Chapter 3: Communication

An hour later…

"How did you know I would like this?" Lucario asked while eating a chocolate bar.

Bryce shrugged. "Lucky guess. So you came here to figure out what earth and the people are like?"

She thought a moment. "Yes, but there's more to it. It's about what people here do, say, think, and other things that express who they are. The goal is to see if Pokémon and humans from here could live together."

"As wonderful as that would be, I doubt it could happen. Some people don't know what a Pokémon is, and even the portion that does will have only a few that could support company and have adequate living. There are some people out there who are 'good', but ultimately, I wouldn't see it happening." He paused. "But it may be something you can only figure out your way."

She tilted her head. "What do you mean by good?"

Bryce looked away. "There are horrors here that seem like they're normal, but it's just too evil here. There are people who murder, steal, destroy, vandalize, and things that you would never see where you live. But there are people who just want what's best for their families, friends, and country. There are people with good intentions, but in very few numbers. Shadow is the only one I trust."

"Shadow?"

A black cat jumped onto the kitchen table. Bryce looked at it.

"You know you can't be on the table, Shadow."

He scooped it up in his arms, stroking its head and emitting a low, soft purr. After a while he set it down. Noticing the Lucario, it bounded over to her. It sniffed her foot for a moment before rubbing up against her. She smiled.

"Wow, Shadow doesn't like anyone but me… and you, apparently." Bryce said. "Maybe it's something to do with people who have only cats for company are…" he trailed off.

"Are what?"

"…Lonely… seems like no human would care about anyone." Bryce finished.

She was starting to look depressed. "Let's forget it for now; you have a long time to figure out what you need to, um… I haven't even asked you your name."

"Pokémon in my world have names based on their traits." She replied.

Bryce thought. "Is it okay if I called you Violet? It's a name that female humans use, and it would fit well."

She looked away. "I don't know if I want to have a name based on what I look like." She turned to face him. "But Violet sounds like a beautiful name." She smiled.

Bryce just nodded.

"I bet you have a beautiful smile." Lucario said.

He looked unconcerned. "I haven't smiled a real smile in about seven years."

"Why not?" Violet asked.

Bryce knew there was no point in lying to her. She could read his aura and know what he was thinking, and he wanted someone to know the real him, and not base who he was as a person on who he looked like or what they thought they knew about him, just like her. He looked away. "There was no reason to. It seems like my family is never around or focused on something else. I don't need attention, but it would be nice if they acknowledged that I… existed." He paused. "Any friends I had either moved away due to their parent's jobs or whispered rumors behind my back, so those friends aren't my friends anymore. It seems like humans only care about themselves."

Bryce felt a warm paw grab his hand. "But I care about you." Violet said comfortingly.

He looked into her eyes to find the trace of a lie that he always saw before…but it wasn't there."Why?" He had thought that same thing over and over. As she replied, Bryce found the answer.

"Why not?"

That was it. Violet hugged him and in that moment, it started to become clear. He felt the nature of having a caring person to make sure you don't feel alone. After a few seconds, he returned the embrace.

"Thanks."

He knew that she cared about the real him. Violet went out of her way to find something or someone lost…something that had never been done before for him.

Violet knew that she cared for him. Bryce had saved her, watched over her, and gave her a home. He could have left her there, Bryce didn't even know her. Most important, she knew that he didn't save her because she was a Pokémon, or because she was different. It was because he cared about someone who needed help.

All of those thoughts seemed to course through them both, and then it disappeared when they let go, as if it vanished into a mist of thought.

Author's Notes: I just corrected a few grammar errors, nothing else.