A/N: The warm and fuzzy chapter you didn't expect and didn't know you needed xD One more chapter for Kanto and then it's off to the Johto region - huzzah!

Sooner than she would have thought – and much to her disappointment, Brie could feel herself start to warm up to Steven and his friendly advances. He had let go of her hand very slowly, as if hesitant to release her. Yet, as the sounds of Nurse Joy's chipper voice and the beeping of the restoration machine filled her ears, Abrielle started to relax. This was a safe place, especially for young trainers, who were granted free food, lodging, access to the PCs, and more. Realizing how adamant Steven had been about getting her there promptly gave her further pause, and she didn't know whether to feel more embarrassed or disappointed.

Somehow, Steven had found the most minute fracture in her composure and gently, but forcefully wedged it open further so he could reach her. She supposed it made sense – the teenager's love of geology likely made him more astute at noticing even the smallest of details.

His plan had backfired initially though, and Brie hugged her chest slightly upon recalling how she had practically yelled at the poor guy. The surprise and, more evident, the hurt that had reflected in his eyes at that moment . . .

She shuddered and hoped she would never have to see that look again.

More importantly, Brie never wanted to be the cause of such feelings, especially not in someone as kind as Steven. He had never been anything short of friendly and compassionate toward her, and how had she responded to him? With anger.

I'm such an idiot. She cursed internally.

Turning on her heel she suddenly noticed that Steven was no longer standing beside her, and she felt a slight panic when she couldn't locate him as her eyes scanned the entire Pokémon Center. There were many trainers standing around chatting, trading, and taking a break from their travels, but Steven was nowhere to be seen.

He must have left . . . She thought to herself solemnly, stomach once again tied in a knot.

But that's what I wanted – well, what I basically said I wanted. And after the way I treated him, I can't blame him.

Her eyes felt heavy, and she looked up at the ceiling despite the blinding lights glaring down at her – she had to keep the tears that had begun to collect from falling, at least until she healed her team.

"I'm so sorry, Steven . . ."

"For what?"

The soft sound of his voice caused her to blink, the tears that had been threatening to fall started to trickle down her cheeks against her wishes. Steven had two lunch trays balanced in his hands and a questioning look on his face. She hastily rubbed at her eyes and he shot her a sympathetic smile.

"You thought I left." It was a statement rather than a question.

"I mean . . . I would have." Abrielle admitted while averting her gaze slightly. "And I wouldn't have blamed you at all for it. No one needs my drama."

"Drama?" Steven quirked an eyebrow while taking a few steps closer. "Well now I'm intrigued. Sounds like the perfect thing to talk about over lunch. Would you prefer to eat in here or some place outside?"

"Steven . . ." Brie exhaled deeply.

"Personally, I think it would be more pleasant outside. We could even sit on the beach if you don't mind the sand."

Any further protests died in her throat as he gestured for her to follow her, the twinkle in those shimmering silvery blue eyes impossible to ignore.

"The beach sounds nice, I guess." She admitted, trailing behind him.

As Brie followed Steven toward the shoreline of Cinnabar Island she relished in the muted sounds of their footsteps as they traversed the sand. She was tempted to take her shoes off and walk barefoot, but didn't want to look ridiculous.

"This looks like a nice spot." He announced proudly as he gestured to the waves rolling toward them. "Close enough to enjoy the sounds of the sea, but far enough to avoid getting wet."

"You're too much." She mused while lowering herself to the ground, feeling more relaxed as she felt the soft sand against the palms of her hand. "The sand isn't even that hot."

"Location is key." Steven laughed while handing her the lunch tray. She noticed a slice of pizza with a small salad, cheese breadstick, chocolate chip cookie, and a bottle of water. "Here you are, I hope this is all right. They didn't have a ton of choices, and I figured pizza seems like a safe option."

Brie carefully accepted the meal. "Thank you so much."

"It was no trouble." He offered with a smile. "I was planning to grab some lunch anyway before I head back to Rustboro."

"Is that where you live?"

Steven nodded. "My dad is the president of a tech company, Devon Corp., which is nestled in Rustboro City. It's a nice area. Even though it's the fourth largest city in Hoenn, a lot of the architecture has an older, rustic quality to it since it was designed with stone."

