A/N: Guess what guys? My computer came back from the repair man on Saturday!

Shame, thank you for your wonderful feedback! I do realize that I can't write very well when I try to describe things, so please try to ignore my obviously still-developing writing skills. Also, it has been verified that pokémon an evolve and de-evolve at will. (Crazy, I know! But it cannot happen in the games. Yet.) So I don't think being a fat cat was better than being skinny. (Glameow sometimes worries about her image.)

BTW, I went to Quebec! I'll be back Tuesday. I had to convince my mom to let me use a motel's free wifi computer to write this.


I don't run long before I turn around to see the result of the battle. Ponyta has clearly fainted, the illumination gone until a trainer summons it back to it's pokéball.

The other trainer walks around for a bit, following his pokémon. The little thing is jumping around, but heads in a constant direction. It's movements are slow, but calculated. It looks around again, then heads to the left, and out of my sight. Well, that wasn't creepy at all...

Charmander breaks out of its pokéball, and drags my leg towards the mysterious pokémon. I nudge the other way, and he starts wailing. I realize returning him to his pokéball is useless, as he seems to know how to break out of one, and start running, just hoping that he'll follow me.

I'm about 100 metres away when I realize the mysterious pokémon and my charmander have met. Charmander's tail illuminates the pokémon's face, and I recognize it as a Fennekin.

Charmander stumbles in surprise, it seems as if he knows what the pokémon is capable of. However, the Fennekin just lowers it's head and licks Charmander. A large noise, similar to that of a falling boulder, sounds throughout the cave.


Charmander is startled, and hides behind the Fennekin, hoping for cover. Fennekin runs toward the sound, and Charmander follows. Which means I do as well. I sigh as I run.

Does she always have to get us into trouble?

As I turn a corner, I see the cause of the sound. A large boulder is being moved by many geodude, unsuccessfully. The boulder had fallen from a high ledge, breaking in two. A path leads up toward the ledge, presumably where the geodude had lived.

I remember from my mother that geodude are very strong, and wonder how they could not move this rock. I ponder my question for a few seconds before I see my Charmander running to me, followed by the Fennekin.

Well, better sooner than later, I suppose. Unlike what I first thought was going to happen, the Fennekin isn't hostile towards me. It wraps it's small body around my left leg, Charmander having taken the other.

It's trainer comes running towards me, but slows as he approaches.

"Well, I do hope our pokémon can still battle, if they would let you go!" He says. "I'm Cyrus, by the way. And I wasn't kidding about that battle. We have to if you want to stay in the competition."

"I heard," I say, slightly blushing at his kindness. I attempt to move my leg so Fennekin can scatter away, but the small pokémon is adamant.

Cyrus immediately whips out his pokéball and captures Fennekin, calling him back a few seconds later. "Sorry about that. He sometimes gets a little... attached. Well, now to get this battle underway!" He says enthusiastically, walking with his back turned towards me.

I mentally prepare myself for the battle, and I can see Charmander doing the same.

With my battle knowledge, I highly doubt we will win, but act ignorant for Charmander. Cyrus is in place, with Fennekin a few feet in front of him. I have a good recollection of Charmander's moves, but only because there are so few of them.

"Alright, Charmander, use Ember!" I say, watching Charmander scamp across the cave floor, jumping in the air before setting a mass of fire towards the fennekin.

"Dodge it, Fennekin!" Cyrus says. Fennekin runs out of the way, but is caught on the side of Charmander's attack."Now use Tackle!"

Charmander runs without instruction towards Fennekin, then jumping out of his field of sight just before the attack. "Nice, Charmander. Use Ember again and -"

The sound of a large horn fills the room before I can finish, symbolizing that another trainer has found the stone. Cyrus and Fennekin walk over to me, and Charmander runs to Fennekin. The two pokémon playfully run around each other while Cyrus speaks to me.

"Well, we should do that again. Maybe actually see who wins next time."

"Meet you outside?" I hopefully ask, while Charmander and Fennekin trot to the cave's exit.

