The fizzle of spacetime as we were warped back to town felt cold. Each time we were warped anywhere by Palkia it always felt cold, very unlike the strange light that is granted when we rescued Pokemon with our rescue badges. I supposed that when the Pokemon Deity of Space does it, you feel its power. And boy, did we feel its power. Going from the core of the planet to Tie Town probably wasn't something just any Pokemon could do, even if you could teleport.

I was weary, my hooves were sore and covered in blisters, my armor was scratched and dented, I broke at least two claws, my PP was low, my bag and belly were practically empty, I was dehydrated, and I was exhausted. I was so exhausted, fighting back to back fights with Deity level Pokemon would do that to you. Cosmoem's sudden evolution into Solgaleo and then Necrazma's violent fusion into its Dusk Mane form, both uber strong, both out of control, and both almost succeeding at ending the world. Almost.

I felt nauseous as the world around me phased back together. Gaining my senses. I recognized the town. The main road with its paved streets, businesses who I've been patroning this past year, the distant smell of the sea in the air. Tie Town.

I heard a long groan from my left. "Fraaack, that never gets easier…" I wasn't ready to rise from the ground, content to just lay down for a moment, of course I wasn’t sure if I would ever get up from where I laid. My partner though, he was getting up off his back.

My rescue partner, Axe the Fraxure, if I felt bad, he looked worse. His right tusk was chipped and cracked and his right eye was swollen shut. He was favoring his left hip and limping as he made his way towards me. He sat down next to me as he grunted in pain.

"You haven't turned into a ghost type on me, have ya?" Axe asked as he leaned on my back.

"Can't say I'm not contemplating it." I responded. He gave out a husky laugh.

"So I'm not the only one, good."

The wind blew across my face bringing the scent of salt. The first breeze I've felt in months.

"Axe!" I said.

"I feel it. It's back." He responded breathlessly.

If I could have jumped for joy, I would have. Since I ended up in this world a year ago it's been one environmental disaster after another. Turns out that ripping holes in spacetime and almost creating black holes in the core of the planet has disastrous effects on the entire world. Halting the wind was just one, the shifting of the axis of the planet was another, and don't even get me started on the earthquakes. Necrazma's attempt to create a black hole and absorb all light for itself had turned the world on its side, somewhat literally. But Palkia and Dialga assured us that if we kept our end of the bargain then they'll right the changes. Of course our end was traveling to the center of the earth. fighting the embodiment of the sun and a black hole, and getting out alive. Simple. But we did it.

The return of the wind soothed my heart, the turmoil and stress of being responsible for the safety of the entire world is too large of a burden for anyone to bear. It's not something I'd wish on my worst enemy, and I had just fought them. The nightmares of potential failure, the indigestion from stress, the struggle of having to beat and subjugate the gods of this world as nothing more than a lone Lairon. The odds were insurmountable, incalculable. Yet the wind hit my face in defiance to those odds. I couldn't stop the tears.

I started crying, I softly sobbed in relief. Months of anxiety lifted off my shoulders, I felt… free. Free from the burden of having chase down leads of where to find the deities of space and time, free from needing to orchestrate and organize investigations into chasms and canyons to find out how to get to the core of the planet, free from being entrenched in the damn whims of Pokemon with powers beyond my comprehension or abilities, and most of all, free from knowing that if I failed, it meant the end of every living being in this world. The tears came and came. Axe rested a hand on my shoulder.

"I apologize, I can't stop it." I said as the liquid rolled down my face. I tried to move my arm to wipe my face clean but I felt too sore.

"You don't need to hide it from me, Ron. And if anyone has a problem, I'll remind them with my fist who just saved the Frackin’ world. You can let that shit out." So I did. I felt him shuffle over and wrap his arms around my neck. For the first time since we entered Molten Mantle, I felt safe. 

"We did it."

"We did."

Soon my sobs turned to chuckles. It started slowly, one every few seconds as they slowly grew in intensity and frequency. Within a minute, I was full on having a fit. My sides heaved and hurt with how much damage I took. Next to me, Axe joined in on the laughter. Our voices were hoarse.

"Frack man, it's really over." Axe said.

"If not, I'll be perturbed." I responded.

