Life had been going pretty smoothly for Gray the past few months, so it wasn’t a surprise when his world went crumbling down after he received a grave text from his estranged older brother.

  Grandpa Sammy fell. It’s not looking good. He’s been asking for you.

  Gray’s vision began tunnelling as he stared at the words. He could read them perfectly fine, but couldn’t comprehend. He stood there, frozen, mind racing at all the possibilities. What if Grandpa collapsed because of a heart attack? What if Grandpa hit his head when he fell? His poor diet must have affected his health leading to a heart attack. Then him falling down and hitting his head against the sharp corner of his gym desk, causing blood to flow freely do –

  “Ouch! What’d you do that for?!”

  “Syl,”

  Gray rubbed his cheek as he glared down at his long-time best friend, trying to blast burn him into ash with eyes alone. Unamused, Sylveon gave him a scathing look in return before threateningly holding up another ribbon.

  “I wasn’t spiralling! And besides, I had a good reason this time. Blue just texted me. Grandpa Sammy had an accident. He wants us to go back.”

  Sylveon startled at that briefly, looking a little lost before hardening into a determined expression. “Syl, syl-veon,”

  Until now, Gray couldn’t help but feel astounded at how Sylveon managed to convey exactly what he meant solely with body language and repeating his species name. It’s been years at this point, but the bond they shared truly transcended any believable realms of reality in his previous life.

  “I know he’s strong. But I can still worry, right? We’ll need to get everyone ready and prepare ourselves. We might need to stay in Kanto for a long time.”

  Sylveon nodded his pink head, ribbon-like feelers dancing in the air betraying his own worry. It’s been nine years since they went back home, and they didn’t exactly leave on the best note. His starter, having been with Gray the longest, knew that they wouldn’t be going back if it wasn’t for Grandpa Sammy. Professor Samuel Oak and Gray’s sibling could rot in the distortion world for all they cared. But Grandpa Sammy was different. They wouldn’t be rest assured until they saw he was alright with their own eyes.

  Pokemon and trainer resumed walking, pace quickening just the tiniest bit as they made their way back to their house.

  Lumiose City was beautiful in the twilight. Street lights began to flicker on while the sun set in the backdrop, people and pokemon making their way home. Gray could see flocks of Pidgeys and Fletchling soaring overhead looking to go back to their own trees to roost. An older lady strutted down the pavement with an expertly groomed Furfrou keeping pace. Their noses were so high in the air it made both him and Sylveon snicker. An older couple were seated side by side in a cafe, hands firmly clasped, face drawn close as both gentlemen conversed intimately. They were getting on in years, but they seemed perfectly content in one another’s presence.

  Gray couldn’t help but think that he would miss this. This energy and acceptance. Lumiose City was a city known for its passion; passions in battling, fashion, love and pokemon. It was unlike any other city Gray had journeyed through, which was a major reason why he decided to stay and build roots here.

  He couldn’t imagine finding as much joy in Pallet Town as he did in Lumiose. While he had made his own chosen families with every region he visited, he remained wistful for his younger years before things fell apart and he found himself in Alola by his lonesome. He made his choice leaving his blood family behind, made an active decision to forge ahead without looking back. But now, with one text, the past came crawling back.

  Sylveon, sensing the sombre mood, pressed himself against his trainer's side. Ribbons wrapped around Gray’s waist eliminated any distance between them while he nuzzled his trainer.

  Gray absentmindedly massaged his starter’s head as they walked. A small smile on his face as he reminded himself of a fundamental fact: he was never alone. He had family right beside him.

  They soon reached home. Gray had barely made a step into the house before he found himself arms full with Mimikyu.

  He could feel ghostly arms encircling his shoulders as the small fairy type buried himself further into his chest. A laugh escaped him then. It never failed to be amusing whenever Mimikyu greeted him back home. A day out for work and Mimikyu behaved like they had been apart for years.

  “Missed you too, buddy,”

  He whispered as Mimikyu shimmied up from his chest to rest against his neck. Gray cradled his little pikachu head, humming in a familiar way Mimikyu adored to reassure the small thing.

  “Azu-Azumarill,”

  Azumarill rolled his eyes at the usual display, arms crossed on his chest as he sneered up at Mimikyu.

  “Aw, getting jealous Azumarill? There’s enough space for you here too, y’know?” Gray teased him, holding another arm open.

  Azumarill gave Gray a considering look before rolling his eyes again. He turned and made his way back to the living room, leaving his trainer behind.

  Gray snorted at the little tsundere’s action. He’d get him back for the disdain later with enough cuddles to last him for a week.

  “Can you gather everyone together? We’ll let everyone know at the same time,” he addressed his starter who remained trailing behind him.

  Sylveon nodded before bounding his way into the house.

