~ Chapter 32 ~

The Necklace

"We said goodbye to Palmer shortly after the dinner; he had to return to the Fight Area and battle someone who challenged him in the Battle Tower. Rort left soon after as well, having to return home to his wife, and to his job the next day. Gardenia left with Rort, needing to get the Gym cleaned up for her battles tomorrow. In the end it was just Mrs. De Oliveira, Professor Rowan, Sakura, and the rest of us. We stayed at the Pokémon Centre for an extra day, resting up our Pokémon and ourselves before moving along. There was something going on with Professor Rowan when he left though…combined with what he gave me…had I known then what I know now about it I probably would have quit being a Pokémon Trainer a long time ago…or maybe I'd just face my fate a lot sooner. Ha-ha, I am a stubborn person after all."

Sam stood at the door. Professor Rowan, Sakura Oak, and Mrs. De Oliveira stood in front of him, ready to return to Twinleaf Town by a soon arriving Fearow from the NFTS.

By Sam stood Jeremy, Niya and Alyssandra, all of them sad to say goodbye to their friends.

"You fought well, the other day Sam," said Professor Rowan proudly, "I'm proud that you were able to defeat Gardenia; and I'm also surprised that your Empoleon could read your mind and act on its own like that."

"I am too, actually," said Sam smiling, "It's done it a few times before; the first time I never expected it…the second time was sort of…more natural I suppose? Ever since it disobeyed my orders that first time in favor of a better plan, I've sort of let it have its own free reign during some battles, it's paid off."

Professor Rowan nodded slowly. "Well whatever you're doing with your Pokémon to raise them, keep doing it," he smiled brightly, "You're Pokémon are growing quickly, they look happy, and they're strong. You're the protégé your grandfather would have wanted, and if your grandmother were here she would have been speechless at your skill."

"Well, I thank Palmer and all those years of Shogi and Chess," said Sam, "It gave me a very strategically-based outlook on life."

"That's good, that's good!" exclaimed the Professor, "A Pokémon battle is no different from a game of Shogi or Chess. It is, if anything, exactly the same."

Sam laughed. "Yeah, I suppose you're right," ceded Sam, "Are you sure my grandmother's okay, by the way?"

While Sam continued his conversation with the professor, Jeremy and Alyssandra bid their goodbyes to Linda, while Niya had become Sakura's latest obsession and was playing with her as she waited for the adults.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay alone out there?" asked Jeremy's mother.

Jeremy sighed. "Yes, mother," he said, "I have Lyss, Sam and Niya here; I'll be all right."

"Are you sure though? What if there's more rainstorms?" she asked, fawning over Jeremy, and straightening his jacket on his body, "You could catch a cold, or get hurt."

"Mom," groaned Jeremy, "I told you I'm fine—besides you've never worried about me this much when you were on the videophone!"

"I've never had a chance to do it in person before," smiled Jeremy's mother happily, "I am a mother, and you are my son, this is what I do."

Alyssandra averted her eyes, trying not to embarrass Jeremy more than he already was. The blushing was bad enough, but if he caught Alyssandra smirking she would never hear the end of it.

Finally, after Jeremy managed to shove his mother off of him, and get her to relax on her mothering, Alyssandra turned back her attention.

"Well, I suppose this is where I'll leave you then," she said, staring at her son with a sense of pride that only a mother could convey.

"Yeah," said Jeremy slowly, "Look mom—"

Jeremy cut himself off midsentence, blurting that out as if out of context.

Alyssandra watched this altercation with intrigue, and only after noticed that everyone had paused to watch after Jeremy had screamed his last few words.

"What's wrong, dear?" asked Mrs. De Oliveira, as she did, Professor Rowan stepped forward slightly, ready to intervene if needed, but Jeremy continued his sentence soon enough.

"Mom, I want to be a Pokémon Ranger," said Jeremy quickly, "I want to be a Pokémon Ranger; I want to go out and help people, with Pikachu by my side. Together we're going to go out and join the Ranger's League, and we're going to travel all over the world."

There was a long moment of silence, and Professor Rowan, now standing down as he realized that Jeremy had spoken on his own, was re-prepared to step in just in case.

Finally, after a long silence, Linda smiled widely and drew her son into a hug. "Of course, you do dear," she said happily "I always knew you'd do something to help the world be a better place. I'm so glad I raised you right."

