Chapter 3: Alone and Afraid

Lorelei's steps quickened as she began heading towards Lance's room. He left about mid-way through the battle to get some sleep. Well, I just make him feel guilty that he didn't see my spectacular finish. Lorelei grinned. She found her destination and burst in without hesitation.

"Lance! Lance! Wake up!!" Lorelei exclaimed. "I won the Cloyster! And the battle too in case you're wondering…" It seemed as if all the emotions she held back while battling "Blondie" came rushing out once she reached her colleague's room.

Lance cracked open an eye. "You're really a morning screecher aren't you?" he mumbled, burrowing under the sheets even further. "LANCE!!" Lorelei shook him awake. "Five more minutes…" he said groggily. "It's only…" "10:00 am and you missed the breakfast." Lorelei said sarcastically. "WHAT!" Lance bolted up and glanced at the clock. Lorelei rolled on the floor laughing. "Hahaha! You should've seen the look on your face!"

Lance didn't seem to be impressed, until he saw the whopper of a Cloyster. "Whoa…you won your battle with Hottie!" he said. Lorelei arched an eyebrow, and Lance fumbled to correct himself. "I mean, Blondie." "Of course I did! That was what I've been telling you the whole time!" Lorelei said, picking up her new doll. "Get dressed, they're serving breakfast in 10 minutes." "I hope I won't miss it." Lance called out dryly.

Breakfast was just delicious as dinner, and Lorelei had a bigger appetite than last night, fueled by her amazing win. But this morning it was Lance who was having trouble with his food. He decided to tell Lorelei after breakfast what he overheard last night.

"So what do you want to do? I still have two days to go before arriving at Sinnoh." Lorelei asked. "Huh? Oh, right! Those Remoraids on the ocean are so cute." Lance answered distractedly. "I wasn't asking about those Remoraids, moron." Lorelei said, lightly punching Lance's arm. "I was asking what you wanted to do." "Uh…" Lance replied, not really knowing. "There's a swimming pool, game room, restaurant…lots of things to keep us occupied!" Lorelei continued.

"That's good, then." Lance said. "Lots of things to keep you occupied." "Huh?" Lorelei said, not catching on. "See…I don't know how to tell you this, but last night I heard that…in an hour SS Anne is stopping at Olivine…I have…to get off already." Lance mumbled. Lorelei felt her heart drop to her stomach. Lance…her only companion aboard the SS Anne…is leaving her in an hour? It was only morning! How would she survive with Blondie and Steven on the loose?

"I'm really sorry, Lorelei…" Lance apologized when he saw shock and surprise run across Lorelei's face. Regaining composure, she shook out of it. "Hey…it's OK. I'm a tough girl." Lorelei forced a grin. "I've been alone before, I didn't mind." "That was before you met two piranhas, one yellow and the other silver." Lance pointed out. "Don't push it." Lorelei said through gritted teeth.

Lance got off at Olivine City, the port of Johto. "Take care, Lorelei! I'll see you in three months!" he called to his friend. She gave him a limp wave and watched him call out his Dragonite to fly him to Blackthorn. With two days left of traveling, what else could she do? She crossed her fingers and hoped not to run into Blondie.

The ship continued on its way to the next stop, Lilycove City. Lorelei sighed as she picked at her lunch. Maybe going to this convention wasn't such a good idea after all. "Vaporeon?" her Pokemon glanced up at her, looking up from its food. Lorelei had sent out her Vaporeon to fill the empty seat Lance left.

Lorelei resisted the urge to tell it that it was a lousy traveling companion because it couldn't grasp words like "convention", "doll", "my friend just got off the ship", much less respond to her. "Eon eon!" it said, trying to comfort her. "Thanks for the concern, Vaporeon, but it's nothing."

"That's one cute Vaporeon you've got there." A voice said. Lorelei winced and turned around to face the speaker. Why am I not surprised, she told herself when she saw it was Blondie. "Is this seat taken?" Blondie asked, gesturing to the seat Vaporeon just vacated. "No," Lorelei said uncertainly. Dang Vaporeon...you shouldn't have budged! She thought to herself. The Vaporeon seemed to be happy that another human wanted to keep its trainer company. Trying to look as smart as possible, it sat smartly on its haunches.

"Hahaha!" Blondie laughed at Vaporeon's antics. She gave it a Poffin and both trainers watched as it happily tossed it and played with it before finally eating it.

"What, you're after my Pokemon now?" Lorelei snapped. "Whatever complaint you have, all I can say is that I won, I pulled no strings, and all that." "It's not that," Blondie said. "Actually…I'm here to apologize." Lorelei glanced at Blondie to see if she was telling the truth.

"That edge of haughtiness seemed to have dulled, I see." Lorelei said. "I bet if I lost to you, you'd still push my buttons and step all over me as if I were dirt or something. I'm not a rookie trainer, you know." Lorelei felt the heat run to her brain. Then nerve of this trainer was getting on her. Does she even know who she's talking to?! How dare she talks to me with such familiarity as if I were a newbie trainer!? She inwardly seethed.

"I know you're not a rookie. It's in the way you battle. You were relaxed and smart, just like a pro." Blondie said. "Don't say those things just to butter me up." Lorelei snapped. Blondie ignored the snap and continued, "I would have apologized for my haughtiness even if you won or lost."

"Really? What miracle must have come to you overnight?" Lorelei's voice was sarcastic. "My companion pointed out that it's wrong for someone of my status to talk to other trainers that way." Blondie said, and then suddenly her eyes opened wide. "Oh no…I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned anything." Lorelei thought, someone of "her" status? What the heck?! I've got it now. This trainer is some Rich Kid who thinks I'm a trainer of no rank?! Grrrr...if only I can reveal MY status!!

Lorelei forced another smile and chose to forego her evil thoughts…for now. "Well…in any case…apology accepted." She said, shaking Blondie's hand. "Thank you." Blondie smiled warmly. "I overheard you're staying here for two days…how about keeping me company?" "Where's your…companion?" Lorelei tactfully avoided the word "boyfriend". "Oh, he's talking to someone right now and I'm feeling kind of alone. Want to check out the fishing pond? I heard they added new Pokemon for capture." Blondie said. "Alright…but I almost forgot," Lorelei said. "Yes?" Blondie asked.

"What is your name?"

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End notes: Moment of truth or no?! Lorelei indeed accepted the apology of Glacia, but will she still keep it if she learns that she was talking to her "rival" for the past half-hour? Until the next chapter!

And to TheSingingDetective, thank you for the first review and your support! It's much appreciated! (",)