Omori saw the Pokémon trio two days ago. It had been the first time in 4 years. He'd started resetting headspace, and his own memories. When the Pokémon trio first came, headspace wasn't formed. Whitespace was real, but not headspace. Then, the trio returned, asking to take the place of headspace counterparts. How could Omori refuse? It's not like they could tell Sunny the truth, and if he was being honest, Omori being the only sentient thing besides Mewo made him lonely. If they were here, Musharna's Mist would make it all real. He would have real friends, not just illusions formed from memories. So Omori accepted the offer. He knew he wouldn't remember it until after the cycle, but would there even be a cycle anymore? Maybe his headspace adventures would just…continue. The stoic boy finished the reset.
Omori was laying down when he decided to stare at his computer screen. To his surprise, there was a new game. Hangman. Huh, neat. Something fell nearby. Omori ventured into the void. He found a map. Then, he re-entered Neighbor's Room. Aubrey ran and hugged him. Ralts came running and cried.
"Omori! You're Ok!" She said.
"What happened?" Kel asked.
"Yeah, I remember going to Basil's house, then you and Basil vanished, then we all woke up here in Neighbor's Room." Hero told Omori. Ralts was crying and looking at Omori's chest. A specific spot. The spot it had seen Omori stab himself at. It looked normal now. Omori just stood there, taking in the information. He always had a few VERY vague memories of past cycles, so this felt familiar, like Deja Vu. Omori brushed it off.
"Let's go see Mari and let her know you're alright. You know how she worries about you." Hero said. With that, the group left Neighbor's Room.
As they went to the playground, Omori looked around. This felt…different somehow. Like it was more…real?
They reached the picnic area. Before they could reach the picnic blanket, Mari and her Pokémon ran up and hugged Omori.
"Omori! You're ok!" She cried, tears flowing. When the tears stopped, she released Omori.
"Don't disappear like that!" She scolded. Aubrey came closer, Marill on her shoulder.
"Hey Mari? Have you seen Basil?" She asked.
"No, I haven't."
Kel quickly chimed in.
"Don't worry! He probably just got lost in the woods!" Kel said. Aubrey just stared at him, but agreed to check there. Omori decided to talk with some of the playground kids first, though. Berly and Van were in front of the tether ball pole, but there was no ball.
"Great, now the ball is gone!" Berly said.
"It's not gone, I saw it fly in that direction!" Van said, pointing to the forest.
"Well it might as well be if it's there! This is why you can't use your arms! You gotta use your head, like this!" Berly said, and she headbutted Van, while her Druddigon headbutted his Abomasnow.
"Hey Berly." Aubrey said. Berly turned.
"What do you want?" She said.
"We were about to leave to go look for Basil in Vast Forest, we can grab your ball while we're at it." Aubrey explained.
"Really!? Alright, but I'm coming with to point it out!" Berly said. The group went and saw Shawn and Ren stargazing with their Plusle and Minun.
"We're stargazing! Wanna join us?" They offered. Omori laid on the ground and watched the stars. He felt like he didn't have a care in the world. He learned the skill Observe. After getting up and passing by Neb, who hadn't caught a Pokémon yet because he was too busy doing puzzles, to see Daisy and her Sunflora.
"There's a guy I like, but he only likes puzzles…I wish I could find a flower puzzle…" She muttered.
Omori went down to the forest. There were many twists and turns. Bunnies, Sprout Moles, and Big Strong Trees. When they got there, Kel rushed ahead.
"I know who can help, my Nacli, Hector!" Kel yelled, sending out Hector. Hector just stood there. Kel went up to him and pet him.
"It's ok, Hector, you tried your best." He said. Aubrey hit him.
"This is no time to play around!" She said.
"I wasn't! Hector was just trying to help!" Kel yelled. Hero had to break up the fight.
As they traveled through the woods, they found a cave. Inside was a Wise Rock. They gave him some clams for some bad advice.
"Yell ALL THE TIME!" The rock yelled. The group crossed a bridge, a very misty bridge. It was long. Then, Omori saw someone. It looked like Basil! Kinda. Omori ran after him, everyone else following suit. But the stranger disappeared. Omori stopped. He looked at Ralts.
