It's the next morning. My Pokemon are sprawled out on Morty's couch and we're all enjoying some good tea (which Morty claims to have brewed himself). My own team sits next to not only Miki's beast form but also Morty's team, or at least the three Pokemon we'll be fighting today.

"So, is this your whole team?" I ask, suddenly curious.

Morty shakes his head. "No, actually. I mean, they're the three I use, but I have six Pokemon... these three; Miki, obviously; and then there's Banshee and Snickers."

"Snickers?" I ask.

"She's a Stantler. I got her, well, because of an old friend..."
"Your old Stantler. I know." I place my tea down. "You killed mine in the last timeline."

"Oh." he sips his tea uncomfortably and I silently regret having said anything. All I'm doing is coming between us and he has no reason to feel guilty over something he didn't do.

But he would, my brain hums, he would and he wouldn't even feel bad about it. He'd just keep slaughtering anything that comes into his gym because that's what gym leaders do.

Miki's gaze catches mine. Her feral golden eyes watch my every move. If she can't tell what I'm thinking through telepathy, she definitely can gauge my facial movements.

Could Miki use telepathy?

Frighteningly enough, I find that I can't remember.

"So," I ask, trying to avert the topic, "Who's Banshee?"

"Just a Misdreavus. They live around Mount Silver. There was one time I tried to go up again and she saved my life." Morty coughs. "So. Suicune."
I nod. We might be friends, or he might just be taking pity on me, but the only thing I know is for certain is that we're fighting for the same cause and right now we need to work as allies instead of friends or something... more. "Suicune was pretty cryptic in their responses, but they mentioned being disappointed. Then they went on about how legendaries can see through all the universes- obviously- and then they said that someone very dear to them was in trouble, and that they would continue to be until I found Ethan."

"What?!" Reginae yells. "Multiple universes? That's just a theory!"

My other Pokemon just look very confused. I take that as a sign that none of them have been questioning the existence of infinite parallel worlds recently.
"No, it's all real. If nothing else, your trainer is living proof of that." Morty says. "Look, we could go on about this all day, all week, all year if we really wanted to, but we don't have that type of time."

Time. Oh, the irony.

"Alright. If we don't have the time, then you need to tell us what we should be doin'. Are we going to keep pursuing the badges or not?" Luna stamps her foot. "Whatever it is, it better not involve sitting around discussing philosophy when there are plenty of villains to beat down out there. We got work to do. Right, Ashley?"

"Right." I say. "Look, Morty... do you have any idea what the legendaries meant when they said that 'someone dear to them' was in trouble?' What does that have to do with Ethan's disappearance?"

"It means the legendaries definitely have some kind of interest in him being found." Morty says.

"Wait." I say, holding a hand to my face. My brain is burning furiously with terrible possibility. Red's voice echoes in my mind. Why subvert the gods when you could become one? "Morty." I say. "Is it possible for a Goldeneye to become a Pokemon?"

Morty shakes his head. "Absolutely not. It would take immense amounts of energy, and if you really mean what I think you're implying..."

I bite my lip. "Regardless, it has to do with Lugia or Ho-oh. I'm sure of it. Now we just have to find out which one..."

"... and summon them." Morty says, struck with awe.

Miki reverts to her human form, which makes her no less threatening. Her face is a mask of rage as she prods a finger against Morty's head. "Morty, you are not summoning either of them! I've gone over this with you a thousand times, the legendaries can only be summoned by-"

Morty pushes her finger away. "Yeah, kind of our kind, pure as a Pokemon, resolute as a human. I've gone over the exact words your sisters gave me thousands of times."
"You'd like nothing more than to be part of that, wouldn't you?" Miki sighs. "This conversation is going nowhere. The Nidorina is right-"

"Damn straight I am!" Luna cackles.

"-yes. Inaction isn't going to do any good. I say we send Ashley on her way as fast as possible so Red doesn't get too suspicious. If nothing else, she needs to keep going. We have a year and three seasons left before he just decides to pull the trigger on us, Ethan or no Ethan."

"Red knows every word we're saying as we speak. I wouldn't worry too much about espionage." Morty scoffs, his arms crossed. "If we really want to get her on her way, she might as well challenge the gym."
"Can you just hand me the gym badge?" I ask. "You already know what I'm capable of."

"Not allowed to." Morty says. "Rules are rules."

"Who cares what the League says?" I ask, slightly irritated.

"Not their rules," Morty says, "His." He points at the window, which has been opened slightly.

Just a small reminder to keep us in line.

I nod. "We can make this a real challenge then. You get to the gym and by sunset, I'll be walking out with your badge."

Morty throws his hands up as if in mock surrender. "If you say so. Come on, team. We have a challenge to prepare for."

