The next day, the first thing on Ash's agenda was checking on Squirtle and Starmie. The latter was doing one hundred percent, and the former needed just a little more rest. "I'm sorry you guys got hurt yesterday," Ash said to them. Professor Oak had left him alone with them.

()It's okay,() Starmie said in Ash's mind.

"Squirtle!" Wasn't your fault!

Ash smiled. "You get some rest, Squirtle." Squirtle nodded, and he went back to sleep. The trainer turned to the purple star. "You up to taking me out to Houndour again today?" he asked.

Starmie's strange voice gave an affirmative, and the star's core flashed as it used Teleport.


"Hi, Houndour," Ash greeted after glancing at Starmie. He plopped down into the grass in front of Houndour's fence.

You're becoming a regular, Houndour said sarcastically, turning her head to look at Ash. I take it Professor Oak decided not to massacre you.

"Yup."

Typical human stupidity, snorted the Dark Pokémon.

"Hey!" Ash exclaimed.

You know, I've decided that you're right in that you're not like your father. He has ten times the brains you do.

Ash glared at Houndour, growling underneath his breath.

It was wise when I waited in hiding that day to remove you from the human gene pool. A pity it didn't work.

The trainer's nostrils flared, but he tried to keep his temper down. "So you were waiting that day. Did you know who I was?"

Know who you were? Are you kidding? I could smell your foul odor from a mile away, came Houndour's caustic reply.

"Why do you have to be so angry at the world? Can't you just give up on being mad? If I'm such a bad person and trainer, then how come you and Starmie didn't beat me yesterday?" Ash asked.

Your Squirtle is unusually strong...I assume that I'm not the only Pokémon refusing to let evolution take its course.

"Yeah," Ash said. "Evolution isn't always a good thing. A lot of my Pokémon haven't evolved and they're still good battlers: Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Pikachu...Charmander evolved, but that didn't turn out so well. I guess neither of us were really ready for it...Krabby's evolution came out okay, though."

Houndour's furry brow furrowed somewhat. Pikachu evolves with a Thunder Stone, she said carefully.

"Yeah, I know. Pikachu didn't want to evolve, though," Ash explained.

The Fire- and Dark-Type seemed even more confused. You mean, you didn't make it evolve?

"Nope," answered the trainer. "There's no reason to make a Pokémon evolve that doesn't want to. They should only evolve when they're ready. Some Pokémon are never ready, and just because they have evolved doesn't mean they're automatically stronger than those they evolved from. After all, Pikachu's beaten a Raichu."

Houndour's quizzicalness didn't dissipate. I thought all trainers wanted their Pokémon to evolve.

"Not necessarily. You shouldn't force your Pokémon to do something it doesn't want to," Ash said. He winced as he thought of Charizard, but it wasn't like he could force the big Fire-Type to do anything even if he wanted to.

The more you talk, the more I don't understand you, Ash Ketchum, Houndour said quietly.

Ash glanced at Starmie (who was always so quiet) briefly before moving his gaze back to Houndour. "I get that a lot." He grinned.

How have you managed to survive so long with so many unevolved Pokémon? wondered the canine aloud.

"It's what's inside that counts, not what's outside."

Houndour turned sad eyes on him. And if all that's inside is pain?

Ash sobered, answering quietly and seriously. "Then you have to bring some joy. Houndour, there are so many great things out there, and if you just sit and mope, then you're never gonna see 'em. You're never gonna make new friends, do cool things...You need to enjoy life. If you don't like life, then what are you left with?"

Houndour didn't say anything.

"That's what being a trainer's about," Ash continued. "Seeing things, meeting people...It's the journey that counts, not the end...The end is uncertain, but you know good stuff is gonna happen along the way. That's what matters. The battling isn't the most important thing."

Houndour laid her head down on the ground, looking drained. Without battles, what do you have left?

"Friendships...Memories..." Ash trailed off.

Suddenly, a familiar murine voice cried out, "Pika-pi!"

Ash turned to see his little Electric Pokémon running frantically towards him.

He had been discovered.

Pikachu promptly began chewing his trainer out, but Starmie didn't bother to translate what Pikachu said. Ash understood what the yellow rodent meant well enough.

"Chu chu chu, Pika-pi. Chupika chu-pi pika pika!" scolded Pikachu.

"Sorry, Pikachu, but this is something I have to do," Ash told the little mouse.

"Hound?" Houndour tilted her head, looking surprised that Ash would allow his Pokémon to talk to him like that. The boy's Pikachu seemed...concerned. Was it really possible for Pokémon to care for their trainers?

Pikachu continued his tirade, waving his short arms frantically about to emphasize his speech.

Ash interrupted him. "Pikachu, it's okay. I'm fine. Houndour's a good Pokémon."

Pikachu gave him a sour look. "Piii," he growled.

Houndour gave the Electric-Type a fanged grin. Pikachu narrowed his eyes.

"I haven't told anyone else about it, but I plan to be leaving soon. A future Pokémon Master can't stay too long in one place," Ash grinned. "I haven't okayed it with Professor Oak, but I was...sort of hoping you'd go with me, Houndour."

"Pi!" Pikachu's mouth dropped open.

"Dour?" Houndour's eyes widened. She blinked a few times, then asked him, You mean, you would actually trust me?

"Yeah," Ash nodded. "You don't have to battle or anything if you don't want to, but I want to let you see what most trainers are like."

You can't be serious! Pikachu shouted, jumping up in front of Ash's face and waving his arms about.

The trainer ignored his hyperactive electric mouse. "Whaddaya say, Houndour?"

Houndour still seemed confused. What's to stop me from hurting you again? she asked.

"Only yourself," Ash answered. "I trust you."

The Dark- and Fire-Type couldn't understand how he could even think about making such an offer. She had nearly killed him, but he was asking her to travel with him? Looking closer and stretching her senses out, she finally understood how much asking her this was costing him. The boy's heart was thumping in his chest; a bead of sweat was rolling down his cheek; his fists were clenched in a combination of fear and determination; his knees were shaking barely perceptibly; a muscle was twitching in his jaw. She knew he was still afraid, but he was willing to risk it for her. He would put his life on the line so that she would finally be able to escape her past of fear and pain, a past which seemed determined not to let her from its grasp.

He would do it even though everyone else would tell him that it was a bad idea. He would follow his heart.

Eyes glistening and throat constricted, Houndour said to him, I will go with you.