Chapter Thirty-One:
Splinters
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: This took entirely too long for me to get to. Inspiration is a fickle mistress! And this is a "now for something different" kind of chapter.
Current Team: Keno the Marshtomp, Sela the Mightyena, Ambrose the Kirlia, Faye the Taillow, Breela the Breloom, Luna the Skitty
Badges Won: Stone Badge, Knuckle Badge, Dynamo Badge
"The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher."
— Aldous Huxley
"Uncle Aiden, hurry up! We're going to be late!"
Wally was thrumming with unbridled energy, and he could feel time racing past them all much too quickly. Why couldn't his uncle hurry up?! His auntie was already on board!
'Don't forget your inhaler,' a voice, clear as the pealing of a bell, echoed in his head, accompanied by a gentle scratching along the surface of his thoughts. Wally shot a grateful smile to the pale Ralts leaning against his writing desk. Oleander offered a pleasant nod, little fangs poking out from the corners of his cervine mouth.
Wally backtracked toward his bedside table. The inhaler in question was floating midair, bathed in an ambient shade of lavender. Wally snatched it up, thanking his pokémon. He moved back toward the doorway, checking his aunt and uncle's bedroom door. It was still closed. He groaned.
"Ollie, is he even getting ready?"
'You know your aunt and uncle don't like it when you have me snooping on them—'
"Pleeeease, Oleander? I just want to know if he's getting ready."
Oleander sighed softly, shaking his head even as his eyes slid closed. Moments passed before he opened them once more and stared up at his trainer.
'He is getting ready. He's just taking his time.' Wally could sense his hesitation. 'He doesn't really see the point in entertaining you.'
That was to be expected. It saddened Wally that his uncle could do so much good for the people of Verdanturf, but one little request from him was too much. It had taken so much wheedling to get him to agree to this in the first place!
"The gym matches are going to be starting soon, we have to get a move on!"
"Ya know, little cuz, you've seriously got to chill out. We'll get there when we get there. Gym matches happen every week. What's so special about this particular one?"
Wally startled and whirled on his heel, clutching at his chest. Sharp, glassy needles stabbed through his lungs and seized his throat tightly. He took a quick puff on his inhaler, waiting for the spell to pass, until he was able to speak again.
"W-Wanda…you scared me."
His older cousin was a beacon of beauty. Or so people around town have said. He's seen the way the guys looked at her when she passed them by on the streets. She was popular and kind, and she was always willing to lend a hand. Most importantly of all…she didn't have his limitations. That's what his father was so fond of saying. Wally was always a little jealous of the way his parents talked about his older cousin. There was always that hint of longing in their voices, like they wished he was more like Wanda. Healthier like her.
He was jealous of Wanda sometimes. She could go off on her own at any moment, travel the world with a team of her own pokémon, but she doesn't. And she didn't have to worry about her health the way his family did for his. The way they babied him grated on his nerves. It's been like that his whole life.
And yet, Wanda never coddled him. She worried and fussed in her own way, true, but it was never blatant, never outrightly bold or in his face about it like the rest of his family. She did it in small and subtle ways, like it was a secret she was willing to keep between herself and him. A treat here, a quiet passing of his inhaler there. Sneaking him various books from the local library on training techniques for beginner trainers, in spite of the disapproval his aunt and uncle would have made if they knew.
He was grateful to her for not overreacting the way his aunt and his uncle and his parents did.
Wanda was perhaps the only one who believed he was ready to have his own pokémon. She was the one who indulged in his interests in becoming a trainer. She was the only one who didn't treat it like it was some far-fetched fantasy. More importantly, she was the only one who seemed to think he was ready to go out on his own. He was more than old enough now.
Wanda watched him from the doorway of his bedroom, her mossy green hair pulled back away from her face, donning a casual button-up blouse with dancing Roselia along the hem, and simple blue jeans. She smiled at Wally, warmth sparkling in her eyes as she watched him from the doorway of his room. Wally deflated at her devil-may-care attitude.
