Lookout Peak. It was a small village that overlooked the majestic prairies and forests of Herbon. About two hundred Pokémon called this peaceful cliff home, and none would trade their peaceful summit for the world. Well...all but one.

This one worked diligently during the pinnacle of the village's harvest. Berry trees lined the mountainside, flourishing with fresh produce. It was a time of laborious work, but also one of exuberant celebration. The harvest was Lookout Peak's main source of income, and a successful reaping meant a tolerable winter.

But this Pokémon, a young Sentret, craved much more than a successful harvest. He enjoyed the days he spent in Lookout Peak. However, he grew bored of the tiny farming village he lived in all his life. He read books, studied maps of the world, anything to satiate his longing for adventure.

Instead, he remained in Lookout Peak, sowing the seed and reaping the verdant berry trees as the sun climbed over the horizon. The villagers always harvested before dawn so that they could spend the rest of their day preparing for the feast tonight.

"Vigil! Look at this giant Oran Berry I found!" A Pokémon charged over to the young Sentret. It was his younger brother, Vedette, wrapping a large, blue fruit in his tiny paws. Vigil turned to see his brother's enthusiastic expression as he held the Oran Berry out with pride.

"Wow! That's a big one Vedette!" Vigil congratulated his brother.

"Wait until Mom and Dad see it!"

"Oh, we see it alright."

The brothers shifted focus to the two Furret that approached them. They examined the berry that Vedette had found.

"Oh my!" their mother cheered. "Vedette! This will be perfect for the feast tonight!"

"I think the two of you have worked hard enough today," their father smiled proudly. "We have plenty of fruit for tonight, and it seems like the adults will handle the rest of the harvest from here."

Vedette tugged on his older brother, "Vigil! Let's go play!"

"Actually, I was planning on hiking through the forest today."

"Oh! Can I come?"

"Sorry, Vedette," their mother intervened. "The forest can be dangerous. You're not old enough to go out there yet."

"Aw! But Mom!?"

"Listen to Mom, Vedette," Vigil rubbed Vedette's head. "I'll be back in time for the feast."

"Be careful out there, Vigil. Stick to the trail and don't wander off. And remember, the feast begins at dusk." his mother warned.

"Mom, I'll be alright on my own. I'm not a child anymore."

"You will always be my child, Vigil. That's why I will always worry about you."

His parents always did warn about the dangers of straying from the paths to Lookout Peak. Wild Pokémon lurked in the forests surrounding the solitary path that led from his village to the bottom of the mountain. Vigil payed no mind. Exploring the forest was something he had done for so long that they no longer scared him.

Today, however, would be different. Vigil was growing bored of his trivial journeys into the forest. Today, he wanted more.

Today, he would be traveling down to the bottom of Lookout Peak.

The very thought invigorated the young Sentret. He had grown so weary of these menial quests through the area around his home. A glint appeared in his eye that reflected the enthusiasm within.

Usually, he would search for his friends to see if they would join him, but the answer was almost always no. The Sentret assumed that if his friends would not accompany him into the woods, they would never hike with him down the mountain. Rather than wasting his time, Vigil let his elation take the reins and dashed out of his home.

Vigil gazed beyond the descending mountain path. Just the thought of reaching the bottom filled him with ample energy. He turned around to see Lookout Peak again, admiring how serene and peaceful it seemed underneath the morning sun. Vigil smiled, and in one swift movement, turned to begin today's adventure.

He ran for quite a bit until he realized that he would need energy to return up the mountain. Vigil slowed his pace, reaching a casual stroll. Continuing down the path, the Sentret scanned his surroundings. Even in a familiar place like these woods, instinct always dominated his actions when exploring. Sometimes, it would make him so cautious, he would border paranoia. But, after many years of traversing these woods, Vigil learned to stifle his instinct.

The Sentret was exhausted by the uniform forest. Nothing could grab his attention, aside from a few Burmy and Spinarak that occupied the trees. The wild Pokémon around Lookout Peak rarely chose to be hostile, and if they did, Vigil would fight back. The Bug-types were small enough for Vigil to handle on his own. A simple smack from his large tail and a claw to the eye sufficed against many of the forest's denizens.

Vigil sighed as he continued to descend down the mountain. He had hoped that at least something would happen on this little hike. Perhaps a wild Caterpie that he could whack with his tail, or an enraged Rattata that he could ram into a tree.

At last, Vigil finally got his wish. In the distance, he could see a large figure walking towards him. Both fear and excitement coursed through the Sentret's veins, and he was unsure which would overshadow the other.

Before he could make a decision, the looming figure appeared before Vigil. A green Pokémon with a blue-gray abdomen looked down upon the young Sentret with a curious frown. A Tyranitar, Vigil realized. He had never seen one in real life, and never expected to see one climbing the mountain to Lookout Peak.

Daunted, Vigil froze in place, but also returned a similar expression. Had the Tyranitar been a wild Pokémon, the Sentret would not be standing there. At least, that was the thought that helped him regain his composure.

"Hello, young Sentret," the Tyranitar greeted, plastering a smile across his face.

Vigil let out a sigh of relief, "Hello, sir."

"Do you live at the top of this mountain?"

"Yeah, I do. Are you heading to Lookout Peak?"

"Yes. I'm off to meet an old friend."

Vigil smiled. A visitor from somewhere else...Vigil smiled at the thought of the Tyranitar recounting amazing adventures from wherever he had come from.

"Where are you from?" Vigil asked, still brimming with fascination.

"I never really settle down. I enjoy wandering the land, exploring places that I have not yet seen."

"Have you been all around Herbon then?"

"Herbon, the Imber Islands, even parts of Ignis. I've roamed three of the four continents. Although, I must say I find myself partial to the lush scenery of Herbon."

