- 6 Years Later -

I watched as my team worked its way through the other trainer, not even breaking a metaphorical sweat. This irksome fool with more concern for his hair than for training his Pokémon had challenged me, and I was demolishing him quite solidly. My team was nearly unbeatable, consisting of Amber, Luxio, (who had evolved about a year ago), Absol, and a newly-gained Riolu, and I knew the outcome of the battle as soon as he sent out his first Pokémon. I knew it was inexperienced and not very well trained, and his strategy had so many flaws it was practically begging to be exploited. But I still had some respect for him; every Pokémon that went down he comforted or congratulated, whichever seemed to be required. I had met some trainers that yelled or berated, and one who had actually resorted to getting physical with his Pokémon. I didn't know why it had let him get away with that, but that was where I picked up my Absol. He was left half-naked with no supplies and no money in what might have one of the worst blizzards I'd ever seen, and by that point in time I'd seen quite a few. I, of course, would never do that to my Pokémon. In addition to the absolutely horrific idea of doing that to any of my Pokémon, especially Amber (Who was an Emotion Pokémon), positive reinforcement always improves morale, which leads to better fighting. Which is what I was doing now.

"Excellent battle, team. I was especially impressed by the way you exploited his Blaziken's ember attack, Amber."

She nodded and I felt a sense of pride and a -Thank you-

I was different than most other trainers. Most trainers taught their Pokémon various moves and such, but when I trained those I would also engage in mental exercises with my other Pokémon. It was almost to the point where Amber could beat me to a standstill in chess. While the Pokémon I was training would still learn the move, I would also teach him/her and the rest of my team when to use it, how to make the most of it, and also how best to turn it to your advantage should your opponent use it. I don't believe in passive defense, I think that there is a way to counter every attack, and I teach that to my team. This basically makes them self-sufficient, and in battles I only rarely specifically told them what to do, which made it much more difficult for my enemies to anticipate and react. Of course not all Pokémon could do this, so I make sure that my team knows how good they are.

Which led me to where I was now, celebrating our most recent gym battle victory. We would be heading over the Coronet Mountain pass in less than a weeks' time, and we were stocking up on supplies tomorrow, so we decided to have a small feast. It left our bellies full and our spirits high, which was well worth the extra money we had to spend to replenish our food stores.

Amber still preferred walking (or riding on my shoulder when she got tired) to being inside her Pokeball, so she was by my side when we reached the last town before the pass. Which was a good thing, because if she hadn't been, I would never have noticed the large number of Pokémon sneaking up behind me. As we were walking, I heard a whisper in my mind

-Artemis, there's a large group of Pokémon on our six-

'Can you determine what they are and what they want?'

There was a slight hesitation, then

-I can feel... Hostility and anger. They plan to attack us. I can't tell when, or what exactly they are, but I think it's safe to assume that they're some kind of ice Pokémon-

I nodded, 'Do you think we can outrun them?'

-... I think so, yes. Wait, they're speeding up, it seems they're running now, they'll be on us in less than a minute-

I sighed, 'Damn it, alright I want you to pick up whichever seems like the leader and throw them into the others.'

-There's a group of about four that will make a nice target-

I smiled appreciatively, 'Excellent. How many will that leave?'

-About six or so-

I considered this, 'Alright, here's what I need you to do...'

Less than 45 seconds later, our preparations were complete. Exactly 13 seconds after that, the group of Beartic were on us. It started with Amber picking up the leader and tossing him into a clump of four, exactly to plan. Then when they were about to reach her, the ground collapsed under them, trapping them in the massive pit she had dug out moments before. She dropped the snow that had been hidden in the increasingly powerful blizzard onto their heads, burying them and ensuring our escape. In theory. Of course, the leader was back, and with three other Pokémon for backup, I felt the need to even the odds.

"Go Absol!" I yelled over the now-roaring blizzard, and he appeared next to me, looking at me for commands.