"You don't understand! I have to be there! There's…!" Wally stopped himself short, face flushing deeply. Hurriedly, he turned away and instead fretted at his shirt, wiping away invisible creases from its surface. He could feel Oleander's light amusement skittering along the back of his head.
"There's…what?" Wanda pressed gently. Her tone, while faintly teasing, was also genuinely interested. He turned back around, taking a deep breath as he faced Wanda again.
"A-a…it's…" Wally swallowed. "A girl. B-But it's not like that! Honest! It's…the girl who helped me catch Oleander. S-she's in Mauville, and there's only one reason for her to be there. Wattson said he'd let me know if she scheduled any battles and…and well, I-I wanted to…"
His words faded. Arceus, this was so embarrassing. And it sounded so dumb out loud. It sounded like he had a crush!
"Oh…oh! You mean the woman from Petalburg? The one you won't stop crowing on about?" Wanda paused thoughtfully. Her brows beetled together after. "What was it she called you again? A…a boot?"
Wally snickered, face flushing again nervously. He still had no idea what Shay had meant when she called him that, but he had a feeling it was meant to be…funny. Endearing.
"She's scheduled a gym match with Wattson today, and I don't want to miss it. I want to see how much stronger she's become and—and I…" The words caught in his throat again. How hard was it for him to just say he wanted to challenge her to a battle…?
"You want to battle her, right?" Wanda guessed. Wally's shoulders slumped and he nodded. She laughed. It was a gentle sound. There was no mean-spiritedness, no ill-will in the way she looked at him or in the sound of her voice.
"Okay, little cuz. Okay. Let me check on Dad and see if I can't get him moving quicker."
"Oh, I hope we aren't late, and we don't miss her match!"
Wanda chuckled and left him with a wiggle of her fingers, retreating down the hallway. Wally turned back to Oleander, and the Ralts gazed curiously at the doorway in turn, head tilting ever so slightly.
'It's okay, Wally. We'll be going soon. Just try to slow down, okay?' Oleander's voice was smooth and calming. His voice inside Wally's head eased some of the nervousness he was feeling, like a cool and icy balm on a particularly hot or achy wound.
The low murmur of his uncle's voice gave Wally hope, and he crept closer to the door, peering out down the hallway. He saw Wanda there, talking animatedly. She caught sight of him and gave him a smile and a wink. Wally's uncle poked his head out to see what she was looking at. He sighed and waved to the young man, offering a smile.
"Sorry, Wally. I'm about ready to go, and then we'll head out to Mauville. Sound good?"
He shot his older cousin a grateful look and nodded to his uncle with a broad and relieved grin. "Sounds great, Uncle Aiden!"
Finally, things were moving forward! He turned back excitedly to Oleander, and the little Ralts once more beamed up at him, pale eyes glinting merrily.
'Told you.'
OoOoOoOoOoO
The car trip to New Mauville took too much time. While traffic had never really been an issue in Hoenn, Wally found it to be the biggest obstacle in his life. It didn't help that Uncle Aiden seemed to be taking his sweet time on this trip. The cars moved too slowly on the strip of highway heading to and from New Mauville from Verdanturf. Getting into the parking garage and finding a spot had been another painfully slow process. Wally had been tempted more than once to simply make a break for it and jump out of the car when they had to pause behind crossing pedestrians or another car that was parking or leaving.
But the gentle smile of his cousin, and the warm and tiny clawed grip of Oleander kept him rooted in his seat. Once his uncle's car was parked, however, all bets were off. He was already up and out the car door before his family could protest.
Oleander was hot on his heels as they skittered out of the parking garage and into the cavernous hallways of the inner city of Mauville. Pokémon and people alike who saw the pair of them trotting their way stood off to the side to let the pair pass. Those who didn't, Oleander gently moved them aside with a push of psychic energy. Some shouted at him to slow down or their general displeasure at him racing along so recklessly.
