While the trainers waited for their Pokemon to get to know each other, they had lunch. It was leaning a lot on meats and fish, much to Rodan’s delight. Thankfully, there were enough nuts and berries for Elizabeth and Lily. Seeing them all happily eat their food warmed Daniel’s heart even if they acted on edge.

They spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and doing light exercises. Rodan took on babysitting duty with Donald and R2, where they cared for the young dragons and raced against them. Lily was taking a nap, laying her head on Mothra’s fur. The Volcarona didn’t look thrilled about the arrangement, but some coaxing and treats were enough to convince her. Gamera took a dip in the river, napping away and ignoring the curious Horseas.

However, he noticed Elizabeth sometimes missed her steps while dancing since she no longer had Theresa and Michael to sing for her. Rodan had a harder time keeping up with the young dragons than Shen Long, their father. Casper would sometimes move around in sleep as if looking for a familiar cold presence.

“I need to get them a therapist.”

The man sighed and scratched his beard.

“Everything ok?”

Drayden’s voice broke him from his musings. “Maybe I need one too.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He shook his head and ate another piece of bacon. “Just… thinking about stuff.”

“I know that look.” His tone was softer and his posture more relaxed. “I won’t pry, but there are people you can speak to that can help you out. Aurea did a lot for me when I lost one of my first Pokemon.” He snorted. “I think she’ll help you too if you let her examine your team. She was over the moon when she wrote the report on them.”

“I’ll think about it.” He answered absentmindedly and took another bite.

More likely, he’ll take the offer. Still, he needed to sit down and make the offer to his team. Privately. That’s not something he wanted to do in front of another trainer.

To distract himself from the unpleasant feelings, he convinced Drayden to train the aura. Elizabeth, being the only free one, helped him. They sat cross-legged further away from the main group facing each other. Within seconds, both entered a trance, sending and receiving their aura between each other.

Due to their opposite nature, Fighting and Fairy, some popping sounds rang now and then. But after so many years, they tuned them out to deepen the connection.

They had a harder time at the beginning when he was just 17 and out for his second circuit. Their mismatching auras would prevent them from fully forming a link for a long time. It took them a life-or-death encounter to be able to synchronize properly and sense each other’s thoughts. His lips quirked to a smile when he remembered how relieved he was.

A mental nudge snapped his concentration back. Elizabeth was looking at him directly with narrowed eyes. She sent him feelings of discipline and focus on their connection. Daniel chuckled and closed his eyes.

“Sorry for that, Lizzie.”

She sent him the mental equivalent of a sigh and sent her energy to him. A mixture of greens and oranges, just like autumn. The outside world melted away as it touched him, immersing him in its sensation.

It felt like calm, like a meadow inside a forest. The warmth of the sun on his skin and faraway birds chirping. Flowers in full bloom around him and feeling one with nature. Yet there was an undercurrent of conflict. Of trees competing for the best spot in the sun. Grasses choking each other out for nutrients. Animals and insects alike fighting for their survival.

He accepted it all. Even when some aspects clashed with him, he didn’t turn them away. Daniel found beauty in them all. Through their bond, he sent back acceptance, contentment, and a willingness to help her grow as tall and strong as a tree. His aura was a bright pink, cheerful and mischievous.

Their auras mingled, feeding and enriching each other. Sun setting on the glade to give way to the moon. Night giving way to rest, recovery, and stories about the dangers of being alone in the dark. Roses hiding the thorns beneath them. Deception as a means of survival. Likewise, it lightly clashed against the other Pokemon’s core beliefs, but she accepted them all.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

When he opened his eyes, he noticed Drayden was watching them like a Watchog.

“Is it that simple?”

“I told you it would be simple, just takes time.”

She nodded and went to practice her dancing. Her trainer just smirked and addressed Drayden.

“It’s simple, and not at the same time. You need to commune; both contribute to the energy.” He made circling gestures. “It must be precise. Always the same amount on each side. And accept that not every one of your team members will have the same compatibility. Some will love things you don’t, or you’ll like things they don’t. But that’s ok, the most important thing is always trust.”

“Hmmm…” The man nodded.

“Over time, it gets easier and easier until you can do some tricks.”

[Like this]

Drayden flinched when he suddenly heard Daniel’s voice inside his head. The time traveler laughed and slapped his knees. “Never gets old!”