Ralts shook its head. Ralts was confused. It sensed both hostility and comfort from the stranger. It made no sense.
The group eventually found Berly's ball, but not Basil. They returned to the playground. Once their, Berly approached them.
"I guess I should thank you guys for finding my ball. So, I'm gonna teach one of you my special skill! But first, who here is the most hard headed?"
Kel nudged Aubrey.
"Well it's obviously Aubrey!" He said.
"What?!" Aubrey said, looking angry.
"Perfect, I knew I saw potential in you! Come here! And bring Nidoran with you." Berly said.
Aubrey did as told.
"OK ok, see that guy and his Pokémon?" Berly asked.
"I know who Van is" Aubrey said. Berly ignored that.
"OK, so what you two are going to do is…"
Berly ran up and headbutted Van.
"Just like that."
Aubrey looked around.
"I don't know…won't it hurt?"
"Psh. No!" Berly said, a little to quick.
"And it could mess up my hair…" Aubrey said.
Berly looks frustrated.
"Come on, Aubrey! Live a little! Come on Come on Come on Come on-"
"Alright fine!" Aubrey said, but only to get Berly to shut up.
She sent out Nidoran ️. Then, she ran at Van full speed and jumped at home headfirst. Nidoran ️ ran at Abomasnow and hit it with its head.
"Woooo~ my head kind of hurts…" Aubrey said. Berly ran up to her.
"Nice job! I knew I saw potential in you!" Berly said. She then scribbled something on a piece of paper.
"Congrats! You passed the test! From this day forward, I declare you a certified Headbutter! Take this certificate, show your friends! I'm sure they'll be proud!" Berly said before going to play Tetherball.
Aubrey held the certificate, unsure of what to do with it when Nidoran ️ grabbed it and took it over to the others.
"Hey! Nidoran!" Aubrey yelled, but it was too late. Kel had seen it.
"You got the Butt Certificate! Hahahaha!" He teased.
"Kel! Give it to me!" She said and snatched it from his hand before giving it to Omori. Omori saw his sister on her picnic blanket. He ran over to her, with his friends following. Mari saw the group.
"Hey guys! Any luck finding Basil?" Mari asked. Basil's Pokémon went up to the kids, hoping they found Basil.
"No. No luck…" Hero said.
"I miss Basil…" Aubrey said.
"Hey! You know that ladder in the corner? Why don't we climb it!" Kel suggested. Omori looked a little nervous.
"But…Omori is afraid of heights…" Aubrey said.
"I'm sure it will be fine. Omori, do you think you can do it?" Mari asked him. Omori thought, then nodded.
"Alright! Don't worry Omori! You'll be fine!" Aubrey said.
"And if you fall, Ralts can use psychic to catch you!" Kel said. Aubrey smacked him.
"Don't say that! He won't fall!" Aubrey said.
The group left and went to the ladder.
When they got there, Omori was kind of nervous.
"Ok guys. Why don't we return our Pokémon to their Pokéballs?" Hero suggested. Everyone began to, but Ralts used Psychic to keep Omori from returning it, Mawile or Musharna. They knew he didn't have their Pokéballs. They aren't his Pokémon. They are Sunny's Pokémon. Omori looked at the trio and shrugged, not looking for Pokéballs. He approached the ladder.
"Don't worry, Omori. We're right here." Aubrey said. Ralts and Mawile put their hands on his leg and smiled and him. Musharna nodded. Omori looked at his three friends. As scared as he was, he needed to find Basil. He touched the ladder. He felt like hands were surrounding him before they abruptly disappeared. He was no longer afraid of heights.
Omori climbed, Aubrey followed, then Kel, then Mawile, then Ralts, then Hero.
As they got higher, they stopped.
"Hey guys, I think I dropped something." Kel said. He checked his pockets. There was Spinda's Pokéball, Snom's Pokéball, and…
"Hey, I can't find Hector!"
"I think I saw something fall!" Hero said.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! HECTOOOOOOOOOOR!"