Author's Note: Hey everyone! Guess what? I'm back with another new story while I haven't finished anything else I've written for the past year...to tell you the truth, since I got sick and have started recovering slowly, my muse for writing has all but left me, so to speak. I keep grasping onto different ideas in an attempt to get back into writing and publishing things online, but none of them have really worked out lately.

I have to say, though, that this is the first time since 2023 that I've been so invested in an idea and have felt that familiar excitement of writing come back to me - I ended up writing this chapter in just two days (not counting editing), whereas in months prior, this amount of words has proven nearly impossible. It all flowed very easily and I'm feeling good about the idea! I've even outlined a relatively involved little story to go alongside the central themes and ideas so I hope it manages to prove enjoyable to you! It won't be way too long and I don't know how quickly these chapters will be up, but I'm looking forward to feeling fully excited for a writing idea again!

In terms of this story specifically, I've been trying to find a Pokémon "thing" that appeals to me recently. Mainline games, spinoffs, romhacks, etc, none of them have really worked. But I've been drawn to Scarlet/Violet again lately, not because the game, you know, functions well, but because of specifically the ending of the story and some of the DLC stuff. Area Zero, in my opinion, is the best Pokémon story content we've ever been given from a mainline outing and even when the games first released I found myself drawn to the world of Paldea and its characters. Then this idea hit me after revisiting the DLC a little. I won't say too much about the specifics so I don't spoil anything, but I have quite a few concepts I've been ruminating over and trying to bring together.

Now, to set some expectations, this story is rated 'M' for a few reasons - some of the topics and themes I'm planning to tackle here will be pretty heavy, like different types of depression, anxiety, abandonment, feeling utterly lost in your life, things of that nature. So just be prepared for that if you choose to read. Also fair warning for some light language (nothing super out of place or vulgar, don't worry) and potentially some suggestive/more intimate situations and scenes. Not sure on that last one yet, maybe it'll happen, maybe it'll be a side project, maybe it won't happen at all.

But I also promise this won't be an edgy, dark, gritty "Pokémon But EVIL" story either. Pokémon content, even when it embraces darker themes, never strays away from its overall message of positivity and I promise you I've done my best in outlining this tale to keep the themes of these games and worlds in mind, even if I take the characters through challenging journeys to get there.

Oh, one last thing. Most people nickname their Pokémon in real life and I believe the characters (outside of the game's continuity) would as well. But it's just way too confusing to name six extra team members and try to establish who they are, what species they are, which trainer they belong to, etc. So for the sake of clarity, I won't be nicknaming any of the Pokémon partners in this story and instead I'll just refer to them by their species name.

So, with all that said! Thank you for choosing to give this story a chance, and I hope you enjoy my first foray into Pokémon fics! I've loved Pokémon since I was a little kid and I'm excited to try my hand at something in its universe at long last. And as always, for new and old readers alike, I welcome any comments or constructive criticism you might have. Now, without further ado, welcome to my latest project, "Seven Years Too Long."


Chapter 1 – Lost

"Carmine, sweetheart, lunch is ready!"

If anything could break through the lethargic haze of a winter's day in Kitakami, it was Hideko's warm voice. Carmine shook her head, bringing herself back to reality. She had been lying on her bed, staring off into space as she so often did these days, her eyes unfocused to the point she had been seeing double.

"Be right there, Grandma," she managed to call back. Even the tone of her voice was listless.

As the young woman slowly began to remember where she was, she glanced around the room. It was the same room she and Kieran had shared growing up. But this time it felt different – so small, so suffocating. A reminder that she wasn't a single step further in life, even compared to back then.

Her eyes scanned the well-kept surfaces. There wasn't a speck of dust anywhere. That alone made her smile and she allowed a wistful look to settle on her face. She had been back home for a few months now, but still her grandmother kept things spotless for her. It was a sweet gesture, but nothing that strayed too far from her usual routine. She always kept this room neat and tidy for the next time her grandchildren came home. It wasn't very often these days, but it still happened from time to time.

Times like this, for instance.

It was one of very few times Carmine had ever come home without her younger brother, though. It felt strange, having their childhood bedroom all to herself. It felt like everything else in her life these days – foreign and oppressive. Things had felt this way for months now despite the fact that she had graduated from the recently established Blueberry University almost half a year ago. She was well and truly an adult now, both in her own eyes and those of society.

"But…now what?"

She was lost. Where did she go now? What did she do? What could she do? She hadn't really been interested in any field of study when she had continued on into the University program of her old school; she had just done it because it was all she knew. Her friends all continued on willingly, eager to further their education and open doors for their own futures.

"But I just went along because being a student is all I'm good for. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do from here…"

Carmine let out an enormous sigh before pushing herself off her bed at last. It had been a long time since she'd exclusively called Kitakami her home. For almost as long as she could remember, Blueberry was her whole world for the majority of the year. But without that commitment, without that consistency, she found herself at more of a loss than ever before, like the ground beneath her feet had simply vanished.

