Chapter 4! I'm kinda disappointed though. I think that this story is starting to fail. Badly. Because since my last chapter, NO ONE reviewed. No one at all, and it kind of discouraged me a little...

But I'm over it, and even if you guys just read it and enjoy it, that's enough for me! See, I'm completely done with it. Read if you want to and review if you want to! ^^

Also, does anyone use Serebiiforums? On the wishfulshipping forum? Just asking... ;)

This is a filler chappie! Which means it's a little shorter than my other one! But I will make up for it in the next chappie because it's going to have more happening, I promise!

Anyways, chapter four of "The Locket"

Enjoy!

As Cilan would say, most exquisite...

Iris awoke to the blistering sunshine that poured through the window defiantly, despite the blinds being closed. They apparently, weren't doing their job.

"Urgh...," Iris groaned, pulling the covers over her head, trying to block out the rude streak of light that invasively sneaked past her closed eyelids.

Wait. Covers?

"Where am I?" She shot up from the bed, clinging the bed sheets close to her chest. That was when the pain came in her leg, but it was suprisingly small. Compared to what it had been like last night, this was nothing! The memories flooded back to her helpfully, hoping to unlatch her of this complicated series of questions that were currently rushing through her mind.

A small smile printed on her face. Waking up to a warm bed was nice. She desired it with a burning heart and just the thought of something this luxury being her own made her body tingle with excitement. But she slowly fell into a slightly saddened phase as she realised that this would never be the case, seen as though those memories that had just previously returned to pay her awareness a visit had left behind some rememberance. Some recalling of why she was here. And it wasn't all that pleasant.

She shakily stood up, slowly easing her weight onto her unstable leg. It stung rapidly for a moment, before it vanished and retreated from her bandaged limb. Her Axew, unlike every other morning, ever so slowly edged his way up onto her shoulder, as if in fear he was going to cause her even more pain. What she wouldn't say to her trusty friend, was that it really wasn't that bad. At all. In fact, the feeling seemed mutual. Pain came and went, just like back at home, and amongst the sickness of the action, Iris allowed a half smile to grace her face, the familiarity too good to simply hold back.

"Good morning Axew." She beamed brightly, eyeing her pokemon from the side.

"Axew!" He called, replying to her polite greeting almost instantly, a wide grin printed on his face.

"Are you ready to go?" Iris continued, her radiant smile never fading for the whole time that she spoke to her beloved, little pokemon.

"Axe!" He answered, nuzzling her face lovingly. Then he looked up and saw something missing.

"Axew Axe?" The innocent pokemon questioned, pointing to a folded blanket on the floor. It wasn't just folded. It looked as if it had been measured out perfectly and then scored, much like a net for a cardboard package, so that it would fold immaculately, without fault, every time.

"The Conoisseur?" Iris quizzed her pokemon, briefly suprised that he even remembered meeting the green-haired gentleman.

Axew nodded frantically, flexing his tiny claws as he did so.

"You're right when you say he's not here." Iris murmured, begining to lose herself in listless thought. "I wonder where he is?" She added, searching the room as if she had missed him. But, obviously, she hadn't.

"Axew! Axe Axe Axew!" The small, gray pokemon chimed, pointing an urgent claw at a set of drawers that stood behind the purple haired girl. She turned and peered at where her companion was directing her and saw something that caught her attention.

A note.

She advanced towards the drawers cautiously and carefully picked up the piece of paper. There, scrawled in neat, friendly writing said:

Iris,

I hope you slept well, and my deepest apologies if you did not. If you wake up and I'm not there, then I'll be getting myself organised, getting ready for our trip to Nacrene city. Don't worry, I'm getting you a little prepared also. All you have to take care of is your clothing, which I'm sure, is just the clothing you're wearing now. If you look on top of the blanket that I put away, you should see some night clothes. They're nothing too fancy, just something to last you. I hope it's enough. I'll also be saying a proper goodbye to my brothers. In the meantime, just wait in my room until I return, which shouldn't be too long.

