Chapter 2

A Farewell Promise

. . . . . . . . . .

14:45, March 17, Unified Year 4731 - Central Federation, Region of Fiore, Winteroot town

. . . . .

The distant sound of a sharp, high pitched whistle broke the calm ambiance, the deep rumble and the metallic clang of steam power slowly breaking through the natural sounds of the forest. To Clay Rockenhaeuser, the sound could only mean that the biweekly train from Capitol Valley was drawing near; it was the only thing in Winteroot Town that sounded even remotely mechanical.

Hearing the sound of the train come in always made his heart race, though not because he thought the train itself was fascinating. Trains certainly were not a new invention; they had been around for several years by now. No, it was what the trains represented that made Clay so excited to see one.

The prospect of leaving Winteroot.

To be fair, it wasn't as if Clay hated his hometown. As a matter of fact, he adored it.

'Though… If only it were as lively as the elders said this place was all those years ago.'

Several generations ago, during its heyday, Winteroot Town was uniquely different to the vast number of other frontier towns that began developing around the area. Due to its location and relative ease of access from the capital, Winteroot quickly established itself as an eastern hub where Pokémon of all different kinds would gather as they spread out eastwards from Capitol Valley. Because of this, Winteroot developed rapidly, with large, ornate buildings being erected to accommodate the Pokémon there.

But now that the rush for new lands was long over, Winteroot had since faded to insignificance; the only thing reminding the residents there of the town's historical importance being the town streets that were noticeably too wide for the number of Pokémon that the town held, as well as the distinct Georgian architecture that dictated the design and feel of all the buildings that were there. Once a show of the height of civil engineering and modern design in years gone by, the buildings were now a sign of the power and affluence that Winteroot Town no longer possessed.

Clay looked about the street as he continued to make his way through the town. He had to admit, despite the supposed antiqueness of the town, the place had aged surprisingly well. For a town that's so old, the place certainly didn't feel that way. In a classical sense, it was rather relaxing and homely. The old Gulpin, the mayor of the town, seemed to agree, for he took great pride in the relaxed and peaceful nature of the town.

'But that's kind of the point, isn't it?' Thought Clay. 'He's old.' The more that Clay thought about it, the more he was convinced that it wasn't possible for someone young to become the mayor of Winteroot. As a matter of fact, most of the Pokémon that lived here were old. All this serenity just wasn't enough to keep a young Pokémon entertained.

Certainly, this place didn't have the allure or excitement that a city could provide, if this place even had it at all. Up until now, Clay could only imagine what life in the city was like. He imagined great, metal structures that pierced the murky sky, the ground far below littered with several layers of constant bright lights and an endless buzz quite unlike the sleepy town atmosphere that he had known. Occasionally, he would meet the odd Pokémon that hailed from one of the big cities, and their stories of urban life would only serve to fuel his desires to visit them.

And no city was as alluring or as fantastical as Capitol Valley.

Of course, he hasn't been to Capitol Valley before. He had never even left Winteroot Town. But he had heard enough stories about the place that it held his interests in an almost possessive manner. The capital of the Federation, Capitol Valley, also known simply as 'the Capitol', was said to be a vast metropolis, bristling with technology that made its residents live a modern lifestyle so vastly different to that of Winteroot that it was almost inconceivable to imagine it.

This time, however, Clay's heart started to beat hard not because of his fantasies of the city life.

This time, he would actually be boarding the train.

For the first time in his life, he would be leaving Winteroot Town.

Not only that, but his destination couldn't have been better.

He was headed for the Capitol.

He adjusted his satchel around the fur on his collar and started to quicken his pace, trying his best not to stumble on his bag; Not a particularly easy feat, given that, as a somewhat chubby Eevee, he was prone to being a little clumsy with his feet.

It wasn't the fact that he was feeling rushed, or even late for that matter. Rather, he was actually unusually early in his departure. While it was true that missing the train would have rather serious consequences due to the sheer infrequency of them, the sound of the train arriving signaled that he had a good two hours to get there before the train would even be ready to depart; more than ample time to get to the station, given that, due to the size of Winteroot, it would only ever take him, at most, fifteen to twenty minutes to get there.

And yet his pace refused to slow down. He had told all those around him that his early departure was only a result of his excitement for leaving the town. And while this was undeniably true, he hadn't been able to convince himself that it was the only reason why he chose to leave home early that day.

'What am I doing…? We aren't even supposed to meet up till an hour later!'