She gazed at herself in the mirror but barely recognized the girl who stared back. Sure, her personal style had changed a bit over the years, but it wasn't really anything to write home about. The messy ponytail her uniquely two-toned hair was pulled back into was one thing, the black and red hues blending together in the silky mass. The biggest change, though, was the fact that she made sure to keep her bangs trimmed back out of her eyes these days.

Still, it wasn't as if she had changed completely but combined with the lack of that old yellow headband she used to wear and Carmine supposed she looked differently enough to make it worth noting…if someone hadn't seen her in several years; all that had changed a year ago, after all.

But that wasn't why she didn't recognize herself. No, the real reason was the half-dead eyes that stared back at her in the familiar mirror. Her bright yellow eyes used to be so full of vigor. In every photo she'd ever been in, it looked like she was sparkling and leaping out of the frame in an effort to demand attention. She laughed a little at the memories; she had been quite a handful in her teenage years. But now…

"Carmine? Are you okay? Don't let your food get cold!"

The young woman laughed to herself. Grandma was always looking out for her, no matter what else changed in life. That was something she could always count on.

"Coming!"


Eating meals with her grandparents, Yukito and Hideko, were by far the most enjoyable moments in Carmine's days since she'd come home to Mossui. She hadn't really talked about her recent struggles with them just yet, but they could easily tell that something was amiss. They always did their best to cheer her up and, to their credit, it worked well. But once she was alone again, the mask slipped and Carmine's hollow feeling of being lost and adrift returned.

But for now, lunch was a delight. That was worthy of her full attention; everything else could wait until later.

Grandma had made her world-famous curry…well, it should be world famous at least, Carmine reasoned. The rice was fluffy and cooked to perfection, the roux expertly seasoned and proportioned. That was to say nothing of the high-quality beef she had included, nor the freshest potatoes, carrots, and onions she'd ever tasted, harvested directly from their own garden no less.

"Grandma, your cooking is heaven. Ugh, why did I eat that cafeteria junk for so many years when I could've had five-star feasts for every meal if I'd just stayed here?"

Hideko laughed and gave her granddaughter a warm smile.

"Thank you, Carmine, that's so very sweet of you."

Across from her, her grandfather Yukito grinned and lifted his own spoon, eager to keep eating.

"She's right, my darling, this might be your finest dish yet and I've been eating your cooking for almost five decades now!"

"Oh, stop that, you," she chided, though Carmine delighted in the subtle blush that dusted her grandmother's cheeks.

"It's really cool that the two of you are still so romantic after this long," she sighed, a wistful smile creeping across her face.

"Well, well, Carmy, that might be the first time you've ever said something like that to us!" Her grandfather was watching her in amusement with a slightly raised eyebrow. The nickname he'd used when she'd been a little girl had made a comeback in the last few years…now that she wasn't a moody teen who go mad at him for using it anymore.

Carmine immediately felt her face flush though and she stuffed a bite of curry in her mouth, eager for an excuse to not respond right away.

'Why did I say something like that out loud? That's not like me at all! They're gonna know something's wrong! I'm gonna make them worried about me…'

"You know," Yukito continued, resting his gentle gaze upon her, "your grandmother and I have been worried about you for a while now."

'Great, now look what you did?'

"O-oh?" she managed, deliberately taking a long time chewing her food.

"We won't pry," Hideko assured her, "but just know if you ever want to talk to us, we're right here and happy to listen."

Carmine finally took a deep breath and calmed her disparaging thoughts. She was a far cry from the quick-to-anger girl she'd been back at Blueberry Academy…at least, she certainly hoped she was. Either way, the warm smile that took root on her face in response to her grandparents' kindness was entirely genuine.

"Thanks, Grandma. You too, Grandpa. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Well, you won't have to find out for a long time yet," Yukito assured her with a smile.

Carmine took another bite of the delicious curry. The flavor was so familiar and nostalgic. It tasted like home. It was more than enough to loosen her tongue in a way she never would have allowed herself to succumb to normally.

"I guess I just…" she trailed off, trying to collect her thoughts. Neither grandparent interrupted, just waiting patiently for her to continue, warmth in their eyes. She took a long, slow breath before finally admitting the truth aloud.

"I guess I just feel…lost. Like…I don't know where to go or what to do. School was all I ever really knew. Kiki didn't even bother with University, just went right out into the world to become a great trainer the way he's always dreamed of being. I mean, he was already strong, but once he manages to take down the Unova Pokémon League and stand on even ground with Iris, he'll have done something really impressive, you know?"

"We're extremely proud of Kieran, too," Hideko assured her. "But that doesn't mean you have to follow his path exactly. He's finally branching out and coming into his own."