~Cilan~

Reading and then re-reading the note, Iris smiled a real smile. Something that she hadn't done in ages! And it felt great. She didn't really understand her urge to smile, but she was glad that she had; she was sure that she had been disabled from the act of smiling! But on a serious note, the actuality of the situation was that she had had nothing to smile for. Nothing to even allow a minute chuckle to pass by her lips and she realised that she had never really felt happy, wherever she went, for she knew what she would always have to return to. Her parents.

She shook her head rapidly, trying to rid herself of the sickly feelings that were slowly emerging inside of her. She wasn't going to think of that right now. Instead, she was going to mentally prepare herself for this rather tiresome journey to the next city.

"Stupid girl!" She scolded herself, hitting her forehead lightly. "Why did you tell him that? Any other excuse in the world but no, you had to pick that one! Way to go Iris!" She sarcastically chided, a groggy feeling welling up inside of her stomach as she figured that this lie could in fact, turn into a massive problem. True, she couldn't stand Cilan and his generous ways, but she owed him. Big-time. He had spared her and now she would have to do something that he wanted in order to get even with him. She threw her head back and groaned. Why him?

But, her mind argued with her, you're not really getting even with him are you? You lied to him. You're fufilling a false wish of his. It's not real, because you're not really headed for Nacrene City, are you?

"Shut up brain..." Iris grumbled, casting a lethargic glare up to the top of her head.

"Axew."

"Shhh." She pressed, throwing a careless hand over her faithful pokemon's mouth. He nodded obediantly.

Her head spun around as she heard the door open with a small squeak.

"Good morning." Cilan smiled at her, bowing slightly. His Pansage mimicked him from atop his shoulder, his chubby paws extended in a proffessional manner.

"Morning." She replied half-heartedly as she turned around to face him fully.

"Are you ready?" He questioned, looking her over speedily.

She motioned towards herself with her hands. "Looks like it." She remarked. Her Axew rolled it's eyes impatiently.

"Oh of course you're not." He exclaimed, snapping his fingers which made Iris jump uneasily. "Here." He voiced in a friendly tone, his arm extending as his fingers gripped something loosely. The thing flopped down but Iris identifyed it quicker than she thought she would. She took it by the handle, gingerly swinging it as she slowly took it from him.

"For me?" Iris muttered stupidly, peering up at him with big eyes that projected a new emotion that he had never seen her show before. Then again, he pondered, he hadn't really seen her as anything else other than angry. And confused. And denfensive. But that was really it! But this was refreshing. This was simply... Beautiful.

"Of course!" He chuckled, nodding his head at his Pansage who was nodding at Iris encouragingly with a wide smile. "Put those night clothes that I gave you into that bag." He added hastily with an apprehensive chuckle.

"Th-Thank you..." Iris breathed, holding the bag up in her nimble fingers, her face concreted into one of pure shock.

"It was no problem at all!" Cilan answered jubilantly.

Iris was speechless as she peeped up at Pansage with a new found shyness. She was completely flattered! But she musn't get side-tracked, she thought to herself silently. Flattering, but not enough to get her to change her path of thinking.

"You hate him... Remember?" Her mind said to her. Iris nodded remotley in confirmation, proving that she had understood her mind loud and clear. Axew licked her cheek to remind her he was still there and that he craved some sort of attention.

She complied with a relieved smile, happy to be surrounded by a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. This was new for her but she decided that she could adjust rather quickly to it. It was simply breathtaking to not have to worry about anything because you had people who were looking out for you and considering her welfare as well as their own.

Please, just for a while...

"So, shall we set off?" Cilan questioned, rubbing his hands together.

"Yes."

"Great! Lets get going then." Cilan grinned, slowly edging the door open with his foot, his Pansage standing atop his head and pushing the top end of the door alongside his trainer.

"Pansage Pan!" The little grass monkey chirruped, a wobbly smile painted across his lips.