"It sounds lovely." Brie acknowledged him with a small smile while taking a cautious bite of her pizza. Truth be told she was starving, but she didn't want him to know that. Generally used to eating alone and being less mindful of her manners, she now felt like she had to eat with more vigilance than usual. Steven seemed to pick up on this and shook his head.

"Relax." He said calmly. "We can talk after you replenish your energy. It's important that you eat."

Abrielle nodded and ate a bit more. She didn't know why everything tasted so much better than usual. It wasn't as if the food was all that different from one Pokémon Center to the next. But perhaps there was some truth to what her parents had told her – what makes a meal "good" is the good company that you share it with, and Steven was the best company she had found since she left home.

"Did you . . . do anything special for your birthday?"

The question clearly surprised him, and his eyes widened slightly as he finished a bite of his pizza. "You remembered that?"

"Of course." She huffed as if insulted. "I even gave you a gift."

"Yes, you did." Steven smirked while reaching inside of his bag knowingly. "And a truly magnificent one at that. Do you know I stopped by the Cinnabar Lab and the head scientist told me this sample is sufficient enough to revitalize the ancient pokémon, aerodactyl?"

Brie swallowed hard, almost choking on the cherry tomato in her salad.

"I know, I was speechless too." He continued, his eyes twinkling in excitement as he held the precious amber in his hands and stroked it faintly. "You can imagine how excited I am. When I feel capable of training and raising such a fiersome pokémon I will be sure to revive it."

"Oh wow, that's . . . terrifying."

Steven quirked an eyebrow. "How so?" Poking fun at her he added, "Don't trust me to do it proper?"

"I mean, I've never seen you battle before, so I have no idea how you are as a trainer . . ." Pausing a moment, Brie continued "But you're very perceptive and intuitive, so I imagine whatever pokémon you have must take a shining to you. Even my teammates seems to like you, and they're a bit standoffish."

"I can't begin to imagine where they get that from." Steven teased, lending Brie to roll her eyes. "But you bring up a good point. It would be advantageous to both of us if we answer that question here and now."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, we should have a battle."

Brie went quiet for a minute, contemplating the idea. It wasn't necessarily a bad idea, but for some reason the thought of battling Steven seemed less than desirable. Up until this point, every face that stared back at her from across the field was an obstacle to overcome, but she didn't see him that way. If anything, Steven felt like the wind beneath her wings, cheering her on from the sidelines. The thought of him being her opponent felt out of place and almost uncomfortable. Regardless of the outcome of the battle, Abrielle had her doubts, which must have been obvious to Steven, who seemed to be watching her carefully, waiting for her to give him an answer.

"I don't know . . ."

"Please Abrielle?" His face was beaming at the thought of battling her, and it was clear he now had his heart set on it. "What if I told you it would help me grow as well? I may not be collecting gym badges like you, but I'm trying to develop my battle techniques, as well. And I can tell you won't go easy on me, which I appreciate and respect wholeheartedly."

"It's just . . . I don't want to think of you that way."

Steven shot her a puzzled look. "As a challenger?"

"As an enemy, an opponent." Gazing up into the sky, which seemed dull from the volcanic smoke and ash gently emerging from the island's volcano she continued. "I don't know if it's presumptious to call you a friend . . . maybe it is, I don't know. But what I do know is that I like this." Gesturing to the space in between them she added "I like what we have right now. I don't want this dynamic to change."

"Abrielle, you misunderstand." He replied, placing his tray on the ground beside him. "I want to battle you as a friend, to help support your growth as a trainer, and mine."

The feeling of a firm hand on her shoulder felt comforting, and Brie returned her attention to the boy beside her.

"And I like what we have, too. I'm happy that you see me as a friend. I assure you, the feeling is mutual. A battle isn't going to change that. If anything, it might make our friendship stronger."

Brie didn't seem completely sold, but decided to indulge him a bit. She figured it was the least she could do considering how much effort he was putting into making her feel better.

"Okay, fine." She acquiesced.

"Excellent!" He cheered while standing up. "Well, here is my team!" With gusto, Steven retrieved his pokéballs and released his partners. Brie looked on in amazement and confusion, unable to identify any of his pokémon. Shooting Steven a quizzical expression, she waited for him to introduce them.

"This is Beldum, my very first pokémon. It's a dual steel/psychic type, and my strongest partner." Gesturing to the others, Steven proceeded to follow suit until Brie had been introduced to all of them.

