Chapter 4

"My name is Ayden, and this is my Espeon. It's nice to meet you. I'll be traveling with Bonnie for a while." Ayden bowed politely in front of the videophone, where the face of Clemont could be seen.

"It's nice to meet you too, Ayden. Every friend of Bonnie's is a friend of mine too! " answered the Gym Leader happily through the phone.

"Look look,Big Bro!" said Bonnie, pulling out the badge case with the Bug Badge in view.

"We won Viola's badge". And she started talking about the battle Ayden and she had and how they won against Viola's strong bug types.

"It looked like a very nice battle, congratulation!"

"And now it's your turn, I'm coming for your badge, Big Bro!" Bonnie's eyes bore a determined look, that was shared by the older brother.

"Of course I'm waiting for you, Bonnie. This time it will be much harder, though, I warn you. And I will grant a Gym Challenge to Ayden too, if he wants."

Ayden was reflecting. Bonnie told him about the four-badges rules his brother used to the challengers and the possibility to challenge him without having them, although just once. He then shrugged.

"I prefer to abide by the rules. I'll challenge you once I have the four badges. But I want to battle you in person" he answered calmly. Clemont smiled at his words.

"You are a serious guy, aren't you? Well, ok, just let me know when you're ready."

Ayden nodded with determination. If what Bonnie said about her brother was true, then he had to prepare, he thought.

After some other minutes of small talk, Clemont closed the call, still smiling. It was good that his little sister was having fun on her journey and even managed to find a partner to travel with, that made him relax a little. And he needed that, because the other phone call he received that same morning wasn't nearly as nice. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Even if dawn just arose, he was hard at work to finish one of his last project, when the videophone rang. But the moment he answered, there was no video feed, only the audio one, with a cryptic message from someone he recognized as Xerosic.

"Seems one of my other old friend visited me yesterday, someone I had a hard time to recognize at first. But he came with a great news: apparently he had found some new friends and wanted to organize a welcome-back party for me, since I was gone for long, but I had to refuse since...well, you know. But he says hello. And to be careful for some old friend with weird, red glasses, apparently. Didn't understand much, he's always been a bit of a weirdo, like a rock bind to a liana."

Despite the apparently joyous message, the tone used by the scientist hid some warning, but damn if he could understand why! He had a mind about going to the prison and ask him himself, but then he thought that if he had called on a phone, maybe there was a reason why he shouldn't go and decided to stay put for the moment. Still, now he was somewhat worried.

Suddenly, Clemont heard a voice coming from downstairs.

"Hello, is there anyone? I'd like to request a Gym Challenge!" said the voice. It was a girl one, and was kinda familiar.

"I'm coming!" Clemont walked down the stairs and soon entered the battle field, just to find Clembot who was talking to a familiar girl dressed in white. The peculiar thing was the enormous backpack she had on her back.

"Oh, hi...Lillie, isn't it? Did you request the Gym Challenge, by any chance?"

"Hello Clemont. Yes, pleeeaaah" she was saying, bowing politely. However, this caused her to lose her balance and fall on the ground, crushed by the too big backpack. Clemont rushed to her and, together with Clembot, they managed to free her from the bag and get her up on her feet.

"Thanks." she thanked him, blushing a little for the embarrassment.

"You're welcome. But why you have so many things with you?"

"Oh...well, Professor Kukui said that I could leave for my journey if I wanted, so I went to get some travelling gear. But I guess I went a bit overboard with the shopping."

"I can see that. Can I check? Maybe I can help you sort things."

"Will you do that? Thank you, you are very kind." she said, bowing one more time.

"Don't mention it. Clembot, give me a hand!"

"Sure thing, Master Clemont."

The three of them gathered around the backpack and started to sort the various things. It turned that "overboard" was actually kinda euphemistic: the girl went on a proper shopping rampage and bought a lot of unnecessary stuff, mainly souvenirs in an atrocious amount, a lot of clothes, most of them very nice-looking but quite impractical for a journey and many stuffed toys of pokémon, which she explained without any trace of embarrassment that she had a great passion of. Under Clemont guidance, they manage to gather the essential in a smaller backpack while the rest was going to be sent to Lillie's house in Alola. Although, she insisted to keep a stuffed toy of Pikachu with her; when asked the reason, she simply said that it felt like it was her lucky charm. When she said that, however, she blushed hard, but Clemont didn't pry further.

