He woke up tangled in his blankets, in bed, in the Volunteer Pokémon House. There were no killer Ghost-types, no pokémon-human hybrid giants, and no nightmares. Was it all just a dream?! he wondered. He got out of bed, and discovered he was still wearing his clothes from the night before. He checked his pockets, and the Blue Flute and his keys were still inside. He walked into the pokémon play area, and a Nurse was sitting at his table, waiting for him.

"Oh, you're awake!" she said. "The staff of the Radio Tower found you passed out in the studio. I didn't quite understand their story, but I heard that you stopped the rampaging Dusknoir."

"So it really did happen..." Fuji mumbled. On the table, he saw his radio, and beside it was the giant Pecha berry.

"Yes, you're even more of a hero than we thought you were! Make sure you go the the Radio Tower as soon as you can. They want to talk to you." The nurse smiled. "I'll get going now. You should be fine as long as you get some rest." She went out the door and left Fuji staring at the berry. After a few minutes, he shook his head, ending his reverie. He marched to his drawers, took out a pen and a sheet of paper, and slapped the paper onto the table. He wrote furiously, like the world would end if he didn't finish the letter in time.

Dear Blaine,

I'd love to travel in Unova with you, but first, I need you to help me with some preparations. First of all, I need my old pokémon back. I don't know how trainers these days conduct their battles, but I'm certain that you'll be an excellent teacher. Secondly, I have to get an Amulet Coin.

As you might have guessed, I must raise a large sum of money as quickly as possible. I have far too much news to convey in just one letter, but the long and short of it is that I have decided that the Lavender Radio Tower has to be shut down and moved to another location. The spirits in the House Of Memories have been disturbed for a long time, as you know, but I have only now realized my duty to take action. A pokémon opened my eyes to the consequences of letting it be.

Reina is fine, as you expected. She's getting carried away with her new Porygon-Z. Thank you very much for the Blue Flute; it has been extremely useful. You didn't have to go to the trouble of commissioning it for me, but I am immeasurably glad that you did. I promise to give you more of an explanation as soon as I can. Let me know where and when we should meet.

Love,

—Fuji

Fuji was happy. It was pleasantly warm, and the clouds were as fluffy as Mega Altaria plumes. He found that while his fear of heights and his shyness around people never really improved, he was able to survey the roof of the tower with renewed confidence because it was for a worthy cause. Many of his afternoons had to be spent directing the Gym Leaders who were assisting him with the landscaping. And this was a special day—he was making the final round of the premises, and soon everything would be complete.

Misty's Togetic popped its head out from the below the roof. Misty, who was standing perilously close to the edge, beckoned it over and it fluttered back into her arms. "Well, I think we're done here!" she said, while fluffing Togetic's feathers. "It's sure been a while since I used this little guy. Using Rain Dance to water all the wisteria at once was a great idea, Fuji." She waved to him, then set off.

He smiled. "That's nice of you to say." Wisteria vines were hanging from each side of the building, flowing like a lavender waterfall from the roof. Giovanni had immediately insulted Fuji for being egotistical when he explained the plan, but Erika and Sabrina both thought it would improve the energy of the place. After all, it had been Fuji's idea. Still, it feels strange to be so indulgent, he thought. I haven't treated myself to anything in so long.

"Hey, Fuji!" Lt. Surge shouted. He ran up to him. "Pachirisu's done picking up the trash. Time for us to get going."

Fuji nodded. "Thank you, Lieutenant Surge. I'm very grateful for your help."

"No problem, good job staying strong with your decision. You might not look it, but you're tough!" He punctuated this statement by socking Fuji in the shoulder. "The radio staff had better love their new home in Vermillon, or I'll never let 'em hear the end of it!" He left, his Pachirisu chittering and bounding after him.

"Uhn... all right then..." Fuji massaged his shoulder. He walked over to the garden area, where Giovanni was commanding his Marowak to finish digging holes for the last few plantings. Fuji was filled with dread, but he wanted to get this over with as fast as he humanely possible.

