Buizel awoke, for the second time that week, in his bed, with no memory of getting there.
He rolled over and stared up at the ceiling, trying to remember what had happened. His brain stubbornly refused to work, still half-asleep.
Buizel got out of bed, stumbling a little, and made his way downstairs. His body began to loudly remind him that he had both burnt significant calories and used muscles he didn’t even know he had.
The door was open, letting in a pleasant breeze. Floatzel was busy shaking out a large blanket, presumably after having cleaned it. Buizel watched mindlessly as she folded it up and turned around, seeing him. “Oh! Good morning, Buizel!”
“Hi, mom,” Buizel said, his voice still groggy. He blinked as he noticed Espeon sitting in the armchair, reading a hovering book. “Oh, um, I can explain about him,” he said, gesturing towards him.
Floatzel hugged Buizel, cutting him off. “You don’t need to. Espeon explained everything already.” She put away the blanket, leaving Buizel standing there. “Do you want something to eat?”
Buizel nodded slowly, still watching Espeon. He turned a page of the book and glanced at Buizel, smiling a little. “You should rest today,” he said. “You look worn.”
Buizel was exhausted. He was ushered into the kitchen where he ate food without really tasting it. After he was done eating, he leaned back and stared at the ceiling, barely thinking about anything. His thoughts kept drifting to the entire previous day, wincing as he remembered how many times he and Shaun nearly died.
He suddenly sat up and looked at his mother, who was washing his dishes. “Hey, mom,” he asked. “How come you didn’t want me going near water?”
“It’s dangerous,” she replied. “It’s dangerously rocky around here, and you barely know how to swim.”
Buizel shifted in his chair. “Do you think you could teach me?”
Floatzel finished washing his plate and set it on the drying rack, turning to face him. “What brought this on?”
“Well…” Buizel knew he was most likely making a mistake, but he proceeded anyway. “When me and Shaun went looking for Espeon, we had to go out on the ocean.” His gaze drifted away from her. “The- thing we were using capsized, and Shaun couldn’t swim. He- sank like a rock.” He shuddered at the memory. “I managed to get him above water, but I-“ he paused, trying to remember what happened. “I was able to move really fast through the water, somehow. I want to learn to swim so that- doesn’t happen again.”
Buizel suddenly found himself in an extremely tight hug. He almost had the impression that he was being hugged by a Bewear. “Don’t ever do that again,” Floatzel’s voice scolded him softly. “Don’t you ever do that again.”
“I lived!” Buizel’s complaint was muffled. “We both lived!”
“That’s- that was an act of Arceus,” his mother replied. “You should’ve known better.”
Buizel’s insides felt like they had been dunked in ice. He really should have known better, but he did it anyway. “I’m- sorry.”
Floatzel released him, resting a paw on his shoulder. To Buizel’s shock, tears were in her eyes. “I’m so glad that you’re home, but- don’t ever do that again, Buizel.”
Buizel stared at the tile floor. “I won’t.”
Floatzel took a deep breath, presumably to calm her nerves. “I… yes, I can teach you how to swim. I probably should have long before now, but you never seemed interested.”
“I always kind of was,” Buizel admitted, “but you’re always busy.”
She stroked his cheek gently. “I’m not that busy, Buizel. You can ask me any time.”
Buizel leaned into the affectionate gesture. “Okay,” he replied simply.
“You slept in so late, I had wondered what happened,” Floatzel said, reflecting. “I already had to walk down to your school and beg for a day off.”
He looked up at her in shock. “You- you did that for me?”
She nodded. “You needed rest.” Her eyes traced his face. “You still do,” she added sternly.
Buizel opened his mouth to contest this, but a yawn interrupted any attempt to argue. Floatzel smiled fondly at him as he looked away, embarrassed. “I know,” he mumbled.
He startled a little as he remembered something. “I hope Shaun’s alright,” he said. “He went through just as much as I did.”
“I went and saw Shaun earlier today,” Espeon chimed in. “He’s fine, but he was scolded heavily for being gone for five hours.”
