"Look, I appreciate the theatrics, but really?" I sighed. "For me? What's this about?"

Allister appeared sheepish as he wrung his hands together. "You... have a ghost, correct? She's, uh... waiting for you. Inside."

I turned to stare at the house. Suddenly that pull again appeared in my gut. Drawing me towards it. But I also felt a chill. "What else?" I glanced back at the boy. "What else is in there?"

"I... I'm not sure," he shook his head. "I think... a trial... maybe? To test you?"

I hesitated. Part of me wanted to know why Mira had stayed with me all this time, and this would be my chance to finally ask. But... Who else? I wondered. Who else will I see inside?

Alex's hand slipped into mine, startling me out of my thoughts. She smiled warmly and I took a deep breath. "Alright. Fine. Lead the way."

Allister looked relieved. "Thank you. They... wouldn't stop pestering me. Ghosts can be seen. Sometimes. But they need others more in tune with them so they can interact with others. It's either that, dreams, or on the verge of... death. But it's... unstable connections, if you will. With me, you'll be able to talk to them without issue."

"Okay, but why here?" I asked as we approached the decrepit building.

"Certain places have a high affinity for spirits," Allister answered. "Allowing more to gather. Some who may not have been able to appear before... they can now." He rested his hand on the front door. "There shouldn't be any malevolent spirits inside, so don't worry about that."

"That's good," Alex joked, squeezing my hand reassuringly. Taking another deep breath, I nodded to Allister and he pushed the door open and we stepped inside. The inside smelled old and musty. Dust caked every surface and furniture was strewn about haphazardly. The doors on either side of the two staircases leading to the second floor were cracked and hanging off their hinges. Nobody had been here in a long time it seems.

"Where is-" I started, but the moment I blinked, she was there. As pale as the white dress she wore the day she died, Mira stood at the foot of the stairs, smiling at me.

"What are you looking at?" Alex asked me, glancing between me and the stairs.

"You can't see her?" I questioned, then looked to Allister for an explanation.

"They're here for you," he said. "Even I can't see whomever it is you're seeing."

"That's right," Mira's voice was soft. Young. Too young. "You've come a long way, Zeno."

"I-I'm sorry-" I started to say, but my throat seemed to close up.

"You did what you could," Mira said with a shake of her head. "I do not blame you for that. And you shouldn't blame yourself." She turned and strode gracefully over to the door on the right. "Come, Zeno. There is something we wish to impart upon you."

"'We'?" I found myself moving, my hand still grasped within Alex's as she followed me. But the closer I got to the door, the more the world became off tilted and unsteady. Then when I placed a hand on the door, my vision went black and I felt myself falling.

I howled with pain as I landed. Gritting my teeth, my hands shakily reached down towards my leg, feeling it broken. I lay back, panting and trying to fight through the agony. Through the haze of pain, I could see that I was now in some sort of cave in almost total darkness, moonlight shining down from a hole too far for me to climb in this condition.

"This-this is-" I clutched my throat, my eyes widening. I sounded younger. Glancing around wildly, it finally set in where I was. I knew this place. I had been here. Back when-

"This is the first ghost that wishes to speak with you," Mira's voice said and she came into my field of vision to crouch beside me. "But you must reach him."

"Is that right?" I panted before picking myself up, groaning at the pain as tears sprung to my eyes. Hugging the wall, I limped my way through the cave, taking it step by step. "This was part of my extensive training. How would I survive on my own in a territorial Pokemon's home?"

The Pokemon in question soon came into view. A hulking Ursaring who was lumbering towards me. I stopped my hobbled walk, waiting. Back then, I thought that this was it. This would be how I died. Mauled to death by an Ursaring. But that's when-

Flames lit up the cavern, battering against the Ursaring. She roared as she scrambled back. A red scaled Pokemon launched itself at her, claws scraping down her side before more flames blasted in her face. With a growl, she retreated and the Pokemon that had saved me looked at me before scurrying down a different tunnel.

"Wait!" I shouted, trying to hurry after him and nearly fell in the process. Cursing at the pain, I pulled myself along best I could. I could feel the same desperation I did the first time I was here. With death so close by, he'd been my only guide back to life at the time.

Finally I found him, my breath coming in short gasps. He watched me with a cautious gaze, the flame upon his tail flickering as it moved. "Hey," I said, sweat pouring down my face. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Charmeleon snorted and padded towards me. The flames flickered out for a moment, casting us in total darkness, but a moment later the flame returned larger than before. Charizard stood before me, one eye, damaged beyond repair, covered by an eyepatch. We were now in a forest damp with rain. It was all too familiar.

