The Strife Diaries

by Lovely Strife

This is the diary of LC Strife, a trainer and pokemon breeder who is trying to escape a troubled past.

2. April

April 1

Dear Diary,

Mt. Coronet is as awesome as usual. We've already found 6 moon stones! Everybody in the party is also getting some quality training in. I love it here in the caves. It's so much fun just to go spelunking and explore. I also love the beautiful scenery. I wish I knew how to draw or paint. I would love to have some art from these beautiful mountains inside of my house…

Right now I plan on spending a few days on the mountain and then I'll go back to Veilstone City. I've already managed to lose the lemonade I bought for Iggy in my bag and I need to buy him more so he won't get cranky at lunch time. I also think I'll buy a new jacket. Something in gray. Maybe it's all the rocks here in the mountains, but I'm really starting to like the color gray. I really do like my new black cloak, but I saw a woman dressed almost entirely in black when I was on a ledge. I think she had the same cloak as I do and I don't want to invite the comparison… I think I've seen her before on TV, but I don't remember exactly why. Either way, I don't want people to compare me to her because she's probably already better than me in every way. Best to just avoid the mutterings all together...

April 2

DD,

Iggy is missing! I woke up this morning and I was cuddling with a Cleffa instead of my adorable little Iggy! Leon fell asleep while on watch duty and has no idea what happened to Iggy. Tomorrow night I think my Torterra is going to stand watch. He never falls asleep on the job…

I'm worried sick. I wish Roark was here. It was so much easier searching for Iggy when he was with me. With Roark I didn't cry…

April 2, Later

DD,

I still haven't found Iggy. My watch says that it is nearly midnight so I've stopped for a short break. The Cleffa I woke up with is following me and my team and sometimes I mistake it for Iggy. I have all my pokemon out and searching for Iggy, but we've had no luck. My Shuppet has been doing a great job. It can move through the walls and check rooms much faster than I can, but we still haven't found any signs of Iggy. I hope he's okay… I'll be crushed if he isn't...

April 3

Dear Diary,

I fell asleep on my Torterra's back and had a horrible dream. I dreamt that I saw Iggy in the distance and was running towards him, but before I could grab him the tunnel caved in. It was so horrible. I hope Iggy is okay… I hope I can find him. I hope that he doesn't hate me forever because of my inability to keep him safe. I wish he was here right now…

April 3, Later

We finally found Iggy. A group of Clefairy stole him. I think they might have mistaken him for a Cleffa… And that Cleffa is still hanging around with me. Iggy doesn't like it, but I think she's cute. I know that Iggy doesn't get along with most other baby pokemon, so I'm not sure if I'll try to catch her. Cleffa didn't seem interested in staying with the group of Clefairy, so maybe I'll let her join my team. Right now I'm just seeing what happens and not letting Iggy out of my sight. I'm so happy that he is finally safe in my arms. I'm still crying; I'm so happy.

April 4

Dear Diary,

Iggy and Cleffa got into a fight this morning. Iggy almost knocked her out, but I grabbed her before he could finish his attack. The poor little thing… She didn't do anything wrong. I decided to catch her; now she's part of the team. Hopefully Iggy won't resent either of us for it… I don't want a repeat of Happini. You'd think that Iggy would be nice to her after what Happini did to him, but I don't think Iggy sees that. I'll keep the little Cleffa until he does learn. I'm convinced that they can get along together.

We're making our way to the base of the mountain. Pidgeotto is too tired from searching to fly me, so I'm going to walk to Veilstone City. It shouldn't be more than two day's walk and I need the exercise. If I ever want to wear a bikini again then I should spend more time getting into shape.

April 5

DD,

We made our way to a small settlement at the foot of the mountain. An old man told me about a shortcut through the forest. He seems nice so I think we're going to try it. He told me that it would cut a day off of the walk to Veilstone City and I'm all for saving time. Besides, going through the trees will give me a chance to train that cute little Cleffa!

April 6

DD,

This forest is incredibly dense and I have been running into more wild pokemon in this brush than there are Zubats in most caves! It seems like every other step I end up in a battle. It's crazy! Iggy stays on my shoulder for protection, and Cleffa is too scared to come out of her pokeball. Right now my Torterra and Leon are doing most of the work.

I know that I'm lost. I don't think this was a shortcut at all, but I want to know why he wanted me in these woods. If things go badly I can just fly out on Pidgeotto, but for now I'm going on. As long as I have Pidgeotto I'll be fine…

Later

DD,

It's getting close to midnight so we stopped to make camp for the night. We found a clearing that seems safe enough. I let my Mareep out of her pokeball to keep watch for the night. Leon and Torterra are exhausted from so many battles. They deserve a good rest… It's times like these that I wish I had brought Hermit with me. He would teleport me out of here in an instant… Or at least he would talk to me and comfort me while we're lost. I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't cut my losses and leave on Pidgeotto right now...

April 14

DD,

So much has happened… First off, I'm in the hospital right now. There was an explosion… but my God it was such a great adventure! It was scary and awesome and so many things… I don't believe it actually happened. I don't entirely believe that I survived. And now I have hundreds upon hundreds of pokemon eggs to show for it! I need to get back to my farm and hatch them. I can't wait to see what each one holds.

I'll start at the beginning. Some old guy told me about a shortcut to Veilstone City by going through some dense woods. It took some time to find a place where we could squeeze through from the main road, but we followed his directions. We did our best to stay on a straight path, but there were so many random battles that we got lost and spent hours upon hour wondering around. And it was so dark that I didn't notice that it was way past Iggy's bedtime. Near midnight we found a clearing and set up camp. I let my Mareep out of her pokeball and she was keeping watch when I heard a loud roar followed by a crash. It terrified me. I don't like roars. I don't like crashes. I hated how close it all sounded, so Torterra was let out of his pokeball to protect us. It was too dark to fly out on Pidgeotto, so we had to find a way to stand our ground. He was the biggest pokemon I had with me at the time and he was also the strongest. Torterra had a hard time moving beyond the clearing, but he did poke his head through the trees to see if anything was moving towards us. Iggy and I gathered up camp and then we started moving towards the noise.

It wasn't long before we saw it. It was big. It was loud. It was angry. It was a Venusar who happened to be ingrained in a large clearing. He seemed to be in pain and I felt so sorry for him. I would have moved closer to give him some berries, but Torterra took a protective stance in front of me and the other pokemon. It was a good thing he did, because the Venusaur used several powerful attacks that could have really hurt us. They battled, but after only a few moves Torterra was KO'd. As I summoned Torterra back into his pokeball, Iggy stepped in front of the Venusaur. I was so scared when I saw my cute little Igglybuff in front of an angry Venusaur. I was terrified for Iggy; the little guy would literally be crushed if that Venusaur stepped on him. I cried and told him to come back, but he didn't listen. He sang a brave little song and did a cute little dance that lulled the goliath into a deep sleep.

