Disclaimer: 51 chapters on and I still don't own Pokemon, wow, I'm beginning to wonder why not.

51. From Pallet to Viridian.

Once I said goodbye to my mum we made our way out towards Route 1.

Unfortunately, Camilla and I had an awkward conversation with my mum and we both blushed multiple times before my mum started to embarrass me, and I was worried it would be with Rachel before we started. I bet my mum and Rachel's mum thought it would always be Rachel and I. we did spend almost every day together as children.

Liam and Leaf, thankfully stayed outside so they didn't have to Listen to my mums rambling on about stuff and her embarrassing me.

I stood before route one like I had done now twice, this is the third time I will embark on the hardest route I had ever gone through. If you start through it, you've committed yourself to become a Pokemon trainer.

I stepped onto route one with all my friends.

'Are you sure you're both ready for the Pokemon league?' Leaf asked a few steps in.

'Yeah, terrified, but I'm ready.' Liam replied.

'It's so much different to Gym leaders, a lot harder and also you cannot rest your Pokemon, no Pokemon centres in between, once you have beaten one you go straight onto the next member.' I added.

'So, in truth you're both like I was when I found out I was battling four Chatelaine sisters?' Rachel asked.

'Yeah.' Liam replied. 'But, it's five trainers, with five powerful Pokemon except Lance.'

'He has six.' I continued for Liam.

'That's if you get to him.' Brock reminded us.

'I'm determined to.' I replied.

'It's alright though, you're both going to battle other trainers before you battle in the actual League.' Camilla told us.

'Warm up battles.' Liam confirmed.

I chuckled in agreement.

'I'm glad you both aren't rivals anymore.' Rachel said.

'We're still rivals, just don't torment as much and not as insensitive as before.' Liam countered.

I nodded. 'But we are more friends now that we were when we started the journey.'

'Exactly, I mean we're travelling together at the moment.' Liam said.

No-one said anything for a while.

Leaf was the next person as she stood in front of me making my friends and I come to a stop.

'So, what's this between you two?' She asked wiggling a finger between Camilla and myself.

Liam stood next to her with a raised an eyebrow as we both blushed.

'We have to do this now?' I asked.

'Why not now?' Leaf asked.

'Wait, I want to know about this. Camilla, you said later, it is later.' Rachel chirped in standing on the opposite side of Leaf to Liam.

'Now's as good a time as any.' Leaf added.

'If you two want this behind you, you have to come clean about it and stop leaving yourselves in the dark.' Brock added.

'Besides, it's Camilla's birthday soon, you don't really want the tension then, do you?' Rachel asked rhetorically.

I was blushing. Both Camilla and I were backed into a corner with no way of escaping.

I sighed.

'It's not that big.' I replied.

'It sounds bigger than it's made out to be.' Camilla agreed.

'We met in summer camp, when Leaf and Rachel sent me off to find the green scarf I went into the woods to see if it was there.' I started. 'I found a Poliwag, but it ran off, so I chased after it.' I continued. 'I heard a girl scream for help in the woods and I followed Poliwag to the girl who screamed.' I explained.

'I fell over in the woods and hurt my knee. My hat fell off, and I yelled help. A Poliwag jumped out of the bushes scaring me. Jordan came through the bushes as the Poliwag ran off. He helped me and took me to the nurse.' Camilla said.

'that's why you took so long and didn't come back with the scarf.' Leaf said.

'Yeah.' I chuckled. 'A Poliwag distracted me and I helped a girl who was in trouble.'

'Plus, you didn't remember till not that long ago.' Camilla accused.

'When did you know?' I asked.

'The day we met, when you first battled me. When you didn't remember, me I'd wait for you to figure it out, you didn't even remember when we started travelling together.' Camilla accused. 'Took you ages to remember.' She said.

I felt really guilty.

'I'm really sorry Camilla, I will make it up to you.' I said.

'How?' She asked.

'I promise I will somehow.' I promised.

'That doesn't explain what's happening between you two.' Leaf told us.

'It's complicated.' I replied.

'Really?' Liam asked, genuinely.

'Yeah, it's complicated.' Camilla agreed.

I didn't know what Camilla and I were to each other, I knew we weren't friends, we were a bit more, but not in a relationship status.

