islandshore | 49

[It's been months since they last talked. Months since they'd even seen each other. And with Terra wide awake now, Riku decides enough is enough and shoots Ven a message via PokéGear.

But the ID no longer exists. Riku instantly feels the weight of a thousand boulders rolling over him.

He tries again to no avail. And again. Maybe he shouldn't be surprised. But still, for one of his most trusted friends to leave without even a chance to hang out for one last time...

There's a reason why he's writing this message in text instead of video.]

Ven's gone.

I don't know how many friends he actually made here, but I figured I'd pass the message along. It's probably what he'd want, right? And it's not like this place ever gives people a chance to say goodbye. Why change things now?

You'd think that after every other disappearance we'd all be used to it, but it never gets easier. Not with the people who really matter. But Kairi's left about a million times now, and I've lost plenty of other friends. Guess it was only a matter of time before he waltzed off, too.

Just... let me know if you wound up with any of his Pokémon, okay? Otherwise, I'll be around.

And no, nothing's wrong.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'll have to drop by Celadon to see if any of the ones at the TC stuck around. Until then, we can only guess. I just hope they didn't wind up in the wrong hands. They deserve better.

[Especially coming from such a kindhearted trainer. Sigh.]

Are the Pokémon at least holding up okay? His departure must've hit them just as hard as the rest of us.

I know what you mean.

[She'll be watching the network extra close from now on. While she doesn't doubt the ones in Riku or Sora or Hope's care will be well cared for, the rest? That'll take some watching like a hawk. Any sign of trouble and she's there.]

They're holding up for now. These three used to be Serah's, so I think they're used to people leaving them behind. Lucky's staying with them for now.

So for them it's like a huge game of keep away... Still, at least they've got others in the same boat. Lucky, for one.

[She was Leon's, so she surely felt the way they did at one point or another.]

And eight others. They won't be alone.

[It's more like a giant game of having the rug torn out from under you, really.]

I think they adjust better than we do, though. It took less than a week for Lucky to go back to her normal self after Leon left. Same with Strike.

Guess that's true. I've still got most of Xion's Pokémon, and they've more than adjusted by now.

But I doubt they ever stopped thinking about her. Even now, they probably still miss her sometimes.

I never said they didn't. They just seem to handle it better than we do most of the time..

[Most. Strike took a little longer than Lucky did...though that may be because she refused to let Lightning so much as pat her head. Lucky never left Lightning's side that first week.]

Maybe they know better than we do about this sort of thing. Maybe they know what's actually going on around here in ways we don't.

It's possible. Just wish it was easier to find out.

I've asked Slash and Ace what they think, but they're just as clueless as we are. Maybe it's because they weren't born in the wild, so their world view's different from the Pokémon that've spent years fending for themselves.

Or it could be that they're just used to separation. I mean, wild Pokémon run the risk of being plucked away from their homes and families on a regular basis.

Could be. I don't think we'll ever know for sure. It's not like we can just walk up to a wild one and ask what they think about it.

[Or maybe they could. She's not going to try, though. What's the point? Better to just make plans for their teams just in case and leave it at that.]

We could, but obviously there's a language barrier. Unless they're Psychic types or can read or write, it'd probably be more trouble than it's worth.

Plus, it won't really change the situation.

49 - text;

[text]

[text]

[text]

[text]

[text]

[text]

[text]

[text]

[text]