I was crying when I went up to Iggy and held him close. I know he can take care of himself, but he is still just a tiny little bundle of cuddles and fluff. He is just a baby pokemon and babies are not meant for battle, but Iggy has always been ready to jump into the ring. He is without a doubt the most bad-**** Igglybuff ever hatched. And he was all business that night. I was only thinking about holding him close after the near-death experience, but he just motioned to the pokeballs on my belt. I knew he wanted me to catch it so that the Venusaur couldn't attack us later. Several pokeballs later, I managed to catch the beast.

I spent the rest of that night healing up my pokemon. I managed to find a number of herbs in the area that made it easy. When combined with my stock of berries I was able to heal my team up completely. We spent the night propped up on a tree while Torterra kept watch. He wanted to prove himself after being beaten by a Venusaur and I didn't argue. I think it really helped his pride to protect us and know that I trusted him to keep me safe.

Once I woke up, I put Torterra back into his pokeball and brought out Leon. We made our way East from there. After several hours of a surprisingly quiet walk I stopped for lunch. I found it so eerie that last night we couldn't move three steps without encountering a wile pokemon while today we've gone hours without even seeing a single one. And I wondered how that Venusaur had managed to grow so large in such a thick forest. None of it made sense. Now, looking back, I know that the rational thing to do would have been to fly out of there on the wings of my favorite bird-type, but I didn't. I'm not sure if it was the strange happenings in the forest or the fact that I didn't want to return back to Oreburgh City to face Roark, but leaving just didn't seem to be an option.

Anyways, I was pondering the entire situation when we were attacked. A group of Houndoom surrounded our party. I don't know how many there were; I only remember grabbing Iggy and running for my life. I grabbed my bag and ran as fast as I could, but it wasn't fast enough. I couldn't dodge one Houndoom and it took a chunk out of my left calf. If it weren't for the adrenaline surging through my body I probably would have died right there. That wound is why I'm in the hospital right now. I can heal minor scrapes and cuts, but this was very bad. The doctor says that I might need a surgery because of how deep the teeth went into my flesh. I'm determined to be out in a week. They can't make me stay here, after all. I don't like being in one place for too long… People ask too many questions…

Anyways, after I was bitten I just ran as fast as I could away from the pack of Houndoom. As I was running, I got Pigdeotto's pokeball out and threw it into the air him. He burst out and picked me up with his claws. We flew away from the Houndoom together. From her back, I saw a house that wasn't too far away. Pidgeotto flew me there as I used my cloak to stop my leg from bleeding. I don't clearly remember what happened next, but there were people in the house. They let me in because I woke up in a small room with my leg fully bandaged. But my bag and my pokemon were missing and I was completely alone.

I got up and looked around the room. One door led into a dirty old bathroom and the other was locked. There were no windows or vents in the room, so I just sat there all alone for hours. It was horrible. My mind wondered to scary places… I thought about my life and if I did the right thing when I ran away as a child. I screamed for help and cried for Iggy and all my other missing pokemon. I thought about what was going to happen to me in the place. The strange thing is, no matter what I thought about my mind kept finding its way to Roark. I feel so bad about how I just left. I shouldn't have cared what that kid thought. Sometimes I wonder why I care what other people think of me. It isn't like I spend time trying to be popular or even social. Roark is the only human friend I've had in years. I really like him, but even now I'm not sure if I like him in a romantic way. I don't think I've ever liked anybody that way and I have no clue what I'm even looking for. Not that it matters. I'm sure that he's tired of me acting this way. I'm sure he'll find somebody who won't just leave. I know he can find somebody who makes him happy. But I do often wonder what will happen to me. Will I ever get married? Will I ever have kids? Then again the two aren't mutually exclusive. I know my mom wasn't married, and I don't think any of my aunts were married either… But that is an entire entry in itself…

I was in that room for an eternity. I wish I had you; if you were in that room with me then I wouldn't have been alone. When I heard footsteps in the hall I was ecstatic. I was a bit nervous when I heard the door opening, but that those feelings turned into shock when I saw who it was. Wes. Wesley was standing in the door. He smiled in his usual way and came over to the bed. He looked so strange now that he was older. It had been years since I'd seen him and I didn't even want to think of the person I was back then. Honestly, I could have gone the rest of my life without seeing that obnoxious grin. Wes told me that he was disappointed in how I handled the Houndoom. He told me that the old man was working for him and that this entire situation was there to test me and other candidates. I didn't understand any of what he said at the time... I just told him to give me back my pokemon and let us leave. He just laughed, threw a pokeball at me, and then left the room. I hate Wes so much. He hasn't changed at all since we last met and I can honestly say I'm not surprised. He bought into their propaganda more than any of the rest of us. And that superiority complex always boiled my blood. He is the most infuriating human being I have ever met.

I don't want to leave on such a bad note, but my head is pounding. I will write more tomorrow. I have nothing better to do while I'm stuck in this hospital...

April 15

Dear Diary,

An annoying reporter from some TV station keeps trying to interview me. I've told the hospital that I don't want cameras anywhere near me dozens of times, but that reporter keeps finding her way into my room. It makes me wanna scream. I feel like I'm on display at a museum. The police have questioned me twice and the doctors and nurses are all very nosy. I just want to relax and heal but they keep asking me about what happened. I even caught one reading my diary! Overall it just makes me sick. I hate being here and if things don't improve I'm leaving.

Now, to get back to how I got into this 'hospital'… My lovely Leon was inside of the pokeball Wes threw at me. The fiery little guy greeted me with a hug and I told him what was going on. When I had finished, I didn't hear anything and decided that I wasn't going to sit around and be bested by Wes. I got up and my leg started to pulsate and burn. The bandages started to turn red… I could tell that it was a bad bite and that it would only get worse if I didn't get out of this place. I put Leon back in his pokeball because it seemed the stealthier thing to do, even though part of me yearned to keep the familiar face with me. I left the room shortly after and went exploring. There wasn't much of note. A library, a kitchen, a piano room… The house was very big. I stumbled into the foyer early on. I looked out a window and saw several Houndoom pacing in front of the main entry doors. I looked at them and thought that my one Charmeleon wouldn't have a chance in battle, so I kept moving. Eventually I wound up in the attic. There wasn't much up there either, but I saw something shiny on a shelf. It was too high for me to reach, so I let Leon out of his pokeball to give me a boost. I saw that it was a key but it was just out of our reach. I asked Leon if he could lift me a little bit higher. I was just about to grab the key when I heard Leon scream out in pain. I looked down and saw a Seviper taking a bite out of my only pokemon. Leon immediately scratched it and then used flamethrower to finish it off while I was dangling from the shelf. I had some nasty splinters after that… And Leon was poisoned. Neither of us complained about our wounds; I think that we both felt too sorry for the other to really care about our own wounds. Out reward was the shiny object: a strangely-shaped key.

