Hey guys! Sorry for the wait, I kind of got lazy. But here's chapter three! Chapter four will be up shortly too.

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Chapter 3: Giving Up

JOSH! JOSH! JOSHJOSHJOSHJOSHJOSH! HOW ARE YOOOOOUUUUZ? came the frantic chirping of the ferret-like Pokemon.

Professor Elm came running into the room, seeable by the tiny space Cheshire left on the view screen to see his background. "Wh-wh- what's wrong! Fire! Where! Where?" he exclaimed headed for the nearest fire extinguisher.

"No, no! Professor Elm! It's fine; Cheshire's just a little excited. There's nothing to worry about," I explained calmly. I admit, I missed my Furret, but I can't say I'd be happy to get away from the quiet days I've spent here in Unova. Especially since…

"O-oh. O-ok. I'm just a little jumpy. There was a fire here earlier, I just wanted to make sure. You go talk to Cheshire, Josh." Professor Elm said as he left the room.

I started to say something, but the professor was already out of earshot. Fire? "Hey, Chesh? There was a fire?" I decided to ask.

I'll tell you later. I have a story for you! burst Cheshire. Ok, so today, my day was ok. I had lots of fun. I did a lot of playing. I played with ALL the other Pokemon here, including Thor! We played tag! It was so fun! Oh! Oh! But but but first! I need to start all the way at the beginning of my day!

I laughed. I really missed Cheshire. "You don't need to, Chesh. But go ahead, if it makes you happy." I laughed again. Talking to Cheshire was always the best part of the week.

IT DOES! OK OK! I woke up, and I stretched for a REAAAAALLLY long time. And then I saw some little Sentret running outside of Professor Elm's compound, so I decided to go chase after them! But I got stopped. I ran into that stupid fence surrounding Elm's compound. And you know what I said? she paused.

I waited. Cue, answer. "No, I don't. What'd you say?" I asked. She was a very interactive speaker.

I said, "ARRRRGH!" HAHAHAH! Isn't that funny? the Furret chirped, laughing her head off.

I laughed with her, but more at her silliness. The story itself was only a little bit funny."Yes, Chesh, that was kinda funny."

I humored her. So sue me.

Kinda! You obviously have no sense of humor. WAIT! BACKGROUND NOISE! she stopped exclaiming and shot up onto her tail, rigidly facing wherever the source of the noise she heard was coming from.

Apparently, it was nothing.

Never mind. I think it was Thor farting. ANYWAYS, she continued, ignoring my chuckle, Then I gave them a piece of advice. "Be FREEEEEEEEE, little Sentret! Be FREE! There's so much life in the world; TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT! LIVE IT! LIVE IT TO DEATH! SMELL THE ROSES! TACKLE THE BUTTERFREE! And most importantly, TAKE A LOT OF SHOWERS! YOU ALL SMELL BAD! BUT I SMELLED BAD TOO! I WAS A SENTRET ONCE! AND NOW I'M A FURRET! YOU MUST BOW DOWN TO ME, AND MY SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE! I'M SERPERIOR! Get it? Never mind. COME BACK, LITTLE SENTRET, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU! LISTEN TO MY KNOWLEDGE! I BEAT A GYARADOS!" And then Thor walked up behind me and used karate chopped me. Big meanie. He said something about it being too early for my craziness, something about four in the morning. He's big and fat and lazy and he's a poopoo head. It's not my fault that I'm awesomer than him. I should get a medal for being better. He's a bully too! A big bully! You know what happened earlier! Ugh! It was the meanest thing! He Thunder Waved me again! I WAS PARALYZED, JOSH! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT GIANT POOPOO HEAD'S NERVE? Ugh. So rude!

I laughed the whole time she told her story. She definitely had a screw loose somewhere, but it didn't bother me. It actually helped; that story about her taking on a Gyarados and coming out victor is true. She scared the Gyarados more than it scared her, actually. But Thor wouldn't Thunder Wave Cheshire for no reason; he always had a reason. The question is; what?

"Why did Thor paralyze you, Chesh? What'd you do this time?"

NOTHING! HONEST! He's a meanie. Cheshire exclaimed, raising both paws up in an attempt to plead innocent.