"Ok, that was a thing...so, you came here for a Gym Challenge, right?" Lillie nodded.

"You know that I have a rule about the minimal number of badges, right?"

"Clembot told me. But he also said something about trainers that can take a Challenge once before having gathered the required badges. May I use that?" Lillie asked.

"Well, yes, but if you lose you can't take another challenge with me until you gathered the four badges. Are you ok with that?"

Lillie nodded once again. "I'm ready for that!".

Clemont sighed, defeated. "Ok, since I'm here and actually free, I'll take the challenge myself. Clembot, you will act as a referee. Lillie, how many pokémon do you have?"

"I have two."

"Well then, it will be a 2 vs 2, usual Gym rules. Clembot will now clarify that. You ok?" Lillie simply nodded in agreement and walked to the side of the battle field reserved for the Challenger, while Clemont did the same on the other side. Clemont raised its metallic arms and spoke with its robotic voice.

"This is an official Gym Challenge between the Gym Leader of Lumiose City Clemont and the Challenger Lillie from Hau'Oli City. Each trainer can use up to two pokémon, and the battle will be over once every pokémon of a trainer will be unable to battle. Furthermore, only the Challenger will be allowed to substitute pokémon. Now, choose your pokémon!"

"Pippi, please go out!" called Lillie. From the ball she tossed appeared a cheerful-looking Clefairy.

"Magnemite, go out!" answered Clemont, calling upon the small Electric/Steel pokémon.

"Magnemite versus Clefairy, battle begin!".

Bonnie and Ayden were walking through a small wood, towards the next city, with Espeon on the side of the trainer. Dedenne was on the girl's shoulder, watching Ayden first and Bonnie then with a confused look: Bonnie was in a foul mood, while Ayden was clearly sorry for something.

"I apologized over and over, how many times I have to do that?" spoke up the boy after a while, his look shifting.

"I don't care, you should have warned me!" replied Bonnie, her cheeks burning.

"And how could I know that you were that uncomfortable with that?"

"You-were-shirtless! How could a girl not be?" Now Bonnie stopped and looked enraged at the boy.

"I'm sorry, ok? I just...I'm not used to traveling partner." said meekly Ayden.

What made Bonnie so angry happened that same morning, just after they woke up. It was the first morning they spent out in the open since they agreed to travel together, after a couple of days in which they spent the night in Pokémon Centers. Bonnie had already noticed that the boy didn't set a tent for the night after the dinner they had and, when questioned, he simply said that he preferred to sleep among his pokémon and, to remark that, he let Swampert and Bellossom out, much to the latter joy. Bonnie didn't pry further, but simply decided to find it both odd and sweet: there weren't many trainers who were willing to forego comfort to be that close to pokémon. Bonnie reflected that probably his ability to speak to pokémon was a great part of this decision and, without asking further questions, she bid him good night and went to sleep in her tent.

The next morning, she was woken up by joyous laughters that she was sure that were of Ayden. After a while, she decided to take a look. When she poked her head out of her shellder-shaped tent, she saw Ayden throwing a small ball to Swampert, while Espeon and Bellossom were following it. Everybody was smiling, clearly having fun, and that made Bonnie smile sweetly too. Until she noted something that made her smile quickly fade away, replaced by a burning embarrassment: Ayden wasn't wearing a t-shirt!

"Kyaaah!" The girl screamed instinctively, rolling backwards in her tent, attracting Ayden's attention.

"Bonnie, you ok?" he asked, concerned, while walking to the tent. But he was stopped in his tracks by the girl herself.

"Don't come here, don't come here, don't come here, for Arceus sake!"

Ayden looked at his pokémon, confused, then he looked back at the tent.

"What's the problem, Bonnie?" asked the boy, still confused.

There was a long silence, then a hand poked out the tent.

"You...your...where's your shirt?" she stuttered, careful to not look out.

Ayden watched himself, questioningly. He still wasn't able to see what the fuss was about.

"Well, the pokémon are pretty warm, so I removed it. What about it?"

