AN: This chapter was updated/revised on November 18, 2019.

Silverville

"In the darkest night hour

I'll search through the crowd

Your face is all that I see

I'll give you everything."

Beyoncé

Day 39

Michio, Annastasia, Bleu, Lil-G, Peruva, Mienshao, Plusle, and Minun arrived in Silverville the night of the last day of the festival.

This was the first time Annastasia had been to the old mansion since she inherited it from her great-grandparents.

They planned to spend one night, then return to Pallet Town and afterward take the teleporter to the vacation home her parents recently purchased in Alola.

The Pokémon yawned and sighed with relief as they parked the car, for it took them several hours to arrive due to mis-directions given to her by Sandshrew.

"Sorry for the delay," Annastasia wearily announced. "You'd think after traveling here regularly for eighteen years I'd be able to find my way without getting lost."

"Taria Tarrrrr," Bleu sympathetically replied.

"That's true. This was my first time riding shotgun…"

"It was that monster's fault it took us so long to get here," said Michio. "Not yours."

"You discuss me quite often," said Sandshrew. It climbed out of the backseat and sat between Annastasia and Michio. "As if you enjoy my existence."

"You tagged along," Annastasia uneasily remarked.

"Why?" Michio complained.

"None of your business," it retorted.

"What about all those helpless, innocent, fragile fusion Pokémon left to suffer alone at Professor Oak's lab?" Annastasia asked with dramatic sarcasm.

"Fools. Fusions are superior to regular Pokémon. They are more than capable to defend themselves from those mongrels."

Annastasia and Michio's Pokémon sneered various remarks at Sandshrew.

"Curse at me if you wish, but I know I am right," it asserted.

"If you were coming along why didn't you fucking teleport us here?" said Michio.

"I don't mind long drives."

Annastasia and Michio groaned.

"If you go into that forest and leave us alone until morning, I'll buy you as much chocolate cake as you desire," Annastasia proposed.

"Excellent," it responded before heading out into the woods.

Annastasia let out another huge as she and Michio got out of the car. She stood in front of the house for a few minutes, her gaze penetrating the homestead.

"Are you okay?" Michio asked. "Annie?"

"I love this place, but so much has withered," she replied. "I miss my great grandparents, Scarlett, and the future I aspired to have with them."

"Oh…so…what do you want me to do?"

She smiled. "Nothing. Let's eat, then we can go up."

They ambled into the house hand-in-hand. After turning on the lights, they headed towards the kitchen.

They took several plates from the cabinets and took the sandwiches they packed from their knapsacks.

"I wasn't here when they cleaned out the pantries," Annastasia said as she surveyed the kitchen chattel. "It doesn't seem like anyone's been in here since…they were."

"We can eat somewhere else," Michio suggested. "I wouldn't mind."

"I'm too hungry. Let's eat here."

"Sure?"

"Plu?" asked Plusle, sensing her uneasiness.

"Positive," Annastasia said before taking a bite of food.

XO

As soon as they were fed, washed up, and mentally prepared, Annastasia, Michio, Peruva, Mienshao, Minun, and Plusle headed up the mountain, Bleu and Lil-G in the lead.

They stopped once they reached the conversant clearing, the one with the boulders arranged for sitting and the humble patch of roses. Michio took a sachet of seeds from his pocket. He paused at the sound of humming and gentle chanting emanating from familiar wild Pokémon.

"Illumise eeeeee!"

"Vole, beat!"

A group of twenty-something Volbeat and Illumise careened from the shadows.

"You all must've known we were coming," Annastasia remarked.

"Illumi," the leader replied, bobbing her head in agreement. She pointed to Bleu and Lil-G.

"Oh, I see; some little birdies told you," Annastasia patted the Pokémon lovingly. "It's good to see you are well."

"Lumi?"

"We're going to plant a tree here in memory of our friend. You are welcome to join us if you want."

The Pokémon nestled onto the sitting rocks. Michio dug a pocket-sized fissure. Annastasia planted five bitty kernels, saved from last winter, when they had gone to visit Professor Oak's terrarium. Then they covered the clough in fresh earth.

"Bee?" asked one of the Volbeat.

"One day it'll be a cherry blossom tree," Annastasia explained. "We're dedicating it to Scarlett. We had an inscription made too."

Michio took a golden plaque, nails, and a small hammer from his backpack. Annastasia heedfully nailed the plaque into a neighboring tree stump while Michio held it steady.

"Illu mise lu?" asked one of the Illumise. She did an impression of Scarlett. "Mise?"