"Axew? Are you ready?" Iris asked her beloved pokemon as she held him tight for support.

"Axew."

"Then lets go!" Iris beamed, looking down at her partner. With one final stroke, Axew cooed happily and vanished into his masters hair.

The pair (exclusing their pokemon) walked out of the door and down the hall, filing neatly down the stairs as they proceeded down the steep steps. Iris held onto the banister worriedly.

"Cilan!" Cress and Chili called simultameously. The green haired waiter whirled around to face his brothers with a happy smile carved into his thin lips. When the brothers saw that they had their brother's valuable attention, they waved speedily at him. He smiled and returned their farewells with a curt wave of his left hand, a teasing yet meaningful grin slanted on his face.

"We'll see you off!" Chili shouted to him, before he advanced forward quickly, dragging Cress behind him, who stumbled clumsily and toppled over, simply allowing himself to be pulled along by his insistent red-haired brother.

"Like I said," Cilan whispered to Iris, who peeped at him with interest. "He's the bully of us three." And Iris couldn't resist a small giggle. She felt flamboyant. Truly happy and that, she knew as much, would be a once in a lifetime experiance.

The group, alongisde Cress's and Chili's pokemon, headed towards the door and stepped out into the crisp morning Striaton air.

"Cilan, take care won't you? And make sure this lady gets home safe." Cress told Cilan with a sincere expressions.

"I will." Cilan assured in a trustworthy tone, his pokemon swiftly poking in the small exchange with a series of encouraging nods.

"Cilan, you better stay in touch with us!" Chili mock threatened, pointing a single finger at the green-haired waiter, as he wagged it at him expectantly.

A small laugh escaped Cilan's lips. "I will Chili. Don't worry so much!" Cilan replied hurriedly, his hands raised in a defensive position, as he swayed them side to side in front of his face.

With a sigh, a sad smirk rested on Chili's face. "I know you will. And, uh, look after Iris won't you?" He added rapidly, throwing a devilish look Iris' way. With a chortle, Cilan shook his red-headed brother's hand, bidding him a final farewell. The same was mirrored with Cress shortly after Chili was finished tearing off Cilans arm by shaking it so roughly!

"Goodbye brother." The duo chorused with courageous smiles. However, they threatened to fall to pieces any second.

"It must be hard for them." Iris wondered to herself. To have brothers seperated like this was so heart-warming yet so upsetting. It was difficult to explain, even to herself, and she silently thought about the next time they would see each other. That would be a happy day. Full of joy and happiness. The kind of day that she would love for herself. To have people missing her and caring about that would never happen.

But you have Cilan now...

Iris shook her head violently. Where had that thought come from? She quickly denied the existence of such a thought and held her locket tightly in the palm of her hand, the cool metal carressing her skin gently, as she fingered the only famliar possession that she owned.

"Ready?" A voice started, althoguh Iris knew who it belonged to.

"Ready." She remarked, the trace of a tender smile on her face as she took the first brave step forward. This could take her anywhere and that was what enticed her about this journey. If there was to be one positive thing about going to a false destination, it was the adventure that came along with it. Throwing her rucksack over her shoulders, she shrugged it on further and held the straps at the front as she walked further away from the parting brothers.

"Goodbye!" They both called from behind the wandering pair.

"Happy travels!" Were Chili's slightly smarmy last words as the two rounded a corner, giving Chili and Cress one final wave before they vanished from sight.

This could be one heck of an expedition...

DONE! Sorry, this was more of a filler chapter, to get them actually on the road, but in the next chapter, something will happen, I rpomise. Well, maybe something major, maybe something small, but there will be more action and interaction between the two.

Yay, the positive feelings are starting to emerge from Iris now! :D *Cue dummy dance here!*

So yeah, sorry for the silghtly boring chappie, but this was entirely necessary to get the REAL story started!

So yes, bear with me, and you will be repayed with a rather good (if written correctly) chapter five!

~Jess~