"I, uh, thanks mom…" said Jeremy with confusion as he took this moment in, "I just thought…well I thought you'd take a bit harder than you did. I would mean I wouldn't be home a lot anymore—probably only on visits—and I wouldn't be with Sam or Lyss or Niya anymore, so you'd be worried that no one is there watching over me."

"Oh dear," chuckled Linda, "You'd have Pikachu with you, wouldn't you?"

Jeremy nodded.

"Well then, I trust you'll do fine," continued Mrs. De Oliveira, "Pikachu would care for you, and I'm sure you'd meet up with your friends once and a while. Besides, so long as you call home and visit so I know you're safe—that's all I ask of you."

"I…thank you mom," smiled Jeremy, hugging his mother tightly.

It was then that he realized his mother was going to miss him, but so long as he was doing something worthwhile with his life, something that he'd always dreamed and wanted to do, and something that made a difference in the world that she could be proud of, she would always support him, as would the rest of his family.

Jeremy smiled, happy that his mother was happy for him. The moment was cut short, as a tapping on the glass door of the Pokémon Centre signified that the Fearow had arrived and were eager to get going.

"I suppose we'd best be off then," said Professor Rowan as he picked up his brief case, "Children it has been a pleasure spending these past few days with you, but I'm sure we'll see each other again—perhaps at Alyssandra's next contest."

"Thank you so much for coming you guys!" said Alyssandra gratefully, "We'll call you all soon."

"You promise?" asked Linda.

"We promise mother, we promise," sighed Jeremy.

Niya laughed. "I'll make sure they do, Mrs. De Oliveira," smirked Niya, "We'll call you before we enter Mount Coronet, all right?"

"Perfect!" chimed Jeremy's mother, "I'll see you all later then!"

With that, Jeremy's mother left the Pokémon Centre to board the Fearow outside.

Sakura, though initially supposed to go with her, stayed behind and clutched at her grandfather's hand timidly.

Sam and Niya bent down to say goodbye to the young girl, as they were the only ones she'd let approach her.

"Goodbye Sakura," said Sam with a kind smile, placing his hand on her head and ruffling her hair a little.

Sakura blushed a bit as he did and looked as if she was going to fall over with shyness.

Niya was the next to say goodbye, giving her a short, tight hug. "I had a fun time playing with you, Sakura, I'm sure we'll meet again, okay?" said Niya.

Sakura smiled at Niya, though still timid, and refused to say anything.

Sam stood up afterwards and faced Professor Rowan for the last time before he left. "At least let me pay for your Fearow ride," said Sam, trying to urge the Professor to take the money from him, "It was for me you came all the way out here—"

"I'll hear none of that now," said Professor Rowan sternly, "I chose to come out here, as did Linda. We will take care of this, all right?"

Sam sighed, "All right then, I give up," he laughed.

"That reminds me though!" he said as he cleared his throat.

The Professor reached into the pocket of his waistcoat and rummaged around for something in it. As he drew out his hand, it was revealed that he had pulled out a necklace. A small, black crystal in the sort of shape you would find quartz forming, attached to the crystal was a metal band that wrapped around the top of it and hooked it up to a small metal chain. The crystal itself shone like a black star, and it was warm to touch.

Sam recognized this crystal. "It was my grandfathers…my grandmother has one just like it," he said softly as he took the crystal into his hands, "I didn't think…I mean…how did you?"

"Your grandmother wanted me to bring it to you," explained Professor Rowan, "She wanted to give it to you herself, but she's not been feeling well. She figured that you were ready to wear it."

Sam was speechless, but he grasped the crystal tightly. The warmth seemed to grow as he held it, and he felt a weird connection and familiarity to the object, like a thousand friendly souls reached out to him and welcomed him like an old friend. He felt safe, he felt protected and he felt like someone was watching over him and keeping him from harm.

"I've never heard the story behind this necklace," said Sam softly, "But I know there is one; you wouldn't happen to know it would you Professor?"

The Professor looked down at Sam, a sudden worry in his eyes as if he couldn't respond properly, but he was cut off from answering by a tap at the window.

His granddaughter, on the back of a Fearow, was growing impatient waiting for the Professor, and the Fearow weren't too happy about it either. "Oh, I must go," he said grabbing his briefcase off the floor once more and walking towards the door, "The tale will have to wait Sam! Oh, and if you're going down Cycling Road, don't forget—there's a small cave just below the road, about halfway down. It's full of rare and wild Pokémon, I even here there's a herd of Gible, Garchomp and Gabite down there as well. All right then, bye children!"

