Whew, what a day! Between all that party planning and entertaining, I'm absolutely exhausted! Still, it was a great success—I'll never forget the look on Gwen's face when I officially welcomed them into the Exploration Center!

Now…after all this time, we really can be an exploration team. I know I'm supposed to be the Master of the Center, explorer extraordinaire and everything…but I feel the same giddiness now as I did back when Gwen and I first started exploring together.

I look to Ampharos and Cradily sleeping in their beds. They've been amazing through all this. I'll admit, I was a little nervous they wouldn't be for it. It's one thing letting Hoopa join the team, but another seven members to go along with them? But when I brought it up, they seemed just as excited as I was, whether or not they both would show it.

"The more the merrier!" Cradily had said excitedly. "Having more members will definitely help on expeditions! How are their battling skills?"

I thought back for a moment. Gwen knew…a couple of moves, but it was clear she was more of a strategist than an actual battler (she may be my friend, but I can be objective). I've never seen Stephanie or Seviper battle, but the others all seemed seriously strong (I should know, having been on the receiving ends of some of their attacks). "Well, they've never explored before, but I'm they'll all get the hang of it eventually. We can start with something small, a simple mission to get them used to it." I had said. They exchanged the briefest of glances, before Ampharos said, "you know them best. If you think they're up for it, I'm sure it'll be a success," he smiled.

I'm sure of it too, but I still don't want to overwhelm them on their first mission. I'll have to think of something suited for them. But right now, I think I'm a little too wiped to think straight. I settle into my bed, and drift off to sleep.

After the party last night, I—and everyone else—are absolutely exhausted. Thank goodness it wasn't a school night. Gonna have to think about how to get that perfect work-life balance if we're to be involved with the Center. Stephanie manages her own company from home, Elliot isn't in school yet, and the others…well, they're pokemon. They're not the busiest members of our household.

I guess the toughest thing will be organizing it around my PhD program…it's part-time, which has been a lifesaver with Elliot, but I didn't also expect to be an explorer too.

I wonder if I can work it into my resume.

I'm sure I can make it work, and at least we have the freedom to go back and forth now—if things get too busy for me, Delcatty will understand. She's not exactly drowning in free time either.

Everyone's trudging around the house, trying to shake of the exhaustion. Even Elliot's feeling it, although he's been excitedly telling us everything he did in the care area.

"I did a battle! I beat Happiny!" He beams. "Wow, impressive!" Stephanie said, ruffling his hair. "Yeah! And then I did coloring with Kirlia! He's funny, but bad at coloring," Elliot says authoritatively. Rotom flies in, "yeah? He your new best friend?" She grins. "Uh huh! We're gonna play at his house!" Serperior rushes over and starts saying something, which Rotom translates to, "sounds great, I want to come too!" Which I'm certain isn't true based on the way he whacks her, sending her flying into my lap.

"Easy, I know how you feel about them," I say while checking Rotom's ok. "Besides, you're not technically allowed in that town anyway…either of you," I say, briefly glancing at Elliot. He looks relieved for a moment before Rotom starts laughing. "You know, if you do your usual hijinks there, you'll probably be banned from most public spaces in a couple of weeks," I laugh at her. "Oh! How dare you? I've never committed hijinks in my entire life!" She says with mock offense, which makes Stephanie laugh out loud.

Elliot talking about everything makes me a little nervous. He still doesn't realize it's Stephanie and I there with him, but he certainly seems to understand it's all real. What happens if he talks about it to other kids at daycare? Or when he starts school? I don't know whether we should keep bringing him there or not—I'll admit, the idea of leaving him out feels…unfair. But on the other hand…I don't know, I don't really want him spreading that kind of info around. Especially when Giratina can evidently keep an eye on us…I've already tested their faith once before. I wonder if they're watching right now, I think nervously, looking around for any telltale sign, finding none. I guess they're stealthier than that. Stephanie and I eventually agreed that we'll keep bringing him, but to tell him that it's our own family secret. He seemed to understand, going as far as pinky promising not to tell anyone (the most solemn off oaths in his eyes). When he's older, he'll understand better—and then he'll hopefully be able to accept the 'eevees' are actually us.

