Awake, though slightly miffed at how she was awoken, Kirralie packed up her stuff with Kelsie and followed her through the rest of the forest. Amazed at how she could trudge on with such little sleep, she took to checking if Kelsie was ok, every five minutes or so, until Kelsie had insisted, rather firmly, that she was fine.

Until they reached Pallet town.

Surprisingly, the journey only took them the rest of the morning and a little of the afternoon. Muzzy trailed after the group, after finally being let out, on the promise that he didn't freak Kirralie out anymore. He had reluctantly agreed and had taken to hiding at the back, on the lookout for reasons to break his promise. After all, the two girls would never find out, unless they had eyes in the back of their head.

Polly, bellsprout and clefable led the way, skipping merrily along, scattering the stray pidgey and rattata that were in their path. The rest were all over the place; to the side of their trainers, behind them or in front. Ampharos had the little igglybuff dancing all around her.

Pallet town was the smallest town Kelsie had come across so far. There were only a few buildings scattered around the luscious meadow-like terrain. One of which consisted of Professor Oak's laboratory, towering over the sea and the sweep of sand posing as a beach. The houses paled in comparison. Their dull colouring brought shame against the brightness and vividness of the lab.

It managed to capture Kirralie's attention. She gazed in awe, mumbling something about maybe meeting Professor Oak. Kelsie, on the other hand, had walked straight past the metallic construction and had stared, in resentment and rage, at the frothing waves that lapped the sand at her feet. It's captivating beauty, as the ultramarine crystal drops glistened in the shining sun, alluring folk to dive into its depths, had no effect on Kelsie. She picked up a nearby rock and, screaming in frustration, threw it with all her might, scaring the oceanic pokemon below. It plunged into the watery depths with a loud plop, alerting Kirralie and the pokemon of the crying girl huddled on the sand.

"I'm sorry." Kirralie knelt down and placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I thought it was just a stream or something. The map showed only a slight patch of water." Kelsie's sobs died down slightly, raising her head to show a worried Kirralie that she didn't blame her.

"It's going to take even longer to reach him now. What if we don't make it in time?"

"We will, there's a shortcut to Vermillion city." She helped Kelsie up and dug into her pocket for a tissue. Kelsie took it gratefully, forcing a smile to show her concerned pokemon that she was ok.

They did their best to cheer their trainer up as they trekked back to the start of Viridian Forest, where Diglett's Cave was hidden. Igglybuff even showed interest in attacking stray pokemon, until Kelsie reassured her that it was ok if she didn't want to fight. She wasn't going to love her any less. In fact, it suited her better, as, once this adventure was over, she wasn't going to be a trainer anymore.

Goodness knows what she would do with her other three pokemon.

These words made igglybuff immensely happy. And although Kirralie thought it was slightly premature, igglybuff began to glow. She grew in size, but only a little, and her round body grew two pointy ears. The tuft of hair on her head drooped, becoming a fringe and her amber eyes changed to azure.

"Jigglypuff."

"Wait a minute… You only got her yesterday!" Kirralie cried, her jaw dropping in amazement. "You can't do that!"

(I can and I will 'cos it's my story, in fact, just for that…)

Muzzy began emanate the same white glow. Instead of growing, he shrank; sprouting four scaly wings. His purple colouring lightened and he became more of a lilac colour than aubergine. In fact, he no longer looked like a big ball of fluff, he now resembled a moth. He flittered his wings, a scared and confused look on his face, and flew over to hide behind Kelsie.

"Hey!" Kirralie huffed. "That is not fair!"

(Will you just let me get on with the story? Just to stop her moaning, Kirralie's bellsprout had evolved too, into the bell-shaped plant that was weepinbell. Wing-like leaves sprouted, acting as ears.)

So, Kelsie, Kirralie, weepinbell, togepi, pichu, skiploom, clefable, seel, ampharos, Polly, Muzzy the now venomoth and Jigglypuff entered Diglett's Cave. Jigglypuff's entertainment ensured they could navigate through safely, as her singing managed to lull the burrowing creatures to sleep. Unfortunately, on several occasions, it managed to have the same effect on Kirralie and Kelsie's pokemon. The situation was resolved, however, by the two girls returning the rest of their pokemon, though they did so reluctantly.

After two long hours of trudging through more mud; the two girls emerged on the outskirts of Vermillion, which was blanketed in darkness.

"Why is it that the evening comes so quickly?" Kelsie moaned, becoming angry for the second time that day. If she had her way, she would stop only when she needed to, but Kirralie insisted they stop at night, in order to rest themselves and their pokemon. Kelsie didn't need to rest. It wasn't important. But for the sake of her pokemon, she did as she was told.

They were lucky enough to nab the last room in the pokemon centre. It was crowded with the ten pokemon and the two girls, but both were content enough. Kelsie because she knew she wouldn't be spending long there, and Kirralie because she enjoyed having her pokemon out of their spherical devices.


Wheezing, Lysander fell to the ground, kissing the gravel, tears of happiness leaking from his eyes. "I made it!" He sobbed, forcing the breath out of his lungs. "I finally made it!"

