Cupcake's POV:

It had been an entire day and Moon still wasn't back. I was getting extremely worried about her.

It's all my fault. I thought. If I had been a better sister, she wouldn't have ran off. If I hadn't been a jerk, she might be happy.

I would be out searching for Moon with Branch if it wasn't for the pouring rain. The storm that had been on the horizon for days had finally unleashed its rath upon Sunspire. The rain hadn't stopped since it started. Branch had written to his girlfriend to visit, and once she got here, she had headed out with him to go find Moon. They had been gone for almost 3 hours now. I sat on the floor, looking at different recipes deciding if I should bake one, when I heard a knock on the door.

Opening it, I saw the stupid Vaporeon standing there.

"What do you want?" I growled.

"Is Moon here?" He asked, a sad look on his face.

"No. No, she isn't."

"Oh. Where is she?"

"Missing. My brother and his girlfriend are out searching for her."

"Oh. Can I help?"

"I'm not sure. Can you?"

Wave looked hurt but I didn't care. He was a jerk with a jerk face and jerk fins. He looked at his paws for awhile before he looked up at me with a determined look on his face.

"I can help. And I will. I'll find Moon and bring her back. I promise."

I was surprised by his determination, but it didn't change how I thought of him. Before I could make another sassy remark, he ran off to search for Moon.

"He's going to get himself killed, lost, or both." I muttered, closing the door.

Returning to my cookbooks, I chose to make Moon's favorite dessert. Bluk Berry Cobbler. Moving into the kitchen, I began gathering all the tools and ingredients I needed to make it. As I was mixing the berries together, I looked outside and saw that the storm had worsened substantially. The sky was so dark it was almost black, everything was soaking wet, the wind was blowing everything to and fro, thunder was booming, lightning was flashing, and it looked just miserable outside.

Glad I'm in here. I thought. Nothing I hate more than wet fur.

Taking the berry mixture, I poured it into a pan and began making the crust to go on top. As I did, I whistled a happy tune and my thoughts strayed to that Flareon. That cute, handsome Flareon.

No! Pull yourself together! You will not be falling for some sap like him. I scolded myself.

I shook my head and distracted myself with the baking.

Branch's POV:

The rain felt wonderful on my fur. Made me feel rejuvenated and fresh. Hydrated even. Crystal however, didn't think the same.

"Babe," she said "I'm worried about Moon too, but can we wait till it's not pouring rain? I'm soaked."

I looked behind me at the beautiful Alolan Ninetails and smiled at her.

"Oh Crystal, no need to worry. You're beautiful, soaked or not." I told her, giving her a wink.

"You charmer." She teased.

I smiled and brushed my tail against one of hers. She kissed the top of my head and smiled. She was slightly taller than me, but I didn't care.

"Ugh. I can't be grumpy when you're around." She said.

I laughed and she snuggled close to me.

"We might have to take a break soon." I admitted, looking up at the darkening sky.

"I'm sure Moon is fine. She's tough. She's been through stuff like this before." Crystal said, looking into my eyes.

"Yeah, but she had that one pokemon to help her." I said worriedly.

"She'll be fine. Right now, I'm more worried about you. I don't want you getting a cold cause you were out here too much." Crystal said in the voice she used when she babied me.

"But Moon-"

"Branch, you are a wonderful big brother to her. I know you want to go find her, but you can't help her if you can't help yourself. You need to be okay before you find her, okay. We've been out here for long enough. We can get back to searching for her once you've warmed up and rested."

I let out a sigh of defeat and nodded. Crystal smiled and kissed my head again before we began walking back to the den.

Arceus, please watch over Moon. Send her another pokemon to watch over her. Please. I prayed silently.

*****************************************

Once we got back to the den, Cupcake greeted us with a smile that quickly vanished once she realized Moon was not with us. She dishes us up some Bluk Berry Cobbler. I didn't eat much, however, because it didn't feel right to do so when Moon wasn't there to enjoy it as well. We sullenly sat around the house, waiting for the storm to calm down enough for us to go back out. Cupcake was in the kitchen baking more sweets (her way of coping) and I laid next to Crystal, her nine tails covering me like a blanket.