"Scarlett's body was returned to the Tree of Beginning," Annastasia replied.

"Plu?" asked Plusle.

"The Tree of Beginning if the source of all life in our world. It's where the origin Mew came into existence and where is aura is birthed…life and death are both new beginnings. The Tree of Beginning is where she was born and where she died. It made the most sense."

"Mise," the Illumise empathetically replied.

"Minununun?" asked Minun.

"I don't know if Michio and I will ever return to the Tree," Annastasia sighed. "But if we do, we will bring you."

"Plus, plu," Plusle asserted.

"Yes, I promise to take both of you with me if we go."

"But don't…don't count on it," said Michio. "I don't ever want to go there again."

They spent some time in silence. Some of the group released positive thoughts and hopes into the atmosphere while others, particularly Michio, dwelled on regret. Sensing this, Annastasia held his hand and Plusle hugged his leg.

"We will have our own tree here one day," said Annastasia, breaking the ten-minute quiescence. "It will take a while, but not forever."

Annastasia touched the ground where the seeds lay. Four sprouts rose from the surface.

"That's…pretty cool," said Michio.

"Sure is," Annastasia murmured. She stared at the ground for a moment then turned to Michio. "Do you want to go back to the house now?"

"I thought you'd want to stay out all night."

"I do. But you prefer the great indoors, and that is fine with me."

"But…" Michio looked around, searching for an excuse among the trees. "…it's beautiful up here...even though it's sorta dark and creepy…I know you'd rather stay out…and I know I do too."

"Are you sure?"

"Would I say it if I wasn't sure?"

"Of course not. In that case, let's go back for some blankets, pillows, water, and meds."

The Pokémon followed Annastasia and Michio as they made their way down the forested knoll together. Thirty minutes later they were back at the estate.

They found that several Pidgey, Weedle, Oddish, Bellossom, Rattata, and Caterpie had entered the house while they were gone.

"I suppose they saw me unlock the front door and decided to come in," Annastasia reasoned. She lifted an Oddish. "Is that it?"

"Oddissssh," it replied with a weak smile.

"I wonder if…" Michio started, his voice lingering on the last syllable.

"…if they think my great-grandparents came back," said Annastasia, finishing his thought. "Maybe. So…forest friends…Linda and Paul aren't coming back. They can't. They died. They were old, and when humans get to be too old, they die. That's just how it is."

It was unclear if the wild Pokémon understood death, but they easily picked up on the sorrow and finality in the statement.

"You can stay here if you want," Annastasia continued. "I can show you how to use the key to the house. If you ever want to come in…to escape danger, to avoid foul weather, to reminisce…I would totally approve. Then, when I move in, I will take good care of you. But for the next few months, I'll be gone."

"Tari Altaria tarrrrr tar," said Bleu, providing a more definitive translation.

The wild Pokémon were excited at the concept of a caretaker. Detecting this, Annastasia pulled some homemade Pokémon food—a gift from Brock, Autumn, and Takeshi—out of her bag. She took bowls from the cupboard and filled enough for all of them to share.

"You can eat this. We are going to sleep outside tonight, but you can stay inside if you want," she told the Pokémon. "Michio, before we go back…let's take a walk."

The Oddish, Bellossom, Rattata, Weedle, Caterpie, Pidgey, Peruva, Plusle, Minun, Bleu, and Lil-G ate the food gratefully while Michio and Annastasia headed up the stairs alone.

"Technically, we can have any room we want," Annastasia said as they strode down the main hallway. "My grandparents' bedroom is the second largest. The one I usually stay in is colossal too, but it doesn't have its own bathroom. Of course, you can have your own room too; we don't have to share."

"I thought you liked sharing a room," Michio responded, reasonably muddled and miffed. "You don't want to do that anymore?"

Annastasia noted that this was far from the first time Michio brandished his defenses, exposing insecurities indubitable only to her. It was feeding her own hesitancies—and she wanted it to rest.

"I didn't mean to make it sound as though I'd prefer separate rooms," Annastasia replied. "I like staying with you. I figured since we are going likely going to be here a while, you might want your own space. You like your alone time—and that's okay."

"Oh," he responded, his mind and body relaxing. "Having my own room could be good for just storage—storage for the stuff I'm hoping to get back from Alola, assuming my parents didn't throw it all away already. But…if it's up to me…can we keep doing what we're doing? I like—love—the way you make me feel."

"Awe. Ditto, my friend."

'If only everyone else knew this sweet side,' she thought. 'Oh, how the world would react.'

