The differences make life interesting. The repeating days makes it boring. Patterns make us feel safe. Change frightens us.

Chapter 19 The First Night, The Second Morning

When the fireworks end, there is silence. Alex gets more and more uncomfortable as the invisible walls restrict him from moving. After more shimmying than full-on movement, Alex presses A on his watch; mainly because he can't think of any other options at the moment.

"Wow!" Shauna shouts from beside him. The invisible walls don't move, so he's forced to keep pressing A. "That. Was. AMAZING!"

My poor ears; the boy outwardly whimpers. When will this cut-scene end?

A button. "I never want to forget this," Shauna yells out to the garden below, "so I'll keep this memory in an album in my heart!"

Why doesn't Sienna say anything, Alex wonders while pressing A. Surely she must have heard something. Hey! Where did that man come from, and is that a butler? It looks like the same butler that charged us to come into the gate. Then again, they've all looked the same so far. I wonder if the blue shirt guy is the same one that owns-

"And that," the blue shirt man starts shouting in a high pitch tone, "was my wonderfrou fireworks show for my Furfrou!" Yep, same one… Pressing A, Alex is forced, along with Shauna, to turn and face the two men. The man continues in his high voice, "I assume you're satisfied with that."

Without his sister around to complain to, Alex just feels awkward standing in the silence. He gets that he is supposed to press A, but it just does not feel right now that he has no one to fill the silence - or suffer - with.

"OH!" Shauna's squawk has Alex inching as far back as he can from the girl. The boy keeps his hands raised and in front of his body to press buttons, but squeezes himself as far back as he can into the invisible wall. Dreading the next sounds to come reach his ears, and wondering if he heard something come from below him, he presses A. "I almost forgot!" Shauna turns to him as his watch bleeps. Alex takes looking down at his watch over the stares of the three around him. He chooses the first option: 'The Poké Flute!'

"That's right!" Shauna gives a bored cheer. "We need the flute to wake up Snorlax." With an A button, Shauna turns to the man in the light blue shirt.

"Sigh…" the man huffs. "The Poké Flute, huh…" Alex gets a bad feeling as he presses A. The man turns to his butler and says, "Go get it."

"Well," Alex slips in, "that was easy."

A button, the butler walks away and the man talks back towards the two kids. "It was Shabboneau Castle's treasure, but I took it as payment for a loan." A button. "A rich guy like me and a common person like that just didn't go together." A button; the butler comes back. "Give it to them."

A button; the butler walks over and holds out a hand with a recorder-like object. Alex swipes it as the butler blandly says, "Here is the Poké Flute."

A button; the butler walks back as the man shouts in his squeaky voice, "Listen well, you two!" A button. "Always return what you borrow. That's very important."

What, Alex questioningly thinks before pressing A. You didn't borrow it, you took it. This guy is crazy! I can't believe he owns the gardens; I would have thought someone more likeable would possess them.

The man walks away from them; causing Shauna to look angry. She clenches her fists and hunches over, whispering, "I want to make lots of memories on my journey…" A button. "But I think I'll try and forget about him…"

Alex breaks out laughing, hands on his knees to keep from falling over. "I completely agree." He sides with her. "And if I have it my way, I'm not coming back here."

Restraining his laughter, Alex straightens and presses A. The butler turns to the two and slowly says, "You can't imagine how stressful running this place is for him…"

"Oh yah, real stressful." Alex rolls his eyes.

A button; Shauna continues to whisper, "That may be so, but…" A button. "Oh, that's right." A button. "Mr. Butler, do you know anything about Mega Evolution?"

A button, the butler continues to speak rather slowly, "I remember reading a book on that subject in the palace library." That sad excuss for a library, Alex internally grumbles. A button. "It had something to do with what you'd now call a Trainer holding a mysterious stone high," A button, "and making Pokémon evolve even further."

"Weird," Alex states. A slow Cheshire grin spreads across his face. "Sienna is going to be so upset she missed this!"

"Missed what?"