Miki notices that my fists are clenched and makes a low vulpine vocalization under her breath. "Don't worry," she assures me, noticing how startled I am. "He'll be going easy on you. No deaths this time."
"I hope not." I turn to my team. D'spinas is eyeing what I can only assume is a very valuable vase with a look that can only spell trouble, her drills in perfect position to get us all kicked out of the house. "Don't even think about slacking off. I want all of you at top form for this. A challenge is still a challenge."

D'spinas buzzes. "Top form, you say?"

"Yes."

"Good. I have a trick I'd like to try out..."

***

We stand before the gym and I feel the usual pre-gym anxiety sweep me like a wave. You'd think the reincarnate of a legendary Pokemon capable of bending time to their will would be basically fearless, but no, actually, I'm either scared or crying eighty percent of the time. The other twenty percent of the time I'm a badass, but it's still a pretty raw deal, at least in my eyes.

I open the door and D'spinas rushes in, followed by Rose.

I snap, "Rose! Get back here right-"
A ghost emerges from the shadows, claws burning with ethereal energy, and its claws go right through her. Rose chirrups happily and I press my hand against my face.

The others clamor forwards, Ten using his typage to his advantage to help block hits. Reginae shies away from the ghosts, which he seems just about as comfortable with as he is with psychic-types... that is to say, not at all.

We stand on rickety platforms and even more rickety walkways between them and suddenly I feel something give. Reginae lies convulsing on the edge of oblivion, a dozen phantasmic pins stuck into his body.

"Ashley." he pleads. "Ashley, they're hurting me. They-"

The bridge cracks and we fall into the dark. I scream and Reginae catches me with his neck before I collapse. We're both standing on a platform.

"Are you okay?" asks Reginae. "You flipped out."

"Sit the next battle out." I command him.

He looks at the ghosts with a wrinkled grimace, at least as much as his face can possibly display. "With pleasure." he says.

Ten chirrups. "I've got it!"

As expected, the pins hit Ten and I scream (again) but he finishes the battle off. The Haunter disappears and so do the pins. Ten falls into my arms, cooing weakly. "Are you okay?!" I ask.

"Of course! 'Tis but a scratch."

Luna smirks as she approaches Morty's much larger and hopefully much safer platform. "Looks like we're here. Get ready, boys, because I'm about to bite and I don't let go."

Morty stands with a Pokeball clutched in his right hand. He puts it away and pulls up a sleeve to reveal a glistening watch. He whistles as he sees the time on it, eyes wide in amazement. "You're pretty fast."

"I know." I say calmly.

"It's actually pretty terrifying." he adds.

"I know." I repeat.

"So..." he pulls the Pokeball back out and tosses it up, "We ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

"Good. Go, Helios!"

"D'spinas!" D'spinas moves forwards with lightning agility.

"Haunter, Shadow Claw!"
"D'spinas, Payback!"

D'spinas hangs back and as the Haunter darts forwards with claws outstretched, she ducks to the side so only its claws and her drill meet. It bursts with bright purple light and the Haunter vanishes on contact.

It appears by Morty, obviously weakened, and Morty withdraws it.

"Right... Diana, you're up!"

"You really love your Roman gods."

"... maybe."

The next Haunter hits the floor the same way. Morty looks visibly frustrated. "Soul, that leaves you." The Gengar who emerges is just as smug as before, but this time, I'm ready for its tricks. D'spinas is far more powerful than anyone on my team last time and we've grinded so much more to prepare for this.
D'spinas twitches her antennae, going in for a kill. She readies her drills and the Gengar darts forwards, slapping her straight across the face.

"Sucker Punch." I groan. "D'spinas, snap out of it!"

The Gengar has disappeared. Blow after blow comes without warning, causing her to stagger backwards, and suddenly my battle plan isn't looking half as solid as before.

D'spinas lies on the brink of low health. Pushing her any further could be dangerous.

"Right." I recall her, an insane idea in my mind. "Go, Rose!"

Morty's hand wanders over a bracelet on his wrist. I tense myself. Is this some sort of move? He notices me and draws it away.

"Rose, use Metronome!"
Electricity crackles around the battlefield, narrowly missing Gengar, who lies motionless.

It has no moves with which to effect her. It's effectively dead in the water.

"A risky move." Morty warns, although he's beginning to perspire.

"Yeah, sure... but you're out of PP for Sucker Punch." I say. "All I have to do now is wear you down."

"Come on Rose, give me something to work with!"

Rose chirrups and energy gathers above her head. In a searing shot of light and fire, she sends forth what I know to be a fully-fledged Blaze Burn.

Soul lies defeated on the floor, clearly more corporeal than its pre-evolved brethren.

Morty opens his mouth and closes it. "You know what? Just take the badge."

"I want the TM too," I tease.

He rolls his eyes. "Here's Shadow Ball." He hands me a thin CD in a small protective case. "Was the first one like this?"

I shake my head.

"At least my dignity was spared in one timeline. What's important is that no one died this time."

I nod. "It's nice to think they're safe, you know."

"Take good care of them." Morty says. "You never know when they won't be until it's too late."