Apologises for any spelling or grammer errors.

The centre had been mobbed all day and Caleb had barely had time to take a quick breather. He'd faced off against a poisoned Abra, a paralysed Ekans and an incredibly volatile Magikarp. Caleb wasn't even really sure how a Magikarp could be volatile but hey, there it was! Between taking a shower in the staff facilities and throwing on his own clothing all Caleb could think about was the amazing dinner he was going to make himself when he got home, he was so glad this shift was finally over! As Caleb left the staff room, practically skipping, he made his way to the front desk in search of Raltz. His dark hair was still a little wet and he could feel the small water droplets sliding down the back of his neck. The past few weeks had been a little crazy but he wouldn't change them for the world. Raltz had really come into his own after his show down with Joltik and despite the fact the two of them still seemed to be a logger heads from time to time they appeared to be getting on quite well. It was rare to see one without the other, even when Raltz was dashing from room to room preping one patient or another, Joltik was always perched upon Raltz head, scanning everything that was going on.

Chuckling to himself, Caleb couldn't help but laugh. The two pokémon were unlikely friends but he was pleased that they were friends all the same. As Caleb rounded the corner into the main entrance the sight that greeted him stopped him dead in his tracks. Standing in the middle of the Pokémon Centre's front room, with Raltz in her arms, was Terri. He hadn't seen her in months and it felt like every nerve in his body had begun to scream at once. His brown hair was curtained around her shoulders rather than up in a pony tail, her big amber eyes were focused on the little green and white pokémon as she swung him back in forth in what appeared to be a death lock style hug.

"Raltz! You have gotten so big! Just look at you, you are such a cutie!" She cried out.

Caleb couldn't help but feel an uncomfortable twinge within his gut.

Wow, slow down. You're jealous of her hugging Raltz and not you? That's low...

Shaking himself of his ridiculous thoughts and coughed slightly to gain her attention. Terri stopped swinging Raltz back and forth and raised her amber and locked her gaze on Caleb. Meekly he raised his hand in a kind of wave and felt his heart speed up as Terri broke out in a huge grin.

"Caleb! I'm so happy to see you, I was hoping you'd be working".

Whilst Terri was distracted Raltz chose that moment to twist out of her arms and quick as a flash made his way over to Caleb, cowering behind his trainer's legs.

"Ah, sorry! I don't think he remembers me and I kinda just acted on impulse by hugging him..." Terri laughed nervously.

Caleb shurgged as he bent down and picked up Raltz, the little pokémon holding onto his shirt for security.

"It's okay, Raltz is just a little shy around people. If you're around often enough he'll be fine with you". Caleb said as he reassuring ran his fingers through Raltz' fur. It was then that he noticed that something wasn't quite right.

"Hey... where's Joltik?"

It was unusual to see Joltik anywhere but on top of Raltz' head. As if in answer the little spider scuttled out from under an upturned cup upon the desk. Casting a quick suspicious glance at Terri, Joltik made his way across the table, making small little sparks in Caleb's direction.

"You know, instead of threatening to zap me, you could just let me know that you want picked up. I know you and Raltz talk...jackass". He sighed.

Making his way over to the spider, Caleb scooped Joltik up and placed him upon Raltz head.

"Happy?" Caleb asked

The little spider made no attempt to relay it's thanks.

"You got another pokémon?!" Terri squeaked in excitement.

"Oh, well... not really!"

The two trainers chatted for awhile, Caleb explaining how he acquired Joltik and Terri regaling her terrifying tale of her journey to New Bark town. It wasn't until a slight cough from the front desk sounded that the two of them looked round in surprise to see Emily who, despite the small smirk on her face, seemed to have gotten tired of waiting for them to notice her.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting miss, although it seems that one of my staff kept you company, but your pokémon is fully healed. Please enjoy the rest of your stay in our town".

With a quick glance at Caleb that said: you are telling me everything next time you're working with me, Emily tucked a loose strand of her pink hair behind her ear and turned on her heels and left the two trainers blushing slightly, embarrassed that they'd shut out the whole world around them.

As the two trainers left the centre together in silence Caleb couldn't hold back the grin on his face. It had been so long since he'd see Terri and if he was honest with himself he really hadn't expected to see her again. He was really pleased that the universe had decided to prove him wrong. Once out in the main street Terri fished around in her pocket until she found what she was looking for. A pokéball. Upon pressing the release button, the two trainers took a step back as the menacing form of Manny materialised in front of them. Upon the sight of the large purple ghost, Raltz turned his head into Caleb's shirt and refused to look up. Caleb himself tried not to break eye contact with the frightening ghost.

"Hey Manny... remember me?"

The ghost simply growled in response.

Terri only smiled at the two of them.

Joltik's POV

With the two trainers chatting ideally along the street, the large ghost floating close to the female in an almost predatory way, neither was aware of the small yellow spider which was staring down at Raltz with concern. The psychic pokémon hadn't tried to taunt him, insult him or belittle him and to be frank Joltik was worried. It didn't matter how much he poked Raltz, how much he prodded him or how much he tried to Spark him, he simply did not get a response. If only he could only talk to Raltz but he couldn't without the psychic link and that was Raltz job! How was he suppose to help him if he couldn't talk to him?

Folding his two front legs over one another he started to pout. This was going to take some work.

They had only been chatting for around fifteen minutes but for Caleb, it felt like an eternity. Whenever Terri was around it was if things weren't so tough, the days weren't so long but he knew that she would be gone again in no time. People like Terri didn't like to stay tied down.

"So what brought you back to our little town then?" he asked.

Running her fingertips through her hair, trying to get out the knots, Terri glanced at Manny before answering Caleb's question.

"Well, I'm actually running an errand for Professor Elm. I'd originally set out for his lab in response to an advert I'd seen stating that he was looking for trainers to raise pokémon in a contained environment but by the time I got through that damn forest, all the positions had been filled. I don't really know whether I got this gig due to the fact he's friends with my dad but Elm happened to mention that he had a friend just passed Cherrygrove Town who has a Poké Egg that, instead of Elm going to get I'm off to collect".

Terri frowned and kicked the dirt beneath her feet in annoyance.

"You know Caleb, when I started out on my journey. I didn't think about how difficult it would be. I just thought that Manny and I would have this grand adventure, meet some new friends and have a blast. I never took things like money, places to sleep or even food into consideration. Sometimes, I'm tempted to give up and go home!"

"These things come with age" Caleb said.

"You don't think about certain things until sometimes it's too late. I think you're a great trainer so don't give up. If Manny's attachment is anything to go by, you yourself should know how good you are". Smiling shyly, he glanced at Terri only to find her smiling back.

"Thanks Caleb" Terri said.

"No problem Terri. You know, if you're finding it tough right now why don't I come with you to see Elm's friend? I'm off for the next few days so I have the time to spare".

"You'd do that? You'd come with me?"

"Of course!" Caleb said, sounding slightly too eager.

"How about we meet at ten tomorrow morning? We'll meet you and Manny outside the Mart and head off? Sound good?" he asked.

As the two trainers parted ways Caleb couldn't but feel excited for the following day.