7/1/07: Story officially on hiatus. Check my profile for updates when I will continue!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon!

"The Legend of the Three Regis"
Chapter 8: "The Journey Begins"

It only took a few hours to get back to Petalburg. They were all thinking of the events that had happened, the fire being the main one. Everybody hoped that the Pokemon Center was going to be rebuilt soon for the Pokemon's sake.

That night, everyone slept at the Belle's house, so in the morning, they could wish Zac and Harmony on a happy journey.

-----

Harmony woke up refreshed and ready to go. She hurried down the stairs to find everyone else already awake.

"Have a good night's sleep?" Norman asked her.

"Yeah. It was nice seeing Jhoto again. I had nice memories there."

"We all did." Caroline smiled.

Harmony looked around and stretched her arms. "Hey, where's Zac?"

"Outside. He wanted to get an early start." Steven motioned for the door.

"Really?" Harmony smiled. "Then I'll go and interrupt."

-----

"Manectric, bust those pebbles with your Spark!" Zac threw up a handful of stones from the ground.

"If Manectric can't do that, then he didn't deserve to defeat Pelipper."

Zac turned around. "Oh, hey, Harmony. It's harder than it looks."

Manectric busted 2 out of 5 rocks.

"The rocks are just like miniature Pokemon."

"Ah, I get it. Like a Geodude or Graveler."

Zac nodded. "Right. Manectric, time to go." After he recalled Manectric, he turned back to Harmony. "You're ready to go then?"

"Yeah. I got everything ready last night."

Zac smiled. "Me too. Hey, you know, we're finally doing it."

"Oh, yeah. Now that I think about it..."

- flashback -

They were at the berry tree. They had just finished another imaginary Pokemon battle.

"Yeah, I won!" Harmony yelled.

Zac smiled. "Congratulations!" He ran over to hug her.

"You know what would be awesome? If we could go on a Pokemon journey together! We'd have to wait until next year, of course."

"But, still, going anywhere with you is a nice thing, no matter how long I wait. We're best friends right?"

"Right! Best friends forever! Let's hope we will get to that journey. I'll look forward to it."

- end of flashback -

"It took a while to get here, but we finally did it." Zac said. "Come on, let's go."

-----

In less than 15 minutes, the two Pokemon trainers were at the front door, looking towards the Petalburg Woods.

"Good luck guys." Norman told them.

"You can do it. If anybody can, it's you two." Caroline smiled.

"And maybe we'll meet up with Matt." Harmony said wistfully.

"Tell him we said hey. He's our friend, too." Max added.

"I will."

"Come back safe, you two." Steven put his hand on his son's right shoulder.

"We'll keep in touch." Harmony said before she and Zac headed left.

"We're all behind you!" They heard the Elite Four's last words.

-----

"Watch out. Don't step on the Wurmple." Harmony warned Zac. The wild Pokemon blinked and scurried behind a nearby bush.

"There's Mr. Briney's house. His boat can take us to Dewford. According to your dad, an island cave a few miles north of there is where Regice lives."

"Great, we can get an early start." Zac was excited and so was Harmony.

Harmony ran through the grass, avoiding any wild Pokemon and gently tapped Mr. Briney's door.

An older man opened the door with a smile. "Welcome, young travelers, welcome!"

"Uh... are you Mr. Briney?" Zac asked.

"Why, yes I am. Are you here for the ferry?"

"As a matter of fact, we are. We're headed for Dewford Town." Harmony reached into her pocket. "How much is it?"

He waved her outstretched hand away. "My ferry is free of charge. Are you ready to board now?"

They nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Right this way, then." He walked out a side door. "You are going to catch the three Regis, are you?"

"How did you know?"

"Well, your face is everywhere. Zac's too."

Harmony groaned. "You, too?"

Mr. Briney chuckled. "Don't worry, dear. I won't bombard you like others will. But, I will admit, defeating the Pokemon Champion is a huge feat. You're the first trainer to ever see him, let alone defeat him. Ah, yes. I remember my days as a Pokemon trainer."

"You were a Pokemon trainer?" Zac asked in disbelief.

"Yes, I was." He led the way onto the wooden boat. "Don't worry. She's old, but the sturdiest I know of."

Harmony lost her balance as the choppy waters rocked the boat. Zac caught her before she fell. "Trying to jump overboard? Am I that bad?" He joked.

Harmony turned pink and tried to recover quickly. "Thanks, Zac." She said as calmly as she could. Why am I so flustered? Zac knows how I feel and I know how he feels, so why should I be embarrased to be close to him? She looked back at his questioning face and tried not to look away.

-----

When they arrived, before they left the ship, Mr. Briney said, "Good luck to you both."

As he turned the boat around to put it in a resting spot, it bumped into something under the water's surface. There cam a roar and an angry Gyrados burst from the water.

"What? Oh, no!" Mr. Briney yelled.

"Don't worry, Mr. Briney! Roselia, tame that Gyrados!"

"Help her out, Manectric!"

"Roselia!" Roselia shot a Magical Leaf at Gyrados and Manectric attacked with a Thunder. Manectric made sure it hit it's intended target, not Mr. Briney.

"Now, Roselia, use a Grasswhistle!"

"Roselia!"

But before Roselia could attack, Gyrados fired a Hyper Beam at the Grass Pokemon.

"Manectric, go! Thunder!"

"Roselia, you OK?" Harmony asked her Pokemon. "Can you still battle?"

"Harmony, watch out!" Zac yelled. "Manectric!"

His Pokemon used a Spark attack and pushed the Gyrados out of Harmony's path.

"Roselia!" Roselia used a Grasswhistle to calm the Gyrados down. It fell back into the water, causing a small wave to sweep over the island.

Harmony fell onto her feet from the unexpected force. It went up to just below her ankles.

Zac recalled Manectric and held his hand out to Harmony. "Here. You alright?"

"Huh?" She just stared at him.

"Something wrong, Harmony?" Zac frowned.

Harmony forced a smile and allowed him to pull her up. "No. Nothing's wrong, Zac. Why would you ask that?"

Mr. Briney breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the sleeping Gyrados. "Thanks, you two." He smiled as he watched Zac's actions. Ah, young love. How I wish I could do it all over again.

"Not a problem, Mr. Briney." Zac yelled before they turned toward the town. They wave had fortunately done no damage.

"I'll be waiting for you two when you're ready to leave!"

As Harmony recalled her Roselia, she gazed at Zac's confident stature with a slight frown. What's wrong with me? Why do I feel so... I don't know, wrong when Zac is near me? Don't I like him?

"Harmony, you coming?" Zac looked over his right shoulder.

"I'm coming!"

And she ran up to meet him.

As an additional note, I did just make up the Mr. Briney being a Pokemon trainer and the free ferry part. It didn't say it wasn't in the game. ;P