13

'Diiiiiing, Diiiiiing.' "Professor! Professor Oak!"

'CLICK'

"Can I help you?" The person who opened the door did not happen to be Professor Oak.

"Yo, you lo, yo."

"I look like Keson."

"Yeah."

"There is a good explanation for that. He's my cousin. But frankly, I think I'm the cuter one."

"He, he. Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Leah. This is Bandit."

"You are a fan, aren't you? I'm Kohan, and this is K."

"Ne, ne."

"That's an Unnown, like Keson's."

"Yup, only I caught K."

"Kohan, is there someone at the door, or is there? Oh, hello Leah. Fancy seeing you here so early. And who is this?"

"This is Bandit. My Pokémon."

"Did you capture him?"

"Yes I did. Professor, do you remember when I told you about my voice box project?"

"Yes, but why don't you come inside and tell me about it again." Kohan opened the door wider, and Leah walked slowly passed him, her eyes never leaving his. On her way past, her hand accidentally hit his.

"Please, sit down Leah. Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, please."

"Kohan? Would you please?"

"Sure." Kohan stood and went to the portable stove.

"Well, I finished my project. Bandit, speak."

"But you told me not to. You're just contradicting yourself."

"My Gods Leah, He talked."

"Whoa." When Kohan turned around to look at them, he nearly dropped the teacups as he closed the cabinet door. "Ahh! No. He, he."

"How did you do it?"

"Well, it would take much to long to do that. But, I can tell you how it works. It takes the vibrations made from the voice box of a Pokémon and translates them to English. See, when Bandit talks, he still moves his jaw, tongue, and vocal cords as if he would normally. Which is why he sometimes stops talking before he stops talking."

"Whoa. Ow!" He spilt tea on his hand.

"Leah, you are a genius. You're probably smarter than I am. This project could revolutionize how we think about the intelligence of our Pokémon pals. You will be famous."

"No I won't. No one will believe that a child could do this."

"Whoa." He set the tray on the coffee table, without an episode. Surprising, isn't it?

"Kohan. Stop."

"Yes sir."

"Professor, about my license?"

"Oh yes. I have it right in my desk. Kohan, could you fetch it, please?"

"Sure." Kohan took two steps toward Oak's desk when his foot came in contact with the couch. "Ah fuck!" Kohan yelled as he retracted his knee toward his body in pain. "That hurt! Oh, uh, sorry, Professor." Kohan corrected as he saw the look on Oak's face. "I'll have to work on that." He replied, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. Leah just chuckled.

"The license." Reminded Oak.

"Yeah." With a smile, Kohan turned back around to collect Leah's license and Pokédex. He returned, careful to miss the corner. "Here."

"Thank you. Professor, what about a Gear?"

"Well, for the moment, you still have a cell phone, so until your minutes wear off, there's no need for one."

"How…?" She had never told anyone about her cell. But all Oak could do in response was smile.

"I hope you know the basic purpose of the Pokédex?"

"Yes sir. Analyzing Pokémon and other forms of data."

"Correct. Now, the other reason you don't need a Gear is…, well you'll find out soon enough, right Kohan?" Oak winked in the young man's direction.

"Eh."

"Okay…"

"The Pokémon Retrieval System that has been integrated into the components of Gear are still in the works, so it wouldn't be a wise idea anyway."

"Okay. Uh, Professor, can I stay here tonight?"

"Why, of course you can Leah. But, first, you must sign these forms. If you need help, ask Kohan. The forms are to finalize your license. Now, if you will excuse me, I have work to get back to."

"Sir, your tea?"

"Oh, thanks." He picked up his cup.

"Whatever. Hey, Leah. That rhymed. Do you mind if I go with you? I've been waiting for someone to tag along with." He asked as he picked up his own cup.

"No, I don't mind. I could use some sex, company. Oops." Leah stuttered as she picked up her cup.

"Ha, ha, ha. Now I know what you want from my cousin."

"How did you know that I was thinking about your cousin?"

"Everyone does. It's an honest mistake. No harm done."

"So, partners then." Leah held out her hand for his.

"Partners."

He has really big hands.

"Yeah, what about them?"

"Uh."

"I'm psychic. Read your mind."

"Uhhh, oops."

"It's my fault. I shouldn't do that." He finished his tea in one gulp, and Leah did the same.

And, with the thought of a really cute man tagging along and protecting her on her journey, Leah fell asleep without incident.

14

Leah woke the next day with more energy and excitement than the day she left. When they were packed and ready to go, Leah said to Kohan. "I was planning on heading to Cinnabar Island, but if you need to go in a different direction."

"If I were planning to not go with you, I would not be with you."

