Author's Note: Thank you to the three people who have reviewed so far.

To "Shadow Cat", Cool name and thank you for the praise. It's always nice to know when one's story is enthralling. (That is a storyteller's objective, after all.)

To "Twilight The Umbreon", Cool name. I hope that the long intervals that tend to occur before I can post another chapter, does not deter you from keeping an eye on the story.

To "blaze potter", you've reviewed twice so far, and I really appreciate it. When I see reviews for my stories, it makes me want to hurry up and post more, even if I don't always have time to write the next chapter! (Which means that I end up putting them in my mind as votes as to which story to work on as soon as I can find the time.)

Now, without further ado, on with the story!

Chapter 4: The New Arrival

The next morning Coren was awakened by a tugging on his hair. "Oh... Go away." he moaned.

"Coren!" shouted Tina, "Wake up already! We have a slight problem here."

Coren rolled over, "What is it?"

"Charcoal's here."

"What!" exclaimed Coren, bolting up, "What's he doing here?"

"Probably tracking us. He's talking to Guardian Charizard and Naria, the Meganium, right now."

"Oh man, I guess we should probably go meet them." said Coren.

"You want to go to them?" asked Tina.

"Well, we are the ones he's after. Maybe we can explain that we didn't mean to trespass, and that we were just trying to find our way back."

"I'm not sure that talking with that guy's going to do that much good, but I guess it's worth a try."

"Where's Dareno?" asked Coren.

"He's gone to get Majesty. I guess he figured that we might need her help."

Coren approached the spot were Charcoal was conversing with Naria and Charizard. Another houndour was present. "Tina," Coren whispered, "Who's the other houndour?"

"I think that's Night Stalker. She's Charcoal's daughter."

Night Stalker stiffened, listening hard. She narrowed her eyes at the bushes where Coren and Tina were. Coren swallowed hard.

"They're here," growled Night Stalker.

"Steady," Charcoal told her, "Charizard, humans have never been allowed in the valley before, it is simply a bad idea. Let my pack take care of the problem."

"Sorry Charcoal, but this boy is under the protection of the guardian Possessor. You are not to harm him. Charizard told him.

"Protection" grunted Charcoal, "Humans don't show us mercy, why should we show it to them? If humans know about this valley they will over run it. It will be turned into one of their settlements, and all of the Pokemon will be captured, conquered, and exploited. It will be a complete disaster. This one must not be allowed to rejoin his kind."

Tina swallowed, then stepped forward, "Coren's not like other humans, he won't betray us."

Charcoal raised an eye-brow, "Oh?"

Night Stalker snorted, "Betray! How could he? Humans have never been on our side."

"Coren's not evil you know, he'll stand up for us."

"All humans are evil. They all sin, hurt and exploit, nothing about them is good, and bringing one into the valley..." Night Stalker shook her head, "It's terrible."

"I'm telling you, Coren's not like that. He even saved my life!" said Tina.

"Saved your life! The shame of being rescued by a human... no wonder your trailing him now. Any Pokemon who needs help from a human is not fit to be wild."

Tina's jaw dropped, "Of all the... I don't need to take that! Coren! Wasn't your next task to win a battle against a wild Pokemon?"

"Uh... yeah," said Coren.

"In that case why don't we show this rude Pokemon how humans and Pokemon can work together!" said Tina.

"You're on, Rattata!" said Night Stalker.

"But wait, Tina," said Coren, "in the valley?"

"Why not? There's no rule against battling here."

"I should hope not," said Night Stalker, "when it's against a human."

"Alright then," said Coren, "let's do it."

Coren pointed forward, "go Tina!"

Tina leapt forward, facing off against Night Stalker, who tensed, readying herself.

"Tina tackle her!" said Coren. Tina jumped into Night Stalker.

Night Stalker leered at Tina.

"Tina use tail whip!" said Coren.

Night Stalker took in a deep breath and exhaled a dark cloud that hindered vision. Tina whipped her tail at Night Stalker.

"Tina tackle!" called Coren.

Tina jumped onto Night Stalker, who shook her off. Night Stalker jumped back, in-haled, and breathed out fire, which hit Tina full in the face. Tina rolled putting the fire out.

