(28.1)
Beneath a clear moonlit sky, two eevees - one silver-furred, one red-furred - nestled together, heads pressed against one another, red eyes gazing into green.
"Something on your mind?" the green-eyed male asked his red-eyed companion, who shifted her smaller form against his.
"Well…" she said slowly, nervously. "I've been thinking of…giving myself…a name."
Her partner blinked in surprise. She ducked her head shyly.
"Why?" he asked, ears pricked attentively.
Her tail brushed against his belly slowly as she opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again and scowled.
"I can't really put it into words," she said at last. "It's just a feeling."
The red-hued eevee tilted his head curiously. "Have you chosen a name then?"
"Promise you won't laugh?"
"What reason would I have to laugh at a name?"
She smiled slightly before taking a breath.
"Sasha…I'd like to call myself…Sasha."
The green-eyed eevee was silent and Sasha squirmed lightly.
His forelimbs wrapped around her torso, his lips brushing against her fur, tickling with his breath.
"That's a lovely name for a lovely eevee," he murmured tenderly, kissing her cheek.
"I just hope my parents approve," Sasha murmured. The arms around her tightened slightly before loosening.
"Do you want to go tell them?"
Sasha turned in his grip, red eyes glowing warmly.
"No…not yet. The night is young. It can wait."
(28.2)
Ho-Oh hovered above the glowing ruins of the Cipher laboratory, glaring down at the place that had experimented on him for the better part of a decade before he wheeled around and flew away.
Time passed - how much, he wasn't entirely sure. The sun warmed his tired body, keeping him energized and his wing beats eventually led him to the familiar lands of Johto.
Flying towards the familiar peak of Tin Tower in Ecruteak City, Ho-Oh folded his wings and landed on the roof of the old monument. The building usually shook beneath his weight when he landed, but he hadn't yet regained his normal size or weight and the tower remained still.
With a sigh, Ho-Oh let his head fall onto his breast and his eyes drooped in sleep.
"Father!"
Ho-Oh jerked awake at a trio of voices, shortly followed by three shapes tackling him.
Blinking in surprise, Ho-Oh took a few seconds to get his bearings straight and as his gaze sharpened, he saw three familiar faces in front of him.
"Ah, my sons, and daughter," he said slowly. "What brings you here?"
Suicune tossed her head, ribbons twining about her lithe form. "We've been looking all over for you!"
Raikou growled, thunder rumbling softly. "For quite a number of years, actually."
"Where were you? Everyone's been worried sick!" Entei said, his usual stoic demeanor evaporating in the face of his worry.
Ho-Oh stared at them in disbelief. "That can't be right. Nobody would miss me. I've done terrible things. Things that can never be forgiven-"
"If you're talking about memories, stop," Suicune said sternly, stomping a paw. "None of those carried over to this timeline. If you'd have answered Arceus' summons all those years ago, you'd have known this."
Ho-Oh's beak flapped uselessly as he tried to formulate a response, but the words wouldn't come. With a strangled squawk, he burst into tears.
"I'm so sorry!" he bawled.
The beasts of Johto exchanged startled glances before snuggling up to their father, nuzzling the shaking phoenix tenderly, murmuring gently to him.
(28.3)
Sasha swayed lightly to music coming from a phonograph Mewtwo had picked up during one of his nightly strolls around town.
Her paws tapped out a short rhythm, tail and hips moving in time as she twirled and pranced around without any real rhyme or reason.
Letting out a silent breath, she reared up onto her hind paws and took a few steps before dropping back to all fours, slipping seamlessly back into her routine.
She yelped in surprise as she was then scooped up by a pair of arms and swung around before brought in against a familiar lavender pelt.
"Mewtwo?!" she squeaked, ears burning.
"Well hello to you too," Mewtwo replied, sounding hurt. "Did I interrupt something?"
Sasha pushed herself away with a paw so she could look up at him, doing her best to keep her face from getting any hotter.
The clone gazed at her inquisitively and she sighed, giving his chest a nuzzle.
Mewtwo stroked her coat softly, eyes distant, thoughtful.
"That dance…does it have any purpose?"
Sasha's ears heated again and Mewtwo's brows rose.
"A mating dance, then?" he guessed. Sasha made a strangled noise and averted her eyes. "You seemed awfully familiar with it," he added teasingly.
Sasha growled at him and swatted him lightly. He caught her paw and gave it a squeeze.
"It's just a thing some wild pokémon do," she muttered.
"I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?" Mewtwo asked, setting her down on the couch.
"No, you didn't," Sasha replied, kneading the cushion absently. "I just got carried away."
"Is it meant as something private between lovers?" Mewtwo asked.
Sasha winced and nodded. Mewtwo frowned. "I'm sorry," he said again.
He blinked as Sasha moved, placing her front paws on his chest, bringing her face close to his.
"You know I love you, right?" she asked.
"Yes?" Mewtwo replied.
"So there's nothing wrong with showing you the…uh…conclusion to that dance. If you want, anyway."
Mewtwo's mind went blank for a moment and he stared at the silver eevee for a moment before his hand cupped her cheek, stroking gently.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "Once given, such a gift cannot be taken back."
Sasha nodded. "I want to do this for you," she said softly.
