The one good thing about Pewter was its medical competency. The hospital, near the center of the city, was pretty damn advanced; that was the only reason why, a couple hours after treating her mild-to-moderate injuries, Denise was able to go to her parents' and brother's room.

Dee had beat her to it; he was already sitting next to Derrick, head bowed and hands folded like he was praying to Arceus. His Charmeleon was standing next to him watching Derrick intently. "Dee," she said.

"Denise," he said without looking up.

"Dee… Why are you kicking yourself so much over this?"

"I was there," he complained. "I was there and I was…useless. Derrick almost died, you know; he almost died and it's because I couldn't keep my Pokémon away from some dumb, stupid damn Trainer." He groaned into his hands. "I don't understand why, even after making it through all eight Gyms, I couldn't beat some kid—!" He suddenly stood up and, yanking his silver Badge Case from his pocket, threw it out the open window and into a nearby construction zone.

"Dee! Those are your Badges!"

"Not like they did me any good," he said, sinking back down into his chair and burying his face in his hands again.

"Dee…" He groaned again. "Damn you, look at me already."

"No," he muttered.

She moved over to him, nudging his muddy old Running Shoe with the paper slipper the hospital gave her. "It's okay. Really. It's just that damn Trainer's fault. C'mon, look at me. Please?" He didn't move. "Demetrius, if you don't look at me in the next three seconds I swear I'll open the window and yell out every embarrassing thing I know about you."

"Denise—"

"Three—two—I think that story about you in the girls' locker room is a good start—wow, that was a fun learning experience; I didn't know you could get a black eye from a ta—"

"Denise," he sighed, sitting up. "I get what you're trying to do."

She found another chair and sat opposite to him. "You're my big brother; I don't like seeing you all mopey and crap. It's not your fault anyway, and the doctors said Mom and Dad and Derrick'll be fine in any case, so don't keep kicking yourself over it, a'ight?"

He ran his hands through his hair, smiling a little. "You've a weird way of picking people up, but thanks anyway."

"You always helped me when we were kids; I finally returned that favor, huh? Although I wish you hadn't wasted your Badge case," she added, looking out of the window. He shrugged one shoulder.

"I mean yeah, they were important moments for me, but…" He just shook his head and sighed in a depressed way. She felt like there was more to it but left him alone.

"Alright."

"Okay, okay, now can I ask you something?"

"Huh?"

He rested his elbows on his knees, looking her straight in the eyes. "Who was that guy earlier, that pale one?"

"Um, the pale one? With the blond hair?"

"There was only one pale guy," he said.

"He's…er…"

"Denise."

"Fine! He's this guy…Aristotle."

"Okay…?"

"He's weird, but…kind of nice too…and…uh…"

He held up his hand. "Say no more. I get it."

"What?" She flushed in anger at the knowing smirk on his face. "No, Dee—"

"He's leaving, you know," he interrupted. "He came in here once and asked me how we were doing, then he said he was leaving."

"What?" she said, jumping to her feet. She had way too many questions to ask him to just let him go. She started to run, then she slumped over, remembering why she was stuck in Pewter in the first place. "Dee, I—"

"Go," he said with finality.

"I—huh?"

"You always wanted to leave Pewter, so go. I'll run the store; I missed Mom's cooking anyway, travelling with beef ramen packs so much. Do what you gotta do, find love or yourself or whatever crap you kids see on Advanced Battle reruns."

"Huh? No, I don't—"

"Go before I change my mind, damn it," he said, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest in his very familiar Ain't-nothin'-gonna-change-my-mind stance.

"But," she pleaded, "I can't even say goodbye to Mom and Dad and Derrick."

"They'll understand. They know you hate Pewter."

"What? Dee! I don't hate it!"

"Um, yeah, you do. We all do, matter of fact."

"What?" Denise realized she was saying What? and Huh? a lot in that conversation.

"Uh-huh. That's why we have a store; we were trying to save up enough money to move to Viridian. That's all you have to ask?"

"I'll miss you, Dee," she said. "You know I will. And you too, Amir."

"Charmeleon, char," Amir said, wiping his eyes with the back of his claws.

Dee stood up and threw his arms around her. "Me, too." Her face was pressed awkwardly against his chest—he was half a foot taller than her—but he was warm and smelled like shoe polish and that cheap shampoo he always used. "Also," he murmured in her ear, "if you marry him, don't choose Derrick as your best man, 'cause he'll lose the rings."