"I've missed you, beautiful." I told her, eyes closed.

"I missed you too, handsome." She replied, licking me behind my ear.

I smiled but kept my eyes closed. I felt so tired. All I wanted to do was find Moon, but my body was so tired. Just one short nap couldn't hurt, could it?

Wave's POV:

The storm was brutal. The rain felt like millions of tiny fists punching me, the wind threatened to blow me off my feet and into next year, and the thunder was deafining. Still, I pushed forward, determined to find Moon and fix everything I did to her in the past 2 days. I didn't know where she went, or where she would go, but something was telling me to go to the little clearing by Pike Peak that had the pond.

As I made my way towards Pike Peak, strange visions danced before my eyes. One in particular caught my notice. It was one of me sitting on a beach. The sun was setting and it was getting dark. I sat facing the ocean and the sunset and next to me was....

Smack!

"Ouch!" I said, rubbing my now bruised head. Will I was distracted daydreaming, I had ran into a tree.

"I'll feel that in the morning." I muttered to myself.

Getting back up, I continued walking towards Pike Peak, more slowly this time. The rained lessened slightly, and so did the wind. The storm calming down gave me courage and I pressed on.

After another half hour I made it to Pike Peak. I walked to the peak in the question and looked down on Sunspire Town and the ocean beyond. I smiled as the sight brought back many good and happy memories of spending nights camped up here with Burn and Sandy.

Heading back down the peak somewhat, I began heading in the direction of the pond. As I did, the storm intensified, growing stronger than it was before. The wind almost sent me flying so many times that I had to move with my belly almost touching the ground. As I drew closer to the pond, rain pelting me, a bolt of lightning struck a nearby tree, setting it on fire despite the rain.

Panicked, I began running, only to be picked up by the wind and sent flying above the trees. I landed with a splash into some water. Swimming to the surface I knew it was the pond I was looking for.

How convenient. I thought.

Scanning the small clearing, my eyes landed upon the unconscious form of an Umbreon. Next to the dark type stood an angry looking Luxray. He was smiling evilly at Moon.

"Hey!" I shouted, not sure what my plan was. "Over here!"

The Luxray turned and looked at me with a confused look.

"Where did you come from?!" He snapped.

"The sky." I said simply.

He looked at me as if I was crazy. I got up out of the water and smiled at him, most likely solidifying the idea that I was crazy.

"What do you want?" He asked me.

"I would like to bring that mon over there back to where she belongs."

"I don't believe you. Go bother somemon else. We're busy."

I tilted my head at him. What exactly was he planning on doing to Moon?

Without a second thought I used quick attack and rammed into the electric type's side, knocking him over. He stood back up and growled before using thunder bolt. I quickly jumped out of the way only to be hit with electro ball. I grit my teeth and fired a hydro pump in return. The Luxray was hit and sent soaring into a tree. He stood up and growled before using wild charge. He slammed me into a rock, bruising himself in the process.

He then jumped back and used electric terrain. Sparks of electricity jumped around the ground, amplified by the rain. He followed it up by charge and began glowing with electricity. I decided to even the playing field by using rain dance. I then unleashed a aurora beam, freezing the Luxray's left foot. He struggled trying to break it free, and I took the opportunity to use surf and flood the area with water.

The Luxray was sent careening into a tree, followed by a rock. He stumbled back to his feet and glared at me. He ran and me and used crunch on my tail. I screamed out in pain and used aurora beam on him again. This time, I hit his face, freezing him to my tail. The Luxray used discharge, expelling all of his pent up energy. The shock I received made me tense up. I realized that I was beginning to be paralyzed. One more shock from any electrical attack, and I'd be at the Luxray's mercy.

To the best of my ability, I made sure to keep myself between the Luxray and Moon. The battle between me and the electric type lasted a very long time, as we were both evenly matched. Eventually we both grew tired and sluggish, making mistakes we hadn't before. I readied a hydro pump, but left my flank unguarded. The Luxray used wild charge, but missed me completely, leaving him exposed to my counter attack.

