This chapter was updated/revised on October 20, 2019.
One Day
"Well I don't know much about holding back
I've never been one to sit down, relax
Watching the world, let it pass me by
Keep on pushing till the day I die
I don't know much but this much is true
Leave you here, try something new
Pack up all my bags and walk away, today I'll
Smile a little brighter, let it shine and light my way."
Nick Howard
March 19, 2033
Day 1
At dusk, the trees, power lines, and streetlights of Pallet Town barreled down an abandoned road. Cars occupied lawns and living rooms with their windows shattered and doors discarded. Couches, desks, and bedframes were forced though kitchens and bathrooms. Tornados advanced as the sleet intensified.
Despite all the chaos, it was eerily silent except for the sound of a meditative hum and shriek in the distance.
"Xatu!" Jezz gasped. "I told you to stop doing that!"
As he expected, the Mystic Pokémon was perched on the end of his bed, staring at him while he slept.
"Xatuuuuuu?" he responded.
The bird tilted his head to the side as if he were questioning the reason for Jezz's outburst.
"I was sleeping and you used your Future Sight. You know that gives me bad dreams," Jezz continued, attempting to sound intimidating.
"Tu," Xatu retorted.
"I hope that what you showed me this time was the past and not the future…"
He climbed out of his bed and peered at the street below.
From the third floor of the Pallet House, he could see several cars parked in the Morgan's driveway. He also noticed a few Tauros hanging out in the fenced-in meadow off in the distance, no doubt the same ones captured by Ash Ketchum and Brock Harrison some twenty plus years ago. There were no humans in sight, and all was quiet, and dawn was approaching.
"There is no disaster now. Perhaps there was one a long time ago," Jezz murmured.
"Xatu, Xatu," the bird responded.
"I've already taught you about the history of Pokémon wars…perhaps this was part of the one Lt. Surge and I discussed during my visit to Vermillion."
"Tu."
"It doesn't matter…there is nothing I can do about it regardless." the Pokémon.
Jezz patted Xatu then returned to the warmth of his bed. He promptly fell asleep, but in the next room over, three more people were suddenly awakened by the same disturbing nightmare…
XO
"Geeze, that was dark," Annastasia moaned as she rubbed her eyes.
Annastasia looked around the half-lit room to see if anyone else had been jerked awake by the same unpleasant dream. Across the room Sandshrew was staring back at her, sniggering to itself.
"Mmmhhhmm," she heard Michio mumble.
He sat up next to her and rubbed his eyes too.
"What did you do to us?" Michio asked the Sandshrew, his voice low but accusing.
"I did nothing," it asserted. "How dare you accuse me!"
"Prrrowow!" Peruva scolded, defending Michio.
Annastasia's Altaria and Lillipup backed her up.
"You have the ability of every Pokémon in the world and you're evil; I'm obviously going to assume that you messed with our heads. It wouldn't have been the first time," Michio continued.
"Did you see what I saw?" Annastasia asked Michio and the Pokémon.
"Pallet Town was a shitshow…flying cars, broken windows, bent streetlamps, wrecked furniture spewed across people's yards…It was like a tornado hit Pallet Town…and I heard…crying, high-pitched crying."
"It was the same for me. I could tell this wasn't one of my visions… this was different. And you saw it too. And so, did you." Annastasia pointed to the Sandshrew. "What caused it?"
"Jezz's Xatu," Sandshrew suggested.
'Xatu's been known to ignore Jezz's orders so that he could cause mischief,' Annastasia thought.
"If it wasn't you, it was probably him," she sighed.
"Don't they see the future?" Michio asked, suddenly much more awake.
"They can see the past and the future, and they can project those images on other people, even when they are asleep. Which means that we don't know if that tornado, war, hurricane, or whatever that thing was happened already or will happen eventually, if Xatu pulled it out of Jezz's memory, or if he invented it himself."
"It seems to be a metaphor," the Sandshrew replied.
"Either way, there is nothing we can do about it now, so let's just get some more sleep; we need it for tomorrow."
