A/N: I originally wrote this in response to an anon meme prompt.
Rotom, do you miss Charon?
Those other ghosts around you sure are silly for asking that question. Of course you miss Charon! Don't they miss their friends when they're not around?
You tilt your head as the others whisper back to you. But Rotom is so happy all the time. Doesn't missing Charon make you sad?
Why should you be sad? There's no reason that missing Charon should make you sad. He'll be back. He always comes back! He was just here a few days ago, after all, and he was in a better mood than you've seen him in years. He was really excited about how his boss disappeared, and now he could go to a volcano and get some money. Or something like that. You don't really pay attention all the time. You're just happy to be with him.
You're happy to be with him, and missing him isn't a bad thing at all.
...
Four seasons pass without any visit from Charon. The other ghosts in the chateau start whispering, and they ask you again if you miss him.
Of course you miss Charon. Don't they miss their friends when they haven't seen them in four seasons, too?
Charon should have visited you by now. He usually visits at least once a season. You're starting to get a little bit worried. But this isn't the first time he's skipped a few seasons. It happens every once in a while, and he always says the same thing when he comes back- "Prior commitments, nothing more." He doesn't elaborate, so it's probably nothing bad. You're a little less happy about the long stretch of time, but you know he'll be back. He always comes back! Surely he'll be here in a few days, and the two of you can talk and play and be happy like you always are.
You're happy at the thought of being with him, so missing him isn't all that bad.
...
Four years pass without any visit from Charon. The other ghosts tend to avoid you now, but you still hear them whispering every so often. Does Rotom still miss Charon?
Of course you miss Charon. Why wouldn't you miss a friend who's been gone for this long?
You don't know where he is, or how he's been. You're really worried about him, and you almost want to leave the chateau and go find him, just to make sure he's okay. But you already know what he would say- "Nonsense, Rotom, I am quite capable of handling myself. Just wait at the chateau until I return, and try to avoid making mischief in my absence." The idea doesn't make you very happy. But you keep telling yourself that he'll be back. He always comes back. You'll just have four years of talking and playing and being happy to catch up on, that's all.
You'll be happy when you see him again, but you're missing him too much to be happy right now.
...
Four decades pass without any visit. The other ghosts have long since abandoned the chateau and moved on to a different haunt. You are the only one left there now, and you chase off anyone who approaches. They're never who you're waiting for, the only one you want to be with now. It's been so long now that you don't dare leave the chateau. If you leave after this long, he'll never find you.
Sometimes you find your own mind whispering terrible things to you. Maybe Charon will never come back.
But you shake your head, sending off sparks and screaming the same thing over and over- He'll be back! Charon always comes back! - until you can't hear those terrible things any more, until your energy fades, until your whole body shakes like the way people do when you see them cry. And when you're shaking and drained and you can't hear those terrible things anymore, you'll hear one other thought whispering to you from the furthest corners of your mind- Rotom, do you miss Charon?
Of course you miss Charon. You miss him more than anything in the world.
And you don't think you can ever be happy until you see him again.