Luna and Thief Chapter Twenty-Five: The Candlelight of Frosted Memories

There was this wonderful blur of sunlight which poured gently into a cold chilly cavern which smelled suspiciously of dew and salt-water. Thief had spent his time just out of the sun's reach in the cavern, his pompous tail flicked and wiggled as he'd watch the Rattata figure out that can opener in her tiny paws. Dusk and that massive Arcanine found out a trick, where she'd set it up and the Arcanine would delicately place his jaws over the handle to break through the seal of tin. The sound of it's gentle pop made his eyes flicker open for a moment, that and the endless sound of cubs and pups yipping all over the cans and all sorts of other things. Thief just wanted to submit to the clutches of sleep and every time he just closed his eyes something would bother him. It annoyed him in many ways, but he'd stay silent, confined to this corner of the cavern filled with sunlight as it poured inward from the outside. It would be… after lunch, right? No? I don't know… it must be late enough… I should sleep but all of these cubs make so much noise… Thief gave a yawn, a liberal one which left him to curl up with the intent of burying himself within his own scalded and hot fluff. His eyes softly closed to the sounds of excited yips and playful growls. Sounds which slowly left his fur to stilt and his body to quiver from that eerie and familiar sound.
Just the sound of younger cubs around their older brother, happy for food. Yipping to the sound of delight for something as simple and small as a berry or two. The kind that only the smallest of Thieves could collect for them.
The kind that was never enough and that thought lulled Thief into an empty dream.

It was the soft crash of waves which left him to wander without control of his body underneath a warm and stuffy sun where the kindest of ocean winds scoured past his tired and grizzled muzzle and across his eyes as he dragged himself over sand and thin tangled roots. A place that was hidden within a nestle of weak trees and bushes which collected towards the side of a large cliff built from sand, rested below would crash the waves with jagged rocks that held only maleficent intentions. The bright sunlight flickered through these thin trees with weak arrow-like leaves which drooped and submitted to the beat of the wind; his cheeks puffed out and this feeling of a soft, fleshy texture from a berry or two. The taste of sweetness on his tongue and every desire to stop himself from clamping down on them. Thin… tired and starved – a slow pointless trudge to a hiding place, a special place.
A little cavern hidden by the cliffside where every step could be his last, impaled on the rocks below with an agonizing flail of his very soul just to bring… pointless little berries that he stole from another. A Robin of sorts that only stole to feed them. A changeful wind slipped through his throat as he'd stare all around him, behind him… above him as though to expect a fearsome beast or bird that would dare to shred him apart and paint the cliffside with his insides.
A fear only a constantly cornered and wild animal could procure.
Yet save for a slide here and there which shot a surge of constant adrenaline against his young and feeble heart, Thief would make his way into this makeshift little den of rock and wet… one where the sunlight barely touched it; filled with hushed whispers and fearful whines… The sort of whimpers that only those who hardly had their eyes open and already were berated and hated and told that their only sense of freedom would be to drown in between the rocks behind him…
And that would be a merciful death compared to the impalement they'd ensue, for the unlucky. Thief just screamed at himself in his own head with the sights of little tired and near milk-white teary eyes as he'd feel his muzzle move in silence and say
“It's me…" Before he'd walk into the center… the largest of a litter of five and simply drop to modest berries to the filthy ground of the cavern; each little one still covered in his saliva. The excited whines, the nudges and gentle huffs of younger noses against his fur left his tail to still.
He was their big brother. Their hottest pyre… a cub hardly a day older then any of them within the first few weeks of their lives, three of which spent blind and ensured to die…
Except for Thief who opened his within the day of his hatching. The veil only flicked around his mind as though a curtain were tussled by an ever-changing breeze. The frost on his breath only indicated a fire too spent to fight for any reason.
A body battered by licks of flames hotter then his own, one that was unafraid of his ability to intimidate them… A reason which forced him to stand against it.
Against the constant screeches, snarls, growls and yips that he should be dead amongst his mother. The kind of Growlithe that spirited himself away at even the slightest sight of an Arcanine's eyes…
Even that of one which looked to him with longing and sadness… One which always met the look in his eyes, as though he dared to challenge the gaze. To fight it

To change it

Thief remembered that day where they all ate the berries he gave them, split in half… chewed as slowly as they could but still whined after that they were hungry. Something that he tried his best to comfort them in by nudging his nose against them all, holding them close to his paws and hum a small song in which the lyrics were long gone from his memories.
A song he remembered, one that his mother hummed to him within the only night he ever had with her by his side.
Thief remembered the wander back out, to find more food left unattended… to run from others that spewed fire at him just at the sight of a Growlithe who wandered for food… Those that bit him hard enough to draw blood from his pelt and skin. He shouldered it all with arms thinner then expected and a body as lithe and tired as his very soul.
That little Growlithe found nothing that day… so he remembered that night he spent away from them to desperately find more food
Just to steal berries from the one that stared at him with a broken gaze, one that he swore knew he was there, in his little sand-dug hovel amongst the center of the beach. An Arcanine that pointlessly looked out to sea as a mother curled around a wonderfully small Vulpix with a single white tail.
Curled up next to a fire on a frigid night where the stars flickered ever so softly in a twilight of velvet and a flare of golden candlelit stars. As though to shower like rain Thief would watch constant amount of them flicker across the ever-spanning horizon where that Arcanine barely moved… Barely breathed and just stared out endlessly.
Thief knew that Arcanine was aware of him, in fact…
There was this little leaf of berries – as though he set a small mound aside for him to take. The way he prowled his paws forward, as though to ever so silently push the sand. That lithe, weak… and soaked Growlithe simply stuck his body so close to the ground that it may as well have buried him. There wasn't a word to be spoken or said between them.
Not that night where Thief was finally able to take a small pawful of berries for his other younger brothers… to silently drag a leaf within the dead of night as nothing but the sound of gentle ocean waves pushed against the shoreline. That array of beautiful flickering silver gently danced against his eyes and from time to time it went pitch black… thanks to the clouds high above him. Troublesome large clouds which hung with every heavy intention to flood the island with frosted rain. Just that frigid stare from the heavens above him which forced that exhausted little Growlithe towards the narrow funnel of cliffs and water that he called home… which forced him to drag that tiny little leave behind him with berries of all sorts and to gently try to carry it with every fright of him falling to the waters below or to lose the berries that way.

That… out of every sudden image that flashed in his eyes… that night was the only night they all properly ate as a family. Where they all had berries to choose from and to gently chew and talk… and even all sleep against each other's pelts to keep one another warm.

It was all the sudden images that stung him awake… the newfound fright and the knowing that sparked him to stare at the roof of a cavern with all sorts of happy voices and gleeful yips. Loud… noisy yips that ripped his whole heart in two
Shredded it a part like a bird of prey would to its newest meal. Thief felt his legs jolt and move on its own and find himself towards the sunlight of the cavern with gaunt and horror written upon his cheeks… He'd find his way even with an Arcanine's eyes upon him, one which tilted them in a way that made every bolt of adrenaline chase through him. Every desire screamed at him to run when he could only stumble out of the cavern dug into the ground… nearby sandy gold beaches and a cool wind which pushed him to cross his shaken legs around the outside of the den until he found himself breathless. He'd hurl his head down as though the strongest wave and crash of seasickness struck his stomach. Something that he… didn't want any of them to see. His deviant mind barked at himself viciously
I'm… Griffin's Growlithe. That's all I am… it's just nightmares, nightmares… It's not real. None of it is real. He found me in Hoenn. I was hungry that's it… that's all of it. There's nothing more but her and I couldn't even stop her from… Thief shook his head feverishly It's all in my head. It's all in my head… wake up. Smile… I'm the only one that does… It forced itself on his face.
A small, truthful smile… the smallest one even with down casted eyes and a glance at what he had done.
These nightmares had gotten worse and worse for him as though he were constantly stuck within a feverish dream. The whole thing is just a dream… a bad dream. I'm normal, that's all I am… I'm normal. There's nothing special about me. Nothing wrong about me and I don't want it any other way. It reassured him to think that way. To smile warmly as a voice left him to jolt his legs and tail.
“Growlithe…" The Arcanine naturally called over to him but didn't push his eyes his way. A pelt as gold as sunlight flickered and competed against the cloudless sky between them. There was a frost of air between them, as though the silence drowned Thief in all senses as he'd stare out to the sun, Thief's back turned from him. Just his head to meekly meet the Arcanine with curiosity. “Thank you for the help… Thief is quite the title, save for the fact you've stolen nothing today of note." Thief swallowed dryly and began to speak
“I haven't… stolen anything today, at all." The Arcanine moved his legs and shoulders as though to get comfortable.
“My pride is one. You've stolen a bit of that from me." He'd express gently and smile to the sunlight. “Perhaps that is a good thing. For one built of a lion and that of a puppy." He'd express with a small ring of laughter and dropped his heavy tail to the ground with a 'thump' of a sound. “It makes me wonder what your adventure will be like… It makes me wonder of human history in itself as well."
“Human history? I don't know… a lot about it really." Thief brought up and the Arcanine nodded.
“My name comes from that of history. Human history, but solely because my parent liked the name." Thief swallowed again and tried to turn himself
“I – I'm sorry for stealing your… pride I guess. Somehow. I was just doing what felt right." Thief explained and the Arcanine nodded as wind gently caressed his fur.
“Lucius." The Arcanine replied. “That's my name, it means light in a language and history I haven't much knowledge of myself." The Arcanine explained and gave a little chuckle “My mother gave me that name because of the color of my pelt." Thief softly nodded and went to speak again.
“It's… good to know she did." Thief explained “My mother never named me." The Arcanine didn't turn his head or replied to him.
“Llewelyn was the name of another from my mother's offspring." The Arcanine expressed gently “I'm the only one left alive." He softly mentioned and that left Thief's ears to pin back.
“I guess I didn't just offend you then." Thief expressed shyly, meekly. “S – sorry." The Arcanine gently slipped out air from his tinderbox of a muzzle.
“Shew-wae-lin." He'd closely articulate the name. “It means many things in another language of human history that I have no clue of. It comes from the name of a god. Derived from it, I know that much." The Arcanine expressed “There are countless others… that I barely remember, but Lleu… I remember them." He'd begin to say, and Thief furrowed his brow and shook his head
“I don't understand… at all." The Arcanine let out a little huff and plume of flames which licked the hot air and left Thief to jolt from his initial response.
“I don't either." The Arcanine said and began “You should get some more sleep, sneaking you on that boat will take plenty of effort. Thief." He'd express and nodded to the sunlit waves and flicker of blue ocean water. Like a veil of silver veins which writhed and lived before him… Thief just took a second to stare at the water too with the heat of the sun on his back. Just silence from then on and a stern face…
A tired face
turned away into the cavern… Thief followed him just to watch the Arcanine nudge that feisty Growlithe from the market into a corner. “It's nap time for all of you, now that you've had food. Dusk" He'd make noise and she'd pat down a collection of twigs and other things.
“I'll tell them all a story, as per usual." The Rattata squeaked with a giggle and rolled her eyes at the Arcanine as that feisty Growlithe jumped into the group of little Growlithes, all circled around the Rattata with open ears; some already curled up themselves.

“A nap? This early?" Thief commented and the Arcanine nodded to the Growlithe's words.
“Yes, it's important that they get plenty of sleep. There's no telling what could happen" The Arcanine replied quietly “If those Sandygasts and Pallossands were to attack us, since we are on the edge of their territory, there's no telling when we'll find another place to sleep. I can't carry them all on my back forever. Not alone." He'd explain “But that little feisty one, he's strong enough to help. They're all strong enough together." The Arcanine explained and Thief nodded, then looked up at his face.
The Arcanine wouldn't make direct eye contact with him at all. “This… is what love is all about." The Arcanine mentioned quietly, something that made Thief's ear twitch. “To give your all. To be there for them. I learned that, because I felt it was right to." He mentioned quietly and smiled “You should rest too. I'll be up, just in case." The Arcanine said again and gave Thief a decent little push with his large paw.
All Thief did was go back to the same corner, away from all of them and curl up in the cavern with his eyes studying the sunlight. He didn't want to go back to bed, he didn't want one of these new unpleasant nightmares to creep up on him again.

He was scared and terrified of what else they would show him. What else could happen within their pages… pages of a book long burned away from his mind yet written and engraved on his very soul.
Finely inked parchment that teased him with a small, greedy desire that he wanted to curl up with these ghosts around a warm fire again…

Or a lost and forever forgotten cavern by the sea.

- Luna.

It was the rumble of a bus that woke her to familiar plain where she pointlessly sat in Griffin's lap. Her fur dry… her eye's tired but filled with energy as she gave him a little glance up to the feel of his nails which gently curled against her messy hair. A warm look in his eyes…
Or maybe just a candle in a winters storm…
Luna couldn't place the look quite right but with her eyes opened and intently staring at his own it made him smile brightly.
“You were… amazing back there. Even though you had me scared, Luna." Griffin expressed with a gentle laugh and continued to pet her, even with the prying eyes of those around him. Older people with suits and ties, their time spent on their phones in conversation or small laptops which had them type away on business.
A young man, hardly much of Japanese descent caught all their attention; and a trainer none-the-less. His open palm gently pressed against Luna's cheek, his thumb ran underneath her eye and across her face gently. “We should let the others get more practice in too…" Griffin spoke and checked his phone. One of his legs vibrated as though his ankle jumped his whole leg up. It repeated endlessly as he checked for anything. Luna just had a quick skim of the screen, as though curious of the funny device.
The numbers on the front spoke alien logic to her. '1703' and this weird digital clock that ticked on the screen. It was badly cracked; the glass was in the least and she pushed her paw against his phone as Griffin watched her poke the screen. When it vibrated it made her retract her paw and jolt her tails as though ready to scorch it. “It's okay… it's a phone. It's supposed to vibrate." Griffin commented and used his thumb to flick the screen up.
Luna just watched the magical glass change pictures… it left her to tilt her head in wonder.
It's… like that TV but he can touch the screen? Huh… Neat. She thought to herself as Griffin looked at a row of text.
“Looks like everyone is on track to Celadon…" Griffin replied to the message using his thumb as Luna just watched the little cracked screen.
Watched as these symbols come up and start to make words, like that on signs.
The symbols are weird… it looks like a bunch of drawings… Luna huffed to herself and tapped her nose against Griffin's thigh, as though already bored of it. Thief can really read those? How do you read a picture? That makes no sense… A gentle huff slithered from her jaw as her mind got stuck on that chubby Growlithe, a picture of his pom-pom of a tail, especially how he'd plume fire at the sound of lunch or dinner.
It made her face go red, that she was thinking about something as stupid… and adorable… as that. That warm… glorious smile, his excited little yips and barks which left her back to shiver in ways that she couldn't understand.

Just thinking about the look on his face made her smile to herself… made all sorts of silly, giddy feelings to overwhelm her. A gentle shock from her heartbeat, as though dazed and marked by it, left her body to quiver at the very thought. This burn in her face slowly picked up and left her to tap her paw impatiently. He's, somewhere right? I…
I still need to say that I'm sorry. If only Moonlight wasn't still sleeping… Rather, then this stupid bus I could… wake him up. I just need to return to the Pokéball right? Luna felt her back strike herself rigid
She still didn't like that capsule and it got harder and harder to even think about it. All her thoughts led to the fact that she needed to go back in there… She didn't want to show Griffin that she had gotten comfortable with it, Luna only assumed that's what Griffin would think if she willingly went in without his offer first.
It was the only reason she forced herself out earlier. The rumble of the bus resembled that of her stomach, something which Griffin felt with where his finger tips were placed.
“Your hungry right? Well we're almost at Saffron City. We'll eat dinner there…. I can't believe today has flown by." Griffin softly chuckled to himself and let his fingertips graze her cheek. There was this small figure of silence between them, as though there were some sort of door that she couldn't open. The look in his eyes, compared to her look.
She only wondered… if someone else had seen a look like that before. Her tail flicked as something bumped against them, and she'd turn to see some human, a normal human.
A stranger which gave her this little curious look. There was a short little conversation between them and Griffin, it revolved around the stranger asking to pet her.
“She's a little shy around people she doesn't know." Griffin replied… but Luna knew next to nothing about him; that left her to narrow her brow and give this mix between a pout, frown and an awkward shake of her head. It was his comment which left her to give this precarious smile…