Again, a long silence. Then a earth-shattering scream hit the hoennian boy and his pokémon like a hammer.

"PUT SOMETHING ON, YOU PEEERV!"

Just then, the boy had realized what made Bonnie so embarrassed and furious. The hadn't even had breakfast and had rapidly dismantled the camp. Ayden had been continuingly saying how sorry he was about that, but Bonnie had been too embarrassed to answer back or accept any apology. For hours, as they walked on the road, they hadn't talked or looked at each other, while Dedenne and Espeon were looking at the trainers, half confused half worried.

"Did you seriously never had someone with you during your journey? Not even for a couple of days?"

Ayden averted his eyes, lost in his thoughts.

"Well...there were people with me, for short periods of time. But we are talking days, a week at most. For the most part, we simply travelled together for protection or because we were to go to the same city."

"And no one found odd that you were going around the camp without your shirt on? Not even the girls?".

Ayden shook his head. "To be honest, few found out about that. I only remove the shirt when I sleep because the pokémon are too warm. And I get up early usually, so by the time they woke up I was completely dressed."

"So, it would be my fault because I woke up early?"

"I didn't say that, and I never will! Why are you reacting that way?"

Bonnie stopped talking, with her face red. She too didn't know why she was overreacting in such a way. She had to admit to herself that it wasn't an entirely negative experience: while not muscular, Ayden's body was fit and well toned, typical of people that spend much of their time on the open air. Somewhere, in a place far away, locked in her mind, she liked what had seen, even if she'd rather eat a mouthful of carrots than admit that. Bonnie noted, however, a great amount of scars and not fully healed bruises all over it, just like he was beaten and cut a lot. She wondered what kind of trouble did he meet on his journey before the two of them met.

An awkward silence fell between them: both of them were too embarrassed to say something. And it wasn't a good sign: it was that kind of things that split friends apart. The two didn't know that much and they were already fighting!

Suddenly, the two of them felt a light touch on their wrist; they lowered the gaze, looking at the pokémon that wrapped two long trails around them.

"Sylveon!" it said, happily.

Bonnie and Ayden looked at each other, confused. However, they felt somehow calmer, like they could reason with more clarity than before.

"What is happening? I'm feeling...different." said Ayden.

"It must be Sylveon." Bonnie managed to pull out her pokédex and scanned Sylveon. She already know what kind of pokémon was, since Serena had one, but she wanted to verify something.

"Sylveon, the Intertwining pokémon. Evolution of Eevee It sends a soothing aura from its ribbonlike feelers to calm fights."

The two trainers looked at the pokémon and then realize what was happening at the same time.

"Sure, it's Sylveon, is using its power to help us!"

"It must have felt that we were fighting and came to calm us!"

Bonnie looked at Ayden and started to chuckle. Ayden too grinned.

"We're stupid, we were making a fuss about something so trivial. I'm sorry I reacted that way, Ayden." said Bonnie, apologetically.

"I'm sorry too, Bonnie, I should have warned you that I have some...odd behaviours." replied Ayden, scratching his scarred cheek a little embarrassed.

The two youngsters looked at each others, still laughing. But just in that moment Bonnie noted that Espeon was acting weird around Sylveon: he came closer to the fairy type and started cooing, wiggling his tail and moving his ears. Ayden noted this too and facepalmed himself.

"Oh Arceus, no. Bonnie, may I see your pokédex just for a moment, please?" Bonnie handed the dex to him and he read the description then gave it back to the girl.

"Just as I thoug...Espeon, no!" He moved suddenly and with his free hand he grabbed
Espeon, who was attempting to nuzzling against Sylveon, much to its discomfort.

"It must be a female Sylveon. Espeon, stop it, leave her alone!" said the boy while attempting to hold Espeon, who was trying to free himself.

Bonnie wasn't really understanding what was going on, but quickly made a gesture to Sylveon, that freed both the trainers from her feelers and hid behind Bonnie's leg. Now that he had both hand, it was easier for Ayden to keep Espeon, who started to calm himself under his trainer petting.

"What happened to Espeon? Was he hit by Attract?"

Ayden shook his head, denying. He was blushing, embarrassed. "No, this little idiot is attracted to every female eeveelution existing, when he sees one he attempt to hit on her, regardless of the type. And in that case is almost uncontrollable." he explained, patting the head of his pokémon, who was now nestling in his arms, his ears a little lowered.