Dareno ran up, his right head holding Majesty in his mouth.

"What's going here?" asked Dareno's left head.

"Tina and I are battling Night Stalker," Coren told him.

"You guys like doing crazy things don't you?" asked Dareno's left head. Dareno's right head deposited Majesty into Coren's arms.

"What an unpleasant way to travel," commented Majesty.

"Hey! We're in the middle of a battle here!" called Night Stalker.

"Oh yeah, right. Tina use tackle!" said Coren.

Tina jumped at Night Stalker, but she dodged. Night Stalker tossed her head up and then blew out fire at Tina. It hit Tina, and she stumbled.

"Tina return!" called Coren, "Majesty, go forth!"

Majesty leapt over to near Night Stalker. Night Stalker blew fire at her, but it didn't hurt Majesty that much.

"Majesty, use surf!" Coren instructed.

Majesty rose up, as a huge wave swept under her. It flowed over Night Stalker tossing her about. Night stalker unsteadily climbed to her feet, she then blew more fire at Majesty.

"Majesty use surf again!"

Majesty summoned another huge wave, gracefully riding its crest. The wave flowed over Night Stalker and she collapsed. Night Stalker tried to get up, but failed.

Coren walked over, "Are you all right?"

Night Stalker growled. Charcoal jumped between them. He narrowed his eyes at Coren.

"Woah, take it easy, I was just concerned."

Charcoal looked over at Night Stalker, "Are you all right?"

Night Stalker lurched to her feet, "nothing for a human to worry about."

"Good," said Charcoal, "let's go."

"What, you're just going leave him here?" asked Night Stalker.

"He is Possessor's problem now. Our concern is when he is in our domain," said Charcoal. He looked at Coren, "I would advise you to stay out of our territory."

Charcoal turned and walked away. Night Stalker followed him, glancing back once to glare quickly at Coren and his friends.

When the two Houndour were at a safer distance, Tina turned to Coren. "We did it Coren! We won!" Coren stared at her, then broke out grinning.

"Great job guys! Thanks for your help." Coren looked around at his friends, Tina, Dareno and Majesty.

"Hey, no problem," said Tina.

"Yeah, no problem Coren!" said Dareno's left head.

"No problem! Where have you two been? There's been problems every where!" exclaimed Dareno's right head.

Tina rolled her eyes.

"The point is not that there hasn't been difficulties, but that we're happy to help," said Dareno's left head.

"Happy to help..." muttered Dareno's right head.

"Coren, I am pleased to be able to assist you," said Majesty.

"Thanks guys," said Coren.

A purple mist materialized in-front of Coren, then formed into Possessor.

"Thou hast indeed passed the second trial. The third trial shall be a test of your team, of your agility and your ingenuity, of your endurance and your strength. You must succeed your way through four preordained obstacles. However the time has not yet come for it. When the time has come, I shall appear before thee and explain the trial further." And with that, Possessor vanished.

"Man, can't that guy ever talk without all those riddles?" asked Dareno's left head.

"What riddles? It seemed perfectly clear to me," said the right head.

"It would," said left head.

"Guys," said Coren, "Let's go find some breakfast."

"Food! Great idea, I'm starving," said left head.

"Aren't you always hungry?" asked right head.

"No, I'm not always hungry."

"Oh? For example, when?"

"Like last night! I wasn't hungry then."

"Of course you weren't, you were busy running away," said right head.

"I was not. We turned around and helped them, remember?" said left head.

"I wonder if there are any berries around?" asked Tina, "After a battle like that I could really use some."

"I think there were some back in those trees a little ways," said Coren.

"Well, let's go eat," said Dareno's right head.

"Yeah," agreed Dareno's left head.

"Tina," said Coren, "thanks again for all your help."

"Hey, that's what friends are for."

A week after Coren had arrived in Mew Valley, he and Tina lay basking in the sun. Coren could feel Tina lying next to him, and the warmth of the sun beat upon his closed eyes.

"Hello Coren," said a strangely familiar voice. Coren opened his eyes.

"Aleena!" Coren exclaimed, bolting into a sitting position, "What are you doing here?"

Aleena grinned, "some welcome. I've been searching for you for days now."

