I don't own Pokemon. Nor any creative disclaimers...

The group sat in a clearing not far from Nugget Bridge around a campfire on a comfortable night. Natalie was resting and letting her legs fully recooperate as well as waiting for the pain in her ribs to abate while Jeremiah tended Airwolf's wounded wing. One thing she noticed however was that this meal and all these injuries would deplete the last of their food and medicine. Before they went anywhere they would have to get supplies but... she wasn't sure if she would even be let back in the town after what Taz had to do. She shuddered as she remembered Taz getting shot at, she didn't know what she would do if she lost him, or even Silly. She also wondered why Jeremiah had to run so fast away from that man-no, she shook her head and Airwolf looked at her curiously. Natalie smiled at Airwolf and made her desicion.

"Hey I just wanted to say thank you so much for saving me. I..." she paused unsure if she should continue but she just wanted to clear this up, Jeremiah looked at her expectantly as she finished, "I was curious for a moment as to why you were running away from that man," he shifted uncomfortably at this. "But then I realized that he shot at Taz and you were the one who saved me. ...If there is anything that I could do for you, please ask." she said.

He looked at his Staraptor's wing and then back to her and said, "I was simply doing what I thought was right, your Charizard saved me and he probably wouldn't be very happy if I let you fall would he? Not to mention, you gave me your healing supplies when it's obvious that you didn't have very many."

She smiled at him and gave Taz a grin, Silly whined and nuzzled her hand and she gave him an affectionate rub on the head as well. "Your welcome, but I was going to mention that, I will now be out of food and medicine and I didn't see anything on you except for that satchel, which surprised me actually, you having no supplies, but I'm not sure that I'll be let back in town after what Taz had to do."

"You'll be fine, no one else was around to see. Good thing obviously." he said cryptically. "Plus I usually have supplies too but I got seprarated from my... traveling partner, but he was a douchebag anyway so I'll just buy some food or something and cram it in this bag until I buy another one."

She looked at him curiously for a moment then shrugged, "Ok so I'll go get some supplies tomorrow, I won a crap ton of money from this annoying blond guy with a Poliwhirl so-" Jeremiah dropped an empty rice bowl at the mention of the boy and Natalie looked at him perturbed. "Y-you beat him?" he stammered.

"Well yeah...do you know him?" she asked wondering why this nice boy would know such a jerk.

"Know him? He was my traveling partner! I got separated from him because I thought he ditched me! but now I see that he simply lost all the money we were giv-" he paused horrified, it seems he said more than he wanted too but the damage was done.

"Money for what?" she asked with curiousity. But there was a feeling of unease in her stomach.

"Uh, um it's missives about Cerulean...ssspecifically about the legendary Pokemon aledgedly hiding in Cerulean cave. I was forced into getting these!" he squeaked.

She sat there stunned, that was quite a job for a kid. She didn't think that he would go into that cave with only one Pokemon, even if he was collaborating with the older guy why- she stopped, she didn't want the likes of that jerk she battled in that cave! Ismau was in there!

"You can't go in there!" Natalie barked suddenly. Jeremiah who was already nervous about her finding out about the content of the 'missives' fell over. She ignored this and turned icy eyes to him and said,"who paid you to find out more information about that cave?" Taz had been listening intently and began growling. Airwolf hobbled over to his trainer and gave a supercilious leer to Taz. But he seemed to acknowledge and disdain the fact that he couldn't do much in his condition. Silly hopped over next to her wary of Airwolf or Jeremiah getting to close.

"W-what? I'm just-" he withered under her and Taz's glares. As Taz stomped up towards him Airwolf gave an angry squwak and flew up into the air and prepared an Aerial Ace! "No Airwolf don't fly!" he panicked.

Natalie stood her ground in the sudden batllefield with Silly beside her and Taz prepared an Ember, but then Airwolf wavered in pain and unfortuitously veered towards the raging river beside the campsite! "NO!" Jeremiah screamed as he ran towards his partner. Natalie had a sudden flashback of a kind Rocket who didn't really want to be where he was and barked at Taz, "Taz save Airwolf right now!" Taz looked at her incredulous but jumped in the air and swooped into action. There was a terrifying splash as the wounded bird was temprorarily submerged under the raging froth. There were screams of panic from both trainers as Taz hovered over the water. Then further downstream Airwofl finally pulled his head above water to grab some desperate breaths. With speed that would impress a Pigeot Taz swooped and grabbed the Staraptor by the neck just as he sank again. Natalie looked so proud and cheered Taz but Jeremiah only sank to the ground in relief. Relief and gratefulness took over his handsome features when Taz flew over the river with Airwolf in his arms. Airwolf gave a corybantic squwak and Pecked Taz's chest and he dropped him without ceremony. Silly gave a quick giggle but silenced himself quickly as Taz walked between his mistress and the boy and glowered.

