Ah, Silverspring. Nearly six months after I had left it, my hometown was still what it had always been: a small town that served as a hub for the estates of dozens of wealthy landowners. That it bore home to the only private Pokemon academy on the continent, and one of ony a few in the entire world, was no coincidence.

In this bitterly cold weather, I knew, about eighty percent of the area's population would have packed up and headed to their winter homes in the equatorial regions of Johto or Kanto, or in the islands somewhere. Those left behind were a hardy few, usually coming from the few rich families native to a cold climate. Josh's father was among them, but with the academy being out of session for the winter, there was little chance I would run into any representatives of that family.

Or so I thought.

My first hint that James might have something else in mind was when he didn't stop the truck's engine upon arrival at the town's Pokemon Center. I saw him say something to King, who was still chuckling from what had apparently been a vastly amusing conversation on the ride up, and then King got out of the truck, followed by the two vulpine members of the party. James then rolled down his window and stuck his head out to address me.

"Ponyta, are you up for a little side journey before we get settled in?"

((That depends on where we're going, I guess.))

"You've got a problem that's connected to this town. We're going to solve it once and for all."

I knew what he was talking about, of course. I didn't see how he thought he could fix things, but I had learned not to underestimate James. If he thought there was something he could do, I was game to find out what it was.

((It's a pretty fair distance to the Kettlebaum estate, if that's where we're going,)) I offered as we got moving.

"Do you want to ride?" James asked.

((No, I'm fine. I just wanted to make sure you knew.))

He laughed and gave a mysterious smile. "Ah. Well, don't worry about that. I've been out this way before."

The trip gave me time to think, something I could never seem to have too much of. Things had moved so quickly since we had left Courtney's parents', my mind was only beginning to grasp everything that had transpired. Courtney-- what I was beginning to think of as her betrayal. I just couldn't cope with the idea that she would not be joining us again. I was beginning to realize that, without knowing it, I had built up plans in my head of how the future would look-- not just for me, but for everyone whose life had intertwined with my own.

Then there was Ashley. Ashley had changed in multiple ways, of course, and even though she was still the Pokemon I had considered a friend, at the same time she wasn't. It was confusing.

Why did it always seem like love was the source of everyone's problems?

Now you're being stupid, I rebuked myself sharply. Or was I?

I had been completely wrong about Courtney; that much was obvious. What if I was also wrong about Snap?

"What's on your mind?"

I was a little annoyed that James had made it his business to intrude into my thoughts. ((Pay attention to the road,)) I snapped.

"There aren't any other people for miles. Besides, I'm good at multitasking. So what's on your mind?"

Darn. ((Courtney,)) I half-lied.

"Ah, Courtney." James appeared solemn, which wasn't unusual for him as such. "Interesting girl. From what I saw of her, she's very good-hearted, and she knows a lot about Pokemon. I don't think I'd want to be friends with her, though. Something tells me she's going to leave a trail of destruction behind her as she goes through life."

((What makes you say that?))

"Eh. I have sort of a, what shall we call it? A sixth sense?-- a sixth sense about these things. King's better at it than I am, but he also possesses much worse judgement than I do about how to actually deal with these people. That's why he's had more than his fair share of problems."

I was sorely tempted to ask for more information, but did not do so, out of respect for King.

"I don't always manage to avoid them myself, but I like to think I'm learning. Take my wife, for example."

((You're not married, are you?))

"Excuse me. My ex-wife. Anyway, we both knew all about the other when we got married, but we didn't think it'd become a problem. She worked for a huge public-relations firm in Kanto. About a year after the marriage, a rather large scandal erupted that involved the PLA on several levels. Being married to me was suddenly a bad career choice." He sounded wistful. "It was always about her career."

((Wow.)) Some people's priorities made no sense to me, no matter how hard I tried. ((I guess you were pretty angry with her, huh?))

"At first. But, you know, the more I thought about it, the more it didn't really bother me. I knew what I was getting into, and life's too short for recriminations. We're both better off single than we were being married."

((That's your attitude? Not to be judgemental, but wasn't there any chance you could have fixed things up?))

"Ponyta, it's the case with a lot of things in this world-- there's often a fine line between fixing something and getting a replacement. The sooner you learn to judge where that line is, the more effort and frustration you save yourself. Whoa, look out-- there's a tree trunk or something under the snow."

I heeded his warning and nimbly evaded the hard-to-see obstacle.

"Anyway, the other important thing to keep in mind is that things change. Some things stay the same for longer than others, some keep going indefinitely, but the potential for change is always there. I'm actually sort of lucky in that I've only suffered a major betrayal once in my life. King could probably tell you a lot more. If you really want to hear, that is."

