The flash of the teleportation blinded me for a second before I could see clearly again. When I did, I was amazed by what I was looking at. "Oh my Arceus." I whispered, gawking.

We were outside a massive building, built out of wooden birch planks and white walls. There was a modern touch to its design. From outside you can see the comfortable-looking furniture through the massive terrace windows. A crooked sign hung above the front glass sliding door, which said 'Coronet Snow Inn'.

I didn't even know a place like this was here. It looked so grand, so large, so well-furnished and tidy, but so -

"What do you think?" Jirachi suddenly asked me, snapping me from my thoughts. He beamed a warm smile. "Pretty amazing, huh?" He made a motion with his hands, beckoning me to walk with him. I followed him so.

"What is this place?" I asked, feeling my paws stepping into thick snow as we approached the building.

"It's an abandoned ski resort." Jirachi explained. "They built this place about two years ago. It was fancy and had all sort of facilities. Sadly, the management was quite poor and they didn't advertise much, so they had to close it down. Not many people know about the place back then, so this land is still untouched by any businessmen."

The sliding door opened when Jirachi got close to it. I went inside as well, taking in the room I was in. It seemed to be the reception and lounge area. There were lovely leather couches grouped together around several tables. There was also a fireplace, which is currently not burning. There were reception desks, lamp stands, event boards, soft carpets; practically everything you'd expect at a snow resort. "I'm surprised this place wasn't popular." I commented. It seemed that they had hired a very poor manager for the job.

"It's a shame, really," Jirachi agreed, settling on a wooden stool. "But now you have your time."

I turned to look at him. "What do you want me to do?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I don't know. My main priority is you right now. And you look tired. Go take a nap, a hot bath maybe, or just read books at the library."

I thought about it. I really wanted to talk to Jirachi right now. My mind's a blur. I have so many confusing thought buzzing around in my head. But I think I should follow his advice and have a bit of sleep, then I can consult him. "Well… Is there a room around here?"

"There's a decent one down the hallway in the far left corner." He answered, pointing at a corridor. "Room 106 I believe. Or the one beside it."

"Thanks." I said, waving a paw gratefully. He only smiled as he watched me enter the hallway and disappeared out of view.

The hallway was dark and dusty, making my throat slightly sore. I ignored it; I shouldn't think right now. It didn't take long for me to find the room Jirachi said. I pushed the door, testing if it was locked. The old door slowly creaked open. I entered the room, and much to my surprise, it actually looked quite nice.

It looked like any other hotel room. There was this gorgeous velvet bed with soft light blue sheets, which I immediately took a liking upon when I got on it. There was a desk set, wardrobe, coffee table, TV (which had no power), and a nice shower.

But perhaps the thing that caught my eye the most was a small circular mirror with a silver frame standing on the wooden desk.

I walked over to it, looking at my reflection in the mirror. Barely a speck of dust on that mirror, which made my reflection shine. I've always been curious about my reflection. With everything that's happened, maybe my reflection has obtained a self-conscious mind? It has reacted a little every time I see my it. "Are you alive?" I asked. It was a silly question in hindsight. Of course not. My reflection can't even be called an 'object'.

Much to my dismay, it didn't respond. Although I thought it blinked once or twice in front of me. So I decided to start a conversation with myself.

"Here I am, I guess… I'm a Mew now, I can float around, and everything's crashing down. What should I do?"

"You should get some sleep, dumbass."

"Yeah, I know that. I mean, after that, what?"

"Jirachi will explain everything. He understands us."

"I want to believe that. What about Arthur?"

"And you said you didn't care about him."

"I-" I paused, unable to respond to a comment I created in my own head. It appears that, deep down, I still care for the poor Azumarill. I can only imagine how he's doing right now. Sam's proabably tearing the hair outta his head, and all Arthur can do is stand idly by and discuss with the others. Xera hasn't contacted me again, and hopefully she won't. The others? I have no idea how'd they react, but Blanch the ass of a Buizel would probably call bullshit.

I sighed, frustrated. I flopped back onto the bed, got under the sheets, and curled up. It was difficult not to think, so I kept whispering to myself some sort of lullaby. Not like it made me calm, but it sounded like a prayer to a despairing me.

At last, I slept.

