After walking for about ten minutes through quiet Pewter streets, we finally arrived at Seymour's house.
It was a modest, two-story building with a slightly overgrown garden in front. The white paint on the walls had faded in patches, and vines climbed lazily up one side. A small wooden sign by the gate read "Seymour Residence."
I rang the bell. A soft chime echoed inside.
The door creaked open a moment later.
Seymour stood there, glasses slightly askew on his nose, hair tousled like he'd just run his hands through it a dozen times.
He blinked at me through thick lenses, then his face lit up with a clumsy but genuine smile.
"Oh! Ryan! You've come at just the right time!"
He adjusted his glasses, nearly dropping the notebook he was holding. "Come inside! And bring your Pokémon too, of course."
Meowscarada and Lopunny followed me in, tails twitching curiously.
The moment we stepped through the door, papers, books, and scattered notes covered almost every surface.
Charts of Pokémon migration patterns hung crookedly on the walls, alongside photos of Clefairy under moonlight and Moon Stones glowing softly.
Shelves overflowed with tiny figures of Clefairy and other Pokémon, plus a few framed pictures of starry nights and mountain caves.
Seymour led us into the living room.
The space was cozy but chaotic, much like the rest of the house. Soft sunlight filtered through a large sliding glass door on the far wall.
I paused to peek through it.
The glass door opened onto a small garden out back.
Neat rows of colorful flowers lined stone paths, and in the corner stood a telescope pointed toward the sky, its lens catching the morning light.
Meowscarada tilted her head curiously, eyes wide. Lopunny gave a soft "Lopuu~" as she peered past my shoulder.
Seymour chuckled. "Ah, yes, the garden! My little sanctuary for space studies. Come, come, sit on the sofa. Mind the papers, research never stays tidy!"
We settled onto the worn couch. Piles of notebooks slid aside with quiet rustles as we made room.
The room felt warm, lived-in, and full of quiet wonder.
The sight tugged at something deep inside me.
Childhood memories surfaced: my old room back home, shelves packed with Pokémon toys, over a hundred of them, maybe more.
I used to tell Mom every day, "These are for Sprigatito and Buneary, and they love to play with toys!"
But in reality, I just wanted to fill my Pokémon toy collection. Each new toy felt like adding a piece to my dream world.
She'd laugh every time, ruffle my hair, and say.
"Alright, one more," she'd say, pulling out her wallet with a playful sigh.
And she'd buy it anyway.
Meowscarada tilted her head at me, pink eyes curious. Lopunny gave a soft "Lopuu~?", paw brushing my arm.
I just smiled quietly and shook my head. "Nothing. Just… old memories."
Later, we talked for a while about Ralts and what needed to be done.
Seymour listened carefully, his face growing somber as I described the coma-like state and the psychic overload. He adjusted his glasses, looking genuinely sad.
But he quickly cheered up, clapping his hands together with a bright smile.
"You told me you wanted to see Clefairy and the Moon Stones, right? How about I show you some right now? I've got everything packed and ready!"
He grabbed a small backpack filled with notebooks and tools, and we agreed to head out.
We left the house together.
Almost an hour later, we arrived at the protected area.
A few police vehicles were parked nearby for security purposes. We passed through easily.
Finally, after following Seymour deeper into Mt. Moon through a secret side passage, we emerged from a small rocky hole in the side of the mountain.
We climbed up the grassy slope outside, following a narrow green path through the trees.
Then we entered a completely separate cave opening hidden among the rocks.
The area opened up into a wide, natural hollow.
In the center stood a huge Moon Stone, glowing softly even in daylight.
Around it, a small group of Clefairy and Clefable wandered calmly, some resting in the shade while others inspected smaller Moon Stone fragments scattered on the ground.
I pulled out my Pokédex and scanned one.
The device beeped softly.
"Clefairy. A Pokémon believed to have come from space on a meteorite. On nights of a full moon, they gather to dance and play."
Seymour's eyes lit up behind his glasses.
"That's right! Clefairy came from outer space! One day I'll go with them!"
Hearing this, my Pokémon's eyes lit up at the mention of space. Meowscarada and Lopunny watched the Clefairy with quiet awe.
It made something inside me soften, a quiet laugh bubbling up in my chest that I swallowed back.
I didn't want to break their fantasy.
Although my knowledge of Pokémon was weak, space-related matters were more clear, there's no oxygen outside the planet.
But let's not shatter anyone's dream. And as per my memories, there's a high chance some Pokémon really did come from outer space.
I stared at the massive Moon Stone, its gentle glow beautiful even in the daytime.
The whole scene felt peaceful.
I took out Ralts' Dream Ball and let it out.
I knelt down and gently lifted Ralts. Its small body was still limp, eyes closed, breathing shallow but steady.
"Ralts…" I whispered, holding it close in my arms.
"I know you can't answer right now. But I hope you can feel this somehow. Look, the Clefairy and Clefable are here. The giant Moon Stone is glowing… see how beautiful and peaceful this place is? You're safe. We're getting you help soon. Just hold on a little longer, okay?"
The Clefairy and Clefable noticed.
A few waddled over curiously, their small feet pattering softly on the stone.
They tilted their heads, big eyes wide and sparkling as they peered at Ralts.
One reached out with a tiny hand, touching Ralts' horn gently, almost reverently.
They started humming a soft, clefairy song around us. Their voices were sweet and harmonious, rising and falling in gentle waves that filled the chamber with calm.
It was beautiful, like they were trying to comfort Ralts in their own gentle way.
I smiled, feeling a quiet warmth settle in my chest.
I wanted to stay longer, to watch and listen, but Ralts needed us to keep moving.
I stood up slowly.
"Thank you, Seymour. For everything."
He nodded, smiling warmly. "Anytime, Ryan. Safe travels to Saffron."
We waved goodbye.
Meowscarada and Lopunny gave soft calls of farewell, a gentle "Nyaa~" and "Lopuu~".
Then we turned and headed back down the path, the Clefairy's gentle song fading behind us as we continued our journey.