"You have? I didn't mean to sound like I wasn't welcoming you. But you shouldn't be here! I mean, there are Pokemon here who don't like humans. And what's that Pokemon doing on your shoulder?" said Coren finally noticing the Murkrow perched on Aleena's shoulder.

"This is Gale, she's a Murkrow. She's also my first Pokemon!" said Aleena proudly.

"But you're a master, why does that girl think you're her Pokemon?" Tina asked the Murkrow.

"Because I am her Pokemon. I have given up the duty of Master to whomever is skilled enough to take my place," explained Gale.

"You gave up your position of master to be a human's Pokemon!" Tina exclaimed incredulously.

"Yes. I have been Master long enough and this girl needed support. I also feel that there is something special about this girl."

"Huh. Well Coren's special too!" said Tina.

Coren and Aleena exchanged slightly amused looks.

"Indeed? Is that why you've chosen him as your human?" asked Gale, tilting her head.

"I am not his Pokemon! I'm a wild Pokemon!" exclaimed Tina.

"Then why do you travel with him?"

"Because," said Tina, sitting with her head at a regal tilt, "he needs my help." Gale cracked her beak open in a grin.

"So Aleena," said Coren, "How did you end up here, and with Gale as your Pokemon?"

"Well, Damien told me that you'd gone into that bone yard and hadn't come out. Actually he told me that after telling the teachers that you had gone off on your own. Anyway, when you didn't show up that day everyone was worried, especially your parents. After a few days, when no one could find you, I couldn't take it any longer. I packed up, left a note for my parents, and left to search for you.

"I went to the bone yard and met a Cubone who chased me out of the place. Then as I was wandering around the forest a Gastly appeared. It turned into a little girl and talked to me. It asked me why I was there. When I told her that I was searching for you, she asked me if I would be willing to stay away from home and humans for a year, in order to be with you. I had to think about that one. If I stayed away for a year my parents would be worried sick. But I didn't know if you were alright or what had happened to you. I agreed to stay away from home for a year if Hazy, that's the Gastly's name, helped me find you."

"You agreed!" interrupted Coren, "are you crazy!"

"Maybe," said Aleena, "but I like to think that I'm just a loyal friend."

"I wouldn't call that "just loyal", but anyway I'm sorry for calling you crazy and for interrupting. Go on."

"Well, after I agreed, Hazy used some sort of strange ability to allow me to talk in the Pokemon language."

"Wait a minute!" interrupted Coren, "You can talk to Pokemon!"

"Yes," said Aleena smiling, "It's incredible. But wait, can you talk to Pokemon?"

"Yes! Possessor taught, well I guess that's the best way to describe it, to me. There was this really strange sensation, and then I could understand what the Pokemon were saying."

"That sounds pretty similar to what Hazy did to me. Well, getting back to my tale, Hazy then brought me to the valley and introduced me to the Masters. They weren't very pleased."

Tina muttered, "I can imagine not."

"Especially since Hazy isn't a master," Aleena said, agreeing with Tina. "Things could have gone down hill real fast, if it weren't for Gale here, who agreed to be my Pokemon and guide me. I now have to take the four Pokemon trainer trials."

"That's my story. Now tell me yours, Coren."

Coren told Aleena all about what had happened to him.

"So when do I get to meet Majesty and Dareno?" asked Aleena.

"Right now," said Coren, "Come on, I'll introduce you." Coren got up and walked over to a stream. Dareno was there, his left head drinking while his right conversed with Majesty.

"Dareno, Majesty, this is my best friend Aleena and her new Pokemon, a former Master of this Valley, Gale," said Coren.

Dareno bobbed both of his heads to Gale and Aleena. "Hello."

Majesty curtsied (as much as a fish type Pokemon can) and said, "I am honored to meet you."

"So Coren," said Aleena, "have you built a shelter yet?"

"Uh... No, I didn't really think of that," answered Coren.

"You've been here almost a week and you didn't think of building a shelter?" asked Aleena.

"Nope. It's been sunny ever since I got here. It rained before I found this place, but I haven't needed a shelter since I got here," said Coren.

"Coren," said Aleena, "we're going to be here for a year. Rain or shine, snow or hail. I think we're going to need a shelter."

"That's a very good point," said Coren, "Do you think we should do that next, or work on our training?"

