Chapter Twenty:
Moving On

Disclaimer: I do not own the series Pokémon. Like, at all. It and all its respectable characters are © to Game Freak and Satoshi Tajiri. However, all writing contents and semi-plots here are © to me; unless it is stated otherwise. All shows/ books/ video games/ songs that are mentioned in this chapter are all © to their respective owners, I do not own them.

Notes: Apologies for the lengthy absence. When school kicked into gear, my time was monopolized by the load work that followed. It's been stressful and tiring this semester, especially when I had to unexpectantly put one of my cats to sleep due to an extremely aggressive form of cancer he had little chance of recovering from. I still have the good health of my other kitties (and my family as well), but it doesn't make it any easier to deal with. I lost one of my fur-babies, and there were no good options to choose from where he'd come out of it alive and healthy.

Also, in remarks to last chapter: I feel as though Brawly gets the unfortunate luck of having his pokémon getting beat the fuck down in several Nuzlocke runs. It's as though by some unspoken agreement that he and his gym by default is the one to suffer breakdowns, anguish, or beatdowns from characters the most in the beginning of stories. I feel kind of bad for him.

Lastly, I've had some very inappropriate reviews/private messages lately. Please don't hawk your hookup or dating propositions with me. It's perverse and unwanted. I'd greatly appreciate it if the unwelcome solicitation could end here and now, please.

Current Team: Keno the Marshtomp, Sela the Poochyena, Ambrose the Kirlia, Faye the Taillow, Breela the Shroomish, Luna the Skitty

Badges Won: Stone Badge, Knuckle Badge


"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on."
—Robert Frost


The midday sun beat down on the region of Hoenn with cheerful forbearance. Barely any clouds scuttled across the expanse of the clear and wide blue yonder, but a briny breeze whispered across both the docks and the sea's watery surface. Cloudy water lapped at the algae-covered stanchions. A flock of Wingull cried out constantly up above or on the tops of sailing boat masts or the railing of modern ships or from the distant beach or from the tops of buildings. Most of their words overlapped one another, but a great number of words were largely related to food.

"Food! Find food!" Several of the Wingull called out.

"Lunch! It's lunchtime, let's eat!" Others echoed.

"Hungry, so hungry!" One or two more added.

A pair of Pelipper skimmed along the waves, wings flaring as they caught an updraft. They continued on their flight, cresting over the frothing waters until they faded in the distance. Shay watched them until their forms disappeared into the fine haze of sea salt spray and a faint slip of mist rolling in from across the bay.

Shay turned her attentions toward Sela as she yelped when a trio of Wingull came swooping over her head and one of them grew especially bold by gently plucking at one of her stubby horns. With a snap and a snarl, they winged away at the Poochyena, laughing as they did. Sela turned her maraschino-bright eyes on Shay.

"I want roasted Wingull tonight." She intoned gravely, teeth bright and bared, her snout wrinkled as the faintest hint of a glow emanated along the curves of her lips.

"And I want a ten million bucks," Shay shot back, shifting her weight off her left leg. Sela stared at her for a long moment, but the glow eventually faded into a faint curling of smoke and Sela stalked away down the docks. Keno exchanged a knowing glance with his trainer, sharing a faint grin before he ambled after Sela.

"He's coming this way," a voice called ahead. Shay shifted her glance upwards, searching until she found Faye perched along the boom of sailing boat moored along the docks. Faye ruffled her feathers and began to preen her flight feathers several times.

"Lass! There ye are!"

Shay dropped her eyes and found a familiar burly figure sauntering toward her, bushy-bearded and all. A Wingull, more glossy-feathered and plump than the wild ones, sat perched on his shoulder but as soon as she spotted Shay, she leapt into the air. Her long, thin wings clipped upwards as a draft caught them and she soared over Shay's head, webbed feet lashing out to gentle tousle the woman's hair before circling back around to land back on Mister Briney's shoulder.

He let out a booming laugh as he stopped just before Shay, his bright eyes twinkling merrily.

"So good t' see ye, lass! An' in much better conditions than the least time. That eye o' yers is just about healed up! Good t' see, good t' see."

"And it's great to see you in better spirits, too, Mister Briney. And you too, Peeko. You're looking much better."

Peeko squealed happily, beak clacking as she did. "Good to see you too! Much better looking, like Mister Briney says!"

Mister Briney laughed at his Wingull's antics and reached up to gently pat her. Peeko leaned into his calloused hand, clattering her beak even more as she ruffled her pristine white feathers once again.

