"Rai-Rai!" her Raichu said rather worriedly when it caught sight of the frown on Lexi's face and threw her small arms around her trainer's neck. Lexi was seated on a boulder by herself while the others had gone to a nearby stream to freshen up which Lexi had done just before them.
This night they had camped out in the wood and everything had gone alright. Lexi had even enjoyed her first time camping outside with her friends, and her Pokémon which who she shared her tent. It was just earlier this morning that she was hit with a sharp sting in her gut that she was missing someone. Her dad...
While Lexi had sat there moping by herself for the lack of her father's presence, Raichu had clearly caught up on the change in her bright mood. Raichu brushed the tear from Lexi's cheek which she hadn't even seen falling.
"Rai!" she said again to prove her point, not liking the thought of seeing Lexi like that.
"Oh, Raichu," Lexi replied and pulled the first Pokémon who she had ever raised herself in her arms. "If I didn't have you."
"Lexi, are you alright?" she heard Clemont's voice ask which made her look up. He was holding his towel in his arm. "Is it your dad?"
Lexi smiled sadly, and put her glasses back on straight. "What gave it away?"
Clemont sat down next to her on the rock while Raichu climbed onto her shoulder and held onto it. "Well, you've never really left your dad before until now, it is only to be expected. The two of you live and work together. You have no siblings so it's just the two of you. That creates a strong bond."
"That's true." She plucked her nail. "I've spent nights away from house before by spending the night with you and your dad, but then I would always see my dad again the next day. I just have to get used that he's not going to be around for some. And that's tough."
"That's not a strange thing, Lexi." He leaned in closer until his left shoulder was pressed against her right one and she was more than aware of the close proximity between them. "It will get better with time. You're not alone out here."
She smiled because Clemont meant what he said. "I'm aware of that, Clemont. But don't you miss your own dad?"
He readjusted his glasses. "Of course, I do and I love my dad. I've never told him that we left Lumiose City so he might be under the impression that I'm spending all of this time at the Gym, which is where I worked on my inventions most nights. I don't have that strong bond with my dad that you and your father share and that's alright."
"Clemont." Lexi reached out to grab hold of his hands, which made his eyes drill into hers. "You're talking about your father as if he thinks of you as someone who's not worthy as a Gym Leader in his eyes. You don't have to tell me that exactly to let me know what your words mean. Your father is a wonderful man who loves both of his children very much, and he's beaming of pride every time that he looks at you. I've seen it myself. You must not forget that. And when you'll return from this journey, you'll be an even stronger Gym Leader..."
Her words surely did affect him and he smiled with tears in his eyes. "And that's why we're best friends, huh?" As a way of thanking her for her reassurance of his fears that only he shared with her, he pulled her in for an embrace without squishing Raichu and this time she was thankful for it.
His head brushed against hers and the scent of lemon and motor oil entered her nostrils. Even though he had just washed up the scent remained strong on his skin, because it was his scent. The one that Lexi could detect with her eyes closed. Whenever Clemont was holding her like that it was like all was right with the world.
"Clemont! Lexi! Are you ready to go?" Ash his voice interrupted their private moment and Lexi and Clemont basically jumped apart.
"Ha-! Y-yes! We're ready," Clemont said with flushed cheeks as he turned away.
Lexi scratched Raichu behind her ears before as a form of thanks. The Pokémon nuzzled against her cheek as a final time before chasing Pikachu across the floor in a playful matter.
Bonnie said nothing but grabbed hold of Lexi's hand and walked alongside her as they all began their track for the day which took them further to Santalune City. They were still in the forest and there were trees as far as Lexi could see.
They walked at least for a couple of hours without any problem until they decided to stop for a little break to drink something and sat down on fallen trees. Lexi drank a bit and grabbed her sketchbook from her purse while Raichu pressed herself against her.
Bonnie was seated on the opposite of her and was scrubbing Pikachu's face clean with a pink towel. While Lexi watched it she used her pencil to draw Pikachu's face in detail. Drawing was one of the things that always calmed Lexi down entirely, and she used to pick up her sketchbook whenever she was tensed or feeling blue. It kept her distracted.
"Are you drawing Pikachu?" Ash blurted out as he leaned over to her to have a keep at her sketchbook while Lexi sketched Pikachu's ears.
"Yeah, I like to draw every Pokémon that I meet," she replied without removing her gaze from Pikachu. "I feel like I cannot entirely understand a Pokémon until I draw them. It's just part of my research and it helps me think."