"You are just going to sleep when there is a distressed child in the room next door? Uh-oh, is the princess losing her empathy?"
"Jezz doesn't want people entering his room at night; if he needs me, he knows where to find me, and he knows I will always be there for him."
"But he may be too paralyzed with fear to move, or—"
"—Goodnight, Michio."
"Goodnight, Annie," Michio replied.
"Tari! Pupup! Prrro!" their Pokémon responded.
"Humans," Sandshrew muttered. "They don't understand their own power."
XO
Day 2
June Gaulle spent the morning organizing her vast collection of Pokémon cards and listening to the radio with her MVPokémon. As she divided the cards into coordinated decks and slid leftover cards into slots in her new binder, in her head she replayed a conversation she had earlier with one of her closest friends, Soledad Oak.
Soledad was helping her father feed the Pokémon that were staying in the Oak Laboratory. She was delivering hay to the Tauros and Rydon when she got a call from June.
"Heya," Soledad said as she tossed some flakes into their trough.
"Are you super busy or can you talk?" June asked.
"I'm just helping my dad feed the Pokémon, but I can multitask. What's up?"
"I was wondering about that conversation you have with Tamaki, Benny, and your Geo-catching friends. What did you decide to do?"
"Well…we never got around to making any fixed decisions. Are you thinking of joining us?"
"I'm trying to figure out where I want to go next. I definitely want to get out of Kanto to do more exploring, and Alola sounds fun, but I like the idea of trying to do Pokémon contests and maybe even some Geo-catching at the same time…I want to do it all."
"The Geo-catching takes a lot of training, but if you are dedicated, Tomoko, Carol, Flare, Anika, and the rest of us will be willing to help you out."
'Since tomorrow is my eleventh birthday, I'll finally be old enough to try it,' June thought. 'And if I don't get in on this quick, Soledad and I might drift apart…It's just such a big decision.'
There was a knock on her bedroom door.
"June? You in there?" her father's voice called.
"My dad is here," June told Soledad. "Can I call you back?"
"Sure," Soledad responded. "Call, text, video-chat, email, FB messenger—anytime. Bye."
"Thanks! Bye!"
"If you are talking on the phone, I can come back later," said Cilan.
"No, it's okay. You can come in."
Cilan opened the door. His Pansage, as well as June's new Shaymin and Uxie, entered the room behind him.
"Shaymmmin!"
"Uxxxxiiieee!"
The two Pokémon jumped up onto the bed next to her. Her great-aunt, who lived in Unova and had recently passed away, left both Uxie and Shaymin behind. June inherited them, as the Pokémon didn't seem to want to return to the wild. Though they had only been together a few days, they had already warmed up to June.
"These two were standing by the door," said Cilan. "I think they wanted to come in but didn't want to disturb you. Your mom says you've been up here all day. It's already past noon, and you've been up since seven. What are you doing?"
"Nothing…" she murmured.
"In that case, wanna help with some chores?"
"Huh?"
"I wanna make sure you're okay. If you're upset about something, being productive usually makes you feel better."
"Well, not literally 'nothing'…I was texting and talking to my friends mostly. Everyone is planning their next journey."
"By 'everyone', do you mean the same group you traveled with last time?"
"Yep."
"All of them?"
"Yep, plus Jezz…but…it's complicated. So far, it doesn't look like we're all going to be together like last time."
"I figured that. It can be hard, splitting up with a group you know and love, but it's not like this is the first time you've gone through this. We live all the way out here in Saffron City, and Takeshi, Jay, Soledad, and Amber all live in different places, and you still stay in touch."
"The only time I get to see most of them is for special occasions. Traveling together was the first time we were working as a team. I'm going to miss that a lot."
"I know Jay and Amber want to go to Alola. What are Soledad's plans?"
"Soledad wants to continue Geo-catching with Anika, Tomoko, Flare, and that whole group. Tamaki is going with them, but Benny might stay behind. There will be other people traveling in that group, including some older kids that Anika has known for a long time and Soledad met when she went with them last year. They plan on doing a bunch of things, but I don't think they are going to be going to any gyms or contests. And they can be in any region, depending on the jobs they get."