After a few more minutes I confessed, ((I don't want to end up like Courtney.))

"End up like Courtney… how do you mean?"

((Unhappy. Well, not really unhappy, but not as happy as I could be. Sacrificing things that I want to feel better in the short run.))

"And what makes you think you'd end up that way?"

It took me a couple of heartbeats to come up with an answer better than because it feels like it, but something did come to mind. ((Because I'm impatient that way sometimes.))

"I see." James rested one arm on the windowsill of the truck and continued driving with the other hand. "Well, since you've recognized this fear, you can prevent it from happening if you want to. That's the beauty of self-determination."

((But what if I'm not strong enough?))

"Then there are those of us who will help you."

The trees on the right side of the road suddenly parted, revealing a large mansion set well back from the highway, its roof and eaves thickly coated with snow. Lights were burning in most of the windows. Although it too lay under a heavy layer of snow, I knew that there was a gravel drive leading away from the road and ending in a circle in front of the house.

We had arrived.

***

Visitors to the house were a relatively rare event, more so since most of the south's residents detested the snow. Thus it was that both male members of the household had stepped outdoors and were waiting for us even before James stopped the motor. Reaching under the passenger seat and grabbing something that turned out to be a thin manila folder, he climbed out and walked around the front of the truck to confront Josh and his father.

The two hadn't changed in six months. The father was wearing an expression I had never seen on him before, a mixture of tiredness and resignation that I assumed was provoked by James' presence, although I wasn't sure why. Josh didn't seem to notice James at all, instead staring at me with an expression that spoke of both fear and hatred. He recognized me, then. I didn't particularly care.

"Mr. Schlafer." Henry's voice was as tired as his expression. "A pleasure, as always. You have something for me, I suppose?"

"I do indeed." James stepped forward and proffered the folder. "As always, these copies are simply for your own reference, and I retain the original in my records should you decide to renege on our agreement."

"And the terms this time?"

James waved a hand at me. "This Ponyta belongs to you in theory, although you have not seen her for some time. No more. Free her."

Josh appeared to be shaken out of his reverie at the mention of me, and looked up at his father. "Dad-"

"Hush." The elder Kettlebaum nodded slowly. "Consider it done, Mr. Schlafer."

Immediately, James spun in place and walked back towards the truck. "Come on, Ponyta. We're leaving."

Josh was glaring at me again. I couldn't leave without doing something to wipe that smile off his face.

"Ponyta?"

The old tingling was beginning to tickle my extremities even as anger rose in me. This time more than ever before, the energy was coherent, flowing smoothly, integrating itself with my senses. It spoke to me of power. All I had to do was reach… out… and… touch--

There was a crackle. Josh let out a yelp and his entire body twitched violently, pitching him backwards into the snow. He sat up and scratched furiously at his backside, staring at me in shock. His father looked from him to me and back again, equally astonished.

Only then did I turn away and follow James as he drove back down the drive. I didn't look back.

***

I didn't speak until we had turned back onto the road. ((You blackmailed him back there, didn't you?))

"Close enough. I possess a great deal of sensitive information concerning Mr. Kettlebaum's many business relationships. Every now and then I need something from him, or from someone else that I have similar information on, so I offer them my promise not to reveal a certain set of data. He knows I'll keep my promise, otherwise he'd never deal with me again."

((But you don't ever let them have all of it?))

"Of course not. Then I would have nothing further to enforce their cooperation. He'll be dead before I have nothing further to use against him, and he knows it, but he goes along anyway because of the simple fact that I would have no reason to keep the information secret if it was not worth something to me."

((That's not very nice.))

"Men like him aren't very nice."

***

It was approaching noon when we arrived back at the Pokemon Center. This time James parked the truck for real, in a small side lot whose very presence betrayed the affluence of the area-- cars were something less-than-rare around here. We went inside in search of our fellow travelers.

The Center itself, which I had been inside before, was something of an oddity. I suspected that the building had not originally been constructed for its current purpose, as while all the normal areas and services were present, the layout was unusual. The front had barely enough room for the desk and the machine that rejuvenated mildly injured Pokemon. The hallway to the medical care unit led off to the left, not the right as was customary, and the opposite hallway to the living areas wound around half the building before arriving at its destination. It made a serviceable Center, to be sure, but only an idiot would have designed it this way from the ground up.

At least it had heat. The snow might have been unexpected, but the residents of the south were no strangers to chilly winters, thank goodness.