…

…

…

I groggily woke up from my long nap. I stretched my paws and hind legs, getting a pop out of them. Ah, that felt good…

I looked outside the large window of my room. It was evening, the sun just minutes away from disappearing as stars begin to appear. Clouds gather in the sky, a dull grey colour. It might storm later tonight.

Even though my head was kinda fuzzy, I remembered one very important thing: talking to Jirachi. Hopping off my bed, I started walking towards the door when I realized that it was quite awkward to walk on two hind legs. I wished I was still a four-legged Vulpix. Maybe I should practice flying.

Kirlia once told me that when psychics, do things, it's all in their head. Or mind, to be more precise. Imagination, a paraphrase she would use to simplify it to me. I closed my eyes, thinking of flying. I imagined it: the feeling of weightlessness, the freedom, mass vanishing and replaced with lightness, beyond the laws of gravity. Free. I was imagining it so well that I actually feel like I'm off the ground.

Wait…

I opened my eyes, immediately looking down. A flutter passed through me when I saw my feet weren't touching the ground. I panicked, but only for a second, before I remembered to keep thinking. Flying, weightless, and free to move. Kirlia said that after you've gotten into the right mindset, you only need to focus. She told me once you do it, you'll continue to do it, until you tell your brain to stop.

I remained floating on the spot for a few minutes, wanting to see if I can do it. Several times I plummeted down because of a bit of carelessness. It's fine though, it's like riding a bike. Takes time before you find balance when you first take off the training wheels.

After a while, I thought I should try moving around. It was… very difficult. It was like swimming, but in the air. And you can't really push against air like water. It was more like, guiding your body where you want to go. Your mind is your controller. I flew around the room a bit carefully, almost crashing into the bed. "Oops! Maybe I should stop…"

I needed to see Jirachi, so I went out the door and looked for him. It didn't take me long to find him; he was outside near the snowy garden, gazing up at the sky. I silently approached him, hovering. "…Jirachi?" I called out to him in a low voice.

"Yes?" He turned around to me, his eyes widening as he did so. He stared at me, sizing me up. "…You can already fly?" He asked, amazed.

I nodded, smiling shyly. "Back when I was with my, er, team, one of them was a psychic-type, and she explained to me that the number one thing about using psychic powers is your -"

"Imagination." Jirachi completed the statement for me. "I'm glad for you."

He started walking around the garden with me following him. The garden was buried in snow, but that was how it was meant to look like. Fake trees stood up on the garden, their also fake leaves covered in snow. Stone lanterns were scattered across the garden, so were some benches. There were also sculptures that adorned the park's surroundings, either carved out of wood or ice. The centrepiece of the place was however a small waterfall that flowed into a river, complete with a bridge built over it. The water was steaming like a hot tub. No idea how it's still running.

"Did you get some good sleep?" Jirachi asked me as we stepped onto the bridge.

"Somewhat."

"Anyway…" He stopped walking. I stopped walking too. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions. Since we have time, you're free to ask me anything."

I looked deep into the Jirachi's turquoise eyes. Eager, willing to help, kindness… He reminds me of -

No. Not now. Focus on the problem.

"I wanna ask you about why I'm a Mew." I said to him.

He seemed confused by the question. "What do you mean by that?" He asked. "Haven't you always been a Mew?"

"Right. I should tell you…" I clarified everything for him. A simple and short story summing up my life from the day I was born till now, although it did take a good ten minutes in order to not miss out important details.

"I see…" Jirachi nodded. "You were born a Vulpix?"

"Yes." I looked down at my body, lifting my paws up in front of me. It feels so strange to be no longer a Vulpix… A Mew is so much different, plus all the power that I probably don't realize I have is within arm's reach now. Maybe flying, telepathy, psychic superpowers; anything would be possible. I haven't tried transforming back into a Vulpix yet, but I'll save it for later. I want answers fist.

"Um… this is just a theory," Jirachi said after a good five minutes of thought. "perhaps you transformed while you were in your egg."

"I-Is that possible?"

"I don't know for certain, but it is most likely. Maybe those Vulpixes were never your real parents. Maybe they just found your egg and took your in."

"Then… who are my parents?" I asked him, curious and afraid to know. Are they still out there, perhaps? Or…

"I… doubt you even have parents." Jirachi replied somberly. "Or any relatives."

