. "Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if you had your birthday before they even arrived. Anyway, for now, you may go home." The Sceptile spoke as he walked towards the exit of the cafeteria. "Ignatius and the others must have something planned for the recruits. So for now, you are to return home and await further orders." The Sceptile arrived at the double doors of the cafeteria and paused, his hand on the door knob. "Oh, and Harrison, please clean up after."

"Yes, sir." Both of them said in unison as the Sceptile left.

Later that day, after the sun had come up and the recruits were summoned to the Academy, Ignatius and Bernard were the ones to address the crowd. Though both are obviously exhausted, evident in the lack of yelling from the Charizard, they managed to deliver the message that had to be said.

They were all informed about their plan to deal with the Hypno, including the part where they were to call in representatives from Arkha for help. None of the recruits seemed to care about it in a violent way, but they all had worried looks on their faces. This reaction is justifiable though, considering how the supposed most powerful military for hire is slowly crippling due to terrorist attacks that they can't solve on their own.

Jason and Charlie stood next to each other quietly, not a single conversation started between them. Both of them had a lot in their minds. Jason's being what he just learned and Charlie's being the future of Avalon. For now, though, as the Sceptile suggested to the Riolu, they waited for further orders.

Once their briefing of their current state was finished, the Charizard moved on to distributing instructions to the recruits; that being the order that all recruits are to spend the next few days, maybe weeks, maybe even months, training. The recruits are not to participate in missions or patrols before they learn more about the terrorist threat.

It was there that Jason's and Charlie's partnership came to a, hopefully temporary, end. They assumed that their training with each other would resume like normal, but Ignatius had insisted that he be the one to train his son. While Charlie trained with his father, the Riolu's parents and Harrison devoted some of their time training him. Aiden helped Jason master his fire affinity, Jason approached his mother to help him master his aura and learn to convert it to healing aura, and Harrison honed the Riolu's focus as well as his mental barriers. He also managed to supress the nightmares that haunted Jason in his sleep.

The Sceptile wasn't wrong when he said that Arkha's arrival may take months. As days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, the adults made certain that Jason was kept busy every day in training. As much as Jason didn't mind the training or the fun company that the Garchomp had proven to be, he hadn't been able to leave their hill at all during that time. Harrison explained that Joseph ordered it for the Riolu's safety, but Jason grew to miss his friends. This was going to be a long set of months for the young Riolu, and he really hoped that all that waiting would be worth it.