We return to Olivine City under the deep sapphire glow of pre-dawn. I am exhausted but tiredness is a continuous state for me so I do not find it as irritating as I should. Koga wears it worse, shadow eyed, short-tempered and yawning as we approach Jasmine's house. I am concerned that we might be viewed as intruders calling so early and that it would probably be more considerate to wait except I don't want to wait. I have delayed from Ellie for far too long now and I am worried that she might not even be here.

I stare up at Jasmine's front door, ready to knock but wary of who all I will disturb.

"Wait a moment," Koga says softly. "I think someone's up already."

He moves to the right, disappearing quickly into the long shadows of an early morning without a word.

"I wish I could do that," Kenji murmurs.

Kenji remains tender, aching further from our long flights and brief stays outdoors on our journey back. He is happier for having his Pokemon with him but seeing him eyeing up his reflection a few times in a pond and rubbing at the bruising on his face I realise he is self-conscious of how he is seen. I am a little worried that it is Ellie's opinion he is thinking of.

Koga reappears, standing on a sandy patch of ground to the right. He beckons us over quietly.

Kenji hobbles while I walk quietly beside him, wondering if maybe there is danger here.

Koga points to the back of the house and we head round.

Ellie is seated on the wooden veranda with Steven and Morty. Steven is asleep and still stained with bruising, he twitches every couple of seconds and bears an unpleasant expression. Morty could pass for being asleep as he is propped up against the wall with his legs stretched out but there is an alertness to him suggesting he is awake. Ellie looks out to the ocean and I can't tell if she's in another daze or relaxing. I wonder how she has been in my absence, if there have been any more voids and if she has had faith in our returning with Kenji.

Ellie turns round sharply and she is up with a cry of delight that has Steven jolting up in alarm.

"What in Arceus?!" Steven curses as he grabs out a Poke Ball.

Morty rubs at his unruly blond hair, free from its headband, before he stretches up his long arms and yawns.

Ellie vaults over the fence and springs upon us, grabbing at Kenji so forcefully he stumbles back with a yelp of pain.

"Kenji! You're here! I was so worried about you!"

Ellie burrows into Kenji's 'You Quack Me Up' Farfetch'd hoodie and hugs him tightly. I am envious of the gesture but say nothing. I chose to go and find him, I can't be mad she's happy about it.

Kenji reaches up to embrace her lightly. "Yeah I think it's crazy too starshine but here I am," he jokes. His hands fall from her abruptly and I see him tense.

"Shit, you didn't trick me did you, Koga?"

Confused, I try to see what has caught his attention and I tense too. The commotion has brought another out of Jasmine's house and onto the veranda.

Lance stands beside Steven, arms folded as he gives us a fiery stare while his cloak billows behind him lightly in the morning sea breeze.

"I didn't know he'd be here," Koga answers quietly. "Good morning Lance."

"You all seem a little worse for wear," Morty pipes up cheerfully. "Certain aura of doom about you and you're all looking quite tired."

Ellie continues to hug Kenji but I see her glance over her shoulder to Lance before she tilts her head up to Kenji. "He's come to help," she says reassuringly.

"Uh huh, well starshine that is good for you but maybe not me," Kenji answers with a hint of nerves to his voice.

"Why would you go out of your way to help a Grunt?" Lance demands.

"I count Kenji as a friend," Koga answers firmly. "He got Ellie away from Troy all those years ago and he's helped keep Troy at bay from her recently."

"Yes," Lance answers with a calm that has a current of heat to it suggesting it won't take much for his temper to erupt, "and you were the one who brought her to Steven and I. One altered decision and she may have grown up in my family. I wonder how things might have differed then, perhaps there'd be no need for us to depend upon untrustworthy Grunts to keep Team Rocket's gaze from her."

I see Steven look Lance's way but I miss his expression. Kenji gives a weak laugh and shakes his head. I think about Lance's words and wonder if Ellie and I would ever have been reunited if she had grown up masquerading in Lance's family instead of Steven's.

"We need to go to Paldea," I say solemnly. "It won't be long before Team Rocket come looking for Ellie." I want to sound stern but my tone comes out despondent.

"They know we were planning on going to Paldea," Steven brings up an old argument again.

"And if we divert to somewhere else they'll figure that out too," I answer. "I have allies in Paldea, we can end things there."

"What makes you so sure of that?" Steven snaps. He folds his arms and frowns at me. "I was a Champion! I have allies too!"

I consider reminding Steven that he was at the mercy of his own lawless upstarts but I don't think it will help matters.

"I told you I saw Larry pouring out coffee for us," Morty says cheerfully, "we're for Paldea."

"I can get our Elite ready for them," Steven insists, "and we need to check on our mother."

"Mya needs to go home!" I yell it out before I can help myself. "Paldea is her home! I am her father! I've waited ten years, I want her home!"

