Daniel gave them a rundown of the competitive scene in the future during the next hours. Aura being so prevalent it was a soft requirement for the Championships. Nobody under a certain level was able to last against the very best. The ‘format’ is divided into singles, duos, and the Origin games. The first 2 are self-explanatory and being champion in both is a requirement for an invitation to the World Series. The Origin games were a bit trickier.

“So, when the world united under the World League, the games were made as a commemoration. They compete in everything except battle prowess. Speed, strength, stamina, reflexes, even some sports. It turned out to be very lucrative and they kept them alive, always switching to another region every 4 years or so.”

He debated with himself a lot about revealing the future major catastrophes, but he was sure that after saving Opelucid a lot of things would change anyway. He talked in length about the major teams that would rise in their lifetime. Also touched upon the Unification wars and the Great Incursions. Those were a can of worms he hoped he wouldn’t need to live through.

When their curiosity was satisfied, and their meeting safely backed up for future use, they let him leave. His living arrangements would be taken care of by the Joy clan, and he would receive a stipend until he got a real job. Since they were using Pokedollars instead of Pokecredits, he was unsure if it was a lot. Iris insisted it was enough for a team of 10 to live comfortably. He would take her word for it.

Dawn was breaking outside. The air was fresh, carrying a mild scent of wilderness. Over the horizon, he could see the silhouettes of cities, along with several flying dots over what he assumed to be Opelucid city. With a small shake of his head, he went down the stairs. The pillars outside were reminiscent of early Kalosian and Sinnohan architecture, but he would not voice those comments, especially in this period. Who knew if the inter-regional discord was still rampant?

“Hello, Mr. Daniel?” A voice broke him from his musings.

A young woman stood a couple of steps behind the hero’s statue. Her attire betrayed her as a nurse Joy: puffy pink dress, white gown, ribbon around her waist, and a nurse cap atop her equally pink hair. An Audino trailed behind with an ever-present smile on their face. Both bowed at the same time.

“My name is Sarah Joy. Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.” Daniel bowed back. He felt a nudge in his aura coming from Lily, asking to be let out. “Eh… My Audino would like to meet yours, is that ok?”

The girl blinked a couple of times in surprise, but nodded with a smile, nonetheless. “Sure!”

With a quirk on his lips, he took her Pokeball and left her out. Lily was at least half a head taller, as well as bulkier than her Audino. Both looked at each other curiously and spoke between them. After some exchanges, Lily ended up pinching the other’s cheek with a smile.

“Forgive me, Lily is a bit…” He chuckled as she began to pokespeak to the other Audino. “Motherly with younger ones.”

“I can see that,” Sarah answered with a smile before composing herself with a soft cough. “The Joy clan formerly invites you to reside in our compound in Lacunosa town.”

“Lacunosa…”

He had some memories from his great-grandmother’s hometown. She knew from her stories that it had a legend about a giant meteor and a terrifying monster. That’s why it had a great wall. From the photos he saw at the Joy mansion, it was a beautiful city. At least before the Great Incursions destroyed it.

“Yes, I think that would be lovely.”

“Then please, follow me.”

***

Riding the “battle subway” was an experience. Over the years, they replaced the system with newer models, confining the previous ones to museums. Unova even connected the ‘Super Express Line’ to Orre. Their main draw was still the train battles, but he wanted his team to rest more, so they chose one of the ‘civilian’ carts.

Their Audinos were chatting away like old friends, exchanging tips and tricks of their trades. Or at least, that seemed to be the case to Daniel. Sometimes Celia would look completely shocked at something Lily would do or tell her, making him chuckle a bit. He glanced at the only other passenger inside the train, who also watched their exchange with an amused smile.

“How’s the circuit going?” He tried to break the ice a little.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“It’s crowded.” She answered wryly. “Especially with the conference

in a couple of months.”

“Yeah.” He nodded with understanding. “Mom usually had to run from place to place by the end of the season. I imagine it’s hectic.”

“Yes?” She looked at him with interest. “Does your mother also work in a Pokemon center?”

“Well, yes. But it’s a bit complicated,” he tried to leave it at that. Explaining the ‘center’ on the League satellite without sounding insane would be difficult.

“Oh, but Is she Unovan?”

“Born and raised, yes.”

“But I’ve-”

“Complicated.” He lifted his palm to interrupt.

“…Okay.” She narrowed her eyes but didn’t pursue that further. “Is your Audino also…complicated?”

“Yes.” He shrugged helplessly. “Well, she was a gift from my grandmother. Been with me for almost 30 years now.”

