Chapter 9

Setting out again

After a good meal at the silver Onix restaurant Grace and I headed back to the Pokémon center where I left my Pokémon to rest and recover with Joy.

With my Pokémon in Joys care Grace and I sat down at one of the many tables in the building. There were a few more trainers around talking and trading gossip than there or talking on the phone.

"Gosh I totally forgot! I've got to call the professor!" I said as I shot up to my feet and headed over to one of the many machines. Quickly I dialed the Professors number and waited three good rings before there was a buzz and the screen lit up revealing the Professor.

"Saber! I was beginning to wonder if you would ever call." He said with a smile.

"Sorry about that professor, i've been a little distracted but things have calmed so here I am." I said with an open gesture of my hands.

"I'm guessing you're in Pewter city?"

"Yep! I beat Brock a few hours ago, i'll probably head to Mt.Moon some time tomorrow morning with grace and hopefully Gary and Trevor will be arriving at Mt.Moon in another day."

"So the boys went on ahead?" the professor asked.

"Yea they said they would wait for us at Cerulean city then were thinking we might all travel together from there but it's not fully decided yet."

"Hmm, I see. Hopefully those boys will stay out of trouble."

I laughed at that. "So how is everything at the lab and how are the pokemon?"

"There good, it's been a lot harder without you kids around to help out though so i've been thinking of actually hiring an assistant." He said looking thoughtful.

"I thought you didn't like strangers working in the labs though?" I said looking a little shocked.

I dont but im getting older so im in need of some help around the ranch, even if it's just a little." he explained with a tired sigh.

"Well I hope you find someone soon then and hopefully they'll be able to keep up with your ridiculously busy schedule."

"My schedule is not ridiculous!" the professor said with fake offence.

"Sure, believe whatever you want but if you lose an assistant right after a day then don't come crying to me." is said with a smirk.

"I'll keep that in mind, now i've got some good news for you if you're in no hurry to leave."

"I've got a few more minutes, whats up?"

"Well you know how Rin wouldn't let you have Wither?"

"Yea, he was the pokemon that would have been my partner if she had allowed me to have him." I said.

"Well she has retired from her pokemon career and to become a Doctor so she doesn't see a need for him. She's given me full permission to give him to you, that is if you still want him on your team."

"Of course I want him!" I practically yelled at him.

The professor smiled, "That's what i thought, I'll send him over now.'' With that he stepped out of view and I walked over to the transfer machine. I quickly put my pokedex into a small slot in the machine. I waited a few moments as my information was confirmed and then I accepted the pending transfer. There was a hum and with a flash of light a pokeball appeared. Gently I grabbed it and walked back to the phone I was using.

"The transfer went great, I've got him right here."

"Good then i'll let you go, I know you're excited to see him again. Take care"

With that I hung up and headed over to Grace who was still sitting at the table.

"What's in the pokeball?" she asked as I sat down.

I smiled widely and I pressed the release button and in a flash of red a blue and tan Houndour formed with a bark. His night blue eyes glowed excitedly and he jumped at me and I instinctively caught him and he began to smother me in kisses.

"Wither i missed you too but you need to calm down." I said as I struggled to keep a hold of the dark pokemon. He immediately calmed being the obedient little thing he was and I set him on the ground with an ear rub.

"It's good to see you Wither, you ready to finally travel with me?"

The dark Pokémon gave an excited bark. "That's what I thought, now we're going to go to our room, we'll be setting out tomorrow so we need to get some rest." I explained as Grace and I stood up.

We bothe headed up the stairs to our room with Wither trailing behind us. Inside we both sat on our beds and Wither jumped up to join me where he set his head on my lap.

"He hasn't changed a bit has he?" Grace said as she watched the dark type Pokémon.

"Not one bit and he probably won't." I said as I Massaged his ears.

Grace smiled, "your right… I remember when the professor first got him from that breeder. He was so scared and shy but then you worked with him day and night and now he refuses to leave your side and would probably fight Arceus himself to protect you."

