Ten and Hershey embrace in what starts as a tackle and ends as an awkward attempt to position themselves in such a way that they can stop moving and remain in contact without putting at least one of them in agony. They're a flurry of wings and hooves as they try to adjust and Ten's thoughts are a hurricane of confusion and excitement. Someone was waiting for me, he cries, no one has ever waited up for me before. No one!

The others are more cautious, eyeing each other across the city hub of Pallet Town. The old team's still giddy with the excitement and relief that accompanies finally being home, but the new team is primarily confused and raw from-

I don't have to think about that right now.

Fang and Reginae are both cautious, and Fang's eyeing the Gyarados with a suspicious squint. I mentally signal for him to drop it and he looks away, half-scowling. Hyacinth, on the other hand, walks straight up to Dusty and Shell and extends her hand.

"Was that so hard? Go on, now you try." I say to the team, pushing Reginae out from my side. He buckles but finds himself removed from the group, and Bronze is staring down at him with his arms crossed.

"Hey," Reginae says.

"Hey." Bronze says.

"So you're her starter. Her... real starter."

Cooly, Bronze responds, "Yes. Yes, I am."

"Nice to finally meet you. So that has to be..." Reginae hesitates, "Lilly."

I can't discern the emotion I'm getting over our connection.

"That's her." Bronze says. The subtext of are you done now is too snide for me not to notice it.

I throw a hand around Reginae's head and just below Bronze's shoulder. "Good to see my boys getting along. You two are going to have so much fun together. Now, I know this is a sudden shift in conversation, but what level are you guys, Bronze? We're in our low sixties, which we should be able to push up above seventies before we fight Red, but I need your levels for reference. I don't want you to throw yourselves against Red's Pokemon and for it to turn out you guys are still sitting in your fourties."

Thanks, Reginae says, with a sideways flick of his amber eyes.

Bronze brings a hand to his chin. "We weren't Pokemon in Kalos, so it's unclear how our experience would factor into levels. The Pokemon near Mount Silver are supposed to be in their fourties, so if you want to test us against those, you could get a pretty good gauge on what our current level is."

Lilly nods, by his side. There's a new tension between them, a longer pause when they look at each other before making decisions. Two years of history I have no knowledge of spread out between us. "We've grown," she says. "All of us."

She's beautiful as an Ampharos. I focus myself. There will be years and years for this to sink in, if I play my cards right. I need to get through what, six weeks? Six weeks are nothing.

"Okay." I say. "I could catch you all again, but the Poke Balls wouldn't work until I had six Pokemon in my party and I don't want to limit my party back down to that number. However, if you're not caught, we run the risk of something happening to you."

Suicune walks over, purple mane flaring out behind them. Are you associated with the box man?

"The what?"

The box man, repeats Suicune, frustrated.

"You mean Bill?" asks Dill. "He's my homebro. We should so go talk to Bill."

"If we try to rig the system, Red will take it out on anyone who helps us." I say, with a quick shake of my head. "Morty's in danger as it is. Roping any more people into the situation is going to add too much collateral damage. There has to be some other way to prevent you from being caught."

"We could go out into the woods. If there are no people around, there's no risk." offers Gaia.

"Do you think Red has any Poke Balls on him?" asks Chompers, nervously.

"I can return everyone if that happens." I say.

"How about apricorns?" Dusty says.

"Sure, because I'm totally going to learn how the ancient art of apricorn carving in six weeks. I fold my arms. "We'll work Red out as we go. For now, we need to be in the woods, and that's all."

From the edges of my peripheral vision, I catch another conversation. "So Ethan really is a Lugia," Sky says. Ethan, looking bashful, is flicking his huge tail and trying to back out of the way of my other Pokemon. The unfazed Crobat continues, tracing my line of sight, "You still haven't explained how this happened, or what you're journey's been like this time around."

"We should make a bonfire! We could have S'mores, talk about our feelings..." cheers Fang.

Suicune, who has been growing less and less interested in the going-ons, says, If you are all settled, I must depart.

"What? You're part of the family too," I say with a smile, feeling generous. "Come on, Suicune, don't you want to sit around the campfire and tell stories?"

No, Suicune says, and they take a flying leap into the air and land yards away. They've already accelerated into a loping sprint before anyone can stop them and have taken off down the road.

"Glad we got that out of the way." Fang says. "Now, who wants to help me go get marshmallows?"

