"Unless he has gained what he is searching for…we shall all suffer…and the suffering will not stop at only our world…" The rocks began to levitate towards the three pokémon, picking up speed, "but…for the entire universe as well…"

Suddenly, Xatu was gone. Haruki and Rin stared at where Xatu had been. "Where-" began Rin, but a small rock zoomed past his head.

"Get down!" shouted Haruki, falling onto the ground as a bigger rock grazed his shoulder. He looked over and saw Rin drop to the ground also, and then he looked up and saw even bigger rocks throw themselves over his head.

"Haruki, look!" Rin shouted, covering his head with one hand and the other pointing behind him. Haruki turned his head in the direction Rin was pointing…he could see Hoshi writhing in the dirt, whimpering and crying.

"Hoshi!" he shouted, but Hoshi didn't hear him and he didn't wake up. Now, a huge boulder began to levitate skyward slowly. Rin watched the boulder, shivering from fear. Haruki began to crawl over to Hoshi as the rocks began to aim themselves at him; Rin retreated into his shell as he was pelted with rocks. "Hoshi!" he kept calling over and over, slowly making his way through the rainstorm of rocks. After what seemed like forever, Haruki finally made it to Hoshi, shaking him, "Hoshi! HOSHI! WAKE UP!!"

Suddenly, the rocks dropped to the ground; the boulder dropped also, the ground beneath them shaking slightly as it hit. Hoshi opened his eyes, breathing heavily as he stared up at Haruki. "H…Haruki…?" Haruki nodded, helping the pokémon sit up. He reached behind his head and undid his bandana, holding it to Hoshi's face and wiping his tears.

"There, there…it was only a bad dream…" he said quietly, remembering what Xatu had said.

"A bad dream?!" Rin shouted, coming out of his shell finally, a large lump visible on his head. "He almost k-" He stopped as soon as he saw the look on Haruki's face.

Hoshi rubbed his eyes and looked at Haruki. Haruki smiled at the little pokémon, "Come on, let's get you back to the base…you can stay with me." Hoshi looked shocked. "It's okay. It was getting kind of lonely there anyway. We can make you a bed and get you all situated, so you don't need to worry." He tied his bandana back around his neck and stood up. Hoshi stood up also, walking over to Rin to help him up, but as soon as he approached Rin, Rin began to back away quickly.

"No! No, I can get up on my own…!" He said nervously, standing up shakily. Hoshi stared at Rin, his eyes seeing the bump on Rin's head. "How…did you get that?" He raised a hand to point at the wound, and Rin dove to the ground, covering his head.

"Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me!" he shouted, his eyes tightly shut as he braced for an impact. Hoshi stopped moving and he let out a small whimper as he watched Rin shake with fear. He turned his gaze to the ground and began to walk away from Rin, dragging his tail.

"Hoshi…?" said Haruki, holding out his hand towards Hoshi. The pokémon turned and looked at him, fresh tears rolling down his cheeks. "Where are you going? The base is the other way…" Hoshi shook his head and turned away from the hand.

"No one…wants me…! I…scare…everyone…" he whimpered and covered his face, running hard towards the forest, his crying still audible as he entered through the thick trees. Haruki turned on Rin, who was still cowering a few feet away.

"Why'd ya do that?! He was trying to help, but you treated him like he was some kind of-!"

"Haruki! He tried to kill us!" Rin shouted, standing up, fear still playing across his face. "Didn't you hear what Xatu said?!"

Haruki nodded, his anger growing. "Yeah, I heard him alright…Hoshi needs a family! He needs love! If we're going to save the world, we have to show him love…not FEAR!!!" With the last word, Haruki's flame erupted, smoke billowing from his mouth.

"B-But…" Rin began, backing away from Haruki slowly.

"If you want to abandon him, then fine! Leave him! But I won't! He needs our help just as much as any other pokémon! Even more than them! He doesn't know what it's like to have a family or know what love is! He knows what fear is…and that's what you were showing! Not love, but pure fear!"

