I open my eyes, the room lit up by the morning sunlight. That's weird, abra didn't call in this morning. I didn't have any dreams although, it was a very good thing. I hear Rin give out a yawn.

"Good morning Sky."

"Good morning." I turned my head.

I was speechless. Rin looked completely different. All I could do was stare. She had black fur and blue accents now.

"What's wrong?"

"Your just, you look completely different."

She looked down at her paws in response to this. She turned to her back and tail, then back at me her face brightened up with joy.

"IVE EVOLVED! IT FINALLY HAPPENED! YEEAAA!" She started jumping with excitement.

The energy she gave off was spreading to me."Yea congrats! You look good!"

She stopped jumping. "Thank you. I've spent soo long wondering when this day would come."

I tilted my head,"Why thank me?"

"Oh, my species has specific ways we can evolve. Either stones, or through friendship. Thats why I have you to thank. I evolved because we became the best of friends! I literally couldn't have done it without you!"

"I had no Idea Id have any influence. I was just looking out for you. You shouldn't thank me."

"Oh come on now! If you didn't say what you said yesterday Id still be an eevee."

I shrugged. I guess she had a point but I didn't want to take any credit. Its about helping her get through. Her wellbeing was just on the top of my priorities.

"So what did you evolve into? You get any new moves?"

"Im an umbreon now! I sweat poison and I can see in the dark! I can learn dark type moves, some ghost and psychic moves too!"

"Cool." I paused for a moment,"So, abra didn't wake us up. What gives?"

"Oh yea! We get today off! It's Saturday!"

"Word, so what are we going to do today?"

"We could go hang out with Tera an Fraya."

"That sounds good." I noticed my boulder from yesterday. "Actually, you go ahead. I need some things from the shop."

"Ok. They might be having breakfast." She got up and left out the door. I grabbed the three burlaps on the foot of my bed. I dumped them all and got to counting. There were coins worth 1 5 10 and 50 poke. Doing the math, I had 540 poke. I put it all into one of the bags, throwing the others with my backpack.

I got up, and I walked pushing through the door. After I was outside, I turned left. There was a wood bridge I used to cross the river and eventually I reached the shop. I walk inside.

"Welcome!" There was a silver chinchilla behind the counter. "So your an explorer? I have food and supplies if you need."

"Yea maybe another day. Im looking for cookware or glassware if you have any?"

"We have pots and pans."

"Any with a lid? I need both a pot and a pan."

"Sure thing!" She left into a back room. She then came out with a stockpot and a frying pan. They both looked kind of rough and dented but they would have to do.

"These are a new thing too. These aren't cast iron, they're made from something else called stainless or something."

"Stainless steel? Perfect. Also do you have tubes?"

"Tubes? We have tubes but your the first one to want one. Weve had em for years but nobody ever wants em. I'll throw one in for free."

"Oh thanks!" She reached under the counter and threw it into the stockpot.

"Okay, thatl be 250 each so 500!"

I dropped the sack on the counter. "Theres 540 in that bag, extra as a tip." I was passed the cookware.

"Thank you! Your too kind."

I walked out of there both my arms carrying the cookware. I wasn't going to be able to use them for their intended purposes. No glass I guess but I didn't mind. Stainless steel is resistant to acid anyways. But now where was I going to get acid?

I needed hydrochloric acid as silver wont react with it and I can skip forging. I could make some with seawater but I needed to get rid of the oxygen and sodium to get it to reform as HCl. And I needed alot of it. Electrolysis does the trick, but I need to catch the gasses and cool them down in a separate container. The oxygen would react out with the sodium too as the chlorine and hydrogen escaped the water. I needed lye from pot ash too. And sugar. You know what It might be easier if I just made a forge. I shook my head. No I needed pure silver.

Before I knew it I was back in my room, setting down the tools with my other stuff. I eyed my laptop. I hadn't even gotten a chance to open it up since I got here. I guess I was too busy. I sighed. I can work on these things later.

I walked back out, then I entered the courtyard. Nobody was there. I walked through to the other side where I would see Fraya and Tera enter. There were dorms on the other side. I had no clue which one I should enter. Then I realized, aura.

I started scanning. I could see silhouettes of people through the walls! Dorm 10, 9, 8, 7.. 7! I went inside. All three of them turned to look at me.

"Hi."

