~ Chapter 22 ~
On to Route 205
"Route 205 was great to see once more. We didn't get a chance to see it that well last time we were here. All we saw was the scenery pass us by, and the possibility of Team Galactic getting away with their plans for the Valley Windworks. I still remember the starry night we spent on Route 205 that day. We had a nice talk like we used to. I remember the times we used to spend laying out under the stars at the top of Old Man's Hill—called so because it used to be the home of a cranky old man who died when he fell down the hill (so the story goes anyway)—back home. It was nostalgic, and it was good time to spend bonding. We hadn't had a talk like that since we were kids back in Twinleaf Town…we all remembered the promise we made that night long ago…"
Jeremy threw his bags down on the hilltop and then threw himself down beside them. "If I walk one more step today I'm going to fall apart," he groaned in pain, "I mean it."
"Agreed," sighed Alyssandra as she massaged her legs.
"All right, we'll rest here for tonight," said Sam, placing his bag down. He grabbed his water bottle from his bag and threw back his head as he emptied the remaining half a bottle, "I'm as tired as you guys."
Sam threw the bottle down by his bag and lay back in the grass, stretching out his body. He let out a groan of relaxation as he relieved the tension from his muscles and his shoulders where the bag had cut tracks into his skin.
The four of them lay back in the grass, looking up at the purple sky. The sun was sinking down below the clouds, and the first few stars could be seen in the middle of the night sky. It was like someone had pierced through the fog of daylight, and for a brief moment a glimpse of the night sky could be seen through the small window that was created.
"It's beautiful," said Alyssandra in amazement.
"Yeah, the whole Route 205 is," added Niya, "It's just too bad it's so long, and so full of hills. The walking wouldn't take so long if we weren't constantly changing elevation. It's like we're in a plane with an amateur pilot."
"When did Sam get his pilot's license?" asked Jeremy.
Sam let out a sarcastic laugh but returned his attention to the night sky. He really did agree with Niya; the sky was beautiful, as was the whole route.
Sam had only heard stories about Route 205, and how amazingly beautiful it was, he was happy to hear that they were all true.
"All right well," said Sam as he broke the serenity of the moment, "Camp won't set itself up, come on."
"Do we have to set up camp?" asked Jeremy.
"Yeah, because I'd like to sleep somewhere comfortable," said Sam simply as he stood up.
"I agree with Jeremy," said Alyssandra, "I say we sleep out under the stars! We ate a few hours ago at the rest stop down the road, and it's just so beautiful out! We should just get our sleeping bags and pillows and lie out in the field, like we used to on our 'camping trips' to Old Man's Hill back in Twinleaf Town, you remember?"
Sam smiled softly as the memories came back to him. The four of them would sneak out after dark and meet on top of the hill. They'd start a fire and tell ghost stories under their flashlights, and then they'd roast marshmallows and pass out by the fire with their sleeping bags around them, huddled together for warmth.
Sam also remembered how their parents would find them the next morning and carried them home still asleep.
"All right, fine," he yielded, "We'll do it—but at least set up one tent just in case it rains—you never know. I'll start the fire."
Alyssandra groaned but consented. Sam had a point—as accurate as the Pokétch Weather App was, it was still as faulty as anything else in the world.
The group stood up and unpacked the large tent that was strapped to Niya's backpack. Sam, with the help of Prinplup, Staravia and Luxio, gathered up sticks and twigs from all over, trying to get enough wood to build a fire. After an hour of labour, the fire was built, and the tent was set up towards the far end of camp.
The group lay around the fire in a square pattern, once more looking up at the night sky.
"Do you remember how we used to try to find constellations when we were kids?" laughed Niya, "And we failed so bad that we'd just invent our own."
"Like the Ekans fighting a Zizagoon?" laughed Sam, "It was actually the Ursaring Major and a few other, unrelated stars that we saw."
"Do you remember the time we thought that Cassiopeia was a brand-new constellation? We called it the Wurmple!"
Jeremy let out a laugh. "I'll admit, I must take fault for that one," he said, "I was a foolish little child…"
Sam waved his hand. "We all were, remember?" he gave a chuckle, "Remember that game we all used to play as kids? And I used to pretend I was a long-lost prince of some kingdom, and that my parents were king and queen from a long, and noble line."