"Help Amber!" he nodded "Ab! Sol!" then sauntered up to Amber, preparing to handle whatever threats there were. I watched them battle, back-to-back, never going on the offensive, just letting the three tire themselves out, the leader looking on. Wait a second, three? Weren't there... 'Oh no...' right as I was tackled to the ground. Had I been expecting it, I might have been able to do something to lessen the blow, but with both Amber and I focused intently on the battle, the Beartic had managed to sneak around and hit me from the side. I could hear my ribs crack, but I was more upset that I has forgotten one of the most important rules of combat. 'Be aware of your surroundings.' I thought grimly, I heard Amber scream, a sound that reached me both physically and mentally, and I saw Absol go down. I tried to reach towards the Pokeballs at my belt but the Beartic grabbed me, preventing me from moving. I didn't know what to do, I was injured and couldn't move, Absol had been taken down while he was distracted, and Amber, still just a Kirlia, was stuck facing three Beartic, and some of the most powerful ones I had ever seen at that. I assumed I would be killed and either eaten or left in the snow, but my primary concern was my Pokémon, what would happen to them? What would happen to Amber? Thoughts flew through my head, and I recognized that not all of them were my own, then there was a wave, a pulse, of power in my mind, and I heard a scream, my own? and saw a bright flash of light before losing the fight against the darkness.

I was dreaming. There was a magnificent woman facing away from me, clad in a stunning white dress, slightly shorter than me, yet when she walked she stood tallest of all, with beautiful layered green hair, summoning images of a cool forest or a warm meadow, depending on the light, which was a huge contrast to the backdrop of snow and ice. Then I saw the Pokémon, outnumbering her, and I felt a rare and unusual emotion: fear. I saw her raise her arms, there was a visible blast of psychic energy, and I saw two get picked up and thrown away. She stood triumphantly, facing down the leader, but I noticed another sneaking up from behind her. I wanted to yell, to warn her, but I couldn't make a sound. She didn't seem to notice, and it leaped at her. I wanted to look away, to do anything except watch as this beautiful being was taken down, but right as it was about to reach her, it smashed into an invisible wall, rebounding and falling to the ground. The leader, element of surprise lost and backup defeated, decided to save its own cowardly skin. It ran, as fast as its legs could carry it, into the blizzard, soon disappearing from view. The figure watched him go, then when she was sure it was gone, she turned and faced towards me, and I caught a glimpse of her eyes.

They were the color of the clearest rubies, yet I could see flecks of gold in those beautiful jewels, burning brightly and intensely, defiant against the cold and the snow. When she looked at me, her eyes softened in comfort, concern, and something I didn't have a name for, I felt something stirring in my soul that I have never felt before, and then I fell through the glistening crimson orbs into darkness once more.

I woke slowly, unwillingly, then I remembered my dream and the events that had led to it, and my eyes flew open, painfully blasting light into my brain. I tried to sit up, but found my attempt blocked by a warm object, and I looked at my surroundings, trying to decipher where I was before finding out what was preventing me from moving. I was in a hospital, that much was obvious, but the windows were either closed or blocked entirely from the outside, by snow, maybe, because I couldn't see the outside. Then I looked to see what was on my chest, and my breath caught. My heart sped up and it became difficult to get enough air in my lungs, even though the weight on my chest was practically negligible. It was the woman from my dream, and now that I was conscious and not affected by the oddities of sleep, I could see that she was a Pokémon. A Gardevoir, specifically. I couldn't figure out where she had come from, or why she seemed so familiar, but then I remembered the flash of light and I realized - 'Amber?'

She woke, and looked up at me with her deep gold-flecked red eyes. I hadn't realized that she was so... was so... beautiful. I quickly pushed these thoughts away as she began 'speak'.

-Artemis! You're awake!-

I smiled slightly - "Where are we?"

I felt a whisper in my head, so very different than when she was a Kirlia. It was, somehow, stronger and softer at the same time, more emotional, yet more controlled, regal.

-A small hospital in Snowpoint. I brought you here after the battle-

'The battle!' she nodded solemnly.
"I saw you, fighting off the Beartics!"

She seemed confused at this, so I found the memories, drifting around in my head, and thought about how best to describe them. I thought about Amber, fighting off the Beartics, not noticing I was beginning to feel whatever it was that I felt when she 'spoke' to me.

-Artemis!-

I was confused by her mental shout, and the strong sense of surprise, startlement, and confusion that emanated from her.

"What? What's wrong?"

-You just... I could feel... You didn't do that on purpose?-

"Do what? Amber, what are you talking about?" I asked, more confused than ever. I had just been thinking about Amber and remembering the strong sense of protection and something less tangible I had felt from her when I was dreaming, and she had freaked out. This time, when I thought about it, I noticed something, almost as if Amber wasn't just standing there in shock next to me, but as if she was somehow somewhere else too. I was confused, more so than ever, and I thought about talking to the other her when she shrieked again, not in pain or even in fear, but in surprise. As I noticed that she was still standing there mouth hung open, thoughts brought to a standstill, I suddenly noticed that I could see the other her practically jumping in surprise, and I reached out to her, when suddenly the other her, and everything else with it, faded to black.

