Nasrin had been wondering for months which of her Pokemon she would have a strong enough bond with to become a Pokemagnus.

There was Snow, of course, Rapunzel, and now Khan, meaning three very different outcomes.

As Reuniclus and Dobby put her into the trance-like state necessary for the test, she still had no idea which would win in the end.

Snow was one of her first, loyal and strong and beautiful, and together they would be an Ice Fairy that struck fear into the hearts of Dragons all over Alola.

While a much newer friend, Rapunzel was spirited and fun and caring, growing into a versatile strength that would bloom if they merged into a Lopunny, graceful and powerful.

Freshly hatched, Khan was already proving unshakeable, a steady presence even when the whole world seemed to shake, and together they would be a Mudbray, one of the heaviest, most powerful Pokemon to grace the islands.

Blinking as the trance faded away, Nasrin glanced up at the Psychic-types, curious.

"So?"

Reuniclus and Dobby shared a look before turning to where Mulan was cuddling with Khan, grooming his mane.

Mulan easiest merge-bond, the Alakazam projected to everyone, Remus' eyes going wide.

"I did not see that coming." Harry admitted, Hedwig bobbing her head in agreement.

"I've never heard of someone being a Pokemagnus with a Baby Pokemon." Remus voiced, eyes flickering as if trying to make sense of it. "Then again, Riolu aren't native to Avalon, and are one of a few Baby Pokemon that only have one evolution…"

Nasrin slipped into the Speaker's Realm, soft darkness enveloping just her and Mulan like a velvet blanket.

"So we can be Pokemagnus partners?" The little Riolu asked, voice soft.

"We can." The half-Gem agreed, carefully neutral. "If we do, you won't evolve. You'll only be a Lucario when we're merged."

Perked ear-sensors trembled, dropping a notch, and her heart clenched.

"But it's our choice. I know you're close to evolving on your own, and I would never ask you to give up something you truly want. If you don't want to be my Pokemagnus partner, I'll figure something else out. You don't have to do anything."

Mulan stared back at her with soft red eyes, something pulsing under her fur, for what felt like years.

"But I want to."

The space between them filled with warmth, like love itself was pouring out.

"I want to evolve, to be strong for you, but I'd rather do it with you than without you."

Sniffling once, remembering the little bundle of black-blue fur that had uncurled in her lap that day on the Forbidden Island, little paws curled in her pantleg when she walked and a warm weight on her chest at night, and Nasrin nodded.

"I'd rather do it with you, too."

"In order to bond, you need to be able to connect in such a way that you feel as if the two of you are halves of a greater whole. Like when you two Fuse. First, you feel where they are. You must develop this, until you know where they stand just as you know where your hand is. They must be like a limb, always there, even if you aren't focused upon them. Then you delve deeper, till their eyes are your eyes, and you can see and hear what they do. Pushing further is the blending, when man and Pokemon become one and the same, and the power of both lends towards a Pokemagnus evolution. For some, it can go quick. Sirius and Padfoot were able to move from stage two to stage three within days. Your father, on the other hand, needed weeks to move from stage one to stage two. There isn't any real reason for it, as your father and Prongs were just as close as Sirius was to Padfoot and I am to Mooney. It's just the way life is."

This proved true very early in their training.

While Harry and Nasrin began the exercises together, from synced-breathing workouts to silent command drills, the half-Gem and her Riolu quickly outpaced the boy and his Hoothoot within minutes, as if reading each other's minds.

"It makes sense, when you think about it." Remus noted, watching Nasrin and Mulan mirror each other's moves while blindfolded. "Like Pokemagnus evolution, Fusion requires syncing up with another being. Gems are naturals at it, especially the ones here on Earth, and Nazz already knows what it feels like since you two Fuse so often."

Harry could only nod, amazed at how every twitch of the finger and shift of weight was mimicked flawlessly, like a choreographed dance where he was only beginning to learn the first steps.

Inspired, the Potter had thrown himself even harder into their training, studying Hedwig down to the last feather and doing quiet exercises in the darkness before bed.

Really, him hitting a metaphorical brick wall was inevitable.

Nasrin sat quietly on their windowsill as she watched Harry repeat their most recent exercise, pinpointing Hedwig in a dark room, for the fifth time.

He was practically bleeding frustration, too tense to properly relax, and Mulan's ear-sensors were thrumming with it.

Unfolding herself, the pinkette moved to sit across from him, fingers sliding between his with a gentle smile that loosened coiled shoulders.

"Take a moment to think of just, flexibility, love and trust…Take a moment to think of just, flexibility, love and trust…"

Ariel and Melody added their voices in harmony as their Pokemon closed in, Hedwig and Robin landing on Harry's shoulders while Togetic settled on Nasrin's ringlets, Meeko peeking over her head.

"Here comes a thought that might alarm you, what someone said and how it harmed you, something you did that failed to be charming, things that you said are suddenly swarming…"

Ludwig and Snow curled around the Eggs, watching quietly while Dobby sat with Eevee, Melody and Rapunzel in his lap.

"And oh, you're losing sight, you're losing touch…All these little things seem to matter so much, that they confuse you…That I might lose you…"

Releasing a deep breath, Harry's grip squeezed around hers.

"Take a moment, remind yourself, to take a moment and find yourself, take a moment and ask yourself, if this is how we fall apart…"

Mulan hummed, resonating.

"But it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not…It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay…You've got nothing, got nothing, got nothing, got nothing to fear…I'm here, I'm here, I'm here."

"Take a moment to think of just, flexibility, love and trust…" Harry returned, as if the words were etching into his heart as they leaned in-

And breathed, Togetic clinging to dark pink curls as Hedwig and Robin steadied themselves on new shoulders, Mulan curled around their Gem.

"Take a moment to think of just, flexibility, love and trust…"