Ducking and weaving, making sure he had kept himself hidden at all times was hard work. Given the time he allowed for resting, he had made it to Lavender town in short of two days. He was still in danger of being caught, but less so, given the distance between himself and Vasseur.

He pulled himself up and staggered across the gravel path, heading towards the next route so he could rest on the comfy grass, hidden away from the passers-by. He was parched. His water source, for the past two days, had been handfuls of water from the stream leading down to the sea, or anything he could beg off of strangers. His food had been berries plucked from bushes and, more than once, raw magikarp. Hidden behind a prickly bush, nursing his bleeding feet, he had nothing.

Gasping, he glanced back over his shoulder, wondering if Nurse Joy would be kind enough to spare him a morsel or two and tend to his poor feet. Maybe even let him bathe in a warm bubble bath. He sighed, caught up in the dream of luxuries, and forced himself to his feet once again.


Kelsie, though had insisted she didn't need to sleep, must have been more tired than she had thought. As soon as her head had hit the pillow, she had sparked out, falling into a dreamless sleep. Kirralie smiled, feeling a slight relief wash over her; she had been worried about her friend, ever since the day they had left. At least Kelsie finally sleeping was one ease off her mind.


Drip… Drip…

Kelsie sat up, awoken from the noise. She rubbed her eyes, before taking in her surroundings. She didn't recognise this place. Had Kirralie hauled her further along whist she had slept?

She stood up, shivering. Goosebumps covered her arms, brought out by the freezing wind whirling around her. Her eyes hadn't fully adjusted yet, or maybe it was the weather; a thick, swirling mist obscured her view.

Drip… Drip…

"Hello?" Kelsie's voice echoed eerily, as she called out to find out where Kirralie and their pokemon where. A niggling inside her made her feel uneasy, the lack of reply increased her fears- she was all alone. She hugged herself, the goosebumps now growing for a different reason.

Drip… Drip…

She whirled around this time, as soon as the dripping reached her ears. She had been expecting it. Some of the haze drifted aside and Kelsie walked forward, her bare foot steeping in something warm and wet.

Blood.

She looked down in fear, the trickle of dark liquid was coming from the obscured path ahead. It was streaming down the grey floor, which Kelsie had assumed was concrete path, staining the way. A puddle, gradually increasing in size, was forming underneath. Until Kelsie had stepped in it. It had now become a bloodstained foot print.

"Hello?" Kelsie called out again, much more fearful this time. "Is anyone out here? Are you hurt?"

No reply.

Braving the mist, Kelsie pressed on. Her eyes met white wisps, blood warming her toes, as she found nothing. She walked further. Her foot made contact with something big and furry, and she fell forward, landing painfully on her knees. She cried out in pain, rubbing the grazed skin, and pulled herself back up, turning to see what had caused her trip.

An blood-curdling scream flew from her mouth as she stared at the bleeding bulk on the floor. A gaping hole in the chest was the cause, a thumping heart, somehow still beating, was beside the poor creature in another pool of blood

She stared at the bloody mess, mourning, sinking to her sore knees and resting her head on the matted, navy fur. "No," She sobbed. "How could they?" Tears fell, fast and thick, forming into glittering crystals before splashing onto the typhlosion's .wound. The drops sealed it away into a scar and he stirred, shaking Kelsie off of him and standing up. "You've replaced me." He accused, ignoring his owner's gasp and pointing behind her. Confused, she turned to find ampharos, jigglypuff, Muzzy and Polly all laughing and playing with a shadow of herself. Kelsie noticed her smile, her laugh, how happy she was. "You don't need me anymore."

"That's not true!" She insisted, wheeling round. "I've searched for you everywhere! I need you!"

"You've replaced me." Came his repeated reply, as he backed away from her, blending in with the mist.

"No! No, I haven't! Typhlosion please!" She started to cry again, but it was nothing compared to the saddened look on the typhlosion's face. It was as though someone had cut out his heart, and to prove his point, he nodded at the heart on the floor whose beats were weakening every second passing.

"You don't need me anymore." And with that, he melted into the shadows, leaving Kelsie surrounded in the mist, her joyous laughter, she shared with her pokemon, ringing in her ears.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"


Drenched in clammy sweat, she woke up, gasping, dried tears crusting on her face. The clock beside her informed her that it was only three am. The wind outside howled, rattling the windowpane as the rain lashed against it.

She jumped out of bed, throwing on her clothes and stuffing anything out of her bag back in. She returned her pokemon and went to place the balls back on her belt before freezing and looking down. You've replaced me…

It was so clear she jumped, glancing over her shoulder. "No I haven't." She said firmly, throwing disgusted looks at the four pokeballs she had now placed on her bed. "You're my one and only." She picked them up and stuffed them in Kirralie's bag. Tightening a raincoat around her, she whispered goodbye to her friend and left, running out of the pokemon centre and fleeing Vermillion city, determined not to stop until typhlosion was safe.


Yeah, I got bored and made a bunch of pokemon evolve (*^^,*) I was going to delete it, but I thought it made good humour, so therefore it stays.

*Gasp* What did you think of that then? Are you all amazed?