"I know," Carmine sighed, though there was still a small smile on her face. "And I'm happy for him, really. For a while there, I thought he'd never grow up. But I guess I didn't realize how much taking care of him gave me a purpose, too. Now he's halfway around the world on his own adventure and I'm lying in my old childhood bedroom wondering what in the world I should do with my life now that I've finished school…and why absolutely nothing feels right…"

"Well," Yukito began, lifting another spoonful of curry towards his mouth. "Is there anything that appeals to you even slightly? There are the obvious choices, of course. Some Pokémon trainers specialize in one type and try to earn their Gym Leader certification. Some become professors or educators. Some travel the world for a time and try to conquer as many challenges as they can in as many regions as they can. But there are all types of niche little fields you could get into as well. Is there something you've ever dreamed of doing, even something small?"

"Hmm…well…"

Carmine felt her spoon sliding from her grip and simply allowed it to land against the plate as she thought about it. Was there something she wanted, even something insignificant?

"Something I want…I guess maybe I should rule out what I don't want first, huh? I…I'm not much into battling after all," she admitted. "I tried the Blueberry League a couple times and it never really made me feel like it was my life's calling, you know? Not like Kiki. I feel a little bad for my Pokémon though…it seems like they always enjoyed battling."

"You can always keep battling for fun," Yukito encouraged her.

"That's true. And I'd never neglect my team by not battling ever again or anything like that; it's still fun. But I can't imagine taking League challenges around the world. I'm just not that into it these days. On the other hand…I'm also not that interested in being a professor or a teacher either. If I did become a teacher, I guess I could go back to Blueberry…but am I really gonna spend my whole life at that one place?"

"I understand what you mean, Carmine," Hideko reassured her. "It's difficult to know what you want right away. Things feel so uncertain at first when you have the freedom to choose your own future, don't they?"

"Yeah, that's a real good way to put it, Grandma…"

"Is something else bothering you, dear?"

"Heh." She let out a resigned laugh. "You can always see right through me. I guess I'm just feeling a little…lonely…"

"Oh, sweetheart." Hideko scooted her chair closer to Carmine and placed a warm, wrinkled hand atop her granddaughter's. "I know it must be a strange thing to adjust to. You've been living just down the hallway from your friends for years and now suddenly they've all gone their own ways."

"Yeah…I guess life feels kinda empty without them…"

"Are you keeping in touch with anyone?"

"Mar and I message back and forth all the time. She calls when she's free too, but she's been real busy lately. Lacey sends a text or two here and there but she's so wrapped up in her Gym Leader training that I rarely hear from her. And Kiki calls once in a while too but that's a little different."

Hideko gave her a somber look.

"Don't you keep up with your other friends too?"

"Other friends?"

"I know you had a few other close friends over the years…like that sweet little darling from Paldea! What was her name again?"

Carmine had to fight hard to keep her cheeks from flushing.

"O-oh, you mean Juliana?"

"Juliana, that's right! My, I do hope my memory isn't starting to go…"

"Ah, relax, my darling," Yukito told her with another toothy grin. "We haven't seen Juliana in years now; it's natural you wouldn't remember her name offhand like that. I didn't either…unless maybe my memory's going, too!"

Carmine giggled and felt a real smile spread across her face. Her grandfather always knew how to lighten the mood when things got heavy. She always appreciated that about him,

"I suppose you're right," Hideko conceded before turning her attention back to Carmine. "But! Certainly you've kept in touch with her, haven't you? The two of you used to be so close!"

'I wish you had forgotten about that question…'

"Uh…yeah, we, um…we send messages sometimes…"

"You don't call each other?"

'Why is she so fixated on Juliana…?'

"Um…not really. We kinda haven't been as close the last couple years…"

Hideko's excitement was replaced by a slight frown.

"Why is that?"

"We just…sorta fell out of touch, I guess."

"I see. That's such a shame, I'm sorry to hear that."

Carmine mustered up all the effort she could into plastering a reassuring smile across her face. It was as fake as the bluster and bravado she'd approached Juliana herself with all those years ago when they'd first met at the south entrance to town.

"It's okay, just the way things turned out."

"You know," Yukito interrupted, a much calmer smile on his lips now, "it's never too late to reconnect with someone important to you."

"You…think so?"

"I know so! Used to know this wonderful girl back during my own school days. She was just a peach and I fell in love right away. But then she went off to University and I stayed here in Kitakami to take over the family business. I lost touch with her for years. But you know what happened?"

"What?"

"One day I decided that I was being stupid, letting her disappear from my life like that. I tracked her down, confessed to her out of the blue, and found out she felt the same way. We laughed about how much time we'd both spent hiding those feelings and, well, the rest is history! Now she makes me delicious curry for lunch and I do the dishes afterwards," he added with a grin across the table at his wife.

Hideko smiled but rolled her eyes a bit.

"You make it sound like I was happy to leave you behind."

"Well, I don't think it was the worst decision you could've made at the time."

"I suppose not. But the best decision was coming back."

Carmine looked between them, real warmth returning to her heart for what felt like the first time in months.

