Chapter 4

The only way is forward, and we'll take that path together

After I knew the capture was successful I released myself. From the expression on Kevin's face I could tell he was happy, yet he was still hiding something. "Well there's no going back!" I said happily.

"I guess you're right." Kevin sighed.

"Well I guess we go home?" I said half in curiosity.

"No we can't. I would've brought you back to your home in the wild, but I wouldn't be going home myself." Kevin replied.

Now I understood the reason he couldn't go home. He was injured, and his mother might not allow him to go on an adventure knowing the consequences.

. . .

"Well Poochyena how about a nickname?" I said as I looked her in the eye.

"Asahi." She said as she looked up at the sky.

"Okay that's that." I said as I entered the last character into the Pokédex.

"There will never be a dark moment where all light is lost." Asahi whispered to herself.

"Did you just say something?" I asked.

"You must be hearing things." She answered as she smirked.

"Whatever." I sighed. I began walking away only to see Asahi turn around.

. . .

"Don't want to forget about this." I said as Kevin patted my head and grabbed his backpack. After that we went back to Oldale with the sun high above our heads. I was on his shoulder as we approached route 102 and I saw something in the grass. I jumped off Kevin's shoulder and used bite on the wild Pokémon!

"Asahi wait!" Kevin yelled. "Don't just attack wild Pokémon without my consent." Kevin said angrily.

"Well you know neither of us have any clue as to what this is." I replied.

"Oh I wonder what to do." Kevin said sarcastically while he reached for his Pokédex. "According to this that's a Ralts." Kevin recited.

I tapped Kevin's leg and said "Someone is coming!" He quickly gave the Ralts a Sitrus berry and picked me up.

"Good luck little buddy." He whispered.

"Up here." I said jumping onto a tree branch.

"God I'm glad Az taught me how to climb trees." Kevin whispered.

"At least you know that." I sighed. Almost on cue Kevin fell off the branch and into the bushes. "Smooth move exlax." I barked.

. . .

"Kevin is that you?" I asked.

"Grrrr!" The Poochyena growled.

"Asahi give it up. We've been caught." Kevin sighed.

"What were you doing?" I asked as I looked at his Poochyena.

"We were hiding." Kevin replied as he got up.

"Why do have a Poochyena? Do you know anything about this Ralts? Where are the others?" I inquired.

"Let's go to the Pokémon Center. I'll tell you what happened there." Kevin answered as he began walking.

"Okay." I sighed as I began to follow him with the Ralts in my arms. The trip was really boring because there was no communication at all. Kevin's Poochyena kept letting off short growls which Kevin only gave it angry looks in response. Once we reached the Pokécenter I handed the curious Ralts to nurse Joy. After Kevin's Poochyena was with nurse Joy we went to the waiting room. "So what happened?" I asked impatiently.

"Well you see…" Kevin told me what happened.

"Oh I understand." I replied.

"So why were you out on route 102?" Kevin asked with a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

"I was searching for a Pokémon that could be my starter. That reminds me who's Asahi?" I replied.

"Asahi is the name of my Poochyena." Kevin said glancing at the light which signaled when nurse Joy finished with the current patients.

"Why are you in such a rush?" I asked.

"I'm not really in a hurry. I just wanted to leave here before tomorrow that's all." Kevin replied.

"Then I'll go with you. I'd rather do that than wait at home for another day." I said as I pulled out my Pokénav.

"Okay that's that. Wait you don't have a starter." He replied.

"I have a new friend!" I said as we walked back to the front desk. I pulled out the Ralts's cherish ball and called it back.

. . .

Well this new traveling partner has me on guard. I don't trust her, but that Ralts has a sense of humor. I think her name was Hope. Still the highlight of my day is Kevin falling out of that tree. One thing that creeps me out though is that Hope can apparently sense peoples feelings and emotions. If Mady's Pokédex is speaking the truth and not a bunch of bullshit. "Fuck!" I yelled in pain.

"Are you okay Asahi?" Kevin said with a worried tone as he picked me up.

"Yeah I'm fine." I replied.

"Don't use that language especially around other young Pokémon." Kevin scolded.

"I can say whatever the hell I want." I retorted.

"Not around me you can't!" Kevin rejected.

"Shut…" I was silenced by a Mady's unnerving glare.

"Who are you talking to?" Mady questioned.

"Well you see I can understand what Asahi is saying. I forgot to mention that back at the Pokécenter." Kevin replied as he scratched his head.

"How can you understand that Poochyena?" Mady asked even more intrigued.

"Uhh I guess we both gained friendship and trust for each other." Kevin replied.

"I wonder if we could do that." Mady said as she looked at Hope.

"By the way who were you texting earlier?" Kevin asked looking towards Mady.

"Just telling my parents I was starting my journey." Mady replied.

"Okay that's fine." Kevin sighed.

"Kevin something is coming." I whispered.

"Asahi there is no need to worry. I don't think there are any Pokémon that will attack us for no reason, and there are no particularly dangerous or aggressive Pokémon in these woods." Kevin replied.

"There are a lot of them." I said in worry, but Kevin ignored me. I jumped off Kevin's shoulder in anger, and beckoned Hope to my side behind the others. "Hey I'm not crazy am I?" I asked.

"No I hear the sound too." Hope replied.

"Do you have any questions about earlier?" I asked trying to start a conversation.

"When will I finally be able to communicate with my trainer, and have her understand me like you and your trainer?" Hope questioned.

"Well when you realize the true bond you share with Mady you shall gain more understanding of each other." I responded.

"Thanks! This might be a little off topic but how old are you?" Hope replied.

"Thirteen and a half. How about you?" I asked.