Aleena smiled wryly, "So you get to lounge around for a week, but the second I get here I have to work?"

"Well no, you don't have to, but you're the one who seemed to feel building a shelter was such an urgent thing to do," said Coren.

"I know," Aleena said with a grin, "I'm just giving you a hard time. As far as whether to train or build first, you've already finished your first two Trials, and I'd like to catch up with you."

"I guess we need to find a Pokemon for you to command." said Coren.

Gale spoke up, "There is no need to go searching, simply command me to do something."

"That won't work," said Tina.

Gale and Aleena looked at Tina. Gale asked, "And why not?"

"Because, you're actually Aleena's Pokemon," said Tina, "It needs to be a wild Pokemon."

"Oh. Right. I guess that wouldn't work then... Aleena you could command Coren's friends there, since they're not really his Pokemon," Gale suggested.

"I suppose..." said Aleena looking at Tina, Dareno and Majesty. "But what would I have them do? It seems kind of bothersome to them to ask them to do something with-out a point."

"But there is a point, to get you passed the first trial," said Gale.

"I know, but why should they obey me? Especially without a point to doing something," said Aleena.

"You could gather lunch," suggested Coren. "Tina, Dareno, why don't you two go with Aleena to find some food."

"And what are you going to be doing while we work?" asked Aleena, hands on her hips.

"Yes, what are you going to do?" asked Tina, with almost the same expression as Aleena.

"Uh... Well, I suppose I'll go search for some wood and materials to build a shelter with," said Coren.

"Oh yeah!" said Aleena, "Coren, I brought three packs with me, one with food and first aid supplies and stuff like that, and a bag of my stuff, but the third bag, the blue one, has some of your stuff that I kind of borrowed from your house."

"My stuff? Like what?" asked Coren.

"Well for one thing, like clothes. Have you been wearing those for a week?" asked Aleena, looking at Coren's crumpled, dirty clothes.

"Yeah. I didn't exactly have much choice. I washed them once, but I felt too vulnerable without any clothes on," said Coren.

"I can imagine," said Aleena, looking at him a little funny, "I left the bags down by that stand of trees closest to the lake. Gale, why don't you take him there? Maybe you could help him fix a camp up. I won't really need your help for the first trial."

"Very well," Gale nodded and turned to Coren, "Follow me." Gale flew towards the stand of trees.

"See ya," said Coren, and he followed Gale.

"Alright then, shall we be off?" asked Aleena.

"Yes, let's find some food," said Dareno's right head.

"Yeah, I'm starving!" said left head.

"Starving! We just ate two hours ago!" said right head.

"Exactly. My stomach was full two hours ago. It's not anymore," said left.

"I don't see how your stomach could be hungry when mine's not, we have the same stomach!" said right.

Tina sighed and shook her head.

Aleena looked at Tina and asked in an aside, "Is he, I mean, are they, it… Those two, always like that?"

"They certainly seem to be," replied Tina, as she and Aleena strode towards some trees.

"Oh your stomach's hungry, you just don't realize it!" said left.

"I think it's your head that's hungry, not our stomach," said right.

"Oh yes it is," said left.

"No it's not!" said right.

"See? You just said it wasn't my head!" said left.

"What! I did not!" exclaimed right.

"Oh yes you did. See, you said it was my head, and I said it is, so you said it's not, which means that you don't think it's my head." said left.

"But, but... if you said it is, and then my saying it's not meant that it wasn't, then wouldn't that mean that you said it was your head?" asked right.

"Nope," said left.

"No! How can it not!" said right.

"Cause I didn't mean it in that way, that's just how you interpreted it," explained left.

"Me! But you're the one who said that's what it meant!" said right.

"Did I?" asked left, "Or is that just what you thought I was doing, when really it is what you meant, you just didn't know it."

As they reached the forest Aleena asked Tina, "Don't you think we should wait for them?"

"Nah, they'll catch up," said Tina.

Dareno's right head said to his left, "You don't make any sense!"

Left head tilted his beak up and replied, "Of course I don't it's your job to think. And besides, I'm hungry."

Dareno's right head stared at his left, "Never mind! Hey, where'd everybody go?"