Memories of a particular friend of his flashed across his mind. Another Eevee, ordinary in appearance by almost any means except for her size, but unlike any other Pokémon that Clay had known his whole life. Though a whole two years younger than him, she was placed in his class, becoming the youngest of his graduating year. Many speculated that she was bumped up a few years due to her distinguished academics; her grades certainly seemed to imply so. Yet, whenever she was approached with the question, she would always strongly deny that to be true.

Her sickly nature during her youth resulted in a stunted growth, making her somewhat smaller than the average Eevee. As a result of this, she was often subject to teasing and bullying from a few of her peers, and though Clay tried his best to defend her from them, the experience nevertheless left her timid and nervous around those that had yet to earn her trust. Regardless, she had been a close friend of his for as long as he could remember, which was probably why he had so readily agreed upon her request to meet him one last time before he left.

He swore that she couldn't be the only reason why he had chosen to leave that early, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn't think of another reason for his behaviour. It wasn't as if he had other friends or family to see before he set off for the city; he had already said his farewells to his friends on graduation day just a week ago. It just so happened that she was absent on that particular day due to a severe cold that she caught abruptly.

Clay paused for a moment, stopping in his tracks as he delved deeper into his thoughts.

'Actually, if she was at school that day, would I even be meeting her today…?'

"Clay, dear!"

His train of thoughts were interrupted by a familiar, grainy voice. He quickly turned around to see the town baker: an old Snubbull sitting on her favourite rocking chair by the entrance of her store.

"My, my, aren't you lively today, Clay. Are you heading somewhere with that bag of yours?"

Clay trotted over towards her, straightening out his satchel as he came towards her.

"Morning, Mrs. Potts! It's finally come, my time to leave the bird's nest," Clay was getting excited all over again just from the thought of it. "I'm heading to the Capitol."

The old Snubbull leaned back on her rocking chair, the old wood creaking on the porch. She closed her eyes and smiled a toothy grin, slowly rocking back and forth as she did so.

"Is that today? My, my, how time does sure fly… I haven't been there since forever ago… Are you on your way to the station now?"

Clay shook his head.

"No, I told Kit that I'd meet her in the plaza before I left."

She raised an eyebrow at his answer, her nostalgia filled smile turning into a frown.

"Kiteki? Hmmm… I think I saw her by the great cherry blossom tree at sunrise, but… If she was there because of you then… Oh dear… Stay here for a moment, dear boy."

Clay watched, confused, as the Snubbull hopped off her seat and hurriedly scurried back into her bakery as best as her aged body could allow her. She returned moments later, holding onto a beautiful red and white tablecloth that had been tied into a makeshift bag. Clay couldn't help but notice the smell of baked bread and sweet cakes that came from her. It was a familiar scent, one that he had known for as long as he could remember, and realizing that he would no longer be able to smell it again on a regular basis made his heart ache ever so slightly. The old Snubbull came up to him and thrust the package towards him.

"When you see her, share this with her, won't you dear? I'm worried that she hasn't eaten anything all day today; that girl can't afford to be skipping meals, dear."

Clay nodded, sitting down on the floor to open up his bag, before taking the package from the Snubbull and putting it inside his satchel. "That's awfully kind of you, ma'am. How much would that be? Ten credits?"

She shook her head, pushing back the wallet that Clay had taken out in a show of refusal.

"Don't be silly, dear. Take them, they're a gift from me to you. Just make sure to tell Kiteki to bring back that cloth when you're both done with it, alright?"

Clay hurriedly putting his wallet back into his satchel, before giving the old Snubbull a hug. She laughed at his actions, a gentle, welcoming laugh as she hugged him back in a warm embrace.

"I sure will, ma'am. Thank you."

"Now you be a good boy in the big city, alright dear?"

He nodded as he began to run off, the sweet smell of baked pastry trailing behind him. As he disappeared around the corner, the old Snubbull let out a long sigh before sinking back into her oak rocking chair. Closing her eyes once again, she began to gently rock back and forth, a satisfied smile on her lips.

"Be safe out there, dear."

. . . . . . . . . .

15:00, March 17, Unified Year 4731 - Winteroot, Town Plaza

. . . . .

Clay glanced at the clocktower as it rang.

Three o'clock in the afternoon.

His pace didn't slow down as he looked up to check the time. He technically wasn't late for anything, but after what he had heard, he couldn't help but feel rushed.

