Cole had obviously decided to not take us on the main trail up the mountain after our run in with the trainer. He took us weaving in and out of the forest, Pokémon left and right. They'd just pop out of the grass! No warning! Nothing! I usually just ran, but once in awhile, Cole would stop to ask me if I wanted to battle with one of them, see if I could catch one. He also noted that the more I battled with my pokémon, the more they'd like me. I refused. I didn't need my pokémon to like me. Once we were done, I was giving them back to Professor Oak.

"So, why do you hate Pokémon so much?" Cole asked as we sat down in an open field to sleep for the night. I couldn't walk anymore. I was exhausted. The mountain didn't seem so big from the bottom—I mean, it looked big, but not a two-day hike up to the top.

"Because." I huffed. Cole sat down on a tree stump, and dropped his bag in front of him. I sat down across from him and placed Dratini on the ground. Phampy came prancing up behind me, and sat down next to Cole.

"Because what?" He pushed. "I just don't understand how you can hate them so much." I bit my lip and looked at the ground, hoping that he'd just drop it. "Did they attack you when you were little or something?" I didn't respond, so Cole kept at it, "Did they attack your parents? Your friends? Was it because of a trainer?"

"Cole!" I yelled, "Just leave it!" I quickly jumped to my feet, glaring down at him, "I just met you; after tomorrow, I probably wont ever see you again. You don't need to know about me, It's none of your business!" I yelled. Cole watched me for a moment, clenching his mouth shut.

"I guess you're right," Cole said softly. Yes, his voice was soft, but it stung. I wasn't sure how to respond, and Cole didn't seem like he had anything else to say. In a way, I wanted him to fight back, tell me that I was acting stupid. But he just stopped, like he believed in everything I said. Like I was telling the truth.

…Well, that's why I said it, right?

"J-jesus," I chocked, "J-just leave me alone!" I yelled. And with that, I turned away and ran.


The forest was dark, too dark for me to really see what was ahead of me. It was stupid thinking I could run away from Cole, and it was inevitable that I would head back eventually. I just needed some time to think. I found a tree that I could sit and rest on for a bit.

I felt like such an idiot. Cole barely said anything after my little rant, in fact, all he did was agree with me! And I ran off. Cole was probably shocked. He was probably looking forward to the moment we split off. Thinking to himself, 'who needs someone like her around? All she does is whine. Good riddance.'

But why did it matter? I was also looking forward to the moment that we split off. The Pokémon world isn't meant for me. I hate pokémon! But the truth was, in the back of my head I was wondering if I was wrong. I was wondering if maybe I should stick around, have some fun with Phampy and Dratini. I had had fun with them, in some strange kind of way. Life was more exciting. There I was, dirty, bruised, and beaten—mostly by Phampy—and yet, I had never felt more alive.

I was beginning to think I was a masochist.

I threw my head back and looked up at the sky. Stars flickered over the veil of darkness, the only light that the sky could offer and it touched the forest. If the moon was out, then perhaps things would be a bit brighter.

I found myself reaching to pull out the useless little trinket that Joan had given me. It was a silver pendant; one that looked like it was made after some sort of pokémon. But I couldn't tell for sure. It truly was useless. I let the pendant slip out of my hands. Why had Joan sent me on this journey? She must've known how frustrating it would be for me. And why did Oak have to tell me that I had potential? When I so clearly don't? It was probably just a joke. How simple he must've thought I was.

Well Professor Oak, the joke's on you! I'm not stupid enough to fall for your little trick. I know I don't have potential. Don't even try it with me.

I grabbed a small rock into my hand and squeezed it, as if I was trying to make it crumble in my palm. Then, I stood up and threw it as hard as I could. Tears weld up in my eyes. I picked up another rock, and threw it. I threw another one against a tree, and another one on the ground. I was sobbing at this point. I slumped down into a ball, and rapped my arms around my knees. My whole face was leaking. My eyes, my nose, even my mouth. I just couldn't stop like I'd been holding it in, although I had just cried my eyes out earlier, after being beaten up by that stupid Phampy.

