When I got back to the cave Ivy wasn’t there. I flopped onto my sleeping bag and sighed, I was actually kind of glad that Ivy had mentioned going back.

Despite the journey giving me ample experience spending so long out in the wilds, I did kind of want to go sleep in my own bed for a while.

Tomorrow, I told myself. Ivy had already mentioned she was ready, unless she changed her mind after today. Tomorrow night I would sleep at home.

Since Ivy wasn’t here, and our trip was ending, I decided to go all out.

“Come out! Everyone!” I called, releasing everyone except the Goomy.

Gible blinked as she appeared next to Chansey, Jangmo-o looked around at all of my friends, Mimikyu quickly jumped onto my shoulder and rubbed against my cheek.

And I just smiled as my team relaxed.

Even Gyarados was released, although for him he had to be released outside the cave, so once again the entrance was covered by his face as he rested just outside.

“Everyone! Meet our new friends!” I called out and everyone looked at the new smaller pokemon.

I spent a few minutes introducing everyone. Making sure to bring everyone over to Gyarados for a hello as well.

Gyarados seemed unbothered by my new friends, which was good. And I made sure to spend a few minutes just hanging out with my Blue Heart.

Unfortunately, this cave had been too small, and he wasn’t a good pokemon to use while trying to capture new friends. So he had been rather left out for this adventure.

Once everyone was settled around the cave. I started cooking.

I hummed, as I got to spend some time getting to know my new friends.

Jangmo-o, for instance, liked bitter stuff. He didn’t have much interest in spicy food, but also would eat it despite his dislike as I offered him spicy berries and he chomped down and acted brave at the heat.

It was when I offered him a Chesto berry to see how he reacted to everything, that he gagged and looked horrified.

So he didn’t like Dry berries.

“I promise you won’t have to eat another one.” I calmed him with a sliced Rawst and the bitter flavor calmed him down.

I laughed when Gible got distracted staring at the fire zoning out until she was startled by Milotic as he wiggled around. Her instinctual reaction to clamp down wasn’t something I should laugh at, but it was really funny.

Milotics squeal of surprise was very girlish, and Dragonite quickly popped the bitey ball off his tail and handed her to me with a look, before pulling Milotic close and fussing over the teeth marks in his tail.

He was fine of course, but he was playing into it. Whining and laying over Dragonite as if he was a war hero. I just kept laughing as I held the very confused Dragon. I’m pretty sure Gible didn’t even know she had bit him. Hanging out in my arms, only to open her mouth and drool whenever I carried her near the food that I was preparing.

It was… Nice. All of my pokemon hanging around getting to know each other.

Riolu was sitting near Arcanine who was chattering with her. The two’s puppy yips were super adorable.

If only I had a Goomy to add to the atmosphere…

I shook that off and focused on finishing dinner, a big final meal in Kitakami before we left in the morning.

Gyarados shifted, the sound of his bulk scratching dirt and rock had me looking at the cave entrance, and I smiled as Ivy walked in followed by Lucario.

Both of them looked around in surprise at all the pokemon.

“Come on in! I’m working on dinner!” I called out and Ivy smiled brightly as she hurried in.

“Great, I'm starving! Lucario was very nice to take me to where I could find the Petilil, but her understanding of how easy it is for a human to hike up a mountain.” She complained and flopped onto her wooden stump with a sigh.

Lucario just huffed a laugh as she settled in next to Riolu who quickly threw a hug around her mothers waist.

I warmed at the sight, smiling happily as everyone was relaxing and happy.

“So you found one?”

“I did. Petilil are so cute Vicky! I found a nice little girl that wants to see the world!” She said while holding a pokeball in her hands.

“Well why not release everyone… Well maybe slowly, so we don’t have any surprises.” I said waving Gible around a bit hinting that she was the one I was worried about without actually saying it.

Ivy nodded. And a moment later after a few whispered words to her pokeball, a Petilil appeared in Ivy’s lap.

“Pet? Pet!?” She asked, looking around before nearly yelping at the sight of all the pokemon around her.

“It’s okay Petilil. This is my friend Vicky, and these are all her friends. We are all friends here.” She assured her little grass type, and I just smiled and waved at her before sticking a spoon in the curry and giving it a taste. Just about done.

“Gib?”

I looked down and smiled and tilted a second spoonful into my hungry sharks mouth, Gible chomped at it, once it hit her tongue and then tried chewing a bit as she swallowed. Her chewing was more to force it into her throat than to actually chew her food.

