Hi guys! It's been a few weeks, had some personal stuff going on, but I'm back! So where were we? While Iris and Lance begin their quest to locate Arke and Eurus, Trip and Cilan continue on their road to find Iris! The story continues…

oOoOo

Night was nearly falling by the time Trip and Cilan found themselves on the outer of Pinwheel Forest, Nacrene City now miles behind them. While their trip had started with a great deal of urgency, making their way to the outskirts of the forest with no sign of their purple-haired friend hiding in the treetops above had dampened their spirits greatly. As the path slowly widened and turned from dirt to bricks, a small building with lights shining through the windows appeared in the distance. But even that building could not steal Cilan's attention away from what stood proudly after it – Skyarrow Bridge, with the tips of the Castelia City skyscrapers hanging over even that. While he had visited Unova's capital often as a child, adult Cilan could never help but marvel as the grandeur of the structure.

"My…Skyarrow Bridge…even today, it never fails to take my breath away."

Cilan turned his head to catch Trip's fascinated stare, but it wasn't to be. On the edge of the path the young man was standing, rubbing the Pokeball in his hand, and looking up at the treetop.

"This seems as good a place as any."

Cilan watched on in interest as Trip opened the ball, sending the bright light shooting out onto the nearest tree trunk. Sewaddle appeared, looking confused back at its trainer, who returned a steely gaze at his Pokémon.

"You're free, Sewaddle. Return to your home."

The caterpillar seemed confused, angling its head in sorrow as Trip turned his back and began to walk past Cilan without even a glance. "Come on, Cilan. We've got a long walk before we even get into Castelia."

Cilan's mouth dropped as his young companion continued onwards, stealing a glance back at the pathetic Sewaddle, still meekly crying out and clinging onto the tree for dear life. The frown that enveloped the Gym leaders face was soon joined by an arm held out and a brisk yell. "Trip…what are you doing? You can't just abandon Sewaddle like this! Without it, you never would have defeated Lenora and…"

"…gotten the Basic Badge? Please," Trip muttered, not looking back. "Sewaddle was a means to an end, Cilan. I only grabbed it to counter her predictable use of Retaliate…and now, with Sawk especially, I don't have any room in my team for such a pathetic Pokémon."

There was an extra sting in the boy's voice, and Cilan had to bite his tongue and remember what a testing day it had been for him. While he was never a complete joy to travel with, he had been utterly horrid for their entire walk through Pinwheel Forest. He could only hope that it was a phase that would pass eventually. Well, it will when we find Iris, Cilan thought to himself. The boy cares. Just remember, it is because the boy cares. Cilan watched as the automatic doors on the small building opened up and the boy walked inside, out of view. He slowly walked up to the tree and smiled at Sewaddle, who had tiny tears dripping down its face.

"Now, don't be like that, Sewaddle," Cilan smiled. "You deserve a trainer who will train you, and bring your true strengths to pass. How would you like to join my team?"

Sewaddle looked up, surprised, its eyes growing wider by the minute. The frown on its face slowly grew upwards, and its eyes closed in delight. Cilan held out his arm and it slowly inched forwards, sliding off the tree and onto its new trainers arm. The Gym leader slid a Pokeball out of his pocket and held it up to Sewaddle. The concept of trainers abandoning their Pokémon had always intrigued him; while it was highly illegal to even attempt to capture the existing Pokémon of any trainer, Pokémon left behind for various reasons were deemed fair game, and their ability to be captured into Pokeballs indicated that the belief was sound. Many a philosophical debate had been had on the subject at the dinner table during Cilan's childhood. And, as Sewaddle tapped the Pokeball with its head and shimmered into the bright light to disappear, those arguments flooded back into his mind, and he immediately felt vindicated.

"You're home now, Sewaddle. We'll do great things together."

oOoOo

"So you haven't seen her?"

The attendant scratched his balding head, muttering to himself. "Purple hair…and Axew, you say…long, cream coloured dress…nah, I think I'd remember a girl like that. Can't help you, sorry."

