I awoke the next morning to a strong smell of smoke. Odd.

I peeked out over the edge of my little home. I saw Charizard down on the ground far below me, frying breakfast with his tail. Drissor and Riotaye were chatting casually, and Reina was training her other Pokemon, apparently Tauros, Raichu, Kadabra, and Vileplume.

I flew down, yawning.

What's cooking? I asked. Everyone looked over at me.

"MY breakfast." Reina said smugly. When I looked devastated she laughed. "Just joking. That's sausage. We humans eat it, and I thought you guys would like to try it. Well, Drissor and Charizard have already tried it, since they've been traveling with me long enough… Riotaye? Lass?"

I'll try it. I groaned, rubbing sand out of my eyes.

"Great." She said, and plopped down the strange meat-like stuff in front of us.

I took a bite. Not bad.

"Woah, slow down." Reina said. "I have more."

Good. I murmured between bites.

After finishing breakfast, Reina asked if we would mind going down to the side of the cliff for a while. She said something would be happening soon, and we wouldn't want to miss it.

We climbed over to the edge, then looked around.

I don't see anything. I said slowly.

"It won't happen for a while, but it's good to be early." Reina replied. "Charizard?"

Charizard was still struggling for a seat. There wasn't a lot of room on the jagged cliff platform that was sticking out.

"Come sit by me." Reina replied. I was already sitting next to her, so I scooted over to make room for 'Zard.

On my other side was Riotaye, and then Drissor. I was talking quietly with my brother. We still weren't used to seeing each other around after all these millions of years.

"Wait! All of you, look!" Said Reina. We all snapped our heads toward the sight in front of us.

Hundreds of Ledian and Ledyba appeared, Ledyba mostly, spreading clouds of sparkling pollen in the grass. It seemed to glitter in the sun.

Wow… I said, transfixed.

Neat… said Charizard.

Cool… Came Drissor.

Awesome… Murmured Riotaye.

While everyone else watched the Ledyba gather, I noticed a strange presence somehow. I don't really know how I knew… some feeling, that made me know that we were not alone.

Do you feel a bit… odd… all of a sudden? I murmured to Riotaye.

Nope. He replied, barely paying attention to me.

I saw a strange shadow on the ground. Instantly I snapped my head up.

Up there, flying over the place, was the outline of a huge bird. Light of all colors seemed to trail after it.

GUYS!!! I shouted. LOOK UP THERE!!!

Everyone looked in the direction I was looking.

Where? I don't see anything. Charizard said, confused.

Just the clouds. Riotaye agreed.

Don't you see that big bird? I asked.

"Are you serious?" Asked Reina. "Perhaps I should've told you…"

**********

We all gathered by Reina to hear what she had to say. We were in my home, since it was raining and none of my friends really liked the rain, Charizard in the least.

"Lasrea, tell us again, what did you see?" Asked Reina.

I saw a REALLY big bird. I said smugly. And it was colorful, and there were all these rainbows trailing behind it!

"An omen." Reina said immediately.

Huh? We all demanded.

Reina started to explain. "Whenever someone sees Ho-oh during the time of when the morning Pokemon gather, it is a sign that something truly significant will happen to them, very soon."

That's it? I asked, slightly disappointed.

"None of us saw it." Reina said, pointing at all of the others. "It's a strange way nature works…"

I wasn't really sure what she meant…

A few nights later, things were really quite the same. No one was being that strange anymore, so I was assuming we could be happy again…

Until I got the news.

Officer Jenny came to that very valley, wanting to speak to Reina. We weren't allowed to hear their conversation.

After a while, Jen and Rei came out, smiling.

"Guys!" Reina yelled to us, a look of excitement upon her now-adventurous face.

Yeah? I asked.

Everyone else came over.

"We're allowed to go back into training!" Reina cried happily.

I stared blankly at her. "We- who- what-when-where-why-whaaa-?" I demanded.

Somehow she knew what I was thinking even without my senseless jibberish.

"We're going back into training! We're no longer exiles!" Reina cried. "They brought our case up before the Pokemon League, and we're allowed to go back!"

That made my heart sink. I thought we could be happy here… No, we're going back on a journey.

Lass? What's wrong? Drissor asked.

I-I… I… Sort of… wished we could stay here… I muttered.

"You'll like it, Lasrea." Reina said, still giddy. "You'll get tons stronger! Maybe I'll train you to Level 100! How'd you like that?"

Being stronger. It wasn't on my wish list, but it sort of sounded appealing.

Reina's Pokemon were celebrating too. Riotaye and I stared at them.

"All of you, return!" Reina said before recalling everyone but me and my brother into our balls.

"You still don't like to be in a ball, right?" Reina asked me.

I think I can manage. I shuddered, recalling the incident last time. What if history repeated itself? I didn't think we'd get another chance.

"Sure?"

Yup.

I went back in that prison, but it seemed a lot better than when I first got in. Maybe I could get accustomed to it…. But…

I could hear Reina talking to Riotaye. Apparently she could only carry six Pokemon at a time, so he would go in a box temporarily. Rio was very opposed to the idea, but he gave in after a while.

Apparently Reina had beaten all of the gyms already, and was going onto the Elite Four.

I thought I'd never get out.

After a nice rest at the Pokemon Center, we entered the Plateau. Strangely enough, I wasn't called out to battle the first time. Or the second. I had to defeat a Hitmonlee on the third battle, and a Machamp, but that was no problem due to my part flying advantage.

Next I battled a Murkrow, who I soundly defeated with Ancientpower, which I had just recently learned.

The final battle was the only one I really participated in, the only one where I made the whole difference. The only Pokemon left in Reina's party that had no fainted, besides me, was Charizard. Charizard had just barely managed to defeat Lance's Charizard, before fainting at the feet of Lance's last Pokemon.

I was the last Pokemon of Reina. It was one on one.

My opponent?

I was called out, but gasped soundly.

don't I remember you from somewhere? Taunted that voice which I knew too well. Oh, I see… You escaped from me, long ago. I killed your family. You never avenged them.

I stared into the eyes of that Pokemon. It was an Aerodactyl, the same one whose pack had caused my mom, dad, and siblings to meet their demise millions of years ago.

Instead of explaining to Lance and Reina what was going on, we planned to start the battle instantly.

After all these years, I finally had the opportunity to get back at him. He was older, stronger, and more experienced.

But, The force was with me. Yes, I watch too much TV nowadays. Reina says I need to stop watching Star Wars reruns. Oh? Sorry about that slight interruption. Anyway, here I was, pitted against the killer. The one I hated more than death. He was death.

This isn't over yet. I snarled at him.

I couldn't force myself to write mushy stuff on a perfectly sane day like today. Muahahahahahahahaha! Please click the little grey review button! See it? The nice, happy-looking button on the bottom of the screen. Don't resist the urge. Just click it!