She shoved him away angrily. "Demetrius!" He only smiled and returned to his seat, bowing his head again. "What are you doing? Praying for them?"

"Nope," he said. "Just wondering when Arceus'll come back."

What did he mean back then? Denise wondered. She felt Henry shove her backwards and stumbled forward as a steel beam crashed down where she was standing seconds earlier. "Sorry!" the worker called from the building's skeleton. His Hitmonlee also waved apologetically.

"Lucario," Henry said, giving her his Get-your-head-out of-the-clouds-look.

"I'm not doing this on purpose, Henry." She remembered finding him at the Pokémon Center, along with a generous female Trainer that offered some of her clothes to replace the stupid hospital gown. (She didn't exactly gain clearance to leave, but then again, she was perfectly fine except for her arm.) "Oh, Henry, stop giving me that look."

He effortlessly shifted into his Do-you-know-what-you're-getting-yourself-into? look. (They knew each other's looks very well.)

"Of course I do, Henry. I'm eighteen years old; I'll make my own damn choices."

He gave his I-know-I'll-be-saying-'I told you so'-later-so-I'm-not-going-to-say-anything-else-right-now-shrug, a.k.a. his Have-it-your-way-but-be-warned-you're-an-idiot shrug.

"Shut up Henry; you're just like Mom and Dad." She paused. "Going on a journey, I won't see them for a while, will I?" She suddenly wished she had a memento to take with her. Henry looked at her, eyes narrowed a little. Then he turned and started running back into the city. "Henry!" She almost chased after him, but she spotted an unmistakable head of blond hair mixed in with Pewter's crowds. She knew that if she didn't move quickly enough, he would disappear, taking all his mysteries with him, and she was never the kind of person to leave puzzles undone, even the stupid thousand-piece ones her mom always bought for Christmas.

She pushed through the passersby, murmuring halfhearted apologies as she chased after Aristotle. She tried to keep her mind blank, tried not to think about how close she was cutting it with him and wonder about where Henry went or if her family was going to be alright, but to instead focus on him.

What are you doing, Denise? Denise froze, almost barreling into a runoff canal in surprise. She gripped the railing and leaned forward, watching the slurry lap at the grey rocks.

"Mew?" she wondered out loud.

Why are you chasing after Aries when your life is here?

"I never wanted to be here though; I always wanted to leave this damn city." She was lucky that the sound of machinery hid the fact she was talking to "herself."

Aries doesn't want you to follow, you know.

"Well he's a stuck-up—"

It is not a personal grudge, Mew continued. To fully unlock one's mental potential, they must be able to detach their minds from worldly things, which he avidly struggles with since he is…

"Uncouth?" she suggested. "Unscrupulous?" She finally had a reason to appreciate her elementary school's old Word Wall.

That is a blunt way of putting it, but, well, yes; he finds it too amusing to look in others' minds now that he has the ability, and has much less remorse than expected when being chastised for it. A little humorous considering how bashful and reserved he once was. I digress; he is trying to attain that sort of detachment, which you prevent by conversely being attached to everything in a very human way.

"But there's nothing wrong with being human," she protested.

For you, perhaps, but Aries has had his worries since he was six years old; he hasn't had the time to be human in his eyes. He has done a lot, but the gist of his life is that he has been reading and meditating for the past eleven years.

"Amazing," she said. She tried to imagine doing the same thing but failed; if she had to spend eleven years reading and meditating, she would've shoved a book down her throat to end the misery. "What worries though?"

It is not up to me to tell you; you should ask him.

"I don't know where he went, thanks to you."

I believe I can help. Turn around, Denise.

Denise did, very slowly so she wouldn't get startled like every other time those two were involved. Mew was floating directly in front of her, hands pressed over her mouth to hide her laughter. You didn't even see me approach! she suddenly cried out, laughing so hard she fell and almost hit the ground a few times.

"Yeah ah-hah so hilarious—about Aristotle?"

Aries.

"Huh?"

His name is Aries, Mew said, calming down. At least, that is what I call him.

"Yeah but where is he?"

Meditating.

"He's what? I just saw him walking around—"

He needs a quiet place to meditate, Mew said like Denise was slow-witted. He was looking for one.

"And why's he meditating?"

He is…searching. For somebody.