"I got yer message from the Dewford Town Pokémon Center staff; can't believe I overlooked that m'self, but I suppose we were a bit occupied when we, ah, made port a few weeks back."

Shay recalled rather clearly on that matter. Cops waiting on the dock, cops ready to grab her and take her away again. It seemed to be the story of her life since her tenure was struck in Hoenn. She was beginning to feel an anxious itch crawling under her skin whenever she saw a cop in uniform nowadays.

Her thoughts came to a halt at the soft clutch of claws gently plucking along the material of her pants and she shot a quick glance down to see Ambrose beside her. She reached down to palm the back of his head and he leaned into her touch. A wash of warmth and sensation of comfort flowed up her fingertips at the contact, spreading up her arm and through the rest of her.

She returned to the moment of here and now, refocusing her attentions back on Mister Briney.

"Well, I'm glad that I got their message an' I'm happy t' help. How fares yer gym challenge, by the way?"

Shay finally found a smile carving her lips upwards. "We won against Brawly, and we're ready to head to Slateport, if it isn't too much trouble."

"Oh, no trouble at all, lass," Mister Briney replied with a grin of his own. "Follow me, an' we'll head on out afore the day's come an' gone!"


The trip to Slateport was, thankfully, extremely uneventful. No chummed up indigenous fish species, no predatory Sharpedo sloughing through the bloodied waters, nothing. There were a number of fishing trawlers skimming the waters, swimmers treading water along shoals. Pokémon darted along through the sea or flew high up overhead as the Seafarer carved a trail of wake water behind it as they headed to Slateport.

Slateport settled into sight before long, breaking the monotonous azure distance as they drew closer. Only a few piers and docks lined the south end of the city, but most of the space was reserved for the beach and its multitude of visitors. Children splashed about in the waters, many of them accompanied by a pokémon companion of some sort. Most were water-types, but there were a few exceptions.

Mister Briney sidled the Seafarer along one of the empty docks. The rumble of the engine slowed to a veritable crawl until it seemed to disappear altogether.

Despite his protests about being too old, Shay watched as Mister Briney scuttled about, moving with fluid assuredness and a pep in his step as he did.

He might not be a spring chicken, but he's far from being unable to work, she mused as she gathered her things and the team patiently waited until the Seafarer was safely moored. Peeko was the first to usher them toward the gangplank after Mister Briney set it up, flitting about in the air. Faye joined the little Wingull, and the two engaged in a game of tag.

"Welcome to Slateport, lass! Watch yer step, all of ye. Oh, an' before I forget…"

Mister Briney, standing by the gunwale, shuffled forward and stuffed a hand into a pocket. He pulled a slip of folded paper out and presented it to Shay. She stared at the paper, flicking her gaze upwards toward the older man's face questioningly.

"My contact information, in case ye ever need a bit o' support out on the deep blue."

Shay's mouth formed a small 'O' shape at his explanation and hesitated in reaching for it.

"Are…are you sure?" It was contact information. A simple number. And yet…the implications behind it were a bit much.

Mister Briney responded with a booming laugh, one which Peeko echoed with equal fervor in her higher-pitched voice.

"Of course, wee lassie! I owe ye a great favour! I don't have any bairn o' me own, an' Peeko…well, she's the closest I ever got t' having any."

Peeko dove down sharply from midair, cutting short the game she had been engaged with Faye in, flaring her wings at the last moment to land on Mister Briney's shoulder. He beamed as the little Wingull pressed her tiny body against the side of his neck and face, cooing softly.

"There, there, Peeko. It's all right," Mister Briney said in a hushed voice, before he offered the paper once more to Shay, his wide grin softening up by several degrees. "Take it. Ye need all th' help ye can get. Trust me."

With less reluctance the second go around, Shay plucked the offered slip of information and jammed it into her pants pocket, a small smile plucking at her own lips.

"Thanks, Mister Briney."

"Ah, no trouble at all, lassie. Oh, an' if yer not up fer headin' straight into town right away, there's a wee shack ye can stop by at an' rest up in, just further down that way. Ye can't miss it; it's called the Seashore House!"

A tug on her pantleg told Shay that there was a restlessness from some of her team members that would not be ignored. She bid Mister Briney and Peeko both goodbye, and followed after her team, leaving the hardpacked solidness of wooden planks to the shifting nature of sand. It crunched underfoot and she could feel the heat shimmering off of it as the sun continued to cheerfully blaze on from above.