When I woke again the first thing I saw was what must be the most elegant and refined Pokémon in the world. She was staring down at me with concern and wonder. I tried to ask her what was wrong, but my mouth refused to work.

-Artemis?-

"..."

I tried again, focusing intently on her, and then

'Hey Amber. What's wrong?'

She just looked at me,

-How are you doing that?-

'Doing what?'

Suddenly Nurse Joy walked into the room, shooing Amber away from the side of the bed. I struggled, 'Wait, no, Amber, don't leave!'

She resisted slightly, then Nurse Joy said something and she allowed herself to be moved back slightly, Joy was talking to me now, but her words lacked... substance. Then Amber spoke, her voice as clear as crystal, conveying concern and happiness that I was okay.

-How are you feeling?-

'Better, knowing that you're here.' I said, then I realized that Joy had just asked a question. My mouth struggled to function, but I found the words

"Sorry, what was that?"

"Can you tell me what happened?"

'How long was I out?'
"We were traveling over the Coronet Mountain and we were attacked by Beartics. Amber fought them off and I lost consciousness."

-About two and a half days, all together-

"Well, I suppose you're lucky to be alive. Who exactly is Amber?"

'Two and a half days? Alright, alright, where are we?'
"Ummm... my Kir- My Gardevoir."

-Snowpoint, it's near where we were attacked-

"Oh, I see. Well, you were brought in with some broken ribs and badly dehydrated. Luckily, your ribs are healing well, and we've been pumping fluids into you for the past day or so, so you should be able to leave in another day or so, just take it easy."

It was getting difficult to keep track of both conversations, so I thanked and dismissed Nurse Joy as politely as possible and she left with a promise to bring food in about a half an hour. That left just me and Amber, and she jumped up and sat next to me on the bed. I smiled at her and she smiled back,

-So... How are you doing that?-

'I still don't know what you mean.'

-Talking to me. How are you doing that?-

I frowned, 'I'm talking to you? Aren't you just reading the surface thoughts?'

She shook her head, -No, you're definitely talking to me. I can hear you in my head-

I was astonished, to say the least, I didn't understand. Was she saying that I was telepathic? I waited for a response, then realized that she was just looking at me curiously. Amber? Amber? Still nothing. I tried again

-Amber?-

I was shocked by this. Now that I knew what it was I could tell exactly what she meant, and it was amazing in every sense of the word. I could suddenly tell that she was happy, but also slightly concerned about me, without even looking at her.

-Yes?-

-I'm fine, really. You don't need to be worried-

She relaxed slightly at this,

-Am I really that obvious?-

-You are to me-

*sigh* -Fine, I'll stop worrying-

I looked at her, surprised it would be that easy, but she seemed to be calming down, so I assumed that something I had done worked. My best guess was that she had picked up on my tranquil thoughts, and realized that I really was fine. I had another thought, and I practically jumped out of bed.

-Amber! What happened to Absol?-

She gently but firmly pushed me back down,

-I got him back safely. He's in the Pokecenter with all your other Pokémon-

I was relieved, then realized something,

-Amber, why are you here with me instead of resting with the other Pokémon?-

She seemed almost embarrassed at this

-Oh! Well... I was worried and I wanted to make sure you were alright. Plus I didn't want you to wake up by yourself in an unfamiliar place-

I smiled at her, touched by her concern, but also slightly concerned myself

-Amber, how much sleep have you gotten since the battle?-

-Oh, well, ummm, I don't know, maybe about... six or so hours' worth?-

I was astonished, almost three days with only six hours of sleep? I would be passed out with exhaustion by this point in time.

-Amber! You need to get some sleep! And don't tell that you're fine, I can read minds now, remember?-

-Just my mind- she pouted, and sighed

-Besides, I'm not leaving you alone-

I rolled my eyes and scooted over on the bed to make room

-Fine, get over here-

She blushed and smiled, then wordlessly crawled into the bed and fell asleep on the pillow. I was questioning the logic of having such a stunningly beautiful female sharing a bed with me, but I realized that she trusted me more than anything else. I decided that I would not betray that trust for anything, and fell asleep with the comforting warmth of her presence, both physically and mentally, next to me.

A/N: In case it confused you, the thinking in single quotations (after she evolved) was telepathy, he just didn't realize it was until she told him. I like throwing you guys a curve ball every now and again. Obviously very limited, I can hardly keep things realistic if our protagonist can actually read minds.