"Who? His parents? Siblings? What?"

Mm…no. He is looking for the man that attacked the Legendary Pokémon eleven years ago.

"The man that attacked the Legendary Pokémon?" she repeated, dubious. "What kind of monster can do that? I mean, catching them, yeah, they always get released afterwards, but if he just went and attacked them…"

He is unlike any other human, Denise; he is very self-righteous, resourceful, and has no qualms whatsoever about eliminating the same beings that prevent this world from falling apart for his own selfish incentives.

"Okay, I'll bite: who is this Devil incarnate?"

He is—

"—right next to you," another voice interrupted, this one low and obviously male. Denise blinked and realized that there was a man standing behind Mew; she wondered how she didn't see him before, and judging by Mew's shocked expression, she didn't see him either. He was tall, maybe Dee's height, with red hair and a slight scowl on his face. Denise guessed he was in his late twenties/early thirties.

Silver, Mew gasped, hiding behind Denise. She was instantly on edge; if Mew—freaking Mew—was scared of that Silver guy, he was bad news with a capital B.

"Hello, old friend," he said to Mew, smirking. "I haven't seen you in eleven years; show a little hospitality, huh?"

You don't deserve it, not after you what you did to my family, she snapped, although she didn't move. Denise's eyes widened; he was the guy? He was a little intimidating, yeah, but he didn't look like he could poke a guy's backpack, let alone jump the Legendaries. He didn't even look like a Trainer, not with that thousand-dollar suit that didn't even have a microbe of dirt on it, despite being in Pewter Eating-Dust-For-Dinner City.

"Who's this lovely little girl?" he said, smirking at Denise. "What happened to that brat you had? Up and left you, huh?"

"Hey, why don't you shut up, huh?" Denise suggested. His smirk disappeared and his scowl deepened.

"You know, I missed being treated like that," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Like the bastard I really am. I missed that."

"Who the hell would treat you otherwise and why the hell do you miss it?"

"A lot of people treat me otherwise; they're a bunch of kiss-ups that'd wipe my butt if I asked, and that's more than annoying. I'm kind of an important person."

"Obviously; the everyday man can't afford a suit like that."

"This?" He looked at it with distaste. "I can't help it; Pops made the boys throw out all of my Trainer's clothes."

"So you're a Trainer, huh?" She crossed her arms over her chest now—or tried at least, before she remembered she could only use one arm and shoved her good hand in her pocket.

"The very best that no one ever was."

"Haha, sing the song every Pokémon newbie knows."

"As amusing as it is speaking to the common person, my business is with her." He pointed at Mew. "I asked you where the brat went; it'd be smart of you to answer me A.S.A.P."

Denise, Mew whined, trying to push into her jacket.

"I'm not that good at reading emotions, but I'm assuming she doesn't want to answer you," Denise said. "And now I believe we'll be taking our leave."

"Like you can get past me, sweetheart," he scoffed. "What, do you want to make an 'old-and-feeble' joke? Blue made the same one; it's no wonder he ended up prostrating."

"Prostate?" she said, a little freaked.

"Prostrate. College-level words are really amazing, aren't they?" he said sarcastically. He ignored Denise's glare and continued, "You remember Blue, don't you? His objective was to find Aristotle and report his location to me; instead, he busied himself with stealing second-rate Pokémon from a second-rate Trainer." He sighed, face-palming. "The one time I wanted help, it turned out to be a selfish idiot."

"You should look in the mirror if you're talking about selfish idiots," she said. "And Dee's Pokémon aren't second-rate and neither is he."

"Sweetheart, facts are facts. And though it saddens me to have wasted my precious and little time with that moronic child, I'm heartened by knowing that associating with him has given me an even greater—and more competent—ally." He clapped his hands together, watching Mew squirm around in Denise's jacket. She suddenly realized why Aries was so uncomfortable with her wiggling around in there.

Something in his pants' pocket rang; he retrieved a small blue device and opened it up, holding it to his ear. "Hello? Yes, this is Silver… Uh-huh… No, I was sure to—what? He was already worse for the wear; how bad can it—seriously? Are you serious? You better be serious, Jerry, otherwise… Jerry, Nathan, whatever, don't throw a fit over a single name in an ocean of Grunts. Hnn… So the old man's finally there, huh… Alright, alright, I'll be there in a few." He punched a button and shoved the device deep into his pocket. "You two are very lucky," he said, pointing at them.