  ___

  Gray found himself perched against the large living room sofa, one arm wrapped around Mimikyu while his lap was full of Whimsicott. The little grass type eyed the gathering in front of him, delighted that he had managed to call dibs on his trainer’s lap.

  Sylveon walked into the room, Gardevoir floating behind him. She gave her trainer a small smile, inspiring a grin on Gray’s face. He patted the seat to his right and Sylveon jumped on. A few graceful turns later, making biscuits on his uncontested spot for good measure, Sylveon regally sat down his trainer’s side and addressed the room.

  “Syl,”

  The tone drew surprise around the room. The pokemon sensed the gravitas of the moment as their trainer encouraged both Mimikyu and Whimsicott off his lap to join the rest.

  Gray looked around the room, meeting the eyes of all his pokemon.

  Clefable, Azumarill and Grimmsnarl, the tough boys of the group all had their arms crossed and brows furrowed. They thrived in tense environments and knew that whatever their trainer had to share was important.

  Ninetales, Hatterene and Gardevoir remained serene. Acknowledging the seriousness of the air but not letting it affect them too deeply.

  Altaria remained perched on his branch, above the rest of his pride. The dragon of the group was a testament to his type; graceful neck perched out in alarm and ready to protect when needed. Primarina lay gracefully on the floor beneath him, seemingly unbothered but her eyes were strained.

  Gray’s smaller pokemon were equally tense. Mimikyu, Mawile and Carbink were huddled together and eyeing the rest of the room warily. Gray met their eyes and gave a small smile in reassurance, causing them to relax and nod their heads. Whimsicott floated silently above. He was a prankster, usually playful, but knew when the situation called for seriousness.

  In contrast, Fluttermane was aloof as he stuck his head from underneath his trainer’s shadow. He rarely left his trainer alone, preferring to play silent guard.

  “Grandpa Sammy is unwell in Kanto. We’re gonna have to go back and stay there indefinitely.”

  Gray informed the room succinctly, preferring to address the matter directly without beating around the bulbasaur.

  Altaria, Azumarill and Clefable held in a shocked breath. Having met Grandpa Sammy before, they knew of his importance to Gray and the weight of his words.

  The rest of his pokemon were startled too. While they had never met Grandpa Sammy, they knew of the old man who frequently contacted their trainer. What surprised them more was his latter words. They knew their trainer grew up in Kanto, but in their years together they have never gone back. Not once. Till now.

  “We need to start packing. We leave in three days.”

  Gray waited for his pokemon to acknowledge him with a few cries before getting up from his seat. His team scrambled to action. With the meeting over, they scampered around the house to begin packing.

  Gray left behind a cacophony of sounds as he made his way to his home office. He needed to make all the necessary arrangements with his more human relationships before he could assist his pokemon. It wasn’t easy disrupting his life all of a sudden, but what other choice did he have?

  Booting up his laptop, Gray found himself pondering how to best inform everyone of his new situation. Biting his lip, he decided to just go for it. No need to mince his words. If it worked for his pokemon, it should work for everyone else too right?

  As soon as he clicked send on his email, he got up from his desk with a stretch. Turning his phone silent, he trudged his way into the bathroom for a quick shower. He needed a Calm Mind before facing the storm that he inevitably left in his wake.

  Patting himself dry with his towel, Gray eyed his reflection in the mirror. Brown eyes, a staple of the Oak family with spiky, gravity defying hair. Whilst his brother inherited the burnt orange shade that their grandfather, Samuel Oak had before his aging, Gray’s were a subtle shade of silvery grey. The difference was one of the reasons he was teased growing up, and reincarnated adult or not, it made for a rougher childhood. His solace had been the fact that Grandpa Sammy had the same shade all his life. Whilst grandpa’s own had undoubtedly turned greyer as he aged, it reassured Gray that he wasn’t a stray picked up by the family, that he belonged.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  As he exited the bathroom, Gray wasn’t surprised to find his phone vibrating, stopping briefly only to resume vibrating again not long after. His friends embodied Kalos with their passion. Gray knew it was time to face the kricketune.

  “You called?”

  “What do you mean you’re leaving! Are you sure about this?”

  “I’ve no choice. This is Grandpa Sammy we’re talking about,”

  Silence greeted Gray, and he wasn’t surprised. His friends, no, his Kalosian family, knew of how important Grandpa Sammy was to him.

  “When?

  “Three days later,”

  “Alright. I’ll have to prepare things for you,” Siebold hummed in delight. Before Gray could protest, the water trainer hung up.

  He cursed a little bit at Siebold’s not so subtle retaliation, only Arceus above knows what Siebold would give Gray for a goodbye present.

  ____

  Three days later, Gray and his team felt a strong sense of discomfort as they looked at their empty house. While Gray still owned the place and had full intention of returning someday, it was disconcerting to note that years of their life living in Kalos could easily fit in a few boxes.

