Illusion brushed snow off of his shoulder, "Hey Father, sorry I'm- what's going on?!"

Illusion looked up to see his father with a Zebstrika. The Pokémon had a bridle on its muzzle and there was a tall green haired man struggling with the reins. The Pokémon was rearing up, trying to pull away from the man. The man was gently trying to reason with the Pokémon, but it just wouldn't calm down.

Illusion rushed to his father's aid, grabbing the reins as well and trying to pull Zebstrika down.

"Hey buddy!" Illusion exclaimed, "It's okay!"

"Get away!," Zebstrika yelled, "I want my trainer!"

"I know," Illusion's father said gently, "But she won't be back until tomorrow. Just relax- you're safe here. I promise."

Zebstrika pulled and whinnied some more, trying to escape the mens' grips.

Illusion gritted his teeth, "Musharna!"

A Pokémon escaped from its Pokéball. It floated tiredly in the air, pink mist floating around it.

"Use Hypnosis!"

"No!"

Musharna ignored the protest of its trainer's father and used a Hypnosis attack on the Zebstrika. The scared electric type responded by charging up an electric type, shocking both Illusion and his father. He and his father dropped the reins, and Zebstrika ran off. It ran through the field and jumped all of the fences.

As Illusion and his father composed themselves, his father gave him a disapproving look.

Illusion frowned and shoved his hands in his pockets, "Stop looking at me like that..."

"You cannot just attack like that," His father said, "Any trust we had is gone."

"I'm sorry, Father..."

The taller grasshead sighed, "It's..." he sighed again, "Just...go find it."

Illusion returned his Musharna to its Pokéball. His father whistled and a Rapidash came running from the far end of the field. Snow melted underneath its feet. The fire type nuzzled Illusion's father.

"Take Rapidash," He said, "It'll be able to keep up."

"Father-"

"I know you're sorry. Go find Zebstrika." His father said, walking away.

Illusion sighed and went over to one of the barns where his father kept Pokémon. An Altaria and a Wingull sat in the rafters, a tiny Blitzle and a Zebstrika were sleeping in one of the stalls, and a Growlithe and a Lillipup were playing in a haystack.

Illusion grabbed a bridle from the wall.

"Sorry about this..." Illusion whispered, putting it on Rapidash's muzzle.

"I don't mind," Rapidash said, "Where are we going?"

Illusion attached the reins and grabbed a saddle, "I lost a Zebstrika..."

"So that's why your dad is so pissed!" A voice said, appearing in the barn doorway, "Ya know, it's rare to see him so angry!"

Illusion frowned and adjusted the saddle onto Rapidash, "Shut up, Zoroark- I know he's mad."

"He's fuming!"

Rapidash snorted, "Zoroark! He feels bad enough, already! Can't you tell?"

Zoroark tsked, "All I'm sayin' is maybe you should be more careful! Maybe you should actually listen to your dad!"

Illusion got onto Rapidash's back and grabbed the reins, "I do listen! All I ever do is listen! It's not my fault I'm not the son he wanted..."

Zoroark blinked, "That's not what I was saying...You're exactly the son he wanted!"

"Gray was the son he wanted," Illusion hissed, "He's the son they both wanted..."

Before Zoroark could get out another word, Illusion ushered Rapidash to go. The fire type ran out of the barn, leaving the illusionist to itself.

Rapidash ran through the field, dodging other Pokémon. Only ice and fire types were in the field, as any other types would be warmer inside. Rapidash jumped all of the Daycare's fences, entering the outside world. The fire type Pokémon galloped through Route Three searching for the missing electric type.

Illusion suddenly pulled back on the reins, forcing Rapidash to stop. It's hooves grinded against frozen wood. They were stopped on a bridge that resided over a small water body.

Rapidash looked up at Illusion inquisitively, "Everything okay?"

Illusion stared down at his reflection in the half frozen water, "Why am I not enough for them?" He whispered.

"Look, I know Zoroark was harsh, and I know your father is angry, but I know your parents don't love Gray any more than they love you."

Illusion tsked.

"It's true! For six years you were the greatest thing in the world!" Rapidash said, "It was 'Illusion this' and 'Illusion that'. It was so annoying!"

Illusion looked down.

"But then Juniper was born and they adopted Gray, and while it wasn't all about you anymore, they still loved you to pieces."

Illusion sighed, "Great. Now I feel like shit."

Rapidash began walking, "Good. Let's go find Zebstrika!"

It was nearly sunset by the time Illusion finally found Zebstrika. The Pokémon had gotten lost and wandered into Nacrene City. It was accompanied by two young men, both of which Illusion recognized- his little brother and his little brother's boyfriend.

"Hey! Illusion!" Gray greeted.

When Rapidash and Illusion approached the Zebstrika went crazy again.

Illusion dropped down from Rapidash's back, "Woah, woah, easy!"

"He's gonna attack me again!" Zebstrika cried, "Get him away!"

Gray struggling with Zebstrika's reins, "Woah there! Hey, it's okay!"

Gray's boyfriend backed away, not wanting to get zapped.

Illusion put his hands up, "I'm sorry I attacked you earlier...that was wrong of me!"

Zebstrika calmed down a bit, and Gray raised an eyebrow, "Wait, what?"

Illusion ignored his brother, "Look...your trainer trusted me and my father to take care of you. I did a bad job of that, but my father is the kindest, most gentle, most annoyingly perfect person in the entire world! He'll take good care of you until your trainer comes back. All you gotta do is come back with me and Rapidash."