"What happened? Wife called?" Denise sneered.

"You know, if you and Blue had the same beginnings, I'd expect you two to be best friends, because you two have the same exact sense of desiccated humor." He pulled out a small PokeBall from his pants' pocket. "I know this is horribly cliché, but this isn't over, you two. As soon as my—business—is through, you'll find yourselves between a rock and a helluva hard place."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night, Silver," she replied. He narrowed his eyes, enlarging the ball and pressing the button. A red beam shot out and landed on the ground next to him, slowly morphing into a Crobat. He climbed on its back and it rose into the air. "Mew, don't forget you're on my list," he called as they went higher and higher. "And now, little girl, you're right next to her." Then they were gone, speeding through the air past Pewter until they were just a dot on the horizon.

"That guy was a huge joker," Denise sighed. "Mew, you can get out now."

He's not a joker, Mew murmured, slipping free and hovering very close to the ground. He acts that way but he is an exceptionally powerful Trainer, so much that not even I could harm him.

"You? But you're—you're Mew."

The Legendary Pokémon are not invulnerable or omnipotent, Denise; there are more than a few instances where one of us, say Latios or Darkrai, are captured, and if not for the Trainer's epiphany about interfering with extra-dimensional affairs, then we would not have been whole.

"Then what should we do about him?" Denise asked. Mew shrugged, which was the most human thing she'd done so far. "What, are we supposed to just wait until he does something horrible again?" Another shrug. "That may work for you but it sure as hell won't work for me. I'm gonna find him and knock him into next Tuesday for messing with my family."

I thought you wanted to find Aries.

"I do too, but… Can't I ask you what his deal is?"

Mew flew a little higher to get eye-level with her. Though you can, you and I are both aware that getting your answer so easily will end this journey you have planned. Denise gritted her teeth, turning away moodily.

"Rape is illegal, you know, and I think mind-rape falls in that category too."

Besides, Mew continued, laughing a little, I'd rather you did travel with him. I fear that Aries is losing himself in focusing on his goal.

"His goal?" She turned back, confused. "He has a goal? What is it? Knocking some sense into that Silver bastard?"

I have no idea; he's quieter than before, and I am unable to read his mind. I can only even send thoughts to him with his permission, and so my psychic powers are rendered useless with him.

"Have you tried actually talking to him, or has that fallen out of style with you guys?"

I don't know if you've noticed, Denise, but he's not particularly the easiest person to talk to anymore, she said dryly. Denise looked at her, amused.

"Is Mew, the greatest Legendary of all, being sarcastic? Wait, let me get my phone to record this—"

I am serious.

"Hah, okay, I got it. I don't know what you expect me to do, anyway."

I just want you to be with him, Mew said. Maybe then he would be more likely to open up.

"No offense, but I really can't stand being with him; he's invasive, annoying, and sort of a schmoozer."

And on the contrary—aside from the belligerence—you're a bit more open, loyal, and compassionate; I can tell by the way you treat Henry, among other thoughts and memories. I don't know why it is so hard for Aries to display these traits, but for whatever reason, he is as he is, and I can't help but worry for him and what he's doing as a sort of foster parent, which is why I'd like you to find his purpose, if not divert him from it.

"So this is the deal," she said, scratching her neck. "I get to travel with Mew, the Legendary of all Legendary Pokémon, see the world and all that good stuff, and investigate the strangest freakin' person in the world? That's it?"

You paraphrased quite a bit, but you seem to have caught the gist of it.

"Well damn, this beats how I usually spent my free time—well, honestly, a lot of things beat playing Super Primeape Bros."

Mew smiled a little and flew past Denise, hovering above the canal. Are you coming? she asked.

"I can't fly."

Oh, give him a moment.

"What are you—uuuooooh!" she yelled as she suddenly went flying over the canal. She heard a barking kind of laugh and scowled, punching his side. "Henry, you jerk! Don't freakin' scare me like that!"

"Lu," he said, not sounding the least bit sorry. His arms tightened around her as they hit the concrete on the other side.

You are quite strong despite your disability, Henry, Mew noted.

"'Course," Denise said, pushing from his grip. "He may have been a Bad Egg, but years of working in Pewter bulked him up, so even without Psychic-type attacks, he kicks—"

"Cario," he interrupted. She sighed.