"Well, if any other Frackin' gods want to run amok, we'll be here to kick their asses back into whatever dimension they crawled out of. Right?" He said with a chuckle. 'Where do you get so much energy?' I thought to myself. Axe was amazing, incredibly strong, stalwart, sympathetic. I couldn't have asked for a better partner, or a closer friend. He found me right after I got dumped into this world, back when we were an Aron and an Axew. He gave me a name when I forgot my human one, Ron, in honor of the Pokemon line I turned into. He helped me join Boss Boomer's Rescue Guild while I figured out where I was and what to do and mostly, how to get back home to the human world.

"Hey, don't tempt fate. I doubt you nor I are capable of going toe to toe with another legend at the moment."

"Speak for yourself, Ron! I'll take on any Frackin' challenger. I feel invincible!" He said as he shot an arm into the air. I laughed at his proclamation. The confidence was infectious. I sat and felt the wind on my face, drying my tears.

"Legends above, the breeze feels so good." I said after a moment.

"It is. Hey, Ron, there's something I need to tell you." He said. I turned on to my other side so I could look at him. His back was to me as he sat there. I couldn't see his face.

"Tell me, I'm listening." I said.

"Well, you know, I've been thinking and-"

"Krawww!! There they are!!!" I heard from above. Looking up I saw Corey the Corviknight, leader of the town watch.

"Frack." I heard Axe mutter next to me.

A rumble of footsteps sounded from out the way. A cloud of dust was piling up as I saw everyone rushing towards us on foot, hoof, or wing. A couple dozen of the most friendly Pokemon I've grown to know here in Tie Town. Shop keepers, bank owner, storage counter, all of them. Corey landed next to us ahead of the pack.

"Kraw-blimey! You lads look like shite." She said in her special accent.

"You should see the other two." I countered.

"Damn right!" Axe added on. I tried to get to my feet but felt very shaky. I stumbled and felt the strong arms of Axe as he pulled me up to a stable position.

"I got ya." He said.

"Thanks."

"Here, laddies" she said as she plopped down some curatives in front of us. I ate the berries and felt the amazing healing power it had. The pain in my muscles subsided but not the fatigue, even berries couldn't do everything. It however made me feel stronger, strong enough to endure the wave coming towards me.

"Ron!!!!" The small Patrat barrelled into me full charge. I grunted as the kid practically used me as a trampoline. "Ron! Ron! You're back!"

"Hello, Pat. Please stop jumping on me." I told him. He did stop jumping all over me and hugged my back. My scales were sensitive after my fights and I could feel his grip as he tried to hold me as tight as he could.

"Hey, brat. I'm here too." Axe said next to me. I couldn't see it, but Pat must have done something rude since Axe followed up with, "That's it, you little-" as he stared towards us.

"Guys!!" Tim the Timburr was the next to arrive. He didn't even have his usual wood plank with him. I figured he dropped it to move faster. He embraced Axe, who was stunned for a moment before returning the gesture. "You did it. The wind is back, and the waves, and everything. You did it! You saved us."

"Just the duty of a rescue guild, right?" Axe said.

"The strongest rescue guild!!" Pat added from above me.

"Yeah, the strongest." I said. Soon after I was surrounded in a sea of limbs and words of praise. The Pokemon from town and our guild eventually arrived, everyone in a fury to try and congratulate me and Axe. I couldn't tell which way was what or whose limbs were whose, I just felt tired and unable to resist anymore. Just as I was about to shout I heard a deafening roar.

"Move!!" The sea of Pokemon parted and there on the outskirts was our bosses, the leaders of our guild. Boomer the Rillaboom and Olivia the Arboliva. Seeing them there filled me with awe, the two were heroes, famous throughout the world, and they had taken me in when I needed it most. Axe and I quickly stood at attention before them, the other members of town stepping back to let them in. Boomer walked forward, his eyes trained on the two of us.

His powerful steps seemed to shake the ground. The height difference between us and him was apparent as I needed to crane my neck up to look into his face. He stood before us with his arms crossed, face in his neutral scowl. He sat there looking us over for a time as I tried not to fidget under the gaze.

"You boys look alright. Any injuries?" His deep voice asked.

"No, Boss!" I shouted out.