Natalie waited for her heart to stop thundering and then walked around him and spoke softly to Jeremiah as he held his Pokemon closely, "With someone like you who loves his Pokemon dearly and who saves strangers on whims of kindness, how can someone like you work for the likes of Team Rocket?"

He mumbled something as he held Airwolf tightly, still shaken from the close call.

"Sorr my mistresss can hearr you." Taz growled.

He looked to Taz blankly and then looked at her, "You hate the Rockets."

It was not a question but she nodded anyway.

"I hate them too!" he burst out surprising Natalie and every Pokemon in the camp. "I hate them they abuse people and Pokemon but what choice do I have but to serve them!" He finished with a desolate sob. Her heart twanged in pity and even Taz looked away but she persisted, "Did they steal Airwolf for you and you have to serve them to keep him?"

"No!" he yelled and Airwolf gave an angry squwak but Taz silenced him with a snarl. She patted Taz on the wing and he continued, "I caught him as a S-Starly when we visted Sinnoh about a year ago, I-I went with my mom and my step-brother, that nasty brute." he hissed under his breath. She stayed silent, so he didn't steal the Staraptor, but that didn't explain- her thought were cut off by Taz growling

"Why arrre you worrking with the Rocketsss?" he was tired of his friend's questions being avoided.

Jeremiah looked blankly at him and when Natalie translated his tears evaporated and were replaced with a shudder. This only made her worry wax. He wrasped, "My f-father works for Team Rocket, he wants this information and if I don't bring it he'll hunt me down or have my step-brother do it."

The three of them had idenical looks of shock and horror. Taz looked to Airwolf for confirmation and he gave a terse and sad nod, Taz felt a panging of guilt in his chest but he wouldn't bend his pride either, he had to protect his friend.

"Ok...ok so he wants that information, but I don't want him to have it and it's clear that you don't like your father that much anyway, is there somewhere you could go, somewhere you and the info would be safe?" She asked wanting so much to break down and hug him but barely keeping her composure.

A look of both despondancy and gratitude graced his charming features but then a bright ray of hope appeared. Which both comlimented and contrasted his bruised viasge. "there is someone who can help me! His name is Mr. Fuji and he fights against Pokemon exploitation, my father and his associates are always complaining about him. He might hide me if I appraise this info!" he said suddendly jubilant and Airwolf wriggled in excitment like his trainer.

Natalie and Taz were shocked at the abrupt change in mood and Silly was lying on the ground, long since given up trying to follow the emotional whiplash. But she was pusillanimous to let the mood be directed to what it was so she let it be.

"I'll go to him and..." he paused. His jubilee sliding off his face as rapidly as it had come.

"Wait a second!" she said angrily. 'I'm coming with you! How do I know who you will turn that information into if I don't come!" She was obdurate that Isamu or indeed any strong or legendary Pokemon not fall in the hands of Rocket slime.

"I know." he said lugubriously. "I just realized, with you being seen near me, you are now at risk at being hunted like me. If I don't procure this missive to my father you will be in the same boat as me...all because you helped me." He hung his head and droplets fell to the ground beneath him as his Staraptor nuzzled him.

"Yourr think that they can get herrr?" Taz snarled. "They will have to go thrrrrough me!"

"Me tooom!" Silly said nearby.

She looked at both of them, grateful for their loyalty and love and then walked over to Jeremiah and stood beside him despite Airwolf's sharpe gaze. "I was already hated by them. I outsmarted them in Celadon, in their own base." she said quietly. He looked uo at her with only slightly wet eyes.

She continued, "We didn't save each other because we were concered about each other's pasts, or enemies. We rescued each other and Pokemon because it was the right thing to do! Because with each act of sacrafice we were becoming friends!"

His eyes were no longer wet, although they were alight with what could be percieved as admiration. Her eyes however were now starting to get misty but she endured. "That is what makes true teams strong, they love and rely on one another. That is what makes true friends so powerful!." she declared looking to her team and the pair before her with emotion pouring ou of her.

He stood up and she wrapped him in a big hug that he shyly returned after a moment. Airwolf looked at Taz and Silly and Silly gave a weak smile in return while Taz and Airwolf transposed terse nods.

"Ok so tommorrow I will get a bunch of supplies and then we will head out for where Mr. Fuji lives... where does he live?" she asked.

"He lives in Lavender town, in fact we're a route and a mountain hike away from said town so be prepared for that. I can buy some extra food and hold in it my satchel because it may take us a week or so." he said, suddenly all buisness and she nodded with a plan to buy supplies early tommorrow and get started.

There was no more to say so all five of them finally settled down to rest by the dying campfire. Neither of them got rest for a while though. Natalie lay staring at the stars, worried that he might run away with the missive, but she knew that Taz was a light sleeper. At the same time Jeremiah was staring at the campfire feeling guilty about the missive and what it was but the both of them evetually realized that they wouldn't leave because they were already starting to depend on each other.