The Sentret tilted his head. A Tyranitar that had never visited Avium? Vigil remembered learning about how Tyranitar thrived under desert conditions. He shook the thought out of his head, replacing it with a smile continued to get larger. His eyes sparkled with curiosity. The young Sentret would no doubt speak to this Tyranitar after he finished his trek down the mountain.

"Where are you off to, little one?"

Vigil's eyes shifted. He did not want his parents to know what he was planning on doing today. For all he knew, this Tyranitar could have been visiting them. "I'm just...taking a walk."

"You seem rather far from Lookout Peak to be simply 'taking a walk.'"

Vigil sighed depressingly, "Fine, I wanted to go to the bottom of the mountain. I love Lookout Peak, don't get me wrong. It's just...I've lived there all of my life, with the same people in the same place. I might still be a kid to some people, but...I want to see the world. There are four continents, and yet, I've barely scratched the surface of this one. Going to the bottom of this mountain will be my first big step to accomplish that dream. Please, if you see my parents, don't tell them that you found me here."

The Tyranitar gave Vigil an inquisitive stare, taking in all that was said to him, "Your passion to explore this world...it burns within you. You remind me of myself, when I was just a Larvitar. Keep fighting, because you will certainly achieve your dream..."

Vigil's spirit lifted as the Tyranitar continued up the mountain. However, before he was out of view, the Tyranitar finished his statement.

"Just don't be too disappointed when you experience the harsh realities that fester within the four continents."

Vigil paused and felt a chill shot up his spine. Before he could respond, the Tyranitar had already made considerable distance. He saw no point in pressing him further; that could be saved for when he returned to Lookout Peak before evening.

Taken aback by his encounter, Vigil shook his head and followed the trail downward. He kept on for what seemed like a few hours until he could see a sign in the distance. He must have been reaching new territory, because he did not recall ever seeing a sign on the trail before. Vigil walked up to the side that was written on. It was, in fact, a map to guide travelers up to Lookout Peak.

Wonderful, Vigil thought to himself. As if I need a map of this place.

The young Sentret turned around and descended further down the mountain. Another hour passed as he walked the solemn, lonely path.

That is, until the ground beneath him began to shake.

Vigil tried to maintain his balance until the tremors proved too strong. The young Sentret collapsed, and his back rammed into a tree just off the path. Vigil stood up, digging his claws into the nearby tree as support. He held firmly against it as the tremors continued. The earth rumbled beneath him, until finally, the land grew still.

"We haven't had an earthquake in years," Vigil pondered, turning back towards the descending path. It was so tempting for him to follow the path downward. The day he had yearned for. The day he could see something new in the world.

That day, sadly, could not be today. His concern for Lookout Peak trumped his curiosity. Vigil's parents must have worried about him, especially if he cannot be found in the village.

He had to go back.

The Sentret began jogging back up the mountain. After all that effort just to reach that sign, he had to make sure that the damage was minimal. The tremors did not seem very severe to Vigil, but caution and safety were facets of his species. Even if he wanted to keep going down, his instincts would pull him back upwards like a magnet. So he succumbed to them today, in hopes that tomorrow they would not weigh him down as easily.

Vigil returned to the village after another few minutes. However, when he got there, he found that the damage was much worse than he expected.

In fact, the village ceased to exist.

In front of the young Sentret was...emptiness. A dark, swirling oblivion spanned where Lookout Peak once was. Nothing was left. No homes, no roads...

And worst of all for Vigil, no family.

"Mom! Dad! Vedette!" he screamed their names out into the void. He repeated it, praying for an answer. He did this several times, until he finally realized that it was futile. Vigil slumped to his knees with a river of tears streaming down his eyes.

His family was gone. His village was gone. Everyone disappeared.

All except for a certain Tyranitar that stood a few feet to his right.

"Lookout Peak...a pleasant town it was," the Tyranitar grimaced, "It's a shame that this is how it ends."

The Tyranitar turned towards the hysterical Sentret. Vigil did not acknowledge his presence. Instead, he continued to sob, until the Tyranitar drew close. When he saw the shadow of the Pokémon loom over him, a piece of him snapped.

"You..." Vigil muttered, building up the anger within him, "What did you do to my home!? Where...where are my parents!?"

Vigil cemented his feet into the ground and launched his head towards the Tyranitar. He bounced off of the Tyranitar's massive frame, and before he could step back, the Tyranitar picked up the Sentret.

The Tyranitar laughed, "Your peaceful little village no longer exists. And, as much as I would enjoy throwing you into that rift with your family, I will let you leave. I see that glorious passion within your eyes, that childish gleam that harks for adventure. You even confided in me on the mountain path."

Vigil continued to struggle, but to no avail. A wave of misery and rage flooded his heart.

"It seems I did you a favor, child. Your family was holding you back from chasing that desire that burns within you. Now that they are gone, you can finally witness for yourself how demented and cruel this world is. I await the day that we meet again. I want to see that beautiful flame snuffed out after you have travelled. Now go. Become stronger, and face me again, so that I may extinguish whatever is left of your puny candlelight."

The Tyranitar pulled his arm back, sending Vigil into a panic. In one swift motion, he tossed the Sentret back down the mountain path.

Vigil's instincts kicked in despite his delirium. He opened up his arms and flattened his body. The extra fur that connected his arms to his thighs allowed him to glide on the air, slowing his descent and preventing him from taking severe physical damage. But the mental pain he endured would be a lot harder to circumvent.

Tears poured from Sentret's eyes onto the canopy below. He would not dare try and face that Tyranitar again. Doing so, his instincts told him, would cost Vigil his life. Vigil cringed at the dark truth of the situation.

His village was gone, and there was nothing he could do to bring it back.