Teddy wasn’t sure how MunchMunch did it.

  Like, physically.

  The little gremlin was barely more than half a meter tall, and yet had managed to eat…

  He watched MunchMunch giggle contentedly in his sleep, both paws stuffed in his mouth.

  Teddy exhaled, shaking his head with a smile.

  Four cakes. Three lasagnas. Eight bowls of cheese sauce.

  He hadn’t even slowed for the meat and cheese platters.

  In the end, it was his wallet that ended the battle.

  He looked at Munchlax again. Each cake was almost as big as he was. He really didn’t understand where he put it.

  “Looks like it’ll be time for some battles soon,” he chuckled, easing himself onto the bed.

  He did his best not to think about it, but his feet throbbed. Nurse Joy had told him he would need to check in with her in the morning as he made his way to his room in the Center.

  The afternoon had been for MunchMunch and Happy.

  He was looking forward to spending some time with Shadow, after she was done talking with that Umbreon that had invited herself to dinner.

  Not that he minded — Shadow had gestured to let her stay, and that was enough for him.

  He groaned, switching into his sleeping clothes. The worst part of the bandages were the shorts.

  Shorts were reserved for bed and home time relaxing. And apparently for when bandages on your feet prevented pants.

  “You must take at least one pair of shorts, young man,” his mum had said. “You’d be surprised how often a trusty pair of shorts comes in handy.”

  He had exactly one pair — the pair she insisted come with.

  Right again, as always.

  He would need to call her soon, but for now a text would suffice.

  Got to Ecruteak. Team is safe for the night. Love you!

  It was all… technically true. No need to tell her about him losing most of his Team.

  “Gaaaaaas,” Shadow greeted, drifting through the door.

  Teddy smiled and turned to his partner.

  “Hey Partner.”

  She glanced over to where their food gremlin was sleeping off his coma, Togepi nestled comfortably atop his tummy, before drifting over and settling in his lap.

  “Thanks for finding him. I missed you. Both of you,” he whispered, petting her head.

  He had to be careful he didn’t pass his hand through her. The act of petting was more symbolic than anything, as he couldn’t really feel her at all.

  Well, maybe a little — but he couldn’t be sure it wasn’t him wanting it bad enough that his mind played tricks.

  She seemed to enjoy it nonetheless.

  “Lyyyyy,” she whispered.

  “Yeah,” he agreed, pulling out the Apricorn Ball and rolling it in his palm, “I couldn’t shake the thought in the back of my mind — that I might never see you two again. I promise to be more careful.”

  “Gast. Ly.”

  I would have found you regardless.

  Teddy drew up short, then chuckled. “I believe you.”

  Shadow smiled.

  “So… we made it, huh? Ecruteak, City of Ghosts. Not exactly how I imagined arriving.”

  Shadow agreed dryly.

  “I really hope we can learn a lot while we are here. There is a school I want to stop by, maybe learn something about Ghosts. Speaking of, do you think Morty knows we are here?”

  She drew up short, then shook her body.

  “Yeah, you’re probably right. We aren’t really important enough for him to keep dibs on. Soon though. Soon,” he promised, both to himself and to his Shadow.

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  Shadow cackled deliciously in agreement, keeping her voice low enough as not to disturb the children.

  “Gas. Gas. Ly?”

  “Mmm… she was good,” Teddy answered, settling into bed while Shadow drifted above him. “She is still so young, I’m not sure she really understood what was going on. I could tell she missed MunchMunch, though.”

  Shadow chuckled as they both looked over to where Togepi was grabbing Munchlax’s belly tightly, even in her sleep.

  She looked peaceful, but determined he would be there when she woke.

  “Can’t believe we have a Fairy Type… and from an Egg mum sent me herself, nonetheless.”

  “Ly,” Shadow agreed.

  “Come on, don’t be like that — she has been good so far. And MunchMunch loves her,”

  Shadow sighed. “Gas—ly.”

  Teddy chuckled. They would both do anything to see MunchMunch happy.