Dareno looked around. Left head pointed his beak, "Over there! They're just entering the forest. Come on let's go, they might start eating with out us!"

Dareno shook his right head just before leaping into the air and racing after them.

July 18

Coren and Aleena had settled in nicely. They had built (with the help of several Pokemon) a small one room cabin, which provided a nice shelter from the weather. They'd also built an outhouse, which wasn't too shabby, all things considered. Though they both missed their parents, they had plenty of new Pokemon friends who helped make the adjustment to "independence" easier.

One night, Coren and Aleena where sitting around a small camp-fire they had made. Tina, Dareno, Gale and Majesty (the latter having a nearby spring to rest in) were gathered there, along with several wild Pokemon who had been attracted to the fire. Among those wild Pokemon was a young wooper who had been hanging around a lot. He was quite curious about them.

Coren, had just finished his supper when a purple mist swirled around him and Aleena. The mist formed into Possessor and a Gastly, which then formed into a little girl.

"Hazy!" exclaimed Aleena.

Hazy spoke, "Greetings Aleena, we are here to inform you that the third trial is ready."

"Coren, the time hath come for you to test your team's abilities. There are four obstacles upon the course that we have marked. You must overcome each obstacle to pass the test. You and Aleena shall start the course at dawn tomorrow, and you must finish it by sun down to pass the trial. Do you under stand?"

"I think so... What happens if we don't pass?" asked Coren.

"Than you shall fail the four trials, thus sentencing yourself to remaining here for the rest of your life."

"You mean we'd be stuck here permanently! No second chances?" asked Aleena.

"You might perhaps, get a second chance, but when that would be is uncertain."

"Oh boy. I hope we're ready for this," said Coren looking around at his friends.

"Sure we are!" said Dareno's left head.

"You're always ready for this sort of struggle aren't you?" said Dareno's right head.

"Of Course I am, it's in a Pokemon's nature."

"Oh brother."

"Well Coren, I'm ready for it," said Tina.

"As am I," stated Majesty.

"Aleena, I am also ready for the challenge," said Gale.

"I'm glad to here it," said Aleena, "because I'm not sure that I'm ready for it."

"Don't worry Aleena, you'll do fine," said Coren, "You've always been good at doing things with Pokemon."

Aleena gave a hollow laugh, "You're giving me to much credit Coren. I may be good at some Pokemon stuff, but I've never had to deal with anything like this before."

"We'll help you," offered Tina, sitting beside Aleena.

"Hey, don't worry about that. I came all this way to find Coren, not have him get stuck in a valley on my account," said Aleena.

"Do not concern yourselves about Aleena, I shall be watching over her. You have your own charge to take care of," said Gale.

"Well alright," said Tina, "but if there is trouble, I'm more than willing to help."

"Uh guys?" said Coren, "If this thing starts at dawn tomorrow, then I think we'd better get to bed."

"Good point," said Aleena, "Good night every one."

The next morning Possessor and Hazy lead Coren, Aleena and their Pokemon to the start of the course.

"As you can see," said Hazy, once again in little girl form, "The sides of the course have been marked by purple ribbon. You are to stay on the path and overcome each obstacle. Your goal is to touch the Mew fountain's statue of Mew. Remember, you must do so before sunset."

"As soon as the sphere I am holding turns yellow, the trial begins. I wish you luck."

Hazy held up a translucent purple ball.

"Are you guys ready?" Coren asked his Pokemon.

"You betcha!" said Dareno's left head.

"As ready as we'll ever be," said his right head.

"I am ready," said Majesty, from her position in Coren's back pack.

"Ready and waiting," reported Tina.

"Good. Dareno are you willing to carry me so that we'll make better time?"

"Of course," said Dareno's left head.

"Thanks," said Coren climbing onto Dareno's back. Tina scrambled up after him, and sat on his shoulders, clinging to his hair.

The sun's rays started to appear over the valley walls, turning the purple ball a murky greenish brown.

Coren turned to Aleena, "Good luck."

"Thanks," said Aleena, "good luck to you too."

Coren nodded, "Thanks."

They then both turned and looked at the sphere which Hazy held aloft. As the more of the sun's light touched it, the sphere turned a bright amber-like yellow.

"It starts," said Hazy.