“So.” Drayden continued, not too bothered by the ‘prank.’ “For how long you did do this until you could talk to them?”

“To do it correctly? 2 or 3 months for each of my 16 Pokemon.” He shrugged. “To do it in battle. Pfff, that took years with some of them. You already have aura, so it shouldn’t take that long.”

Both watched their teams unwind from the fight in their little ways. Although they didn’t seem to interact with one another. Except for Altaria, who was racing Rodan and the small ones.

Before long, Casper and Salamence joined them. The latter looked even more exhausted than before. The Dragapult descended in front of Daniel with a grin. Yet, her aura was telling him another story. He kicked himself for not noticing it before.

“We’re not replacing them, ok?” Daniel hugged her, sending feelings of love and acceptance through his aura. “This is just a new chapter in our lives… They’ll always be in my heart, and I know they’ll always be in yours.”

The Dragapult let out a small cry and coiled her ghostly tail around him. His joints cried in protest, but he didn’t fight her grasp. Her aura began to waver as he patted her back. Gone was the prideful dragon that humiliated Drayden. In her place, a grieving widow remained.

Feelings of loneliness, darkness, and loss hit him like a hyperbeam as she fired her ghostly terrain. It amplified his dark emotions, gripping his heart and trying to tear it to pieces. He felt cold, alone, surrounded by those left behind. Fog enveloped him, and voices whispering around him. Some cursed him, some asked him to join, and others laughed at his misfortune.

Daniel tried his best to cut through it with his aura. He sent feelings of reassurance and love as best as he could, only to get lost in the surrounding darkness. His spine popped as the force of her grip steadily increased. It was getting harder and harder to breathe as her embrace hardened.

He gave up on sending positive emotions. As a last resort, Daniel sent what he truly felt. How the situation was affecting him and how the grief gnawed at him. Memories of his parents, his brother, and their home in the future. Thoughts about their first championship win surfaced, and eventual ascension as Unovan champions.

It took her a moment, but Casper answered back with memories about their first major battle together, their inexperience, and their clashing personalities. Images of her first clutch resurfaced. How nervous she was and the reassurances of her lovable idiot. The warmth of seeing her children grow and become powerhouses.

As minutes ticked away, Daniel and Casper’s aura mingled. Moonlight shone through the fog. Voices melted away and the chill turned comfortable.

“It’s ok, girl.” He whispered to her, petting her pristine scales. “You’re not alone.”

The Dragapult relaxed, reigning in her aura back to herself. When sunlight shone again around him, he noted that his team was surrounding them. All with worried expressions and were affected by Casper’s outburst. He sent them an ‘everything’s okay’ through his aura and they relaxed.

“Now, Gamera, give her a shower, this lady smells weird.” Daniel lightly slapped her away.

She looked back at him indignantly but still untangled herself without protesting. Gamera shot a low-powered Water gun at her with a smirk. Her children climbed back to her horn, ready to be shot towards the smug Lapras.

“Sorry for the… That.” Daniel finally addressed Drayden, a wry smile on his face.

“It’s fine.” He dismissed. “I had to deal with that in the past. I understand.”

He looked up, melancholy in his eyes. Daniel didn’t want to pry; the man had shown him that courtesy and he would return the favor.

After sharing some tips about meditation and aura sensing, Daniel left for his home. It was already late afternoon, but nobody was waiting for him. Instead of the train, he took to the skies on top of Rodan.

Everything felt so alien to him. So different. The quality of the air, the gentle chill of the night, the light of skyscrapers in the distance…

[Are you feeling ok, master?]

Rodan’s voice rang inside his head. Feelings of worry came with it.

“Yes, just.” He fully laid down on the saddle, head touching his plumage. “You know how it is.”

[I do, master.]

[YOU HAVE (2) UNREAD MESSAGES FROM: ROSE JOY.]

R2’s reminder buzzed in his left ear, reminding him he needed a replacement for his right one. R2 dutifully projected a screen in front of him.

They were pleasantries and a list of names and children’s photos. Confusion washed over him momentarily before he remembered his new job.

“R2, remind me when we get home. For now, let’s just take the scenic route.”

[Understood, master.]

[UNDERSTOOD.]

Still, there was no hurry to answer or to get back home. He would enjoy his well-earned rest.