It's horrible to don a mask. Most wear some kind of mask in their life--and for the most part, they're never of the best quality. All they cause is useless self-destruction and pain, but the good thing about them is that they can hide some ugly part of you that you don't want to show to the world. They're always a step down from what you think they'd be, always a notch lower than expectations, and always a lie to hide from the reality around us. ...of course, there are those that can see through those masks too, and it's supposed that Arceus created these humans to keep the world's sanity. That's all Avis wishes for, because it's nearly impossible to find any semblance of peace in this midst of war and chaos. To him, that's staying alone; staying out of others' business, and for the first seventeen years of his life, he's done that pretty well. § Avis can only hide in the shadow of his twin brother's strength, stranded in a country ravaged by war and destruction--and he tries to live his life in the darkness peacefully. He doesn't need to be noticed by everyone. The illusion of a functional, ideal life, however, is shattered when his family's balance is destroyed, and he thus dons his first mask. § For all his life, Avis had been taught that disaster was bad. For the most part, he's believed that much--he only needs to think of ungraceful piles of debris and blood-caked grounds to be convinced of that. At eighteen, he finds himself starting to doubt it--just a little. He can hate disaster for tearing his life to pieces, but he can't quite hate it for granting him something better than a miracle. § Tonight, these children don their masks.

「I was stupid, so stupid.」 「Just control me, and make the whispers stop.」 • • • Celeana Asthansia is the first victim that has been released from the Meowstic's den. For five long years, she's been hurt, traumatised and controlled, losing any sense of independence she had. Now, five years later, she's been through severe therapy, and she's ready to go on her first Pokemon journey. The freedom the Meowstic gave her was both a blessing and a curse--- she's met so many wonderful friends that she never wants to leave. But when they aren't around, everything quickly spirals into pure black silence, so dark it's defeaning, and the whispers grow and spiral out of control. • • • 「I'm proud of this mask. I have a whole assortment of them for you to enjoy, a whole selection of smiles, but I'm afraid they're breaking.」 Ryou Imizu is a mysterious teenager who's running from the past. • • • 「What would you know about hope? I've seen the end coming too many times to count. Tell me, if everything results in our eventual end, what good is there to hope?」 Quinn Mave is an eccentric girl who doesn't know which timeline to trust any more. • • • "Everything will be quiet once more," the Meowstic whispers, "If you just give in once again." • • • 「I've taken away all your friends. You've nothing left now.」 「That's right. Come with me, and I'll give me plenty of friends that'll stay with you forever.」 • • • 「Cover by me (@izayoix)」 「Entered in the Pokemon Watty Awards 2016 • Adventure Category」 「3rd Place in the Adventure category of the Pokemon Watty Awards 2016」

-> 2015 PKMNWatties Best in One-Shot I don't want to leave you, Lunette. But everything reaches an end. And now it's my time. I don't want you to cry. Please don't. For we will always remember each other. You will always be in my heart. Because I will always treasure these precious moments of my life. -------------------------------------- ©PuddleofFire 2015 All rights reserved (Note: I don't own Pokemon, just my OC's and the writing of the one-shot itself). No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system - except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review - without permission from the author, @PuddleofFire. GORGEOUS cover made by @obsidianix at "Illusory Snow; A Graphic Workshop Reboot" <3. Thank you~! Enjoy this one-shot! :D

I am known to the Pokemon universe as something unattainable to most- a legendary. My entire life has neither beginning or end, and I will be trapped for all of eternity on this planet. Like all my other siblings, I am made to serve a purpose. And that purpose of mine is to protect and guard the dreams of the slumbering creatures beneath me. I'm forever above you, all of you. I am your guardian angel, have been and always will be. I see everything that has troubled you- each and every one of you- I see your past. Your torments, your pains, your agony- I'm here to take on that burden for you. Maybe I'll present you with a happier illusion when you sleep. Maybe that will help you to rest. It's all right. You won't need to feel pain in your sleep anymore. I'll be there, doing my best, and give you even the tiniest bit of happiness for that fragmented period of time. And in exchange, I'll take every torment and every surge of pain you have. I know it slowly destroys myself every day. But I serve no other purpose; I am only a tool in this machine called the universe. I never die, never live, only feel pain each passing day, but somehow, I can still feel this word, known to you as "happiness"... If I wish for it, hard enough... will it come true? Can I create a past for myself? Can my life have an end? Have I finished my purpose in life? But- I need to save someone who's drowning in the deepest of nightmares yet, someone so lost that he has become the definition of "nightmare" himself. And then, when we can finally slumber instead of protecting the slumber of our fellow Pokemon, and fall into an eternal world of peace and silence, can we wake up again? And will I be able to hold your hand and smile for once?

「It's strange... you have an infinity symbol above your head. I've never seen anything like it.」 • • • Hironori Akoni--a young artist imprisoned in the Prison of Life for months, asleep. And then, he's told to wake up. He meets Sachi--a professional assassin who hires him as a disguise-maker. She's never really told him anything about herself, and he's fine with that. One day, however, things change. His employer leaves for a mission, telling him she needs his best work; his magnum opus. And, for some reason, an unknown force is telling him to follow along. And something tells him that it's got to do with the cobalt cervine mask he's weaving. • • • 「Why? I don't get this. How are you even alive?」 • • • 「I've actually met you before. (...To be honest, this is the third time.)」 • • • 「Cover by me」 「Entered in Pokemon Watty Awards 2016 • Romance」