Alex turns to the mirrors in the hallway, blinking in shock as his sister leans against a column, yawning. The boy quickly glances at the butler, than towards his sister. "Did you hear any of that?"

"About the Mega Evolution? Yep." Sienna nods. "I heard him say Trainers hold up the stone. So, Pokémon can evolve further than their designated evolutions? And, only a Trainer? Only one stone?"

"Quiet," Alex hushes. "I'm just about to find out, maybe."

A button; and the butler continues talking while walking towards Alex, "Also, it's not much, but I would like you to have this."

His sister walks closer, trying to peer and see what he gets. Alex pushes his arm as far out as the invisible walls lets him and tells her, "I got TM Seventeen: Protect."

"Lucky," Sienna puts with a hidden smile. Alex gives her a large grin back as he puts it away.

"You snooze, you lose."

A button; the butler moves back to his spot for an explanation, "Protect blocks opposing Pokémon's moves." A button. "But, if you use it many times in a row, the chances of it not working increase." A button. "If you will excuse me. I shall take my leave." A button; Sienna quickly hops out of the way as the butler walks back into the mansion.

Shauna gives up her whispering just in time for Sienna to hear, "The owner of Shabboneau Castle used to be friends with that guy!" A button. "Can you believe it? Isn't that crazy?"

Sienna blinks, taken back, and asks, "Who was friends with whom? I feel like I missed out on something."

"I'm sure it is not important." Alex waves her off. "Now, we get to go soon. Oh! I got the flute-recorder thing so we can wake up Snorlax."

"Do you know how to play the Poké Flute, Alex?"

"No, so I'm counting on you or a cut-scene to allow us to move on. Speaking of cut-scenes, let's finish this one."

"This is a cut-scene?"

A button, Shauna turns to Alex. The boy is forced face her, while his sister does it willingly. Shauna talks in normal-people's indoor voice, "We have to be sure to give that flute back after we wake up Snorlax…" A button, and the walls around Alex disappear.

"I can move!" Alex shouts, throwing his hands up. One hand catches his sister's chin, accidently backhanding her. "Ow, my hand!"

"Ow, my face," Sienna grumbles. They both rub their injured body parts, Alex feeling no remorse that her face was in the way of his hand. "So, what now?"

"Let's head back to the *yawn* Pokémon Center." Alex covers his mouth for another yawn.

He watches, concerned for a second, as uncertainty crosses his sister's face. When she speaks, she takes a moment to meet his eyes. "How about we rest here tonight? I don't think I can get to the Pokémon Center without falling asleep."

"Well," Alex grunts, indifferent, "if you put it that way, how can I refuse?" He turns and starts walking away, casting a glance just to make sure she's following. He slows down until she takes the lead, guiding him to the west side of the mansion. "So, where are we staying?"

"You are going to be sleeping in the king's bed," Alex can't help but drop his jaw. He swears his sister flashed a smirk when she glanced over just now, "and I will be on the couch."

"The king's bed," Alex repeats. This time he knows his sister flashed a smirk. "But I thought it was illegal."

"No," Sienna says with a chuckle. As the reach the bottom of the stairs she points and clicks on the man standing outside a door.

The backpacker turns and faces the two and says, "Don't try to sleep in the king's bed. It's ir-real! Ha ha!"

"See, Alex," Sienna says in a light tone. "It's not illegal. Now go on and hop on that bed!"

Without any more influence, the cheeky boy bursts open the dark blue doors, gaze going to the high up single bed. He ignores whatever the backpacker says behind him, choosing to take a running leap at the bed. He turns in midair and sighs as he is swallowed by the green duvet cover.

He scrambles to view his chuckling sister as she shuts the doors. The brunette makes her way around the room, pushing together stools. Catching him following her, she asks, "Do you like it?"

"It's like a cloud," Alex exclaims, leaning back into the golden colour pillow. He looks to the left, watching as his sister struggles to carry another stool to the others. "You sure you don't want to go to another room?"

"And use my separation card?" She walks to the other side of the bed for a final, square stool. "No thanks."