"It doesn't sound like you want to go with that group."
"I can't decide. The other options sound nice too."
"Which are…?"
"Amber, Jay, Jocelyn, Lily, Maya, Logan, and Jezz plan to go to Alola with Annastasia and Michio. They are going to do contests and if they think they can handle it, go for the Alolan Trials. Ash says Alola is very different from Kanto, Johto, Unova, and all the other places I have been to. I am curious to see what it will be like. Jocelyn spontaneously decided that she wants to become a Pokémon Coordinator. Logan, Lily, and Maya are just going along for the ride, and Jezz, Amber, and Jay are either going for the trials or the contests, probably a bit of each. Annastasia, Michio, Lucario, and Mewtwo are going to be the leaders. I have a feeling Rita might go with them, but I am not sure. Rita still works for Team Rocket, so I guess it depends on what Giovanni decides to make her do."
"Are Nolan and Lexi going to stick around?"
"They want to do the Battle Frontier in either Kanto or Johto. Rita's siblings are planning to meet up with them. Nolan also said that he and Lexi need to get jobs too this year."
"This isn't your last chance; you will have time to visit all the other regions, do contests, and whatever else that might interest you. I suggest you go to Alola, not only so that I can stop by to visit you, but also because I think you will like that region the most. And now that we have human teleporters, all we need to do is convince the Morgans to buy another one and stick it on one of the islands. I think you will like Pokémon Coordinating. It includes battling, but also showcasing your Pokémon. You can consider trying that too. You love taking care of Pokémon and that is an important factor in contests."
"I want to do it all. That is why it's so hard to decide!"
She rubbed her temples and exhaled in frustration. Shaymin rubbed its bushy head against June's chin while Uxie charged their moods with Heal Pulse. The Pokémon chattered, then they all shared a group hug.
"What does Takeshi want to do?" Cilan inquired.
"The Battle Frontier with Nolan and Lexi," June responded. "But Alola, Pokémon Contests, and Geo-catching sound much more interesting to me. We just explored the entire Kanto region and we've been to Johto almost a dozen times. Plus, the culture and Pokémon overlap with ours and…no offense to Takeshi…the Battle Frontier is for the region's most adroit battlers. Pokémon trainers are usually invited to join once they place in several leagues. Even Ash said that we should wait at least another year before we try to face them, and he is a Frontier Brain—verily the expert on this subject. Takeshi said that he will go wherever I go, but I don't want to force him to do something he doesn't truly want to do."
"I appreciate that you took the time to excogitate the situation and to adduce multiple options, and—"
"—what?"
"'What', what?"
"I don't know what you're saying."
"I'm saying it's good that you considered all the possibilities."
"Then just say that."
'He talks like Jezz,' she thought, giggling a bit.
"Don't make fun of me," Cilan retorted. "Do you wanna hear my suggestion?"
"Sure," she replied.
"I suggest you wait to do the Battle Frontier because if you keep at it, you will get stronger in time, and you'll want to enter with experience, practice, and strengthened bonds with your monz."
June thought about this for a few minutes, then asked her father to give her space while she took a walk.
"Let me know if/when you've made your decision," he said.
"I will," June vowed. "See ya."
"See ya."
June stopped organizing her cards and turned down the radio.
"Uxie, Shaymin, I know I made my decision on where to go but I still don't know what I am going to do once I get to Alola," said June.
"Uuu uu?" Uxie asked.
"Shayyyy ayyy," Shaymin brayed, answering whatever question its friend had.
June took two magazines out of the top drawer of her desk and held them in front of her Pokémon. One was the coordinators' magazine PokéPerfect and the other was Traveling Trainer Weekly. The latter featured the Alola Trials.
"What do you guys want?" she asked.
Shaymin touched its nose to the coordinators' magazine. Uxie placed a paw on the copy of the Traveling Trainer Weekly. June let out a long, frustrated sigh and flopped headfirst onto her bed.
"I am going to call Soledad back," she decided. "Soledad's one of a few that seem to know it all."