"'Kay. Let's get to the port. By the way, that's a nice jacket."

"Thanks. It and the boots are pure leather."

"Bitchin'."

"Hey, how old are you?"

"I'm thirteen and four months. On October 4th, that is.

"June 4th, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"That's my birthday also. I'm fifteen. I only asked because you seemed a bit young to be cussing."

"Eh. That's cool, though. Maybe it means somethin'. Let's get a boat."

15

"How much would it be to rent one of your battling boats sir?"

"Well, fer you tu it'd be twenty-five."

"Here you are sir. Which boat?"

"Twenty-six."

"Thank you."

"Kohan. Kohan!"

"What?"

"Look, Pikachu."

"And?"

"I want to catch one."

"Then catch one."

"I will."

"Then go."

"I am. Bandit, go!"

"Grrrr."

"Pi ka." The lead Pikachu stepped in front of Bandit. It seemed leaner and stronger than all of the other Pikachu.

"Tackle." The Pikachu evaded the attack.

"Uh."

"I know Flame Thrower!"

"Fine! Do it." The Pikachu was so startled by the way that Bandit talked that it tripped, and was hit.

"Hurry, throw a Pokéball before it faints!"

"I'm trying! And don't yell at me!"

"I didn't!"

"There! Pokéball, go!" It was caught with no trouble at all. All of the Pikachu that were watching their leader fight ran at the thought of being captured. "I have a Pikachu! I have a Pikachu!"

"Great. Let's get in the boat."

16

"Kohan. Have you been on the sea before?"

"I've been on a lot of things."

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing. Yeah, I have. Why?"

"I just wanted to know."

"Want to fish?"

"Okay."

"Here." Kohan handed Leah a fishing rod. "It might take a while though."

Ten minutes later. "I caught something!"

"Reel it in!"

"It's a…"

"A Dratini!" Kohan and Bandit cried in unison.

"Mika, go!"

"Pika, pi!"

"Thunderbolt!"

"Piiiiiiikaaaaaachuuuuuu!"

"Tiiiiiniiiii!" The Dratini cried out in pain

"Throw a…"

"Pokéball, go!"

With a blast of gold light, the Dratini was in the Pokéball. It wobbled back and forth. Then the little red light on the button blinked off.

"I caught a Dratini! Woooo! I caught a ahhhh!" In her excitement, Leah forgot that you're not supposed to jump on a boat, and she was thrown off.

"Leah!" As Kohan reached for her wrist the boat jerked back and hit him in the face. "Ahh." Then Bandit tried to grab her, but all he got was the Dratini's Pokéball. "Leah! Bandit, open the Pokéball!" Kohan yelled from behind a bloody nose.

"Tini!"

"Hey, Dratini, you now that chick who just caught you, well she just fell into the water! Can you go rescue her!"

"Tini." And it dove under the waves.

Six minutes past. "Oh man, oh man, oh man. Hope she's still alive, oh Gods I hope she's still alive." Kohan prayed as he paced back and forth with a tissue covering his face.

"Look!"

"Leah!"

"Tini." Dratini poked its head above the crests.

"Did you save her?" He took the tissue from his face.

"Tini, dra dratini tini."

"I'm sorry, but she said to."

"Huh?" Just as Kohan turned to look at Bandit, he pushed him into the waves. Thankfully, Bandit held onto Kohan's jacket. "What!" As soon as he hit the water, Dratini pulled him under and toward a hidden cave. Dratini led Kohan through a series of twists and turns that finally led them to a pocket of air in one of the underwater-volcanoes that are part of the Cinnabar chain. When they hit the air pocket, Kohan tried to breath in so much air that he started to choke. When he finally got his breath back, without incident, he saw that Leah had been dragged into the middle of the cave.

"Leah." Kohan said, suddenly breathless again. He then got up out of the water, and ran to her side and kneeled. He then lifted up the upper half of her body and held her in his arms. "Is she still breathing?" Kohan asked this more to himself than to anyone else. "If I don't do something, she could die. If I do, she might think that I was trying to take advantage of her state."

"No I won't." Leah said groggily.

"Leah! You're all right!"

"No thanks to you, Keson."

"It's not Keson. It's Kohan."

"Damn. I woke up."

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

"I like your laugh." Leah said smiling at her own joke and it's reaction on Kohan.

"How did you get here?" Kohan asked while looking around.

"The Dragonair." Then Kohan saw them. They had been hiding in the dark shadows of the cave.

"How is it so bright in here?" Just then some Chinchou appeared. Their antennae were lit.

"Thank you for saving her."

"Hey, I can still talk."

"Sorry."