Wally had to take pause a few times to catch his breath before his chest seized up and he couldn't breathe. He took more than a few extra hits of his inhaler before he and Oleander finally made it to the front of Wattson's gym. He took a long pause, hovering on the precipice as he stared up at the electrical-themed motifs. He took no further time to waste and hurried inside.
There was one trainer inside, filling out paperwork in one of the cushy lounge seats. The receptionist had yet to take notice of him. He rushed over to the desk, startling the young woman, clutching at her chest momentarily.
"Oh! Oh, Wally! You scared me. Did Wattson give you a call?"
Wally wheezed as he nodded enthusiastically.
"Easy now, use your inhaler, honey. Wait, where's your uncle and aunt?"
Wally held up the universal "one moment" gesture to the receptionist as he did what needed to be done. When his chest no longer felt like it'd crush him, he managed to answer her.
"They're coming. Did the match start?"
"Um…" Leah. That was the receptionist's name, now he remembered. She blanched, looking contrite. She didn't need to answer. He could see it written on her face. Wally's excitement deflated so quickly; his legs nearly buckled underneath him.
"No…no, I-I can't be late. Wattson—he-he said it hasn't started yet, I…"
Wally barely noticed when Oleander slipped his tiny hand around his fingers and squeezed.
'It's over, Wally. I'm sorry.'
He jerked his head to look down at the Ralts at his side, mouth opening to cry out his displeasure—but he stopped at the smile painted on his face.
"Wh-what? What is it?"
'The gym match might be over, but…she's still here. I remember what she felt like.'
He jerked his head up to look at Leah again, his enthusiasm igniting once more. "Is the challenger—is Wattson's challenger still here? Her name, it's Shay Kenway. Is she still here?"
Before Leah could respond, his answer came in the form of booming, animated laughter. Wally whirled toward the source of the sound, hope flaring inside him once more.
The doorway that led out to the main gym floor burst open, and the first thing he noticed was the loudly dressed Wattson. He was the same swarthy and grizzled figure as ever, donning one of his bright shirts and yellow jumpsuit, as always. It was the slip of a woman that strode beside him that caught his eye next.
She was garbed in casual attire perfect for the city—blue jeans, a dark grey tank top with some sort of mischievous-looking dark-type pokémon on it, and her boots. She had her dark hair pulled back from her face in a makeshift ponytail. But there was something different about her. It was Shay, he remembered her quite well. How could he forget?
But there was a leaner look to her now. More compact, if that was possible for the small woman. And there were scars on her face, along her temple, across one of her eyebrows. The slick skin was thin and almost unnoticeable. Almost. And her left arm looked like it had suffered a decidedly series of nasty wounds as well, with more patchworks of slick, gleaming fresh scar tissue. Some of that damage was covered up, however, by the trace details of an in-progress sleeve tattoo. It appeared only partially done. Wally couldn't tell what it was from this far.
Walking alongside her was three of her pokémon; a sizable Marshtomp, a stocky-looking Mightyena, and a prim little Breloom. The Breloom was limping but kept pace with the others just fine. Shay's Marshtomp kept pausing when the Breloom did end up falling behind to wait patiently.
Wattson laughed again, clapping Shay on the shoulder heartily.
"You definitely came prepared and used type-advantages that tipped in your favour! I wouldn't expect anything less than from Norman's niece!"
"O-oh. He told you I was coming?"
"Of course, he did! He said to me, 'Wattson, you watch out for her. She's gunning for you, and she isn't going to go easy on you, either. She's got guts!' And look at you now! You definitely talked the talk and walked the walk. Congratulations, Miss Kenway. You earned the Dynamo Badge and then some—"
"H-Hey! Hey Shay!"
The words spilled from him without warning, shocking even himself. The air seemed to freeze all around them, the entire lobby growing cold and still. Eyes turned to face him, and the world's attention seemed to face him as well. The air grew heavy, the distance pushing them further away from one another.