She knew that she hardly knew Griffin, in any way, shape or form. That gym battle proved it to her… It proved that she knew nothing about any of them… Not Bandit, or Moonlight… Thief.
Yet there was this softened gaze that met her eyes from Griffin's, one which left her to gently stretch her shoulders until the popped delicately. That's when he began to talk about the gym battle at Cerulean… How she did something so obviously impossible…
That she… easily a few inches smaller from any normal Vulpix matched the special attack of a Gyarados as though she had been taught… trained… and fought for her entire life. All Luna knew was the heat of the moment that pressed against her chest back then.
Just this strange feeling that when she saw Bandit act the way she did… Luna had to replay the entire thing back in her head.
I just blindly listened to her. It came through to her thoughts That's a bad thing, right? AM I not supposed to be… proud of myself – proud enough that I wouldn't just… follow her commands? It made her knead her paws into Griffin's thigh gently as he continued to talk about the gym battle, something which made the man comment that she MUST have an obedience problem. Some sort of 'Alpha' complex… But Luna didn't feel that way at all. If anything, she felt spoiled and ill from Griffin's high praise. Something that he spoke of in a calm, silent and friendly way. They were just words that felt like they should've been directed to someone she barely saw before the fight…
Someone she swore she saw in the midst and heat of combat.
Just two Poochyena's that stared at her. Two which seemed frantic; scared… ecstatic and overly excited in complete disorder. That mixture of all emotions that filled their eye's and lined their muzzles in ways to praise her… It was just what she saw… how she saw them both.
That deserved the praise, Griffin had freely given… They deserved it, in her eyes. Everything Griffin said just weighed on her without any second thought with this overpowered feeling of guilt… If anything, THAT was Bandit's fight. One that Luna stole from her solely because Bandit couldn't fight.
All because of rules that she didn't make up, all because of mistakes that Luna didn't even know about.
I just wanted to prove something… Isn't that what I wanted? Luna had to go through the flurry of emotions that chased endlessly through her head What was… Did I really use? That's impossible. Fire Types can't use Ice moves… Can they? No, they can't… Luna delicately shook her head and felt her chest… as though she slowly were aware of the pain in her ribs. There was this terrible pain… A familiar pain… Just that shock was enough to leave her in a little fit of coughs and sneezes, as though her lungs tightened around her. Her ribs felt like glass and she'd give a painful shudder and huff which left her whole body to quake. It's from the rock…? I did take a heavy blow… But I… didn't feel this much pain at the center, not during the checkup or anything. Just that Nurse talking about my stats? Whatever that is… Luna gently shook her head and winced from just that little motion. It's… kind of cold? On the bus, it's cold…? That doesn't make sense. There was the sound of her huff once more that left Griffin to tilt his head at the little Vulpix on his lap.
“I know it's boring… You're filled with all sorts of… weird surprises." Griffin nodded at her and she simply tilted her head at him. “What's next? Can you do things like… Thunder shock too? Maybe Fairy Wind? Who… how? I know that was Aurora Beam that you pulled off." Griffin shook his head a little and twiddled his fingers “I didn't even… You just moved on your own, that's really cool" Griffin chuckled and smiled in-between his words and after them while Luna flicked her tails without any sense of rhythm. The way she did left Griffin to stick with that little smile; a smile that confused her in many ways… a smile that felt…
A little to honest and real to be true…

Her eyes gently dropped towards Griffin's Pokéball belt… the small, compressed capsule sat across that utility belt of his, and that peaked her interest… just studying the strange and different Pokéballs. They were truly like no other she had seen. There's something about them, something more that we don't know. I can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing? It's something different? New? Luna felt herself release a short and tight huff, one that she pushed against her little furred chest. Isn't… everything new to me? The people… the world? How long have I been here for?
Why… can't there just be a diary of all the things I've seen so far? That I've wanted to learn… All I have are shadows and ghosts of a past that I don't even know… if it existed? It's all too… spectacular to think about. The bus jolted and bounced as they passed through a quaint little town on their way. Unlike the normal routes… the highway had all sorts of unknown riches beyond it's glass plain windows; the kind that would reflect her face and the leaves and trees which darted by them all. This glorious sunlight spent every chased moment to flicker through the tree's – to illuminate them with golden, amber shimmers of light. I'm somewhere new… I've always been, like I don't belong. There's so much to learn and… out of it all I just can't get… Thief out of my head. Why? Luna dug her paws into Griffin's thigh Why can't I get that pudgy Growlithe out of my head? The way… Bandit huffed a while ago; she knew? Right? He could be in danger right now and I'm not even there to help him. So… why am I hesitating over a Pokéball again? Why would… I hesitate? Luna just stared at the window and then at the Pokéball belt. I was dumb enough to think I was cursed… in some way? Maybe I still even am? For… how long was it? How long couldn't I hear humans talk? How long was that thing there…? Just go… into the Pokéball, Moonlight knows what to do…? Luna felt her paw push against Griffin's hip… felt her claws barely touch his belt as he spent his own time to watch the world go by. His eyes just scoured the clouds beyond the window pane as though to search for something or to be lost in thought… he seemed rather quiet, now that he wasn't filling Luna's ears with praise. That was something she didn't want.
In all reality, Luna didn't know what she wanted. It was all a mess, everywhere. Her claws graced the hard – plastic, metal, outside of the Pokéball… it was a weird material to even push a claw onto… it was a metal alloy of some sort, the kind that confused her in every thought. She gently pressed her claw against her own Pokéball, one that was no different then any other and made this mix between a whine, squeal, and growl as the capsule unexpectedly inflated.
At least… it looked like it inflated to a normal size. The whole thing left Griffin to flinch too; caught entirely unaware of Luna's playful gamble… but she didn't stop there and pushed the white button with her paw just to feel the weightlessness – the crackle of the beam… the sound of her return to a world beyond her own.
A prison… in some eye's, but if that were true… Griffin's appeared like the most free of them. Luna found herself back inside of that peculiar cove by the sea – the gentle flicker of salty air hung over her nose and filled her nostrils with only the faintest scent of the bus in the air.
That horrid recycled air. As Luna began to wander across the forest; no one else was around by then she'd slowly come up to the edge…
Where the Desert Biome was ahead of her and she met a wall – like a brick wall – one that made her hit her nose and forehead hard enough that it hurt. Luna rubbed her forehead with a paw and stared at… what should have been a weird mix of a liquid-rubbery wall.
Instead it carried this gloss and sheen like glass. Glass which made her stare into a biome that looked miles away but… was right in front of her – she knew that by now. Her little 'thump' made all sorts of weird sounds come from it.

Just a simple… curious and funny chitter that made her laugh. It chittered and yapped in the weirdest way and as though a funny yell reached her ears, she'd hear it speak.
“Hi! HI! HI!" It yipped and yapped at her… and met that glass wall with a resounded 'thump' in reply. Luna could see it, barely, from a distance. That thing must've been the same size as her… or perhaps around her size.
“Hi?" Luna spoke plainly, and it thumped the glass again.
“I can hear you, but I can't see you!? Where are you!? You sound close by… kind of!" The weird voice spoke louder then Luna could ever expect. “It's really neat here! Better then that forest I was stuck in!" Luna listened to the voice with a tilt of her head.
“You're a female?" There was that chitter again, this mix between a click of the tongue and a trill of the throat.
“Yeah huh! It's been super scary… there was a lot of REALLY loud cracks!" Luna furrowed her brow.
Loud cracks? Like… steam? Or rocks cracking from heat?
“I don't know what they were! But they were REALLY loud" Luna gave this little chuckle
“You like the word really, don't you?" It made a click and a trill and seemed to nod its head
“I think it's a funny word!" A sing-song voice came through the glass “I've been digging all around the desert! All over the place! There're all sorts of holes now! Plenty of dens!" She'd express with her cheerful nod “Just like I'm supposed to! What are you? Are you like me?" The voice asked, and Luna blinked a little
“I'm… a Vulpix?" It trilled and yipped and yapped at the glass wall with it's weird chitter-like sounds
“I still can't see you… but you have all those pretty tails!? I've seen them before! You're the snowy ones! Like the REALLY snowy ones!" Luna tapped her paw against the soil below her
“Snowy ones?" It made a little chatter
“They stay by this funny wall! Like this one!" It explained “I only see a few leave every now and then… but I haven't been home in a super long time! So, I'll make dens here! All the dens I can!" Luna seemed to giggle
“That's a lot of families!" That's when Luna heard an 'uh huh" As though it shook it's head no…
“There's maybe enough room here for… two!? Yeah! For two families!" Luna made a little sound
“That's a lot of relatives…" She'd express and began to prowl around the glass with her nose nearly pushed against it to try and see even better
“What's a relative!?" The voice asked… and eerily copied Luna's prowl, she could see it follow step to step… beat to beat. “That's a funny word too! I wanna use it!" Luna gave a little chuckle
“Well, you can use any word you want?" She'd reply back and sat her tail end down… it copied her. “You can hear me?" She'd whisper that and see something on it twitch.
It's ear perhaps?
“Of course I can! I can hear everyone! There's a lot of splashing far, far away… something is sleeping closer bye. There's some… I think it's a fight of some sort. I know there's one more, but it keeps pace… It'll run the ground barren like that! I just can't find Raticate…" It explained and was quite open to talk to Luna. “Raticate is a… A…" Luna had to take a guess with the word, but it seemed obvious
“Friend?" She'd reply, and it made this gleeful sound
“Yes yes! That funny word! It's funny too!" It replied with a giggle, then chittered all over the place. “That funny tall thingy told me to stay as quiet as I could. Raticate told me long ago that it's a human… what's a human though? It's a Pokémon right?" Luna scratched the dirt now…
“It's… a living thing, it's not a Pokémon. It's like one I guess, but it can't use moves or elements like we do?" Luna tried to explain it, poorly… naturally that's all she could explain it as. “What are you?" Luna asked and it happily trilled back
“Esi! I'm an Esi!" It explained and made a chitter again. “I'm young… sort of? I can't see; Not yet anyways. It takes a long time to see properly…" It told her and that left Luna to make a curious little frown.
“What moves can you use?" The Esi trilled and chittered
“I can't… until something uses one. I know the elders can use every single move if they want." It spoke, Luna had to listen closely to it and made a little frown.
“No… Pokémon can do that?" Esi shook it's head
“It's really easy! I can show you too! You just need to suck in the move! Raticate told me a story about a Lycanroc that could blow entire houses down!" Luna felt herself snort a little
“That sounds like a funny story!" The 'Esi' seemed to give a huff in reply to Luna's words.
“It's a true story too! It was so big that it knocked over that funny little place they lived in. Raticate and that human. It just wandered in, huge… HUGE shadow thing! It HAD to be that bad Lycanroc! I got so scared, so I hid in a funny place! I used string shot to make a cocoon too… but I fell asleep and when I woke up that weird human was there. A Logan! That's what it was! A Logan!" Luna felt herself dryly smile at the sound of that name
“A Logan…" She felt a little giggle come on “You're different! You seem… excited but tame?"
“What's tame mean?" It asked shortly after she said it.
“Well… calm?" It chittered again with a delightful happy trill. Its voice did hold a tone of happy, calm… clearly excited but it was nothing like Yuny or Thief. It was a mature form of excitement and glee.
“I have to be quiet, there's all sorts of weird funny rumbles. A Logan and those other things keep talking about some weird Wild One. That it's dangerous… or something." The Esi's paws seemed to go frantic and wild… Luna could tell then that it sat on all four paws like she did.
Just a curious little speck in the distance, one that looked like it had a quilled or fluffy like mane… big pointed ears not unlike that of a lynx crossed with a jaguar, black and purple fur that was all mixed together with these white milky eyes as though something frightful had forever been imprinted upon it's very soul.
Luna solely wished she could get closer to it now, but the metallic sheen of glass stopped her no matter what she did. There wasn't any way past it that she could see.
“You're behind the bouncy wall, right?" Esi asked and tilted her head at it. “I don't know how you got behind the bouncy wall. I keep chittering and chittering, even while I dig. There's no way out… There's nothing to even eat…" Its ears splayed back as though to pin themselves against its tail.
That's how long its ears were – long enough that it just touched the base of it's tail as though they were sharpened arrowheads with little tufts on the ends of them. Luna had to squint to make out that detail “Raticate showed me this thing he called a 'berry bush' I thought that was crazy… food doesn't just GROW on things." Luna tilted her head and made a curious mewl
“Of course food does! Food grows everywhere!" The Esi made a little weird sound, like a mewl but it sounded… empty or sad.
“There's nothing like that where I live. There aren't any plants… food." Luna coughed a little to herself
“What? Do you all eat each other?" Luna quipped and giggled “That would be gross and silly to think about!" Luna commented idly with her jest...
But the Esi stayed dead quiet. She could see it just turn its long, twin slender tails to her and start to frantically dig into the sands on the other side of the glass. It left Luna to blink, roll her shoulders and walk away.
Weird Pokémon… I've never even heard of one like that before. It's like… a feline Vulpix I think?
If that's even a thing…? Luna wavered her head at the thought and wondered beyond the glass sheen wall… her paws stopped themselves at the center of the biomes; all of which were splayed out in a hexagonal like shape.

The center was that grassy plain biome – tall stalks of green; trees and slender rocks would meet her eyes as she came up to a flicker of water.
At least it seemed that way; like thin rubbery water and her paws effortlessly passed through it and immersed her body with bright cheery sunlight where clouds rolled above her in a curvature-like horizon. Although it did exceptional to trick the eyes… to feel and seem natural – Luna could still see the flaw. The wind flickered in her ears and her nostrils filled with the gentle smell of the diesel… fuel; recycled air but just the slightest hint of that scent. Her small paws continued to wander against the soil. It felt real, the way how she walked without any second thought. The way how she felt the moisture of the ground collect underneath her pads.
She'd find Moonlight curled up underneath the shade of that tree again… as though fixed on the furthest point – a field of tree's…
And flowers every vigil with a royal red and gold color. Luna noticed how he curled up in a way that left him to stare out at that field in the furthest distance, yet she already tried to go there…
It was the same thing as the Desert Biome now. Just a glassy sheen; as though to detail the background. Moonlight wouldn't dare to step foot into the winter biome… at least not alone. She hadn't seen him go there at all yet.
She was unaware of his and Shadow's venture all around the hexagonal biomes that were inside of the Pokéballs… as though they were a cloud of data and codes which created this extravagantly real… and yet utterly fake world.
Luna wanted to see a field just like this one in the REAL world. Her mind and imagination flickered with what it would be like…
What a field like this would look like and where one would reside… A place where maple trees grew as though nestled between a grove of Pine and Aspen. Luna just stared at Moonlight… just stared at the Espeon sleep soundly against the chilly grass.
The way it bended and folded with him underneath that tree. It was as though he guarded something…
Her eyes went down to the scarf around his neck and she couldn't stop herself from studying it. That was when something caught her eye.
There's hairs… fur? It's clung on tight. It looks… orange or red? Luna gently brought her nose to the scarf that rested around Moonlights neck.
She took a gentle sniff inward. Just a curious and gentle huff from her nose. Just to catch onto a wonderful scent; one of sunshine… one that brimmed with curiosity… happiness.
Hope and…
Love. A scent which shocked Luna with all familiarity. A scent that confused her…
It was a scent which left Moonlight to wake up to her curious nose and face. As though interrupted from a peaceful rest… one that left him to stare at her coldly at first before the warmth came to his eyes. Just that small sparkle of warmth.
Like a tiny ember or the flicker of a flame from a fireplace in the cold of winter.
“Hello?" Moonlight said after a little while “I'm finally getting some sleep… What's wrong Luna?" She planted her rear on the grass beside him and just took a moment to look up at the tree above her.
It was in wonderfully fine detail, like the cove… or the snowy biome…
Like the hilltop on the horizon. The tree was a maple, where its flowers were a green-turning yellow. A dim yellow with splotches of brown and even the scurry of orange-redwood. It even smelled like a Maple tree.
“I want to ask you about the Pokéball…" Moonlight tilted his head, just slightly towards her.
“It's a capsule that humans use on Pokémon… to help tame us. It cuts down the immediate need of friendship or… proof of a two-sided loyalty. Unlike how humans used to in ancient times. They make training for trainers possible… without them it would take generations to become even a beginning trainer, unless they have a natural knack with connecting to a Pokémon." Luna gave a sigh and looked up at the sunlight which pierced the tree branches.
“I meant this… thing we're in. Logan made it… but you owner, Ayumu right? Helped him?" Moonlight nodded
“Yes… Ayumu set up the coding for a software Logan started. Then they both began designing everything." Luna nodded
“So… do you know how Thief just… disappeared?" Moonlight swallowed a little and tilted his head
“Disappeared? What you mean… like lost?" Luna nodded and began to explain what happened to Griffin earlier. She began to explain it all to Moonlight as though she felt that a little honesty was needed. Moonlight just listened in silence and stared at his paws for a moment after she finished explaining it all. Even her unexpected success at the Pokémon Gym for him. Then she asked what happened to him… and Moonlight explained how that Psyduck just emptied everything it had been through on him. The Espeon explained that it essentially shocked him, about how fast it was all dumped.
“We beat each other… a tie. That Psyduck is much more powerful then it appears to be. Misty is a wonderful trainer for him." Moonlight expressed as Luna slowly dug her paws into the dirt… her claws scratched at it tenderly.
“Griffin… doesn't know where Thief is, right… So, he somehow went to Ayumu's at some point." Moonlight gave a small shrug
“Probably Alola. It's where Ayumu lives, Luna. I got no clue how Thief got all the way out there. After that whole fight or… comment you made with him – he can be a real drama pup in training – Thief just wandered off… to the Snowy Biome I thought. Shadow and I went there a while back… there's nothing out of the ordinary." Luna gave a gentle scoff
“What is Alola?" Moonlight chuckled softly and let his head back down against the grass
“A region, like Kanto… but halfway around the world." Luna felt herself jolt
“What!? We can't just stay here! We need to go there and find him!" Moonlight gave her a look, one that she replied with her own look.
“He's not… as weak as I told him to be. I already know that… I can see it in his eyes – there's a reason why Griffin sees Thief as 'his fire' or 'his passion' and what not." Moonlight expressed softly and gave a liberal huff “I'm not worried…" Luna felt her ears drop a little and twitch.
“How aren't you? He's halfway across the world in… in what? A minute? Two minutes? I don't understand it!" Luna expressed as Moonlight began to slowly stretch his neck “And then there's this weird Vulpix running around" That made the Espeon's large ear twitch for a moment “Tells me he's a 'program' whatever that is… talks really funny too." Luna felt Moonlight's tail flick at her for a second.
“A program? And it looks like a Pokémon? I've never heard of that." Luna sighed
“And then there's this new Pokémon in the desert Biome, weird thing too… I've never seen it before." Moonlight furrowed his brow
“A new… Pokémon? What is it?" Luna huffed
“It calls itself and Esi." She expressed and Moonlight blinked for a moment and looked back out at the hilltop in the distance. “I've never heard of one… that thing acts weird too – it keeps digging holes and says that they're dens; whatever that means." Luna noted and Moonlight just shrugged
“I've never heard of an Esi either… are you sure it's just not a Sandshrew or something like that? Logan has a PC box FULL of Pokémon… it's one of the reason's why he designed the Pokéballs in the first place. I remember that when I traveled with him, he talked about how he wished he could just wirelessly transfer Pokémon from there to his belt without a problem. So far… it's worked well I guess." Moonlight curled up against the grass and Luna padded around him in this tight little pacing like motion.
“I… said some stupid things! But I wasn't expecting him to run off because of them! I need to apologize to Thief… And that Autumn hasn't helped one bit!" Moonlight's ear twitched again. It was a rough, ear-tugging style of twitch.
“…" He went silent at first. “Who?" Moonlight asked in this sudden seriousness that left Luna's pelt to quake.
It was like when Bandit interrogated her about that… copy-cat thing. About what Moonlight knew of it.
“T – th… The program; the thing that says it's a program. It's some kind of safety program for Pokémon." Luna stuttered out the sentence from start to finish. “It told me it's name was Autumn… or that it's some long name that… spells it I guess?" Luna continued to stutter “That Vulpix comes out of nowhere at any given time to bother me, it can't even fight… it just asks to play tag all the time when it finds me alo-"
“Leave." Moonlight interrupted her and Luna felt her pelt spike up.
“W – what?" She began to say… but Moonlight didn't turn his head around. He simply spoke to the grassy meadow in the distance. His voice went from serious to a blood wrenching snarl
“Leave, Luna… Or I'll make you leave, one way or another." He expressed in all fierceness… Yet Luna simply went to speak
“M – Moonlight I didn't-" The weightlessness was what got her next, then it was the odd jerky motion of her being swung forward and then whipped back about a dozen or so feet.
The motion happened so quickly that Luna couldn't figure out which way was up by the end of it. All she could do, after hitting the grass on the Pokéball which buffeted her fall was stare at Moonlight.
The way his shoulders jerked from time to time left her in absolute fear. He whispered something gently to her. “Don't talk to me for the rest of the day… Or I'll tear you the fuck apart. Just… get lost. I want to be alone, so leave me be." It was all he said, and all he needed to for Luna to turn around slowly… look back for a moment; just a moment.