As I sat there, crying my eyes out, I began to hear tiny snaps of twigs and the crunching of dead leaves. Someone was walking behind me, pacing. I stopped crying and glanced around the side of the tree trunk. It was still to dark to see, but I kept watching. "Cole?" I said in a pathetic, drained voice. They continued to pace, "Cole, is that you?" I asked again while standing up. I wiped my eyes and my nose, waiting for some confirmation. No response, and they stopped pacing. "Cole, this isn't funny."

The footsteps began towards me, but they weren't human. No, they were loud and heavy, and there was a low crackle. Like lightning, and thunder. Like a storm was walking towards me. I took a step back, my heart beating in my chest. And finally I saw it, the face of a beast. It hissed at me, lighting sparking off of it's fur. My legs had stopped moving.

It hissed at me again, pacing around. As if it was testing me, testing my bravery. My stance wasn't that of a brave one, but rather, stiff and tense. It hissed at me once more, stopping in front of me. I needed to run, as fast as I could. But I was afraid. The beast lunged forward at me, it's paws first, and its mouth wide open. I threw myself onto the ground, moving out of its way. When it landed, it shook the ground. The idea of me being under that beast with its teeth large teeth ready to bite made me remember how to use my legs. And I took off running. I could hear it roaring after me, but I didn't stop.

I ran out of the forest and into the clearing, where I could see our fire going. "Cole!" I screamed. When I came up to the fire, Cole was gone. His stuff was still there, and Phampy and Dratini were curled up next to the fire sleeping, but no Cole. I looked around frantically, hoping I could spot him somewhere, anywhere. I was panting so hard I could barely hear myself as I shouted for Cole again. My heart beating was in my throat.

I made out the sound of twigs crunching under feet, and I froze. I don't think I could run from it anymore.

"Ow."

"Cole?" I whispered.

"Yeah?" I let out sigh of relief. Cole came out of the thicket of trees, the clothes he was wearing earlier swung over one arm, and he had changed into what looked like pajamas. "You feeling better?" He asked stepping up to the fire. I swallowed and nodded.

"Yeah," I breathed. It was all I could say. I was still scared out of my mind.

Cole put his clothes into his backpack, and sat down in front of the fire. He picked up a stick off of the ground, and began pushing logs of wood around in the fire. "Are you going to sit?" he asked, glancing up at me. He didn't exactly look pleased that I was there, but at least he wasn't telling me to get lost. I sat down across from him, just watching the glowing embers at the bottom of the fire-pit. "You look pale."

"Just cold," I said as I rubbed my shoulders without looking at Cole. I glanced behind me, just in case. There was nothing, not even a little Pokémon behind me, nonetheless a storm type pokémon. "Um... hey," I said as I turned back, "Why don't you let your pokémon out for a stretch?" I asked.

"Nah," he sighed, "I don't want them running off and getting into trouble."

"Oh." I said, "I just…Salamance would do that?" I looked up at Cole.

"Salamance wouldn't," he began to chew on a stick, hindering his speech. Luckily, I was feeling very attentive at that time, "He's too loyal. But the rest of them would go off exploring in the woods. Any other place would be fine, but this mountain is particularly dangerous."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Ever heard of a Raikou?" Cole said, leaning in. The fire flickered under his clear blue eyes. I shook my head, "They say his call is like crashing thunder, they say he's as fast as lightning. They also say this one, in particular, is ruthless," Cole sat back again, sighing, "I personally don't want my Pokémon bumping into something like that."

"Oh." I said in a weak voice. I shuddered at the idea of what may've become of me if I hadn't ran away. "Do you think," I paused, and closed my eyes, "Do you think you could let Salamance out?"

"Why...are you scared?" Cole asked with a smirk. I nodded. My whole body was still shaking, and I hoped he couldn't see that. But once I heard the sound of a pokéball opening, I was pretty sure he had. I opened my eyes, and Cole was whispering something to the stoic dragon. "Okay?" He said, leaning out with a smile. It breathed in response, and walked over to me. The Salamance curled up behind me, as if offering me a place to rest. I was so unbelievably grateful-as well as tired. Cole picked up a blanket from beside him, and threw it at me. "Get some rest, we'll be walking a lot tomorrow."