"What are you even doing up here?" I asked my opponent, panting. "The battles start today. Most everymon is down in Sunspire watching the battles."

"I'm not participating in them. Besides, I have orders." The Luxray replied.

"Orders? From who?"

"None of your business. Now for the last time, give up already!"

"No. I won't let you lay a single toe bean on her."

The Luxray roared at me and used wild charge again. However, I saw this coming and as he was about to hit me, I jumped to the side and used take down. I slammed my shoulder into him and shoved the Luxray into the ground before I used last resort and body slammed the electric type with all my remaining strength. The Luxray began standing back up, but collapsed back to the ground almost instantly. I felt his pulse and nodded. He was still breathing. Barely.

Turning my attention away from the now unconscious Luxray, I moved to Moon to see if she was still okay. Her chest was moving up and down meaning she was breathing just fine. She had a few bruises, from what I didn't know, and one or two scratches, but she was still in good health. I struggled for a moment, but I managed to get her up onto my back and I proceeded to carry her down the mountain.

The storm was relentless. The rain kept coming and coming. I began to think it would never stop raining. When I was halfway down the mountain, I heard a loud boom and looked around. It sounded like thunder, but as I looked up I saw something that truly scared me.

A large dragon looking pokemon with piercing red eyes was in the dark clouds. It's eyes turned towards my and they flashed bright red before with another boom, the pokemon was gone. I shivered and decided to hide in a cave till the worst of the storm was over. Looking around, I saw one that sat near a ledge. It seemed nice and dry so I moved me and Moon inside of it.

Once we were safe inside, I built a small fire using the method all none fire types used to start fires if need be. After I got the fire started, I moved Moon closer to it so she could be warm. After doing so, I made my way back into the storm to search for berries, specifically Oran berries. Soon I found a couple bushes with the berries on them and I picked two pawfuls. Heading back, I looked up at the sky again trying to see if I could find the strange pokemon again.

Reaching the cave, I set the Oran berries down in a pile and began squeezing the juices out of many of them and into a cup I had inside my waterproof bag. I then took the juice and moved towards Moon. I opened her mouth and tilted her head back as I poured the juice down her throat. After she drank it all she coughed a little bit before growing silent again.

After that I let her rest and left her alone. I stood by the mouth of the cave and watched the rain fall. The storm continued for what seemed likes hours. Soon I grew tired and my eyes started to droop. Before I fell asleep, however, I walked back over to Moon to make sure she was still breathing. After doing so I laid down opposite of her and let myslef drift off into the land of dreams.

Moon's POV:

My everything hurt. I groaned as I opened my eyes. I was laying on the floor of a cave.

How did I get here? I thought.

The last thing I remember was being at the pond when it started to rain. And then there was a Luxray. And then I can't remember anything else. I looked around the cave and saw a fire had been lit quite close to where I was. It was close enough to keep me warm without making me feel hot. Opposite of me and next to the fire was a blue pokemon. One that I knew all to well.

"Wave?" I gasped.

He stirred but did not wake. I nervously took a step forward, trying to get a better look at the Vaporeon, when I almost tripped on something on the floor. Looking down I saw the bag Wave liked to wear and a pile of Oran berries next to it. I then realized that, even though my whole body hurt, it didn't hurt as bad as I remember it hurting. I noticed a empty cup as well that still had some blue juice in it. 

Did he....why did he....but.... I thought, extremally confused. 

I then had a flashback to that terrible night. The night my parents died. The night I was saved from drowning by a Vaporeon. The Vaporeon watched over me that night until the sun rose and Branch and Cupcake found me. I was never able to thank him and I still hope I can find him so that I can show my gratitude. Part of me thought Wave might be that Vaporeon, like on the night I ran into him on accident, but I had long ago dismissed that idea. 

Returning to the present, I was thinking of something to do when Wave woke up. He let out an adorable yawn and looked around sleepy-eyed. His eyes landed on me and they widened. 