***

That night, in the woods outside of Viridian, those of us with hands roast marshmallows or swaddle the toasted confections in chocolate and graham crackers. Bronze is trying not to get the marshmallow gush on his hands, and Reginae is keeping watch over his team members. They both sit so close to me that I feel like a marshmallow in my own personal S'mores. It's not as comfortable as it sounds, especially given that both the graham crackers are watching each other like either one of them could combust at any moment.

I'm not paying attention to them, however- I'm far too enraptured in Lilly's story. She goes from one side of Kalos to the other, describing her catches, their mannerisms, and the adventure with all of its ups and downs. She pays extra attention to the character of Shauna, the noble trio of Rune, Chrona, and Pich, and the mysterious Mega Stones and the ultimate weapon. My heart hurts when she gets to the team's reunion, and I need to take a look around the circle to remind myself they all made it back safely. It hurts me to know that there are empty spaces here, places where their Pokemon used to sit. If they didn't come with them, where would they be...?
The stars are shining bright in the midnight sky by the time Lilly finishes. "My team came out one last time before we got on the plane, but they wouldn't talk to me. They knew what was going to happen," The Ampharos finishes her tail with one resigned sweep of her tail, "And I left them with her. I left her. For you. It was just a matter of getting from Illex to Morty after that, and Suicune opened the portal once we made it to Ecruteak."

I watch her from across the flames, hear the unflinching pain of them and her, and get up from my marshmallow to hug her. She meets me halfway around and squeezes me tight, pressing her head against mine. "You did such a good job," I tell her. "I'm so proud of you. I'm so glad to have you back." I look up, catching the hungry gaze of all her attention-starved teammates. Their tragedies glitter in the firelight all the same. "All of you."

The team assembles into another group hug, which the current team dares not join. Instead, they wait for us to disperse. Reginae's choking back tears. Hyacinth nods, Fang looks shocked that it's over, and Ethan is watching the sky.

Ten is one of the old team again. It's like he never even left. He flutters back from the group hug to his new roost between Hershey and Gaia. Speaking of such...

"So," I say, "New names?"

Hershey looks up. "We're doign that? Now?"

Ferro flicks his tail. "Pass."

"Oh thank goodness. You can call me Carter from now on." Chompers says.

"Carter is not a Pokemon name." Bronze says, folding his arms.

"Chompers isn't even a name." replies Carter. "Anyone else?"

"I was known as Shika during my time in Kalos, and I'd like to keep it." says Hershey. Her bells jingle in agreement.

Since I'm no longer a baby, I'd prefer to be called Aerie instead of Shell, Shell reasons.

"I took on the alias Crimson. It's a little kinder than 'Rage' and it doesn't make me feel like a monster." Rage says, teeth bared into a Gyarados snarl nonetheless. It's nice to remember that not only was I a stupid kid, I was a petty kid as well. An angry, rage-filled preteen who had just lost a Pokemon dear to me and was determined to take it out on someone, damnit.

Then again, I was no better this time around. Of all the things I'll need to go over in my own retelling of this journey, the story of Basil's demise is one of the encounters I'm least eager to recall.

"Alright," I say. "Anyone else?"

No one answers. Nice to have that settled.

"So, are we going to go over our story?" asks Fang.

I remove my hand from the scarred side of my face and clasp it with the other in my lap. My gaze flickers to Bronze's side, and the ten S'mores he must've made in the last few minutes. His paws are covered in marshmallow goop but he seems pleased with himself. "I don't want to start yet. Does anyone want to take these S'mores? They've been sitting out."

"I'll take one." Fang says, tongue lolling.

"Me first," Dill says. "I have seniority."

"Can you two even eat chocolate?" asks Gaia, concerned.

"Uh, if I can't, this is a really bad time to find out. I found a pound of it in the garbage in Goldenrod."

"Dill!" Toxis puts a hand to his face. I chuckle thinking of the year and a half these two must've spent together, more or less married. Toxis and Dill in any kind of domestic situation is just hilarious to me. Sky and Khrys, on the other hand, are already a domestic couple even as Pokemon. They're huddled together at the far end of the campfire, whispering something I can't hear. Sky looks distant, even mournful.

Even now that I know the gist of their story, I haven't heard everyone's perspective. Even if I did, I'm sure that some of my former Pokemon are hiding something from me.

I'm snapped back to my side of the campfire by my two Eeveelutions chatting it up. "You're Dill? So you were Ashley's last Eevee," Fang says, looking over Dill with quiet approval.

"Yeah," Dill says, smirking. "I'm like you, but gayer. Now let me at that chocolate."

They're joined by several other old teammates, Hyacinth, and eventually Ethan, who takes the last S'more. I doubt it's doing much for him, given his size, but I still hear a deep rumble of pleasure deep in his throat.