"Lexi is pretty much always drawing," Clemont said fondly. "Sometimes we're just talking when she pulls out her sketchbook to draw a Pokémon. I've gotten pretty used to it over the years."
"And she's very good at it," Bonnie added with a chuckle as she removed the towel. "All done. You're all clean."
Pikachu shook his head with a smile. "Pika-pika."
"That's awesome. Thank you," Ash said, directed at the little girl.
Bonnie brushed the back of Pikachu's head with her hand. "You don't have to thank me. I love doing this kind of stuff, because I love Pokémon." As Bonnie lowered her hand towards Pikachu's tail it squealed contently. Bonnie got to her feet with Pikachu in her arms. "Ash, does Pikachu like it when it has its tail petted like that?"
"Yeah, a whole lot."
Bonnie squealed and went into a fit of giggles as she twirled Pikachu in her arms. "What a cutie-pie." It made Lexi think back of the time when her own Raichu had still been a Pikachu and Bonnie had reacted in the same way ad smiled. "Then that's just what I'm gonna do." She petted Pikachu's tail which earned another squeal.
Clemont got up and approached it. "Looks like fun. Let me try." As he did it Pikachu gave the same reaction.
"I know you love it too, Raichu," Lexi as she turned her head to her friend who bounced up. "You still do!"
"Rai! Rai!" Raichu agreed and basically planted herself on top of Lexi's sketchbook who giggled. "Eager aren't you?" Raichu nudged her head against Lexi's arm to initiate a pet and she gladly complied to pet her tail. Raichu closed her eyes and she got all caught in the moment.
"Ash," Bonnie began. "Can you let your Fletchling out? I want to take care of it."
"Sure," Ash said and released Fletchling from its Pokéball next to where Bonnie was now seated. While Lexi tried to finish her illustration, light appeared from one her Pokéball's and her own Hoothoot appeared from his Ball.
"Hoothoot! I didn't call for you," she said, but she was anything but upset. The owl hooted as he jumped on her lap between her sketchbook and her stomach while Bonnie was cleaning Fletchling's wings and she let out a happy squeal.
"Taking care of Pokémon makes you really happy, doesn't it?" Clemont asked her joyfully.
"Yup!" Bonnie smiled.
"Oh, Bonnie," Lexi said which made the girl look up at her. "I've got some Pokémon food in my bag that you can give out to all the Pokémon here."
Bonnie almost dove into Lexi's purse until she found the can that she was looking for. She opened it and gave some of the food to Hoothoot and Raichu first before she knelt down on the ground to give some to Pikachu and Fletchling. "Is that good Pokémon food?" she asked Pikachu who nodded enthusiastically. "Lexi made it herself."
"She did?" Ask asked aghast.
Lexi smiled. "I'm not an expert when it comes to Pokémon nutrition, but I'm certainly fascinated by it and I'm still practicing with different flavours and nutrition's to get it just right for all Pokémon. It's a challenging process, but it's fun to do and the Pokémon love it."
Before Ash could ask anything else a Dedenne snatched a chuck of food from Bonnie could give it away which surprised everyone. It ran all the way to the edge of a fallen tree where it gobbled down the food.
"Could that be the very same Dedenne?" Clemont asked adjusting his glasses.
"Yeah, the one who ran away," Bonnie said.
Lexi put her sketchbook back into her purse and the now sleeping Hoothoot alongside it.
"It must've been following us this whole time," Ash said.
"I wonder why," Lexi tilted her head. "Maybe the food?"
Then Bonnie remembered something. "Come on, Clemont. Catch it please."
"Alright." As Clemont reached into his pocket Dedenne spurted away and taunted them for a second which worked.
"Come back," Bonnie pleaded as she gave chase.
While Bonnie, Lexi, Clemont and Ash had to climb over a tree Ash looked at Fletchling. "Fletchling, follow it."
"Fletchling," it said as it flew away. The others followed closely after that, further into the forest. Sadly, Fletchling lost Dedenne and was resting in a tree.
"Dedenne," Bonnie called out in search. "Where are you? Come out, come out wherever you are!" Because she was looking all around her, she didn't see a small ledge which made her fall backwards.
"Bonnie, you okay?" Lexi asked concerned as she rushed over to her.
