Her eyes are too wide, her arms too thin and she doesn't even reach his shoulder – then again, she had been the same. But the air about her is the same, the way she shouts commands and praises each and every Pokémon on her team – it's the same.

His heart clenches. Or at least he thinks it does. Emotions – once such trivial things – are still foreign to him. But he does feel sad. He knows that much at least.

Their footsteps echo in the ruins of what once was a proud, towering castle. Cracks of light filter down through spider web cracks in the ceiling, casting an almost ethereal glow about the room and chasing away shadows that had made this place their home.

She watches him, cautious but not afraid.

Like her, a voice in his head whispers. He can't bring himself to disagree.

He tells her, then, about the battle he had had two years ago, the trainer he had lost to and how he had left afterwards, wanting to search for the right idea.

Her eyes, so bright and so blue, are enraptured. She listens quietly though, only nodding every now and then to show she's still following until he's finished and silence trails after his voice has receded.

Afterwards he tells her of his intentions, he calls the legendary dragon Pokémon forth and challenges her, giving a small smile when she accepts and tosses a Poke ball, bringing out her Samurott.

The battle seems too quick, too fast paced before the dragon is down and she's stroking her battered Lucario, thanking it for doing such a wonderful job and giving it a Sitrus Berry.

He runs a hand over his partner for the past two years, silently thanking it for all the hard work and experience he's gained throughout their journey together. The dragon bows its head, noble even after being defeated, and gazes him at with an emotion no human can replicate.

He congratulates her then, handing her the stone with a heavy heart and heavy hands. It's hard, to say goodbye to another friend but he knows this is right and he'll never forget what he learned while traveling with the legendary.

She says, surprising him, that'll she bring it for a visit, if that's okay. He nods after a moment, and she smiles again, saying, "I must be going." (She doesn't need to say she'll take good care of the dragon resting as a stone against her breast; they both know she will).

Her footsteps fade as she gets farther and farther away. A hushed silence falls once she's left.

His Zoroark prods his hand with a cold nose, asking a silent question. Are you alright?

"I will be," his voice sounds loud, even to him. "I just have to find her, so I can say thank you. And…"

And? Zoroark coaxes.

"… perhaps ask for another ride on the Ferris wheel."