Just to see a picture; like a cursive painting of someone beyond the meadow of glass… Beyond a horizon unseen where that Espeon and a shadow could dance, run, and play for every day of their lives. Where they could live…
A place where their lives begin, simply at the start of saying three little words and one simple name.

Luna couldn't stay any longer as the image haunted her mind for a moment. Where she felt as though she had been stupidly blind about… something once again.
She was there, but she wasn't their friend. Unlike Thief… that was no matter how badly he screwed up. Luna was just there… when she wasn't supposed to be. Like a veil of night rather then a lighthouse on the horizon of an ever-spanning sea of uncertainty. Luna left the Biome… headed towards the mountain peak instead where she found Bandit and Shadow in some heated argument while Absol just prowled about as though ready to try and break up a fight.
“Well I didn't LOSE him! Wasn't it YOUR job to watch that little prick! And now he goes and runs off to god KNOWS where… I misunderstood that phone call Griffin had this morning. He hid shit; as usual – I thought it had something to do with Logan! And then YOU turn around and tell me Logan got himself involved in some crazier SHIT that YOU couldn't EVEN TRY TO PROTECT HIM FROM!" Luna felt her ears wince and Shadow blinked a few times; looked down at the rocks below him.
He looked like a Poochyena being scolded by his mother, but Luna knew that was far from the truth.
“Logan… went off and… wandered to Corey's cabin, in the Forbidden Forest. He found it, Bandit… He FOUND it. As long as it's with us…" Shadow dug his claws into the earth. “Look I… don't know what to say, I'm… not you, I don't know WHAT to do when it comes to a gun and frankly I don't think you know what to do either!" Shadow expressed and growled to himself as Bandit began to pace and prowl left and right in front of him… menacingly. “Not only that… It's… I don't know what to do. I'm with Logan. He's headed for Kanto, last I checked… Trevor too; they're both trying to catch up to Griffin. Not only that but there's these… guys with him. They're dangerous, very dangerous. I don't get it; I don't even get why they're helping him. I can hear the conversation on my end but now it's just been some silent car ride. They might touch down in Saffron by nightfall." Shadow explained and sagged his shoulders “I don't know what to say… Bandit, I don't know. First… Luna and then this crazy Cheshira thing comes out of nowhere; then we both learn that Moonlight's known about this ALL this time… He was with Logan in the Hoenn Championships for Christ sake – I never knew that… at all. I knew… I know nothing about him now. Moonlight is… he won't tell us anything." Bandit replied with a huff and a snarl… a plume from her teeth of smoke and fire slithered from the Mightyena's maw.

“You don't know. Do you know how OFTEN I've heard that from you? It's… stupid, honestly Shadow. Why don't you know? Are you… what is stopping you from knowing that!?" Shadow rolled his eyes and crackled thunder from his teeth; something which made Luna jolt.
“Being terrified. Bandit. That's what is stopping me. If we even remotely continue the way we are, someone is going to die. Logan almost DID so frankly, yes! I'm terrified, and I don't know what to do. I'm not unstoppable; even Aggron was too scared to do shit… if it wasn't for a Pidgey – A PIDGEY of all things; Logan…" Shadow trailed off while he shook his head. “I don't know… what Logan is planning next. He says he's headed to Kanto, thanks to the international event – I think he's trying to do some kind of 'sting' like operation. Give off information about another dig site and try to figure out who leaked information about his research in the beginning. It's a drop-in private type event here… I don't get how it'll funnel things but… That trapper has something to do about it." Bandit snarled to herself
“That human… isn't a good human, at all Shadow. And you're telling me there's more like him?"
“From what I know… there's eight in total. All of them are ex-military of some kind. They say they're not Global Police… but they are or at least used to be. I think they may have been in some serious international work at some point. Even worse… one of them, or I guess two of them now, they… knew Logan and Griffin's father. Logan asked one of them, things only his father's friends would know, and he had ALL the answers." Bandit shook her head shortly after.
“You and I both know he wouldn't have friends like THAT. Alright… They're thieves and murderers and god know's what else." Bandit shook her head gently at him “So… these people are using Logan? That's… I don't like that." Shadow replied with a little shrug and a simple sigh…
“That person is following Griffin too, that trapper. He's close, by all the time apparently. I don't get it either. Last I checked he was some crazy Pokémon collector that tried to take you away, countless times… and I can't… trust anyone that would take you away. That would try to. That would even think about it, Bandit… but I don't know what to DO." Shadow gave a huff of a sigh as Absol just lay down on a bed of rocks near the edge of the steep cliffside.

Any louder, everyone could have heard them. Shadow appeared to gentle sit on his tail. “It's already… gotten too crazy. I'd say we should just get Griffin home and have things the way it used to be but… that's not an option… anymore. I want it to be an option too, but these people… the people with that Cheshira thing they keep talking about – the thing that attacked EVERYONE… attacked you. They won't quit, I see that… Logan does too but he's not backing down at all… It's worse then when Griffin gets upset; imagine Griffin, upset like he gets but all the time and every action is the same… possible result. I don't like THAT Bandit. There are more… police officers on this than anything, and somehow Luna ties into it? That makes no sense either." Shadow expressed “I think she shouldn't be here… but you and Moonlight… that thing would kill her, right?" Luna felt her ears pin down against her skull.
Once again… Shadow was sensible, even more so then anyone else. The one that would choose an option to throw away one life or two to save the rest. Shadow… that Mightyena didn't hate her, it was the attention she brought with her against her own will. “So, Thief is gone… Griffin is coming undone thanks to it. Logan is running around with a bunch of army nuts that think this is some… Vietnam or Desert Storm Secret ops BS. Moonlight isn't who we've known him to be for YEARS" Shadow began to tear up all while he spoke “And we're suddenly in this endless loop of either kill or be killed. It's lead to that point ALREADY. Someone is going to die, Bandit. I don't…" Shadow shook his head “Not you… Please. Not me. We've been together and distant forever; then we had… what? Half a year? Half a god…damn year… and it's back to the same old... It's already gotten worse, all of it." Shadow mentioned bitterly, and Luna felt her pelt flare out.

That little Vulpix made herself plenty vocal with a charge of scorching hot blue flames which stabbed and stung her chest to the point her own eyes welled up. It left Bandit and Shadow in silence.
“Thief is in Alola, Moonlight told me before threatening me and telling me to leave, and right after I have… you telling me that I'm the problem!? And for WHAT!? Something that I didn't even cause! Something that I have NO clue about because if I could have it any other(Luna) way, it wouldn't be anything like this!" She commented sharply back with a sting of tears in her eyes “If I had it ANY other way, we all would be home TOGETHER, Because I don't think I even have one I can go back to! I have no one but all of you and all of you already HATE(Luna) ME FOR IT!" She remarked out of sheer emotion “So if you all were able to look at the world past your BLACK STUFFY NOSES!! Then MAYBE you'll know that you're not the ONLY ones stuck in this!? Moonlight is too! Thief is too! Absol is too… I am…" Luna expressed in a quieter tone near the end, a softer tone. “I'm not the strong one, YOU BOTH ARE." She screamed that at them both “And you're first decision is to just… leave us behind? I don't care if Griffin is some horrible Trainer; he's a wonderful owner, and that's more then I need… Because… that just makes me feel at home. I'm tired of it, feeling homesick. Griffin makes me feel at HOME, Shadow. So, if we can't run away from it, or hide from it, then why can't we try to find a way to FIGHT it? There's no such thing as an invincible Pokémon. There's nothing immortal… We're in the center of all of this circling around us… Griffin… Logan. All of us are in the center of it. There must be a way out – the BEST way out of it. To find an ending to it… so why would you both even think of just… running away? Because you're terrified? You're the strong one… how do you think I feel?" Luna expressed gently again. “I keep picking up… details about all of you. Little things – obvious things. You're nervous Bandit… I see it in the way your paws twitch, it's a claw… one claw on each paw that does. Moonlight is… so depressed that he can't even think straight, and I'm so lost with everything that I'm blindly and pointlessly hoping for the best! It's… just…" Luna trailed off with her thoughts; lost in what she was trying to say…
These thoughts? Were they just always in the back of her head? She couldn't tell or justify any of it… Her mind trickled with all sorts of thoughts and broken idea's. It wasn't fair to her… And Luna could do nothing more but try to open up what bothered her underneath the surface of it all. “It's… not fair…. To me." She expressed softly… gently – her voice left Absol's ear to twitch from behind them both. “W – when I think about it… and I think about it all the time; Shadow. Bandit… I can't just leave… because" Luna shook her head for a moment and let out a gentle sigh; a cold sliver crossed her muzzle. She wasn't the strong one, or the brave one or the smart one… hell, she wasn't even the pretty one.
Luna was just… no one. Another Pokémon, a scared one. “I just want to have a little faith. In all of us. I wanted to prove… to… see you Bandit- that Gym battle… that was YOUR battle. It wasn't mine. It was YOURS. I just don't think I can… run away again." She expressed with her head low… her ears pinned “I feel like all I've done is that. I feel like all I've done is run away from all of it. Hide… chase after nothing. Now… there's Griffin… and you Bandit… Shadow… There's Moonlight… Scarf… Marill…" She gave Absol a small… shy look. “There's you too, Absol. So, I can't even think about leaving any of you because I DON'T KNOW… I don't know how it'll turn out. I don't even… know of myself anymore." Luna gently shut her eyes as they listened to her. She didn't have the integrity to shine… to glow amongst the sea as that of a lighthouse. One that could outshine the black and dark veil of uncertainty laid out before her.

“So if it's pointless to even have a thought like that… A pointless STUPID dream… Hope…" Luna expressed softly and only roughly spoke down at her thoughts.
Her hopes…
Dreams…
“Then I guess I'm pointless. That I've always been – I know that. I've always known that… and I know you're right Shadow. I know that too, but there's always more then what's in front of us. There's… little things we don't see – that we all hold onto." Luna expressed once more. “So why can't we fight? If we ALL are together… train together… Live. We all can find something better… beyond it? Like finding a purpose or a reason. So, my reason? I don't know myself… but I don't want to believe it's something extravagant." Luna looked away for only a moment and gave a gentle frigid huff. A tiny Vul that slithered out of her muzzle left Absol's ear to twitch. “I'm just tired of feeling homesick, I'm tired of all of it… I want to believe in these pointless stupid dreams of mine. I want to… know. To Experience all of it with you. All of you… I want to… be strong enough to know you're all safe." Luna mentioned quietly and looked down at the rocks and stone below her.
“That's…" Bandit cut in shortly after.
Luna's face was red… her ear twitched spasmodically – anxiously… those six straightened and unkempt tails flicked and jolted at every sound.
That was fear… toppled with her folded and pinned ears. Luna dared to glance up even though she didn't have the strength to.
“It… was your battle… Bandit. I fought because all I could see was a Poochyena with a young boy… walking together… laughing together. I fought… like I did because I want to hold onto something as… simple and wonderful as that. Is that so wrong? Because it feels fair and right to me." Luna expressed sorrowfully as Absol gently breathed… her nose scruffy – her fur untamed yet covered with the attempts to make herself beautiful. Her white fur as bright and radiant as the moon glimmered gently against Luna's amber eyes. The Absol's red eyes just stared at hers… and Luna wouldn't back them away.

It felt as though an eternity passed as they both stared back at each other.

“That's well said… to me it is." Absol began to say and gently nodded her head. “I do not see why we can't try our best to fight together." Her older voice carried between them. “I am not one to be philosophical… to tell the future. I'm just attuned to nature different then all of you… and if there is a storm ahead, why can't we all do everything we can… to protect our owners… not our trainers. That's what they are to all of us… They're more then just trainers…. Griffin treats all of us like family. As though we're younger siblings, why else do you think he sits you on his lap… Luna? Thief too… I watch him, his little details – like you do… Luna." Shadow and Bandit just stared down at her… coldly. Morbidly. “Logan… must've done something like that to him when he was younger… and he's passing on what he learned, perhaps unusually. Humans… are wonderful things – they can be the most wonderful things… as quickly as they can be the most… horrid. I too want to hold onto something simple." Absol nodded gently and smiled at Luna. “And I'm sure… Bandit, you can see and agree to that. YOU can protect that… you both can." Absol explained quietly. “I have something simple… that I get to hold to heart. I have a young boy in my heart; one that I took care of… as you know – Luna. A human child that was taken away after his parents never came back. I did all I could, and I think that's all Luna is asking of all of us now." Absol gently stated as Shadow made a gentle huff and looked out at the biomes beyond the mountain side. Bandit gave him a look… a somber one… A gentle one – one that dared to be reassuring.
“I… don't agree with everything Luna said, Shadow. Yet… She…" Bandit seemed to swallow – it was the first time Luna ever saw her do that.
Did… she really put Bandit in that kind of spotlight? Bandit gently looked at Shadow and it's as though they knew each other… that well – that they were that close that all they needed to do was look at each other's eyes. Shadow gave a gentle sigh and lowered his head.
“You're right… I know it wasn't fair to say that Luna; but I also know that this thing… Or whatever the hell is going on… it's dangerous – deadly. I already told you, that I'd kill you." Luna felt her blood shock cold as Shadow sparked his fangs. “I'll rip you the fuck apart if Bandit gets hurt. Logan… has started to, and continues, to run around on his own free will. I need… Aggron and Haxorus to stop acting like cowards. That's a tough conversation to have." He expressed and gave a sharp huff – it sent sparks from his fangs; lightning to crackle and flicker close to Luna's pelt.
She could already feel the status affect even though it only got close to her. Luna froze in place as Shadow stared her down. “I have something simple to hold to heart as well… Luna. And I don't give a damn what it is… anything that hurts Bandit… I'll fight…" Bandit gave a plume of smoke his way from her muzzle – her teeth.
“Stop acting like some tough mutt you wimp!" She remarked, and Shadow gave her a look. “You and I both know I'M the one that does most… if not ALL the fighting." Shadow made a little face.
“It's not the time for jokes, Bandit! This is serious! All of this is!" Shadow expressed; but Bandit didn't take away her little grin and simply shrugged in reply. That smile made Luna swallow in return as Absol studied them all… studied the situation and kept her thoughts to herself as though she knew it were an argument she couldn't win. Bandit solely opened her little sharp grin… a devious grin… a 'let's start this' sort of grin.
“That's alright… I have our little depressed friend to talk to."

