It didn't take long for Claire and Tony to arrive at Pewter. Claire was walking normally, her expression normal. Today wasn't any different from another for her.

Tony, however was a different story. Today had been as far from normal as possible. He had almost gotten mugged, then got rescued by Claire, then got attacked by a group of people with weapons that Claire seemed to know, then almost got murdered by those people, but instead Claire killed them. And now, apparently, they knew who he was and were going to do some… unpleasant things if they got their hands on him.

"So," Claire said just as they walked into the city, jolting Tony out of his thoughts. "I have no money, and I'll bet you don't have any either, since you're clearly a new trainer. So a hotel's out. Which means we'll probably end up sleeping just outside the city."

Tony frowned. "Why don't we get a room in the Pokemon Center?"

Claire frowned. "That doesn't require money?"

The brown haired boy gave Claire an odd look. "No. As long as you have a trainer card, you get healing, food, and rooms for free."

"I don't have a trainer card." Claire said.

Tony blinked. "You don't?"

Claire shook her head. "I have no desire to put any of my information anywhere they might be able to find it."

Tony opened his mouth to ask about who, exactly, "they" were, but instead decided to save it. "I have one. I could use it to get us a room."

Claire raised an eyebrow. "That would work?"

"Yeah, they don't really look at everyone's trainer cards, just one person's. They'll just assume that since I have one, you have one." Tony explained.

"Well…" Claire muttered. "It's worth a shot…"

A few minutes later, they entered the room they were going to share. It was either share a room, or take two on different floors. Before Claire could agree to the separate rooms, Tony had said that they'd rather share to one room.

Claire had giving Tony an odd look out of the corner of her eye, but assumed he knew what he was doing.

"Well?" Tony said, closing the door behind them.

"Are you expecting me to decide the sleeping arrangements? You're the one who insisted on us sharing a room." Claire stated, not making eye contact, instead looking around the room.

Tony sighed. "No, not about the sleeping arrangements." He looked at her. "Who were those people, how do they know you, why did they try to kill you, what is with that sword you summoned out of thin air, and how did you launch a fireball out of your hand?" He asked.

Claire paused before sighing and sitting on the bed. "You get straight to the point."

He nodded. "I want to know what I've gotten myself into."

Claire sighed again. "Those people are part of a group called Xenas. And they've been trying to kill me for years."

Tony sat down on the other bed facing Claire. "Why?"

Claire shifted. "I'm not positive, but I have a few ideas. But I get the feeling that my very existence threatens them."

Claire leaned back on her hands. "As for the sword and fireball, those are family abilities. And I don't really know much about them myself, only that I know how to use them and they're the reason neither of us are dead."

Tony nodded. "And what are you up to? Have you done anything that would really make the try to kill you? You seem like you're experienced with killing."

Claire looked him in the eye. "I don't think I'll share that information with you."

"Why?" Tony asked, annoyed. "You got me into this mess, I have a right to know what's going on!"

"You were the one that insisted on travelling with me," Claire reminded him. "Plus, on the rare chance you are captured, which I don't plan on letting happen, you would be an extreme liability if you know a lot about me."

Tony sighed. "That makes sense…"

"Not to mention," Claire said. "If you are captured, I will not be going out of my way to rescue you. If I can while accomplishing something else, I might, but there is no guarantee."

Tony sat there silently, absorbing all he had just heard.

Maxwell jumped up on the bed next to Claire. "I'm still upset we agreed to travel with them…"

Claire rolled her eyes. "Would you stop complaining? You're the one who always told me to care for others."

"Yeah, but I never thought you'd put it above your family duty-"

"Would you be quiet about that? I swear, you're like a broken record…"

"Doesn't stop me from being right."

Claire sighed, though she was smiling.

Tony, though, was frowning. "Did you just… talk with your Ariados?"

Claire looked back up at the boy. "Yeah. I understand Pokemon."

The brunette blinked. "You can?"

Claire shifted. "Yes. It's… another family ability."

Tony nodded. "Your family has a lot of interesting abilities."

Orange eyes looked away. "Yeah…" She finally said after a few minutes. "We do…"

"Your ability to communicate with Pokemon is most fascinating." Tony's Xatu said, finally speaking up. "Many humans are able to get a rudimentary understanding of a team of Pokemon that they spend a lot of time with. However, it is extremely rare for a human to understand a Pokemon they do not know as well, or at all. Though, often there is a bit of confusion in translation, and they will hear words wrong. Did you know-"

"We get it." Maxwell muttered. "My lady's special. Not a surprise."

"I think we should settle down." Claire said, preventing a fight from starting. "I'm rather tired."

"It makes sense," Tony said. "You did just fight off five guys with weapons."

Clair shrugged. "I'm used to it."

They took turns taking showers, and changed into the pajamas that the Center provided in every room. They also sent their clothes down to get cleaned. The Center offered the service so trainers would always have to wear the same filthy clothes at all times. Claire was hesitant though, and didn't send her gloves, hat, or jacket down.

They both settled down, Maxwell and Claire in one bed, Tony and his Xatu in the other. Though Maxwell and the Xatu both fell asleep quickly, Claire and Tony lay awake for a while.

How did I get myself into this mess… Tony wondered. It was supposed to be a normal Pokemon journey, and now I'm travelling with a girl who can kill without hesitating only because she offers a better chance of survival…

Tony sighed. Not that I had any plans anyway, though…

Claire mind was on what they're plan was. The info from the man said to go ask any questions and receive payment at the "the usual spot" in the Kanto area… But where is that?

Claire rolled over.

I'm not sure how much time I have left…