Zebstrika whinnied and shifted its weight nervously.

Gray smiled up at the Pokémon, "He's right! Our dad is the best!"

Zebstrika leaned down and licked Gray's cheek. Gray giggled as the Pokémon licked him. Illusion sighed and smiled. His little brother really had a way with Pokémon. He hated that he resented him for it.

Illusion took Zebstrika's reins from Gray and said goodbye. He got back onto Rapidash's back and brought Zebstrika back to the daycare. As they jumped the fences, the night grew even colder than the day. Illusion brought both Pokémon to the barn to find even more Pokémon inside. A few of the younger Pokémon were sleeping, most of them crowding around the Growlithe.

Illusion got down from Rapidash's back and removed the saddle and bridle. He took off Zebstrika's bridle as well and put both Pokémon in their own stalls. Rapidash began eating the hay on the floor, and Zebstrika hesitantly drank the water in the trough.

Illusion sighed and left the barn. He sprinted across the snowy field and into the main building of the daycare. He found his father and a trainer talking. His father handed the trainer a Pokéball and the trainer left.

The tall grasshead noticed his son come in through the back, "I hope you did not come back empty handed."

Illusion swiftly walked over to the door and flipped the open sign to 'closed', "Zebstrika is in barn C."

Illusion heard the office door open. He turned to see his father holding the door open. Illusion gulped and walked inside, taking a seat across from his father's desk.

The man with long green hair sat across from his son, "I'm sorry I was hard on you," he said, "I am aware Zoroark spoke to you?"

Illusion hugged his arms and looked away.

His father let out a long sigh, "Illusion...Please do not think that your mother and I adore your brother more than you."

"But you do..." Illusion grumbled, "Mom loves him because he's a strong trainer, and you love him because he's so good with Pokémon..."

"We love him because he's our son- it's not conditional. Just like how we love you."

"Oh c'mon," Illusion said, looking up into his father's green eyes, "What does it say about me that I can speak with Pokémon but Gray understands them better than me?"

His father leaned back in his seat, "I felt the same way when I met your mother..."

Illusion blinked in surprise.

"She has this bond that I never had with Pokémon," He admitted, "Just because we can communicate with them, doesn't mean we know them any better. You shouldn't think yourself less because of it."

Illusion shoved his hands under his thighs.

"Your mother and I are incredibly proud of you," He said, "Truly."

Illusion blushed, "Well you don't have to go on and on about it..."

His father smiled gently, "I love you."

"I love you too, Father."

"Now go lock the doors."

Illusion groaned and stood up. He left the office and began locking the doors. First, be locked the back door that lead to the fields. As he was locking the front door, he heard a voice.

Illusion...

Illusion whipped his head around.

"Who are you?" Illusion whispered.

Come find me.

Illusion's blue and green eyes darted around the room, "Where?"

Silence.

*Peck* *Peck*

Illusion jumped and turned. Out of the glass door, he saw a small Unfezant pecking the glass. Illusion put his hand on his heart and unlocked and opened the door.

"What the hell, Unfezant?"

"Sorry. Where's your dad?"

"Office."

Unfezant walked inside, going directly to the office.

"Ow! Ow! Okay, I'm coming!" Illusion heard.

Illusion's father poked his head from the office, "Let's go! Unfezant's pecking me."

Illusion relocked the front door and rushed into the office. He left through the office door first, followed by Unfezant and his father. His father locked the office door behind them.

"Tell her I'm coming, okay?" Illusion's father said to the Pokémon.

Unfezant rolled its eyes and flew off. Illusion and his father both walked to their cars. Before Illusion could even take his keys out, his father pulled him into a hug.

"Father!" Illusion gasped.

"I love you!"

"I love you, too...stop strangling me!"

His father released him and smiled. Both men got into their cars. Illusion's father drove away almost immediately, but Illusion checked his phone. He found dozens of texts, but only one of interest.

Ada Black

Hey...what are you doing tonight?

He typed a quick response:

Want me to come over?

He waited a few seconds. The first text had been from about an hour ago, so he wasn't sure how fast a response would come. To his surprise, it came fairly quickly:

Could you?

Illusion sighed and got out of his car. He released his Swanna from its Pokéball. The flying type yawned and stretched its wings.

"Could you take me to Virbank?" Illusion asked.

"It's so late!" Swanna complained.

"Please?" Illusion begged.

Swanna sighed. Illusion felt something on his shoulder.

"You aren't gonna leave me behind, are ya?"

Illusion smirked and scratched the gray and red Pokémon on his shoulder, "You? Never."

Illusion got onto Swanna's back, and within half an hour, he was at his friend's apartment building. He buzzed her room and she let him in the building. He walked inside and took the elevator up to her floor. The Zorua on his shoulder frowned.

"What are your plans tonight?"

"What's it matter to you?"

Zorua blushed and looked away, "N-Nothing! I was just wondering when to come back and get ya!"

Illusion rolled his eyes, "Come back in the morning."

Zorua sighed as the elevator reached their floor. Zorua dropped down from Illusion's shoulder and created a human form illusion.

"See ya tomorrow." Zorua said, pressing a button on the elevator as Illusion exited.

"Bye."

Illusion walked down the familiar hallway to his friend's room. He knocked on the door and was greeted by a woman with scruffy blue hair and blue eyes. She wore nothing but one of Illusion's shirts.

Illusion gestured to her outfit, "I've been looking for that, ya know."

The woman said nothing and pulled Illusion into a kiss. Illusion smiled into the kiss and closed the door behind them.