Hefting her pack more carefully on her shoulders, she grunted and watched as people lounged on beach towels, ran up and down the shoreline, played a series of games, built sandcastles, or frolicked with children and pokémon. There were at least two lifeguard towers that Shay could see, and over in the distance, just as Mister Briney had said, there was a kind of seaside rest shack, quiet and resolute where it stood. It really was a beautiful day, with the sun warmly beating down, a slight welcoming breeze with the taste of brine in the air…

Perhaps they could come back here, if they stayed for a few days longer than planned. They could train, and enjoy a day or two at the beach, all in one go. She missed the beach. She hadn't been as keen on pitching the idea to the team when they had been in Dewford, but they had some downtime now.

First things first, though; I have to deliver this part to Captain Stern, and after that, we can take time for ourselves before the long stretch to New Mauville.

It would have to wait, though. They'd need to settle in at the Pokemon Center, if there were even any rooms available, and after that, they'd need some food and rest.

A tug on her arm, gentle but insistent, drew Shay out of her plan-making and she glanced down at Keno. He stared at her with those tiger-orange eyes, a question burning in his gaze. He made a motion toward the shack.

"Would you mind if we stopped at that place Mister Briney told us about? I'm feeling a bit dry."

"I'm getting a bit thirsty myself," Sela concurred, and soon a chorus of agreements burst forth from the others. Shay surveyed them all, noting the slightly wilting expressions on their faces. She eyed the shack, taking in how far it was and realized it would take some time to locate and travel to the Pokémon Center.

With a sigh and a faint smile, Shay gave a nod of approval.

"Yeah, we can rest up. I'm sorry, you guys. I didn't even think of food or drinks for the boat ride."

"It's okay, Shay. Don't feel too bad. We didn't really say anything, not until now, I mean." Keno remarked, giving her arm a good-natured pat with his broad hand. Shay could already tell his skin was actually feeling pretty dry, and that made her concern bubble up more.

She paused long enough to scoop Breela up into her arms and led the way toward the shack.


Their occupancy at the shack had been an interesting, to say the least, as far as Shay had been concerned.

It wasn't a particularly noteworthy place or overtly stunning, but it had its rustic charms that tailored itself to the image of "seaside shack" as far as decorum went. Fishnets strung up here and there, worn and salt-weathered wood that had probably never seen a lacquered-finished day in its life, and of course the low artificial lighting that gave way to the more ambient natural lighting of the sun during daylight hours.

There had bene plenty of people milling about and as soon as Shay had stepped inside with her team, all eyes converged on them. It had been slightly unnerving, like she had suddenly stepped into a Wild West setting, and the only way to wipe the atmosphere of the tension was to either defuse the room or prepare for a shootout.

Luckily enough, no one drew guns, but a number of people were gripping pokéballs at their sides or from inside their beach-going bags.

Eventually, it had all come to a head. The man who owned the shack confirmed what Shay already knew: this place was a place of battle, where people had to earn their beverages and snacks.

"But, you're going to have to take it outside! I don't need my place trashed all to hell, got it?"

Shay was surprised at just how easy it had been to work her way through the five contenders that had stepped up to issue their challenges against her. She was especially proud of Breela, who stepped up marvelously with her combination of powdered attacks and health-draining attacks. Breela worked great against the water-types most of the occupants had on their teams, whilst Faye handled the rest.

By the time they had finished all the trainers, retrieved their prizes and sat down for a reprieve, the sun was dipping low in the sky and most beachgoers were beginning to pack up and leave for the day.

The walk from the Seashore House to Slateport proper hadn't been as arduous or long as Shay had anticipated, but it took time to navigate the streets to find the Pokémon Center. By the time they made it there, it was well after dark and the hike had exhausted just about everyone.

There were rooms, thankfully enough, and after a concurrence by tired votes upon reaching theirs, food would just have to be delivered. Even after being healed by the nurses, the team and Shay alike all simply wanted to rest in peace.

"All we did was take a boat ride and I'm tired," Keno sighed as he flopped boneless onto the mattress. Luna hopped up right next to him and after stretching, curled up beside the Marshtomp's head.

"Mmmm. Same. I didn't think that beach would end."

"Easy for you to say," Sela grunted at the pink kitten. "You slept the entire boat ride and hardly did any battling. All you did was walk today."

