Impetus Town was silent.

The moon was just nearly full, shining bright moonlight over the frontier town. The streets should have been alive, buzzing with Ghost and Dark types happy to see the night, Water-types basking in the draw of the moon, perhaps even the odd circle of Clefairies from out of town dancing in formation in the town square. Yet tonight, as it had been for weeks now, the town sat still and deathly quiet.

The Guild laid still as ever, though now adorned with the torchlights of the night guard tasked with patrolling the perimeter. Such was most certainly a new sight for the Pokemon atop the campus's watchtower, a pair of ghostly Marowaks, who could not help but keep their bones held tightly at the sight of the patrol. Neither knew what exactly to watch for— all the Guild had told them was an attack was likely, and that under no circumstances was anything to happen to one team in particular. Nothing more.

As they watched Impetus Town in the distance, one of the Marowaks hung their head, releasing a breath. "It's too quiet. It's... I ain't seen a town this quiet s-since the war..."

"Hey. No, come on. This ain't the war. There's no Tyranitar comin', just another fringe group. The Societies'll mop them up, like usual," his companion said, not breaking his watch.

"But... you saw the news board. Twenty attacks across the frontier in the last couple weeks. This ain't normal... just, I lost my pop when Tyranitar attacked Grave Pool, and my sister's just over the hills in Edelwood Town, if they attack here, then she's... and mon, what about you?" the first Marowak said. The other sighed, turning his gaze.

"Ossie, come on. I'll be fine. We'll all be fine. Persian at the inn, he's talking doom and gloom for the attention, you know him," he said. Ossie groaned, squeezing the tower's railing.

"No, no, it's not just Persian. Raichu and his mate, the Kecleons, Quilava, even Delcatty, they're convinced that... fuck, Cal, wh-where'd we go wrong?" he asked.

"...Ossie. We didn't do anything wrong. Things'll be okay," Cal said quietly, putting his bone staff down to wrap his arm around his partner's shoulders.

"I... I'm sorry. I'm... I'm scared. If another war's starting, or something like it... mon, I don't wanna lose you," Ossie said, pressing against the other ghostly Marowak. Said Marowak hesitated for a moment before leaning up against him with the click of bone against bone.

"You won't. I'll make sure. Can't get rid of me that easily, right?" Cal said quietly, eyes darting to that one base as he comforted his partner. One among many lining the street, but Delcatty had taken the time to point it out. Maybe...

"...thanks, mon. Sorry, I just," Ossie said, giving a shaky sigh.

"No need to be. I get it," Cal said, his arm tightening around the other Marowak's shoulders. The two stood together at their post a moment, staring out at the darkened town before Cal continued. "I don't know, maybe... maybe this Team Reach bunch has it figured out. If the dog wanted an eye on them... well. We met up here, we ain't gonna die up here. I've got my faith in that bunch, whoever they are."

"...you got the map upside down," Mavy said, his tone flat.

I blinked as I looked up to meet his gaze, giving a nervous chuckle as I turned it rightside. Right, north was shown as south here. I still didn't quite know why that was. Whatever the case, I watched as Rye smoothed out the map on the floor, midday light shining onto it through the windows. Rather than just Gray Proper and its surroundings like our standard-issue map showed, this map showed the entirety of the continent, Gray Proper regulated to a small section to the north. Such a view was necessary, as Rye showed as he pointed to a spot.

"Okay, so... Mr. Arcanine wants us to go to the Gold River valley. So if we're here," he pointed to Gray Proper, "then we've g-gotta go here," he pointed to a coastal region to the right of it. "It's... i-it's six hundred miles. Over the Samurott River, and through the Bronze Desert... w-with Mavy's legs, it's..."

My tail flicked. Those names didn't mean much to me, but I could make a few assumptions about what we were facing here. All of them were less than ideal, especially considering that six-hundred mile distance there. And running headlong into all this already...

"Wight..." I nodded. "Er... sheh, leh's tink."

I turned my gaze to the floor as I felt my teammates' eyes on me, though all I was met with was a sigh from Mavy.