I stared at him in disbelief. "Hang on. If I had no mother or father, how was I born?"

"Let me explain to you," he began, sitting down on the bridge. I sat down as well. "You see, most legendaries are genderless. Therefore, we normally don't have any descendants, except a select few. You ask, who are your parents; I say they don't exist. There's a thing called 'spontaneous birth'."

"The easiest example would be the first Arceus, who created the universe. In the legends they say Arceus hatched out of its egg. Now, where did the egg come from? That is what spontaneous birth means. It only happens to mythical and legendaries who don't have genders."

I nodded quietly, understanding what he meant. "But… is it possible that…" I coughed, but more as a sign of excusing myself. "I don't mean to be offending the dead, but is it possible that Mew had an affair? Mews can transform, right? Their transformations should have genders."

"Not that I know off." I was glad that Jirachi took the question normally. It would've ended badly if he took it personally. "If she did have someone, she would tell me. Especially if it was about a child. She's not the secretive type."

For just a moment, I felt a tingle in my throat. Some sort of… resonating emotion.

What is this? I could suddenly see an aura around Jirachi. It was wavy, blurry, and multi-coloured. Words spoke in my head: love, grief, sadness, anger. Is the aura representing his emotions? There was a pink colour, probably love, grief marked with grey, sadness with blue and anger with red. Grief seems to be dominating the aura.

A light, airy voice whispered in my ear: talk to him. I don't know why, but I obeyed.

"Jirachi, did you… like Mew?" I asked.

Jirachi looked stunned for a moment before returning to calm. "Wh-what makes you say that?" He seemed a bit accused by the question.

The pink colour was beginning to grow. It must be some sort of subconscious reaction in his feelings.

"I just… got that impression from you…" I didn't want to tell him about the aura. Yet.

Jirachi rubbed his hands together nervously. He doesn't want to answer my question, so I tried to push him a little.

"Then… could you at least tell me what she was like? The previous Mew?" Jirachi looked up at me. "I'm a Mew now, and if I have to help others like her… I want her as a sort of role model for me. C-could you tell me about how she behaved or something…?"

The Jirachi's eyes lit up and I could tell he was rather happy to be asked the question. "Sure! But, oh, where do I start… She's so kind and she's done so many wonderful things that I can't choose any particular event!" His face began to blush a little. I don't think he realizes it. "She always flies or teleports from region to region, helping anyone she can find, be it Pokémon or trainer. She would save them from dangerous situations, give them food and water, and offer valuable advice. Sometimes she would let ambitious but pure-hearted trainers catch a glimpse of her, which gave them hope. She's done practically everything a nice person can do."

"Wow…" I said, actually impressed, feeling a little overwhelmed by the size of the role I'd need to fill. "I don't know if I can do those things…"

"I'm sure you can." Jirachi encouraged me.

"No, I mean… It's just…" I sighed heavily. "I cannot bring myself to help other people. It's just not in my nature. My blood." I looked away from him, feeling disappointed in myself. "I can't be who my predecessor was…"

Jirachi didn't say anything. Neither did I. I let my long, pink feet dangle of the bridge, the tips of my toes touching the warm water. Water always felt nice to me, despite being a fire-type. Well, I'm not a fire-type right now, but I always found it comfortable; that liquid washing over your fur, providing a sense of indescribable pleasure.

"You don't have to help people like her," Jirachi finally said. "But if you don't, what are you planning to do?"

The answer to that question was one I don't know. What am I going to do with my life? I'm a Mew now. A huge responsibility suddenly dropped upon me from the heavens, now crushing me and whatever heart I have left. There is nothing to live for. I don't have anything or anyone that meant to Mew. There would be no point in helping other people. I started to think that maybe I should kill myself right here and now.

"She was always so nice to me…" Jirachi quietly whispered. It sounded more like to himself than to me. I turned to look at him. He solemnly stared at his reflection in the small pool of steaming water. "She had always been nice to me. We hanged out a lot. I took her stargazing at Mount Coronet. She took me to the fields to have fun. We played, danced, laughed, and pretty much inseparable."

"But after that day, when she got shot by that arrow… We stopped doing that. We couldn't do that. She was so ill that all she could do was lay in bed. I sat beside her the whole time. I told her it would be okay, but she just smiled and said: I told you a year ago it would happen. She had predicted her own death last year. No one believed her." He shook his head sadly. "We were gravely wrong."