  “Mimi…” his little ghost whimpered in the middle of the room, head crackling unnaturally as he turned 360 eerily.

  More than used to Mimikyu’s… ghostlier habits, Gray approached the little guy and hefted him up for a hug.

  “We’ll come back. You’ll enjoy Kanto one way or another, you’ll see,” Gray murmured. At this point, he wasn’t sure if he was reassuring Mimikyu or himself more.

  After returning his team and walking out of the house, Gray approached the pair he would be spending his final day in Kalos with.

  “Oh Gray,” Valerie sighed as she pulled him in for a hug. Gray freed one arm to return the gesture, caressing his friend’s back in comfort.

  “I’ll miss you too Val,”

  The Fairy Gym leader pulled her head out of the embrace, arms remaining firmly locked around the taller man.

  “You believe this is the right choice?” The words were soft, unassuming. But coming from a Fairy, they held deeper meaning.

  “I believe so.” Gray replied silently, maintaining eye contact to communicate his resolve.

  Pupil-less eyes searched his face for wavering conviction. Finding none, Valerie smiled with a teary gaze and gave a small nod.

  “It’s my turn, is it not?” A husky and haughty voice sounded out, disrupting their moment.

  Rolling her eyes, Valerie stepped aside to give Siebold room. The Elite Four trainer had no qualms in invading Gray’s personal space, one hand cupping his jaw and another wrapping around a slim waist to pull the Kantonian closer.

  It had taken Gray an admittedly long time to get used to the more physical culture in Kalos, and much to his embarrassment, it had been a good few months before Gray managed to train the small blush away from gracing his features everytime Siebold greeted him like this.

  A watery chuckle was all Gray could give in return at the familiar gesture. He smiled fondly as the water trainer looked his fill on the face he would no longer be seeing regularly.

  “Thank you for everything,” Gray whispered so delicately that no one but the tall blonde man in front of him could hear.

  “None of that. This is not forever. It will be a while, but I will see you again soon.” Siebold replied fondly as he caressed Gray’s cheeks.

  Gray could only roll his eyes at his friend’s attempts to embarrass him into reddening. It had been a long time since he got used to the touchiness – it would take more than that to get him to react.

  Smirking in return, Siebold finally released Gray in favour of digging through the bag strapped on him. He brought out a paper bag releasing a tantalising aroma that had Gray stiffening.

  “Is that — ?”

  “Baked fresh, just for you of course,”

  Gray hurriedly snatched the bag, grabbed a chocolate muffin from within and took a bite. He moaned in delight as he chewed, the pastry melting in his mouth. Oh Arceus, Siebold’s cooking was legendary, and his sinfully delicious chocolate muffins were Gray’s absolute favourite.

  “None for me?” Valerie tried to make a swipe for the bag, but Gray was quick to withdraw. The muffins were his and his alone. Unlike him, she’d have plenty of chances to sample Siebold’s cooking in the future. Gray had no qualms.

  “The recipe is inside too. You can make them for yourself back in rigid, old Kanto,” Siebold teased.

  Gray almost sacrilegiously dropped his muffin before peaking in the bag. Sure enough, there it was, a piece of paper nestled between goods. The recipe he had been begging off of the water type trainer ever since they met three years ago.

  While Siebold loved to make food for his friends, he was also notoriously tight-lipped at giving away recipes. Cooking was his livelihood beyond being an Elite Four, and he believed that making food for his loved ones was a labour of love. He would much rather make the food you request than have you make them on your own. Gray had spent many times teasing his friend for being a ruthlessly business-minded chef. Siebold would only scoff at him and insist otherwise.

  Gray found himself tearing up as it hit home that he was leaving his friends. His family. He looked up at Siebold, desperately blinking away the tears much to the blonde’s amusement.

  “If this is the reaction you have for my silly muffins, I expect a stronger reaction when I give you these.”

  Palm facing skywards, he was holding out three beautiful marbles. One was stunningly pink, with an aquamarine and white streak in its centre. The other was similar, only differing in the pastel yellow and grey within. Right in the middle was the most different marble: a softer sky blue surrounding an emerald and pink streak.

  Gray could only blink at the familiar stones.

  Altarianite, Mawilite and Gardevoirite. Gray used these stones regularly for his job as a Fairy Type Gym Partner. Acknowledging his skills as a battler after his dramatic conference run, he was hired to work with Valerie to uplift the standards of the Laverre Gym. Their regular contact made for the beginning of a strong friendship, and Laverre Gym was now acknowledged as one of the toughest gyms to conquer in Kalos. It was a source of pride for him and Valerie that their efforts bore fruit.

  Turning to said Fairy gym leader, Gray tilted his head in question.

