Chapter 4: Worries
I could hardly believe we were back in our world. Stepping into the portal, I was met by a bright light, and then, we were standing on solid ground. Instead of the sphere pillars, we ended up in an open meadow clearing, clad in flowers, and a waterfall that cascaded down the cliff into a spring. Cynthia was directly behind me.
"….Where are we now Cynthia?…." I asked. She took a good look around before answering.
"The spring path I believe" She led me over to the edge of the spring, setting her shoes aside, she dipped her feet into the spring. I kicked off my shoes and did the same. The cool, pure water rushed over my sore feet, soothing them greatly.
Sea!
Goldeen! A Seaking and a Goldeen surfaced, looking to us. But they sensed the more serious mood and dove back under the water. Cynthia broke the silence.
"I wanted to thank you on behalf of Sinnoh. Without you, I don't know what Giratina would have done." She said. I sighed.
"I wasn't really trying to be a hero or anything, I was just doing what I felt was right." I responded, sifting through the water with my feet.
"Well it seems you did both." I nodded hesitantly and looked down.
"Why don't you visit Professor Rowan's lab? You need to let him know you're okay?" She suggested. I shrugged.
"I'll leave you be for a while Hikari. Thank you again." She let her feet leave the water and put her shoes on. She then got up, and walked down the path out of the clearing. I sat alone for a while, staring into the water.
I raced down the path from Veilstone to Pastoria city, off to visit master Wake. I was still worried about Hikari, but sitting around wasn't going to help her. I knew master Wake would know what to do. I suddenly crashed into somebody, landing with a thud. I held my head, muttering as I got up
"Are you okay?" The person I knocked into asked.
"Ow… I guess…." I looked up and pointed, shouting loudly.
"Cynthia!" Cynthia gave me a warm smile.
"Was Hikari with you?" I asked suddenly.
"She was, but I left her to think things over, but if you want, take this path to the clearing, that's where you'll find her Jun." She replied. I thanked her and rushed off down the path. I eventually came to the clearing. Cynthia was right. Hikari was sitting alone, dragging her feet along the water. She didn't seem to notice me, so I cleared my throat a little. And it did work too.
I heard someone clear their throat, so I looked up. A feeling of surprise and relief rushed over me when I saw who it was. It was Jun, his orange and white shirt covered in leaves from passing through the bushes. I stared at him for a few moments, as if I was trying to determine it was really him. But I soon got my feet to move.
"Jun!" She shouted, running over to me and burying her face into my shirt, almost knocking me over in the process. I felt a blush creep across my face, but ignored it completely. I was usually the one plowing into people, not her.
"I was worried about you Hikari." I admitted. She responded by whimpering sharply, her hands going from my back to her head.
"Hikari?! Hikari?!" I shouted in a panic.
Another Horrible memory… I knew Jun was shouting, but I could only hear him faintly. Another memory was preparing itself to haunt me, because my headache was worsening.
I was only six at the time my dad went on his Pokemon journey. He said his goodbyes to us and was on his way. I waited up for him on Christmas, but he never showed up as he promised. Instead, we got a package, containing his pokeballs and a note. He had died in a fire started by a crazy Charizard, and he was only trying to stop it. All the emotion I had when we got that package, when I figured out I'd never see my dad again, all rushed back to me. And then, I just felt nothing. Nothing but the need to be comforted remained.
Hikari wasn't holding her head anymore, but now she was crying. I had no idea how to comfort girls when they cry, but I was becoming more and more concerned about her.
"Hey come on Hikari…It's Okay, let's go to the lab and let gramps and Kouki know you're ok." I offered.
I didn't want to leave my comfort of standing next to Jun, but I had to to be able to hug Kouki.
"I'm glad you're ok." Kouki said. Professor Rowan greeted me.
"I'm happy to see your okay and that you have obtained Giritina. Never before has my heart raced so fast. I gave him a simpered smile.
"So where are you going to go now?" Kouki questioned. I thought about it, and to be honest, I wasn't sure.
"Perhaps you should try and win the gym badge from Sunnyshore city." Rowan suggested. I shrugged.
"I guess so…" I said before turning and walking out, giving them all a simple wave.
Gramps turned to me and Kouki.
"You should go with her. I hope by now you two have sensed something is wrong with her, but only you two can find out what." So he saw it too… Normally, I would rather be off on my own, not a thing to hold me back, but Hikari needed me and Kouki right now, so I agreed and was out the door with Kouki within seconds.