The sun was already setting when Misty found the clearing.
Twilight danced through the trees, painting the forest in gold and violet hues. The firelight ahead flickered gently—smoke curling lazily into the fading sky.
Misty smiled.
She saw Skylar sitting cross-legged by the fire, feeding dried meat to Arcanine, who rested like a lion king at his side.
Charizard dozed with one eye half-open, and—
Her smile widened.
—Riolu, sitting near Skylar's knee, mimicking his posture, legs crossed, eyes closed in focus.
Misty exhaled softly.
"They're already synced."
Skylar looked up as she stepped out of the trees.
His face softened the moment he saw her.
"You made it back."
Misty placed her hands on her hips. "I'm tougher than I look."
From behind her came a flash of blue and a confident little hop.
Squirtle walked in like it owned the forest—backpack half-unzipped, chewing on a berry like it had won a prize.
Skylar raised an eyebrow.
"Friend of yours?"
Misty smirked. "Meet Squirtle. He found me."
Squirtle gave a casual salute, then turned to Arcanine…
And with all the bravado in the world, flicked a bit of berry juice at him.
Arcanine blinked.
Skylar's eyes widened. "That's a bold move."
Misty laughed. "Yeah. He's got spirit."
The Pokémon settled quickly.
Squirtle tried to scale Arcanine's back (and got playfully rolled off). Charizard raised his head, curious, as Riolu approached him slowly, like a cub examining a sleeping dragon.
Skylar and Misty watched it all in silence, sitting side by side on the log near the fire.
After a moment, she asked quietly:
"Is he okay?"
Skylar nodded. "The hunters had him locked up. They said he fought like hell before they caught him."
Misty looked over at Riolu, who was now mimicking Charizard's tail movements with fascination.
"And now?"
Skylar smiled. "He chose me. I didn't even throw a ball."
Misty leaned back on her palms. "That's rare."
"I know."
A comfortable silence fell between them.
The kind that only came after surviving something dangerous.
Or finding something worth protecting.
Misty pulled her knees up.
"So we both found new partners today."
Skylar nodded.
"Looks like the road ahead just got more interesting."
She looked at him sideways. "Not worried I'll leave you behind with Squirtle on my team?"
Skylar laughed under his breath. "I'm terrified."
Squirtle returned to Misty's side with a dramatic yawn, clearly exhausted from showing off.
Riolu climbed up next to Skylar, gently bumping his arm.
The bond was real.
Undeniable.
Misty saw it.
And felt a strange warmth in her chest.
A little admiration.
A little something else.
Later, as the fire burned lower, they ate quietly under the stars.
"Do you ever stop and realize," Misty said softly, "that everything's changed in just a few months?"
Skylar looked up.
"The battles. The people. The Pokémon. The things we've seen."
He nodded slowly.
"It feels like we're standing at the edge of something huge."
Misty turned toward him.
"We are."
She nudged his arm with her shoulder.
"But I'm glad I'm doing it with you."
Skylar looked at her.
And for a moment, didn't say anything.
He just smiled.
And nodded.
Across the camp, Riolu and Squirtle had fallen asleep against each other—snoring, tangled in leaves and tails.
The fire crackled softly.