It was in the back rooms where we found the trio of individuals we had left behind. Ashley appeared to be sleeping on one of the couches facing the TV in the rec room, while King and Alex were seated on the other couch, watching some sort of talk show. The words "SILPH ETHICS" were displayed across the bottom of the screen, but the reference was lost on me.

"Did you work your magic?" asked King without so much as turning his head to see who was approaching.

"Sure enough." James removed his coat and draped it over the back of the couch, then sat down with a sigh. "The PRF continues with its mission-- fixing the world, one day at a time."

"So what now?"

"Well, first I've got about two years' worth of office supplies to drop off with Nobe. Once we're done with that, I figured I'd let you take over the planning for a while. Where do you want to go?"

King seemed to take his time replying, so I turned my attention to Alex and Ashley. The former was riveted to the TV, apparently completely captivated by whatever was transpiring between the three dull-looking humans on the screen. The latter was still snoozing happily away. Yup, still pregnant, too.

"--League Championships," King was saying. "All week. Have you ever been there?"

James shook his head no. "We have a booth, of course, but Sisi always runs it. I've never had to go myself."

"I went one year. I'd like to go again. It's not just the competition, although that's certainly worth seeing, but it's everything. Shows, seminars, vendors. It's truly something not to be missed."

"Good enough. That's our next stop, then. Since it starts tomorrow, we'll probably miss the opening ceremonies, but as you said, there's a week. No rush. In the meantime, what about some food?"

King's answer was to stand up. "If you'll stay here with everybody, I'll go across the street. I think I saw a sign that said something about waffles…"

***

James' first act as the new ruler of the room was to change the channel, much to Alex's dismay. With the television's stranglehold on him broken, he seemed to quickly lose interest in the new program and instead turned to me for conversation.

((So what were you two up to, there? You were gone for a while.))

((We went to see my old owner,)) I said. ((James made him agree to release ownership of me. So… I guess now I'm free in name as well as in fact.))

((Really? That's so wonderful!)) He seemed really happy. ((Uh, I guess you can tell that we've just been hanging around here. Do you want me to show you around this place? I've had time to explore.))

((No thanks. I've been here before.))

((You sure? There might be some things that they changed. C'mon, it'll give us something to do, anyway.))

It was only six months, but… ((Okay, sure, I guess.))

((Great! Let me show you the sleeping area first.))

I had actually never seen this part before, seeing as how my previous excursions to this Center had never consisted of staying overnight. It seemed to be more or less functionally identical to the common sleeping area I had seen before, in the Radjin Pokemon Center. This one was above ground, but that made very little difference from what I could tell.

((Still no private rooms here, eh?)) I asked.

((I guess not. They probably don't have room for them, and excavating the space underground would probably be too much work for an established structure. There's nobody here but us anyway, so I guess there's not too much demand either.))

((Yeah.))

((Ponyta…))

Something in the way he said my name told me that this wasn't going to be something I would enjoy having to deal with. ((Yes?))

((A few months ago, I asked you if you had a boyfriend. You gave me the impression that you were waiting to see how things worked out with someone… Do you remember that conversation at all?))

((Yes. Look, Alex-))

((And now that it's been a few months, I was wondering if you still consider yourself to be in that relationship.))

((Yes. Yes, I do.))

((Oh.)) He seemed disappointed.

((Alex, no offense, but just what do you mean by asking me a question like that?)) His intent was clear enough, but I was genuinely puzzled by what had prompted it in the first place.

((It's just that I think we'd be good together.))

((Uh huh.)) I couldn't help but sound skeptical. ((And you've never said anything about this before?))

((I was still seeing other Pokemon then.))

((Yeah, that much was completely obvious, I assure you.)) The shock of what he was saying to me had begun to subside, and I was able to collect the words I needed to reply with. ((Alex, I like having you as a friend, but the fact is that as far as relationships go, you're simply not my type. Okay?))

((How do you know I'm not your type? For that matter, what is your type?))

I swallowed to moisten my dry throat. ((Not… not you. You're not my type.))

((That's not a fair answer.))

((It's not a fair question.))

((Ponyta…)) He sounded more hurt than anything else. ((If you don't want me, that's one thing, but I would think after all the time we've spent together… I thought we were going to be honest with each other?))

This was getting to be too much. I couldn't handle it.

((ALEX!)) I fairly shouted. He jumped. I didn't raise my voice very often, but when I did, it had the desired effect. ((Go away. I mean it! Leave me alone!)) In my mind I was already planning what I would do if he failed to comply: a carefully guided kick, a glancing blow that would cause no injury but would be remembered for a few days…

It wasn't necessary. He stared at me, obviously spooked, and then darted to one side and ran away without so much as another word. Slowly, I could feel my pounding pulse rate returning to normal. The inexplicable sense of a threat was gone, but I was left feeling more confused.

