Author's Notes: Thank you all for reading this. The encouragement is both wanted and loved.

Disclaimer: Pokemon will never belong to me.

~~~~

Talon stood at the closed window, her huge eyes filled with despair. It had been days since Agility gave up her training, and she wanted to leave very badly. She would have left, too—Chansey wasn't trying to stop her—but even the weakest Rattata would have been able to defeat Talon in her condition. Her wings were bandaged up and looked like bloodied stumps. Her feathers had blackened and frequently fell from her body, and her eyes were still swollen from the smoke.  It wasn't a good time to go wandering aimlessly.

Pyra had only suffered a mild concussion. She would be out of it soon, and she would have a slight limp that would go away, but other that she'd be fine. Poetic justice had failed to act. Talon hoped the limp would keep Pyra's mouth shut for a while. It was after all, a sign that Talon was stronger than the Cyndaquil thought.

Chansey walked through the doors, rolling in a cart probably full of tasteless food and bitter medicine. It was something Talon had come to dread. She made a mental promise to never hurt herself so badly ever again.

"Hey, Talon. How are you feeling?" Chansey gave a tired, sympathetic smile. "Never mind, don't answer that. Maybe you'll feel better after a little lunch. You've also got a visitor!"

Talon nearly jumped out of her feathers. "Agility! Agility visit, yes? Yes?!"

"Not quite…" Pyra dragged herself into the room. Chansey left with little reluctance.

"I say nothing to you." Talon growled, glaring a hole through the wall. She focused on a tiny crack near the window. The bed's mattress shook with an added weight and extra movement.

"But I have something to say to you." Pyra said, lying down on the bed with a sigh. "Do you remember when we talked? After Thorn's defeat?"

"Called me stupid. Say I should disobey trainer." Talon accused. "No trainer to disobey now, she run 'way from you, yes! You scare Agility! You scare Leon! You make Leon go away!"

Pyra was startled. "You… You thought I made Leon go away? Talon, he was-"

"You no care about anyone!"

"Will you stop blaming me and listen?"

"You speak lies!"

The argument became a shouting match. "Just remember who's in better health here! I didn't come for a fight, but I will roast you if you don't shut up!"

"Go die in rain, fire rat!" Talon screeched, now facing Pyra so she could get the full force of Talon's scream. Her feathers bristled around her face, making her seem bigger and more threatening. "Hate you! Hate you with my heart!"

Pyra quieted and remained on the bed. She almost looked hurt. "Look, I didn't mean that threat. Just hear me out, okay?"

"Say words fast and leave."

"When we talked, I said the weak are follow the strong. Remember?"

"This no review. Finish words!"

"I just want to say that I…" Pyra hesitated, her pride stopping her from getting the words out.

Talon continued to glare at her. "What you about to say? Sorry? You think that solve everything? Agility gone! Leon gone! I hurt!"

"I'm trying to apologize!"

"Only when Agility here will I listen to apology! Your time up! Get out! I no want to see you again!"

"You ungrateful-"

"You be grateful I not kill you! Get out!" Pyra felt the voice in her heart scream for her to punish Talon for her insults. She shook her head violently and leapt off the bed, leaving the room just as her back's flames ignited. "No want to see you again!" Talon shouted after her.

Pyra was coming up to her room, the door held upon by a chair. Pyra took her fury out on the chair by smashing it in half. She got a satisfying snapping sound, and in her excitement she set the pieces on fire. Pyra's body shivered even with the extra heat, shifting restlessly like the smoldering pieces of chair. It made her feel better… No, no it didn't. Not even the power of fire could do that now.

The smoke alarm soon shrieked a warning in short, loud bursts. Chansey shoved past the door into Pyra's room, fire extinguisher in hand. She screamed at the sight of fire. "Hold on, Pyra!" White foam gushed out of the extinguisher, blanketing most of the flames. A second sweep finished out any survivors. "What were you thinking?!"

"None of your business."

Chansey narrowed her baggy eyes but quickly calmed herself down. Her egg, which had just started to turn a shade of coffee brown, brightened to an unhealthy tan. Pyra took notice.

"Your egg going bad?"