If Kiteki really had been at the plaza since sunrise, then it would have meant that she had been there for the past eight hours.

'Seriously… What on earth were you thinking, Kit?'

He panted hard as he ran down the street, his satchel flapping around his mane. Despite his weight, he possessed a surprising amount of athletic strength and ability. That said, he couldn't deny that his physique was troublesome at times. Even now, his body refused to listen to the urgency that he was feeling.

'Though… Maybe that'll change once I get to the city.'

Rounding another street corner, Clay finally slowed down to a halt, catching his breath as he looked at the beautiful sight in front of him. The town plaza, a wide, open space in the middle of the town, lay before him, its vastness filled with a marvelous arrangement of grassy fields and cobbled stone pathways in a landscaping masterpiece. On top of a small mound right in the centre of the plaza sat the famous cherry blossom tree, its old branches filled with the first signs that winter was ending. By the base of it, Clay could make out an Eevee, sleeping as she lay her head against the dark tree trunk. He couldn't quite tell if it was because the resting Eevee was petite for her kind, or because the tree was so abnormally large, but she looked absolutely tiny next to the great cherry blossom tree.

Clay let out a breathless laugh at the adorable sight as he slowly made his way up towards her. Dropping his satchel down by the roots of the tree, he sat down next to her, slumping against the bark as he caught his breath. Letting out a sigh as he relaxed, he turned towards Kiteki with the intent of waking her up, but instead paused as he brought his paw up towards her.

Seeing her sleeping with such a peaceful look on her face, he just couldn't bring himself to do it.

'Besides, we've still got plenty of time. No doubt she's tired from waiting for so long.'

He smiled briefly at the sight of her, before drawing his eyes back to the scenery around him. The grassy patches and fields that dotted the plaza were filled with the charming dazzle of spring flowers, their velvety petals gently swaying in the cool breeze. Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath through his nose, the sweet scent of springtime flooding his senses, before exhaling with a satisfied sigh. He hated to admit it since it made him sound like some country hick, but the crisp scent of spring was one of his favourites. Apart from the smell of freshly baked bread from the old Snubbull's bakery, few other scents gave his mind such peace and comfort.

"Ngghh…"

Clay opened his eyes, hearing his friend groan next to him, before turning around to check on her. Expecting to see her still sleeping soundly, he was instead taken aback at the sight of her tossing and turning, a pained grimace on her face. A concerned frown clouded his previously relaxed expression as he witnessed her.

'She's usually a quiet sleeper… What's going on?'

Worry clouded his mind as Kiteki grew more and more distressed with each passing moment, her groans sounding increasingly pained. Had he not seen her sleeping just a moment ago, he would have sworn that she was suffering from some sort of internal injury or had perhaps even suffered from assault. Her groans made it seem so; no doubt she would react in a similar way had she been struck by the tail of a Nidoking.

'No, this isn't normal.'

'This has to stop.'

Bringing back his paw to her side, he began to gently shake her in an attempt to wake her up, afraid of startling her should he wake her up too abruptly.

"Hey, Kit? You alright?"

Seeing no response from her, he shook her a little more vigorously. Whatever it was that she was suffering from, he decided that it would be better if she was at least awake and conscious. At least then she could tell him what was wrong.

"Kiteki!"

Besides, in her current state, she looked absolutely helpless.

"Kiteki! Kiteki!"

"W-What do you want…?"

His ears perked up as he heard her familiar, soft spoken voice.

'Did… Did she just mumble in her sleep? Can she hear me?'

Finally seeing some fruits bear from his efforts, he kept at it, shaking her with a gentle firmness as he tried to pull her out of her slumber.

"Kit, wake up!"

Kiteki's restless movements slowly died down, making Clay lift his paw off of her. For a moment, she slept quietly, her body almost completely still, the only noise she made being the gentle sound of her breathing. But just as he thought that she had recovered from whatever it was that ailed her, she bolted right up, her eyes wide as saucers and her face pale beneath her fur as she let out a desperate gasp, as if she had just recently been drowning. Bringing her paws up to her mane, she began frantically feeling around through her soft fur, searching for her neck.

Clay couldn't bear to watch her like this any longer.

Wrapping his paws around her, he pulled her in and hugged her tight. Despite her fur, she felt cold and clammy to the touch. He gently rubbed her back as he held her, hoping to calm her down.

"Hey, hey! It's okay! I'm here."