"I'm feeling great, too, Sir!" Axe added.

"Good!" He said menacingly. He popped the knuckles of his fingers against his palms and I almost shuddered. Boomer wasn't one to shy away from "physical motivation" when a member of his Guild needed it. I immediately regretted telling him I was fine, I don't think I was going to handle a punch from him without fainting. Regardless, I didn't finch. He reached out his hands and gripped the armor on my back lightning fast, before I could even react.

I was lifted into the air, my nausea from earlier returned. I felt a constriction around my side and front as I was pulled into the Rillaboom's broad pecs. Air was forced from my lungs as the bearhug squeezed me tighter and tighter. To my side, I felt Axe going through the same thing.

"I'm so happy you boys are safe!!" Boomer screamed out. The sound made my ears ring. "Bwaaahhaaahaaaha!!" His eyes shot out tears that dripped down onto me. He squeezed us all the tighter.

"Boss! Can't breathe!" I wheezed out as I tapped him.

"Please, Boss. It hurts!" Axe added.

"Bwahaaaahaaaa. That's the manly pain of the reunion of men!! Don't fight it!" He yelled out as he swung us left and right in the hug. I glanced to the side and spotted Olivia.

"Ma'am, help." I said as I reached out towards her.

"I think he's getting Frackin' snot on me." Her soft laugh permeated the space.

"Dear, manly pain or not, these two need a quick look over. Would you please put them down gently?"

"Bwaha, just one last squeeze." 'Oh no', I thought as I felt the pressure on my back increase. I may have been a sturdy steel type, but that's what made the way I could feel my armor flexing even more impressive. He knelt down and dropped us with a flump. My armor creaked as it fit back into shape. Vines softly wrapped around us and righted us on our feet. Olivia practically floated towards us as I turned to look at her. Her vines remained on my body, I knew from experience that they were searching my body for any lingering injuries. Little roots seeped under armor and onto my actual body and it felt so ticklish. I turned to Axe who was being cocooned in his own roots. We shared a look and silently we communicated our usual bet, first to giggle loses.

I bit onto my tongue and did everything in my power to suppress the urge to laugh. The little worm-like feelers snaked down my legs and towards the gaps between my toes, my weak point. Axe shuddered next to me and I knew he was getting the same treatment to his armpits. The entire process was only a minute and the amount of eyes on me pulled my attention away from the sensation. Faces of my other guild members, the towns folk. There was a reverence in their eyes. They looked at us with awe. It felt a little embarrassing, especially as the vines bloomed little flowers and scents. The vines retracted and Olivia walked closer to us.

"Healthy as can be, however you both look quite worse for wear.” Her main limbs slung around my neck and pulled me into a tender embrace, not abrasive like Boomer’s. “I thank the legends above that you two have returned safely to us.” She bent her stalk and I felt a light pressure on my forehead as she kissed me. It felt so pleasant, so maternal. I felt tears well up in my eyes but I kept my composure. She turned to Axe and repeated the gesture on him, who beamed with pride and stood all the taller. The scent of flowers and olives filled her as she turned to address the crowd.

“My friends! Ron and Axe have returned victorious!” She thrust her branch hand into the air. A clear sign that our collective struggle has come to an end. The crowd burst into cheers and applause. Pokemon of all types and forms jumping up and down in celebration. I smiled at the scene turning this way and that to see my friends look happy. Some were leaping up and down, including Axe with his boundless energy. Some were crying, including Boomer as he kept shouting about the “manly tears of celebration”. Some of the winged ones like Corey took to the skies reuniting with the updrafts and currents of wind that they had been without for too long. Some danced, some played, some hollered, some pulled out berries and gummi candies and apples to feast on. But everyone, every single, solitary Pokemon was happy. Everyone but me…

I felt hollow. The smile I put on my face didn’t meet my eyes, I walked through the crowd, accepting the praise from everyone that came up to me, taking the food and gifts they gave me with as much grace as my overstimulated brain could generate. But, I knew something else, something that I hadn’t told any of them.