"That's a really nice story, Grandpa. I can't believe I've never heard it before…I guess I never even thought to ask. When I was a kid, it was hard to imagine that the two of you were ever anything else but my grandparents. Sorry for being so self-absorbed for so long."

"Oh, come now; you're young, and young people should be a little self-absorbed," Yukito assured her, energy in his words again as he lifted yet another spoonful of curry towards his mouth. "You're only young once - do wild and crazy things! Be a little selfish! Just don't be stupid; that's something I learned the hard way."

Carmine let a dejected smile spread across her lips.

"I…think I am being stupid, honestly."

"Why's that?"

"Just…for a lot of reasons, really…"

Carmine trailed off awkwardly, not really wanting to put into words the feelings in her heart. It would just be too uncomfortable to talk to her grandparents about something like this. How would she even go about bringing it up in the first place? It's not like she could just come out and say it…

"Yukito!" Hideko scolded in a hushed voice, giving his wrist a soft smack with three fingers. "You can't just expect her to announce it like that! A girl's heart is delicate; haven't you learned anything from me over the years?"

That warm smile gave way to a playful grin yet again as he met his wife's eyes.

"Course I have, how else do you think I've even made it this far? But it's not like she needs to hide anything from us. I just want Carmy to know we're here to support her, even if it is a little tactless to bring it up like that."

Carmine, however, was more than a little confused by their conversation.

"Um…what are you two talking about?" she asked, her brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of their cryptic discussion.

"You've been in love with that Juliana for a long time now, right?" Her grandpa's words were matter of fact and as natural as ever, but the content of them struck Carmine like a heard of stampeding Tauros. Her spoon clattered into her plate as she sputtered, her face redder than the highlights in her hair.

"W-w-w-w-what!? I-I…I never…I…"

"See what you did now?" Hideko chastised her husband again. "I told you years ago not to bring it up so thoughtlessly. We can support her without making her say something she isn't ready to admit out loud."

Carmine took as much of a calming breath as she could manage before turning her eyes upwards. Her face was still on fire but there was no point in hiding it now. Nor was it going to subside for a while yet…

"You…knew? Both of you? For that long?"

"Guilty as charged," Yukito admitted with a chuckle.

"We weren't planning to bring it up until you were ready," Hideko insisted again, raising her eyebrow as she cast a sidelong glance at her husband, "but I can't say we never noticed anything."

"H…how? I thought I was hiding it so well. What'd I do that gave it away?"

Hideko laughed lightly and smiled.

"Oh, I only noticed because I'd have done the same thing back in the day for your grandfather. Whenever Juliana would come to Kitakami on holidays to visit you and Kieran, you would always take an extra hour getting ready. Your hair was more carefully put together, you made sure it was out of your eyes, you took extra care to pick out clothing you never usually wore when you were just relaxing in town. You'd soften your voice just a little, stand straighter to get her attention. Little things like that."

"H-huh…I guess I never realized I did all that…"

"Love sure is strange, isn't it?" Yukito offered. "You start acting differently without even noticing it. One day, your biggest concern is what you're planning to do for lunch and the next you're wondering if it's too soon to send a letter to that person, maybe even make a house call. Or in your case, a text message and a phone call."

"I…yeah, I guess you're right."

"I'm sorry, dear," Hideko began. "We shouldn't have brought it up; I hope we didn't upset you."

She smiled at her grandmother, a very real smile, before shaking her head.

"Not at all, Grandma. Honestly, it's easier that you both know. I don't know that anything's ever gonna come of it, but it's nice to know you're both in my corner on this one, too. You're my biggest supporters, as usual."

"Of course we are," she promised. "And if you ever do feel like really talking about it with us, we're more than happy to listen and offer any insight we can. I know your situation might be a little different than ours was, but age does bring with it a certain amount of wisdom."

For the first time that day, Carmine saw the same playful grin she was so used to seeing her grandfather wear spread across her grandmother's face. It was a very obvious reminder that the two had been married for nearly fifty years.

"Thanks, Grandma. You too, Grandpa. I won't forget that."


The winter air was biting and crisp this time of year in Kitakami. The normally blue skies were almost constantly veiled by a blanket of grey clouds, the warm sunlight having been chased far away from the land. But Carmine liked the winters. It was sunny the other nine months of the year anyway; she always relished the cold while it lasted.

As she closed the front door of the house behind her, she heard a happy barking and turned to find her Mightyena, one of her oldest partners, approaching with an energetic gait, its tail wagging a mile a minute.

'She can be so intimidating sometimes but she always turns into a big ol' softie around me. You know…maybe we're even more alike than I realized.'

"Come here!" she called out, opening her arms and kneeling.

The large Pokémon leapt up against her and began nuzzling and licking whatever parts of her trainer she could reach. Carmine couldn't help but laugh and wrap her up in a big hug. She had been home for a while now but it still felt fresh seeing her partner again each day. Mightyena had been living with her grandparents for a few years, after all. Right alongside…

"Leavanny!"