That brought a smile to my face, it was a lot of work and pain to gain his trust but here he was now. When I had first met him he snapped at me and attacked, his breeder couldn't handle him. He was aggressively shy as a pup but after a good year we were the best of friends and he turned into a totally different Pokémon, Confident, Protective and Mischievous.

"Don't tempt him Grace if he just might. He'd do it if he could if I was in danger or not." I said.

"True, you might have to watch out, he'll probably cause tons of mischief out on the road. Don't need people saying you let lose a dark type to do as it bids." Her voice having a slight serious tone to it.

She had a point, Wither hated his pokeball and so he was out all the time but that meant I would have to keep an eye on him in public.

"Right, I'll keep that in mind. Anyway we better sleep." I said as I flopped onto my back.

"Alright good night."

"Good night Grace."

…………………………………….

Morning had come quickly and we were already packing up, or at least Grace was while I was changing clothes.

I was now wearing a purple simple shirt dress with long sleeves and black high ribbon socks and black fur lined boots. (All items are on Sword and Shield game)

I felt a bit exposed and I wasn't the biggest fan of purple but I would wear it for Grace. She had spent her own money on the clothing so it was impossible to say no.

I gave a sigh and walked out of the bathroom and picked up my bag.

"Wow! Saber you look great!" Grade said as she looked me over. "I must say I'm impressed. Who knew that there was an actual girl under all that boyish clothing!"

"Ha.ha. Very funny." I said sarcastically as I walked to the door with either at my side. "I'm heading out for a minute, I've got something to pick up before we go."

"Ok, I'll meet you at the edge of the city then?"

"Sounds good to me, come on Wither." With that we stepped out the door and headed downstairs then left the building. When I was out I headed to main quickly.

Unlike all the other times I had walked around the city this one was different. This time people stopped and scowled with whispers. I could feel high tension and it was pissing me off, just because I had a dark type at my side.

I tried ignoring all the looks and words and we continued to the shop I had visited the day before when I entered the shop the door bell rang and the man looked up from the counter and smiled.

"I see your finally here." He said as I walked to the counter.

"Yes I'm here and I'm very excited to see what you did for me."

The man nodded, "give me one second and I'll have it for you." He said as he headed through a door that was behind the counter with him. After a good five minutes he came out with a jewelry box.

"I've cut it and polished it to the best of my ability." He said as he handed me the box.

Carefully I opened it to reveal the Mega stone. It was cut into a lozenge shape with the iconic mega stone swirl in the center. The gem was as large as my palm. Gently I closed the box and faced the man. "Thank you sir, I really love it." I said with a slight bow of gratitude. (If you want to see the cut look up lozenge Cut)

"Any time and it was my pleasure to work with a new gem, now run along. I can see your itching to get out of here." The man said with a shooing motion of his hands.

I smiled then put the box in my bag before leaving with Wither at my side. Either growled as we left the building and he stuck to my heels protectively as I headed towards the edge of town.

Grace was waiting for me on the road with her Pikachu Tora on her shoulder. "Are we ready to go?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." I answered as I reached her and we walked together.

As we talked we had some simple conversations and plans. Grace was really excited to go to Mt.Moons in hope to get a Clefairy to my dismay. Even after telling her that Clefairy were evil manipulative monsters that were out for world domination she still said she wanted to get one.

She also mentioned wanting to get a Ponyta for her team. She didn't have a fire type yet and Ponyta were her favorite fire type in Kanto but her dream fire type was Fennekin the beginner of the Kalos region.

She continued for until lunch were Grace battles with another trainer in a one on one. Grace had used Tora and the other girl had used a Spoink which was fun to see here in Kanto. Grace ended up winning and we had lunch with the other girl, Shara was her name.

After lunch we said our goodbyes and continued on towards Mt.Moon

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Sorry for the delay guys. Things are getting a bit busy at our new house and I've had a lot of work to do. I meant to get this chapter done yesterday but my stupid ass fell asleep and now here it is in the morning now that I'm done with morning chores. Well anyway thank you guys so much for staying with me this far.