"They're really something." Brie acknowledged while watching Beldum float around in circles around Steven, who was smiling while stroking his Skarmory's head as it craned its neck closer. "I take it you prefer metallic pokémon?"

"Very observant." He hummed while shushing his Aron, which had started releasing cries of impatience. Kneeling down beside it and stroking its metallic head he smiled. "Steel pokémon are so unique. They're hard and tough, yet so cool and smooth to the touch. And although they don't look it, they're incredibly addictive to snuggle. I love the way their bodies rebuff when you hug them. Just because they're metallic doesn't mean they're less empathetic. You can forge strong bonds with steel types just as easily as any other – no pun intended."

Abrielle was speechless as she listened to him profess his admiration for his partners. It was honestly adorable how much the young man cared about his pokémon, and it made her feel warmth inside. Steven seemed to notice and chuckled faintly.

"Oh dear, I've started rambling again, haven't I?"

"I'm learning that's to be expected from you."

A delicate flush suddenly tinged his cheeks and he cleared his throat. "Well, rather than monopolize the conversation any longer, I think I'll stand back so you can introduce your teammates."

Brie nodded, suddenly feeling a bit light-hearted and eager to show off her partners, too. Tossing the pokéballs into the air gently, red lights flashed brightly before revealing the creatures contained within them. Arcanine howled eagerly, recognizing Steven and wagging its fluffy tail happily. Marowak and Scyther took defensive stances initially, but relaxed a bit as they sensed Abrielle's now somewhat calmer state of mind. Skarmory seemed to do the same. Seadra shot out like a rocket and headed toward the sea, splashing about zealously as it eyed Steven from a distance.

"Amazing . . ." He beamed while taking in each member of Brie's lineup. "You have quite a well-balanced team. Good variety for type-matchups, abilities . . . I think you've done a remarkable job raising and training them. Especially to have 3 of your 5 pokémon fully evolved."

"What do you mean?" She inquired suddenly, causing Steven cup his chin in his hand.

"Well, I believe your seadra and scyther can evolve, when certain conditions are met."

"Really?" Brie wondered dubiously. "The pokédex doesn't say anything about that . . ."

"Mm, maybe those forms haven't been discovered in Kanto yet?" Steven thought suddenly. "Or perhaps their evolutions are still widely considered phenomena cloaked in mystery . . . either way, the extent to which you have trained your pokémon is quite impressive." Smirking a bit and taking a more energized stance he added, "This will be an exciting battle, I can tell . . . are you ready?"

Abrielle looked around momentarily to make sure they were far enough from the commotion of other people. With as resolute of a nod as she could muster she ordered Marowak to start things off. Steven echoed her gusto with his Skarmory, which flew fiercely toward the ground-type flailing its bone club as it charged.

"Use bonemerang to knock it down!"

"Skarmory, dodge and use steel wing!"

Brie was surprised by the metallic bird's speed and agility as it easily avoided her Marowak's attack and made a direct hit with its counter. The ground-type staggered a bit as it regained its footing and turned on its heel.

"Excellent, now use drill peck!" He exclaimed as Skarmory did as instructed, diving directly toward Marowak.

"Dodge and use headbutt!" She offered, but the attack seemed to bounce off, causing the ground-type to once again lose its balance and stumble a bit.

Damn, it's fast.

"Keep up the pressure, Skarmory!" Steven cheered. "Use fury attack!"

"Marowak, try bonemerang once more!"

But before it was able to launch its attack, Skarmory had lunged toward it and was fiercely jabbing its sharp, metallic beak at the ground-type pokémon's skull. Having taken an interest in the small fracture on it, the steel-type focused its attacks on that area, striking down hard enough to cause Marowak to release a sound Brie had never heard before, but could tell was one of pain.

The ground-type tried to bat away Skarmory's relentless attacks, but the heavy metallic pokémon had it pinned beneath its sharp talons.

Abrielle felt her stomach twist into a knot.

"Marowak, return!" She called as she ordered it back into its pokéball, causing Skarmory to scan the ground in confusion as its opponent disappeared from view.

"That was a smart move." Steven commented while nodding. "You're very responsible with your pokémon, Abrielle."

"You're stronger than you look." She retorted while gesturing for Arcanine to take its place on her side of the battlefield. "I may have underestimated you."