"You sure? How about you call Thor over?" I crossed my arms and looked at Cheshire accusingly.

She did something. He's a meanie, AND a liar! There's no reason to call him over! Cheshire insisted.

Oh no.

"Chesh. Elm said there was a fire earlier."

Not my fault!

"I didn't accuse you."

You sound like you are!

"I'm not."

I WANT A LAWYER!

"You can't have one."

WHYYYYYY!

Cheshire began wailing loudly, crying. I felt bad; I don't think I had to push so hard. But I needed to figure out what my Furret did. I know she did something. I tried soothing her, taking back my comments and even let her have a lawyer, but she kept crying.

After a few minutes, she stopped wailing and began sobbing incoherently. A good start. Words started becoming understandable too. I….. And then… But… And the fire… Thor's… Big meanie… Surf… And I'M SORRY!

She started crying again. "Chesh, tell me what happened. I won't get mad. I promise. Just tell me what you did. I think it's understandable to assume you did something again, right?"

No… she muttered between sobs.

I waited.

Yes… she muttered again, still sobbing.

"Ok. So tell me. Go aallll the way to the beginning of the problem."

Talking to Cheshire sometimes felt like talking to a little kid.

Cheshire sniffed, started to talk, paused, and then began. Well… It started after Thor karate chopped me. I didn't appreciate Thor's rudeness. So I got back at him. IT'S A POKEMON EAT POKEMON WORLD, BUDDY! YOU JUST GOTTA GO WITH IT AND ROLL WITH IT! That's my motto!

I waited for her to start again. Oh yeah. Story. Well. I decided to get back at him. I said, "Thor! You're a big meanie!" and he said, "No I'm not. Mima was threatening to come out of the lab and curse you or something. I'm doing you a favor." And I said, "Bring her on! I can take on a Gyarados! A silly, creept, mysterious, powerful… Mystic… Creepy… … … Silly Mismagius won't stop me!"and he said, "I think she will." and I said, "No she won't!" and he said, "Yes she will." and I said, "No!" and he said, "Yeeesssss." and I said, "No!" and he said, "Ye-" and I cut him off and said, "No no no no no!" Then he said that I won. And that made me happy. And he told me that I should do something quiet. And I said, "Ok." and he said, "Good." Then I went to go pick some flowers, and he said that if I did anything noisy again, he'd paralyze me. And that made me mad. VERY mad. Like. MAD. So mad, that it makes mad look not mad! Yes, Josh. I'm talking, COMPLETELY mad.

Again, I waited for her to begin talking. Silence.

Oh yeah. Sorry. Well. I decided to show that big meanie that I wasn't going to let him stop me from having the freedom that all my forefathers sacrificed their blood, sweat, and lives to give me. I was going to fight! Fight and win! Like the Indians won against the colonials! So I used surf on Thor. And he got mad. And tried to use thunder wave on me. I'm faster than that slowpoke as long as you don't electric him, so I ran away as fast as I could. Then I turned around and used rock smash on him. It didn't hurt him as much as I thought it would. So I went to Plan B and I used surf on him again. He got washed away, 'cos he's so cocky and I got to beat him. He tried to thunder wave me again, but I moved, and it apparently hit something it shouldn't have, and it started a fire. Not a big one, but some of Professor Elm's plants burned, along with his fridge. Good thing me and Chopper know water attacks. Well. Chopper at least. Because I made a tactical retreat. I won my medal; I got away from Thor's thunder wave! But the other Pokemon were mad at me… Mima held me up with psychic, and then they paralyzed me. They're so mean, right Josh? You're gonna do something about it, right? Cheshire looked at me with puppy eyes, hoping I wouldn't get mad at her, but instead, at the others.

Oh boy. "Cheshire…." I groaned, dropping my head into my hand. What was I going to do with this Furret? Even when I'm not with her, she causes trouble.

Professor Elm already punished me though. I'm not allowed outside of this room he has. I have to sit there and do nothing for two days. She pouted, before adding, Make him stop? PLEAAAAAAAAAAASE?