  “They’re yours now. You’re being given your own mega evolution stones for your years of service to the Laverre Gym and the Kalos league,” she informed him, smug as only a Fairy could be.

  Gray had to pause, taking a few moments to process her words before they truly sunk in. His own mega stones? These were highly regulated by the Kalos League. Mega evolutions have been the cornerstone strength of the official leaders in the Kalos region. While ace trainers and others who have proven their strength could use them for training within league facilities or official jobs, actual ownership of said stones had been limited to a select group of people: gym leaders, the elite four and the champion. The power boost that came with the evolution was deemed too dangerous by the league and only the most trusted could own them.

  Stunned, Gray could only gape at his closest friends, much to their amusement.

  “How else did you plan on crossing the ocean to Kanto? Have Altaria carry you on a ride basket again?” his blonde friend questioned him as he held out his hand closer to Gray, urging him to take the stones that were now his.

  “Er… No?” The Kantonian sheepishly replied as he pocketed the stones.

  In his defence, it worked once before! He was able to fly in a ride basket from the Eastern Regions to the West, chasing after whispers and hearsay of a completely different region that the Indigo Pokemon League had no contact with. Granted, he ended up getting attacked by numerous flying types who were unhappy with him crossing through their territory. It was one of the most stressful journeys in Gray’s life and at the time, he was uncertain if he would survive. Nonetheless, he had no regrets. His reckless decision was what led to him restarting his life in Alola.

  His friends were unamused with him, and many nights under the influence of wine have been spent chastising him for his dangerous choices. While they were grateful he had crossed oceans to reach the Western Regions, it was a reckless journey to make.

  Sensing a similar rant about to erupt, Gray hurriedly hugged both his friends and thanked them profusely.

  “Thanks for this, now I’ll be able to cross safely with Mega Altaria. Are you sure though? This has been approved by the Kalos League?”

  Valerie huffed at him. “You know they love you. You could be an Elite Four member if you wanted. You’ve spent all these years doing so much work without the title, it’s the least they could do!”

  Gray could only chuckle at that and brush it off. While it was still baffling to have Kalos be so receptive to him who was in all technicalities foreign, Gray had given up on correcting people. More important was that he was loved and he loved in return.

  The trio spent the day in their favourite Lumiose haunts and an early dinner in Siebold’s restaurant where Gray savoured his last morsels of Siebold’s cooking. He had spent the last few days packing and settling other matters, reserving the final day for Siebold and Valerie, his closest friends.

  The day began drawing to a close. At the beginning of twilight the group found themselves in the city outskirts, on a cliffside overlooking Lumiose City.

  “You have everything you need right?”

  “All here,” Gray patted his backpack which was barely bulging. It was amazing how advanced technology was in this world. With space folding tech, he was able to carry all his belongings with him in a simple backpack. While it looked unassuming, the hefty price tag accompanying it was mind boggling. It was only after strong reassurances to himself that he earned enough in his jobs was he able to make this purchase.

  Clasping Altaria’s pokeball in his hand, Gray had to steel himself for a bit before he could release her.

  A strong yet melodious roar later, Altaria landed to make it easier for Gray to climb on. His bright eyes glowed further in delight when Gray approached him with a familiar stone. Gingerly placing the Altarianite on the neck brace Altaria had taken to wearing regularly, Gray turned back to his friends for their final goodbyes.

  Before something cheesy could come out of his mouth, his friends surged forwards to hug him.

  “Stop it. This won’t be the last time we see each other.” Siebold gently scolded him again. They knew Gray was susceptible to being a little emotional, but they wanted their last moments with him to be as tear-free as possible.

  “You’ll come visit me?”

  “Of course. Gyarados is more than capable of making the journey. Settle down in Kanto first and we’ll come visit you soon.”

  Gray felt better with the blonde’s reassurance. This won’t be the last time. He could always come back or have them visit. He was eager to return the hospitality they have blessed him with over the years.

  “Don’t be a stranger. Text us often!”

  Gray nodded at Valerie, gave them both one final hug before taking a step back.

  “I love you both,” he whispered to them as firmly as he could, doing his utmost to hold back his emotions.

  Letting the love he felt for them fill him up as much as possible, he lifted his right arm to his right earring containing his keystone. A brilliant light soon filled the cliffside, illuminating their farewell in a dazzling array of multicolour.

  Mega Altaria roared behind him, voice all the more sweeter and powerful after mega evolving.

  Gray hoisted himself up on Altaria’s larger back, turning behind for one final glimpse of his friends with a smile.

  With gentle whoosh, Altaria leaped from the cliff, free falling for a few seconds. A powerful flap of his fluffy wings later found them both shooting up into the sky, gradually merging with the white-yellow clouds illuminated from one direction with the setting sun.

  It was only a few minutes later, after he had left the life he had built up for himself behind, did Gray finally allow himself to cry.