XO
Day 3
Back at the Pallet House, Jezz and Jay were cleaning up the kitchen after a shared evening meal. While Jay attempted to scrub the crud off a soup pot, Jezz meticulously organized the china Jessie and James acquired about eighteen years prior. Jay chatted away about his favorite magazines and artists while Jezz hummed along, as usual, completing about ten times as many tasks as his friend.
"Eek!" Jay shrieked, dropping the pot.
"What is it?" Jezz asked, surveying the room, then Jay's face, for an explanation.
Jay walked closer to the china cabinet. He stared at the delicate tableware as if it were rare art in a high-class museum.
"You organized that?" Jay asked.
"Depends on how you use the term 'organize'," Jezz replied.
"It looks cleaner." Jay lifted a saucer. "The dust is gone and everything matches."
"It always matched; it just wasn't in the proper order."
"Oh, Cool. I didn't know you were so good at organizing stuff. You like doing all that?"
"…Sure…"
"What do ya mean by that?"
"I am not sure if I like it or if I am just experienced. I have many years of experience."
Jay still wasn't sure what that meant, but that wasn't unusual in this friendship; Jezz was loaded with mysteries.
"So…" Jay said as he lifted the fallen pot. "Can we talk about Alola?"
Jezz neatly placed some dry dishes into the cabinet and wiped the counter.
"Yes, of course," he replied. "Would you like me to explicate the culture? Describe the terrain? Expatiate on our prior discussions of this?"
"Uh…no…I think…I mean, I want you to know that I—A and Jocelyn too—want you to stay with us. I know you have been spending a lot of time with us lately, like today, since Hauana and Perry are working late, and you are probably looking forward to going home…but we kinda want you to stay with us. I just thought I should let you know."
"That is quite generous of you."
"Well, like, um, you know, it's not just me saying it. Amb says it too."
"She does?"
"Totally!"
"ʻAe."
"So…why do you always say that ʻ'ae' sound?"
Jay noticed that Jezz seemed bewildered by the question.
"Hauana and Perry say it," Jezz replied. "It means… 'all good' or 'fine'…something like that."
"Oh yeah, you like learning languages…"
Jezz shrugged. "It passes the time. Is there more you would like to know about Alola? Anything more specific or objective?"
"Is it really hot like, all the time?"
"Not in the mountains."
"Alola has mountains?!"
"Yes, there are mountains, deserts, lakes, cities, villages, rivers, farms, an airport, railroads…it is more than one gargantuan beach. There are four main islands and many small ones. The larger ones have the greatest deviations in their terrains. Alola has more water-type Pokémon than any other region and that is part of the reason many people have built their homes in artificial floats that reflect the likeness of the natural isles."
"Alola is sooo cool. I've been to the beach but…mountains. Wow. I can wear some of my winter collection…Sweet!"
Jay looked off into space, content and excided at the concept of bringing as many different outfits to Alola as possible. Then he recalled why he brought up Alola in the first place.
"So, will you stay with us?" Jay asked. "Camping, staying at the bungalow my parents plan on buying, sharing meals, going on nature hikes together…all that?"
"I would be honored," Jezz responded, bowing. "The Hales will not mind. They told me they want me to spend more time with your family. I would like to balance my time with them and you…but are you sure?"
"I'm totally sure. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I have never been invited to go anywhere or do anything before I met you, not by someone about my age, and never because they genuinely wanted me present…"
"C'mon, Jezz, you gotta know that we love you. You are so fun. You fit into our group soooo well. Sometimes you just don't give yourself enough credit. You're great and everyone loves you because you are sooo interesting and smart, and nice, calm, skilled—"
Jezz faked a cough to interrupt Jay. Jay didn't realize this was intentional, and that was how Jezz preferred it.
"I never met people who were as nice to me as you all are," said Jezz. "Except the Hales, of course, because they permit me to live in their home, use their resources, and such."
"Oh, well, more people should be nice," Jay replied.
He noticed that Jezz's face was getting paler by the second. He had spent almost the entire day with him, so he could tell Jezz was sick, as he often was, but this seemed to be the first time it was so clearly shown.
