K.M:

Maaaaaaaaannnn I'm so tired. My cousin got married, so I've felt a bit like a tornado, getting a dress, fixing said dress to fit me, getting shoes, and then anxiously waiting...and waiting...

The wedding was beautiful, and she looked absolutely gorgeous in her dress, but it was so hot that day I was sure I was melting!

After that I got sick, actually I'm still sick...so...yeah...

I'm sorry I haven't been updating as often as I did at first, but I was really sick two moths ago, and then I got sick again, right now... and also because I felt way too lazy to be working on this when I should have...Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's gonna explain everything a little more.

K.M: Disclaiming everything! I don't own Pokemon...just Kunie, her parent's, and the gang...

Rune: You never let me do it anymore!

K.M: Well...sorry...I thought you might be getting bored of this...

Rune: ...

K.M: You're bored of this aren't you.

Rune: I admit nothing!

"Kunie?" I looked up at dad from where I was at my desk, sketching, before we had left for the vacation his hair had been slightly longer than usual, a little past his ears, his glasses lazily on his nose, a small beard growing from not shaving (wonder what he'd look like with a full grown beard...), his shirt wrinkled, and face haggard, small wrinkles growing on his forehead, now he was back to his short hair, clean shaven (now I'll never know!), wrinkle-and-stress-free self.

We had just gotten back from vacation, which had been totally awesome (had Zorua not dumped pranks on us left and right). It was great to see all my old friends again, I couldn't believe how tall they had all gotten, and in the end, yes, Yuri had a girlfriend, he had been in total denial, but I had managed to while him into telling her.

Idiot.

Haku had shown me how he had gotten his starter Chimchar, it had actually evolved to a Monferno while I was there. I learned to close my eyes during evolutions because they were beyond blinding.

Luca had let us stay at his house, which may I say was absolutely gorgeous! It had a flower garden, a greenhouse, a pool, a stable, and a golf course! The guy had a friggin' golf course! His parent's were totally awesome as well, they were sort of like the super rich uncle, and aunt that spoil you, and buy you basically whatever you want...

Those kind of people...

I had left sadly, promising them we would visit again, as long as they promised to visit me in Unova.

I miss them.

Though to my surprise, when I had come back I had come back to three crying kids, saying they had missed me, and had worried so much wondering where I had gone. I had to give them some consolation cupcakes...Hugs, and teach them how to play soccer.

I'm not gonna lie...Those kids are too cute to be humans, they got dangerous weapons in their arsenal...

But now we were back home and things were simmering down. The scientists had managed to observe the stones a little, but only because I had been holding Rune, they had acted really weird afterwards...well..weirder.

I gave dad a quick glance before going back to my sketch.

"What?" I asked as I leaned back in my chair lazily. Looking at the terrible sketch I had made of Rune, I couldn't draw for the life of me...

I'm gonna have to work on that...

"Professor Juniper needs to talk to you."

"Now?" I asked with a whine, looking up to the clear window observatory in distaste, clear blue skies, there was nothing holding be back, "I don't want to go all the way over there, tell her to come here or something."

I heard him sigh from the door, "How about if I get her on the computer?" I waved my hand lazily in agreement.

"Thanks dad." I called as he almost closed the door.

"...Sure..." I almost didn't hear what he said.

The vacation had done wonders for my parents, but dad wasn't the same anymore, he was quiet, and didn't have his stupid banters with mom anymore, it made me worry about him, which made me angry at him for making me worry about him, which made me cranky, which made me sleepless, which made me snappy, which made me mean...

It's a process...

I'd do what I could about that, but in the end it'd be up to dad if he really wanted out of that slump...

Mom had gotten back to her chipper self, but I could tell she was sad, and missed the old dad.

I kinda did too...

In all his stupidity.

"Can you repeat that in "Stupid" please?"

Prof Juniper sighed tiredly.

"We got word from a professor in Kalos, apparently the rune stones have some structure similar to a Mega Stone."

"What's a Mega stone?"

"...It's a stone that let's a Pokemon briefly evolve to a stronger evolution..."

"So let me get this straight, these blue thingamajigs got a similar thing to another stone that does a little evolving, thus causing this little guy to...evolve?"

"No. He didn't evolve."

"But you just said..."

"He's not evolving! It's just...Okay so each stone has their respective Pokemon, for all Gardevoirs there's a Gardevoirite, for all Glalies there's a Glalitite."

"So for all Zoruas there's a Zoruite-no-Zorite-no-Zoruatite? How do you say it?"

"It would be a Zoroarkite"

"Huh?"