"You could say that…" The healer grunted softly and went down on one knee. She reached for Pyra's leg and concentrated, but the leg muscle barely felt better. "So, want to talk about it?"

"The egg? Sure, I'm pretty curious."

"No, I meant Talon. I heard screaming."

"Then the answer is no."

"You know, I had a similar problem with Agility."

"How would you know how it feels to fail so early? Just when you think everything's all right something comes and kicks you down?"

"Well… I don't-"

"Exactly. Now you can go down to New Bark, get kicked, laughed at, teased, march the many miles all the way back up here with a psycho Cyndaquil who spreads rumors left and right, make a bad promise to a HootHoot, fight the battle of your life with someone who seems to be a good friend and then leaves when you need him most, realize you're in a rut at Cherrygrove, and then you can talk to me about how it feels and overcoming obstacles! I don't need to hear your counseling right now!"

Chansey backed away, hurt by her rant. "I was just trying to help…"

"Then leave me alone." Agility stated, her voice taking a pained tone.

Chansey sighed. "I only tried to help her once more after that…"

"No decent human being would let these pokemon suffer! You won't do anything to stop this fight!" Chansey clenched her fists, rage swelling in her heart. "You should be the one burning, you…!"

Agility instantly snapped back. "All I want to do is go home! I never wanted anyone to suffer! In fact, I didn't want to go on this journey in the first place!"

"You seemed pretty happy after beating Thorn! You can't just back out of life when the going gets tough! That's the sign of a coward!"

"Then I guess I'm a coward!"

Chansey trembled. She often thought of herself as a mature pokemon, but now it would seem to be a lie. Her pudgy body puffed up and reddened. Shiny tears welled in her eyes and—if this hadn't been a serious situation—it would have looked funny, if not cute. "I don't know if you know it or not, but the way you handled Thorn out there, i-it was amazing. Y-you could be a legend. I know it… I know it…!"

 "No…" Agility couldn't bear to look at her any longer. The Chansey's tears gleamed with betrayal, anger, and… Perhaps hate? "I don't want to be a legend…"

"And it didn't work out very well. I think I should just settle for listening and never giving advice." She tried to ease the pain in Pyra's leg again, but nothing happened. "What is wrong with me?"

"Apparently you give bad advice." Pyra tried her hand at a joke. It didn't go over well with Chansey. Her plump body seemed to cave in a little, and her egg darkened again. "Just a joke, Healer. And I'm guessing laughter would do you well. Your egg is spoiling."

Chansey yanked it out of her pouch and started to cradle it, nervously humming a lullaby. It was getting lighter again, but at a slower rate. "Happy thoughts, happy thoughts…"

Another Chansey rushed into the room with a fire extinguisher. "I got here as fast as I could, Grace! I-"

"That's your name?" Pyra asked. The humming Chansey nodded, looking like she wanted to keep it a secret.

"It was Nurse Joy's decision, I'll have you know. Nurse 'Joy' and her Chansey 'Grace' just fit the theme…"

The new pokemon rushed to her aid, staring at her egg in horror. "Oh no! Gracie! Your egg! Are you unhappy?! What happened?"

"Well I-"

"Nurse Joy! Nurse Joy!"  She cried, dashing out the door.

"That's Charm. She's just full of that, isn't she?"  Grace said, placing her egg back in her pouch. Pyra couldn't help but chuckle. "If you don't mind me saying, you're actually a nice pokemon to talk to."

"I can be very nice when I get the arrogance beaten out of me."

"You're more like Agility than I thought, then… It was just your ego blocking that from me."

"I may be friendly, but I'm not letting you get away with comments like that. Please shut up." Grace gave a genuine smile and kindly punched Pyra in the head.

"You really need to see this, Nurse!" Charm came back with Nurse Joy in tow. The human knelt and began to examine the egg.

"Grace, what's going on?" Joy looked concerned.

"Nothing ma'am…" Grace tried to move out of Joy's sight. She was seized by her arm and was pulled out of the room. She waved to Pyra and grinned with what remained of her smile.