'So, what about you two?' Rachel asked Leaf and Liam.

I sighed, glad that the conversation had changed from Camilla and I to them.

I was intrigued, two people I knew since I was a child liked each other, but the situation may a bit more than friends. I understood it was complicated, but it was a little different.

'Liam feels really guilty.' Leaf explained.

'First I forgot you after saying girls were "eww" when I was younger and then I let you get captured by Team Rocket, twice if I remember correctly.' Liam explained.

'I told you not to worry about the Silph. Co, you saved me.' Leaf told him.

'Not without Jordan's help, my Pokemon and bag got stolen. I got away and left you by yourself with criminals. I can't forgive myself because of that.'

'Liam, Leaf is right, you saved her, I had nothing to do with that. I just helped you get your Pokemon and bag back, the rest was you. If you didn't help me in the Silph. Co we wouldn't reach the boss.' I explained to Liam.

'Even if I forgave myself, I let you get captured again in Viridian's Gym, after I had my battle.' Liam said.

'But you got captured also.' Brock reminded Liam.

'I am aware, but Leaf was the first to get captured, and I could have stopped that.' Liam said.

'You were only bait for Jordan.' Camilla replied.

'Liam I forgive you for everything, you need to stop feeling guilty for yourself, wipe the slate clean, I will not leave your side, you've been so nice to me, letting me go to places and see Pokemon I couldn't see anywhere else.' Leaf said.

'I'm really sorry for everything.' Liam said looking at the floor.

'Liam look at me.' Leaf said tilting his chin up to look at her. 'Stop apologizing.' She said before giving Liam a hug, he returned after coming off his surprise.

'Okay, I'll work on forgiving myself.' Liam promised.

'Good, I forgive you about everything. If you stop apologizing I will forgive you.'

'Okay.' Liam chuckled. Letting go of Leaf.

'So, this is?' Rachel asked.

'A complicated relationship.' Leaf said.

'Best friends.' Liam replied just after.

'Sounds complicated to me.' I said.

Brock Camilla and Rachel and I chuckled.

'We need to get to Viridian before nightfall.' Brock said pointing to the sky.

It was turning a deep blue. I saw the clouds in the distance has started to look orange, the sun had started to set.

We all walked in silence to get to Viridian.

The route felt different than the first time, it also felt different than the second time.

It was different to the first time because it was just Rachel and I, plus we were novice trainers, none of us had caught a Pokemon, Rachel was close to catching one, it was at the end of the route. Rachel didn't have a dream, she just wanted to travel and become a Pokemon trainer, now she had completed and conquered her dream.

The second time it was only four of us and I reminisced and felt nostalgia. It wasn't that long ago either, only a few days, but it felt longer, plus last time Leaf and Liam didn't travel with us. They were already in Viridian ahead of us, they would probably like to go through victory Road by themselves.

I just hoped Rachel and Brock would stay with Camilla and I, I loved travelling with them, I didn't want to abandon them, or for them to abandon us.

Last time was Brocks and Camilla's first time so I wondered how it was for them, how it was different from Viridian Forest to Camilla, and how it was different from Route 4 to Brock. I knew it was starting to get dark on Route 4, but I didn't know how it was for Camilla, I didn't know if she had stayed the night or, she had just arrived in Viridian. But the experience of route 1 to anywhere else is extremely different and quite hard, especially the first time you travel through it.

Once we neared the end I had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time we all travelled through Route 1, I was sure we would travel through it at least once again.

Once we exited I took in Viridian City, it didn't seem so great, not like the first time, it felt empty, but I had been to Saffron and Cinnabar, they were both quite large, as was Celadon, they were the largest cities. Viridian was quite large, but it wasn't as astonishing since they all had something going on.

Saffron had the Silph. Co in the middle of the city.

Cinnabar was an island, plus it had a fossil resurrection lab.

Celadon, had a breeder festival on. I didn't understand how Celadon could be that big and how it could still be crowded, it was mind-boggling.

We all made our way to the Pokemon centre before we were stuck in the dark night.

I filed in next to Rachel.

'Hey, have you thought about becoming a Chatelaine yet?' I asked her.

'Yes. Actually, I've made a decision. She replied.