"You would make up any excuse to hide the truth about your parents, I remember," said Alyssandra, but only afterwards realized that she had said the wrong thing, "I mean…oh, Sam I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it!"
"It's all right," said Sam softly, "I had to come to terms with the truth eventually. Luckily that sooner was about eight years ago."
Sam let out a light-hearted laugh but knew—just like everyone else—that it was only masking the pain inside.
"Hey! Do you remember our wishing star?" asked Niya, hoping to change the subject, "The one we always used to wish on when we were kids?"
"Yeah!" piped in Jeremy, seeing what Niya was getting at, "You start at the southern-most star of Sirius, the Mightyena, and it's the second star to the left."
"Straight on till morning?" added Sam jokingly.
"Hm?" asked Jeremy, confused as to what Sam meant.
"Never mind," said Sam simply, "I remember the last wish I made on that star."
"Really? What'd you wish for?" asked Niya curiously as she rolled over onto her stomach to watch Sam.
"I wished I could see my grandfather one last time…so that he could see me after I've become Sinnoh League Champion and be proud of me."
"Oh Sam," said Niya gently, "If my beliefs on the afterlife are true, he's watching you right now, and he's prouder of you than ever!"
Sam smiled gently. "Thank you, but that was nine years ago," Sam let out a laugh, "I was young and in pain—but I do appreciate the attempt at consolation."
Niya shrugged. "Any time," she winked, "Well, I also remember what I last wished for on this star. I wished I'd get to see you guys again. This was a few months ago—I hadn't seen you in forever, and I was so busy training with my Aunt Fantina that I wasn't able to make my annual summer trip to Twinleaf. Who knew that wish would come true."
Alyssandra nodded and stared up the stars with a disconnected look on her face. "I wished for love," she said slowly, "It still hasn't come true though. I think the star might be faulty."
"Oh sure, blame the star," said Niya, a sly look on her face, "For all we know it could just be the guy who's faulty."
"Well, I wished to be friends with you guys forever, and so far, it hasn't done me wrong," said Jeremy proudly, "I like the simple wishes, but simple is better. Besides, I can't lose you guys, we've been friends too long."
"That and you—like us—have no other friends, huh?" asked Sam.
"Yeah, that doesn't hurt the love between us," chortled Jeremy, "But seriously; I don't know what I'd do without you guys. You girls are the sisters I've never had, and Sam you're the brother I've always wanted."
"But don't you have…?" started Alyssandra, but she shut her mouth and decided not to push the subject.
"Well, and I'm sure Niya can agree with me here, you are all the siblings we've never had," said Sam.
Niya let out a small laugh, knowing full well that he had hit the nail on the head.
"And you?" asked Jeremy, "What are we to you, Alyssandra?"
"I have like fifty siblings already, I don't need more," she shrugged, "You can all be my cousins—I need more of those anyway."
"Cousins? You treat us like your children," added Sam sarcastically.
Alyssandra looked over at him. "Only because you act like infants!" she said defensively.
"Yeah well…all right fair enough," said Sam in defeat.
After a long pause of silence, Jeremy spoke again. "Hey, do you guys remember the promise we made on that star right before Niya moved away?" he asked.
Sam nodded, "Yeah…" he said nostalgically, remembering it. It was their last "camping trip" to Old Man's Hill.
"We promised that we'd all go on a Pokémon Journey together one day," said Alyssandra, tears of happiness from the memories wetting her eyes, "And we'd travel high and low—all over—until we grew old, and then we'd all die together, and we'd be friends until the end and beyond."
"Glad to know we kept it," said Sam.
The rest of the night remained silent until they fell asleep. All through that silence all Sam could think about was their journey together, so far and in the future. Sam knew—something deep down in his heart told him so—that they were going to fulfil their promise.
They were going to travel everywhere, see everything, and they were going to do it together. And then in the end, they were going to die together, just like they said. It only made sense; they took their first steps together onto Route 202, and so in death they would do the same.
Sam rolled over in his sleeping bag when he finally fell asleep, a tear rolling down his cheek as he did. He was lucky to have these friends; otherwise he didn't know how he'd have gotten this far.