"This place is enormous," Michio remarked. "Five stories, 100,000 square feet, two fifty-meter indoor pools, multiple restaurant-sized kitchens…it's just as bad as my parents' house."

"It's 'just as bad'?" Annastasia replied, mostly joking.

"I like luxury—obviously—but enough is fucking enough. The maintenance on this place must cost a fortune—a fortune I don't think we have."

"We're make passing income off stocks and bonds."

"Stocks in what, crime syndicates?"

Annastasia shook her head. "That was my grandparents' way, not my great-grandparents' way. Nanny was a stock market savant. The investments are copacetic—meritable, even. They didn't leave us with inescapable debt—or guilt."

"You say 'we' when you mean 'I'— 'I' as in 'you', not me included."

"So, you're not family, you're still relatively new in my life, and you have a questionable past. Those are not what I call obstacles. I live in a soft world underwritten by an aversion to distortion; if I want trouble, I know just where to find it. You belong here and that won't change even if you decide to leave. This isn't an ultimatum. You're young too, Michio, leave your life unsettled."

He bowed and saluted her. "Yes, Chief."

"I like that, 'Chief'…don't worry about the financial cost of this place. Since I've inherited it, I've gotten enough money from investments to not only cover the bills, but to have spending cash. It's how the rich get richer; it's not fair, but it is a fact."

"You're eighteen, not thirty-eight, right?"

"I'm eighteen most of the time."

They continued down the corridors. Art, modish to centuries young, filled the winding strips with befitting warmth. The carpet knew Annastasia's feet—and the wheels of her tricycle. Imprints from Jay's heels and Flaafy hooves were present too. Lil-G and Bleu recognized the essence, old and new, of the hall leading to the children's quarters.

"I was thinking about how I definitely wouldn't want to live in such a large place alone," Annastasia murmured. She paused to gaze at a framed photograph of her, Bleu, and Lil-G in holiday fashion. "That is why I was thinking of bringing all the fusion Pokémon up here. They don't get along with the others in Gary's terrarium, and here there is so much open space…it could be the next-best place since we cannot release them into the wild. I can take care of them, and take care of the sick and injured wild Pokémon too, just as Nanny and Pop-pop did. And since this land is my territory and not the Pokémon's, I do have to worry about settling land disputes. It's a new pallet for us to paint."

"You pick the colors and I'll help with the painting," Michio replied.

"Deal—though in time, I hope you'll pick your own colors too."

"I probably will."

They came upon a trio of doors. It was obvious to whom each door belonged, considering one had three-dozen photos of Flaafy, another had posters of K-Pop icons and designer bursas, and the third was simple, with just a single unframed photo of Annastasia and her Pokémon.

"So, shall we?" Annastasia asked, placing a hand on the knob.

"But that's obviously Jay's room," Michio replied.

Annastasia snorted and opened her door. Michio had never seen this room before; they typically stayed in the guest area. This place was a scene from her childhood, embellished with bare-faced poems, modest artwork, cherished curios, and timeworn clothing. It was such an inmate exposure, that Michio shyly looked away. Annastasia laughed at this. She looped her arm around his elbow.

"I'm just going to grab some underwear and then we can go to the guest room," she giggled.

"Sounds great," he breathed.

They continued their stroll through the house until they reached another nook.

"I don't know if you remember, but this is where most of the guests usually stay," said Annastasia. "I often stay in the one on the end."

"You said your grandparents had the second-largest bedroom. Which one is the largest?" Michio asked.

"That would be my papa's old room. He'd stay in it when he used to visit them in the summer. It has a basketball court and a king-sized bunk bed perfect for our Pokémon. I suppose we can stay in there. It's not like he uses it anymore…"

"If this is our house for a little while and he doesn't mind, then why not?"

"I would actually like to this that this you be our house forever…Not just 'a little while'."

"All the more reason."

Annastasia led him and the Pokémon down a different hallway. This room was separate from the others. She pushed open the large wooden door.

"Wow," Michio gasped. "It's fucking huge."

"Lieeee," said Peruva, gaping with equal astoundment.

"I've only been in this room a few times," Annastasia said as she looked around her father's old bedroom. "As I was saying, Papa wouldn't mind."

Michio observed the photos James had posted on one of the walls. Many of them featured Jessie, Meowth, Annastasia, Jay, Jocelyn, Lucy, Lily, Logan, Rumika, Mondo's family, and their Pokémon throughout different stages of their lives, as well as pictures of him, Jessie, and Meowth that looked like they were taken a long time before any of the kids were even born.