"Hm, is that so?" He raised an eyebrow. "Well, you know better than to do so from this point on. Let's see if Arcanine fares better against Skarmory than Marowak did."

Brie could feel the atmosphere shift, competitive spirits ablaze and eyeing each other from opposite sides of field. The spark in Steven's eyes was a bit unsettling as it seemed more pervasive and intense, but she imagined that his silvery blue eyes mirrored her own in that respect.

"Arcanine, use fire spin!"

"Skarmory, dodge and use drill peck!"

Despite the steel-type's dauntless attack style, it was ultimately slowed down and overpowered by the burning hot moveset of its opponent as Arcanine set the field and its opponents ablaze. Brie quickly learned that fire was one of the only true weaknesses of the strong, durable steel pokémon without Steven even needing to tell her this. Arcanine made light work of Aron as well, easily reducing it to a tired mess on the ground.

What surprised Brie was how formidable Steven's Beldum was, especially because it didn't really look like all that much – just a floating steel limb with an eye. But it proved to be quite the opponent, especially when using psychic-type moves like confusion in combination with strong physical attacks like take down and iron head. It seemed that flying-, water-, and even fire- type moves weren't sufficient at bringing it down.

"I suppose you only have Scyther left." Steven noted suddenly while admiring the dual bug- and flying-type pokémon staring at his Beldum with a piercing gaze. "He was your first pokémon, I presume?"

"How do you know that?"

"Well, it seems to exhibit the same body language and disposition as you, which means it's spent ample time traveling and training with you." Steven offered with a smile. "It's amazing, really. I feel like you're two peas in a pod."

"Yeah, well . . . ditto."

At this he quirked an eyebrow causing Brie to retract her reply. "Not ditto like the pokémon . . . ditto, as in I see a lot of Beldum in you, too."

"Really?" Steven smiled.

"Yeah, you may not seem like much at first glance but you pack one heck of a punch."

The young man's face lit up as if he were genuinely relishing in the comment. "Thank you, Abrielle. That means a lot to hear you say that."

Clearing her throat she added, "Yeah, but don't forget we're still in the middle of a battle!"

"Oh!" Steven gasped. "You're right, where are my manners? Beldum, use iron head!"

"Scyther, dodge and use fury cutter!"

The mantis pokémon did as it was told, its speed far surpassing the dual steel- and psychic-type, though its attacks seemed to do little damage. Brie noticed and cursed under her breath while contemplating her strategy.

"We've gotta break through that iron defense, Scyther use swords dance!"

"Oh no you don't, iron head again!" Steven ordered, watching Beldum land the attack and cause its opponent to flinch, disrupting its attempts to raise its attack stats.

Damnit.

"Great, now use take down!" Steven yelled as Beldum charged through the air in Scyther's direction.

"Scyther, double team!"

Without a second to spare, the dual bug- and flying-type hastily made illusions of itself across the field, causing Beldum to lunge at a false copy and dive directly into the sandy shoreline. It hit the beach with such force that it practically buried itself beneath the sand, giving Scyther an opportunity to release a flurry of attacks.

"Scyther, fury cutter now!"

While the initial attacks seemed to bounce off, each successive hit seemed to become more noticeable, and Steven visibly flinched upon hearing the sharp blades slice against his pokémon's metallic body.

"Beldum, get out of there!" He cried, but Scyther refused to let it escape as it kept hammering away at the dual steel- and psychic-type, battering it against the sand.

Although Steven hadn't called off Skarmory's attacks against Marowak, Brie felt the compulsion to return Scyther. But before she could do that she saw Beldum disappear as her opponent returned his partner into its pokéball.

"You did a fantastic job, thanks Beldum." Steven said with an appreciate smile before returning his attention to Brie, who was staring open-mouthed at him from across the field. "My goodness, you certainly didn't hold back one bit. That was truly an adrenaline rush like I've never experienced before . . . astonishing."

"Now who's underestimating whom?" She challenged with a playful smile.

"Mm, perhaps you're right. We both entered this battle feeling confident in ourselves to arise victorious, and yet . . ." Shaking his head before combing his silvery blue strands back from his face he added, "You're something special all right, Abrielle. I dare say anyone you've fought against wouldn't soon forget a battle like this. I certainly won't."

