"So where are we off to next?" Bronze asks. My head is still buzzing from flashbacks, from bits of memory like shattered glass cutting through bloody, desperate hands. I'm sitting on a chair in the Pokemon Center, clutching my head in my hands as Pich sits behind the counter, being bandaged up by an Audino.

 "I don't know." I say.

 "Look it up," suggests Pich. "I can't wait to get going."

 "I wouldn't fly anywhere too quickly, Pich. Your wings are busted." Chrona sighs.

 "Guess we'll be walking to wherever it is."

 "You know what?" I say, standing up. "Actually, no. Klaki, I'm going to return you to Dill and Toxis. There's a PC nearby."

 "Aww, man."

 "I'm sorry, it was great having you on the team, but you belong to Dill and everything I touch dies for some reason. Please don't take any personal offense." I take a deep breath outwards. Klaki looks at the rest of the team with an is-she-crazy kind of look. I return him to his Pokeball.

 "What?" I ask. "I was going to return him anyways. This isn't some spur of the moment decision."

 "Well, it's not that. It's just..." Pich chirps nervously.

 "You're acting a bit temperamental, Lilly. Is there something wrong?" asks Nico, his blue eyes locked on mine. "Your aura is extremely volatile right now."

 "Memories. Flashbacks. Just a lot of random... ugh." The Audino at the counter perks up her ears. She, too, is staring at me. The last thing I need at the moment is some nurses trying to 'help' me with my current condition, so I switch the topic. "Anyhow, we need to stay here until Pich is ready to fly again, and then we fly over the next route to Lumiose City."

 "You're actually going to fly on her? Is she large enough for that?" asks Crypt.

 Pich holds up her wings, a wingspan of at least fifteen feet. "Yes. Yes I am." She folds them neatly back at her sides. The Audino looks disappointed, chirping something high pitched at her. Pich lies back down in an awkward position, wings spread out, and the Audino returns to work.

 "Don't underestimate her. Pich is pretty amazing." I say. "Speaking of such, how long until they let you out?"

 The Audino chirps something else, but Nurse Joy answers first. "She'll be good to go in about a week, but you can take her out before then. Just make sure she doesn't fly any long distances."

 "Thank you." I say, trying to ignore the sudden realization that Nurse Joy has overheard the whole conversation. "Well, we have a lot to do over the next week, so I'm going to need everyone on the team to help."

 "What are we going to do?" Rune asked. "Will we get a new team member?" "Yes."

 "Hardcore training?" asked Crypt nervously.

 "A bit of that too, but I think we have something much more important to do now that we have some down time. Let's have some fun for once!"

 Surprised by my sudden switch in attitude, all of my Pokemon are momentarily confused before they realize I'm not just joking with them.

 "Alright, but can we at least see the new team member?" Rune asks.

  "Hold your Horseas, I'm getting her out of the PC." I say casually. My headache begins to clear up a bit. Maybe this is exactly what I need. Running away from your problems won't fix them, but you can at least hide away for a little while.That's exactly what I intend to do.

 ***

 "Two thousand P?" I ask. "That's a real bargain."

 "We'd like to think so." says the clerk. My new teammate watches anxiously. She's a bulky Nidorina, caught about a month and a half ago by Gaile and Crypt when my attention must have lapsed temporarily.

 "Nina, you sure you want this?"

 "One hundred and twenty five percent sure." Nina agrees.

 "Alright then." I fork over the money and she bumps the counter. The Moon Stone falls onto the floor. She holds it under her paw with delight as she's encased in white and blue, growing taller and rounder until everything clears and she now towers over the clerk and I.

 "Much better." she laughs. "I think I can get used to this whole 'team' thing if it comes with benefits like these." She flexes her new, strong hands, and runs them down her large and powerful blue body.

 "We should probably find everyone else." I tell her, walking past her to the meet-up area. Rune is leaning against Chrona, talking to her about something I can't quite catch while she nods. I can hear her heartbeat in my mind- it still picks up when she talks to him.

 Crypt lumbers onto the scene. "Lilly! Nina! You evolved?"

 Nina, now a bulky Nidoqueen, nods. "What's up for this afternoon, anyhow?"

I check the time. "Well, I'm going to go in there-" I point to a nearby shop, "and buy some frozen yogurt for you guys, and then I have to meet Nico at the Petal Dance Yoga studio. What flavor do you guys want?"

 "Leppa!" Chrona yells.

 "Sitrus!" Rune adds.

 "Nanab." Crypt says, licking his teeth hungrily. "In the largest size you can get."

 "Whatever this big hunk is taking." Nina says, placing a hand on Crypt's hide. He looks a big bewildered by this gesture, but I catch the slightest bit of a smile.

 "I'll be right back." I say, walking into the store. A Slurpuff works with several Bergmite and a young, probably teenaged trainer, all of them doing this and that, a constant buzz of activity that gives the store life.

 "Coming through." The Sneasel has a hoarse, raspy voice.

 I gesture for it to go on. I don't know what the criteria are- I can't hear all Pokemon- but occasionally I'll get a bit of what one is saying. Again, these small moments of victory make this break worth every single second. I've never felt so at ease (at least not since I got to Kalos).

 I dutifully fill each of my Pokemon's requests, topping them off so that the swirl of frozen goodness rises above the edge of the cup like a triumphant mountain.

 "Do you think this is enough?" I ask, standing at the register. "I'm buying for a Venusaur, a Tyrantrum, a Delphox, and a Nidoqueen."

 The trainer stops and all the Pokemon in the room turn to me. "You're going to need a lot more frozen yogurt than that." he says. "Listen, I have tubs of this in the backroom, if you'd like to give them a real serving. There may be some slight price modifications."

 "Why not?" I say. "What will it be?"

 He rings up a number that leers back at me with the decent handful of zeros listed there. "I've bought a Moon Stone for less than this." I say.

 "Do you want it?"

 "Heck yes I do. Bring it out there." I throw down some more P. "You guys are in for a huge treat." I say, leaving the store. All four of the lazy Pokemon assembled there turn to me.

 "Oh really?" Chrona asks. "What did you do, buy out the store?"

 "Ehhhh.... no. But I did get you some real portions. You guys enjoy. I'm going to go meet Nico. Save me some frozen yogurt!"

I run off in the other direction, stifling a laugh of pure happiness as I run. Nico waits for me at the door of Petal Dance yoga studios. I open the door to scented candles and soothing music. Nico gives me a stiff nod, which is a sign of approval from the stoic Lucario. "Mega Evolution is tough, so you must be too. As you recall, I picked the session we'll be doing today."

 "Let me guess, it's kickboxing?"

 "No." Nico says, smirking. "It's yoga."

"Yoga." I ask. "You're kidding me."

"Yoga is actually very intense." he says. "We'll be doing it in a ninety degree room. It helps the muscles relax and lengthen more."

"Alright then. I'll take your word for it." I say.

Nico holds open the door to the studio. Cold air rushes into the room, and hot air lingers at my feet. "After you."