Shay puzzled over his appearance, lips quirking, head tilting before recognition lit up in her face.
"…Wally?"
A potent mixture of pride, embarrassment, and more that had been bubbling underneath his skin like an itch he couldn't satiate came to a head. It fled in a cold, stark split second as he thrust his index finger into the air at her, shouting at the woman, "I challenge you to a battle, Shay!"
"I…"
Shay blinked a few times, stunned into silence. Nobody else said anything. She glanced around, peering at her silent team, and even to Wattson before returning her gaze back to him.
"Uhhhh, I'm…okay? Sure? Fair enough?"
Her lackluster response caused what courage he had built up to this moment to buckle. The grin painted on his face, the shivering excitement that raced in his blood—it was growing taciturn and plain again. Shay raised her brows, looking ready to say something else. Wattson beat her to the punch, looking pleased as can be.
"C'mon, you two! You can use the gym for this."
"Whoa—I mean, can't I get my team healed up first, and—and we can step outside, we don't need to monopolize your space any longer than we have to—" Shay began to protest, even as Wattson planted a broad hand on the woman's backside and began to steer her right back around. Wally hurried after them, Oleander hot on his heels.
"No time like the present, my girl—and live on the edge a little, you sound like a doddering old woman! Wally, hurry up now!"
Wattson only laughed at the incredulous noise Shay made as he led them back inside the main gym arena. Wally, thrumming with renewed elation, was quick to join them.
It was over before Wally knew it. Even after all the practiced battles with Wanda, the manicured leaflet notes he'd made from all his books, the videos he's reviewed—everything! Everything he'd thought he'd known, wiped out in an instant. He'd thought he and Oleander had made tremendous progress these last few months. He thought he'd done enough research and training.
Clearly…that wasn't the case.
Shay's Mightyena stood proud and tall on the one end of the battle arena, maraschino-bright eyes flashing excitedly as the last dregs of fire from her mouth guttered out.
"H-how…? How did you do that?"
Oleander was struggling to sit up, nursing an injured arm, and curling it firmly up to his chest. The faint scent of singed fur perfumed the air.
Shay came hopping out of the stand and hauled herself up onto the arena, rushing to check over her Mightyena. To Wally's surprise, when she was done, she skirted around to help Oleander as well. That jolted him into action, and he came skittering down the steps to join her. He saw she started with a salve of Burn Heal ointment on Oleander's injured arm first, before moving to a Potion.
"Easy does it. Sorry about that. Sela's a bit overzealous with Fire Fang sometimes," Shay remarked with a sly glance over her shoulder. The Mightyena—how strange it looked with those stubby horns atop its head—came trotting around to peer down at Oleander. The bite pokémon sniffed at the little Ralts and seemed to growl something at his pokémon. Wally struggled up onto the concrete slab but managed to find his way atop. He dropped to his knees when he was beside Oleander, propping the Ralts against him.
"Ollie, are you okay?"
'I'm fine. A bit shaken, but I'm feeling better now,' he replied. The Ralts tilted his head back, the fur around his eyes parting just for a moment as he gazed up at Shay and said something aloud to her. Wally couldn't understand Oleander when he spoke aloud, but he had a notion that his pokémon was thanking Shay.
Shay spritzed the last of the Potion she had onto his arm. The injury was closing, the skin knitting back together again. "No problem. And again, I'm sorry. This should make you feel a whole lot better now."
Shay's Mightyena growled again and Shay grumbled right back at the bite pokémon. The exchange continued for a moment or two longer. Wally's eyes widened and it struck him like a bolt. Oleander pulled himself to his feet, looking much better than he had minutes ago. He flashed Wally a toothy smile.
"You can understand pokémon!" He blurted, beaming at her from having worked it out. Shay blinked, blue-grey eyes taking on a surprised sheen. A nervous smile flickered across her face.