The mantis-like Pokémon poked her head around the corner of the house and gave her a bright smile. Leavanny had been staying in Kitakami for even longer than Mightyena had and she had taken up tending to the garden around the side of the house. In fact, she was part of the reason the vegetables were always so excellent.

The bug type scurried over towards them and also clung onto Carmine, leafy arms ensnaring her waist.

"Hello to you too!"

Carmine sat down on the porch and spoiled her Pokémon silly, wrapping them up in big hugs, petting and nuzzling them, and praising all their hard work. It had been a few years since she'd swapped out her team but rather than leave her reserve members wandering aimlessly around the Terrarium at Blueberry Academy as some trainers did, she decided they'd be better loved and taken care of at home with her grandparents.

Mightyena and Leavanny had always been happy with the arrangement and her grandparents loved having the Pokémon around. Neither Yukito nor Hideko had ever become trainers themselves but they still enjoyed the company when the house was otherwise empty. Part of Carmine believed that her Pokémon were something of a reminder to them of the days when she and Kieran only went so far as the center of town as opposed to a school on the other side of the world.

"Alright you two, come with me – I'm taking the team on a picnic! Once we're outside of town, I'll let the others out of their Poké Balls too!"

Her two Pokémon sang their agreement and the group set out for the western exit of Mossui. Mightyena bounded around the streets in excitement while Leavanny walked close by, her dainty steps double the speed of its trainer's natural gait to maintain pace. And once the trio reached the west field, Carmine reached for her belt and launched six Poké Balls into the air.

Her trusty team of partners appeared before her in a matter of seconds. Her eyes fell on her Ninetales, Toucannon, Excadrill, Scrafty, Morpeko, and, of course, her first partner, Sinistcha. The six glanced around to take in their surroundings before noticing Mightyena and Leavanny and happily greeting them. The group had spent almost every day together since she'd returned to Kitakami, but her partners always acted like one big happy family every time they were together.

"Alright gang," she called out, earning their attention and grinning. "Let's get out there and find a nice spot for a picnic! I've already had lunch with Grandma and Grandpa, but I'm gonna spoil the absolute heck outta all of you! You better be ready for some seriously gourmet stuff!"

Her companions cheered and sang their happiness before dispersing into the field to find a nice spot to relax. Sinistcha stayed close by though and began hovering by her shoulder, nudging her and smiling up at its trainer.

"Feeling good today, partner?" Carmine asked, her smile brighter than it had been all day. No matter what was going on, spending time with her team always lifted her spirits.

Sinistcha made a happy little chirping noise and she reached out and scratched under its chin with her index finger. She had learned a long time ago that ghost type Pokémon would only keep themselves tangible around someone they trusted and it always warmed her heart to feels the sweet little phantom's actual skin against hers. It was a sign of the bond they'd developed over the years.

As she walked around the field of rolling hills, she adjusted her scarf. Her grandmother had knitted it for her years ago and the forest green color went well with her favorite black winter coat. Sure, there was plenty to enjoy about the clear spring air or the warmth of summer, but bundling up during the cold winter was Carmine's favorite part of the year. Cozying up by the fireplace with her Pokémon, nuzzling down into Ninetales or Mightyena's fur, hugging Morpeko in her arms and drifting off to sleep – it was all so perfect.

Carmine's attention was suddenly drawn by the cry of her Ninetales, glancing over towards the south where the noise had come from. The elegant fox had found a lovely area, a spacious clearing surrounded by a small grove of trees.

"Ooh, nice find! Alright team, let's meet up with Ninetales!" she bellowed across the field. There were probably other people wandering around the expansive wilds and she might have just scared them half to death but at that moment Carmine couldn't have cared less.

"Ah, whatever. When did I ever care to begin with?" she murmured, grinning to herself.

Her partners came running and flying in from all sorts of directions but eventually they were all settled into the clearing. Carmine laid out a large blanket before riffling through her backpack and pulling out tons of different food options for her Pokémon. She had brought tons of traditional types of Pokémon foods, an assortment of different berries and poffins, and even a good handful of sandwich ingredients. Juliana had taught her how to prepare sandwiches like a real pro back in the day and she knew her team enjoyed doing it sometimes.

'Juliana…maybe I should…do it after all'

She shook herself from her daze and did her best to focus on the here and now instead. She had a team of hungry Pokémon to entertain and feed.

"Alright ladies! And esteemed little ghoulie," she added, winking at Sinistcha. "What would you all like to eat? We can go with the usual Pokémon food, or I have all sorts of extra treats for you! Come take your pick! And don't fight, there's plenty for everyone!"

As her team clambered in close to select their favorite foods, Carmine couldn't help but laugh and smile. Sure, she may feel a little lost in life, but a nice day out with her Pokémon was always the best medicine for it. It didn't make the problem go away, of course, but it sure made her feel happy again.

That was something very few things could manage these days.

After her Pokémon had selected their foods of choice, Carmine set about preparing their dishes, delighting in the satisfied cries and songs of her friends as they dug in. She had even put a Paldean-style sandwich together for Mightyena, who remembered all too well the picnics they had shared with Juliana back in the day.