"Are you okay?" Jay asked. "Do you need water, ibuprofen, a back rub…?"
"I am well. Thank you very much for the nice words. I think I should go now," Jezz responded quickly.
Jezz scurried out of the kitchen. He almost ran into Logan on his way out.
"Is he okay?" Logan asked his cousin. He hopped up onto the counter so that he was the same height as Jay. "He looked kind rushed."
"I don't get it," Jay whispered. "He is a shy person, sometimes…it depends. Whenever I talk about the future, he gets anxious and does that thing where he just leaves. I don't know how to talk to him about it without making him feel guilty. I mentioned it one time and all he did was give me a million apologies, but I don't even get what he apologizing for."
"Mmmhhmm. Rita told me that he has been through a lot, which is why he's so timid and apologetic."
"Rita was talking to him?"
Rita wasn't the first person he would imagine going to in order to divulge; he could count the number of deep conversations he had with her on one hand. But, Jezz was like Annastasia in some ways, and as did many people, Rita really cared about Annastasia.
"And since when do you and Rita chat?" Jay queried.
"Rita is a good conversationalist," Logan shrugged.
"And you are too."
"Precisely. Rita can be rough but sometimes that's a good thing. She offered to take me out to lunch the other day and we talked over some seafood. I think she felt bad for me. I haven't gone out much since Lily has become more occupied with Maya."
"Oh, cool. But Jezz—"
"—you spend too much time thinking about that kid. Don't worry; eventually, he'll learn how to interact with people his own age."
"I do not spend too much time thinking about him! I think he's interesting and, he needs friends and so do I, and so does Amb, and so do you. He just seems kind of cheerful on the outside most of the time, I forget about how he must really feel."
"Sometimes orphans act like it isn't a big deal."
"Since when are you so…so…perceptive?"
"Since Lily stopped teaching me about the world."
"…Okie…So, I'll check on him later."
"As you usually do."
"Yeah, as I usually do."
"Ahem," Jocelyn coughed as she entered the room with Flaafy. "Good evening, boys."
"Fla fee, fla," said Flaafy, mimicking her tone all-but-verbatim.
"Are you…are you wearing heels?" Jay questioned as he bent down to look at her feel. "You are! Why?"
"It makes me look more mature," she answered. "Mommy let me borrow them."
"Fla," said Flaafy, showing off the bracelet he swiped from Jessie's dresser.
"I came in here to get some dessert. Move so I can get the cookies!"
"Flaa!"
Jocelyn pushed passed her brother and headed to the cookie jar. She placed handfuls of café au lait cookies onto two plates, then headed for the door, balancing on crimson stilettos.
"Where'd those cookies come from?" Logan asked.
"Oniisan made them," Jocelyn replied. "They're pineapple pistachio pecan."
"Yuck."
"Good; more for me! Bye-bye, Oniisans."
"Fla-a, flaa," Flaafy added with a bow.
When Jocelyn and Flaafy were gone, Jay and Logan resumed their chat, this time in quieter expressions.
"Did Rita give advice about how to get Jezz to be less…or more…you know, more 'kid'?" Jay inquired.
"She said that we should give him space when he needs it and listen when he talks. She says that it takes Jezz a while to fully trust people…he likes us, but he doesn't wanna get too close…" Logan responded. "I dunno."
"No, I get it."
Jay sighed and looked around to make sure no one was listening to or watching them.
"I just really care about him," Jay mumbled.
"Yeah, about that…Are you still love-love over him?"
"No! W-who told you that?!"
"The way you look at him, how you talk, the blush, the eyes…I've known you long enough to know what all that means. But don't humans have a stigma against courting cousins?" Logan questioned.
"First, no one 'courts' anymore. Second, I mean I love him like my brother. Third, there is no proof that we are related, so I want you and everyone else to stop bringing that up!"
"Chill."
"Hmpf. I'm going to go check on him now…bye."
"Bye-bye."