I felt horrible about not being able to cure Leon on the spot. If I had my bag then I could have whipped up some berries for him to eat and it would have cured him instantly. I feel so bad that he had to go through so much pain. It was at least three or four hours before the poison wore off… Leon has always been such a trooper. He didn't complain once about what happened. I see so much of myself in him sometimes. On the outside he's stoic but I know that there are swirls of emotion on the inside. I know that's how I act. Sometimes I wish people would see the real me and not just the person I project, but then I remember my childhood and those wishes disappear… Sometimes it's easier to just be cold to the world… but sometimes I wonder if easy is the best way… Am I a coward for wanting to be left alone?

Leon and I had a hard time finding the door our newly found key belonged to. We wondered all around the mansion for hours and hours… It seemed like a maze. Sometimes it felt like something would brush against my shoulder, and every few minutes Leon would jump or use his flamethrower attack in one direction. It was terrifying. I questioned our sanity more than once… But we kept moving forward. We fought for each step together. Me with my leg wound and Leon's poisoning it wasn't easy but we did it together. It really made us grow closer. I think we had this silent understanding that if we were going crazy we were going to do it together.

Somehow we managed to find a different room. I knew, I knew, I knew, I knew, I knew for a fact that we had been down that hall at least six times. It wasn't there any of the other times, but then it just appeared. I know that it makes no sense, but at the same time I know that it appeared out of nowhere. We entered the room and saw a small table with some shiny objects. I thought they were more keys, so I started walking towards them. As soon as I stepped ahead of Leon something grabbed me. It lifted me up to the ceiling and then dropped me to the ground. I hit my head and my memory is a bit blurry, but I'm about 90% sure that Leon KO'd whatever attacked me. I remember seeing his flamethrower attack and lots of dark swirls. It was very weird… By the time I got my bearings it was over with. Leon saved the day!

The table was burnt and I couldn't find any of the shiny objects on top of it. But there was a door on the far side of the room. The key from the attack fit! The door opened into a small passage that led into a courtyard. Leon wouldn't let me go first this time. It was so cute how chivil-

April 15, Later

Roak is here! He came to visit me! I'm so happy. It was great just to see his face again. And he gave me a hug! It seemed like it would last forever. He just wouldn't let go and I wouldn't either. It was amazing. I loved it so, so much. I didn't realize how much I missed him. Oh Roark, why did I ever leave? I never knew a hug from you would feel so good. I wish he could have stayed all day, but they made him leave at 8. Apparently visiting hours end then… Only family could stay. He joked that he might just have to marry me so that he can stay as long as he wants next time. It made me blush! I don't know if he noticed or not, but I felt my entire face get hot. And I never blush! Never! Oh, it was amazing.

He was so nice. He said that he was worried and that he heard my name on the news. He told me that he came here the moment he found out where I was. It was great to talk to him. He didn't even push me to tell him everything that happened. He seemed so happy and that made me so happy. I don't remember the last time that happened with another human. I felt this way about my pokemon countless times. It's hard to be sad when Iggy is around. Iggy is happiness. He makes everybody smile and he is so cute. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for Iggy. I wish I could spend all day with him...

I gave Roark my bag to take care of. I told him to be extra careful because it has a bunch of pokemon eggs in it. He looked at me strangely and then looked in the bag. It was funny his reaction. He asked me how my small little bag could hold so much. I told him to never mess with a woman's purse. I also gave him Iggy. I've had his pokeball with me since I got checked into the hospital. He hates being inside of the pokeball, but he understands that there are times when he has to be in there. They are very strict about people not having their pokemon around if they are disruptive, and Iggy kept knocking over my IV stand when he was bouncing around. It was really cute, but the nurse didn't think so… She is so mean. At least I know that Iggy will be happy with Roark. He'll be safe too, and that's what matters the most.

It's pretty late… I should get to bed. Roark promised to visit me first thing in the morning. I can't wait! I can't wait for another one of his hugs.

April 16

DD,

Roark was here again! He told me that some reporters hassled him after he left the hospital yesterday. He said that they all want to be the first to know what happened at the mansion. I saw what Officer Jenny said on the news last night. Apparently there was nothing left of the mansion or the laboratory once they extinguished the fire and I was the only person who knows anything. I want to tell them everything, but I know that would only lead to problems. As much as I hate Wes and want to see him face justice, I know that if he is captured he would spill the beans on me. The last thing I need is for people to know about my past… Besides, part of me still thinks that he is confused and maybe what I said got through to him. He might be able to turn his life around like I did and stop being a pawn in G- his game…. I want him to be good. I don't know why, but I feel some loyalty to him and the others... After all we went through together back in Kanto I shouldn't be surprised…

I'm looking back the past few pages and I didn't finish telling you what happened. The key opened up into a courtyard. It was eerily quiet at first. I found and picked some herbs. Green, red, and blue herbs. I remember my grandmother had a small window box with the blue one. I think she said it cured poison. The red one had a very strong smell to it; it seemed like a strong healing herb. The green ones are quite common in the forests around here. When I first came to Sinnoh an old lady told me that they can be used for healing if you crush them. I grabbed a fair amount so that Leon and I had something to fall back on. I mixed the green and red herb together and gave some to Leon. He seemed to regain all his stamina and was much perkier. I was picking and crushing a few more when I heard some growls. I was the Houndoom again. They were in a formation around Leon and I. We looked at each other and then Leon started to fight.

Charmeleon was awesome. I never saw any pokemon do what he did. I did my best to give him cues and commands, but 99% of what Leon did was just him being an awesome improviser. I think that's why I'm a good trainer. I have pokemon that can take care of themselves and that have enough common sense to go on without my constant guidance. They're powerful enough to fight on their own, but each one is also strong enough to be part of the team. I'm very proud of Leon. He protected me when he could have easily just protected himself. He was injured, but I was able to heal him with the herbs in the courtyard. We decided to rest a bit too. I needed a nap because it had been such an exhausting quest…

Come to think of it, I'm a bit tired now too. I'm going to take a nap and finish this later…

April 16, Later

I woke up to Roark running his fingers through my hair. It seems so strange and a little weird, but I really liked it. It was so incredibly sweet of him to just do that and watch me sleep… If most other people did that I would find it creepy, but for Roark to do it… it's indescribable. I didn't want to open my eyes because I knew he would stop if he knew I was awake. But all good things must come to an end…

I wonder why he treats me this way. I don't really think I deserve it in any way. Since we've met, I've managed to bruise his arm, break his hat, worry him sick, rip his coat, and run away for no good reason on two different occasions. Most men would just cut their losses after the bruised arm, but for some reason he is still here after all if it. He was at my bedside for almost the entire day. In fact, he seemed happy just knowing that I was alive and well. He told me that some things are more important than work. He said that I was one of those things. And then he kissed me. Roark kissed me! It was the most amazing kiss I have ever had. I blushed so much afterward and he did a little bit too. It was great. I wish he had kissed me earlier, to be honest. Just think of how amazing a kiss in on that ledge on Iron Island would be… The serene sky above, the turbulent sea below, and soft grass all around... I can't think of a better place for another kiss.