"Only eight and maybe a fourth." She answered.

"Hey that sound is back and louder!" I examined.

"Run!" Hope yelled.

"Hey what happened?" Kevin asked as we ran past them.

"BEEDRILL!" Mady yelled.

"Move it Kevin!" I demanded. I have no clue as to how long we were running, but we split up on accident. Once we lost the swarm of Beedrill we stopped to take a rest.

. . .

"I think we lost them." I sighed

"Pant." Poochyena agreed.

"Well we're in for a long night Kevin… wait Kevin are you there? Hope where are you?" I began calling.

"Whimper whimper." She whined.

"There is no need to worry." I reassured.

"Well Poochyena we better set up camp." I sighed. The Poochyena approached me, and wrote a message in the dirt. "You want me to call you by Asahi." I guessed. She nodded. In about a half hour or so we finished setting up camp, which was only my sleeping bag, and a fire pit.

Asahi put up her paw and I shaked it. "I guess we're friends now?" I asked, and Asahi nodded. She did leave unannounced, but the howls at the full moon were all the assurance I needed. She came back a couple hours later, she woke me up, looking sad. "Stop being so worried. I'm sure the others are doing just fine. Anyway you should come over here and get your rest." I whispered. After that Asahi laid down next to me, and I knew that she secretly trusted me.

. . .

"We finally lost them." I sighed.

"Ralts?" Hope asked with a worried tone.

"I can't understand you, but you do sound worried. Asahi are you there? Mady can you hear me?" I slowly got more and more worried as well as louder.

"Ra ral ralts." Hope replied.

"Can you somehow show me what you're saying?" I asked. The Ralts now had a look of realization that made me curious. It began to write out messages in the dirt. "Wow! Where did you learn to do that?" I questioned.

"Ralts!" Hope nodded.

"Let's just sleep under the stars tonight. Anyway the weather is perfect for this." I blurted. After we finally settled down Hope fell asleep on the sleeping bag. I however snuck away in act of boredom. I climbed to the top of a tree, and I didn't fall this time.

All I heard was howling. As I looked up at the full moon I thought of forest scenery. I saw a single moss covered stone drenched in moonlight. The stone was below a clearing in the trees. Then the only other thing I saw in this scene was a shadowy figure, and this figure gave me a feeling that everything would be okay. Once I opened my eyes I climbed down the tree, and went back to camp. Now I lay in my sleeping bag allowing the howls to comfort me. Soon I fell asleep with the stars shining brightly in the night sky.

I had a weird dream or nightmare really. I was lying on the ground and Asahi was defending me. I saw her getting hit, scratched, and stabbed until the attacking Pokémon were gone. She said something after that. "I did all I could to protect you." My body for some odd reason paralyzed I couldn't help her. Then a few minutes later she lay dead in a puddle of her own blood. I couldn't help her. As much as I wanted to I couldn't yell. Minutes later I regained movement, and all I did was grab her body. Grab her body and cry just cry until the world faded to black.

Suddenly I felt something shaking me. "Ralts ralts ralts!" Hope yelled as I finally became fully conscious.

"What happened?" I asked with worry in my voice. Hope began to write out messages in the dirt. "I was shaking violently, and you tried to stop me and wake me." I said. Hope nodded. She drew one last message. "Yeah we should start looking for the others." I replied to the message. After that nightmare I was glad to be awake even if it was only five o'clock.

. . .

I woke up to see Asahi still sleeping next to me, but I figured it was time to start my search for the others. I packed up and continued on with Asahi asleep in my arms. After about five minutes we came across the main path. To my surprise I saw Hope trudging along next to Kevin. I ran up to them, and handed Asahi to Kevin. He was still in shock when I picked up Hope and hugged her. "I missed you so much!" I said overcome with joy.

"I'm happy to see you too!" Hope replied.

"We have so much to talk about now." I said happily.

. . .

"Ugh I don't remember falling asleep here." I said wearily.

"I was so worried about you!" Kevin said as a tear fell on my head.

"Stop the waterworks Kevin." I replied.

"After last night I'll cry whenever I please when talking to you." Kevin whispered as he wiped his eyes.

"Okay." I replied slowly. I still didn't understand what he meant by talking to you. Nothing happened to me as far as I know, but it looked like he feared my absence.

After the reunions were over we finally hit the road. "Kevin I'm hungry." I grumbled.

"Well hello Hungry." Kevin replied with a grin.

"Shut up you asshole!" I barked.

"Okay I guess stopping for breakfast isn't a bad idea right now, and there's no need to get so angry." Kevin sighed.

"Good thing you said yes, or I'd make your life a living hell until we ate." I replied. Kevin made some fruit whatever you want to call it out of berries, but it wasn't horrible like expected. I guess he does know how to live off the land. After breakfast we encountered some odd people trying to steal a package from someone. We beat them, but they said something like team Magma and Aqua aren't giving up. I didn't really care because they were weak and unorganized.

The man we helped out led us to Rustboro City. After that we went to the Pokémon Center, and I had Kevin tell me why he was so worried earlier. After that nightmare I didn't blame him because I would be sad if I lost Kevin like that. After that I heard Kevin say "Don't worry because the only way is forward, and we'll take that path together." Taking this path together is what I wanted truly what I wanted.

I might not have admitted to my fear of separation, but it haunted me. I lay in bed whining in fear, but Kevin gave me a kiss on the head as if I were a child and it brought me peace. Now I lay with the fear gone knowing that Kevin is there, and that he cares for me just not the same way I do for him.

Author's Note

I changed my original plan for this chapter, but I think it was for the better. Oh and there is finally a long chapter.