A bubble seemed to surface from the depth of Jirachi's mind. I could see it coming out, enlarging, revealing an image. People were moving around in there. I quickly realized that I was looking at Jirachi's memories. I stared into the vision, paying attention to his story as well. But he had stopped talking, wiping a tear from his eye, yet the vision kept playing.

I could hear Jirachi's voice and who I presume to be Mew's. I saw the two of them. Jirachi was sitting on a stool beside her, while Mew rested on a purple bed. It seemed to be some old house. An oil lamp was the only light source in the room. A grandfather clock showed the time to be 11.46. For some reason, I had a feeling it was nighttime.

"Mew, please, it's not your time yet…" Jirachi stammered in a miserable, distant voice.

"Jirachi, there's nothing you can do…" Mew said in a low voice. "All of you have tried everything for me. Nothing succeeded."

"Mew, you just have to believe. I need you to hang on…!" Jirachi's voice cracked as he began crying. "I c-can't lose you… You're… too precious to m-me…"

Mew raised her arm, caressing the Wish Pokémon's face. "It's okay, Lyra. It'll be okay."

"H-how can this be okay!? I-I-I still have something I want to say to you!" His voice was strained with emotion, unable to bear the painful moment. Literally, any moment now, she could just pass away.

"Then now would be a good time to say it," Mew chuckled. "I have something I want to say to you too."

Jirachi coughed and choked back his tears. "I-I… I don't know how it started, and I don't know when it happened… but for a long time, I've… I've always… liked you…" Mew's eyes widened a little. "Y-you make me happy and comfortable every single day, and we're like a pair now, and yet… Wh-why must this happen…"

Mew stayed silent for a minute, letting Jirachi cry for a while. "Jirachi - no, Lyra… I actually like you too…"

Jirachi raised his head and stared at the pink feline on the bed. "Y-you do…?" His voice seemed to be filled with disbelief. "I… I always thought…"

"Same with me, Lyra." Mew smiled. "I guess it was the one thing we kept to ourselves till the last moment."

The duo stared silently at each other. Then, by some reflex, they leaned over and their lips connected. It would be their first and last exchange in the realm of love.

"It pains me to end my relationship with you, Lyra…" Despite that, she smiled. "But promise me you will never forget this moment. Because -"

"I know, Delphi," Jirachi answered, calling her by the name he gave her. It'll probably be the last time he'll say that name, making his heart ache as he said it. "I know. And I'm so sad that it has to be this way, and I wish -"

Mew closed his partner's mouth gently, signalling him to stop talking. "Lyra. It's 11.59. I have one minute. You can either leave if you don't want to… see…. Or you can stay here with me until my last second." The fact Jirachi didn't budge from his chair for ten seconds gave Mew her answer. "I understand then." The two reached out to each other and held each other's hand. "Until the end, Lyra…"

Jirachi smiled, silently letting his tears slide down his face, dripping onto his arm onto Mew's arm. He looked at the clock. Thirty seconds. Twenty seconds. He looked back at Mew. He could see her winking playfully at him before closing her eyes and breathed heavily. Ten seconds. Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one -

The clock struck twelve at midnight. Jirachi knew what it meant. The loud gong noises echoed through the room as he continued holding Mew's arm. Twelve gongs, of course.

He looked back at Mew. Her eyes were closed. Her chest wasn't rising. He couldn't feel her pulse and the paw he held was limp. Jirachi tightened his grip, sobbing. He got off his stool and approached her body, laying his other hand on her chest. "If only we told each other sooner…" He muttered in a despondent voice. "I would have made you the happiest Pokémon on the planet… It wasn't supposed to end like this…"

The vision then slowly faded into nothing, and I was back in the real world again. I was staring at Jirachi, feeling pity for him. He lost his loved one. He's suffered more than me.

"I know you have nothing left." Jirachi spoke up again, turning his body to face me. "I know that you've lost everything. I know that you have nothing more to cherish. And I know what you most desire. So please," He placed both his hands on mine. "let me be the one thing you care about. And just like her, I'll care for you, and make sure that you're happy."

I stared at the Jirachi, not knowing what to say. Had he expected me to see that memory? Or was that a coincidence?

