Ch. 25: Unanswered Questions

Andrew was walking near the trees when he saw Steve who was staring at him.

'What's with him?' Andrew thought

Andrew walked around before sitting on the grass, watching other pokémon go by. He noticed that Steve was watching at him intently. Andrew just ignored him and continued watching. A series of pokémon passed by, almost all of them are strangers to Andrew but he know their species. Just then, a familiar Bulbasaur went near him.

"What are you doing?" Percy asked

"Just watching others pass by…" Andrew said "I'm a bit bored."

"Care if I join?" Percy asked "I told everyone that we'll be here so while waiting for them, we can do this."

"Go ahead." Andrew said

Percy sat near Andrew and both of them watched pokémon who passed by. They even got a game out of it, to guess what pokémon will appear next. Although it has a slight chance to guess one out of the many pokémon, they still had the game since they are bored. Just then, a Charmander came by.

"My guess is right." Andrew said, smiling.

"Okay, you won." Percy said. "At least they're here."

"So, what's up?" Roderick asked, holding a scarf.

"We're fine… And what's with the scarf?" Percy asked

"Well…" Roderick said

Just then, Andrew felt that something hit him in the neck. He lost consciousness after that.

…

Andrew woke up and finds himself blindfolded. He tried moving his paws and feet but he also found out that they are tied to each other. He struggled to free himself on the rope but he failed. He was going to give another try when someone spoke. Andrew stopped his current actions and listen to the voice.

"So, what's your name?" The voice asked

"Why should I give my name?" Andrew answered back

"Just answer or you'll face the consequences." The voice said. "Also, be honest or we'll kill you if you're lying."

'Just what are the others up to?' Andrew thought. 'Oh well, I'll just play along.'

"So, your name?" The voice said

"Andrew." Andrew said

"Do you have a surname?"

"No."

"Where did you live before you came here?"

"At Treasure Town."

"Do you have any friends there?"

"Lots."

"Expound."

"Guild Members, the Guild Master, Chatot, all of the pokémon in Treasure Town, Grovyle and Gabrielle." Andrew said.

"Are all of these your friends?"

"Yes."

"Who's Gabrielle?"

"He's a Pikachu I met at the beach."

"How did you met him?"

"I was walking at the beach when the guy bumped into me." Andrew lied

"So, what are you known for?"

"Gabrielle and I are a part of our own Exploration Team."

"Exploration Team, you say? You sure that you aren't lying?"

"I'm sure."

"So, what are your achievements as an Exploration Team?"

"Not much." Andrew lied, again.

"So, how did you die?"

"We were chasing after an outlaw when we suddenly got ambushed. We are outnumbered ten to one. I got fatally injured from one of the pokémon's attack."

"So, did your partner survived?"

"Yes. In a matter of fact, he used the Escape Orb that I gave him and both of us escaped, but I didn't make it before help came to us."

"Are you sure that you aren't making the story up?"

"I'm not making it up."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Give me the knife."

Andrew didn't felt scared or so. He was trained to be fearless of any situation, like the one that's currently undergoing.

"One last question, do you trust your friends?"

"Yes, I do." Andrew said

"Then congratulations, pal."

Andrew felt that his ropes that were on his feet and paws were being cut. He shook his paws and grabbed the blindfold, pulling it up. He adjusted himself to the brightness of the surroundings and after a while, he saw the whole gang in front of him. Percy, Roderick, Lyka, Jasmine, Jenny and even Steve were there. He wasn't shocked, though.

"Sorry. We just want to know you better." Roderick said. "We must keep our identities a secret so that we could know you better in a different way."

'Then, I don't have to mention that I used Aura Sight.' Andrew thought

"Again, we're sorry." Roderick said

"No, no. It's okay." Andrew said "If you have your doubts on me then it's okay for you to do that."

"No, we don't have doubts on you." Jasmine said. "We just want to know you better."

'Somehow, what they did felt familiar.' Andrew thought

Andrew thought about it for a while before he was snapped back into reality.

"Andrew, are you alright?" Roderick said

"Yeah, I'm fine." Andrew said. "I'm going to take a walk, so see you all later!"

Andrew left, leaving everyone behind.

'I'm pretty sure that someone questioned me out of nowhere before.' Andrew thought. 'But I can't remember when.'

Andrew continued to walk until he found himself inside the forest. He continued to walk and he was now at a clearing. A lone Starly went past the clearing. Andrew sat near a tree and thought about the things that had happened after he became a pokémon. How he met Gabrielle, how they formed a team, all of their missions, how they went to the future, how Andrew learnt his past and his goal, how everyone helped them, how Gabrielle and Andrew saved Temporal Tower and the world, and how he last saw Gabrielle that time.

"I wonder if I didn't turn into a pokémon back then." Andrew murmured "Could I've met Gabrielle back then?"

