"STEVEN!" I cried, dashing toward the silver-haired boy who was just about to leave on the large truck, two rather large suitcases next to him. I knew what was going on, and it wasn't happening. Not when we were here. Together. "Opal." The young silver-haired boy smiled sadly down at me. "I have to leave..." he whispered softly. I mercilessly clung onto his arms, mini waterfalls making their way down my cheeks.

"Don't leave me." I sobbed, looking up at him brokenly.

"I won't." He murmured, ruffling my hair affectionately.

"But you are..." I accused him, my voice trailing off into the emptiness that would equate when he wasn't going to be there.

"I am." He agreed, gently prying his hands off him, and heaving a sigh. He knelt down so we would see eye to eye, but his figure was blurred due to my tears that didn't seem to stop flowing. "Oh, Opal..." He murmured. I was too young then- Perhaps five years old- to understand why the boy who I had looked forward to seeing everyday after lessons and school was so abruptly leaving. Maybe I was too young to comprehend was love was at the time, but as a child, I was infatuated with him. He was my idol. He taught me everything I needed to know about the Pokemon world outside of my school and personal tutors. And he was leaving me.

Steven sighed again, looking devastated. "You're too young to understand, Opal..." He said.

"I'm not!" I cried indignantly, grabbing his sleeve again. "Don't leave!" I insisted stubbornly.

"Ah, ah." He murmured, tilting up my chin with a finger. "Heads up, and smile like you own the world, princess." He scolded teasingly as he saw I was about to cry again. Steven ever so gently pushed away a strand of hazel hair away from my face, smiling gently.

"I'll come back for you."

I wiped away my tears, still sniveling, but perked up slightly when he said that.

"Really?"

The older boy nodded, grinning. "I promise." He vowed. Steven reached his hand inside his pocket, and asked me to open my hands. I complied eagerly, and he dropped something in them.

A ring. It had a silver band, and a milky-white stone that glimmered set in the middle of it.

"What is this?" I questioned, my immature mind not being able to comprehend why he was giving me a ring.

"It marks my promise." He smiled, gesturing to the ring. "See? It has an opal. Your namesake, princess." I stared at it, and then at him.

"You better come back, Steven." I squeaked, as the older boy stood up, making his way toward the moving truck.

"I promised, princess! Does Steven Stone ever break a promise?" He called back, raising his eyebrows.

I pondered for a moment, and yelled back, "NO!"

"Then a promise is a promise, princess! Keep that ring safe!" He finally jumped into the moving van, waving his hand like a maniac. I waved back until my stubby arms were sore and I couldn't see him.

"You'll see him again." I mumbled to myself, looking up at the sky and holding the fragile ring close to my heart- as if I could actually bring him back to me. Perhaps someday I would. I was willing to wait- no matter how long it took, I promised myself i'd wait for him.

"Always." I breathed.

A/N: OH MY GOD MY FIRST FANFIC AHHHGH. I can't believe i'm actually publishing this... But rate and review! I knew I made Opal seem older than the mere five-year-old girl she is, but bear with me... Please? Thank you~