"Keith, please…" Jirachi said, squeezing my paws. "I'm not losing another Mew. I'll grant you a wish, any wish; but please don't give up!"

"J-Jirachi, I…" I didn't know what answer I should give. I thought about that memory earlier. It doesn't feel like the right time to ask that. I knew how he felt for her and I'm sure that's how he feels for me - in a non-romantic way. I have nothing left to care. Jirachi is offering himself plus his one wish. So, there we were, two Pokémon with nothing left but a last-ditch effort to find condolence in each other's company. Both desperate for meaning in their lives, a reason to live.

Maybe… I still have something to live for…

"What kind of wish can you give me?" I ask.

"Any wish." He replied, though a bit hesitantly. Obviously, it was a lie. You'd know from movies or cartoons that bringing the dead back to life, wanting love, or do harm to someone were wishes that weren't allowed to be granted or they don't have the power. However, I already made up my mind. I just hope it's something he can do.

"Then… I wish there was someone I could care for… Not Arthur, because I want some distance from him for now; nor anyone else from my past… I wish for someone new, not just you. I want someone who can teach me how to be a proper living being - to be… normal." That was my wish. I wanted rehabilitation. I wanted to be normal, even if I'm a Mew. For Arthur's sake and everyone else's.

Jirachi bit his lip, uncertain. I waited a few minutes for a response, however he said nothing. A subconscious, amused smile formed on my face. I knew it, it was beyond his power. Well, I suppose that is to be expected, I had a backup wish anyway -

"Wait here!" Jirachi suddenly exclaimed, beaming. The next thing I knew is that he disappeared in a flash of light.

I stupidly stared at the place where Jirachi disappeared. "What… just happened?" I said in disbelief. Is it true? Can he actually grant that wish. A warm feeling spread across my chest. I was in doubt, zero confidence that it would work, but now… I think there might be hope for me.

In the meantime, I walked around the park, observing my new 'residence', I guess. I walked over to the pond, putting my face as close as possible to the water without my snout touching it. I could feel the warm vapour tickle my face as I watched my reflection. I was so close that every breath I exhaled made the water ripple.

Lost in thought, I dunk my head in.

Water swallowed my head, filling my ears and nose. There was only the faint sound of the waterfall rushing in the distance. The water felt a bit hot, but just the right temperature for a nice bath. I opened my eyes, hoping to see what's under. The water was amazingly clear: I could see the details on the rocks and plastic fishes swimming around in the swirling current.

Actually, how can I even see?

It must be the power.

After what felt like a good five minutes in there, I pulled my head out, breathing fresh, cold air again. Water had always felt comfortable to me.

When I turned my head back, I saw Jirachi standing there, looking worried. "Are… you okay?" He asked timidly.

"U-uh… I'm fine. It's just… I know I used to be a fire-type, but I like water. I told you that, didn't it?"

"I believe you did." Jirachi said, scratching his chin. "Now… about the wish. I can do it. But… do you really wanna meet your new buddy like that?"

I realized what he meant. I look like a Mew right now. It would be very awkward for both sides, and the term 'normal' would disintegrate into nothing. "Do you think you are able to transform? He asked.

I closed my eyes, focusing, just as I did with levitating. I imagine my body melt, slowly turning into a glob, molecules disconnecting. I tried as hard as I can to imagine my own body, a cool liquid now, reforming back into a Vulpix once more. I could feel tingles all over my body. I imagined; my pointed ears, the six furry tails, my brown coat of fur, the longer snout and legs…

When the tingling stopped, I opened my eyes again. Jirachi was staring at me, his mouth agape. Looking at myself, I did too.

I was back as a Vulpix again, perfect in every detail.

"I-incredible…" Jirachi gasped. He looked like he might even cry. "You can already transform back…"

"…Anyway, Jirachi." I cut in, hoping to stop him from tearing up again. "About the wish…"

"Ah, yes. Come here."

After I walked up in front of him, he placed both his hands on my forehead. A greenish glow started to emanate. "It won't hurt." Jirachi assured me, seeing me wince. A sharp tingle, almost like a string, coarse down from my head down to my spine and back up again. Jirachi then let go of his hands. "Okay, done!"

I blinked in confusion. "What happened? Nothing changed!"

But when I turned to my right…

I saw something that make me take back those words.