Carmine sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, slumping down on the blanket and rolling onto her side.

"I shouldn't have let myself fall out of touch with her. There's a difference between not being able to admit my feelings and acting like I don't care about one of the best people I've ever met…"

Her despondent mumblings were interrupted a moment later by the ringing of her Rotom Phone. Curious who could possibly be calling her, she pulled it from her bag and noted that it was Amarys. That was odd; it was the middle of the afternoon for Carmine but for her friend in Unova it was mind-numbingly early in the morning.

She answered the call and was immediately greeted by Amarys's bright turquoise eyes filling the screen as she adjusted her glasses. Carmine snorted and stifled a laugh.

"Hey, Mar! You, uh, might wanna take a step or two back from your phone."

To her credit, the girl stood her ground and quipped back.

"I simply thought you might be missing my radiant irises, Carmine. Think of them as a gift to you."

Carmine gave in to a genuine laugh this time. She could see a small image of herself in the bottom left corner of the screen. It was the first time she'd actually witnessed her own face look so relaxed and happy in a while.

"Not that I'm not thrilled to hear from you, but is something up?" Carmine began. "It's super early in Castelia, isn't it?"

"Nothing in particular is occurring, no. However, to address your other question, it is 7:26am right now, a time which I suppose might be considered too early to some. Regardless, I still have precisely…" she paused and checked her silver pocket watch before continuing, "twenty-nine minutes and thirty-eight seconds until I need to depart in order to reach my apprenticeship on time."

Carmine whistled and grinned.

"Wow, look at you! You're up and ready so early you have that much extra time?"

"Well, it could be that I simply set my alarm early today so I would have ample time to contact my closest friend."

Carmine gave her a warm smile and sat up on her elbow, her Rotom Phone following her motion.

"Aw, thanks Mar, that's so sweet of you. I can always count on you, girlie."

"I am deeply moved to know you feel that way, Carmine. You have my gratitude."

"So! Tell me – apprenticeship still going well?"

Amarys smiled and gave her a small nod.

"Things are proceeding quite well, yes. If I manage to keep my current pace, I should be hired on as a full-time company representative within the next six months. At that time, my team and I will be sent around to neighboring regions around the world to establish friendly communications and business ventures with many other groups. That will be a form of training in and of itself, one I find myself quite looking forward to."

"I'm so happy for you! It's great that you're enjoying your field so much."

"Thank you, Carmine. I appreciate that from the bottom of my heart. And what of you? Are you still looking for your own path forward?"

She gave a heavy sigh.

"Yeah…and I still have no idea what to do. I kinda don't really want to do much of anything…"

"Carmine…"

"Well…okay, it's not a career thing but…there is one thing I'm thinking about doing right now…maybe…"

Amarys perked up and raised an eyebrow.

"Is there? Do tell, please. If you find yourself comfortable sharing, of course."

"Well…I was talking with my grandparents earlier over lunch. And they brought up…Juliana."

"Juliana? I'm only now realizing how long it's been since last I saw her. She made the journey to Blueberry Academy several years ago now, did she not?"

"She did. That was…that was the last time I saw her in person, too."

Amarys frowned and raised a finger.

"May we pause for a moment?"

"Uh, sure. What's up?"

"Are you telling me that after everything we've discussed over the years, you've allowed Juliana to exit your orbit with so little effort to prevent it?"

Carmine sulked, biting her lip as she took in her friend's all-too-honest words.

"You don't have to say it like that; I know I screwed up."

"Do you not still have feelings for her?"

Now her face flushed a deep shade of scarlet.

"O-of course I do…you're the only person I've ever told so openly about it; I'd tell you if my feelings changed."

"I completely trust that you would. So? Does your hypothetical plan of action involve Juliana in some way?"

"It's…it's kinda crazy, what I'm thinking of doing…"

"Carmine, in all the years I've known you, you have never once cowered in the face of a plan of action that one might consider…inadvisable."

"Gee, thanks Mar."

"You know that isn't criticism nor a negative statement about your personality."

Carmine sighed and nodded.

"I know. Sorry. I'm just…so unsure about everything lately. Including this. Especially this."

"Perhaps sharing your self-proclaimed 'crazy plan' would help me to understand your dilemma more accurately."

"Point taken. I'll…I'll stop beating around the bush and just…just come right out and say it!"

After a long pause, though, Amarys raised an eyebrow again.

"After a brief period of hesitation with which to gather your courage?"

"Mar! Come on, I'm trying here!"

The girl's normally robotic personality finally cracked and she giggled, an amused smile spreading across her face.

"I apologize, Carmine. I meant only to tease you somewhat, but I fear I might have taken my jesting a step too far."

"Nah, you didn't, don't worry. Honestly, hearing you joke around makes me feel a little better. Thanks."

"Of course."

"Alright, here goes…I'm thinking about maybe going…to Paldea."

