Shadow floated quietly in the corner, keeping vigil as MunchMunch slept. True to his word, Noctowl had saved them a place to sleep.

  A kindness she would not soon forget.

  She waited until he giggled and stuffed both paws into his mouth. A sure sign he was now dreaming of cake; or whatever it was he dreamt of. Either way, he wouldn’t wake until dawn.

  She drifted slowly through the walls, keeping near the corridors as a courtesy. Sure, she could have gone out the window, or even the back wall.

  But best keep up her manners.

  Noctowl shuffled and cracked an eye as she floated past, nodding his acknowledgement of her decorum.

  Gastly nodded back and slipped into the night.

  Shadow exhaled as the night air washed over her, positively delicious and rife with opportunity. The Hallow-winds beckoned, informing her of the Ancient’s summons.

  For all her worry earlier about decorum, she would have to disregard the summons.

  Her team came first, and she had work to do.

  ____

  She marveled at where she found herself. Where Azalea had been sleepy in the night, and Goldenrod bustling, Ecruteak was somber. Sacred, even.

  Ghosts watched silently from their respective shadows, judging as her Type was wont to do. Bugs and various stealthy denizens lounged comfortably from their chosen abodes, and the humans walked peacefully.

  A testament to Morty and the Ancients.

  This many ghosts in one place usually spelled disaster in one way or another. It was hard enough to control the urge nearly to taste emotion. Harder still where many gathered together.

  And yet the night kept peace.

  She turned her eyes away. Soon she would be allowed to wander the city herself. But not yet. Nor was it worth testing; a Growlithe watching from the shadows, passive but alert was a reminder of the Ranger presence. She nodded to him and drifted towards the forest.

  ____

  “Nurse, please — I really am fine!” Teddy protested.

  “Nonsense. Sit still and stop complaining. Your feet are a mess,” Joy scolded him.

  Teddy slumped. He had done it. He had made it to the Ecruteak. With a final few berries, he had bid farewell to Stantee and hobbled into the town.

  He had thought to start with the Pokémon Center. A mistake, as the Nurse had taken one look at him and, taken Happy for a checkup and forced him to be admitted for treatment.

  “My Team is out there, I need to find them,” he tried again.

  “Well, keep pushing it and your feet aren’t going to be taking you anywhere anytime soon,” she huffed, pushing him back onto the table.

  He winced as she peeled his sock off. Then gasped as some of his skin came with it.

  “I didn’t realize it was that bad.”

  “Well, it is. That is what I am here for. Would help if you listened,” she chided, setting to work cleaning and bandaging his feet as Chansey handed her whatever utensils she needed.

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

  “We will get you fixed up. You can go see the Rangers in the morning.”

  “Can I see them tonight?” he asked hopefully.

  “Absolutely not! How many times do I have to say it. You. Are. Hurt. You will remain under supervision until I deem it safe for you to be on your own.”

  “One of my team is only a baby — “

  “Do I need to call your mother, young man?” Joy barked.

  Teddy froze. What would his mother say if she found out he lost most of his team?

  “No,” he exhaled in defeat, clenching his fists as she poured disinfectant on his foot.

  “Good.”

  She had him cleaned up and bandaged in less than a half hour. If it wasn’t so painful, it would have been fascinating to watch her work.

  “You are really good at what you do,” Teddy mentioned offhandedly, watching the teamwork between Joy and her Chansey.

  Joy looked at him in surprise and blinked.

  “I am grateful, I’m just worried sick about my team.”

  “I know Teddy, I know,” she responded, standing and removing her gloves so she could wash her hands. “And I am sure your team is just as worried about you.”

  She looked at him with a pointed stare.

  Teddy looked at his feet and blushed.

  “Wanting to take care of your team is very important, but you can’t help anyone if you don’t take care of yourself,” she continued, taking a seat next to him.

  Chansey wheeled a cart with some tea in a moment later.

  “This was really irresponsible, Teddy. What if you didn’t make it back tonight? What if your feet got infected?”

  “I wasn’t thinking about that,” he admitted. “I was just so worried about my Munchlax. I know Gastly will be fine, but he isn’t even two months old.”

  Joy nodded.

  “Mmhmm, and you are only 16. If you were a younger trainer, I would end your Journey here and now for fear of your health.”

  She stood to pour him some tea while Chansey finished some paperwork.

  “The Journey is about making mistakes and growing.”

  She looked over her glasses as she handed him his tea.

  “And being around to learn from those mistakes.”

  “I understand, Nurse.”

  “Alright, that’s enough of that. You won’t be able to walk for a few days — “

  “But you said!” Teddy cried.

  Nurse held up a hand.

  “Would you let me finish, please?”

  “Yes Ma’am,” Teddy nodded, chagrined.

  “Thank you. As I was saying, you won’t be able to walk for a few days. Preferably a week. However, I will personally make sure you get down to the Ranger Station tomorrow morning. Is that fair?”

  Teddy froze as his nose burned and tears rushed to his eyes. He blinked rapidly to remove the evidence.

  “Thank you, Nurse. Thank you so much.”

  Nurse Joy nodded. “Now, drink your tea. All of it, mind you. Chansey put something in it to help you sleep. We will take care of your Togepi and I will see you in the morning.”

  With that, Joy and Chansey left, Chansey taking a moment to pat his leg before wheeling the cart out.

  Teddy was worried, and if he was willing to admit it, also exhausted. Whatever was in the tea acted quickly and his eyes were already heavy.

  “Tomorrow Shadow and MunchMunch. Tomorrow — “

  He was asleep before he finished the thought.

  ____

  Shadow had spent long enough with her team now, she had begun to forget how cold ghosts could be.

  Not a single Gastly, Misdreavus or Shuppet was willing to help her. Not because they were cruel — they just didn’t care.

  She had been the same. Why help when there is nothing in it for you.

  She hadn’t begun to learn until Teddy gave her a home.

  Shadow expanded in annoyance as she continued her rounds around the outskirts of Ecruteak.

  She wasn’t yet strong enough to venture out into the full wilds, unless she hid within the Hallow-winds. Which defeated the purpose altogether.

  So she was stuck asking weak ghosts who hadn’t yet decided whether they were willing to commit to finding a trainer or not.

  It was infuriating. What was even more frustrating was the fact she couldn’t be mad. She had been the same way and hadn’t even realized it.

  She paused as a Sableye glanced at her from the shadow of a small elm. Gastly nodded, but continued on her way.

  A Sableye would certainly cause more harm than good.

  In desperation, she turned to other nocturnal Pokémon. HootHoot, Noctowl, Venonat and even a Murkrow.

  Each had been more helpful than the ghosts. Except the Murkrow, who seemed to find great pleasure in the entire situation.

  None held any helpful information.

  Shadow sagged as Twilight approached, too worried to look forward to the most sacred time of day.

  She wanted to keep looking, but she needed to get back to MunchMunch before he woke. The last thing she was willing to do was let him wake alone and scared.

  She drifted forlornly through the front door of the station. The Noctowl cracked an eye.

  “No luck?” He hooted, ruffling his feathers as he adjusted his perch.

  Shadow smiled sadly.

  Noctowl regarded her a moment before sighing.

  “We will find them. Don’t worry.”

  He paused for a moment, as if thinking.

  ”I am off duty today — I will fly the path for you. See what I can see.”

  Shadow blinked.

  Then blinked again.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Noctowl nodded as Shadow made her way to where her MunchMunch was sleeping.

  She found him just as she had left him. Paws in mouth and toes curled.

  Safe and utterly oblivious to the world.