“Solve the crisis, I’ll send you home. That’s the deal.” I almost shuddered as I recalled the light twinkle of Celbi’s voice. Its cute demeanor belying a cruel devil. The demon that felt it necessary to rip me from my home, the human world, and thrust me into a global catastrophe with nary a finger in assistance. ‘If the crisis is solved, am I going to leave soon?’ I thought to myself as I weaved a trail among the partying Pokemon. The thought of going home, once my singular focus and goal, was close at hand surely, right?

“Buddy!!” Axe shouted as he leaped high into the air and pounced on my back. The impact knocked me to the ground with an ooph.

“Axe!! That hurt!!” I said as I wobbled back to my feet.

“Hehe, Sorry!” he said. I shook my head. “But, we Frackin’ did it! We saved the world!!”

“Yes. We did.” I said. I couldn’t match his energy, his weight on my back shifted as he wrapped his arms around my neck.

“Ron? Is everything okay?” I looked to the ground, unable to articulate what I was feeling in the moment. ‘I should tell him, I need to tell him.’ I told myself, trying to will my voice into action, but my body was stiff as steel and my voice died in my throat. Around us the party continued to rage.

I ended up lying. “Yeah, I’m just exhausted. Perhaps, I need some sleep.”

“Sleep? Frack that! It’s time to party!! Let’s grab a full restore from Kecleon and get out there!.” I chuckled a little as I felt my limbs start moving towards the stockpile that Kecleon pulled out with all kinds of goodies.

“Hey,” I said as I made my way over to him, “You were going to tell me something earlier, before everyone arrived.”

“Oh, Frack. I forgot about that. It can wait.” He said quickly and I didn’t press any further. I had my own secrets I was holding onto as well.

Kecleon greeted us both as we walked up to them and reluctantly parted with one full restore, along with a word that any additional treats were going to cost us. Axe spent a full minute arguing with the shop owner about how we were now heroes that saved the entire world and Kecleon countering that they are a business owner and they are willing to give us a discount for tonight. I sat in silence. This was the same old song and dance of these two. Every time we went shopping they would get into a bartering match, Axe always asking for cheaper prices and Kecleon asserting that the price is competitive. I didn’t understand how a town with a single shop could have competitive prices but I didn’t think I’d be satisfied with the answer.

“See if I buy a Frackin’ apple from you again.” Axe shouted as I walked off with him still on my back, the full restore in his bag.

“You really shouldn’t antagonize them, keep going off on them like that and they’ll raise prices for the both of us.”

“I’d like to see the Fracker try, I’ll gladly make up the difference with a punch to the face.” I shook my head with a wry smile. I turned off the road and made my way up a hill in the center of town. At the top was my favorite spot in town. The Sakura Tree. It had seen better days, its leaves were missing and it looked withered but Olivia assured me that it was still alive. I had spent a week hunting down a sap from a forest that Olivia believed would help and it had, but again, blackholes and rips in spacetime were not easily counteracted. The soft soil at the top felt nice on my feet, the blisters on my undersides were still there. I layed down for the first time since returning from the core of the planet. The sounds of the party below rang out, I could hear Boomer’s voice loud and clear across the way. Looking up, the sun was past its zenith and heading for the horizon. The breeze was still blowing, perhaps it was making up for the time it was stalled. Axe was getting himself comfy on my back, I couldn’t understand how resting on my ridges and armor with its bumps and spikes was comfortable but Axe assured me it was.

He placed the full restore next to me and I glanced at it. “Here” he offered.

“No, you should have it.”

“I know you need it more than me. You took more hits than I did.”

“That’s my role! I’m resistant to more than half the types out there. You on the other hand don’t have the defenses to take a hit.”

“Pfft, you and your Frackin’ type advantages. Don’t need to worry about that shit when you take an enemy out in one hit.”

“Yeah, well did we take out Solgaleo or Necrazma in one hit?” I shot back. He didn’t have a response to that. Axe was definitely a “hit things first and ask if it hasn’t fainted yet, if not then hit it again” kind of Pokemon. His strength was no joke, he spent many hours training in our Guild’s gym against the strongest opponents. He was for sure the damage dealer in our partnership, I was the shield. I take the hits and he dishes out the punishment, that was our dynamic and it hadn’t failed us before.

“How about we split it?” I offered. The effects would be lessened but it would still go a long way to healing our bodies.