- Moonlight

The slow, tender roll of the bus rumbled deep… deep underneath him and yet his eyes couldn't draw it's gaze away from the grassy hill away from him. Why…? The word charged through his head in moments and left his heart to pound… all he did was lay against the tussled emerald stalks and dirt below him. Why… did I see him when I woke up? The Espeon feverishly shook his head She doesn't look… anything like him. So why do I see you… Autumn? In her? Why do I see… that? Moonlight felt his paws quake – outstretched against a fake warm sun that pierced the tree above him.
Naturally he studied the tree… A maple tree… of all things. Why…? Why is this all… falling…? Moonlight glanced up at the soft tufts of clouds beyond it.
His heart ached and lurched deep into his stomach. The sound of ghosts… whispers… a soft voice as though it were caught in the constant oil paintings which hung within the depths of his very core. All he could feel was the pain…
Much like an all too familiar headache. Are… you just… screwing with me? Ayumu? Why did you design the Pokéball the way you did? Why is… home… in the winter -it's the same… and the hill… that meadow…. Are you just taunting me? Did… Autumn mean nothing to you? To the point that you made him some pointless computer program!?
The desire… the questions burned a hole through his very skull and he shakenly pushed to his feet. And you… never even told me about that. I knew… nothing about it. Why did you take everything that was… precious and recreate it?
Why would you make fakes… Ayumu? His voice gently racked against his skull while the thump of his headache gently fluttered away from his mind. The sound of it drove Moonlight to dig his claws into the earth tenderly, a hushed whisper slipped into his ear for only a moment…
As though a beautiful fleeting voice touched his heart, pressed against every beat which graced his chest. A gentle laugh… a smiling face.
A frozen… timeless candle where the fire and light held the pattern of its rays against a pitch-black backdrop. A little amber and a small… perfectly hidden whisper that said…
“Go to him… you know you have to… Moonlight." His eyes trained towards the flowery meadow-top before him as though it were a land so far gone that no matter the fight… That Espeon could never truly be there.
Moonlight knew that he could never push his paw against anothers… dig gently into it – as though to never let it go. Dig into it with every soulful intent to understand another.
To understand that sunshine, that wonderful little flame which buried itself behind veils of glossy ice, the kind that would flicker with royal streams of purple and blue…
Just the colors of love, passion and tenderness hid themselves from Moonlights very soul. Yet the voice returned once more.
A whisper in his wake, one which led every question that burned in his crumpled and rested body to push itself upright and wander towards a place he once called home. That word lingered on Moonlights mind as though to constantly drive itself further and further into his consciousness… as though that word itself would put him asleep and yet forever awoken. It lingered longer and longer until he'd cross this mirror which led towards a snowy-white tundra surrounded by beautiful pine tree's… aspen's without leaves and… Maple. His paws stopped at a tree, one he could never forget.
Yet that wasn't the only thing Moonlight couldn't forget about… to be reminded of it all in such detailed splendor. His paws crossed the snowy terrain slowly… tumbled… tired.
He felt forever tired and lost within the very snowstorm of a home he once knew. A home which gave him everything and had it all fade away just as suddenly. The Espeon lost himself in the chill of a shrieking wind which fluttered from a mountain top far in the distance…
At least he saw that – he knew that it was nothing more then a backdrop, as though a screen with a picture hugged to the wall which he pointlessly glanced at. The frost singed against his thin fur and cased his skin within it's cold. It barely bothered him as much as it should as he lost himself in memory. The memory of the season which changed all around him, the pictures of that same walk… one where he knew that if he walked any closer he'd see a small little cabin in the midst of a frosted glade.
One where a window, tinted with ice flickered with a warm glow and two pairs of young and curious eyes that watched bright sparkles of white stars flutter down around them. All Moonlight knew was that memory…
Just a humble, pointless memory that suddenly wouldn't leave his mind. That voice slipped into his head once more…
To go to him. Shortly after, he lost track of the time while his pink-purple eyes studied the branches and gently parted the soft fluffy snow below him. He knew every trail here…
It was built so perfectly; to the most mundane of details being there as that voice came back one more… chilling this time. It mildly soothed his thoughts and left the Espeon blank-faced… emotionless as he'd stare up at a dark and clouded sky.
Go to him…? Why? Thief? Why would I go to him…? Why can I hear your voice so clearly… Autumn? How do I… Moonlight swallowed and coughed to himself; it went down the wrong way and all he found was a fit of choked gags until he cleared his throat. Don't… tell me I'm… being weak again?

The meadow… where the sun shone before him with green pasture and a beautiful eruption of flowers caught his eye… yet he only knew it in the dead of winter.
He only saw it, encased in frost even with flowers of red which gently sewn themselves against the hill-side.
The sight just left him to plant his rear in the snow…
That wasn't comfortable for ANYTHING, it was frozen… cold – uncomfortably wet… yet Moonlight sat on the snow with his forked tail outreached… even though it made him jolt and quake from the cold.
How long had it been already? Moonlight searched his mind for the answer yet here… in the near twilight from the slate-pillows of clouds above him and the incandescent glow of white snow fluttering down to meet his muzzle… He couldn't take his eyes away from the sky.
The stars that he knew rested beyond them…
“They're like fairy kisses right!? Like… that show he put on! It's fairy kisses… That's what the white sparkles are." Moonlight felt the heat press against his chest as he watched the cloudy sky. “Fairy kisses! See! They kiss your nose when you look up! So… look up at them… Moonlight." A gentle sneeze left him to stop in the silence.
There wasn't a single stir… nothing. Just a spot in the woods as they searched for berries in the dead of winter… they didn't go far from home. Here… Moonlight was in the corner of the biome, as though to desert the world to succumb to the darkness around him, and all he could see was the small gentle puffy edges of snowflakes.
Only one fell… caught his nose with its chilly intent. He watched it melt, to run down his nose… his muzzle and eventually drop to the world below him. Here… Moonlight didn't stand where he was that day, He solely wanted to see the world in sunshine… from another's eyes again. A gentle droplet touched his ear and Moonlight stared high into the bellow of the clouds…
As a warm, gentle downpour began. The stir of the biome… as though every raindrop were a scamper of little paws which one sang their melody all amongst these trees. The very trees which he only now saw copies of. That voice came back, like a soothed whisper. A gentle hum… A happy smile, no different then a ray of sunshine during chilly months.
Go… to… him? A sound caught his ear for just a moment… a fraction of fur – like a ghost caught his eye. A memory? Again?

Moonlight just looked at the curly tails which hid in a bush nearby him. First… he blinked, flicked his ears and then frowned. “Hello?" His voice parted his lips and yet… he heard no response. A gentle roll of Moonlights eyes came next. “I can see your tails." He began to say; and that had the reply of a squeak-like sound of fright that hid them in a bush. It still didn't respond. His paws dug into the earth… they dug in the way he always did – that mixture of emotions kneaded into the snow which gently turned to a hot slosh of muddy water and brown-melted icicles. That… was real snow – real water. Moonlight stayed seated against the snow and looked at the bush.
It didn't dare to show itself and that left Moonlight to sigh. “You're… the program, right?" He began to say and twitched his ear's as though to frantically hear a voice.
But the bush stayed quiet. Dead quiet… instead something odd and fantastical propped up nearby.
Like a little holographic screen which flicked in front of his face. Just close enough that it he could read the letters that came in front of him.
The text box just flicked… and flicked… “I'm looking for a Growlithe." Moonlight replied as the box made a little noticeable 'dot, dot, dot' symbol in reply.
It was as though he talked to a computer or a phone speech to text program. First, it showed a collection of 'Espeon, Ess, Espe... Espee… Espeon' And delicately translated it… in which the tiny, holographic box came up with a reply. Ayumu began to read it, it was just entry and exit logs. The last one was simply labeled as 'Sent to hub server.' Moonlight found himself nervously kneading his own paws.
Thief… was here last, but how did he… get…? The Espeon closed his eyes for a moment and breathed… until he gave this peculiar laugh. You… dick… Ayumu. That's why the meadow looks so… dynamic it's YOUR server. So how do I access it from inside of here?? Moonlight began to walk towards the meadow and, as he expected, from time to time something scampered behind him. Now Moonlight could see it all as clearly fake even swept up in his past so… lively. His paws continued to push against the wet slosh of the snow as the temperature increased more until it reached this comfortable mix of a room and a warm shower. Troublesome mutt… you're running around Alola. You better… not have touched anything dangerous… It came to Moonlights mind as he pushed towards the wall – a glassy sheen looked back at him. It made him scowl and snarl at it. I just need to find a way to -
Moonlight didn't get the chance to think as something blindsided him from behind; the scamper had suddenly stopped… all thanks to it basically tackling him – this weird… feeling came from it…
It was hard to explain but, at most it felt like being hit with a pillow… if pillows were used for cars, that is. All Moonlight felt was the surge of adrenaline but no pain from it at all, and as he turned to look back at the snowy biome all he could see was a Vulpix that looked back at him from a distance.
Just a wall of glass between them… where Moonlight stood in the bright sunshine and he stayed in the dark of winter. Just a glass wall, one that he couldn't look beyond… one where all he knew were the memories behind him. That's when Moonlight looked ahead and squinted from the sun which hovered above him. This beautiful wind zig-zagged it's way through his pelt while he'd look at the meadow… His nose played tricks on him as he could catch onto the scent of salt water and pine… Maple. A hesitant paw pressed into the grass, he could feel the moisture; morning dew on the tall stalks below him. Moonlight felt his eyes shimmer while that Espeon began to wander through the hilly meadow… he continued to wander upwards – towards the tree line until a flower of red… gold and black stopped him in his tracks. A single flower grew there like it strayed away from its friends.
Moonlight remembered a flower much like that one, one that Autumn and himself spoke to. Moonlight also remembered how dumb it was to talk to it, but Autumn always insisted on it…
To talk to something so pointlessly small and insignificant… and every year they'd see that flower again. A flower that… Moonlight and Ayumu eventually moved to the center of the meadow with one of rich white petals to forever look onward to the sky.
A gentle shiver chased through Moonlights hind legs – his thighs… as though all the blood and warmth sapped itself from his body – to leave him cold… a husk and a shape of what he once knew. That voice came back as Moonlight's eyes gently grazed against the poppy flower in front of him. A hushed whisper which pierced his thoughts with the sound of his voice.
It left him to close his eyes and exhale in his chilly fashion… to escape the overwhelming rush of memories…
To find his core once more. His soul… his… life.

To see the world stop and still like a perfect image, how it all faded of color… How he only stared at himself – face to face. The lines under his eyes; the messy tufts of his ears and the scruff on his nose. Just watching how… unkempt… uncared Moonlight had become. How he developed over the years skipping out on all the things he… needed. A near mirror image of his owner. Moonlight stared at himself in his black and white world where everything seemed and appeared so plainly simple… the brush of his nose against his own; the widening of his eyes that followed shortly after, that's when Moonlight found himself tossed within himself. A drift… falling… like a nightmare where even the air was heavy from this constant feeling of choking and drowning. The kind of feeling where anyone would see it and coldly tell him to stop being dramatic. But he…
In some ways, Moonlight knew he couldn't and solely wished he could. Yet all Moonlight understood by the end of it… was… what love is all about. That just made him scoff to himself as he'd land against a pitch-black glossy floor as though water drowned his paws and dared to drag him under. His paw took a single step into his distorted and swirled world when… something strange caught his eye.
A… Cherry Blossom?
It was only a petal that fluttered towards him… swirled against a merciless wind that battered it up and down until it eventually landed in front of Moonlight. The water rungs gently touched his paw as the petal aimlessly touched against his paw. Nothing more then a petal, a pointless petal from a tree even he saw back home – the kind of tree that was rare but so easily overlooked. It wasn't native to his home…. He couldn't pull his gaze away from the single pink, floaty petal. Another… pointless and little thing stopped him in his tracks and held him down. A voice touched against his ears. It gently touched the back of them as though a whisper softly huffed warm air against the back of his neck. Something he could simply fall back into.
“You have the strength to remember, Moonlight." That was the voice which slithered into his mind proudly and boldly… Against his ear, against his fur. He tried to turn his head but there was nothing here but himself. “All you need to do is find the courage within your own weakness, you know that's true… Moonlight." That… cheap… ancient… nomadic feeling rushed over Moonlights face and chest. As though that little petal carried a voice… a ghost; but one that felt warm and tender. Softness graced against his back; the feeling of thick fur on his chest and that image of him above him. The way he pressed him down, coiled him in vines.
Moonlight had to realize his legs had nearly given out from the thought. A ragged and soft sigh slipped past his nose and this time he felt that gentle and thick fur against is own back… the weight… All of it and Moonlight braced himself with a fluttered and racing heart. Now he looked back again just to see those eyes in the corner of his own. Like gentle sap or… even honey on a summer day. The questionable look on his face, the angle…

There was a not so safe for work description for the position.

Moonlight just aimlessly stared behind him as he watched those eyes blink back. They stayed in that position until Moonlight realized exactly what was going on. The sudden shock in his eyes said it all.
At least they both looked shocked from it. Moonlight simply flattened his tail and sheepishly snuck out from underneath him.
“W – W – What… the hell are you doing here?" Moonlight stuttered out as Leafeon cleared his throat, an awkward sound uncomfortably graced Moonlights suddenly twitching and flickering ears. “Y – Y… you can't be here? How are you here?" The Leafeon partially shrugged.
“W – well… it started with making Natasha think I was in her Pokéball… and sort of finished with a friend of mine checking up on all of you. Then I got a bad feeling…" Moonlight drastically tilted his head.
“That doesn't… make sense." Moonlight freakishly shook his head
He wasn't SUPPOSED to be here… this is the worst, why now…? Of all times? “Is it that Stag? That's your friend?" Moonlight brought up and Leafeon shook his head no.
“I'm certain you've seen Suicune from time to time." Moonlight could barely think in reply and frantically kneaded his paws together as though he were drastically in trouble. Leafeon regally swayed his tail and flicked his hind paw outward as though to stretch. “It's… weird, this whole thing…? All Pokémon have this… thing inside of them?" He expressed as though to say it again but this time… undirected, without guidance as though Leafeon were there of his own free will. “…" He sat down after Moonlight couldn't find a reply.
“I need… to leave for a while, Leafeon. Thief is lost somewhere… I'm going pretty far out too. He did something stupid… small probably – but Alola has a lot of unexpected dangers. I swear if this is about that Rockruff I'm going to bite the hell out of Thief… but I know it is." Moonlight began to say and lowered his head at the Leafeon “There… I can just… feel it. Thief's probably going over the top to find her and I know exactly where she is. She goes there all the time whenever she's upset." Moonlight began to say “I even remember needing to find her myself at one point." Leafeon tilted his head at Moonlight and gently nodded.
“So… why are you going?" Moonlight blinked
“Well it's… Thief, why wouldn't I go? He's a bit of an idiot if you haven't noticed." Leafeon shook his head and gave this curious little smirk.
“That's not why you're going, you and I both know that. Or maybe only I do… I just find it curious that a brother who lost so much is looking for a cub that reminds him of his siblings." Moonlight gave a snarl
“That's not the reason you prick, it's for Griffin – so don't get smart with me!" Moonlight began but Leafeon replied with a quick little 'bap' on Moonlight's forehead with his vines. It was this adorable little tap. A love tap… at least that's what Moonlight felt.
“Don't get smart with me" Leafeon replied with this gentle and optimistic sigh. “I'm happy that you're looking for the courage you need, without even knowing it… Weak little Espeon." Moonlight felt his ears twitch but Leafeon simply coiled his vines over Moonlight's mouth and around his head – gently… tenderly. It left him to quake and shiver.
Bite him you… moron, just… bite him. Yet somehow… or obviously Moonlight couldn't find the strength to move his jaws… his teeth or his fangs. “Do you think he's in trouble? Should I go with you… Moonlight?" Moonlight made a muffled sound and tried to shake his head in reply to Leafeon's words. With his muzzle covered and his head gently petted – drawn in softly… as though manipulated so easily Moonlight just narrowed his eyes and tried to slip past the coils of vines.
“No… the trouble should be simple; easy to deal with. I should be back before you know it… Before anyone does." Moonlight brought up “Anyways… all of this is my fault, I know that." Leafeon shook his head in reply. He shook it no.
“Some things have to happen eventually, Moonlight." He began to say, and Moonlight narrowed his gaze again – suspiciously.
“D… do you know of it? The Cheshira?" Moonlight pushed forward but Leafeon held him back. “Do… what is it? Leafeon? Tell me…" Moonlight gave a short little growl, but the Leafeon simply stared in reply. “How do we get rid of it? Can we kill it?" Leafeon's eyes simply dropped to the ground.
“… Killing any Pokémon isn't an answer. Killing any human isn't an answer, it's an excuse that only the weak justify. That's the difference between you and Bandit. You're only weak… because you'd come up with that excuse, unlike her." Leafeon replied firmly, coldly. With this ever-lasting authority that left Moonlight to drag his head back and his shoulders to slump. “The only time anything can be killed is when there is no excuse to cover it, when there's only honesty because there's no other choice." Leafeon began to say, “And there always is… regardless of how slim." Moonlight gave him a firm stare in reply.
“That's… unrealistic." Moonlight began to say but Leafeon cut off the argument. He cut it off by getting in close – to look at his eyes. To study them.
“I don't see a monster in you, Moonlight. I don't see some disgusting thing that would just kill because it wanted to… because it could. I don't see a monster in you, and that's all the proof I need. Now stop being so dramatic and dark for a moment… breathe, I'm not leaving until you do. Breathe, slowly… calmly." Moonlight just took in a short huff of breath and released it.
“Happy?" Leafeon half tilted his ears and shook his head no. It left Moonlight to sigh and rest the back of his head against his vines. Lost in a world of endless swirling turmoil, a black world without color… just shade save for the two of them in the middle of it – within the midst of it. Moonlight took in a liberal breath and gently held it before he released.
“Again." Leafeon began and got in closer. Moonlight went for another breath… then another. He continued to breathe, just like Leafeon told him to. Until… He…