"M-Mavy," Rye admonished him. "Uh, I-I get it. We can wait. We have to visit Ms. Audino for Mavy's Heal Pulses anyways. A-and, uh, you've got a session with Mr. Bert later today, right?"

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Okay... so let's meet back tonight, then," Rye decided. "See you th-then."

I gave an absent wave as Rye got up and left, Mavy giving me an unimpressed look as he followed. Sitting alone in our team base, I hung my head, giving a quiet sigh as I sat back.

...they had to heal, I knew that. So why did it feel like I was becoming so distant?

...I just needed to research, was all. That'd keep me busy, at the very least. Yeah.

That in mind, I halfheartedly grabbed my bag, dragging my tail as I waddled out of the base.

...I didn't even know what was wrong anymore. In between the choice, my friends, their state, those memories, that trip, and well. Just not knowing in general. That more than anything weighed on my back as I left.

'...what is wrong with me? Maybe if I...?

…'

"Um, I g-got those books! But these are about old heroes, I-I thought you wanted to learn to read?"

"Yeah. Eh... shide ting," I clarified. My fellow Oshawott frowned a bit, though waddled over to place the stack of books in his paws down. I knew I wasn't alone here. I didn't know why I didn't start looking into the old humans earlier— surely they had advice, some answers they'd written down. About what they'd left behind...

"Should I just r-read them out to you?" he asked.

"Yeh. Ah-baht hame," I clarified.

"Home? Um... o-okay," the Oshawott nodded, opening one of the books as I shifted in my seat. "Okay... oh, from the journal of Grandmaster Louie: I have no regrets in what I did to get here, and I am contented. With the end of the Shadow Blight and Sai by my side, I look forward to ruling a Society in peace. But... um, but a hole's st-still in my heart. If I could o-only see my family, my hometown, my Orre one more time..."

The wott gripped his reunion cape as he shifted in his seat, though I just looked down at the floor, ears drooping. Not quite what I wanted to hear. "...kehp gah-ing."

"What? Are you...? Um, o-okay... from the writings of Charmeleon Sai... I-I lie awake many a night, just to think of my days as a human. I know certain I fought and died for a free Kalos, but p-perhaps by God's grace, perhaps His righteous wrath, I live now in a time where the revolution, the rights of man, and all we achieved does not matter anymore. I am told we won, but did we truly?" Oshawott read out, frowning. "...this is... a-are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, er... mahre," I nodded, tail sagging. What was this about a revolution? The rights of man? Did it really not...?

"Reflections of Lee the Lightbringer... um, I-I saw Wyndon just once more when I left for the war, and the next time I saw it, it was a-a thousand years lost, flattened by Behemoths and th-then flattened again... b-but more than anything, I have so much I want to tell my mum..."

…

"...mahr," I hung my head.

"But... um... f-from Fraxure Kiba... I look back on my days of splendor and wealth, and I find I have not missed them in a long time. Ever since I first called that Marowak my mother, I find the life of honest work and humble family I had before the stars fell were the best years of my life. I would not give up the life I have now for anything..." the Oshawott read out.

My ears stuck up. This Kiba person was...? I had something to go off of to help get away from all this! Maybe I could learn from her! Maybe I wasn't weird for not wanting to think of what I'd left behind...

"...b-but the one regret I still carry is that I n-never said goodbye to my mother. If I had known on that moonless night that I-I would never see her again after that lifeboat lowered away—"

I swore to myself, punching the bookshelf next to me in a flash of hot frustration. Oshawott flinched and yelped as I shakily caught my breath, flexing my hurting paw before hanging my head and letting out a pitiful groan. As Oshawott put a trembly paw on my back trying to offer feeble comfort, I just stared at the floor, the words of those before me swimming through my head.

'...I can just... deal with it. The other humans did. Right?

...what is wrong with me?'

The river surged rhythmically as I panted, trying to make the water bend to my will. One push up with my left paw, another with my right, and the water bulged with both pushes. Even I had to admit that my efforts were halfhearted, though, even with my lackluster level of experience.

