After their battle, the boys started to wonder where the girls were. "They wouldn't go off on their own, especially not when they're here..." Clemont muttered, visibly worried for his little sister.

"Don't worry, I'm sure they're fine," Ash assured him, ever the optimist. "Besides, Bonnie has Squishy. How much trouble could she get into when she has a Legendary Pokémon to protect her?"

"I guess..." Clemont nodded, calming down a little, but only that and nothing more.

"Ash!"

"Big brother!"

The boys smiled in relief when the girls rushed over, both looking excited. "You'll never guess what just happened!" They both said at the same time, making the boys laugh. "What?"

"Valerie let us design some new dresses for her new collection!" Bonnie jumped up and down like the eager, energetic child she was. "And she's going to let us have our dresses for free for letting her use the designs!" Serena added, a huge smile on her face.

"Really? That's awesome!" Ash grinned, his energy matching theirs due to seeing them so happy. Even Clemont seemed affected by their positive aura. "I'm sure they'll look great!"

While the girls started discussing their designs, the four of them all started heading off again. To where? They didn't know, but they knew they'd work it out along the way. Everything always seemed to work out like that, as if fate was painting a path for them to subconsciously follow.

???'s POV:

"Are you okay, X?" Y asked me, looking at me in confusion. I merely brushed off the question, trying to take my thoughts off of her. I fail. I can never stop thinking about her. Not while her last words continue to ring in my mind as though they were only spoken yesterday.

"You're alive, and life is wonderful!"

I sigh. Y turns away from Blastoisetwo and Venusaurtwo to come over to me. "Are you thinking of it again?" Y asks me. They refuse to call her anything other than that one word, which always irritates me to no end. She deserves more respect than that.

"Yes, I was thinking of her. Is this a problem?" I snap, causing Y to move back in surprise. "You really cared for that thing, didn't you?" They remark. "Of course I did. She was my best friend," I nod.

"Best friend? We don't have 'best friends', X. We have allies and we have enemies. Humans are our enemies, so it was our enemy."

"She was not our enemy!" I yell, furious at the mere suggestion. Blastoisetwo and Venusaurtwo both start at my anger, backing up. A wise choice. If there's one thing I won't tolerate, it's people speaking ill of my deceased friend.

"Take it back!" I order Y. "Take back what you said about her! I won't let you speak of her like that!"

Seeing that I'm even more serious than usual, Y makes the wise choice and relents. "Alright. I take back my words. But that doesn't stop me from still believing them. Unspoken words can still be listened to."

"I would listen to whatever words she said," I reply. "She taught me much, Y. So much."

"Yet it has done nothing to help you," Y observed.

"She has," I argue. "She taught me the value of life itself. She taught me that life is wonderful. She helped me understand emotions better than you can. She taught me sympathy, sadness, happiness, friendship..."

Seeing that I'm holding back, Y beckons me to continue. "And?"

"... another emotion that I can't yet name."

"Describe it to me."

"It's like... when I knew her, it was a fondness and attachment. I liked the feeling. But after she was gone, it feels more like... like a pain in my chest, but the fondness for her is still there."

"You miss it."

"I do."

"You are mourning its loss."

"... it seems I am."

"So emotional over a simple human, X. I see that you care for it. I... I understand. I too have met a human before that I wished to protect. But once I did protect them, I left. It's not our place to get involved with humans any more than we have to."

I shake my head. "You never knew them all, Y. "I could clone new bodies for Charmandertwo, Squirtletwo and Bulbasaurtwo, but I had no DNA that would clone her. Not just any DNA would work. But she is gone and I made sure her father suffered the same fate. I need DNA that would be genetically similar to hers."

Seeming intrigued now, Y thinks for a moment.

"... perhaps a mother?" Y suggested at last.

...

Of course!

A new emotion rises in me. It's a happy feeling, one of excitement and opportunity. I believe this is called... hope? Yes, hope. Hope for a day where I soon may see her again.

"How do I find her mother?" I ask Y, wanting more ideas. "Search the place where you were created, it may hold some clues even after all these years of destruction," Y answers, watching me closely. "You look... strange. But it's a good kind of strange."

"It is hope," I explain. "This is my first experience of the emotion. I like it." "It is a good emotion on you," Y agrees. "I would come with you to find the DNA you wish for, but I must stay with the other Pokémon. These clones would be invaluable to humans and it is our job to protect them, so at least one of us must stay here at all times."

I nod. "Farewell for now, Y. When I return, I shall hopefully have her with me in her new body. Perhaps one day we could even clone your human one day."

"I don't want a petty human clone," Y shakes their head dismissively. "But as you do clearly want your human back, I bid you good luck."

With a nod, I leap into the air, then start flying back towards my place of creation.

I shall bring you back, my friend. Life is only wonderful with you in it.