He lifts himself into a sitting position once more, before falling back into the comfort of the bed. He strips his backpack and belt off, dropping them off the side of the bed. He can see his sister doing the same. She then lies down on her makeshift bed, pulling her knees up.

"Any way to turn off the light?" Alex asks.

"I'm not searching for a light switch," Sienna answers, eyes already closed.

Meh, Alex snorts. It's not worth it anyways. "Night, sis."

"Good night, Alex."

Only because of the quietness of the room is he able to hear his sister before falling asleep. "Night of the first day, question mark hours remaining."

;;;

After five minutes, his light snores become the sure sign that he is asleep. Xena gives sleeping another try, but fifteen minutes later she is sitting up on one of the stools rubbing her eyes. The teenager internally grumbles her complaint at being awake, but can't bring herself to want to go to sleep. It must be the odd hours, she decides. It could also be because she is hungry, but Xena decides not to stress on her lack of basic needs too much.

Clicking on her belt and slinging her side bag on, Xena casts a sad glance towards her brother. He'll be alright, she reminds herself. And he promised me he would never leave. I never said the same thing. I'll be gone fifteen minutes tops. Nothing's going to happen… Right? Xena takes a deep, settling breath before she quietly opens and closes a door, slinking outside all by her lonesome. Being as quiet as she can be, Xena makes her way to the library.

It is obvious where the book is that someone wants her to read. All books are in sealed glass cases, except there is one open case on the left side of the room. The only problem – okay, there are many problems with someone leaving a specific bookcase open, in the middle of the night, in a mansion – is that all three shelves are crammed full of Pokémon Myths books and not a single one stands out. The teenager was hoping for some kind of glowing light, or a sign that says 'Pick Me'. Pressing A does nothing, so the little bit of magic is also out.

With a sigh, Xena leans closer and starts at the top shelf. Okay, we've got 'The Miracle of Igglybuff', 'The Legend of Seafoam Islands', 'Orange Islands: The Whole World Will Turn to Ash', and volumes one through three of 'Cinnabar Island Myths'. Did these people never hear of the Dewey Decimal System? And shelf two has… 'The Giver of the World', 'Shaymin's Guiding Light', 'It, Who Haunts Dreams', and 'The Transforming Pokémon and the Mysterious Stone'. I wonder if I can take any out. Oh well, let's go with the Mysterious Stone one, it seems very short and maybe relevant.

Xena slips out the square, thin, loose paperback and thumps down on a nearby chair with a yawn. Opening to the first page, she notices that there is no dedication… or publisher… or author… In fact, the only thing from the cover to the third page is a marble on the front cover. Flipping to the fourth page, Xena sweat drops.

It's a picture book, she mumbles internally. Of course the smallest book is a picture book. Taking a deep breath, Xena starts to read:

'There was once an incident in Shalour City.'

The page holds a picture of green trees and two, floor size houses with blue roofs. The next page's picture is of a sandy walkway that leads to a large tower. At the top of the tower, a human-like figure can be seen.

'At the beginning of the battle between father and son, the son held up a stone to the sky. This stone had been passed down through his mother's family and she gave it to him when he went to train in Shalour City.'

The first picture is of a boy, no older than twelve, standing across from a weather stained father on the circular rooftop. Both father and son have a Pokémon out, the father with Gallade and the son with a Lucario. The second picture has a woman gifting the boy with a larger stone and the marble that is shown on the front cover.

'In response to the boy, the man raised his own stone. In a blinding light, the boy's Lucario morphed into a new form, while the man's Pokémon stayed the same.'

One side of the two pages is completely white, not showing what the Lucario changed into. The other side, the man continues to look foolish with his hand in the air.

The final page is blank, except for the finishing words.

'It is said that the boy's Pokémon beat the man's with an untold strength, and after the battle his Lucario returned to its normal form. The man left after the battle, saying that he must find the missing key to his stone. The boy was left fatherless once again…'

…

…

Xena switches the around, trying to see if there was anything missing. Finally, she closes it and slams the soft cover onto her knees, "That's it?"

