CHAPTER 4

Aztira quietly entered Catti's home to find Catti and her Father in the middle of a heated argument.

Catti scrunched her brows in frustration, "But I… I could be a very great trainer-I was even given my very own Pokémon by Professor Juniper. I can't believe you think I'm still too young! I'm older than YOU were when you got your first Pokémon…! So as far as I'm concerned you're the one who needs to grow up! Now if you are quite finished I will be going on my very delayed adventure now!"

Then with one last huff she turned away from her father and stomped toward the front door and nearly walked right into Aztira.

"…Oh…" she sighed at the concerned look in her best friend's magenta eyes. "There's no need to concern yourself with HIS," she pointed angrily at her father, "problem."

Catti's Father: O_O?! 80!

"Everything's alright," she said more cheerfully and then, "I'll be waiting for you in front of the lab, okay?"

Aztira nodded as she looked from Catti to her Father, who was still obviously upset. Her blond friend then ran through the still open doorway and disappeared into the gloomy day.

Aztira turned back to Catti's dad and slowly walked up to him asking, "Mr. Lanro? Are you okay…?"

He responded by suddenly turning on her and saying, "What a bothersome girl!"

Aztira flinched, wondering if he meant her. But his next words confirmed that he hadn't.

"How could my daughter, who knows nothing about this world, possibly think her age was the reason that I don't want her to go through with this "journey"?!" grumbled Mr. Lanro.

Aztira asked, "Well, isn't it?" hesitantly.

"Of course not!" snapped the man. The flickering lights in the room caused his face to seem distorted with rage.

Aztira flinched again, but quickly noticed that it was actually fear that glimmered in his eyes and not anger at all.

"I wouldn't want her to go no matter what her age was…" he said more softly.

Aztira muttered, "I see," understanding now what his real reason was.

Catti was his only daughter and he cherished her more than anyone else in the world, but the very thought of having to let her go when she has so much yet to learn and knowing that he wouldn't be the one to teach her…

Aztira looked up at him and smiled sweetly, "She's going to miss you, too…"

Mr. Lanro's eyes widened a fraction as he watched this highly intuitive child turn and head out the door, wondering how she seemed to know exactly what he feared wouldn't be true.

…

"Huh?"

Once outside, Aztira saw that Leon had not waited for her. He must have gone ahead of me…ugh!

Aztira groaned as it occurred to her that she had no clue where the Pokémon Lab was.

After several minutes of wandering she finally spotted a large building at the end of the pathway she was currently on and as she neared it she saw Catti standing at the front entrance waving and laughing happily…but…Leon wasn't there. Had he perhaps gone inside already?

Aztira asked, "Where's Leon?"

Catti blinked and said, "You know, I was wondering that myself," then with a warm smile, "But never mind that, let go inside." Grabbing her friend's hand, Catti stepped in front of the automatic doors and ran into the large laboratory. Shortly after spotting the Professor, they heard someone call out to them and both stopped to glance back.

It was Leon.

Aztira smiled happily, relieved to have him there.

Leon smiled back and then said, "What are you girls waiting for," without slowing down, grabbed Aztira's hand, "We've wasted enough time," pulling both girls into Juniper's Lab.

"Where were you," Aztira asked him, as someone shouted at them not to run.

Leon glanced at her before gazing back ahead, "I needed to take care of something that couldn't wait, but it's nothing you need to worry about."

Aztira narrowed her eyes in irritation, her inner self wild with anger.

Why is he always like that?! God! Even in my quickly becoming weirder by the minute dream he's still secretive!

"Hi there!" came a female voice not too far ahead, "I've been waiting for you young people!"

The three young teens came to a stop breathing heavily

Leon recovered first, "Hey Professor. Sorry we're late."

Juniper chuckled and said, "Don't worry about that," then more calmly, "Now, about why you're here. The thing is, I have a favor to ask of you three." This got all their attention. "See, I'm currently researching when and how the creatures known as Pokémon came into existence." She then glanced at all three of them and a sudden look of understanding came over her. "I see… You've already had a Pokémon Battle!" a grin pulled at the corners of her mouth though it quickly faded when she glanced at Leon and thought, So maybe that's why…

Aztira was startled that she had heard this woman's thoughts since she was beginning to believe that her telepathy couldn't function in this dream. She also glanced at Leon, What does she mean?

Juniper then brought her gaze back to Aztira and Catti and gave a few quick laughs soaked with hidden anxiety. "It seems as though your Pokémon have already begun to trust you!" Her expression became that of stern intensity yet maintained some of its silliness. "Anyway, as for why I gave you all a Pokémon…"

"It's for the Pokédex, right…?" said Leon.

Aztira glanced at him again, Pokédex?

Juniper blinked and than smiled, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you would know that much. After all, you've already studied Pokémon extensively!" She then gave him an annoyed motherly look, "Still, I must explain from the beginning to these two who have not studied…" The Professor then walked over to a table and came back with three strange looking devices that Aztira could only assume were Pokédexes. Juniper handed each of them one of the unusual gadgets and then proceeded to explain. "The Pokédex is a high-tech device that automatically records the Pokémon you encounter! So I want you three to visit many places and meet all the Pokémon in the Unova Region! This is my request."

Aztira groaned inwardly wondering if it was even possible to dream for the length of time it would take to accomplish this task.

"Aztira!"

Aztira bit back a squeak of alarm.

"Catti! Leon! You'll go on an adventure to complete the Pokédex, will you not?" Juniper looked at them each expectantly.

"You know it!" said Catti excitedly.

"Of course," said Leon also in excitement, though his smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Sure," said Aztira slowly, noticing the detachment, once again, swimming in Leon's eyes.

Juniper grinned as her eyes widened in joy, "Thank you…All of you! You have given me the best possible gift!" She then moved on to the next task at hand, "Next, I must teach you how to meet Pokémon." She walked past them and said over her shoulder, "Please meet me at Route 1, okay?" With that said, she was gone.

…

The three friends walked most of the way back to the front entrance in silence. Aztira couldn't help thinking there was something seriously wrong with this dream.

"ALRIGHT!" Catti exclaimed, causing both her friends and few lab hands to jump in alarm. "Now the adventure will truly begin!" Her eyes then narrowed in a sinister way, though she was still smiling which only made her whole demeanor seem sinister. "This'll show him… My father will never put delays on my life ever again!"

Remembering the fear she had seen in Mr. Lanro's eyes Aztira suddenly felt angry, "Catti, I don't think you-"

"You know, Catti, it's never too late to seek the deeper meaning behind the things people ask of you," Leon said irritably before veering toward the automatic doors, Catti grumbling in annoyance rushed after him.

Yup…this dream is seriously weird, Aztira thought, following her two best friends into a slightly brighter noon.

a/n: What is it that Leon is hiding from our protagonist? Tune in next chapter and you may find out...or maybe not...