Puppy dog eyes again. But they wouldn't work, no matter how much it made my heart hurt. Well, whatever part of my heart that could still hurt at least. The part of my heart that she didn't get into, the Pokemon part of my heart.

Pooey. You're mean now too. Is this because of Rae? How are you with her by the way? I never ask that. I always talk about other things. Like clowns. Do you like clowns still? I hate clowns now. They scare me. I wasn't paying attention anymore though.

Why Cheshire? Why? Rule number one. Don't think about her. I'm always on the verge of thinking of her, but I never go onto a full on think. But. With such an upfront question, how could I not? Oh Cheshire. You and your emotional capacity of a spoon. No wonder even the Ditto wouldn't mate with you when I dropped you off at the Day Care Center.

… And all these Pokemon falling in love is really starting to get on my nerves. Almost as much as the clowns! Cheshire continued. She finally noticed I wasn't paying attention.

Josh? Hellooooooo..? You still here? Joooooshhhhy? NO. Are you still in love with her? Josh! It's been eight months! Come on, Josh, you're stronger than that! Cheshire's face was the only thing I could see on the screen now.

I couldn't say anything. Cheshire was breaking so many of my rules now. This was going to hurt so bad later. I'd been doing so well too…

Josh! You have to move on, buddy! She doesn't want you anymore; if she did, she wouldn't have left so thoroughly. You can't even find her anymore! We've tried, remember? Where's the Josh that took on Whitney's unbeatable Miltank, despite knowing it's been undefeated for ages? The Josh who sailed to Cianwood City and back to get Jasmine some tea for Amphy? Or the Josh who fought in the Silver Conference, lost, and picked himself back up and challenged the Kanto League, and lost again in the Indigo Plateu, and decided it was time to take Sinnoh on by storm? And while in Sinnoh, we went through the ruins in Snowpoint and had to defend himself and his Pokemon against that Regigigas? And challenged all the gym leaders and took on the Lily of the Valley Conference? Where is that Josh?

I stared at the ground. Chesh was right. I'd been so many things; but what am I now? What am I now? Even if I don't have her, I'm still her. I'm still me.

But… It's empty. I want to move on. Living like this isn't easy, it isn't fun. Today leads to tomorrow. Tomorrow to the next. And the next. And the next.

And no her. No Rae. I can't do it. I can't. I… I'm trying though. Maybe… Maybe it's time to start trying harder. I was a functioning human being before her, I can function again.

"Chesh. You're right. I… I need to start trying harder. I need to try and move on... Thanks, Chesh. You're crazy, but you're definitely a good Pokemon." I wanted to hug my Furret so bad. I I shouldn't have left them. I could have stayed with them, and been with them.

Uhhh… I don't know how that answers my question, but. I'm glad I helped. Somehow. Uhm. What did I say that led you to that conclusion? I don't see the connection! Cheshire looked genuinely bewildered.

I laughed. I was starting to feel better already.

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KEREKUU! KEREKUU! KEREKUU!

Ugh. Monday morning. Usually, waking up was good. It meant time to work, which meant I would be busy. But after yesterday's talk with Cheshire, as soon as I hung up on them, my world closed.

Note to self; no thinking about Rae. I can't do it yet. I want to. I should. I know I can. Eventually. Not now.

So that meant I spent most of the day in front of the videophone. I stared at it. This time was different though; I wasn't tempted to call her. I just… I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to leave the Pokemon Center; that just meant walking out into a whole world of no Rae. I couldn't deal with that, at least not at the time.

So I sat there. I sat there until some old lady kicked me off by hitting me with her cane, yelling something about needing to talk to her grandson in Hoenn to get rid of a bug problem in the toilet. I don't know.

So I went home, and went straight to bed. And then I woke up.

I stayed in a little apartment where the only separation between rooms was the bathroom door. Basically, it was one room that had a fridge, a sink, and a bathroom. I had a bed too, and that was about it. It was very plain.

I turned my music on and got in the shower. Music; the only thing that won't let me down. As long as I stay away from The Beatles, I'll be fine. Too many Beatles songs I have associated with her…

"I'm going away for a while, but I'll be back; don't try to follow me. 'Cause I'll return as soon as possible. See, I'm trying to find my place, but it might not be here where I feel safe. We all learn to make mistakes…"

I sing along. I like to sing in the shower, it's the closest I usually let myself get to allowing emotions come out.