"Yeah, it's Dedenne," Bonnie replied, pointing straight ahead of her. Lexi turned her head to see the Pokémon peeking with its head out of a hole. Bonnie basically leaped around. "Dedenne, there you are!" She almost caught it before Dedenne dived underneath the ground.
It reappeared again from another hole but Bonnie failed to catch it this time as well.
"Bunnelby," Clemont said as he threw his Pokéball. "Get Dedenne out of that hole."
"You too Pikachu," Ash said.
As she watched Bunnelby and Pikachu dive into the holes Lexi was wondering if she should send out Raichu, but Raichu wasn't particularly fond of going underground. So, she kept floating next to Lexi instead.
Clemont, Bonnie and Ash all went to check the holes simultaneously and she had to chuckle quietly when Clemont accidentally pulled Pikachu out of one of the holes and got shocked in the process.
"Wow. That Dedenne sure is quick," Ash said.
"Oh! I want it now!" Bonnie cried out, shaking a bit with disappointment.
Lexi placed her hands on Bonnie's shoulders to console it. "It might not be gone yet."
Bunnelby and Pikachu had not made it back yet from the holes yet, and it caused them to be a bit restless as the time passed by. Bonnie almost shoved her entire head into a hole to have a closer look, and sighed in disdain when she pulled back. "I think they're gone."
Only then Bunnelby did reappear, but it was alone. "Maybe," Ash said solemnly. "Pikachu hasn't come back either."
Clemont turned to Bunnelby. "Bunnelby, would you mind going back down there to look for Pikachu?"
"Bun-bee!" It said and leaped back into the hole.
Lexi fed Raichu some more food as they waited for a little while. She couldn't imagine the stress that Ash was under because he couldn't find Pikachu, but he didn't show it. "Pikachu will come back, Ash," she tried to lift the weight from his shoulder a bit. He merely smiled weakly.
It was only a matter of minutes when Bunnelby popped up from hole, but alone. "How did it go, Bunnelby?" Clemont asked.
It lowered its ears and extended its hands. "Bunneelby."
"I guess you didn't find Pikachu, did you?" Bonnie asked.
"I'm afraid that Pikachu might've gotten lost wandering through all those tunnels," Clemont said.
"Clemont! We've just got to find Pikachu!"
"Fletchling," Ash said. "Look for Pikachu from the air."
"Fletch!" It flew away above the trees within seconds.
While they waited there near the holes it became clear that everyone was starting to get a bit restless now that their company was incomplete. Lexi noticed that Hoothoot was still soundly asleep in her purse, and hadn't woken up from the commotion. Since Hoothoot was nocturnal so that didn't surprise her.
When Fletchling returned it motioned for them to follow it which they did with great haste. Fletchling led them away from the forest and towards a vast rock-wall where a river was spread out and a grass field. In the distance they could see Pikachu running towards them.
"I was so worried about you, buddy," Ash said in relief.
Pikachu stood still and pointed backwards. "Pika-pika!"
Somewhat further along the riverbank was Dedenne lying motionless in the grass. "Dedenne!" Bonnie cried out.
As they got closer to Dedenne and called its name there appeared to be no reaction. Something must've happened for Dedenne to remain as still like that.
"I'm scared," Bonnie said, holding onto Lexi's arm.
"How about the Pokémon Center?" Ash offered.
Clemont's eyes met Lexi's for a moment. "I think we should treat Dedenne right here. Let's give it some electricity."
"I take it you have a plan?" Lexi figured and Raichu muttered unconvincingly on her shoulder.
Clemont deeply chuckled. "Just leave it me. Remember the future is now thanks to science." He rose to his feet with that glint in his glasses. "Clemontic Gear on!" Where he got that machine from, Lexi didn't know, but whatever it was it was taller than he was. Clemont pushed his glasses back on his nose. "I've got the perfect machine for a situation like this. Presenting my Electricity Generator." He took his time to point towards the machine.
"Another boring name," Bonnie muttered.
"What does it do, Clemont?" Lexi questioned.
"Now observe," Clemont went on as he removed a plastic board from the machine. "If you put a plastic clipboard under your arm and rub it like this." He demonstrated his point and held it above Bonnie's head and her hair immediately reacted to it. "The resulting friction causes the build-up of electrons and creates static electricity. See?" He removed the clipboard and put it back into the machine. "This brilliant machine uses that exact same principle. Which allows it to create a massive electrical charge." He placed Dedenne underneath a ball and placed his hand on a ledger. "And power on!"