I wonder where things go from here. How do you know if you're somebody's girlfriend? Do they ask? Does it just happen after you've spent time together? I've never understood the entire concept. I wonder if Roark wants me to be his girlfriend. If he asked I would definitely say yes. He is a great guy and I am so lucky to have him as my friend. No, he's more than a friend. Crush maybe? No, a crush is one-sided and he obviously feels something towards me. It's so hard to find the right word for what Roark means to me… Hopefully I will know tomorrow. Hopefully…

I suppose I should get back to what happened in the courtyard. Leon battled like a real champion and knocked out all the Houndoom. I was so proud of him. He really went above and beyond. I didn't use him and train with him as much as I should have, but he really used the training he had to be a very effective pokemon. We rested and healed after the battle and then we explored the courtyard.

There wasn't much. The only thing of note was a waterfall. Leon was wary of it. He hates water. Well duh, he's a fire pokemon. But even for a fire type he has an aversion to the stuff. I tried to joke with him a bit and kicked a small rock into it to show it was harmless. That's when we noticed there was a space behind the waterfall. I went through first and then he quickly followed. It was a inlet and then a ladder down into a cave. Leon went first. His tail lit her way through the caves. It was almost as maze-like as the mansion, but there were more traps. Every now and then a Golem would just come charging down the tunnel and we'd have to find an off-shoot so we wouldn't get crushed. It was scary and made it hard to keep track of where we had been. Somehow we found a door. It was a big, heavy steel door and it was unlocked.

Once again, Leon insisted on going through the door first. He motioned for me to follow and we shut the door behind us. The last thing I needed was a Golem charging us in an even more cramped corridor. Even with the precaution, it didn't take long for us to find more hostile pokmeon. At least this time they were at a type disadvantage. Some Carnivine were crammed into a one hall. And with only two flamethrower attacks, Leon was able to knock them all out and clear a path for us to follow. At the far end there was a black door. It was a stark contrast to the white hall and I knew that our destiny was behind it.

Leon and I went through the door the Carnevine were guarding. It was a sterile room. I remember a distinct smell… It's hard to describe. I suppose "hospital smell" comes close. But somehow it was emptier than that… It was very weird. The room was weird too. It didn't have any equipment. It was just white floors, white walls, metal countertops, and a few sinks. There were four doors total, one on each wall. I asked Leon which one looked lucky. He shrugged and pointed towards the one to our left. We went through and there he was. It was Wes.

Wes mocked me. He said that the time it took me to get there was pathetic. And then he had the gall to slap me! Charmeleon used his flamethrower attack on Wes, but it didn't do much damage. Wes only laughed and made him return to a pokeball he pulled out of his pocket. He said that he was wearing a protective shield that his laboratory had been developing. He explained how busy he had been since we parted ways back in Kanto. He told me about how he had this lab built. I just didn't understand how he could get the money for such a place. And then the most shocking thing of all happened. The daycare couple entered the room from a small elevator.

I was shocked! The daycare couple… They seemed so nice. I saw many people leave their pokemon with them when I was visiting Solaceon Town. I remember seeing the little kids hanging on the fence and looking at the pokemon frolicking around. I remember talking to the old man by the fence. He said that people left their pokemon with them and then paid by every level they increased. $100 per level he told me… He said it was good, honest work. He also said that pokemon would occasionally be found holding eggs. He seemed so nice… But in reality he was pure evil.

The daycare couple were using their "daycare" as a front to an evil empire. Their real business was using the pokemon people left in their care to do genetic experiments. They told me about how they managed to combine the DNA of a Skitty and Wailord to create a stronger pokemon. They apparently did this all the time and were able to create super-pokemon through their genetic meddling. The old man said that they would give the reject eggs back to the trainer who left their pokemon with them. Nobody ever questioned what they did because they were too happy to get a pokemon egg... Even though it has never been proven that all pokemon lay eggs.

Wes said they were his business partners. They brought in the money and he used his expertise to splice the genetic code of the pokemon they brought to him. He said that they've made millions selling their enhanced pokemon and that he even managed to create an egg from a legendary pokemon. I had no idea that Wes could do such a thing. I never saw him as truly evil like Gio- the boss. I always thought that Wes was like me and just got caught up in the glamour and promises… Now I know that I was wrong. Now I know the truth about Wes…

After elaborately telling me all about their evil plan, Wes told me that he was going to show me the most terrifying of their creations. A creature he said would take over the world through its sheer will and power. I was scared. Wes dangled the pokeball in front of my face and told me that the pokemon inside was evil incarnate. He said it was the culmination of all the genetic experiments and genetic mutations he had spent years on. And then he let it out. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it. It was so… cute. It was a Blissey. I didn't see how a Blissey could take over the world. They have a lot of stamina, but they are so kind that they would offer one of their healing eggs to any pokemon they hurt. Something about her made me uneasy…

Wes grabbed me and took me into a bigger room. The daycare couple followed along, snickering amongst themselves. He said that he wanted to test out his creation and he knew that I would give him a good battle. He kicked the wound on my leg and I screamed out in pain. He threw some pokeballs at me then laughed before walking to the other side of the room. I saw from the seals on the pokeballs that they were from my team and I knew that the one with hearts was Iggy. I know that Iggy wouldn't listen to me if I put him up against a Blissey, so I let Leon out of his pokeball first.

I was amazed at the power of his Blissey. She managed to KO all but one of my pokemon with what seemed like ease. She… She was scary. She was like nothing I had ever seen before… I was down to my last pokeball. Iggy's pokeball. I knew that he would be cranky from being stuck in his pokeball for so long. I knew that he wouldn't listen to my commands when he went up against the Blissey. I knew that it was very risky… but I had no choice. I let Iggy out. At first he gave me a hug and did a cute little dance that made me smile. But then he saw Wes and the Blissey.

Long story short, Iggy kicked ****** and took names. He went into a crazy Igglybuff rage and took it all out on the Blissey. He was small enough that he managed to evade all of her attacks too. Wes and the daycare couple looked stunned at the raw power Iggy possessed. They didn't believe that an Igglybuff could knock out their tyrant Blissey. Wes was very angry. He thought that nothing could stop his uber-pokemon.

I was so busy watching Iggy that I didn't notice the daycare couple had left. By the time the battle was over, Wes was laughing hysterically. He said that he wouldn't let me win that way. He said that he was going to kill me and Iggy so that he could take over the world… Wes was crazy. I knew better than to mess with crazy people. I took Iggy and ran through the nearest door.