"Oh! Moon! You're awake!" He said happily. "How are you feeling? Do you need more Oran berries?" 

 "N-no....well maybe." I said, still a little nervous around him. 

The Vaporeon began moving towards his stuff before he stopped, looking at me. "May I?" He asked. 

"Oh....uh yes of course." I said, stepping back. 

Wave busied himself with making another Oran juice drink for me. I watched him and my heart fluttered. 

No! I thought fiercely. This has already happened to you before. You felt the same way about Swift and look where that got you. 

I turned my attention away from the Vaporeon and to the rain outside. Thunder roared, a deafening sound that made my ears hurt. Following the roar, the clouds lit up as a flash of lightning arched across the sky. Despite how loud and frightening it was, the storm was quite calming. I turned around and saw the Wave had finished the drink. 

"You can have it now. If you want." He said. 

Why are you so cute? I demanded the Vaporeon in my head. 

I nodded to the water type and moved to the cup. I picked it up and downed the juice. As soon as I did I felt a couple of my cuts and bruises heal, giving me more relief from the pain. 

Turning to the Vaporeon, I said "Thank you." He just nodded in response. 

We sat there for a long, awkward moment. I stared at my paws and Wave stared at his. 

"Hey, um....Moon?" Wave asked after awhile. 

"Yes?" I looked up over at his face, trying to hide the hope in my eyes. 

"I know I messed up and didn't take you to the Sunspire library, so I was wondering if you would like to try again. For real this time. I'll try my best not to get brainwashed this time."

Despite my nervousness, I let out a laugh. Wave joined me in laughing and afterwards we looked at each other. I stared deep into his stormy blue eyes and he stared deep into mine. I felt some sort of....confection then. Something, some....feeling that told me our fate was intertwined. That it has been and always will be. I shuddered somewhat at the feeling. Looking back at Wave, I smiled and nodded. 

"I'd love a do-over." 

"How about we go when the storm is over? Or maybe a day or two after that. You need time to rest. " 

"Of course. It sounds good to me." 

Just then, the sound of pawsteps brought both our gazes toward the cave entrance. Not long after we heard the pawsteps, Branch peeked his head into the cave and his face lit up as soon as he saw me. He looked like he had just tasted the sweetest berry known to monkind. The Leafeon ran up to me and embraced me in a hug that threatened to crush all my vital organs. 

"Branch! Let go of your sister before you kill her." The familiar sweet voice of Branch's girlfriend said. 

Branch reluctantly let go of me, allowing me to see Crystal standing inside the cave, shaking herself dry. She finished doing so a gave me a smile. 

"Hey there Moon Beam." She said. She was the only Pokémon in existence who was allowed to call me that. 

Walking up to her, I gave her a hug and she returned it. Seconds later Branch joined in as well. After we separated, Branch began looking at all my cuts and bruises to make sure I was okay. 

"These don't hurt too much, do they? What happened to you? Did somemon attack you? Were you struck b y lightning? Did you slip and fall? Did you eat a poisonous berry?" He asked franticly. 

"Branch," I said laughing "I'm fine. No need to worry about me. Wave made sure I was okay."

"Wave?" Branch asked, looking confused. 

"Yeah the Vaporeon over there."

I Pointed over to Wave was, or should have been, but he was gone. His bag and cup were gone as well. I was shocked how he left to quietly. After I realized he was gone, I felt a deep unmovable sadness in me. 

"There aren't any Vaporeon in here." Branch said. 

"You're very observant babe." Crystal teased. She then leaned down and gave the grass type a kiss on his head. 

Afterwards, Branch continued to fuss over me. I answered all his questions absentmindedly because my mind was focused on Wave to worry about anything else. Everything was a blur afterwards, but I faintly remember being whisked back to our den and greeted by Cupcake and Oran Berry Cobbler before I took a nap in my room where I dreamed of Wave and books and the beach.  

Sorry this chapter took so long! I've been pretty busy and haven't been able to write much. Hopefully you all enjoy this chapter though! Look forward to more coming soon! The story is starting to pick up speed, if I do say so myself. See you in the next chapter!