Morning arrived quickly, pulling her from the dark void of sleep. Unlike the previous night, there were no haunting dreams or loud interruptions. The phone—the device she was still getting used to—had been quiet this time, proving useful when it wasn't annoying.

  Umbreon had attached some meaning to the word "food." Whether it was the repetition or his actual understanding, she couldn't say. But once he spotted their morning meal, he began chanting the word, which was enough for her.

  Chamander, as he introduced himself, was quite polite. She liked how warm it was to be near his flame as well. The other two were less interesting to the fire fox, but she played along with them regardless when they had asked. They didn’t have names of their own yet. Squirtle wanted one, or so she told Fennekin multiple times.

  After their meal, she sat in the window, staring outside as she waited for what the day held. It was nice to get used to one place for a change. She’d not had the luxury in quite some time. Not out in the woods, and not in her first days back in society. The Professor and Owen were talking again. She’d only been listening halfheartedly, but she heard some bits about which Pokémon eats what food. Good.

  Owen was heading out again. Fennekin caught him explaining to the Professor that Korrina wanted to meet them today.

  Finally, she thought. That girl had been cooped up in the boring place with all those useless machines—she had to be desperate to escape, Lucario in tow.

  As they left the lab, she turned to Umbreon and tapped the ground by her side a few times before he kept pace. The road with the loud green goats wasn’t her favorite, but at least it wasn’t as bad as the stinky road. She hated that road, and was glad they hadn’t returned since.

  They came upon the big tower once again. The one with all the Pokémon, and all their people to boot. But today, as she understood it, they’d finally go inside.

  What made this thing such a big deal anyway?

  The thought was interrupted by a familiar sight. Korrina burst through a crowd of other humans, making the fox wonder if she had been fighting them. She’d seen some human battles before, but they mostly just used punches.

  “Glad you could make it. Sorry about all…this.” She seemed embarrassed as she gestured toward the crowd behind her.

  Then, a sudden blue blur zipped out of the masses—Lucario, of course, landing beside her with practiced ease.

  “How’s the wild child?” He asked, not wasting a beat off of his landing.

  “I think he’s starting to pick up on some words, yup!” She retorted as they both looked over to find Umbreon licking the underside of his leg.

  “I said, he’s picking up on some words!”

  Umbreon kept licking.

  Fennekin sighed. So much for that.

  “I see. Well, I’m sure he’ll come around someday, right?” Lucario attempted to sympathize with her, while all she could think of was her closest team member remaining as a kit forever. A really powerful kit.

  “So what have you been doing? Did you find that dragon thing?”

  “No.” He seemed dejected for a brief moment. “But we are finally here for our original goal. To battle the leader of the tower.” He pointed up toward the sky, the top of the spire being hard to look at with the sun in her eyes. She blinked furiously.

  “Isn’t Korrina already a leader? Oh, I get it, she wants to take over this tower from him, right?” The yellow fox grew excited all of a sudden at her instant deduction. Lucario chuckled ever so slightly before responding.

  “No, not quite. Though I wouldn’t mind a bigger gym- ours has a rich history!” He said with an element of pride in his voice. “No, we’re here to test the gym leader to see if he can handle the bond evolution.”

  “Bond evolution?” Fennekin inquired in return.

  “Yes.” Lucario offered up his wrist, showing off the red band on it. She had only seen him wear it sometimes and wondered why it mattered. “The temporary power offered by complete trust in each other, brought out by these. This one in particular is attuned only to myself and my kin.” He announced, determination emanating from his voice and stance alike.

  Her eyes glistened at the sight of the shiny surface on Lucario’s wrist. The swirling symbol beneath seemed to pulsate, even breath as she lost herself for but a moment.

  She gulped before finding the courage to ask, “Do you think there’s one out there for me?” Having already decided on the answer she desired.

  “I don’t know. The master has one for all of his partners, and I do not think that to be a coincidence.” He stated.

  It’s not a ‘no’.

  Fennekin lowered her gaze. Her ears flattened, and she pawed at the ground without realizing it. Of course there was one for her. There had to be. She glared at the ground, wondering where such a thing might be. She’d have to ask him that as well. But as she looked up, Lucario was already walking toward the gym. Owen was as well, prompting her to quickly follow suit with Umbreon.

  Everyone was so noisy, especially the ones who were asking about her trainer. Apparently they had no idea why he was standing next to a gym leader.

  A stuffy-looking guy in a uniform was the next to talk to them, but at least he made all the other people go away. And for that, she was grateful. He took them into a small room as the doors shut behind them. There were funny little circles up on the wall, with little lights around them. The boring man pushed one of them, and the room felt like it was moving! Goldie was so startled that he hugged Owen’s leg.

