"That's nice," Cheren grunted. He took two of Bianca's pieces. She had about three left.
"Geez," Bianca groaned. The three of us sat in silence for a few moments. Bianca inspected the board.
"Well, like I was saying." Cheren glanced over at me. "Instead of waiting on Skyla, we should go on ahead to Icirrus.
Bianca moved a piece—Cheren immediately took it.
"King me."
"Fine, you win you win." Bianca huffed and sat back in her seat. She looked over at me. "You wanna talk about it?"
"About what?"
"You said you had feelings for Kenya," Cheren said. He started clearing the board out, dumping the pieces into a plastic bag.
"Oh," I thought about it. "I guess I do."
"You said it, not us," Cheren folded up the checkers board and slipped it into his bag.
"Well, what do you guys think?" Cheren and Bianca shared a look.
"What do you want us to say?" Bianca asked. "Do you want our blessing?" I sighed.
Cheren tossed his bag to the floor and stifled a yawn.
No one spoke for a few moments.
"Hey, does this mean you'll be traveling with us?" Bianca reached across the table, grabbing at Cheren's sleeve. He grunted, looking away.
"Yeah."
"Honestly. I'm in no hurry." I spoke up. "I need to train my pokemon a lot more. It feels like I've fallen behind."
Bianca nodded at Cheren. I glanced between them.
"I can hang around for a while," Cheren spoke slowly, tapping the table. Bianca smiled.
I furrowed my brow. Something wasn't right.
"Well. I'll be outside." I got up. Both of their eyes followed me. I walked out, heading around to the backyard battleground.
One by one, I sent out each of my pokemon: Emboar, Unfezant, Tirtuoga, Pansage, and lastly Musharna. I sat down on the ground as they mingled.
Are you alright? Musharna's voice appeared in my mind. I shrugged. Musharna hovered to me.
I spotted Cheren standing near the pokemon center wall.
He realized I spotted him and shifted around the corner.
They worry for you. As do we.
I nodded.
"I don't talk to you guys much." My pokemon slowly gathered around me. "Mostly because I'm not sure what to say."
What is your goal? It was Pansage.
I scratched my head.
"I want to battle Drayden."
Who's that? Tirtuoga asked. I blinked, surprised to hear Tirtuoga. It was the first time It had happened.
"The gym leader of Oplucid city."
Why do you want to battle him?
I smiled sadly.
"Who are you talking to?" Cheren asked. "Your Pokemon?"
I nodded.
"Hey Cheren," I turned to him. "Let's have a battle."
Cheren raised an eyebrow.
"Right now?"
I crossed my arms.
"Right now."
"You're on."
We took our places on the battlefield.
Cheren sent out all of his pokemon at once. Samurott, Archeops, Zebstrika, Duosion, Whimsicott, and Krookodile.
"Six on six?" I asked, uncertain. Cheren laughed.
"One at a time," he said. "Wouldn't want this to get too out of hand."
"Pansage, come on."
"Zebstrika, lets go."
The two of them moved to the battlefield.
"You haven't evolved Pansage yet?" Cheren asked. "I have a leaf stone, do you want it?"
I considered that and shared a look with Pansage.
"Sure."
Cheren walked over to me, reaching into his bag. He revealed a green stone and handed it to me.
"Pansage," I called out. Pansage skipped to me as Cheren returned to his spot.
I handed Pansage the stone and it immediately started glowing. Its body grew.
Simisage was revealed from the light.
Cheren clapped.
"You ready?" he asked.
Simisage hopped around, full of energy.
I smiled.
"Thanks, Cheren."
"What are friends for?" Cheren waved me off. "Let's do this."
"Seed bomb!"
Simisage fired a volley of seeds at Zebstrika.
"Flame charge!" Zebstrika engulfed in flames, dissolving the flames as it charged.
"Keep your distance," I ordered. Simisage hopped around, barely avoiding Zebstrika's charge.
"Thunderbolt!"
A bolt of electricity ripped across the air, hitting Simisage.
Simisage cried out.
"Flame charge!"
Zebstrika moved in, slamming into Simisage.
Simisage was knocked out.
I returned Simisage. Cheren took a breath, wiping his brow.
"Next?"
.
.
.
"I forgot how stubborn Emboar can be." I sat down next to Cheren at a table.
He closed the magazine and set it on the table.
"I think I'm ready to sleep now." He wiped his eyes and yawned.
"Did Bianca ask you to keep an eye on me?"
"She wanted to do it herself but she fell asleep." He gestured to a chair across the lobby.
Bianca was slumped over, hat covering her face.
I couldn't help but smile.
"I know—"
"We were worried sick about you," Cheren said suddenly. His voice was stern.
"I know." Cheren hesitated.
"Bianca told me. About Kyurem and your so-called fate."
"What do you think?" I met his eyes. Cheren stiffened.
"It's crazy." I blinked, put off. "It seems absurd, but I don't doubt you."
"I've been meaning to speak with Juniper about it." Cheren nodded.
"She'd probably know a lot about Kyurem." He stared down at the table. I took a breath.
"Cheren." I interlocked my fingers, slowly and pulled them apart. "I'm terrified." A chill came over me. "I'm so scared of what's going to happen. I don't want to…" My voice wavered. "I don't want to disappear."
For a moment, Cheren did not say a word.
I closed my eyes, uncertain. Cheren pulled me into a sideways hug, his warmth seemed to wash over me.
"None of us will ever let you disappear." He held me tight for a few moments before letting go. "I promise."
I stared blankly at him. The gesture felt foreign, completely out of character.
"Just promise that you won't let yourself disappear either!" He insisted. I blinked. "Promise me!"
A part of me wanted to tell him that this was arbitrary.
If it came down to me and an ancient ice dragon, how could I resist?
What could I do? I mentally slapped that part of myself and nodded.
"I promise." Cheren pulled away and got up.
"Well. I'm tired." He marched over to Bianca and sat next to her.
I headed upstairs to bed.