The door was open enough for Pyra to get past if she wanted to. Knowing Talon's intent to find Agility soon, Pyra was glad that no one closed the door completely. She circled the room with Talon and Agility on her mind, and soon felt the need to burn something again. She grew proud at the sight of the burnt chair. The feeling soon faded. The sticky whiteness covering the ashes looked a lot like the bandages covering Talon's burnt feathers…

All the power she wanted and much more to be discovered. But for once, the idea didn't cheer her up.

Night came with calls of HootHoots, chirping crickets, fireflies, and starry skies. Nurse Joy had finally opened the window now that the sunlight wasn't around to further damage Talon's eyes. The lights were off. The HootHoot lay asleep on the bed, gently cooing to herself, as the digital clock soundlessly struck midnight. Red eyes snapped open and gleamed in the darkness.

Talon hopped off the bed, almost tipping over if not for a few more jumps to help regain balance. She couldn't use her wings to control herself just yet, but time would bring healing. The door was unlocked and just barely open. Talon stuck her tiny beck in the crack and eventually opened it enough to get through.  She smiled. All was well.

"That was a good battle." Pyra commented after a while. "Good thinking."

That caught Agility off guard. "Wow. Th-thanks Pyra."

Pyra woke with a start, frantic to take in her surroundings until she realized where she was… And what time it was. "Talon!" Ever since Talon started yelling at her for apologizing, Pyra didn't trust the HootHoot's judgment. Even with the injuries, she knew Talon was leaving to find Agility tonight. "Stupid Hoot!"

She squeezed through the door with a grunt of exertion, scolded herself for sneaking out of her room for extra treats, and took off down the hallway with her snout to the ground. There was a trail of burned flesh leading straight to the Center Lobby, but Pyra couldn't go there. The night shift Joy was leaning against the lobby counter, showing a group of Chansey some pictures. "And this is my trip to Cianwood! I wish I had more chances to go down there, there's a lot of new medicine I want to bring to Cherrygrove! Not mention a certain doctor I met…" There was a lot of giggling. Pyra scoffed.

As much as the Nurse and her pokemon were distracted, they'd notice the front door opening and closing. Pyra sat puzzled for a moment, before a weak voice broke her concentration. "Need help, Pyra?"

"Healer? Is that you?" The Chansey seemed to have deflated somewhat, her pink skin folding over her tail and dragging along the floor. Her egg had turned darker, though the actual color was hard to see in the dim light. She clutched a purple blanket in one hand and a book in the other. "What happened to you?"

"I'll explain later. You need get out of here, don't you?" Pyra just nodded. "Follow me, there's a back door."

There was indeed a back door, unguarded and unlocked. Grace and Pyra exited and made their way around to the front. The Chansey sat immediately, panting hard. "You can't be tired already! We just got outside!"

"When you're in this condition, it doesn't take much to wear you down. Come here." Pyra hurried in front of her. Grace leaned forward and pressed a hand against Pyra's leg, closing her eyes and focusing hard. Warmth spread throughout Pyra's leg and healed the muscle that Talon had injured. The Chansey swayed dangerously after she was through, precious energy gone forever.

"Start talking, Healer."

She took few deep breaths before finding the strength to talk. "Chansey are supposed to be Happiness Pokemon, like Togepi. We bring pleasure and luck to those who capture us and live in eternal bliss ourselves. It's a double-edged sword though… We're very sensitive to emotion. This egg of mine-" She pointed to the dark and now foul smelling thing in her pouch. "Is a reflection of my soul… And if I'm not happy… Then my soul and my egg start to rot."

Pyra pushed at her side, trying to get her to go to the Center. "Why aren't you inside healing then?"

"The inside makes me too depressed. I'll be fine, Pyra!" She laughed. "I've finished healing your leg. When you go, remember this… A pokemon forms a special bond with the trainer and teammates! I know you can show your friendly side to Talon and Agility! They'll forgive you, your bond can't be destroyed so easily!"  

Pyra nodded eagerly, turning to take off. She paused. "Before I go rushing off… I want to thank you, Grace." The Cyndaquil didn't wait for an answer. She tore off into the night, her fire blazing to life.

