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Homecoming

Comet Toradan laid down on the soft cool grass of Fortree Forest as the sun set down over the sky. The fifteen year old Pokemon trainer hadn't been home in months, primarily due to battling in the Kanto and Johto regions. That, and there was going to be an art exhibit with his work in Lilycove for the next week, and Comet wanted his mom to at least get a chance to see it before it moved off to Mossdeep.

Suddenly, a flash of green appeared across the sky. "What the-?" he asked himself as he looked at whatever it was that was flying. It was very high up, higher than most flying Pokemon could fly, and fairly fast. The only thing that Comet was certain of was that it was green, it was long, and it was NOT an ordinary Pokemon. "Huh. Must be more tired than I thought," Comet said to himself as he pulled out his iPhone and flicked it on. Swiping and tapping his thumb a few times, Comet went to sleep listening to some easy rock under the stars.

[][][]

Rayquaza gazed at the still and sleeping form of his son. Arceus above, he'd grown so much.... Rayquaza shook his head. Now wasn't the time to go down that road. Last time that happened, Latias had almost figured out why he was so damned grouchy all the time.

Sighing, Rayquaza twisted his body and accelerated to the stratosphere, eager for the solitude it would provide him. Not many Pokemon could breath up at that altitude, much less reach it, so he only had to worry about the occasional human airplane. Not that he intentionally caused any harm to the damned contraptions.

It was then that Rayquaza felt a presence tickle the back of his mind. Now what? the Sky High Pokemon thought to himself, allowing whatever psychic Legendary it was access to his mind.

[Rayquaza, Lord Arceus requests your presence in the Hall,] a gruff, booming voice resounded in Rayquaza's head, nearly sending the emerald dragon down about a thousand feet.

Rayquaza gulped. If Arceus was requesting him to be in the Hall of Origin, then something must have gone wrong. Like Groudon and Kyogre finally killing each other. Or them actually on something. Personally, he was hoping for the former. Heavens above help him if they actually agreed on anything.

[Very well,] Rayquaza thought back. [I'll be there as soon as I can.] Rayquaza heard Palkia chuckled through the connection.

[You're slow,] the space bending Legendary stated. [Which is why I decided to assist you in meeting Lord Arceus.] Rayquaza had only a moment to absorb the information and feel queasy about it when Palkia opened up a wormhole, sucked Rayquaza in, and spat him out in the middle of the Hall of Origin.

Rayquaza quickly had to use his powers so that he didn't slam head first in the wall; this however still led to there being a sizable impression in the wall. [Hi Rayquaza!] cried out Latias from underneath him. Rayquaza looked down and nodded.

[Latias,] he rumbled as he lowered himself to the floor with the other assembled Legendaries. Soon, Arceus came out and stood at his throne of.

[I have called this meeting in order to discuss a grave threat to us all,] the Alpha Pokemon said grimly. Most of the Legendaries started mumbling to each other, unsure as to what it was that Arceus was talking about. Rayquaza raised an eyeridge. Could it be that the prophesy was finally coming about?

[There is a darkness growing in the world,] Arceus stated. [And we must find a champion to combat it, or else we will fall.] Rayquaza glanced at Dialga.

[Dialga, do you know if we make it through this?] he asked her, startling just about everyone, including Dialga. Dialga quickly reigned in her surprise and answered.

[I... I do not know,] she stated. [It is a period that even my powers cannot manipulate.] For her to admit that was... sobering to the rest of the Hall.

[Rayquaza... are we in trouble?] Latias asked Rayquaza in a scared whisper. Rayquaza felt torn as he contemplated what to tell her.

[I... I don't know. I would like to think that we will make through this though,] he told her, looking at Arceus. [Lord Arceus, what about the prophesy?]

Arceus whipped his head to look at Rayquaza. [The prophesy? Rayquaza, the prophesy is a joke. Why would you of all my children have any faith in it?]

That immediately put Rayquaza in a bind. If he lied, Arceus would notice, and he'd be reprimanded like no one could imagine. If he told the truth... well, it was worth a shot.

[Lord Arceus, the impure gem that the prophesy mentions... I may have met the child during my time on Earth recently,] Rayquaza stated, using only most of the truth. Arceus look at him intriqued, while Ho-oh asked the obvious.

[You think you met the child?] she asked. [What do you mean by saying that?] Rayquaza resisted the urge to groan.