Whether it was from his embrace, or the realization that she still had her head attached to her body, Kiteki started to finally calm down, her hard, laboured breathing slowly returning to normal.

"…C-Clay…?"

"That's right, it's me."

Kiteki looked about her, dazed, confused at the current situation that she was in.

"Where… What… Where am I…?"

"Winteroot Town. By the cherry blossom tree. You've been here all day."

Clay released her from his hug, studying her with troubled eyes.

"You… You alright there, Kit?"

"I… I think so… Y-Yeah, I… I'm fine… Ehehehe…"

Looking about at the scenery around her, Kiteki turned to face Clay, staring at him before letting out a quiet giggle, laughing to herself.

"Pfft…! Clay, y-your face…! You look so stupid like that!"

Clay sighed heavily in response.

"Hey, c'mon! You have no idea how worried you made me!"

"I'm fine, I'm fine! Really! It's just some… S-Some stupid dream, I guess…"

"Stupid dream?" He looked at her, puzzled.

Kiteki simply nodded in reply. Clay figured that it was entirely possible that her previous antics could be explained by a vivid dream of sorts, though, if it was enough to make her writhe in her sleep, then it must have been one hell of a dream. Kiteki, seeing that Clay's frown hadn't loosened at all, pouted.

"S-Seriously, I'm fine! I'm not hurting anywhere or anything- "

Kiteki froze as her stomach grumbled, forcing an embarrassed blush from her cheeks.

"I… I guess I am pretty hungry though…"

Shaking his head, Clay opened his satchel, pulling out the parcel that he had received from the old Snubbull. Smelling the sweet scent of bread, Kiteki's eyes hungrily followed the package as Clay laid it down on the ground and unwrapped it, revealing a freshly baked oran loaf and cinnamon roll, still warm and toasty from being in the oven.

"You haven't eaten anything all day today, have you?"

Kiteki gulped, her eyes still glued to the two baked goods. It took more self-control than she would care to admit to stop herself from drooling on the spot.

"N-No… I was… Well… Busy…"

Seeing her reach for the cinnamon roll, Clay swatted her paw away.

'If I'm going to get some answers, now's the time to do it.'

"Yeah, yeah. And what were you doing here since sunrise?"

Kiteki looked up at him, surprised.

"W-Wha… How did you know?"

"Heard it from someone."

"W-Who?"

"That's not important. Seriously, what were you doing?"

She looked off to the horizon, watching the townsfolk going about on their business.

"I… I just came out for a walk... K-Kinda fell asleep here after stopping to take a break."

Clay frowned.

"Do you honestly expect me to believe that?"

Kiteki nodded with a stern look on her face.

"Yes! Stop asking me about it! It's rude!"

Clay, a little surprised by her unusually forceful reply, stared at her.

'Damn, she really doesn't want me to know.'

'Guess I'll drop it for now.'

"Suit yourself," Clay replied, leaning back against the tree with a sigh as he watched Kiteki reach for the cinnamon roll again, who had taken it with both paws and began to eat it heartily. "You sure like those things, don't you?"

Kiteki paused for a moment, looking down at her roll before tearing it in half, offering a piece to him.

"You… Umm… You want some?"

"Nah, I'm goo-" Having initially decided to decline her offer, Clay paused, thinking for a moment. He had known for a long time that she loved her cinnamon rolls, but it wasn't as if he didn't like them himself. And besides, he wasn't sure when he would be able to try out the old Snubbull's baking again, now that he was set to leave the town. "Actually, yeah, I'll have some."

Kiteki beamed as Clay took a piece off of her, her contagious, innocent smile forcing a grin out of him as well. Returning his sights back to the city, he took a bite, closing his eyes as he savoured the sweet taste of the pastry, each mouthful a spiced delight to his taste buds.

"Hey, Clay…?"

Opening his eyes again, Clay turned to face Kiteki, who had stopped eating and was herself staring out at the view of the idyllic town.

"You know… You… You still haven't told me exactly where you're going."

Clay laughed in reply. "Haven't I? I thought I told you several times already; I'm heading to the Capitol."

Kiteki nudged him out of exasperation.

"I-Idiot! I know you said that…! But… I… I'm being serious… Where… Where are you really going?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're… You're not really going to the Capitol… A-Are you…?"

Clay knew what she was implying. As per the policy of his new employers, he had told her that he was heading off to the army and was going to finish his basic training within the Capitol. Unfortunately for him, Kiteki had soon picked up on the fact that the Capitol, despite all that it offered, didn't actually have a military base within it.