I would have to be careful not to feed her anything she couldn’t swallow whole.

“Did you like that?” I asked, but that was a silly question, because Gible didn’t care what it tasted like as long as she could eat it.

I giggled, plopping the spoon into the pot and rubbing Gibles belly earning a breathy sigh from my little dragon.

I looked around and everyone was having a good time, relaxing and enjoying eachothers company.

Yeah. This felt right.

“Dinner time!” I called out and laughed at the chaos.

—--

The next morning I woke up super early to my alarm. Stretching and groaning as if I was twenty years older as I shut off the poketch and rose up. It was still dark in the cave as I fumbled around a bit.

“Vicky?” Ivy asked blearily from inside her tent but I just waved her off.

“It’s okay Ivy go back to sleep.” I whispered as I finished zipping up my wetsuit.

“What are you doing? I thought we were leaving today?”

“We are. I just have one last thing I need to do, but it’s a private thing. Go back to sleep. I’ll be back in a few hours and then we’ll head out.” I spoke softly as I kneeled over near her tent. “Just get some extra sleep.”

She blinked at me before sighing and shrugging. “Kay.” Then she closed her tent back up and I could hear her flopping back into her pillow.

I rose up and headed out. The sun was just starting to rise and the barest sliver of light could be seen over the mountain tops to the east and the morning air was bitterly cold.

“Gyarados!” I called out and my big blue heart appeared and stretched before looking down at me. “Let’s go for a flight!” I told him, and I could see his eyes widen in happiness as he wiggled at me. A moment later I was climbing up onto his horns, and then he started his dance.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

He still needed a Dragon Dance boost to get into the air. But I hoped with a bit more than a month before the League, the training would let him fly without any more boosts. It would be all the more dramatic!

Finally he finished dancing and a whoop of delight escaped me, Gyarados pointed his face to the sky and claimed his destiny!

We soared upwards, past the trees, and roosted pokemon, until finally we were into the sky and Gyarados made me giggle at his flight. It was more like swimming in the air than actual flying. He curved his body and flowed up and down to generate the lift. And quickly we rose.

“We have some time! Why don’t you take us around the mountain!” I called out and Gyarados roared out in pleasure, and did just that. Drawing us closer to the mountain and then flying up in a long spiral.

I don’t know if I would ever come back to Kitakami. I think I would someday, if just for Gible, but it might be a long time. So I wanted to take one last look at it.

This place was beautiful for all its natural wonder. So little human impact on this place. It was a land of monsters.

I looked towards the mountains and saw Pokemon hurrying away from the flying Gyarados swimming through their territory. Nothing poked its head out once it caught sight of my Blue Heart.

We swam slowly upwards along the north side of the mountain, hitting the west, and basically turning the world back into nighttime as the great mountain blocked the light on the west side.

We flew past the Garchomp and her nest. Although I didn’t see any of them active. Probably still snoozing away.

By the time we hit the southern section of the mountain again, the sun was rising, and we curved around into the bright light of the sun claiming it’s ownership of everything it’s light touched.

“How pretty.” I whispered, and even reached into my bag as I remembered and grabbed my camera. A quick picture, making sure to get Gyarados’s horn in the frame just because I thought it was funnier that way, and then I put that away.

We flew over the apple orchards of Mossui town. Far below us now, and I had no idea if anyone saw us. But I didn’t care!

This was freedom! This was adventure!

This was happiness.

I reached down and scratched behind my good boy's crest earning a rumbling purr as we continued up.

For a moment I was at the right angle to see the mountain in all its dread glory. The rock arched to look like a skull, and it made me wonder about the mountain's most infamous resident.

Ogerpon.

Should I have gone looking for her? I hesitated, mostly because I wasn’t sure if I should. If the ‘loyal’ three woke up, would Mossui be okay without her? Would she even want to leave without her masks?

I didn’t know. I looked as I flew around the mountain but I didn’t see any splashes of green that could be her.

Then we were up and over and Gyarados flowed almost straight upwards as he reached the top of the mountain and for a moment it was like he was flying over the dragon gate again. Soaring in the sky.

Then he leveled out and simply flew in a circle above it all The very summit of the mountain below him, as he circled it, for a short time the world belonged to him.

“That was amazing!” I told him scratching him once again and he wiggled in delight as he flew.

“Okay! Let’s set down there!” I called out and we flowed down towards the top of the mountain. Towards the large pool there, and the crystals growing from it.

None of that interested me though.

We landed with a crunch of rock as Gyarados settled and I hopped off stretching from the flight.