Even Amarys couldn't keep the surprise off of her face.

"You've…never journeyed to Paldea before, correct?"

"No…and after all those times Juliana came to visit me at Blueberry…"

"I support you fully in your ultimate decision, but might I ask what brought on this desire?"

"Something my Grandpa said earlier."

"Is that so? Are you willing to share what that was?"

"He told me…that when he and Grandma were young, he let her go far away for school without telling her how he really felt. But finally one day he realized he was being stupid and went after her. I'm…being stupid, Mar."

"Carmine…"

"I'm being…really stupid!" she yelled suddenly, rising into a sitting position and clenching her fists before her as she began grinding her teeth in frustration.

Amarys giggled again, a rarity to hear twice within the span of a single five-minute period.

"I was uncertain if you still allowed yourself to do that but I must admit I'm pleased to see it."

Carmine realized she was fuming the way she'd always done as a teenager. She began laughing and let her arms fall to her sides again.

"I haven't in a while; it felt kinda good to let that out again."

"Why do you feel as if you're, well, 'being stupid,' as you put it?"

"Because…I've been ignoring my feelings for so long and…I let that hurt Juliana. I haven't seen her in years; I haven't really kept up with her that much either. We send texts here and there but…we haven't called since before graduation. I've never gone to visit her. I'm such a…such a…"

"Confused person trying desperately to sort out her feelings of affection?"

"I was gonna say 'dumbass,' but that works too."

A third giggle from Amarys.

'This must be some kinda new record.'

"Has Juliana expressed any hurt feelings towards you?" her friend asked, a gentle quality to her voice that only appeared sometimes.

"Well…no. But I can't imagine me pulling away like that didn't hurt her. We used to be such close friends…how could I do that to someone I say I…love…?"

"Because you're scared…right?"

Carmine blinked in surprise and stared at Amarys for several moments. The only sounds that interrupted her stunned silence were those of her Pokémon finishing up their meals and the gentle rustling of wind through the trees around her.

"You…said that so casually. And yeah…you're absolutely right."

Amarys smiled at her.

"I've been attempting to…mitigate the strictness of my speech patterns and delivery in more emotional moments, certainly with regards to my dearest friend. More often than not, I find myself failing quite spectacularly. But I suppose I succeeded in that moment?"

Carmine couldn't stop herself from giggling in turn.

"You did great, Mar. Thank you."

"You are very welcome."

There was an unusual warmth emanating from Amarys right now. Carmine knew the girl had always cared about her; there had never once been a doubt in her mind. But she could tell that Amarys was still trying to become closer with her, more casual with her. It didn't come naturally, but she was trying her hardest to lessen the distance between them even when they were on the other side of the world from one another.

It was such a genuinely sweet and touching gesture. It broke down her walls and reminded her to really trust that Amarys was there for her. So much so that, at long last, Carmine felt the final bits of her ability to hold back her emotions begin to crumble…and finally her long-guarded feelings poured from her mouth.

"And like I said, you're right. I'm terrified. I've been terrified for years. I don't know how I've lived like this for so long. I've been in love with Juliana for seven years now…and I've been terrified of her finding out the whole time. Why would she ever feel the same way as me? F-first of all, it's not like I have any reason to think she likes women; like, what the hell kind of assumption would it be to think I wouldn't be pushing her away by dropping that on her head outta nowhere?

"A-and second, even if she does like girls, why would she ever like me? I was always rude and mean and sarcastic and I never made an effort to visit her and I don't even make an effort to call her anymore and she's probably forgotten all about me and even if she hasn't she probably hates me for being so distant over the years. And why the hell have I been so distant anyway!? It's because I was terrified that I'd be rejected! There! I said it! I was terrified of being rejected and losing my friend and now I've lost her anyway! And because I'm such a coward, I even hurt the one person I've loved so much since I was fifteen! I'm a complete idiot! It's all my fault! I'm the stupidest person in the world, I'm absolutely hopeless and useless and a waste of space and-"

"Carmine!" a wild shout erupted from the other end of the line.

She stopped short and felt her mouth fall open. Amarys never yelled like that. She was always so composed and deliberately spoken. For her to actually raise her voice like that was…unheard of.

"Mar…?"

She cleared her throat, adjusted her glasses, and continued in her usual speech patterns again…but her eyes were sharp and angry.

"As someone who considers you her closest companion in this world, I have to ask that you never speak about yourself in such a deplorable fashion again."

"But-"

"No arguments. You are well within your rights to be upset at yourself or feel you could have handled certain situations with more tact and grace. But I will not abide my best friend saying such hurtful things about herself. Do not ever do that again. Please."

Carmine took a steadying breath before glancing around the clearing. Her Pokémon were all looking at her with worry present on their faces. Had she really come that unglued? If even Amarys had seen fit to raise her voice, then it must have been worse than ever before. She decided to address her partners first; it was easier to quell that situation anyway.