"The only ones missing are Rose and Silver," Michio remarked.

"My parents haven't stayed in this room since the twins were born," Annastasia explained. "I want to leave these up but add our own. Lily and Logan took a bunch of us; I have you and Scarlett, you battling Misty, our traveling group with all of our Pokémon, the two of us sleeping together—"

"—They took a picture of us sleeping together? When?"

"From one of the many times we fell asleep outside together. Lily and Maya always snuck out at night too, remember? Don't worry, it's a cute picture, nothing embarrassing."

"Okay…"

He wondered what she would consider to be an embarrassing picture of the two of them together.

Michio looked up at one of the shelves and noticed a collection of photo albums.

"Those are from my father's childhood," Annastasia explained as he picked up a jaded one. "He kept them here all this time. I've seen most of the pictures. You can open it if you want."

Michio lifted the cover to reveal the first page. Annastasia watched over his shoulder. It was a photo of James as a baby.

"Is this Jay?" Michio asked.

Annastasia giggled. "Read the caption."

Every photo was dated and had a small description. According to this one, James was four months old.

"I wasn't paying attention. It's kinda weird to have someone who looks like you but smaller," he commented.

"You look a little bit like your brother," Annastasia responded. "And I don't think that's weird. That is the way families are. Most babies look like their daddies."

"Not me. There's a reason for that, though."

"What reason?"

"I don't think Makoa is my real father."

"What makes you think that?"

"We don't, and never have, looked alike. And he and my mother had a lot of issues. They cheated on each other a lot, especially right before I was born."

"That's so sad. I'm sorry it's like that for you. Is that what your mother thinks?"

"Yes, but she isn't going to ever admit it to anyone but me, even though I'm certain that most of my relatives already know."

"It's sad that their relationship was like that, but even if he isn't your real father, he still raised you; he's your dad in that way."

"I suppose. It's not that I care."

"Yes, you do, otherwise you wouldn't have mentioned it."

"I'm not going to get upset because he hates me. He never liked me, never will, and the only reason they bought us a car was to bribe me. That's why we are going to visit them. No visit, no car, and we needed a car. I'd rather you not go near them at all. They aren't going to respond to you well at all, I can't emphasize that enough. They were only nice to you earlier because they were looking down on you as a rocket grunt whose only job was to supervise my dumb trip through Kanto. That's what's pissing me off the most about having to go there."

"Don't get angry over things you can't change. Especially tonight. Tonight, want us to just relax and focus on the positive things. If you really want to, we can talk about this some other time."

Annastasia threw a few items into her backpack while Michio got cleaned up. Then they switched places. After that they each grabbed a pillow and a blanket.

"These will have to do, since there aren't any sleeping bags here," said Annastasia "Are you sure you want to go outside?"

"It's your special spot. And you were right; I did come to appreciate it. It just took a while," he responded.

Bleu flew them up the mountain. When they got to the spot, they discovered the Volbeat and Illumise waiting for them.

" Nē, tomodachi," Annastasia greeted them. "Why are you still here?"

"Lumise mise," the leading Illumise explained.

"Lieparrr?" Peruva asked.

"You want to spend time with us before and during our journey in Alola," Annastasia murmured. "I'd love that."

The wild Pokémon cheered and hugged Annastasia, Michio, and their Pokémon. Then the firefly Pokémon flew away, singing and waving as they disappeared into the darkness. Peruva rubbed up against Michio before she, Mienshao, Bleu, Lil-G, Minun, and Plusle followed the others into the woods.

"What did they say?" Michio asked Annastasia.

"They wanted to give us some time to be alone for once. It rarely happens. Even when there aren't any other people around, the Pokémon are usually with us, my family is around, or Sandshrew is spying."

"That is nice. I…well…I was sorta hoping they would do that."

"Ditto."

Annastasia laid two blankets and two pillows upon the grass. She invited Michio lie beside her and stargaze. They talked about their Pokémon and the children under their wings until it was nearly midnight. At that point, Annastasia rolled onto her side and pulled Michio towards her, embracing him with her entire body.

"On a scale from one to ten, how much do you trust me?" Annastasia queried.

"Random much?" he asked.

"It's relevant."

"Usually more than ten, but since you're asking me in such a weird way, I'm dropping it a few bars. What are you going to do? Are you going to play another prank on me? It wasn't funny the last time."

"Michio, that was one time. It's not my fault you can be so gullible. Besides it was harmless. You laughed too; I saw you."

"Promise you won't do anything to hurt or scare me?"