"I-I…"

Haruki held up a hand, "No, don't bother. I'm gonna go find him…you can just stay here and cower all you want…" With that, he turned and ran into the forest to find Hoshi. Rin stayed glued to the spot, watching Haruki run into the forest, unable to speak. How did Haruki expect him to react to Hoshi…after hearing all that stuff that Xatu had said about him? Hoshi was the Destroyer! Hoshi was supposed to destroy the world! What was he supposed to do? Accept him with opens arms? He turned the opposite direction, towards the base and began walking.

"Hoshi!" Haruki called, pushing through the foliage. "Hoshi, where are you?!" He continued to trek through the forest, searching for any sign as to where Hoshi could be. It had been at least three hours since Hoshi ran into the forest. "Stupid Rin," he mumbled under his breath, kicking a small rock. "He shouldn't have acted like that to him…" He suddenly lost his footing and began to tumble down the mountainside, just barely dodging the trees whipping past. Haruki tried to stop his decent, but he couldn't grab a hold of anything fast enough as they zipped past him. All he could do was scream as he rolled out of the other side of the forest and drew nearer to a drop-off…and he realized that the drop-off was the gorge they had crossed earlier that day. He clawed at the passing scenery and he passed a dark shape, but suddenly, he was airborne. He could see the rest of the forest below him…everything seemed to be in slow motion as he fell, but a hand came out of nowhere and grabbed his, his body hitting hard against the side of the gorge. "Mmph!"

He looked up to see who had saved him, but he could hardly believe his eyes. It was Rin. Rin looked behind him, shouting, "He's over here, help me get him up!" Haruki then saw Hoshi's head poke over the side and he watched as Hoshi's eyes glowed. He could feel himself being lifted out of the gorge, hovering away from the edge and set down close to Rin and Hoshi. The Squirtle immediately began to rummage in his pack, pulling out the Berry Pouch and picking out a round blue berry. "Here." He said, handing the berry to Haruki.

Haruki took the berry and popped it into his mouth, "W-What? H-How?" He looked from Rin to Hoshi and back, unable to believe what he was seeing. After finishing chewing the berry, he swallowed and just continued to stare as Rin laughed.

"Well, I was on my way back to the base, but then…I remembered that I was part of a team." He looked at Hoshi. "That we were part of a team…and I realized how selfish I was being for only thinking about me and my thoughts. So I came back to the forest to help find Hoshi, but after an hour or so I bumped into him in a clearing. I explained to him that I was sorry and that it wasn't right, the way I had acted."

Hoshi nodded and looked at Haruki, "I forgave him."

Haruki said, "But how did you guys find me? I had to be farther than the clearing where you were…much farther."

Rin shrugged, "All I know is that I as soon as I told Hoshi that we had to find you, because you were still looking for him…we were standing at the edge of this gorge. I was asking Hoshi how we had gotten there, but he just ran off and said that he wanted to see if you were still in the forest, but then I saw you rolling down the hill."

Haruki looked at Hoshi now, "How did you know I would be rolling down the side of the hill…?" Hoshi looked away, not wanting to answer. "Come on, Hoshi. If you hadn't had know where I would be, I'd be at the bottom of that gorge as flat as a pancake!"

Hoshi sighed and looked back at Haruki, "I…saw it…in my head. As soon as I did…I wanted to be there…before you went over…" He pointed to where they had been standing moments before. "And there we were…"

"I think he saw the future," said Rin. "And I think that he also teleported us to the exact spot that we needed to be in."

Haruki nodded. It made sense…Hoshi saw what was going to happen, and had put him and Rin where they needed to be to stop him from rolling off the edge. "But…" continued Hoshi, "I…when we didn't see you…I thought…" Haruki knew exactly what they must have thought as he watched Hoshi's eyes tear up, they must have already gone over the edge. "…I ran into the forest…hoping that maybe you…hadn't made it yet…"

"You rolled past me so fast, that all I could do was to grab your hand as you went over…" said Rin, "If you hadn't been screaming like you were, then I probably wouldn't have noticed you in time to catch you."