"So you're the first ghost then," I said as I stared through his faded appearance. My emotions began to well within me. "I should have treated you better. But in the end you were just a tool, just like how I was for Giovanni. And for that, I am so sorry."

Charizard huffed and nudged me to turn around. I looked and felt something akin to a punch in the gut. Before me was my memory of this area, where Charizard lay dying as a younger me sobbed over his body. The ghost Charizard, despite being a faded image of himself, felt warm as he loomed over me, claws resting on my shoulders.

"Why am I seeing this?" I whispered.

Beside me, Mira glanced over. "Part of you still looks back on the past. Regrets. That is why you have never stopped seeing me. You need to stop regretting what is done and move on. Look. You say he was just a tool to you. To me, this looks like someone who truly cared despite the tough exterior."

Everything began to fade to black again, and I reached up a hand to grasp Charizard's claws. "Goodbye, my friend." I heard a soft growl before his warmth faded. Moments later I found myself in a run down police station. I blinked, then paused as an Alolan Meowth nuzzled my leg before padding away. Looking around, the room was full of the same Pokemon.

"Hey, kid."

I turned and found myself unable to speak.

"Cat got your tongue?" Nanu asked as he sipped his coffee.

"Why are you here?" I finally got out.

"Hmph," he huffed. "That's a rude question to ask. Especially since I was the one dragged here. Can't you hurry up and forget about me so I can rest in peace?"

"Well, you haven't changed one bit," I said dryly.

"And why would I?" Nanu swapped out his coffee for a cigar. "Life, death, I'm still me." He went to light the cigar, then thought better of it. "Come with me outside. Deputy Hendrickson never cared for me smoking inside."

The very next moment we were outside overlooking Ula'ula Island's Route 17. Like the last time I'd been here it was storming, a torrential tropical rain coming down hard. In the distance the walls of Po Town were dark against the bleak gray sky. Nanu sighed contently as he breathed out the smoke as he lounged on a white picket chair. "Now that's the stuff. I missed this brand."

I sat next to him in silence, wondering why I could also smell the smoke and was forced to resist coughing. Finally Nanu spoke again. "You have a serious problem, you know that?"

"Do tell."

He smirked. "I can't say I hate that attitude of yours. Much better than the facade you had going on a year and a half ago. Tell me, how's Alola doing?"

"Don't you know?"

He snorted. "Kid, I was dragged out of whatever eternal rest I was in because a certain someone can't help but carry his regret. And to be honest, I could care less what Alola is like. I'm just trying to make conversation."

That was a lie. But making him admit it was a task I wasn't going to bother with.

"You were dead when I died," Nanu said after another puff of smoke. "Or something close to dead. I dunno how that all worked for you. But you shouldn't blame yourself for my death. Anyone's deaths honestly." He glanced sideways at me. "You have a nasty habit of putting all the responsibility on yourself. I'm not here because you solely regret not being able to save me. You regret not being able to save all the nameless people who got caught in the crossfire of your situations. So I'm here to tell you, stop blaming yourself."

"Easier said than done," I sighed.

"Yeah, ain't that the truth," Nanu stared at his cigar before flicking it into the grass and watching the rain put it out. "As a police officer, I know the feeling all too well. So listen and listen well. You're not going to be able to save everyone. To think that is the idealism of a fool. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try. But there's always going to be one you cannot save. You need to accept that."

"I'll... try."

"Good," Nanu clapped my shoulder. His form began to fade, and with it, the world we were in. "Now let me rest, dang't. I don't want to have to come back here again."

"Like I wanted your crusty self to show back up," I snarked.

"Oho!" Nanu grinned. "Yeah, I like this attitude of yours. I like it a lot. Good luck, Zeno. Something tells me you're going to need it."

"And another cryptic parting," I groaned as darkness surrounded me. "Yeah, totally didn't see that coming. Thanks a lot, Nanu."

The ground began to shake. Rocks fell from the newly formed tunnel and torches flickered violently. I fell to my knees, tasting iron as I saw the marking upon the ground. An eye, painted upon the ground, stared up at me. A circle surrounded it with arrows emerging from the iris and shooting out beyond the circle haphazardly. I lifted my hand, sickened at the sight of the fresh blood used to paint it.

I heard something fall behind me and I closed my eyes, already knowing what I'd find when I turned. Making sure to keep my gaze up to avoid the floor, I stared coldly at the group of purple cloaked individuals, the one in front holding a bloodied knife.

"Cultists," I said, my voice tone of emotion. I ignored their voices, not wishing to hear their vile words. Stepping over the fallen body, I moved, taking them by surprise. Disarming the one with the knife was too easy. I flipped it around, grabbing it by the handle and slashing upwards. Eyes blazing with cold fury, I whirled through them before they could defend themselves, blood splattering the tunnel walls.