The NPC in the room doesn't answer her, not that she expected it to. The girl's head whirls at the sudden and abrupt ending. She sits, thinking to herself. Why couldn't that have been a happier ending? I hope they don't tell that whole thing in the game. I get the important part is probably the stone holding thing, but really? Was all of that really necessary? And what about the man holding his stone, eh? Alright, look at the facts. There is one magical Lucario, two seemingly important stones, and one not-so magical Gallade. The moral of this story, I don't know. Will it have something to do with the plot; maybe.

Giving her head a shake Xena gets up to replace the book on the shelf. She decides that the story isn't something she's going to share, too unscrupulous of an ending for her taste. Putting it back, Xena has to take a quick step backwards because the glass door swings back into place. It shuts with a tight thump and click, allowing no one else to read the books inside.

"That just tells me," Xena talks loudly to the room, "that I either read the correct book, something important to the plot, or that you are a jerk." When she gets no reply, the girl shakes her head with a chuckle. She leaves the room, telling herself, "I need to sleep; I'm starting to talk to myself."

;;;

"Xena… Sienna… Sis?"

Said girl gives a 'mumph' sound and lazily lifts her head from the red cushion; cringing as the muscles in her neck scream at her to stop. It had taken her around an hour to fall asleep after coming back, and her brother waking her is not what she wanted. Slitting an eyelid open, she spots him across the room from her, giving a hesitant wave when they catch gazes.

"You're lucky I wake up when called," Xena moans, cracking her back as she gets up. "Now, why am I up?"

"Everyone's lucky you wake when call," Alexander mumbles, avoiding her raised eyebrows gaze. Louder, he explains, "I'm ready to go. Since we're still here, I want to get to exploring. That bed was awesome, by the way."

"Good for you," Xena drips the sarcasm on each word. Shaking out the lingering stiffness, Xena clicks on her belt and scoops up her bag. She follows her brother to the door, trying to crack her ankle as she goes. "And what do you mean, 'since we're still here'?"

"I thought we might have woken up," Alexander admits, leading them to the exit. "You know, 'cause of nighttime? And if not, I was hoping you didn't actually win the bet in this dream."

A flash of guilt crosses Xena's face, absorbing into her entire body. "Alex, you d-"

"I'll do it," Alexander waves a hand back at her. "Don't worry, I'll do it. I just need to find a Fletchling."

"But Alex-"

"I'm not going to go back on my word." His tone is final. He bursts open the front doors, turning to face Xena. "Besides, I'll just have to get you back, one way or another. That's just how it goes, right?"

"Right," Xena nods unsure. Her gaze flickers to behind him, jumping at the chance to change the subject. "What the heck? The sun hasn't even risen yet."

"Oh," Alexander says meekly. He rubs a hand under his chin and risks a cute face towards his sister. "Would you look at that? The sky's a nice pink colour, eh?"

"Alex," Xena says in a warning tone. Her hand itches to throw whatever is at the top of her bag; whether towards her brother or the offending sky she doesn't know. "Why did you wake me up before sunrise?"

"Well, it wasn't like I could have left the room." He pouts and starts walking away. There's that guilt again… "I did make a promise and like I said, I'm not going to break one, or use my split up then."

Xena gives a sigh, "I guess you're right. Thank you for not breaking your promise."

"You're welcome. I'm going to use my split up now."

"What?" Xena sputters, guilt now being replaced with confusion. "Um, why?"

"Because," the redhead states as though it's obvious. "The route to go back has two sides. I go one way, you go the other; time management and energy conservation all in one."

Xena just blinks. She bites the inside of her cheek to hold back the smile, "Wow Alex, those are some big words."

"Shut it."

"Just saying." Xena shrugs, letting show a real smile. "Now can you spell them?"

She gets a glare for that. "I can, can you?"

"Touché." Her smile fades slightly. "So, you really want to do this?"

"Yes," Alexander says, nodding earnestly. "And I'm taking the right side; hopefully I'll have better luck this time. We share our finds in the end?"