- Thief

“I'm sorry Moonlight… by the time you wake up; Thief will be dead… it's for the best, for Luna... for him…" A voice slithered into his tired wake with chilly intent, yet the voice was already as gone as it came. Thief sluggishly rolled onto his back and yawned.
I'm tired… He began to think to himself as that Arcanine with bright gold fur nudged his side – it sent a ripple of pain through him that left him to yelp. Marina gave him a scared and concerned glance.
“It's time to go, for the boat." Arcanine began to say as Thief outstretched his legs.
“I'm… very tired." He started to reply but the Arcanine pushed Thief in the side, another ripple of pain left him to yelp once more. Marina pushed up to him but the Arcanine pushed his tail back against her. Why am… I tired? I shouldn't be this tired… It rang through Thief's mind as his orange, pumpkin spiced eyes studied the roof of the cavern. I can't move…? Let me sleep… Lucius. Just… let me go back to bed. Thief slowly blinked as Marina made a noise
“You gotta get to the boat Thief! What(Wake) about(Up little) Wuffles(Thief)!" A collection of voices dug into his mind as Thief gave out a ragged breath.
Wuffles? Rockruff… Right… I need to… Thief rolled himself over and pushed himself to his feet. “…(Wake up)" The silence made a collection of sounds to echo against his ears as a voice gently pushed against his ears. Flashes of all kinds flickered beyond his gaze.
Are… these…? Am I remembering again? There was a soft, tender lull of a voice.
“Big bro! It's time to get up!! All of the Ninetales are gone for the day! They went to the center of the woods again, let's go out and play! Let's play and eat and have fun!!" The voice eerily slipped into his mind as the cavern erupted with all sorts of sounds – cubs… pups. The large Arcanine just stared back at him as though to watch it all from a distance. As another voice came to his head.
“It's time to wake up my little _Dusk" The name faded and garbled itself as soon as he swore, he could hear it, all his mind went to be the sight of a very specific and certain Arcanine, eggs around her belly… His eyes looked up at hers.
Orange, like sweet pumpkin spice in a warm drink. A smile on her face and a little nudge on his forehead left him to whine and chitter against her cheek. “You know I love you… no matter what. As soon as everyone hatches… I'll be gone forever. I'm happy that you've already opened your eyes, that's why they're orange… like mine. Your father was a thunder variant Ninetales. An Insupia Ninetails. You'll… never see them again… I'm sorry…. But I'll sing to you every night, even after I'm gone. So whenever you fall asleep and wake up in the morning, you'll know this special little song – a human song." And she started to hum and gently… quietly… she sung the lyrics of a song.
A song that Thief knew nothing about… a simple song without a name for him. One that simply told him… that they all were her sunshine.
It was a song where all of the lyrics were garbled for him… but he knew the hum, he knew that in his heart. A gentle tilt of his head left her to giggle and laugh mid-way through her tender soft voice…
And the tears that softly pushed past her cheeks, the ones that weighed heavy on her soul, the ones that left her to quake and whine and push her large muzzle against his small tiny head.
The kind of tears that made him cry, without understanding why or what she meant… yet she did everything she could to not shed a single tear. To make him feel… happy. To make him feel like it was all worth fighting through and for.
To make him have the courage to wander through an ocean of uncertainty and look towards a lighthouse brimming on the sea… where paper lanterns flicked and glimmered in the velvet-silk night. As though it solely told him to try for the moon and if he failed…
He'd always be caught by the stars in the sky.

That voice came back to his mind. To wake up… To find her. Thief felt the pain in his side again as though all the weight of the world crushed against his body, where he let out a ragged and distressed sound. A whine… a whimper.
He plumed his muzzle in the dark and all that happened was smoke. There was no way out and that's when his heart began to pound against his chest and he felt himself hold his breath. Thief was buried alive.
He simply woke up from a confusing dream… he woke up to the feeling of dread and exhaustion. A sharp bitter cough slipped through his throat as he tried to breath desperately. A gentle tussle and a move left him to rest against something… jagged.
bones. A quiver ran through his frightened pelt as he tried to dig out of the sand.
It's… the Sandygast!? The… What!? When!? Thief felt himself flail and jolt his hind legs, the sand sucked him back down. It's… eating me into the… sand? No… Please… no…
His paws stopped moving for a moment as he let out a sharp howl. Anyone? Hear me?... please? Thief waited within the belly of the Sandygast – a shimmer of light was ahead of him. Thief felt his eyes widen.
“Lucius!" The Arcanine jolted and tilted its head… Grinned a little from the sound of a name.
“So it IS you…" He began to say and smirked gently. “This is WONDERFUL" He began to express as Thief froze.
“Wait… what? We were headed to the boat, help me out! Please! Lucius!" Thief yelled out, but the sand gently sucked him down again How much of… my body is under the sand? What do I do? The golden Arcanine planted his rear outside of the Sandygast… Thief could see him clearly, just… watching him.
“Why would I help you… Little Thief?" he began to say maleficently, “I watched you run around like some dumb cub… the moment you touched the shovel" He laughed, it was this… weird laugh. Like he had to have it happen and he didn't. Like the Arcanine was split in two. “I'm ecstatic that the cub of the Ninetales whom ripped apart my brothers and sisters is dying in front of me." Thief felt his body surge with adrenaline. His eyes went wide and bright as the Arcanine just watched him. “Fight it, you'll find a way out." He stated bluntly as Thief snarled to himself
It's… like quicksand, I fight it… I'll die quicker. Thief didn't budge and looked at him.
“You're stealing… food for the other Growlithes…" Thief began to say, “How is that different from… my brothers?" Lucius grinned
“What? The worthless other kin that starved to death? They got what they deserved" Thief bared his teeth back at him
“They were under a few months old!" He remarked back at him as the Arcanine narrowed his eyes.
“So what? My brothers were only a year older" Thief stayed rigid in the sand and felt it constrict around him
“Do… you believe this will make it all better?" He began to say as Lucius rolled his eyes back at him.
“No… it's a start. If it were up to me… all of them would've been dying the same way." He replied, coldly but there was still something in his voice. Thief felt the sand crush against his hind legs… his stomach – that was the pain in his side. A gentle shrill yelp forced itself from his lips as Thief gave a low, look in reply.
“That's…" Thief had all sorts of words go through his head. All sorts of thoughts raced against his mind – his heart wouldn't stop and all he could do was suck in air. He shut his eyes for a second and exhaled. He's… going to watch me die? Why…? “Who was my dad?" Thief demanded and the Arcanine tilted his head.
“What? You don't rem-“ Thief cut him off
“I never met him. Hell, I barely met my mother, what happened to her?" The Arcanine gave this mix of a look. “What about everyone else? Aren't these all just POINTLESS DREAMS!?" Thief roared back at him and the Arcanine narrowed his eyes.
“Confusing right? They make no sense… it took me so long to remember it all, and now that it's all said and done, this is what I want." Thief felt the sand crush against him again. “You look pathetic, weak. Pointless. Thrash about – fight it… Just hurry up and die." Lucius began to say, and Thief narrowed his look but the pain made his eyes well up.
“So you'll just take away… an entire family from this world? All of them are gone but… me… I had this wonderful dream, where I thought we could learn from one another." Thief spoke honestly but the Arcanine grimaced.
“Yes, Marina talked all about it; she won't shut up about it. She saw ALL of it." The Arcanine replied and huffed, annoyed that it was talking so long. Thief realized it; he was uncomfortable. “You're friend; Wuffles? She goes to Clawmark hill whenever she's upset… she watches the fights from a distance. She never went on some BIG adventure! She's probably sleeping out there, complaining about those filthy humans." Lucius replied and continued to watch Thief get slowly crushed by the Sandygast. It must've been asleep… eating him peacefully. The noises barely stirred it from it's slumber, and all Thief could do was growl to himself.
“You… can't be serious… You're holding me accountable? I don't even know him! Lucius… I never even met him…" Thief tried to say “I barely knew my own brothers, and I have to already live with the fact that they… that they died. I have to live with… the fact that it was… My fault…" Thief had to come to the realization eventually. Just the way it hit him… was… never what he expected. How heavy it felt when he let out those words; how he stuttered off and felt the crushing weight once more. The loss of breath and a shrill yelp slipped from his throat as he began again – the Arcanine watched in this… somber mix of glee and sorrow. “So… why would you let me die when… I'm already lost remembering all of these failures? Are you honestly going to grace me with that?" Thief continued to say as a small voice slithered through his mind.
“Smile… because no one else does." Thief felt himself bite down on his lip as his orange eyes flickered over the Arcanine, the mixture of a look on his face said it all. I can talk my way out… I just need the right words to say. How can I… say the right thing? I never do anyways… The sand churned again and squeezed as though to flatten his hips – he bit himself hard enough that it drew blood. “You'd make it that easy for me? Huh? You'd take the easy way out?" Thief started to say “You're sitting here taking care of all of them and you'd see me as the problem, as anything BUT a living… breathing thing? Is that who you are Lucius!? Just someone following in footsteps?" Thief started to question “Why would you let another brother die when you've lost as many as I have? At least you had… the chance to know them… to see them smile for once in your life when all WE had were scraps – scraps that all of YOU left around!" Thief began to state, “If it wasn't for one… ONE Arcanine on that Island we never would've had a single… proper night where we had dinner together." Thief expressed “As for my father…. I've never met him but if his only interest was killing cubs back home then I'D RIP HIM APART MYSELF!" Thief gave another sharp yelp of pain… but the Arcanine wouldn't budge. Am I saying the wrong thing? It wasn't my fault… I won't admit to that, I have no reason to – that gives HIM a reason to leave me here. “Why would you back down?"
“What?" Lucius started to say.
“Why would you back down… all because it got harder for you? Because it all didn't go your way?" Thief felt himself chuckle… he felt in some weird little way… like Moonlight did. Thief knew he was panicking… and he just resorted to the strongest person in his mind. “It got harder… and harder for me, and I kept trying. So, what did you do Lucius? Sit there aimlessly while ANOTHER family died off? And now you're taking the easy way out? Would… Lleu want that?" Lucius lifted his large head back.
“How do you know that name?" He began to say but Thief simply huffed back. “Where did you hear that name?" Thief coughed under the weight of the sand below him and dug his teeth against one of the bones nearby him. It was stuck out of the sand and Thief tried to pull himself out of the constricted, crushing hole that held him in place.

“You told me… the name of a brother you'd never forget… Lucius… So, I can't die until I remember the names of ALL of them!" Thief mentioned sharply but quietly. “I won't give up all because I can't remember them. I'll never give up on that." Thief dug his fangs into the bone and pulled himself, or at least he tried to. “I won't forget Luna… and Luminescence again"

“Lumy?" Thief felt himself still. “You… knew…? Luna?" Thief dug his claws into the bone pile and looked behind him.
“Luna is back with MY Trainer… Griffin. In Kanto. I have to go back… for her. Always." Lucius pulled his head back and looked at his paws.
“She… hates you… But Lumy never… did." Lucius began to say “She, disappeared too – do you know where she is?" Thief shook his head no.
“I don't… but I'm not giving up on a sister either." Thief expressed “I know someone… they're… well a real bitch, they torture and bully me worse then you all EVER did… but she'd do anything and everything for family. If she's taught me anything… anything at all… If I was even smart enough to understand her, it's that I can't just bend and take the easy way out." Thief remarked and huffed bitterly as a sharp little growl slid from underneath his muzzle. “Are you… Really going to give me the easy way out? Because unlike you I still need to find my sister." Lucius left out a short, gruff sound – something which left Thief to jolt. There was this tiny grin which faded towards a look of confusion when he stared down Thief's gaze.

His eyes were an astounding pink color. As though he were so… similar to another he hardly knew anything about.

It took him a moment to budge. A moment to open his muzzle with nothing more but a single breath. It stilled Thief as the weight crushed around his stomach, the pain was excruciating and all it did was leave his own eyes to widen. His heart pounded and beat against his ribs as he went to suck in air.
You… can't… seriously leave me for something that I… didn't even do? I never want to do… that… Why would anyone need to, want to? Is that my… dad? Just some horrible… terrible creature? Thief felt himself choke out a yelp as the sand constricted around him. Thief tug his fangs into the bone now and held down viciously – his white teeth clamped against it hard enough that he heard the bone crack. The sound was sickly and horrific for that little Growlithe to listen to. It felt like an omen with dark intentions as the sound rang through his ears.
That'll… be my bones… too… right? Are they mine? I can't tell anymore… I can't handle this I want to go home. It rang through Thief's mind as he glared down Lucius with scared; teary eyes.
“Can't I just… go back to Griffin? Can't you let me go back to Luna?" Thief started to say, “She's my friend….?" He simply let a gruff whimper from his muzzle “Please… Please Lucius, don't… don't do this. You're not my father, right? You're not like him so why are you ACTING like he would? This is… something he'd do right?" Thief started to trail off “If that Arcanine from the island taught me anything at all, even though I was always so terrified of him… It's that we're all a big family, we always have been so why would you hurt…" Thief choked as Lucius gave him a dagger-edged stare.
Don't leave me… please. Don't let me… not here like this… Please? I didn't… these aren't my memories; they're not… me…? Thief snarled louder
“Why would you let your family die all because it got harder for YOU!?" He roared, unexpectedly – the pain was too much for him to keep his emotions in check. “How do you think I FELT when I KNEW I couldn't protect THEM? I even promised mom… I don't even know what happened to her" The Arcanine took a small step back and tilted his head – twitched his ears…
“You… don't remember… that? You were… there." Lucius had to stare Thief down harder. “It's… how long have you been gone from the island? And you can't… no…" Lucius lifted his head up and back. “You were never supposed to… remember." Lucius gave this small grin before he got closer to Thief, he could see the way he prowled up to him. “I… want you to remember it… all of it." He began to say and snarled before he ignited the Sandygast in flames – flames that left it to let out a shrill and alarmed shriek…
One that Thief remarked with a frightened and pained howl. A battle began… but Thief had this horrible feeling…
That… remembering could be worse then death… That the pain here was nothing compared to what he'd have to see… to remember. That the skin and fur underneath him which cracked and boiled from the Arcanine's flames was nothing to squeal and whine about regardless of how much came from his little muzzle. Regardless of how much blood was drawn.

- Griffin.

The bus slowed itself down as it touched the station at Saffron City where he shortly stepped out of the narrow stairs from the door and took in a breath – the kind that was mixed with oil and chilly wind. A small dig into his pocket and he'd end up pulling out his small headphones and his phone and in moments that horrible scent which surrounded him ignited with the sounds of Graham Colton's voice. Just a song that told him that life is what he made it to be. His hands fished themselves into his dark and partially faded jeans as he wandered towards the till, thanked the man there – yet was deaf to his words and continued into the darkened sunset at Saffron city. He already knew that he had an hour and was solely intent on staying around the transit loop. He'd hate to miss the bus here; that would put him at least a day or two behind. Celadon City, Griffin had a glance at his phone to the last page he had open on his internet application.
Clearly, he was reading up on the gym and the city itself, a grass gym and the Rainbow badge waited for him there… for everyone. A quick text message to Brad told him that they were still a few hours out from Saffron, it also told him that they ended up in a trainer match or two on the way there… and then an unexpected note.
“Natasha caught Melody a Nidoran, Griffin… So, it looks like Smokey has a new friend. I'm looking into helping her catch a Caterpie. We all agreed on it. I'll see you in Celadon bud." Griffin read over the text message for a little bit before he replied. He talked about how great it was and asked all sorts of questions about it. All Brad replied with was “Well, Smokey doesn't seem completely excited about it. He's a weird Houndoom algoifsjdkadjoa." Griffin texted back after he read that. After a moment a message came back. “Sorry, dropped my phone! Dumb roots had grown over the trail…" It made Griffin chuckle silently to himself as he stared at the application again before he glanced towards the wide-open street around him. Then he texted Brad back, told him that he was getting dinner and then moving on to Celadon City. There was traffic, cars of different sizes passed by him as he wandered towards a transit map and checked it out. There were a few younger kids there, looking over the map too; the kind that seemed a little young to be out that late as they got excited over the idea of going to a manga-like shop nearby. Griffin just looked over the map until he noticed a small spot that may have sold food nearby.
Do they sell… the right kinds of food for Pokémon though? I mean, it has to be organic; I know that much, if I'm going to have to cook them food that is. Makes me wonder if… should I change what I feed them? Griffin shook his head to himself.
No, I don't need to change what I feed them; they deserve good food too. It makes… them happier. Griffin ran his finger over the map as though to visualize the trail It's not that far out… and it's the closest one around here. His phone seemed to ping against his ears – those headphones of his changed the song. I know this song… Andy Kong. It was a simple uplifting song that softly touched his ears one that made him question if he even had the… worth or value to listen to it. It be raised up by it… Harbor in a Hurricane. It made him wonder if that's what he wanted to be or if how he viewed himself was just like that. A gentle roll of his fingers left him to touch a Pokéball.
Thief's Pokéball. A gentle, non-too friendly shiver chased down his spine as he wondered how… or where he was. It left Griffin to dig his hands into his pockets and continue to move down the road. There's… so much that I can barely think. I need to worry about the next gym… figure out how… Luna could've taken down a Gyarados… a Gyarados of all things!? A Vulpix could never… not when they're evenly matched like that. It made a gentle smile to come over his face as he wondered down the street. A police cruiser drove by him slowly and the officer tossed a look his way before they continued down the road. It was so simple back in Pewter. Is this what… everyone's journey is like? Am… I supposed to be finding… something about myself? No…
That's what I asked Logan to do…