Brie's face flushed slightly at the compliment. "T-Thanks." Returning Scyther into its pokéball she started anew. "For everything, I mean. Being so understanding, supportive . . . I would say you're something special in your own right, Steven."

Now it was Steven's turn to blush a tad. "I'm just doing what any good friend would do . . ."

"But I'm not easy to be friends with – I know that. And it means a lot to me that you still want to be friends. And so, if you want to . . . you can call me Brie."

"Really?" The young man almost gasped. "Referring to someone by nickname is so much more . . . you really mean it?"

"I-It's not that big of a deal, so don't go blowing it out of proportion or anything." She countered, attempting to mask her embarrassment with feigned irritation, though truthfully she thought his response was sweet.

He seems really taken aback by that . . .

"Thank you . . . Brie." Steven spoke softly. "That means a lot to me, knowing how much you value our friendship."

"Y-Yeah, of course." She sighed.

Hardly a beat passed between them before Steven broke the silence.

"I suppose you won't be surprised to know that I still expect some sort of explanation for your distressed demeanor earlier." His expression soon shifted into that of a more mature, concerned young man, his eyes softening as he added, "What's going on, Brie?"

Honestly, Abrielle didn't know where to start, or if she should even consider telling him anything remotely similar to the truth. She had a feeling Steven would be able to tell if she was lying, though, and thought that she could follow suit with how she had presented her case with Koga and Janine in Fuschia City.

If Steven truly was her friend, he would listen, he would understand, and most of all, he would respect her wishes to fly under the radar.

She just hoped the mature, rationale side of him didn't approach the situation like a concerned adult – 17 years old or not, he still seemed more thoughtful and knowledgeable about the world than most teenagers his age.

"I'm just feeling . . . overwhelmed, I guess." Brie whispered. "Venturing out on my own has been more arduous than I imagined, and I'm just feeling a bit disillusioned is all."

Steven seemed to be considering her words carefully, as if piecing together a puzzle in his mind. A slight pout claimed his handsome face, indicating that something didn't quite "fit."

"You seemed very focused and 'in the zone' battling me just now . . ." He offered, not in an argumentative way in so much as a probing manner.

"Y-Yeah, that's because it feels different battling you."

"Something tells me you're quite consistent in falling into a 'battle-ready' mode when presented with a challenge or an obstacle. There's more to it than that, isn't there?"

Abrielle bit her bottom lip slightly and averted his gaze. The feeling of his hand gently, but firmly squeezing her shoulder made it difficult to avoid him entirely, and coupled with the low register of his voice that followed . . .

"We're friends, Brie, and friends help each other."

"There's nothing to 'help' me with, Steven." She stated flatly. "Honest."

Though clearly dissatisfied with this answer, he didn't push the envelope any further and instead released a deep breath and withdrew from her a bit, giving her space.

"All right." Steven replied. "But if you ever should need my help, promise me that you'll take it? I have a lot of connections, so I'm confident that, whatever the issue is, I can help you resolve it."

Brie couldn't contain the small smile tugging at her lips. This young man was much too kind for his own good, and she hoped that he would never be taken advantage of for it.

"Okay, I will."

She saw him quirk an eyebrow, as if he was waiting for her to finish. Rolling her eyes she suddenly added, "I promise."

"Fair enough." Steven acquiesced. "Well, Miss. Abrielle, I do believe you have a gym badge to win." He shot her a playful grin that made her feel more relaxed. "Do you mind if I walk you to the Cinnabar Island Gym? It's inside of the volcano, if you can believe it! I actually planned to do one last look around before heading back home tomorrow."

Brie chuckled a bit at hearing this. "Why am I not surprised?" She nodded and smiled a bit before adding, "Sure, why not."

"Excellent."

Just as Steven had mentioned, the gym was located deep inside the volcano. Unable to traverse beyond the entrance (not meeting the badge requirement and focused on his scavenging), he waved her off and wished her luck.

"Not that you'll need it." He quipped with a wink. "I'm confident you'll emerge victorious, Brie. Just pace yourself . . . and don't get heat exhaustion, okay?" Handing her a bottle of water he added, "I'll be here if you need anything."

Unable to contain the flush of embarrassment that tinted her face upon hearing him speak to her in such a caring manner, she was thankful that she could use the heat from the volcano as an excuse.