"Deal," Xena whispers while slightly rustling her brother's hair. "Just be careful, please?"

"I'm always careful," Alexander says, stopping under the last streetlamp on the path, "except when I'm not. I'll be fine, so don't pull that face on me. See you on the other side."

Xena waves as he heads towards the western path. She waits until he's gone before dropping her shoulders and continuing down her path. It's too early in the morning for this, she thinks to herself. I've just got to finish the route and be done with it. Maybe we can stop by the Pokémon Center for something to eat afterwards.

Why am I kidding myself? It's going to be a long day…

;;;

Alex is having the time of his life. So far, he used Chestnut and Vince in a double battle to beat up on two Furfrous, found hidden routes in between the extremely tall grass that have led to a Super Repel, an Aguav Berry, and an Awakening, and found new and old Pokémon to battle in the tall grass. Right now, he's just passing time hoping to draw out his separation time. He can't tell what Pokémon he is going to find - the grass is too tall – so the redhead is just running through patches. He's not lost; not at all.

Oh who am I kidding, Alex thinks as he does a manly skip through the tall grass. I am completely lost. I was more found in the mansion's garden then I was here. I know I'm somewhere west… yah, that's about it. I'm sure I'll find the main path eventually.

The white boy disappears and reappears on a grassy field. He rolls his eyes with a slight shiver as his opponent is the 'freaky new Pokémon, Espurr', as stated when he first encountered one. Taking the first Poké Ball on his belt, Alex throws it up.

"Go, Chestnut!" Said Pokémon lets out a battle call as soon as its feet touch ground. The newly level twenty-four, grass type bounces from foot to foot, ready for a call. Alex can feel an easy win as he has his Pokémon attack the level eleven Espurr.

After the battle, Alex, smiling cheerfully, gazes around his spot in the middle of the tall grass patch. Thinking out loud in the shade of the dense vegetation, he wonders, "Now, which way is the center of the route?"

;;;

Frogadier fainted.

Those two words ring in Xena's mind as she stares blankly at the Illumise that had fainted her strongest Pokémon. Given, Frogadier was already weak from all the battles yesterday and today as well as from the few Pokémon she had found in the extremely tall grass. Still, this blue, black, purple, and yellow bug across the grassy area had fainted her strongest. It left her with a numb sensation; a hollowing feeling that didn't have her registering her limbs moving to the belt.

She would have run away if she could, but this was a battle between Trainers. Tourist Mari and her Illumise are going down. With this decided Xena grabs the Great Ball on her waist and flicks it out onto the field. Keeping the rising nausea at bay, Xena orders, "Confusion."

No hesitation is in Ralts's move. He fires on target, making it a critical hit and fainting the already weak bug type. Ralts casts a glance towards his Trainer, but she avoids his eyes. Her shoulders shake and she only offers an "I'm sorry" before returning her Pokémon back to his ball.

Back on the path, prize money already received and speech finished from the Tourist, Xena turns and dry heaves into the tall grass. She shakes and shivers from the weakening motions, glad through the pain because no one can see her. The girl backs into the middle of the path, choking on air as she checks her watch.

'Fainted' is read beside her first party member. In seeing the concrete evidence, something in Xena pulls together until she is only left quietly shivering. She takes deep breathes and shuts her watch off, replacing the stylus with steady hands. Pressing her lips together, she shakily makes her way down the open areas between the tall grass patches, becoming steadier with each step. She makes her way through the area to come across Youngster Jacob.

Ralts takes down the Youngster's two Pokémon, casting glances to the girl behind him every now and then. After the battle, when prize money is received and they are back on the path together, Xena hesitates before him. Ralts is patient as she figures out what to say.

Finally, the girl bends down to close to the green hair Pokémon's height. She opens her mouth, but it takes another dozen seconds before she speaks, "Ralts? Can you… please stay out with me? Fro- Frogadier fainted and I nee- need someone with me right now."