"Well, thank you," Haruki said happily and he turned to Hoshi, "and thank you Hoshi…for without you, I would be nothing but a pancake right now." Hoshi made a sound that was between a sob and a laugh, and he leapt forward, throwing his arms around Haruki. Haruki laughed and patted the little pokémon, "Why the waterworks? Come on now…" He stood up, helping Hoshi to his feet. "Let's go back to the base…all this excitement has made me hungry." Rin nodded in agreement, and so did Hoshi. Stomachs rumbling, the trio made their way towards the base, only stopping once for a drink of water and a rest. As they made it out of the forest, they could see someone standing outside of their base…in fact, there were three someones. Rin, Haruki, and Hoshi kept walking, wondering who could be at their base. As soon as they were within earshot, they could hear what the strangers were saying.

"Are you sure, Alakazam?"

"I'm positive."

"I can feel it too-"

The three visitors turned as the team drew closer, eyeing them warily. Rin stopped in his tracks and stared back at them. Haruki noticed this and elbowed him as Hoshi took a step back, hiding behind Haruki. "Hey, Rin…do you know these guys?"

Rin nodded, "Yeah…that's Team Alakazam…"

Haruki elbowed him again, "Sooo….? Are they special or something?"

Again, Rin nodded, star struck with awe, "Their team…is Gold Rank."

"Woah…!" said Haruki, now in awe. He didn't know how the Ranks of teams were ordered, but he was sure that Gold Rank was pretty good. Hoshi make a squeaking sound and was now hiding completely behind Haruki. Haruki looked up and saw one of the pokémon walking to meet them. It was an Alakazam, and Haruki looked behind the approaching pokémon; he could see a Charizard and a Tyranitar.

"Where is," Alakazam said firmly, "Meowth?"

"Uh…erm…" Rin said nervously.

"He quit," replied Haruki.

Alakazam nodded, "We figured as much. And you are…?" He asked as he turned his head towards Haruki.

"Haruki," then, adding quickly at the look Alakazam gave him, "Sir." The other two walked up and stood behind Alakazam. Haruki looked up at them and began to grow nervous. He had seen pictures of these pokémon, but never would he have guessed that these pokémon, the very ones he read about…he never thought that they would be so huge. Sure, when you see the numbers on paper you try to imagine how tall they are compared to you. Charizard: 5' 7" and weighing at least 200 pounds. Tyranitar: 6' 7" and weighing as much as 445 pounds. And Alakazam: 4' 11" and weighing at 106 pounds. He thought that, in his human form, they might not look so big and intimidating, but he wasn't in his human form and when you're barely two feet tall…a lot of things look a whole lot bigger.

"Haruki…" Alakazam said slowly. "A human name, I suppose?" Haruki nodded. "…then part of my suspicion is correct."

"You mean," said Charizard, "he's really…a human?" Alakazam nodded. Haruki was speechless. These pokémon knew he was a human, but then he remembered that Alakazam was a psychic type…if he knew that Haruki wasn't really a pokémon, did he know of Hoshi's future…?

"As for the other part…" continued Alakazam as he scanned over the pokémon standing in front of him, "I can still sense it…"

"The aura…?" asked Tyranitar. Alakazam continued to stare at Haruki and Rin. Suddenly, he looked down and spotted Hoshi's tail laying across the ground.

"He's with them…" he said to the other two. "Seize them and keep them out of the way." Obeying, Charizard and Tyranitar walked around Alakazam, grabbing hold of Haruki and Rin.

"Hey!" shouted Haruki as he began to kick and flail when Charizard grabbed him.

"W-What's going on?!" yelled Rin, also fighting to get free of Tyranitar's grip. They turned and carried the two away from Hoshi, who stood rooted to the spot, visibly shivering. Haruki turned his head as far as he could towards Hoshi, shouting at the top of his lungs,

"RUN, HOSHI!"

Rin began shouting also, "HOSHI, GO!"

"WE'LL BE OKAY! LEAVE!! NOW!!!"

Hoshi's lip quivered as he watched them being carried away. Alakazam closed in on the terrified pokémon, raising his spoons as his eyes began to glow. Hoshi could feel his body binding up with an invisible force. "Help me!" he shouted, barely able to move as he was slowly lifted into the air.