"Hello, Rin was just talking about you. Glad you could make it!" Fraya greeted cheerfully.

All of them we're sitting on each bed both of them moved close to the window. I sat down in the empty spot next to Tera.

"So, Sky only got here four days ago?" Tera asked Rin.

"Yea, I found him unconscious so I rescued him. He was actually bleeding too. I don't know how he got like that." They all turned to me, expecting an answer.

I shrugged,"I don't either."

"Damn. Well anyway it's a good thing you found him." Tera stated.

"You could say that again. If he weren't here we all wouldn't be friends! And he's the one that helped me evolve!"

I felt uncomfortable. I hated all the praise I was receiving.

"So Sky, Im curious. Why did you bring that boulder back with us?" Tera asked me.

"Yea honestly, isn't it just a sparkly rock?" Fraya interjects.

I shook my head at them,"I needed it for a project. I have a lead on what happened to me but I need to gather materials."

"What are you making with it? Tera asks again.

"Just trying to make a solar panel. It turns sunlight into electricity. I have almost everything I need now but it's going to take a long time. Im surprised I got all the materials for it now, but I need stuff to make silicon sheets."

Fraya and Tera were staring at me confused.

"Can't you just get Fraya to make you some?"

I shook my head at them,"Its not that simple, I wish it was though. Fraya can still help with electrolysis though."

The both looked even more confused, and the look spread to Rin as well.

"What's electrolysis?" Fraya asked.

"Its where you introduce electricity to a chemical to cause a chemical reaction. I need to make some acid."

"Sky, you not like anyone ive ever met before. Your always full of surprises." Fraya stated.

"Yea, I never took you as a smart guy before." Tera added.

"Im not smart, its just.. ever since I was born I had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge."

"Hey, you are smart! That's literally what gauges intelligence, its how much you learn every day!" I shrugged in response to fraya.

"So Rin, what moves are you thinking about learning?" Tera asked.

Thank god that the attention was off of me.

"I can try to learn dark pulse or shadow ball. I definitely want psychic too!"

"Yea, psychic moves are really good. Your also immune to psychic attacks right?"

"Yea I guess."

We continued chatting for about a couple of hours. Time seemed to fly by. We talked about the upcoming expedition, where we all wanted to be in life and some stuff about life expectancy. Apparently we can all live for 500 years. Eventually I decided I wanted to see Lucario. I stood up.

"Im off to see Lucario. Stay gold."

"Wait Lucario? Isn't he antisocial?" Tera asked.

"Sky was able to get through to em." Rin replied.

I step back into the hallway, walking on. The doors passed me by, then I catch a breath of fresh ocean air as I step outside. I continued on the familiar pathway to the beach. As I got down the stairs there was nobody in sight. I walked over to the usual spot where we trained and sat down.

I had my aura sight active since hanging out with my friends. I thought I should practice alone. Bwoom! Bwoom! BWoom! BWOom! Each force palm was stronger than the last. I looked around again. I couldn't see or feel Lucario anywhere. This was going to get boring very quickly. I took off my necklace so Lucario could at least know im here.

Bwoom! BWOOm! bwoom! BWOOM! I was a little bit inconsistent but Id get better. BWOOm! I stopped already bored. At least it stopped taking two seconds to charge up. It was almost instant. I decided to look at my hands again, similar when I was learning force palm.

I was literally just playing with my aura. I was letting it move up and down my arm. I moved it to my head, then to my torso, then at my feet. Bwoom! It shot from my feet! That was pretty cool. I tried to do it with my torso. A couple seconds went by as I focused. Nothing. Damn. Only my extremities?

I decided to move it back to my hand. Bwoom! I stopped completely with force palm now. I tried letting some out of my hand but I wanted to see if I could hold it in place. I felt it leave my hand but it was just a tiny force palm. It didn't even make noise. I guess its unstable outside of my body. I mean no duh. It looked like I had blue fire inside of me.

I tried it again except something a lil different. I shot a bit out of my arm but I tried bending it after it left. It did curve a little. That gave me an idea. I started to focus, breathing deeply and clearing my head. I released some energy and tried making it spin in place. It twisted around in the shape of an O for one rotation before landing on the ground.

