Dare POV

As I step into the field of snow, I realize that I truly miss it. The cold, the wind, the snow under my feet. ...I miss it so much.

Asha scoops up a pawful of snow and lets it melt in her paw. She sighs.

"So you remember," she says, "when we first met?"

I nod, closing my eyes. "It was a huge snowstorm. I kept sensing a disaster from my cave, until I finally walked out. Then I saw you."

"I was afraid," Asha admits. "I thought you were going to kill me. But then you actually saved me, and..."

"...and I brought you to my cave," I continue. "You didn't talk at all! Just stared at me."

Asha smiles. "Right," she says. "I remember that." Then she closes her eyes and says, "I can't believe we're finally home,"

Ten seconds later, we're both sprinting at full speed into the hills of white snow.

Shadow POV

I watch as Dare and Asha run through the snow, and I shiver. How do they put up with the cold? I'm freezing, and I'm only on the edge, in the grass field!

As I glance at Julie, I realize that it's worse for her. She stares into the snow, hugging herself.

"Julie," I say without thinking, "you don't have to come."

She turns to me. "What?"

"I said if- if you don't want to, you don't have to come."

Julie nods. "I understand completely," she says. "Too cold for me anyways. I can wait back at the Silver Town- would that be okay?" She glances behind her.

"It'll be fine," I say, relaxing. At least Julie can be understanding, unlike the rest of my friends these days.

Quickly she turns around and hurries into the pine forest we came through. I pause slightly, wondering if she'd be okay.

I wonder if I should go with her.

I mean, it's cold up here, and warmer down there, and I won't have to deal with all these stupid Pokemon I actually thought was my team once-

I freeze, and not because of the cold.

Did I just- I just-

Fury replaces the cold when I feel tears again. Stop it, stop! I shout in my head. You're so emotional!

Before I could call out to Julie, she has already disappeared into the forest.

I stare after her for a second, my heart pounding. Then I run after her.

    Torch POV

    I nervously trot through the forest, my feet making prints in the dirt. I'm praying that no trainers come and think I'm a wild Pokemon, because I'm not! I'm Britney's starter Pokemon!

    Well, I used to be. She's been kidnapped by some weirdos in black and white suits. They took Azu, too- something about a Fairy soul.

    I hear footsteps and lift my head. A second later a human walks into the clearing.

    She has blond hair and brown eyes.

    She looks awfully familiar.

    We stare at each other for a second. She opens her mouth like she wants to say something, but blinks and slowly moves around me. Something clicks in my brain.

    "You're Britney's sister," I say without thinking.

    The girl stops, briefly glancing over her shoulder. She looks extremely troubled, like she wants to do something, but she's not supposed to.

    "You're Torch, aren't you?" She says softly. "Britney's."

    I silently nod. How did she know?

    "Why are you out here?" She asks. "Where's Britney?"

    Staring at her, I think, Why is she asking me? It's not like she'd be able to understand.

    "Tell me," The girl says. What's her name again? Oh, right. Julianna.

    "She was kidnapped," I blurt out, "by men in black and white suits."

    Julie seems to freeze. "...Was there... Did they have a Pokeball symbol on their backs?"

    It's my turn to tense up.

    Julie just understood me.

    Slowly I nod, swallow, and ask, "How-"

    Suddenly a purple-black Pokemon runs into the clearing, nearly crashing into me. I think he's- what are they called?- a Zorua.

    "Julie!" He calls. "I'm coming with you!"

    "You are?" She says in surprise. "Why?"

    "I-I don't really like the cold."

    I look from one to the other incredulously, back and forth. They're having a freaking conversation. A human and a Pokemon.

    And they're acting like it's perfectly normal!

    "What is going on?" I exclaim.

    They turn to me. Julie blushes.
  
    "Well- um- can I tell him?" She asks the Zorua.

    He shrugs. "It's not like he hasn't figured it out already."

    Julie uncomfortably nods. "Well, um, Torch. I can kind of understand Pokemon. I have this- this translator thing-" she holds up one of her hands, and I notice she has a beaded bracelet. "So... Yeah."

    I stare at her. "What in the- what."

    The Zorua stares at me like he just only noticed me now. "Have we met before?"

    I frown. "No- No, I don't really think so. Where could we have met?"

    Julie exhales. "Well, what are we going to do? Shadow, are you sure you want to come?"

    "Positive," the Zorua- Shadow- responds.

    "Where are you going?" I ask. "Can I please come with you?"

    "Um," Julie says, "are you sure? Because if you'd rather be with Pokemon, there's plenty of them in a group up in the snow back there."

    I pause. I would enjoy being with Pokemon, and the tundra is where Britney caught her first Pokemon.

    "Okay," I say finally. "Where do I go?"

    Nobody answers for a second, until Shadow offers, "I'll show you."

    Julie blinks. "So are you going with the others?"

    He slowly nods. "I- I mean, I guess. I've sort of got a friend now." He blinks at me. "Are we friends?"

    "Alright," I say softly.

    Shadow nods, smiling. "Yeah. So I'm going back."

    Julie seems to understand. "Okay. Stay safe. And Torch- I'll keep a lookout for Britney."

    That's the last thing my trainer's sister said before she vanished.

    Shadow grins at me. "So- I guess your name is Torch? Torch the Torchic?"

    "Yep. And you're Shadow the Zorua."

    He laughs. "I am." Then he frowns slightly, studying me. "But I seriously think we've met before."

    I shake my head. "I don't. I don't really remember seeing or fighting a Zorua. So, uh- is Julie your trainer or something?"

    "No, no. I've got a different trainer." Shadow sits up and stretches. "Anyways, you wanna get going? My tea- my friends are probably wondering where I am."

    "Okay."

    We walk through the pine forest, and we don't go far. Less than a minute passes and suddenly the forest opens up into an enormous field of snow. A couple yards away from us is an assorted group of Pokemon- I see a Lucario, an Espeon, and a Gardevoir, to name a few.

    "Hey guys," Shadow calls, "we've got someone who wants to join us."

    The group turns around, and suddenly I see an Absol. His eyes widen when he sees me.

    Fire burns inside me and I snarl at him.

    "You!"