The room I stumbled upon was very, very interesting. The first thing I noticed was my bag on a table. The second thing I noticed were hundreds upon hundreds of eggs. The entire building shook suddenly and a voice filled the room… "This facility will self destruct in fifteen minutes. Please evacuate the building." Over and over again, slowly counting down… Red lights started flashing and all I could think about was all the poor baby pokemon stuck inside of those eggs. Iggy and I looked at each other and went to work. Iggy left to scout a route out of the building. I hurried and put every single egg into my bag. When Iggy returned and started pulling me away I was saving the last few dozen eggs.

Iggy and I hurried through the facility. It is such a blur. I was running as fast as I could with my bad leg and Iggy was bouncing through the hall just ahead of me. I trusted Iggy to get us out of there alive and he delivered. There was one minute left when we reached the elevator. Our time in the elevator seemed to last an eternity. It was so slow and we had no time… I thought we were going to die. I hugged Iggy and he smiled at me as if to say "It isn't over yet, why are you doing this?". He is so awesome like that. He never gives up… I wish I could have been that brave.

We made it out with just enough time for me to let Pidgeotto out of her pokeball. I grabbed Iggy and jumped on and told her to fly as far away as she could as fast as she could. She was hurt from the battle, but she saved our lives by getting us out of there. That's the last thing I remember before waking up in the hospital. We all survived. Pidgeotto was just fine. I think Iggy and I got thrown from her back in the explosion. It's the only thing that makes sense, really… The police officers told me that I was found unconscious in the woods outside of the building and that an Igglybuff riding on a Pidgeot were found searching for me from the air. Apparently Iggy attacked several officers that were trying to help me. I couldn't help but laughing when they told me that. It's such an Iggy thing to do.

I saw on the news that the daycare couple have disappeared. Their daycare is closed now… I hope that all the pokemon are okay after what they went through in their care. I wonder if the daycare couple in Kanto are evil too...

I think that I'll tell Officer Jenny what happened. I'll tell the truth, but I think that I'll leave out Wes. The daycare couple seemed to be the ones running the show, so it would be the right thing to do. As for Wes… I hope that our paths never cross again. I hope that he leaves this place and never returns…

It feels good to get it all down on paper. I suppose extra writing time is the only good thing about being in this hospital...

April 17

Dear Diary,

Roark visited again today. That annoying reporter got a few pictures of us hugging. If I see them on the news then I'm going to scream… I don't see why she has to keep bugging me! It's driving me crazy. And today I also had to deal with the police questioning me. They said that Roark could stay and that made it easier. My doctors was there too. He said that if I got too upset he would make them leave because I can't heal if I'm under too much stress. He's very worried about my bite. It isn't healing as fast as it should and he's worried about infection. I like him because when he sees a reporter he has them taken out by security. The nurses don't care, in fact I think they're being paid by the reporters to dig through my things. In the news last night I heard some things that were in my diary on the news… It made me so angry. At least Roark was there for me. He held me when I started crying. He told me that everything was going to be okay… I don't know what I'd do without him. Probably have a nervous break-down of some sort. Or go crazy. So it's a good thing he's here.

I might need another surgery. The doctor said that he's going to give it another day to see if it is going to heal on its own or if there is an infection brewing. He also changed up some of the medicine I'm getting. Oh, and he told me to just call him Trent. And he winked at me. It was weird, but I think he meant it in the old-guy type of way. You know, not like an "I like you" type of way but more the "I'm joking, I'm just a harmless old man" type of way. I think almost every town has at least one old guy who goes around winking at people. It really makes me wonder what the world was like fifty years ago… Not that he's OLD old. But maybe the weirdness of the era of his youth rubbed off on him. Or maybe I'm over analyzing the situation… Either way, I like him as a doctor. If Roark wasn't around then he would be the person here in the hospital that I trust the most. And he looks so familiar. I just can't quite place his face…

It is so great to have so many people supporting me. I don't know how I lived before. I was always just alone and didn't even try to talk to people. I suppose that I've come a long way since I met Roark. He's really helped me grow and realize that I won't get hurt if I open up to people. I always felt that way because of what happened at the training center, but things are different here than they were in Kanto. I really like it here. I think I want to stay. I want to build my house and run my farm and be happy here in Sinnoh. But my farm is so far from Roark… He has so many things that tie him down to Oreburgh City. Once my ranch is running I would have just as many reasons to stay… I don't know that it would really work out between us now that I think about it. He can't give up his job at the mine. He loves it there. He has a real passion for what he does. He cares about every single man in those mines as if they were family and he puts their safety above his own. And he has such a deep connection with fossils. I remember seeing it from afar when Iggy and I first went up the mountain to train and thought it was weird, but as I look back I think I understand. He's such a great guy… Someday he'll make some girl very happy. I just don't think that girl is me. Oreburgh City is a long way from Flouroma Town… His life would be along way from mine and I don't think a relationship can work that way…

I should stop raining on my own parade… The past few days I've been so happy to have Roark and now I wish he had never come here. I wish I had thought things through earlier because I don't want to hurt Roark. He doesn't deserve it…

April 17, Later

I need to get out of here. Wes came in the night and I'm afraid of what he might do to me… He knows people in the hospital. They let him into my room. They helped him… I write this as I cry. I wish Roark had never left when visiting hours ended. I wish he was here to protect me…

April 18

DD,

Roark is going to help me. I told him that I would tell him everything when we got back to Oreburgh City and he promised to help me. He's gone now, but he's going to come back with Pidgeotto and everything is going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay… Roark is going to help me escape and everything is going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay...

LATER?

Dear Diary

I'm in a different room. I don't know how I got here or where I am. It's very dark and my head hurts so much. There is just enough to see the lines on the diary pages and to make out what I'm writing… I'm scared. I don't think I've felt this way in a long time… just the pure terror and helplessness of not knowing… That is what I fear most. I've been in control of my life for so long and now it's all gone. I feel sick. I'm too scared to leave this bed. I wish Roark was here… I wonder what happened to him… I hope he isn't in any danger. If he is then it is all my fault and he'll leave me for sure…

I know Wes is behind this. I don't understand why he's doing this to me. We hadn't spoken in years before he showed up here in Sinnoh. Now it feels like he's my shadow… just lurking there and waiting to strike…. I hate him so much for this. I wish he would leave me alone. I wish he had died in the accident back in Kanto.

April 19?

Dear Diary,

I'm so hungry… I wonder if they've forgotten about me. My IV ran dry yesterday and I took it out. I also checked on my leg wound. It's looking worse every time I look at it… I wish I had something proper to dress it with, but I had to make due with tearing up some bed sheets. I left my bed and the room has only the door. The normal lights don't work, but there are a few that emit a tiny amount into my room... I'm considering seeing if I can escape through the ceiling. I'm just trying to figure out how to get a bit higher. I'm quite short and even standing on the bed I don't quite reach… This is just about the only time I've honestly wished that I was as tall as everybody else in my family.