Bonnie tilted her head, shocked. It looked like the trainer wasn't the only weird one. Between the excessively clingy Bellossom and that Espeon, it seemed that his pokémon were full of personality. She turned then to Sylveon, who was a little confused of what happened but still looked at her smiling.

"I'm sorry, you okay Sylveon? We have to thank you for helping us" the girl said, crouching to the pokémon, who chirped and caressed Bonnie with her feelers, making her giggle. Ayden came closer and sit on the ground, making sure Espeon didn't try anything funny, and touched her on the head, gently, closing his eyes for a moment before reopening them. Bonnie knew he was using his powers to communicate with Sylveon.

"Thank you, Sylveon, really. And I'm sorry about Espeon, he doesn't mean bad, he's just...over enthusiastic because you're cute, that's all."

"Sylveeon!" replied the pokémon happily. It looked like the fairy type now didn't mind too much about Espeon attempts and seemed really at ease around Ayden.

"I appreciate that, but if he attempts anything again, let me know, ok?" Sylveon nodded her little head to the trainer.

"Sylveon? Sylveon, where are you?!" called a female voice from the bushes. After a while, a tall girl appeared. She had long, red hair, blue eyes, a white tank top with a pink and blue collar and pink trousers. She seemed worried, as she was looking around, but her face filled with joy as she saw the Sylveon, who turned to the girl and started to run happily towards her and jumped into her arms.

"Sylveon! I was so worried, why did you run away like that?" she cried, holding the eeveelution to her chest. Then she turned to the two trainers. "You found her, thank you!"

"Well, she found us actually, but you're welcome." replied Ayden, getting back on his feet.

"Wait...Penelope?" asked Bonnie, looking at the older girl. She looked Bonnie questioningly, but then her face beamed.

"Bonnie! I remember you, it's been a long time!" Penelope said, smiling.

"Truly! You're still a kindergarten teacher?".

"I am! Which reminds me…" Penelope interrupted to look around then shouted towards the bushes. "I found her, come here!"

A dozen of kids came out of the woods and quickly ran to their teacher. "Miss Penelope, you found Sylveon!" shouted one of them. They seemed all very excited and happy.

"Well, it's actually those two trainers that found her. We should all thank them, don't you think?"

"Yes! Thank you very much for finding Miss Penelope's Sylveon!" spoke in a coro the children politely.

"Don't even mention that! My name is Bonnie, and this sleepyhead is my partner Dedenne." introduced Bonnie, pointing at her pochette, where Dedenne's tail poked out.

"I'm Ayden, and this is Espeon!" said the boy, showing the violet eeveelution, who was still eyeing Sylveon.

"Wah, an Espeon, it's so cute!" cooed a little girl, starting to petting the psychic type. Soon the other children surrounded the pokémon and started to pet him, seemingly distracting him from Sylveon.

"Ehi, children, what have I said about touching other people's pokémon without asking permission?" Penelope glared severely at the kids, who started to back up, but Ayden smiled.

"It's ok, Penelope, he loves being nuzzled, he's spoiled like that. I have other pokémon, if you want to let them play a little."

"Will you do that? It'll make me happy!"

"Sure, why not? Bonnie, you're in?" Bonnie nodded.

"Yes!"

A short while later, they arrived to the kindergarten, where Ayden promptly released Swampert and Bellossom to let them play with the kids, who marvelled at Swampert size. The little girls in the group started admiring Bellossom beautiful form and laughed when she jumped straight into Ayden arms but, after some reassuring from her trainer, she started enjoying the children company too. Soon, Espeon and Dedenne joined and started having fun while all the boys started to ask Ayden about his pokémon. The trainer was glad to answer all the questions, much to their admiration.

Bonnie and Penelope sat on the fence, looking at the children having fun with Ayden and the pokémon.

"Did you know him for a while?" asked suddenly Penelope. Bonnie, who was nuzzling Sylveon, almost fell from the fence, a little taken aback from the question. Then she shook her head.