Logan raided the cookie jar, hoping that there was something in there other than Michio's Hawaiian-style treats while Jay scampered in the direction of Jezz. As he made his way across the street to his family's hotel, Jay spotted Sandshrew. The 'evil' creature was sitting on the curb, torturing ants with its Psychic attack. Jay ran up to it and pushed the Sandshrew, breaking its focus.
"What the hell!?" Jay cried as he stood over the Pokémon. "Why would you hurt the poor innocent ants?!"
"Why do you care? Don't your kitty cousins eat them all the time?" Sandshrew responded.
"Yes…but they are feline. Vegetarian food isn't good for them to eat all the time…killing something for no reason is wrong."
"There is a reason: entertainment."
"You're sick!"
"Fine, the time I play with the ants I'll make sure you aren't around."
"No! That's…that's…what's sooooo wrong. I thought you cared about equal rights."
"For Pokémon, not for bugs."
"That's messed up."
"Regardless, do you not have a weepy friend to whom you shall attend?"
It took a moment for that to register.
"Jezz was crying?" Jay asked, clenching his shaky hands.
"Indeed," Sandshrew smirked.
"I better go!"
The hotel was thronged with guests. Jay pushed past the various strangers to make his way to the staircase. His parents noticed him, and James reached out to touch his shoulder.
"Are you looking for Jezz?" he inquired.
"Totally," Jay replied. "Did you see him? Did he look okay?"
"He had that rushed-and-sickened kinda look. I was going to check on him, but it seems you want to cover that."
"I do."
James awkwardly smiled at him. There were few subjects—none, almost—that he didn't want to talk about with Jay. Months passed since Jezz entered their lives, and neither Jessie nor James discussed Jay's dilemma of fervent unrequited love.
"You are a good friend," said James. "Just…don't hesitate to give him space."
"Thanks," Jay replied, his thoughts once again delaying in registration.
"See ya."
"Yeah…later, Jay."
When Jay got to Jezz's room, he pounded on the door until his Vileplume opened it. Jay entered, and found Jezz sitting on the floor, polishing his Porygon. Jezz watched Jay, waiting for him to explain the reason for his unnerving actions.
"I almost forgot you have a Porygon," Jay coughed. "What kind is it?"
"Galarian," Jezz replied. "He's been on my team almost as long as Vileplume has."
"H-how can you tell it—he's—Galarian?"
"The color is different on his nose and rear and he is a sound/normal-type combination."
"Oh, uh, yeah, I noticed that before."
They shared another long gaze, then Jezz resumed his polishing.
"I can tell they admire you," Jay said as he sat on the floor beside them.
"I would like to think that they do," Jezz riposted.
"Um, so…can you tell me how you are feeling?"
"…Regretful…"
Jezz looked back at Jay and noted his ached expression.
"But not because of you," he hastily amended.
Jay made himself comfortable, lying on the carpet in front of his friend.
"Why are you so hidden about some things but open about others?" Jay questioned.
Jezz ruminated on that until Jay acted on his impatience.
"Never mind," Jay stumbled. "Just so you know, you can trust us…Everyone in our group. Me, Amb, the others, me…"
"I appreciate that," Jezz replied.
'You've said it a dozen times already,' Jezz thought. 'I get it.'
"Do you want me to stay here with you?" Jay asked. "I don't mind. I never mind. Ever."
"I think I need alone time," said Jezz.
"Oh." His heart sunk. He tarried to the door. "See ya soon, bud."
"Pory!" Porygon added with a cheerful wave, which Jay spiritlessly returned.
"Actually—I do," Jezz murmured before Jay's hand touched the handle.
Jay glowed and returned to his spot on the rug.
"C-cool!" Jay squeaked. He coughed and lowered his voice. "So, uhhh…whatcha wanna discuss?"
"It seems you had something you wanted to say," Jezz replied.
"Oh, uh, yeah, ummmm…I did."
"You may say it if you please."
"Like…so…just…uhhh…I know a great place to talk alone if you don't mind heights."
Jezz smiled at Jay's hopeful semblance.
"Then perhaps we should visit," he replied. "Perhaps if I explained some…particulars…about myself, then we may both feel better."
Thanks for reading. Please review:)