Griffin continued to walk and softly sighed – the mist from his breath clung to the frosty air which surrounded him, and he chased the zipper of his jacket towards his neck. It gently choked him and swallowed his body with warmth. A gentle wind buffered itself against the black, sleek nylon. Another song rotated on his phone.
Iris… but a remake of the song; a slower version. A song which always… always… Griffin shook his head a little and took a long look around. The street lamps were already on even though it was still sunset; that golden curled ray slithered across the horizon from down the road he looked at as though he were facing this beauty before a calm storm. The music by any means was corny… silly. Pointless.
Just entirely pointless songs about dreams… promises… and all the little things that always toppled him over. The things that he couldn't control and that ate away at him. A soft, tender kiss of depression always touched his soul; the kind that made him see a face or two. The kind that made him think of a certain little cove – a beautiful snowy day…
A Poochyena he never had the chance to know.
The very moment he got to the shop – it was a fast food place, he checked the time with a weary yawn. It only took ten minutes to get there. It was all like a daze; the entire walk was something that fluttered by with hardly anything taken in. How he barely paid attention to the world around him and that made Griffin feel like… home. Where all he had to do, or needed to do, was envelop himself within music from those that made it and understood it all. It all seemed so simple and resolved in just a few simple minutes, something that left him to melt towards a voice that talked to him quietly, with this firm understanding yet non-spiteful or hateful.
Like the voice of a Father. A voice of a hero.
His whole world was a blur; a mix of things. With one headphone in he'd order food for himself – ask about Pokémon feed and was directed elsewhere. A small market nearby carried Pokefood. So, Griffin paid and ran that way worried about the time. He ran down the road after that… Towards the shop, sped through the aisles while hurriedly checking the time and paid for enough food. I don't like that slop for them, but I don't have the time or the chance to be picky. Griffin just ran around, and he felt like he was wasting time constantly. That was the story of his life and know he was out here; hardly able to contend with all the things which buried him mentally. He felt like he had a wall of crazy in his mind. A gentle toss of his hand through his hair said it all and in the moment of him riling up that sprouty mess on his head he simply wondered if Logan or Trevor where having the same sudden rush of feelings… the kind where everything was out of control already. I have a whole hour… well less time now so why am I feeling so overwhelmed? I shouldn't be feeling like this. I'm a Trainer right? It came to Griffin's mind I'm just a different kind of trainer. I don't even like these Capsules… Is there something wrong with that? Am I worried that my Pokémon don't trust me? Natasha's voice came through to his mind, the conversation they had back in Vermillion. They're just walking over me? Is that what I'm worried about?
Wouldn't they leave either way? If I push them too hard or… If I don't push them at all? Is there a balance or… I need to build their trust with me, right? More…? Can't I just have the answers in front of me? A gentle whisper touched his thoughts.
What would they do?
He knew who they were. What came to his mind, but Griffin shook that off as soon as it came to his thoughts and made it back to the transit station with half an hour left. That's when he released his Pokémon, all of them. The only one that didn't come out was…
Moonlight. Griffin tried that Pokéball of his again. He investigated the center button; the red strip that ran down the middle – laced with perforated tiny holes; the kind that a thin needle could fit into. The button simply gave him this weird… blue light. A gentle hum of blue; like looking at a breathing affect on a fancy keyboard. He'd tap his foot against the ground and dropped his bags; took out food first – some of the bowls he had in his rucksack and opened the cans of Pokémon food. The small kibble pellets were a brown-light brown color. Speckled with different colors.
They only had generic feed. Just that kind of kibble that's a mix of everything. It was the only organic thing I could find… It took him a moment to find that Absol stared at him. Luna ate whatever was in front of her – Scarf ate with her while he hung around Bandit which seemed to talk amongst themselves in a collection of whines, growls and whimpers. As though they held some silent; whispered conversation between each other. Bandit didn't seem to be amused with the small Pikachu and Griffin gently tossed his open palm down towards Absol. She sniffed his hand curiously and after a long little while – she gave his fingers a gentle lick with her rough tongue. He had his phone in his other hand and mentioned to her that she should eat. A smile on his face – a façade… a painted mask. Yet a smile nonetheless. The older, messy looking Absol tilted her head and then went over to Luna to curiously inspect her tails and fur. Right… add that to the list. I need to give Luna a proper bath. I still have that bottle of Shampoo – I promise Luna, in Celadon I'll give you that bath you want. Griffin went through his phone contacts and called an all too familiar number.
It hit a dial tone immediately. He tried it a few more times and got the same result until… suspiciously… and unknown number came to his phone. He answered it after he tossed a look around.
“Hello?" It was silent at first and that left his heart to pick up until a weird voice came on the other side.
“Open your notepad." It said, and Griffin flinched.
“Hello…?" He tried with a more convincingly voice with 'sorry, I can't hear you' in his voice.
“Lower right pouch of your bag is your Pokénav and Pokédex; it's a tan and black rucksack." The voice said again and that left him to swallow. He went through his phone first and then opened the app on it.
Absol gave him a tilt of his head as he did as though to read the expression on his face.
“Sorry about that. Just having troubles with my phone." Griffin started to say, the app open on his phone.
“That's fine. Try this number… Fletching." It said again and that left Griffin to swallow; he entered the number in his phone. “It's a business… Pokémon I mean." It expressed and suddenly the line disconnected. Griffin took another glance all around the streets – the background. All of it, until he called up the number shortly after.
“Hello? Who is this? Wait… Griffin...? How'd you get this number?" It was Ayumu's voice, and that frightened Griffin even more. He partially cleared his throat and chuckled
“I… got it from… Logan." He brought up as Ayumu made this 'ah' like sound.
“So you got word of him down in Crossgate! Wonderful! He's doing quite well, just met up with a friend of mine! In fact; they're headed to the Magnet Train in Goldenrod City! There's a transit link down there; Griffin so… they're planning on coming to Kanto for a while; both him and Trevor." Ayumu expressed as Griffin cleared his throat.
“So, I was trying to bring out Moonlight… and I think the Pokéball is on the fritz again." Griffin stated and Ayumu made another noise.
“I'm just checking the server now… Huh. He's in the…? Well Griffin he'll actually be here at my office – on my server. Somehow. He must've gotten past the firewall… That's… insane." Ayumu seemed to laugh. “He's safe here." Something noisy came into the background as Ayumu made a little turn. A voice came into the background shortly after. Griffin strained himself to hear it with all the noise in the foreground.
“Wait... wait; Ayumu did he just…?" Ayumu spoke to the man first
“Hello?" Ayumu began again and Griffin coughed to himself.
“You guys found him, right? That's what that was?" Ayumu went quiet for a moment
“Yes, yes. By the beach. He's gotten a nasty burn; but aside from that I'll be able to return Thief along with Moonlight by tonight! I told you not to worry… we even found the Rockruff too. My guess is that troublesome Arcanine. Constantly stealing things – the darn thing stole a battery… A BATTERY from my storage locker. That's what it looks like, even that Rockruff gets into fights with it." Griffin had to listen to the conversation in his mind.
“A… Rockruff? Ayumu I th-" Ayumu cut him off
“Huh… it looks like he got more of an injury then I thought. Griffin I need to go and deal with this. It'll take nothing for him to come back; don't worry about that. I'd suggest getting some burn sprays. If only your Growlithe had Flashfire… he could've avoided some of this in the least. He'll be home safe with you soon." Griffin went to talk but the phone disconnected.
A Rockruff? Those are native to Alola…? Akiyama where the hell are you? No, it must be a trainer's Pokémon – he even said that before. I guess Thief got a little hot-headed, probably made a friend over there. I bet he went to find them, that's the kind of Person he is. Absol gave him a look and that made Griffin shiver nervously Growlithe! Growlithe… the kind of Growlithe he is… It's like she just watches me. It's like a herding Pokémon. Why am I correcting my own thoughts? It's like that voice in the back of your head… sort of. Griffin tussled his hair again and scratched his head, then he took out his food and began to eat.
Luna must've been starving because she barely took a moment to breathe in-between bites. A voracious little eater. I guess using… Ice type moves, somehow, drains a lot of energy. I wonder if… does it hurt her? I can't let her use those anymore until I know. Bandit is eating alone from her again, I feel like they talk sometimes but it looks like this challenging gaze. Scarf seems… sheepish around Absol… I can feel this weird tenseness between everything. Griffin continued to eat If only they could talk to me. If only I could understand them, I'd do everything to help but I don't even really know what they all need.

Griffin finished eating shortly after and checked the time. Everyone else was done and, to his surprise, sat there and looked at him as though to wonder what was next. Griffin seemed to swallow to himself. “We have to go back on the bus for now. We're almost to Celadon! Then we can meet everyone!" He began to say and slowly returned everyone. He left Luna and Absol last and as he returned them both and made his way to the platform…
That's when trouble arrived.

- Moonlight

It was this wonderful gentle scent that tickled his nose as he woke up… wrapped up in an all too familiar blanket, rested on the couch amidst a wonderfully open concept home. The dark hardwood glimmered with the bright sunlight which fluttered into the living room. He first gave a yawn and that turned brutally bitter.
That… damn Leafeon. Why the hell did he use sleep spore? How long was I out for? Why? Here I was thinking he'd…
Why would I think he'd do that? Moonlight gently hissed to himself and went to move, only to have a line of static shock both him and the blanket. Stun spore too? That son of a… Moonlight gave a weary huff as he listened to Akiyama in the background, a gentle sweet-salty scent touched his nose as the door swung open. Moonlight's eyes flicked on.
“Thief!" He called out towards this horribly crumpled mess of blood; matted and scorched fur. Thief was unconscious, beyond unconscious he looked… Moonlight gave a sharp snarl to himself.
Why the fuck was I… that late? What…? I can't handle a stupid ailment? Moonlight made a sharp bitter look and tossed his gaze to the right, just to see a picture. A picture that sparkled and glimmered in his mind. I'm not staying down. Moonlight forced his leg to move as the sharp, painful spark touched his leg. I'm not. Thief…?
The man simply walked by the couch with the Growlithe in his arms. Moonlight needed a closer look. He just caught onto a passing gaze It doesn't look like anything is broken but something scorched the living… hell out of him. I don't know if his fur will every look the same – his skin is bound to have scars from that. Talk about a war wound. Move… Moonlight, move… He forced his hind legs to push upward and slumped down off of the couch – hardly able to catch himself.
Bashing his shoulder and head against the living room table. Something that dazed him and left him to snarl. I've never been hit that hard from an ailment like… this? It's worse then Scarf's paralysis. Is that even possible? Moonlight's legs felt entirely numb, like jelly – his body was a sharp line of sparks which burned across his fur. I don't care… Thief doesn't deserve that. What could he have done that was… that bad? Who the fuck did this? It ran through his head and Moonlight took a hobble of a paw-tread forward. Towards the man; towards the heavy door... He walked passed the kitchen and made it towards that basement – the one with the long hallway; inclined for a wheelchair. Ayumu was talking to Griffin on the phone and as his paws touched that soft incline… Moonlight slumped and slid down it… hardly able to contend with the change of weight and gravity on his body. The sparks flicked off his fur as the younger man had held Thief tenderly… and a curious Rockruff glared at him from the corner of the room – her ears were folded and pinned against the back of her head. A curious mix of a look in her eyes – teary… worried.

Moonlight had a much closer look now and it made him swallow dryly. He's not dead… but his skin even… cracked under the heat; like a rock. He's bleeding everywhere; that's easily third… maybe even… You're going to be scarred for life because of… Moonlight tried to clench his paw into the concrete, but he couldn't find the strength to move it. Ayumu rubbed his eyes from his wheelchair and Moonlight curiously glared at the sleeve of his jacket – it was faded… but covered in dirt and torn. That made his whole body go rigid and frozen.
“Moonlight? You shouldn't be up…" Akiyama began to say. “Alright Makani – thank you for the help… I've got it from here." Makani made a little curious face as Moonlight looked up at him.
Makani? That's… right. You moved to Alola after you sent me to Logan. You went to find Makani… your brothers' son. Marcus's son. I remember that story… Akiyama. That's why you're in this mess. That's why you…
“Are you sure Marcus? I – I mean I can stay for a while. I got distracted with-" Akiyama simply held his palm up.
“If anything I would like a bottle… Abert-Tree Premium, there should be a mickey up top. I have easily a few hours of work ahead of me." Ayumu rubbed his eyes gently “Thank you again, Makani. How about you check up on Kukui; I'm sure he'll be wondering why you haven't been around." Makani went to open his mouth to reply but… all that came was a frown. This very small one; Moonlight could hardly notice it knitted on his face.
“Uh… yeah, sure thing Marcus. Let me know how they all are when you're done. I think it was a Sandygast…" Akiyama just gave a nod
“Thank you again; enjoy the day!" Ayumu commented optimistically. “It's beautiful out, a young man like you should spend his time doing what he wants." He began to say as Makani left the room, he seemed to glance at the Rockruff in the corner. Moonlight exchanged glances with her for just a moment; the gaze was a fleeted one. Her paws shook into the concrete ground below her.
“Why did he get… hurt? Why didn't he come back here?" Moonlight gave her a curious look, one that left him to open his jaw – barely… He fought to do it.
“What do you mean?" He demanded from her sharply and that left the smaller Rockruff to wince.
“I just talked to him about some dreams of mine… I just shared with him… hardly last night and… Where did he go?" Her head just burrowed down to her paws “I finally made a friend and I hurt him? I hurt… him? Why did he…?" Moonlight held his tongue
This is partly my fault… isn't it? That stupid Growlithe looks up to me so blindly – I can see that in his face. He's like… Moonlight couldn't finish his thought, he found himself with a drawn blank. One that fiddly created a beautiful ink in his mind. Colorless… A forest he used to know. He's… why do you look up to me like that Thief? Why do you care about my words? Be ignorant… blind to it. I'm not worth it… and here you are, because of what I said. You dramatic little shit… Moonlight couldn't tell where his rage was directed but he buffeted it out with a sharp sigh. Why can't I get mad at them both? I should be yelling at her… at him for being so bloody stupid, and I'm more upset with myself then anything – I'm mature enough to know that. You're not a hero… kid. You're a little Growlithe, and now? You could borderline be fighting for your life and you pinned it on me.
Fucking Thief…
“First that thing… and now this? Did it come back?" Moonlight felt his fur stir.
“What thing?" He strained out of his throat, but it felt clamped down; a flicker of sparks shot out from his back as he spoke. That hurts… you got me good; Leafeon. I'm not making that mistake again. “What thing are you talking about?" The Rockruff shook her head furiously.
“I don't know… it made a scary hissing noise… Thief fought it to protect… His paw should be broken but it's not? How does that make sense? It doesn't make sense!" She barked, and Moonlight gave her a sharp look and then back to Thief. He inspected his paws from the angle he was at. I can see the tufts out of whack – it's like looking at messy fur. The kind that sticks up oddly. Blaziken had the same thing with her legs. It healed in a night? That's not possible.
“What did the hissing noise sound like?" The Rockruff frowned to the sound of Moonlights strained voice and then it tried to mimic it.
Actually it was accurate enough that Akiyama turned around to look at her and then back at Moonlight. His eye's flicked and dilated, Akiyama noticed that.
“Yes… it was a Cheshira. There's one in Alola… one in Kanto… One in Hoenn, or at least I think it's a Cheshira… and the last one is dead. A certain man took care of that on his way to Maiden's Peak." Ayumu said and Moonlight's eyes glowed purple.
“When would you tell me that? I have questions…" Ayumu just shot him a dead panned stare.
“I know Moonlight. I'm sorry but I never recovered a dead specimen. That doesn't make sense to me… it's like it faded out of existence; but a certain… person put more lead in it then a mechanical pencil in the hands of a college student." He expressed and swallowed as the door to the basement opened. Makani stepped down the incline and put the bottle down.
Vodka. It was just a small bottle of Vodka.
“There you go… Marcus. I don't get why you like this… Canadian crap. But I guess it's cheaper…" Akiyama looked at the bottle and nodded.
“It's cheaper, like that Russian stuff. It's cheaper over here. Does the job." Moonlight gave the bottle a glance too.
Abert-Tree Premium. That was the first bottle I've ever seen in my life. It's a plastic bottle… not glass. The bigger ones are glass bottles. I haven't seen that… particular bottle in… years. Are you missing home as much as I am… Akiyama? It went through Moonlight's head as the Rockruff made a little scuffle. A tiny whine slipped from her maw.
“Not this early… I don't wanna smell it again… I don't like it… I hate it." She commented quietly to herself and Moonlight gave her a little glance as Makani left the basement.
I never liked it either. You almost never touched anything like that with… Autumn… You started to after. More so after. It was so rare to see you with a bottle in your hand and here I am just watching you take a swig. Straight… Unable to even walk. Covered in dirt… or at least your jacket. That thing attacked you, I'll deal with it, Akiyama. I'll kill it.
I kill all of them, no matter what. Moonlight gave a gentle snort in reply as Akiyama gave a very calm and tiny twitch of his brow before he looked back to his desk and took a medical bag as though he had it at the ready. The small table – like a weird little operating table from a Pokémon Center – was lowered closer to the ground. It was nearly touching the ground entirely as Akiyama went for bandages… ointments and burn sprays. As he did Moonlight looked up to the desk and his eyes became embezzled with a certain little sight. “You have the vest… here? Akiyama?" Moonlight asked and stated as the human didn't take his eyes off of Thief.
“Yes; when the Pokéball's disconnected it came to my office, here. The spray is intact, it has extraordinary shelf life… compared to the copies I've made, that is. I'd say it would take… a few years in hot weather to expire. Absurd considering the amount of sugars in it." Akiyama expressed “As for the vest… you've hardly worn it. I suggest pushing your body harder, nearly six pounds of Kevlar will strain you beyond belief, Moonlight. You can't fight if you can't move. I'd say… Akiyama reached into the bag and pulled out another spray – a Paralysis spray. “You should spend tonight wearing the seven-pound weight vest. I still have it for you." He began to explain. “It'll prepare you for the Kevlar." He spoke softly after that. “It's only type two A, Moonlight. It'll stop a forty-five caliber at best. One… after that it's pointless. So, train with the weighted vest and it's straps again… it'll save your life. It could save Griffin's life." Moonlight gave a little, dry swallow.
“There was a police officer in Kanto… Canadian. Vermillion City." Akiyama seemed to hum to himself.
“I see… The vest is standard issue over there… so… try not to wear it around them. An Espeon wearing a vest like that, it'll come back to bite me sooner or later. You know why."
You've told me the stories. A researcher… An archaeologist… and a trainer for the RCMP. You trained Eevee's for police work. The only one. You've done so much in your near sixty years… and you've spent… nearly a decade of it in a wheelchair thanks to ME. Because I… screwed it up again. I know… Ayumu. I get caught with it, it'll lead to you right away. After all…
They're specially sized and designed for Eeveelutions. Moonlight gave a short little huff from his muzzle, one that plumed in the Basement. It was freezing down here – surprisingly enough. He just watched his grizzled, old and yet thin and well kempt owner gently apply ointments that smelled sickly and strongly of spices that Moonlight knew all too familiarly. He watched him apply burn spray which left Thief to whine in his lapse of unconsciousness. The little pudgy Growlithe barely moved… vomited against the table.
It's the pain. Bear with it… Thief. It's all fictitious injuries, they're not serious they're just covering a lot. Moonlight glanced at the spray which Ayumu tossed to him, gently. The one that landed on his side. He forced his nose to move. To press the spray against his body which immediately sparked and licked the air.
Moonlight, to his astonishment, had to use the entire spray just to knock off the paralysis. The moment he could move freely he'd push himself off of the concrete and gave a glance over Thief. He's… thinner then he used to be. Thank god Griffin feeds you so much, that Sandygast must've sucked more life out of you then you could have ever dreamed. A skinny little thing would've been dead, or starved to death, before Makani got to you. What… did all this damage though? And to a fire type at that. Your chest has the worst of it; luckily your pelt should cover it when it grows back in. Your skin cracked… Thank god you didn't bleed out… Moonlight seemed to smile to himself Thank god… because it's not like Arceus was there to help you… I wasn't… there. Moonlight just looked over the Growlithe repeatedly, and then he pushed a bundle of bandages towards Ayumu – he used Psychic to move it.
“Thank you." Akiyama replied as the bundle rolled over to him from across the table. “He'll be fine, except for his scans. I didn't want to tell Griffin right off the bat, until I was sure." Moonlight shot a worried glance
“What's wrong?" He expressed with a mewl and his gemstone glowing a rich purple. Akiyama seemed to smile and shook his head. It made Moonlight tilt his head.
“You're that worried about him… Does he remind you of…?" Ayumu began to say and then looked around. Moonlight held his eyes and that's when the little plastic bottle came by.
“I guess you want this?" Akiyama nodded as Moonlight let out a little 'Eon' “I think he reminds me of… someone before…" Ayumu gave a little, somber nod.
“I see… You know when I found you on the trail. Your teeth all grinded down, nearly… muzzle covered in blood. Fur all over the place, I wasn't scared that day. Even though Autumn…?" Moonlight shook his head no.
“Autumn wasn't scared, he was worried. That's why he made so much noise at you; in your arms. Autumn… made you see me. I never would've survived alone." Ayumu nodded gently to him and took a small swig from the bottle.
“Was that it? Well I hope you keep that in mind, Moonlight. No one can, not alone. No matter how strong… weak. They can't. Even some people you hate can still be the most important thing. Keep that in mind." Ayumu expressed softly. “This Growlithe, protected me. He was terrified, and he still jumped in… That's something Autumn did on that day. He had the courage to look you down and knew you needed help – not that you were some… animal." Ayumu expressed as he tied the bandages around Thief – he looked a little like a mummy. It made Moonlight giggle as he thought of that.
That was something Autumn would say. The Espeon could picture him say that, even in a situation like this. “Just… don't end up like this, Moonlight." Ayumu mentioned under his breath and drank more. The sharp scent of Alcohol slithered under Moonlight's nose. “As for the scans… his pancreas is inflamed or irritated."
“His… Pancreas? What?" Moonlight gave a swallow. “Griffin… That idiot. It's all that human food." Ayumu nodded.
“It could be Pancreatitis. Not Acute… but it showed up on a chemistry scan. I'm surprised the Pokémon Center overlooked it. They may have thought it was too small to worry about. It's very… very small. He needs to switch his diet." Moonlight gave a nod.
“I'll do my best to enforce that, when I can. Griffin is… difficult when it comes to food. He wastes money on it." Ayumu nodded
“I know all about that. He treats you all like people. Logan was similar, but he had boundaries on it. Griffin doesn't. It doesn't exist with him and I think I understand why. He's replacing… I just… know he is." Moonlight gave a soft nod.