The small white, green, and red Pokémon nods and takes one of her hands. Xena chokes slightly, before sitting down on the grass and pulling her Pokémon on her lap. He stays still as she pets his hair, both staring blankly at the tall grass around them.

"I don't even know why I'm so upset," Xena admits. She plays with a few strands of green hair, twirling it around a finger. "I should have been expecting it. Am I glad this doesn't seem to be a Nuzlocke? Absolutely. Do I know that Pokémon are supposed to faint; yes. Up until now I've thought all of you to be invincible, something I'm definitely not. When I saw his eyes roll into his head… It was horrible. Returning an unconscious Pokémon, it was like seeing so many horrible things happen at once. He was so lifeless… I never want to see any of you do that, not again. Should I… should I just release all of you? Would that be better?"

Ralts gives a low growl and grabs the hand playing with his hair. Xena can feel his stare through his hair. She closes her eyes and looks away.

"Do you want me to release you?" Her question is met with a low growl and a hard pinch. Xena gives a dry chuckle and resumes petting him. "No, huh? I hope that means I'm doing something right." All emotion drains away and that hollow feeling comes back. "I'll give the other two the option. I don't feel like I've been a good trainer." Hearing the rising growl, Xena pets Ralts a little harder. "Thank you, for at least believing I can do something. I gave up on myself what feels like a long time ago."

The two stay sitting for a few minutes, until the resolve to keep going is felt in Xena. Ralts slides off her lap, only to grip her sock when they stand. Xena gives him a brittle smile and slowly walks back to where Tourist Mari stands. "Let's get out of here, eh?"

The two walk in silence towards the way off of the path. They only stop once when Ralts picks up an item and gives it to Xena, like a picking a flower for a friend. Xena thanks him, this time for meaning more than just the present; for him being there to listen, and wishing to stay to listen.

;;;

"Freedom!" Alex cheers, jumping over the ridge. "I made it out alive!"

Walking up the small, grassy hill, Alex gets excited as he doesn't hear anything from above. If his sister isn't there, the redhead wonders if he might have time to go through it once again. His hope is dashed as he spots her returning a Pokémon; Ralts looking up from the vanishing Pokémon to the boy. At the small Pokémon's shuffle, Sienna turns around and gives Alex a small smile and a nod.

"You have him out?" Alex complains. Ralts gives a sound, meaning the feeling is mutual. Alex pulls down on his cheek with a finger, winking and sticking out his tongue. "I thought we were finally going through a day without him."

"Alex," Sienna lightly chides with a concerned look between the males, "be nice. How was your path? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." He waves off her concern. "You ready to share our spoils?"

"Sure," Sienna whispers. Together they sit down, Ralts choosing to walk around them in an oval as to look like he is not paying attention. Sienna lays out the two unopened yellow Poké Balls in her bag, one from the mansion's gardens and the other that Ralts found and gave her.

"That's it?" Alex distastefully asks. He then goes on to show her a Super Repel, and Awakening, an Aguav Berry, and an Ultra Ball. "I'm not trading my stuff for whatever you've found."

"Alright," Sienna quietly agrees. She pries open one yellow ball to reveal, "TM Zero Nine: Venoshock. Are you sure you don't want to trade?"

"Those contain TMs?" Alex asks with a hint of disbelief. "I still don't want that."

"HM Zero One," Sienna continues after tucking the TM away, "Cut. I'm pretty sure you at least want to try this one out, eh?"

"An HM?" Alex gasps and quickly grabs the offered disc. "Oh, I'm so teaching this to a Pokémon. Who do you think? Not Chestnut and probably not Vince. I guess Carleen…" The boy excitedly turns on his watch, only to find that his Pikachu is unable to learn Cut. "Darn… Vince will have to learn it until I find the Move Delete-r guy. Okay, um… Yes I want him to learn Cut… I'll delete Sleep Powder… What?"

Vince springs from his Poké Ball, staring blankly at his trainer. Alex slowly lowers the hand with Cut until it touches his Pokémon's forehead. Everyone is silent as nothing happens.