Annastasia rolled her eyes. "You are acting like a child now. But I like this part of you. I promise I won't hurt or scare you. At least I think I won't. Just trust me, please."

"Okay, I trust you."

"So…sit up and face me, then close your eyes."

Michio hesitantly did what she requested.

Annastasia quickly tied her long hair back and reached into her bag. Michio heard her rummaging through her stuff and grew even more nervous.

"You're fucking scaring me," he confided.

"That isn't my intention," she replied.

He didn't open his eyes, but he could feel Annastasia staring directly at him. Despite her comforting words, he still felt the same anxiety that normally vanished during moments like this.

"There is nothing to be scared of, relax," she hummed.

There was an abrupt crash of thunder. A moment after they opened their eyes, violent rain came barreling down.

"Dammit! The weather totally ruined my moment," Annastasia groaned as she and Michio sprinted under the nearest tree.

As they stood crestfallen and soaked, Michio looked up and saw a hulking wraithlike figure, scarcely visible against the lusterless blue sky. The ominous object was gone before Michio could fully process the image.

"The weather app on my phone said it wasn't going to rain for at least twenty-four more hours," said Annastasia.

"This sucks. Sorry, Annie," Michio replied.

"It's…fine."

Annastasia, Michio, and their Pokémon made their back way to the house. The sky was pitch black and the rain was coming down hard the entire trip. When they saw the emergency light they ran under the covered porch. Annastasia roughly opened the front door and flicked on the lights. The wild Pokémon they greeted earlier were there.

"We don't want to sleep in the rain so we're going to stay here tonight," Annastasia explained.

The Pokémon nodded their heads and went back to minding their own business. Annastasia and Michio went back up to the room they decided was now theirs. They changed into dry clothes and then climbed up onto the top of the king-sized bunk. Annastasia closed her eyes, content to just lie there, but Michio was anxious to talk about what happened right before the rain started—and the menacing figure he witnessed in the sky.

"What were you going to do to me?" Michio questioned. "Why did I have to close my eyes?"

"I had a feeling you were going to ask me that," she mumbled, evading his gaze.

"Well, obviously. You built up the suspense. Are you saying you did it for no reason?"

"I'd rather leave it a mystery."

"Okay."

Annastasia could feel the uneasiness swallowing him.

"I have something to give you," she admitted.

"Like what, a present?" he asked.

"Maybe."

"Oh. Well, that would've been fine with me."

"I'll keep that in mind…for next time".

Michio raised an eyebrow, but Annastasia didn't seem to notice or care. She snuggled into the place between his shoulder and chin, assuming he would eventually stop thinking about the comment.

"I…I have been thinking about something. It has been bothering me for a while," Michio said just as she nearly fell asleep.

"Tell me about it," she yawned.

"Do you think that thing we just saw was the harbinger?"

"What thing? A harbinger for what?"

"The shadow thing that flew over us. You know, that was in the sky. You had to have seen it too. It was fucking huge. I think it was the thing Helena told me about."

"I didn't see anything. I honestly have no idea what you are talking about.

"When we were up at the spot, I saw a big black thing in the sky. Didn't you see it?"

"No, but I was wondering why you were staring at the sky like that. You saw something that you think is an omen. Where'd that come from?"

"Forget it. It's just between that and what Helena said last time we saw her…"

"…about meeting us in Alola?"

"No. She warned me about something. She said I had to be careful and that there was going to be a sign that I should look out for…I don't remember completely. I do remember that it was this weird voodoo witch conspiracy thing."

Annastasia looked at him quizzically.

"I don't know what it's called," Michio mumbled.

"Supernatural stuff?" she guessed.

"Something like that."

"We don't have to worry about voodoo conspiracy witch thing. Helena was probably just teasing you."

"Usually, taking her advice is a good idea."

"Fine. Just don't get all worried about it. The last thing we need is panic. Panic and worry can be just as dangerous as a curse."

Annastasia folded her hands behind her head and lied facing upwards. He followed her lead.

"Goodnight," she said with a yawn, closing her eyes.

"Goodnight," Michio whispered. "I um…you know, you."

Annastasia opened one eye briefly.

"Ditto," she replied.

XO

In the Next Chapter:

- Another abode

- Michio sulks (and actually sorta has a reason for it)

- Amb's war with Xatu begins

XO

Trivia:

- The photo album that Michio picked up when he and Annastasia went into James' guestroom is the same photo album Jessie 'stole' in SBY.

AN: Leave a review if you can, please! Those messages help me to become a better writer. I'd love that:)