"And run from them, from them, with no direction. We'll run from them, from them, with no conviction."

I think I've been overreacting. Maybe this was acceptable behavior, ish, like, the first two months of us being broken up. But… It's been eight already. I need to pick up the pieces.

"'Cause I'm just one of those ghosts, travelin' endlessly. Don't need no roads;In fact, they follow me. And we just go in circles..."

I have been a ghost. I've been a shell. I've been nothing but an empty, working machine. With the occasional bout with grief. I need to be human again. I need to interact with other people. Not for, or because of, her, but for me. Because of me. I need to do this for me.

"And now I'm told that this is life; that pain is just a simple compromise, so we can get what we want out of it. Would someone care to classify, our broken hearts and twisted minds? So I can find someone to rely on.

And run to them, to them. Full speed ahead. Oh, you are not useless. We are just…

Misguided ghosts. Travelin' endlessly. The ones we trusted the most pushed us far away. And there's no one road. We should not be the same. But I'm just a ghost and still they echo me.
They echo me in circles."
I'm not going to keep living like this. I have to move on.

~~~

"Hey, Josh! Good job, kiddo! I'm noticing a slight improvement in your work! The customers are actually starting to like you! Hahaha!"

I saluted Jonas. It's been two weeks since I decided I was done pitying myself and start trying to move on. It's been working out pretty well. I've started to actually enjoy myself. The emptiness hasn't left me, but there's a little less empty. Maybe it's just that I'm starting to actually talk to people.

Or maybe it's because of Serena.

She started coming in on the Tuesday after my conversation with Cheshire. I accidentally bumped into her, and I almost spilled water all over her dress. Good thing she wasn't wearing white. That might have been bad.

I offered to pay for her lunch, to make it up to her. She agreed, but under the condition that I eat lunch with her. Jonas, who had come out from the kitchen to see what all the noise had been, heard this and let me take an early break. He ended up taking my spot though, so I don't see that happening again.

But I had a nice lunch with her. She's very nice. She was nineteen, just a few months older than me, and outgoing, which meant we got along well. I'll talk if you talk. She had a very bright personality too, so she was a real mood lifter.

And after that, she came in for lunch everyday (minus Sunday). We talked a lot, and she often wouldn't leave until I got off of work. I got off earlier now, since Jonas decided to hire a new guy. I don't think he liked the fact that if I got off of work, he had to fill in. The Striaton Gym Leaders were really busy this time of year; it was spring, which was when most of the newer trainers would come through and try to earn their first badge.

Suddenly, I saw a head of wavy blonde hair walk into the restaurant. Lunch time!

"Hey, you're finally here! Good timing; I was starting to get hungry!" I walked in her direction as I took off the apron I wore on my waist and hung it up at the receiving area.

"How can you not be hungry? You don't even eat breakfast." She replied as she gave me a hug. I have to admit, it was a nice hug, but it was weird for me. I wasn't ready for this kind of intimacy. But we were friends, so I returned her hug.

"Pssh, I don't need breakfast. I used to be a Pokemon Trainer. Days on the road weren't always kind to the stomach." She laughed at this.

"Ok, ok, Mr. Ex-Pokemon Trainer. Let's just get a table and eat, ok?" She headed over to our usual table and sat down. The new kid, Aaron, came over and handed us our menus.

He was a little bit shorter than me, probably about five-foot-six, had hazel-brown hair and a baby. His eyes were blue though. If it weren't for his introspective personality, I'd be surprised he didn't have a girlfriend. Heck, even with his introspective personality I'm surprised.
"Hello, good afternoon! Welcome to the Striaton Three-Seasons Restaurant! I'm Aar-" he began before I cut him off.

"Aaron, Aaron. We all know that I work with you. Which means I know where this place is, and I was working two seconds ago. I understand formality, but really, kid, it's unnecessary with me and Serena. We're regulars. You can just cut to the chase; customers like it better." I patter him on the shoulder, hoping it would lessen whatever malice he might feel towards me for interrupting me.

