Chapter 3
The idea that her mother was somewhere on the path ahead of them was not a fun thought for Lela. She knew that the overbearing woman would be waiting for her right at the gate to the town, leaving no room for her to go anywhere in said town. Once she came across her she would be promptly popped down on Rhyhorn and herded back to their home in Vanville, Fennekin left behind with the others so they could take him back to the professor.
Of course Lela wasn't going to be deterred, and she would find a way around the problem.
Literally. He literally decided to tread through the parts of the forest that didn't have any paths beaten down to find another way into Santalune. She was just lucky that the Pokémon in the Santalune forest didn't get too much stronger as she. Wandered off the path, otherwise she and Fennekin would be royally screwed.
"Are you sure you don't want us to come with you? We're more than happy to do it to keep you company." Shauna was gazing up at her, her large green eyes shining with concern, meekly trying to convince the girl in front of her to let them come along.
"It would be good for all of us to go with you. I can train my Pokémon even more, Trevor can find more Pokémon to fill his Pokedex with, Shauna gets to bond with you as much as she likes, and Tierno… might find a new dance partner." Calem joined in the conversation, the two other boys standing behind him with their Pokémon, each of them wearing a concerned look.
"I'm Tiernos dancing partner! Me! ME!" Corphish started blubbering on once Calem said that, quickly snapping his claws at the black haired boy.
No one even noticed he was upset about what was said since they were so focused on Lela.
"I'll be fine you guys. I have Fennekin with me, and we can handle whatever comes our way."
"That's right! Nothing will happen to Miss Lela while I'm around!" Just as he said that a Pansage, the little green monkeys had been rather attracted to the blonde girl the entire time they had been in the forest, ran up to Lela. He grabbed the strap of her bag, pulling on it slightly. Catching sight of this Fennekin started spewing ember attacks out of his mouth without hesitation. "FEAR ME!"
The little fire fox chased the grass monkey around for about thirty seconds, promptly roasting the creature that dared approach his trainer. The group watched as the fire starter proudly strut around, putting off an air of importance to show that he was Lelas protector. Laughing slightly, Lela glanced back over to her new group of friends. "Thanks, but I've got all the help I'll need right there. You guys should enjoy yourselves, that's the reason people go on Pokémon journeys." Gesturing for her little friend to join her, Lela turned and headed for the tree line that separated them from any paths that rested to the North. "Go on. I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys accomplish the next time I see you guys."
With Fennekin jumping into her arms, Lela pushed her way past the bushes in her way, finding herself in a vast stretch of uncontrolled greenery.
"Well, Fennekin…" Dark orange eyes met light blue, curiously waiting for directions on how he could help. "I never thought this was going to be easy, my mom never did take disobedience well, but I'm glad I get to face this with you."
"Me too! Let's go!" Eagerly facing forward, the starter yipped excitedly as he and Lela marched onward to find a new path to their destination.
Excitement didn't prevent the two friends from getting lost.
Like most forests, the Santalune forest was quite large, filled with many different kinds of Pokémon, many of which put up aggressive resistance in opposition to the duo's presence, and created a maze of trees that was basically impossible to navigate. That was probably the reason that trainers he'd created that beaten path years ago. To guide future trainers between the two towns so they didn't disappear into the forest for days before they found their way back to a town.
Lela was ok with her situation though. In her fifteen years under her mother's thumb she never had the chance to explore. She didn't get to go with the other kids on field trips to places like Bellsprout Tower, or the towers in Ecruteak city. She was expected to go to school every day, come straight home to study, and to take care of her appearance because, according to her mother, the good looking people will be the most successful.
A philosophy she and her friends did not agree with.
So the chance to wander through an area she probably shouldn't be in and get lost like normal children do was a wonderful new experience for the blond. She was thoroughly enjoying the situation she had placed herself in when let people would be furious and cursing at the sky. The idea that she might be camping out in the wilderness was even more invigorating for her.
Fennekin was enjoying himself because he got to establish himself as Lelas protector to any Pokémon that came near them. He was gaining plenty of experience battling the wild Pokémon, the farther they traveled the more challenging the opponents became, the stronger Fennekin became once he triumphed. To him the stronger he was, the better he could defend his trainer, which was all that mattered to him at that point in time.
He also had access to an abundant amount of sticks to eat. That was a perk to spending more time in the forest with his trainer.
"So, what was it like living in the lab with Professor Sycamore and the other Pokémon?" Nibbling on one of the snacks she always kept in her bag, little chocolate bars or protein bars for if she wanted junk food or health food respectively, she glanced down at her partner. Fennekin had a twig in his mouth and he was happily chewing away at it as he trotted along side his trainer.