Fortunately for Clay, he had come up with an answer to such a question beforehand. Knowing Kiteki, he had pretty much assumed that his original answer wouldn't keep her at bay for long.

"Alright, alright, you got me." Clay shrugged, or at the very least, did the best shrug a quadruped Pokémon could do. "It's not really in the Capitol, but the base is so close to it that I can pretty much go there whenever I get time out. So, isn't that pretty much the same thing as being there?"

Kiteki thought quietly to herself, before nodding reluctantly.

"I… I g-guess I can't r-really argue with t-that logic…"

If she was being completely honest with herself, Kiteki couldn't help but feel a slight pang of envy for Clay. As excited as she was for her friend, she couldn't help but wish that she were in his shoes.

…Or, maybe not. Clay had made it perfectly clear that he was going for his own particular reasons, and those didn't necessarily align with what she wanted to do. Besides, Kiteki couldn't imagine a life as a soldier. Regardless of how badly she wanted to go, if the cost of doing so was to become a combatant, then she had to admit that she would much rather just stay in Winteroot.

"But… Umm… Clay…?"

"Hmm?"

"I mean… Aren't you, well… S-Scared?"

"Scared?"

Kiteki nodded.

"I mean… Y-You're going to be a s-soldier-"

"Marine."

"…Y-Yeah… Umm… I just… If it was me, I… I would be t-terrified…"

Clay grinned at her response.

"Oh, c'mon Kit! You were too scared to say hello to your classmates for half a year, of course you'd hate to be in my shoes!"

Kiteki let out an embarrassed wail, her cheeks flushing bright red as she went up to Clay to hit him on his nose. Clay laughed as Kiteki, who decided in the last second that she didn't want to hurt her friend, instead repeatedly pawed his face out of exasperation.

"Hahaha! Cheer up, Kit! It was actually pretty cute, heh."

Kiteki pawed his face even harder, a desperate look on her face.

"S-S-Shut up! Y-You… Y-You don't have to bring that u-up…!"

With a cheeky grin on his face, Clay pulled Kiteki into a headlock, rubbing her head vigorously as Kiteki, embarrassed and frustrated, cried out in protest.

"Y-You… You always d-do that… Hauu…"

"Hehehe! Sorry Kit, the way you react to that is always too much fun."

Clay let her go, his cheeky grin quickly shifting to a solemn frown that Kiteki had rarely seen from him.

"You're right though… I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't a little bit nervous," he turned to Kiteki, the mischievous gleam in his eyes gone, replaced by one of honest sincerity. "But it's something that I've promised myself that I'd do. Sure, it probably isn't going to be easy, but now that I've been given the opportunity, I don't think I'd forgive myself if I didn't take this chance."

Kiteki, seeing this, paused, a little taken back at his sudden shift in attitude. All she could muster in reply was a slow, understanding nod.

To be quite frank, she thought that it was incredibly mature and noble of Clay to be going off to the army. Of course, she was certain that there were going to be many other Pokémon that enlist for selfish reasons such as glory and fame, but Clay just didn't seem to be that sort of Pokémon. No, he's going because he had already found his raison d'être at the tender age of eighteen, and for that, Kiteki couldn't help but feel a little envious of him.

Clay, noticing that he had killed the carefree atmosphere, let loose a smile, giving Kiteki a playful nudge.

"Hey, c'mon now. I'll be fine!"

Kiteki sighed.

"T-That doesn't make me f-feel any less w-worried about you, y-you know…"

His smile turning into a frown almost as soon as it had appeared, Clay looked towards Kiteki's slightly slumped state.

"Honestly, I'm more worried about you than I am for myself. You sure you're gonna be alright when I'm gone?"

"I'll be fine!" Kiteki looked almost annoyed by Clay's question. "Besides, I've got my dad with me, so I'll really be fine!"

Clay watched her skeptically.

"Do you have anyone else other than your dad?"

"I… Umm…" Kiteki thought hard about her reply, before giving off a nervous laugh. "I… N-Not really… Ehehehe…"

Clay shook his head disappointedly upon hearing her reply.

"Y'know, this is exactly why I'm worried about leaving you here on your own."

"T-That's not fair! Y-You know how hard it is f-for me to get along with other Pokémon!"

Clay grinned, a cheeky, if not slightly evil grin.