"Zorua's evolution is Zoroark."

"...But then why did he change? Shouldn't he only change if he's in the last evolution or something?"

"That's what I'm trying to say, the stones, while having similar structure to the mega stones, don't seem to have the same components, which is possibly why Rune stayed in this form instead of evolving to Zoroark, and then Mega evolving."

"...Okay...so why did the rocks attack everything that came close? Much less me?"

"Some Pokemon don't have control of their mega stone the first time they acquire it. It takes a strong will, and training to control a mega stone, that...and the bond between a trainer and Pokemon."

I knew what she was hinting at, and I didn't like it.

"I ain't a trainer."

"Now you are."

"...What?"

"Now you are..."

I frowned, "Listen Juniper, I could care less about what you think, I've never been interested in being a trainer, okay? Never have been, never will be, and just because Rune has little magic rocks doesn't mean I'm gonna be a trainer." I calmly quipped at her, the fact that I was talking to her through a screen was the only thing stopping me from throttling her.

She looked at me seriously, her face was pinched tightly "but you will be anyways."

"I told you-"

"Just listen to me for one second... Zorua...Rune can't control these stones, they'll only keep urging him to battle, and he will, the stronger he is the higher chance there is of him evolving, and when he does evolve, then the stones will urge him to mega evolve, which would make him lose control, we could have an unstable, violent, and dangerous Pokemon on our hands...He's young and weak, never having any training or want to battle, but it won't stop him from letting his instincts take control, he could very well hurt people if we don't do something about it..." But he wasn't the one fighting, the stones were...

"...What do you expect me to do...?"

"The Mega stones heavily rely on the bond between a trainer, and the Pokemon for them to work... Rune, and the stones, both of them only let you near. If we're correct then the only person allowed to have this type of bond between Rune would be you, you're the only one that can be his trainer Kunie Nagako." I could feel my shoulders slump forward, I bowed my head, I looked at my two hands, they were white with how tight I had them clenched on the desk.

"There's no one else?"

"Would you really feel it safer for a complete stranger to take your Pokemon?"

"What about a friend of mine? He's already a Pokemon trainer, and Rune didn't attack him on our vacation."

She shook her head.

"How close is Rune to this friend..?"

I realized she had a point, while Rune didn't mind being with Haku, he didn't have what we had.

What we had...

I sighed, letting my head fall back, looking at the ceiling.

I didn't want this. I didn't want this at all. I hate Pokemon, I hate trainers, I hate contests, I hate battles, I hate everything that has to do with them!

They ruined my life...

I didn't want this, but this wasn't for me, this was to help Rune...

And it was so hard...

But I had to, with a deep sigh I ran my hand over my hair, my black, long, silky hair, so different from his.

"...You better know I'm very unhappy about all this..."

"Yes. Of course...but you know you're doing the right thing..."

"Ha ha ha..." I laughed sarcastically.

Right thing my butt.

I twisted my newly dyed bangs nervously, I had thought purple to be a suitable color.

Mom had only shook her head, telling me to do whatever.

I could tell she was actually very annoyed about them.

"I'm so proud of you." I gave mom a lopsided smirk, I was tense, and nervous, she noticed and smiled sadly at me, "I really am Kunie..." She insisted, her eyes growing teary, she had better not cry, I didn't want to have to deal with tears. Rune was in his new Pokeball at the moment, mom, and dad had gotten me a pretty black Pokeball with a cool red ring outlined with gold, they called it a Luxury ball, I called it the Fancy ball.

Since someone was in his Fancy ball, he wasn't going to deal with tears.

Lucky fox...

I kept the lopsided smirk as she rechecked my bag.

for the third time.

I had everything apparently needed for a trainer, instructional books of the basics of traveling, Pokemon training, and Pokemon care, a diary, C-gear (THIS THING IS AWESOME!), C-gear charger (no duh), map, granola bars, first aid kit, sleeping bag, camping gear, two sets of clothes, my wallet, with $1000 from mom, and dad, and a picture of my family.

Dad had also (secretly) supplied me with a nice switchblade, which I kept in my boot, mom had no idea.

The papers had been signed and everything had been sorted out, I was already registered as a trainer on the database, all I had to do was pick everything up.

I hugged her tightly, pulling away when she didn't look to be letting go any time soon.

"I'll call you," I stressed with a roll of my eyes.

"Every night?"

"Every three nights..." I said instantly, "I might be busy some days..." I amended when I saw the look of concern on her face.

"Fine..." she deflated.