"Uhh…yeah. Yeah, I…I can."
"I've—I've only ever been able understand Oleander, but only because he's a psychic-type and…only ever in my head," Wally admitted sheepishly. His smile fell as he studied Shay. The woman pulled herself to her feet, stretching, and he scrambled upright as well. "Wait…didn't you have a Ralts too? Where'd they go?"
"Oh? You mean Ambrose? He's still here, he's just not a Ralts anymore," she said, plucking a pokéball off her belt. She tossed it and the light that broke open pooled out to coalesce into Ambrose's form. The Kirlia tilted his head in Shay's direction, before he perked and snapped it toward Oleander.
The two regarded one another, then rushed together in a crushing embrace. Wally grinned at the two, caught Shay's approving look and flashed his smile her way for good measure.
"I can't believe it! You've evolved your Ralts so quickly!"
"Kind of have to, if we have half a chance in hell to get through the rest of the gym circuit," Shay said, casting a glance over her shoulder toward Wattson. "Thanks again, for letting us use the gym for this."
"Oh, my pleasure. I was actually kind of delaying our match so Wally could make it here. I could only do so much, though." Wattson flashed Wally an apologetic smile.
"Oh…I'm so sorry, that's…" Shay trailed off, her attention returning to Wally. "If I knew that was why it was taking so long, I would have asked to wait. You really wanted to watch my match?"
"Of course, I did! I tried to come out and see you, but my family…"
He jumped at the sound of the doors leading in and out of the gym broke open and in strode his Uncle Aiden, with Wanda and Aunt Jade trailing behind him. He quickly spotted Wally and hurried over.
"There you are! Wally, you can't just up and run off like that! You had us worried sick, we thought you'd collapsed somewhere!"
His cousin cast an annoyed look at her father, while Aunt Jade shook her head disapprovingly.
"Your parents sent you out to Verdanturf to relax, to enjoy the clean air, to clear up your health. Not to go gallivanting off on a whim, putting yourself at risk like this. I knew coming out here was a bad idea."
"It wasn't a whim, Uncle Aiden—I just wanted to see Shay and Wattson battle—"
"You know, you seem to be more than a little obsessed with this 'Shay' fellow. I'm starting to get concerned and from what I can tell from your parents, so are they."
"Uh…I'm Shay. Shay Kenway. Hi there."
The woman beside Wally perked up and waved to his aunt, uncle, and cousin. She offered them a grin, albeit rather nervously. Uncle Aiden eyed her dubiously, as if appraising her to some unspoken standard he was just deciding to craft up on the spot.
"You're the trainer who put the idea of pokémon adventures into Wally's head? The one who dragged him out to the forest to go hunt down a pokémon back in Petalburg? You?" Uncle Aiden sounded unconvinced and suspicious all at once. It made Wally nervous hearing his uncle like that.
Wally made a soft, strangled noise of embarrassment. He wanted to sink into the floor at the sharp judgement and disdain that coated his uncle's voice. Shay retreated a step back, as if she had been struck. The faint smile that had been on her face faded to a more placid expression.
"I didn't 'drag him' anywhere and I wouldn't have needed to encourage him into anything. He was already psyched up long before I met him. I just helped keep an eye on him to make sure he didn't get hurt back in Petalburg. My Uncle Norman asked me to." Shay paused and shot Wally an encouraging look. "Wally didn't even really need me there. He did all the work, and he was fine. He's got some skills. Maybe you should pay attention to that."
The praise elated Wally and he simply vibrated with delight.
"Aiden, Jade…if I may? You both have done wonderful work in the Verdanturf community, there's no question to that at all. And I know that you worry for Wally's health, and you have every reason to. But treating him like a small child instead of a young man isn't helping him. Letting him grow would be far more beneficial, just like you've helped the community you live in to grow."