"Sorry everyone. You don't have to worry; I'm okay now, promise."

Her Pokémon slowly turned back towards their meals but each one kept an eye on her in their own way. It was an immensely comforting feeling. But there was someone else that was watching her too, someone Carmine owed a response.

"Thanks, Mar," she began, turning her attention back to her phone. "I'm sorry about that. I really did fall apart there, huh? But…I won't do that again. I mean it."

"Swear on our friendship."

Carmine was a bit taken aback but one look at Amarys's steely eyes told her she had no choice in the matter. She let out a defeated laugh before raising her hands in surrender.

"Okay, okay, you win. I swear on our friendship that I won't say such awful things about myself again."

"Thank you, Carmine." And just like that, Amarys's demeanor returned to normal, her face relaxing and her eyes calm again.

"Still, though…do you think I'm being insane? For wanting to go to Paldea, I mean?"

"I don't think you're insane at all."

Carmine blinked in surprise; her best friend had spoken casually again. A moment later, Amarys averted her eyes and shifted around, clearly feeling awkward.

"Did I…correctly utilize my new speech patterns?"

"You did, Mar. And thank you. I think…I think doing something like this could be good for me. I've been pulling away from Juliana because I'm scared. But even if I don't end up telling her my true feelings…I just feel so guilty for abandoning her. Even if all we'll ever be is friends…I'd rather have that than nothing. Even if she's happy with just her Paldean friends and doesn't miss me at all…I'd rather be rejected than hurt her without her even knowing why I did what I did. I owe her that much for how close we used to be."

"It seems to me that your path forward is clear. Go to Paldea, Carmine. Don't allow your regrets to consume you."

She nodded forcefully.

"You're right. Thank you, Mar. You're just the best!"

"So I've been told."

Was it her imagination, or had Amarys shot her a playful grin just then? Even if she hadn't imagined it, her friend's face was back to its stoic, neutral expression before she could even register it. But it felt good to see Amarys loosening up so obviously.

"Let me check in with my team and see how they're feeling about it, too. Wanna watch?"

"Oh, by all means. I do so miss when our Pokémon would spend time together; I would be elated to see your darling partners again."

Carmine grinned and spun her Rotom Phone around so Amarys could see the clearing before rising to her feet and clapping her hands once.

"Hey gang! How do you feel about a trip?"

They all looked up at her with expressions of anticipation.

"Let's take a little vacation to Paldea and visit our old friend Juliana!"

An eruption of excitement and happy cries filled the clearing as the Pokémon sang their agreement.

"It would seem you've arrived at your answer, Carmine," Amarys encouraged her with a smile.

"Looks like it. Guess I'd better psyche myself up. It's time to stop being stupid!"


"Grandma, Grandpa, I'm going on a trip."

Carmine made her announcement quite suddenly over dinner later that night. This time, they were having hot soup with a collection of various noodles. It was something Hideko usually did during the winter and Carmine always loved the mini celebration. It was a delightful affair.

And this time, Carmine herself had something exciting to add to that mix, too.

"How wonderful, dear! Where are you going?" her grandmother asked.

"Paldea. I'm going to visit Juliana."

"Well! Where did all this come from?" Yukito managed between mouthfuls of noodles. "Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you; it just seemed like you were a little lost earlier."

"I was. Honestly, I still am. But I talked with Mar on the phone while I was out with my Pokémon and she really set me straight."

"She's such a good friend, that Amarys," Hideko noted with a tender smile.

"She really is. And thanks to all three of you, I'm not gonna waste another minute. I've been hiding from Juliana for too long. Even if all we ever are is friends, I'm happy with that. So I owe it to her and to myself to go there and patch things up properly." She was doing her best to stay more positive tonight, refusing to let those intrusive, negative thoughts worm their way into her mind and heart.

"That's our girl," her grandfather positively beamed. "I'm proud of you, Carmy. Don't let anything get in the way of what you want."

"I won't. I've already made up my mind so nothing can stop me now. I'm done being stupid!"

"Here, here!"

Carmine raised her glass in excitement and clanked it against her grandfather's. There was finally a sense of forward motion returning to her life. There was something she was looking forward to. It was the first time in a long time she'd felt this way. Even for an entire year before graduation from Blueberry University, she had felt like she was stagnating.

'Come to think of it, it was right around the time I started pulling away from Juliana that I started feeling this way…argh! No point in beating myself up about it now. I've just gotta go to her and make things right again. I may still have no idea what I want to do for my career but I know what I want to do with my life right now. So…let's do this! Let's figure out how to make this happen! First, I'll have to figure out a plane ticket…'

Just then, Hideko placed a few more helpings of noodles on Carmine's plate before pouring fresh, hot soup into her nearby bowl.

"Eat more, I made plenty! I have to spoil you at least a little since you're heading out on another journey soon."

"Thanks, Grandma! You're the best!"

'Well…okay, maybe I'll get started on all the planning after dinner. Let's just enjoy the moment for now.'

10/13/2024