"I think we'll be seeing each other for most of the afternoon, our pokémon look pretty comfortable," he says, and we both laugh.

The rest of the walk back is filled with jokes and light conversation, which continues until they are back outside. The meadow surrounding the battle grounds is well tended to, and pokémon can be seen near any sort of hiding place. It is hard to differentiate pokémon belonging to trainers and wild pokémon. Beyond the route lies Cerulean City, known for their water-type gym.

I almost stutter at the thought. Another gym with me at a type disadvantage? Not my cup of tea, I think.

I lead us back to my camp spot, reserved for Julia and I's supplies.

"Don't you have pokémon to get? I have all of mine back at the daycare they made here," he asks.

"I completely forgot about that! Well, I only have one other pokémon, and its the most stubborn thing," I say, recalling the battle in which I caught it.

"How long have you been training?" Cyrus asks. "I'm sure you aren't ten, but you only have two pokémon, so..."

"I'm actually fourteen. I've only been training for a couple of weeks, actually."

"I'm fifteen, and I started a year ago, in the Kalos region. That's where all my pokémon are from. I started late because I didn't think pokémon training would suit me. Why did you wait so long to start training?" he asks, curious.

"It was just... its personal," I say, turning my head away and walking towards the daycare. I can practically hear him checking off to not start that conversation.

"Sorry, about whatever happened. My father is actually a gym leader in Kalos. His name is Wulfric, and he runs the Ice-type gym," Cyrus says.

"My father used to be a Fighting-type gym leader! I didn't know that Wulfric had a son. They never mention it on the news," I state as we get closer to the pen with pokémon.

"Well, he makes sure to keep it out of the media. I'm honestly thankful, though. Could you imagine being followed by people you don't know every day? I couldn't."

We approach the gates to the pen, and are stopped by a guard. "Which of these are yours?" He asks rather sternly. After all the pokémon thefts in Kanto lately, I can imagine why.

"The Pidgey is," I say, realizing I do not have to be specific as there is only one in the pen.

"I have quite a few," Cyrus says before spotting each one. "The Skiddo over there, and the Litleo in the corner."

The guard lets us in the pen and watches while we summon our pokémon. We walk out of the pen and the guard follows. Cyrus and I make a quick exit, back towards my tent. "Why do they have a guard for the pokémon here? I've never seen one in Kalos," Cyrus asks, clearly concerned.

"There have been a lot of pokémon thefts lately in the Kanto region, by a group who call themselves Team Rocket. I'm sure you've heard of them. Doesn't every region have a major crime group?"

"That explains a lot. We have Team Flare back home. They don't seem interested in actual pokémon, though. There are five scientists that run the group. Only people on the inside know whats really going on," he replies.

We get settled at my camp spot, Cyrus bringing his items back from his camp. Its about six in the afternoon now, but it is getting dark quickly. Julia has not returned yet, but I know she cannot be one of the finalists, which are two men. Cyrus and I talk for about an hour more until the finalists have both come out with a Clefairy. Everyone gathers around the battle arena, eager to watch the two.

As everyone watches, I start to worry. Julia has been gone for hours now, with no return. I leave my spot and look for Cyrus. When I find him he is intently focused on the battle. "Cyrus, the last time I saw Julia was before the competition started! I have no idea where she is or where she could be!"

"Natalia, just calm down, shes probably just in the cave trying to find a Clefairy of her own," Cyrus manages, trying to make me laugh.

We head inside the cave and search with no prevail. The lower level, we find, is blocked off by the event team, and they say they haven't heard from Julia in hours. I head back to her tent, which is right next to mine. I search her bag, which she usually keeps with her. I check the inside of the bag, and find an envelope and an empty pokéball, undoubtedly Bulbasaur's.

The envelope is black, with an odd symbol on it that I immediately recognize. I rip it open without thinking. Inside is a letter and a small token. The token is the Boulder Badge.

Dear Natalia,

It has been so long since we have last met.

Don't you think we should see each other again sometime? Julia would be a great addition.

We can all go our merry way after our... reunion.

See you there,

Orval