Uncle Aiden didn't appear convinced. Something wrenched inside Wally when the look on his uncle's face didn't dissipate. The knot inside his stomach grew, hard and sharp as he turned his steely gaze toward the Mauville gym leader. "Wattson, as much as I appreciate your input, this is a family matter—our family matter. We've all agreed that Wally is too fragile to be running off on some Buneary-brained haphazard journey that's going to end with him dead in a ditch on the side of the road! He can't do this!"
His uncle's words were the final nail in the coffin. Wanda gasped, hands rising to cover her mouth in shock, while Aunt Jade merely shook her head sadly. Cold dread flooded Wally, making him go numb from the inside. He's always suspected what his family thought—it was always marked in their actions, their overprotectiveness—but he's never heard it aloud. Uncle Aiden turned his gaze toward Wally, stone-faced and cold.
"Wally, get down here. We're going home. I think we're done here."
The tightness in his chest had started out small but now it was growing, iron-strong bands clinching firmly. His throat bobbed as he struggled to breath, face hot and flushed.
"B-but…Uncle Aiden…I—"
"Now, Wally!"
Wally startled at the boom of Uncle Aiden's voice, and he shrunk back a step or two. Shay cast him a worried glance, torn and sympathetic. Oleander reluctantly pulled apart from Ambrose. The Kirlia kept a hand on the smaller Ralts and reached out to his trainer.
The light that struck Wally's eyes was harsh and sudden. Wally yelped, seething past clenched teeth as he snapped a hand up to shield them. Spots danced across the backs of his eyelids, bright and blinding.
The familiar waves of Oleander's energy was, at first, soothing. But the intensity grew until it prickled uncomfortably against his skin until it began to burn. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out. And yet, he could hear voices—muffled and shrill all at once. He squeezed his eyes tighter in an attempt to shield them. His legs buckled under him, the weight of the raw psychic energy growing nearly unbearable.
The moment his knees hit the ground, he was startled at the plush carpet that cushioned his fall. He lay there, hunched over and wheezing. Oleander was there, clutching at his shoulder. He appeared out of breath as well. Slowly, Wally found it easier to breath after a minute or two. Sweat lined his brow and he wiped it away when he could trust his body to hold itself upright.
"Wha-what was that?" He managed to get out when he could also trust his voice.
'Teleport. I've never had to do that with you before. Only myself…or with Ambrose.'
Oleander winced, still clinging to Wally to hold himself up.
Wally gave their surroundings a glance, and was promptly startled to see they were back in his room in Verdanturf.
"Why'd you bring us back here?"
'Because they're wrong about you,' the Ralts replied. 'And they planned on taking me away from you when they got you back here.'
"What?!" Wally jolted upright, a sliver of anger sparking up inside him. From the slight snarl on Oleander's tiny muzzle, he was feeling the same way. "But he can't do that! I'm your trainer and you—you're my friend! You're not just my pokémon!"
'I know. Why do you think I secured us a way out of there?'
"Are…are you okay? Do you need a Potion?" Concern rippled inside him, twisting
'No…Shay was kind enough to help me get enough energy from the one she used on me. I'll be fine.' Oleander seemed to finally catch his breath and straightened, no longer supporting himself on Wally's shoulder. Wally carefully pushed himself up to his own feet. His legs wobbled, but held firm. 'We should leave.'
That froze Wally to the spot. He stared down at his pokémon, stunned at the suggestion. Leave?
Just…leave? Like that?
'Yes,' Oleander replied to his unspoken question. 'We should leave. Prove them wrong.'
"But…can we just…do that? Just leave?"
The thought had never occurred to Wally. The notion alone was…daunting, to say the least. Perhaps even a mite terrifying. Reading about others' pokémon journeys was one thing—exciting, novel, awe-inspiring. To actually go out and do it…? And to do it without his family's blessing?
It had been enough of a struggle to convince his parents to allow him to speak with Norman, to get himself a pokémon and not just one from Professor Birch's lab, like they had originally wanted. No, he had wanted the experience of catching his own, to feel like a real trainer.