I tried even harder. I release more this time focusing on spinning it very tightly. I was able to make a tiny sphere with it. I could hold it for five seconds before it fell apart. I tried again, I think I was on to something. Not giving up I let out more energy. I didn't try making it small this time, seeing what size would be best. It started as an O shape but I started adding more energy. I was trying to make it a ball again. It was like sending off multiple force palms at once, having them twisting together.

It turned into a ball spinning rapidly in my right hand. I kept trying to maintain it. I was able to keep it in my hand for a long time now! It became easier and easier as I got the hang of it. It was about the size of my hand. I started using my thoughts to add even more energy to it. As I watched it grow the happier I became with myself. It kept growing.

I had to extend out my arm because it kept growing. To maintain it I had to focus to keep it spinning and to my hand but I was able to manage. I started smiling watching it keep growing. It was about the size of a basketball now! It kept growing until I couldn't be any happier about it. It was three quarters the size of me. I sat there still trying to maintain it.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

I instantly lost focus and it shot towards the ocean, landing in the water. That was followed by a huge explosion, shooting a jet of water into the sky. I turned to see Lucario standing there, eyes as wide as two moons.

"Hi. You see what I did there? I came up with it myself!"

"How! What? That takes months of training to learn and master! And you come in and take a piss with it?! Without anyone helping you!"

I tilted my head at him. It was difficult to do at first but It seemed easy enough now,"What do you mean? That was easy for me to manage."

"What do I mean!? I mean you didn't know force palm yesterday and now. NOW YOU JUST SUDDENLY KNOW AURA SPHERE?!"

I pulled out another one. It was small but it sat in my hand glowing. I felt it spinning but I barely needed to think about that now. It was like second nature now.

"WHITH ONE HAND TOO?!" He hucked an aura sphere of his own into the ocean.

"Lucario, I don't understand what the big deal is."

"Again, MONTHS! FOR A LUCARIO! YOUR A RIOLU! IT WOULD TAKE YEARS IF AT ALL!!!"

I started making it orbit my hand. It took a little bit of concentration again but it kept going. I could feel Lucarios mixed emotions were a lot stronger now.

"I mean, im able to do it now. Is this the last thing I learn or is there stuff before and after?"

"Yea! Yea. There is more. But you literally cut ahead to one of the hardest things! Like I don't even know if I have to teach you because for all I know you could have been reading my thoughts this whole time."

"I can do that? That explains quite a bit actually. But thats cool."

"Are all humans like this? Just stumbling into grand power but not knowing what they are doing?"

That reminds me of something,"For sure one percent of us do. But not all of us. I think I might just been lucky there with my train of thought."

He sighed. "Ok listen up. This one is kind of difficult but… nah you'll get it. Focus your aura, and try to let it synchronize with mine. Feel the same emotions im feeling."

I gave it a shot. I could see right now he was feeling calm, his other emotions had diluted out. I tried focusing on him. Trying to feel his calm. I felt it. I felt it inside me a little bit but not much was different.

(Can you hear me?)

I looked over to him,"Yea, of course I can. Im not deaf."

(Do you see my mouth moving though?)

Realizing what he meant I knew right then I was reading his mind.

(You are reading mine too right?) I thought to him.

(Yes. I am.) He thought back.

All the sudden I was washed with an intense crushing feeling of despair. The feeling made my stomach churn. I had no idea how he had been truly feeling until now. I had to stop. I couldn't handle it. I stopped focusing on him. I almost started vomiting gagging once, then I recovered. It had felt like my chest was being squeezed into a singularity.

"How do you live like that? Its so painful!"

"I don't want to talk about it. But I am used to it."

Did something happen to him? I was curious as to what it was but I thought about it for a second. If I really wanted to know I realized Id have to read him again. Of course he would avoid it. I would too if I was him.

"Its probably for the best you don't know. I don't want you to worry yourself over me."

"It must be hell. It sucks. Im sorry."

"Don't be, your not the cause." He got up and left without another word.

I remembered the necklace and put it back on, then I started getting up. Honestly I was worried about him. Then I remembered what Fraya said about life expectancy. That made me shiver now. Fuck. I had to find some way to help him. I had to. I started heading back to the guild, my mind clouded as to what could possibly have happened. Ignorance is bliss I suppose.

I walked back inside, feeling everyone lined up for dinner I went to the courtyard. I walked in through the door and lined up with the rest of them. I made it to the end of the line, It was a fish fillet with a salad made of what looked like spinach. After getting my food I found our table and sat down with them.

