A/N: Hi again! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

~*Q*~

Sepal was feeling a lot better after having some time to himself.

That was the problem with being an introvert - if too much stuff happened at once, it was just bam, nope, leave him alone for a while to sort things out by himself.

Sepal had taken Professor Sycamore's advice to heart and managed not to leave Cyllage Gym. That didn't stop him from feeling betrayed, however, so he split up from Tochi, and they separately began the trek to Geosenge. Along the way, Sepal's feelings cooled down. After two hours of alone time (at least half of that was spent lying down in a patch of grass and forgetting what he was supposed to be doing) he was back to his old self. He even missed Tochi; the Braixen was the one who dragged him along and kept him from getting sidetracked by every little patch of sunshine.

After a long walk, Sepal arrived at the gates to Geosenge - a sleepy little place that couldn't actually qualify as a town due to the utter lack of buildings. Neither Sepal nor Tochi had ever learned the details, but something had once happened that led to a huge debris-filled pit in the center of the town. The rubble of wooden houses had been picked up long ago, and new buildings were too early in construction for any citizens to live there. Still, the Pokemon Center was miraculously up and running.

Sepal found Tochi pacing around outside of the Center. He looked just like a very short, very impatient human - except for the fur and the giant tail, anyways.

"There you are!" Tochi said in relief. "Where were you?"

"Walking."

"For two hours?"

Sepal shrugged. "I got distracted."

Tochi had a nervous expression that didn't quite fade. Something was on his mind. There was something on Sepal's mind too, but he fiercely ignored it.

"Wanna head out again?" Sepal offered. "Together?"

"Together," Tochi repeated. "Yeah."

~*Q*~

They set out from Geosenge. The walk towards what Tochi knew would be Reflection Cave didn't take long.

He had had plenty of time to think it over as he paced back and forth, wearing a hole in the ground as he waited for Sepal. Reflection Cave was well-known for gorgeous mirror-like stone...which in turn attracted Psychic- and Fairy-types. A lot of them. Even from here, he could feel the psychic energy making his ears buzz. There was no way Sepal didn't know what was coming - both of them knew their Kalos geography. No, he was avoiding the issue.

"So!" Tochi ventured. "You know where we're going?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"Shalour."

"You know where we have to go to get to Shalour?"

"Yes."

"..,Where?"

"This route."

"What's on this route?"

"Reflection Cave."

"What do you know about Reflection Cave?"

"It's shiny."

"Well, did you know that there's a buttload of Psychic-types that live in there and I'm trying to get you to talk about it so you don't freak the Muk out and have a heart attack?!"

Sepal hesitated. His facade cracked slightly. "Well...I was thinking that I could stay here, and you could battle the Gym Leader on your own, and we could just meet up in Lumiose and go from there."

Tochi wanted to explode. "Is that why you split up? So you could just get me used to traveling alone?"

"No," Sepal said timidly. "I really did need to think about what I'd do when we got here."

Tochi sighed. "Sepal: two things. One, a lot of this could be avoided if you just trusted that I can help you. Two, we are going through this cave together, and I don't care what you say."

"I don't want to," Sepal said flatly.

Tochi nearly reminded him that he had Sepal's Friend Ball, and so could basically bring him wherever he wanted. But that was sounded like such a cruel move that Tochi tried a different approach. "Sepal, I promise I'll keep every single Psychic in the history of the universe away from you if you just go in there."

"You really can't."

"Then I'll fight them for you instead. So what if we pass by a horde of Mime Jr.? They couldn't hurt you if they tried."

Sepal hesitated, looking terrified.

"Come on, Sepal."

"I…"

"Please?"

"Okay."

By now, they had reached the entrance to the cave. Tochi hopped over the threshold and back again a couple of times, just to show Sepal that it wouldn't hurt him. Sepal seemed rooted to the spot (if Ivysaur could learn Ingrain, that was a distinct possibility). Tochi finally went over to give him a gentle nudge. Sepal slowly but surely scooted inside.