Buizel sighed, somewhat relieved. “I hope they go easy on him.”
“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme.” Espeon shut the book and floated it back onto the bookcase, Buizel and Floatzel both watching in interest as he pulled down another one. “You’ll most likely be able to see him tomorrow.”
Buizel deflated a little. “Days off aren’t fun without Shaun,” he mumbled under his breath.
“You’ll manage,” Floatzel said, picking up on his complaint. “Besides, you need to rest today. That means no leaving the house,” she added.
Buizel cocked his head. “That sounds nice, actually.”
He moved to the living room couch, Floatzel doing chores around the rest of the house. Espeon continued to read his floating book, calmly turning pages. I did not expect you to tell her about your boating incident.
It wasn’t quite said aloud, but Buizel still heard him clearly. He sat up a little straighter and looked at him, confused. “What?”
Use your thoughts, Espeon chided, glancing at him over his book.
Buizel stared at him blankly. How am I supposed to do that?
Precisely. Espeon returned to reading his book. I am amazed that she took it as well as she did. Even I wouldn’t have told her about that.
I thought you did, Buizel thought, confused.
There are some things I wouldn’t have admitted even to my own mother, Espeon replied. I applaud your courage.
Um, thanks? Buizel began fiddling with the fins under his arms. Why aren’t you just… talking?
Espeon turned a page. The meeting is tomorrow evening. You must attend on my behalf.
Meeting?
Seven Pokemon run the island, Espeon replied. They must be made aware of the danger approaching the island so that they can begin discussing solutions to stop it.
Buizel’s heart skipped a beat. The meteor can be stopped?!
Espeon nodded. It’s very possible, indeed.
His mind began to race with questions. Espeon flinched a little. Slow down.
“Sorry, sorry,” Buizel said. He jumped a little with how loud his voice sounded. Sorry, he repeated in his thoughts. Where is this meeting, anyway?
Island Village’s tavern, Espeon said, turning another page. I will guide you to the necessary location when it’s time. He glanced over his book at Buizel, to make a point. And you must not tell your parents.
Oh, Buizel thought, a little dismayed. Why?
Espeon was silent for a second, turning a page. You will see when it’s time.
Buizel didn’t like the sound of that. Why can’t you just tell me?
I cannot. Espeon shrugged. Besides, your mother has been trying to ask you a question.
Buizel felt a paw on his shoulder and jumped, turning to see his mother resting a paw on his shoulder. “Buizel,” she asked, her tone a bit sharper than normal. “Where’s the map you took to Shaun yesterday?”
Buizel’s brain backtracked to the last place he had seen it. “Um, I think I left it with Shaun.”
His mother sighed. “Buizel…”
“Sorry!” Buizel threw up his paws. “At least they’re still there.”
“I doubt Ms. Chansey will allow anyone to see Shaun,” Espeon said. “For today, at least. I nearly had to fight tooth and claw to get in.”
Floatzel nodded knowingly. “Chansey can be draconic about that.” She glanced at Buizel sternly. “But when you see Shaun tomorrow, you’re to bring that map back.”
“That was already the plan,” Buizel said, shifting uncomfortably. It had been the plan as soon as he was reminded of it.
“Alright,” Floatzel said, stroking his head fin. “Do you need a nap? You seemed a little spacey.”
Buizel shook his head. “No, I’m fine. Just… thinking, I guess.” That was the truth, wasn’t it?
Floatzel returned to taking care of the house, and Buizel slumped into the couch, yawning. I might need a nap, he thought.
You need to recover, Espeon said, making Buizel jump a little. It is only natural that you’re tired after such an adventure.
Buizel yawned again. I hope that I stop having adventures soon. Too stressful.
Espeon closed his book and put it away, floating down another one. You are lucky to have a family that supports you through the stressful and non-stressful times.
Before Buizel could ask what he meant, someone knocked at the door. Buizel rushed to it and found himself face-to-face with a Pelipper. “Mail for Mister Buizel,” it squawked to his utter stupification.