I knew she had a tough decision to make, I didn't know she would have made a decision already, it had only been a few days, not long ago did she have her birthday either.

'When did you make the decision?' I asked.

'This morning, I talked with my mum about it, your mother also encouraged me.' Rachel told me.

Of course, she did. Why wouldn't she?

'I bet you're exited.' I guessed

'Yeah, but I'm not going to start until after the Pokemon league. I'm going to watch you conquer your dream.' She said.

'Thanks, but I'll never be able to beat you.' I told her.

She laughed. 'I bet you could.' She replied as we entered the Pokemon centre.

'So, what about you and Camilla?' She asked.

'It's…'

'…complicated, right?' She interrupted. 'I know, it's hard, you do seem closer to her than you do to me.' She said. 'But you don't seem like you're in a relationship. You're just really, really good friends. I can't find any other way to say it.'

I nodded, Rachel was right. I was proud of her choosing to become a Chatelaine, but I didn't have to say goodbye yet, at that time it would be painful.

'Hey, Jordan can I talk to you?' Brock asked.

'Sure.' I said.

Rachel followed Camilla into their room. I sat down at the table opposite Brock.

'What's up?' I asked.

'You know when you first battled against me?' Brock asked. 'You had a second time.'

'Yeah.' I replied.

'Well you won't be able to do that against the Pokemon league.' He said. 'You only get one go every year. I just want to help you, you know? Make sure you're prepared for everything before you enter, your practice battles don't matter, but if I help you with them, then you'll know how to prepare against the Pokemon or least have an idea. Besides if you decide to continue your journey and I don't, you need to know how to prepare.' Brock said.

'Really?' I asked, you'll help me prepare?'

'Yeah, I've noticed ever since I met you that you have been struggling with preparing for a battle. Since I am a breeder and a former Gym leader I believe I can help you, my experience should help you a bit, especially since the Pokemon league is ten times harder that and Gym leader.' He told me.

'Thanks, but can we start after we have got to the Pokemon league. I'm kinda tired right now.' I said.

He didn't answer instead he got up. I followed him to the accommodations.

The girls were gossiping, their conversation was inaudible so I decided to ignore it. I probably wouldn't want to even if I could, plus I was too tired so I went straight to bed, with Pikachu sleeping on my chest.

I woke up to the light filtering through the blinds.

I got up and realized the girl's beds were empty. I also realized Brock's bed was also empty.

I made my way to the Pokemon centre lobby. Only Brock and Liam were there.

'Hey.' I said. 'Where are the girls?' I asked.

'They went shopping for charms, Camilla wants a bracelet for her birthday, so she's seeing what kind of charms she would like if she got a bracelet.' Brock told me.

'Leaf went with them?' I asked Liam.

'She has a bracelet, so she wants a few more charms.' Liam replied.

'Girls and their jewellery.' I said chuckling sitting down next to Liam.

'So, what are you talking about?' I asked taking out a bottle of Ketchup for Pikachu, immediately he jumped on the table and started squeezing it to lick it up.

'I'm telling Liam I could help him with preparing for the Pokemon league, you both seem to rush into them without any plans, but your battling styles are different so your ways to prepare will also be different.' Brock explained.

'Looks like you have one heck of a job, Brock.' Liam said chuckling as I did.

I looked at my Charizard which I recaptured in one of my Pokéball's.

I had to talk to him about him mega evolving, he and I had a great bond, so I hoped it was strong enough to make him mega evolve. I wonder how he would look after he mega evolved, I wondered if he would stay like that, or if it was temporary. It would be pretty weird if it was temporary, since his previous evolutions were permanent.

'What's up Jordan?' Liam asked looking at me with concern.

'Huh, why?' I asked.

'You looked like you were concentrating really hard.' Brock observed.

'Oh, just thinking.' I replied. 'This whole mega evolution thing. I mean when Charizard mega evolves will it be temporary or permanent?' I asked.

'Why are you asking that?' Liam asked curiously.

'Okay, there can't be just two Pokemon that can mega evolve, there has to be more, right? So how come we haven't seen any, if somebody had a permanent mega evolved Pokemon how come we haven't seen them?' I asked. 'It would pretty hard to miss a new Pokemon.' I added.

