Hello again everyone! I hope you're having a good week. Not much going on on my end so just enjoy the chapter.

Rocker on: That is correct. I set precedent for this in my first story on this sight, A Tale of Two Eevees, if I remember correctly. It's been a while though. We'll see about when they get back, I've been considering both yes and no. This story takes place in the universe of the games with some alterations. I'm not going to debate religion. We've both stated our beliefs, let's leave it at that. I really didn't like that song, the way it talks about women just isn't ok with me. People are complex, men are no exception. It's supposed to be obvious to everyone but Tobias what she meant.

Shieldliger001: I'm glad I got the moment right. At that moment Mesprit was supercharged be emotions, and Mew was caught off guard by it. As for Joshua, you'll see.

On with the story!

I woke up to Alejandra poking me. "Ugh, stop that." I said, blinking in the sunlight.

"Sorry, just figured you't want to get going as soon as possible." She said with a giggle.

"You don't sound very sorry." I grumbled, pushing myself up off the ground. "Do you have any idea where we're going to find other legendaries? Where's Mesprit?"

Alejandra thought for a moment. "I haven't seen Mesprit since last night. As for finding legendaries, we should go see my dad. You see, he trades safe passage through our territory for information. He always said that information is the most valuable good to ever exist."

"Sounds like a plan." I said.

We set off, heading back the way we came. The sun was still climbing higher through the sky, the light shining through the leaves warming my back as we walked.

"I just realized that I haven't seen you eat anything." Alejandra said through a mouthful of berries. She had grabbed several off a bush in passing, barely even pausing as she collected them in her mouth.

I glanced over at her. Purple juice was running down her muzzle. "I'm part plant, I can photosynthesize. I guess I still need nutrients, but I can get by mostly without eating as long as it's sunny."

"What's photosynthesizing?" She asked. I should have realized she wouldn't know.

"It's how plants get energy. They take in water and a gas called carbon dioxide, and use energy from the sun to convert them into something they can use for energy." I said.

Alejandra nodded. "My dad tried to teach me everything he could, but he never finished school, and he was a pokemon for years before I was born."

"I don't think I had that much more time in school than he did, but it's far more recent for me.I try and teach you stuff, if you want."

"I'd love that." She said. "By the way, how old are you?"

I thought for a second. "If I missed a month, I must have missed my birthday then. I'm eighteen now."

"I'm the same age as you, then." There was an air of relief in her voice, but I didn't get why. "I inherited a human lifespan from my father, it seems. He says that once-humans are likely imperfect transformations, which is why that happened. It's been hard, though, having my friends all grow up almost twice as fast as me."

I thought for a moment about what to say, settling on "I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize, I came to terms with it a while ago. So eighteen is the age of adulthood, right?" She said, flashing me a smile.

I nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"Oh, it's nothing." She said, looking away from me almost too quickly. She'd been acting rather strange for the past day or so, I realized suddenly. It must be one of those things I didn't get yet.

The rest of the day went by without event, the sun rising and falling as time marched ever onward. I spent the time trying in vain to discern what it was that Alejandra said I don't understand. I found it unendingly frustrating, for me to be so unable to find an answer.

We stopped for the night in a small clearing, the stars bright overhead. I glanced over at Alejandra, already asleep. For an instant I saw her as she had been when our minds were projected far away, red-gold hair and sharp features, before the image faded. I found myself distinctly aware of my heartbeat, faster than normal. This was weird, I thought. What had gotten into me?

The once-human looked up at Mew, eyes full of fear and wonder and rage. "You are weak." Mew said, malice concealed by kindness. "You need to be stronger to prove yourself. Let me help you."

Joshua stared at Mew, and at the shard of glowing red rock suspended in the air next to it. "What do you want in return? No one gives without really wanting to take." He asked.

Mew smiled, letting it's hatred shine through the guise. "I want to see Tobias wiped off the face of the earth."

Joshua nodded, slowly. "I accept your offer." He said, baring his teeth. The stone floated towards him, closer and closer. He gazed at the night sky as as the light began to envelop him. "I'll find him. And when I do, it'll be for the last time."