"A little overwhelming, isn't it?" I whisper as he swallows the treat whole.

He nods. "I can feel them," he says. "So much. So many. They all love you, Ashley."

I smile. There are plenty of ghosts on this side of the campfire, plenty of holes to mirror the ones left by the old team's missing companions. "I wouldn't have made it this far without them."

I can hold up my side of things. There's no secret that's worth putting distance between me and everyone I care about. "I'm ready to begin," I tell the assembled Pokemon, who fall silent. Over twenty pairs of eager eyes fix my gaze, gold flecks bright in their eyes. "It starts with New Bark, waking up in a body that wasn't mine any more, and starting my journey for the second time. I spent the morning shocked, of course, but the real pain set in when I got to the Lab and the Cyndaquil there opened her eyes. That was the moment I realized it wasn't you," I say, brushing Bronze's fur. "I couldn't take another Cyndaquil, but luckily, I met the world's sassiest Chikorita, who must've asked thirty questions before we even stepped out of New Bark."

"We hit it off," Reginae says. The new team laughs, Ten especially.

We continue through the journey as the night winds on above us. I recall Ten's miraculous appearance, the early catches, and the first few times we flashed. Every now and then, one of the surviving team members will butt in with their own commentary about how things went down. We recall D'Spinas and Pisces's incredible strength, which seems to make Crimson perk up a bit, and we spent extra time on every teammate we lost along the way. Morty's attempts to speak with me bring back a wave of pain, as do Red's constant attempts to break me, and Ethan stops us a few times when Reginae and I go over our dreams. The old team, who are half asleep by the time we reach Mahogany, perk up in terror when I describe the human experiments, the increased signal, and Basil's attempt to kill me. Rose's death in Blackthorn prompts an inward, panicked breath from Reginae and Lilly alike. The latter is clutching her stomach, where the Gyarados bit her, and I know the parallels make us both uncomfortable.

Bronze twitches his ears and draws Lilly closer. Ten is watching the fire, his mind meandering through the long journey with me. Careful on the Victory Road ordeals, he reminds me.

At first, I'm confused as to why it would matter. Nothing too tragic happened on Victory Road- but then I remember that this was when our team came closer than ever. It was when we surpassed the old team in our ability to work as a unit, and in a way, it was when I accepted things as they were.

With the way my team spoke about the people and places they left behind in Kalos, I know they had moments like that, too, but they need to know their sacrifice wasn't in vain. They need to know that I still care for them, that I missed them every day, and that we wouldn't be able to beat Red without them.

I skim over Victory Road, the Elite Four, and most of Kanto fast as I can, pausing only for the deaths of Pisces and Minerva and Reginae's ten minute detour about Celadon City. By the time I'm finished, I'm slurring my words and the only thing keeping me awake is the fire. Most of the others are asleep, resting peacefully against each other.

The fire dies without us putting it out, of its own accord. I go with it.

I wake up the next morning smothered in fur and scales. Reginae and Bronze are pressing in on me on either side, protectively. Thanks, guys, but this isn't a competition. Yu can knock it off now. The rest of the team is lazing around, though the newly renamed Crimson is scanning the area for threats and Ten darts in and out of the trees, depositing berries and edible roots on a large pile in the center of our makeshift camp. They're well organized, likely due to Lilly, who is giving instructions to old and new team members alike.

"Food's going to be an issue." I say, stepping up to the Ampharos, who turns around with her head and tail bulbs glowing.

We'll stay near Viridian for as long as we can, suggests Aerie through telepathy. The Togekiss, who reminds me a little too much of Rose (when it used to be the other way around) is perched on Hershey... I mean Shika's back, close to Dusty and a few of the other early team members. Go in once a day for groceries. We can have certain team members take turns carrying supplies once we're ready to go.

"That's genius," I say.

Shika gets to her hooves, eagerly relaying her own plans for food preservation, which involves a detailed list of supplies for multiple pies. The rest of the food she insists on buying, however, is quite practical, and a few of the items are toiletries or other necessities I hadn't even considered.

Some of the others who are up by now add in their own ideas. I don't know how long they've been thinking about the details of what we'll need to accomplish, or if they're just good quick thinkers, but I suppose twenty heads are exponentially faster than one.

I get out my Pokedex, open the rudimentary notes function, and begin jotting things down fast as my fingers will allow.

"We could register everyone under pet status and then ignore it! We're not fighting a League mandated battle, and we could pay the fine anyways." suggests Ferro.

"Red has six Pokemon, and he's made the mistake of revealing his whole hand. We can strategize around the Pokemon we know he has."

