AN: Hello!

I noticed that a lot of pokémon fanfics are set in Kanto and it's getting repetitive after a while. Not that we'll see much of Kalos in my fanfic as the story is based on the manor 'Sanctuary', but still. The only reason I chose Kalos is because I live in France and can picture the environment and people better. Or maybe not so well, as I noticed when we went to Orléan, near Paris, for my cousin's wedding. I live in the noth-east of France near Luxembourg and Germany, and during the four hour trip west, the scenery went from snowy hills and lush greenery to great planes with dry grass. I was feeling so small because I could now see really far and it was weird. We also went from -2C to 15C... And another of my cousins is getting married to Lyon next year, in the south, ugh. Yeah maybe I don't know all of France very well, but I'd rather have that than whatever little I do about Japan.

Well that was a pointless little story in my author's note, sorry about that.

Enjoy!

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Mini paced in the middle of a dozen or so pokémon, leaving a trail of shines when the sun peeked behind the clouds and foliage and hit his green fur. They were gathered between some trees near a pond at the edge of the grounds and were waiting for Ary to come.

Den was perched on a low branch and fidgeted from impatience.

"Come on, we don't need to wait for her. She can just peek into someone's mind if she misses something important. We don't have all day, Xavier will notice we're not where we're supposed to be."

"Gin will distract him, no worries. Also, Gardevoirs are more empaths than telepaths." Aerin explained. "They are better at sensing emotions rather than complicated thoughts. Our Ary trained herself to speak mentally when she sensed Xavier's deep desire for the skill, but she isn't skilled enough to read one's memories."

"Yes, that's also why Lady Ary is unable to pinpoint Lord Raza's location but knows of his well being." Mini said distractedly as he continued pacing.

"There, we're talking. Finally!" And I knew all of that. "And your 'lord's and 'lady's will get tiring really fast, short stuff."

Mini sent a flat stare at the swellow and would have commented but Ary chose this moment to teleport in, the timing probably on purpose.

They spent the next ten minutes making sure everyone was updated on the past events. The only ones who had absolutely no knowledge of what had happened were Magmar and Lanturn. Mini hadn't been sure of the wisdom of bringing them out without their trainer's knowledge but Ary had brought their pokéballs with a 'they are also our teammates' and that was that.

"So," Rayde started idly, her head on Aerin's back and tail swishing from side to side. "we could make the watcher's stay more... Interesting. A few misplaced beads, a slippery floor, a gible in his room, or Tapish could work too."

The gathered pokémon either chuckled or rolled their eyes. It was Milla who denied her fantasy.

"Though it would be amusing, wouldn't it cause more problems? We don't want our trainer to be under more stress."

Everyone fell into silence at the milotic's words. They knew how he would get when stressed. The aftermath of Ann's pokémon's deaths and Lanturn's training had been a trial for everyone's patience as Xavier would switch between snappish and unresponsive, until one day his body just... Let go, and he fainted from low blood pressure. That was also what had brought Ann out of her own depression, seeing that her dark mood was also responsible for her twin's health, or lack thereof. She had stayed at his bedside for the three days where he couldn't walk a step without his vision going dark at the edges. Many of the pokémon present winced. It had not been a fun month. Magmar pointedly didn't look at anyone and stayed close to Lanturn's side by the pond. The electric fish was virtually holding her leech as much as he was her guardian and wouldn't let any other pokémon attack her, not that they wished to, but better safe that sorry.

"Does our trainer need help? I mean, he always does his best to help other pokémon but..." Lanturn trailed off, not knowing how to put his worries into words. It was Guki who replied this time.

"He does, but there is little we can do, either about our brethren stolen decades ago, Raza and Abra, or the watcher. We can only stand by his side and trust him to seek help when he'll need it, ours or someone else's."

They nodded and PolyZ made a note to look for potential people for said 'help'. Nox came out of the shadows she had been laying in and immediately became the center of attention.

"We have other things we can help with. Ary, PolyZ, Guki, Xen and I often take care of Lord Yveltal's and Lord Xerneas' errands. Our trainer might be blissfully unaware of his contracts, but we are not. And it is not time to let him know yet. Also, prophet Xen predicted that mind speaker Abra will not be coming back. He has chosen who to serve." The Xatu nodded solemnly from a branch above the absol. "I sense no disaster from the watcher so let him be. My senses are also eased when our trainer is by his mate's side, and Xen believes she also has the potential to form a contract." At her words, they all glanced at each other, concerned. She continued dryly. "No worries, I don't believe every legend needs their potential contractee dying to make contact, it's just our humans who have the worst of luck." A few knowing chuckles. "If I'm reading this properly, her contract would ease our trainer's worries, as odd as that may sound."