“That’s me,” Buizel said faintly. The bird Pokemon handed him a letter, saluted, and flew away.
Espeon had watched this interaction with consuming interest. “I didn’t know they had established Pelipper Mail on the island.”
“I didn’t either,” Buizel said, confused. He opened the envelope, which was far more difficult to open than he anticipated, and stared at the letter inside.
It began, “Dear Buizel,” but a massive scribble covered the middle of the paper. Near the bottom was written, “When I see you again, I’ll kill you. Signed, Sneasel.”
Buizel stared at the letter, his brain trying to process what he was holding. “I- don’t know what this is.”
“May I see it?” Espeon asked, plainly curious.
Buizel walked over to him and showed him the letter. Espeon studied it seriously for a few seconds before a wide grin spread across his face, which looked oddly natural. “She hasn’t changed at all, has she?”
Buizel stared at Espeon. “You know her?”
Espeon tilted his head. “Not particularly well, but I know of her. What did you do to upset her?”
“She-“ Buizel cringed a little inwardly. “She told me not to leave the island with Shaun.”
Espeon nodded knowingly. “Oh. I see.”
Buizel returned to staring at the letter. “Well, um, at least she didn’t write ‘I never want to see you again’, or something.”
Espeon’s mouth twitched towards a smile again. “I don’t think she would. She sounds more frustrated with you, rather than angry.”
“I don’t know how you would infer that from a letter, but to each their own,” Ampharos said, stepping out of the master bedroom. He nodded towards Espeon and looked at Buizel. “Morning, Buizel. Slept well?”
Buizel shrugged. “I think so.”
Ampharos glanced between the two. “You’ve been starting your Explorer career early, I see.” He wandered into the kitchen as Buizel blushed and suddenly developed a consuming interest in the envelope the letter had been delivered in.
Espeon tilted his head. “You want to be an Explorer?”
“No! Well, um, maybe. Kinda.” Buizel shuffled in place. “Everyone says it’s not for kids.”
Espeon continued looking at him before returning to his book. “You’re more competent and mature than some Pokemon I’ve met.”
“Oh, um, thanks?” Buizel didn’t know how to feel about the odd compliment, so he climbed the stairs to his room and safely stowed the letter away in his dresser. It was the first one he had ever gotten.
The rest of the day was spent lazing around the house. Even Floatzel seemed to be taking the day off, only doing the most pressing chores. Espeon kept a mostly low profile, reading through every book on their bookshelf. He and Ampharos seemed to have an agreement on Espeon staying for a few days until slightly more permanent arrangements were made. Buizel felt oddly at ease around him, which he hadn’t been expecting.
After a long day of doing nothing, Buizel went to bed. He still missed Shaun, but he could live until tomorrow.
By the next morning, Buizel had completely forgotten about Sneasel’s letter.
He walked through the village to the school path, whistling as he did so. He would get to see Shaun today! The very thought made him much happier than he would have been otherwise.
The forest was still dim, the sun barely having risen. It was a bit colder than Buizel would’ve liked, but he had mostly grown used to it. The trees in the forest were still depressingly dormant, even if the winter they were having had been slightly warmer than usual.
Buizel glanced up at the brightening sky, looking for the red star. It was still there, ominously hovering above the island. He squinted at it, trying to ascertain out how far away it was. They had at least a week and a half left-
WHAM.
Buizel was suddenly slammed against a tree. Completely blindsided, he staggered a little as he looked around wildly for his attacker.
Sneasel forced him against the tree again, appearing seemingly out of nowhere. “Buizel,” she said, her voice oddly calm. “What did I tell you not to do?”
Buizel’s head was spinning. “Oh, is this about that?” he replied, still stunned from being slammed against the tree. “Um, sorry?”
Sneasel shook him violently. “You could’ve doomed the island, Buizel!”
“Ow ow ow,” Buizel complained as he was being shaken. “Can you put me down so I can at least explain?!”