"Is that why you did so well in school? Cause you had nobody to distract you and your studies?"

Kiteki punched him repeatedly as best as her paws could let her.

"R…R-Rude…!"

Clay laughed, wincing slightly at her punches. She wasn't particularly strong so her hardest hit didn't really hurt him at all, but he played along with it for her sake.

"I kid, I kid- ow, ow, ow! Was it really that bad? Ow! C'mon Kit, it was only a joke, ahahahaha!"

Kiteki pouted, her cheeks puffing up. Clay laughed at the sight, not because he found it funny, but rather as an effort to hide how adorable he thought she was at that moment. Unfortunately for Kiteki, seeing him laugh only ended up making her pout even harder.

"That… T-That wasn't v-very funny… Hmph…"

Clay reached up and pet her head, like he had always done for years.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Y'know I didn't mean it, Kit."

Clay thought for a moment as he let go of Kiteki, making her scramble to pat down the fur on the top of her head that he had messed up.

"Y'know, I've been meaning to ask, but why didn't you apply for a university?" He watched as Kiteki, who was about to take another bite out of her piece of cinnamon roll, stopped to look at him in open confusion. "I mean, with your grades, I'm sure you could have even gone to Capitol State."

"Huh…? C-Capitol State? Are… Are you mad? T-That's like… The F-Federation's most p-prestigious university!"

"No, I'm being serious." Clay sunk deeper into his thoughts, almost puzzled at the conclusion that he had come up with. "Knowing you, it kinda seems like a waste for you to not keep up with your studies. It's not like you don't have the money to go either, so what gives?"

Kiteki sighed. It was undoubtedly true that she would have liked to go, even if it was for nothing more than to have an excuse to move to the big city.

"I mean… S-Sure, college sounds like fun, but… It k-kinda seems like… L-Like a waste to go when I d-don't even know what I want to do with my life yet… You... You know?" She smiled gently as she added more to her reasoning. "And besides… Someone has to keep an eye out for my dad."

She turned towards him, her gentle smile not having faded.

"I'll be here waiting, just come back and visit, okay?"

She leaned back against the tree, refocusing her gaze back towards the homely town. Clay, at a lost for words after what she had just said, simply followed her, sitting next to her as he finished off the last of his piece of the cinnamon roll. A gentle breeze blew through the town, carrying with it that familiar, earthy scent Clay had known for so long. Seeing further beyond the green and flowery fields of the plaza, he could make out the different Pokémon going about their day, many of those faces being easily recognisable to him. It all seemed undoubtedly sleepy, but there was a certain reassuring comfort to its atmosphere.

'…I'm gonna miss this place.'

He looked back towards Kiteki, who had closed her eyes again, breathing softly through her nose as she too savoured the fresh air. Smiling, he reached down, grabbing the remaining bread and tearing it in two.

"C'mon Kit, the oran loaf's gonna get cold!"

Kiteki opened her eyes, wearily eyeing the bread.

"I… I d-don't really like oran berries…"

"Oh, c'mon!" he tossed a piece to Kiteki, who fumbled in an attempt to catch it. "Give it a try!"

Staring at the piece of bread, Kiteki reluctantly gave it a bite. Without a word, she began chewing, before swallowing it with a surprised, yet satisfied look on her face. Clay grinned at the sight as he began to dig into his own piece, the rustic flavours dancing on his tongue as he relaxed by the cherry blossom tree.

The two sat quietly, enjoying the simple warmth of each other's company as their thoughts began to wander again.

'It's gonna be a while before we get to hang out like this…

Let's enjoy it while we can.'

. . . . . . . . . .

16:55, March 17, Unified Year 4731 - Winteroot town, Winteroot Station

. . . . .

The sky shone a brilliant red as the sun began to set over Winteroot Town, just like it had done since the beginning of time.

The setting sun heralded the end of another working day, the sleepy streets beginning to slowly fill with Pokémon who were beginning their short journey back home. The sight was undeniably homely and calming; had someone been there to photograph or paint the scene, it would have made for fantastic promotional material of the town's atmosphere.

The only difference with today was that the quiet afternoon was interrupted by the sharp whistle of a steam locomotive, the jet black beast huffing and steaming as it reared to get going.

Kiteki thought that she was well accustomed to the noise of the whistle by now, but she had never heard it so close up. The piercing loudness of it made her press her ears against her head to stop her ears ringing. It just seemed a little too much for her.