Everyone looked thoughtful and, slowly, they relaxed. Things would get better. Mini broke the silence with a small voice.

"Will Lord Raza be back?"

"Yes. His place is by our side and by our side he will be." The certitude in Nox's voice was reassuring to all present.

Raza was their leader and the one to have been at their trainer's side the longest, right after his parents' deaths. Even Rayde had joined the pair only after they had already lived two months in the wild. She had been intrigued by the seven year old living and surviving in the wild with an unknown grass type. Many other pokémon had also been bemused and curious, they had helped the odd pair just to see how long they could make it. It had been interesting and she had stayed. The little human always happy to play games with her as the grass type watched over them and looked for food. The luxray purred at the memories. Maybe she could goad her trainer into a game, it had been a while.

"You know, you're kinda cute when you're all meek, short stuff." Mini glared at Den, who had just spoken, then turned his back on him and huffed exactly like Xavier. Distract worried teammate, check. "Well, I have nothing better to do, so I'm gonna scout the surroundings. No need to call me for food, Ary, I'll hunt some bugs on the way." He promptly jumped from his branch and gracefully flew away.

Rayde groaned and lifted her head from her warm, fluffy and amused pillow. She stretched in a way that would have earned her an 'oversized electric skitty' comment from Den, and grumbled.

"Right, work. Staring at trees and keeping obnoxious cubs from wandering where they should not be. Joy. See you all later folks. Want to tag along, Nox? We can share our motherly worries about our cubs going on adventures out of the den."

The absol followed her without a word and Rayde waved her tail as a farewell as she dragged her paws while muttering about 'boring' and 'loud little monsters'. Aerin and Ary rolled their eyes. If she truly hadn't liked her job, she would have asked for another years ago. Ary then recalled the two war trained pokémon, levitated Mini and PolyZ to her and teleported away. The rest lazily stayed there and exchanged small stories, just as they used to while in the road.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Axelle waited for the videocall to pick up as she scratched the sylveon on her lap. Xavier had once told her that one's choice of pokémon reflected certain aspects of their personality. She wondered about hers as she glanced at Pyroar stretched regally on her couch, Sylveon being spoiled and arrogant, and Honchkrow sleeping on his perch on the wall but ready to glare at and intimidate any trespassers. Maxi didn't count as he was a gift from Ann.

She was about to wonder about her husband's when the dial tone ceased and Caleb's face appeared on the screen.

"Hi, Aunt. How are you?"

"Hi Caleb. I'm doing fine, thank you. How is your journey so far?"

A huge grin split his face and he victoriously showed her his badge case.

"The bug badge. Congratulation!" She had already known it when she had received a notification from Xavier's mail box, but it didn't lessen the pride she felt at seeing the badge in his hands.

"Thanks! I've just got it. The others are still battling or waiting for their turn. I also caught a pikachu to trade for a houndour, and I didn't forget about Abyss either."

"Don't worry, I didn't either." She chuckled. "I just need your digital signature for the transfer of ownership, as he is Xavier's not Sanctuary's, and then he's yours." She received a beaming smile and asked, "Are you getting along with the other kids?"

"We're not kids." He huffed as he signed the documents he had received and she snorted. Xavier's habits had rubbed off on him and it was adorable. "And we get along all right. Camille is loud and eye catching with all that blue hair, Julie is timid and doesn't speak up much, and Blair is like the older brother helping us take our baby steps." His complaints might have been genuine if not for the smile on his face and voice. "We'll all travel together until Lumiose City. Then the girls will go for the cliff badge in Cillage Town but Blair didn't catch anything new so we'll head to Coumarin City for the plant badge."

"Hmm, I don't know if old Ramos has a beginner's team. If he does not, head for Shalour City instead. It has a fighting type gym and Fletchling will still have the advantage."

"Actually, he has just evolved into a fletchinder," a voice said and a familiar teen with a blue cap appeared in the corner of the screen. "Hello, Ma'am."

"Hello, Blair. Congratulations on the evolution." The teen nodded his thanks and she turned her attention back to the paperwork. "Everything seems to be in order. Take good care of Abyss, Caleb. Thank you for looking after him, Blair. He must be a lot of trouble." She laughed at Caleb's open mouthed disbelieving expression and sent a wink at Blair's way. She ended the call as his eyes brightened with amusement and Caleb sulked and transferred the white pokéball with a black scythe curling around the top of it.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Volkner had just finished downloading... Stuff into Xavier's poketch when Volkner's own poketch rang. The song was energetic and would make an excellent epic battle theme, and was not something he pictured the gym leader to have as a ringtone. The mystery was solved when Volkner answered.

