Chapter 6: Moving Forward but Not Moving On.
A/N: I apologize as this came late mainly due to the Goverment Shutdown otherwise here it is. Enjoy
"Pika-Pi" {Ash}
I could feel Pikachus arms rubbing against the side of the sleeping bag and naturally assumed it was a dream.
"Pika-Pi" {Ash}
The second time though something was wrong as naturally I woke up. Usually when Pikachu wakes me it means something bad or worse. I yawned and turned to Cilan who was curled up into a corner. Then it dawned on me what was different.
"Wait Axews by Cilan."
Then it hit me…
"She actually left…"
Without thinking about it I feel back asleep. In a mere 20 minutes however I heard Axew screaming and that did wake Cialn up.
"Axew, whats up?"
Axew went on explaining his situation to Cilan as I got up and went to check on Emolga and the others. Somehow when Iris snuck out she managed to gingerly move Axew away from her. Now my question became, how far ahead of us was she, and did she want us to even catch up.
"Ash, I found a note."
I ran over with Pikachu and a yawning Emolga while Axew just stared into a corner, looking like his whole world has fallen apart.
"Hey Cilan what does it say?" I figured probably a rehash of what happened last night, but this was more surprising to say the least.
"Dear guys, I know how much you both have meant to me during our journey around Unova and that I'm forever grateful for having both of you in my lives. I've got to be honest however the events of nearly a year and a half ago have shaken me. My presence has kept up a happy facade but deep down I know that a piece of what made me, me was lost in that cave. Getting shot out of there and taken by that Unfezant was not something I was proud of…."
As Cilan read on that really long winded note I noticed Dragonite and Excadrill now waking up. If Axew was bad, they'll be worse.
"…I emphasize this with all certainty do not come after me."
"But Cilan she went alone without her pokémon, how do we know she'll be ok."
"Ash, for once I'm not sure she is going to be, before each 10 year old trainer is given one of their starters they are told never to venture too far out into the wilderness, wild pokémon can show a completely other side of themselves while facing down humans alone. If Iris is as crafty and friendly as I've seen her around wild pokémon she might be ok."
That thought hung over my head as Dragonite and Excadrill went over to check on Axew and sensed his mood. Then I noticed the PS, in the note.
"Ash, as Axew and Scraggy are close to brothers as you and Cilan, I do want you to have him, I know right now technically you do have 6 pokémon on hand but swap out one on your arrival to the pokémon center before Nuvema. As for the others Cilan can do the best at getting them in line. Especially Emolga who lets face it she needs an attitude adjustment."
"It goes on for a bit then leaves off just as her note last time did." Cilan pondered over the wording while Emolga rubbed me on the shoulder.
"Mol-Emol-E" {Is Iris here?}
"Emolga I think she's not coming back for a while."
The look on the usually mischievous Emolga was the saddest I've ever seen from her. As for Dragonite I could see it kept up its fair share of stubbornness but he did manage to seem off as Excadrill held on to a crying Axew. My mind then did wonder to the obvious thought that I did not want to mention until…
"Ash, I think Snivys not here." Cilan did a double take looking left and right.
My ideal was to feign shock but I figured with the downtrodden mood of everyone else it would be more fruitful to let him know the truth.
"Yeah, I put her in Iris' bag just in case she thought to sneak away without us knowing. Only telling her to come out if shes in absolute peril"
"The question is can we catch up with her?"
"I don't know, were supposed to head back to Professor Junipers lab."
I looked at everyone else including the sad foursome of Iris' former pokémon. As much as I wanted to go gallivanting after her for Cilan's sake I knew better than that.
"Lets at least get to Nuvema and talk with Juniper then we'll plan our next move."
At that point we began to pack up the camp, like before Iris did keep out her share of the work. Her 3 pokéballs were kept organized together As we finished up Cilan somehow was having an easier time trying to get them recalled but I whispered to Pikachu that Axew was fixing to take my shoulder.
Pikachu reluctantly walked and Axew climbed on my shoulder, with that change in routine we were on our way.
A/N: Hopefully the next one will be ready before Catching Fire: Stay Tuned