Just then, Andrew heard a twig snap. He didn't move an inch but instead, he used Aura Sight to see if someone is around. There is someone who was on the tree just behind Andrew.

'What's with him?' Andrew thought. 'Is he stalking me?'

Andrew stood up and ran towards the forest. He used all of the skills he learned to move around the forest. He can see that someone was following him, and a very familiar one at that. He sped up, trying to shake him off, but it seems that the Tree Gecko is keeping up with him. Andrew used Shadow Claw to cut some branches so that he can slow the Grass-type but it seems that it has no effect. Just then, he saw a river not too far from his current position. He held his breath before he jumped in to the river. After jumping in, he saw that there was a tunnel built at the river's side. Curious, Andrew went through the tunnel and he swim until he surfaced inside the tunnel. The tunnel was lit by some kind of gems which emit of green light and Andrew got curious a bit.

'I wonder if some pokémon built this tunnel.' Andrew thought

His question was quickly answered when a Sandslash appeared in front of him.

"Who are you?" The Sandslash questioned. "Wait a minute! How did you found this place?"

"Sorry, my name is Andrew." Andrew said. "I was lost at the forest and I accidentally got here through the river. Say, do you know a way to get back to the other pokémon?"

"Well, you can take the tunnels here to get back there." The Sandslash said.

"Please, can you be my guide? The tunnels seem to be a maze for me." Andrew said.

"Well, unless if you give me something, I won't help you get back to Arceus' place." The Sandslash said.

"Well, I have three Sitrus berries here." Andrew said. "Would you like these?"

"It's fine." The Sandslash said "Follow me."

The Sandslash lead the way while Andrew followed. They went through a series of twist and turn and lots of ups and downs before the Sandslash lifted something, letting some light in.

"Here's the exit." The Sandslash said. "Now, do your part of the deal."

Andrew gave a nod and he gave the Sandslash four Sitrus berries.

"Wait! You only said three Sitrus berries. Why give me four?" The Sandslash asked

"Take that as a gift from me for being nice." Andrew said. "Thanks, by the way. I must go."

"Oh, after you go out here, just go north and you'll be back." The Sandslash said. "Oh, and avoid the tree you will find around the area."

"Thanks." Andrew said

"You're welcome." The Sandslash said

Andrew left the tunnel and he found himself on a small desert. He can see the mansion just some miles away from his current position. He followed what the Sandslash said and he was back at the mansion. The first pokémon he met was Blissey. Andrew greeted the said pokémon and she greeted back. Andrew wandered around, still thinking why Steve would stalk him. He couldn't think of any reason why he would do that. Was Steve angry at him somehow? He doesn't know. Steve was silent and somewhat emotionless.

'Did his past affect him that much?' Andrew thought

Just then, he bumped into a pokémon.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Andrew said and stood up.

Andrew left quickly after that. He didn't even know that he just bumped into Jasmine, his Piplup friend.

'What's wrong with him?' Jasmine thought.

Just then, Jasmine felt that her necklace was missing.

"What the…" Jasmine said. "Where is it?"

Just then, she saw it just nearby where she fell.

"There it is!" She said.

She picked it up and wears it on her neck.

"I thought I've lost it." Jasmine said with a sigh of relief.

Just then, Roderick came.

"What's the problem, Jasmine?" Roderick asked

"Oh, nothing." Jasmine said.

"Have you've seen Steve?" Roderick asked

"No, not yet." Jasmine said.

Just then, Steve came into the scene.

"Hey Steve!" Roderick said. "Where did you go?"

Steve pointed outside and he left after that.

"What did he meant?" Jasmine asked.

"I think he said outside." Roderick said. "Say, have you seen Andrew?"

"Yeah, he just bumped into me a while ago." Jasmine said

"Can you tell where he went? I have something to ask him." Roderick said

Jasmine stayed silent while she was staring at the floor.

"Is something the matter?" Roderick asked.

"No, nothing." Jasmine said. "He just went left a while ago."

"Thanks." Roderick said and left.

Jasmine shook her head.

'Better meet Jenny and the others.' Jasmine said

Jasmine left. Meanwhile, Steve was walking along the corridor when a certain Riolu surprised him and grabbed him.

"Why are you stalking me?" Andrew asked to Steve.

Steve kept silent.

"I said why are you stalking me?" Andrew asked Steve again.

Steve kept silent again and Andrew got annoyed a little.

"Okay, okay. Don't speak if you want to. But let me tell you this, I don't know what exactly happened to you back then but keep in mind that what happened back then can be a learning experience. You may not want what happened back then but it happened for a greater purpose. I don't know what this 'greater purpose' is yet but someday, you will appreciate it." Andrew said.

Then, Andrew left, leaving a silent Treecko on his own.

'Then, why do you have to lie to everyone?' Steve thought

A/N: End of chapter.

More things are revealed ^^. If there are typos or grammatical errors, please help me fix them. Anyway, next chapter will be soon, I hope. Also, review.