"Very well. Show me."
And she did.
(28.4)
Ash blinked awake, eyes darting around his bedroom for a moment before his mind caught up with his reflexes.
Sitting up in his bed, he rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"Another day, another dream," he murmured, getting to his feet.
Grabbing a set of clothes, he went through his morning routine automatically.
Stepping out of the shower, he wiped the mirror clear and stared at the adult gazing back at him.
It felt bizarre staring at himself all grown up after waking up to the face of a kid for nearly twenty years and he turned away with a slight shudder. Living though childhood was not an experience he'd like to repeat for a third time and he silently thanked Arceus for giving him leave from any actual Chosen business.
Of course, if he happened across someone in need of help, he'd drop what he was doing to assist them, but so far, nothing world-threatening had reared its head.
Unless the other Chosen weren't telling him...?
Shaking his head, he chuckled before brushing a hand through his hair. If they weren't telling him, odds are it was so he wouldn't leap on Pidgeot and fly to the action anyway.
Going downstairs, he heard quiet voices in the kitchen and wondered if his mother had invited guests. Or brought home a date.
Wouldn't be the first time.
But on a day like today...
Once again shaking his head, Ash entered the kitchen and froze.
"Hello, Ash," Arceus said cheerfully. "Happy birthday."
A trio of voices echoed the sentiment from his left and he turned to see a Celebi, Victini and Meloetta sitting at the table.
"Right," Ash said blankly. "Thanks."
"I was expecting more of a reaction," Celebi murmured.
"We did kinda drop in unannounced," Victini pointed out.
"No, no, it's fine," Ash said, waving his hands. "Just not entirely awake yet."
"Would a Wake-Up Slap help?" Meloetta asked.
"Thank you for the kind offer, but I think I'll pass," Ash said with a small grin. "It's nice to see all of you again. What've you been up to?"
Delia placed several different kinds of breakfast foods on the table, ranging from crepes, waffles, pancakes, french toast and eggs to various kinds of muffins, bagels, and scones.
"Your mom's got some ridiculous skills," Victini said with a whistle. "Could we borrow her for a week or two?"
"So long as you ask before whisking me away," Delia said, waving a wooden spoon at the legendary pokémon. "Twice was enough, thank you very much."
Celebi poured a little bit of everything into a small wormhole - "For later," he said when asked about it - and everyone dug into the meal.
"Kinda surprised nobody else showed up," Ash said as he helped his mother clean the dishes.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm sure they'll show up at a more reasonable time. Lunch, perhaps and then there's dinner to consider..." Delia said, cracking her knuckles. "I'm going to be rather busy, so could you be a dear and go get some things for me?"
She pressed a rather alarmingly-sized pad of paper into his hands and Ash flicked through the pages and pages of compact text in growing disbelief.
"I'll swing by Oak's and pick up a few helpers," Ash said, tucking the pad away. Turning to Arceus and the others, he grinned. "Care to join me?"
Arceus and Celebi shook their heads while Victini and Meloetta nodded.
"I expect you both back by midnight," Arceus said.
"Bring leftovers," Celebi said.
"Of course," Meloetta replied with a curtsy.
The two diminutive legendaries claimed Ash's shoulders and the trio left the house.
"Where's Pikachu? You two are usually inseparable," Victini said as they crossed the road, earning several gaping stares from the locals.
"He's spending time with his wife and kids," Ash said.
"Bwuh?" Meloetta said in surprise. "When did that happen?"
Ash shrugged. "About two years ago."
"Time flies when you're busy trying to keep it from falling apart," Victini said wistfully. He glanced at Meloetta and opened his mouth.
"No," she said. "Well," she added slowly at Victini's forlorn look. "Maybe some day, once all this is sorted out, alright?"
Victini cheered up at that and Ash idly stroked the Victory Pokémon's head.
(28.5)
Sasha dragged her paws as she made her way towards her home.
The eevee's stomach was churning uncomfortably as she went over what she wanted to say to her parents, about what she had decided.
Reaching her den, she took a breath and went in.
Her parents greeted her warmly, twining around her and licking her head.
Once the pleasantries were out of the way, Sasha cleared her throat.
"Mom, dad, there's something I'd like to tell you," she said slowly, taking slow deep breaths. Her parents exchanged knowing glances and settled down, ears pricked attentively.
"I've decided to give myself a name."
Her parents jerked back in surprise, eyes wide. Jolteon's jaw dropped and Umbreon let out a weak "What?"
Swiftly composing themselves, they shared another look, one more confused than the last and Jolteon coughed awkwardly.
"Well…that wasn't what we expected," he said sheepishly.
Sasha blinked in surprise. "Eh?" she asked blankly.
"We thought you had decided to take that eevee as your mate and were planning on moving out," Umbreon said. "A name though…are you sure?"
Sasha nodded. "I've been thinking about it for a while now and…I've decided on Sasha."
Her parents murmured the name to themselves a few times, frowning. Jolteon eventually nodded and smiled.
"Welcome home, Sasha."
Umbreon gave her daughter a kiss on her forehead, purring warmly.
"And so your own story begins. I'm so proud of you," the older 'mon murmured, nuzzling her offspring lovingly.
Sasha blushed and snuggled back happily.