"No, I met him barely a week ago, before my battle at Santalune Gym. And I...I don't know him quite well yet, I have to admit." Her eyes lowered, a little saddened. "This morning we had an argument. It was something completely stupid, but I overreacted and we were both quite sad. If it wasn't for Sylveon, we might have never make up."

"That explains why Sylveon suddenly ran away, she must have felt your conflict...But he seems a nice guy. Isn't he?"

"He is. He's kind and caring, and really loves pokémon. He's a very good battler and had every sort of experience. And he can speak to pokémon!"

"Really? Go figures…" Penelope was really surprised by what Bonnie said, but she didn't look like she wasn't going to believe her.

"Really, I've seen that happening."

"Well, that's good, I guess." Penelope then jumped down the fence. "I still have to thank you for the help with the kids and finding Sylveon. What about a battle?"

Bonnie looked surprised, but then nodded energetically. "Sure thing, Penelope."

"Miss Penelope is going to fight, let's watch it!"

"It will be a blast!"

The kids overheard the last part of the conversation and were getting excited about their teacher fighting. Penelope turned to Ayden.

"Will you referee us?" asked her. Ayden agreed and followed the two girls together with the children to a battle field in the backyard.

"So, the battle between Penelope and Bonnie is going to begin. Every trainer can use just one pokémon, and the battle will be over once one of the two pokémon will be unable to battle. No substitution will be allowed. Now, choose your pokémon!" declared Ayden.

"Go, Sylveon!" The eeveelution made her way into the battlefield and looked Bonnie with determination.

"Popplio, do your best!" The little Sea Lion pokémon emerged from his ball and chirped, batting his fins.

"Sylveon vs Popplio. Battle, begin!" Ayden gave the signal.

"Popplio, Water Gun!" Popplio shot a stream of water from his pink snout towards Sylveon, who was ready.

"Sylveon, dodge, then Fairy Wind!" Sylveon jumped out of the way of the Water Gun then was surrounded by a pink wind that was released towards the water type.

"Popplio, Disarming Voice, quick!" Popplio screamed and a series of soundwaves collided with the Fairy Wind, erasing each other. "Very good! Now, Bubblebeam!" A series of fast bubbles flew towards Sylveon.

"Quick, Sylveon, use your feelers to protect yourself!" Like whips, Sylveon's feelers moved swiftly, popping every incoming bubble, remaining unharmed.

"That move…" murmured Bonnie, recalling what she saw all those years ago in Laverre City.

"Exactly, I challenged Laverre City Gym. I took a beating, but I also learned some moves. Sylveon, grab Popplio with your fellers, then Hyper Voice!" The eeveelution moved her fellers, wrapping the small water type, and throw him into the air. Then, she sucked in some air and shoot a powerful sound wave that hit him really hard and made him crash to the ground. Popplio managed to get up, but he was quite damaged.

"Let's finish it! Sylveon, use Moonblast!" Fairy energy accumulated in front of Sylveon, who shot it towards Popplio.

"Popplio, use Water Gun on the ground!" Popplio shot a powerful jet of water that propelled him sideways, narrowly avoiding the enemy attack.

"Wonderful, now use Pound!" Still in midair, Popplio turned and raised his fin, which glowed white. Sylveon didn't catch the movement and was hit hardly by the normal type attack. The fairy type skidded back but didn't fall.

"You're doing great, Bonnie, but that attack didn't damage Sylveon that much. Sylveon, Fairy Wind!" A new gust of wind flew towards the alolan starter, but Bonnie knew what to do.

"Popplio, Bubblebeam, spin around!" The water type started to spin while spitting his bubbles around him, forming a tornado. The Fairy Wind got caught in the swirling and flew away, harmless. Penelope was shocked.

"You're not the only one who learns from the others. Popplio, Water Gun!" Popplio shot the water attack that, empowered by the Bubblebeam rotation, hit the fairy type with greater power, making her crash to the ground. Sylveon tried to raise but, after a while, her legs gave up and she fainted, swirls in her eyes.

"Sylveon is unable to battle, Popplio wins! And that means, Bonnie is the winner of the battle!" announced Ayden, raising his arm.

Penelope sighed and then recalled her pokémon. "You've been extraordinary, Sylveon, get some rest." she murmured to the ball.