Everything up to this point had been pulling teeth with his family. The only one who seemed to have any faith him was Wanda. She was the only one who believed in him.
His heart began to race at the idea of simply packing a bag and leaving without word.
It'd serve them right, he thought and instantly regretted the nasty barb. He understood their concerns, but they didn't live in his body. They didn't understand it. He felt stronger than they believed him to be.
'That's because you are,' Oleander replied, warmth in his voice. 'We can do it. We can go on our own journey. You're not the weak child everyone thinks you are. Wanda sees it, and so does Wattson.'
"And Shay," Wally added, a small smile tugging at his lips. Oleander chuckled.
'Would I be selfish if I said I want a rematch against her?'
A laugh burbled out of Wally. "I want one too. So, no…I don't think it's selfish."
Wally's smile faded as he cast his room a look. Books of all sizes and shapes were crammed into a bookshelf beside his writing desk. He had posters of Hoenn gym leaders, the Elite Four, of the Hoenn Champion, Steven Stone. He's even collected a few trinkets and tributes to other Champions from other regions, like Alder from Unova and Cynthia from Sinnoh. His newest one, however, caught his eye.
Leon, from the Galar region, posing infamously. He became Champion only at the age of ten. Wally felt leagues behind. Oleader's soft, skittering presence along the back of his head coaxed his attention back to him.
'We can do this. But we can't wait any longer. If we do, your family will catch hold of us, and never let us go. They'll never let us see each other, either.'
Wally pursed his lips, and felt the fear grip his heart once more. He mulled over Oleander's words, and the fear of losing him, of losing his first and only pokémon and friend…
That was stronger. The urge to protect him overrode whatever fears of retribution he held in reservation for his family.
"Okay. Okay, yeah. We can do this. We just…need to hurry. It's going to take them a while get here, so let's just do it. Yeah!"
His feet were moving faster than his mind. He was yanking his bag out from its place in the closet and threw it onto the bed. He quickly began rifling through his room, deliberating on things he should bring. Extra clothes, definitely. Some of his books?
No, they'd be too heavy. Too many would leave less room for other essentials.
He'd need a sleeping bag. And a tent. Other camping supplies, too—like a firestarter, collapsible pots and pans, food…
He had some money tucked away. He could easily remedy all that. And if he battled with other trainers, he could get more money and upgrade his gear.
'Let's get what we need from here. I can Teleport us back to New Mauville for supplies.'
"But my family—"
'Won't look for you back there, it'd be the last place they would, in fact. They'll be on their way here.'
"How do you know?"
'My brother, Ambrose, told me.'
"O-oh. That's…that's right, Ambrose is your twin."
Oleander nodded, and he began lifting various strewn items in his room with his psychic energy, neatly setting them aside.
'Take only one or two sets of clothes. Take some food from downstairs. Non-perishables that can last. Once you have some of that, we'll head back to New Mauville.'
Wally nodded, the kicked Beedrill's nest inside his head coming to a precarious calm. Oleander helped him focus on the bare essentials, moving on from his room to the kitchen. He muttered a soft apology to Aunt Jade especially; she would be cross. She wasn't one to suffer midnight raids in her home.
Once he was sure he had everything, he rushed to the front door but hesitated when his hand touched the doorknob. He knit his brow in worry, biting his lip as Oleander joined him. After a moment's consideration, he hurried back into his uncle's study and snatched up a small notepad and pen.
He scribbled a quick note on the paper, all the while worrying away at his lower lip.
'Hurry. I can feel them coming.'
"I know, I know."
He signed his name and tore the sheet from the pad and hurried back to the front door. He left the note on the side table by the front door before turning to Oleander.
'Are you ready to go?'
Wally nodded enthusiastically. There was no more doubt or questions in his mind. He had to do this. He had to leave. His family would forgive him, in time. They'd see they were wrong.
"Let's go start our journey together, Ollie. For real, this time."