"Yes, and my paws are killing me. It was good exercise, however," Luna purred back, eyes narrowed to pleased slits. Sela shook her head with a soft snort. Shay collapsed on Keno's other side and groaned.

"Don't talk about the beach anymore. We gotta make a game plan for tomorrow."

"Too tired. Let's do it in the morning," Luna mumbled, curling into a ball and tucking her face under her tail.

"Sorry, Luna, but we've got a delivery to complete or we'll have a very rich man with a lot of power and resources and goons at his disposal gunning for our asses if we don't."

Luna grumbled discontentedly from beneath her tail but uncurled it to peep one eye open.

With great reluctance, Shay sat up as the others hopped or clambered onto the bed. Keno sat upright as well, stooping to pluck Breela from the ground and deposited her between himself and Shay.

Bringing up her x-transceiver, she fussed with the controls just enough to bring up Slateport's city map and scrolled across it until she found the eastern docks.

"So, we're supposed to be looking for Captain Stern," she said, motioning to the area she'd selected. "He owns a few warehouses, and the ferry service, so he should be around here somewhere."

And I don't even know why, but I'm hoping against all hope he isn't at the Oceanography Museum, so we don't have to deal with any Team Aqua bullshit. But, chances are, we're gonna have to go schlepping around doing just that.

It still couldn't hurt to check nor hope for the best, but it was better to brace for the worst.

"What if he's sick and we have to go to his house?" Breela interrupted softly with a shudder. "What if…what if his people won't tell us where he is? Can we just leave the stuff with them?"

Shay rubbed the back of her head with her free hand. "I really don't think so. Mister Stone was really insistent that this be delivered to Captain Stern and not a proxy." Shay paused, trying to recall the man's exact words, frowning. "Or, that's the way he made it sound. He doesn't want them falling into the wrong hands, so it'd probably be a safer bet to give the stuff to him in person."

She hadn't thought of the alternatives that Breela had just brought up until now.

What if, what if, what if?

The endless spiraling negative scenarios began to flood her thoughts and it was difficult dissuading them to disperse, to go away entirely. When the seemed to be nothing but a buzz at the back of her mind, she tried to imagine ahead of time what it would be like to meet someone she's never seen before—aside from game sprite art—and how well the meeting would go. Various conversations whittled away at the time in her head. Things she could say or might try to say danced throughout her thoughts. It made the knots inside her gut twist all the tighter with anxiety as the toxic little thoughts of what if, what if, what if came back into play.

It kept her awake, even as the hours ticked by and her exhaustion played havoc on her, yet not nearly enough to drive her sleep and everyone else were slumbering. The hours dragged on, and the jitteriness kept her wide awake.

It was the same as every night before a gym match. The frazzled disquiet kept her from sleeping. Paired with her insomnia, it was an unpleasant combination that left her tossing and turning, restless and unwilling to get up and do anything other than laying around, waiting for sleep to come.

She wished she had her computer. She wished she had her iPod. She wished for a lot of things, and the temptation to call Norman to send both to her was ever present, ever-tempting. Especially when she was having nights such as these, where she felt restless, aching and tired, but not enough to sleep.

The urge was strong tonight, however, and she shifted her attentions to trying to imagine a conversation that could go her way, if she called Norman in the morning, begged him to send her things to her. Sleep eventually came for her, as she tried to think of ways that she could safely protect her electronics from all manner of weather and environments. It was a restive sort of sleep, but it was better than nothing at all. Was that what counted, in the end?


Extra Notes: For clarity's sake, I have written and rewritten this chapter alone at least three times, because I could not find a satisfactory way to push the narrative forward without the transitive motions. I am so, so sorry my lovely readers for the wait. As I mentioned before as well, my semester has been quite heavy on the workload and it hasn't been easy to balance things.

On a much lighter note, over on my tumblr, I've made some headway in art pieces! Sketches mostly, but I'm sure you'll enjoy them, if you care to take a look-see! Lastly, I have been toying with the idea of a separate story to post at a later date, as I'm only in the infancy stages of planning, but I have written out a few things to test the waters on how well I feel it stands. I'll be sure to keep y'all updated regarding the matter if things develop any further!

As always, please be sure to leave a review if you liked the story, and I feel like I have to reiterate this point as well: please keep your unwanted hookup solicitations to yourself. I'm not interested, I will never be interested, and it is highly inappropriate! So kindly fuck off, if that's the only reason you're here.