If Kellyn had become a Top Ranger and made a name for himself by “purifying?” the Luminous Crystal in Almia (and considering his age), it made sense why he was scared about returning. Regardless, he still didn’t push Ash and his friends away with Riolu. Although, part of that was because Ash had the strongest aura connection with it, so he could tell the others where it was.

        There was no connection here, though—at least, Ash didn’t think so. He didn’t feel anything around Blu, but he had picked up on his “Help! Help!” Kellyn didn’t want it, though, but he was clearly suffering from an identity crisis, given his reaction to the failed Staraptor capture. But as Brock said, no matter how much Kellyn fought, they were going to help him, starting with Pueltown.

        The closer the ferry approached Almia, the more excited Ash grew. He scarfed down breakfast and spent the rest of the time bouncing like a little kid at the ferry’s bow with his friends. A new adventure, Gyms, Contests, and Trainers waited for them only a short distance away.

        The water surrounding Pueltown was a mix of light blue and deep blue, depending on depth, and it was smaller than Ash initially thought. It looked like the size of Algarve Town, and he didn’t see towering skyscrapers.

        The ferry port, small too, was on the east side of the town, tucked into a few buildings and an alleyway. A minute group of people waited there, and Ash saw a few Raticate scamper away. He was so tempted to dive off the ferry and swim the rest of the way, but he locked his knees, and Pikachu wrapped his paws around his neck to steady him.

        There was the pier, and the ferry pulled up beside it.

        The crew tossed the lines to the dock workers, who caught them and tied them off.

        Finally, the ferry’s loudspeaker turned on, and a man announced, “Attention, passengers, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Pueltown, the largest town in Almia.”

        The largest town? Almia was small, compared to Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. They still had Gyms and Contests, though, right?

        “If this is your first time in Almia,” continued the captain, “please consider stopping by the Visitor’s Center at the end of the pier. We hope you enjoyed your cruise on Almia Tours, and have a blessed day.”

        “Yeah!” Ash, Brock, and Dawn cheered.

        Brock blushed and reached for his cheeks. “I get to meet Wendy! I get to meet Wendy!”

        After checking his Capture Styler, Kellyn moved before them, looking nervous and excited. “Follow me. I’ll take you to the Visitor’s Center.” He was still kind under that anxious façade.

        Blu soared around him, saying, “Blu, home! Blue, home!”

        “Yes, Blu, we’re here,” Kellyn quipped. He had good patience with that Pokémon. Ash wondered if he had a little sibling.

        With Kellyn leading the way, Brock, Dawn, and Ash lined up behind other passengers and headed down the ramp to the pier.

        “Man!” Ash said aloud. “Can’t these people move any faster?”

        “Ash!” Dawn bumped him, and Ash turned red.

        “Whoops. Sorry.” He didn’t mean to be rude—he was just so pumped for Almia.

        The people around them didn’t scour; they merely smiled at the excited, young man, so Ash guessed he was okay.

        He almost sprinted when they reached the pier, but stopped himself when a little girl suddenly rushed down it, moving toward his crowd. She had long, brown hair, Kellyn’s eyes, and wore a pink dress with barefoot sandals.

        “Big Brother!” The girl opened her little arms. “Big Brother!”

        Hold on, did Ash seriously guess it?

        “Huh?” Kellyn asked, blinking, blinking, and blinking again. “Molli?” He grinned. “Molli!” Within seconds, he sprinted for her.

        “Big Brother!” Molli said.

        “Little Sister!” Reaching Molli, Kellyn scooped her up and twirled her. He brought her to his chest and hugged her.

        Ash and his friends froze and studied them. Kellyn never told them that he had a sister. If she were there, did that mean…?

        A man and woman approached next, out of breath (probably from trying to catch up to Molli). Both had brown hair, but only the woman shared Kellyn and Molli’s eyes. The man’s were blue, and he had tufts in his hair. He wore jeans and overalls, and the woman sported a dress with leggings and an apron.

        Their mouths dropped open, and they said, “Kellyn?”

        “Huh?” Kellyn asked again. Ash saw another smile tugging at his lip. “Mom? Dad?”

        “Kellyn!” At once, his parents surrounded and embraced him.

        Tears streamed down his mother’s cheeks. She grabbed Kellyn’s head and pulled him to her own chest, kissing him. “My baby boy! You’re home!”

        Ash and his friends giggled.

        Squirming, Kellyn coughed and pushed his mother with his free hand. “Mom… I can’t… breathe.”

        “Oh, baby! I’m sorry!” His mother released him, and Kellyn gasped. She grasped his cheeks. “Look at you! You’ve grown!”

        “Ahem!” Molli crossed her arms, and Kellyn’s mother chuckled.

        She pinched her nose and said, “When did you start growing, too, Molli?”

        She smiled after that and rested her hands on Kellyn’s shoulder.

        “What are you doing here?” he inquired, examining his parents.

        “Well,” his father explained, “the Union called your mother and me and said you were coming home for a mission.”

        His mother hooked her fingers. “And we wanted to be the first to greet you! We came from Chicole Village yesterday and stayed at the Ranger Depot.”

        “I beat Mommy and Daddy in our race to get here!” Molli playfully gloated.

        “Yes, you did,” her father said, shaking her little foot. “She was so excited to see you, Kellyn.”

        “And I’m excited, too,” Kellyn agreed, hugging Molli again. “Oh.” He turned to Ash, Dawn, and Brock. “Mom, Dad”—he bumped noses with Molli—“Molli, these are some friends I met in Sinnoh.”

        Ash and his friends stood tall, and Ash waved. “Hi, I’m Ash, and this is my partner, Pikachu.”

        Pikachu’s ears straightened. “Pikachu!”

        Dawn rested her hand on her chest. “Hi, I’m Dawn.”

        “And I’m Brock,” Brock said. “Nice to meet you.”

        “Pokémon Trainers?” Kellyn’s father guessed, gesturing at them.

        Ash and Dawn nodded before gasping.

        “Oh, the Visitor’s Center!” Ash said, batting Dawn’s shoulder. “I need to sign up for the Almia League!”

        “And me the Contests!” Dawn included. “Let’s go, Ash, but don’t forget our deal!” She and he took off down the pier, leaving the others to exchange looks behind.

        “They don’t know?” Kellyn’s mother asked.

        Kellyn waved his hand. “We thought it’d be best if they found out for themselves.” He set Molli down. “I guess we’d better chase after them. Come on, Blue-Bird. Hm? Blue-Bird?” Kellyn searched the area, but Blu was nowhere to be found.

        A panicked look with a tinge of guilt crossed Kellyn’s face. “Brock, have you seen Blue-Bird?”

        Brock also looked around. “No, but he was with us when we got off the ferry.”

        “Big Brother?” Molli tugged Kellyn’s shorts. “What’s a Blue-Bird?”

        “The Pokémon we came here with.” Kellyn pulled his hair and pushed past his family, looking to be on the verge of another anxiety attack. He breathed heavily and clutched his jacket’s collar. “I’ve got to find him. The Union, my mission.” Kellyn tightened his grip on his collar. “I’m sorry, Mom, Dad, and Molli.” And just like that, he took off down the pier after Ash and Dawn.

        “Big Brother!” Molli started forward, but her parents grabbed her and pulled her back.

        “Brock…” Gulping, Kellyn’s mother met his eyes. “Wha-What’s wrong with our little boy?”