  When the doors opened again, it was an entirely different room! One with even more windows and a view of the city below!

  “Wow! When did the humans get moving rooms?”

  “They’ve existed as long as I can remember.” Lucario responded with a bit of confusion.

  She’d never seen one before, making her question just how long she’d been in the woods before Owen and Umbreon found her. But that didn’t stop her from looking around. She could see the street with all the food again from here! Most of it was in view, even if it was too small to make out the finer details.

  So this is what they see when they’re flying. One day, I’m gonna fly too. The little yellow fox thought with envy.

  They were led into the next room over—a strange, windowless chamber. Glass pillars flanked the entryway, each glowing with yellow light and humming faintly. There were no windows to be found, even above the benches that rose on either side. And once again, the white chalk on the dirt floor was there. The arena that signified where gym battles took place.

  Scattered around the room were trainers and Pokémon, but none were facing off. Instead, each pair was focused on their drills. Some practiced quick dashes and dodges. Others hurled attacks at bulky, slow-moving machines that shifted up, down, and side to side with a dull whirr.

  Fennekin’s ears perked up at a sudden burst of energy from across the room.

  A small lavender Pokémon, roughly Goldie’s size, stood at attention. It had split tails, a crimson gem set in its forehead, and an elegance to it she hadn’t seen before. Another new one, she thought, eyes narrowing.

  The gem glowed, then fired a rainbow-colored beam straight at a metal target. The impact rang through the room like a bell.

  “YOU WIN!” a harsh voice blared from nowhere. Fennekin flinched. It sounded like a human trapped inside a phone, but ten times louder.

  The Pokémon’s trainer called out in praise, but the twin-tailed creature only flicked an ear, unimpressed, and muttered something Fennekin couldn’t quite catch.

  Before she had time to study it further, Korrina grabbed Owen’s arm and tugged him toward the trainer. Fennekin nearly stumbled trying to keep up, skidding back into step with a brief growl.

  “Why don’t you two practice together?” Korrina suggested brightly. “Espeon and Umbreon would be a perfect match!”

  Espeon, Fennekin repeated in her head. Huh. Even the name sounds kind of like his.

  Umbreon padded forward, slow and focused. His eyes didn’t leave Espeon for a second. He sniffed the air once.

  Then headbutted him.

  “Ugh, do you mind?” Espeon snapped, pulling back with a grimace. “I feel awful already.”

  “Please excuse him,” Lucario said, stepping in with a calming tone. “He means well… I trust.”

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  Espeon offered a halfhearted nod, still glaring.

  Espeon winced mid-step. “Ugh—just what I needed today.” He gave Umbreon a sideways glance, tail twitching irritably. “And it seems our trainers want us to battle regardless.” He said with a roll of his eyes.

  “You up for it?” Owen asked Goldie.

  “He doesn’t understand, you know!” She barked at Owen, catching his attention despite the language barrier.

  “You want this one then?”

  Fennekin stared at Espeon, then back up at Owen, blinking profusely as she processed what she had just heard. Her tail betrayed her mind as it flicked in excitement at the chance to battle again. Her whole body was getting warmer as she looked back down at the Pokémon in front of her.

  Espeon let out a long sigh and trotted backward to his trainer’s side. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  Umbreon started to follow, but Owen gently held him back. “Bad! Bad!” he spouted, keeping him still.

  Fennekin stepped into position. Focused. Ready. Her eyes locked on her opponent. This time it wouldn’t be some floating squid thing she could swat out of the sky—this was someone with teeth.

  Lucario’s voice rang out, echoing Korrina’s from behind. “This practice match ends when either side is winded for more than ten seconds.”

  “BEGIN”

  Fennekin eyed her opponent as he was ordered to attack, sending that rainbow colored beam at her. Her ears flicked, she jumped to the left, missing the thin beam as Espeon sighed again. The air started to shimmer around her ears, and she didn’t have to wait long. Owen had thought to retaliate with Ember, the same as her. The two fireballs shot from her ears, slamming with force opposite the field, but when the smoke cleared, Espeon was nowhere to be found.

  Fennekin gasped from the pain striking her side as she tumbled, realizing she’d been hit before pivoting on one paw. She skid to the right, and was looking squarely back at her opponent. Not wasting a beat, she readied two swirls of fire and sent them straight after Espeon, engulfing him this time.

  He grunted as he tried to shake the fire, a small ring of it trailing him even after the swirl calmed down. He winced. His trainer called Swift next, and those same stars came after her, just like how Mienshao had done. She’d use the same tactic, the small conjured rectangular wall filtered each of the stars down to naught but a tickle as they grazed her fur.

  Yet once again, her light screen shattered soon after. Unfazed, she followed Owen’s next order and howled upward, prompting a laugh with a pointed forepaw from Espeon.