“He's also getting more emotional. The way it all happened was… it never should've." Ayumu took a swig and sharply sighed.
“I know. This is just the consequences… all of it. I did the cowardly thing and ran years ago, and it's all come back to bite me in the ass… and it has affected countless others. My whole life has been that, and the two best things that came into it while I was alone. Surviving alone… Well look at us now." Ayumu tightened some bandages and finished. “Aside from this, there's not much to do with a burn. He'll have scarring, I'm confused as to how his broken paw is gone. It's like it disappeared, it makes no sense. Like that Vulpix. I heard the story that you all went down there for her. Giovanni is also being a pain in the ass, as of late. Keep an eye on Bandit and Griffin. I know it's a lot to ride on, Moonlight; but for today… exercise. And then rest. I'll even put on a movie… one that you… like." Moonlight gave a little nod and took his paws from the table, and then he looked to the corner of the room.
The weighted vest was down there; hung up on a hook as though it aimlessly collected dust and waited for him. His Psychic lifted it from it's hung home and he gave it a little flick; one that suspiciously looked like a human flicking out a jacket; and then he slid it over him. He'd hold it with his prowess and slipped his paws in – made it comfortable… tightened it and loosened his Psychic until the full weight was on his back. Ayumu gave him a look.
“I'll work with Thief; Take Wuffles out of here. I'm certain just being here is more than enough scolding, so don't push her further. Makani is the one to blame for this one… I'll need to get some imaging up for his abdomen. It'll take a while, and uh… don't touch the Sandygast shovels if you go outside… and don't go after the thing that did this. I know what it was – it causes next to no problems. I'm confused why it attacked a Growlithe of all things." Moonlight replied with a nod and then flicked his tail.
“Wuffles… is your name? Come along." She partially tilted her head and jolted past the little table.
“He… he's not going to die, is he?" Moonlight huffed
“No, luckily. His injuries look worse then they are." She tossed her gaze downward.
“I was the one that… ran off, I was upset – Makani gets loud when he drinks that weird stuff."
“Alcohol. It thins blood, strikes the liver… changes everything in weird ways. Have you ever been poisoned? By a snake… like a Serviper or an Ekans?" Wuffles shook her head no.
“Well… Alcohol is like that. Being poisoned. It's a drug that affects thinking… heart rate. It slows down the brain and it's something humans sometimes… take. It's not a bad thing, Wuffles. Yet it can be without moderation." She just confusingly flopped her ears.
“If it's like poison, why take it?" Moonlight gave a gentle huff and pushed up the incline. The weight of that vest was immense and yet familiar.
“Because it can help some think. Have an epiphany or forget about the world around them. Some use it to have fun and others use it to have courage. Humans are strange that way." Wuffles seemed to whine
“Why does Makani have to…" Moonlight shrugged a little bit.
Probably because his mother took him away from his dad. His dad was an alcoholic; god knows how that story played out… but he's alive. Last time I checked he lived in Hoenn. I know he's still around, but I barely hear Ayumu talk about him. “Probably to forget something. Perhaps he made a mistake and he's busy… constantly making mistakes. It's a cycle, Wuffles. A hard… hard one to break." If only I could break a cycle or two of my own. The thought, although fleeted, softly preached through his mind. The way how it came along made his eyes trail from the hallway towards the picture frame in the living room. He remembered that picture so clearly; the way it was proudly shown to the room under the hue of a gentle white light from the pot-holes in the roof. The gentle looks across them all as they stared at the camera… Autumn was there in that lush cross of life across his face and pelt. Those golden-sunshine eyes seemed to have been caught from the glimmer of the lens – it left them to sparkle like gentle, snowy flowers. The Espeon studied that picture again and again; he burned it in his mind.
In a way that he always did; because it wasn't the fear of death that ever crossed his thoughts but the horror of forgetting even a single moment. A simple second. He wanted that to live even beyond himself. Beyond his tired eyes, his lackluster pelt. His thoughts simply wandered to how Autumn would be if he could see him now. Moonlight gently let out a sigh and stared towards the hallway – a gentle, near silent whine crossed through the house.
Why,,, Leafeon? Why did you hold me back? Why tell me to let go…?
I can't just let go, that's my cycle… my… poison. It came to his thoughts as he feverishly tried to spin those words around. Autumn isn't… Poison. He never was. He can never be… Don't tell me that you… Leafeon… you did all of this to teach me to let go of things beyond my control. Don't tell me that, don't you dare… show... me that. Moonlight softly clenched his teeth which left his cheeks to softly protrude outward; his nose flared ever so softly as he'd listen to the sounds in the background. This… isn't the way to show anyone. Thief could've been killed, and you held me back; he's just some dumb mutt but this is too far even for him. This shouldn't have happened, and it did, and on top of it all… a Cheshira is here too? Thief fought it… to protect this… Rockruff?
To…
Protect my owner…?

Moonlight appeared to crack a small smile on his fine muzzle, a thin line that barely twitched against his face. You fought to do something that I couldn't even do… Do you see yourself as a hero… Thief? Do you want to be a hero? Stop trying to act like one… Moonlight clenched his teeth firmly, he wanted to yell at something or someone. There's no such thing. There's never been… There's no god; nothing. Just this endless turmoil that every single thing lives through… while everything and everyone turns their backs on it…
On each other. So why Thief…?

Why do I want to… Moonlight shook the thought out of his head and shook his pelt out. You were never weak. I could tell from the moment I tried to use dream eater on you…
It reminded me of a few others. You're like… A younger annoying brother. Thief.
Wuffles just scattered her paws and aimlessly stared at the wall. It was a white wall; it was something that made Moonlight tilt his head. He knew and understood right away that it was odd, especially since she just looked through the wall as though to see a world beyond it. Moonlight had a fear of doing that; just staring at a wall… especially anything that was pure white in color. The short conversation from the center in Vermillion entered his mind…
A benign tumor… I… don't want to see it…. Become… dangerous. Is Leafeon telling me not to follow in his… footsteps? How can I when everywhere I turn it all just reminds me of the past, or do I just… see the world that way? Like it used to be…
Like moving past it would be a simple… pointless and humble dream… Can't it just be that simple…? Moonlight glanced at the picture on the wall and stared ever so gently and tediously against it. The frame was simple oak; or at least it looked similar to oak. A light brown-white color with wonderful swirls and a design which told him that it was… fake. Cheap. Standard… His eyes skimmed past the frame and slowly to the potlight above it. It glowed with that white-bluish hue of daylight; and amongst the roof were a collection of small light-grey meshes.
Speakers. Moonlight just blinked a few times…
Right; now I remember. My owner bought this house years ago and renovated it before he just… gave it to his brother's wife. I don't even know what happened to Makani's mother, I think she went to travel after Makani grew older. Their whole family is just a web of lies and secrets… But it's not a bad thing. It's not a bad thing if all their problems are the kind that they try to deal with themselves…
Right? Moonlight gently swallowed as a soft interlude came from the speaker as though on cue. And now he's playing Elton John… Moonlight just stared at the speaker as Wuffles twitched her ear.
“Where do those voices come from!?" She proposed as though a mixture of all emotions “Of all the times for THAT to happen it has to be now? Really…?" Moonlight just blinked at the roof and listened to the song, in fact Moonlight just let himself melt in the sounds of that voice. He knew what Ayumu was thinking… His owner had this funny little way of just knowing Moonlights emotions to a tee.
It slowly calmed down his racing thoughts and his rather jumpy and distracted mind enough that he'd softly sigh. We…
It gently came to Moonlights mind as though he'd reach a resolve like he always did yet wandered into a wall moments after it. We need to move past it, the both of us. It's not right to forget, but it's not right to cling onto it.
You wouldn't want that… Autumn. It just… hurts to know that you're somewhere that's cold and lonely… and you don't even have a scarf to keep you warm. It hurts to know that. Moonlight firmly blinked as he glanced at the photograph. That was the home he wanted to see.
A place where his family could all live together with them. That was heaven on earth for him. That though, even though he knew it was a pointless… empty…
Promise.

- Griffin.

“Hey kid!" Griffin ignored the voice first time around but now it was louder; more obnoxious… annoying. “You listening to me? I just challenged you to a battle. What kind of trainer backs down from one?" It was another trainer around his own age; this 'tough kid' millennial type. Lanky and dressed as…
Griffin couldn't put his finger on it; but by the sound of his accent Griff knew the trainer was this loud, obnoxious American type. In fact; he spoke fluent English; So Griffin replied in Japanese.
The other trainer simply blinked a few times as the clerk looked over them. Griffin took a chance with what he said in Japanese.
Sorry; I'm not up for battling a dipshit. Was around what he said and without a reply and the guy looking through some English-Japanese dictionary… which made Griffin smile to himself since he spoke in Formal Japanese and not the informal way that was standard now, he knew the other person would be stumped. He had to observe the other teen closely.
I can't tell if he's stressed or what. He has bags under his eyes – looks all battered up here and there as though his idea of a 'Pokémon' fight was more of a street fight. I guess with the international events it brings all sorts of trainers and tourists. It's also getting closer to the date so… I doubt many of them can speak the language. After a while of him flipping through the pages; and the strange, upfront and rather-rude trainer getting chocked about the dictionary… He said something that left Griffin to still his back.
“Great; not even the Spicks talk English around here."
Don't get into it; just act dumb and let him walk. Griffin replied in Japanese; pointless words while the clerk looked over them both. After talking the clerk gave him a little look. All Griffin said, to more the clerk then the person in front of him was that he was an 'American Tourist' and 'rather racist' The words made the clerk cough down a laugh before he cleared his throat and then replied to Griffin in his native language.
“What else is new about them? I was told they don't speak… 'Rice Field?' I think is what one said a few days ago… It's like they expect because their here; in OUR country, we should talk THEIR language." Griffin smiled and nodded.
He liked that clerk quite a bit; as the man seemed level headed and calm. So, he'd sigh and wave at the stressed-out trainer.
“I speak English. The… Pokémon Trainer there isn't fluent in English. So, rather then yelling racist things; I'll help you out, unless you'd prefer transit security." The clerk replied and gave Griffin this… look.
It made him still his back again.
Why look at me like that? There's this sharpness in his eyes Griffin just replied with a smile and a nod before saying “No English" and waving to the clerk with a frog in his throat. Is it… no, I think it's the Pokémon League? Am I just going crazy? The phone call, everything… I'm stressed out myself. Logan wouldn't have done what I did – pawn it off on a service worker. He'd help the guy out if he could, he'd walk him towards a trainer's village for a battle and buy him food after. He's crazy like that. Now I have to worry about Logan coming down here? Griffin dug his hands into his pockets and pulled out his headphones I can't think about it right now; I'll just listen to music and… Griffin stalled and looked back towards the trainer. Wait. I know him, he was in the crowd at… Saffron City earlier – when I met Natasha. He was in the background, with some friends of his. He didn't have a Pokéball belt. He doesn't now…? I thought the old guy was following me but. Didn't I see him at Maiden's Peak too?
No… Griffin was already walking away. It was the… he's… Haxorus's trainer. That's why I recognize him. He never gave me his name.
He's one of those trainers like that kid… He's been following me? Keeping tabs on me? What about Logan? Griffin just kept his headphones in his ears without playing anything and acted like he just melted into the crowd moving onto the bus. There's the one kid… Him…? What's their deal? Why are they following me of all people? Griffin snuck onto the bus and as he did, he would constantly check his Pokémon belt before pulling out his Pokénav.

