Disclaimer: I still don't own it.

Brianna couldn't afford to buy more than one outfit, especially considering the fact that she would need money for other things, too. So she bought a pair of black jeans and a black tank top along with a black hoodie with a Lugia logo on it. She couldn't afford new shoes but figured it wouldn't matter anyways. James smiled. "You look like your regular kid," he said. Brianna recognized it as a complement and smiled back.

"Looks like I have only… 500 left. That's not so good."

"Relax," James replied. "It's enough to buy a pokeball and a potion, and as for the food, hell you're a trainer now, you can find your own!"

She smirked and they went back to their shopping, Brianna doing as James suggested and buying a pokeball and a potion. As they were about to leave someone caught Brianna's eye. It was the pokemorph she'd seen earlier. Without even realizing it she went over to talk to him.

"I'm Brianna," she said.

"So?"

"So…who are you?"

"No one you want to know."

Brianna sighed. "Cleary I want to know you otherwise I wouldn't be asking your name in the first place."

"Uh, Brianna," James butted in. "Just leave him alone."

She ignored James. "I've been away a while, I don't understand this new world. I…I just want to know your name."

The boy sighed. "Fine. My name's Kendro. Now leave me alone, you don't want to be caught hanging around with some half-breed like me."

"Don't just assume everyone in this world is going to treat you the same, Kendro…'Cause maybe I'm different, too. Maybe I understand how you feel."

"That's enough, Brianna, just leave him alone," James said somewhat angrily.

XXXXXXXXXX

Brianna couldn't help but feel angry at James. She'd just wanted to make a friend, why had he come butting in? He, too, seemed irritated.

"What's wrong?" Brianna asked.

"Nothing."

"I doubt that."

"Listen, I've been thinking. I got you this far, so maybe now you and I should head our separate ways."

Brianna's eyes widened. Had she done something wrong? "Why? I thought…you wanted a friend to travel with."

"Well, I have my pokemon, don't I? Listen. You and I are too different. You're just a rookie, you…I…"

"But I can catch up!"

James sighed and turned away from her. "But that's just it, you can't catch up. I mean, you're not just behind in pokemon, you're behind in living. Just listening to you try to talk to that morph…it's ridiculous. "

She wasn't about to show her emotion. "If that's what you want…then it was nice knowing you," she replied before walking away. When she was sure he was out of sight she broke into a run. Why did she lose everyone?

People always died or left her. That seemed to be her destiny. At least she still had Shinx, at least she had one friend. She sat on a bench and let her head fall down low. Someone sat down beside her, but she didn't notice. Eventually even they left and night fell down upon her.

The night sky had only a few visible stars and a slim sliver of a moon. She gazed up at them, if only for a moment wishing she were up in the sky. It didn't make sense for a James to suddenly change his mind. Why had he all of the sudden decided he didn't want to be her friend? Was it because he was beautiful while she was ugly? Was it because she was too weak? What was it?

"Hey there…Brianna," said a voice.

She turned expecting to see James there begging for her forgiveness. But instead there was Kendro. He smiled down at her.

"I see that James isn't here."

"How do you know James' name?" Brianna questioned.

"I used to go to school with him. We weren't friends of course. Morphs and normal kids never hung out together."

"Yeah, I've learned that now. I still don't think it's right though.

He sighed and sat down beside her. "Of course it's not right. It just is. But if it helps, I'm sorry for being rude to you earlier. I thought about it…and perhaps you're right."

"Do you know anything about James? Somehow in the couple of days I traveled with him I managed to learn nothing about him."

"So he ditched you? I kind of expected that. He used to be really popular at our school. But then his pokemon, a houndoom, I think, was kidnapped and used for experiments by team rocket. He just turned kind of weird after that. He stopped hanging out with his friends and all. And then him and his pipulp just ditched school to start gym battling one day. His houndoom had been with him since he was little, I dunno, I guess it was hard on him. The kids at school say he left for revenge, but I know that's not true, I think he really does want to be the best trainer. But I dunno, that's just life I guess. Don't feel bad that he left you, Brianna. He can't handle being close to anyone except his pipulp, which by the way, he got when he was 10."

"It's a prinpulp now, I think. Although I suppose you don't care. You know…he said I was just a rookie…and I know I am. But I'm going to be better than him one day, Kendro. I'll defeat him. And he can stop feeling sorry himself. I mean it's sad that he lost his pokemon and all, but that's not excuse to be an ass. He's just made himself a rival…"

"Brave words for a rookie," Kendro said. "I want to be the best trainer, too. I was thinking, if you don't mind traveling with a half breed like me, then maybe you and I could travel together?"

"I'd like that, just promise me you won't ditch me without giving me a good reason first."

"Promise."

Author's note: Ah, lovely readers, rest assured, James is still a large part of this story. Anyways tell me whatcha thought,

Next chapter: A pokemon is captured, a gym battle fought and a friendship forged!