As a matter of fact, she had never experienced the locomotive up close until now. It had only just struck her now, but the truth was that there was no getting over the fact that the train was absolutely massive. Being designed to accommodate Pokémon far bigger than herself, it made sense that the train would have been made to a larger scale. Nevertheless, the sheer size of it astounded her.

The engine gleamed; it's shiny, glossy black paint refracting the rays of the sun in a way that made it appear to glow with brilliant splendor. Even the carriages sparkled, the heavy lacquer on the wood and the gleam of the polished metal surfaces making them exude luxury and extravagance.

Of course, the Federal Railway Corporation made it clear that they only used this single, somewhat ancient train for the trip to Winteroot due to the lack of demand for that particular route; they had already begun replacing their old steam locomotives with new electric and diesel powered ones on their more popular services. But to Kiteki, she couldn't care less about that, for, to her, she had never before seen something quite as fascinating or magnificent as the great black beast that bellowed before her.

Steam flooded the station as the two Eevees approached the train, both of them staring with silent wonder at the machine before them. They were alone in their amazement, for the other passengers seemed to board the vehicle without so much as a care in the world, as if they had done so all their lives. Their lack of emotion gave them an air of classy sophistication that both Clay and Kiteki could only assume was a result of a city lifestyle.

"Damn." Clay was the first to break their silence as he muttered out with a satisfied sigh. "I don't think I've ever seen it up this close before."

Kiteki found herself sticking closer to Clay than normal, flinching as another puff of steam blew out from the engine. It certainly didn't help that the front of the hulking machine resembled the skull of some unknown bipedal Pokémon, the bizarre design of its lights making it appear to be wearing a monocle of some sort. In some way, it really could be described as monstrous in appearance.

"It's… K-Kinda terrifying…"

Clay laughed.

"Oh, c'mon Kit! You've been looking forward to seeing it up close for years! Don't tell me you've lost your nerve now!"

Kiteki pouted in reply, before quietly edging closer towards Clay's side. She had always done so around him subconsciously whenever she felt insecure, and Clay wasn't so dense that he couldn't pick up on her habits.

"Look, Kit, There's nothing to get so scared about."

"I-It's not just the train, okay?"

Clay had to admit that Kiteki had gotten increasingly agitated as the time for departure crept closer. Without a doubt, she was trying to hide how upset she was getting.

"Kit, I told you, I'll be fine."

Kiteki shook her head.

"You… Y-You say that, but I s-still can't help it…"

Turning towards him, she glanced at his satchel, looking at it with some degree of concern.

"D-Did you p-pack everything? You… You're not leaving anything behind, right? I-I'm not going all the way to the Capitol j-just because you left your toothbrush or something, y-you know?"

"Come on Kit, I've packed for today days in advance. I'm not leaving anything behind."

Seeing her worried frown remain as is, he reached up to pat her head, roughing up her fur as he pet her.

"Will you just relax? There's nothing to worry about!" Clay grinned, finally seeing her frown loosen up as she reached up to fix up the fur on her head again. "Besides, I'm gonna come and visit as often as I can, so it ain't like we're not gonna see each other again."

Their conversation was interrupted by another blare of the steam whistle, drawing both of their attention back towards the train again. Another blast of steam erupted from the engine as it reared to go, the whole engine creaking and groaning as if it were flexing its muscles.

From a smoky compartment within the rear of the engine, a Croconaw jumped out, followed by a Charmeleon who poked his head out from the side of the locomotive, their bodies sturdy and toned from years of working the engine. The Croconaw gestured towards the conductor, a slightly aged Prinplup, who nodded in reply, before shouting with a loud, dignified voice.

"The five o'clock train bound for Capitol Valley will be departing soon! All passengers are to board immediately!"

Clay turned to face Kiteki, who was still staring straight at the train.

"Looks like this is it, Kit."

Kiteki nodded quietly in reply. He could tell that she was trembling slightly, but the steam was so thick that it was hard to make out more than a hazy silhouette of her.

"I'll come visit once training is over, alright? I'm sure they'll give us some time off."

Bring his attention back to the train, Clay leaped onto one of the carriages with unashamed enthusiasm, struggling slightly to get up the steps as his satchel got in the way of his legs. Boarding the train, he took a deep breath, smelling the posh scent of polished wood and luxurious fabric, smiling with a great sense of excitement and satisfaction as he did so.

He could almost feel the city life.

"Well, looks like I'm off-"

Turning around to say his final farewells, he froze, shocked at what he saw.