He was a good kid though, and he didn't seem to harbor any bad feelings. "A-all right, Josh. I-I
'll keep that in m-mind. U-uh.. So.. W-will you two be having t-the usual?"

"Josh! Oh, poor Aaron! Josh, be nice to him. Don't mind him, Aaron. Josh is just a big meanie who thinks he's all cool." She slapped me on the arm, and continued, "Yes, Aaron, we'll be having the usual."

She smiled at him, and he did this half-bow thing and shuffled off. She stared at me, reprimanding me with her eyes. "Josh, you know he's new. Be nice to him!"

I laughed at her and replied, "Yes, but he needs to figure this stuff out soon. Customer's will complain if they don't like the way he works. I'm pretty sure the only reason I'm still working here is because I used to be the only one who would work here."

She opened her mouth to say something, stopped, opened it again, and began to pout. I won, and began to laugh. "Yeah, I got you."

"Shut up!" she exclaimed, mock punching me in the arm.

"Ow." We both burst out laughing.

After we settled down, Aaron arrived with our food. Serena got a Caesar salad, while I got a burger and fries. I began eating, and after a few bites, I realized that Serena hadn't even touched her food. She was looking at me funny.

Uh…

"You good?" I asked. I was a little scared. I'm not ready for anything passed this.

"Yeah, yeah. I just… Why would the customers not like you? I heard from Jonas and Tom that you'd changed since you first got here. That you were cold, distant, and unfriendly. And a workaholic. Why?"

Oh. I… I can't answer that question right now.

"Why not?" she asked. Did I say that out loud?

I could tell by the look on her face that she was determined to find out. "Things happened. I just decided that I was done with it, and I needed to move on."

Close enough to the truth. Watch your line of thinking, Josh.

"Does it have something to do with why you're not a Pokemon Trainer anymore?"

"No… I just. It's complicated," I replied, hoping she would leave it at that.

"I can listen. We have time." She folded her fingers, rested her head on them, and stared at me. She had pretty eyes…

"Well… I…" Don't do it, Josh. You're not ready for this. "I…"

I was cut off by a whirlwind of motion, and a familiar loud voice. "JOSHIE! Wassup, buddy! Oh man, you on a date! Nice, man! She's a looker too!"

Tom. His scrawny arms wrapped around my neck and gave me a noogie, his black trucker hat falling to the floor, revealing his short, messy red hair.

"Tom! Hey, no, no, you're taking this wrong. We're just friends. Anyways, what're you doing back here? Deliveries aren't until tomorrow," I said as soon as he let go of my head.

"This is Serena by the way," I gestured toward Serena, who smiled and waved. I gestured to Tom and said, "And this is Tom." He smiled, revealing his white teeth, and waved back.

"Hi, there, pretty lady. Anyways, I just felt like coming back. The deliveries came in early, and I decided to head over here today and hang out with my buddy. Didn't know he would have company. Anyways, I'm gonna go turn on the TV, ok?" He saluted Serena and headed over to the TV.

As soon as he was at the TV, I looked back at Serena and began to apologize.

"It's alright, Josh. He seems like a nice guy. Just really outgoing. Anyways, you were saying?"

I was about to begin, when I heard something on the TV.

"-and this is Lauren Parker, reporting in front of the main market area of Black City, where a young woman name Mica Rae is being held hostage by members of Team Rocket. They aren't asking for any ransom, but instead, they are asking that we leave the area immediately. Local authorities are handling the situation as we speak."

I froze, and my eyes widened. Serena, oblivious to what was happening, asked me what was wrong. I couldn't answer. She began calling my name, but I couldn't say anything.

I turned around to look at the TV, hoping they were wrong.

On the TV screen, there was a young woman, about five-foot-four, with dark brown hair. She wore a denim jacket, a dress or a blouse or whatever. It was dark blue at the top and had flowers towards the bottom. I could never figure out that blouse/dress. And black tights. She was screaming, and shouting, or at least trying, since there was a black bandana tied around her head over her mouth. Struggling, that's what she was doing, against a group of men in a black uniform. With a big, red 'R' on the front of their shirts.

And Rae was in the middle of them.

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And that is chapter 3! Hope you liked it!