  Oh, he was going to get it now.

  She awaited his next move, surely it would be the rainbow colored beam again. His gem began to shine. This time, she charged straight toward it, planning to jump above him as her tail stiffened and began to shine.

  Yet she found herself floating in midair. He hadn’t fired the beam attack. Her little stomach lurched in anticipation as she hovered above his head. She kept concentrating on stiffening her tail, readying her legs to spring should she be thrown. Yet that didn’t happen. Instead, the control broke.

  Perfect.

  She spun midair and slammed her tail down on his noggin, forcing him back on his ass. She stuck the landing and was now awaiting his next move as he fumbled back up.

  “Son of a…OW did you have to go that hard?” The exasperated Espeon exclaimed. She glanced at Espeon, rubbing his head, the red gem pulsing faintly. Her ears drooped for a breath—then perked right back up as she puffed her chest.

  “I give up, I’m too tired for this shit today.” He stated to Lucario. The jackal raised his arm toward Owen, declaring the pair the winners.

  Fennekin turned around to pat her chest. Umbreon got up and walked straight toward her, and subsequently padded right on past her. Goldie had gone to her opponent, gently brushing against his side. The twin-tailed Pokémon attempted to protest until a twinkling sound, followed by a whoosh turned his attention upwards.

  A few small stars flew over his head, and it wasn’t long before the pain faded from his expression. “I suppose I’m still drained, but thank you for that, my kin.” The miniature stars dispersed as quickly as they had materialized.

  “Your what?!” Fennekin blurted out in surprise.

  “I believe he is referring to the fact that Espeon are the counterpart to Umbreon.” Lucario informed her.

  “So, they’re like… cousins?” She asked him, now more confused than ever.

  “Not by blood, at least I wouldn’t think so.” The twin tails responded. Umbreon circled him before sitting politely at his side.

  Ker-Thump

  The beat of their tails even seemed to match.

  “I don’t get it,” Fennekin muttered, her confusion plain.

  “Your friend here calls on the moon, and I call on the sun. Simple as that.” There was something smug about his confidence in that statement, which gave nothing away to Fennekin. She was still just as stumped as before.

  It was almost as irritating to her as the fact that they were both nuzzling as if they’d known each other their whole lives. She flicked her tail and turned away. If they wanted to act like best friends already, fine. Let them.

  “Aww, how sweet.” Espeon’s trainer couldn’t help herself looking on at them. “Well, why don’t you take a minute with your new friend?” She walked over to join Owen and Korrina, little clips jingling on her white boots with each step. Fennekin looked up to notice her messy brown hair for the first time, as she walked on by.

  Fennekin heard them exchange greetings, but the human’s conversation was soon background noise to her ears.

  The sound of the mechanical voice rang out with another “YOU WIN”, making all the Pokémon wince in surprise.

  “Say, how come you haven’t introduced yourself yet?” The twin tails turned to Goldie, awaiting a response. Yet all he received was a blank stare, with slow blinking red eyes.

  Fennekin lowered her gaze, paws shifting awkwardly on the floor. “He’s… not good at talking yet.”

  “What do you mean, he’s no good at talking, surely he’s an adult?”

  “I think so, but… I’ve been trying to teach him words ever since we met.” Fennekin offered up in return.

  “That’s a bit…concerning. Our kind usually doesn’t evolve so early if that’s the case.”

  “Well, our um, trainer has a phone. It shows pictures of battles! I think.”

  She racked her brain over what she could remember about it. She’d seen him scroll through the history a few times since they left the hospital. But right now was another annoying reminder that she couldn’t read any of it.

  The hospital! The Nurse there said something about it. Wait, that’s it, she didn’t mention a date.

  “He’s had like a hundred and ninety something battles, I know! Owen had to scroll back reaaaaaal far to find the beginning of them!”

  “I see… were there any records of him as an Eevee? You know, a little brown thing.”

  “Loads!” That much she did remember. The parts closest to the beginning were filled with little brown pictures instead of Goldie’s black head with the golden ring.

  Espeon lowered his head as a slight frown took over.

  “Maybe if it’s our kin…” he muttered. Umbreon continued to rap his tail in rhythm. It wasn’t long until he perked back up, looking more alive than he had the entire time.

  “Maybe what?” Fennekin asked.

  “Usually it is fruitless to peer into darkness, but this might work…” He said, without further elaboration. As the gem on Espeon’s head shimmered to life, Fennekin felt something stir in her chest—a flicker of warmth, but not like fire. It didn’t burn like usual. It bloomed, rising gently from her belly to her throat, as if the light were touching something deep inside. She watched the jewel on his head continue to flicker, Umbreon’s golden rings pulsing in synchrony.

  Vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

  The lights began to flicker.

  The humming was getting louder.

  The room went dark.

  Silence.

  Stillness.

  That sinking feeling telling you,

  This isn’t somewhere you belong.

  --n--

  Click.

  The returning light forced Fennekin to blink profusely.

  “Sorry about that. I guess we’re having trouble with the lights.” A nasally voice echoed from the entrance of the room. A blonde human entered the room, his circular glasses reflecting the light momentarily. His entrance caught the attention of the humans, who voiced their relief at the return of the lights.

  Fennekin’s fur bristled as she felt the piercing gaze amidst the black shadow that trailed behind him. A shining yellow four-pointed star flashed as it whipped behind the creature that stood a clean head taller than the young man it followed.

  “Hey, it’s been a while, Luxray!” Lucario piped up as the figure came into full view, revealing bits of blue and yellow fur around its dark form.

  “Glad you could make it.” A low rumble followed his response, the air slightly crackling with each step as he joined his partner with the group of humans.

  No way it was just the lights, she told herself as her attention shifted back to Umbreon.

  He was still sitting next to Espeon, as if nothing ever happened. They both were.

  “So, how’d it go?” She asked the twin tails expectantly.

  “How’d what go?” He retorted sarcastically.

  “Did you see anything in there or what?” She was getting impatient.

  “In where?” His sarcasm was melting into curiosity.

  “In his head you dolt!”

  “Whose head? Are you alright? Sure you don’t need yours checked?” He asked with a mixture of sass and concern.

  “Lucario, you saw it! He’s playing us!”

  She pointed with her forepaw, feeling betrayed in her momentary hopes for a quick solution. Sure, they’d just met, but this wasn’t funny anymore.

  She turned to Lucario, waiting for the sharp tone she knew was coming. But his gaze was steady and aimed at her. “It’s not nice to tease someone after you’ve already won,” he said, but the words were meant for her. Her ears drooped.

  “You too?”

  She felt betrayed, hurt that he would join in on this. All lucario were, in her mind, a Pokémon of justice. She may not have known all of the Pokémon, but that was one she was absolutely familiar with.

  It happened right here. She thought. How did they so quickly conspire to trick her like this, right in front of her face? Was it telepathy she wasn’t let in on, or something else?

  She turned her attention back to Umbreon. He was still slapping his tail in rhythm with his new friend, content without a care in the world. She wanted him to be able to respond, but something tugged at the back of her mind.

  Would he still smile like that if he could talk to us?

  Lucario must have noticed her emotions. Approaching, he knelt down to speak softly and solely to her: “I don’t know what got into you just now, but… I can tell something’s wrong.” He tilted his head expectantly.

  “It was right there, just now. He said he was going to help Umbreon.” She explained to him in a whisper. “It’s what made the lights go out, don’t you remember?”

  “We only made our introductions moments ago.” He explained. “And the lights, well- you’ll find Clemont’s technology is sadly unreliable, great though it may be.” His attempts to reassure her fell on deaf ears, however big hers may be. The timing was too convenient. That much she was sure of.

  “Surely you just need some rest, you did well in the fight.” He offered back sympathetically and walked away without giving her a chance to rebut.

  I know it happened.

  I know it happened.

  I think it happened.

  It happened, right?

  Of course it did.

  That’s what messed with the lights, not some stupid light switch going off.

  Everyone else resumed their conversation. Noise that she drowned out with her thoughts. She didn’t want to join them, though. First the Tyranitar, then her scarf with the Absol, and now this. She trailed back over to Owen, smooshing her head into the lower half of his leg.

  He got down on one leg to meet her, smiling, green eyes wide open, and told her, “You were great just now.” Owen smiled, his words easing the tension in her chest. Fennekin blinked, her little foxy face relaxing as he continued, “I mean it. This whole battling thing is new to me, but you’re a natural.” A cold hand brushed her whiskers. But she didn’t hate it. They kind of itched anyway. It was getting warmer as he kept going, and she gave way as her head fell half limp into his hand.

  She almost wanted to cry. Almost. She was too old for that now. But this was nice. This, she could get used to.

  “Thank you.” She said, just loud enough for him to hear her. Even if all Owen heard was her yips in return. He patted the top of her head once more, rustling right between her ears.

  A familiar shadow crept across the ground, catching her eye. Umbreon had padded on over and smooshed his forehead gently into her own. He stared right at her, the dark of his eyes now circles, opposed to their usual tall oval shape. He struggled for a moment with his mouth open, moving his tongue and breathing heavily, getting it stuck on his little fangs. A series of cute, nasally sounds followed.

  “Err…”

  “Um…”

  “…Hi”