What Clemont had just tried to explain to them by the machine which started to rub the clipboards together, creating sparks.
"You see the electricity?" he asked, still with that glint in his glasses.
"I sure do," Lexi said, wondering if this machine was really going to work.
"That's awesome," Ash agreed. "Science is so amazing!"
"You sure this is gonna work?" Bonnie asked uncertainly.
"Sure, I'm sure. Just watch," Clemont optimistically responded.
The static electricity made its way through the machine and towards Dedenne where it released some sparks. Lexi's jaw felt aghast at that result as Dedenne began to wake up.
"Great. I think you can turn it off now," Ash said.
Clemont showed them a handle which they hadn't seen before. "One problem. I can't."
The machine began to hum angrily. "Dedenne, get away!" Bonnie shouted frantically.
"You got to stop that thing," Ash yelled.
Clemont shook his head. "Uh! I wish I knew how." His voice went up a few pitches. He screamed when the machine exploded in front of his eyes with a loud bang and smoked smoke swirled around them.
It was silent for a while as most of the Pokémon left the area. "Did anyone get hurt?" Lexi asked worrisomely when she noticed the state of their hairs and pouted.
"Rai," Raichu sadly uttered and Lexi pulled the Pokémon onto her lap.
"Oopsie." Clemont rubbed the back of his head. "I guess it's back to the drawing board."
"Yeah, look at my hair," Bonnie whined with her eyes let down.
When Dedenne ran towards them they looked surprised. Dedenne appeared to be chipper.
"Well what do you know," Lexi said as Dedenne ran in circles around them.
"Alright Dedenne sure is feeling a lot better," Ash said as they all readjusted their hair.
"That's what counts." Clemont smiled. "All is well that ends well."
Bonnie lay down on the grass and held her head in her hands. "Dedenne, I'm glad that you're feeling all better."
"Deneee!" it said which made Bonnie Bonnie chuckle.
Dedenne turned towards Clemont who muttered a 'Huh". Lexi smiled. "It appears that Dedenne wants to thank you, Clemont."
He shyly brushed the back of his head. "Come now. You don't have to thank me."
Bonnie hummed and leaped onto her feet when she remembered something important. "Clemont! Clemont! Catch it! Catch it!"
"Oh, hey that's right. I totally forgot about doing that." He was about to stand up when a voice from above interrupted him.
"Hold it right there!"
Lexi turned her head and saw that a large air balloon with a Meowth's head onto it, hovered above them. It could only be Team Rocket.
"Now prepare for trouble," Jessie went on. "The it means you."
Meowth jumped on the ledge of the basket. "Yoohoo!"
"Meanwhile," James said with his arms crossed. "We'll just take Pikachu and that unusual Pokémon the tall twerpette is holding. Giving it to the boss is the least we can do."
Lexi tensed entirely as rose to her feet. "I would never give you my Raichu," she made clear.
"Rai-rai-chu," her friend said, clenching her paws.
"A Raichu?" Meowth repeated.
"By the way if you're thinking of running you got another thing coming," James said.
"Wait a minute," Ash began. "This whole thing was your fault the whole time."
"Why are you guys always being so mean to Pokémon?!" Bonnie shouted.
"Noisy aren't you?" James fired back. "Inkay come on." He threw a Pokéball towards the ground with a curve from which an Inkay appeared.
There was little time for them to reach before Dedenne ran in front of Bonnie, Ash, Lexi and Clemont enraged.
"Dedenne, you want to battle, don't you?" Clemont raised his fists. "So, you can get back at them for what they did."
"Ne-ne!" Dedenne agreed.
"Great. Dedenne, Tackle."
Lexi had to admit that Dedenne's speed was uncanny as it charged towards where Inkay was floating.
"Inkay, use Foul Play!" James shouted.
Before Dedenne could hit Inkay, Inkay blocked it and send Dedenne to the ground.
"Now, Inkay, Psybeam, go!"
Inkay's Psybeam nearly got Dedenne who got away just in time.
"Dedenne, use Tackle one more time," Clemont said.
And like that Dedenne hit with a lot of speed behind its attack, astonishing Lexi who hadn't thought that Dedenne would know how to battle like that.
"You're doing great," Clemont reassured it. "Alright, now use Nuzzle."
"Denenene." It jumped while it rubbed its paws over its cheeks to charge electricity, which it used to nuzzle against Inkay.