'You're right. Leaf would have seen them. In her Pokédex there are no spaces after Charizard or Alakazam, so maybe they are temporary.' Liam mused over.

I saw Brock shake his head.

'You two are overthinking this.' Brock started. 'If you want answers wait till we get to the Pokemon league, you can ask your parents there.' Brock said. 'Besides, I thought you two would be thinking about strategizing for the Pokemon league, or your complicated relationships with the girls, if you figure something out, it will become less complicated.' He reasoned.

Brock was right, I didn't know a time when he wasn't.

I would definitely ask my dad these questions, he knew about Mega evolution, so there would be no use mulling those thoughts over now.

Brock was also right on strategy, I had to think about that, I knew the Elite four and the champion if I got that far would be so much harder than any challenge I had to face.

Now that Lance was champion, it would be that much harder, since we knew each other.

Brock was right about the complicated relationship, I needed to sort this out.

I wondered how Brock stayed fine even when he got rejected by hundreds of girls. The first girl I know he hit on was the receptionist at the Pewter museum, I think her name was Kelly. He hit on many, many nurse Joys, every time he did Rachel would thankfully pull him away.

Then I thought back to when I first remembered Camilla when I saved her in the woods. I wish that awkward moment inside the Professors lab never happened, then I wouldn't be in this complication. I needed to figure out how to sort this complication between Camilla and me. Maybe she would forget about it for a while, she was having a girl's day out and she didn't need to worry.

I needed to have a day where I didn't worry. I wanted to do something productive instead of staying in the Pokemon centre the whole day.

I remember that I need to train Aerodactyl. I couldn't have his primal instinct take over in a battle I needed him to train without destroying anything.

'I need to train Aerodactyl.' I announced standing up.

I startled Brock and Liam, even Pikachu looked surprised, turning his face away from his almost empty ketchup bottle.

Once they came over their shock Pikachu left his ketchup bottle, he obviously loved battling more than ketchup. Brock and Liam both stood up.

They followed me out of the Pokemon centre.

'This is a good idea, Jordan.' Brock praised when we stood just outside the Pokemon centre. 'Not that we're doing it outside the Pokemon centre, but that you want to train Aerodactyl. It seemed to be really disastrous in the prehistoric times.'

'Yeah, you told me that.' I said chuckling.

He nodded.

'Was Aerodactyl really that bad?' Liam asked.

'It left a path of destruction in its wake and destroyed whole village, creating chaos and disaster.' I said.

'Whoa!' Liam exclaimed. 'If that's the case I know the best place to do it.'

Liam led us to the west of Viridian, a place I had never been. It had some long grass and a few ledges with a massive rock in the middle, the large rock was irregular and we could not move it, it looked like it could be the entrance to a small cave.

I looked past the rock and saw a huge mountain, but it had no peak, it looked kind of flat, but it must have been almost as large at Mt. Moon, especially inside.

'Um, Liam?' I started. 'What is that?' I asked talking about the large mountain behind the rock.

'That is Victory road.' He responded.

My brows furrowed into confusion.

He chuckled at my expression. 'Victory road is the last obstacle before trainers can get to the Pokemon league.' He said. 'It is treacherous and dangerous, the way to the Pokemon league makes the most irregular twists and turns. My dad said people have got lost and insane in there.'

It seemed quite bad, since the Pokemon league is about a week away we could get lost in there.

'We could get lost?' I asked.

'Don't worry, Jordan, you're with your friends. It's highly unlikely to get lost with other people. Other trainers became overconfident and ventured into it alone.' Liam reassured me.

Why was I becoming worried over something that I didn't have to conquer yet?

'So, this is the best pace to train.' I asked Liam.

'Yes, if your Aerodactyl's primal instincts take over then this is the best place to cause destruction.' Liam told me.

I let Aerodactyl out. It flew around for a while before landing on the large rock. It screeched as soon as it landed. I knew it was very territorial.

'Aerodactyl!' I called.

It looked at me.

'You and I are going to train.' I told it.

If I told him the reason he may not like me anymore and I couldn't have that. He may overreact and shoot Hyper beams and let his primal instincts take over. Then I would not have six Pokemon to enter the Pokemon league with.