LATER

I am awesome. Well, half awesome, but half awesome is better than no awesome. I made an epic escape from my room. But that isn't why I am awesome. I used my IV pole to move the ceiling foam tiles and then I used it to climb up into the electrical crawl space. I went in a direction that I though led out of my room; the wall ran all the way up in some areas but not in all of them, so I moved to what would have been the wall behind my bed. I only moved about 20 feet before I fell through the ceiling. Luckily, I feel right on top of Roark. Although I don't think he found it lucky at all…

The moment I saw how Roark broke my fall, I couldn't help but think of how much it reminded me of when we met. It was back in Oreburgh City… God, how ironic. That morning I was training my pokemon in the mountains. Iggy and I took a break around noon to rest and cuddle. He and Ned, my Eevee, were playing in the rocky terrain while I was looking at a map of Sinnoh. Suddenly, I heard Iggy squeal and I went running. Unfortunately, I wasn't looking where I was going and I ran off of a small ledge. My momentum carried me off of several more small ledges. I closed my eyes and hoped for the best… And then I stopped tumbling down the mountain. I opened my eyes and saw that I had landed on this cute guy with a mining helmet. I didn't have enough sense to get off of him, but he was strong enough to sit me beside him.

I was dizzy, felt like crap, and had bruises all over my body… Roark wasn't much better off. There was one nasty looking bruise on his arm and I broke the light on his helmet. He introduced himself and asked how a lady like me came to land on a guy like him. I said that I had no idea, and then Iggy came bouncing down between us. He took one look at Roark and puffed up. I grabbed him before he could attack, but I knew that Iggy would have gone ballistic on him if I hadn't grabbed him away… Iggy is very protective of me like that. He would defend me against a raging herd of Tauros and think nothing of it afterwards. We're so close…

I apologized to Roark for everything and went to stand up, but I got so dizzy after standing that I nearly fainted. Roark caught me before I hit the ground; at least that's how he tells it. I can't really remember a lot of what happened, but I trust Roark. I don't see why he would lie about that story. I remember him telling his dad about it when we were in Iron Island.

Unfortunately for me, the second time I fell on top of Roark was much more embarrassing.. I was only wearing a thin little hospital gown, and it kinda ripped when I fell through the ceiling… I think part of it got caught on the metal frame of the ceiling that I was trying to keep my weight on when moving through the crawl space… I blushed when I noticed it wasn't covering all… It's just that Roark noticed that before I did… He was a real gentleman and gave me his gray coat to wear. And I didn't see him staring at me overly much. I mean, he took a look at me and then offered me his coat and then I turned red because I realized why he offered me his coat… It was so embarrassing. Sometimes I feel like a total dork when I'm around Roark. It feels like every bit of refinement and grace I had leaves my body when he is around. It drives me crazy and makes me feel like a school girl all over again.

After the surprise of finding each other, Roark told me how he would up in this room. He and Iggy went to get my bag and several of my other pokemon from the hotel he was staying at. When they came back, he saw the nurses and the doctor rushing me away from my room. He tried to confront them and ask them where they were taking me, but then he blacked out. He didn't remember anything more, but I'm willing to bet it was Wes and Trent. Come to think of it, Trent looks a lot like Wes… That would explain so much...

You know, I don't really remember why I am awesome anymore… But I do know that I feel better. I'm not alone anymore. It's nice to have somebody to cuddle with, even if that somebody isn't Iggy… I hope the little guy is okay.

April 20?

Dear Diary,

Roark asked me about you today. I said that I've been writing it for a while and that it was for my eyes only. He got this playful look in his eyes, so I have a feeling he might try to read you. Don't you dare give out any of my secrets!

And Roark, when you read this please know that I am only pretending to sleep and that I am, in fact, about to make you pay.

LATER

He did read you, but I tackled him to the ground. I hope he didn't read any of the good stuff… I'm guessing not, he's just being the same old Roark. I don't know how, but he can make me smile even though we're in this bad situation. It's great. I never knew that I could smile and laugh so much with another person. There is something magnetic about Roark that I absolutely love. It's like he brings me alive, if that makes any sense.

The second best part of this room is that it has food… The one I was stuck in was empty. This one seems to be a supply closet or pantry of sorts… It's weird. The only edible things around here are old sea rations. They taste bad, but at least I'm not hungry after munching down on one. Roark makes me eat more than I want to eat. He says that I need it, especially since my leg is hurt. I told him that they taste like crap and I can only handle so much before I gag. But he gives me this look and I just can't say no… I wish I knew that look. You know, the guilt look. My mom never had it, but my grandmother did. I hated getting it from her. She never did it unless I disappointed her… Usually after mom and I would get into a fight. I miss her so much. I wonder what she would think of my life… I'm sure she'd give me the look. I'm sure she'd make me feel guilty for no going into the family trade…

I never want to leave Roark. I think that I lov-

April 22

DD,

Roark is my hero! He saved me and brought me back to the relative safety of Oreburgh City. It's been a wild ride since I last wrote, but an amazing one at that. I'll make sure to write it all down later. I just feel like writing it down now because my head is spinning. Roark said something to me today. Something I just… I hope I didn't hear him wrong. He said "I love you" and kissed me. I just didn't have a chance to compute it all and I wish I could have said something, but he just said it and kissed me before I knew what was going on. Afterwards he stroked my cheek and look into my eyes… Neither of us could stop grinning. It was perfect, absolutely perfect, until the doctor came in and said he was ready to work on my leg wound. Roark stayed with me and held my hand. It didn't hurt much, but my leg looks really bad... Right now Roark is sleeping on a chair next to my bed with Iggy as a make-shift pillow. It's absolutely adorable…

The doctor, a REAL doctor this time, said I would have to stay at the hospital until the infection was under control. As things are now, it'll be a few days or even weeks… I know my fair share of medicine and I know my leg is bad. It's gotten so painful in the last few days that I could barely walk on it. I'm lucky that Roark is so strong… I guess all those years working in the mines really paid off for him. He really doesn't look muscular, but he can pick me up as easily as I can pick up Iggy. He just isn't body-builder buff and muscular like those creepy old guys at the Combee Inn... That can only be a good thing.

I feel better now that I've gotten all that out of me. I think I can write about what happened now. Back in Veilstone City, Roark and I were suck in that room together. It seemed like forever, but the last time I was writing we heard a commotion in the room I started out in. I freaked out a little bit and Roark stood up and took a protective stance between me and the door. Wes burst through the door seconds later... The light was so bright and my eyes didn't adjust at first, but I could tell from his voice that Wes was very angry… He yelled at me for leaving my room. He said that he would kill me if I ever pulled something like that again. It was so confusing. He came towards me, and Roark threw a punch at him. Wes was out cold… I didn't really believe it. Wes was alone, so we just locked him in the room. Wes had my bag with him so I grabbed it just before Roark grabbed my hand so we could make a run for it.