[I mean, Lady Ho-oh,] Rayquaza tried to say politely, [Is that I have met the child very recently. His name is Comet Torodan, and I believe he may be the one to help in our time of need!]

Eyes were looking straight at Rayquaza in bewilderment. Never had they seen Rayquaza this well, positive about anything. Even Arceus raised a nonexistent eyebrow at Rayquaza's statement. [And what makes you believe this?] he asked.

Rayquaza paled. [I... well, umm, I... I knew this child for some time,] he mumbled.

[Really? You were with humans?] Latias asked, hovering up next to him smiling. [That's so cool Rayquaza! How long have you known him?]

Rayquaza gulped as he looked at Arceus' increasingly stern glare. [...since birth...,] he said, shrinking into his own coils. [I happened to be good friends with his mother....]

[Friends? Ha, that's a pretty bad joke, even for you Rayquaza!] boomed Groudon as he sat beside Heatran. [I thought you hated that trainer's guts for having somehow captured you! Even if you did help her save the world and all.]

Never had Rayquaza wanted to kill his brother so much, as right this moment. Apparently, Groudon got the hint, as he leaned back away from Rayquaza. But that was nothing compared to the rage that was now seeping out of Arceus.

[You were captured by a human?] Arceus said coldly. Rayquaza looked over at him, floating away from the Judgment Pokemon.

[Yes, yes I was,] Rayquaza stated. [I was then let go.]

[Yeah, like ten years later,] Groudon said. [I mean, come on, what did she do to make you....] Groudon fell silent as he, and by extension, the rest of the hall realized what had happened.

[Rayquaza, did you have... interaction with this human?] Arceus asked. Rayquaza looked around the hall at the faces of his fellow Legendaries. Most of them, especially Arceus and Giratina, were fairly disturbed at the notion of Rayquaza had done. Latias on the other hand seemed... well, surprised, but not disgusted. Rayquaza simply sighed.

[Yes.]

Arceus trembled angrily. [Rayquaza, Lord and Guardian of the Skies, you have shamed yourself!] Arceus roared. [For your indiscretions, and for your capture by a mere mortal, you shall be judged!]

The last thing that Rayquaza saw in this life was Latias' heartbroken face as her surrogate brother disappeared.

]|[]|[

Fortree

The Next Day...

Comet sighed in relaxation as he walked across the wooden bridges that crisscrossed Fortree City. He had just gotten back about half an hour ago, and if his mother was still working as a teacher, then he would still be able to surprise her when he got home. Looking around, he smiled as he saw his childhood home. Walking over, he stopped and closed his eyes, smiling.

"Good to be home," he said to himself as he took the house key and opened the door. "Sara, I'm home!" he said as he entered the house, calling out to his mother's resident house Pokemon. From the living room, a Zangoose opened an eye and yawned. Sara was one of his mother's old Pokemon, a former League winner too. But those days were long gone, and due to age, Sara just wasn't much for competitive battling anymore. Still, she made a great guardian for the house, and an even better friend growing up.

Walking over to the old Pokemon, Comet reached out and scratched behind Sara's ears. "Great to see you too Sara," Comet said as Sara closed her eye and began lightly purring in content. Getting back up, Comet went to the door of his room. Sighing, he opened the door.

His room was still a bit of a mess, what with paint brushes, several canvases, and an easel competing for space with the dresser, nightstand, and bed. Pulling out his Pokeballs, Comet held them out. "Okay guys, we're home!" he said, releasing them. Four beams of light erupted and solidified into his casual traveling team. His official starter, a Grovyle named Cale, looked around the room and with a chirp, headed out the window to bask in the sunlight. His second was a Mightyena, Milo, who simply walked out of the room to go find some food. His Espeon, Kira hopped up onto his bed to sleep on his pillow.

The last member of the team, upon leaving her Pokeball, quickly turned to see Comet, and then glomp the living daylights out of him. Comet gasped for breath as the two tumbled to the floor. "Kat... can't...breathe...."

The Zoroark who was nuzzling him whined as she loosened her grip on her trainer. "Zor? Zo-Zoroark?" she said, looking at him. Comet sighed in defeat as Katya gave him the baby Growlithe eyes.

"Yeah I know, you're glad we're home, and yes, I'm happy to see you again too," he told her, petting her back. "But Kat, can I please get up? I want to be able to surprise Mom when she gets home, and I'd prefer not to smell like a guy who hasn't showered in days."

