The next morning, I woke before dawn. It was still dark outside as I pulled myself up. Evie was still sleeping, and I tried my best not to wake her. Still, she stirred just as I reached the door of my room.

"Mm?" She murmured drowsily. Her eyes opened slightly. She smiled faintly when she saw me, before drifting back to sleep.

I left the room and went downstairs. Everything was packed into boxes, huddled by the door. I stared at them. I'd never realized that we didn't have that many things at all - the boxes were surprisingly small, mostly filled with Evie's journals and little jars of plants and berries. None of the boxes were for me - Blood would never allow me to take any, and besides, I really didn't have anything I wanted to take. All of my old things seemed to belong to a past life, and I wanted to leave them untouched when I moved on.

The whole house felt empty, save for the dining area. Neither of us was taking the old table and the rough-hewn chairs; they were too heavy to carry. I moved to the side of the table. A single bowl was filled with Sitrus berries, left by Evie the night before for our breakfast. I took a bite out of one of them. Sour-sweet juice flooded my mouth, and I savored the flavor. It tasted like home, like the village, like the valley around me. It might be a long time - forever, even - before I could bite into another Sitrus berry. I quickly finished one, and then another.

I heard steps on the stairs as I reached for a third. There was Evie: sleepy-faced, quietly padding down the steps. She paused when she saw me, and I offered her a berry. "No, no, it's alright," she murmured. "I'm not hungry, that's all. Go ahead, eat."

I could feel Evie's gaze upon me as I ate several more berries. When I looked at her, I was surprised to see she was in tears. "Evie..." I started to say, but she shook her head. "I'm alright," she said determinedly, and willed herself to stop until she was only sniffling.

Evie came over and sat. We ate berries in silence for a few minutes, before Evie spoke again:

"Minun?"

"Yes?" I replied. What was she going to tell me now? There really wasn't anything to say anymore.

"I want to thank you."

I was silent, so she continued. "You've been such a good friend, Minun. I know it sounds so empty, but I mean it. All these years I've known you, not once have I doubted how sincere you were." She paused, looking off. "In fact...you're one of the only friends that I've ever had since...ever since-"

She shook her head. "Nevermind. But still...you two, Plusle and Minun, gave me so much more than anyone ever had. You were always there, always by my side, even when I wasn't at my best. You were so loyal...you kept with me through everything, even when you didn't have to. Sometimes, even, I wondered who was taking care of who."

She smiled through her tears. "I can't say how heartbroken I am that we are finally parting. Maybe forever, even. But...you know? Never have I regretted spending all these years here. I don't think I've ever been as happy in my life as the time when I was with you two. Even after Plusle died, when I felt it was all over...you showed me that...that life can go on even without the Pokemon you thought you'd never be able to live without.

You showed me that I could still feel joy, even though I was bitter...you showed me I could still feel happiness even though I was scarred. The years before I met you two were full of regret and depression. But now...now, even though our time is drawing to a close...I know that what you two taught me will last me forever.

Thank you, Minun."

I didn't know what to say. Evie waited in silence for a moment, and then she sighed. "It's alright, Minun. I understand. Sometimes...sometimes, there's just nothing left to be said." She gestured towards the bowl, half full of berries. "Dawn is in a few minutes," she noted. "We should finish our breakfast. Today is going to be a big day...as you already know."

When the dawn did arrive, Evie and I stood by the window and watched as the sky above the mountains slowly grew lighter. Fuzzy pinks and oranges replaced the dark indigo that I'd seen when I first woke up.

Then the sun itself began to rise beyond the peaks: a blazing, red-orange fireball. I shielded my eyes, and Evie turned me away from the window. "Some mornings, when you were still asleep, I would watch the sun rise over the mountains," she murmured. "It's such a beautiful sight, especially in this valley. But it's very bright. Too bright for young eyes like yours."

She looked out into the blazing skies. "I'll miss the sunrise," she said. "Just like I'll miss everything in this valley. Just like I'll miss you."

Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted our reverie. "Oh," Evie quickly said, surprised. "Wait a second, Minun. I'll be right back." She made her way to the door and opened it. I watched as she spoke quickly to someone outside, before she stepped aside.