The halls were completely empty, save the occasional door. We tried them all but not a single one would budge. Every last one of them was locked. After we hit a dead end, I told Roark that I was a complete dolt. I ruffled through my bag and got Hermit's pokeball. Roark had brought Hermit with him when he came to visit me in the hospital. I let Hermit out of his pokeball and smiled. Hermit, my Alakazam, knows how to use teleport. He is truly awesome. I asked Hermit to teleport us to Oreburgh City and he nodded. Then poof! We were there; just outside of the Oreburgh City pokemon center. I thanked Hermit and gave him a hug for saving the day.

It was near midnight in Oreburgh and the streets were deserted. I was happy for that, since I was only wearing Roark's jacket and a torn hospital gown. The last thing I wanted was to be teleported into the middle of a busy street when looking so disheveled and under-clothed… I would die from embarrassment. I would be forced to leave Sinnoh and change my name, hair color, and everything about me in a vain attempt at living a moderately normal life after such an event. I'm quite modest about my body and the last thing I need is dozens of eyes on me when I'm wearing practically nothing. It's bad enough that Roark saw me that way earlier… God, I can't even think about it without getting sick to my stomach!

Roark and I started walking to his house when I tripped. I don't think my leg hurt as much since the Houndoom bit me back in the forest. I couldn't put any weight on it, so Roark ended up carrying me the rest of the way. He didn't even break miss a beat; he just swooped me up and kept walking like it was nothing. It was really great. Roark is so strong, physically and mentally. He's my rock. Roark is my rock. I don't know how I ever lived without him.

When he finally put me down, I went through my bag and found Iggy's pokeball. I let the little fluff out and we cuddled. It had been such a long time since we'd seen each other. I think it was the longest time we've been apart since we met when he was a wee little egg. Roark laughed when Iggy gave him a hug too. The three of us fell asleep on Roark's couch.

In the morning Roark took me to the hospital. I had extra clothes in my bag which I changed into the moment it entered my mind... Unfortunately, that wasn't until the morning... if I wasn't such a dolt I would have changed the moment I got my bag back. Somehow I seem to be very forgetful around Roark. It's very out of character for me. I usually have a photographic memory when it comes to everything, but around him it's like I can only live in the moment... Anyways.. even though I could put weight on my bad leg, Roark insisted on carrying me to the hospital. He didn't even give me a chance to say no; Roark just swept me off my feet and started walking.

I'm quite tired now, so I'll write more tomorrow. I think I remembered everything that happened in the past few days…

April 23

Dear Diary,

Roark has a stress fracture in his arm. I told him that it was because he was carrying me too much and I'm fat. We spent several hours going back and forth on that issue, and neither of us is backing down on it. He is surprisingly stubborn when he wants to be. Pity he doesn't understand that I never lose an argument. But I'm sure he'll learn that eventually. Despite anything he may think, being the Oreburgh City gym leader doesn't make him all-knowing.

I want to go home with Roark. He stays with me in the hospital when he isn't working at the mine or battling at the gym, but it's very lonely when he isn't around. At least I have Iggy, but he's been going through an "I'm too cool for my trainer" phase lately. I hope it isn't because of my relationship with Roark… I love Iggy very much and I never want him to think that I don't love him. Iggy has always had a problem with me getting close to anybody but him. Whether it was a pokemon or a person, Iggy gets very jealous and often attacks them. He's gotten better in recent years, but I worry about it so very much.

My leg is getting a bit better. It's still very painful, but it isn't as icky anymore. I'm on some antibiotics right now, so hopefully they'll kick in and I can be over this before too long.

April 23, Later

I'm very restless today, but at the same time I've been very tired. It's very hard to explain. I know that my body needs to stay in this bed, but my mind wants to get up and move. I want to do jumping jacks and sing at the top of my lungs, but at the same time I want to cuddle and nap with Iggy. I think my mind and my body are at odds… But it all comes down to wants versus needs and you know how that always ends with me.

I'm lucky that writing in you doesn't take much energy. Sometimes it's the only thing to do in this hospital. Without you I think I'd feel very lonely. I've been going back and reading past entries and remembering all the great things that have happened to me before I got here. Maybe I'll write more about other things that have happened… This morning something Roark said reminded me of back home in Vermillion…

I was delivering some berries and herbs to my mom when I ran into Lt. Surge. He laughed at me when he saw that my only two pokemon were Iggy and Happiny. No… This just doesn't feel right… Maybe I'll write about that stuff another day…

April 24

DD,

It's raining outside today. I can hear it and see it out the window, but what I really want to do is go outside and feel it. It's been a long time since I've been caught in a rain storm. Iggy loves the rain. Right now he's moping by the window sill. I won't let him go outside alone and Roark isn't around, so Iggy is very sad. I feel bad about it, but I don't want any harm to come of my Iggy. I wish I had enough energy to keep up with him, but even when I'm at 100% it's hard to keep him under control. With my leg the way it is, I'd say I'm operating at about 60%, so I've got a ways to go.

Come to think of it, Roark is usually here by now. I hope that nothing bad happened in the mine... I don't know what I'd do if something bad happened to Roark…

April 24, Later

Dear Diary,

I found out why Roark was so late. Byron came to Oreburgh City for a visit. He said that he was worried when the news reported that Roark and I had disappeared from Veilstone City. We told Byron that we used Hermit to teleport to Oreburgh City because of the reporters hassling us. He seemed to understand. We were talking about what happened at the mansion when the doctor came in. He shooed Roark and Byron out and closed the door. I was worried… I grabbed Iggy and held him in my lap. The doctor said he got the results back on my blood analysis. He told me that the infection hadn't spread to my blood stream and that he might let me leave the hospital tomorrow. I'm so happy! I can't wait to tell Roark. I'm sure it will give him a bit of a boost.

Roark has looked so down the past few days… He must be stretched pretty thin. Between the gym and his job at the mine he is busy, and adding me in there makes things chaotic. Put me in the hospital and it's probably too much for one man to handle. Even so, I haven't heard him complain once... It's amazing how strong Roark has been the past several weeks. Even with his arm in a sling, he just keeps on going like nothing is wrong.

April 25

Dear Diary,

I'm at Roark's house right now! Yay! No more hospitals for me. I have some antibiotics I need to take every day and I need to keep the dressing on my leg fresh, but I get to do it all from the comfort of Roark's bachelor pad. Of course, I say that in the most loving way possible. It isn't that his house isn't nice, it's just that nothing matches.

