Author’s Note: Since Warriors in Ransei can communicate wordlessly with Pokemon, the characters in this get the general gist of what the mons are saying, even if they’ve never been a Pokemon before (Or have been taught Monese, for that matter).

Spectra, a little over 600 years ago

- In a bedroom in Spectra’s castle, a woman stirs. She sits up, yawns, and stretches, revealing brown hair and grey eyes. She looks around, only to find no one else in the room.-

- My name is Duolis. Duolis Nox, to be precise. Every morning I look for my husband Joseph, but sadly he always gets busy early. I don’t let it get to me much, though.-

Duolis: I feel like today’s going to be a good day. ^_^

-She gets up, gets dressed, and moves out of the room, further into the castle-

- Joseph is the ruler of the nation of Spectra, as its warlord. He has a massive army of humans and Ghost-types, especially the latter. Somehow they all know my name.-

Passing Haunter: <Hey, Duolis!>

Passing Duskull: <Looking good, Duolis!>

Passing Soldier: Greetings, Duolis!

Duolis: -Waves to all of them-

Golurk: -Approaches Duolis- <Duolis!>

Duolis: Oh, hello, Mata Nui!

- Mata Nui is one of Joseph’s top mons. The others are Lumos, Styx, and Bow. Mata Nui’s a bit protective, but we love him.-

Mata Nui: <You haven’t been assaulted by any HOSTILES, have you?!>

Duolis: Oh, don’t worry, no hostiles today.

Mata Nui: <Neverless, I shall accompany you to the throne room!>

Duolis: That would be wonderful, thank you.

-Mata Nui accompanies Duolis to the throne room, where a man with black hair, blue eyes, and a Giratina-themed outfit is talking to a female Dusknoir-

Man: And you should have seen the looks on their faces when I utterly-

Dusknoir: <Umbra, dahling, Duolis is here!>

Umbra: Eh? -Notices Duolis, immediately changes demeanor- Oh! Good morning, honey, I was just talking to Bow here!

Duolis: Good morning! ^_^

-Lumos and Styx are nearby. Duolis looks over at them-

-Lumos has a thing for Bow, he rarely talks or thinks about anything else. Styx is funny when she’s in a good mood, but around Joseph she seems depressed. I wonder why.-

Duolis: -Turns back to Umbra- Anything I need to do today?

-Sometimes, Joseph has jobs for me. For example, sometimes I wear this black cloak and help with his speeches as the Grand Overseer of Spectra.-

Umbra: Tonight, we’re having dinner with the Demon Generals. I want you to come!

Duolis: Alright then!

Later that day

- Umbra and Duolis are sitting at the head of a massive table, accompanied by several bizarre mons. -

-Joseph’s Demon Generals are the heads of his “elite forces”. Joseph says he makes his elite forces, but he’s never told me how. -

-Duolis looks over at an enormous mutant Ariados sucking the juices out of a large piece of meat-

- The Spider Queen normally keeps to herself, but she makes an exception for big meals. She loves food.-

Spider Queen: <Mmm! The fluids of this meat are delicious! Wherever did you get this, Ghost Lord?>

- Duolis turns to an armored mutant Tauros smashing his entree into bits with his extra limbs-

- Crimson Helm, on the other hand, just likes smashing things.-

Crimson Helm: <Crimson Helm smash until no smashy left!>

-Duolis turns to a massive Hydreigon with four main heads and four headhands, each with colorful hats and eating from multiple plates. -

-Orochi... I remember when I first met him...-

Flashback

- Duolis and Umbra are standing before Orochi-

Umbra: Orochi, this is my wife Duolis. Duolis, this is one of my top Demon Generals, Orochi.

Orochi (Fire Head): <Duolis, eh?>

-Cranes his neck down to her level, then grins evilly-

<She looks delectable.>

Duolis: ._.

Umbra: If you so much as drool on her I will deliver pain like you can’t possibly imagine. >:|

Orochi (Fire Head): -rearing back up- <Mmph. Someone can’t take a joke.>

Orochi (Darkness Head): <Yeah, we weren’t actually gonna eat her! We just think she looks tasty!>

Orochi (Lightning Head): <(Wait, we aren’t gonna eat her?)>

End Flashback

-Joseph did take me on a fun ride on Orochi, though...-

Flashback

-Umbra and Duolis are on Orochi’s back-

Umbra: Ready, Duolis?

Duolis: Y-Yes...

Umbra: Fly, Orochi!

-Orochi roars and flies into the sky-

Duolis: Aaah!

-Clings to Umbra, then feels the breeze on her face-

Wow... This... This is amazing!

Umbra: -smiles-

End Flashback

-...And Orochi’s more personable to me now.-

Orochi (Dragon Head): -Moves his neck toward Duolis, a piece of meat in his mouth- <Want some?>

Duolis: I’m good, thank you. ^_^;

-The head moves back. Duolis then turns to a green Gastly inhabiting a suit of samurai armor-

- Blight doesn't eat much, but likes bragging about his accomplishments in battle. -

Blight: <Once my sword Goldnail cut through a wall of steel fifty inches thick! Oh, it was a glorious day when...>

-Duolis then turns to an oversize Ninetales with masks on its tails eating more slowly than the others-

-Ninetails... She impersonated me once...-

Flashback

-Umbra is surveying a map when he is approached by what appears to be Duolis.-

Duolis(?): Oh, Joseph, honey, would you be so kind as to-

Umbra: Nice try, Ninetails, I know it’s you.

Duolis(?): -Looks shocked, then snarls- Rrrr...

-Changing into Ninetails in a burst of blue flame-

<How the hell did you know?>

Umbra: One, Duolis’ breasts aren’t that enormous.

Ninetails: <Wait, you’re complaining about that? (I thought human males were suckers for those.)>

Umbra: Two... -points angrily- DUOLIS IS RIGHT OVER THERE

Duolis: -Waves nervously-

Ninetails: >_>

End Flashback

- She doesn’t do things like that anymore, though. Not to us, anyway.-

Ninetales: <Hmmm... this meat is good, but needs more blood.>

-Duolis then turns to two mechanical Noctowl, one gold and one silver, wearing top hats-

- Letchku and Netchku don’t eat... Just make strange noises.-

Letchku: -Whirrs-

Netchku: -Clicks-

-Duolis then looks at the entity at the opposite end of the table- A strange metal orb with glowing red markings, siphoning food through a tube.-

- Yami... He’s never shown what kind of mon he really is... Not even when I first met him...-

Flashback

-Umbra and Duolis are standing before Yami-

Umbra: - gesturing to each of them- Duolis, Yami. Yami, Duolis.

Yami: -Hisses, whirrs, sprouts various weapons-

Duolis: -Backs up- Aaah!

Umbra: -LEER-

Yami: -droops, hisses and clicks in irritation, then constructs a clockwork Pidgey with a top hat and monocle that flies into Duolis’ hands-

Duolis: Oh! Th-thank you...

End Flashback

-He’s quite interesting, I just wish I knew what he really is.-

Yami: -Whirrs, clicks-

- They’re a unique bunch, to be sure.-

-Duolis, now done with reminiscing, resumes eating.-

Bedroom, Later That Night

-Umbra and Duolis climb into bed-

Umbra: Good night. -kisses her-

Duolis: Good night to you, too. -kisses him back-

- Umbra falls asleep quickly. Duolis lays awake a bit, thinking-

- Joseph’s got his... Quirks, yes...-

Umbra: -Hugs Duolis closer in his sleep-

Duolis: -Smiles-

- ...But he really loves me. I value that quite a bit.-

Duolis: -Closes her eyes and goes to sleep-

-Good night... Sleep tight.-