Kat chuffed at him. "Kat, I'm serious! Most humans don't like the smell of their own body odor!" Kat whined as she finally let go of Comet. Comet sat up, only to have his Pokemon give him a quick lick-kiss to the ear. "GYAH! Kat!" Comet whined. "You know how much that annoys me!" Kat closed her eyes and churred, smiling innocently. Comet sighed. "You behave yourself, alright," Comet ordered half-heartedly. "I'm going to take that shower. And please, try not to break down the door every time I sing in the shower, I mean really, my voice isn't that bad!"

Katya gave him a flat look as Comet grabbed a change of clothes and left the room. Getting up, Katya went and sat by the window, looking out into the forest that much of Fortree was built into. [Oh Comet, why do you have to be so thick-headed?] she said to herself. While she was about three or four years old in human terms, among her species, she figured that she was more in the human equivalent of the teenage years. And as such, well... certain things were becoming a bit more noticeable to her now.

[Out of curiosity, why is it that you seem to shower so much affection to Comet?]

Kat looked over at Kira, who was looking at her from the top of Comet's bed. [Well, for one thing, we've been together ever since I could remember,] she told the Espeon. [And well... I...] Kat wasn't sure how to say what she thought. Kira gave her an inquisitive look.

[You 'like' him?] Kira asked, her forked tail flicking. Kat nodded, looking ashamed. [...well, I wish the best for you then.]

Katya looked at her teammate, surprised. [Wait, you... you're not angry?] she asked, swiveling in place, scattering a small cup full of pencils all over the place. Kira chuckled as she groomed her leg.

[It's been obvious to me for a while now,] the Psychic-type stated. [I was just waiting to see how long it took for you to actually admit it.]

Kat sighed and looked down at the floor. [Yes, I... like Comet, but you we can never be together,] she said sadly. [People and Pokemon aren't meant to be together like that.]

[Katya, human law says that,] Kira said. [Besides, perhaps Comet feels the same way,] she added, smirking in that annoying feline way.

[What do you mean?] Katya asked. [Have you been spying in his head?]

Kira stopped grooming momentarily to give her friend a stern look. [Kat, you know I would neverbetray his trust in me like that,] she told the Zoroark. [I merely say this because I want to see him happy, and so do you.] It was an open secret that Comet, no matter how positive he seemed to be on any given day, always was sad about something. And it was something that none of the Pokemon really knew about, save that it involved his father.

[Well... his birthday is in a few days,] Kat said after about a minute. [I might tell him then.]

[Well, I hear that at this time of year, the sunsets at the Scorched Slab are wonderful,] Kira said, curling back up into a ball to sleep.

Kat looked back outside the window. The Scorched Slab... well, it was worth a shot. After all, what did she have to lose besides her dignity and possible friendship with her trainer?

]|[]|[

Comet finally came out of the bathroom, dressed and clean shaven. Whipping his head about, the young man shook the last bits of water out of his hair, and stretched. The teen walked back to his room and looked in. There was Kira, laying on his pillow sleeping, and Katya was looking out the window, looking forlorn.

Comet walked into the room and sat down by Kat. "Kat, I'm sorry if I seemed a little harsh earlier," he told her. "It's just that... well, Mom has standards, and I try to stick with them." Comet sighed. "And, well... I'm sorry."

Kat looked over at her trainer and rested her head on his shoulder. [Comet, it's alright,] she told him, knowing that he couldn't really understand her. [You could never be all that bad to me, and I wish you knew that.]

Comet smiled as his Zoroark answered him. "Thanks Katya," he said, giving her a quick hug. "You know, there are days where I wish I knew what you were saying." Kat began blushing under her fur. That may be a wish that Comet did not need granted.

"Hey Kat... I was wondering...."

Kat looked over at her trainer, curious. "Well...I was thinking," Comet said. "That... well, would you like to keep challenging the Hoenn League with me?" Kat huffed as he finished and looked at her expectantly.

[Comet, you sure are dense,] she said, churring as she rubbed her head against his neck. [But yes, I'll keep you company my m-friend!] Damn, that was close!

Comet smiled and laughed, a pure sound that Kat absolutely adored. "I'll take that as a yes then," he said, running his hand through her mane of red fur. And Kat simply kept silent, happy to be with the object of her affections.

Even if he was a human.

But he was her human.