"He's also been with me for a little over ten years, so he's all over everything I do like I'm not eighteen years old and in charge of myself," she said, glaring at him.

"Lucario, lu."

He says, 'I've been with you long enough to know you're completely incapable of taking care of yourself,' Mew said.

"Trying to be cheeky, huh?" Denise pointed at him accusatorily while he glared at Mew. "I should leave you here with Dee."

'You and I both know you won't.'

"Dirty little—"

Aw, Henry, Mew mused, fluttering happily in the air. Denise didn't understand what she was so happy about until he extended his paws, which were closed. He slowly opened them to reveal a crumpled photograph.

"What's…?" She picked it up and slowly unfolded it. "Oh my—this is the picture from my bedroom!" She remembered when they'd taken it ten years ago; her Uncle Omar took her and her brothers on a trip to the Nimbasa City Amusement Park and took a picture of her with cotton candy stuck all over her face and her hair wild from the rollercoaster. Dee was half-crouched behind her in his ten-year-old metal-mouthed glory with Derrick on his back, toddler face twisted in a scream even though they were off of the ride. It was the only time they ever left Pewter, which was why she had the picture taped to her ceiling so she could stare at it and relive it every night.

"Lucario, Lucario, lu," he murmured.

He says, 'You said you miss your family, so you should take this with you,' Mew translated.

"Thanks," she said, punching his shoulder. He barked an embarrassed laugh, turning away.

We should catch up to Aries before he moves again, Mew said. Denise thought she would've waited for their little moment to end at least, but Mew just up and took off, literally.

"Hey—Henry!" Denise yelled when he grabbed her again, lunging forward and bouncing off of building supports like he was some kind of superhero. She punched his shoulder repeatedly. "This isn't fun, you know! I'll throw up! I'll—guh."

Henry finally stopped after about twenty jumps and three throw-ups, releasing her onto an emptier street. She stumbled a little before regaining her balance and instantly spotted Aries leaving Pewter's boundaries. "Aries!" she called. He didn't turn around; maybe he didn't hear her, but he sure as hell heard her thoughts. Irritated, she ran forward, and he finally turned when she was a few feet away, eyes wide, and she grabbed his arm with her good one, tackling him to the grass of Route 3.

"I don't like being ignored," she said to his bewildered face, which was very hilarious. His mouth worked but he couldn't manage to say anything for a while, which was when she actually laughed out loud at how ridiculous he looked.

"You know," he said, smirking, "I'm, by all rules of masculinity, am supposed to be on top of you."

"Well, I'm more masculine than you are, Princess."

"Oho, that's one argument you will always win."

"Heh, you feel funny, huh?" She released his arm to hit him in the face, but suddenly he reversed positions, flipping her onto her back and sitting on her stomach.

"Don't underestimate me," he said very seriously. He was quiet for a minute, then he muttered, "That is not a very nice thing to do, Denise."

"Get out of my head!" she shouted at him, pushing him off and getting to her feet. "The next time you do that, I'll—"

"Oho, I have a very good idea of what you intend to do to me if I read your mind again," he interrupted, undaunted. "Are you going to attack me while I know full well what you're next move will be?" She glared at him for a long time while he stared back, his face full of dry amusement.

"Lucario?" Henry said, looking between them.

"I see," Aries said, looking at him. "I'm the only person to not be daunted by your threats, eh? Well, to be frank, I've had worse than you against me."

"Like Silver?" she asked. His expression instantly went blank, and for the first time she sort of regretted something she said about him. "Never mind."

"No, you're right," he said dully. "Why did you come looking for me, at any rate?"

"You can read minds, can't you?" she asked bitterly.

"You don't like it, do you?" he said in the same bitter tone. She rolled her eyes.

"There are questions you never answered for me."

"I enjoy being a mystery," he said. "Although, are you sure you're not just using me as an excuse to get out of Pewter City?"

"I told you to get out of my—"

"It's written on your face, by the way. Also, I despise the city, too; it spawns far too much belligerence for me."

"While you apparently have no qualms about tackling a girl," she pointed out. He smiled wickedly.

"That's not a very nice way to ask someone to be a travelling partner."

"Great, because I'm not asking you, I'm telling you."

"Acerbic, demanding, and cruel; you know, you will make somebody a great first wife," he commented. She pushed past him angrily.

"I just thank Arceus that the man won't be you."