The good thing? Reflection Cave was so breathtaking that it took the edge of his fear. It was like the whole cave was made out of crystals and mirrors. It really was too bad that he couldn't enjoy the view more.

He screamed at the first movement out of the corner of his eye, and Tochi had to practically pick him up to keep him from running all the way back to Geosenge. "Relax! It's a Carbink."

"Oh...oh."

"Something I did?" Carbink asked.

"No, my friend's a little scared. Just keep walking, Sepal…"

Sepal kept his eyes covered, so Tochi had to guide him along and keep him from tripping over various crystals and rocks. Still, Sepal noticed whenever something moved in his peripheral vision. He was constantly jumpy, even though all they had seen so far were Rock-types. There were trainers too, but thanks to Tochi's very human-made bag and the fact that both of them had already evolved, they seemed to understand that the two were not wild Pokemon to be trifled with. These Trainers had more sense than tourists.

As they traversed deeper in the cave, Sepal flinched again. "That was a Carbink, right?"

Tochi glanced at the Solosis floating by and motioned for her to be quiet. "Yes. Absolutely."

"Boo!" Solosis said gleefully. Sepal screamed, and Tochi shot the Pokemon a nasty look and surreptitiously fired an Ember at it.

Sepal was breaking down. "I can't. I can't do this, Tochi. I'm in the middle of their home territory, there's a Chingling over there and another Chingling over there and a Mr. Mime that's just staring at us…"

"Shh. I know. Just ignore him."

"Why won't he stop staring, Tochi?!"

"I don't know! Just walk away politely!"

Sepal was still on the verge of tears, but Tochi was surprised that he made it this far at all. Maybe they actually could make it out of here.

He jinxed it, of course. As soon as he thought those words, Tochi tripped over something and landed flat on his face.

"Are you okay?" Sepal asked frantically.

"Yeah! Yeah, I'm fine." Tochi got up, but the second he tried to walk forwards, he slipped and fell again. The ground was a mix of rock and dirt - nothing to slide on. Something was keeping him from moving forwards. Tochi looked behind him and found that his shadow, lit up by the sunlight and Pokemon moves bouncing off the cave walls, was distorted, extending far back as if it had gotten caught on something.

"What is it?" Sepal wondered.

Tochi's eyes widened. "Shadow Tag."

A big blue Pokemon stepped into view. Tochi's shadow was extending out from under the Pokemon; Tochi tried once again to escape, but he was pinned. The blue Pokemon regarded them grimly, eyes furrowed shut, mouth pressed in a firm line.

Then it broke into a grin. "Waaaaaaa!"

"Wobbuffet," Tochi said. "Wonderful. Sepal, I'm trapped here; just run, okay?"

"Are you sure?" Sepal squeaked.

"I'll be fine. Go before this Pokemon targets you. I'll catch up soon!"

With a gulp, Sepal turned and went deeper into the cave, alone.

Tochi squared off against the Wobbuffet, who was anxious to fight, judging by his expression. However, the Psychic made no move to begin.

Tochi pulled his stick out of his tail, brandished it threateningly, and used Ember. The attack connected, but Wobbuffet simply took the hit, inflated his body, and sent a bolt of energy at Tochi, who couldn't dodge in time. Tochi grimaced, silently berating all Mirror Coat users to ever exist.

"Okay…try this!" Tochi burst into flames and charged at Wobbuffet. He bent over from the force of the attack, but he only ricocheted back up and launched a Counter at Tochi. This one Tochi dodged with the help of Flame Charge, though just barely. Mirror Coat and Counter? Absolutely evil.

So Tochi sat down and decided to see if he could bore the Wobbuffet into leaving him alone. Five minutes passed and the Psychic-type didn't seem inclined to go anywhere. Getting impatient, Tochi forgot himself and shot and Ember at Wobbuffet, who cheerfully Mirror Coat-ed it. "Ow! Dang it!"

