Quickly, I was rushed downriver to confirm that I was the missing Dash. As we approached, I could tell it was the same burrow. The chimney had been replaced, but otherwise it was the same location, same entrance. Mrs. Bibarel called down the entrance hole.
"Bonnie? Bonnie?! Are you there?"
"Yes, come in." called a distant female voice, too remote for me to identify. We quickly went down the hole and into the burrow. When we came down, I could see that the burrow had been heavily altered underground, despite all familiarity from above. While some portions were still recognizable as the single room where my family had slept and ate, it was now clearly an elaborate underground mansion. What used to be the only room had been widened, and elaborate tunnels led off to many side-chambers.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Said a female Flareon as she emerged from one of the side-tunnels. This was undoubtedly my mother. She seemed a bit older, but she was still perfectly recognizable. "It's been too long, Mr. and Mrs. Bibarel! What a pleasure to see you again. What a snowstorm we had the other day, eh? I worried about you two, what with your burrow being closer to the surface and all-"
"We can catch up later, Bonnie." Replied Mrs. Bibarel hurriedly. "We've got something a bit more urgent right now. Do you recognize this Jolteon here?" She asked, pointing to me. I waited, unconsciously holding my breath.
She studied me for a moment, then, smiling warmly, replied "No, I'm afraid I don't. Should I? I'm sorry, I generally remember people's faces and names, but sometimes it slips my mind. Would you care to re-enlighten me?"
I could feel my ears drooping in disappointment. Then I chastised myself for acting like a child. I had been an Eevee when she had last seen me. It was illogical for me to assume she would recognize me right away. For that matter, why would she even want me back? I was no longer an important part of her life. She had clearly gotten on fine without me, and had transformed the burrow into a grand and spacious home. Why would she want to take me in? I'd just be an unwelcome burden. I couldn't allow myself to hope. Hope was vulnerability. Your enemies could use it against you, to torment you. It was a weakness in your mental armor. I had been foolish to allow myself to hope even as much as I had.
I sort of stood there silently while the Bibarel couple explained how they had found me, and who I claimed to be. Despite myself, I felt touched when tears formed in my mother's eyes when my name was mentioned. She then asked me "I hope sincerely that you are my lost Dash, but I need to be sure: What was Dash doing before he disappeared?"
"Heading over to his cousin's house." I replied. "He… I was excited because it was the first time I could go by myself. I brought along Henry, my Dratini friend, and you gave me a knapsack filled with berries for the trip."
With a sob, my mother rushed towards me and pulled me into a warm embrace. For the first time in ages, I felt like I was home.
Just then, a female Glaceon entered the room, looking at me confusedly. "Oh, hi mom. Who's this?" She inquired.
My mom broke the hug and tried to explain to her. "Well, honey… It's kind of sudden… I don't know how to say it, but… This is your lost brother, Abbey."
It was hard to tell who was more shocked, me or her. When I had thought of home, I had always accepted that if I ever made it back some things would have changed. But in my daydreams, Abbey had never been anything other than what she was when I left her: A small, cute Eevee who was just learning her first words. I had never even considered the possibility that she would be anything else. Yet here she was: A graceful, beautiful Glaceon. It was hard to accept so suddenly.
It got worse: she was joined a few seconds later by a handsome young Leafeon. "Oh, this is Percy, Abbey's fiancée, sweetie." Explained my mom.
Fiancée? Ugh. Suddenly I didn't feel so good. I felt tired, nauseous, and dizzy. I began to tremble involuntarily. Without a word, I walked off and curled up in a corner. Everyone watched me concernedly, but I paid them no attention. I knew what was happening.
Sensory overload. It was a broad term, and could apply to many things, but I knew what it meant in this case: I was trying to absorb too much information too fast. My brain couldn't handle all of the new information at once. Because of this, my brain engaged psychosomaticism. Basically, my body forced itself to be sick so that I would stop absorbing new information.
After taking deep breaths and trying to relax for a few minutes, it passed. I went back and explained everything to everyone. Everyone offered their sympathy, and we spent the rest of the day talking. Percy seems like a nice guy, despite my initial shock at seeing him.
The Bibarels departed about noon. As for the rest of us, we spent the rest of the day and well into the night talking, catching up on things. I could tell that everyone was wondering where I had been for so long, but they didn't press me for details, and I was too tired to relate the whole thing tonight. Eventually, we were forced to retire. I was eager to go to sleep, considering how mentally drained I was from the day. Mom gave me a room to myself, and I curled up gratefully. Before long, I was fast asleep.