The Chansey finally let out the agonized cry she'd kept in for so long. Her egg started to burn through the sensitive skin that made up her pouch, breaking her cries down to quiet whimpers. "Agility…" She whispered. She hugged the blanket she let Agility borrow during the trainer's moment of self-doubt. Her egg was now a foul black, and the shell suddenly cracked.

With darkness overcoming her, Grace imagined Agility asleep beside her and pointed to the Seven Clefable Sisters in the sky. "You'll be a legend. I know it."

Pyra blurred past the buildings, loving the cool night wind that whipped against her body. Her short legs were moving so fast that the sparks beneath her feet became flames, leaving two faintly glowing lines trailing behind her. "She could go as far as the tree I knocked her out of before she starts to stray from the path… That tree was pretty close to the city, though!" Remembering all the time she may have wasted sleeping, Pyra picked up the pace and passed the outskirts of the city.

She felt her hooves hit soft dirt, making them sink into the earth and slowing her down. It didn't faze her—Talon's scent was getting stronger. The HootHoot had made it to the tree after all. Soon she got to the landmark, the burned remains of Talon's tree. Pyra skidded to a stop. She raised her snout and sniffed the air. There were a lot of HootHoot in the area, but there was… A human scent. A very familiar human scent.

"Agility!" Pyra went down the route to New Bark sprinting. A few Rattata watched her pass and squealed fearful messages to friend and family. Demon, demon! Pyra only grinned. She was flattered. But the scent of Rattata became too strong for that area. There weren't that many Rattata around on Pyra's first trip up, but now…

At first Pyra thought she heard a flock of Spearows. There was constant screeching and squeaking coming from the other side of a hill. Pyra scaled the slope quickly and stared down the other side, watching about twenty Rattata scamper about madly under the moon. Some fled past Pyra, barely pulling away before colliding into her or even jumping over her. "Hey you!" Pyra yelled at one of them. The rat fled, ignoring her. She growled angrily, waiting for the next pokemon bold enough to leap over her. The opportunity came, and Pyra brought him down with a midair tackle.

"Gah! Demon-demon-demon!" He squeaked frantically.

"I know I'm the demon, now tell me-"

"Not you! You're a mouse-mouse!"

Pyra scowled. "Then what demon?"

"Sky demon! Big eyes! Man demon! Body Snatcher Ball! Body Snatchers!"

"Make sense!" Pyra demanded. The Rattata fainted, eyes glassed over. She grabbed him by his front paw and dragged him out of the stampede's way. "I ought to train this thing myself…"

The group of deserters ran past, knocking down the original twenty-something Rattata to five. Of those five Rattata, one was sent flying due to a HootHoot smashing into it. She was protecting a girl who had backed up against a tree. "Talon, Peck attack!" The girl cried, and the HootHoot readily obeyed.

"That's her, all right!" Pyra laughed triumphantly and charged.

The Rattata tensed at the sound of laughter. Two more of the rats lost their nerve and fled, and the three that remained were treated to a shower of embers. They cried out and retreated quickly, not wanting to face that kind of power again. To Pyra the battle was quick and disappointing. Still, Agility's voice was welcome in her ears. "You came back!"

"What did you expect…?" Pyra shrugged, keeping her happiness hidden well. "You're the only trainer I know."

"I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult." Agility settled for a pleased look rather than a hug, not eager to be burned.

"Agility, could you turn off your translator for a second?" The Cyndaquil asked. Agility nodded and fiddled with something in her ear. "Can you hear me?"

"What?" She said, confused.

Pyra turned to Talon. "You said you'd listen to an apology when you found Agility." Talon said nothing. She just watched Pyra with anger in her eyes. "Look, when I said the weak are to follow the strong, I was being a bit… Extreme…"

"Yes, yes." Talon agreed. She made sure Pyra understood her resentment.

"Okay. Look, if we can get Agility to train again, I want to try something different in our party... I've beaten you and you've beaten me, so I want to suggest a partnership."

Talon frowned. "Partnership?"

"Jeez, this sounds so corny… Sort of an alliance. Two experienced leaders helping the others in the group. Wait here." Pyra ran off, disappearing over the hill. She returned a few moments later with a small, unmoving Rattata. "This one needs a bit of training… He fainted without putting up a fight. Would you like to work together on him?"