Resisting the urge to thank the simpleton for nothing, Trip turned his back and started to walk to the exit of the building, not even turning to check whether or not Cilan had made his way into the building at all. Just as the doors opened at the other end, the attendant called out from the other end.

"Oh! I should mention, though, that while I haven't seen your pretty friend, I did see a kid with an Axew…queer looking fellow, skin as light as the white of my teeth, hobbling along like he'd been Thunderbolt'd in the foot. Didn't stop to talk to me, or nothin', moved along like he was in a real big hurry to get somewhere…"

Trip half turned, his interest piqued. "And when did you see this kid?"

"Mmm…would barely have been two weeks ago, I figure."

Eurus. That had to be Eurus.

Suddenly, Trip's mind flooded with possibilities. If only I could find Eurus…he might know where Iris is, or who is after them! Or…even better…maybe Iris heard that Eurus had been in the area, and she…no, that doesn't explain the flash of bright light, or the fact that Sawk saw Iris in Pinwheel Forest just before she…maybe the only option is to find Eurus instead of Iris, given that I know where he is heading, but I have no idea where Iris is…

…no. Whenever Eurus came up in conversation, Iris would inevitably blush and change the subject quickly. While she had told him that it was because he had managed to defeat Excadrill with his newly born Axew, Trip couldn't help but suspect there was a deeper reason behind her hesitancy to discuss him. Whether it was out of annoyance, or just jealousy, Trip knew that he couldn't bring himself to look for her friend before Iris herself. Managing a half-hearted wave to the attendant, Trip slowly stepped out of the building, and found himself in front of the largest bridge that he had ever seen. Granted, that was limited to a few that were dotted around Nuvema Town, but even he could tell that this bridge was one that would put most others to shame. The walkway in front of him wound itself around, heading up and up, before turning into a straight path that led over the massive river that stood before him. He could barely make out the buildings in a newly developing fog, but the lure of the large city was almost too much for him to ignore.

If there is anybody who can tell me where Iris is, they will be in that city. Not only that, but the Insect Badge awaits me. If I can leave Castelia City with that badge and information about Iris, then the trip would have been successful.

"Amazing, isn't it?"

Trip turned his head to find Cilan standing next to him, toying with a Pokeball in his pocket. "This bridge shows what man is truly capable when he puts his mind to it."

Trip frowned, kicking the stones at his feet. "No…Iris going missing…that shows what man is truly capable when he puts his mind to it."

The boy started to walk away, but he felt the Gym leaders hand grab his arm and hold him back, spinning him around so that they were looking each other directly in the eye. "Trip…you're under no obligation to hide your feelings in front of me. I know how worried you must be for Iris…and how scared you…"

"I'm not scared," Trip spat. "I'm never scared."

Trip brushed off Cilan's arm and looked out at the shimmering water of the vast river before him. To his utter dismay, he could feel the hot prick of tears beginning to form in his eyes. Fortunately, Cilan could not see his face, and he intended to keep it that way.

"Ironically, being scared is nothing to be afraid of. Without a touch of fear, how can we ever actually want to achieve anything…or care if we succeed, or fail? Fear is what keeps us on our toes, what keeps us hungry for the battles ahead. Fear is what is going to help us save Iris from wherever she is…no matter how hard and far we have to look."

Trip nodded furiously, striving to keep his shaky and teary voice from showing. To his utmost credit, Cilan respected the boys wish for privacy, and pretended not to notice. He merely put his hand on Trip's shoulder and pointed towards Castelia City off in the distance. "Whatever the immediate future holds, Trip…I'm right behind you every step of the way. Now, let's go and get her back. What do you say?"

The boy nodded, wiping his eyes furiously. Cilan was right – they were going to get Iris back. And he wasn't going to be able to see through eyes filled with tears.

oOoOo

Next stop – Castelia City! What adventures does it hold, and will it bring Cilan and Trip any closer to getting Iris back? Tune in next time to find out!