Tochi switched tactics. Without missing a beat, he started using Flame Charge and Ember in rapid succession as the Wobbuffet tried valiantly to switch back and forth between his moves. Tochi got hit several times when he tried to dodge, but he took the blows and kept moving. Ember Charge Ember Charge Ember Charge Ember Charge Ember Charge Ember Ember!

The Wobbuffet, not predicting the hit, was finally hit for real. He yelped in pain...and then straightened up, ready for another hit. Tochi groaned out loud. At this rate, he would collapse from exhaustion before he inflicted any real damage.

"Fine," he growled at it. "You win! I give up!"

"Oh, that makes my job much easier!" a voice said.

A Dusk Ball hurtled out of nowhere, and then all Tochi saw was darkness.

~*Q*~

Splitting up had been a terrible, terrible idea. Sepal was willing to risk fighting Wobbuffet if it meant not being alone out here. He had made it about a football field's length away from Tochi, started to panic, and began working his way back to him, all while trying not to get lost.

"Tochi?" Sepal called hesitantly. "I'm coming back...I changed my mind…"

Every so often, a Pokemon or Trainer would appear and scare him out of him wits. If they showed showed even a hint of wanting to battle, he ran away as fast as he could. Don't think about it don't think about it, he ordered himself, though he could swear he felt a dozen psychic presences watch him.

Another Trainer appeared out of the shadows. Sepal squeaked in surprise and tried to sidestep her, but she blocked his path.

"Sepal!" she grinned, making him jump. "I've been looking for you."

He cleared his throat. "Uh...do I...know you?" He didn't recognize her; she had cropped brown hair with a big pink bow in it, a graceful pink dress with a Skitty tail pattern, and sparkling green eyes.

"Just a moment." The woman nodded behind her, and a Wobbuffet shuffled up. Sepal shrank back. Was it the same one as before?

"My Wobbuffet can translate for you. What was that?"

Instead, Sepal addressed the Wobbuffet. "W-What happened to Tochi?"

He broke into a huge smile. "Beat 'eeeem!" Wobbuffet sang. "I wiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!"

"Then...where is he?"

"I can answer that," the lady said. Sepal realized that the Wobbuffet was doing something psychic to allow the woman to understand him. Overcome with fear, he turned to run. But the woman and her Pokemon blocked him again.

"Tochi is right here." She held up a black-and-green Dusk Ball. It was only then that Sepal realized that she had their bag slung over her shoulder next to a flowery pink purse.

Sepal's eyes went big, and he immediately tried to swat the ball out of her hands with Knock Off. "Give him back! Tochi's a free Pokemon!"

"No, he's a fugitive," said the woman. "That's not the same thing. Let me explain myself," she added. "My name is Miss Shana. I'm the founder of Vaniville Starter Center, and we've been trying to get you two back home for quite a while now. I see you evolved! How lovely."

"I don't want to go home," Sepal said as calmly as he could. "I want my friend back. I want to go to Shalour City."

"I can escort you to Shalour if you'd like," Miss Shana said kindly. "Then we can Teleport back home together. Would you like that?"

"No!" Sepal burst out. "Leave us alone!"

Shana looked hurt. "If you don't go with me willingly, I'll have to battle you with my Wobbuffet, and I know you don't like Psychics. You don't want to get hurt, do you?"

"I -" Sepal looked at the Wobbuffet, who gave him a wicked grin. "I'm willing to take the risk."

Miss Shana heaved a sigh. "You poor thing. Stand by, Wobbles."

"Waaaaa!"

Sepal's mind was racing. How long had she been following them?

He couldn't run and he couldn't fight without activating Counter, but he came up with a strategy. He unleashed his vines and feigned a Vine Whip, but just before he hit Wobbuffet, he struck the ground on either side of him. Wobbuffet was caught off guard. He repeated this twice more, with another Vine Whip and a Razor Leaf.