"Thank you very much for saving me. But, how will we get back." Her next answer came to them when something tapped Kohan on the shoulder.

'tep, tep, tep'

"Heh, uuuh." Kohan stuttered as something tapped him on the shoulder.

"Wha…"

"You're a Dragonite." Kohan said in astonishment.

"That's our way out! He can swim faster than we ever could! We can ride on his back, and get back to the boat in a fourth of the time!"

"Let's get going then. I feel naked without my jacket and board."

"Board? You never said that you had a skateboard."

"You never asked. And, you never saw it because it's a Pocket-Pak board."

"Oh. Cool. I have a Pocket-Pak bike. Dragonite, were ready to go, but first," Leah turned to the other Pokémon and said. "thank you all. You saved my life, even though no one asked you to. I don't know what, but you saved me for a reason. Thank you." Leah put her hands in front of her face, with palms together, and bowed her head. She then stood up out of Kohan's lap, and Kohan had no choice but to let go of her.

The Dragonair all acknowledged her gratitude, and gave their thanks for her good heart having blessed their home with its presence. Even though they spoke no words, Leah understood all of their feelings, and Kohan assured her of them when they got back to the boat. Leah was correct when she assumed that Dragonite would be able to get them back in a fourth of the time that it took them to get there.

17

"When are they going to come back? I'm really worried." Bandit could neither move nor take his eyes off of the precise spot where Kohan disappeared under the waves. "I hope that they are still alive." At that moment, an explosion of water startled him, and sent him scrambling into the open cabin. With extra spouts of water coming from all other sides of the boat, the door was closed, sheltering Bandit from the harmful molecules of H2O. Dragonite gently landed on the battling deck. Then, he let go of Leah and Kohan. They hit the deck with dazed looks on their faces. Bandit jumped at the window in the door to see what had disturbed the water so badly, and when he saw Leah, he started to bark uncontrollably. "Leah! Leah! Leah! Your okay! Leah! Leah! Let me out!"

"Thank you so much Dragonite, for your help in bringing us back to the boat." Leah managed to say after she had woken up and gotten back her breath.

"Yes. Thank you."

Dragonite acknowledged their gratitude with a nod of his head. Then he flew up into the air, flipped over, and dove into the ocean.

"Leeeeeaaaaah! Let me ooooooouuuut!" Bandit howled.

"Huh, oh! Bandit." Leah got up, turned around, and ran over to the cabin.

"Leah. Be careful."

"Oh yeah. Thanks Mom." She opened the door. "Bandit. How did you get stuck in here?"

"The water, and the boom splash. It was everywhere. I, I don't know."

Leah grabbed the sides of his face, and stared into his eyes. "Okay, calm down. It's okay. I'm here now. I won't go away again. I'm sorry."

"Leah, I feel kind of confused." Kohan said with a small smile on his lips as he scratched his head.

"Wait your turn Kohan. Bandit, you'll be fine. Now, let's dry you off. Kohan, can you get me a towel for Bandit please?"

"Sure."

"Are you feeling weak, Bandit?"

"Not really, I don't feel that bad actually."

"Here."

"Thanks. Now lets dry you off. Now, doesn't that feel better?"

"Yes, it does, very much, thank you. Now, back to the issue of, WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU!" Bandit howled again

"AHHH! What was that for!"

"I was so afraid that you were dead. I didn't know if you were okay. I, I, I!"

"Calm down, you're going to wear yourself out!"

"Okay, I just. Leah, you're the only human who has ever shown me compassion. Leah, I love you. I can't lose you. I need you."

"Oh, Bandit." With Bandit's words of intimacy, Leah dove at his neck, and hugged him tightly. "I love you too, Bandit. You're my first safe friend." Leah openly admitted to herself.

"Leah. Too mushy."

"Yet again Kohan, your jealous, shh. Bandit, thank you. You will never leave my side, and I will never leave yours again."

"Thank you, Leah. Now, can you please tell me where you were?"

"Yes, Bandit. When I fell out of the boat, and hit the water, I was completely unaware of what was happening. When I finally did, I was well under the surface, and unable to swim back in time. Then, I saw this dim red light below me, and then I felt a mass of tightly toned and intricately positioned muscles rap themselves around my stomach. Then, more lights appeared, and I was running out of air. The very last thing that I remembered from those moments was when a whole lot of Dragonair wove themselves into a ball around me, and somehow separated the molecules of the water from H2O to lose Hydrogen and Oxygen. The Hydrogen held me in the middle, and the low amount of Oxygen kept me alive. Then I passed out. When I awoke, I was in Kohan's arms, on the ground, in a cave. The Dragonair came out into the open, and I thanked them. There were also some Chinchou, and a Dragonite. The Dragonite was the one that brought us back here."