"Keep them coming, keep them coming! Hup, two! Hup two! Hup... kid? Really, something eatin' you tonight? Know you said you're fine, but you really aren't in it this time," Bert cocked his head behind me, dropping his commanding demeanor.

"N-nah, Mashtah. A-am fine," I lied, my shoulders sagging as I heard him step into the water with me. Great, just what I needed, more pity.

"Kid... it's alright. I get it. We can stop here. It's the beginning of the moon anyways, moon's barely even light," the Wartortle said as he took a seat next to me.

"Nah, am fine," I insisted.

"No. Come on. I heard about the expedition. If you need to stop and breathe, stop and breathe, yeah? Saw too many mons shrug it off and lose their cool back when I was in the navy. You know where that left them?" Bert asked. "I had one admiral, a Kadabra, snapped one day and tried to run out to port to take on a blockade himself. One of the ships saw him, and next we saw him, all that was left of him were his arms, still holding onto the ship's wheel... I know this isn't the war, but come on. Give yourself a break."

I blinked at my mentor's story, hesitating a moment before gulping and nodding. "Wight... am shawy."

"Yeah. Not a lot you can do about it, though. That's war for ya. Never changes," Bert sniffed, leading me back to the small stone arena that made up the Water-type grounds. "...if you wanna talk about it, then. You know, I'm a lotta things, but I'm not a snitch."

"...is a laht," I said. "Er... gaht... laht on shahders. Ahcahnah wants messhion. Dahno if cahn..."

"Mission... what kinda mission?" Bert asked.

"Gahl-dh Rehveh. Fer... Kell-dah. Ahrb," I said. The Wartortle stared at me for a moment.

"The dog wants to find Keldeo? For... that orb?" he asked.

"Yeah, is... yeh. Dahno ehf can doh, naht nahw," I sighed.

"Why's that? Long way? Lack of experience? Recovering? Or shit I shouldn't know?" Bert asked.

"Yeh, ahll," I sighed. "I... naht rehdy. Is toh mach."

A moment of quiet hung between us, Bert's tail swaying a bit in the evening breeze.

"...you aren't ready, huh? Would it be better with someone who knows what he's doing?" the turtle asked.

"Ah?" I asked, looking up at Bert.

"I mean, just a hypothetical. I could... throw my hat into the ring. You need to get to the Gold River? I've been a couple times. And if you still feel you're... not ready, you know who to turn to, right?" he asked. "Make it less awkward, at least. More to talk about than the thing."

I looked at Bert for a moment before running a paw down my muzzle, tail flicking. A part of me wondered if having my teacher along would do anything to help, but another part was intrigued. Someone to lean on other than Rye and Mavy, who I could at least try to talk to about everything...

"...I'll letcha think about it, yeah? Just come and find me if you decide on it," Bert asked, giving me a hard enough pat on my back that I let out a squeak. "Go and get some rest. Looks like you need it."

I gave a little sha of thanks, though as Bert turned to leave, I cleared my throat. "Hey. Er... cahn geht mem-wees bahck. D-dahno if shauld, is... pain. Wha yeh tink?" I asked. Bert paused, looking back.

"Really? You can...? Hm," he tapped his foot for a moment. "...my honest opinion. If you already know it's painful, then... I don't know. Wouldn't it be just as painful with that being all you know? Your mind fills in the gaps with something even worse. If it were me... but you know. It's your memories."

"...yeah. Tanks," I nodded as I frowned a bit, watching as Bert nodded back and dove into the river. The river water flowed past my toes for a moment before I let out a sigh. I had to remind myself. I wasn't alone... I stood up and started towards the Guild.

Waddling into the mess hall, I took a glance around, my ears pricking up as I saw my teammates in our usual spot. That was good— they'd been eating in the infirmary up until then. Seemed like they were recovering okay, then... as I waddled up, Rye and Mavy stared each other down, tears streaming down their faces as the Zigzagoon took a massive bite into an onion like an apple. Not to be outdone, Rye cringed to himself before taking one of his own, wincing as he blinked hard. Before Mavy could take another chomp in retaliation, I cleared my throat.