Everyone but Moonlight and Thief were accounted for. He'd check over the desert Biome curiously; and as expected there was just… a black window. It looked like he turned the thing off and he took the time to quickly glance to his left and right. It was what he saw in the front of the bus of all places.
Just a face that looked back at him curiously… A young kid with a white cap and a red logo. It was as though the young trainer just stared at him the entire time he was getting to a seat.
Griffin just did his best to look past the young trainer; the kind with black hair and dark eyes – both in color and this underlying intent. The seat weighed down on his side as the young trainer suddenly looked ahead and sunk into his chair. Griffin could only feel this jacket brush against him as the man who sat beside him pulled out his phone. Griffin watched the reflection on his Pokénav.
It was the same man from Maiden's Peak… the one that bought him that electronic stove in Vermillion; there was no doubt about it. It left a little shiver to run down Griffin's leg. His heart slowly picked up and pounded against his chest as his vision became clear and narrow.
How…. Close…. Are these people? Who are they? What do I do? Why are they following me? How are they…? What did I do? The thoughts chased through Griffin's mind as he'd dryly swallow and glanced to the front seat where that other trainer was…
Hiding? It seemed that way. The other man beside him cleared his throat and seemed to click away at his phone. Griffin pocketed his Pokénav and looked on his own phone to change the song. The phone beeped – or at least his headphones did as the man beside him typed away at his still. Griffin just hit play on a song to try and get his mind past it and what the message could be.
It was from Brad; which simply said. *I think Aura misses your cooking – I tried my hand at it but… everyone agreed I should never; and I do mean never EVER make lunch again. I mean I only slightly burnt it I think?* There was a picture he took. Brad just grinned like an idiot over god knows what on a plate. Griffin looked at the picture for just a second and slowly forced a grin. That's hilarious… actually. Oh my god if only he sent THAT to a certain celebrity chef online! It came to Griffin's mind as he began to text Brad back.
It occurred to him that his journey felt like a lot of time connected and alone… As though all of the world was on this tiny little screen and not before him as he believed and dreamed it to be. If I ever really dreamed of it at all… That little voice in the back of his head brought up as his phone buzzed and his headphones beeped at him. He opened the text message.
*Read this closely; Griffey…* And that was the jolt of adrenaline which made him flinch. Not even Logan called him that. *Logan ran into some serious trouble out by The Forbidden Forest. I'll be brash; he would be dead if it weren't for me… for us.* The message began and that left Griffin to stare at his phone. *So, keep smiling from your friends' photographs; act natural… because that kid in the front of the bus is the real thing you should fear. Not me. You have too many questions, but I have no answers; even though I know them all. The less you know… Pooch. The less of a chance you'll be six feet under before your seventeen. * Griffin made himself smile; this little fake smile… But his eyes said something different on his face. *Logan flies a little to close to the sun; Griffin. Stop fucking with your Pokénav and think clearly for a second. Calm down and think… you got a good head on your shoulders so use that. I'm demanding that you trust me and that your honest with me, because I can help you out against not only that kid; but the other seven people on this bus that's a problem. Don't look around, it'll give you away.* Griffin quaked and looked at his phone more, flipped the screen a bit as though to read up on something. He was just reading this massive wall of text *Avoid the international event at all costs; just focus on your badges and stay away from large events. You may not know it yet; but when it happens, you'll get caught in the crossfire. You will die if you don't do what I say and when I say it. The first thing you'll do when you hit Celadon City is head away from the Trainers Village there and go towards a hotel in the corner of the city – your brothers name is reserved for Room Three Thirty-Seven. The Poké-stay hotel chain. Set that in your phone as a time for a phone call to your mother. Tell them you lost your key; they'll give you a new one free of charge. That's all I have to say for now, Logan is safe… Now it's just up to you. Griffin.* Griffin held his breath as he stared at his phone blankly; like anyone else on the bus *Are you going to carry that burden, for even a little while?*

He just continued to skim through his phone as he'd check the room down on his schedule; placing it under a notification to call his mother before quickly deleting the text; he didn't want to look at it any longer then he had to. All he did was listen to the bus rumble and cross further down the road with that strange; larger man sitting next to him.
He stayed like that for the whole ride; just looking over his phone in silence as Griffin listened to music to try and calm himself down. The man didn't say a word; barely looked at him. At one point a Poochyena popped out of a bandoleer which was tied on his army-like rucksack and that left Griffin to stare at the disobedient little thing.
The man in question just returned his Poochyena without a word. It appeared the little thing didn't like being cooped up the way it was; it even gave Griffin this curious and playful tilt of its head and a wonderful flicker of its wiggly tail. It only left him to blink as he watched the beam retrieve the Poochyena. Griffin could tell right away that it was well fed and taken care of. The bus would aimlessly slow down at times as it would reach other stops; where there were towns and even smaller suburban-like sprawls which licked the outskirts of many smaller cities. The kind that weren't on a map since they didn't have much to offer for trainers save for their own unique small-town events. It slowly came to Griffin's mind that he would be there, if anything; exploring this vast open world rather then stuck on this bus.
The truth was he desired to be anywhere else and that thought stayed in his head until he got a collection of other text messages…
All from Brad. They had just touched down in Saffron City; finally. They'd easily have a day of travel from there, but they were stopping for dinner. Griffin had to check the time. He had to look out at the sunset world outside of the window.
It's only six… and it's pitch black out now. Winters coming along that quickly…? The thought got stuck in his mind as he'd flip through the music on his phone. There was one song that he skipped over after a moment; he had to look at it. Didn't I delete… that one? I thought I did before I left… home? He began to read the name of it; the artist… He knew this song by heart. He had to know by now. It just made Griffin look over the screen of his phone as it sat in his library. A little glance came his way and the man that sat next to him started to hum to himself and commented.
“I find it ironic it was produced back in November. The song you're looking over. Sorry; you were staring at that thing so intensely. Millennials… I'm surprised you have a song from seventy-three in there. That's my era." He'd say, and Griffin gave a little swallow before he gave a smile.
“Seventy-five." He'd reply idly. “The song was released in seventy-five… It sounds compressed on the phone compared to vinyl."

That was the most of their conversation on the bus, at least that's how it started out.
“Well; I'm stumped, I figured all of your young folk were into that… party stuff? The one with all the noises. Techno?" Griffin blinked idly and just gave him a small; as natural and casual of a look as he could.
“Oh, you mean Dubstep." Griffin shook his head “I, don't really like it. It's all just noise; I'd prefer something like jazz; maybe Charlie Parker or Duke Ellington. My dad used to listen to Jazz a lot." Griffin brought up. “Same thing as Country." The man gave him a look.
“Is that so? I guess your father has similar tastes. Although Jazz I could never get behind… I'm more of a classical fiend myself. Jazz was more for… social gatherings; classical is usually for work for me." Griffin gave a nod although he felt beyond anxious with the conversation. “There's also old rock… in fact I'm a big fan of Elton John too." Griffin blinked
“I have some of his music; when I started this whole journey, I thought I'd be alone for… all of it really." The man hummed and nodded
“It's surprising when you go out into the big world and run into all sorts of great people. There's a lot of good trainers out there." The man expressed with his hands in his jean pockets. His jacket was open… he wore a suit and tie underneath – in fact he hardly appeared much like the man he remembered from Maiden's Peak. “Did you do anything for school?" Griffin blinked a little as the bus picked up and hummed… He looked to the front of the bus for just a second…
That front seat was empty now; it looked like that strange young trainer had left.
“I did; in fact, I finished most of it. I have my dogwood." Griffin brought up “Well I mean; the American style of it at least. Since school runs till, you're fourteen unless you go for advanced secondary and post." The man nodded and chuckled
“So you started when you were… what? Fifteen?" Griffin nodded
“Yes…" He expressed “A little old to, I guess. But I just needed…" He trailed off. Griffin didn't know how to answer that question, but the man nodded and blinked
“A change of scenery; I get that." He expressed and after they went back and fourth into some weird conversation like that. The kind that made it seem like two total strangers that met on the bus… it would slow down around the outskirts of Celadon.
“Well this is my stop, Trainer. Best of luck with that gym here!" He'd say and nodded with this friendly wave. The kind that made Griff's hair stand on edge.
“T – thanks!" He replied after a quick stutter “I'm a little nervous about it… but a grass gym can't be that hard… I think." Griffin gave a little chuckle and waited for the main station, he didn't want to be lost on the outskirts of the city; the lights were what made his eyes flicker.
He read earlier on that Celadon was one of the most popular cities in the entire Kanto region; but it was huge. It vaguely reminded him of pictures he'd seen of New York or Seattle; even Ryse. But here it was massive and there was the endless span of candle lights from every window – spotlights that clicked against the dark net of air above the skyline as the bus pressed down the main highway. In a matter of minutes Griffin felt the entire city welcome him with open arms.
Each one was like a little fairy, lights; colors and the sounds of busy traffic during rush hour. Every tower of a building was made of crystalline glass panes which refracted every single street lamp and stop-light below. The cement looked just glossy enough to make it seem as though it had been raining earlier. A rich black pavement smoothly let the bus run over it, as Griffin just stared with huge eyes.
When I made it to Saffron… it didn't look anything like this. This city is so huge and crowded. It makes me think of those movies… where are they shot usually?
Colum region right? In Canada. That's what it's like I think; like those tight web-like urban sprawls. It was the heart of the city that the bus went through, nearby a subway line. That oily and thick scent fluttered into his nose as he'd collect his things and stepped off of the bus in awe. It's like a cavern of stars… That's all I can think of to describe it.
Griffin felt all sorts of people pass him by as he'd tighten the grip on his bag and pulled out his phone; the cracked screen looked back at him and in moments he'd check out his GPS.
The Poké-stay hotel line? I stayed at one in Saffron. It's in the corner of the city? Griffin punched that into his phone and then checked where the Trainers Village was. There's a dozen of those in this city… but there's only one that's further away from the Trainers Village then the rest. Huh… it's even closer to the gym too. It's like the gym should actually be around here. Griffin put his phone in his pocket after he figured out the direction and began to walk down the crowded road where all sorts of people just passed him by. There were shops and stores and all sorts of things that were so tightly knit onto the sidewalks which left him to gawk at all sorts of pointless places.
That bank is HUGE! It's like… forty floors up at least! It was across the street; some beautifully designed building which twisted gently and seemed built entirely of glass. As he wandered by there were huge hospitals; police stations along the way and signs of all sorts that just seemed to flutter by. Griffin couldn't believe that he melted within the sights of it all.
Or he just wanted to keep his mind from everything else. To distract him from the fact that he was blindly and aimlessly trusting a dangerous stranger. His legs pushed him down the street as he'd run into a hail of smoke from the busy and congested street; his jacket would curl around him as he'd tug it closer to his body. It was surprisingly cold out for him… but he couldn't tell if it was just nerves or not. After a full hour of the silence from his headphones playing. Not a single problem around him he'd reach this hotel down a strip of others. It was this large building with four arches that supported a rain cover – the kind of pillars which expressed that it was an expensive place. Nearby, according to his phone, was another hotel. Just called “the Celadon Hotel" It seemed less pricy then here… But the room was paid for. Griffin looked out the front and with shaken legs he walked into the building while he checked his phone again. The department store was right down the road… a Games Corner was on the opposite side. All these things were divided away from the Trainers Village. He'd text Brad, tell him that he had a hotel room for the night and like clockwork… his phone buzzed.

The reminder to call his mother… which by now felt like a great thing to do. As he wandered in, he'd get onto the phone and call her number.
It was the number of her cellphone in Kalos. After a long collection of beeps the phone answered.
“Hey Griffey!" He felt his shoulders sink into the sound of her voice. The anxiety of waiting for her to answer left his heart to pound against his chest.
“Hey mom; I know it's been a few days since I talked to you last." She seemed to laugh into the receiver.
“Well two calls within the week! I'm feeling lucky!" She'd reply, “It's better than nearly a year." Griffin frowned and nodded
“I know it is, it just felt… right to call. I made it Celadon City; in fact, I just got in the hotel." He explained “I've even gotten the Cascade Badge from Cerulean." He expressed and laughed a little “My Vulpix took on the Gym Leader and won… somehow. It's crazy! She wouldn't back down!" The voice laughed a little on the other side. It was like a happy giggle.
“She sounds a little like me!" She expressed, and that made Griffin crack a smile.
“I won't doubt that" Griffin replied back and felt his smile fade. “How's… your leg doing?" She went a little quiet before he'd hear a little shuffle.
“Well, finally… I can stand without a cane. So I think it's going quite well! They had to put some metal into it… but aside from that recovery is going well. The doctor said it's healing so well that I might be able to actually walk without support within the next few years." She said happily, and Griffin felt heat rush from his chest to his face.
“That's… wonderful. W – what about expenses? Are you okay?" She laughed and continued to until she breathed
“Says the boy who keeps paying for expensive dinners and hotel rooms." Griffin made a puzzled noise
“Sorry… sorry…" He'd express, and she'd make a smile – Griffin knew she did.
“There's no need; Logan covered all of it, that's why I'm here – you know that. I'm just hoping you're being safe! I know I don't need to worry about food for you!" She commented, and Griffin found a chuckle in him somewhere.
“Well I gotta worry about a friend of mine; he sent me what he made for lunch earlier today… I couldn't fix that up even if I tried." She made a sound, as though she stretched.
“That… is some bad cooking" She'd say and they both giggled about that. “I'm excited, however. Rebecca is coming down to Kalos!" His mother said, and Griffin again made a puzzled sound.
“Isn't… Rebecca Trevor's Girlfriend?" With a shocked noise his mother replied
“I didn't know that! I'll have to confront her the moment she walks in the door!" She replied, and it made Griffin make a weird sound
“W – well don't get me in trouble! Trevor and Logan are coming down to Kanto. I think it's for the international event or regional even or whatever that is." Griffin replied, “It's just some… over glorified Pokémon event right?" She seemed to hum and hah.
“Well Logan was able to catch a lot of attention at them when he was younger… or at least the one he entered. He got third place at the one in Sinnoh… remember when he just suddenly went down there? I think it was because of Trevor… I can't remember. All I know is that I got a phonecall and he said “Hey mom! I'm in Sinnoh! Don't worry!" She seemed to laugh “I was moments away from calling the police offices down there; I had no clue HOW he got there." Griffin laughed a little
“I think I remember the Pokémon Center when he called me while he was there." Griffin brought up “I think he said it's because he got an entry voucher for it. That the travel was free, so he took some big chance and went for it." Griffin racked his mind trying to remember. “He's always like that." He brought up and softly sighed. His mother seemed to shake the phone a tiny bit.
“You know… I'm only concerned about you getting too cold. Since Rebecca is bringing me shopping; how about I buy you something." Griffin felt his chest puff up
“No – no, you don't need to do that!" She laughed
“I know you're wearing your Nylon jacket; you LOVE that jacket. You would wear it every day that Logan called… and your other one is cotton. I'll buy you something for wet weather." Griffin seemed to choke
“I – I can just buy a poncho! Or a rain cover or something." He brought up and she giggled
“Nope; I'm sold on it! Anyways it's been forever since I bought you new clothes… lord knows you haven't been able to wash yours." Griffin, embarrassed went red and huffed
“I wash my…" He started with a bit of a louder voice before he quieted down, just in case people were watching.

The only thing he saw… a weird… curious thing was a man in the corner of the room who was reading a newspaper. It made him blink a little, but the man didn't even lift his head.
Wasn't there a guy like that in Vermillion too…? There was a headline in the newspaper. It commented something about a police raid.
Guns… body armor. Something really good or… bad happened. Griffin couldn't read the headline fast enough as the man turned the page to another section. “I wash my clothes whenever I get to a motel or a hotel…" He commented more quietly, and his mother cackled to the sound of his near silent voice.
“That's at LEAST three or four days inbetween… don't make me start talking about-" Griffin cut her up and silently said
“Please don't do that mom thing and talk about underwear… that's just… embarrassing to listen too – I have like eight pairs… All of them are cleaned whenever I get the chance. I have like almost two weeks' worth…"
“Good boy." She simply commented “After all, I need to look over my Pooch!" She'd say with a laugh that made Griffin dryly chuckle.
“Y – yeah…" He'd mention, and she made a little noise in reply.
“How is Bandit? It's been a while since I've heard anything about her! I miss how she'd help me with my slippers or bark whenever the tea was done." She laughed a little “I can't believe we left the house to Corey and Martha while we all run around." She commented and seemed a little quiet after. “I already miss home, but having Rebecca come down and now you have a chat with me – today just got that much better." Griffin gave a short look outside
“It's six at night…" He began, and she'd giggle
“It's ten in the morning here, honey. Have a good night and make sure you shower! I've heard Celadon is so packed with people… it must be terrible air quality and the smell! I'm happy I'm in Lumiose City! Sometimes I even have Professor Sycamore come down to say hi. When he heard Logan's, mother was here; he just had to drop by!" She noted and laughed “Get some sleep; I'll call you tonight if I can." She explained, and Griffin felt himself smile
“Yeah mom. Have a great day." Griffin replied and heard the phone click off. It took him a second to gather his bearings before he went to the counter and explained; politely that he misplaced his key – that his brother gave him one." The clerk seemed confused until he said the room number and that his brother was Logan. They handed him a key and explained it was the room closest to the elevator. Griffin made his way to the elevator with the little plastic card and took it to the third floor.
There wasn't much to say about the hallways of the hotel – they were a luxury carpet, clean… pictures on the walls. Each door was this rich dark brown which contrasted nicely with a wonderful crisp beige. As though it were a modern design. He'd reach the room. Three Thirty Seven… tap the card into the swipe and pulled it out while pushing the door open. It was a large room; empty and just at room temperature. A large bath and shower were in the corner closest to the door – a nook kitchen behind it and a balcony sat straight ahead of him. To his left was a dresser and a television. He'd wander in cautiously and put his bag down inside of an open closet – as though someone left the door open… then he took off his shoes. He kept his belt on and caressed a Pokéball, one that had been empty for a few days.
No one was here, but there was a note on the counter. All it did was explain that he had a few hours to settle himself and not to leave the room. *Logan will be here shortly too. When he does that's when you'll leave for a few hours and come back.* The note said at the end and Griffin sighed before he took a look at the washroom.
Fine… settle myself? I still have a bottle of Pokémon Shampoo; I'll do what I told myself I'd do when I got into Celadon and that's clean Luna. He told himself and breathed in slowly.
Just what kind of mess is this? How did… Logan and I find ourselves in this kind of trouble? It ran through Griffin's mind as he changed the song on his phone, put in his earbuds. He began to run the water and let Luna out.
The Vulpix just yawned and gave him this suddenly confused and concerned stare… as though she could read it all on the expression in his face. Griffin cracked a smile and showed off the bottle… the brush he had.



This was the only thing he could think of to keep his mind from it all. This newfound and confusing fear. The intent that seemed to swirl around him where all he wanted to do was picture home and listen to a special little song in its entirety. The kind that didn't sing of empty promises or dreams…
But always reminded him of them, of a time when it all made sense and his dream had already come true.