Every so often Abrielle would be stopped and required to solve a riddle or quiz in order to advance. If her answer was incorrect, she would be forced to battle against the trainers who were assigned to their posts. If her answer was correct, she could advance without fighting. She was quite shrewd, however, and was able to solve most of the riddles with ease, but still opted to engage in battles with each trainer to prepare herself for Blaine.

By the time she reached the self-proclaimed "hot-headed quiz master," she was dripping with sweat and feeling vexed by the heat, which seemed relentless. Fire-type mastery aside, it seemed excessive to build a pokémon gym inside of an active volcano.

"Welcome, challenger! I see that you managed to not only pass all my quizzes, but also defeat my trainers!" The Cinnabar Gym leader's voice was loud and energetic, snapping Brie out of her somewhat exhausted stupor. "My name is Blaine, and as you've probably deduced, I specialize in fire-type pokémon. I hope you've got some burn heals!"

It turned out to be that Steven's assumption had been correct – it was Blaine who ended up feeling the burn as Brie steamrolled his team with a combination of Marowak and Seadra's movesets and type advantages. The speed and power of the gym leader's lineup could not be overlooked, however. Rapidash and Arcanine had been challenging targets to hit, and Ninetales and Magmar had dealt massive damage when their attacks landed successfully. Yet, despite being all "fired up," Abrielle had managed to reduce the hot-headed quiz master to a pile of ashes, and although his initial reaction seemed to show him boiling over in frustration, he quickly simmered down to a calmer state and sighed while extending out his hand. Within it was the striking red symbol of her victory.

"No one enjoys losing, especially not me. But you've bested me, kid, that's no joke. Take this Volcano Badge as proof of the fire burning deep down inside of you."

"The fire burning inside of me?" She wondered aloud, at which Blaine chuckled.

"Figuratively speaking, yes. Passion is like fire, it burns brightest when it has a purpose. The more passionate you feel, the hotter your flames burn." Bending down a bit to get a better look at her face he added, "I can see it flickering in your eyes – a strong, burning desire to keep going. I'm rooting for you, kid!"

"Thanks Mr. Blaine." Abrielle bowed slightly.

"By the way, I never caught your name . . ." He started anew.

"It's Abrielle." She replied gently while tucking the badge into her small box and placing it back inside her satchel.

"Ah, what a unique name. But you are a rather unique person, so I suppose it fits." Pausing a moment as if mulling over whether or not to add something he finally shook his head. "Want to hear a quick pun?"

"Okay." Brie figured the least she could do was humor him since he still clearly felt bothered by the loss, at least a little bit.

"How do volcanoes show affection?"

Abrielle thought it over before answering and snorted internally at how bad the joke probably was, should she be correct. "They say 'I lava you?'"

Blaine made a loud noise reminiscent of a buzzer and started laughing. "I knew you'd get it! I always erupt into laughter at that one!"

He's kind of eccentric, but I can appreciate his humor I guess. She thought to herself as she released a nervous laugh before waving goodbye and turning on her heel to leave.

As she neared the exit she found that Steven was waiting for her, a huge grin on his face. Before she had a chance to tell him she had won he was already clapping.

"That was amazing, Brie! Congratulations!" He exclaimed.

"Thanks, Steven." She offered much quieter, feeling a tad out of place as other trainers started turning their heads to see what all the commotion was about. "I take it you saw the match?"

"Oh yes, a truly phenomenal display of poise, strategy, and determination!"

He's so over the top . . . She thought to herself, but a goofy smile started to claim her face. And yet . . . he makes me forget about the other things. It's nice.

Clearing her throat she started anew. "How did you make out with your excavating?"

"Great!" Steven said with a chipper look while retrieving one of his many samples. "I found a beautiful specimen . . . the igneous rock, obsidian. It's beautiful, isn't it? Nature's glass. Just look at that luster as the light bounces off. It's solid, yet smooth. Absolute perfection, if I do say so myself."

And here he goes again with the rambling. Brie laughed internally as she proceeded to exit the gym, with Steven keeping pace alongside of her.

A short time following the gym battle, Steven insisted he needed to attend to something for a bit.

"I'm not heading home until tomorrow, so don't worry." He told her before taking off in a different direction, almost breaking into a jog as he did so.