  “MunchMunch is easy though. He is nothing but love, joy, and food. I think she is going to be a bit more of a handful.”

  The look Shadow gave him made him burst out laughing. He hurriedly stuffed a pillow in front of his face before checking to make sure they were still asleep.

  “I missed you,” he chuckled, wiping the tears from his eyes.

  He was surprised to find they were still flowing, even after the laughter was done.

  A soft sob escaped him.

  Gastly drifted softly into his shadow, his silent support as the weight of the Journey finally caught up.

  ____

  Shadow kept silent watch as Teddy drifted to sleep, the Summons soft but insistent in the background.

  It had taken her a moment to realize what it was, but she was proud of him.

  He was barely more than a child himself, caring for two little ones and striving to do everything perfect.

  She wondered at the wisdom of a Journey.

  Not at the idea itself.

  The chance to grow powerful?

  That was correct. Wonderful, even.

  But no. It was the idea that humans should do it so young — and her Teddy was older than most when they started.

  She shrugged.

  In the end it didn’t matter.

  And the only one she really cared about was Teddy.

  They would grow together.

  They would become strong together.

  And if MunchMunch was to be the Protector?

  She would be the Guardian.

  She shivered as the Hallow-winds scratched at the window.

  The Summons were clear: she would appear tonight.

  But still she delayed a moment.

  She didn’t need to be here, watching her Team sleep.

  Yet she wanted to be.

  Togepi trilled in her sleep and opened her eyes, turning to look at her.

  For a moment, she seemed to gaze deeply through Shadow.

  Shadow paused.

  Then the moment was gone and the infant cooed softly at her, turning to nestle MunchMunch’s Tummy again as she drifted off to sleep.

  Shadow snorted.

  Her Teddy was right about one thing. The Fairy was going to be a handful.

  She sighed and slipped quietly through the window. The Winds were insistent enough, she was sure the other Ghosts could hear them as well.

  As such, the Center’s Gengar would forgive her lack of propriety.

  When she returned, she would use the door.

  For now?

  She had a summons to meet.

  ____

  The insistence of the summons died the moment she was outside, fading into a soft beacon.

  She once again marveled at the city.

  Soft lampposts illuminated the night, gently burning the shadows away before flickering and allowing them to return.

  She smiled as a group of young Gastly played the game, trying to anticipate where the light would burn away the shadows next.

  They turned to regard her silently.

  Shadow nodded, and one made to join her.

  But the Hallow-winds blew and they shrank back.

  Gastly smiled.

  Tonight, there would be no distractions.

  She expanded and continued on her way. On a rooftop, a Sableye glinted in the moonlight.

  “I like this city very much,” she whispered to herself. It felt… like home.

  Building windows glowed softly, evidence people were still awake. She came across one young trainer attempting to convince a Shuppet to join him… with food.

  The Shuppet stared at him in bemusement.

  Shadow snorted.

  On another corner, an elderly woman sat beneath a lamppost.

  Shadow had trouble telling the age of humans, but the measure aura of this one was difficult to miss.

  She sat wrapped in her shawl, incense burning as she held a picture of a Linoone.

  Shadow blinked.

  That could be her Teddy one day.

  She…. hadn’t thought of that before.

  The thought displeased her greatly.

  Time, and time alone, would be the Great Separator for her Team.

  She drifted on through the night, watching as lives unfolded around her.

  So caught up in moving forward as of late, Shadow had forgotten how much she enjoyed watching.

  She would have to make time again. She thought back to the momentary depth she glimpsed in the Fairies eyes earlier.

  Maybe she would have an unlikely companion in that regard.

  She stopped at the Shrine nestled before the woods in the back of the City.

  Two small candles bravely sought to keep the darkness at bay.

  They failed.

  The night deepened as she waited for the first stroke of Night’s Height.

  She exhaled when the candles finally lost their fight.

  The Winds shifted, from guiding to beckoning.

  Shadow breathed and slowly floated into the darkness.

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