Odyssey for Yin and Yang

(3)

Jerking myself from my thoughts, I sighed and rubbed my face, looking around us.

"Are you alright, Amile?" Gladys asked, looking over at me worriedly. We'd travelled all the way across the city to the amusement park while I was distracted by memories, reliving everything in my mind.

"I... Yeah. I remember how I met them..." I explained, leading the way to the maze. On a bench outside the entryway for it was a man dressed in black and white layered shirts, and tan pants, gently patting a Musharna's head as he sat, "No way..." I frowned, seeing long, green hair tied back in a messy ponytail.

"Do you know him, Amile?" Gladys asked as I climbed down from Flash and ran over.

"N?! Did you send me that letter?" I asked as I skidded to a halt beside him.

Jolting slightly, he smiled, and nodded, standing. "I... I did. You see, some friends I made while I was travelling made me watch some older contest videos... I was surprised to recognize you, and even more so that you had Pokémon... But I also think I understood in that moment, why you are always so sad." He frowned, watching me tense, and frown, "I asked your dad, and he explained how you met them."

I nodded, "Never got the ice cream that day. Did the next day, though. That was the first time I got Yang to smile, too. Yin wouldn't trust me until Yang was healed up, and happy herself... I remember that Yang bit Dad the first time he tried to pet her, but after that, they were thick as thieves whenever I was home. Old legends said that Hisuian Zorua hated people and other Pokémon with a burning passion, but Yang was a very sweet Pokémon. She loved helping me with the baking segments in some contests... We tried to go for a title in Kalos, once, but she got hurt and I made her rest instead of compete how she was..." I rubbed my face, eyes burning for the fourth or fifth time today.

Frowning, he reached out and set a hand on my shoulder, "You're alright..."

"I know, but I don't feel alright. Everything is so sudden. It's sweet that you want to help, but its been ten years. I don't know if there really is a chance to find them. I don't know if it'll actually work. I... What even was your plan to try to find them?" I asked, looking at him sadly as Gladys made her way over to us.

"Retrace every step of your journey together, I suppose. I want to know exactly when they disappeared." He explained.

I frowned, thinking. "Retrace everything?"

"Everything. From the start... Every stop along the way. I know you went to several different regions... Musharna can help us by overlaying your memories on the world, as well, or even peering back in time if I use the right partner." he explained, "I want to help you find them... That way we can understand whether or not they did actually abandon you, or if something happened to them and they need you."

The thought made my stomach churn... They may have needed me this whole time and I wasn't there for them... I took a shaky breath and sat down, shaking.

"Even if that is the case, it isn't your fault that they are gone," he frowned, kneeling down in front of me and making eye contact, "If they're alive, we will find them. I promise you, on Reshiram's flames. We'll find them, and bring them home."

"Agreed, hon," Gladys said with a smile.

"Oh... And you are?" N asked curiously, looking at her.

"My name is Gladys, dear. If it is alright, I will be accompanying you two until Yin and Yang are found," she smiled, "My boss told me to that I could take whatever PTO I needed to help her... I've never honestly seen a decent excuse to use those three weeks a year. I guess now I'll have ample time to be there for you two," she chuckled.