"The Destroyer must be eliminated in order to protect this world…and as soon as possible. I don't know how you managed to reach this time…" Hoshi let out a scream as his body began to be squeezed tightly, "but that only makes you easier to take out of this world."

"Hoshi!" Rin and Haruki screamed in unison. Suddenly, Hoshi's eyes glowed a dark violet. The two captive pokémon could only watch at what was about to happen. Suddenly, the force holding Hoshi captive broke and Hoshi continued to float in midair, staring at Alakazam with pure hatred.

"Let…my…friends…GO!!!" Hoshi roared, a huge shockwave of energy emitting from his body. Alakazam backed up a few steps, ready to defend himself. Hoshi roared again and a bolt of dark energy lashed out at the pokémon, he raised his hand and Alakazam was encased in a cocoon of energy. Charizard and Tyranitar dropped Haruki and Rin, running forward to help Alakazam.

"Fire Blast!" roared Charizard.

"Rock Tomb!" bellowed Tyranitar.

Hoshi was engulfed in a ball of blazing fire and quickly encased in a rock prison. Haruki and Rin darted around the large pokémon and rushed forward immediately. "Water Gun!" yelled Rin, his attack having almost no effect on the rock or flames.

"Metal Claw!" screamed Haruki, his claws barely piecing the rock. They continued with unrelenting attacks, tears beginning to stream down their faces, crying out to Hoshi. Alakazam, Charizard, and Tyranitar watched the small pokémon with slight pity, but turned and left without a word, believing their job had been done. The two continued to attack the rock until finally, after many attacks, the flames died and the rock began to crumble. Haruki and Rin backed up for one final attack.

"Metal Claw!" Haruki roared, running at the rock tomb.

"Rapid Spin!" shouted Rin, also running at the rock, jumping and pulling into his shell, spinning towards the tomb. Their attacks hit the rock full force, shattering it completely into a pile of small rocks. Haruki and Rin began to dig in the pile, throwing rocks aside.

"Hoshi!" called Haruki.

"Where are you?!" cried Rin.

They continued digging until Haruki found one of Hoshi's hands…it wasn't moving. He and Rin dug faster, fearing the worst. Soon, they uncovered the rest of the little pokémon's body, holding him as he lay still. Tears began to run down their faces as they gazed upon Hoshi, but Haruki noticed something…there wasn't a scratch on the little pokémon's body. He wiped his eyes and looked closer, seeing Hoshi's chest rise and fall slowly. Haruki couldn't believe it, Hoshi was asleep! "Hoshi!" he cried happily, grabbing him in a tight hug. "You're alive! You're alive!"

Rin began laughing, hugging Hoshi also, "You're alive! You're really alive!"

Hoshi moaned softly, opening his eyes slightly, "Mmm…? Wha…what happened…?"

"Alakazam and his team hit you with a bunch of attacks and you kind of…uh…" said Haruki, scratching his head and laughing, "fell asleep…"

Rin nodded, "Yeah, but before that you sure gave Alakazam a scare with those attacks of yours…"

"…Attacks?" asked Hoshi, tilting his head, confused.

"Yeah, you hit 'em with this cool dark lightning attack! It was so cool!"

Haruki nodded, "Why didn't you tell us that you knew attacks like that, Hoshi?"

Hoshi continued to look confused, "But…I don't know…attacks like that…I don't even remember using any attacks…"

Haruki and Rin looked at each other, then Haruki spoke again, "Well…uh…anyways, let's get you inside. The last thing we need is for those guys to come back and realize they didn't finish the job." They stood up and helped Hoshi to his feet, but Haruki noticed Hoshi staring at him. "What's wrong, Hoshi?" Hoshi lifted a hand and brushed it against Haruki's cheek, pulling it back and staring at something glimmering on his finger.

"…tears…" Hoshi whispered, looking back at Haruki who was now wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "Were…you sad?"

Haruki nodded.

"Why…?"

Haruki smiled, "'Cause I was worried about you! You gave me a good scare when you didn't answer when you were buried under all those rocks…" He patted Hoshi's head. "Don't do that again."

Rin walked over and opened the door, "Come on, guys! I got some apples in here we can eat!"