"Professor Sycamore has always been really nice to all of us. He treats us great. If a kid came in looking to get a Pokémon and they were a really mean person he wouldn't give them any of us." Finishing off his twig, he jumped up so he was in the pale girls free arm, making sure he wasn't in the way so she could continue eating. "Chespin has always been nice too. She loves playing with me, unlike Froakie, and she has a great personality. I think she'll always be happy with Miss Shauna. Froakie is kind of standoffish, so we didn't talk much. He wants to be stronger than anyone else so he got the right trainer too."
"Do you think you got the right trainer?"
"Without a doubt Miss Lela! I don't think I would have been able to put up with Miss Shauna's personality or relentless pursuit for 're the best out of the three. Besides, you can actually understand me! The other two can't say that they got a trainer that knows exactly what they're trying to say!" Nuzzling Lela with the tip of his black nose, he gave her cheek a quick lick before turning back to face the front.
"Well, I'm glad you like me so much, Fennekin."
"I'm glad he likes you too, Lil'L!"
That voice belonged to someone that shouldn't be in the same place as the blond girl and the fire fox. It belonged to someone they had left behind at the heated path so she could take the most direct route to Santalune and spend the night in a Pokémon center, where she would be far more comfortable than she would camping on the ground, which would be what was most likely going to happen. Shauna came bounding out of a tree line, her Chespin standing on her head among the gravity defying pigtails. The boys were nowhere to be seen, and since Trevor had told her that they were always keeping an eye on Shauna so she didn't get in trouble, it stood to reason that the brunette had given them the slip and ran off to catch up with her female friend.
They were probably freaking out right now. Lela knew she would be if Shauna just disappeared to Arceus knows where and most likely stumbled into some kind of situation.
Three of her friends were going to die from heart attack and she hadn't even known them for twenty four hours. That was going to be the shortest friendship in the history of ever.
"Shauna?"
"Yes my new friend?"
"When you decided to come after me did you consider the idea that the boys might freak out at your absence?"
The brunette tilted her head to the left a bit, forcing her Chespin to grab her hair to maintain her balance on her little perch. Green eyes faced the sky as she stood there thinking about the question she had been presented with. Plucking Chespin off of her head she shared a look with the grass Pokemon, who shrugged her shoulders.
Then she smiled, giggling a little, and responded with a, "Nope!"
Why does this girl do things like this.
"Shauna, the boys must be losing their minds right about now! You need to let people know what you're up too before you run off to do something. Those three worry about you alot!"
"I know! I wanted to show them that I can handle things by myself!" The girl grinned at her with a silly look. Chespin was mimicking her trainers smile without shame, like she was proud of her trainer for most likely giving the boys panic attacks. "They think I can't do anything without help. So, I decided to show them that I would be fine going through the forest until I found you. And I did! I didn't run into any problems coming to find you!"
"..."
"..."
Lela and Fennekin were both completely silent as they stood there, giving the other trainer and Pokemon skeptical looks.
"You know, I take back what I said before. I think Chespin's personality has become much worse since she met Miss Shauna. I don't even know how that's possible since they've known each other for less than a day." Fennekin turned his head away from the two in front of him, scratching the ground slightly before he started walking around to check for threats.
He was taking the whole guard thing far too seriously in Lelas opinion. Even Feraligatr's protectiveness over Kathleen paled in comparison to Fennekin's protectiveness over the blonde.
"Just because I act like my trainer doesn't mean you get to act superior to me."
"I'm not acting superior. I'm just voicing my opinion, which is very true."
"What about you? You were never a guard type Pokemon when we were living in the lab."
The conversation, Lela wouldn't call it an argument because it sounded like the two friends were just poking fun at each other, continued on like that as the blue eyed girl watched. They both seemed like they were having fun with each other, like she and Diane when they were in school arguing about which Pokemon types were the best. It was never anything more than playful banter, despite what others thought, and it always served as filler between the actual meaningful conversations they had. Kathleen would just sit off to the side as they had those ridiculous conversation, they didn't care what type a Pokemon was, and took care of whatever task she was handling at that time. She would often sneak one of the Pokemon away from her parents breeding farm, allowing them to experience being in an open area rather than a fenced off area. Back then her mother had her completely brainwashed, she hadn't hit her rebellious streak so she would talk about Pokemon while maintaining a certain distance from them. It was probably the best chance she had to interact with Pokemon growing up and she blew it.
"What are they saying, Lil' L?"