I started with Aerodactyl soaring over the place. I asked Brock and Liam to help. If Brock could get his Onix out and for Liam to use his Venusaur.

Venusaur shot vine whips towards Aerodactyl, he dodged most of them, but one und=fortunately clipped him and he fell to the ground.

He looked mad before he looked at me, his expression slowly softened and he knew that I would not approve if he attacked back.

I praised him for keeping his cool.

I asked Onix if he could help.

Onix dug his way underground and Aerodactyl seemed to know exactly where Onix was going to come out, it was probably because they were both rock types.

We kept at that pace, Aerodactyl dodging, guessing occasionally getting pulled down, but he didn't attack once, he was very close but I scolded him and yelled at him. I knew he didn't want to upset me.

He was definitely a risk to use. In the Pokemon league, but I needed him, he was a huge asset to my team, as were the rest of my team, but he just needed more help, more time to train.

Sometimes I began to wonder if accepting the old amber from Seymour was a good idea.

Aerodactyl had proved to be a challenge this afternoon. But I had managed to get him to not attack after every hit he received.

He may need a bit more work before we went into the Pokemon league, but a few practice battles could sort that out.

I was going to have one against Alan and one against Liam and a third one against a guy who's name I did not remember, he asked me after the Fuchsia water tournament I said I would battle him at the Pokemon league. I bet he trained so much to actually beat all eight Gyms and enter the Pokemon league.

Maybe I would see him before the Pokemon league.

The sky started to turn dark, the girls may already be back at the Pokemon centre, we would have to get back before the sun set.

'Maybe we should finish for today.' I said.

I recalled back Aerodactyl as Brock and Liam called back their respective Pokemon.

We made our way back as the sun began to set.

As soon as the Pokemon centre was in sight Pikachu jumped down from my shoulder and ran ahead. I saw him stop in front of three figures, they all tuned around.

It was Camilla, Leaf and Rachel.

Brock, Liam and I ran towards them.

'Where did you guys go?' Rachel asked as we reached them.

'I thought you'd stay in the Pokemon centre the whole day.' Camilla said.

'What? While you girls were out shopping?' Liam asked. 'So, we have to be bored while you lot have fun?' Liam asked rhetorically.

We all ignored him.

Brock Liam and I went up to the counter while the girls sat down, we each gave nurse Joy the Pokemon we used earlier to let them rest.

'So, what charms did you guys get?' I asked the girls.

'Well Camilla didn't get any, since she hasn't had a birthday yet. So, she can't put her charms anywhere yet.' Leaf said trying not to put Camilla down successfully.

'I did find some I like though.' Camilla said.

'So, what ones did you guys get?' Liam asked. I knew he was eager to hear what ones Leaf got, I know he didn't mean to hurt Camilla, but she looked hurt Liam had ignored her.

I flashed Camilla a genuine smile to reassure her.

She-thankfully-smiled back.

'I got a Bulbasaur charm, since it was my starter Pokemon. I also got a great ball charm and a purple house. The house is to remind me of Lavender Town since purple is almost the same colour. The great ball is to remind me that even if I don't see them I have great friends.' Leaf explained each Charm.

'What ones did you get Rachel?' Liam asked before Brock or I could.

'I got a great ball also, and I got a brown teddy bear charm. The great ball, is so I know of my achievements and that I won't forget any of you.' Rachel started. 'And the bear is so I won't forget home.'

'Forget any of us, forget home?' I asked.

Rachel sighed, before she steadied her breathing. Whatever she was going to say wasn't easy for her.

'I decided to accept the Chatelaines offer.' She replied.

What? Was my first official thought, maybe I had misheard her. Brock and Liam were also shocked, their mouths were hung open just like mine. If I wasn't mistaken I thought Rachel said she would be accepting the Chatelaines offer.

'You're going to accept their offer?' I asked coming over my shock first

'Um…I-I um…' Rachel stammered.

Leaf and Camilla put a hand on each of her shoulders.

'I already...'

'You accepted?' I asked softly.

She smiled, but it seemed fake, it seemed like the smile was to reassure me.

She looked down in shame as if she felt guilty for choosing the Battle Château over me.

'Hey, Rachel, don't feel bad for choosing the Château.' Brock said.

'Yeah, it is your dream.' Liam agreed.