Blood dipped his head in greeting as he entered. "Good morning," he said, looking directly at me. "Minun, it's almost time to go. Have you everything you need?"

I nodded, walking over to the table and taking one of the Sitrus berries, as well as one of the paintings Sol had made of the three of us - Evie, Plusle, and I - surrounded by the tall trees of the forest he lived by. But besides those two souvenirs of a past time, I wouldn't have anything else: Blood told me that at the most, his team would only have a few spaces left in their team toolbox after they'd picked up all the food they needed for the journey back.

It hadn't taken me long to decide on those two things: everything else seemed unimportant and useless, like old, dusty relics. If I was really moving on, there was no need to take any of those things. All I needed was one small memory, in the form of the painting and the berry.

"My team is waiting for us at the foothills of the mountains. Shall we go?" Blood asked. I tried to clear my mind, and nodded. "Very well then," Blood continued. "Madam, I understand you will be accompanying us until the end of the village?"

"Yes. I'll turn back at the eastern hill," she said. Her tone had become very quiet and calm, although she avoided looking at me, choosing to stare at the floor instead. Blood dipped his head in acknowledgement, and the three of us headed outside. I turned and looked into the house for the last time - my gaze settling on the old table and the rough-hewn chairs with their colorful cushions that were so familiar to me - and then closed the door.

We made our way through the village's narrow, winding paths in silence, passing by the huts and homes that were so familiar to me. The town square was quiet: nothing stirred so early in the morning, and the whole village seemed to be bathed in a pale blue light. When we finally reached the edge of the village, where the huts ended, I saw a lone figure waiting for us: Albert, with his majestic wings at his sides, almost as if he were sleeping. Blood walked up to him and tapped him on the wing, and he opened his eyes to peer directly into mine.

"Hello, Minun," he said. His voice lacked its usual heartiness; it seemed tired and weary, as if he were about to concede defeat. "I am here to send you off. So is half the village," he said, managing a weak smile as he gestured towards a small crowd in the distance that I hadn't seen before. Suddenly, he seemed very sad. "It's so unfortunate that you are leaving forever. Really, we all wish you would stay, Minun," he said. "But nevermind. There is no avoiding it now. Come with me," he instructed.

Evie, Blood, and I followed him as he began the trek up the hill. As soon as we were in sight of the top, the crowd began to graviate towards us. I recognized most of the faces in the crowd, which included Sol and Plusle's parents, who immediately ran to me. Plusle's mother sobbed, while his father patted my back. "Make us proud," he said. "Someday, come back and avenge Plusle's death for us. But even if you don't...even if you decide to leave forever...please remember that this will always be your home, and if you ever need anything, we'll always be here for you." Plusle's mother nodded in agreement, and the two of them departed past us.

Sol was next. He mostly spoke in hoarse whispers to Evie, and they embraced. Then he turned to me. "I would like to say that Evie and I are very proud of you," he said in his gravelly voice. "You will do well in the future, Minun. Do not let this...this incident depress you." Then he stepped back into the crowd and disappeared.

Eventually, Albert managed to shoo most of the crowd away. The villagers reluctantly left, most of them patting my back, or shaking hands, or hugging me as they went by. All of them wished me well, and begged me to return someday, although I think they knew that that day might never come.

Now, there were only the three of us, plus Albert, who stood, calm and silent, as we said our final goodbyes. Evie and I embraced for what felt like an eternity. I never wanted to part with her, but eventually she pulled away. Fresh tears were streaming down her face again as she looked at me. "Minun..." she whispered. "Goodbye, Minun." I tried to think of something- anything to say, but I was so choked with sorrow that nothing came out.

Blood and I finally began the journey away from the village, but at the next hill, we paused. "W-wait," I said, and Blood halted for a moment. I turned back and looked at the hill, at the village, at the place I called home. I still remember that one last glance: Evie and Albert silhouetted against the blazing sunrise, waving at us as we were about to venture into the unknown.

Then we were gone.

Author's Note: From this point on, Minun must begin a new life without those he loves the most - especially without Evie, who loved him more than anyone else he had ever known. This is not the end of the story...rather, it is more like the end of the first part. But with every end comes a beginning...and I am sure you will enjoy what is to begin after this.