"What are you doing?" Miss Shana worried. "Oh dear!"

Sepal charged at Wobbuffet with Take Down, not bothering to connect like with the other attacks. But this time, when Miss Shana's and Wobbuffet's guards were down, he nailed the Pokemon with a Leech Seed. At the same time, he let a wisp of Poison Powder drift up almost undetectably until Wobbuffet absently took a deep breath in. There, Now all he had to do was wait.

"Dear," Miss Shana said, wringing her hands, after Sepal had sat there for ten minutes in absolute silence. "You don't have to just sit there. I'm sure I have a Timer Ball somewhere to catch you anyways."

She didn't know he already had a Pokeball - Shana must not have looked inside their bag. Good.

Tochi sat there for five more minutes. Suddenly, the Wobbuffet fell face-first onto the cave floor with a groan as the Leech Seed/Poison Powder did its job.

"Wobbles!" Miss Shana knelt in horror next to her beloved blob. "Say something!"

With a snap, Sepal snatched his bag off of her bag, breaking the straps. He knocked Tochi's Pokeball out of her hands and ran.

"Sepal!" Miss Shana called, but it was futile. She recalled Wobbuffet and sighed to herself.

"Oh well," she mumbled. "Soon, I'll bring them home where they belong."

~*Q*~

Tochi emerged from his Pokeball with a gasp.

He had been able to see blurry images - the blue of Reflection Cave, and maybe a splash of green - but he was so unfocused that trying to decipher them wasn't worth it. His surroundings were as light as air, so jostling didn't bother him; the passage of time was almost impossible to get a grip on. When the Dusk Ball opened, he was sure he could find himself chained back up in the VSC. He had recognized the lady (but didn't remember her name) from when she would work the front desk at the VSC. She always had been too chipper and smiley for his taste.

Tochi whipped his head around, ready to burn his surroundings to the ground the second he was released, but he only saw the crystalline walls of Reflection Cave and the face of his best friend.

"Sepal!" Tochi tackled him. "Thank you!"

"I'm glad you're not captured," was all he said.

"How'd you do it?"

"Beat Wobbuffet?" Sepal said. "Leech Seed."

"Genius," Tochi said fervently.

Sepal nudged him to keep walking. He was still nervous - Tochi could tell by the way his eyes were darting around - but much less so. In fact, he was acting downright fearless. Sepal led the way down a part of the cave that Tochi didn't recognize, but he could tell it was a ways away from the last section he'd been in.

"Sorry I didn't release you sooner," Sepal said. "I was running a lot. I had to make sure Miss Shana didn't catch up."

"Miss Shana, the pink lady?"

"That's her. Founder of the VSC."

"And part-time front-desk worker," Tochi grimaced. "I can't believe she took an interest in hunting us down personally."

"Well, we did burn a hole through the fence."

"True."

Soon, they could see natural sunlight up ahead - already, the end of the cave. When Sepal said he had been running for a while, he had not been kidding. As they approached, Sepal let out a long breath, with metric tons of fear melting away from him.

"You did it," Tochi told him, almost awed. "Do you feel braver?"

Sepal rolled his shoulders as he thought. "Not...really," he admitted.

"That's okay," Tochi said firmly. "You are brave. You just haven't realized it."

Sepal didn't say anything for a beat. "You know...there's a Fighting-gym coming up, right?"

"Uh huh."

"So...if you wanted to wreck everything with Psychic-type attacks, I'm totally okay with that."

Tochi broke into a grin. "I was hoping you'd say that!"

Sepal started to laugh with relief. "Let's go!"

Together, they burst into Shalour City.

~*Q*~

A/N: Happy chapter ending? Now that's a rarity!

Disclaimer: Miss Shana is not Professor Umbridge. Think of her more of a well-intentioned extremist.

~*Akirys*~