"What a rip," Alex grumbles. Sienna sighs and takes the disk, glancing at it for instructions. "That could have been so easy, and such an accomplishment. This has been such a weird morning. Oh, just give up on the disk, sis. There isn't anything-"

"Alex," Sienna cuts him off. "It says right here in the manual that you're supposed to spin the disk on the sound player in your HM/TM pouch."

"Where did you get that?" Alex refers to the small, pocket size book in her hand.

"From my HM/TM pouch. Now, if you put it in, it should play and the Pokémon you've released will learn the move you want it to."

"Should," Alex points out. Sienna raises her eyebrows and he continues to annoy her with a smirk. "And what if I didn't release my Pokémon?"

"Give it back if you aren't going to use it," Sienna whispers with a hand out.

"Aw, sis," Alex leans to hide his smile as he digs through his HM/TM pouch, "way to ruin the fun. Besides, we learned something new. Knowing is growing."

The redhead finds the device, a small circle that is large enough for a CD to click on. The boy clicks HM 01 in place, and it starts to spin. Vince's blue/green head bobs as if listening to silent music. Finally, the Bulbasaur blinks out of his trance and goes back to staring at the dense grass.

"Vince learned Cut," Alex reads with a large smile splitting his face. "Hah, now I can get all the awkwardly placed items."

"What about me," Sienna jokes with a coy smile. "Am I allowed to get Cut back so I can teach my Pokémon?"

"Sure." Alex hands it back. His face twists up in confusion, "Why are you putting it away?"

"I'm not teaching them now," Sienna says tight smile, not that Alex notices. "I still have to find the Pokémon I want to have learnt this."

"Uh," Alex grunts; standing and brushing himself off. "So I have to be the one to cut things for you?"

"If you don't mind."

Ralts snickers from the feet of the two, continuing shaking after Vince has been returned. Alex gives the Pokémon a glare before marching forwards.

"Do you want me to carry you?" He hears Sienna ask. Alex turns to see Sienna bending down to talk to her Pokémon, the same expression on her face that she used to use on him months ago. Alex can feel the evil smile spread over his face, but decides to take pity on the small Pokémon.

"Come on, Slowpokes!" Both turn to look at the twelve years old boy. Alex snickers and walks backwards. "Get it? Slowpokes, slow pokes? It's funny because… Pokémon!"

"He may have lost it," Sienna says down to her Pokémon. Ralts agrees, following Alex down Route Six and brushing past his trainer. When the two humans' eyes meet, Alex shrugs and turns to walk down the large hill. "I guess we are following you, Alex; even if you might be crazy."

"And proud of it!" Alex happily calls from halfway down the hill. "I laugh alone, because only I truly understand the greatness of my jokes."

There is a pause until he reaches the bottom of the hill. When the boy starts to turn right, he hears his sister, "Stop. After that little statement, we aren't going anywhere until you've had food."

Alex just smiles and groans.

I do not own Pokémon or Legend of Zelda

A/N: Hi, and thank you for reading up to this point. I hope you are enjoying the story and that it has caught your interest.

Thank you Sunlit Shadows for your review. It is nice to hear what you found interesting in other chapters. And you're completely right; that could become a great creepypasta. Kind of freaky… I am sorry, but I don't have a Quotev account. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and thank you for your review! I couldn't help but throw in a small Majora's Mask reference after reading it.

Thank you Assailant for your review. I apologize, but I can't answer all of your questions. Xena referring to 'breaking down' is her saying she doesn't want to cry (the full on; body sobbing and tears). It took a lot of chapters, but Ralts is permanently sentient. For the rest, you will have to read to find out. I hope you have enjoyed what you've read so far, and thank you very much for your review!

Thank you Bella Luna 21 for your review. It has to be my favourite moment with Shauna, so I tried to have Alex mess it up as little as possible. Thanks for letting me know what you think for character pairings, it's good to hear opinions. I'm glad you love Ralts! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and thanks again.

I hope everyone has a great July, and I promise to post a new chapter a Sunday in August. Sorry for the wait