Five months ago...
"When will you come back?" Ember whined softly, hugging his father's thigh. "You said this is the farthest you've gone!"
Fire-Heart chuckled softly, rubbing the Cyndaquil's head affectionately. "I'll be back in a two months. Sage and Tsunami will keep me safe."
"B-But what if-"
The Typhlosion pulled him into a hug, silencing him. "Oh, Ember... I don't know the future. Even a Xatu has no idea whether the future it sees is the one set in stone." He kissed his forehead. "I promise that I'll come back. You'll wait for me?"
Ember nodded, sniffling and wiping his nose. "I-I promise, Daddy..."
"That's my boy." He grinned and set him down. "I'll bring something cool back for you!"
"Fire-Heart!" yelled a Serpirior near the town gate. He stood next to a Swampert, who was tapping his foot in impatience. "Tsunami is threatening to leave you behind!"
"Coming, Sage!" He turned back to his son. "You be good while I'm gone, you hear?"
"Yes, Daddy!"
"Good boy." He nuzzled him one last time before heading off with his teammates. He stopped at the end of the road and waved back to his son. Ember waved back enthusiastically, wiping Wm away tears with his other paw as he watched his father disappear from view.
Little did the little Cyndaquil know that his father would not be returning to him in two months...