I smiled walking out of the house for what would probably be a long time, my father's baby blue truck standing there, dad was in the truck waiting, I walked over, stopping at the door, and looked back.

The house was just as I remembered every day I came back from school, or practice every day. White picket fence, green grass, potted plants, white porch, same walls, same roof, my eyes lingered on the clear globed part of the roof that was my room, the roof had been opened, letting in the morning sunlight, but was now shut tightly, I wasn't going in there any time soon.

Mom was next to me, already crying, I frowned before forcing a tight smile.

She smiled at me, hugging me tight again, I huffed as I pat her back, were all moms this clingy? Or just mine? "Mom I have to go. Prof probably won't give me my ID if I don't go now." I said as she continued to hug me tightly, she sighed before nodding, she stared at me and smiled.

I took the chance to look at her.

It would be a while till I saw her face to face again.

Long chocolate strands tied up in a messy ponytail, pale skin, and bright blue eyes, now lined with red from crying.

So dramatic... it wasn't like this would be for forever...

"I'll be back before you know it." I said reassuringly.

"I know, promise me you'll take care of yourself," She said as she smiled, I nodded, and she finally pulled away.

I got in the car with a sigh, the back seat feeling comforting. We hadn't owned this car very long, but I liked it, and being in it was comforting, I looked at mom through the window and waved, she waved back, grinning, and smiling, wiping her tears away, she looked happy now, it better not be because I was leaving or something like that...

...

Nah...

Dad started the car with loud rumbling, peeling out of the house. I didn't need to say goodbye to the neighborhood kids since they'd be meeting me at the lab to say goodbye...and to get a peek at the starter Pokemon.

Selfish brats.

I kept my eyes outside the glassy pane, not looking at anything in particular, the silence was thick, it was weird, dad was such a chill guy all the time, but now...I hardly recognized him, I looked at him now, his eyes on the road, his frame tense, his hair disheveled, and black rings under his eyes, when I had told my parent's I was going to become a Pokemon trainer they were at first shocked and confused, I had always told them how I loathed them, and they knew very well why, my reasons were justified.

So obviously they were shocked.

But I wasn't really doing this for me.

I was doing it to protect everyone, if Rune really did lose control of the stones...it would be dangerous for everyone, they might try to take him away, and only make things worse, he could lash out...they might put him down...

I sighed as I realized my thoughts were very, very, very, very, morbid.

Anyway, even if I was doing this, it didn't mean I had to like it, I still hated trainers, and being one was even worse, the second I knew Rune had control of the rocks, I'd be out of the business faster than you can say "Pokeball".

Mom had started freaking out when I told them.

She probably expected me to finish school, go to a good university, become a pro player, move out when I was twenty and settle down with some guy I'd meet when I'm twenty-two, have three kids, quit pro playing when I'm thirty, be a stay-at-home-mom, and live the rest of my life cleaning my house.

Dad probably thought the same thing, though he was more adamant of not becoming a Pokemon trainer.

Imagine my shock, my dad, who had wanted me to be a Pokemon trainer now wanted me to get rid of even the thought.

I was confused that was for sure, it's like when your parent's try to feed you by pretending the spoon is trains, planes, and cars when you're a baby, and when you're older, and try to pretend again, they tell you to stop playing with you're food.

I tried not to linger on it. Instead wondering what I'd do about the situation with my parents.

Dad was guiltily broken, and mom was worried, and lonely. Leaving them alone meant I couldn't cheer them up when they became upset, tell them to stop acting like kids when they bickered, get them to buy me ice cream when they weren't busy, or to protest about them fussing over me when they tried to kiss or hug me.

How was I supposed to do that miles away?

"...Dad...?"

He shuffled, probably surprised I spoke up, "Yeah?" His voice was dry.

"I miss you..." I said bluntly.

It was silent in the car for a while. I closed my eyes.

"...But you haven't left yet..."

The rest of the car ride was silent.

"Good you're finally here." I nodded to the hazel haired professor.

Black, Bianca and Cheren were behind her, looking at me with wide eyes, and huge grins.

I gave them all a smirk and a lazy wave. They grinned at me, and waved excitedly.

I turned my eyes to the professor, she was given me a sad smile, "so where's ma' stuff?" I asked as I lazily shoved my hands in the pockets of my hoodie. I felt Rune's round Pokeball in my left hand, I held it tightly in my fist. She nudged her head for me to follow, I waved again lazily to my dad and the three kids, following the professor, she led me to a few halls I had never been through.

"Everyone in the lab wishes to thank you for making this decision Kunie."