I awoke on my own for once, the sky stained red through the leaves. The sun wasn't fully risen. Alejandra, on the other hand, was. "How do you manage to get up so early?" I asked, stretching my back as I stood up.

"I'm just a naturally energetic person." She said, walking over to me. "Let's get going, if we hurry we can reach my dad by the evening." She began to jog, heading off into the trees.

I sighed before following, rushing to catch up and not lose sight of her. We walked in silence for a long time, although I frequently caught her glancing back at me. Each time she realized I noticed she would look away quickly, but invariably looked back in a few minutes.

"Alright, what's the matter." I asked, at length. "You've been acting strange for the past say or so."

She stopped and turned towards me, her gaze to the ground. "I can't tell you until you figure it out, as much as I want to." She said.

"Well can you give me a hint or something?"

She laughed at that. "I've given you plenty, it's up to you to take one at this point. Let's keep moving, it's not too much further now." I found myself once again obsessing over her words as we walked. It felt like I was somehow tantalizingly close to figuring it out, but there was still something missing, something important.

By the time we reached the wooden walls the sun was most of the way through it's descent, the sky burning with it's light. Ramiro stood just beyond the gate, watching us approach. "Alejandra! Tobias! What brings you back here so soon?" He called out.

"It's good to see you to papà." She said. "We met Mesprit at the cave."

"So Pietro was right, then." Ramiro said, a sad smile creeping across his face.

"It can't turn Tobias back though." She said. "It told us that we need to find two other legendaries, and then we could get Arceus to help."

"This won't be easy." Ramiro said after a few seconds. "I'll consult the maps I have, figure out likely locations. Will you two be staying the night?"

I glanced over at Alejandra, who nodded. "Why not." I said.

Ramiro smilled. "Good. Tobias, I want to talk with you for a bit, could you come with me?"

"Sure" I said, then turned to Alejandra. "See you in a bit." She inclined her head, and I followed Ramiro out into the woods.

"The moon is full tonight." He said.

"Yeah. I assume that's not what you wanted to talk about, though."

He kept his eyes ahead, not looking back at me as we walked. "That's correct. I wanted to talk about my daughter."

I stayed silent.

"How do you feel about her?" He asked

"I-" I started, pausing. The memory of last night, of the feeling I had when I thought I saw her human projection, came into my mind. "I don't know."

Ramiro looked at me for the first time since we had left. "I believe you." He said after a few seconds. "Regardless of what you decide, you have my blessing either way."

We had arrived at the riverbank, the waters roaring, the waters reflecting the sunset. "She really likes me, doesn't she?" I asked. The realization had come slowly, but it explained so much. It seemed so simple in retrospect; she had fallen in love with me and that was why she had been acting off. Strange, how thinking about my own feelings enabled me to understand hers.

"Yes, she does." Ramiro said with a sigh. "I'm just worried that she'll be heartbroken if you are able to become human and she can't, which seems to be a likely outcome."

"So what a do I do? If I tell her this she'll feel hurt, for sure. If I don't there's a chance it'll end well but if not she'll hurt so much more. And to top it off I'm still not sure how I feel." I said, taking a step towards the river, looking up at the sky.

"There is no right answer when it comes to love. You just have to hope for the best." Ramiro said.

"I still don't-." I began, turning towards him, slipping on a smooth rock, and falling into the river. I fought against the current, biting down on a low hanging vine.

Ramiro sprung to action immediately, pulling the vine inland, and me along with it. "Can't have you dieing, Alejandra would be inconsolable!" He said, chuckling at his own joke as I pulled myself

"I'm glad you care so much." I said with palpable sarcasm, causing Ramiro to redouble his laughter.

"Let's go back now." Ramiro said. "It's getting dark."

We headed back into the forest, the moon rising overhead. "When you talk with Alejandra, just try and have her best interests at heart." He said.

"I will." I said, my gaze downcast. I wasn't sure how I could figure out what's best for her when I couldn't even tell what was best for me.