“Okay! First we need our ambassador!” I called out as I threw Milotics pokeball. He released with a trill and stretched himself as if he was waking up before he floated over to me and gave me a cheek rub and even greeted Gyarados happily who wiggled at him.

Everyone was good friends!

“Okay! Milotic. We are looking for any other Milotic, or Feebas! I have some of your Prism Scales, so let’s make some new friends for the Stable!”

“Mii!” He agreed, and I did have to return Gyarados as there wasn’t enough room in the water for him.

But he looked very zen with our flight up the mountain, his mouth closed and eyes narrowed in pleasure as he disappeared into red light.

I jumped into the water, and Milotic dived in around me, spinning the water and making everything bubbles for a minute making me giggle around my rebreather.

Then we were off. Grabbing onto a fin we went exploring. The actual caldera lake itself didn’t have any Feebas or Milotic, but there were tunnels down deeper into the mountain that we swam down.

The first one was a bit weird because it eventually flowed back upwards and there was an air pocket that we had to walk through the tunnel before it dropped back down into a cave with another lake as the runoff.

We leapt together giggling the whole while as we splashed into the water.

Milotic instantly reacted as we settled and spun around me.

He lashed out and I looked over to laugh as I saw what had happened. Some Arrokuda had launched at us, only to get Iron Tailed.

That earned us some space, and the pokemon flowed away.

But Milotic and I were on a mission! So we went hunting.

The first lake didn’t have any Feebas, so we moved on, going through a river that connected to a small waterfall and then we landed in that cave.

There instantly I spotted our target.

A Feebas.

Then as we approached I noticed another!

I smiled widely as we swam over. New friends!

—---

Arcanine landed us outside the cave with a roar of greeting. I just gave out a groan, all that flying, swimming, and then riding made me stiff, and I was gonna be stuck on Dragonite soon as well.

But it was fine. I slipped off and stretched. Then I pet Arcanine because she was very warm, and it was a cool morning with all the swimming I had done.

“Vicky?”

“Yeah! I’m back!” I called out and kissed Arcanine on her snoot earning me a lick across my own nose in turn which had me sputtering before Arcanine huffed out a doggy giggle.

“Yeah, yeah laugh it up.” I grumbled at her as I headed inside.

The camp was all picked up. Only the fire pit now cleaned of ashes and our stumps to sit on showing anyone had been here.

“It’s almost sad to see the cave without our stuff in it.” I commented and Ivy just sent me a flat look.

“Vicky, it's a cave. Let’s go.” I laughed at that, because what else could I say as I nodded.

I quickly grabbed my bag and started throwing on some warm clothes on top of my wet suit.

I mean, Arcanine had already given me a full dry off, but wet suit and warm clothes should keep me toasty on our flight.

“You got your jacket and stuff.”

“Of course! I’m not stupid.” Ivy countered petulantly, but I just nodded. As she quickly went into her bag to grab her jacket.

“In that case… I guess it’s time to say goodbye to Kitakami.” I said and Ivy went quiet before nodding as she grabbed her bag.

“Yeah.” She offered and hurried towards the entrance. Obviously ready to leave.

Yesterday I had been too, but despite the fact I had been a bit homesick… I kinda liked our little cave. It was a nice little place to explore the area from.

“Until next time.” I bid farewell to the little cave and turned away. Dragonite popped out a moment later and she pumped her arms.

“Pree! Drag, Drago!” She cheered and I laughed at how eager she was to go for a new flight.

“Alright Dragonite. Let’s go home!”

“Yeah!” Ivy cheered and we both giggled as we climbed onto Dragonites back.

But I was ready for the cold this time!

—--

Once again nothing came close to touching us as we blasted straight home. In fact I think Dragonite was moving even faster this time. Since she knew where to go, there was no need to limit her speed to match my directions. She seemed to know exactly where home was, and made no attempt to hide how eager she was to get there.

A few hours later I pointed out to Ivy and she smiled as we flew over what was undoubtedly, Mt. Moon.

With that, I could follow along with my eyes the road from Pewter that leads through Viridian Forest, and then home.

Viridian City.

“Preee!” Dragonite cheered as she saw the berry orchards and then we were there, waves of wind coming off her, ruffling the grass outside the house and then with a pomf noise we landed.

“Home!” I cheered in delight and instantly the noise responded back.

Growlithe barks came from inside the house and the orchard. Milotic trilling greeted us from the stream and then I heard the noise of the front door opening and Mama came blitzing out of the house.