“Deal!” He said. A hand reached down and sliced the item in half in one clean motion. Axe grabbed his half and I pulled mine towards myself. I bit into it and tasted iron and other minerals. I swallowed. Its effects were immediate, just like the berries from earlier. My back itched as I felt my armor pop back into place. A glance at my underpaw showed my blisters winking out of existence, my muscles were feeling a little more limber, I felt better.

“These always taste odd to me.” Axe said after a moment, “it doesn’t look like what it tastes.”

“It is perplexing.” I admitted, “I wonder how these are made in this world?”

“Full restores exist in your homeworld?”

“Yes, but they are manufactured.”

“Uhh…”

“Created, by human hands and machines.”

“And.. those are like Klingklangs, right?” He asked. I nodded. Axe had many questions about the human world, having been fascinated by how odd and weird it sounded. I was always willing to talk about my home, it reminded me that I was once human despite all the missing memories. That I have a home to get back to. 'But do I?' I halted that train of thought with a snort, 'No, I must! I have a home out there.' But the worries didn't leave my heart. I had the memory of a great many things from the human world. Many things but not one about myself and who I was. I went silent.

"So, you did it, Mr. Chosen One. What are you going to do now?" He casually asked. The question didn't surprise me, I was dreading it. 'Just tell him. Just say it!' I screamed in my mind. The words only echoed off my skull.

"I, I guess I'll keep looking for a way back home." I lied. 'Fucking coward!!'

"You still want to go back?" He asked.

"Axe, I'm not from here. I don't belong in this world. I'm human. I was only here to save the world, and I have! We have. I just…" I trailed off. "I just want to go home."

"And what if there isn't a way, what if you can't go home?" I saw red. I flipped him off my back and turned towards him as he got back to his feet.

"How can you say that, Axe!? How dare you say that to me!?" I stormed up to him and he back peddled a step or two.

"Frack, man. I wasn't- I didn't mean it like that. I just meant-"

"Meant what!!?" I shouted at him, my shoulder's huffing in anger. He knitted his eyebrows and grabbed my shoulders.

"Calm the Frack down and listen to me, man!" I took a moment to growl at him before I regained my senses. My snarl relaxed and I looked down.

"I apologize.." I said. He patted my shoulders and relaxed his face too.

"I get it, man. You've wanted to go home since you got here. And I know it's been hard on you. I was with you through all that crap." Months and months of struggling, my frequent insomnia, exploring the most inhospitable regions imaginable, fighting the strongest of all Pokemon, he was there, right by my side. "If there's a way for you to get home, you can bet your ass I'm going to help you find it. I just- I just- I want you to know, man. If it turns out there isn't any, and I'm not saying there's not, that, you know, you can stay with me- uhh, us. The guild, I mean." He gripped my shoulders tightly.

"Stay.. with the guild?" I asked slowly. I hadn't ever considered what I would do if I was stuck here. Until this afternoon it was either stop the crisis or be obliterated along with the planet, but with the crisis averted, Celebi was to send me home. 'Stay, is that even an option anymore?' I figured that the next time I slept, I'd meet the hellish pixie again and that would be that.

"Yeah, you know, you're my best friend. I just wanted you to know that you, you'd always have a place with us."

With the guild, with Boomer, and Olivia, Orlov, Pat, Tim, Ditz, Ada, Lux, … and Axe. My friends, my companions, my… family. I owed them all more than I'd ever repay, between taking me in, giving me guidance, caring for me when I had no one and nowhere to go. The great times were great and the worst times were better with them around. That's why I felt so conflicted, they were all good people, great heroes, amazing beings. And I've been lying to them for months. 'Stay with them? How could I?" They called me 'Chosen One', I called myself 'Craven Fool'.

Axe continued since I was silent for a time, "I mean, Frack man, everyone would welcome you to stay with open arms! We'd go exploring again, helping the helpless, being heroes!" He spread his arms out wide and beamed. Axe loved being in a rescue guild, he loved saving the day, he wasn't one to walk away from a Pokemon in need. He looked so … cool, I almost wanted to believe him, that just by wanting something strong enough meant it would happen. If that was the case though, I'd be home already. 'Tell him, tell him you're going home.' my conscience demanded. Again, I ignored it. I lied.

