Nico stands by the four of us, Pokeball in hand. "You need the position filled?"

"Woah, woah, woah. Don't you belong to Korrina?" 

"She said you would need assistance on your journey. I am here on her behalf."

I bite my lip. "Team vote. All in favor of him joining?"

One wing, a vine, and a paw supplemented by a nice long stick fly up into the air.

"You're in." I say, shaking his paw. 

He nods to me. "I will not disappoint."

"Lilly, we have a problem." Chrona announces, looking over the bay on the horizon. "The next route is a water route."

"What about that?"

"None of us can learn Surf." Rune says, flicking a paw over the Pokedex in utterly profound disappointment.

"Oh." 

***

I knock on the door of the small oceanside cabana where Dill and Toxis live. Toxis opens the door, wearing a bedrobe and some boxers and holding a coffee mug that reads 'World's Best Six Foot Humanized Demon Rodent' in one hand. "Yes?"

"Oh gosh, it really is too early. I'm so sorry, I'll come back later when you're-" I say, covering my face in embarrassment. He just woke up, didn't he? I can't believe I just came in and intruded like that."No, it's fine. What did you need?"

"Well, uh, we don't have any way of getting across the Azure Bay at the moment, so I thought I'd ask for some... technical assistance here."

"Anything for you." Toxis says, sipping from his rather lare mug. "Coffee?"

"I'm fine. Did you get that custom made?" I ask, staring intently at the lengthy caption on the mug as the steam wafts from it.

"Yes. Dill has gotten us banned from ordering from at least fifteen companies now. Anyhow, if you want help with getting a way to get across the bay, there's always Surf-"

"Did someone say Surf?" Dill busts out next to Toxis, who just sips his coffee, unflustered and thoroughly unamused. "I think I have just the Pokemon for you. Would you like to borrow mine?"

"Uh, I don't think that's a good idea." I say defensively, the brutality of Stella's death replaying in my mind to the churning of my stomach.

"Oh. Had some incidents? Don't worry, you should meet him first. Klaki, come on out!" He throws a Pokeball into the sand and out pops an enormous Lapras, the kind I've only heard about in fleeting conversations before. They're every bit as large and bulky as people say, if not more so.

"Hey, bruh. Chillin' out on the bay? Anything you need me for here?" Klaki says with a distinctive accent.

"Is that... surfer lingo?" I ask, curious and slightly amused.

"He's watched one too many movies. I've promised to take him down to where the water is warmer, but for now, he's stuck here in this bay."

"Maybe I could take him down there." I say, stroking his long, powerful neck. Dill was right- his effect is very calming.

"That would be really nice. Just... be careful, okay?" Dill says, gazing into my eyes with the sorrowful expression that lets me know he expects the worst.

"Totally rad. I'll make sure to take good care of them." Klaki says, swinging his neck down between us.

"I'm sure you will." Dill says, stifling a laugh. 

I bite my lip. "I can't promise much. I'll try... If he'd like this... to only use him for transportation. No battles, no risk. Is that alright with you?"

The giant Lapras dips his head. "I don't see why you're worried, but it's all cool here. As long as I can catch a few good waves every now and then, I'm fine with anything."

"Well, we should probably head out then. Thank you so much." I tell him, jumping onto his back, setting my feet between the dull spikes that serve as perfect places to hold on to. Rune stumbles and falls, barely grabbing on, Nico sits facing the shore, peacefully meditating, Pich sits on Klaki's head, and Chrona is too large and has to return to her Pokeball.With a quick but smooth movement, we're off. 

Klaki's fins cut across the water, calm and smooth movements. I sit on his back, taking in the sunlight.

"It's so beautiful. I wish I could live here." I say. "Kind of reminds me of-"

"Johto?" Pich asks.

"How did you guess?"

"Everything reminds you of Johto, Lilly."

"Yeah. I guess you're right." I yawn. "Everything beautiful and comforting that makes me feel like I'm home."

"Beautiful." scoffs Rune. "More like unnaturally and pointlessly cold."

"It's not cold!" I object. "It's like summertime, isn't it?"

"It's the last week of August," interjects Nico. "See? Summer."

Rune responds by retching over Klaki's back. "Hey, this shell is attached to a Pokemon! Don't disrespect." Klaki warns.

"You want to be a ship, you get treated like a ship." Rune snaps, and I feel the need to tell him how rude he's being (although I'd like to attribute it to seasickness).

Klaki splashes his front left fin up and down, a quick stroke, and water drenches the boat. Rune yowls, his ears steaming up from the sudden dousing, Nico opens one eye and then closes it, and Pich cooes with amusement.

I watch, slightly amused by their bickering myself, but really just happy to see the new team members are fitting in well (more or less.) That's when I feel it.

A force of attraction is the best way to describe it- a golden bond like those that link me to my Pokemon, but this one is pulling me.I look out into the horizon and see it, dark and shadowy and foreboding. What's inside, I do not know, but I need it.

"Guys, over there." I mutter.

"What?" Pich says, turning.

All five of them stop, although Rune and Pich seem the most disturbed.

"That island. Can you see it?"

"No." Klaki mutters, "There's no island over there."

"Yes there is!" I object. "It's literally right there!"

I point ahead. Nico materializes a bone and points it in the same direction. "That's not an island. That's an anomaly in the spiritual field."

"A what?" I ask.

"Something over there is capable of warping reality itself. The fact that you can see it means it was probably put there specifically for us."

"Is it a trap?" Rune asks, dubious immediately.

"For now, let's call it a blessing." Nico says, but his tone stays ice-cold.

Klaki looks ahead, still craning his neck to see what must be nothing for him. "Well, they told me you were weird, but this is definitely some Class-A weirdness, if not downright mean. Let's all play Stare at The Island I Can't See."

"No, actually, now we're going to play Go to The Island You Can't See." Rune says snarkily.

Klaki slaps his fin again, this time dousing all of us.

"Alright, that's it. This is your problem now, Lilly." Rune says, throwing his paws up in the air as steam rises from them.

"Klaki, I know this is crazy, but please, set a course to the island."

He looks back at me, confused and a bit concerned, but consents. I feel guilty... does he agree with me, or does he agree with his master? "Alright. You'll have to guide me." He says.

"I promise, the whole way there." I can feel it tugging at my heart. What lies inside that phantom cave is a mystery, but at least I can promise it won't be for much longer.

(YO AN HERE: Had surgery. Was lazy. Lots of bad excuses for not updating. Sorry to everyone out there who actually missed this book. Grand total of 6 people who probably care about this.
I love all six of you.)