Roark has been positively giddy since he got to bring me home. The doctor told him to keep a close eye on me so that I wouldn't get into any more trouble. I blushed and Roark said he'd do his best. Well… Okay, he said a bit more than that. The doctor, that is. The doctor said something along the lines of "You keep that girl of yours out of trouble. The next time I see her in here it'd better be because you're having a baby." I freaked out a bit inside and my fact turned very red… It was weird. What is it about this town and everybody thinking that we're going to have kids? Do they think I'm that type of girl? Do I seem like that type of girl to you? Is this just how people are in this town?

I've gone through this in my head about a million times… I just don't see why people are constantly making baby references with me and Roark. I wonder if he's been saying things about me… He does work in a coal mine… I'll have to send a ghost pokemon to spy on him and see if he is saying anything that is inspiring these rumors… I do have a Shuppet, after all…

April 26

Dear Diary,

Byron left today. I was sad to see him go; Iggy was just starting to warm up to him. Or maybe it's the other way around… Iggy has always had a fascination with Byron's hair. I wish I knew why... I'm guessing it's the spikes, but you can never be sure with Iggy….

Roark seems sad to see him go, but maybe some cookies will make him feel better. I think I'll go bake some right now. I haven't made cookies in a long time….

April 26, Later

DD,

The cookies did help, but Iggy ate most of them. I turned my back for no more than five seconds and they were gone. And Iggy was under the kitchen table surrounded by crumbs… I wasn't happy. I put Ned on Iggy-guarding duty. Since he became a Vaporeon Iggy has developed a great fear… I think it might have been the time Ned got fed up with his constant bouncing on his back that he used hydro pump… I love Ned very much. I was there when he and his brothers were born and I've been close with him ever since.

I think I'm going to go stealth training with Shuppet tomorrow. I think I'll ride Torterra into the mountains so that we can get some practical training done before I sent Shuppet off to spy for me.

Oh, I think I'll write down my top-secret cookie recipe for safe keeping. I wouldn't want anybody reading it or stealing it, and no place is safer than my diary.

2 stks. butter, melted
2-1/4 c flour
1 tsp. salt
1 sp. Baking soda
¼ c. sugar
1-1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tbsp. milk
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. chocolate chips

Oven 375 F
Standard wet-dry method (sift, cream, liquids, incorporate, chips)
Chill dough
Bake 14 minutes/golden brown

April 27

Dear Diary,

Roark wasn't thrilled when I told him what I wanted to do today, but he felt a bit better about it after I told him that I would ride on Torterra's back for most of the day. I don't want to stress him out, but I really want to train Shuppet. It is such a wonderful little ghost and I feel like I don't spend enough time training with it. Shuppet learns so fast, it is really quite amazing…

Off to the mountains we go!

April 27, Later

Being in love is a very scary thing. I never really thought about it before, but for some reason I can't get it out of my mind. It is scary because you're never quite sure what the other person is thinking and feeling. What if he is just toying with me? What if I am nothing more than another girl to him? How many people has he done this same thing to? How often does he use the word love; and what does love even mean to him? How do you know if their feelings are as fleeting as a supernova exploding in the infinite sky or if they will last forever like the very fabric of space and time? How do you know the same about your own feelings? So many questions, and not a single answer in sight….

Ever since I met Roark I've been doing and saying things that make no sense for me to do or say. And what is it all for? I'm not me when I'm around him. I'm this bimbo who is clumsy and can't seem to form a proper sentence. I'm not LC. I wish I knew who I was and I wish I could just be me…

What if he falls in love with the fool before him and not with the person I am inside? Or worse, what if he doesn't know the difference between love and lust? I know I'm not beautiful; I know I'll never be a model or a news anchor. I'll never be as pretty as Officer Jenny or any Nurse Joy. But even so, more than one person has acted like I was the most beautiful thing they had ever laid eyes on. What if that is all he feels for me and the mind trapped inside of this body means nothing?

I know that I'm head over heals in love with Roark, but I also know we can't be together. The moment he finds out about my past then he'll never want to speak to me again… I fear that day more than anything, but I think I'll cherish each day until that happens as if it were our last…

Even if he doesn't find out about my past, it always seems to be sneaking up on me. Wes is proof of that. Now they know that I'm in Sinnoh and that I have a connection of some sort with the Oreburgh gym leader. I have no doubt that there is still a bounty on my head… The Boss was never happy about me leaving… The first time they caught me because I wasn't careful, but this time I've done my best to hide my steps and never stay in one place too long… Maybe it was foolish of me to think I could outsmart them. They're everywhere. They'll never stop… I will never be free…

I'm sorry for going off on that tangent. I'm up here in the mountains and I can't seem to concentrate on training… Writing in you helps, but my mind is still spinning...

April 29

Dear Diary,

I have found true happiness. It is falling asleep in Roark's arms. Hearing his heart beat, listening to him breath, and feeling his warm body next to mine... Words will never be able to describe the way I felt last night. I'm only doing my best to live in the moment and not worry about my past or my future. Things are great right now; I never want them to change.

April 29, Later

DD,

The last few days have been a blur… And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Roark is the most sincere person I have ever met and he makes me feel like I'm the most important person in the world.

As I lay out here in the sun watching Ned and Iggy train, I can't help but wonder what I did to deserve Roark. I haven't been a particularly good person my entire life. In fact, looking back I can say there are more things I'm ashamed of doing than I am proud of doing…. I don't know why I ever joined them. I guess I was just young and stupid. And then there was him. He made me feel important. He scared me at first, but that went away after I saw his face for the first time. He made me feel special. He was an adult who treated me the exact opposite way my mom treated me and I couldn't get enough. It's good that I left when I did… Every time I've seen his name or face in the newspaper it scares me to think that I used to help him do those evil things.

I think I've been in denial about me and Roark for the past few months… Looking back it's so clear that he loved me from the moment I dropped into his life. Until about a month ago I was in complete denial about how he felt about me, and until a few days ago I was in denial about how I felt about him. But when he found me in the mountains that day… It just hit me like a ton of bricks. I love him and he loves me. And nothing is stopping us from being happy but ourselves… At least now I have some clarity on it all and I'm not afraid. I've spent most of my life just ignoring things I didn't want to deal with, but that doesn't seem to be an option with Roark…

April 30

Dear Diary,

I finally got Cleffa to come out of her pokeball. She's been very shy ever since the mansion incident… But I managed to coax her out. She is so cute, but everything scares her. I hope that I can help build up her confidence. We spent some time working on a charm attack.

Iggy is jealous of Cleffa. And he bullies her a bit. I gave her a cute little bow for her hair and he took it and threw it into the ceiling fan. I'll have to wait until Roark gets home to get it untangled because I'm too short to reach…

April 30, Later

Roark is very stressed out today. He yelled at me over practically nothing because he had a bad day at work. I didn't mean for it to happen, but I also think he overreacted. I hate being yelled at. I hate it more than anything in the world. My mom did nothing but yell at me. It's why I left. I just could not take any more of the yelling… If Roark keeps this up then I'm gone. I'm not going to stay with somebody who treats me this way.