The steam having finally cleared, he stared at Kiteki, who had started quietly sobbing to herself, tears rolling uncontrollably down her cheeks. Her face was contorted as she was hit was a slew of different emotions, a distressed, depressed and desperate look on her face. Seeing this, Clay immediately threw his satchel down onto the carriage floor, before running down the stairs and back onto the platform floor.

"Woah, woah, woah! Kit! What's wrong?"

Kiteki stuttered in her reply, her voice broken by the occasional sob and hiccup as she spoke. Her face made it clear that she was embarrassed and angry about how upset she was getting, but those emotions ultimately only served to make her look even more miserable.

"I… I… W-What if I n-never get to s-see you again…?"

Without a word, Clay embraced her in a warm hug, gently patting her back as he held her close. Kiteki, having given into her emotions, hugged him back, clinging onto him tightly as she did so.

"Look, Kit… You know that's not going to happen." He gave her back one last reassuring pat before pulling away from the hug. "I'll definitely be back before you even know it."

"T-Then… P-Promise me."

Clay blinked.

"What…?"

"P-Promise me you'll c-come back!"

"Woah, Kit, c'mon, I already told you that-"

"P-Promise me!"

Clay had never heard Kiteki sound so desperate before. Had she said it in her usual tone of voice, Clay would have probably thought little about it and cast it aside with a joke. But this time, seeing the pleading in her eyes and hearing the fear in her trembling voice, Clay paused, taking his time as he thought about how to respond to her.

"…I promise."

His words seemed to do the trick; Kiteki was still sobbing but her expression had noticeably improved. It amazed her how reassuring those two words were to hear, but in her current situation, she wasn't about to complain. Satisfied with his answer, she gave Clay a slow nod of approval.

And not a moment too soon.

A metallic clunk came from behind the two of them, followed by the slow but sure grinding of steel wheels beginning to roll. The tone of the engine itself had changed as well, hissing as it started to chuff and bellow.

The train had begun to move.

Clay turned, quickly running back to the door before leaping onto the carriage, this time with much greater ease as his movements were no longer hindered by his overly large satchel. His body filled with a sense of urgency, he hurriedly dragged his bag towards his seat, throwing it under the chair before getting on top of the plush seat cushions to stick his head out of the window. Down below on the platform, Kiteki had started to follow the carriage, walking with a slowly increasing pace as she kept up with Clay.

"C-Come back soon, okay?"

Clay nodded in reply, a reassuring grin on his face.

"Sure will, Kit." His eyes lit up as he remembered something, calling out to her with a yell. "Oh, that's right, almost forgot! Tell your old man that I said thanks!"

Kiteki looked up at him, puzzled.

"W-What do you mean?"

"He'll know, don't worry!"

The train had picked up enough speed that Kiteki was running just to keep up with Clay. She didn't consider herself to be a fast or even a capable runner, so it took some effort on her part to keep up with the locomotive. Nevertheless, something deep within her willed her to keep going for as long as she could manage.

"O-Okay…!" She cried out in response, panting as she started to sprint down the platform as quickly as her legs could carry her. "P-Promise to write to me often?"

"I will Kit, don't worry!"

By now, the train had started to move faster than Kit was capable of running. Slowly but surely, she was starting to trail behind Clay, their distance increasing exponentially as the locomotive continued to gather speed. Clay, still leaning out of the window, waved vigorously at her.

"See you 'round, Kit!"

Before she could muster up her reply, she screeched to a halt, her desperate run being cut off abruptly as she reached the end of the station platform. Panting hard with laboured breaths, she yelled out from the top of her lungs as she cried out to him.

"Y-You better come visit, okay?! You promised!"

Holding her breath for a few seconds to stop her breathing from filling her ears, she listened attentively for any sort of response from him. She could just about hear him, but his voice was drowned out by the roar of the steam locomotive, their sounds receding into the horizon as he was quickly whisked away on the serpentine machine. Squinting hard, she could barely make out his form in the distance as he continued to wave back at her, before he and the train disappeared into the thick flora of the McPherson Forest. She stood on the empty platform with a heavy heart, listening as the sound of the engine slowly faded away, leaving her with nothing but a few wisps of steam that stubbornly clung to the platform floor.

She sighed, a deep, almost regretful sigh as she stared off towards the horizon, before slowly turning around to make her way back home.

And just like that, her friend of fifteen years had gone.