Silence falls for a split second. Steven is glowering at me but there is surprise in his gaze. I want to look at Ellie but I am afraid to.

"Wow Paldea man, didn't think you could yell like that," Kenji jests quietly. "Anyway, shouldn't Ellie pick?"

I look her way at last, she had burrowed into Kenji but now she pulls back and glances up to him.

"Where do you want to go starshine?"

Ellie turns her head to face me and I fill with worry, what if she doesn't want this? What if she has only resentment for me? My guilt comes washing over me and my fear grows as I wait for her to speak.

Ellie offers up a small smile. "I don't have all the memories but I do feel it, you are my dad and we had a happy family. I can't say I'll stay but I'll come to Paldea."
I fill with relief that turns to joy when Ellie comes over to grab me in a hug.

"There are still a lot of voids," she murmurs, "and I still can't picture mum and I have to go back to Hoenn to see my mum there but I want to see Paldea."

I nod in understanding as I embrace her lightly. "That's okay."

"Thank you for saving Kenji too," she adds quietly.

Ellie breaks from me and turns round to face Steven. "I'm sorry Steven. I don't expect you to come, I know you need to check on mum in Hoenn. I just, it's something I need to do. I don't expect anyone else to come, I don't want anyone in danger."

"Ellie." Steven sighs as he reaches up a hand to his brow. He shakes his head and lowers his hand again. "Ellie, you're my sister, no matter what, and I love you and I'm coming with you."

Morty shrugs and gives a bright smile. "I really want to taste this coffee of Larry's."

I feel Lance's brown stare burning into me and meet his gaze.

"Would your Champion mind if I visited on a brief excursion? I did tell Steven I'd help."

Geeta probably won't be pleased with the amount of powerful strangers I'm bringing to Paldea - a former Champion and a current Champion included amongst them. Perhaps she'll consider it a threat. I don't care but I'm not going to give Lance an honest answer about her either.

"You'll be coming on personal matters not business so she shouldn't mind." It's not quite a lie, Geeta shouldn't mind when it's nothing to do with her but she will.

I glance Ellie's way again and feel fresh guilt and a tinge of embarrassment as I think of my relationship with Geeta. She is not the only woman I have been with since the murder of my wife but she is my most consistent partner. I do not want Ellie to find out about the sordid relationship I have with my Champion, in part because it is seedy but also because of who it is with. Geeta could never hold a candle to my late wife.

"Larry, you really should be happier," Morty teases. "Maybe you need some sleep."
I look over to the psychic and wonder once again if he can read my thoughts. I hope not but there is a glint of mischief in his violet eyes that suggests otherwise.

Sleep. There's a notion. I look over to Koga and feel my fatigue as I take in his.

"Sleep would be great," Kenji says. "Can I get some too without worrying about being beaten up or arrested? Say, where's Glancer anyway?"

"Who?" Steven looks baffled.

Ellie giggles. "Looker is still asleep with Officer Pawly."

"Officer?" Kenji sounds concerned.

"That's what he named his Growlithe," Ellie explained.

"Ah, well he is nuts so that makes sense."

"Is Ratty okay?" Ellie pries. "He wasn't with us."

I see Kenji smile and he pats his hoodie lightly prompting the familiar golden furred face of his Shiny Rattata to poke up. "He's good at hiding."

"Hey Ratty!" Ellie reaches out and pats the rodent Pokemon on the head gently. I see her give a bright smile. "I'm glad he's with me too," she says softly. Her eyes dart up to Kenji and I tense as I see her cheeks warm with a telltale rosy pink. I have made a mistake.

"Let's find some spare beds for you three," Morty speaks quickly as he hurries over to us.

Morty grabs me by my arm and starts to pull me off towards Jasmine's house. I look to him with annoyance and he grins back at me.

"No one made you go get him," Morty murmurs to me in a mischievous manner. "Granted, Ellie wasn't giving us many options but she didn't force you."

He pulls me through the kitchen area and over to the stairs. I want to protest or argue but I can't think of anything to say.

"If it helps, Gengar says Batty and Fluffy always speak very highly of Kenji. For a Team Rocket Grunt he could be a lot worse," Morty says.

"She's only sixteen," I grumble.

Morty laughs as we reach the top of the stairs. "Do you remember being that age Larry? Suppose it's a long time ago for you. It's not so young. Anyway, you get some sleep, I can guarantee Steven will ensure there is little to no contact between Ellie and Kenji while you do."

Again I want to argue but when I see the bed Morty has brought me to I feel exhaustion slip over me. I have been tense for days, on edge over Ellie's welfare and, against all reason, Kenji's welfare. I have battled hard with my Pokemon and roughed it in the wilderness. I have a long journey ahead of me and this might be my last time for a peaceful slumber. So I take it.