The little blue Pokemon clambered up the mountain. His white face was red from exhaustion. His short arms and dark blue feet were worn. Water types don't usually climb this high, at least those without a second type.
Finally reaching a plateau in the slope, Oshawott stopped to rest. Plopping down and leaning against a rock, he looked out over the land he had climbed. Eastern Unova stretched out before him. The Pokemon saw the mountain slope down into the hills of Route 14. Way out on the horizon was Undella town. The trees of White Forest towered over the surroundings, but were still tiny from Oshawott's perspective so close to the peak.
Closing his eyes and folding his arms in his lap, Oshawott thought about his journey so far. After walking away from Pikachu weeks ago, he had immediately headed south. He started in Nuvema town, and had scoured every square foot of that peninsula, slowly working his way north. He was looking for a sign, any sign at all of Golurk or Ridley. He was listening ever-so-carefully for a song, a certain childlike voice. So far, nothing.
It wasn't that bad at first. The Patrat and Herdier living in the area were largely nonhostile. Most left the little Oshawott alone. At one point he had accidentally stumbled upon a family of Lillipups and Herdiers. The mother of the family had offered him food, and that night Oshawott had a good night's sleep in a den for once.
As he went farther north, he started having to battle. Sometimes he would accidentally intrude on a Purrloin's territory, or meet a headstrong Blitzle spoiling for a fight. At first Oshawott found it hard to cope to battling without Ash. He had to choose from his movepool on his own; learn how different Pokemon fought. Oshawott was strong from his travels, but he was still a silly Oshawott. Most starter Pokemon would evolve before they gained a real battling ability without their trainer. It took a lot of trial and error, but by the time Oshawott passed Nacrene City he had surpassed that. Not even the cockiest Blitzle would challenge him, and Oshawott avoided any chance of aggravating their Zebstrika parents.
And then he hit Pinwheel forest. Or to him, home to some of the most irritating Pokemon ever. Oshawott was constantly egged on by Sewaddle and Venipede, finding shelter only from sympathetic Tranquill or Pansear families. The Sewaddle were little more than nuisances, like mosquitoes. The Venipede meanwhile were nearly murderous.
A couple of new trainers had tried to catch him. The ones that weakened Oshawott enough were surprised when their Pokeballs had no effect. Oshawott's ball was still with Ash, and the starter was just fine with things staying that way. The last thing he needed right now was to end up going on another trainer's journey.
Oshawott bypassed the Skyarrow Bridge. His plan was to go all the way to northeastern Unova before heading south again. It was tempting to visit the security of Castelia City, but a lone starter wandering the streets would be far too suspicious - and besides, why would Meloetta hide there?
White Forest, Route 14, Undella Town..Oshawott passed them all. He was listening all the way, honing his sense of hearing, to the point where he could hear a Liepard sneaking up on him. Still nothing.
Now, up on the mountain, Oshawott sighed. "This is stupid," he thought. "I'm walking across an entire stupid region to find a two-foot tall Legendary Pokemon in hiding. Why? Because of a stupid crush that won't go away, even though Meloetta was completely oblivious to how stupid I acted before in my stupid lovesick insanity."
Oshawott got up. He started climbing up the mountain quickly, stirred on by frustration. All the way he muttered to himself.
"Nearly every attempt I made to impress her she barely realized. Even when Piplup was trying to kill me she just watched with this confused stare. It's like she couldn't comprehend the idea of a crush or love or something. She just liked everyone. Even people and Pokemon she just met; if you weren't a threat you'd become her best friend in no time. She would take on an Onix to protect us, barely breaking a sweat, and once we're safe she'd just revert back to the sweetest, cutest Pokemon ever. I mean look at her, beautiful green hair, blue eyes you could stare into for days, and a singing voice lovelier than any stupid Jigglypuff or Chatot. And on top of that-"
Oshawott stopped. He realized that his mental rant about his crazy journey had turned into speaking aloud everything he loved about Meloetta. And instead of huffing up the mountain, he had started running. And he had run all the way to the peak of the mountain.
All around him the Unova Region stretched out. Hills, rivers, White Forest, Marvelous Bridge, Lacunosa town, Oshawott could see it all. The sun was setting; its red visage starting to disappear over central Unova.
"Wow," Oshawott breathed. Then he smiled. "Somewhere out there..I'll keep looking." Standing on the peak of the mountain the little blue Pokemon yelled, "JUST WAIT MELOETTA, I'LL KEEP LOOKING!"