Shauna was watching her Pokemon shout across the clearing from her arms, interacting in an extremely comical fashion with Fennekin. The amused look on her face told Lela that she was just happy that the Pokemon were enjoying themselves. She was just truly curious, and maybe slightly jealous of Lela, of what they were talking about.
"They're poking fun at each others personalities. Fennekin is saying Chespin took on your personality traits while she's saying he took on a more serious and protective personality since he met me."
"He scorched a Pansage for approaching you when it obviously wasn't a threat."
"True. I'm hoping this helicopter Pokemon thing is a phase brought on by finally becoming a trainers Pokemon."
"I will never give up my position protecting Miss Lela!"
… That could be problematic in the future.
"Well! We should get going! We need to find a path that will take us to Santalune."
The brunette grabbed the blonde's hand to drag her forward, Chespin leaping out of her arms to lead the charge alongside Fennekin. Both of the little starters eagerly cleared the path in front of them for their trainers., at least Chespin tried It was mostly Fennekin who was more of the battle type. Both enjoyed themselves immensely, as the two human girls followed along behind them, Shauna babbling happily once again as Lela listened patiently. Being dragged behind the energetic girl was a little uncomfortable, her arm was being held at an awkward position, but she was willing to put up with it to humor the girl.
That night she and Shauna were asleep under a strange looking tree. It had been dark for hours before she finally forced the green eyed girl to stop and set up camp under the pure white tree, that looked like it was most likely dead. It was strangely shaped, all of the branches curved to one side, and a large X carved into it. But for some reason Lela just felt safe around it.
Both of the girls were in sleeping bags, Shauna had produced two from Lela didn't even want to guess where, the Pokemon cuddled into the bags with their respective trainers. Shauna had leaned against Lela as she drifted off, her head on her friend's shoulder as they rested their backs against the tree. Despite all the excitement she had gone through during the day, it was the most excitement she ever had on one of her birthdays, she didn't feel any exhaustion. She still felt slightly hyped up and couldn't sleep at all.
A problem she had never experienced before with no solution. If she tried to put off going to sleep then her mother would do something to force her to do it.
Another controlling feature her mother had that she wasn't going to miss.
Lela was rubbing the top of Shauna's head as she slept, Kathleen had done that for her and Diane a few times before, as she gazed around to watch for anything that would require waking Fennekin. As she continued the gesture, she couldn't help it since the girls personality just made Lela want to hug her, a strange buzzing sensation fell over her body like a blanket. Strange lights came out of nowhere, soft, colored lights that felt warm and offered strange comforting feelings to Lela. Staring up in curiosity, the blonde was so focused on the lights that she received a shock when she realized that large amounts of Pokemon had found their way into the clearing and simply stared at her. She could recognize several of them from pictures Diane had shown her, she wanted to be a photographer on day, such as the female Ralts evolution chain, Granbull, Clefable, and Azumarill.
They were just standing there watching her and her friend sit against the strange tree.
Well, might as well take advantage of this and scan all the unique Pokemon with had Pokedex.
Several of them seemed to smile at her, as if they were thinking they were posing for an actual picture as she was scanning them for information on them. Some of them sat down in their spots as this went on while others went to the very edge of the clearing as if they were standing guard. The only Pokemon that approached her was the Gardevoir holding something in her arms. She knelt down next to the (extremely) confused blue eyed girl before presenting her with a small Togepi.
Locking her gaze with the tall physic type in front of her, blue eyes wide, she allowed her to place the small egg Pokemon in her arms.
"This little one's parents disappeared some time ago and she needs a home. Can you find a place for her to live safely?"
...Hmmm.
Diane had ranted to her for a solid forty five minutes when the egg Kathleen had been caring for hatched. Something about how it was unfair that Kathleen get such a rare Pokemon like Togepi when she had no hope of finding one in Johto to catch.
Nodding slightly to the Gardevoir, she received a small smile as she stood back up, allowing her to rummage through the red bag next to her to find a Pokeball for the little baby Pokemon.
"Sleep now young lady. We will lead you to the northern path in the morning."
That was all Lela heard before on of the grass type looking Pokemon floated up to her, sprinkling a little bit of green dust on her face. Eyes drooping at the sudden sleepiness she was feeling, the pale girl could only process one thought as her head fell down to rest on Shauna's head, something she had seen on the Pokedex information pages catching up to her.
Fairy type Pokemon?
So… when I said that I get distracted easily and things I'm doing take much longer than they really should?
… I meant that in a very literal sense. This chapter should not have taken this long.
I'm just hoping that I'm doing ok.
Please review.