"Flint? What's up?"

Xavier chuckled silently. This theme fitted the fiery E4 like a glove. Ugh, this expression isn't as weird in Kalosian.

"Now? But there's still a week left and I have a double battle planned soon." The gym leader almost whined and sounded as disappointed as Xavier felt.

"You are welcome to come back here any time, and if you want to challenge Eon I'll give you his trainer's coordinates," Xavier said and Volkner sighed.

"Yeah, it'll have to be like that. Bummer. It seems I already have a plane ready and waiting so I'll collect all my stuff and borrow your gardevoir to the capital."

He then threw the poketch to it's owner and went out to Xavier's 'go on' motion. The therapist turned to Mini, only to see he wasn't here anymore, nor was PolyZ, and followed Volkner with a sigh.

"Volkner, could you warn me if you see Mini or PolyZ?"

"Sure, if you can shepherd all my pokémon back here."

They parted ways before the stairs where Volkner went up and Xavier took the corridor that would lead him outside. Once there he asked the first pokémon he ran into to call Ary. Said gardevoir appeared in a flash of light with a certain missing minun and Porygon-Z. Xavier gave them a flat stare and sighed. His pokémon had the freedom of going and coming as they pleased but they had been acting odd lately. He told Ary to round up Volkner's pokémon and then to teleport him to the airport. PolyZ dived into his poketch and gave a pleased hum. Mini climbed to his shoulder and blinked at him innocently.

"If I find any stray beads in agent Watcher's path, I'm making you and Rayde take mud baths," he said flatly.

Mini's eyes went wide and he chittered rapidly while shaking his head.

Milla talked Rayde out of any pranks and Nox told us to leave him alone. We won't do anything, promise!

"Hoooo, Milla, Rayde and Nox, and with you, Ary and PolyZ. Quite a gathering, I wonder who else was there," he drawled. He then chuckled at Mini's panicked look. "Don't worry, I'm glad you still get together from time to time, even if not for the best reasons. Don't get into any trouble alright."

He scratched Mini's head and decided to take a walk. He didn't have his coat and shivered but didn't care if he caught a cold. He got sick at least twice a year anyway. It would maybe even allow him to get away from agent Watcher's sight.

"Where are they? It has been a while since we all gathered to just lay around and talk."

PolyZ beeped and the screen showed a colorful high resolution map of the grounds with two dots, one for him near the manor and one in the very edge of the grounds. Xavier sighed.

"Could someone please ask Ary to call Den or Guki? I'm not walking all the way there."

His shadow cackled and a gengar stepped out of it. Gin gave them a cheerful wave and floated away toward the manor. Xavier rolled his eyes, he would learn someday why ghosts were apparently so allergic to the Wilderness that they refused to get close to it. He played around with Eon's pokéball while waiting for his ride. Having some 'camping' experience with them might do him some good. It will at the very least give him an example of what a trainer and his pokémon could be like after years of being together. A happy buzzing cry came from overhead and he smiled as Guki landed next to him and hunched down.

Five minutes later and he was regretting choosing to fly rather than walk and without his coat too. The happy bark from Aerin once he landed and her thick warm fur made the travel worth it however. He released Eon and curled up next to her, then talked about Volkner going in a hurry, his concerns about Raza and everything that passed through his mind. Eon looked sad and said he wanted to say goodbye to the gym leader, so Ary teleported him back to the manor and PolyZ told Xavier that Raza was fine for now, also that Abra would not be coming back. Xavier accepted that without a word, they would see each other again, if only to trade Raza for J's pokémon that were supposed to come tomorrow or the day after. He closed his eyes and listened to the familiar barks, buzzes, chitters and his chest clenched as he noticed he was expecting hisses. He had never been separated from Raza for that long and it left him feeling... shaky, as if the ground wasn't solid enough, or maybe he wasn't strong enough to stand on his own.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

AN:

If you're wondering if Ary had Magmar's and Lanturn's pokéballs when she came to Xavier, no she didn't. She placed them back before teleporting out.

If you have any questions of any kind don't hesitate to ask. If you're wondering about something, then a lot of people are wondering about the same thing too, and it means that I wasn't clear enough, forgot something all together (*cough*last chapter*cough*) or I'm being mysterious on purpose.

I know that there isn't a lot of therapy going on but, to be honest, I don't know how to tackle most scenarios I came up with. Some are quick and wouldn't make a full chapter and others are far beyond my knowledge. I did some reading, but with university I'm really busy and most psychological issues I found wouldn't apply to pokémon. If anyone has any suggestions I would be grateful.

Either way, I hope you enjoyed this story even with its many issues and thank you for reading it so far.