#( sᴏʀʀʏ ᴛʜɪs ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴀɴ ᴇᴛᴇʀɴɪᴛʏ. ʟᴀsᴛ ғᴇᴡ ᴡᴇᴇᴋs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʜᴇʟʟ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ )

[phantomguild]

Mint looked towards the night sky, an azure glimmer in her gaze. It seems her vigor has already been renewed. She'd tied the cloak around herself to keep it from falling away as she finally stood up onto her paws again.

"Are you sure that you're feeling okay?" The mysterious Vulpix continued to look over the previously exhausted hybrid, making sure that she wasn't pushing herself too hard.

"Okay as I can be!! Wooo!" Mint beamed, wiping a few beads of sweat that still remained on her brow. Seems that nothing could keep her down for long. "That was the closest I've gotten to a complete form change! Sure I didn't quite get it, but it was pretty damn close!"

Ashen ran up to the two of them, having noticed Mint activate her power earlier, and wanting to check on her. Though he was worried both that something might've happened, and that Mint would naturally push herself too far. "Hey. Is something up? I saw the blue flames a bit ago!"

"Yea, we're fine. I was just showing off to the Magi a bit." Mint answered with a sheepish grin.

"...And let me guess, you collapsed after burning through your energy?" The hybrid gave a small nod in response, and he just pinched his forehead between his claws in light frustration. After a moment, his gaze turned towards the vulpine nearby. "Who's your friend?" Mint turned towards the fox, not having really gotten its name yet either.

"I'm just a stowaway. Not really much else to it."

"I meant your name."

"I don't... really have one. Didn't really like the one I was given, and never thought of one that I particularly liked."

"Alright. Well, I'm assuming you're gonna want a ride back with us, since I'm sure you've got some stuff going on back home." Ashen said, unable to hide a small smile forming on the corner of his lip. "I guess I can overlook the stowing away since you didn't cause any problems."

Guiding everyone back to the beach, Vivian was standing at the water's edge, staring out towards the horizon. Xe truly enjoyed just... basking in the tranquility, a welcome change from life back home.

"I assume we are all ready to head home?" Xe inquired without even looking at the group, still enjoying the moon's light.

"More or less. Even picked up the extra that snuck along with us." Mint said, nudging the Vulpix's shoulder with her own.

"Really. Well, I would like to get acquainted when we have some extra time. For now, I think it's about time we head home." Vivian finally turned away from the shimmering moon hovering over the water to look at the small Vulpix. "Might I know your name?"

"I don't--" It was interrupted by a ripple appearing in front of them, a hole appearing in the fabric of space being torn open. Though it remained mostly stable for the moment, despite how violently it seemed to have been opened. On the other side of the rift was the Phantom Guild

"Hey, looks like our door's open." Ashen turned to look at the Vulpix and gave a grin. "Don't worry 'bout a thing. I used to stow away all the time back when I was... a different 'mon. We could maybe even get you a spot in the Phantom Guild if that's something you'd be interested in! Comes with some interesting perks."

It didn't have a response to the Salandit's offer. While it'd give it a chance to work towards its own goal, it was clearly not used to being around others. Mint, Ashen, and Vivian stepped through the rift leading directly into the base for the Guild. Taking a deep breath, it followed suit, and things immediately went horribly wrong. The rift began to tear the moment it began to step through, red bolts of energy dancing across the portal, and straight into its body.

"Gyaaa!!" It shrieked, vulpine form dissolving into gray sparks, revealing a form much more akin to a Porygon. Red sparks of energy danced across its entire body, which seemed to power up the tear in space further, beginning to destabilize it. The lights of the room began to flicker, before finally shutting down entirely. In the distance, a loud pop could be heard, likely the sound of the breaker shutting down to prevent a fire, an explosion, or both. Without the power to sustain it, the rift closed behind the Porygon as it collapsed to the ground.

Mint immediately rushed to its side, attempting to use Embers of Life to at least heal some of... whatever that was.

[ ??? has fainted! ]

"Hey! Hey c'mon, wake up!" The Porygon2 didn't move or respond to Mint shaking it as she poured her energy into its unconscious body. At least, not beyond a light grumble anyway. Vivian placed a hoof on Mint's shoulder, channeling some of xeir power into her so that she didn't collapse again.

Eris briefly looked over the Porygon. No obvious signs of damage, but something clearly went wrong. "Let's get this one to the infirmary. We can probably find out what happened there. Maize should be getting the power back up soon. Then you can explain why you brought a stranger with you." Mint looked up at the Guildmaster, before giving a nod. Ashen went to Mint's side to help her carry the unconscious shapeshifter.

"Guess this makes us even." Mint said, trying to stay on the positive side of this situation, as she and Ashen worked to get the Porygon to the Phantom Guild's infirmary.

Vivian meanwhile, continued to stare at the unconscious Pokémon as it was carried off, eyes narrowing slightly. "That was no normal surge..." Xe muttered. "... I wonder... Could that Pokémon be..." Vivian began to leave, stepping out towards the entrance to the guild base.

"I need a minute to think about all of this. And if my assumption is right, I will need to have a word with a certain Shaymin regarding a few... inconsistencies to what they told me..."

[ Mint, Ashen, Vivian, and ??? have left the event! ] [ Ask Hints have been updated! ]