We get back into our routine, keeping an eye out for any sign of Hoopa, but so far seeing none. "I wonder how they're doing, being in a team?" I ask Stephanie one day. "I dunno, hopefully helping Delcatty out with some of her duties. She was way too overworked, if you ask me." I briefly think back to her in the hospital following her stint in the Echoing Ruins. Yes, I'd certainly agree she was overworked. I guess we both were, going through a place like that.

I hate to say it, but even now, weeks after the fact and here in my own world…I still feel the effects of the Ruins. I don't know how to explain it, but sometimes the smallest thing can set it off.

For example, just the other day I had to break up a fight between Noivern and Seviper (over what, I'm still not sure—but based on how embarrassed they looked later I assume it was something stupid). Anyway, as Stephanie and I fought to pry them apart, she yelled at me to keep him under control, at which point the anxieties of possibly being in that dungeon rushed back to me, like somehow I'm being tested. Ultimately, I know it's ridiculous, but will I spend the rest of my life panicking that every confrontation is some kind of trial from that place? I certainly hope not.

She seemed to notice something was off—I told her about it later through shaky laughs, but she just looked at me, eyes wide. "Gwen…are you like…ok? What did you see in there?" She said, holding my hand. I told her about everything it showed me, how it warped my memories and perception of time, everything. She considered my words when I was finished, "look at me," she said, looking deeply into my eyes, "I promise you that this," she gestured to our surroundings with one hand, still holding the other tightly, "—is all real. I'm real, and you'll never be in that place ever again. I promise." I felt a lump in my throat—I don't think her words will necessarily cure me of my fears, but I appreciated them nonetheless. I hold them close to my heart like a mantra—this is all real…she's real. I squeezed her hand in return and leaned in for a kiss. "Thank you…" I breathed, feeling a tear on my cheek.

But other than the occasional questioning of my reality, things have pretty much gone back to normal. I sometimes wonder what Delcatty is up to, how life at the Center is, and when Hoopa will be back. Besides missing her and wanting to have a relatively normal, peril free time there, I'm also missing the chance to talk with my team properly. Having to rely on vague gestures and Rotom's translations is a far cry from getting to speak directly with them. I would like to get to know them better as individuals when we return.

"Hey Rotom? You don't have an app to translate pokemon cries into human language automatically, do you?" I query one day. "Ough! As if I am untrustable? You demand some crummy software to override me?" She says dramatically. "Well, I thought it might be…easier…and y'know…more accurate," I say, giving her a look. "For shame Gwendolyn! I'll have you know my translations are top notch! 100% accuracy, guaranteed!" The snort from Dragalge across the room tells me otherwise. "You keep your mouth shut! Remember, your words are in my hands!" She flies over to them, grinning. "100% accuracy guaranteed, huh?" I laugh to myself as they go back and forth. If there is such an app, somehow I don't think Rotom would let me know about it. It's alright though, she eventually gives an accurate translation. Usually.

A month passes, then another. Finally, one day when I'm rather not expecting it, Hoopa appears in our living room, frantically saying something.

"Rotom, can you…?" "Got it!" She winks. "Wow! It sounds like Delcatty has plans to get us proper training for exploring! Hoopa's asking when we're free for an introductory mission!" She says, eyes sparkling.

Through Rotom, Stephanie and I tell Hoopa our schedule, which they apparently plan to tell Delcatty so we can arrange to be there for a basic mission. It's all rather funny when I think about it—maybe I should mark of a day or two as "exploring" in my calendar so I can plan my usual errands like grocery shopping or changing the car's oil around it.

But we have a tentative date—in about three days, Hoopa will be back to finalize the plan, and sometime after that we'll get to go on our very first mission. That night I can hardly sleep thinking about it—after all this time, I'm finally going to be able to explore with Delcatty and the rest of my team.

I close my eyes and smile. I can't wait.