I heard crying. Immediately, I fly over as fast as I can to the sight of where I heard it. However, no one was hurt. I saw a boy, sitting on a log, watching the sunset.

Dammit, I wasted my own time. I might as well just turn back... And I tried to, but I heard another sob. Indeed, it was coming from the boy.

Was he sad? I should- no! I have more important duties to attend! I can't let myself get distracted by someone's tears-

Dang it. I can't resist my curiosity. I am so going to regret this... I float over slowly to the boy. He didn't appear to be human... He had blue skin, cyan eyes that looked similar to a Poipole's, fangs, a dragon tail, and a cube shaped head. Not that it matters... let's just get this over with...

I approach the boy. "Hey."

Upon eye contact, the boy lands on his knees and tries to backward crabwalk away from me. He backed up into a tree and was cornered. "P-please don't hurt me... I-I did nothing wrong!"

Was he scared of me? People do see me as a very sadistic Pokemon... and I'm a force of nature itself. But... I need to do the right thing here.

"I'm not going to hurt you. You don't need to be scared..."

The mysterious boy looked up at me. "A-are you sure...?"

"I promise. Just please tell me what's going on..."

The boy began tearing up. "(sniff) I..."

Then he did something I was not expecting at all. He hugged me. What is this feeling? And why does it feel so... good?

"I'm... alone... so scared..."

He was lonely? Well, I haven't really had any actual friends, unless you count Koko, Bulu, and Fini... but... why do I get the feeling that his case is different?

"Oh... I see. Can I look into your mind? I want to know what happened."

"(sniff) go ahead."

I pressed my hands to his forehead. I saw his life, and everything he went through that put him like this. What I saw was amazing, but also terrifying.

He was actually a member of an entirely different species of intelligent life. That explained the looks, but what I saw after that... was horrifying. A volcano had erupted, annihilating everything in the lava's path, and burning down every last member of his race. He was the only survivor. I honestly couldn't imagine how hard that was for him.

You know what? Screw it. Again. I'm going to enjoy tending to this poor, poor boy and LIKE it. I'm going to WANT to help him feel better, and not just because it's the right thing to do. I'm going to CARE.

"I... I can't imagine how hard that was... seeing everyone you've ever known just vanish like that... You know, I never originally wanted to come down and help you like this, but now that I see what you went through, you're suddenly the most important thing to me next to my duties as a guardian."

He held me tighter.

"T-Tapu Lele... it was a nightmare. Every day- every night- I have to have horrifying flashbacks- I- I want it to be over... I don't wanna think about it anymore... i'm so scared... so alone..."

He was quivering, shaking in my arms. He really was frightened. I put both my arms around him, one of them rubbing his back slowly.

"Shhhhh..."

I closed my eyes, and lightened my tone even more. He NEEDED to feel safe.

"It's gonna be okay... just take deep breaths... in..."

Obviously, I don't need to breathe, but I figured he knew how to take some.

"And out. That's it... just keep on breathing deep... You'll heal.I promise."

He tried to take as many deep breaths as he could. He shook a bit while taking them, feeling slightly unsteady. I locked him in my arms, trying to sturdy him.

"It's okay... I'm here...I promise."

The boy just let whatever tears he had out left. I knew there were duties I had to attend, but I didn't want to leave him lonely like that.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go for now. But I want you to know that you'll always be welcome near me. If you're ever feeling lonely, or you have uncomfortable thoughts, just come to my shrine, and I promise i'll welcome you with open arms. And... there's something I wanted to give you."

I took out a treasured possession.

"I don't normally just give these away, and especially not this one. This is a special Z-crystal. A Tapunium Z, which can be used on us, the guardians. You've been so brave to let me come help you like this... keep it. As a token of our friendship and a signal that you're never truly alone again."

Before I go, I ask him one last thing.

"There's one more thing I forgot to ask you... you never properly introduced yourself. What's your name, again?"

"I-Icefang."

"Icefang... it's a beautiful name. I have to go now. Just remember, you have that special crystal in your hands, and i'll always welcome you if you need some love."

"...Thank you."

I flew away, returning to my shrine. I feel glad for what I did. As an island guardian, it's my duty to protect the people on this island. But I also learned another thing. It doesn't just mean physically. It can also mean emotionally.

Icefang... i'm glad I met you... and I can't wait until we meet again.