Chest heaving, I tightened my grip on the knife, only for it to feel slick with blood. I dropped it and the noise of it clattering to the ground echoed.

"You killed them."

"This isn't even real," I said, not wanting to turn around in fear of what she may appear as. "Besides, if I had done this back then, maybe you would still- would still-!"

"But you didn't. Thus you preserved your promise to never kill again."

"At what cost!?" I whirled around, too angry to care about the bloodied state of her dress.

Mira smiled, those dead empty eyes of her staring into my soul. "There has always been a cost to living. When you were an assassin, the cost was your soul and the lives of others. And now that cost is sometimes the ones you cannot save. Tell me, which do you prefer?"

"...That's not fair."

"Exactly." Mira stepped closer and the world reverted back to darkness and her body became cleansed and transparent. She stared up at me, that smile never fading. "Life is never fair. So it is not fair to continue to blame yourself for something you could not have prevented."

"Don't you resent me?" I asked, my voice cracking as I fell to both knees, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Never," she said, cupping both of my cheeks as she gave me a pure, blinding smile. "It's been so fun staying by your side and watching your journey unfold. But you cannot continue to see me. Seeing me means you have not yet overcome your regret. So please, Zeno. Forgive yourself."

"I-" I hung my head, the tears flowing unimpeded. "Alright, I- I'll try."

"Very good," she rubbed my head. "You're such a good, kind person, Zeno, for caring even so long after it happened."

"Even though you shall not see me again, know that I will be watching over you. I wish you the very best, Zeno."

I blinked, finding myself back in the decrepit house, my hand settled on the doorknob to a different door than the one I had attempted to enter earlier.

"Zeno, are you awake finally?" Alex asked, concerned, her hand still gripping mine tightly.

"What happened?" I asked, staring down at the doorknob. My didn't seem to want to leave it.

"Well, you entered the room downstairs earlier and went still for a bit. Then you went into another room, then you came up here and into another. Now... this." She stared at the door. "Is there something in there?"

"I'm... not sure," I licked my dry lips. Tightening my grip on the handle, I prepared myself to open it. Prepared myself for what, or rather, who I would probably find waiting inside.

Wi-

Alex's hand squeezed mine, stopping myself from fully turning the doorknob. Smiling softly, I gently pried my hand away from the door. "No."

"No?" Alex sounded confused.

"I don't need to go in there," I said, turning to stare into her emerald gaze. "Because that particular regret... I've already moved on."

For a second Alex just stared at me. Then her cheeks turned red and she wouldn't meet my eyes as she tried and failed to fight a warm smile from appearing. I pulled her in close, hugging her gently. "My life is with you now, Alex. The dead won't stand in our way. That, I promise you."

Alex hiccupped as she tightened her arms around me. The boards creaked and I raised my gaze, but didn't see anything. Smiling, I closed my eyes, content with enjoying the moment with Alex.

"Say, Allister," I began as we departed the Strange House and began our trek towards Lentimas Town. "Who are you really?"

"O-oh, I am, well..." he rubbed the back of his head. "The gym leader of... Stow-on-Side."

"A gym leader?" Alex raised an eyebrow behind her goggles. "Ghost types, am I right?"

"Yep."

"Stow-on-Side," I mumbled. "Galar. Well, if we're ever down there, I'll be sure to challenge you."

"Not if I don't get to him first," Alex butted in.

"A-ah-" Allister waved his hands. "You don't have to-"

"Allister, thank you," I said. "Truly. I... needed that. To talk things out. I feel... light. Less burdened."

"M-my pleasure," Allister bowed. "And I'll be glad to battle you both one day."

"That's a promise."

"HEY HEY!"

"Ow, Hau, keep it down," Alex groaned, holding the device as far as from her ear as she could manage. "What do you want? Me and Zeno are trying to have a nice relaxing cruise right now."

"Here comes Skyarrow Bridge," I said as I lounged on the deck chair next to Alex. Snow fell gently onto the ship's deck as it cruised down the river, Castelia City's bright lights shining in the night sky.

"Oh, I have something so much better for you two!" Hau sounded ecstatic. "You guys have met Marlon, correct?"

"Yeah-" Alex said before Hau interrupted her.

"With New Years just a few days away, you gotta celebrate it right, y'know!?"

"Hau!" Alex shouted. "Get to the point before I reach through this phone and strangle you!"

Silence, then, "New Years, two days time. How would you two lovebirds like to come down to Humilau City for the Grand Alolan Festival?"