The days after Misty's departure blurred into gray.
Skylar moved like a ghost through the empty forest paths, his body healed by potions and Pokémon Center treatments, but his soul hollow.
No word had come.
No message.
No sign from Misty's family.
It was as if she had been erased from his life, leaving only a bleeding memory.
And Skylar couldn't forgive himself.
Not for failing her.
Not for surviving when she had fallen.
Today was no different.
He wandered deeper into the woods beyond Auroria, barely noticing where he stepped.
The trees whispered above.
The cold wind pressed against his coat.
His mind was miles away.
Until—
A flicker of color.
Movement ahead.
He paused.
Through the misty woods, a Sylveon danced.
It was breathtaking.
The ribbons of its feelers shimmered in the afternoon light, twisting in complex, mesmerizing patterns.
It pirouetted in the clearing, weaving threads of Moonblast energy around itself like an artist crafting a masterpiece.
Each movement was elegant.
Beautiful.
But Skylar, instinctively, saw the truth behind it.
Beneath the beauty lay power—focused, devastating.
A true battler's grace.
He watched, frozen, hypnotized.
For the first time in days, something stirred in him.
Something besides sorrow.
Then, a soft, melodic voice broke the spell.
"Beautiful, isn't she?"
Skylar's breath caught.
He knew that voice.
He turned sharply.
Standing behind him, smiling warmly despite the cold air—
Was Serena.
"Serena…?" he whispered, disbelieving.
She giggled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"It's been a while, Skylar."
Without hesitation, she walked up to him and threw her arms around him.
Skylar stood stiffly, stunned.
Serena pressed her face into his chest.
"I heard what happened," she said, voice thick. "I came as soon as I could."
Skylar remained frozen.
Until she pulled back, looking up into his broken, distant eyes.
"It's not your fault," she said softly. "Misty wouldn't want you to destroy yourself over this."
Something snapped.
Skylar's grief twisted into anger.
"What do you know?" he growled, stepping back.
Serena's eyes widened.
"You don't know what we've been through," Skylar said, voice rising. "You don't know what it's like to be too weak. To see someone you love get hurt because you couldn't protect them!"
Serena reached for him, but he pulled further away, trembling.
"You weren't there!" he shouted.
His voice cracked under the weight of his pain.
Serena stood still for a moment.
Then stepped forward.
And hugged him again.
Tightly.
Refusing to let him push her away.
"I'm here now," she whispered.
"And I'm not leaving."
Skylar stood rigid.
His heart hammered in his chest.
Part of him wanted to scream at her to go.
Another part, deeper, older, broken beyond words—
Just wanted to fall apart.
Serena felt his body trembling.
Knew he was teetering.
And remembered something Skylar's mother had told her long ago:
"Skylar struggles to take the first step. He's strong, but inside... he's so scared of hurting others, or being hurt. If you love him... sometimes you have to take the first step for him."
Serena closed her eyes.
Steeled herself.
And then—
She tilted up on her toes and kissed him.
At first, Skylar froze.
But as the seconds passed, the dam inside him cracked.
Then shattered.
He clutched Serena desperately, kissing her back with raw, unrestrained need.
All the guilt, fear, loneliness—everything poured out.
There were no words.
No logic.
Just feeling.
Just the desperate need to not be alone anymore.
Hours later, the forest was quiet again.
Skylar lay asleep against the roots of a great oak tree, breathing deep and slow.
Serena curled beside him, exhausted, body aching, but heart full.
She traced his jawline gently with her fingers, a soft smile on her lips despite the pain.
"He really is a beast…" she whispered, laughing a little to herself.
"Three of me wouldn't have been enough."
She rested her head against his shoulder.
Her body hurt.
Her heart overflowed.
But she didn't regret it for a second.
As she watched him sleep, Serena made a silent vow.
She would stay by him.
Through the battles.
Through the pain.
Through the rebuilding of his shattered heart.
Whatever it took—
She would help Skylar find himself again.
Because he wasn't alone.
Not anymore.
And she wasn't going to let him forget it.