"I, I think I'd like that. If, for some reason, I had to stay here, it would be nice to stay with the guild." I couldn't look him in the eye, my chest felt empty enough to swallow me whole. Like it did every time I lied to him. I thought I'd be okay with the deceptions by now, but they still wracked my conscience.

"Hey, man. Cheer up! We haven't even started looking and you're- oww. What the Frack?" I looked at him and he was rubbing his head while looking up.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Something fell on my head." He responded.

"What?" I said as I looked up. I had to sit on my haunches to higher and what I saw floored me. One by one, tiny buds sprouted on the branches of the Sakura Tree and one by one they were blooming. I watched as they instantly germinated into seeds and dropped down on the two of us. At first it was every few seconds, then two a second. They plinked on and off the soil around us like hail, a couple bounced off my back. I was amazed, the leaves burst into colors, stunning pinks dazzled my eyes. The tree went from weathered and barren to full of bloom in a minute.

“Legends above…” I praised.

“Damn, that was awesome. I mean, the breeze returning was one thing, but that… damn.” I watched him bend down to scoop up a seed off the ground. He gave it a whiff, before pulling away from it.

“Whooff, that’s one ripe blast seed.” He said. I leaned down to sniff one on the ground. The sharp piercing scent of sulfur rammed into my nostrils. I had to snort to clear it out.

“That’s the most foul blast seed I have ever smelled.” I agreed.

“Yeah, hey! You know what?! I bet these are a lot more powerful than normal!” His face glowed right up.

“You think?”

“Yeah, I bet whatever Palkia and Dialga are doing right now to fix the world supercharged these seeds.” He bent down to snatch up as many as he could and shoveled the loose seeds into his pouch that matched the one I wore.

“I suppose that is possible.” I agreed.

“Heehee, and if they are ultra powerful, I’ll bet Kecleon will buy them for a fortune!!” I rolled my eyes at him. Always something up his sleeve, always trying to find a way to deal more damage, he’d win a contest for finding creative ways to up his attack power if such a thing existed. “You better hurry, or I’m going to take them all” He teased while scooping another handful into his nearly full pouch.

“You know I don’t like seeds. They taste revolting when you bite into them, I can’t taste right for hours after I use one.”

“Then just throw them, you dummy.” He countered.

“With what hands?” I said as I shook a hoof at him. He never seemed to understand the fundamental differences in our anatomy that made certain tasks challenging for me. Of course, there were differences that worked in my favor. My tough exterior made an excellent shield and my claws could rend through any terrain with ease. Trade-offs I suppose. He just shook his head at me. 

“Just take a couple. You never know when you’ll need them.” I sighed and relented. Using the little dexterity that I could with my claws that weren’t chipped or broken from our gauntlet earlier today, I scooped half a dozen into my pouch which was already half full with gifts from Pokemon.

“Satisfied?” I asked after I swung the bag around my head and shoulder. He nodded twice with the goofiest smile on his face. I would never say it to his face, but I loved that smile. It had the power to ease my worries, to reassure me that it was going to be alright, to give me the strength I needed to push ahead. To go into danger knowing I wasn’t alone. ‘Tell him, tell him, tell him!!’ my conscience screamed. This time, I didn’t disobey.

“Hey, Axe. There’s something you need to know.” I started, knowing that if I faltered even a little I wouldn’t start again.

“What’s up, man?” He sat in front of me.

“Well, the truth is I’m-”

“Guys! Guys!” Pat leaped in between us out of nowhere, bouncing up and down.

“Not now, brat. We’re talking.” Axe scolded the hyperactive Patrat. Pat turned to stick his tongue at my partner before spinning to look at me.

“Ron! Ron! There’s a shooting star” he said excitedly pointing up into the sky.

“Big whoop! We see shooting stars all the- what the Frack!?” he said as he jumped to his feet. I turned to look at where Pat and Axe were looking and saw the most amazing streak of light, bursting into a trail across the sky in the middling distance. The orangish tone of sunset sky was its backdrop. But the issue wasn’t that it was beautiful, the issue was that it seemed to be plummeting right toward Tie Town.

I quickly rose to my feet, “Get behind me!!”