Passing into Route 4, I'm immediately blasted with wind and pelted with sand. I quickly run back into Nimbasa City and try to dust myself off.

"Great, a sandstorm," I mutter as Snivy coughs in my arms. "I knew my luck would waver eventually."

Zorua looks up at me quizzically. Your luck?

I shrug. "Well, I met you and Snivy today, so I'd consider that pretty lucky."

Zorua shakes its head, but I can see it smiling. Whatever.

"Anyways, we've gotta get through that sandstorm somehow."

I mean, we could just run through it.

"Maybe, but we still won't be able to see much. It'll be hard to find the entrance to Castelia City that way."

Suddenly, Snivy begins to struggle in my arms, so I put it down. "What's up?"

Before I can stop it, Snivy rushes back into the exit, crossing back into Route 4. When I manage to catch up to it, I see it doing... something. I turn to Zorua, who had been trailing behind me, and ask, "Is it using a move?"

It's about to. Watch closely.

I nod and watch as Snivy's hands begin to glow, producing a mass of leaves that swirl around its body with increasing speed. Then, Snivy thrusts its hands forward, forcing the swirling leaves in front of it and beyond. In the space surrounded by leaves, I can see a distinct decrease in flying sand.

"Whoa! What move is that?"

I believe it is Leaf Tornado, though I've never seen it used like this. Snivy must have thought to use it to help you out.

I walk over to Snivy and pick it back up, careful not to break its focus. "Thanks, Snivy. Can you keep this up until we reach Castelia City?"

Snivy has a strained look on its face, but it manages to nod.

"Alright, Zorua, let's go."

Zorua hops onto my shoulder as I start to sprint, quickly glancing at my surroundings in search of the exit. After about 5 minutes of running, the exit appears in front of us. With one last burst of speed, I blast through into a bustling Castelia City street.

I get some weird looks from passerby, but most ignore me as I slow to a walk and Snivy ceases its Leaf Tornado.

"Thanks again, Snivy," I whisper as I rub its head. Snivy rests its head on my chest, seemingly tired due to the prolonged Leaf Tornado.

Before long, we enter what appears to be Castelia City's central plaza. Trees line the outskirts of the fenced-in area, with a large fountain surrounded by benches in the center. I take a seat on one of the benches, still breathing heavily from the mad dash to get here.

Zorua hops down from my shoulder onto the bench and leans into my thigh. You okay?

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm no stranger to running. Mostly running away."

Zorua stares at me. What's that supposed to mean, Markus?

"Well, let's just say I'm not really supposed to be on a journey."

Why?

"It's a bit of a long story, Zorua. Besides, we've got to keep moving."

We can walk and talk at the same time.

"Fine," I say, getting up. "You win. I'll tell you. You get to learn why I'm as broken as I am."

Zorua quickly climbs back up onto my shoulder. Oh. I understand now. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.

I sigh, walking towards the plaza's southeast exit. "It's fine. It's about time I tell somebody other than myself. You are a friend, after all. You deserve to know."

You only met me today, Markus.

Passing through the exit, I find myself on another busy street, but this time I can see water where the road ends. "I know, but you've made me realize that I can't keep this inside me any longer. Besides, not like you'll use what you hear against me. I know that you care about me, despite the fact that I see no reason to."

I see.

I look around as I'm walking, only to notice quite a few people are looking at me like I'm crazy. "They all think I'm talking to myself," I mutter.

Maybe we should wait a bit.

"Agreed."

I continue to walk, now deciding to stay silent, and watch as people's gazes return to what they were previously doing. Good. As I reach the end of the street, a vast ocean greets me beyond a crowded port. I attempt to unfold my map with one hand, the other still holding Snivy, and manage to reveal the part of the map I needed to see. I look to my left and find what the map depicted, the exit leading to Skyarrow Bridge.

I quickly fold the map back up and slide it into a pocket, speeding up as I make for the exit. As I pass through, I notice the distinct lack of people here as opposed to Castelia City, almost as if its residents were confined within its borders. Either that or all their business is conducted in the city.

"Looks like we're in the clear."

Go ahead, then.

"Time to talk about my parents."