Getting back on shore was a great relief. Rather than being greeted by moist air of the ocean, a nice, dry wind slithered around my tan arms as I pulled the raft ashore. It's a good thing we didn't travel far. Things could have turned out much worse—our food had just run out that morning. Blair had liked making landfall much more than I did. She showed bliss, and began prancing around the beach happily. It would only make sense, I guess. Fire doesn't tend to do well on water. The way she reacted gave me a weird thought. It came across to me as someone that had returned home. Wasn't her home on that island though? But, then again, some only feel at home when they are elsewhere—the mind of the adventurer. It doesn't seem like too long ago that I was like that. After a few moments of tugging, I was able to pull the raft completely ashore. Just in case we had to go back; I kind of hope that we wouldn't any time soon.

"So, where are we headed, fearless leader?" Blair asked me.

"Well, he hadn't told me very much. He said he felt that I needed to go off the island—to find someone more knowledgeable." I told her nonchalantly.

She was a bit taken back by the remark. "You're supposed to find someone more intelligent than Ate?"

"Well, yeah, I guess. Why?"

She shrugged. "Well, let's get moving." And so, we began heading deeper inland. The landscape here was very relaxing. The hills were minimal and had smooth transitions into the valleys below them. We did see some of the residential Pokémon around here. We didn't chat with them for too long. We did, however, tell them about our goal. They seemed to be amazed that we had to find someone smarter than an Alakazam. Now I understand why Blair was so awestruck by what I told her. They weren't just above average in intelligence; it seems that all the other Pokémon put them up on a pedestal.

A little bit after we left, it became slowly darker. The night sky was clear and provided some light for minimal sight. I told Blair to go and pick some fruits to eat. I'm getting a little bit tired of eating just fruit. A deliciously cooked burger sounds awesome right about now, but that wouldn't anytime soon. While she collected things to eat, I was to collect wood to burn. Luckily, there was quite a bit of fallen branches lying about. Autonomously picking up the branches caused my mind to drift off course.

How was everyone back home doing? Chances are, I was fired. At this point, debt is probably beginning to build up—taxes, mortgage, etc. What happens when the repo agents come to my house and see that I'm not home? Will they just go on with the reclaiming of my stuff? No, they couldn't. They'd probably be unable to get into my house without a search warrant, or something. The police would be involved at that point. They'd be able to tell the house hadn't been occupied for a month. They'd come to the come to the conclusion that I was a missing person. They'd inform my parents.

People would begin searching for me. Not because they care about me, but mainly so they could find something to do with their pitiful lives. Eventually, the search would die out, and I would be presumed dead. But what happens if I have to go back? Go on national television and explain my story? What would I say? Well, there's nothing to say. I couldn't just wing it. There would need to be absolutely no plot holes in my explanation. That would be hard to accomplish. Maybe I could go back and pretend to be someone else? No, that wouldn't work. They'd be able to look and tell it was me. Maybe I could grow a beard? No, my facial hair seems to be very non-existent. What do I have to do? God, I don't want to go back.

"I don't see it happening anytime soon." Said a voice.

I dropped the branches and leaped away from it. I hear a subtle laughing. Almost playful. From the shadows emerged a figure. I couldn't see very well, but I did notice the weird conic segments of the body, as well as the odd disk-like extrusions from the head.

"How did you know what I was talking about?" I said in an intrigued, but shocked voice.

"You mumble while you think, apparently." The voice was quite feminine and noble, while being slightly playful at the same time. She didn't seem to be belligerent in the slightest.

I began picking up the branches I dropped on the ground a moment earlier. "So, how do you know it won't happen anytime soon?"

She pointed up at the stars, "My kind has a natural talent for these kinds of things."

The stars in the sky were no longer tiny little specks of white like they had been earlier, but they instead shown in the sky vibrantly against the dark depths of space. When she placed her hand back down, they returned to their usual state.

"Well, I need to get back to Blair with this firewood. So, if you'll…" I was cut off by her.

"Oh! Could I join you?" She asked suddenly and without warning.

"Well, uh, let me think about it." As I said that, she looked at me with bright blue eyes in the most begging fashion possible. I slouched forward guiltily and told her she could join me.

After a few moments of walking, I asked her, "So, why didn't you just go back home?"

She stiffened up before responding, "I- I didn't want to."

"Oh? It sounds like you might be lying to me."

"I'm not! Not exactly, I guess."

"Well, you better tell the truth"

"I don't need to."

"Fine by me," I said heartlessly, "Sit out here in the darkness."

When I said that, she opened up and told me everything.

"I'm a Gothitelle, and my name is Astra. About a week ago, I was kicked out of my home. All the others declared that I wasn't proud enough to be part of them. They said I was too happy. I tried changing, I really did. I didn't want to leave. I really didn't want to have to abandon my family, but I was forced to. I've been wandering around uselessly ever since then, and I don't know what to do. They made it quite apparent that I'm not wanted there…"

At that point, Astra began crying. Not loudly, but a subtle weeping. It hit me hard. It reminded me of myself back in high school. So, I did the only natural thing. I hugged her tightly. I felt pity in my very soul. A pity for someone that went through the same thing I had, the only difference being that she didn't have someone to watch her back. Once she was in my arms, she calmed down.

"It's all right. I'm here for you."

On the way back to our little camp, I introduced myself to her and told her my goal. I told her about Blair, the island, Ate, Dante, etc. She seemed to enjoy listening. She decided she'd like to go with us, mainly because she doesn't have much else to do anyways.

So, a new character appears, eh? By the way, the name Astra actually means star. How about that? As always, please leave reviews. Also, tip your waiters. And, thanks for all the views!