"Rye. Maffy. Whah... the fack yeh doh-ing?" I blinked. Rye paused and looked at me with bloodshot eyes.

"...M-Mr. Raticate had them spare. Don't ask," he said.

"Wimpy bite there. Had five and muh manly bite, ah win," Mavy grinned mockingly, his wheel-legs squeaking as he adjusted them in his seat. Rye glared at him and went for another mouthful of onion before I grabbed his arm.

"Shtap, nah mahre," I demanded. "...er. Yeh rehly tink we shauld goh? Tuh rehveh?"

"...ah? Thought ya wanted to think on it," Mavy commented.

"Yeah, yah, thaught. Uhp to yeh," I gestured to the two. The Treecko and Zigzagoon blinked, glancing at each other. Mavy opened his mouth to reply first, but Rye was just a bit quicker.

"I-if you want to go. Mavy... M-Mavy should stay, though. I don't want him doing all that with his legs broken like that..." the Treecko spoke up.

"...fuckin' 'scuse me?" Mavy demanded, though Rye only cleared his throat.

"I-it's up to you, Beck. You're... y-you know," he said.

My tail flicked a moment before I took a breath and gave my answer.

"Truly? You will go?" Arcanine asked.

"Yeh. Weth Beht," I clarified, trying to stand straight. The Guildmaster quickly stood, picking a map from his desk and dropping it in my paws.

"I will tell Master Bert to clear his schedule and arrange proper transportation for the three of you. My understanding is that young Rye will be of proper enough health, so I shall give you tomorrow to prepare," Arcanine said.

"Wha? Thah it?" I frowned.

"We do not have the time to spare. Guildmaster Virizion regrettably does not trust our intents in our search, so this would be our last major lead," Arcanine replied, hanging his head. I looked up at him before glancing down at the map in my paws.

"...yeah, yeh wight. Gaht eht. Tanks, sehr," I nodded, giving a quick salute before waddling out of the office, torchlight leading my way.

I half considered turning around as I walked, if only to talk to the Guildmaster about everything on my shoulders. But... I could handle it, right? This was just an episode brought about by that revelation. A few days, and this would pass. Besides, he looked tired. I didn't want to keep him up any longer than I had to.

...I did my best to convince myself of that, at least.

As I trudged down the hill, my eyes wandered to the sky, my ear twitching. There was a strange comfort in them— I didn't know if that memory I'd gotten had anything to do with it, but I felt better, more at home just stopping to look at them. If there was one thing I knew hadn't changed...

The sun had long since set, its brilliant scarlet sunset nowhere to be seen. It was a beautiful night out, the stars glittering above a wonderful sight. Even with the bittersweetness of being able to recognize the constellations, it still brought me some peace. On the horizon there, there were the Twin Heroes, standing together like their feud had never happened. Above them, Taurus still raged, the Pleiades still glittering in its heart; and to the right of it Rayquazos still winded in their eternal flight through the heavens. And of course, nestled amongst the three sat Orion, club still at the ready as he—

...hold on. That wasn't right. Something was missing.

'...there was a star there, I know it.'

Where Orion's left shoulder should have been, there was nothing but void. There had been a star there, right? What was it called, Betelgeuse? It was just... gone. One more little piece... gone. Not even the stars were immortal...

Had it gone supernova? When had it exploded? Who had seen it? Were any humans around to see it? Had anyone even noticed, did anyone even know its name now? Which one was next, did it even matter, how soon would I not be able to recognize my own home why why why why did i have to be the last one why me why me was i even useful for anything if i couldn't even decide on this one easy fucking decision i couldnt even remember anything why did i feel like this fuck was i just like that star was i just gonna disappear and be forgotten is everyone i knew and loved and fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck—

Thwap.

My mind finally quit racing as I became aware of my own breathing again, slowly bringing my paw up to where I'd hit myself in the head. I stood there a moment before sitting down hard, letting out a quiet groan.

'…

...what is wrong with me...?'