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Andarien took a moment to think through what Lin had said, making sure that it was going to be fair for the Ponyta, since that was his biggest worry. At length, he nodded slowly.

"And ... and if I can't sleep with it," he said slowly, "but it can run around in the day ... then I can keep it in its Pokeball at night so that it can still be near me?"

He didn't like the idea of having it away from him overnight. During the day was one thing, but at night ... at night, he wanted it close.

Andarien took another moment to think through Lin's words, and then he nodded again. "Okay."

Earendil smiled with relief. "Now why don't you go get dressed," he suggested. "You can ask Shiro about your Ponyta once you're dressed, and then after breakfast we're going to visit Uncle Eldrin."

"Can it come to breakfast with us?" Andarien asked quickly.

Earendil sighed. "Horses don't go to meals," he said firmly. "Let it stay in your room until you get back. We'll make sure it gets properly fed before we visit Uncle Eldrin."

Earendil looked over his shoulder and out the window. "My guess is that breakfast is ready any moment," he murmured. "If you'd like, you can meditate after breakfast when we go to talk to Shiro about the Ponyta. We've got enough questions that I'm sure it will take us a while."

Andarien stood up again. "I'll go get dressed," he announced to the others. "I'll be right back."

He hurried back to his bedchamber, Eon and the Ponyta following after him.

When Andarien emerged from his room a few minutes later, he was properly dressed, his hair neatly brushed, his goggles properly in place. He had his Pokeball belt on, and both of his Pokeballs were tucked into their holders. Eon was trotting along behind Andarien, so clearly the starry Pokeball was empty; but the red ball was questionable.

"Is it okay if I take the Ponyta with me in its ball?" Andarien asked his parents hopefully.

Earendil looked at Lin. "I don't see a problem with that," he murmured softly. "What do you think?"

"Yes, now we go to breakfast," Earendil agreed. "Come on, then."

As they headed down to the dining hall, Earendil murmured to Lin, "If Ninako is at breakfast, should we ask her right away about where Andarien's Ponyta can stay or should we wait until later?"

Earendil also bit his lip, but in his case it was to hide an amused smile.

"Part of me wonders how he would phrase it," he murmured back, equally softly. His amusement faded as quickly as it had come up. "On that note, I think we should also ask if there's someone available to teach him proper behaviour while we're here. Etiquette, propriety, stuff like that. I had lessons like that when I was young, but I don't know who handles that now."

Earendil nodded. "Good. Excellent. If we're going to be traveling to different countries, we're going to need to make sure we're cause the least offense possible. I mean ... look at Nauros, just offering to share food with someone causes trouble. It's better if we at least have something solid to start with."

He grimaced for a moment, then called out to Andarien: "Andarien, when we get down there, let your mother and I work out the details of where your Ponyta will be able to stay, all right? You just worry about eating your breakfast and making sure that Eon eats."

Andarien looked up at his father over his shoulder and blinked slowly at him. Then he gave a brief nod. "Okay."

Earendil put one arm around Lin's shoulders and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

"That will never end," he murmured softly to her. "Don't let it bother you. Just enjoy what we've got. Otherwise you're going to drive yourself mad."

It was true, they had a lot ahead of them, but worrying about what they were forgetting would only stress them out.