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She was now considered a blossoming young woman. Aged now to twenty. Her adorable little Gible evolved to Gabite and now her monstrous Garchomp. Though still, in Neko's eyes, Adrasteia was still that tiny little bundle she had worked so hard to hatch all those years past. The two were the perfect trainer and pokemon pair. True understanding, perfect synchronization, not to mention all the region's badges under their belt.

A cool breeze flitted up around the calm of Lake Valor. It had been a long day... a long grind, and a long list of wild encounters. Her back pressed against Adrasteia, Neko smiled. "You know, Addy... I've been thinking long and hard about this... But I think it's time we made our way across the ocean to Kanto..." The Garchomp shot a quizzical look to her trainer, dropping a juicy red berry into her mouth. Neko simply chuckled. "Don't you look at me in that tone of voice. It's hard enough dealing with the same scenes every day. It's time to expand our options, travel the distance, befriend new... erm... friends."

Adrasteia rolled her golden eyes with a small shake of her head. The trainer sighed, slumping back into her. Dressed in her standard clothes, Neko had become every it a trainer. A form fitting, albeit rather riquely short, white dress hugged her tightly. Each shoulder adorned with a pokeball image, the front lined with vertical pairs of button snaps; knee-high white boots with a darker grey thigh-high socks; and the elbow long gloves to tie it all together. Black hair styled in cascading shags around her ivory face, deep amber eyes twinkling with determination behind her thin-framed glasses... It all complimented her image. She could be anything she wanted to be with that image, but her life was her pokemon.

Nuzzling against the rough, deep blue skin of her Garchomp, she felt comforted. It was familiar. No matter how much the surroundings changed, that one thing stayed the same. All those that had left her, all those that had faded away into distant memory, Adrasteia remained. At that thought, a smile curved the corners of her mouth. She then turned around, wrapping her arms about the thin red and yellow waist of her truest friend.

Adrasteia gave a small dragon-y smirk down to her trainer, twisting around and leaning down to nuzzle the top of her head affectionately. The wind blew past them again, sending a small chill up Neko's spine. "I promise I'll never leave you, Adrasteia... I'll be with you until the end." Such sweet, sweet words. Spoken like a sister to her sibling. Neko gave a big squeeze, only to have the dragon give a squeaking grunt at the tightness to the hug. Nevertheless, she accepted it, even so much as understood it. LIfe was undoubtedly good.

A tiny yawn escaped the young trainer then, and it was as if she was that twelve year old girl again on her first day on the road to being the trainer she was now. Tired and content with the way life was progressing, Neko allowed her eyes to slide closed. "Ya know, Addy... I can't wait to get to Kanto," her voice trailed in another yawn, slowly getting drownt out by drowsiness, "I hear Professor Oak is a leader in all things pokemon... I have... a theory... reguarding evolution..." another yawn ensued before she settled her head against Adrasteia's tail, the two now curled up in an entwined ball, fatigue hitting her suddenly. "So many... questions..."

The Garchomp gave a yawn back at Neko, pushing her loose pokeballs into their little cuddled up circle for safe-keeping. Draping her head across her trainer's shoulder's, she heaved a contented sigh before drifting into a pleasant slumber...

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It was dark... It was always dark... Why did it always have to be so dark?

A cold chill shot up the girl's back, her thin arms wrapped tight about her chest, trying to hold inside all her fears and living nightmares. She could feel the tears welling behind her eyes, trembling, her voice a quiver. Was this hell? Or was this the nightmare again...

Before her, those burning red eyes seemed to stare into her soul... Straight through. Those horrid, dagger-filled eyes... So hungry, so inhuman.

Her breath was caught in her throat, that cold sweat beaded upon her brow. This was it; there was nothing she could do. Looming before her the monster rose, hovering effortlessly in the air. Heavy black shadows snaked out from its back, reaching out to the frail young girl before them. Slithering, twisting up along her leg and tugging hungrily at her dress.

Do you fear me, girl?

Please, no...

This is what all your race desires...

I don't understand...

A dark chuckle echoed through her mind as the tentacle-like shadow tore past her clothes and straight into her innocence. The matching pairs of shadows twirled tight about her wrists and ankles, forcing her to spread her legs, unable to fight back. The blood trickled down her leg, her cries of pain and horror choked by shock and tears.

This is what all you humans want...

No...

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"No!" Neko shot up, her body soaked in a cold sweat, chest heaving, heart racing. Adrasteia stretched beneath her, a worried look reflected in her gold pupils. The trainer could only search for her breath before slinking back down, running a slender hand through her hair with a heavy sigh. "It was... that dream again, Addy..." The Garchomp looked to her in understanding.

With a smile, Neko patted the top of Adrasteia's head, her fingers trailing over to dance along the yellow star at the end of her snout. "I don't get it Addy... Every time, every dream, it's the same. Like some inescapable memory." The dragon offered a snort as a distraction from the subject. "You're right... enough talk about it." she stretched out, feeling each muscle loosen up and warm in preparation to continue on. "Alright you crazed beast, let's go. We've had enough time doing nothing."

Another snort. "Oh, nobody asked you."