“30?” Her expression filled with shock. “I thought she was way younger than that. She looks very well-maintained. Her skin looks healthy, her fur is pristine… Her tail is even fluffier than Celia’s!”

“Lily is special. What can I say?” His smile grew while Lily preened at her compliments.

The next 10 minutes were a bit warmer, as they discussed some tricks about taking care of Audinos, some mischief that Lily got into back in the day, and some horror stories about patients. She reminded him of Aunt Amanda a lot. Her mannerisms and tone of voice felt uncannily familiar, so much so he had to use aura to suppress a shudder when he made the connection.

[Next station at Lacunosa Town.]

After hearing the intercom, both raised from their seats and walked to the exit, Pokemon in tow. The air felt different from what he remembered, colder and dryer. He had visited New Lacunosa sometimes to visit family, but the feeling he got was completely different. Going upstairs he couldn’t help but shiver a little. Sarah seemed prepared, already wearing a white knitted scarf. He had to fight his instinct to order R2 to make his suit adapt, but that would draw attention.

On top of the stairs, he could finally lay eyes on the town properly. The photos didn’t give justice to the ocean of white stone that greeted him. White covered the overhead walkways, houses, and even the streets. He could spot some blue breaking through it, but the gentle snow that was falling made it difficult. Over the Horizon, a white wall rose, separating Lacunosa from the ‘Great Chasm.’ Kyurem’s first home.

The silver Pokeball vibrated inside his bracer, but only just. The protective measures prevented the Legendary from freeing itself.

“Mr. Daniel?”

Sarah asked, already several meters in front of him. He snapped out of his stupor and joined her quickly.

The Joy compound was little more than a gated community. The houses inside shared the same style as those outside but with an added flair of pink. He spotted several Growlithes and a couple of Arcanine patrolling accompanied by their trainers. After double-checking that they were expected inside, they waved them in with a friendly smile and small bow.

The inside was what he mostly expected, rows of almost identical houses. All of them were at least 3 stories high, with a carefully trimmed front garden, and painted in cream colors. People watched them curiously as they walked, but nobody spared them a second glance. Most of them had pink hair as well, so it wasn’t hard to guess their ancestry.

The Pokemon, on the other hand, were much more diverse. There was a clear majority of Audinos on and about, but there were also Chimecos, Jigglypuffs, Some Ariados, and even a Chikorita running behind a pink-haired boy.

“Feels like visiting grandma, just without my cousins trying to challenge me.” Daniel chuckled, feeling a sting in his chest as the memory came and went.

“And we arrived.” Sarah stopped in front of a townhouse just like the other ones. A pink 3-story house, curtains covering the windows, and a small mat on the front door with an Audino pattern. Lily kneeled in front of it to appreciate it and scratch it. Sarah chuckled at her antics and handed him a pair of keys.

“Thank you… and sorry for the inconvenience.” Daniel accepted them with a wry smile.

“Do not concern yourself with that, we’re all family here.” She answered with a smile and bowed. “I’ll be seeing you later then. Can’t bear the thought of separating Celia from her new friend.”

They glanced at the Audinos, who were also saying goodbyes with a hug. Celia sniffed a bit and ran behind her trainer.

“Yes, see you later.” He smiled and waved goodbye one last time before the girls left him.

With a click, the front door opened. The house was rustic, just like his great-grandmother’s. Although it was a bit disingenuous from him, with his ‘futuristic sensibilities.’ He took off his jacket and put it on a coat hanger by the entrance. Unbuttoned his suit and put his beret on top of the hanger. The decoration was a bit sparse. Just paintings of rolling hills, vases with pink motifs, and pastel colors on the couches.

“It’s pretty big.”

They designed it specifically for families with big Pokemon. Tall, marble ceilings on top. Tiles imitating wood on the floors It was quite beautiful… but it also showed they were in a hurry to get everything ready. Still, the thought was what counted, like Auntie Lys used to say.

“It’s just not home.”

His strength drained as his body stopped being able to bear it. He collapsed to the floor, feeling everything catch up to him at once. His vision clouded as his mind processed everything that went wrong in the last 24 hours. Anarchy’s attack, his brother and friends’ deaths, being ripped out from his world and shoved into another. The thought that his actions might have prevented the future from happening…

“Deploy.” He weakly called out. Feeling his team’s concern through his aura.

All 6 Pokemon quickly surrounded him, with Mothra in front of him. He wrapped his hands around his Volcarona and buried his face in her fur. The rest of his team, including R2 and Donald, snuggled him. He ignored any of the crashing noises that the bigger ones made after being released, or that the hallway was not the ideal place to crash out. It didn’t matter. Muffled sobs followed as they all wept for their lost home and the family they lost.