Sneasel dropped him and stepped back, folding her arms. Buizel pushed himself up, albeit a bit shakily, and leaned against the tree. “Okay,” he said, breathing heavily, “okay, so do you remember the whole ‘seeing messages’ thing from a- few days ago?”
“Mhm.” Sneasel already did not sound convinced.
“I got three messages within half an hour,” he continued. “One telling me to bring a new map, the map we got from the past, and the cipher.” He paused as he tried to remember what had happened. “I brought the maps to the clinic, where I had seen the first message, and deciphered a message that was in the old map. It was in verse, something about finding an explanation under the ocean.”
“I still don’t see why you had to take Shaun,” Sneasel replied. Her tone was less angry and more frustrated.
Buizel gestured frantically. “I couldn’t just go alone! Besides, the third message told us that we had three- two days.” He trailed off as he thought about what had happened. “I probably didn’t have to take Shaun,” he admitted, “but I was… afraid. Of being alone.”
Sneasel was silent for a moment, her eyes watching him closely. “Okay,” she sighed, “I can kind of see where you were coming from.” One of her hands twitched, making Buizel nervous. “But you saw me on that roof and you still left the island anyway.”
“Shaun- did something,” Buizel said vaguely. “Something about a fourth dimension, I think.”
“I felt him do it,” she replied. “I didn’t really know what he had done until you were already out on the ocean.”
“Anyway, so-“ Buizel shook his head to try and regain his train of thought. “We got to the place out on the ocean, and after some- issues, we found our way into a mystery dungeon. An Espeon was at the end, and apparently he’s the one who was sending me the messages.”
Sneasel stared at him. “Wait, what? Why?”
Buizel opened his mouth and shut it again. “I- don’t really know, actually. I keep getting the impression there’s something he’s not telling me. But we got him out of the mystery dungeon before it collapsed, and now he’s staying at my house for a while.”
“Collapsing mystery dungeon…?” Sneasel blinked slowly for a second. “How are you still alive?”
Buizel shrugged. “Luck, I guess.”
Sneasel watched him for a minute. “What happened?” she asked softly.
He looked away, preferring to stare at the dormant grass. “Nothing else, really.”
“Buizel.” She walked forward and grabbed his shoulders. “Something else happened.”
Buizel was about to insist that nothing else had happened, but his insides squirmed as he remembered something Sneasel had told him. “Well, we… went out on the ocean. And the thing we were using… capsized.” The words came slowly, for some reason. “I… don’t really know how to swim, and Shaun’s leg was still broken, so…”
“Oh my gosh.” Sneasel was looking at him with an expression of horror. “You- Shaun didn’t drown, did he?”
Buizel shook his head. “No, we both made it out fine, but…”
Sneasel shook him roughly. “Dammit, Buizel,” she said, her voice cracking. “Stop being so- reckless!”
He looked at her in surprise. “Um, I’m sorry? I don’t-“
Sneasel drew him into a hug, cutting him off. “Stop trying to get yourself killed,” she said, her voice wavering. “You and Shaun.”
“I- I can’t really-“ Buizel was more shocked that she was hugging him in the first place. “L- look, I’ll work on it.”
Sneasel stepped away from him, looking embarrassed. “Sorry, that was- unprofessional. You said you’d be less closed off, too.”
Buizel winced. “Oh, um, I did, didn’t I.”
She sighed, regaining her composure. “You really need to talk to Pokemon about things.”
“Hey, I told my mom,” he said defensively.
“And no one else, apparently,” Sneasel said wryly. “Come on, we’re going to be late for school if we stand here all morning.”
They made it to the schoolyard, where school began shortly afterward. As Buizel listened to Breloom talk about something vaguely familiar, he felt like something was missing. He didn’t know what it was, exactly, but something was off.
After school ended and Buizel had bid a cordial goodbye to the other ‘mons in the school, he set off down the path alone. He was eager to see Shaun again, even if there was the possibility that he was still sick.
For the second time that day, Buizel was caught off-guard and slammed into a tree.
