There was a waterfall up ahead. She knew it because she could hear the roaring, which was the same as the waterfall she'd found at the source of the river, so long ago. And she had felt the way the water sped up, until far ahead, it churned and frothed and fell.

There were cliffs all around them, and she knew she didn't have the strength to swim them both back upstream. The only way forward was down.

Shade had promised he would hold onto her. He had wrapped his paws around her neck, and she shifted beneath the surface so he was on her back. She swam upwards, breaching long enough for him to take a breath, and then dove again.

She didn't know much about the various battle moves she could use. As an eevee, she'd had little need to use any and had never tried, even when that human attacked her. But now... She felt the powers deep inside of her, one standing out more than the others.

The power built inside of her, growing stronger and stronger as the move took form. The waterfall grew closer each moment. Shade clung to her back, hanging on even as she dove further beneath the surface.

As the river ended in a sheer drop, falling down in a deadly rush, a wave rose around her. The water carried her and Shade up, further than the river went before falling in a shimmering arc. She fell with it, a second move building inside her as she and Shade fell. When they were about to hit the river far too hard to be safe, a burst of water blasted from her mouth, propelling them up again before they dropped, hitting the water safely.

They plunged under for a moment before she swam, getting them to the surface where Shade breathed the cool night air.

"Are you ok?" Waterlily asked.

"Yes. How did you do that?" Shade breathed.

"You're not the only one who can use battle moves." She joked. "I think those were called surf and water gun, but the names don't matter much, I don't think."

"That was amazing. You're amazing." Shade said.

Waterlily was glad the moonlight hid the blush that crept to her cheeks. "So are you."

They drifted in a slower, gentler river until the roar of the waterfall was replaced by the softer but unfamiliar sound of crashing waves.

"What's that?" Shade asked, ears twitching.

"I don't know." Waterlily was worried about another waterfall, and the riverbanks sloped low enough now she was sure she could get the two of them out. She swam towards the shore, releasing Shade only when it was shallow enough for him to touch the bottom. They padded onto the bank together.

Shade collapsed on the shore, burying his nose in the earth. Waterlily laughed when he mumbled, "I missed you," and literally hugged the ground.

"Come on, I want to check out that noise." Waterlily said, and Shade nodded, getting up to follow her.

They walked along the bank together, moonlight washing over them. Waterlily's nose twitched. "That smells like salt."

A few more steps and a strange sort of blue was visible up ahead. Waterlily broke into a run, Shade dashing after her. They raced along the river as it grew more rocky, and Waterlily realized that the trees were somewhat different. Like long poles with fernlike fronds swaying at the top.

And then the plants gave way to something new that registered as sand, and the river tumbled into something so vast, Waterlily couldn't see its end. It was water, a crashing, raging sort of water that stretched all along the horizon.

"Ocean." Shade murmured.

"The river ends here." Waterlily whispered back.

They looked around together, taking in their new surroundings. The river that had brought them together opening into this huge, strange sea of possibilities. Some plants she knew, but many were strange. She would learn them all, she was sure. Just like she would learn the Pokémon beside her.

They turned to face each other, and in the same breath, both whispered, "Home."

And then he evolved.