“VIcky!”

“Mama!” I cheered back jumping off Dragonite and then getting swept up in Mama’s warm hug.

“Thank goodness!” Mama whispered back and I giggled at her hug. “Really not being able to get an update from you girls had us so worried. Ivy, it’s good to see you!”

“Ah. Thanks Mrs. Ferrous.”

“It’s just Aunty Haruka, Ivy. Come! Come in. I’ll call your parents! They’ve been eager to hear any update about you girls! Also we have to call the League.” Mama grumbled out but I didn’t care because home!

I turned to Dragonite who nodded. She looked a little tired after the flight, so I returned her. Normally I would let everyone out. But I might need my friends to kick some league agent in the face to get my friends.

I laughed in delight as I felt a cold nose poke right into my hand, and turned to pick up one of the Growlithe that were all eager to greet me. I was swarmed by puppies that were all barking alerts.

“I’m not a stranger you goobs!” I yelled out laughing as I was tackled and pinned down by a herd of puppies.

“Alright you lot, let Vicky up.” Mama called out only after a few moments of me getting puppy nibbles in my hair and on my ears.

“Vicky? What happened to your hair?” Mama asked suddenly as I was sitting up and I reached for my pony tail only to feel it end much much shorter than it should…

“UGH.” I groaned as I was reminded of my loss. “It’s horrible! The worst thing that ever happened to me!” I whined and then Ivy the traitor spoke up.

“Her Gible clamped onto her hair and basically swallowed it. I did what I could to neaten it up a little.”

“What? Oh Vicky… What’s a Gible?” Mama went from sympathetic to confused in an instant.

“Cute! Also a bit derpy… Sharp teeth though!” I answered, conveying the important information.

“Small dragon type. Very aggressive, but mostly instinct driven from what I’ve seen. Vicky gets along with her okay.” Ivy added, giving way too much info!

“So you did it? You caught another Dragon?” Mama asked, sounding a bit worried and all I could do was grin widely.

“I don’t like that smile.”

“Vicky has two new Dragon types. Although her second one was much nicer.”

“Three! Goomy are dragons!” I answered back and Ivy looked at me like she didn’t really believe me.

Then I heard it!

“Preeeeeee!”

“Dratini!” I called out happily as my little noodle slithered across the grass, slipping up and over Growlithe that were still making trouble around my feet and then leaping right for me. I quickly wrapped him in a hug and spun him around.

“I missed you soooo much!” I told him as he nuzzled into my cheek, he was a little wet so he must have been swimming.

“Well come on then. Let’s get you girls inside, and warmed up, you both look half frozen.” Mama offered putting warm hands onto my cheek to check and doing the same to Ivy who flushed at the attention.

I followed inside, and Mama settled us both at the kitchen table, as she made her calls she threw the kettle on the oven, to get us both some warm tea.

Blegh!

But Ivy liked tea, so I didn’t complain, plus other than warming my hands on it. Dratini was sneaking sips. As he cuddled up over my shoulders.

Instead, almost anxiously, Mama made her calls, the second one done with a much more formal language, then a call to Gram Gram.

Then once everything was done. Mama settled across from us as she poured us some tea. I grabbed the cups to warm my hands which was nice.

“So… Tell me everything.” Mama demanded, and I smiled as Ivy and I both started at the same time.

“The flight was great.” I started, only to be cut off by Ivy.

“But the Fearow we saw couldn’t catch us so, it was actually really safe, I was worried, but Dragonite is so fast!”

“Fearow?”

“Oh yeah, we saw a few of them as we flew over some random place. They tried to chase us, but that was never an option, we left them in our dust without even paying them any attention. Then we got to Kitakami.”

“The Mountain was so big!” Ivy added.

“Yeah it was huge. So many pokemon there too. Ivy caught like a bunch of Mono Grass types. Cause she is obsessed with Grass typ- Ow!”

“I’m not obsessed! I’m not even a mono trainer!” She hissed at me, and I just raised an eyebrow at her.

“I have three non-grass types!”

“Out of how many?”

“Girls!” Mama cut in, which was good, because Ivy was about to jump me. She might look nice and cute, but she was vicious! “How about you just keep telling me about your trip.”

“Right! So we visited Mossui town first! The people there didn’t really get what we were doing, but they didn’t care if we captured pokemon! So we took advantage of that!” I started into the story as Mama sat enthralled as we each shared bits of the story that maybe we each tried to hide.

So what if I got into a fist fight with a Pokemon!? Don’t tell her that Ivy!