Bonnie crouched and took Popplio in her arms. "You're great, Popplio, we won!" she cried happily while hugging the starter, who chirped with a smile.

Soon, the kids grouped up around Bonnie and Popplio, marvelled by the battle and complimenting the trainer and the pokémon both. Bonnie was flattered and a little embarrassed.

"Sure your style is something strange. Where did you get that?" asked Penelope, who came closer to the one who defeated her. Bonnie looked at the kindergarten teacher, smiling.

"I travelled a lot before, and I could observe someone with an unusual style. Let's just say that I was inspired to be a little...out of the ordinary." answered Bonnie.

Penelope seemed slightly confused for a second, then smiled. "I guess I know who are you talking about. Good for you!"

Penelope invited the two trainers to lunch, as a thank you gift for letting their pokémon play with the children and the battle and then, after a while, they departed, waving their hand towards the teacher and her children.

"You made a lot of friend already, you know that?" spoke Ayden some time after they left the kindergarten. It was almost sunset and they were looking for a spot where to camp, since once again there were no Pokémon Center in sight.

"Yes, but I hope to make more." Bonnie said while looking around. Then, her look darkened and turned to Ayden.

"Ayden...I'm really sorry about this morning. It's my first time travelling without someone I really know and I reacted in a very bad way. It wasn't your fault, really, you were just being yourself and I didn't understand that. I'll understand if you want to leave for yourself." Bonnie's blue eyes lowered in sadness, afraid to hear what was next.

"That goes for me too" replied Ayden's voice. Bonnie raised her face, looking at the boy's brown eyes, averted while he was scratching his cheek.

"I mean...I'm travelling with a girl now, and not just for a couple of days, but for a long time, hopefully. I cannot behave in the same way as before. I wasn't considerate towards you...and I'm sorry for that." he concluded, looking serious at Bonnie. The girl smiled.

"Sylveon did a real number on us, didn't she?" she said, grinning. Ayden smirked.

"Sure she did. But we needed that." Bonnie nodded in agreement.

"So...we set the camp here? Looks like is a good place, there's a nice stream too." Ayden proposed after a while. The two trainers had reached a small clearing with a small river that seemed quite comfortable.

"I think it's ok, I'll open the cooking gear." Bonnie pulled out of her backpack a small cube of iron, put it on the grass and pressed the red button. In a flash, the portable kitchen built itself.

"You know, your brother is a genius." said Ayden while eyeing the inventions.

"Just don't tell him too often and it will be fine." Bonnie giggled. Then, she opened some drawer and started to cook something while Ayden feeded the pokémon. Of course, Bellossom demanded to sit by her trainer.

Once the stew was ready, she sat on the table and served the boy, who thanked her.

"You know, I wanted to ask you something, Ayden…" spoke Bonnie after a while. Ayden looked at her, questioningly, but then nodded his head.

"Those scars...where did you get them? They look like they hurt." asked the girl, timidly. She was well aware that that was a very personal request, but once she saw them she felt she had to know, somehow.

Ayden looked at her for a long moment with a neutral expression, and Bonnie had a feeling that maybe she was intruding too much. "If you can't tell me, it's fine…" she murmured.

The boy stayed silent for another minute, then sighed. "Well, I startled you this morning, it's just fair. I can't tell everything about how I got hurt, there won't be enough time. Every scar I have is a little story of my travels through the regions, and demand their own time. Let's just say that sometimes I...tend to get a little reckless when pokémon are involved. I spent most of my life among them, so it happens to get some bruises here and there. But as long as the pokémon are ok I don't really mind." explained Ayden in a light tone that Bonnie didn't really liked. It was just too casual for her taste, but she had to accept the explanation nonetheless.

"Ok...then, what about the one on your cheek? Could you tell me about that at least?"

Ayden instinctively touched his left cheek. Then, to Bonnie surprise, he smiled. "That's a fascinating story. I will tell you...after you meet the one that made it to me!"

Well, here it is, chapter 4.I wanted to introduce a conflict eartly on, and I wanted to describe a Popplio battle. Hope I managed both of them. Thank you to everyone that followed and favoed this story, I appreciate that a lot, and I invite everyone to leave a review, I really want to know what are you thinking about this fanfiction and if I'm doing good. See ya next week!