As they were running along, Dareno turned a bend and saw several fences blocking the path.

"It looks like we're gonna have to jump them," said Dareno's right head.

"That's no problem. It'd actually be easier than trying to squeeze through or under them," said left head.

Dareno ran up to the first fence and easily jumped over. He also easily cleared the next to fences. The fourth one was a bit taller, but Dareno gave an extra burst of speed and sprang over it. Coren and Tina had to work really hard to regain their balance after the last jump, but were able to do so.

When Aleena and Gale got to the fences, Aleena climbed through the first two, under the third, and over the fourth. Gale simply flew over them all. She helped Aleena get over the fourth, by pulling on her while flying.

Next Coren came to a large cliff. He worked his way up, finding hand and foot holds to help him climb. Dareno jumped from ledge to ledge, while Tina nimbly climbed up, reaching the top before the others.

Aleena got to the cliff and started climbing, while Gale flew ahead, charting a path for her.

Dareno came around another corner and saw a six foot wide ravine.

"Oh boy, here we go again," said Dareno's left head. Dareno put on a burst of speed and leapt through the air. As he neared the other side Dareno noticed a Wooper near the edge.

"What the?" asked left head, as his feet hit the ground. He landed hard, sending Coren and Tina tumbling.

"Woop!" cried the wooper as, startled, he lost his balance and fell off the edge.

Coren, Tina and Dareno ran to the edge and looked over. The wooper was sitting on a narrow ledge, clinging to the cliff face.

"Are you alright?" Coren called to him.

"Y-yes but I'm stuck here!" said the wooper.

"Hang on, we'll figure something out," Tina told him.

"Perhaps one of you could be so kind as to put me back in Coren's pack?" asked Majesty.

"Oh geeze, sorry about that. Are you alright?" said Coren, picking up Majesty.

Majesty sighed, "I'm a little shaken, but I am alright."

"I'm glad you're okay," said Coren.

Several minutes later Aleena and Gale came around the bend. Aleena walked to the edge.

"What's wrong?" called Aleena.

"A Pokemon fell down into the ravine," said Coren.

Aleena crouched down, and looked at the whooper, "Gale, do suppose we could help, maybe if you lowered a rope or a vine or something down to him?"

"Yes, I think we can manage that. We might even be able to use such an item to get across," replied Gale.

"Coren, Gale and I can help this guy, you go on ahead," said Aleena.

"Are you sure?" asked Coren.

"Yes, I still have to get across anyway, there's no sense in you being held up too."

"I don't know, what if I might be able to help?" said Coren.

"Coren, we can manage here. Now go," said Aleena.

"All right, I'll go," said Coren, "Be careful."

"Of course," said Aleena, "you be careful too."

"Yeah. Well, I'll see you later," said Coren.

Coren and Tina climbed back on Dareno and he ran onwards.

Dareno, Tina, Majesty and Coren reached a lake.

"The path goes through a lake?" said Coren, "I guess we're swimming"

"I am willing to tow you, Coren," offered Majesty.

"Thank you," said Coren, "Tina you might want to hold onto me."

"Yes."

Majesty towed Coren, with Tina clinging to the back of Coren's shirt. Dareno swam after them.

When they reached the other side, they rested for a while.

"I wonder how Aleena is doing?" said Coren.

"Hey," said Tina, standing up and looking across the lake, "isn't that her?"

Aleena was swimming across, with Gale flying above holding onto Aleena's hair, tugging her on.

"Gale, I don't know if I can do this," said Aleena

"Aleena, I know you can do it. We need to keep going, it's already late afternoon," said Gale.

A Wooper swam up to Aleena.

"Hey you look tired," said the Wooper.

"I am," said Aleena.

"Well, you helped me out, so now I'd like to help you out. Hold onto me, and I'll help pull you as well."

"Thank you," said Aleena, putting her arm around the Wooper.

When they reached the other side, Coren and the others came over to them.

"Coren, you were supposed to keep going," scolded Aleena.

"We needed to rest. After all, Dareno's been carrying us, and running and jumping, and then swimming all day," said Coren, "if he'd kept going he might have collapsed from exhaustion."

"I could do that," said Aleena.

"Come on," said Tina, "We want to get to the finish before sunset."