On the face of it, it seemed simple enough. Alex, through no fault of his own, had stumbled upon very sensitive territory, and my anxiety level had spiked. It seemed like there was more to it than that, though. Immensely troubled, I lay down in one of the corners of the empty room and tried to think.

This, naturally, was Ashley's cue to come by and try to initiate conversation.

((Hello there,)) she said, plopping down next to me and stretching out her legs as though it was a foregone conclusion that we would be conversing for a considerable time to come. ((You want to tell me what's up?))

((How do you know something's up?))

Ashley sighed and continued talking in a tone of voice that suggested she was speaking to a small child. ((You and Alex left the room together. Not five minutes later, he comes back, looking as though he's about to cry. So what's up?))

I glared at Ashley. Not much got by her, that was for sure. ((Are you sure you're not psychic too?)) I muttered.

((Huh? Who's psychic?))

((Never mind. Weren't you supposed to be asleep?))

((Who can sleep? I was resting with my eyes closed.))

I had no way of knowing how close to the truth that was, but in any event, stalling wasn't going to help matters any. ((Alex… made a pass at me, I guess,)) I said, uncertain of how complete a description that was.

((I know the feeling. And?))

((And?)) I nearly exploded. ((What are you saying-- that I should have done something else? That I should be the slightest bit receptive to him? Do you know how many girlfriends he's had in the time I've known him?))

((Ponyta-))

((Do you know how many boyfriends he's had in the time I've known him?))

((Ponyta! Calm yourself.))

I did so, with difficulty.

((Nobody's saying you have to let him do anything. Really, how could you think that was what I meant?))

((But then-))

((All I'm saying is that just because you have to push him away doesn't mean you have to reduce him to tears. Alex is annoying-- Legends, he's annoying-- but he's decent. I've had to deliver the verbal equivalent of a bucket of cold water many times, and he's always taken it with a nod and a smart remark. What in the world did you do to him, Ponyta?))

Ah. ((I… yelled at him,)) I admitted after a few moments of staring at my hooves. ((Quite loudly, in fact. He was treading on sensitive territory.))

((I see. Do you mind if I ask what it was?))

((I'm already in love.))

Ashley smiled. ((It's a fault most beings are guilty of at some point in their life-- but you'll have to excuse me if I still don't see how it rates an emotional outburst on your part. I'm sorry, Ponyta, I'm just confused. I see two of my friends suffering and I don't understand why.))

In the moment, the fact that she had just called Alex a friend was lost on me. ((I'm… in love… with Snap,)) I bit out with difficulty.

((With… Snap?))

((Yes!)) Words spilled out of me on the heels of this sudden affirmation. ((I know you probably can't understand it, Ashley, but as far as I'm concerned, he's the most perfect being ever to walk this planet. I look at other Fire Pokemon and I don't see anything special-- no offense-)) Her brow furrowed at this, but she didn't seem angry, so I plowed on. ((-but I look at him, and I see the most beautiful thing ever. Do you know how that is? To just want to belong to someone, now and forever?))

((Ponyta, I'm very happy for you.))

((You are?))

((Yes. And I'm sure I'd be much happier still if only I had the foggiest idea of just who this Snap is.))

((Oops.)) Unbidden, a dam appeared out of nowhere. ((You, uh… you really don't know who he is?))

((No.))

And then my courage failed me again. ((You'll like him. I'm going to introduce you to him,)) was all I heard myself saying.

Ashley didn't seem any less confused after hearing that. But she said, ((Okay.)) And she left it at that, which both relieved me and puzzled me greatly. It wasn't at all like her to let something go so easily. ((Ahem… now that we've worked that out, I think you owe Alex an apology, if not an explanation.))

((He'll have to settle for an apology,)) I said firmly.

((I'm sure that will be sufficient.))

***

The dream returned that night. Once again I struggled to make a successful trip across the bridge, to where I was sure safety lay. Time and again I failed, but that never stopped me from trying anew. The reward was the best thing in the world, while the punishment for failure was the worst. Being sandwiched between extremes left one with precious few options.

I dwelt there until something stirred me, a series of sounds from somewhere outside the hellish realm. My eyes slitted open and consciousness intruded once more. The room in the Pokemon Center was still dark, but there was movement in the shadows. I opened my mouth and was about to speak when I felt a hand on my neck.

"Shh, Ponyta. It's okay. I'll tell you about it in the morning. For now, it's best if you just go back to sleep."

The voice was King's. I did not protest, instead quietly returning to what would hopefully be a now-dreamless sleep.