This time was worse. His head knocked into the tree’s trunk, summoning stars into his field of view. As he staggered to his feet, wondering if he had accidentally fallen into a time loop, someone spoke behind him. “Buizel! You seem a little starstruck!”
Buizel groaned as he turned around, unsurprised to see Haunter floating there. “That really hurt, you know.”
“That’s the entire point!” Haunter’s customary grin was evil, even for him. Buizel instinctively took a step backward upon seeing it. “You didn’t think I would see your little forbidden romance?”
Buizel stared blankly at him. “Huh?”
“I saw what happened on this very path,” Haunter said, floating towards him. His hands were at his sides, which was very unusual. “You seem very good at disregarding rules, Buizel.”
Buizel took another step backward. “What are you even talking abou-?”
Haunter Sucker Punched him in the face.
Buizel had not been expecting an attack. He flew across the path, hitting a tree and slumping against it. He pushed himself up again, this time in a battle stance. “Okay, fine,” he growled. “If you want a scrap, you’ll get one.”
Haunter’s grin grew wider, with a slightly surprised tinge to it. “Good.”
Buizel focused and fired a Water Pulse at Haunter. He tried to dodge, but it curved after him, slamming him into the ground.
Haunter recovered with astonishing speed and aimed a Shadow Ball at Buizel. He just barely managed to dodge it, rolling out of the way as the energy of the attack splashed against the wood, turning it a dull gray.
Buizel’s mind was racing as he tried to figure out what he could do. He only had one Water-type move, and he was worried about becoming too predictable.
Suddenly inspired, he ran at Haunter in a Quick Attack. Unsurprisingly, he passed through the Ghost-type, Haunter grinning as he did so. “My, you’re-“
Buizel summoned a Water Pulse before he could even properly start the taunting. Haunter was launched away, sputtering as he picked himself up from the ground. “Smarter than you thought?” Buizel finished.
Haunter looked at him, outrage gleaming in his eyes. He pushed himself up from the ground and fired another Shadow Ball, which Buizel just barely dodged. It grazed his arm, feeling cold.
Unfortunately, Haunter predicted this. He fired another Shadow Ball at him as he was recovering from the dodge.
It splashed over him, cold and deadly. Buizel coughed as he pushed himself off of the ground, feeling the energy leave his body. He backed away further, trying to get behind any semblance of cover.
As he tried to focus on another Water Pulse, Haunter appeared behind him and Sucker Punched him.
As Buizel hit the tree, he was inwardly laughing. I already fell for that! he told himself as he slowly stood up, his head spinning. I fell for that twice!
He looked up to see a Shadow Ball hurtling towards his face.
He was too tired to dodge, and he couldn’t take another hit from a Shadow Ball. Desperately, he tried knocking away the attack with a paw.
A loud crackle sounded as electricity left his paw, dissipating the attack’s power. Both Haunter and Buizel stared at Buizel’s paw, which had electricity tingling around it.
It was odd; even though Buizel was weak to electricity, the power around his paw danced vigorously, cheerfully telling him that he was in control. His skin tingled a bit as the electricity crackled around it, giving him an odd feeling in his stomach.
Haunter, taking advantage of the sudden distraction, fired another Shadow Ball at him.
Buizel punched it again, the second attack dissipating as easily as the first. He leapt forward through the dispersing energy and slammed his paw into Haunter.
Haunter jerked violently as he flew backwards from the force of the blow. He slammed into a tree and fell forwards, his ghostly body jerking around erratically.
Buizel, panting, began slowly backing down the path. “I, uh, gotta go now bye!” He ran down the rest of the path, leaving Haunter paralyzed on the road.
As he ran, he stared at his paw, which still cracked with electricity. He tried to touch it, but it shocked him painfully. Shaking his paw didn’t seem to make the electricity go away, and neither did trying to recall the energy to his reserves. It continued to crackle around his fist as he got to town, much to his worry and confusion.
“Dad would know what to do,” he muttered, struck by the idea. “He’s already an Electric-type.”
Panting, he began to run towards the lighthouse.