"Yeah," said Coren, "Dareno, are you ready to carry us?"

"Yeah, alright, let's go," said Dareno's left head. Coren picked up Majesty and put her in his back pack. He then picked up Tina and got on Dareno.

"Aleena will you be okay?" asked Coren.

"Yes. I'll manage somehow," said Aleena.

"Okay then, I'll see you later."

Dareno sprinted off.

"Aleena, we should continue," said Gale.

"Right," said Aleena, climbing to her feet.

Dareno reached a meadow, in the center of which was a fountain shaped like mew. Dareno came to a stop next to the fountain. Coren got off and walked up to the fountain. He reached out and placed a hand on the mew statue.

Majesty slipped out of Coren's bag and into the fountain. Coren sat down on the rock wall/edge of the fountain to rest.

The sun was nearing the horizon, when Aleena walked up, supported by Gale pulling her arm, and the Wooper pushing her legs.

"Aleena!" Coren called, starting forward. Tina jumped in-front of him.

"Coren wait. She has to do this on her own."

"But- if the Pokemon can help her, why can't I?"

"That's just it. The Pokemon can help her. This is a trial to see if a human can work well with Pokemon. Not other people."

Aleena stumbled over to the fountain. She sat down on its edge and put her hand on the mew statue. She smiled wearily.

"Aleena are you okay?" Coren asked in concern.

"Fine. Just fine," she smiled at Coren, "We did it. One more trial and we'll be free. But we did it. We both finished before sunset."

"Yeah."

Purple mist swirled around them and Possessor and Hazy appeared.

"You have both successfully completed the third trial. Congratulations. We shall come to you when it is time for the fourth trial," said Possessor.

"Good job, both of you. And Aleena, that was an excellent rescue," said Hazy.

And with that, both Possessor and Hazy disappeared.

Coren sat down next to Aleena. He looked at the statue of mew which had shimmering steams of water cascading around it.

"You know, at first I thought that we were unlucky, getting lost, and then stuck in a wilderness like this, but it's actually not that bad," said Coren.

"No, it's not. This is actually quite a blessing," said Aleena

"I know. Most people are lucky if they get to see half of these rare Pokemon. And being able to talk to Pokemon and understand them..." Coren shook his head, "it's just incredible."

"Woopieeeee!" shouted the Wooper as he jumped into the fountain, spraying Coren and Aleena in the process.

"Whoa! Be careful," said Aleena, "say, do you have a name?"

The Wooper looked up, "no. But you could give me one couldn't you?"

"Well, I could if you wanted me to," said Aleena.

"Oh please! Please do! I'd really love a name!" said the Wooper.

"Hmm... Well you keep saying woopie. What do think of having that as your name?"

"Woop woop Woopieeeee!" shouted Woopie, the Wooper, jumping into the air and landing with another splash.

"Looks like you just made another friend," said Coren, laughing as he wiped water off his face.

"It does, doesn't it?" said Aleena, "it's nice having friends."

"Yeah, Tina, Dareno, and Majesty have really helped me a lot,". said Coren, "And you too. Remember when you helped me take care of Survivor?"

"Yeah, he was quite the Farfetch'd wasn't he? But you know what Coren? I'd have to say that you're one of my best friends."

"Same here," said Coren, looking at the mew monument, "You've really given me hope for humans."

"You sound like a wild Pokemon talking," Aleena exclaimed with a laugh.

"Well, I always have gotten along better with Pokemon. You're really one of the few humans who understands me. Besides my parents, you're practically the only human friend I have."

"Well, I'll always be your friend."

As Coren and Aleena rested and talked, their Pokemon friends did likewise.

The sunset was gorgeous, and the sunlight bathed them in a golden light, causing the water of Mew fountain to look like liquid gold. Mew Valley was at peace, as it had been for hundreds of years, and as it would be for many more. A sanctuary for the wild ones.

Author's note: And that is NOT the end! Or at least, it wasn't meant to be, despite feeling like it… I still have a lot more story planned, it's just a matter of finding the time to write it!

If you'd like to see more, make sure you let me know in your review. If enough people really want more it will help me justify spending more time on this particular story as opposed to some of my other stories jockeying for time and energy.