"Wow!" Bonnie exclaimed gleefully as her eyes went wide and filled with hearts. "That move is so cute I like Dedenne even more." And her reaction made Lexi chuckle.
"And better yet Nuzzle Paralyzes the other Pokémon," Clemont explained.
"It's an effective move for an Electric Type," Lexi agreed.
"No way," Bonnie said in awe.
Pikachu went to join Dedenne and Lexi looked at her Raichu. "Raichu, you should help them out."
"Rai-rai!" she said and as it floated from Lexi's arms to where Dedenne and Pikachu were. The three of them eyed each other as Electricity sparked between them.
"Use Thunderbolt, Pikachu," Ash said.
"You too, Raichu," Lexi told her.
"And Dedenne you use Thundershock," Clemont instructed.
How the thee of them did it Lexi didn't know but they combined their electricity to send one large wave it towards Team Rocket's balloon which exploded and Team Rocket disappeared into the horizon.
As Raichu returned to her Lexi gladly lifted her into her arms. "You were great, Raichu."
"Rai," she squealed and Lexi realized that this was the first time that she had actually fought in a Battle and had instructed her Pokémon. This was a brand-new territory for her and her Pokémon.
Lexi saw how Dedenne began to grow more comfortable with all of the attention that it was getting from everyone. Pikachu told Ash what Dedenne had said to him through its sparks.
"Dedenne really wants to come with us?" Ash figured.
"Yes? Really?" Bonnie jumped up ecstatically and let out loud Yipee. "We'll have so much fun. You'll see!"
Dedenne's big eyed widened even further at the thought.
Bonnie clutched her brother's arm. "Pretty, please?"
And Clemont couldn't deny Bonnie that, not with the way she was pleading. His heart was too soft for that sometimes, but it made him endearing. Lexi loved that about him.
"Now it's time. Go Pokéball." Clemont gently threw the Ball towards Dedenne and faded inside. While the Ball twirled Bonnie had folded her hand together. When the Ball clicked Bonnie became the happiest that Lexi had ever seen her. "I did it!" He picked up the Ball to show it. "Yes. Alright. I caught Dedenne and I'll be keeping it for Bonnie."
"This is so cool. Thank you," Bonnie leaped up with him.
"Good job, Clemont," Lexi smiled.
She then immediately turned to her brother. "Hey, can you let Dedenne come out? I want to take care of it."
"Sure, I'll do it right now." Clemont released Dedenne from its Pokéball who immediately jumped into Bonnie's arms.
"Well, you sure made Bonnie happy," Lexi said impressed, and petted her Raichu.
Clemont's blue eyes looked to her g ones. "I'm only glad that I could contribute to that."
"You're a great big brother, Clemont." He turned his head away before she could see the look on his face.
"Hi there, I'm Bonnie," Bonnie said as she showed Dedenne around. "And see that's my brother Clemont. That's Lexi and Raichu." Raichu waved her paw cheerfully. "And that's Pikachu and Ash." And Pikachu did the same.
"Nice to meet ya," Ash greeted.
"It's good to see you, Lexi added.
Bonnie set down on the grass and used her towel to clean up Dedenne who seemed only pleased with her caressing. When Bonnie petted Dedenne's tail it reacted in the same way that Pikachu and Raichu always did, so Pikachu immediately rushed over to her for some petting.
When Bonnie unintentionally began to nuzzle Dedenne's cheek, Lexi was about to say something but the girl got hit with a Nuzzle attack instead.
"Nuzzle is one of Dedenne's moves," Clemont said. "I guess you forgot."
"Don't worry you'll get used to it in now time," Lexi assured her while Raichu brushed her head against her temple, being incredibly affectionate. But it only did that with Lexi.
"Yeah, and now I can feel what it's like to be Paralyzed," Bonnie answered. When Dedenne yawned Bonnie came to action. "It fell asleep."
"Then you better let it sleep," Lexi suggested.
"Of course," Clemont said. "You see Dedenne tend to fall asleep a lot. That's just one of the things they do to conserve their energy."
"Awesome an energy saver," Ash said.
"Wow. Okay." Bonnie carefully placed Dedenne into her bag without waking it up. "You can take a nap in here."
"Let's get going," Ash offered.
"Alright, let's hit the road," Clemont replied.
Bonnie let out a loud yeah, but Ash, Lexi and Clemont all shushed her.
"We don't want to wake up Dedenne," Lexi whispered.
And they all quietly laughed as they continued their way to Santalune City.