"Cause I had a choice." I bit back with a snort.

"You did, and it was a hard one."

I rolled my eyes, was everyone always so dramatic?

We finally came to a room, there were papers and computers everywhere, she brought me to a wheeled table, she gestured for me to take the things, explaining to me the uses of each one, on it was five Pokeballs, a badge case (Gyms?, as if!), a Pokedex (as she explained to me recorded information on a Pokemon I scanned), my ID card, showing proof, even if there was already information on the Pokedex, lastly she had also added a few Oran berries, explaining it helped keep up a Pokemon's strength. I took each and placed it in the backpack, finding a way to squeeze everything in.

"That all?" I asked with tested patience.

I was ready to kill myself when she gave me the badge case.

"Not exactly, you need to have a registered starter Pokemon as well..."

"What?! You didn't say anything about that!" I accused, I could feel my hands trembling at my sides.

"Would you have agreed if I had?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

I was really starting to hate her...

"Yes. Yes I would have..."

We stared each other down silently.

Hazel versus Onyx.

Grass green versus neon Green...

"Well regardless...You have to choose one anyway, it doesn't change anything," she said coldly.

I really, really am starting to hate her...

"Fine..." I muttered, she nodded, bringing another table that had three Pokeballs.

"These are the three you must choose from."

"Snivy." a green and yellow snake.

"Tepig." a red and black pig.

"and Oshawott." a blue, and white otter.

Hmm...what to choose? Oh I know! Eenie, meenie, miney mo...

And the green, and yellow snake wins!

I looked at the Pokemon in questioned, it stared at me boredom, "I don't like you." I said bluntly, the two other gasped in shock, looking to see what the snake would do, but the green snake stared at me coolly, I sighed, lowering my head in defeat, I took it's Pokeball from in front of it, returning it, I looked at with a frown before clipping it into my belt under my hoodie.

"Can you tell me it's gender before I get the wrong one?"

"...It's a female..."

"Kay I'll name 'er...uh...Em, short for Emerald...moving on." I said, dismissively tapping the said Pokemon's ball.

"Kunie wait." the professor grabbed my elbow to stop me from leaving.

I looked at her, she had that guilty look on her face.

"Oh no... what now?" I asked weakly with a grimace.

"Well.. as you know, you know next to nothing about Pokemon, and we know next to nothing about these stones. We want to make sure you'll be safe."

I frowned, "we? don't you mean you, you know those scientists could care less if I mysteriously combusted...But I doubt your innocent little conscience could bear it huh?" I snapped, hinting to the incident a few months ago, she grimaced, and let my arm go as if I burned her.

"I...we just wanted to supply you with a means to keep you safe..." she insisted...

I rolled my eyes, she was terrible at lying. I could see it in her face...

All they wanted was to learn more about the stone.

Basically plant a mole.

"Yeah whatever. What is it?" I asked as I shoved my hands in my hoodie.

"Not what, who. Traveling partners." I rolled my eyes again.

"Seriously?"

"They're both well-known trainers, and are excellent with Pokemon, I'm sure they'll be able to keep both you, and Rune safe."

I glared as I realized she had planned this beforehand.

"Then were are these "well-known trainers"?" I said with as much sarcasm as I could muster.

"Right here."

I almost jumped at the voice that I'm pretty sure came outta nowhere, I turned around, and my eyebrows raised in question.

Black silky hair, pale skin, red eyes, red and white cap, super tall.

Black spiky hair, tanned skin, gold eyes, black and yellow cap, a little shorter than Mr. super tall.

I knew these guys... from somewhere, where have I seen them?

Oh no, I could feel a headache coming on...

"My name is..."

K.M:

I have never done a cliffhanger before, though it's a really bad one. I'm sure you all know who the travel buddies are, if you don't, go and catch up on your Pokemon manga, I mean come on! It's so obvious! I dare you to guess, and get it wrong...

Anyway, we can see Kunie's pretty sassy right now, she's fed up with everyone being so dramatic over what happened at the lab, even though she's still mad over it. Her dad hit depression and we got more hints that Kunie has a reason for hating anything to do with Pokemon, and trainers, the reason for the stones changing Rune are explained, and obviously the travel buddies.

Which we all know who they are because I was so obvious about it...

So I finally got those things under the rug, now for the rest...

I realized a while ago I wasn't clear on how long Kunie's been living in Nuvema town, so I'm explaining this now, She's been there for five months, she stayed over back in Sinnoh for a week, then came back.

Whatever, Review please, tell me what ya think.

Until next time kitties~