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It’s been so long. Slyveon can’t even remember how many months have passed by now, how many years. He sits on the porch of a worn down house. His house. The house he’d play and spend all day with his trainer.
He wonders where his trainer is now, staring up at the night sky as his heart sinks in his chest. Does his trainer still love him? Do they still think about him from time to time? Did they mean to leave him behind?
A million questions run through his head, a million he’s asked himself time and time again. He knows he’ll never get the answers, he hopes but he knows.
Sometimes he feels angry. If his trainer really did leave him behind why would they do such a thing? Slyveon loved them deeply. Slyveon did everything they ever asked, followed them everywhere, attacked whatever move they commanded, and most of all was there for them when they cried and needed him the most. So why aren’t they doing the same? Slyveon needs them now, needs them more than anything and they're gone.
Slyveon feels the tears trickle down his fur. He doesnmt move to wipe them away, letting them fall onto wood beneath his paws. He can’t bring himself to do so, energy feeling too low to move at all. All he can do is stare at the stars, hoping to catch a falling one so he can wish once more for his trainer to come back.
Umberon finds him. It’s not that hard when he never leaves the porch. She takes a seat next to him, starting a conversation like she always does. She’s been doing it for a couple weeks now in hopes of cheering up Slyveon but he never responds.
“I found a crying Tinkatink,” she says, “she couldn’t find her little hammer so I helped her look. Turns out a Meltan had taken it to try and absorb it. I got it back for her though! She was so happy she hammered open a shiny rock for me!” Umbreon smiles at the memory, happy she was able to help someone else out today. It seemed to be her thing, making friends and helping others. She really was a nice pokemon.
However the name of Tinkatink reminded Slyveon of something he long forgotten. “My trainer had a Tinkatink.” It was the first words he’s spoken since they met. Umbreon blinked back at Slyveon in shock but quickly composed herself.
“They did? Did you two get along?”
“Kinda. She’d hit me with her hammer till I would pick her up with my ribbons.” Sylveon looks down, staring at the mentioned ribbons that laid almost lifeless against his body. “They would laugh and take pictures every time.”
“Maybe I should bring Tinkatink over here one day. I’m sure she’d love to meet you.”
“I don’t know. I’m not the best at getting along anymore. I don’t even talk to you when you’re here.” Slyveon’s ears start to droop, the realization of him no longer being the kind of friend he used to be set up a guilty conscience in his head.
“Yet I come by every night! Unless I get really busy with something but I’m still here!” Umbreon stood up, moving herself in front of Slyveon. She held out her paw. “Maybe you just need to take the first step. I know you miss them, I miss my partner too. But we aren’t only the connections we make with one person. There are others in our lives that can make us happy.”
The tears that were falling had stopped and Slyveon brought himself to look Umbreon in the eyes for the first time. “How would I know that I’ll be okay without them here? What if I mess up and others leave me like they did?”
“You won’t know and others may leave too, but that doesn’t mean you don’t try. You’re allowed to live your life as yourself, not what you mean to others.”
Slyveon sniffled, looking down at his own paws. It felt hard, it even hurt to do so, but he lifted up a paw and took Umbreon’s, pulling himself up with her help. “Thank you…” he whispered, pushing his forehead against hers as a way to show his gratitude.
She pushed her own head back, with a little more force than his, with a big smile on her face. “Anything for a friend.”