"Yeah, well, welcome to my world," Cloud grumbles. In his opinion, he himself has been nothing all his life. "I got zapped a little, it barely hurt. At least this way, maybe I can protect you for a change."

Maybe this way, he won't be nothing but a liability to Zack anymore.

He sighs. "Yeah, okay - wait a second. Uh--I mean, we can keep walking, but..." He squints at Zack's face as he starts heading for the Pokecenter again. "You're not just acting different. You look different, too. You look..." Like someone switched off that light you shine into the darkness for everyone. "Older."