With that Professor Rowan was gone, and the four teenagers were alone again.

"I guess it's just us again," sighed Niya, "It's unfortunate…I'm going to miss the sanity."

Jeremy rolled his eyes. "You're not a breath of fresh air either," he joked, "Besides, we were fine before you came and joined us."

Niya elbowed Jeremy in the gut for his comment, leaving the boy winded. But Alyssandra, instead of stopping them, walked towards Sam, who stood by the door staring out at the spot where Professor Rowan and the Fearow had just been.

"What's that necklace?" she asked softly, placing a gentle, caring hand on his shoulder.

Sam turned around slowly and looked at Alyssandra. "It belonged to my grandfather," explained Sam, "He always wore it and never took it off. When he died I was sure they buried it with him but…I never expected I'd be holding it one day as my own."

Alyssandra went to pick it from Sam's hand carefully, giving him a gentle look as if to ask if it was all right.

Sam placed the necklace in her hand, and as the crystal left his touch the feelings of safety and familiarity were gone, and he felt alone again.

Standing amongst his friends, and Sam was alone. He felt vulnerable and naked, and he felt as if he might be attacked at any second.

Alyssandra clutched the necklace tightly in her hand after examining, "It feels so—" she started.

"Warm," finished Sam, "I know. Feels familiar too, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, it does," Alyssandra said smiling, "It feels like thousands of voices are welcoming you? Caring for you?"

Sam smiled with a nod. "It makes you feel safe," he said happily, "And it makes you feel protected. That's amazing, I never met anyone else who felt those same things I did in the necklace."

Alyssandra gave Sam a bright smile and stepped behind him quickly. "Well, then today might be your lucky day," laughed Alyssandra, "I hear when friends are close enough, they start to think alike."

As Alyssandra spoke she placed the necklace around Sam's neck and fastened the metal clasps of the chain that held the necklace together.

"I should hope not," said Sam sarcastically, "Otherwise I'm going to want to start dressing all frilly and painting my nails and gossiping about girl things."

Alyssandra tightened the necklace slightly in a joking manner but loosened it again and Sam regained his breath.

"Careful," he warned jokingly.

"Oh, I'm sorry did I make it too tight?" smirked Alyssandra as she stepped back and admired her work, "I think it looks cool; you look good in the necklace."

The feelings from before returned to Sam, and he touched his hand to the black crystal that swung from his neck.

"You think so?" asked Sam.

Niya interjected into the conversation with a snorting laugh. "You girls done with your jewelry? I'd like to get moving on our adventures," she said jokingly.

Jeremy laughed as well and added. "Yeah, I agree with Niya," he said, "The diamonds will have to wait, for now let's focus on catching some new Pokémon."

Sam rolled his eyes. "You two are so kind and understanding."

"Leave him alone," said Alyssandra defensively, though she knew they were only kidding in truth, "He has a sentimental tie to this necklace; and I think he looks good—so there."

Niya only smiled at Alyssandra, which gained her an unimpressed look from the latter.

Finally, side-by-side, the group walked from the Pokémon Centre towards the city exit that led to Cycling Road.

"Uh, guys, said Jeremy as they walked towards their goal, "You know we don't have bikes, right? I don't suppose we can go through Cycling Road without one."

"You do have a point, Jerry," said Niya, who ignored Jeremy's protests about the nickname, "Where are we getting the bikes and how much is this costing Sam?"

Sam sighed and laughed. "We'll probably find a place to rent some bikes by the Road; it shouldn't cost too much, but hey, I'm loaded remember?"

Niya slung her arm around Sam and smiled at him. "Good, that's how I like my friends," she joked, "Loaded and willing to pay for everything."

Sam rolled his eyes, but laughed, knowing Niya was only joking.

"What a tortured friendship we have with each other," sighed Alyssandra, "I swear, anyone else might think we hate each other."

"Us, hate each other?" asked Jeremy with a bright smile, "Never!"

"And thank goodness to that!" cheered Niya and Sam, which caused the rest of the group to break down laughing. These were the times of their lives they would always remember, even years after these adventures had ended, and Sam wouldn't have it any other way.