He took a deep breath. "Giovanni. I know we have our differences, but I appreciate—"

Giovanni slowly turned to glare at him. "I hope you know, Fuji, that Blaine stole my Amulet Coins to make this happen, and that he said he wouldn't give them back to me unless I did this. And before you say anything, I know you won't admit that it was all on your orders."

Fuji had to suppress a groan. I'll have to discuss this with Blaine some other day, he thought. "I'm sorry, I really didn't know. But you won't hear me complaining about your using a Marowak in battle after everything you did. I was trying to thank you. Let's agree to leave these things in the past."

"Leave it in the past?!" Giovanni snapped. "You're the one who brought it up, you hypocritical—"

"Can it, old man." Suddenly, Janine leaped out of shallow hole in the ground that looked impossible for any human to hide inside. "Just accept that you're the friend nobody likes and move on. Gio."

Fuji jumped back. Janine winked at him and raced away, while Giovanni just muttered something about that remark and stormed off.

The only other Leaders Fuji had to check on were Erika, Sabrina, and of course, Blaine. Brock and Jasmine had finished early, using their Onix and Steelix respectively for a shrapnel eating contest. It had been eardrum-piercingly loud, and only a few weeks ago, he would have puzzled over someone as quiet as Jasmine could use such loud pokémon constantly. But after he had experienced the wild battles of Unova while he raised money for the project, he had started to understand the appeal. Battling is an art form, he realized when he first watched his Blissey send a Wish up to the sky. It just isn't for me.

In the center of the tower roof, he had planted the Pecha berry he was given in the other world. With only a little water, it had grown taller than any berry plant he had ever seen. It was more of a tree than a plant, pale purple leaves and all. The berries themselves were just starting to grow, and there were still white petals flying in the wind from when the tree was blooming. The berries are already the size of the regular variety, but they have so much further to go, Fuji thought.

As he expected, Erika was lying under the tree and snoring. Petals were stuck in her hair, and her hairband was slipping off, but she wasn't aware of it.

"Excuse me, but it's time to wake up," Fuji said. When she didn't move, he said more loudly, "Wake up, Erika!"

She opened one eye. "Has Jasmine gone already?"

"She left hours ago."

Erika sat up slowly. "My apologies, Fuji. I will put the final bushes in now." She sent out her Bellosom, who danced over to the garden, and Erika yawned and followed it, in a sleepy daze.

Fuji felt his heart beat faster as he looked at the Bellosom. It's almost complete! He thought. Soon, the spirits will be able to rest easy again. He turned away, not ready to see it finished just yet. He walked around the Pecha tree, brushing its soft leaves as he passed. Sabrina was sitting on the other side with her legs crossed. Her eyes were half-open, and Fuji wondered for a second if she was being possessed.

"No, I'm only meditating," she said, reading his mind. "Elder Fuji, I have an important message for you."

"What is it, Sabrina?" Fuji asked, a bit nervous. Are the souls still unhappy after everything I did, even with all the people who helped me?

Her red eyes were shining in the strong sunlight. "The pokémon who attacked you and the others... it is here somewhere, waiting. Its superior has banished it to this realm for its misdeeds."

"I see. Thank you for telling me." Fuji relaxed. While he was disappointed that Dusknoir had lost its job, he knew he could handle the situation gracefully. I will give it a good home, and it should be more receptive to me considering I defended it."If I may ask, what are you doing here, Sabrina? Are you here to use this as a meditation garden, or did you just arrive to give me this news?"

"Neither." She looked down. "I just like the unique flavor of the Pecha berries."

Fuji was taken aback. "The berry I planted was from the spirit world. Are they really safe to eat?"

Sabrina's eyes shifted left and right. "Yes... of course. Though they might be too potent for normal humans. Perhaps you should reserve them for me. All for me."