"The food today is soo yummy! Fish day is the best!" Rin stated already half done.

"You could say that again. Its good!" Fraya responded.

Tera nodded. I could only just sit there staring at the food, thinking about Lucario. It didn't take long for them to notice.

"You going to eat that? Whats wrong? Hate fish?"

"No it's nothing."

Not wanting them to notice I needed to do something to distract myself. I focused on Rin, feeling her good mood washing over me. It picked me up a bit. (I hope he lets me have the fish.) In response I pushed my fish onto her plate gesturing to trade me her salad. She nodded not complaining.

"So it was the fish!" Rins mood was boosted even more.

I felt even more better, her joy from that washing over me helping me forget for a bit letting me smile. I started eating the salad. No one noticed. Good. (I wish we could have this every day!) I could taste the fish. Fish was one of my favourites too. At least I could still enjoy it without having it.

"We've still got the day off tomorrow too, can we come into your room next time?" Fraya asked.

I couldn't help but notice tera staring at me.

"Yea sure! Sky has some cool stuff too!"

I decided to shift my focus on tera, making sure to not look at her. (Although, hes a riolu. Emotions are contagious for them. He's likely covering his own emotions with ours.) Damn it. I quickly went back to focus on Rin.

"Yea, Ill tell you guys my secret too! Alot about me will start to make sense." I injected with a partially forced smile. I knew that these were just Rins emotions.

"Secret? What do you have to hide?" Fraya asked. (Heh, they're going to think hes crazy. Ill back him up though.)

"Yea, people think im insane when I try to tell them. Im lucky enough that Rin got to see some evidence." I responded.

"Then, I guess it makes sense not to tell us about whatever it is now then." Fraya sounded defeated. Probably curious.

I still noticed Teras aura. She was still eyeing me. As if to study my inner machinations through my face. I focused again on her. (Sound's insane though? Whatever about that. He's probably bothered by something. I know it!) I looked at tera and she immediately looked away at Rin.

"Don't worry, I get it." (Fuck, hes onto me! What do I say?) "Its fine if you don't want to talk."

"I, uh, ye…" (AHHHH!)

"Whats going on now?" Fraya asked. Both her and rin were now looking at me.

"Oh its nothing. She's probably curious about what im going to say tomorrow." I lied.

"Oh, yea I am too! Who wouldn't be? A secret could be about anything really."

(How does he have them wrapped around his finger? It's obvious! I gotta talk to him.) Rin and Fraya turned to eachother again, talking and eating. I mouthed to Tera, meet me outside after dinner. (Meet him outside?! Can he? Ohhhh. Of course he can. Riolu are known to do that.) I nodded at her.

I finished eating. Then I stood up. "Ima go get some fresh air, Ill see you In a bit Rin."

"Okay."

"Also, im curious. We always leave dishes out but they are gone in the mornings. Who does that?"

Fraya and Rin then both said in unison,"Abra."

"No wonder. Thanks abra!"

"Your welcome."

It was almost like talking to god, except if they could respond. I made my way out southbound. After clearing the two sets of doors I scanned for a spot. I sat down with my back against the wall, looking out west at the sunset. The pink orange and purple clouds were shimmering in the sky, floating free. It was peaceful. I snapped out of my trance feeling Tera approaching. She came out the door, then she looked around and spotted me. She sat down next to me.

"So, uhhh. What gives with this whole.. thing? Why hide yourself from us?"

"I just didn't want to bother you guys with it. I screwed up though because you were anyway. Its like you could see right through me."

"Yea, I can tell when people are down. So what's bothering you?"

"Its about Lucario. He always has felt sad and I didn't know why. Then he taught me how to read minds, but I almost saw too much. It was a feeling I don't think ive ever felt before. Like his soul was being crushed perpetually by a meat grinder type sad. I felt it and I almost vomited. I would have if I had eaten but I don't eat in the mornings."

"That sounds like depression. Ive heard about pokemon having to suffer with emotional pain all the time. And sometimes there is no cause to it."

"Yea, well.. I just hope I can find a way to help him through it, you know? Its like hes going through the worst pain of his life everyday."

"Id say just wait for him to warm up to you. If you can wait until he's ready to talk about it, then he can unbottle everything he has been keeping suppressed. He just needs someone he can trust, someone who understands him."

"I hope that works."