Talon thought for a moment, still grimly silent. She looked down at the twitching Rattata, and then back to Pyra. She glared dangerously. "Really came back for Agility?"

"And you." Pyra smiled apologetically. "You're my teammate, after all."

"I may be making mistake… But believe you, I do." Talon sighed. They stared at Agility.

"Can I put it back in now?" Agility yelled. Pyra nodded quickly.

"We aren't deaf, you know!"

"Heh… Sorry…"

Pyra looked confused. "So how did Talon get you to come back?"

"I never really got to town…" Agility looked embarrassed. "I was attacked by a pack of Rattata before I could reach home… Talon, you kicked tail even with your injuries!"

"You make me strong!" Talon puffed out her chest proudly. "You come back and train!"

"And you can't say no." Pyra said. "You're coming with us and you're going to be our trainers."

Agility's eyes widened. "You want me back, Pyra?"

"Is there any other?" Pyra retorted. "Now capture this Rat before he wakes up and starts chattering again. By the time Talon and I are done him, maybe he'll have a backbone!"

"On journey again!" Talon hopped up and down cheerfully. "Stronger I be!"

The girl sighed heavily. "I'm afraid I don't have pokeballs for you guys. I wonder if the Cherrygrove Center still has my stuff? I may have to re-register." Agility muttered to herself as she began the trip back to Cherrygrove. "Ooh, I need some food in my stomach badly…"

Pyra and Talon stared at each other. "Should train Agility, too." Talon commented.

"I believe we should, Talon. I believe we should."

"You're very lucky, Agility! I just happened to have your pokedex and pokeballs right here!" Nurse Joy handed the trainer her stuff. "Keep better care of your pokedex, too. It's very scratched up!"

Agility chuckled nervously. "Yes, well…"

Joy gave her the Rattata's pokeball as well. "I recommend going to the Tech Shop across town. There are ones in every city!"

"Thanks Nurse." Talon flapped her wings pleasantly, happy to be free of the bandages and burns. "Hey, Talon! Ready to go?"

"Yes, yes!" She hooted.

"Where's Pyra?"

Pyra rounded a corner and made it to the door. "Are you guys going to stand there all day or are you going to come? There are pokemon out there waiting to be fought!"

"Gah! Wait up!" Agility yelled. She allowed Talon to jump on her shoulder and ran after Pyra. They didn't get very far before something caught Agility's eye. "What's this?"

A purple blanket lay neatly folded on the ground. On top of it was a book on Pokemon Constellations. Taped to the book was a note that read "To Agility."

"Gift!" Talon observed, leaning in for a closer look.

"Hey, I remember this book! That Chansey had this with her." Agility flipped through the book, looking at the back of the front cover. There was another message.

This is the beginning of a story. On this day, a young girl set off all alone to do the impossible, to face the unbeatable, to know the unknown, and to believe the unbelievable; that she would rise to greatness with the help of her loyal companions. There would be many obstacles on her journey, some of which would be tougher than others, but with the help of her friends she would prevail.

The path of a pokemon trainer is a noble one. Once a person decides to become a trainer, he or she has decided to sacrifice the comforts of home and a normal life for adventure. The trainer must cut their own paths into history, and only with great work, skill, and determination will a trainer reach their ultimate destination… Greatness.

Yet, sometimes the question is not what a trainer does on the journey, but instead what drives the trainer to go on the journey to begin with…

My friend, you have overcome an obstacle far tougher than any trainer or pokemon you will face, far tougher than any terrain you will ever cross, and you succeeded in the greatest challenge of them all. You let no one, not even your own doubt, get in the way of your journey. You have begun.

Cut your path to greatness, legend! Let this be only the prologue to a wondrous journey!

-Grace

"This is beautiful… But who's Grace?" Agility questioned, collecting the items and putting them both in her pack. Talon shook her head, not knowing either.  

Pyra smiled. "Not a clue…"

A lone figure watched the three of them leave for the Tech Shop. She rubbed the shining white egg in her pouch and waved to Pyra.

Grace the Blissey just grinned. "Heh… Guess I've got good advice in me after all."