'If it wasn't for you Jordan I would never have won the title of Grand Duchess, I would have never been offered to become a Chatelaine. Jordan, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have even thought about competing in the Château.' Rachel said. 'You helped me start my dream, so because of you I have completed my dream.' She explained.

'And now you get to start a new one.' I told her.

'I have one.' Rachel replied. 'I'm going to help the Chatelaines promote the Château in the other regions, especially Kalos where it originated.' Rachel told me.

'When do you become a Chatelaine officially?' I asked sad that Rachel could leave any minute.

'I told them I was going to watch you compete in the Pokemon league first, they said as soon as its over that I had to come back here to officially become a Chatelaine.' Rachel told me.

I was a bit happier that I had just over a week before Rachel would become a Chatelaine, it depended how long the Pokemon league lasted, it was originally a week or just over.

I looked at Camilla.

She looked sad, as soon as she saw me looking at her she turned away and walked towards her room.

The ding to signal Aerodactyl's health had been restored.

'I'm going to see if Camilla's alright.' I said getting up to follow her after I got Aerodactyl back.

I followed her to her room, she was sitting on one of the beds in her room.

'Hey, what's up?' I asked closing the door behind me.

My Pikachu was staying back with Camilla's. She also left Cubone with Leaf, it was just Camilla and i.

'I hate this!' She almost yelled.

'What do you hate?' I asked, Camilla was clearly annoyed with something. When she didn't respond, I proceeded to speak. 'Camilla, if you don't tell me I can't help you.' I reasoned with her.

'You can't change this to help me.' She said with certainty.

'Let me try.' I said.

She sighed knowing that I would not give up.

'I hate being the youngest.' She replied. 'While everyone else is eleven out there I am still ten. I am the youngest so I can't enjoy everything that the girls enjoy, I couldn't get any charms since I don't have a charm bracelet.

She took off her hat and threw it across the room. I realized it had turned a little grey from the travelling she had done with me since Cerulean. It was white when I met her. I now had an idea what to get her for her birthday.

I picked up her hat and placed it at the end of her bed, she obviously wasn't in the mood to wear her hat.

'You always wear a hat.' Camilla commented. 'Why's that?' She asked.

'So, people can't see my mad hair.' I replied. I took my hat off and showed her my crazy hair that had grown in the almost year I had been travelling. It was getting too long, as soon as I got back home I'd ask if my mum could cut it.

'I think your hair is fine.' Camilla said.

'It's starting to get long.' I replied putting my hat back on.

I was going to get up, but I thought of giving Camilla a gift.

'Oh…' I started. '…I was going to wait until your birthday, but here.' I said handing her a small green box.

She opened it and inside was a charm bracelet.

She inspected the silver bracelet, it already had two charms.

One was the standard Pokéball and the other was a female Pikachu, it even had the same tale to show it was a female.

'Wow.' She said. 'But what present are you going to get for my birthday?' She asked.

'If you can wait till then, you'll find out.' I replied.

Camilla seemed to think for a minute.

'Nope can't wait.' She replied.

I laughed, but got up and opened the door.

'Jordan.' She started. 'Thank you, I feel better now.' She assured me.

I smiled before I made my way to my room.

Everyone else was in there.

As soon as I entered Leaf and Rachel went to Camilla with Cubone and Camilla's Pikachu.

'Hey, buddy, you ready for tomorrow?' I asked my Pikachu.

'Chu…' He said yawning and stretching on the bed.

'I agree.' I chuckled. 'A good night's sleep is needed first.'

I looked to Liam.

'Leaf and I may leave before you do tomorrow, if that's the case I'll meet you both at the Indigo Plateau.' Liam said.

As soon as I got into bed I closed my eyes and was glad that the disturbing dreams had left me for now.

Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Here is the next chapter, up after a few days (I think), hope you like this chapter. Jordan needed to train Aerodactyl, how bad would it be if Aerodactyl lost control at the Pokemon league? Anyway, hope you like this chapter.

The start of the next chapter will be another aura dream, but it will happen sometime in the future. The next chapter will also feature the trek through Victory road and another rare Pokemon.

The next chapter should be up soon, but don't know when.

Chapter Fifty-two: Victory Road