"Coming!" shouted Haruki as Rin when inside the base. "Come on, Hoshi." He grabbed the pokémon's hand gently and led him into the base.

After many apples and a few bottled waters later, Haruki patted his belly. "That was good." Rin nodded, also patting his own belly.

"Nothing hits the spot like a few crisp apples."

Hoshi, who had barely touched one apple, stared down at the table. Haruki noticed this and asked, "Something wrong, Hoshi?"

"………."

"Hoshi?"

The pokémon looked up suddenly, "Oh, sorry…"

"Something wrong?"

Hoshi shook his head, "No…"

Haruki thought for a moment. "Are you tired?"

Hoshi nodded. "And…it hurts…" he whimpered as he placed a hand slightly above his stomach.

Haruki looked at Rin, "Do you have anything in there for a stomach ache?" he said as he pointed at the pack on the floor, but Rin shook his head.

"No. All he needs for that is some water and a good rest."

Hoshi shook his head again, "No, not that…" he moved his hand higher until it was on his chest. "Here…"

"Your heart?" Haruki asked, beginning to look worried.

"It…it feels…" he whimpered, "Like something…something wants out…something…bad…" He let out a sob and clutched his chest. Hoshi's shoulders began to heave as he let out a cry of pain, and he fell backwards off his chair and onto the floor.

"Hoshi?!" Haruki shouted, pushing away from the table and knocking the chair over as he rushed to the little pokémon's side. "Are you okay?!"

Rin rushed over also, feeling of Hoshi's forehead and withdrawing it quickly, "He's burning up! We have to cool him down right now!!" Hoshi writhed on the ground, crying and clutching his chest.

"Get it out! Get it out!" he sobbed writhing more violently. Hoshi took off his bandana and handed it to Rin. Rin then used only a slight Water Gun attack on it and folded the damp cloth quickly and placed it on Hoshi's head. Tears began to slide down both Haruki and Rin's cheek as they watched Hoshi thrash around on the floor, until finally, one of each of their tears fell onto Hoshi's suffering body. Suddenly, Hoshi's back arched and he loud out a sharp scream as a large rush of black smoke issued from his open mouth, dissipating completely as Hoshi struggled to breathe.

"What was that?!" Haruki cried out, looking where the smoke had disappeared.

"I don't know, but whatever it was…it's not in Hoshi anymore." Rin said, looking at Hoshi's shivering form. The little pokémon's eyes were wide as he took deep ragged breaths, looking extremely pale. Haruki wiped his eyes and patted Hoshi's head gently, trying to calm him; Hoshi closed his eyes and his breathing began to slow, his body beginning to relax. "Let's put him to bed…" said Rin quietly.

Haruki picked up Hoshi in his arms and placed him on his bed in front of the fireplace. He watched as Hoshi lay still on the cushion, breathing softly. As he watched Hoshi sleep, he remembered what Xatu had said:

"…and…she found him…just as the seed of hatred…of pain and desolation…implanted itself into the young heart…" He continued to think as he walked over to the window, the first star of the night twinkling in the sky as he gazed out of it, "Darkness had already begun to form inside…grasping the young one tightly in its grip…multiplying the already powerful pokémon's abilities…and twisting his dreams…infecting them with images that made him fall into despair…and hopelessness…"

He looked back at Hoshi as Rin yawned, resting against the wall and closing his eyes after mumbling that he was going to spend the night at the base tonight. Was that smoke that came out of Hoshi…was that the darkness? If it was, why did it suddenly leave the little pokémon's body? It had obviously been feeding on his dreams and hopes…why did it leave? What could have happened that would force it to leave where it appeared to be firmly planted. Haruki yawned and stretched, walking over and laying beside the bed where Hoshi lay. Whatever it was, it was gone. He looked up and saw Hoshi sleeping peacefully, and he noticed a small smile play across the little pokémon's face…not one of malice, but a small warm smile. He yawned again and turned over onto his side. Hoshi could sleep soundly now, because there was nothing twisting his dreams and turning them into nightmares. Hoshi was safe.

"Good night, Rin…" Haruki said quietly. "Good night, Hoshi." He lay down his head and closed his eyes, fast asleep before his head even hit the floor.