Another interlude, folks – this time focusing on Cenric and his life in the past. Hopefully this clears some of your questions up.

-.-.-.-.-.

Ten Years Ago

The rain poured down relentlessly, somehow managing to break through the ceiling of leaves that hid the sky from view. But the young Buizel trudged on. He trudged on without a care, barely even noticing the rain pelting his soaking-wet fur. But he indeed noticed the cold that seeped through his skin and into his bones. He shivered, but didn't let it bother him.

He trudged on.

Why? he thought, and indeed that was the only word that pounded his brain, following the rhythm of his steady footsteps. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why me?

What had Cenric ever done to deserve such a fate? His mother – his own mother! – had gone and left him alone, on the freezing Glacier of Absence, without ever turning back. Her stated reason? Cenric shivered as he remembered her last scalding words.

"Maybe if you were stronger you would survive," she had stated flatly. "But you're not. If you were stronger, you would live. I'm doing this for your own good." And then Vizeli had left him on the slick mountain of ice, at the mercy of biting winds and merciless hail and snow.

Cenric refused, absolutely refused, to believe what his mother had told him. He was strong, strong enough to swim despite his young age, and knew that dying wasn't good. It was bad, and if he stayed here, he would die. He didn't know why Vizeli no longer wanted him around, but he did know that he had to get out of here.

So, he swam. He swam from the edge of the glacier and into the frigid, ice-sheathed ocean. Boarding a sturdy-looking ice floe, he rode the current south until the water got warmer. Then, when his little iceberg melted, he began to swim again.

And then he reached home. Somehow, he had made it to the Yin-Yang Islands after a full three days of drifting.

And now, he trudged on.

The little Buizel took step after painful step, feeling as if he was about to fall apart. He needed rest, and yet could not just yet. He had to find a safe place to hide and recuperate; otherwise he would die from exhaustion and cold and become some Mandibuzz's dinner.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, and when his legs began to give stabs of raw pain whenever he set a foot on the muddy ground, he reached a promising little place. It was a small, mossy tree with a perfect-sized hollow at the base, formed by the tangle of roots knotting themselves over the ground. Sighing with exhaustion and relief, Cenric slipped into the hole. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to relax for the first time in days.

Sleep wouldn't come at first. But, inevitably, it had to. Safe and warm inside of his hollow, Cenric finally drifted off into an exhausted sleep.

As he slept, he dreamt. He dreamt of more endless walking, trudging onwards through an empty grassland. There was nothing in sight except more of the dirt path he was traveling, stretching far off into the distance. And grass – lots and lots of grass.

In his dreams, he trudged on.

-.-.-.-.-.

Morning came, and Cenric had been so tired of relentless walking that he didn't want to leave his cozy hole. His eyelids fluttered open for perhaps all of four seconds before closing again, falling once more into slumber.

But outside, footsteps crunched on the fallen leaves and splashed in the mud puddles that had formed in the rain. They stopped when they reached the tree. Keen eyes picked out the end of Cenric's tail poking out from within the hollow. Sharp ears heard the echoing sound of his breathing.

Frowning, the two Pokemon clamped down gently on the tail and pulled him out. Cenric didn't even wake up as the duo silently stared down at him, curiosity and worry in their eyes.

Sam and Blanca exchanged glances, almost reading each others' minds. This Buizel was clearly in need of help – one glance was enough to see that. His fur was streaked with mud, dirt, twigs, and other assorted debris, he was completely limp from all the walking and swimming he had done, and on top of that, he looked pathetically thin. But what to do?

Again, the two read each others' minds. Blanca nodded her approval, seeing the question in her husband's eyes. They would take this poor Pokemon to their little hut in the village, and they would ask their daughter, little Madeleine, to watch over him while they went out foraging for food. He was clearly in need of nourishment, and they wanted to be able to provide said nourishment when he awoke.

If he awoke.

The Ninetales and Absol took him to Purity Village, where they had made their home. It was a humble abode, with only one medium-sized room, comfortable enough for the family of three to live in. Laying him down gently on one of the straw beds, they gave their wide-eyed daughter strict instructions to watch over the unconscious Buizel until they got back.

But by the time they did get back, however, Lynn and Neith were standing in front of their door, faces saying it all. Somehow, the Swampert and Floatzel had caught wind that a helpless youngster was holed up at Sam and Blanca's, and they wanted to help. Not bothering to tell them off in such a situation – after all, both were pretty tough, and both looked genuinely worried – Sam and Blanca allowed them to help them look after the Buizel.

When Cenric woke up, it was to see five strange Pokemon staring down at him. Although he was initially frightened, he began to slowly warm up to them when they smiled and offered him food. These Pokemon cared about him.

For the next week, the exhausted and injured Buizel stayed in Sam and Blanca's hut, not talking much but always thanking them for their hospitality. Madeleine was like an older sister to him the entire time, helping him when he had trouble and keeping him company when he needed it. Cenric began to think that his life was undoubtedly looking up.

Finally, there came a day when all of his wounds had healed, and Cenric was well enough to move on. But when he explained to Sam, Blanca, and Madeleine that he didn't have a home anymore, they found themselves unable to offer a solution.

Just then, Lynn and Neith spoke up. They offered to adopt him, to take him in as a son. Sam and Blanca were taken aback at this sudden proposition, but they didn't say anything. It was Cenric's choice to make whether he stayed or not.

Cenric himself was very wary about the notion of having parents. After all, hadn't he spent an entire three days floating on an iceberg because of his mother? But on the other hand, the Swampert and Floatzel couple looked so kind. Their faces weren't cold and hard, like how Vizeli always used to look at him, they were warm and had genuine smiles stretching across them.

In the end, Cenric said yes. Lynn and Neith were both thrilled.

Now he had a true home, and kind, loving parents to look after him. He had a friend and polite neighbors. Most importantly, he had Pokemon that loved him. Even thinking about it was enough to cause tears to spring to his eyes.

Cenric no longer had to trudge on.

-.-.-.-.-.

So there's another blast to the past for you readers. Poor Cenric's gone through a lot, but it's helped him become strong in the present day. What's the expression? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, or something like that?

Moving on, please review and see you soon!