The team delves into how best to counter Red's team of six, and I feel proud for having such a solid mix of types. We're a little short in the Fighting-type department, so the Snorlax will be an issue, but everything else should be a breeze.

As much of a breeze as a battle for the end of the world could be, given that everyone else who's attempted it so far has failed. This also assumes Red, who has control over the fabric of reality as we know it, won't cheat.

Little did we know that he already had.

Dusty, who was out on berry picking, comes racing into the clearing with his spines burned. His eyes wide with panic, the Sandslash keels over and says, "Help me."

"You're here. We've got you." Ten says, flapping over to cloak the smaller Pokemon in his wings. "What happened?"

"There was a huge Pokemon. It was so big it eclipsed the sun, and it tried to eat me whole!" Dusty explains, spreading his claws wide. He doesn't have enough range to properly illustrate his distress, but the gesture says enough.

"Large Pokemon? This far in the woods?" asks Bronze, ears perked.

"Large Pokemon are more common in the woods, not less common. That's why trainers aren't supposed to be out here." Carter says, nose twitching. "Hence why I tried to retreat out here once. It didn't go too well."

"We have over twenty party members. What could take us out?" I ask.

"That," Sky mumbles, pointing at a shape so large that it looms through the canopies of trees. Maybe not eclipse-the-sun levels of large, but not the type of thing you want to fight when you're still grappling with bedhead.

Damnit Red, it's eight in the morning.

The Charizard bellows as it slams trees aside, fire streaming from its mouth. The trees around it spark up and Ethan aims a Hydro Pump at the flaming elms. We don't need to deal with a forest fire in addition to Red's Charizard.

Ferro's ears have gone flat and his tail is puffed up. "I don't care how far in the woods we are. I guarantee that's not supposed to be here."

"Get behind me!" yells Bronze, which the new team disobeys immediately. I feel them click into gear as they fall into battle formation, with Fang and Ethan taking the offense while Reginae works on damage control, putting out fires and trying to protect plants. That isn't to say that he doesn't get any damage in, though. He jolts his head upwards and roots appear around the Charizard's legs in a miniature Frenzy Plant. I wasn't aware Reginae had learned the move but he's showing it off here, bending the foliage to his will to trip the beast at every opportunity.

Hyacinth, too, is trying to help, but her attacks seem ineffective. The Charizard takes a Bonerang to the face and doesn't so much as blink. It's a little more upset when said Bonerang is followed by another Hydro Pump which isn't aimed at the trees.

They've got it, and my old team looks impressed, but I yell, "What are you waiting for?"

"You." Bronze responds.

He's not talking about orders. I take in a breath and focus, reaching out for him, and he pulls me in like an embrace. I feel his fur, his muscle, and above all, the raging fire at the core of his heart. I'd missed the intensity of him, an irreplicable fury powered by sheer desire to keep the team safe (unlike Minerva, who was powered by pure sass).

No time to think about them now, Bronze tells me, a warmth welling up in both of us. The anticipation is too strong to handle, so we just dive right into it. The Charizard doesn't know what's hit it when we slam a flaming claw against its side, rolling off and scoring another hit to the chest. We swing from four legs to two, ducking in and out of Rollout, and finish it with a Blast Burn in a rainbow of intense flame. The full spectrum blows through the clearing, red, white, and blue, and even our own allies have to squint. It's like staring into the sun.

We are the sun.

We are the sun!

The Charizard, with one last, smoky exhale, topples back, taking another tree as it goes. A flock of confused Pidgey soar up from the canopies, twittering with fear, and the Charizard disappears.

"What happened?" asks Khrys, flying over to where the body was. "It can't vanish like that, can it?"

"Just did." Reginae tells them, still exhausted from his efforts. "This was Red's work."

All my Pokemon seem content with this. The easiness of the battle isn't lost on us, and they know from the expressions of my newer Pokemon that battles with Red don't usually end this well. Heck, we just ran from the last one.

(Feels like a million years ago. It's been a little over a week and a half.)

"It's different when you're the trainer," Bronze mumbles as he lopes back to me through the wreckage of several trees, "Like you're directing the water in a dam instead of being the water."

"It is?" I say, a little hurt. I'd always seen our connections as a great equalizer between us.

"I missed this," Bronze whispers, which reassures me a little. His eyes, which shine copper, fix mine, pained. "I missed you."

How different? Do you miss that? Do you miss them? Are you still working through it? How much haven't you all told me? Why does Lily sound so hurt when she mentions Shauna? Why are Khrys and Sky so quiet? "Me too."