The sun had begun to set, and Brie decided it would be best to check into the island's pokémon center and make lodging arrangements for the evening. As the hours passed she began to feel restless, which didn't make sense to her. The past year, Brie had become somewhat accustomed to being alone, though she still had difficulty staying asleep and warding off the nightmares that continued to plague her.

Part of her felt discouraged – why did Steven's absence bother her? It wasn't as if they had spent months together and now he was leaving.

And yet there was this feeling of something missing when he was gone.

Steven had become her first and only friend following her parents' passing and decision to embark on her journey. He had become so easy to talk to and be around that the idea of him returning to his own region was equivalent to ripping off a bandage – it would hurt like hell, and then leave a residual sting for a bit, but Brie knew she would get over it. At the end of the day, she needed to be alone – it was the safest option for herself and everyone else.

A sudden knock on the door pulled her from her mind's wanderings, and she slowly opened the door, raising her eyebrows as she recognized her visitor.

"Steven?"

"Hi Brie." He acknowledged her with a small smile. "I apologize – it took longer than I expected, but it's done and I'm so excited to show you . . . may I come in?"

"Um, sure I guess . . ." Truthfully, the lodging situation in the pokémon centers weren't all that strict – boys and girls were allowed to be in the same rooms, but only as children, and neither her or Steven were kids at this point, though that didn't stop adults from referring to them as such. Fortunately she wasn't sharing the room with anyone else at the moment, so it wouldn't seem all that weird she supposed. Gesturing for him to have a seat he nodded and did just that.

"Remember the obsidian I found earlier?"

"Yeah, how can I not when you went on and on about it for like ten minutes."

Steven released a sheepish grin and scratched the back of his head. "I do apologize. It's a nervous habit . . ."

"I think you like to hear yourself talk."

The look he shot her was hysterical – his mouth was agape, then closed as he thought over her words before glancing at her with an accusatory look. "That's not true."

"Even a little bit?" She gestured, almost pinching her thumb and pointer finger together.

"Okay, maybe a tad."

"I knew it."

At this Steven gawked a bit and combed his silvery strands away from his eyes with his hand, hiding the tinge of red spreading across his cheeks. "Sorry."

"Don't be." Abrielle smiled. "I like listening to you talk about things you enjoy."

Steely blue eyes regarded her with a soft appreciative glimmer before he cleared his throat and started anew.

"Well, as I was saying . . . there's an artisan jewelry maker on the island who specializes in creating accessories and other items from the rocks and minerals she collects from the volcano. I asked her to make this for you . . ." Extending his hand and opening his closed fist Brie's eyes widened as she gazed at the bracelet resting inside of it.

"It's really pretty, Steven, but you didn't have to do that . . ."

"Honestly Abrielle, how could I not do something for you? After everything you've done for me . . . and besides, you must have had a birthday by now? Do you really think I would take a gift from you without returning the gesture in kind?"

Brie relented a bit. It was true that her birthday had come and gone without much thought on her part or anyone else's for that matter – to be fair, she was basically surrounded by strangers, but still . . .

"Okay, but Steven . . . if that's worth something you should sell it."

"Absolutely not." He countered while gently prying open her and lowering the accessory into it. "I had this made for you, no one else. Even though I'm still skeptical about the artisan's preface on obsidian's healing properties, I do hope it provides some sense of comfort to you."

"What do you mean 'healing properties?" Abrielle wondered aloud while sliding the bracelet around her wrist, loving how each small obsidian bead felt smooth against her skin.

"There are those who believe minerals and rocks are beneficial on a psychological and physical level." Steven started anew. "Obsidian is said to be a protective stone against negativity, blocking out or otherwise absorbing negative energies from the environment. The wearer is said to be relieved of mental stress and tension."

"Wow, that sounds like a perfect rock to give me then." Brie sort of chuckled, at which Steven smiled.

"That's what I was thinking . . ." A beat or two passed between them before he stood up from her bed and proceeded toward the door. "Well, we should both get some rest. I'm sure you're an early riser, and I have to make my way back to Hoenn."

"Yeah . . ." Brie began to twirl the igneous beads around her wrist while thinking of something more substantial to say, but it seemed that she missed her "window" as Steven added "Goodnight, Brie."

As the door latched shut behind him Abrielle flopped backward against the mattress and stared up at the bunk bed above her. As she closed her eyes, she hoped that the artisan had been correct about the obsidian – she could use a good night's sleep.