"I know it'l work. Trust me. Fraya has been there for me when I needed her. Because when you talk about what gets you down, instead of thoughts they become words. And words are easier to process than thoughts are. And with it, the pain shrinks a little bit."

"Not going to lie, I feel a bit better too. I guess Ill try that. Thanks."

"No problem. And try to open up more. The worst thing you can do is stay bottled up, because all that does is keep it with you. It helps in the short term but eventually the bottle leaks. And then you just scoop it up and put it back into the bottle."

"Your right." I had nothing else to say.

She stood up,"Alright, see you tomorrow Sky."

"See you tomorrow."

She left. I continued watching the sky for a bit. Breathing in the night air was nice. The sun was no longer out, its light still visible off the clouds in the distance. I stood up. Taking in my last bit of ocean air for the night, I went inside.

When I got to the door into our room, I went inside. Rin was staring out the window at the stars. Without being able to feel her, she would be nearly invisible. Only her blue bands and circles were glowing in the moonlight. She turned to me.

"How was it? You feel better now?" Rin asked.

"Yea, I do. Wait. How did you know?"

"Tera is bad at keeping secrets from Fraya, and I guess me too. You know we can all talk right?"

"Yea I do now. But I just don't like bothering you guys with it."

"Don't worry about it. You can bother us about stuff. Because after you feel better you can enjoy the time with us unburdened! Because its your wellbeing we care about!"

"Yea. Alright." I guess I forgot things went both ways. "I was just worried about Lucario is all is all. Im fine now that I know what to try."

"Was that so hard?"

"No… I guess not." I laid down onto my bed. "Thanks, for being here."

"Don't worry about it. I know you'll help Lucario with whatever they have been dealing with."

I felt more relieved hearing that.

"Goodnight Rin."

"Goodnight Sky."

OooOooO

(3rd POV)

Sam was sitting in his office chair, no documents in sight. Just kind of enjoying his free time,leaning on his desk. But he broke his silence.

"Abra, what did you learn about Sky? You watch him today like I asked?

"Uhh yea. This whole thing makes me uncomfortable man. Isn't this stalking? If not its still violating their privacy."

"Trust me, Its for good reason remember? We need to find out what kind of nature he has with him. If he's good."

"Id say he's a good mon."

"Details? Please? I know you hate this. I do too."

"Well, this morning he went to the shop and bought some cookware for some reason. He's indecipherable on that end. Same with that boulder he carried with him teleporting back. I don't know what he's planning with that, but he said its for something called a solar panel? It confuses me."

"That is weird. Do you know what hes using this panel on?"

"No, he's very unpredictable. He needs less electricity than Fraya can use. He and Rin hang out with her team. Makes sense that they went on that mission together. It made it safe for them to go on that b teir mission."

"I guess that makes sense. Go on."

"He seems to care deeply about others too. When he saw Lucario he seemed bothered by him. For obvious reasons. When he was bothered by Lucario's emotional distress, he tried hiding it from his friends for their sake. And after learning I scoop off the dishes, he even thanked me!"

"Thats some good news."

"It is good. And what makes it better is he has a huge amount of potential. He is insanely strong! And he makes others around him strong too!"

"What do you mean? He is just learning how to be a pokemon. How could he be strong yet?"

"Well, for starters. He managed to get Rin to evolve overnight as she turned into an umbreon. And thats not even the craziest part! He had learnt force palm, I thought nothing of it at first because he sent himself to nurse chancy. But today he was just playing with his move."

"I get the first part, but how does that part make him strong?"

"Hold on! Let me finish. He was just literally playing around with his move, then he managed to learn aura sphere! And he made the biggest Ive ever seen! It was almost the size of him! All by himself, in the span of ten minutes!"

Sam was speechless. He almost couldn't believe what he was hearing. He leaned back in his chair.

"Hes on our side, and he is a quick learner. So the future is bright." He sighed. "I still have this feeling though.."

"Is it bad?"

"It's probably nothing. Well Im going to bed. Night."

"Goodnight."

He walked over to the bedroll in the corner of his office and laid down.

Author's footer: I looked into it, in the games your pokemon can evolve into a shiny pokemon at the same chances if you found a new shiny wild pokemon. Its Like a 0.001% chance right? Idk but I choose to make Rin evolve shiny. For fun. Staying true to the game's logic. Exept the core games. I've never seen a shiny in pmd.