"Where are you going to sleep?" I asked, rapping myself in the blanket.

"Me? I've got a sleeping bag," he said pointing to one lying next to Phampy and Dratini. "I'm fine, just go to sleep." He said. I nodded, and rolled over. Salamance's slow and steady breathing was enough to put me straight to sleep. And as I slept, I dreamt I was flying.


When I woke up, Cole was cooking something over the fire. I wasn't completely awake yet, but as I looked around I noticed things weren't exactly the same as when I had gone to sleep. For one thing, the sun was up, but wasn't a bright, clear day -it was cloudy, and the Air was crisp. I squinted, glancing down at my legs. Dratini as well as Phampy were curled up at my feet, like they actually liked me. Even though I had nothing for them to like. Cole had completely packed up his sleeping bag, and had already changed and gotten ready. He also had set up this little contraption over the fire, and hung a pot over it. He stirred it carefully. I sat up, and stretched my arms out, yawning.

"Good morning," Cole said.

"Morning," I yawned. "What time is it?" I asked.

"Around seven," Cole said. He pulled something out of a bowl in front of him, and held it out in front of me, "Here."

"What is that?" I asked, looking down at the flat brown tortilla looking thing.

"It's bread," Cole said. I continued inspecting it, "Just take it, okay?" I obliged and slowly took a bite out of it. I let it rest on my tongue for a moment, to see if I'd hate it. To see if I'd spit it out on the spot. Nope. I didn't. I chewed it with caution, and swallowed. "Not bad huh?" Cole said smiling.

"Not good either," I said, frowning, "It doesn't taste like anything."

"Well, it's better than tasting bad."

"I guess..." I sighed, taking another bite out of it. "What are you cooking?" I said leaning in over the fire. Cole laughed, and began mixing the pot with a stick. "It smells good."

"It's not for you," he laughed, 'It's for our pokémon. Mine, at least, are on a strict diet."

. "Oh, well." I sighed. Cole took the pot from the fire, and set it down. Phampy's ears perked up, and he slowly opened his eyes. He then looked around, spotted the food, and began stumbling over to it. There was something very innocent about him. I could stand him when he wasn't all pissy. I looked over to Dratini, to see if she had woken up, but nothing, she just twitched, and rolled over.

"Sit up," Cole commanded. I obliged. Cole whisled, and with a loud groaned, Salamance stood to its feet, and waddled over to the food. Majestic, that's the word I thought of when Salamance moved. I felt like I should bow to it. It's soft, and slow breaths, it heavy and yet poised footsteps. Like it belong to a prince, not like Cole, but someone even more poised than he. "By the way," Cole said standing to his feet, "What's that around your neck?"

"This?" I asked, lifting the charm off of my chest, "I don't know, Joan gave it to me."

"Can I see it?" Cole asked, putting his hand out. I pulled the necklace up over my head, and handed it to him. He began inspecting it, like it was some ancient artifact. "Kinda looks like a pokémon," he said, flipping it back and forth. He sighed, and handed it back to me. "So, how was your night?"

"I had a dream," I sighed putting the necklace back over my head.

"That's cool," Cole said as he began to pack up his things. I nudged Dratini, in order to wake her up before Phampy and Salamance finished the breakfast. She jumped away, and then nodded back to sleep.

"Yeah, I dreamt I was flying on a giant Pokémon," I recalled. I nudged Dratini awake once more. Her eyes opened slightly, but they fell back down. This time, I shoved her. Cole wasn't too sure about this because he reached at me, getting ready to pull me away. But Dratini sat straight up, cooed at me, noticed the food, and headed over to eat with the others. I smiled at Cole, and he sat back. "We were flying over water, and..." I paused for a moment, "That's all I can remember."

"Sounds like an interesting dream though," Cole said. I nodded. "Once the Pokémon are through eating, we should get moving. We're not that far away from your berries."

Thats it for now! Hope you enjoyed it. :)

and of course I have a plea for you guys to comment~