At Fuji's signal, Blaine told his Ninetails to dissipate the effects of Sunny Day. When the miniature sun vanished, Fuji stood transfixed at the colors of sky—it had become a deep orange with delicate pink bands that faded to aquamarine. He had been so busy with the preparations he hadn't even noticed the beautiful view.

Blaine returned his pokémon to its pokéball. "It's almost as nice as watching a flickering campfire, isn't it?"

Fuji smiled appreciatively. "Oh, yes. But I wouldn't let someone light a fire up here after all of our hard work." He sat down under the tree, feeling pleasantly cool bark against his back. He motioned for Blaine to sit down next to him, and he did, leaning his question mark-shaped cane against the tree.

"So will you keep battling?" asked Blaine. "Your Blissey is a beast!"

"Heh? No, I don't think so. Well, perhaps once in a blue moon. Thank you, though. Honestly, I only wanted to try it for the funding at first, but I'm glad I was able to see what you and Reina enjoy so much. I never expected that your fellow Gym Leaders would be so supportive. They all seem like such wonderful people."

Blaine smirked. "Really? All of them?"

"Well... you know what I mean," he said awkwardly. "You know, even though I like, er, most of them, putting myself out there made me feel very tired. I've been waiting all day to talk to you alone." He sighed wistfully, looking at a single cloud that darkened as it approached the setting sun. "I wanted to apologize. It didn't feel like the right time when we were overseas, battling every day."

"Huh? Why'd you want to apologize? You haven't done anything wrong."

"I haven't been a good friend to you," he admitted, his voice heavy with repressed weariness. "Every time you wanted me to go out with you or to meet one of your friends, I always told you 'no' and never explained why."

Blaine hesitantly put an arm around Fuji. "I knew why, Fuji. It was fine by me that you didn't want anyone to recognize you. That's your choice."

"I know it is, but I'm glad I took the risk and spent time with you."

"Believe me, I'm glad you did, too!" Blaine grinned and pulled him closer. He leaned forward and he spoke. "I got to show off to everyone how sweet you are."

Fuji's cheeks turned the same color as the berries. "Blaine, please! You're embarrassing me!"

Blaine grinned at him. "Hah! What are you so ashamed of? It's not like there's anyone watching—"

He was cut off by the distorted keening cry of Dusknoir, who descended from the tree, jostling leaves and sending them careening into their faces. It hovered in front of them, staring at them with a disturbed look in its eye.

Blaine released Fuji and hastily got to his feet. He picked his cane and pointed to Dusknoir with it. "So you're the one who messed with Fuji, are you?!" He glared and reached for a pokéball. "Arcanine will teach you a lesson!"

Fuji stood up as well and ran between Blaine and the pokémon. "Wait, please calm down!" He carefully moved toward Dusknoir, making sure it didn't respond aggressively. Then he placed a hand on the pokémon's stomach and petted it. "I see your wound has healed since I last saw you. I'm glad." Dusknoir grumbled unintelligibly in response.

Blaine held his arms out wide in bafflement. "This pokémon attacked you and spirited you away, and you're checking to make sure it's feeling okay?!"

"Every pokémon deserves a little mercy. I'm sure this one will be a wonderful helper at the Volunteer Pokémon House. Isn't that right, Dusknoir?"

Dusknoir let out a cry that was very close to a long-suffering sigh.

"Well, I can see a few benefits to this." Blaine scratched his chin, as he often did when thinking up new trivia questions and riddles. "If you ever need money again, you can just bring Dusknoir with you to see some rich people. Then you can tell 'em it'll give them some extra time to live if they donate."

Fuji whirled around. "I'd never do such a thing!" He yelled. He and Blaine just looked at each other. Then they promptly burst out laughing. Dusknoir sank to the ground in embarrassment. The full moon was large because it had just risen above the horizon, and the stars were appearing one-by-one in the blue band of sky.

I could get used to this, Fuji knew in his heart.

THE END