"Hey Bandit," Kohan asked. "Where is my jacket?"

"Oh yeah. It's over in your bunk."

"Ohh." Kohan sighed. "Great, thanks." Kohan strolled past them into the cabin, and entered the bunks. There on his bed was the leather jacket that his mother had made for him. It was meant to be his sixteenth birthday present, but his mother never got a chance to give it to him. "Mother." Kohan bent down to where he was on one knee, closed his eyes, and put his hands together to pray. "Mother, please thank Bandit for saving you from the harsh waters of the ocean. He has a good and pure heart. Please protect him and his owner, Leah, from harm. Thank you. I love you, Mother." Kohan opened his eyes, and grabbed his jacket. He slowly put it on, and then stood up. With the action of years and love, he expertly buckled the belts that held it in place.

When Kohan came back, he saw that Leah and Bandit had separated. "Kohan, even though it's still fairly early in the day, we've had a very hectic one. Maybe we should take a nap."

"If you want to Leah, you can, but I'm not that tired. I'm gonna start the boat back up and make sure that we're heading toward Cinnabar."

"Okay Kohan. Come on Bandit."

"Okay." And they entered the cabin, and then the bunks.

"Now. The controls." As he was setting the switches and buttons, his knees decided to collapse on him. "Whoa. Maybe I do need a rest. Well, I can't go in the bunk; that would disturb Leah. Maybe I can take a snooze in the control chair." So he sat down, and as soon as he closed his eyes, he was in a deep sleep. During this sleep, he dreamed. Kohan very rarely dreamed, so when he awoke, he was very disturbed. His dream started off on the day of his ninth birthday. His father had strictly told his mother just the week before that Kohan was not to receive anything to do with Pokémon, and Kohan had been very disappointed to learn this. Unfortunately, Johanna, Kohan's mother, had disobeyed him and had gotten Kohan an official Sabrina's Gym battling cap, for Sabrina happened to be Johanna's niece. Kennith, Kohan's father, who had never liked Pokémon or anyone to do with it, was very angry and in a state of so much anger that he lost all control (but he decided that Johanna was more important to him than his dislikes). As Kohan had mentioned to Leah when they first met, he is psychic. He received this gift from both his mother and his father. Kennith was skilled in the art of mind control and Johanna was practicing the arts of telepathy and telekinesis. When his father lost his temper, he activated his mind control powers, and attacked her mind, however, in Kohan's dream, his mother was replaced with Leah. When it had happened in real life, Kohan had not seen everything that his father had made Johanna do; he only heard the terrible noise of breaking glass and her screams. In this dream, he could not move. His father was making Leah break lamps and vases over her head, and then he made her run into the wall until there was a steady stream of blood coming from her hairline. Just before he had a chance to make Leah grab a butcher knife, which was what had killed Kohan' mother, Kennith was distracted by Kohan's screams. When Kennith looked at Kohan, Leah fell to the ground, and Kohan woke up. "Oh my Gods. What did it mean?" Kohan whispered to himself. "What time is it? Nine-thirty. That doesn't make sense. Oh! We must have slept the rest of the day away! I better wake Leah."

Kohan took one look at the horizon before he left the cabin and entered the bunks. When he saw how peaceful and calm Leah looked, he could not believe that he had woken from her death. It took all of his will power and physical strength to touch her. "Leah, it's time to wake up Leah. Leeaah. Wake uuup."

"Hum. Wha. Oh hi. Why'd you wake me so early? I just got to sleep."

"Not really, Leah. We've been asleep for eleven hours."

"What! Eleven hours? We? I thought that you said you weren't going to take a nap?"

"I guess that we were more tired than we thought."

"Well, how far are we from Cinnabar?"

"Actually, when I looked toward Cinnabar, I could see the top of the volcano over the horizon."

"He. Should we wake Bandit?" When Kohan turned to look at Bandit, he could not contain his smile. Bandit was lying on his back with his front paws up in the air, and his back legs spread wide apart from each other.

"No. He's probably chasing an Eevee." With the mention of this Pokémon, Bandit smiled and stuck out his tongue.

They went back to sleep after a quick dinner. It took Leah a couple minutes to wake Bandit, who was very upset to have been woken from a good dream. After dinner, Kohan went straight to his bunk to ponder his dream.

18

"Uh, if we're going to be there soon, don't ya think we should take a shower and change our clothes?" Leah asked after an early breakfast the next day.

"Yeah, probably. You can go first. I'll clean up on deck."

"Okay, thanks."

"Hurry up though." Kohan got up from his bunk, picked up their plates and closed the door.